Recaps

Muzan overpowered Killer B in the Land of Waves, disrupting his Tailed Beast Ball and weakening his transformation. Killer B and Yugito Nii escaped toward the main force, but Muzan pursued them through the fog.

• Kabuto restarted the Hidden Mist Technique while the Eight-Tails warned Killer B that Muzan’s speed was increasing.
• Muzan interrupted Killer B’s Tailed Beast Ball and struck the Eight-Tails with a Monster Strength Fist, pushing Killer B’s transformation toward collapse.
• Muzan battered Killer B and kept Yugito Nii restrained with giant snakes as Killer B realized they needed to retreat for help.
• Killer B deliberately formed another Tailed Beast Ball to block Muzan, then joined Yugito Nii in partial Tailed Beast form to escape.
• Killer B and Yugito Nii fled toward their main force while Muzan tracked them through the fog and increased his speed.

Muzan emerged after defeating Killer B and Yugito Nii, then clashed with the Raikage in a contest of raw strength. As the Cloud Ninja prepared to retreat, Dodai asked the injured Killer B to help hold Muzan back while he escorted Yugito Nii away.

• A and Dodai realized the fighting inside had stopped, so A ordered the Cloud Ninja to prepare for retreat and rescue the two Jinchuriki.
• Muzan appeared, and Killer B struck him with Acrobat before Muzan blasted him away and injured him.
• Killer B led Yugito Nii toward the Cloud Ninja, while A broke through Poison Butterfly's insects and charged at Muzan.
• Muzan and A collided in their strongest forms, and A stepped back as Muzan proved stronger in the clash.
• Dodai asked Killer B to work with A to hold Muzan back while he took Yugito Nii and escaped.

Muzan poisoned Killer B during the battle in the Land of Waves, forcing the Raikage and Hidden Cloud forces to retreat. With Killer B’s life at risk, the Raikage ordered a search for Tsunade while Minato Namikaze monitored the Akatsuki’s growing threat.

• Killer B joined the Raikage against Muzan, but Muzan’s venomous snake bit Killer B’s arm during their combined attack.
• The Raikage rescued Killer B, and the Hidden Cloud ninja retreated from the Land of Waves after the invasion was repelled.
• A Konoha medical ninja sealed the poison in Killer B’s arm and told the Raikage that only Tsunade could save him.
• The Raikage ordered his ninja to find Tsunade as quickly as possible, while the Konoha medical ninja promised to inform the Hokage.
• Minato Namikaze sent Naruto to Konoha Academy and ordered his subordinates to watch the Akatsuki after their failed attack on the Hidden Sand Village.

Minato learned that Itachi had defected, though the defection was secretly part of a plan to infiltrate Akatsuki or Blood Moon. After Hidden Cloud Village damaged the Land of Waves, Muzan reprimanded the Twelve Kizuki, began rebuilding, and ordered his forces to track Tsunade before she could treat Killer B; meanwhile, Tsunade sensed danger while gambling and hurried to leave with Shizune.

• An Uchiha clan member told Minato that Itachi had defected, and Minato summoned the clan head to discuss it.
• Muzan scolded the Twelve Kizuki for failing to stop Hidden Cloud Village from withdrawing, while Kabuto reported that the children and laboratories had largely survived the attack.
• Muzan assigned Kabuto to protect the laboratories and ordered the Twelve Kizuki to perform better as the Land of Waves began rebuilding.
• A Land of Waves ninja reported that Hidden Cloud Village was searching for Tsunade, so Muzan ordered his forces to find her and disrupt their plans to heal Killer B.
• Tsunade and Shizune won a large gambling payout, but Tsunade sensed danger and told Shizune to gather the money and leave.

Muzan found Tsunade and asked her not to cure Killer B, offering to bring her dead loved ones back instead. Tsunade was shaken by his claim as she remembered Dan Kato and Nawaki.

• Muzan and Shanye Song tracked down Tsunade, and Shizune mistook Muzan for an enemy before recognizing him.
• Muzan waited for Tsunade to wake while Shanye Song went to deal with intruders, whose fight caused a series of explosions.
• Muzan asked Tsunade not to cure Killer B’s poison and offered her a place in the Land of Waves.
• Muzan claimed he could revive Shizune’s family and Tsunade’s younger brother and lover.
• Tsunade punched a hole in the wall and murmured the names Dan Kato and Nawaki.

Muzan arranged for Tsunade to summon two loved ones from the Pure Land in exchange for two sacrifices, then traveled to the Rain Village to pursue research on Death Controlling Blood. There, he encountered Itachi and learned that Jiraiya had arrived to investigate Akatsuki, leaving Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain preparing to meet their former teacher.

