Recaps

Muzan clashed with Dodai after beating the Cloud Ninja delegation, while Hizashi and Muzan uncovered the Cloud Ninja's plan to steal a Byakugan. Dodai reached Hinata's room but found Muzan and a Hyuga Jōnin waiting for him.

• Dodai confronted Muzan at Konoha Hospital, but Muzan denied responsibility for the Cloud Ninja's injuries and sent them away with a costly list of medicines.
• Dodai and his injured teammates planned to use peace negotiations as a distraction while Dodai stole a Hyuga Byakugan.
• The Cloud Ninja delegation began negotiations with Minato Namikaze, the Third Hokage, and Danzo while Hizashi's Byakugan tracked their movements.
• Hizashi asked Muzan to help after a Cloud Ninja intruder entered the Hyuga compound and killed a Branch Family Jōnin.
• Dodai approached Hinata's room and found Muzan and a Hyuga Jōnin waiting in the courtyard.

Dodai infiltrated the Hyuga clan grounds and attacked Hinata, but Muzan and Hizashi stopped him before he could abduct her. After Dodai’s escape became uncertain and Hyuga reinforcements arrived, Hyuga Baiyuan blamed the Branch Family and prepared to punish them for failing to protect Hinata.

• Dodai used Earth Release to attack, but Muzan and Hizashi overwhelmed him and blocked his attempts to escape.
• Dodai charged at Hinata, but Muzan stopped him with Monster Strength Fist and grabbed Hinata before Dodai could reach her.
• Dodai struck Muzan with a kunai, while Hizashi defended them from further attacks.
• Hyuga Branch Family members arrived, protected Hinata, and pursued Dodai as Hiashi took Hinata into his care.
• Hyuga Baiyuan condemned the Branch Family for failing to protect Hinata, and Hyuga Xihe knelt and begged him for another chance.

Hizashi resisted the Hyuga Main House, but Muzan appeared to kill him and secretly helped him fake his death so he could leave Konoha under a new identity. The Hokage learned of Hizashi’s death as Konoha’s troubles continued to build.

• Hyuga Baiyuan activated Xihe’s Caged Bird, and Muzan approved of Hizashi for enduring the pain without begging.
• Hizashi struck Hyuga Baiyuan and declared that he was resisting the Branch House’s unfair fate, while Hyuga Hiashi tried to stop the Main House from attacking him.
• Muzan whispered to Hizashi about their plan involving the Land of Waves and Pakura, then cut off Hizashi’s head in front of the Hyuga clan.
• Muzan carried Hizashi’s body away, where Hizashi revealed that he had survived and agreed to leave Konoha under a new identity as Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki.
• The Hokage received news of Hizashi’s death and worried about the public reaction.

Muzan and Orochimaru completed the first successful prototype of Living Corpse Reincarnation by implanting part of a soul into a Cursed Seal. Orochimaru planned to obtain more human subjects for experiments, while Minato reviewed troubling intelligence as Konoha began rebuilding.

• After the peace talks, the Cloud Ninja withdrew from the border and the Shinobi World entered a brief calm.
• Muzan stayed with Orochimaru and helped conduct human experiments, making progress on genetic research.
• Orochimaru and Muzan stabilized a Cursed Seal containing part of a soul and confirmed the first step toward Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru said they needed more human bodies and complained that Danzo was moving too slowly.
• Minato managed Konoha's rebuilding and read an intelligence report that left him troubled.

Muzan and Orochimaru prepared to plunder the village before their activities were discovered, while Pakura waited nearby for Muzan’s signal. As Konoha’s Anbu watched Muzan, Kakashi warned him to be careful and offered to speak to the Hokage on his behalf.

• Orochimaru and Muzan left the laboratory to gather more resources before anyone found them.
• Muzan noticed a Byakugan watching him through the trees, then saw it guide him onward.
• Pakura arrived in Konoha, and Muzan praised her mastery of the Flame Blood Demon Art before telling her to await his message.
• Muzan noticed that Anbu were watching him amid panic over villagers disappearing.
• Kakashi handed Muzan a drink and asked why Anbu squads were following him.
• Muzan blamed Orochimaru’s rift with Minato, and Kakashi urged him to stay at the Hatake Household and promised to speak to the Hokage.

