Chapter Summaries

Sakura used Tobitake Tonbo’s Instant Release technique to defeat Sasori’s Third Kazekage puppet, then healed Granny Chiyo and prepared to help Naruto and the others. Sasori survived and impaled Sakura and Granny Chiyo with an Earth Spear.

• Tobitake Tonbo gave Tobitake Keigo his research books on advanced ninjutsu, while Keigo accepted them despite being unable to refine chakra yet.
• Sakura broke through the cavern and fought Sasori with Granny Chiyo, using a chakra barrier to withstand his Iron Sand attacks.
• Sakura activated Instant Release, struck Sasori’s head apart, and destroyed the Third Kazekage puppet.
• Sakura released the technique, treated Granny Chiyo, and said they should go support Naruto and the others.
• Sasori reappeared through another puppet and pierced Sakura and Granny Chiyo with an Earth Spear.

Sasori overwhelmed Chiyo and Sakura with his collection of human puppets until Tobitake Tonbo, disguised as Jin, arrived to fight him. The chapter ended as Jin gathered Natural Energy for a powerful lightning attack and Sasori countered with Wave Release.

• Sasori revealed his human puppet collection and used its ninjutsu and Kekkei Genkai to overwhelm Chiyo’s ten puppets.
• Sakura escaped a puppet’s chakra-draining grasp, but a lightning strike from an unknown attacker destroyed the Dark Release puppet and freed her.
• Tobitake Tonbo, disguised as Jin, confronted Sasori and trapped his puppets in a Lightning Release barrier.
• Sasori’s puppets countered Jin’s lightning with Rubber Release and Wind Release, while Chiyo carried the weakened Sakura out of range.
• Jin gathered Natural Energy for Lightning Pressure: Raging Waves, and Sasori answered with a puppet’s Wave Release: No Passage.

Neji reported that Sakura and Chiyo were in danger while a mysterious ally named Tobitake Tonbo fought Sasori with powerful Lightning Release. Tobitake unleashed a devastating final technique, while Kakashi and Naruto continued pursuing Deidara after learning that someone was helping Sakura.

• Neji used his Byakugan to assess the battlefield and told Guy that Sakura had spent too much chakra, Chiyo had taken her away, and an ally was fighting Sasori.
• Zetsu watched the battle and considered whether the powerful, unfamiliar Jin might be invited to join Akatsuki.
• Tobitake Tonbo realized his Shadow Clone was nearly out of chakra and prepared a final attack against Sasori’s remaining puppets.
• Tobitake and Sasori unleashed their techniques, filling the sky with hundreds of immense thunderballs and forcing Chiyo and Sakura to flee the battlefield.
• Zetsu escaped underground, while Kakashi and Naruto saw the distant storm and Kakashi deduced that an ally was helping Sakura’s group.
• Kakashi told Naruto to keep pursuing Deidara because Neji’s transmission had not sounded panicked.

Sasori unleashed his final forbidden puppet technique against Tobitake Tonbo’s Divine Resonance Hall, and the two attacks collided in a massive blast. The shockwave swept across the battlefield, forcing the other fighters to defend themselves or flee.

• Deidara dropped clay insects toward Kakashi and Naruto, intending to separate them before capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Sasori absorbed the chakra of his puppets and summoned eighteen gigantic puppets as Tobitake Tonbo completed Divine Resonance Hall.
• Sasori’s chakra eruption collided with Tobitake Tonbo’s lightning technique, and Tobitake Tonbo’s clone vanished in the blast.
• Sakura summoned a gigantic slug to shield herself and Chiyo from the approaching shockwave.
• Guy and Rock Lee opened their Eight Gates and ran from their duplicates as the shockwave chased them.
• Neji used his duplicate to block part of the shockwave, while Tenten raised defensive tools and summoned ten Earth Walls.

