Chapter Summaries

Konoha launched a surprise attack on Kumogakure, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport its forces. As Hashirama and Minato advanced toward Kumogakure, Tobirama, Fugaku, and Shisui attacked Cloud Lightning Gorge to capture Killer B, who faced them after the defenders were slaughtered.

• Konoha sent Hashirama, Tobirama, Minato, and its shinobi forces toward Kumogakure while leaving most of its strength behind to guard the village.
• Mei Terumi asked Jiraiya whether Konoha would be all right, and Jiraiya trusted that Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi could defeat Kumogakure.
• Konoha began its surprise attack, and Hashirama allowed a few Kumogakure shinobi to escape and spread word of the invasion.
• Fugaku, Shisui, and Tobirama approached Cloud Lightning Gorge to capture Killer B while the other forces followed Hashirama and Minato.
• Tobirama, Fugaku, and Shisui slaughtered the shinobi guarding Cloud Lightning Gorge, and Killer B rushed outside after Gyuki warned him that Shisui was nearby.

Shisui fought Killer B and the Eight-Tails to test his abilities, using Flying Thunder God and then Susanoo while Tobirama and Fugaku watched. The battle continued with Shisui’s green Susanoo facing the Eight-Tails.

• Tobirama identified Killer B’s opponent and tested him with a Flying Thunder God attack before telling Shisui to fight.
• Shisui promised not to use Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu, and Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails’ complete form.
• Shisui used Ninja Crows as markers to teleport around the Eight-Tails with Flying Thunder God.
• The Eight-Tails unleashed Tailed Beast Eight Coils, then charged Shisui again after the technique ended.
• Shisui activated his second-form green Susanoo, bringing the fight to a clash with the Eight-Tails.

Shisui defeated Killer B and the Eight-Tails with his Susanoo, Flying Thunder God, and Mangekyo genjutsu before joining Tobirama and Fugaku on the way to the Cloud Hidden Village. There, A learned that Hashirama and Minato had arrived, and thousands of Cloud Shinobi gathered to face Konoha’s small force.

• Shisui used Susanoo’s chakra arrows and Flying Thunder God Slash to wound Gyuki, then used Mangekyo genjutsu to defeat the Eight-Tails and Killer B.
• Tobirama and Fugaku joined Shisui, and the three headed toward the Cloud Hidden Village while Tobirama worried Hashirama might destroy it.
• Cloud Shinobi survivors warned A that Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze had arrived, and a village elder identified Impure World Reincarnation as the likely cause.
• A ordered the Cloud Hidden Village troops to assemble, and several thousand Cloud Shinobi gathered to face Konoha’s force of a little over ten.

Hashirama Senju and a small Konoha force faced Cloud Village’s army, and Hashirama ended the battle almost instantly with Wood Release. A was captured, and Hashirama ordered Konoha’s ninja to rescue the survivors after he held back.

• Tobirama and Shisui returned to Konoha’s main force with the captured Killer B.
• A led Cloud Village’s army to confront Hashirama, Tobirama, Minato Namikaze, and the other Konoha ninja.
• A rallied his troops and ordered them to attack, hoping to defeat Konoha’s Hokage and seal the reincarnated ones with the Glazed Purity Bottle.
• Hashirama used Wood Release: Flower Tree World Advent, devastating Cloud Village’s formation and incapacitating its army.
• Hashirama’s Wood Dragon restrained A, and Hashirama ordered Konoha’s ninja to rescue the survivors.

Hashirama Senju’s summoned power let Konoha swiftly defeat Kumogakure, and Tobirama forced A to accept crippling reparations and restrictions. As the Shinobi World reacted with fear and alliances, Konoha secretly collected DNA from Kumogakure’s ancestral graves, while A’s treaty left the village facing internal strife.

• Hashirama defeated Kumogakure’s forces, and Konoha treated the survivors while ordering A to begin rescue efforts.
• Hashirama, Tobirama, Minato Namikaze, and other Konoha ninja arrived at the Raikage Building, where Tobirama negotiated reparations with A.
• Iwagakure sent an envoy to seek an alliance with Konoha, while other villages feared Hashirama’s return and Tobirama targeted Kumogakure’s Six Paths Ninja Tools.
• Kakashi and Shisui secretly dug up Kumogakure’s ancestral graves, collected the DNA of its past powerhouses, and erased their tracks.
• Tobirama pressed A to accept severe reparations and limits on Kumogakure’s ninja forces, and A signed the treaty as his village began to fracture internally.