Muzan fought his way through Konoha while trying to escape and reunite with Orochimaru. After Sakumo Hatake confronted him, Muzan revealed his Demon King form, and another opponent arrived to block his path.

• Muzan defeated Kakashi and the ninjas who confronted him, then fired a Great Dragon Fire into the sky to draw attention away from Orochimaru.
• Pakura saw the signal and moved toward the village as Konoha's Anbu and Sakumo Hatake responded.
• Muzan reached Konoha's edge, where Sakumo challenged him over his experiments and tried to persuade him to surrender.
• Muzan and Sakumo clashed, and Muzan transformed his blade with his Blood Demon Art: Blood Fang Blade.
• Muzan told Sakumo that Orochimaru had likely already escaped and that he needed to reach him, when another opponent arrived and challenged him.

Minato Namikaze and Sakumo confronted Muzan, but Pakura arrived to support him and the fight became two against two. Sakumo wounded Muzan, who healed and gained the advantage, so Minato summoned Gamabunta to stop him from escaping Konoha.

• Minato Namikaze used Flying Raijin and Rasengan against Muzan, who healed from the attack and countered with his Blood Demon Art.
• Pakura arrived and took on Minato, filling the battlefield with flames while Muzan faced Sakumo.
• Muzan struck Sakumo with invisible attacks, but Sakumo retaliated with lightning and cut into Muzan with his ninja blade.
• Muzan healed his wound and altered his Blood Flesh Demon Blade, injuring Sakumo and turning their clash in his favor.
• Minato summoned Gamabunta and asked him to stop Muzan from escaping Konoha.

Muzan and Pakura escaped Konoha after Muzan overwhelmed Gamabunta and Minato dismissed the summon to save him. As Konoha branded Muzan and Orochimaru S-class rogue ninja, Muzan headed toward the Land of Waves and planned to draw Kakuzu into his organization by disrupting his bounty work.

• Muzan used Sage Mode and his Blood Demon Arts to trap and weaken Gamabunta, while Sakumo Hatake and Minato Namikaze failed to stop him.
• Minato dismissed Gamabunta to save him, and Pakura raised a pillar of fire that kept Minato from using Flying Raijin as Muzan fled into the Forest of Death.
• Minato ordered the Anbu to hunt Muzan and Orochimaru as S-class rogue ninja, while Sakumo watched Muzan leave with worry.
• Muzan and Pakura shook off the pursuing Anbu and continued toward the Land of Waves, where Pakura reported that the laboratory was safe.
• Muzan learned that Kakuzu had not arrived and planned to disrupt his bounty income so Kakuzu would seek him out.

Muzan and Pakura impersonated Kakuzu to collect bounties, leaving Kakuzu blamed and blacklisted by the Bounty Guild. Muzan found Kakuzu and offered him money and a role managing the organization’s finances, leaving Kakuzu tempted by the deal.

• Muzan and Pakura repeatedly used a fake death to claim bounties while Muzan disguised himself as Kakuzu.
• The Bounty Guild discovered that some supposed bounty targets were still alive and realized it had been defrauded.
• The guilds blamed Kakuzu, blacklisted him, and left him unable to collect bounties or earn money.
• Muzan tracked down Kakuzu, who recognized him as the impersonator and held back from attacking because of Pakura’s presence.
• Muzan revealed his identity and offered Kakuzu compensation, a place in the organization, and control of its finances.
• Muzan promised that the organization’s money could make a pile taller than a hill, and Kakuzu gathered the scattered bills while considering the offer.

Muzan built a laboratory in the Land of Waves and ordered Pakura and Kakuzu to suppress local resistance and provide human test subjects for his experiments. As Muzan worked to create stronger Man-Eating Demons, Zabuza and Haku arrived with the Demon Men, unaware of the full danger awaiting them.

• Muzan inspected Pakura’s laboratory and told her to capture the fishermen protesting the construction for use as test subjects.
• Muzan put Kakuzu in charge of Blood Moon’s money and continued experiments that made Man-Eating Demons grow fur in extreme cold.
• Pakura’s men brought captured fishermen to Muzan, who ordered them onto operating tables despite one fisherman’s warning that shinobi had been hired.
• Zabuza arrived in the Land of Waves with Haku and the Demon Men, viewing the foggy island as a suitable foothold.
• Haku persuaded Zabuza to drive out the people occupying the island rather than kill them, and Zabuza led the group into the area.

