Chapter Summaries

Karen activated her second-stage Curse Mark and used the Hidden Mist Technique, flight, and precise Wind Style attacks to put Chizuru on the defensive. As her chakra began to run low, a powerful surge from the mist revealed a gigantic Black Ninja Cat on the battlefield.

• Karen transformed with her Curse Mark, and Takeshi Shiranui dismissed a spectator's question about Orochimaru's technique.
• Chizuru tried to trap Karen in Sharingan Genjutsu, but Karen broke free and covered the arena with the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Karen flew above the mist in her Chakra Winged Robe and fired Wind Style bullets at Chizuru, who blocked them with Lightning Flash Fierce Battle.
• Minato Namikaze and Kirito watched Karen's aerial assault, while Kirito noted that her chakra would only sustain it briefly.
• A powerful chakra surge dispersed the mist and revealed a gigantic Black Ninja Cat on the battlefield.

Chizuru defeated Karen in the arena, while Kirito pushed Nawaki through poison-resistance training as he prepared to become the One-Tail Jinchuriki. After rumors spread across Konoha that Kirito endangered the village by refusing to surrender the Tailed Beast, the Third Hokage confronted his son Hiruzen Sarutobi, who admitted no wrongdoing and condemned his father as unfit to lead.

• Chizuru countered Karen's attacks with her summoned black cat and Black Lightning sword technique, cutting Karen from the sky and catching her before she hit the ground.
• Kirito continued poisoning Nawaki to build his resistance, and Nawaki resolved to survive on his own as Kirito's future role as One-Tail Jinchuriki would separate them.
• Five days after the Third Hokage received protest letters, rumors blaming Kirito for a possible assault on Konoha spread throughout the village.
• Momoka ordered Senju jonin to investigate the rumor campaign and suspected the Third Hokage was involved.
• The Third Hokage realized the Anbu had ignored the rumors and accused its captain, his son Hiruzen Sarutobi, of orchestrating the cover-up.
• Hiruzen denied the accusation, endured his father's slap, and declared that the Third Hokage had grown old and was no longer fit to lead.

The Third Hokage confronted his son Hiruzen Sarutobi over a rumor campaign targeting Kirito, but discovered that his son and the Sarutobi Clan had wrested control of the Anbu from him. After revealing his newly awakened Lava Release and attempting to subdue Hiruzen, the Third Hokage was stopped by a masked Mangekyō Sharingan user and left unsure who was backing his son.

• The Third Hokage accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of spreading rumors about Kirito, but Hiruzen denied responsibility and explained that he wanted to drive Kirito away from Konoha.
• The Third Hokage ordered the Anbu to seize Hiruzen, but no one responded, revealing that Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan controlled the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage struck Hiruzen with a Chakra surge and revealed that awakening Lava Release had restored his strength and potential.
• The Third Hokage charged at Hiruzen, but an Anbu ninja wearing a Tengu Mask intervened and trapped him in Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu.
• The Third Hokage broke the genjutsu with his incomplete Yin Seal, but the masked ninja held a Kunai to his neck.
• Hiruzen denied cooperating with the Uchiha Clan, leaving the Third Hokage bewildered about the masked ninja and the Sarutobi Clan's allies.

Sarutobi Ryu defended his use of the Edo Mangekyo Sharingan Ninja to oppose Kirito Tonsaka, while the Third Hokage recognized Danzo’s Root as the force behind the forbidden jutsu and warned that it endangered Konoha. At Chizuru’s home, Homura Uchiha ordered his Guard Unit to arrest rumor-spreaders after receiving Kirito’s message: “End the war.”

• Sarutobi Ryu admitted that he had used the Protest Letter Incident to undermine the Third Hokage, then revealed that the Mangekyo Sharingan Ninja came from Root and obeyed him as an Impure World Reincarnation puppet.
• The Third Hokage identified Danzo’s improved forbidden jutsu as a threat, condemned Ryu’s plan to oppose Kirito Tonsaka, and argued with his son over the mission that had made Kirito the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
• Ryu left with the Edo Mangekyo Sharingan Ninja, and the Third Hokage bitterly reflected on how those around him had begun pursuing their own schemes.
• Homura Uchiha confronted the Uchiha Guard Unit over its failure to stop rumors about Kirito Tonsaka, while Fugaku Uchiha wondered whether Homura intended to support Kirito as the next Hokage.
• Tom delivered Kirito’s scroll to Homura, who ordered the Uchiha Jonin to arrest rumor-spreaders and dismissed the three who caught the fewest; the scroll’s message read, “End the war.”

