Recaps

As Konoha prepared for war, the Third Hokage assigned shinobi to guard its borders while Danzo’s call to invade Sunagakure was rejected. Muzan sold his stockpile of Explosive Tags for a large profit, leaving him with funds for his research as the war approached.

• Danzo urged Konoha to invade Sunagakure, but Utatane Koharu and the Third Hokage opposed him over the risks and costs.
• The Third Hokage assigned Orochimaru to the Sunagakure border and Sakumo to the Kumogakure front, while Minato’s mobility made him a potential reinforcement.
• Sakumo warned Muzan and his other child to avoid the battlefield while he was away, and Muzan assured him he could handle himself.
• Muzan, Anko, and Mari prepared to sell the Explosive Tags Muzan had bought with borrowed money and Kakashi’s hidden savings.
• Muzan sold the Explosive Tags at the Konoha Ninja Tool Shop for fifty percent more than he had paid, securing funds for his research.

After the Hidden Cloud Village attacked the Hidden Sand Village, Muzan and his squad were ordered to reinforce Konoha’s front against the Cloud Ninja. The chapter ended with Sakumo learning that Muzan had arrived and assigning him to help treat the wounded.

• The Hidden Cloud Village launched a surprise attack on the Hidden Sand Village while the Third Kazekage was missing.
• Muzan worried that Kakashi had attracted Madara Uchiha’s attention, while Anko and Mari encouraged him before the Hokage’s orders arrived.
• Muzan, Anko, and Mari joined Konoha’s main force and traveled to the Land of Lightning border under an Aburame Clan Elite Jōnin.
• Sakumo’s command discussed the Cloud Ninja’s A-B Combo and the possibility that the Third Raikage and Dodai were also on the battlefield.
• A messenger told Sakumo that reinforcements led by an Aburame Clan Elite Jōnin had arrived, and Sakumo learned Muzan was among them.
• Sakumo ordered Shan Jian Helai to deploy the medical ninja and have them treat the wounded.

Muzan treated critically wounded Konoha ninjas and proposed changes to improve the medical camp’s triage system. Sakumo decided that Muzan would serve as a battlefield doctor rather than remain in the rear.

• Shanjian He assigned Muzan to treat the severely wounded, and Muzan directed Anko, Mari, and the other medical ninjas as they tended patients.
• After treating patients through the afternoon, Muzan spoke with An Yunqingtian about the growing burden on the medical camp and his likely deployment to the battlefield.
• Muzan advised Shanjian He to disinfect severe cases uniformly and sort them by injury location so doctors could treat patients more efficiently.
• Shanjian He reported Muzan’s medical and organizational abilities to Sakumo, who chose to send Muzan on missions with the troops as a battlefield doctor.

Muzan led Anko and Mari on a dangerous mission to locate Hidden Cloud Village's supply route, guiding them through the rocky Land of Lightning while avoiding enemy patrols. After finding a dead Konoha ninja with a crushed chest, Muzan realized a Cloud taijutsu expert was nearby and buried the body before continuing the search.

• Sakumo assigned Muzan and other Chunin-led teams to investigate the Cloud supply route and ordered them not to attack without authorization.
• Muzan planned to search along a river with Anko and Mari, using the current as an escape route if they encountered the enemy.
• Muzan explained to Anko and Mari that wars were fought over resources and that neither side truly won.
• The squad moved through a Stone Forest, found traces of Cloud Ninja activity, and took turns resting as Muzan kept watch.
• Muzan spotted a Konoha ninja's body in the river and found that a powerful blow had crushed the man's chest.
• Muzan buried the body and warned himself that the squad needed to hurry before the Cloud Ninja expanded their search.

Muzan, Anko, and Mari were discovered by a five-person Cloud Ninja squad led by Yun Zhi'anshang, who wanted to capture Muzan alive as Sakumo Hatake’s son. As the squad attacked with a combined Water Release, Anko and Mari struggled to defend against the wave.

• Muzan told Anko and Mari that Cloud Ninja were active nearby and warned them to avoid leaving tracks in the mud.
• Mari detected two approaching Cloud Ninja, and the group hid while the men discussed their search and Killer B.
• Yun Zhi'anshang found fresh mud marks and led four other Chunin in pursuit of Muzan’s group.
• Yun Zhi'anshang recognized Muzan and ordered his squad to kill Anko and Mari but take Muzan alive.
• Muzan drew his sword and faced the squad, which answered with a combined Water Release: Water Wall.

