Recaps

The Akatsuki sought the Land of Waves’ help against the united shinobi villages, and Muzan offered support while deploying the Twelve Kizuki. As the three allied nations prepared to resist Muzan, a hunt began against Land of Waves shinobi in the Land of Wind.

• Konan asked Muzan to help the Akatsuki, and he offered shinobi support and a retreat route through the Land of Rivers while agreeing to send the Twelve Kizuki.
• Haku defeated Hiruko in a Position-Swapping Blood Battle, becoming Upper Rank Five while Hiruko took Haku’s former position as Lower Rank One.
• The daimyo of the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Land of Lightning formed an alliance and planned border defenses and mutual military support.
• The daimyo of the Land of Wind learned that Land of Waves shinobi had reached his port while searching for Konoha’s remnants.
• A Land of Waves squad found its missing scouts dead in the desert, where puppets surrounded the three Elite Jōnin and began a hunt.

After Hidden Sand Village ninjas attacked the Land of Waves’ forces, Muzan learned that Konoha remnants and the Hidden Mist Village were plotting together and prepared to act on Danzo’s intelligence. Meanwhile, the surviving heir of the Land of Fire returned to the ruined Daimyō Palace to sow chaos, and Mukawa Hui’s estate was raided and burned.

• A surviving Land of Waves captain reported the Hidden Sand Village’s attack, and Muzan ordered Yuanshi punished for failing to anticipate the enemy’s escape route.
• Orochimaru gave Muzan intelligence from Danzo revealing cooperation between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village, and Muzan agreed to eliminate their remaining forces.
• Muzan wrote to Danzo and prepared the Twelve Kizuki to patrol near Konoha’s hidden base without revealing his plans.
• The surviving heir of the Land of Fire returned to the former Daimyō Palace with his followers and chose Mukawa Hui, whom he blamed for his family’s downfall, as their first target.
• Black-clad ninjas attacked Mukawa Hui’s estate, looted it, and set it ablaze while Mukawa Hui hid in a concealed underground passage.

Muzan staged a search in Mukawa Territory to conceal his efforts to locate Konoha’s underground refuge and pressure its survivors. Minato refused Terumi Mei’s call for a counterattack, but after Muzan’s ninja appeared nearby, Konoha prepared to retreat deeper underground as Muzan’s encirclement took shape.

• Muzan deployed Shanye Song and other forces around the border while using the hunt for Mukawa Territory saboteurs as a cover, and he planned to exploit the alliance between Konoha, the Hidden Mist Village, and other powers.
• Terumi Mei urged Minato Namikaze to join the Hidden Mist Village in attacking the Land of Waves, but Minato refused because he suspected Muzan was laying a trap.
• A Root ninja told Danzo that Muzan had agreed to send people over on a condition, and Danzo hoped the arrangement would help him become Hokage.
• Muzan ordered Shanye Song’s group to pass near Konoha’s hidden location and make sure they were noticed, while concealing their surveillance of the refuge.
• Konoha’s patrol found miniature cameras, then a wounded ninja reported that its troops had clashed with Land of Waves ninja; Minato ordered a retreat deeper underground and led Anbu after Shanye Song.
• Minato believed the enemy had not found Konoha, unaware that Shanye Song’s group had passed by to monitor the refuge and potentially help surround it.

Muzan prepared the Land of Waves’ forces and launched a surprise assault on Konoha’s hidden base, using Kamizuru Poison Butterfly’s insect swarm to break through the Aburame Clan’s defenses. Pakura’s flames exposed and scorched Konoha’s outer hiding place as Minato Namikaze gathered the defenders underground.

• The Fourth Hokage reassured the allied ninja that Konoha’s location remained undiscovered, while representatives of the three great nations departed to seek reinforcements.
• Orochimaru showed Muzan an improved potion for the Land of Waves’ elite, and Muzan learned that Konoha was gathering its forces.
• Muzan’s troops encircled Konoha, and Kamizuru Poison Butterfly’s insect swarm tore through the Aburame Clan’s defensive perimeter.
• Land of Waves ninja advanced through the breach as explosions shook Konoha, prompting Minato Namikaze to teleport to the surface and identify the attackers.
• Pakura used her Sage Mode and flames to dispel Konoha’s illusion and set its outer hiding place ablaze while the Twelve Kizuki arrived.
• Minato Namikaze reached Konoha’s underground central square as ninja gathered in response to urgent calls that the village was under attack.

Pakura repelled Konoha and Hidden Mist forces emerging from underground while Minato Namikaze and Terumi Mei launched a risky attack on the Land of Waves' main camp. Muzan sensed their arrival and revealed that he had stayed behind to guard it.