The Land of Fire's daimyo confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru over Konoha's war with Cloud Hidden Village, but their dispute ended when Shikaku announced Konoha's victory and Cloud's surrender. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru prepared to move forward with their plans as the daimyo faced Konoha's growing independence.

• The Land of Fire's daimyo arrived in Konoha and demanded that Hiruzen Sarutobi stop the war with Cloud Hidden Village.
• Orochimaru challenged the daimyo's authority, and an envoy accused Konoha of rebellion before the daimyo softened his tone and explained his concerns about the conflict.
• The daimyo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Konoha's actions had stirred opposition within the Land of Fire, including calls from the shogun to replace Konoha.
• Shikaku entered and reported that the Fourth Raikage, A, had been defeated and Cloud Hidden Village had surrendered to Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru welcomed the victory and considered their next plans and research.

After Konoha's victory, Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted the Daimyō and demanded that he submit to Konoha's arrangements, setting the Land of Fire's political order on a new course. Hiruzen later discussed Konoha's expansion and future preparations with Orochimaru.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Daimyō that Konoha could destroy the capital and gave him the choice of submitting or having a new Daimyō installed.
• The Daimyō trembled as he considered whether to resist Hiruzen Sarutobi or accept his demands.
• Orochimaru visited Hiruzen Sarutobi and greeted Miki Xiaoai, noting her progress in cultivation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru discussed changing Konoha's relationship with the Land of Fire, expanding Konoha's influence, and researching the Ōtsutsuki Bloodline.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru to research ocean-going ships for future plans involving the Hidden Mist Village and a weak point in space.

After Konoha defeated Cloud Hidden Village, the Land of Fire’s daimyo accepted Orochimaru’s demands and placed the country under Konoha’s influence. The five generations of Hokage gathered in Konoha, where Tobirama asked Hiruzen about the sage and his inheritance.

• Mei Terumi and Ao recognized that Hidden Mist Village had no way to resist Konoha after Cloud Hidden Village’s defeat.
• The Land of Fire’s daimyo agreed to cooperate with Konoha, and Hiruzen Sarutobi secured Konoha’s protection of his position.
• The daimyo’s agreement made the Land of Fire’s government a puppet of Konoha, and Root members headed out to infiltrate the country’s upper ranks.
• Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze returned to Konoha with the other Hokage after the victory, while Tobirama remained concerned about Konoha and the Uchiha.
• At the Hokage Building, Tobirama asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to tell him about the sage and his inheritance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told Tobirama about the Summoning World, and Hashirama summoned Zisu so the group could learn more about it. With Cloud Village’s surrender settled, Hashirama prepared to return to the Pure Land, while Tobirama wanted to remain in Konoha and continue developing secret techniques, chiefly because he feared the Uchiha’s influence.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained the Summoning World and its sage to Tobirama, changing how the others viewed summoned beasts.
• Hashirama Senju summoned Zisu, who greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi and spoke with Hashirama about her human appearance.
• Tobirama learned more about the Summoning World and became increasingly reluctant to return to the Pure Land.
• Orochimaru asked what the three Hokage planned to do after Cloud Village surrendered, and Hashirama said he would return to the Pure Land.
• Minato Namikaze asked Orochimaru to summon Kushina so she could meet Naruto before Minato returned to the Pure Land.
• Tsunade opposed Tobirama staying to develop a new secret technique, and Tobirama argued with Orochimaru over whether the Uchiha could be trusted.

Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi stayed in Konoha while Orochimaru organized the village’s growing workload, including tomb-raiding missions. Orochimaru summoned Kushina, who reunited with Minato and hurried with him to see Naruto at the Uchiha Grounds.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya argued that distrust had widened the rift between Uchiha and Konoha, while Tobirama Senju agreed to stay and study ways to prevent Impure World Reincarnation from being misused.
• Hashirama Senju also stayed, and Konoha sent shinobi on missions to the Land of Fire, the Hidden Mist Village, and the Cloud Hidden Village while others searched for war orphans with Bloodline Limits.
• Orochimaru sent shinobi to raid tombs for Impure World Reincarnation materials, and they discovered the missions were highly profitable.
• Orochimaru summoned Kushina, and Minato Namikaze told her that Fugaku and Mikoto had adopted Naruto Uzumaki.
• Minato Namikaze took Kushina to the Uchiha Grounds, where Naruto and Sasuke were playing in the courtyard.