• Tsunade agreed to Muzan's conditions for summoning two souls, and Muzan warned that the process required two living sacrifices and would not truly resurrect them.
• Shanye Song reported that the attackers had been killed but that the Raikage might soon arrive, so Muzan left with him.
• Muzan entered the Rain Village and discovered that Itachi Uchiha was watching him; Itachi revealed himself and escorted Muzan toward Akatsuki's base.
• Jiraiya arrived in the Rain Village to investigate Akatsuki, while Konoha Anbu also approached the village on the Hokage's orders.
• Konan questioned Muzan about his visit, and Nagato appeared as the Six Paths of Pain after sensing Jiraiya and prepared to welcome his former teacher.
• Itachi Uchiha silently disappeared while Muzan and Konan discussed Jiraiya's arrival.

Jiraiya was discovered in the Akatsuki base and faced Muzan, Konan, and the Six Paths of Pain. He entered Sage Mode and tried to escape, but Pain joined the fight and blocked his path.

• Nagato tracked Jiraiya inside the Akatsuki base as Muzan, Konan, and the Six Paths of Pain confronted him.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima, then entered Sage Mode while Muzan and Konan attacked him.
• Fukasaku and Shima used Toad Chant, disrupting Konan and giving Jiraiya an opening to trap her in a swamp.
• Muzan urged the Six Paths of Pain to act, and they moved in as Jiraiya recognized Yahiko in Tendo Pain and asked where Nagato was.
• Jiraiya attacked Tendo Pain with Needle Jizō and a Toad Oil Flame Bullet, but Preta Path absorbed the fire and Tendo Pain repelled his hair.

Muzan and the Six Paths of Pain drove Jiraiya into a desperate fight, while Itachi secretly disrupted Muzan with genjutsu. Jiraiya escaped after losing an arm, and Muzan turned his attention to Nagato’s failing condition and offered him a place among the Upper Ranks as a Man-Eating Demon.

• Muzan watched Jiraiya battle the Six Paths of Pain and realized Itachi had secretly cast a genjutsu that interfered with him.
• Jiraiya and the two sages unleashed Sage Art: Goemon, forcing the Six Paths of Pain back and creating a chance to flee.
• Muzan used Spine Bone Spikes to pierce Jiraiya’s arm and poison him, but Jiraiya escaped with Toad Mouth Bind.
• Muzan focused on Nagato’s weakening condition, and Konan warned him not to make a move against Nagato.
• Muzan proposed that Nagato become a Man-Eating Demon and join the Upper Ranks, leaving Konan surprised by the offer.

Muzan allied with Nagato against Hidden Cloud Village and investigated Hidan’s immortality, while Jiraiya returned to Konoha critically injured and poisoned. The chapter left Minato seeking Tsunade’s help and Konan stopping Hidan from attacking Muzan.

• Nagato agreed that Akatsuki would target Hidden Cloud Village, and Muzan welcomed the chance to retaliate against it.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha poisoned by Muzan’s toxin, and Minato left to find Tsunade after the medical ninja said only she could treat him.
• Minato told Tsunade that Jiraiya was near death and had lost an arm, shocking her.
• Muzan asked Hidan to demonstrate Death Controlling Blood and collected a sample of his blood for research.
• Muzan identified Hidan’s immortality as a divine curse and dismissed its value, prompting Hidan to draw his scythe before Konan intervened.

Tsunade refused to treat Killer B after Muzan told her she could learn Edo Tensei, while Konoha faced pressure from the Hidden Cloud Village to honor their alliance. Meanwhile, Muzan ordered Pakura to abandon contested territory carefully and prepare a scorched retreat as the Land of Fire’s forces advanced.

• The Fourth Raikage demanded an explanation for Tsunade’s refusal to treat Killer B, and Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned her about it.
• Tsunade told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Muzan had raised the possibility of Edo Tensei, and Hiruzen warned that the technique desecrated the dead rather than resurrecting them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said Tsunade could learn Edo Tensei if she treated both Killer B and Jiraiya.
• Muzan reviewed reports that Konoha forces and local allies were retaking territory from the Land of Waves, while Pakura described the enemy’s deployments.
• Muzan rejected Pakura’s request to intercept the enemy and told her to preserve her people by retreating to Mukawa Territory.
• Muzan ordered Pakura to conceal Explosive Tags throughout the areas they vacated during the retreat.

Muzan ended the clash with Konoha by retreating after his Explosive Tags devastated the abandoned battlefield, then met Tsunade to discuss using Edo Tensei to resurrect Nawaki and Dan Kato. Tsunade refused to desecrate their remains but said their agreement could continue through another method of resurrection.

