Recaps

Mei Terumi arranged for Kirigakure and Konoha's Root to ambush Deidara and Kisame, while Zabuza insisted on confronting Kisame alone. In Sunagakure, Sasori agreed to teach orphans Puppet Technique and continued designing a defensive puppet as Akatsuki sailed toward Kirigakure.

• Mei Terumi told Zabuza that Deidara and Kisame were targeting the Three-Tails and planned to use the Fourth Mizukage's Water Clone as bait in an ambush with Konoha's Root.
• Zabuza refused assistance from Ao and Chōjūrō and vowed to make Kisame see that Kirigakure had changed.
• Granny Chiyo asked Sasori to teach Puppet Technique to Sunagakure's orphans, and he agreed to meet them the next day.
• Sasori examined the defensive puppet he had designed to protect orphans and civilians, then reflected on his parents' miniature puppets and called himself a monster.
• Deidara and Kisame sailed toward Kirigakure, with Deidara eager for a fight and Kisame wary of the village.

Kisame and Deidara were ambushed by Yagura and Kirigakure forces as they approached the village, and Kisame fought Zabuza before breaking through. As Mei Terumi ordered the village to full alert, Kisame swam toward Kirigakure with Samehada sensing its familiar home.

• Kisame sensed an underwater ambush and offered Deidara a meal in Kirigakure before Deidara attacked the sea with clay spiders.
• Yagura confronted Kisame, and Kirigakure ANBU opened fire on their ship while Deidara escaped on a Clay Bird.
• Zabuza challenged Kisame and showed him an image of Kirigakure's new generation, arguing that the village had changed.
• Kisame and Zabuza clashed across the sea, and Kisame used the waves to break through the encirclement and head for Kirigakure.
• Zabuza reported Kisame's infiltration to Mei Terumi, who ordered the village on highest alert and told Ao to track him.
• Kisame swam toward the village as Samehada sensed its familiar waters.

Kisame and Deidara returned to Kirigakure, where Kisame suspected their high-profile mission was bait for a different operation and reflected on his past and his faith in the Eye of the Moon Plan. In Konoha, Naruto learned Akatsuki might be luring him to Kirigakure, but decided to go there anyway because the village needed help.

• Kisame led Deidara to a secluded Kirigakure izakaya, where Deidara questioned their dangerous mission and Kisame explained that capturing the Three-Tails might be a smokescreen.
• Kisame recalled Kirigakure's bloody past and told Deidara that he believed the Eye of the Moon Plan could offer eternal peace, even if its world was false.
• When alarms sounded, Kisame paid the izakaya owner and led Deidara toward the underground sewers, believing the Fourth Mizukage might be hiding there.
• Nara Shikage told Naruto that Kisame and Deidara's conspicuous actions might be a trap intended to draw him out of Konoha.
• Naruto ordered preparations to depart for Kirigakure despite Shikage's warning, saying the village genuinely needed help.

In the sewer, Yagura urged Kisame to return to a reformed Kirigakure, but Kisame refused because he believed its peace would eventually collapse under human selfishness. Yagura attacked him with the Water Mirror Technique, and the chapter ended with a copy of Kisame emerging from the mirror.

• Yagura confronted Kisame in the passage where Kisame had killed Suikazan Fuguki and taken Samehada.
• Yagura described Kirigakure's changes and invited Kisame to return, arguing that Kisame had acted on missions rather than for personal gain.
• Yagura said Kisame's visit to an izakaya showed he still hoped the real world could improve, and Kisame admitted he had been moved.
• Kisame refused to return, saying human selfishness would eventually destroy Kirigakure's fragile peace.
• Yagura attacked Kisame and used the Water Mirror Technique to produce a copy of him.

Kisame rejected Yagura’s attempt to change his beliefs, but their pursuit across the Land of Water showed him how much Kirigakure had changed. Just as Naruto arrived at the lake to face Kisame and Deidara, Pain’s Deva Path appeared and revealed that the chase had been a trap for Naruto.

