Recaps

After the Dragon Vein trade left Rōran unable to draw chakra for thirty years, its Queen chose to move her people to the Land of Night. The Third Kazekage received Yayoi’s reward and began reconsidering how Hidden Sand treated the One-Tail, deciding to visit Bunpuku.

• The Dragon Vein trade depleted Rōran’s chakra reserves, forcing its people to relocate, and the Queen chose the Land of Night’s offer.
• The Third Kazekage received money, supplies, and a Seven-Tails training record from Yayoi as payment for the transaction.
• The Third Kazekage studied the record and considered its idea that a Jinchūriki could coexist with a Tailed Beast rather than restrain it by force.
• He recalled Bunpuku’s similar beliefs and how Shamon had imprisoned and experimented on the monk, while the One-Tail had rampaged when Bunpuku was mistreated.
• The Third Kazekage decided Bunpuku could be the bridge between Hidden Sand and the One-Tail, and set out to check on him.

Yayoi continued planning to weaken Konoha by exploiting its rivals and waiting for internal turmoil, while Doichi finalized Rōran’s integration into the Land of Night. Doichi then sent Rikuo on an S-rank mission to protect the Land of Flow’s secret technique from the Hidden Cloud Village.

• Yayoi studied his invasion plans and resolved to cripple Konoha only when the right opportunity arose, with the Land of Rain likely to spark another Shinobi World War.
• Yayoi recalled that he had shared his tailed-beast method with the Hidden Sand Village to help it redirect forces against Konoha.
• Doichi approved the relocation of Rōran’s people, abolished the queen’s sovereign status, and appointed the Queen of Roran as mayor of the new city.
• Doichi assigned Rikuo an S-rank mission commissioned by the Daimyo of the Land of Flow to stop a group targeting its inherited secret technique.
• Rikuo identified the Hidden Cloud Village as the likely culprit and departed using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Rikuo captured and interrogated Kakai, learning that Kumogakure had sent three squads to steal the Land of Flow’s Secret Technique. He discovered that the Third Raikage, A, was leading the enemy force and watched him emerge unharmed from an Explosive Tag blast.

• Rikuo caught Kakai with Sharingan Genjutsu and learned that he was a Kumogakure Anbu Jonin on a mission ordered by the Raikage.
• Kakai revealed that three squads had come to take the Land of Flow’s Secret Technique, but a Cursed Seal prevented him from disclosing their support personnel.
• Rikuo sensed twelve powerful chakra signatures nearby, planted an Explosive Tag on Kakai, and hid as the group arrived.
• Rikuo recognized A, the Third Raikage, leading the Kumogakure ninja and realized the interception mission had become more difficult.
• Kakai charged at an approaching ninja with the Explosive Tag on his back, but A pulled him clear before the blast and emerged unharmed.

Rikuo confronted the Third Raikage, A, in the Land of Flow, and A withdrew rather than risk a conflict with the Land of Night. After reporting to Doichi, Rikuo went to visit Maki and found her sharing an intimate moment with Hatake Sakumo.

• A discovered Rikuo near the Land of Flow's secret technique, and Rikuo revealed that he had been sent to stop the thieves.
• A abandoned Hidden Cloud Village's attempt to seize the secret technique and led his ninja away.
• Rikuo confirmed to Doichi that A had been in the Land of Flow and suggested A had trained in Sensory Ninjutsu to counter Komurasaki's genjutsu.
• Rikuo visited the Military School to see Maki and saw her laughing with Hatake Sakumo, prompting him to regard the young jonin with suspicion.

Rikuo found Maki watching Sakumo leave and warned her about unfaithful men, unaware she believed Sakumo was different. Half a month later, Sakumo reported to the Special Assault Department and met its director, Rikuo, in an unexpectedly unusual office.

• Rikuo approached Maki after Sakumo left and gave her a parcel of specialties from the Land of Flow.
• Maki told Rikuo that her teaching work was easy, while privately thinking that Sakumo was sincere and faithful.
• Half a month later, Sakumo passed inspection at the General's Residence and completed his onboarding for the Special Assault Department.
• A staff member sent Sakumo to Director Oda's office on the sixth floor for his final review.
• Sakumo entered the office and found Rikuo receiving a shoulder massage while three other girls worked nearby.

Rikuo tested Sakumo with a mission, inspected the Chakra Short Sword forged by Yayoi, and suspected Sakumo was courting his sister Maki. Three years later, Sakumo and Rikuo had become feared operatives of the Land of Night, with Sakumo known as the White Fang of the Night.