• Minato Namikaze organized Konoha's people underground to resist the heat, but the forces who broke through the surface were driven back by Pakura's fire.
• Pakura warned Haku and the others to watch for Minato Namikaze, while Haku used Sage Mode to slow enemies and Hizashi Hyuga monitored the area.
• Minato Namikaze explained to Terumi Mei that attacking the main camp was their best chance to wound the Land of Waves and halt its advance.
• Minato Namikaze and Terumi Mei charged into the Land of Waves' main camp as Muzan watched the battle at the front.
• Muzan sensed the two intruders and revealed that he had never left the main camp.

Minato Namikaze and Terumi Mei attacked the replica camp while battling Muzan, but his regeneration and bone attacks kept them from destroying the base. After Muzan recovered from Minato’s Sage Mode Rasengan and counterattacked, Terumi Mei was badly struck, leaving Minato to protect her from the next assault.

• Terumi Mei unleashed Lava Release across the camp as Minato Namikaze moved to mark Muzan with Flying Raijin, but Muzan severed the marked flesh and covered himself in bone spikes.
• Muzan split Terumi Mei’s lava attack and pressed both Kage with bone spikes and the Thunder God Sword, piercing Terumi Mei and forcing her to call for Minato’s help.
• Minato Namikaze entered Sage Mode, struck Muzan with two Rasengan, and sent him crashing into the lake while Terumi Mei warned that he was not dead.
• Muzan emerged from the lake covered in scales, evaded Minato’s attack with an afterimage, and kicked Terumi Mei across the acidic lava.

The Land of Waves fought Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village, with Minato Namikaze and Terumi Mei withdrawing after Muzan devastated the enemy headquarters. As the exhausted Konoha forces regrouped, Danzo launched a coup to seize the Hokage position, and Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted him.

• Muzan struck Minato Namikaze with Monster Strength Fist, while Terumi Mei urged Minato to hold him back as she attacked the headquarters with Lava Release.
• Kakashi and Might Guy fought Shanye Song, and Might Guy’s Morning Peacock overwhelmed him before his self-destruction blast sent Guy flying.
• Muzan, Minato Namikaze, and Terumi Mei ended their battle without a clear victor, but acid had ruined more than half of the Land of Waves’ supplies, and Minato took Terumi away.
• After the Land of Waves won the front-line battle, Danzo ordered Root ninja to begin their plan to seize the Hokage position while Konoha’s forces were injured.
• Minato Namikaze confronted the Root ninja, and Hiruzen Sarutobi faced Danzo with a staff, accusing him of attacking Konoha from the shadows.

Danzo took control of Konoha as its Fifth Hokage while Muzan withdrew with the Land of Waves' army. Back in the Land of Waves, Kabuto asked Muzan to turn him into a Man-Eating Demon so he could study its violent nature, and Muzan prepared to take him to Dragon Cave.

• Danzo's Root ninja captured the Third Hokage and his advisors, while Jiraiya escaped to Mount Myoboku and Kakashi's younger generation refused to obey Danzo.
• Muzan reached a temporary reconciliation with the opposing side and withdrew with the Land of Waves' army after speaking with Danzo.
• Kabuto told Muzan that an experimental snake had become violently berserk and asked to become a Man-Eating Demon to investigate the power himself.
• Muzan warned Kabuto that the transformation was irreversible, then told him to enjoy a day in the sun before they went to Dragon Cave.
• Kamizuru Poison Butterfly doubted Kabuto's decision, while Kabuto rested on a beach and considered how to help Man-Eating Demons walk beneath the sun.

Kabuto chose to become a Man-Eating Demon in Dragon Cave, where Muzan began transforming him while he recorded the effects. As the transformation reached its most dangerous stage, Kabuto endured the pain and continued taking notes.

• Kabuto told Muzan he was ready to become a Man-Eating Demon and followed him through Dragon Cave’s fog.
• Tagorihime agreed to find a place rich in Natural Energy and asked to observe the transformation.
• Kabuto prepared experimental notes, and Muzan began the transformation by feeding his blood into Kabuto’s body.
• Kabuto recorded the cold, bloodthirsty impulses, and severe pain as the transformation progressed.
• Tagorihime praised Kabuto’s resolve and suggested he could attempt the Snake Sage Technique trial.
• The transformation reached its most dangerous stage as most of Kabuto’s blood was overtaken by the power of a Man-Eating Demon.

Kabuto Yakushi completed his transformation into a Man-Eating Demon in Dragon Cave, gaining serpent scales and the ability to maintain Sage Mode. After warning Muzan about Mount Myoboku’s movements and the Great Toad Sage’s delayed prophecies, the White Snake Sage discussed the coming conflict and Muzan’s plans to draw in the Akatsuki.

