Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru captured Jugo and Karin and brought them into the village after Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki let him pass. Kanami recognized the pair and went with Hinata to the moon to test his Rinnegan, while Obito encountered Kabuto at the Fire Country border.

• Orochimaru restrained Jugo with three Rashomon gates and a giant snake, then carried him and Karin toward the village.
• Orochimaru threatened to use Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki as experimental subjects, prompting them to let him enter.
• Kanami recognized Jugo and Karin from Hinata's description and decided Orochimaru probably would not experiment on them.
• Kanami asked Hinata to take him to the moon to test his Rinnegan, and Hinata opened a Moon Passage.
• Obito Uchiha emerged from the Kamui Dimension at the Fire Country border and asked Kabuto Yakushi what he was doing there.

Obito Uchiha manipulated Kabuto Yakushi’s despair over Orochimaru joining Konoha into a new reason to fight Konoha and recruited him to help destroy it. After they left for Kumogakure, Black Zetsu revealed that Obito was also being manipulated as one of his pieces.

• Kabuto Yakushi declared that Orochimaru had given his life meaning and that he would sacrifice anything for him.
• Obito Uchiha redirected Kabuto’s anger toward Konoha, blaming the village for accepting Orochimaru.
• Kabuto Yakushi agreed to help Obito gather corpses and research the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to destroy Konoha.
• Kabuto turned into a white serpent and headed toward Kumogakure with Obito.
• Black Zetsu watched them leave and reflected that Obito and Madara Uchiha were both following his plans.

Itachi Uchiha secretly entered Konoha to check on Sasuke and watched him renew his determination to become stronger. After meeting Kanami, Itachi challenged how Kanami had protected Sasuke, and Kanami asked whether he had any other requests.

• Itachi Uchiha used Sharingan Genjutsu to pass Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane at Konoha’s gate, then used crows to check on Sasuke.
• Sasuke noticed a crow, drove it away, and reminded himself of his goal before beginning taijutsu training.
• Itachi Uchiha watched Sasuke from afar and questioned whether his past decisions about the Uchiha had been right.
• Kanami appeared before Itachi, who admitted he knew about the operation against Konoha and had come to see Sasuke.
• Itachi accused Kanami of doing no more than keeping Sasuke alive, and Kanami asked if he had any other requests.

Kanami agreed to teach Sasuke ninjutsu, while Itachi explained that he wanted Sasuke to be strong enough to protect himself. Kanami urged Itachi to return to Konoha, but Itachi wondered whether the villagers, the Uchiha clan, and Sasuke could ever understand or forgive him.

• Itachi asked Kanami to teach Sasuke ninjutsu or Senjutsu, and Kanami agreed to teach him ninjutsu but ruled out Senjutsu.
• Itachi said Sasuke needed to become stronger because Kanami might not always be able to protect him.
• Kanami insisted he could save both Sasuke and Hinata in a moment, though Itachi remained uncertain.
• Kanami asked Itachi what he would do now that Akatsuki was gone and suggested he return to Konoha.
• Itachi questioned whether Konoha's villagers, the Uchiha clan, and Sasuke would understand or forgive him.

Itachi decided he wanted to stay in Konoha, and Kanami agreed to speak with Tsunade despite their recent falling-out. Kanami apologized to Tsunade and brought her fruit and shochu, leaving Shizune embarrassed after she barged in to stop Tsunade from drinking at work.

• Itachi told Kanami he wanted to stay in Konoha and asked for his help.
• Kanami explained that he had fallen out with Tsunade after befriending Akatsuki's leader and killing people he considered village parasites.
• Kanami used the Flying Thunder God Technique to go to the shopping street, bought fruit and shochu, and then visited Tsunade's office.
• Kanami apologized to Tsunade for killing someone in the village, and Tsunade accepted his apology and agreed that the people he killed had no place in their ranks.
• Tsunade welcomed the shochu Kanami had brought, but Shizune burst in to remind her not to drink while working.

Kaedean brought Tsunade to meet Itachi Uchiha, who asked to return to Konoha and revealed that the Uchiha massacre involved two high-ranking village leaders. Tsunade took Itachi somewhere private to hear more, while Kakashi and Might Guy followed and Kaedean stayed behind.