• Asuma and Kurenai found the front-line territory empty, while Muzan's Explosive Tags detonated and ended the fighting without either side gaining ground.
• Shikaku Nara ordered Konoha's forces to hold the perimeter, and Muzan returned to Mukawa Territory and arranged patrols.
• Muzan met Tsunade with Haku and two living sacrifices, expecting her to use Edo Tensei to resurrect Nawaki and Dan Kato.
• Tsunade revealed that the Third Hokage had warned her Edo Tensei required tissue from the dead, so she refused to desecrate their remains.
• Tsunade told Muzan she still wanted to proceed because he had mentioned other resurrection methods, and Muzan listed several possible techniques and the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

Muzan told Tsunade about ways to revive the dead, then confronted Minato Namikaze, who had secretly watched their meeting. After Minato escaped with Flying Raijin, Muzan realized Haku’s Blood Demon Art might be able to counter space-time ninjutsu by freezing space, and Haku began testing the idea.

• Muzan explained the harsh requirements for revival and warned Tsunade to honor their agreement; Tsunade agreed to stay out of the conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village.
• Muzan told Tsunade that Orochimaru might be able to revive the dead, prompting her to consider seeking him out.
• Minato Namikaze watched Muzan and Tsunade from the trees, then prepared to leave after learning that Tsunade had not revived anyone.
• Muzan and Haku attacked Minato, but Minato evaded them with Flying Raijin and escaped.
• Haku asked about countering space-time ninjutsu, and Muzan suggested that extreme cold could freeze space; Haku tested his Blood Demon Art and noticed falling leaves slow down.

Muzan sent Haku to Snow Country to develop his Ice Release, then continued experiments with Kabuto while recovering in the Land of Waves. After Akatsuki captured Yugito Nii, the Raikage and Fourth Kazekage agreed to seek a Five Kage Summit and prepare for war.

• Muzan judged that Haku would grow stronger by developing his Blood Demon Art and Ice Release, then sent him to Snow Country to train.
• Muzan and Kabuto continued experiments on demon blood and considered using Yang Release to address its weaknesses.
• Shanye Song brought Muzan news that Akatsuki had attacked the Hidden Cloud Village, captured Yugito Nii, and damaged the village.
• Muzan ordered Shanye Song to have Pakura reinforce the defensive lines in Mukawa Territory and anticipated a Five Kage Summit.
• The Raikage went to the Hidden Sand Village after Yugito Nii's capture and urged the Fourth Kazekage to support a summit.
• The Fourth Kazekage agreed to go to Konoha with the Raikage and called for the other villages to prepare for a new Shinobi World War.

As the Five Great Shinobi Villages prepared to unite against Akatsuki, Kabuto oversaw displaced children in the Land of Waves and discovered Red Lotus, a girl with Crystal Release. Muzan considered her for his plans, while Konoha’s growing strength made him wary.

• The Five Great Shinobi Villages began preparing a surprise attack on Akatsuki, while smaller nations descended into chaos.
• Kabuto gathered displaced children in the Land of Waves and took charge of their education and training.
• Kabuto discovered that Red Lotus had awakened Crystal Release and judged her ability useful for Muzan’s experiments.
• Muzan considered Red Lotus as a potential member of the Twelve Kizuki, and Kabuto encouraged her to train.
• Kabuto found that the children could not read, ruining his hopes of avoiding some of his work.
• Muzan recognized that Konoha’s powerful young shinobi, including Kakashi and Uchiha Clan geniuses, made the village a serious threat.

Muzan sent two Lower Ranks to support the Akatsuki against the Five Great Shinobi Villages while warning Kabuto not to let them gather the Tailed Beasts. After Black Zetsu and Obito trapped Akatsuki members in the Kamui Dimension, Muzan set out with Hizashi Hyuga to rescue them.

• Kabuto told Muzan that the Akatsuki had asked for help after the Five Great Shinobi Villages attacked their base.
• Muzan warned Kabuto against helping the Akatsuki gather all the Tailed Beasts, then sent Kamizuru Poison Butterfly and Raiga Kurosuki to assist them.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Muzan would bring destruction to the Shinobi World and asked her to act, but she refused to get involved in Konoha's affairs.
• Muzan learned that Black Zetsu and Obito had taken Akatsuki members into the Kamui Dimension using Obito's space-time ninjutsu.
• Muzan asked Hizashi Hyuga to accompany him and went to rescue the captured Akatsuki members.

Muzan and Hizashi tracked the Akatsuki, while Sakumo Hatake led a Five Great Shinobi Villages assault on its underground base. Muzan and Hizashi reached the entrance after the attack began, and Hizashi urged them to scout before joining the fight.