Sasori died after revealing the location and timing of his meeting with Orochimaru’s spy, while Sakura and Chiyo survived the devastating clash. The scattered Konoha team members recovered and began searching for one another as Zetsu and a masked man retrieved Sasori’s broken Akatsuki ring and left.

• Sasori recalled his past, told Sakura and Chiyo that Orochimaru’s spy would meet him at Tenchi Bridge in Kusagakure in ten days, and died before finishing his explanation.
• Sakura removed Sasori’s core and crushed it, then accompanied Chiyo away from the crater as Chiyo resolved to make one final contribution to Sunagakure.
• Guy, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten survived the blast in separate locations, discovered their radios were broken, and worried about their teammates.
• Zetsu and a masked man took Sasori’s shattered Akatsuki ring and left, while Zetsu noted that the Konoha shinobi had survived.
• Rock Lee reached Sasori’s empty puppet shell and concluded that Sakura was probably safe.

Tobitake Tonbo reflected on his battle with Sasori while Akatsuki and Orochimaru prepared to act against him. After Sunagakure reported that the Kazekage had been rescued but Kakashi was seriously injured, Tsunade revealed that the villages had refused her alliance proposal and that the Seven-Tails jinchūriki had gone missing.

• Tobitake Tonbo considered the power of Sasori's technique and worried briefly about Rock Lee and the others before turning his attention back to his research and family.
• Pain heard from Zetsu that Sasori had been defeated by an unknown ninja and spoke with Konan about their vision of peace.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto that they would move against Sasori, while Sasuke appeared and urged them to hurry with his training.
• Tsunade received Sunagakure's report that the Kazekage had been rescued and Kakashi was seriously injured, then told the gathered Konoha leaders that Kakashi's group did not need reinforcements.
• Tsunade said the other villages had refused her proposal to unite against Akatsuki and reported that Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, had been missing for half a month.

Tsunade’s meeting focused on persuading the nations to take Akatsuki seriously and deciding how to protect Naruto, while Kakashi’s team returned to Konoha. Elsewhere, Jigen hid Amado and entered hibernation as his body began to fail.

• Jiraiya, Tobitake Tonbo, Shikaku, and Tsunade discussed how the nations had exploited Akatsuki and agreed to seek support from other countries.
• Tsunade rejected the idea of permanently protecting Naruto, insisting he needed to grow stronger, while Utatane Tsubaki urged her not to rush her decision.
• Kakashi and his team returned to Konoha, and Tobitake Tonbo arranged for Kakashi to recover from chakra exhaustion.
• In the Land of Stone, Jigen concealed Amado from others searching for scientists and entered a hibernation pod as cracks spread across his body.
• Kakashi warned Tobitake Tonbo not to underestimate Akatsuki, whose members could make even a powerful opponent vulnerable to traps.

Tobitake Tonbo let Konoha’s mission plans unfold while training Tenyu and Maki in Genjutsu. At Tenchi Bridge, Naruto’s rampage against Orochimaru began as Sakura and Yamato confronted Kabuto.

• Danzo secured Sai’s place on Team 7 after Tsunade argued for Naruto to join the mission.
• Tobitake Tonbo reflected on Danzo’s influence, then agreed to train Tenyu and praised his children’s Kyoka Suigetsu skills.
• Tenyu told Tobitake Tonbo that his missions had shown him the dangers of the Shinobi World and made him determined to grow stronger.
• Naruto went berserk after seeing Orochimaru and transformed from Three-Tails to Four-Tails, sending Kabuto flying toward Sakura.
• Kabuto evaded Sakura and Yamato’s attacks, explaining that Sasuke had changed under Orochimaru’s guidance and warning Sakura about Sai’s reckless pursuit.
• Sakura used a chakra thread to pull herself toward Kabuto and launched a punch.

Tobitake Tonbo left Konoha to support Yamato and Sakura as they fought Kabuto, while Hayama Shirakumo and his team guarded the border near Amegakure. The chapter ended with Zetsu and a masked man secretly watching the guards and discussing Tobitake Tonbo's children.