Kushina and Minato reunited with Naruto before returning to the Pure Land, while their visit strengthened Itachi’s desire to make his loved ones immortal. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and his allies began testing an engineered Ōtsutsuki bloodline on Kimimaro, leaving Tobirama alarmed about what the experiment might create.

• Kushina embraced Naruto and told him she was his mother, and Naruto accepted her and Minato after Mikoto encouraged him.
• Minato and Kushina spent a warm afternoon with Naruto before returning to the Pure Land, and Minato offered to fight for Konoha if needed.
• Itachi held the sleeping Naruto and resolved to pursue immortality for himself and his loved ones.
• Tobirama discovered Orochimaru’s underground laboratory, joined his research, and began teaching Yamato Wood Release.
• Orochimaru injected Kimimaro with an engineered Ōtsutsuki bloodline combining genes from the Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans, while Tobirama feared the result.

Orochimaru’s experiment awakened Ōtsutsuki traits in Kimimaro, including the Byakugan, while strengthening his Shikotsumyaku. Tobirama and Hashirama returned to the Pure Land, leaving Tsunade with Hashirama’s request to revive the Senju Clan.

• Orochimaru injected Kimimaro with the serum, and a horn grew above Kimimaro’s eyebrow as his skin grew paler.
• Kimimaro woke with enhanced perception and an awakened Byakugan, while his Shikotsumyaku had grown stronger.
• Orochimaru decided Kimimaro should remain in the laboratory while the research continued and the Hyuga Clan’s internal conflict was addressed.
• Tobirama concluded Orochimaru was Konoha’s greatest unstable factor and released the Impure World Reincarnation to return to the Pure Land.
• Hashirama told Tsunade that reviving the Senju Clan depended on her, then also released the Impure World Reincarnation.

After Hashirama urged Tsunade to revive the Senju Clan, she visited Hiruzen Sarutobi to seek a new purpose through cultivation. She chose to abandon chakra and begin cultivating the Wood Spirit Formula, and her appearance aged before recovering as her body received cultivation’s nourishment.

• Tsunade felt unsure how to revive the Senju Clan and, after her grandfathers departed, went to visit Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Tsunade asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether she could cultivate the immortal’s legacy, and he warned her that cultivation would change her life.
• Tsunade decided to give up chakra, influenced in part by Tobirama Senju’s encouragement to learn cultivation from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi passed Tsunade the Qi Refinement Stage method of the Wood Spirit Formula.
• Tsunade abandoned chakra, causing her Yin Seal to release and her face to age before her body recovered through cultivation.

Tsunade began cultivating under Hiruzen Sarutobi and reached the first level of Qi Refinement overnight. Hiruzen assigned Orochimaru to develop an ocean-going ship and investigate the Sky Ninja, hoping to use their technology and the Zero-Tails for a Hokage-style aircraft carrier.

• Tsunade cultivated with the Wood Spirit Formula through the night and officially entered the first level of Qi Refinement.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained cultivation matters to Tsunade and Miki Xiaoai, and Orochimaru realized Tsunade had begun cultivating under their teacher.
• Orochimaru accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi's request to manage Konoha while the village still needed him.
• Orochimaru asked about the ship he had been commissioned to research, and Hiruzen required it to handle ocean voyages and severe weather.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Orochimaru that the Sky Ninja might have risen again, and Orochimaru went to arrange an investigation of their former base.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi hoped Orochimaru would use Sky Ninja technology and the Zero-Tails to build an aircraft carrier for world exploration.

Akatsuki discussed Konoha’s growing power as Orochimaru received intelligence about the Sky Ninja and their Zero-Tails-powered fortress. Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to investigate the Sky Ninja himself with Orochimaru’s three disciples, then revealed that he—not Orochimaru—would lead them.