Muzan separated Anko and Mari from the fight, then faced Yun Zhi'anshang and four Cloud Ninja alone. After cutting down one opponent with his Hatake Sword Technique and water lashes, he unleashed a Water Dragon Bullet Technique, leaving Anko and Mari stunned by his strength.

• Muzan used an Earth-Style Wall to redirect the rushing water, then hurled Anko and Mari toward the nearby Stone Forest to keep them out of the fight.
• Yun Zhi'anshang confronted Muzan, who charged with the Hatake Sword Technique and forced the Cloud Ninja to retreat.
• The Cloud Ninja attacked Muzan with Water Fang Bullet, but he dodged their strikes and used invisible water lashes to bloody one of them.
• Muzan formed forty-four hand seals and unleashed the Water Dragon Bullet Technique across the river.
• Anko and Mari watched from the Stone Forest and realized they had become dead weight beside Muzan.

Muzan defeated Yun Zhi'anshang and the other Hidden Cloud shinobi, then changed his route after the battle risked exposing his team. He discovered that the group ahead was not a supply convoy but the Hidden Cloud Village's main force, and left Anko and Mari behind to avoid putting them in danger.

• Muzan used a Water Dragon Bullet to overwhelm Yun Zhi'anshang's team, then killed Yun Zhi'anshang.
• Anko and Mari reunited with Muzan, and the three left the damaged river valley before Hidden Cloud patrolmen arrived and reported the battle to Killer B.
• Muzan abandoned the plan to follow the river upstream and chose a flatter area where he expected someone to pass.
• Mari sensed a large group ahead, and Muzan went to investigate while Anko and Mari waited behind.
• Muzan found footprints but no wheel tracks, realizing the group was the Hidden Cloud Village's main force rather than a supply convoy.

Muzan discovered that Anko and Mari had left a misleading capture signal and feared the Cloud Ninja had taken them to their main camp. After night fell, he killed a patrol Genin, took his appearance, and infiltrated the patrol to begin searching for them.

• Killer B and A learned that Konoha ninja had been spotted in the canyon and intensified the search through the Stone Forest.
• Muzan noticed the Cloud Ninja searching nearby and decided to reunite with Anko and Mari, who had also been forced to leave their hiding place.
• Anko and Mari used a Konoha wrist guard as a marker, but it fell into an X that Muzan mistook for a signal that they had been captured.
• Muzan found no trace of Anko and Mari and concluded they had been taken to the Cloud Ninja main camp, so he waited for night to attempt a rescue.
• Muzan killed a Genin at the rear of a patrol, transformed into him, and joined the Cloud Ninja patrol.

Muzan infected Cloud Ninja with Man-Eating Demon transformations to throw their camp into chaos, then entered the interrogation room but found neither Anko nor Mari. After a tortured Konoha shinobi asked him to end their suffering, Muzan killed the prisoners and heard movement outside as he prepared to leave.

• Muzan disguised himself as Mujie and followed a Cloud Ninja patrol toward the interrogation area beside the command post.
• Muzan revealed his monstrous body and spread the infection, triggering attacks across the Cloud Ninja camp.
• A and Killer B fought the transformed shinobi, then ordered the subdued demons tied up and held until dawn.
• Muzan searched the interrogation room for Anko and Mari but found only tortured Konoha shinobi.
• Muzan killed the prisoners at their request, then heard movement outside the room.

Muzan hid in the Cloud interrogation room until Killer B exposed him as the attacker disguised as Mujie. Their fight left Muzan unable to overpower Killer B, but his invisible lashes killed the surrounding ninjas and struck Killer B’s chakra cloak.

• Muzan clung to the interrogation room ceiling while investigators discovered the prisoners had been killed and called for help.
• Killer B sensed someone hiding in the room, destroyed the roof with a strike, and exposed Muzan.
• Cloud ninjas recognized Muzan’s disguise as Mujie, but Killer B identified him as the one behind the camp chaos and ordered the others to stand back.
• Killer B’s sword attacks repeatedly wounded Muzan, whose body healed each slash, so Killer B surrounded himself with a red chakra cloak.
• Muzan unleashed invisible lashes that tore apart the nearby ninjas and struck Killer B’s chakra cloak without harming him.