• Muzan transformed Kabuto Yakushi into a Man-Eating Demon, while Kabuto recorded the process and developed serpent-like scales.
• Kabuto Yakushi gained the ability to use Sage Transformation without venom and reached a strength comparable to an Elite Jōnin.
• The White Snake Sage praised Kabuto Yakushi’s compatibility with Dragon Cave and barred the snakes from disturbing him as he studied his changes.
• The White Snake Sage warned Muzan that the toads of Mount Myoboku were becoming more active and cautioned him about the Great Toad Sage’s prophecies.
• Muzan said he would monitor Mount Myoboku and planned to leak information to the Akatsuki, while Kabuto Yakushi stayed in Dragon Cave to develop his Blood Demon Art.

Muzan used information from Danzo to locate the rebellious nobles and ordered the Twelve Kizuki and other elite forces to capture them. The nobles were brought to the Land of Waves, where Muzan prepared to execute them publicly as the people gathered at the execution ground.

• Muzan received Danzo’s coded letter identifying the nobles’ hideout and their next planned attack.
• Muzan sent the Twelve Kizuki and elite personnel to surround and capture the nobles who had fled Konoha.
• The last direct-line prince of the Land of Fire ordered his group to cover their tracks as they escaped.
• The Land of Waves’ search force closed its net, captured the nobles, and imprisoned them instead of killing them immediately.
• Muzan arranged for the nobles to face public execution, and crowds gathered to watch as their vehicles approached the execution ground.

Muzan suppressed the nobles in the Land of Waves and responded to an attack on Bird Country by pursuing a strategy that avoided open war. He sent a proposal to Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu, and Obito agreed to help if Muzan kept his promise.

• Muzan oversaw the execution of the rebellious nobles, stabilizing the Land of Waves through bloody suppression.
• Muzan learned that a group of unidentified shinobi had attacked Bird Country, which was requesting aid from the Land of Waves.
• Muzan ordered a defensive line and delays while considering concessions to the three major nations, and decided to approach the Akatsuki as another option.
• Muzan's shinobi found Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu in a bounty town and delivered Muzan's letter.
• Obito read Muzan's proposal and agreed to help if Muzan kept his promise, since reviving Rin was his priority.

Muzan unleashed attacks and reanimated legendary ninja to weaken the three great nations and give the Land of Waves time to recover. The Akatsuki devastated the Hidden Cloud Village, leaving the Fourth Raikage gravely injured and Killer B captured.

• Muzan arranged simultaneous assassinations of the three great nations' daimyos, then ordered attacks that devastated the Hidden Sand Village and other regions.
• Muzan gave the Akatsuki the reanimated Third Raikage and other collected corpses, while Orochimaru prepared them with Edo Tensei.
• The Akatsuki launched a full assault on the Hidden Cloud Village, using the Third Raikage to destroy a third of the village.
• The Fourth Raikage fought his reanimated father but could only restrain him, while Killer B faced the Akatsuki in his complete Tailed Beast Transformation.
• After two hours, the Akatsuki crushed the Hidden Cloud Village, severely injured the Fourth Raikage, and captured Killer B.

Muzan redirected research toward Kabuto’s experiments transforming people into intelligent beasts while taking responsibility for solving demons’ weakness to sunlight. In the Land of Waves, Pakura received Baki and a group of Hidden Sand Village children, including her former student Maki, and warned Baki that Muzan planned to bring down the three great nations.

• Kabuto demonstrated that he could transform himself into a venomous snake, and Muzan assigned him funding for experiments turning people into beasts.
• Muzan divided the research, leaving Orochimaru to study reincarnation materials and taking on the problem of demons’ vulnerability to sunlight.
• Baki arrived secretly in the Land of Waves with Hidden Sand Village Genin and a letter from the Fourth Kazekage, asking Pakura to accept them.
• Pakura welcomed Maki but reminded Baki that she had not forgotten the Hidden Sand Village’s betrayal; Baki refused to betray the Land of Wind.
• Pakura urged Baki to consider serving Muzan and revealed that Muzan had caused the current turmoil and intended to bring down the three great nations.

Baki and Pakura arranged for the Hidden Sand Village children to remain safe in the Land of Waves, while Muzan ordered them educated according to his rules. As the world prepared for war, Jiraiya trained Naruto at Mount Myoboku, believing he was the Shinobi World's savior and unaware that Naruto had been sent to fight Muzan.

• Baki thanked Pakura and asked her to protect the Hidden Sand Village children, while Temari stepped forward without fear.
• Pakura praised Temari's courage, offered to keep her close, and promised to explain matters to Muzan.
• Muzan learned of the Hidden Sand Village's secret agreement and ordered its Genin sent to the Land of Waves School for education under his authority.
• The Shinobi World maintained a tense pause as nations prepared for war and the Hidden Cloud Village kept its forces withdrawn.
• Jiraiya trained Naruto at Mount Myoboku, where Naruto repeatedly failed to master the Rasengan but kept trying to defeat Muzan.