• Kisame defeated Yagura’s Water Clone, saying he accepted his darkness and would keep living in the Eye of the Moon’s falsehood if necessary.
• Kisame followed Samehada’s pull and pursued Yagura with Deidara, witnessing signs of peace and reform throughout the Land of Water.
• Yagura stopped at a remote lake and asked Kisame to protect the changed Kirigakure, but Kisame remained skeptical.
• Naruto arrived with Hinata and Might Guy, and Kisame and Deidara prepared to fight them.
• Pain’s Deva Path appeared in the sky and told Naruto that the pursuit had been a play prepared for him.

Naruto battled four coordinated Pain bodies while Might Guy, Hinata, and Yagura tried to escape, but Kisame flooded the lakeside and attacked Yagura. The chapter left Naruto wounded and struggling to find an opening as the group remained trapped in the water sphere.

• Naruto identified the Rain Tiger at Will Technique and told Might Guy to take Hinata and Yagura away while he stayed to face Pain.
• Deva Path Pain stopped their escape with Shinra Tensei, and Guy opened the Sixth Gate to fend off Asura Path Pain's missiles while Hinata covered him.
• Naruto fought Asura Path, Human Path, Preta Path, and Deva Path Pain, learning that they absorbed ninjutsu, attacked souls, and shared their vision.
• Kisame emerged from the lake, used Great Exploding Water Shockwave to trap everyone in a huge water sphere, and attacked Yagura with Samehada.
• Guy and Hinata struggled against Pain underwater as Naruto was battered by the Deva Path's pulls and Asura Path's missiles.

Naruto and his allies fought Pain’s Paths underwater while Yagura was overwhelmed by Kisame, until Zabuza intervened. Haku appeared at the end and launched an Ice Release attack at Kisame.

• Naruto discovered that the underwater communicator could not reach Konoha, but Rock Lee and the Taijutsu Specialization Unit arrived to attack the Preta Path with physical blows.
• Guy knocked the Asura Path away, allowing Naruto to exploit the Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei cooldown and keep their fight near a stalemate.
• Kisame drained Yagura’s chakra with Samehada and prepared to finish him, but Momochi Zabuza arrived and challenged Kisame.
• Zabuza fought Kisame and used Hidden Mist Technique to buy time while Haku gathered chakra at the edge of the water sphere.
• Haku launched Ice Release, Thousand Killing Water Needles at Kisame.

Naruto and his allies struggled against Kisame and Pain until Ōnoki and A arrived, seemingly as reinforcements. Naruto realized they had joined Pain to trap him, and their attacks converged on him as the chapter ended.

• Zabuza and Haku wounded Kisame, while Deidara’s explosions disrupted the battlefield and Ao led a Taijutsu Unit assault on Hell Path Pain.
• Naruto struggled to corner Deva Path Pain as the fighting remained at a stalemate.
• Ōnoki and A arrived and took positions that sealed Naruto’s escape routes.
• Naruto realized Ōnoki and A had conspired with Pain to kill him and seize his assets.
• Naruto warned everyone to flee as Ōnoki launched Dust Release, A charged Naruto, and Pain used Shinra Tensei.

Naruto escaped a coordinated attack by Ōnoki, Raikage A, and Deva Path Pain using Flying Thunder God, then summoned Ultramarine Eureka to fight them. Eureka blocked Ōnoki’s Dust Release and wounded Raikage A, as the battle continued.

• Ōnoki, Raikage A, and Deva Path Pain attacked Naruto together, but Naruto teleported away with Flying Thunder God.
• Naruto summoned Ultramarine Eureka from a rift and ordered him to attack all the enemies.
• Eureka blocked Ōnoki’s Dust Release with his energy shield and fired a Bolter round that forced Ōnoki to evade.
• Raikage A charged Eureka, but his lightning attack failed to penetrate the armor.
• Eureka drew his Power Swords and slashed Raikage A, cutting into his Lightning Release Armor.

