Chapter Summaries

Konoha's army struggled against the Akatsuki's combined assault as Nara Akira tried to coordinate defenses and Danzo held back until the Six Paths of Pain broke into their formation. After realizing the Akatsuki were targeting the army rather than Danzo, Danzo fled and Nara Akira ordered a retreat too late to secure cover.

• Sasori's puppets and Kakuzu's combination jutsu pressured Konoha's army while Danzo learned that reinforcements would take two days to arrive.
• Sasori sent the Hanzō Human Puppet forward, Chiba Shun unleashed forty Kumogakure shinobi, and the Six Paths of Pain summoned giant beasts against Konoha's forces.
• Nara Akira redirected troops to defend against the beasts and attacks, but Konoha's fighters overwhelmed the Akatsuki's taijutsu fighters as casualties mounted on both sides.
• The Six Paths of Pain entered Konoha's formation and advanced on the command post, disrupting the army while Danzo summoned Baku and attacked them with Root ninja.
• After the formation collapsed, Nara Akira realized the Akatsuki were attacking the army, and Danzo fled before Nara Akira ordered a late retreat.

Chiba Shun’s forces and the Akatsuki defeated Danzo’s Konoha army, after which Chiba returned to Kumogakure with a share of the spoils and his three disciples. Back in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Danzo about the defeat and learned that Chiba Shun had likely commanded Kumogakure’s fighters.

• The Six Paths of Pain and the Akatsuki routed Danzo’s army, leaving only around one or two hundred of Konoha’s fifteen hundred troops alive.
• Chiba Shun negotiated one tenth of the spoils from Nagato, receiving four hundred million ryo and copies of more than twenty jutsu.
• Chiba Shun’s three disciples remained stunned by the battle’s powerful shinobi, puppets, and giant summoned beasts as they returned toward Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Danzo for losing more than thirteen hundred men, and Danzo reported that Sasori of the Red Sands had joined the Akatsuki.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kumogakure shinobi had fought alongside the Akatsuki and that Chiba Shun had probably commanded them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Danzo about Root’s failure to uncover the Akatsuki’s ties to Kumogakure, and Danzo blamed the group’s secrecy.