• Sakura and Yamato attacked Kabuto, but his enhanced reflexes let him evade their strikes while Yamato sent a Wood Clone after the rampaging Naruto.
• Tsunade sent Tobitake Tonbo to support Yamato and the others, and he left a Shadow Clone behind before flying toward Tenchi Bridge.
• Hayama Shirakumo and Tenyu's team monitored the border and discussed Amegakure, Akatsuki, and the need to stay vigilant.
• Zetsu suggested that he and the masked man notify Pain and deal with the guards, while the masked man recognized Tobitake Tonbo's children.

The masked man and Black Zetsu ambushed Hayama Shirakumo's team, targeting Tenyu and Maki as leverage against Tobitake Tonbo. The team resisted the masked man's space-time ninjutsu, but Black Zetsu's spores immobilized Hayama Shirakumo as he tried to help them.

• Zetsu suggested capturing Tenyu and Maki to use as hostages, and the masked man agreed.
• Tenyu and Maki sensed someone watching them, and the team prepared for an attack.
• The masked man tried to seize Tenyu and Maki with space-time ninjutsu, but their teamwork and sensory skills thwarted him.
• Tenyu and Maki's Genjutsu failed against the masked man's Mirror Heaven and Earth Change, while Hayama Shirakumo warned them about the enemy's abilities.
• Hayama Shirakumo cut through the White Zetsu and moved to support the children, but Black Zetsu's spores began covering and restraining him.

Tobitake Tonbo watched Orochimaru use nerves based on Tobitake Tonbo’s research to summon Triple Rashomon against Naruto’s Chakra Cannon. Sakura and Yamato then subdued Naruto’s Tailed Beast Transformation, while Kabuto escaped.

• Tobitake Tonbo watched Four-Tails Naruto battle Orochimaru and was stunned when Orochimaru’s supposedly lifeless hands formed seals for the Summoning Technique.
• Orochimaru used Triple Rashomon to block Naruto’s Chakra Cannon, then drove Naruto toward Tenchi Bridge with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Tobitake Tonbo realized Orochimaru had adapted the nerve marker he had once placed in Sasuke to control Orochimaru’s hands, and angrily accused him of stealing his patent.
• Naruto went berserk when he saw Sakura, so Sakura used Instant Release to punch him down while Yamato prepared his sealing technique.
• Yamato activated the Hashirama chakra in Naruto’s necklace and ended the Tailed Beast Transformation; Kabuto vanished, and Sakura healed Naruto.

Tenyu and Maki fought off an Akatsuki attack with ninjutsu scrolls and Proxy Certificates, forcing the masked man and Black Zetsu to retreat. Tobitake Tonbo sensed their danger and transferred into Tenyu’s body, where he learned they had used the certificates and feared for his money.

• Tenyu and Maki used their summoning scrolls and Proxy Certificates to counter the masked man and Black Zetsu, injuring the masked man.
• The masked man and Black Zetsu retreated, and Tenyu’s group identified them as Akatsuki members; Tenyu reported hearing the masked man called Madara.
• Hayama Shirakumo suspected a connection between Amegakure and the Akatsuki and left to notify the Hokage.
• Tobitake Tonbo sensed that Tenyu and Maki’s Proxy Certificates had run out and used Sage Art: Transfer to reach Tenyu.
• Tenyu detected Tobitake Tonbo inside his body, and Tonbo asked whether they needed help before noticing the damage and worrying about the cost of their tools.

Tobitake Tonbo learned that a masked man had attacked Tenyu and Maki, then hurried off after confirming they were safe. At the collapsed valley, Sasuke defeated Naruto and their allies and prepared to strike Naruto with Chidori as Orochimaru and Kabuto watched.