Muzan assembled allies to attack Mount Myoboku and seize control of it, while Danzo pursued the Nine-Tails for Konoha. The Great Toad Sage foresaw the coalition’s approach, and Akatsuki arrived in the Land of Waves as Muzan’s plans gathered momentum.

• Danzo received intelligence confirming Naruto was at Mount Myoboku under Jiraiya’s guard, and agreed to cooperate with the Land of Waves in exchange for Mount Myoboku.
• Muzan gathered the Land of Waves, Akatsuki, Dragon Cave, and other allies to attack Mount Myoboku, seeking its power rather than the Nine-Tails itself.
• The Great Toad Sage dreamed that the Land of Waves, Dragon Cave, and Konoha would come against Mount Myoboku, so Fukasaku summoned Jiraiya to prepare.
• Konan led Akatsuki to the Land of Waves without revealing the secret operation, and the members were struck by its prosperity.
• Kabuto welcomed Akatsuki on Muzan’s behalf and said Muzan had been waiting for them.

Muzan led Akatsuki, Konoha’s Root elites, and Dragon Cave’s forces in an assault on Mount Myoboku to capture the Nine-Tails, while he aimed to kill the Great Toad Sage. The battle began with Kabuto and the giant snakes attacking the toads, and Muzan’s fight against Fukasaku and Shima ended with Fukasaku escaping a lethal slash through substitution.

• Muzan ordered the assembled forces to attack Mount Myoboku and capture the Nine-Tails, leaving its fate to whoever proved strongest.
• Jiraiya prepared to defend Mount Myoboku and Naruto with Fukasaku, Shima, Gamabunta, and the other toads.
• Kabuto and Dragon Cave’s giant snakes launched an attack, and Kabuto fused with a snake to battle Gamabunta.
• Nagato and Konan moved to a high vantage point to search for the Nine-Tails while Obito and Black Zetsu searched elsewhere.
• Muzan confronted Fukasaku and Shima, overpowering them with his attacks and forcing them apart.
• Muzan slashed at the isolated Fukasaku, but the body on the ground was only a substitute.

Muzan’s forces overwhelmed Mount Myoboku as Fukasaku and Shima tried to evacuate the survivors, while Jiraiya fought Pain, Obito, and Konan to protect Naruto. The chapter left Jiraiya trapped behind an Earth-Style Wall as Konan’s Explosive Tags surrounded him.

• Fukasaku told Shima to escape with the Great Toad Sage and find Jiraiya and Naruto, then fought Muzan to buy them time.
• Shima escaped Muzan and began gathering the little toads, while the Great Toad Sage told her to take Naruto and remain behind.
• Jiraiya fought Pain while protecting Naruto, then faced Obito and Zetsu as they approached the Nine-Tails.
• Obito tried to capture Naruto with his ocular jutsu, but Jiraiya seized the opening created by the conflict between Obito and Pain.
• Konan blocked Jiraiya’s route with Explosive Tags, and Jiraiya raised an Earth-Style Wall to shield himself.

Muzan defeated Fukasaku and advanced into Mount Myoboku to confront the Great Toad Sage, while the fighting continued elsewhere. The Great Toad Sage claimed he had foreseen Muzan's death, and strange Natural Energy and thick fog disrupted Muzan's attack as the Twelve Kizuki rushed to him.

• Muzan defeated Fukasaku, whose corpse he had Haku freeze to provoke Mount Myoboku's toads.
• Muzan told Pakura to accompany him toward the Great Toad Sage while Kabuto blocked Gamabunta and his brothers.
• Muzan reached the Great Toad Sage, who said he had foreseen his own death and Muzan's death at Mount Myoboku.
• Muzan attacked with a bone spur, but strange Natural Energy spread cracks through the surroundings and thick fog enveloped the area.
• The Twelve Kizuki sensed a change in Muzan's aura and rushed toward him.

Muzan defeated the Great Toad Sage and destroyed Mount Myoboku, leaving two of the Three Great Sage Regions. He went on to conquer the Shinobi World and unify it under the Land of Waves, then looked over a prosperous city built under his rule.

• Muzan struck the Great Toad Sage hard enough to stop its petrification and send it crashing into a mountain peak.
• Muzan and his followers slaughtered Mount Myoboku’s defenders, leaving only fleeing little toads.
• Muzan’s forces steadily conquered the Shinobi World, driving nobles and traditional shinobi into hiding.
• The Land of Waves forced the five nations to kneel and unified the Shinobi World under Muzan’s rule.
• Muzan stood above a prosperous city and reflected that his conquest was finally over.