Chapter Summaries

Muzan transformed Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru into Man-Eating Demons, and their bodies fused into a single being with Raiga as the body and Ranmaru as the eyes. He made them members of the Twelve Kizuki, leaving their rank to be decided by a Position-Swapping Blood Battle after they returned to the Land of Waves.

• Haku froze Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru with his Blood Demon Art, leaving Ranmaru near death in the cold.
• Muzan offered Raiga a place in the Twelve Kizuki, and Raiga agreed on the condition that Ranmaru be saved.
• Muzan bit both Raiga and Ranmaru to transform them, and their bodies began to fuse as Ranmaru awakened.
• Raiga and Ranmaru became a twin Man-Eating Demon, with Ranmaru's Red-Eye Bloodline Limit distorting Muzan's perception.
• Muzan named them members of the Twelve Kizuki and said their rank would be determined by a Position-Swapping Blood Battle.

Muzan strengthened and reorganized the Twelve Kizuki, then ordered Mukawa Hui to plunge the Land of Fire into chaos and prepare for war with Konoha. As the invasion began, the Land of Fire’s nobles sensed the danger.

• Mukawa Hui told Muzan that the merchants of the Land of Fire had united and that some nobles wanted to ally with him, but Muzan declared that he sought to abolish the feudal system rather than rule alongside nobles.
• Muzan gathered the Twelve Kizuki, gave them Cursed Seals, and saw Shanye Song’s Blood Demon Art transform to produce Natural Energy-infused explosive eyeballs.
• Muzan tested the Twelve Kizuki in battle and reassigned their ranks, placing Pakura at Upper Rank Four and Haku at Lower Rank One.
• Muzan ordered Mukawa Hui to spread unrest and incite an uprising in the Land of Fire, then told the Twelve Kizuki to prepare for battle with Konoha.
• The Land of Waves began a large-scale invasion of the Land of Fire, and its nobles sensed the danger.

As the Land of Fire descended into famine and rebellion, the Land of Waves declared war, prompting the daimyo to seek help from ninja villages. Back in the Land of Waves, Muzan and Kabuto investigated the Man-Eating Demons’ weakness to sunlight and identified a missing gene they needed to replace.

• Muzan’s schemes drove food prices in the Land of Fire higher and spread unrest as people heard of the Land of Waves’ prosperity.
• The daimyo learned that the Land of Waves had declared war and ordered his advisers to hire ninja from Konoha and other villages.
• Muzan sent the Twelve Kizuki to the front lines while he returned to the Land of Waves to conduct Man-Eating Demon experiments with Kabuto.
• Muzan showed Kabuto that natural energy only temporarily delayed the damage sunlight caused to a Man-Eating Demon.
• Kabuto identified a missing gene segment called the X Gene and concluded that they would need special materials to replace it.

Muzan and Kabuto discussed the Jashin Cult before a Tailed Beast Ball struck the Land of Waves. Muzan confronted Hidden Cloud Village's Killer B and Yugito Nii as their attack devastated his territory, while Dodai's plan unfolded successfully.

• Muzan decided to postpone dealing with the Jashin Cult, and Kabuto offered to investigate it.
• A Tailed Beast Ball destroyed a factory in the Land of Waves, and Muzan sent Kabuto to protect civilians before rushing to face the attackers.
• Muzan recognized Killer B and confronted the Hidden Cloud ninja, but Yugito Nii attacked him from behind and wounded him.
• Killer B and Yugito Nii fought Muzan as the Eight-Tails' attacks reduced the surrounding area to ruins.
• Dodai's plan to strike the Land of Waves' home base succeeded while its strongest fighters were away at the front lines.

Muzan fought Killer B and Yugito Nii as they attacked the Land of Waves, using his Blood Demon Art and swordsmanship to wound the Eight-Tails. After Yugito Nii blasted him with a Tailed Beast attack, Muzan regenerated, summoned three giant snakes to hold her back, and rushed at Killer B in Demon King Form.

• Muzan used his thorn-covered greatsword to strike Killer B and wound the Eight-Tails, then sent brambles to restrain them.
• Yugito Nii transformed into her full Tailed Beast form and blasted Muzan with a massive fireball, leaving him badly damaged.
• Muzan regenerated and summoned three giant pythons to block Yugito Nii.
• Muzan entered Demon King Form, devoured natural energy, and charged at Killer B.

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.