• Shizune accidentally called Kaedean an insider, then apologized after Tsunade corrected her.
• Kaedean told Tsunade that Itachi wanted to discuss returning to Konoha, and Tsunade agreed to meet him.
• Kaedean used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to locate Itachi, whom Kakashi and Might Guy had found inside the village after he put two guards under genjutsu.
• Itachi told Tsunade he wanted to rejoin Konoha and said the Uchiha massacre involved two high-ranking village leaders.
• Tsunade led Itachi away to speak privately, and Kakashi and Might Guy followed while Kaedean stayed behind.

Itachi Uchiha revealed that Shimura Danzō ordered the Uchiha extermination and that Hiruzen Sarutobi recruited him to spy on Akatsuki, but Tsunade and the others could not verify his account. Tsunade decided to search Konoha’s archives and ordered Itachi to remain under surveillance until she found proof, prompting him to ask if she was trying to imprison him.

• Tsunade, Itachi Uchiha, Kanami, Kakashi, and Might Guy met at a remote location, where Itachi named Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō as the Konoha leaders involved in the Uchiha slaughter.
• Tsunade and Kakashi defended Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Itachi insisted that he was telling the truth and said no one else knew what had happened.
• Itachi recounted how Fugaku Uchiha planned a coup, how he chose the village and helped a Masked Man exterminate the Uchiha, and how Hiruzen Sarutobi later tasked him with spying on Akatsuki.
• Tsunade said she could not confirm Itachi’s story but would search Konoha’s archives for records supporting his role as a double agent.
• Tsunade ordered Itachi to stay in Konoha under surveillance until she found evidence, and Itachi asked whether she was trying to imprison him.

Itachi Uchiha agreed to remain in Konoha under secret ANBU surveillance, while Kanami went to Sasuke Uchiha and offered to teach him ninjutsu. Sasuke was stunned by the offer and asked why Kanami wanted to teach him.

• Itachi Uchiha accepted Tsunade's conditions to stay within Konoha and be monitored, and agreed to change out of his Akatsuki clothes.
• Tsunade sent Kakashi and Might Guy away, then left Itachi Uchiha to change clothes while ANBU watched him in secret.
• Itachi Uchiha used a Crow Clone to head to the shopping district, and the ANBU followed after sensing his location.
• Kanami used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Sasuke Uchiha from his home to a secluded forest.
• Kanami offered to teach Sasuke Uchiha ninjutsu, and Sasuke asked why.

Kanami reluctantly agreed to teach Sasuke, who wanted a technique that could kill both him and Itachi Uchiha. Kanami refused to teach him the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and told him to grow stronger gradually instead.

• Kanami offered to teach Sasuke ninjutsu for free, but Sasuke suspected a trick before agreeing to learn.
• Sasuke jokingly offered Kanami a worn kunai as an apprenticeship gift, then resisted calling him teacher until Kanami threatened to make training difficult.
• Kanami asked what ninjutsu Sasuke wanted to learn, and Sasuke requested the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
• Kanami explained that using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal would cost the caster's soul and recognized Sasuke wanted a mutual-kill technique to take revenge on Itachi Uchiha.
• Kanami told Sasuke he was too weak to use such a technique against Itachi Uchiha and urged him to build his strength gradually.

Kanami confronted Sasuke about wasting two years despairing over his lack of progress, then restrained him when he tried to smash more trees. Sasuke discovered Kanami had Shisui Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan and asked to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, but Kanami explained its demanding requirements.

• Kanami reminded Sasuke that nearly two years had passed since he first believed he had no time left, and Sasuke realized he had spent that time complaining instead of improving.
• Sasuke tried to smash another tree, but Kanami pinned him down and stopped him.
• Sasuke noticed Kanami’s Mangekyō Sharingan, learned Kanami had taken it from Shisui Uchiha after Shimura Danzō drove Shisui to his death, and demanded that Kanami return it.
• Sasuke asked to learn Kanami’s strongest ninjutsu, and Kanami offered to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kanami warned Sasuke that the technique required large chakra reserves, strong sensory abilities, and a good sense of space, so Sasuke asked to learn sensory ninjutsu first.

Kanami refused to teach Sasuke sensory ninjutsu, but trained him in several techniques, including the Rasengan, which Sasuke mastered with Lightning-nature chakra in a week. Their lessons ended with Sasuke declaring Kanami his rival rather than his teacher, and Kanami's Wood Clone restraining him.