• Rikuo gave Sakumo a lengthy mission to assess whether he qualified to remain in the Special Assault Department.
• Rikuo inspected Sakumo's Chakra Short Sword, recognized Yayoi's craftsmanship, and suspected Sakumo was living off his sister Maki.
• Izayoi and Yayoi discussed Maki's relationship with Sakumo, and Yayoi insisted Sakumo would marry into their family.
• Over the next three years, Oda Doichi steadily developed the Land of Night while the Special Assault Department eliminated foreign threats.
• The Five Great Nations' ninja villages came to fear Rikuo and Sakumo, whose brutal missions earned Sakumo the name White Fang of the Night.

Hatake Sakumo killed Gecko Yarubo, who had tried to sabotage a diplomatic train bound for Nightview City. Rikuo gave Sakumo a week off before sending him to the increasingly tense Land of Rain to help the Special Assault Department establish a foothold there.

• Gecko Yarubo slipped aboard the train carrying diplomatic delegations and prepared to plant Explosive Tags to draw the guards away.
• Hatake Sakumo ambushed Yarubo on the train, killed him, and severed his head to prevent any escape trick.
• Rikuo reviewed Sakumo's report and regretted losing the chance to recruit Yarubo, who had opposed the Land of Night.
• Rikuo granted Sakumo a week off, then assigned him a mission in the Land of Rain.
• Rikuo considered the growing tensions around the Land of Rain and planned to use Sakumo to strengthen the Special Assault Department's presence there.

Fifteen ninja operatives from several villages arrived at the Black Tower prison, where they discovered Kinkaku and Ginkaku among the inmates. Natsuki Nagatsuki appeared and introduced herself as the new warden, ordering the prisoners to behave and obey.

• Puppet Samurai escorted fifteen captured ninjas into the Black Tower as the prisoners placed bets on which village had sent the most operatives.
• The newcomers saw that the prisoners lived with limited comforts and competed in sports meets despite their confinement.
• A Hidden Cloud Anbu recognized Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and the new prisoners realized Ginkaku was alive despite having been reported dead.
• Three Hidden Cloud ninjas questioned Kinkaku and Ginkaku about attacking the Second Raikage and sabotaging peace talks with Konoha.
• Natsuki Nagatsuki arrived, silenced the corridor, and introduced herself as the newly appointed warden, telling the prisoners to behave and obey orders.

Natsuki Nagatsuki assigned the new prisoners their rooms and released Kinkaku and Ginkaku from their shackles so they could go to the Samsara Pagoda. Veteran prisoners explained that the Black Tower housed people who sometimes chose to stay, including a long-imprisoned Yuki Clan writer whose work and royalties had made him famous.

• Natsuki Nagatsuki sent the new prisoners to their rooms, then offered Kinkaku and Ginkaku the choice of going to the Samsara Pagoda alone or with an escort.
• Kinkaku and Ginkaku chose to leave on their own, and Natsuki removed their shackles with a gesture before departing.
• A new Kirigakure prisoner asked where the brothers were going, and a veteran said they might gain limited freedom after experiments at the Samsara Pagoda.
• A veteran pointed out a Yuki Clan elder who had been imprisoned since before the Land of Night was established, prompting the newcomers to fear spending decades in the Black Tower.
• Older prisoners explained that the elder stayed voluntarily, had recovered from years of trauma through prison life, and had become a celebrated author who donated his royalties to people displaced by war.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku entered the Land of Night’s research facility and discovered evidence of true rejuvenation. Yayoi placed the brothers in hibernation to turn them into controlled fighters and ordered preparations for a chakra conversion experiment to begin in a year.

• Kinkaku and Ginkaku entered the pyramid and followed Aburame Yuroketsu to meet the General.
• The brothers recognized that Yuroketsu had been rejuvenated and realized the Land of Night might possess technology capable of restoring youth.
• Yayoi and Nene placed Kinkaku and Ginkaku in hibernation pods for two years, relying on safeguards in their cursed seals to control them.
• Yayoi discussed the brothers’ chakra reserves and their potential to withstand the cursed seal’s drawbacks with Nene.
• Nene said the Body Chakra Conversion experiment would benefit from chakra from all nine tailed beasts, and Yayoi ordered preparations to finish so the experiment could begin in one year.

Yayoi arranged diplomatic efforts to obtain Tailed-Beast Chakra from the villages of Stone, Sand, and Mist, while preparing to persuade Kirigakure’s Mizukage and elders. In Konoha, Hiruzen, Danzō, Homura, and Koharu discussed investigating the Land of Night and learned that Mito’s health was failing, prompting her to request a successor Jinchūriki.