Muzan lured Zabuza’s group into the Blood Moon headquarters and targeted Haku for his Ice Release Bloodline Limit. Zabuza tried to protect Haku, but Pakura intercepted him as Muzan reached the boy.

• Muzan learned that Zabuza’s group had entered the island and ordered them allowed inside, warning Pakura not to harm Haku.
• Zabuza sensed danger and told Haku to stay close before Pakura revealed herself and split the mist with flames.
• Zabuza recognized Pakura and ordered his group to retreat while he held her off.
• Muzan arrived and offered the Demon Corps a place in his ranks, then rushed toward Haku as the corps knelt before him.
• Pakura seized Zabuza, whose Executioner’s Blade cut through her body before she healed herself.

Muzan transformed Haku into a Man-Eating Demon, combining his Ice Release with extreme cold to awaken a powerful Blood Demon Art. Haku survived and demonstrated his freezing abilities, though Muzan judged them insufficient against top-tier experts.

• Muzan incapacitated Zabuza and forced Haku to cooperate by threatening Zabuza's life.
• Muzan took Haku to the laboratory and injected him with Man-Eating Demon blood while Pakura assisted and the room was chilled to its lowest temperature.
• Haku underwent the transformation, his blood turned blue, and he awakened a Blood Demon Art that drove the laboratory's temperature below its limits.
• Muzan learned that Haku was a boy and tested his strength outside, where Haku's Falling Ice Rain froze the surrounding area.
• Haku used Ice Lotus Frost Assault, while Muzan assessed that his abilities were terrifying but not yet enough to defeat top-tier experts.

Muzan helped Haku awaken two powerful Blood Demon Arts, but Haku fainted from the energy required to use them. In the Land of Waves, Kakuzu warned Muzan about bad debts, while Muzan ordered Zabuza to serve him and promised to deal with the Hidden Mist Village.

• Haku's Blood Demon Art caused ice lotuses to bloom, but Muzan cut them down with his Blood Fang Blade and praised Haku before he fainted from exhaustion.
• Muzan ordered Haku to be taken back and said he could keep the title of Lower Rank Three and work toward becoming an Upper Rank.
• Kakuzu reported that unpaid arms invoices were becoming bad debts that could damage Blood Moon's cash flow, and Muzan ordered the organization to stop selling weapons at low prices.
• Muzan woke Zabuza with a Water Release technique and told him that serving Blood Moon would protect him and Haku from the Hidden Mist Village.
• Zabuza threatened Muzan, but Muzan struck him into a tree and warned him to obey or be prepared to die.

Muzan traveled to the Land of Crafts to obtain custom parts for his laboratory, while declaring his plan to overturn the existing order and draw every nation into a new war. The Land of Crafts' leaders debated how to respond to the loss of business to his factories, and the chapter ended as its Crafts Shadow prepared to meet Muzan's caravan.

• Muzan told Zabuza and Pakura that he intended to destroy the existing system and build a technological world, then assigned Kakuzu to funding and sent Zabuza to collect debts.
• Pakura explained that Muzan's factory-made tools had taken many orders from the Land of Crafts, so Muzan decided to travel there with Shanye Song for custom parts.
• The Crafts Village's leaders examined identical tools from the Land of Waves and worried that their traditional workshops could not compete with factory production.
• A Crafts Village leader proposed cooperating with Muzan to obtain factory machinery, but the group had no plan for persuading him.
• Muzan arrived in the Land of Crafts with his identity unconcealed, and Shanye Song offered to deal with anyone who obstructed them.
• The Crafts Shadow waited with others at the village entrance to receive Muzan, reminding his companions not to forget their plan.

Muzan negotiated a factory partnership with Crafts Shadow in the Land of Crafts, then encountered Sasori while he was selecting iron ore. Their fight began, and Sasori summoned his puppets as Muzan prepared to face him.

