Chapter Summaries

Muzan watched as Itachi Uchiha killed his own clansmen during the Uchiha civil war, then left with Anbu who had collected eyes from the dead. By dawn, the fighting had ended with more than seventy percent of the Uchiha clan dead.

• Itachi Uchiha killed Uchiha clansmen himself and warned Muzan to stay out of his way.
• A hidden Uchiha attacked Muzan, who seized him and slammed him into the ground before leaving.
• Muzan healed an Anbu ninja and confirmed that his group had not joined the Uchiha battle.
• Muzan and the Anbu left the compound with the eyes they had collected.
• The Uchiha civil war continued until dawn, leaving most of the clan dead and mainly children alive.

Muzan trained Kabuto in medical ninjutsu while experimenting with whether Sage Mode could help his body adapt to sunlight. Danzo brought news that Itachi Uchiha would enter the Anbu, leaving Muzan and Danzo discussing the young Uchiha’s strength.

• Muzan praised Kabuto’s talent and offered to introduce him to Tsunade, then began training him in medical ninjutsu.
• Muzan tested whether maintaining Sage Mode could help his body adapt to sunlight, but found that its natural energy consumption was too high.
• Kabuto studied Muzan’s detailed notes while Muzan continued his experiments in the laboratory.
• Danzo told Muzan that the Uchiha had begun assigning personnel and handed him the list of those entering the Anbu.
• Muzan saw that Itachi Uchiha was joining the Anbu and noted his young age and Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Danzo said Itachi appeared to be the strongest of his generation, and Muzan questioned whether he was truly that strong.

Muzan prepared an Anbu selection designed to test candidates’ combat skills and judgment, while Danzo sought to get Root’s rising talents into the ranks. At the Forest of Death, Muzan and two Elite Jōnin confronted the masked candidates, and Nara Chongdao moved to teach them a lesson.

• Danzo assigned two Elite Jōnin to help Muzan conduct the selection and instructed him to favor Root’s candidates.
• The Anbu candidates gathered at the Forest of Death wearing masks and sensed a dangerous killing intent.
• A kunai flew toward the candidates, and Itachi Uchiha reacted quickly enough to block it.
• Muzan insulted the candidates for failing to withstand the examiners’ killing intent and recognized Itachi’s reflexes.
• Muzan asked Nara Chongdao to teach the candidates a lesson, and the Elite Jōnin prepared to confront them.

Itachi Uchiha tried to evade Muzan during the trial, but Muzan tracked him through the Forest of Death. Itachi set a trap with Explosive Tags, and Muzan charged through the explosions.

• Itachi Uchiha hid in the forest and wondered whether Muzan might be Orochimaru, then sensed Muzan approaching his position.
• Itachi used a Shadow Clone Jutsu to leave false tracks and led Muzan away while his real body took another route.
• Muzan recognized the deception by following Itachi’s scent and swiftly pursued him.
• Itachi strung Explosive Tags across the trees to obstruct Muzan, but Muzan charged straight into them.
• The tags exploded in a burst of flames and smoke, and Muzan declared that the gap between them could not be bridged by Explosive Tags.

Muzan overwhelmed Itachi Uchiha’s defenses and resisted his Sharingan genjutsu during their trial. After Muzan reached Itachi’s side and declared the test over, Itachi recognized that Muzan had awakened Three Tomoe.

• Muzan used two layers of Water Formation Wall to suppress Itachi Uchiha’s Water Fang Bullets and force him back.
• Itachi hid in the mist and used a crow to cast genjutsu, but Muzan noticed the disruption and resisted it.
• Itachi made the crow explode, sending concealed shuriken toward Muzan with the Shuriken Manipulation Technique.
• Muzan used natural energy to appear beside Itachi and ended the trial.
• Itachi cut the threads attached to his hands and saw that Muzan had awakened Three Tomoe.

Muzan continued experimenting on Man-Eating Demons while Danzo reported that Sakumo Hatake's team had vanished on the way back from negotiations with the Hidden Cloud Village. Muzan reacted with killing intent, and Danzo denied Root's involvement as Sakumo's fate remained unknown.