• Yayoi instructed Doichi to send delegations to Iwagakure, Hidden Sand Village, and Kirigakure to negotiate for Tailed-Beast Chakra.
• Yayoi studied the interests and political factions of Kirigakure’s Mizukage and senior elders so he could persuade both sides.
• Danzō told Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu that the Land of Night had sought Tailed-Beast Chakra from Sand, Stone, and Mist, and Hiruzen suspected it was for research.
• Danzō proposed sending Root agents to investigate the Heavenly Dao Palace, while Hiruzen assigned Orochimaru and the Anbu to monitor Hidden Rain Village in the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen told the others that Mito’s health was rapidly failing and that she wanted them to choose the next Jinchūriki in advance.

Hiruzen arranged for Homura to negotiate with the Uzumaki Clan about selecting Konoha’s next Jinchūriki. In Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage and Genji considered a trade with the Land of Night, with Genji demanding a powerful blade forged by its First Shogun in exchange for Tailed-Beast Chakra.

• Hiruzen told Danzo, Homura, and Koharu that Konoha needed to find a successor Jinchūriki for Mito and planned to seek a candidate from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Hiruzen asked Homura and Koharu to represent Konoha in negotiations with the Uzumaki Clan, and Homura volunteered for the mission.
• The Third Mizukage and Kirigakure’s elders discussed the Land of Night’s offer to trade goods for chakra from the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
• The Third Mizukage supported the trade as a chance to open communication with the outside world and improve his standing in the village.
• Genji proposed requiring the First Shogun of the Land of Night to forge a powerful ninja blade for Kirigakure as part of the trade.

Yayoi negotiated tailed-beast chakra trades with the Hidden Sand Village, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, agreeing to forge Kirigakure a special ninja blade and deciding to create a sword unit for the Land of Night. The trades stirred concern in Kumogakure, where the Third Raikage ordered another Anbu squad to investigate the Heavenly Dao Palace.

• Yayoi reviewed Kirigakure's demands and decided to forge a water- and frost-mist-themed ninja blade rather than trade away Samehada.
• Yayoi decided to form a ninja blade unit from sword-skilled ninja and samurai in the Land of Night, then Hisana distracted him beneath his desk.
• The Land of Night obtained chakra from the One-Tail, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Three-Tails, while Kirigakure withheld the Six-Tails' chakra until the blade was forged.
• The Third Raikage and Robui linked the chakra purchases to the Land of Night's earlier collection of the Two-Tails' and Eight-Tails' chakra.
• The Third Raikage ordered another Anbu squad, including a ninja skilled at transmitting intelligence, to infiltrate the Land of Night and investigate the Heavenly Dao Palace.

Danzo sent Tenma and Kinryu to infiltrate the Heavenly Dao Palace in the Land of Night, where they began climbing the Great Snow Mountain. Yayoi spotted them on surveillance and discovered a second group of Hidden Cloud Anbu, then ordered Natsuki to teleport the intruders to the Second Floor.

• Danzo tasked Root ninja Tenma and Kinryu with investigating the Heavenly Dao Palace and gave them the scraps of intelligence he had gathered.
• Tenma and Kinryu crossed into the Land of Night and began climbing the icy Great Snow Mountain while conserving chakra to avoid detection.
• Izayoi spotted Tenma and Kinryu on the palace's electronic surveillance, and Yayoi decided to use them to test the palace's internal defenses.
• Kicho recognized that the intruders' masks did not match those of ordinary Konoha Anbu, and Yayoi identified them as Root members.
• Yayoi noticed three Hidden Cloud Anbu climbing another side of the mountain and told Natsuki to teleport the intruders to the Second Floor.

Tenma and Kinryu triggered a hidden space-time barrier while investigating the Heavenly Dao Palace and were transported to a strange bridge inside it. There, they encountered three confused Kumogakure Anbu, leaving both groups facing each other in silence.

• Tenma and Kinryu recovered from their climb and approached a white wall they suspected was protected by a sensory barrier.
• Kinryu tested the wall with a talisman, but ripples spread across it and transported both Konoha ninja away.
• Tenma and Kinryu found themselves on a bridge over churning sandy-yellow rivers and realized a space-time trap had brought them inside the Heavenly Dao Palace.
• Kinryu concluded the palace's barriers might surpass Lord Second's space-time techniques, while Tenma wondered whether their enemies had watched them from the start.
• Three Kumogakure Anbu appeared on the bridge, and both groups stared at one another without moving.