• Muzan left Zabuza and trained demon squads to protect the Land of Waves while he and Hizashi investigated the Akatsuki’s trail.
• Muzan found footprints in a tree and realized Black Zetsu and Obito had likely ambushed and abducted two people.
• Sakumo Hatake stopped the allied ninja from arguing and ordered the Hidden Stone Village to breach the base before Wind Release ninja cleared the tunnel.
• Kurotsuchi led the Hidden Stone ninja in opening a fissure, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages launched their assault on the Akatsuki.
• Muzan and Hizashi arrived outside the tunnel and decided to locate Akatsuki members with the Byakugan before entering.

Muzan and Hizashi infiltrated Akatsuki’s territory as the Shinobi Alliance closed in, then confronted Obito and Black Zetsu. Muzan exposed Obito’s identity as Obito Uchiha, the man who had inherited Madara’s name, leaving Akatsuki’s members stunned.

• Hizashi used his Byakugan to find a safe route past the Shinobi Alliance’s sensory ninja, and Muzan crossed their patrol with Sage Mode.
• Nagato gathered Akatsuki and ordered the members to fight the Alliance instead of retreating, while assigning Obito and Black Zetsu to monitor the enemy.
• Muzan and Hizashi arrived at Akatsuki’s headquarters, where Muzan demanded that Obito and Black Zetsu be released.
• Obito denied knowing what Muzan wanted, but Muzan named him Obito Uchiha and revealed that he had inherited Madara Uchiha’s name.
• Obito’s Mangekyo Sharingan confirmed Muzan’s claim, shocking the Akatsuki members.

Muzan exposed Obito’s plan to use the Akatsuki to revive Madara and forced him to release Raiga Kurosuki and Kamizuru Poison Butterfly by falsely claiming to hold Rin’s remains. After Obito escaped, Muzan offered the Akatsuki two Twelve Kizuki and asked them to help Blood Moon hold back the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth during its next offensive.

• Muzan confronted Obito over his plan to use the Akatsuki to revive Madara Uchiha.
• Muzan claimed Rin’s remains were in his hands, stopping Obito from leaving and compelling him to release Raiga Kurosuki and Kamizuru Poison Butterfly.
• Muzan admitted he had never disturbed Rin’s grave, and Obito escaped after the Akatsuki and Blood Moon moved against him.
• Nagato said the Akatsuki would pursue Obito later and planned to divide and defeat their current enemies with Explosive Tags.
• Muzan agreed to send two Twelve Kizuki to assist the Akatsuki and asked them to help Blood Moon hold back the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth.

Muzan allied with Tendo Pain and helped the Akatsuki trap the Allied Shinobi Forces in collapsing tunnels. As Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki approached the isolated Konoha shinobi, Muzan prepared to smash through a boulder and strike them.

• Muzan and Tendo Pain agreed to cooperate against the Five Great Shinobi Villages and Nations.
• Konan detonated Explosive Tags at the Akatsuki base, forcing Kitsuchi and the Allied Shinobi Forces to flee through collapsing tunnels.
• Kamizuru Poison Butterfly unleashed a massive insect swarm that killed shinobi and split the retreating forces apart.
• Sakumo Hatake found a severed Byakugan spying on his group, while Aburame Qing admitted he could not identify the dangerous insects.
• Muzan, Hizashi, Ranmaru, and Raiga Kurosuki reached a boulder blocking the way to Konoha's people, and Muzan struck it with Monster Strength Fist.

Muzan confronted the Konoha team in Akatsuki’s tunnel and revealed that Hizashi Hyuga had joined him and the Twelve Kizuki. After clashing with his father, Sakumo Hatake, Muzan failed to persuade him to retreat and activated Sage Mode to begin the fight in earnest.

• Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki appeared after an attack collapsed part of the tunnel, and the Hyuga shinobi discovered that their Byakugan could not detect the newcomers’ chakra.
• Hizashi revealed his identity and showed that the Caged Bird mark had been removed, shocking the Hyuga Clan members.
• Sakumo realized Hizashi had helped discover Konoha’s team in the Land of Waves, while Muzan fought Sakumo with the Hatake Sword Technique.
• Muzan asked Sakumo to stop entering Akatsuki and return to the Land of Waves, but Sakumo refused because surrender would endanger Konoha and its allies.
• Muzan activated Sage Mode and ordered the Twelve Kizuki to attack.

Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki trapped Sakumo Hatake and the Allied Shinobi Forces in a cave, where they fought to stop the shinobi from escaping with news of Blood Moon’s presence in the Akatsuki. Muzan broke the Sealing Corps’ techniques and ordered the Twelve Kizuki to attack, leaving the Konoha forces in immediate danger.