Muzan attacked the Hidden Cloud Village camp, escaped Killer B, and destroyed the Ghouls he had created before they could run loose. The incident spread rumors of a mysterious ninja called the Scarlet Eye, while Muzan set out to find Anko and Mari and locate the supply corps.

• Muzan transformed and empowered Man-Eating Demons with his blood, sending them to delay Killer B while he escaped into the night.
• Killer B captured the Ghouls, but Muzan’s hidden power turned them to ashes before they could be detained.
• Sakumo reported the attack to Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s offer to investigate and assigned the Anbu instead.
• The Shinobi World heard rumors of the Scarlet Eye, and a corpse identified as Mujie confirmed that Muzan had used his disguise.
• Muzan rested before dawn and planned to find Anko and Mari and locate the supply corps, while the Hidden Cloud Village delayed its war against Konoha.

Muzan tracked the Cloud Ninja provisions to the Stone Forest, where he found Konoha’s elite squad led by Aburame Koji already attacking. Koji’s team faced Dodai and his rubber defenses as the battle escalated into a clash of large-scale techniques.

• Muzan found traces of the provisions convoy and realized Konoha forces had already cleared the area around the battlefield.
• Aburame Koji discovered Muzan nearby and ordered two teammates to block the route while the rest attacked the provisions convoy.
• Muzan heard explosions and rushed into the Stone Forest as the Konoha squad fought the Cloud Ninja.
• Dodai revealed that he had anticipated Konoha’s attack and used Lava Release: Rubber Wall to block their flames and slow Koji’s insects.
• Aburame Koji released his insects in an Insect Tornado, but Dodai declared that Koji had underestimated the Cloud Ninja.

Muzan infiltrated the Cloud Ninja rear during Konoha’s assault and set their supplies ablaze, turning the battle in Konoha’s favor. He escaped while the Cloud Ninja tried to extinguish the fires, but sticky material caught beneath his feet.

• Muzan used the explosions and dust to slip past the fighting, killing several Cloud Ninja Chunin who attacked him.
• Aburame Koji and the Konoha force launched a desperate assault, while Dodai shielded the Cloud Ninja supplies with rubber ninjutsu.
• Caught in an explosion, Muzan survived his injuries and charged toward the supplies.
• Muzan repeatedly used Fireball Jutsu to ignite the supplies, drawing Cloud Ninja away from the front and prompting Aburame Koji to order his team to keep them occupied.
• Dodai tried to reach Muzan, but Aburame Koji and two elite Jonin held him back as Muzan slipped away from the responders and felt something sticky beneath his feet.

Muzan escaped the Cloud Ninja after helping destroy their supply convoy, and Aburame Koji brought him back to Konoha’s camp. With the Hidden Cloud Village’s food stores devastated, both sides settled into a tense stalemate while Muzan faced a new personal problem.

• Muzan escaped the melted-rubber adhesive by using the Substitution Jutsu, then left the battlefield as Aburame Koji and the others withdrew.
• Aburame Koji brought Muzan out of the Cloud Ninja defensive zone and added him to the completed S-rank mission report.
• Sakumo learned that Muzan had helped destroy the supplies and ordered Konoha’s defensive lines reinforced.
• Dodai’s forces salvaged only a third of their food, and A nearly fought Dodai when he heard the news.
• The Hidden Cloud Village held its positions rather than attack, while Konoha’s army remained near the Land of Lightning.

After reuniting with Anko and Mari, Muzan was pulled from his rest to help treat the growing number of wounded at Konoha Camp. He discovered the camp lacked both medical personnel and basic knowledge of blood transfusions, and the chapter left him improvising treatment with chakra.

• Anko scolded Muzan for leaving her and Mari waiting for three days while he completed the S-rank mission, then made him promise to cook for her.
• Anko and Mari told Muzan that the Cloud Ninja had abruptly withdrawn toward their main camp, giving Konoha's forces a brief lull.
• Shanjian He found Muzan after his rest and asked him to help with the surge of wounded and the shortage of medical ninja.
• Muzan agreed to treat the injured and saw that many severely wounded patients needed blood transfusions.
• Shanjian He admitted the camp had too few blood bags and feared transfusions could kill patients, so Muzan told him to use chakra to replenish their blood for now.