• Tobitake Tonbo spoke with Tenyu remotely, guessed the masked man might be Madara or Obito, and reassured Hayama Shirakumo and the others before leaving.
• Maki and Tenyu complained that their father had secretly monitored them and had not taught them his long-distance communication technique.
• Tobitake Tonbo sensed that Naruto and Sasuke were about to meet and sped toward them in a bird, confident his family could defend themselves.
• Sasuke defeated Sakura, Naruto, Yamato, and Sai, rejected Naruto's pleas to return, and warned that he would kill him if Naruto kept pursuing him.
• Kabuto and Orochimaru discussed Sasuke's Sharingan and speculated that changing his way of thinking might unlock more power.
• Naruto charged at Sasuke, who thrust his lightning-coated hand toward Naruto's weakened chest.

Tobitake Tonbo intervened in the fight between Sasuke and Naruto’s group, used Genjutsu to stop Sasuke, and let Orochimaru take him away. After returning to Konoha with the others, Tonbo met Orochimaru again to hear his offer and dismissed suspicions about his motives by saying he stayed for his family.

• Tobitake Tonbo arrived and blocked Sasuke’s Chidori Stream, then warned him not to harm Konoha’s companions.
• Sasuke appeared to defeat Tonbo, but Orochimaru and Kabuto revealed that Tonbo had trapped Sasuke in Genjutsu and broken the technique.
• Tonbo refused to force Sasuke back to Konoha, told Naruto to bring him back through his own efforts, and watched Orochimaru and Kabuto leave with Sasuke.
• Tonbo used the Eye-Painting Hand to carry Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai back to Konoha as Naruto wept over Sasuke’s departure.
• Orochimaru secretly met Tonbo and asked why he stayed in Konoha, and Tonbo said he stayed to be with his wife and children.

Orochimaru sought Tobitake Tonbo’s cooperation to investigate an ancient prophecy of the Shinobi World’s destruction, arguing that protecting the world also protected Tonbo’s family and Konoha. Tonbo remained wary but was shaken by Orochimaru’s discoveries, and the chapter ended with Orochimaru explaining that he had consulted the White Snake Sage.

• Tobitake Tonbo asked Orochimaru what he wanted, and Orochimaru proposed that they cooperate.
• Orochimaru told Tonbo that Jiraiya was searching for the Child of Prophecy and described how the Toad Sage had foretold the world’s destruction.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had found traces of altered history and deduced that the Toad Sage had once helped the Sage of Six Paths defeat a terrible enemy.
• Tobitake Tonbo questioned whether Orochimaru truly believed the prophecy, and Orochimaru said preventing destruction would protect Tonbo’s family, Konoha, and everything else.
• Orochimaru said he had asked the White Snake Sage about the prophecy and that she had not refuted it.

Orochimaru learned from the White Snake Sage that an ancient world-destroying enemy could return and that human shinobi would have to stop it. He asked Tobitake Tonbo not to interfere with his plan to train Sasuke, explaining that he believed the Sharingan was created to prepare for the enemy’s return.

• Orochimaru visited the White Snake Sage, who recounted a prophecy that a powerful enemy would drain the Shinobi World's Natural Energy and said the Three Great Sacred Lands would not be the ones to save it.
• Orochimaru told Tobitake Tonbo about the prophecy and proposed cooperation, asking him to let Orochimaru train Sasuke.
• Tobitake Tonbo doubted Orochimaru’s motives and challenged him to explain how training Sasuke could help save the world.
• Orochimaru said the Sage of Six Paths had sealed the ancient enemy and suggested someone was seeking to break the seal.
• Orochimaru explained that he believed the Sage of Six Paths had created the Sharingan as a precaution and that he intended to develop Sasuke’s power.

Tobitake Tonbo heard Orochimaru's theory that the Sharingan was created to prepare for a future calamity, then left without taking up his offer of cooperation. On the way back, he rebuked Naruto and the others for their weakness and questioned Yamato's qualifications.