• Crafts Shadow agreed to Muzan's custom parts and factory proposal, with craftsmen from the Land of Waves handling the factory's crucial work.
• Muzan spotted Sasori selecting iron ore and recognized the Akatsuki puppet master.
• Muzan and Sasori clashed, and the village chief ordered the nearby blacksmiths to flee from the battle.
• Shanye Song attacked Sasori but was struck by poisoned needles and thrown aside by Sasori's tail.
• Muzan told Shanye Song to keep others from interrupting, then used his serrated demonic blade to cut through Sasori's concealed weapons.
• Sasori produced a scroll and began deploying his puppets against Muzan.

Muzan fought Sasori and his puppets near the iron mines, overcoming the Third Kazekage’s Magnet Release and confronting Sasori in his Hiruko shell. The battle continued as Muzan shattered Hiruko’s tail, while Sasori’s strongest technique remained unused.

• Sasori sent three puppets to attack Muzan, who destroyed them and blocked their poison needles.
• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage puppet, whose Magnet Release trapped Muzan’s sword and attacked him with iron sand.
• Muzan cut through the iron sand with his Chakra Scalpel and blocked Hiruko’s poison needles with expendable flesh.
• Sasori held back the Performance of One Hundred Puppets because Shanye Song was nearby and could resist poison and recover from injuries.
• Muzan struck Hiruko’s tail with the Monster Strength Fist, cracking and breaking it apart.
• Sasori followed up with the Deadly Poison Greatsword.

Muzan fought Sasori in the Land of Crafts, but Sasori escaped after his puppets were badly damaged. Sasori returned to Akatsuki and told Konan he had encountered a powerful expert, while Muzan remained determined to kill him if they met again.

• Sasori used the Third Kazekage puppet to block Muzan's Monster Strength Fist, but Muzan's punch battered Hiruko and sent the puppet flying.
• Sasori decided he could not defeat Muzan at an acceptable cost, then attacked with concealed weapons, fire, and poison before escaping with the Substitution Jutsu.
• Muzan blamed Shanye Song for failing to track Sasori and injured him, while Shanye Song resolved to strengthen his Blood Demon Art.
• Muzan declined the village chief's offer to recuperate and said the villagers could use the blueprints he had given them.
• Sasori returned to Akatsuki with Hiruko badly damaged, told Konan he had encountered a powerful expert, and planned to investigate Muzan after repairing his puppet.

Muzan planned to reclaim land in the Land of Waves to make room for industrial growth, but he needed soil and support from the daimyo. He left the negotiations unresolved, while Kakuzu warned him about dealing with the nobles.

• Konan ordered people to monitor the Land of Crafts and the organization that had fought Sasori, while Sasori investigated the country.
• Muzan returned to the Land of Waves and identified limited population and soil as obstacles to development.
• Muzan proposed reclaiming land from the sea, despite Kakuzu's alarm about the cost and the interruption to their work.
• Muzan explained that the Land of Waves would keep advanced processing under its control while basic factories elsewhere generated wealth.
• Muzan said he needed to negotiate with the daimyo for soil, and Kakuzu refused to handle the matter and warned him not to clash with the nobles.

Muzan decided that the Land of Waves needed skilled settlers and planned to contact nearby daimyo and gather children displaced by war. In Konoha, Kakashi’s investigation ended, and he took a mission to protect Muchuan Songhe, hoping it would help him pursue Muzan.

• Muzan concluded that the Land of Waves needed a large, educated population to support its new laboratories and factories.
• Muzan told Muchuan that he would personally seek settlers and contact with the surrounding daimyo, while the Blood Moon Organization continued its other work.
• Kakashi and Sakumo Hatake remained under investigation in Konoha, with Sakumo reflecting on how little he understood Muzan.
• An Anbu delivered Kakashi a mission to escort Muchuan Songhe back to his territory, and the investigation into Kakashi and Sakumo ended.
• Kakashi accepted the mission as a chance to regain influence and investigate Muzan, despite Sakumo’s warning that protecting nobles was politically risky.
• Kakashi and his team reached the Muchuan Household, where Kakashi had to wait outside because of his status as a ninja.

Muzan arrived at the Mukawa Clan to discuss business, but rogue ninja threatened him and Haku outside the gate. Haku killed them instantly, leaving Mukawa Hui terrified.