• Muzan concluded that a Man-Eating Demon's evolution could be influenced by its environment and circumstances, though its results remained unpredictable.
• Danzo told Muzan that the Hidden Cloud Village had been provoking Konoha and was demanding compensation during negotiations.
• Muzan suspected the Hidden Cloud Village's real target was the Hyuga clan and trusted Hizashi Hyuga to monitor events in Konoha.
• Danzo revealed that Sakumo Hatake's team had disappeared on their way back to Konoha.
• Muzan released a wave of killing intent at Danzo, who denied Root had harmed Sakumo and suspected the Hidden Cloud Village had attacked him.

Muzan reunited with Sakumo Hatake after he fought off a puppeteer, then helped save the poisoned Ishitaro. Sakumo revealed that the Hidden Cloud Village demanded financial compensation and a public apology, and that its ninjas would come to Konoha with the Raikage’s orders.

• Sakumo Hatake nearly struck Muzan when Muzan approached, but they recognized each other before anyone was hurt.
• Muzan examined the poisoned Ishitaro and used a Chakra Scalpel and medicine to stabilize him.
• Muzan, Sakumo, and their injured companion hurried back to Konoha for treatment.
• Muzan treated Ishitaro by removing poisoned tissue and bone, changing his blood, and forcing out the toxins.
• Sakumo told Muzan that the Hidden Cloud Village sought financial compensation and a public apology, and would send ninjas to Konoha to discuss the demands.

Muzan trained Kabuto in medicine at Konoha Hospital, setting him demanding tasks so he could become a skilled medical ninja and eventually inherit Muzan’s path. After their rounds, Muzan heard wounded ninjas discussing the Cloud Village’s peace talks and compensation demands, details he thought were classified.

• Muzan continued teaching Kabuto medicine and explained that becoming his successor would mean inheriting his name and position.
• Kabuto followed Muzan through the hospital and saw the many patients, including wounded ninjas returning from clashes with the Hidden Cloud Village.
• Muzan assigned Kabuto intensive surgical practice, study of Tsunade’s books, and daily patient and medical-record duties.
• Kabuto pledged to complete Muzan’s tasks and become capable of sharing his burden, and Muzan told him to carry his torch forward.
• After rounds, Muzan overheard wounded ninjas condemning the Cloud Ninja’s compensation demands and wondered how news of the classified negotiations had spread.

Danzo ordered Root to assassinate Hidden Cloud Village’s envoy to provoke a new conflict, while Muzan refused to follow Root’s orders and challenged Danzo’s plan. The chapter left Dodai leading the Cloud delegation toward Konoha, unaware that Danzo had arranged to kill them.

• Danzo decided to have Root assassinate Hidden Cloud Village’s envoy to disrupt peace negotiations.
• Muzan returned to Root and told Danzo he had refused the mission because he was a partner, not a subordinate.
• Danzo warned Muzan that the village might be thrown into turmoil and said he expected him to go to the front lines if war resumed.
• Danzo admitted he had ensured the Cloud delegation would never reach Konoha alive, and Muzan dismissed the plan as foolish.
• Dodai led a small Hidden Cloud squad through the forest toward the Land of Fire border to negotiate peace and secure benefits for his village.

Muzan confronted the injured Cloud Ninja envoys at Konoha Hospital and used their attack on him to test Kabuto’s resolve. After Kabuto intervened, Muzan threatened Dashihe, but someone burst into the room to defend the Cloud Ninja.

• Muzan went to Konoha Hospital and was sent to treat the injured Cloud Ninja envoys.
• Dashihe attacked Muzan, who crushed his wrist and threw him into the other injured ninja before healing the damage.
• Kabuto intervened when Dashihe tried to stab Muzan again, injuring the Cloud Ninja’s arm and earning Muzan’s praise.
• Muzan shielded Kabuto and threatened Dashihe, then stepped on his face after Dashihe threatened to sabotage the peace talks.
• Someone smashed through the hospital room door and ordered Muzan to stop humiliating the Cloud Ninja.

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.