• Kanami refused Sasuke's request to learn sensory ninjutsu and gave him a notebook of Wood Release techniques when Sasuke asked for his second strongest ninjutsu.
• Kanami chose Sasuke's lessons for him and taught him techniques including the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
• After a week of training, Sasuke demonstrated a Lightning-nature Rasengan that vanished in flight and reappeared on impact.
• Kanami ended their teacher-student journey, saying he had taught Sasuke everything worth learning.
• Sasuke admitted he had only called Kanami his teacher to lower his guard, so Kanami summoned a Wood Man Clone to restrain him.
• Kanami left using the Flying Thunder God Technique, while his Wood Clone challenged Sasuke to break free without ninjutsu.

Obito Uchiha discussed finding Nagato and the Rinnegan with Black Zetsu, then arranged for Kabuto Yakushi to continue researching Impure World Reincarnation. Meanwhile, Sasuke returned to Konoha after training with Kanami and was shocked to encounter Itachi.

• Black Zetsu urged Obito Uchiha to search for Nagato and recover the Rinnegan, but Obito said he would wait for White Zetsu's report while focusing on Kabuto Yakushi's research.
• Obito gave Kabuto Yakushi two corpses for experiments and agreed to look for the Sound Ninja Six's corpses.
• Kanami dismissed his wood clone after it trained Sasuke, then went shopping with Hinata and planned a trip to the Land of Hot Water with Hanabi.
• Sasuke returned to Konoha on foot, reflected on what he had learned from Kanami, and entered the village past Izumo Kamizuki.
• Sasuke ran into Itachi and asked why he was there.

Itachi Uchiha told Sasuke he was returning to Konoha as a ninja, then provoked him by claiming their parents had favored Sasuke and that his earlier explanation of the massacre was a lie. Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as he reeled from Itachi’s claims.

• Itachi Uchiha told Sasuke he was returning to Konoha as a Konoha Ninja.
• Itachi showed Sasuke his conversation with Tsunade, but Sasuke refused to believe he had been a double agent.
• Sasuke demanded to know why Itachi had killed their parents, and Itachi said they had trusted his vision and willingly died.
• Itachi changed his story, claiming he had killed their parents because they loved Sasuke more and had threatened to kill Sasuke if they resisted.
• Sasuke broke down as he questioned everything he had believed, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Sasuke awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and fought Itachi Uchiha with new techniques, but Itachi countered his attacks with Susanoo. Sasuke then unleashed Kirin from the storm clouds, leaving its impact on Itachi uncertain.

• Sasuke awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Itachi Uchiha with shuriken and powerful Fire Style jutsu.
• Sasuke used Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to blind Itachi, then struck at him with a Lightning Release: Rasengan engulfed in Amaterasu.
• Itachi activated Susanoo to withstand Sasuke's combined attack and saw that Sasuke had awakened Amaterasu.
• Sasuke used Great Fire Dragon Technique to gather storm clouds, then guided their lightning into Kirin and sent it toward Itachi.
• Civilians noticed the darkened sky and Kirin as the lightning descended.

Sasuke used Kirin against Itachi, but Itachi blocked the attack with Susanoo’s Yata Mirror. Kanami and Tsunade arrived, and Tsunade restricted Itachi’s movements while he agreed to take missions; Sasuke still begged Kanami to kill Itachi.

• Tsunade learned that Itachi and Sasuke were fighting and hurried to the scene with an ANBU ninja.
• Itachi blocked Sasuke’s Kirin with Susanoo’s Yata Mirror, leaving Sasuke shocked and doubting his strength.
• Kanami arrived and reminded Sasuke that he had trained for only a week, but Sasuke asked him to kill Itachi in exchange for his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Kanami asked Itachi whether he thought Kanami could kill him, and Itachi calmly agreed.
• Tsunade reprimanded Sasuke for fighting and ordered Itachi to stay within designated areas unless he accepted missions.
• Itachi agreed to take a commission, while Kanami refused Sasuke’s plea and tried to leave; Sasuke grabbed him and begged him to help kill Itachi.

Sasuke Uchiha sought Kanami’s help against Itachi, but Kanami refused and returned home to rest. When Sasuke came to find him again, Hinata confronted him and revealed her Tenseigan, prompting Sasuke to challenge her to a duel.

