Chapter Summaries

Muzan returned to Konoha with Orochimaru’s research materials and studied genetic modification as war loomed. The chapter left him examining the brutal experiments behind Orochimaru’s cellular research.

• Orochimaru told Muzan to return to Konoha with the food convoy and warned him to be more careful when taking valuables from enemies.
• Muzan asked to study genetic modification, and Orochimaru gave him research materials related to his sunlight condition.
• Muzan deduced that the convoy’s accompanying ninja were reinforcing the front lines, while Anko and Mari excitedly talked about earning reputations in war.
• Mujie warned them about war’s casualties, and Muzan insisted that Konoha would remain strong.
• The convoy reached Konoha, where Muzan began studying Orochimaru’s notes and discovered records of extensive experiments on ordinary people and Bloodline Limit users.

Muzan discovered that Orochimaru was researching cultured cells but lacked the funds and materials to continue his own research. After villagers blamed Sakumo for Konoha’s losses, Muzan attacked them and fought the Anbu who intervened, ending the chapter as he unleashed Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.

• Muzan examined Orochimaru’s notebook, considered researching Hashirama’s cells, and realized he needed money and materials.
• A woman entered Muzan’s empty laboratory and worried that Orochimaru might lead him into dangerous experiments.
• Villagers accused Sakumo of causing Konoha’s losses, and Muzan attacked them with brambles.
• Three masked Anbu appeared and ordered Muzan to release the civilians, but he injured the villagers and knocked them unconscious.
• Muzan used Black Blood Brambles to block the Anbu’s attacks, and their squad combined fire, wind, and sealing techniques against him.
• Muzan countered with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands as the Anbu warned one another to dodge.

Muzan and Tsunade clashed after he attacked three Root operatives, and Sakumo arrived to defend his son. After the incident, Muzan confronted Sakumo about his despair over a failed mission and revealed that the failure had been a trap designed to ruin his chances of becoming Hokage.

• A poisoned Muzan bound three ninjas with thorny vines, but Tsunade struck him and exposed his body to sunlight.
• Sakumo arrived, clashed with Tsunade, and demanded an explanation for her attack on Muzan.
• Muzan urged Tsunade to investigate how the three men learned about Sakumo's failed mission, and she promised to look into it.
• Muzan received a one-month confinement order and then told Sakumo that a traitor among his subordinates had made the mission's failure inevitable.
• Muzan explained that the mission had been a trap intended to keep Sakumo from competing for the position of Hokage.

Muzan explained that Danzo’s Root operatives had framed Sakumo to damage his reputation as a potential Hokage, while Tsunade failed to make Danzo answer for it. As Konoha’s tensions and the threat of war grew, Muzan focused on his experiments until a new incident disrupted the calm.

• Muzan told Sakumo that Danzo’s Root ninja had betrayed him to undermine his standing as a potential Hokage, and Sakumo resolved not to trust Konoha’s upper ranks again.
• A blast struck the Hokage Office, and Tsunade later returned exhausted after confronting Danzo but failing to secure justice for Sakumo.
• Sakumo accepted that he would be confined for a month, while Muzan warned him that Konoha’s forces were being sent to the Cloud Ninja front.
• Sakumo placed hope in Konoha’s contact with the Third Kazekage, but Muzan warned him not to trust that alliance.
• Muzan spent the following days on his experiments, wary of Danzo’s schemes, until a new incident unsettled Konoha.

After Tsunade left Konoha with Shizune, Muzan chafed at being confined to the village and began plotting to profit from the coming war. News that Sunagakure’s Kazekage had disappeared stirred tensions, while Konoha’s leaders considered the threat of Sunagakure exploiting the situation.

• Anko and Mari told Muzan that Tsunade had left Konoha with Shizune, and Muzan realized his frustration came from being unable to live freely.
• Muzan punched Anko and Mari after they mistook his laughter for grief, then took them to the bustling district as trade slowed and prices rose.
• At a weapon shop, Muzan heard that Sunagakure ninja were searching for their missing Kazekage and decided the crisis could make him money.
• Muzan borrowed money from everyone he could and prepared to spend it all on weapons, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others discussed Sunagakure’s reaction to the Kazekage’s disappearance.
• Danzo denied targeting the Kazekage, and the Konoha leaders recognized that Sunagakure might exploit any sign of weakness.

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.