Muzan developed a machine that identified blood types, allowing Konoha to sort blood for transfusions and reduce battlefield deaths. Sakumo sent Muzan and the disassembled machine secretly to Konoha, where Shan Jian Helai presented it to the Third Hokage.

• Muzan treated critically ill patients and told Shan Jian Helai to arrange blood and bandages while he developed a blood-type identification machine.
• Muzan built a working machine that identified blood and sorted it into storage units, and Shan Jian Helai reported its usefulness to Sakumo.
• Sakumo ordered the machine and Muzan sent secretly to Konoha, keeping the mission from the escort squad and the camp.
• Anko and Mari assumed Muzan was absorbed in experiments, while Muzan and the escort reached Konoha and drew the attention of its Anbu.
• Shan Jian Helai showed the machine's components to the Third Hokage and explained that it could reduce deaths from blood loss.

Muzan demonstrated his blood-type testing machine to the Third Hokage and earned permission to learn the Strength of a Hundred Technique and Yin Seal. The Third Hokage also backed Muzan’s plan to manufacture the machines, while Danzo began plotting to recruit him into Root.

• Muzan assembled the blood-type testing machine and used Shanjian He’s blood to demonstrate that it identified Type A blood.
• The Third Hokage praised Muzan’s contribution, raised his ninja rank, and offered him a forbidden technique; Danzo separately ordered Root to find a chance to recruit Muzan.
• Muzan asked for the Strength of a Hundred Technique and Yin Seal, and the Third Hokage gave him their cultivation methods while agreeing to take responsibility if Tsunade objected.
• Muzan and the Third Hokage agreed that Muzan would receive one-third of the profits from producing the machines, with Muzan controlling the assembly process.
• The Third Hokage promised to support Muzan’s production plan and assigned Anbu to protect the equipment.

Muzan returned home and reunited with Kakashi before joining him to support Obito after his grandmother’s death. At the funeral, Muzan discovered that Obito’s grandmother was likely a White Zetsu planted by Madara, but he kept the secret and planned to deal with it quietly.

• Muzan returned to Konoha and beat Kakashi after Kakashi complained that he had been gone too long.
• Kakashi told Muzan that Obito’s grandmother had died and that he had been helping the family arrange the funeral.
• Muzan detected White Zetsu’s scent at Obito’s home and realized the body in the coffin was probably a disguise for the White Zetsu who had lived with Obito.
• Muzan decided not to tell Obito or alert Madara, while Kakashi and Muzan comforted Obito as he vowed to become Hokage and marry Rin.
• Muzan considered how to dispose of the still-living White Zetsu in the coffin without anyone hearing it.

After burying Obito’s grandmother, Muzan secretly killed White Zetsu beneath the grave and gained a slight increase in Chakra and physical strength. Danzo’s Root ninjas then tried to bring him in for a meeting, and Muzan confronted them about Danzo’s reputation.

• Muzan comforted Obito, urged him to train, and left Kakashi and Rin to take Obito away from the grave.
• Muzan trapped and devoured White Zetsu inside the coffin, then covered the disturbed earth with ninjutsu.
• A masked Root ninja delivered Danzo’s invitation, but Muzan objected to the threatening manner and disarmed him.
• A second Root ninja with a Sharingan arrived, rebuked Mu Lang, and praised Danzo’s position and Hokage ambitions.
• Muzan recognized the man’s Sharingan and warned the Root ninjas that he knew the rumors about Danzo, locking them in his killing intent.

Muzan fought off Danzo's subordinates Sky Fox and Mu Lang after resisting Sky Fox's genjutsu, then returned home and began training Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. Shanjian He later reported that factories had been arranged to produce the medical equipment parts.

• Sky Fox tried to suppress Muzan with genjutsu and ordered Mu Lang to capture him, but Muzan struck Mu Lang and fought off Sky Fox.
• Sky Fox escaped with the injured Mu Lang, and Muzan left as Konoha ninja arrived to investigate the battle.
• Muzan returned home, told Kakashi not to meddle in the matter, and instructed him to stay with Senior Minato and begin training the next day.
• Muzan trained Kakashi, Obito, and Rin in chakra control and ninjutsu coordination while attempting to master the Yin Seal.
• Shanjian He told Muzan that factories had been arranged to produce the medical equipment parts, using the Hokage's order to secure priority.