Konoha Anbu Tenma and Kinryu joined forces with Hidden Cloud Anbu Thorn, Quake, and Rain Bird after both groups became trapped inside the Heavenly Dao Palace. As they ran toward the palace exit, mechanical beasts emerged from the sand and attacked them.

• Tenma and Kinryu cautiously met Thorn, Quake, and Rain Bird, and both teams agreed to avoid fighting while they sought a way out.
• The two groups exchanged what little they knew about the Heavenly Dao Palace and realized the space-time barrier blocked their escape.
• Thorn led the five toward the sapphire-blue corridor connecting to the palace exit on the first floor.
• Kinryu sensed hidden creatures climbing the bridge walls and warned the others to run.
• Grotesque mechanical beasts erupted from the sand and charged the five Anbu.

Tenma, Thorn, Kinryu, Quake, and Rain Bird fought their way across the bridge and entered the Azure Corridor, where they encountered a colossal snake whose chakra left them paralyzed with terror. The chapter ended with the squad realizing they had no chance against it.

• Tenma, Thorn, Kinryu, Quake, and Rain Bird killed more than a hundred modified creatures and escaped the poisoned bridge.
• Thorn concluded the creatures were confined to the bridge and sand river, and the squad recovered before entering the Azure Corridor.
• Kinryu and Rain Bird sensed no unusual chakra inside the corridor, so Tenma led the group forward.
• Quake stopped and stared upward, and the others saw a gigantic black-mist-shrouded snake coiled across the corridor's glass ceiling.
• Rain Bird collapsed as the snake's overwhelming chakra paralyzed the squad, and Kinryu feared the creature was nearly as powerful as a Tailed Beast.

Yayoi used the Devouring Serpent to capture five Konoha and Hidden Cloud Anbu, gaining new specimens for his experiments with Natsuki Nagatsuki. Three days later, Danzo told Hiruzen the Heavenly Dao Palace mission had failed and sought permission to expand Root.

• The Devouring Serpent overwhelmed five Anbu and Natsuki Nagatsuki transported them away through space.
• Yayoi explained that Natsuki Nagatsuki’s powers and appearance were modeled on a character from his previous life, then left to prepare a special Ninja Blade for Kirigakure.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that the Anbu sent to investigate the Heavenly Dao Palace had not returned and might have been captured.
• Hiruzen and Danzo agreed they would need to replace Anbu and Root’s command systems to limit the damage from possible intelligence leaks.
• Danzo asked to expand Root, and Hiruzen asked where he intended to recruit more personnel.

Danzo asked Hiruzen for common-born ninja to recruit into Root, while Hiruzen prepared to punish corrupt members of the Sarutobi Clan and use their misconduct to reform Konoha's clans. In the Land of Rain, Sakumo observed the hope Hanzo had inspired before Orochimaru confronted him and repeated a rumor about the Land of Night's princess.

• Danzo requested a list of talented ninja without clan backgrounds, and Hiruzen gave him permission to choose up to ten from a list of thirty.
• After receiving anonymous complaints about the Sarutobi Clan taking public resources and assaulting guards, Hiruzen ordered Anbu to arrest the listed offenders and planned to use the scandal to discipline the clans.
• Sakumo explored a town in the Land of Rain, recorded its order and optimism, and sent his observations about Hanzo's influence to the Land of Night.
• Orochimaru appeared to Sakumo in a teahouse and remarked that the rumor about the princess keeping Sakumo as her lover might be true, making Sakumo bristle.

Sakumo exchanged intelligence with Orochimaru and other villages about the fragile situation in the Land of Rain, then returned to the Land of Night. Rikuo redirected the Special Assault Department’s focus and assigned Sakumo to medical training before his next solo mission.

• Orochimaru met Sakumo in the Land of Rain, exchanged intelligence with him, and left after sharing tea.
• Sakumo investigated activity by Konoha, the Hidden Sand Village, Iwagakure, and the Hidden Cloud, finding that the great nations were wary of Hanzo’s developing country but none wanted to provoke a conflict first.
• In November of Year 38 of the Land of Night, Sakumo returned home after exchanging intelligence with Orochimaru and contacts from the Hidden Sand Village and Iwagakure.
• Sakumo briefed Rikuo that the great nations were waiting for one another to act in the Land of Rain, giving Hanzo time to strengthen his country.
• Rikuo decided to shift the Special Assault Department’s focus and assigned Sakumo to a Medical Crash Course to improve his ability to treat wounds and neutralize poisons.