• Aburame Qing warned Sakumo Hatake that Blood Moon was in the Akatsuki and urged him to escape as the insects overwhelmed Konoha’s defenses.
• Raiga Kurosuki used Dark Lightning Formation while Muzan blocked the cave’s exit, trapping the Konoha shinobi.
• Sakumo Hatake directed combined ninjutsu through the mist, but Muzan cleared it with Wind Release and killed two shinobi with his Thunder God Sword.
• Two members of the Sealing Corps tried to bind Muzan with the Eight Trigrams Seal and Adamantine Seal while Sakumo fought him.
• Muzan tore apart the seals with his Blood Demon Art and ordered the Twelve Kizuki to take down the Konoha forces.

After the Five Kage Summit's attack failed, Muzan formed an alliance with the Akatsuki and prepared the Land of Waves for war against the Land of Fire. Pakura's forces launched a blitzkrieg against Konoha's camp, leaving Shikaku Nara to organize a defensive line.

• Sakumo Hatake and Konoha's shinobi fought Raiga Kurosuki and struggled against Ranmaru's Blood Demon Art as the tunnel collapsed.
• Konan warned that the failed attack had revealed the Akatsuki and Blood Moon's alliance, and Muzan proposed invading the Land of Fire with the Land of Waves' new weapons.
• Muzan asked the Akatsuki to hold back the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning while he dealt with the Land of Fire.
• Tendo Pain suspended the Akatsuki's Tailed Beast collection and ordered its members to join forces with Blood Moon against the two nations.
• Pakura led the Twelve Kizuki in a surprise attack that retook territory in Mukawa Territory and forced Konoha to retreat.
• Shikaku Nara ordered Konoha's forces to set up a defensive line after witnessing the new weapons' power.

As the Land of Waves’ war against the Land of Fire intensified, Minato assessed Konoha’s setbacks while Danzo weighed Muzan’s offer of the Hokage position. Danzo chose to betray Konoha but altered Muzan’s plan so he could keep a safeguard.

• Muzan’s campaign fueled rebellions, drew refugees to the Land of Waves, and drove food prices higher, while he publicly rejected the nobles who sought to join him.
• Minato reviewed Konoha’s losses after the Twelve Kizuki and defected Jōnin attacked its front-line headquarters, and he considered finding Kakashi a wife.
• Minato planned to slow the Land of Waves’ advance with terrain and trusted Konoha’s younger fighters to help secure its future.
• Danzo received Muzan’s proposal to attack the Land of Fire from within in exchange for becoming Hokage.
• Danzo chose Muzan’s offer but decided to alter the attack direction so he would not trust Muzan completely.

Muzan divided Blood Moon’s forces to strike Konoha’s base and intercept its gathering troops, while Hizashi discovered Root agents hunting a Hyuga Branch House member. Muzan’s group rescued Hyuga Yun, killed the Root agents, and kept their secret march concealed.

• Muzan learned that Danzo had delivered the envelope to the Fourth Hokage and ordered the army split between an attack on Konoha’s base and a strike on its gathered forces.
• Hizashi spotted a Konoha reconnaissance squad and recognized that Root agents were hunting Hyuga Yun, a Branch House member.
• Hyuga Yun, injured and pursued, collapsed in the forest as two fox-masked Root agents moved to kill him.
• Hizashi intervened, and Muzan’s group confronted the Root agents before they could expose Blood Moon’s secret march.
• Muzan’s side killed the two Root agents, leaving Hyuga Yun alive and the Hyuga clan’s internal conflict concealed.

Muzan persuaded Hyuga Yun to join Blood Moon and arranged a false corpse to conceal his survival. Meanwhile, Shikaku realized Konoha had been deceived about the enemy’s rendezvous point and ordered ambushed shinobi to return, but Shanye Song’s attack was already holding Konoha in place.

• Muzan refused to let Hyuga Yun leave, warning that the Hyuga Main House would kill him and offering him a place in a new Konoha without the Caged Bird system.
• Hyuga Yun agreed to serve Muzan, and Muzan arranged a charred corpse resembling him to mislead the Hyuga Main House.
• An Aburame shinobi reported that Shanye Song and Momochi Zabuza were approaching Konoha’s main camp with an elite force.
• Shikaku Nara suspected the frontal assault did not fit Muzan’s strategy and concluded that the rendezvous map had been used to mislead Konoha.
• Shikaku ordered Inoichi Yamanaka to recall the shinobi lying in ambush, realizing they might be the enemy’s true target while Shanye Song kept Konoha occupied.