Chapter Summaries

Chiya showed Black Zetsu a manifestation of Kaguya, then agreed to use his intelligence on the Akatsuki and the Tailed Beasts. After Black Zetsu escaped, Chiya visited the recovering Gaara, who offered him Sunagakure’s support.

• Black Zetsu asked to see Kaguya, and Chiya used the mark in his palm to manifest her appearance and Chakra.
• Chiya cut off the Chakra before Black Zetsu could touch Kaguya, then explained that she had no body and lacked many memories.
• Black Zetsu decided to help Chiya gather Tailed Beasts and offered intelligence about their locations and the Akatsuki’s plans.
• Black Zetsu vanished into the ground when Temari entered and told Chiya that Gaara had woken up.
• Chiya visited Gaara, who thanked him for saving his life and promised that Sunagakure would not refuse his requests.
• Gaara asked why the Akatsuki had fought Chiya, and Chiya claimed he had only pursued them after seeing them flee with Gaara.

Sakura challenged Kakashi to assess her year of training, but she could not land a hit and broke down over being unable to help the people who had left her. Kakashi told her he could not teach her, then offered to introduce her to Tsunade, who might turn her strengths into power.

• Sakura attacked Kakashi with manipulated shuriken and close-range strikes, but he defeated her easily.
• Sakura remembered Naruto's sudden departure with Jiraiya and how Danzo refused to tell her where he had gone.
• Sakura asked to continue fighting, but Kakashi restrained her when she lost control.
• Sakura cried over being unable to stop Chiya, Sasuke, and Naruto from leaving, and asked Kakashi to help her become stronger.
• Kakashi said his techniques did not suit Sakura and offered to take her to meet Tsunade, and Sakura agreed.

Kakashi brought Sakura to meet Tsunade, hoping she would train Sakura in Medical Ninjutsu. After learning that Chiya was safe in Sand Village, Sakura explained why she wanted to become stronger, and Tsunade gave her a chance to begin training at Konoha Hospital.

• Kakashi brought Sakura to Tsunade's home, where Shizune said Tsunade had gone to Sand Village after Chiya asked her to save someone.
• Tsunade returned and told the group she had saved Kankuro, while complaining that Chiya had made her walk back from Sand Village.
• Sakura asked Tsunade about Chiya and learned that he had nearly depleted his Chakra and eye power but was physically safe and recovering.
• Kakashi introduced Sakura as his student and said she wanted to study under Tsunade.
• Sakura told Tsunade she wanted to help her companions and had trained alone for a year; Tsunade agreed to give her a chance and ordered her to report to Konoha Hospital at six the next morning.

Sasuke defeated Orochimaru’s gathered ninja and, dissatisfied with his strength compared to Chiya’s, demanded a path to greater power. Orochimaru sent him with Kabuto to Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Art while secretly planning to restore his own power and monitor Sasuke.

• Sasuke used Chidori Stream, Chidori Sharp Spear, and his Sharingan to defeat the ninja in Orochimaru’s training ground.
• Sasuke recalled Chiya’s power, challenged Orochimaru’s claim, and briefly transformed with his Cursed Seal to demonstrate his strength.
• Orochimaru told Sasuke about Ryūchi Cave, where he could seek power greater than the Cursed Seal, and Sasuke ordered him to lead the way.
• Orochimaru instructed Kabuto to guide Sasuke, secretly record his Sage Art training, and report his progress through summoned snakes.
• Kabuto met Sasuke at the hideout entrance, and the two left for Ryūchi Cave.

Naruto lost control while trying to master the Nine-Tails Chakra and badly wounded Jiraiya, so Jiraiya paused their training and began teaching him Chakra Nature Transformation. Naruto discovered that he had a wind affinity and wondered whether he could strengthen Sasuke and Chiya's Fire Release.

• Jiraiya opened Naruto's seal further, but Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra grew to four tails and overwhelmed him.
• Four-tailed Naruto struck Jiraiya, who used Yomi Swamp and a sealing tag to stop him before collapsing from his wounds.
• A few days later, Naruto apologized to Jiraiya, who told him to focus on learning the basics instead of continuing Nine-Tails training.
• Jiraiya explained the five basic Chakra natures and tested Naruto with a sheet of paper, which split to reveal Naruto's wind affinity.
• Naruto asked whether his wind could strengthen Sasuke and Chiya's Fire Release, and Jiraiya told him to first learn to make a proper gust of wind.