Naruto and his forces fought Ōnoki, Raikage Ai, and Pain after Naruto rejected their alliance against him. The battle intensified as both sides unleashed their strongest attacks, and Pain recognized that Naruto’s fighters were stronger than expected.

• Naruto accused Ōnoki, Raikage Ai, and Deva Path Pain of joining forces with the Akatsuki for power, then ordered Might Guy and the Taijutsu Specialization Unit to fight at full strength.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate, while Rock Lee and the other armored fighters opened the Eight Gates and attacked Pain’s forces; they defeated Preta Path and battered Asura Path and Human Path.
• Might Guy clashed with Raikage Ai, Eureka attacked Deva Path Pain, and Naruto countered Ōnoki’s Dust Release with a Tailed Beast Ball, creating a shockwave that scattered the fighters.
• Kisame emerged from the water and attacked Naruto, then Zabuza, Haku, and Deidara joined the battle against him amid renewed fighting across the field.
• The armored fighters continued attacking the remaining Deva Path, who observed that Naruto’s forces were stronger than expected.

Might Guy battered Raikage A with his taijutsu and explained that he fought to defend the opportunities the political commissar had given children like the Taijutsu Brigade recruit. Naruto used a calculated Shadow Clone assault to nearly kill Ōnoki, but Pain rescued the Tsuchikage, leaving him badly wounded and Naruto eager for another chance.

• Guy overwhelmed Raikage A with punches that cracked his Lightning Release Armor, then blasted him into a reef with Daytime Tiger.
• Guy told the injured Raikage that he fought because the political commissar had given untalented children a chance to protect those they loved.
• Raikage A tried to launch a sneak attack, but Guy kicked him into the water before he could strike.
• Naruto sent hundreds of Shadow Clones at Ōnoki, using their attacks to restrict the Tsuchikage's movement and conceal his approach.
• A Shadow Clone detonated a Tailed Beast Ball, and Naruto used the resulting chaos and Flying Thunder God to slash Ōnoki's back with a tailed-beast claw.
• Pain pulled Ōnoki out of the way before Naruto could strike his heart, and Iwagakure guards caught the wounded Tsuchikage as Naruto lamented his near miss.

Pain unleashed a massive Shinra Tensei that devastated the battlefield, allowing Kisame and Deidara to escape while forcing the other fighters to break off. Naruto stopped Mei Terumi from pursuing the retreating Ōnoki and the Raikage, then ordered Pain’s abandoned Black Rod taken to the Arsenal for analysis.

• Pain ordered Deidara and Kisame to retreat as Mei Terumi and Kirigakure's main force approached.
• Pain used Shinra Tensei, scattering the fighters and wrecking the battlefield while Naruto, Eureka, Ōnoki, and the Raikage survived the blast.
• Kisame escaped underwater and Deidara carried him away on a Clay Bird as Pain withdrew with the Asura Path and Human Path.
• Mei Terumi arrived and prepared to attack Ōnoki and the Raikage, but Naruto stopped her and explained that Pain had held back.
• Ōnoki and the Raikage retreated, and Naruto ordered his forces to clear the battlefield and bring Pain's Black Rod to the Arsenal for Ancient Iron to examine.

After surviving the battle, Naruto comforted a distraught Hinata and suspected Ōnoki and the Raikage’s betrayal came from Chaos’s influence. As Yagura warned of something lurking in the shadows, Naruto carried the Death God’s rune away by ship, expecting more dangerous enemies to appear.

• Naruto refused medical attention until Hinata reached him and broke down crying in his arms.
• Naruto reassured Hinata, then had Root members take her away to rest.
• Naruto and Eureka discussed Ōnoki and the Raikage’s betrayal, and Naruto wondered whether Chaos had entered their world.
• Wounded Yagura warned Naruto that there was something in the shadows before fainting.
• Aboard the returning transport ship, Naruto held the Death God’s rune and said Akatsuki was only the beginning.

Naruto investigated a broken Black Rod and discovered it contained a devouring psychic presence linked to the corruption spreading through the Shinobi World. After ordering widespread surveillance, he received Yagura’s recording warning that abnormal, smiling shadows had appeared in Kirigakure.