• Orochimaru claimed that the Sage of Six Paths created the Sharingan to develop abilities suited to future threats, and Tobitake Tonbo admitted the theory made sense.
• Orochimaru offered Tobitake Tonbo a peaceful world for his family, but Tobitake refused to cooperate and said Sasuke's reincarnation would fail because he had seen Sasuke's future.
• Tobitake Tonbo vanished, leaving Orochimaru wondering what he meant by the future Sasuke and whether Tobitake had used a space-time ninjutsu.
• Tobitake Tonbo absorbed his Shadow Clone's memories while flying with Naruto, Sai, Sakura, and Yamato, and realized Orochimaru had broken his locator.
• Naruto asked whether Tobitake Tonbo had truly considered bringing Sasuke back, and Tobitake smacked him on the head before catching him as he nearly fell from the eagle.
• Tobitake Tonbo scolded the group for being weak and mocked Yamato for failing to defeat a young opponent, prompting Yamato to promise to work hard.

After returning to Konoha, Naruto and Sakura trained to improve themselves while Sai asked Tobitake Tonbo about companionship. Danzo tried to recruit Tobitake Keigo into Root, but Tobitake Tonbo defeated Danzo’s guards, warned him away from his family, and secretly planted a Genjutsu seed in his chakra.

• Tobitake Tonbo brought Naruto and the others back to Konoha, where Naruto and Sakura began training harder after recognizing their shortcomings.
• Sai asked Tobitake Tonbo what it meant to have companions, and Tobitake Tonbo urged him to learn through experience and break free of Danzo’s brainwashing.
• Danzo visited Tobitake Tonbo’s training ground and demanded that Tobitake Keigo join Root to strengthen Konoha.
• Tobitake Tonbo challenged Danzo, then used his skill to defeat Torune and Fū when they attacked him.
• Tobitake Tonbo warned Danzo not to target his family again and secretly planted a Genjutsu seed in Danzo’s chakra before he left.

Tobitake Tonbo demonstrated his powerful Wind Release while helping Naruto train in Wind Nature Transformation. After learning that Akatsuki had killed Chiriku and destroyed the Fire Temple, Tsunade mobilized the Special Operations Squads, and Tonbo set out with three Chunin to hunt the enemy.

• Kakashi asked Tobitake Tonbo to help Naruto train in Wind Nature Transformation, and Tonbo blasted apart the training ground with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
• Tonbo explained Wind Nature Transformation to Naruto while Sai and Sakura watched his demonstration from the forest.
• A monk told Tsunade that Akatsuki had killed Chiriku and destroyed the Fire Temple, so Tsunade ordered the Special Operations Squads to assemble.
• Tsunade briefed the assembled squads and ordered them to intercept and kill Akatsuki within the Land of Fire.
• Tobitake Tonbo led three Chunin out to pursue Akatsuki, and his teammates expressed confidence in him.

Tobitake Tonbo ambushed Kakuzu and Hidan with Genjutsu, disrupting their attacks and exposing Hidan to a fatal opening. Hidan survived after Kakuzu reattached his head, while Kakuzu tried to work out how to counter Tonbo’s sensory illusions.

• Kakuzu and Hidan traveled toward the Bounty Station with Chiriku’s corpse when Tobitake Tonbo’s flute music caught them in Genjutsu.
• Kakuzu unleashed Wind Release, while Hidan charged two Konoha ninja and drew blood as part of his ritual.
• Tobitake Tonbo evaded Kakuzu’s Lightning and Fire techniques with Genjutsu and taunted him about his hidden money.
• Hidan stabbed himself, believing he had linked his wounds to the Konoha ninja, but the Genjutsu had prevented him from obtaining their blood.
• A third Konoha ninja cut off Hidan’s head, and Kakuzu used black threads to reconnect it after Hidan called for help.
• Kakuzu identified Tonbo as a dangerous Genjutsu specialist and considered countermeasures while Hidan stabbed himself to break the illusion and swung his scythe to keep the Konoha ninja back.