Chiya left Sand Village after Konoha seized three eastern outposts under an order from the Land of Wind's daimyo. He went to the first outpost in disguise, defeated the Konoha ninja without killing them, and restored the Sand Village flag as more attackers approached.

• A wounded Sand Village ninja reported that Konoha had taken three outposts and was inspecting caravans along the eastern trade route.
• Gaara ordered Sand Village to avoid fighting Konoha for now, investigate its forces, and send demands for its withdrawal to the daimyo and Konoha.
• Chiya left the office, traveled east in a white mask, and found Konoha ninja occupying the first outpost.
• Chiya knocked down the Konoha ninja with his scabbard and ordered them to leave; their leader led the injured retreat.
• Chiya returned the Sand Village flag to its place as sharp whistles sounded from afar.

Chiya fought Asuma and the Ino–Shika–Cho team to force Konoha’s shinobi out of the outpost, but Guy’s intervention knocked off his mask and revealed him. After Chiya concealed his face again, he refused to yield the outpost, and Guy launched another attack.

• Asuma arrived with Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino, and Chiya demanded that the Konoha shinobi leave the outpost.
• Asuma, Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru coordinated their attacks, but Chiya broke free of Shikamaru’s Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Guy struck Chiya with a kick that knocked off his mask, revealing his face to the Konoha team.
• Ino recognized Chiya and began to cry, while Chiya put his mask back on and again demanded that Konoha leave.
• Asuma refused to abandon the mission, and Guy challenged Chiya before charging at him with Leaf Strong Whirlwind.

Chiya fought Might Guy in a taijutsu spar, first struggling to keep up with his opponent and then matching his attacks with Sage Mode and Futsu no Mitama. The chapter ended with Might Guy's Morning Peacock colliding with Chiya's Sage Art Great Fireball Technique.

• Chiya blocked Might Guy's rapid taijutsu attacks with Futsu no Mitama but fell behind despite his Sharingan.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate and challenged Chiya to a real fight, while Chiya entered Sage Mode.
• Might Guy attacked with two pairs of nunchaku, and Chiya countered with Futsu no Mitama as Sage Mode helped him sense the strikes.
• Chiya infused Futsu no Mitama with fire chakra and sent a wave of flames toward Might Guy.
• Might Guy unleashed Morning Peacock, and Chiya answered with Sage Art, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, sending the two torrents of flame crashing together.

Chiya fought Might Guy until he used a Flying Thunder God mark to hold Futsu no Mitama at Guy’s throat. After Asuma’s group withdrew, Ino left without getting the answers she wanted, and Chiya watched her go only after she was far away.

• Might Guy’s Morning Peacock overwhelmed Chiya’s Great Fireball, and the two continued fighting amid the flames and smoke.
• Chiya secretly placed a Flying Thunder God mark on Might Guy’s lapel during their close-quarters exchange.
• Chiya used the mark to appear beside Might Guy and hold Futsu no Mitama at his throat, ending the fight.
• Asuma said he would report the battle truthfully, then led his group away from the outpost.
• Ino looked back at Chiya several times, but he did not turn around until she had gone far away.

Chiya reclaimed all three Sand Village outposts from Konoha, then left without returning to the village. Pain organized simultaneous Akatsuki missions to capture the Four-Tails and Six-Tails and warned that Chiya might interfere, while he and the masked man resolved to stop Chiya from escaping again.

• Chiya drove Konoha's shinobi out of the remaining two border strongholds, and a Sand shinobi reported that all three outposts had been reclaimed.
• Temari learned that Chiya had already left, while Gaara ordered new border patrols and surveillance.
• Pain assigned Itachi and Kisame to capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Lao Zi, and Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, and Sasori to capture the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata.
• Pain warned the Akatsuki that Chiya might appear and ordered them to report him and delay him until Pain could intervene.
• Kisame and Itachi set out for the Land of Earth, while Kakuzu and Hidan prepared to meet Deidara and Sasori on the way to the Land of Demons.
• Pain questioned the masked man about Chiya's purpose in collecting Tailed Beast Chakra, then declared that Chiya could not be allowed to escape again.