• Naruto brought Pain’s broken Black Rod to Ancient Iron, whose analysis revealed it was warped energy containing a nonhuman psychic fluctuation that devoured chakra, light, and heat.
• Naruto ordered Ancient Iron to seal the remaining presence and told Zero to monitor the behavior of high-ranking shinobi and officials across the nations.
• Nara Shikage reported abnormal military preparations in Iwagakure and Kumogakure, along with propaganda and sabotage targeting the Land of Fire.
• Shikage reported that three Sunagakure elders had died under house arrest with purple patterns in their eyes and no shadows, prompting Naruto to order Zero to watch for smiling shadows.
• Naruto connected the growing obsessions of Ōnoki, the Raikage, and Pain to the influence of Chaos, then received Yagura’s recording describing a similar presence and moving, smiling shadows in Kirigakure.

Naruto discovered that an enemy was spreading a mind-contaminating seed through black-market sealing ink, turning infected people against him. After containing three infected attackers in Konoha, he ordered an investigation into the ink and preparations to examine the victims.

• Naruto ordered Zero to monitor Konoha’s surveillance feeds for shadows that moved abnormally or appeared to smile.
• In Otogakure, Kabuto revealed that he and Orochimaru were spreading Contamination Seeds through Sealing Ink, programming infected people to hate Naruto and seek his death.
• After Shikamaru detected delayed shadows among seventeen people, three of them attacked Root members; Naruto extracted black mist from the attackers and sealed it in containers.
• Ancient Iron identified the captured substance as highly active energy resembling residue from Pain’s Black Rods, and Naruto called an emergency meeting.
• Naruto ordered Konoha to stop using the suspicious ink and purify sealing formulas made with it, while Sasuke reported finding the ink near villagers who wanted Naruto dead.
• Naruto directed Deer Shadow to trace every black-market ink transaction and ordered Tsunade to examine the three attackers for implanted memories.

Tsunade and Inoichi discovered that the Mental Imprints in Konoha victims were fused with their consciousness and could not be removed safely. Naruto traveled to the Land of Waves, where he suppressed the pollution in several citizens and learned that the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Hot Water were the mastermind’s next targets.

• Tsunade and Inoichi found that cutting the Mental Imprints from three patients’ Mental Seas would destroy their consciousness, though chakra could temporarily suppress the imprints.
• Deer Shadow traced the black-market Sealing Ink to a stronghold near Otogakure, while Naruto argued that someone had used Orochimaru’s resources to spread the pollution.
• Zero reported that more than a hundred people in the Land of Waves had developed mental abnormalities, so Naruto set out with Sasuke, Hinata, and Rock Lee.
• In the Land of Waves, the affected citizens attacked Naruto, but Tazuna, Inari, and Tsunami reminded them of Naruto’s help, helping some resist the imprint.
• Naruto used Nine-Tails Chakra to suppress the imprints in affected citizens, discovering that their trust in him made the imprints unstable.
• Sasuke and Hinata found the philanthropists’ abandoned stronghold and a document listing the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Hot Water as the next targets.

Naruto struggled to purify the Spiritual Pollution in the Land of Whirlpools, but the elders used a sealing barrier to help save their people. He then went to the Land of Hot Water, where Kagura allowed him to watch its ritual but forbade him from interfering.

• Naruto accepted Tazuna's assurance that the people of the Land of Waves would handle their own crisis.
• In the Land of Whirlpools, Naruto exhausted himself purifying the afflicted while Hinata and Sasuke warned that he could not save everyone alone.
• The elders of the Land of Whirlpools formed a blood-powered sealing barrier that suppressed the Pollution and began freeing the afflicted.
• Sasuke told Naruto that the elders' conviction was burning the Pollution, challenging Naruto's belief that ordinary people needed his protection.
• Kagura told Naruto not to enter the Land of Hot Water, but Naruto and his team went there anyway.
• At the border, Kagura and the shrine maiden guards stopped Naruto; she let him observe their ritual on the condition that he did not interfere.