• Nagato dismissed the importance of Konoha’s recent actions and reaffirmed his plan to force peace by making the world feel pain.
• Obito and Black Zetsu continued trying to turn the Shinobi World against Konoha, but the great villages remained cautious while Hashirama Senju’s presence deterred conflict.
• Orochimaru learned that Shennong and the Sky Ninja were building a fortress powered by the Zero-Tails, and he asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether Konoha should investigate.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to go after the Sky Ninja himself and bring Orochimaru’s three disciples along to gain experience.
• Orochimaru summoned Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi, and Hiruzen Sarutobi was revealed as the one who would lead their mission.

Orochimaru sent Anko, Itachi Uchiha, and Kabuto with Hiruzen Sarutobi to capture Shennong and obtain the means to revive Zero-Tails. The group departed for Sky Ninja Village, with Hiruzen considering how to handle Shennong and Zero-Tails.

• Orochimaru warned the three youngsters that Shennong's advanced medical ninjutsu might conceal a secret and sent them to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Itachi asked Izumi Uchiha to look after Sasuke and Naruto while he was away, and promised to eat tricolor dango with her when he returned.
• The three youngsters met Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, Miki Xiaoai, and Danzo, who proudly announced that his wife was pregnant again.
• Tsunade stopped Danzo from intimidating Itachi, and Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed the three youngsters were ready to leave.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the three youngsters set out for Sky Ninja Village as Hiruzen considered how to deal with Shennong and Zero-Tails.

Hiruzen Sarutobi led Itachi, Anko, and Kabuto toward the hidden Sky Ninja base, using their campfire conversation to question Itachi about choosing between his clan and the village. The group reached the ruins of Sky Ninja Village, where Hiruzen sensed the Zero-Tails beneath the forest.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi roasted a deer with Itachi, Anko, and Kabuto, and explained that he had once chosen Minato Namikaze over Orochimaru because he lacked the courage to let go of political control.
• Hiruzen asked Itachi whether he would choose his clan or the village, then advised the youngsters to become stronger so they could protect those they cared about.
• Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi ate the venison together, and the team's mood improved by the next day.
• Kabuto shared intelligence that the Sky Ninja base lay beneath the ruins of Sky Ninja Village and that a Hyuga member had spotted its underground fortress.
• Hiruzen sensed a faint evil aura at the forest-covered ruins and suspected it came from the Zero-Tails.

Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi infiltrated the Sky Ninja’s underground fortress and discovered civilians being forced to rebuild it. As they prepared to report back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shennong confronted them, worried that Konoha had discovered his plans.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi into the forest to investigate the Sky Ninja while he waited nearby.
• Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi followed a caravan through a hidden entrance and found the Sky Ninja’s underground fortress.
• The three discovered that the Sky Ninja were forcing civilians to transport stone and repair the fortress, but Itachi insisted they gather intelligence before trying to rescue anyone.
• As the three prepared to leave and report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shennong appeared and challenged them.

Itachi, Kabuto, and Anko confronted Shennong in the Sky Ninja fortress, but he fled and summoned the Zero-Tails. Itachi and Kabuto entered Sage Mode and attacked it, while its taunts came close to provoking Itachi’s Mangekyo Sharingan into awakening.

• Shennong accused the Konoha team of invading, then attacked with Flesh Activation, but Itachi, Kabuto, and Anko worked together to overpower him.
• Shennong escaped deeper into the fortress, and Itachi sent Anko to notify Hiruzen Sarutobi while he and Kabuto pursued.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi met Anko and flew her into the fortress on Star Severer.
• Shennong forcibly opened the Zero-Tails’ seal, and the creature possessed him and taunted Itachi and Kabuto about their deepest fears.
• Itachi and Kabuto entered Sage Mode and attacked the Zero-Tails with powerful techniques.

Kabuto and Itachi defeated Zero-Tails, but Shennong used its dark chakra to open the Gate of Death and attack them. Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, cut Shennong apart with Star Severer, and helped Itachi capture him before the Konoha ninja took charge of the fortress.

• Kabuto and Itachi struck Zero-Tails with Senjutsu techniques until it retreated into Shennong's body.
• Shennong opened the Gate of Death with Zero-Tails' chakra and attacked Itachi and Kabuto, who struggled to restrain him as their Senjutsu Chakra ran low.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with Anko and dismembered Shennong with Star Severer, leaving wounds that hindered his regeneration.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi restrained Shennong with Zero-Tails Technique, and Itachi used genjutsu to make him pass out.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Anko to help the civilians escape and advised Itachi and Kabuto not to let their fears control them.