• Muzan and Haku waited outside the Mukawa Clan gate while rogue ninja watched them and considered abducting Haku.
• Mukawa Hui came out and angrily rejected the rogue ninja, who demanded payment for their failed mission and threatened to attack him.
• Muzan stepped between the two sides and offered to kill the rogue ninja for Mukawa Hui, who agreed to pay him.
• The rogue ninja charged, and Haku froze all five into ice pillars before crumbling them into icy powder.
• Mukawa Hui collapsed in terror after witnessing Haku's power.

Muzan and Haku went to the Daimyō Palace to assassinate Muchuan Songhe, who had hired Kakashi as his bodyguard for the return to his estate. The pair entered the palace grounds by night, leaving the confrontation imminent.

• Muzan reminded Haku that their mission was to kill Muchuan Songhe and told him not to dwell on the city’s prosperity.
• Muchuan Songhe asked Kakashi to protect him as he returned to his estate, and Kakashi agreed.
• Muzan and Haku bypassed the palace’s main gate and entered the courtyard under cover of darkness.

Haku fought Kakashi using his Blood Demon Art, overwhelming him with freezing rain despite taking a Rasengan head-on. Muzan freed the unconscious Kakashi from the ice and told Haku to finish quickly as the disturbance had grown too large.

• Kakashi observed that he could not sense chakra or hand seals in Haku's attacks and prepared to end the fight quickly.
• Kakashi's Great Fireball Technique vanished in Haku's ice and snow, and Haku said he only wanted to kill his mission's target.
• Kakashi struck Haku with a Rasengan as Haku unleashed Blood Demon Art: Falling Ice Rain.
• Haku crashed through a wall but regenerated, while Kakashi was frozen solid by the falling ice rain.
• Muzan dispelled the ice around Kakashi, who fell unconscious, and urged Haku to finish quickly.

Muzan crushed Yoshino Go’s attempt to attack him and turned toward Muchuan Songhe, whom he had come to kill. He encountered three former Anbu comrades guarding the unconscious target and began fighting them.

• Muzan caught Yoshino Go’s arm before the blade could reach his neck, broke both his arms, and hurled him across the snow.
• An Anbu rushed to save Yoshino Go, but Muzan killed him with a kunai to the heart.
• Muzan entered the room and found three masked Konoha Anbu guarding the unconscious Muchuan Songhe.
• The Anbu recognized Muzan, and two attacked him while the third retreated to protect Muchuan Songhe.
• Muzan moved between the two attackers with blue light in his palm and outpaced them.

Muzan and Haku escaped Konoha’s search and brought Muchuan Songhe’s corpse to Mukawa Hui, confirming that Hui’s assassination plot had succeeded. As Hui celebrated becoming the sole heir, an old voice challenged whether he would inherit the position at all.

• The Fire Daimyo ordered Konoha to find the attackers, prompting investigations and clashes with wandering ninja across the Land of Fire.
• Muzan and Haku evaded the Byakugan search, but Jiraiya tracked their route with toads and headed toward the Mukawa Estate.
• Mukawa Hui anxiously waited at the estate, convinced that failing to kill Muchuan Songhe would bring ruin upon him.
• Muzan and Haku arrived and produced Muchuan Songhe’s corpse, and Mukawa Hui laughed as he declared himself the only heir.
• Muzan reminded Mukawa Hui of their agreement, but an aged voice said Hui first had to inherit the position.

Muzan helped Mukawa Hui seize Mukawa Estate and explained his plan to make the daimyo a powerless figurehead while developing the Land of Waves. As Haku embraced the goal of growing stronger and changing the world, Jiraiya entered the estate to search for Muzan, who sensed his arrival.

• Mukawa Hui killed his father with Haku's help and pledged to maintain his alliance with Muzan.
• Muzan encouraged Haku to reject the nobles' abuses and pointed to the Land of Waves as a safer home.
• Muzan told Mukawa Hui where to mine discreetly and suggested he could become the daimyo of the Land of Fire.
• Muzan explained to Haku that a puppet daimyo could serve as a powerless symbol, and Haku resolved to grow stronger and change the world.
• Jiraiya infiltrated Mukawa Estate in disguise to find Muzan, who sensed him approaching and called him an old friend.