Naruto saw the people of the Land of Hot Water purify the afflicted through their shared faith, while Kirigakure fought the Pollution through its own resolve. After receiving reports that the crisis was under control, Naruto realized his role was to help people protect themselves, and Tsunade toasted him in Konoha.

• The civilians of the Land of Hot Water used their spiritual energy to cleanse the afflicted, and Kagura told Naruto their faith rested on him and what he had done for them.
• Mei Terumi rallied Kirigakure to resist the Pollution, while Zabuza and a group of children used confrontation and family memories to bring afflicted people back to themselves.
• Mei told Chōjūrō to inform Naruto that Kirigakure needed an ally, not a savior.
• Naruto read reports that the Land of Whirlpools had completed its purge, the Land of Hot Water had purified everyone, and the situation in the Land of Water was under control.
• Naruto concluded that he should equip people to defend themselves rather than try to protect everyone alone, and Sasuke agreed.
• Tsunade read reports from the allied lands and raised a cup of sake to Naruto.

Nagato and Konan investigated villagers in the Land of Rain who shared visions of Naruto Uzumaki destroying Amegakure, finding traces of an unknown Pollution that Hell Path could not remove. Kabuto Yakushi offered a serum and revealed that a higher-dimensional being had chosen the Land of Rain to show fragments of the future, leaving Nagato to consider whether to cooperate against Naruto.

• Nagato and Konan discovered that 372 villagers had been experiencing identical visions of Naruto destroying Amegakure, which the villagers called a prophecy.
• Nagato and Konan visited a border village, where Hell Path extracted black mist from the affected villagers but could not remove the purplish-black marks left beneath their skin.
• Nagato concluded that the unusual infection might be a warning or test, and an ANBU reported that Kabuto Yakushi had come seeking an audience.
• Kabuto gave Nagato and Konan a scroll explaining the Spiritual Pollution and offered a Purification Serum in exchange for Akatsuki's help against Naruto Uzumaki.
• Kabuto claimed a higher-dimensional existence had chosen the Land of Rain to reveal fragments of the future and warned that the prophecies would come true if Naruto was not stopped.

Obito returned to Nagato and Konan as Kabuto Yakushi offered Akatsuki experimental serums in exchange for help against Naruto Uzumaki. Nagato weighed the risk against the need to cure the infected people in the Land of Rain and said he would answer Kabuto in three days.

• Obito confronted Nagato and Konan, then called Kabuto Yakushi back into the chamber to discuss the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Kabuto Yakushi showed Nagato and Konan a purple Accelerant that could give ordinary people great combat strength, but Konan warned that his offer was dangerous.
• Nagato demanded proof of Kabuto’s sincerity, and Kabuto offered seven Purification Serum doses for free in exchange for Akatsuki’s help against Naruto Uzumaki.
• Kabuto warned that Naruto must be stopped to prevent the prophecies from coming true, then left and said he would return in three days.
• Nagato told Konan that the infected people urgently needed the serum and said he would give Kabuto an answer in three days.

Naruto learned that Spiritual Pollution had abruptly stopped spreading and suspected its mastermind had completed an experiment and withdrawn. Intelligence linked Kabuto Yakushi to the Pollution and Orochimaru’s experiments, while Kabuto declared he would pursue his own purpose even if it meant destroying the Shinobi World; Sasuke trained through the pain of his powered armor, determined to kill Itachi.

• Zero reported that Spiritual Pollution incidents and new cases had suddenly stopped, and Naruto suspected the mastermind had pulled in the net after completing an experiment or arrangement.
• Sasuke brought intelligence showing Kabuto Yakushi near several Pollution sources, and Hinata reported that the sealed samples’ chakra resembled Orochimaru’s experimental subjects.
• Naruto ordered a Root team to investigate Otogakure but told Sasuke to hold his position, saying Sasuke had more important family matters to handle.
• Orochimaru confronted Kabuto Yakushi for acting without authorization, but Kabuto said he was tired of being a tool and left to find his own answer, even if he had to destroy the Shinobi World.
• Sasuke trained with his Curse Mark Specialized Variant Powered Exoskeleton and swore to kill Itachi, enduring the armor’s painful surge of power.