Yayoi tested the water, mist, and ice abilities of a special ninja blade he had crafted for Kirigakure, then received Hatake Sakumo at the Heavenly Dao Palace to teach him Medical Ninjutsu. Sakumo began a three-month course and learned from Maki that the palace also had summoning beasts, leaving him feeling grateful and determined to repay the kindness by killing more enemies.

• Yayoi tested the special ninja blade, which spread blinding mist and froze the lake, and judged its power suitable for boosting elite jonin without deciding battles between top-tier ninja.
• Yayoi received Hatake Sakumo in a side hall and tested his medical knowledge, finding that Sakumo had a solid theoretical foundation.
• Yayoi told Sakumo to stay at the Heavenly Dao Palace for three months and study battlefield emergency medicine with him.
• Maki waited for Sakumo and reassured herself that Yayoi had not given him a hard time.
• Maki told Sakumo that Yayoi kept summoning beasts roaming the Sixth Floor, and Sakumo resolved to repay their kindness by killing more enemies from other countries.

Maki showed Sakumo the Forbidden Forest and explained that accomplished contributors to the Land of Night could earn access to its Summoning Beasts. In Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage tested a Land of Night ninja blade, assigned it to a Yuki Clan Jonin, and raised his plan to concentrate village resources on elite ninjas.

• Maki led Sakumo through the Forbidden Forest and explained its Chakra Trees, Summoning Beasts, and the plan to open it to proven contributors.
• Maki explained that Sakumo qualified to select a Summoning Beast because of his service and missions for the Land of Night.
• The Third Mizukage tested the ninja blade’s mist and ice abilities with Genji, finding its range limited for top-tier ninjas.
• The Third Mizukage and Genji agreed that a Jonin from the neutral Yuki Clan would wield the blade.
• The Third Mizukage asked Genji to consider his Kirigakure Elite plan to eliminate slackers and focus resources on elite ninjas.

Genji opposed the Third Mizukage’s plan to eliminate the weak and secretly stirred unrest in Kirigakure to undermine it. Meanwhile, Yayoi received the Six-Tails’ chakra and prepared for his next evolution, then began considering how to obtain the Ten-Tails’ chakra.

• Genji argued that the Third Mizukage’s elitist policy would endanger Kirigakure, but the Third Mizukage dismissed his objections and left.
• Genji ordered two jonin to spread a false rumor that the Third Mizukage planned to renew peaceful coexistence with the tailed beasts, provoking a blockade of the Mizukage Building.
• Yayoi received the Six-Tails’ chakra, completing his collection of chakra from all nine tailed beasts.
• Yayoi and Nene placed the Six-Tails’ chakra flesh in a cultivation chamber and planned to begin the next conversion stage the following July.
• Nene explained that Yayoi’s next evolution could convert about sixty percent of his body, while completing the transformation would require the Ten-Tails’ chakra.
• Yayoi recalled clues involving the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Rinnegan, the Child of Prophecy, and Madara, then told Nene they might soon witness the Ten-Tails reveal his true form.

As the blockade worsened the Land of Rain’s food and weapons shortages, Hanzo decided to keep pursuing armament support from the Land of Night. Kanzang returned to negotiate with greater authority, but the General had still not met with him.

• Amegakure’s Jonin reported that trade routes and weapons supplies were dwindling, and Hanzo ruled out a direct clash with the Great Nations.
• Hanzo ordered Amegakure to explore trade with the Land of Rivers and send Kanzang back to negotiate with the Land of Night for armaments.
• Kanzang visited the Land of Night in early December, but the General gave no answer and told him to wait.
• After an acquaintance suggested Amegakure’s offer lacked sufficient concessions, Kanzang wrote to Hanzo for guidance.
• Hanzo authorized Kanzang to offer even core interests if necessary, and Kanzang requested another secret meeting with the General.

Doichi pressured Kanzang into accepting a Land of Night garrison in the Land of Rain in exchange for military equipment. Kanzang agreed to a limit of five hundred troops and negotiated an arrangement to obtain the supplies covertly.

• Doichi demanded that the Land of Rain allow Land of Night troops to be stationed there, offering restricted military equipment in return.
• Doichi told Kanzang to consult Hanzo again, and Rikuo questioned why Doichi wanted troops stationed specifically in the Land of Rain.
• Kanzang returned less than a week later and agreed on Hanzo's behalf, limiting the garrison to five hundred shinobi and samurai while retaining Hidden Rain's right to counterattack interference in its affairs.
• Doichi and Kanzang discussed garrison details, then Doichi explained that military equipment would be routed through the Land of Hot Water and ostensibly traded to Yugakure before Hidden Rain acquired it.