• Sasuke Uchiha clung to Kanami and asked him to help kill Itachi, but Kanami refused and vanished back home.
• Kanami told Hinata Hyuga that Sasuke had repeatedly fought Itachi and wanted his help, then fell asleep on the sofa.
• Sasuke arrived at Kanami’s home and shouted for him, but Hinata went outside to keep him from disturbing Kanami.
• Hinata revealed her Tenseigan when Sasuke tried to enter, and Sasuke recognized its power as comparable to his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke challenged Hinata to a duel, and she asked whether he meant to fight her.

Hinata defeated Sasuke in a spar after he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sasuke asked to continue training with Kanami. Kanami postponed teaching him until after their trip to the Land of Hot Water, while Obito delivered five members of the Sound Ninja Five to Kabuto Yakushi.

• Sasuke asked Hinata to fight him so he could test his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, then claimed he intended to kill Kanami.
• Hinata summoned the Hamura Otsutsuki Statue and used her Tenseigan powers to overwhelm Sasuke, blocking his Amaterasu with Black Chakra Prayer Beads.
• The statue captured Sasuke, who admitted defeat rather than risk losing his Mangekyō Sharingan through Izanagi.
• Sasuke asked Hinata to tell Kanami he wanted more training, and Kanami agreed to teach him after their trip to the Land of Hot Water.
• Obito Uchiha brought five members of the Sound Ninja Five to Kabuto Yakushi at Akatsuki's research base and reported that Kimimaro was missing.

Kabuto Yakushi prepared to merge the Sound Ninja Five's abilities into himself while Obito Uchiha sought Ōnoki's help in attacking Konoha again. Obito revealed that he was Akatsuki's true leader and said he was researching the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, leaving Ōnoki shocked.

• Kabuto Yakushi told Obito Uchiha that he needed several days to merge the Sound Ninja Five's abilities with his own before preparing to attack Konoha.
• Obito Uchiha traveled to Iwagakure and offered to join forces with Ōnoki for another attack on Konoha.
• Ōnoki attacked Obito with Dust Release, but Obito emerged unharmed and warned that his own ability could kill Ōnoki.
• Obito revealed that he was Akatsuki's true leader and that Pain had been a pawn.
• Obito said he was working with someone to research Tobirama Senju's Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, shocking Ōnoki.

Obito Uchiha brought Ōnoki to Kabuto Yakushi to demonstrate his improved Impure World Reincarnation. Impressed by the revived Seven Ninja Swordsmen and their strength, Ōnoki agreed to work with Obito, who planned to gather cells from powerful figures before attacking Konoha.

• Obito Uchiha brought Ōnoki into the Kamui Dimension after Ōnoki asked to inspect Kabuto Yakushi's research before deciding whether to cooperate.
• Kabuto Yakushi showed Obito Uchiha and Ōnoki the seven Impure World Reincarnation bodies of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
• Kabuto Yakushi revived Zabuza Momochi, demonstrated that his improved jutsu let the revived control their bodies while remaining under his command, and explained that he could control more than a hundred at once.
• Ōnoki was impressed by the jutsu and agreed to work with Obito Uchiha, eager to launch an all-out attack on Konoha.
• Obito Uchiha said they would wait until he had collected cells from powerful figures and warned Ōnoki that underestimating Kanami had been his biggest mistake.

Tobi and Ōnoki arranged to use Mū’s body for Impure World Reincarnation, while Itachi’s return to Konoha was conditionally approved after Tsunade verified his identity. Kanami continued Sasuke’s training, and then sensed strange, seemingly not-quite-living visitors outside the village.

• Ōnoki offered his teacher Mū’s body for Impure World Reincarnation, and Tobi agreed to retrieve it with him.
• Tsunade showed Itachi a classified document confirming his double-agent role, but noted that he had never sent Akatsuki intelligence to Konoha.
• Tsunade allowed Itachi to return as a Konoha ninja if he completed missions and made contributions, while agreeing not to publicize his past unless he wanted it revealed.
• Kanami ended Sasuke’s training after two hours and told him he would only beat Itachi when Itachi was old and frail.
• Kanami sensed strange guests outside Konoha who seemed not quite alive.