Sasuke traveled to the abandoned Naka Shrine to confront Itachi, using a powered armor suit enhanced by his Curse Mark. After Itachi trapped him in Tsukuyomi, the armor’s countermeasure broke the Genjutsu, leaving Sasuke ready to continue the fight.

• Naruto gave Sasuke Root intelligence locating Itachi at the old Naka Shrine and warned him to retreat if he could not win.
• Sasuke reached the shrine and confronted Itachi, declaring that he had come to kill him and avenge their parents.
• Sasuke attacked with his Power Sword and armor, striking Itachi with a powered punch after tracking his real body through a crow clone.
• Itachi used Tsukuyomi to trap Sasuke in an illusion of the Uchiha massacre and repeatedly stab him for seventy-two hours.
• The armor activated its Physical Awakening Mechanism, jolting Sasuke with pain and shattering Tsukuyomi.
• Sasuke recovered from the illusion and told Itachi that his Genjutsu was outdated.

Sasuke used his powered armor and technology to overwhelm Itachi, then invoked Kirin as Itachi summoned Susanoo to defend himself. The chapter ended as Sasuke’s lightning beast plunged toward Itachi’s skeletal avatar.

• Sasuke broke free of Itachi’s Tsukuyomi by using his armor to shock his nervous system, then attacked with boosted speed, explosives, and a lightning sword.
• Itachi evaded Sasuke’s attacks with shuriken, substitution, and a Great Fireball, but Sasuke charged through the flames.
• Itachi struck Sasuke’s chest armor with Amaterasu, but Sasuke ejected the burning armor plate and emerged unharmed.
• Sasuke fired silver iodide rounds to gather storm clouds, then used his armor to channel the gathered lightning.
• Itachi summoned Susanoo and raised its shield as Sasuke unleashed Kirin: Overclock Mode, sending a giant lightning beast crashing toward him.

Sasuke unleashed the Curse Mark’s Warp Pollution and nearly lost himself to its power, but Itachi sealed the corruption with the Totsuka Blade. Itachi then tapped Sasuke’s forehead, asked him to forgive him, and died, leaving Sasuke stunned beside his body.

• Sasuke activated the Curse Mark’s full release, allowing Warp Pollution to corrupt his armor and drive him into a murderous frenzy.
• Itachi summoned Susanoo and used the Totsuka Blade to tear the Pollution from Sasuke and seal it inside the sake gourd.
• Sasuke collapsed as his armor disintegrated, and Itachi approached him with his life nearly spent.
• Sasuke braced for Itachi to take his eyes, but Itachi gently tapped his forehead and said, “Forgive me, Sasuke... This is the last time.”
• Itachi fell dead beside Sasuke as rain began to fall, leaving Sasuke bewildered by his brother’s final gesture.

Naruto intervened after Itachi’s death, drove Obito away, and took Sasuke and Itachi’s body back to the Konoha First Arsenal. When Sasuke woke, Naruto confirmed that Itachi had spared him but warned that the truth was uglier than the story of a self-sacrificing hero.

• Naruto appeared at the Naka Shrine, claimed Itachi and Sasuke as Konoha First Arsenal assets, and knocked Sasuke unconscious after Obito interrupted his explanation.
• Obito withdrew after Zetsu warned him that Might Guy and members of the Hyuga Clan were approaching, and Naruto sealed Itachi’s body in a scroll.
• Naruto and Hinata brought Sasuke to the Konoha First Arsenal’s special care ward.
• After waking, Sasuke demanded to know where Itachi’s body was, and Naruto told him it was in cold storage.
• Sasuke asked whether Itachi had intended to spare him, and Naruto confirmed the familiar account before warning that the truth was uglier.