Black Zetsu warned Chiya that Akatsuki was moving to capture the Four-Tails and Six-Tails, forcing Chiya to seek help for the threatened Land of Demons. In Konoha, Danzo learned Chiya had defeated Asuma and Might Guy at the Land of Wind border, halted the operation there, and ordered an investigation into Chiya’s movements and allies.

• Black Zetsu told Chiya that Akatsuki would target the Four-Tails and Six-Tails at the same time, with Pain possibly joining the operation.
• Chiya decided to go to the Land of Demons to protect Shion and sent a letter to Gaara asking for help with a summoned ninja hawk.
• Danzo reviewed the failed border mission report and confirmed from Asuma and Might Guy that Chiya had mastered the Flying Thunder God and escaped their attempts to stop him.
• Danzo halted Konoha’s border operation and ordered Root to report the incident to the Land of Wind daimyo.
• Danzo ordered an investigation into Chiya’s movements and contacts, especially in the Sand Village and the Hidden Mist Village.

A nearly immortal Hidan attacked the Land of Demons and slaughtered a border town, prompting Shion to lead the royal guard against him. Hidan overwhelmed her guards and cornered Shion, asking where the man who had saved her before was.

• A wounded survivor warned the Land of Demons patrol soldiers that a demon who could not be killed had attacked the town.
• Shion heard the report and set out with the royal guard, ordering nearby garrisons not to approach the enemy alone.
• Deidara and Sasori followed a man through the forest while waiting for two others to arrive.
• Hidan killed a fleeing man in front of Shion and recognized her as the priestess he had attacked before.
• Shion's royal guards wounded Hidan, but he survived, killed most of them, and advanced on Shion.
• Hidan crushed the last guard and told Shion it was her turn, asking where the man who had saved her was.

Utakata fought Deidara and Sasori as they tried to capture the tailed beast inside him. Chiya reached the Land of Demons, learned Shion had gone to confront a scythe-wielding attacker, and rushed after her when he suspected Hidan was involved.

• Utakata confronted Deidara and Sasori, who demanded the tailed beast inside him.
• Utakata used explosive bubbles, Water Release, and acid bubbles to fight off their attacks, but Deidara and Sasori continued pressing him.
• Chiya arrived at the temple in the Land of Demons and asked the attendant where Shion was.
• The attendant told Chiya that Shion had taken the royal guards to a nearby town attacked by a man who would not die, and Chiya recognized Hidan.
• Chiya learned which way Shion had gone and immediately hurried after her.

Deidara's C3 blast drove Utakata to unleash six-tailed chakra, but Utakata counterattacked and forced Deidara to evade. Sasori emerged from Hiruko and deployed dozens of puppets against Utakata as Chiya raced toward the explosion, believing Shion was nearby.

• Deidara detonated a C3 clay doll over Utakata, who survived in the crater and emerged wrapped in red chakra with six tails.
• Chiya heard the distant explosion, and Kaguya sensed a powerful Tailed Beast chakra presence; Chiya hurried toward it, suspecting Shion was there.
• Utakata rose into the air on a blood-red bubble and attacked Deidara with fast acid bubbles and his six tails, destroying Deidara's clay bird.
• Sasori stopped Deidara from using a potentially lethal move, emerged from Hiruko, and summoned dozens of red-robed puppets.
• Sasori connected chakra threads to the puppets, which raised their heads as Utakata watched from above.

Kisame ambushed Lao Zi on a mountain road and overwhelmed him with flooding water and a swarm of water sharks. Lao Zi unleashed his tailed beast chakra and escaped to the surface, where Kisame prepared to use Samehada against him.

• Lao Zi left a city near the Land of Earth border and encountered Kisame, who demanded that he come along.
• Kisame attacked Lao Zi, and the two exchanged blows while Lao Zi used Earth Release, Fire Release, and Lava Release.
• Lao Zi struck Kisame with lava, but Kisame countered with Exploding Water Shock Wave and flooded the mountain road.
• Kisame dragged Lao Zi underwater and surrounded him with Water Release: Thousand Hungry Sharks, gradually injuring and exhausting him.
• Lao Zi unleashed four tails of tailed beast chakra, shattered the sharks, and knocked Kisame away before bursting out of the water.
• Kisame resurfaced with blood at his mouth as Samehada’s bandages broke and the sword reacted to Lao Zi’s tailed beast chakra.