Muzan arranged for a Blood Identification Machine to be manufactured and devised incentives to expand Konoha’s blood bank as war approached. Konoha’s blood donation campaign gathered momentum, and the Third Hokage realized Muzan’s efforts could change the Third Ninja War into one involving ordinary people.

• Muzan and Shanjian He arranged a trial production run at the factory, while Muzan kept the machine’s assembly process secret.
• Danzo received the factory components and plotted to make himself indispensable to Muzan.
• Muzan told Shanjian He to recruit his father’s former subordinates and proposed free future blood transfusions and rewards to encourage donations.
• Konoha Hospital advertised the incentives, and villagers—including families with ninja relatives—lined up to donate blood.
• The Third Hokage watched the blood drive and concluded that Muzan’s work could make the Third Ninja War a war beyond the ninja forces.

Koharu Utatane, Danzo, and the Third Hokage discussed Muzan’s role in Konoha and whether he belonged in Root. After Muzan’s successful blood donation plan, Danzo summoned him to the Forest of Death and offered him a place in Root.

• Koharu Utatane suspected Danzo had been involved in Muzan’s recent battle, while Danzo said Muzan was suited to Root.
• The Third Hokage reminded Danzo that everyone had the right to enjoy the sunlight, and Danzo reluctantly acknowledged him.
• Muzan watched villagers donate blood and left the hospital work to Shanjian He, who said the donations would help save wounded shinobi on the front lines.
• Danzo appeared at the hospital and led Muzan to the Forest of Death.
• Danzo offered Muzan a place in Root and promised to make him its leader if he became Hokage.

Muzan refused Danzo’s offer to join Root, prompting Danzo to threaten him and secretly arrange an assassination. When Root attacked him at night in the Forest of Death, Muzan burned through the Aburame Clan’s insect swarm, but three enemies emerged to confront him.

• Danzo offered Muzan a place in Root and power in Konoha, but Muzan refused and Danzo warned him to expect the consequences.
• Muzan sensed a Root operative following him in the Forest of Death and chose not to return home, keeping Kakashi out of the conflict.
• At night, Root sealed off the area with a barrier and genjutsu before sending an insect swarm against Muzan.
• Muzan used Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation to break through the Aburame Clan’s insects and reveal three attackers.
• The attackers declared that they would kill Muzan for Konoha, and Muzan recognized their coordinated team as a serious threat.

Muzan fought three Root ninjas sent by Danzo and survived their coordinated attacks with the Strength of a Hundred Technique. He used a Fire and Earth fusion ninjutsu to burn Aburame Heqing’s insects, then charged Yamanaka Yuntian through the smoke.

• Aburame Heqing filled the barrier with insects while Yamanaka Yuntian disrupted Muzan’s movements and Shanye Song attacked with clones and kunai.
• Muzan healed from the kunai wounds, including a strike through his heart, and knocked Shanye Song back with a Monster Strength Fist.
• Muzan targeted Yamanaka Yuntian with venomous snakes, but Yamanaka deflected them as Shanye Song recovered using Earth Release armor.
• Aburame Heqing softened the ground with Insect Swamp to stop Muzan’s pursuit, but Muzan used Fire Dragon Bullet and Earth Dragon Bullet together to devastate the insects.
• Muzan broke through the smoke and charged Yamanaka Yuntian with Monster Strength Fist.

Muzan overcame Yamanaka Yuntian’s illusion and began transforming him with his blood, causing Yamanaka Yuntian to explode in a rain of blood. Shanye Song and Aburame Heqing struggled to contain Muzan, but Muzan turned his power against Shanye Song and left him under attack.

• Yamanaka Yuntian struck Muzan with the Hell Viewing Technique, but Muzan hit him and broke his spine.
• Shanye Song used Earth Release: Earth Flow River to try to bury Muzan while Aburame Heqing’s insects drained Muzan’s chakra.
• Muzan awakened, stopped the mudflow, and sent a vine into Yamanaka Yuntian that flooded his body with Muzan’s blood.
• Yamanaka Yuntian’s body exploded, and Muzan said his body had been too weak to bear the power he bestowed.
• Shanye Song pushed his Earth Release harder as Aburame Heqing retreated, but something struck Shanye Song from behind and stabbed his ankle.