Chiya found Deidara and Sasori after they defeated Utakata, but Shion was not with them. He killed Sasori and forced Deidara to reveal that he did not know Hidan’s location, then Kakuzu arrived holding Shion hostage as Hidan recognized Chiya and prepared to attack.

• Deidara and Sasori found Utakata alive after their battle and prepared to take him away.
• Chiya arrived, confirmed that only Deidara and Sasori were present, and Deidara fired a signal flare for reinforcements.
• Chiya used Heavenly Dominion to crush Sasori, then trapped Deidara in a genjutsu and learned he did not know where Hidan was.
• Kakuzu arrived with the unconscious Shion bound in his black threads and threatened to kill her if Chiya moved.
• Hidan recognized Chiya as the person who had cut off his head and charged at him, but Kakuzu restrained him.

Chiya rescued Shion from Kakuzu and Hidan, then faced Pain as the battlefield was overwhelmed by the Rinnegan’s powers. Chiya vanished with Shion just before Pain could seize them, leaving Utakata behind.

• Kakuzu restrained Hidan and threatened Shion to bargain for the Six-Tails, but Chiya refused to back down.
• Chiya froze Kakuzu and Shion with High Plain of Heaven, then wounded Hidan and teleported Shion beside Utakata.
• Kakuzu summoned his Earth Grudge Fear masks and unleashed combined fire and wind attacks, but Chiya’s Majestic Destroyer Flame overwhelmed them.
• Pain appeared and scattered Chiya’s flames with Shinra Tensei, blasting Chiya, Shion, and Utakata through the air.
• Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull them toward him, but Chiya grabbed Shion and vanished with her.

Kisame defeated Lao Zi by using Samehada to drain his Tailed Beast Chakra, but Gaara ambushed him with sand and nearly crushed him. Itachi rescued Kisame as Gaara prepared to attack again.

• Kisame fought Lao Zi and used Samehada to strip away his Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Lao Zi tried to hide in steam, but Samehada led Kisame to him, and Kisame drained enough Chakra to knock him unconscious.
• Kisame moved to seize Lao Zi, but Gaara trapped him with Sand Binding Coffin and crushed half his body.
• Gaara sent more sand at Kisame, but Itachi appeared and pulled him out of its path.
• Kisame told Itachi he could handle Gaara himself, while Itachi noticed something and his pupils contracted.

Kisame recovered with Samehada’s help and trapped Gaara inside a vast sphere of water, where his water-based attacks overwhelmed Gaara’s sand defenses. Gaara stopped trying to escape upward and began sinking, leaving Kisame to wonder whether he had given up.

• Samehada returned the Four-Tails’ Chakra to Kisame, restoring his crushed body, and Kisame told Itachi he would fight Gaara.
• Kisame launched four water dragons at Gaara, whose protective sand blocked them but grew heavy after soaking up water.
• Kisame used Great Exploding Water Shock Wave to flood the valley and engulf Gaara in a huge sphere of water.
• Kisame attacked Gaara with Thousand Hungry Sharks while Gaara struggled to control his waterlogged sand and hold his breath.
• Gaara closed his eyes, let the sand beneath him scatter, and began sinking as Kisame swam down after him.

Gaara used an immense surge of sand to trap Kisame in a collapsing dune, but saw something that filled him with despair. Chiya returned to the battlefield and tried to rescue Utakata from Pain, but Pain endured his attacks and Chiya realized he could not defeat him alone.

• Gaara awakened the sand beneath the valley, burst Kisame's water sphere, and crushed the shark-like ninja inside the collapsing dune with Sand Waterfall Funeral.
• Chiya brought the unconscious Shion back to the shrine and left her with the maid guarding it.
• Chiya returned to the battlefield and found Pain holding Utakata with a Black Receiver through his shoulder.
• Chiya attacked Pain with his sword and Fire Release, then used Flying Thunder God to evade Shinra Tensei and try to free Utakata.
• Chiya trapped Pain with Heavenly Dominion, but Pain broke through it, pulled Chiya toward him with Banshō Ten'in, and kept Utakata captive.
• Chiya recognized he could not defeat Pain alone and silently called to Kaguya.