Kirito planned to end the war with Sunagakure to silence the rumors against him, while Tsunade pressured the Third Hokage to defend his reputation. Kumogakure’s invasion of the Land of Rain shifted Konoha’s focus to a new threat, and Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed an Edo Mangekyo Sharingan Ninja as he pushed to send the Uchiha Clan into battle.

• Tom delivered Kirito’s scroll to Momoka Senju, who warned Kirito not to act rashly against Sunagakure.
• Tsunade confronted the Third Hokage over the rumors, and he agreed to clear Kirito’s name after she challenged his hesitation.
• An Anbu ninja reported that Kumogakure had invaded the Land of Rain, so the Third Hokage ordered reinforcements and sent Tsunade to support the border.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to stop the rumors, while Hiruzen proposed using the Uchiha Clan as the main force against Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen summoned an Edo Mangekyo Sharingan Ninja, whose genjutsu left Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu helpless before he renewed his proposal.

Kumogakure and Kusagakure invaded the Land of Rain, where Hanzō fought to defend Amegakure’s fortresses. After Blue B’s Tailed Beast Ball was diverted by Amegakure’s Earth Style Unit, Hanzō wounded him, triggering Gyuki to make him lose control; the Third Raikage rushed to the battlefield as the fighting turned against Kumogakure.

• Kumogakure and Kusagakure captured ten small Amegakure fortresses before Rain Ninja surrounded their forces at a great river.
• Hanzō used Fukui and his Water Release techniques to kill four Kumogakure Elite Jonin while Blue B and five others tried to encircle him.
• Blue B fired a Tailed Beast Ball at an Amegakure fortress, but the Earth Style Unit diverted it with a coordinated series of Earth Flow Walls.
• Hanzō struck Blue B with a concealed Water Clone and a scythe, wounding him and causing Gyuki to flood him with chakra until he lost control.
• The Third Raikage left headquarters to reach the battlefield, while Kusagakure retreated and the battle shifted against Kumogakure.

The Third Raikage suppressed Blue B and clashed with Hanzō as Kumogakure pushed toward victory in the Land of Rain. Meanwhile, Hattori Masanari led fifty Amegakure Jonin in a devastating surprise attack on Kumogakure, where Yugito Nii transformed into the Two-Tails to fight him.

• The Third Raikage arrived at the battlefield, stopped Blue B’s rampage, and fought Hanzō, who restored his strength with a Special Curry Pill and coated his scythe in Wind Style Chakra.
• Eruyi worried that Hattori Masanari was planning a hidden strike while Masanari gathered fifty Amegakure Jonin near Kumogakure.
• Masanari’s force used artificial rain, Shikigami paper techniques, and ten thousand enhanced Exploding Tags to attack Kumogakure and demolish part of the village.
• Masanari and the Amegakure Jonin fought through Kumogakure, causing widespread destruction with Water Style techniques and Summoned Beasts.
• Yugito Nii confronted Masanari, transformed fully into the Two-Tails, and attacked him with blue fireballs and Rat-shaped Flames.

Kirito, disguised as Hattori Masanari, led an assault on Kumogakure, devastated much of the village with a Rock Golem, and escaped with a small group of Amegakure ninja. Black Zetsu planned to exploit Kumogakure’s desire for revenge against the Land of Rain, then returned underground, where Madara Uchiha awakened.

• Kirito used Sage techniques and Water Style to fight Yugito Nii, then summoned a Rock Golem that rampaged through Kumogakure as the Amegakure Jonin regrouped with him.
• Yugito Nii and the Cloud Ninja failed to stop the Rock Golem before it destroyed nearly half the village, and Kirito flew away with twelve surviving Amegakure Jonin using Earth Style: Super Weighted Rock Technique.
• Kumogakure used its unfinished Chakra Cannon to destroy the Rock Golem, and Yugito Nii joined the rescue effort after Kasan urged him to help the wounded.
• Black Zetsu watched the attack and decided to encourage Kumogakure’s calls for revenge, hoping its retaliation against the Land of Rain would advance his plans for Nagato.
• Black Zetsu returned to his underground cavern, where Madara Uchiha awakened and fixed his gaze on him.

Madara Uchiha awakened and questioned Black Zetsu about recent events, focusing on threats to the Moon Eye Plan and Konoha’s shifting balance of power. He ordered Black Zetsu to track the Sage Art expert and considered targeting Kirito Tonsaka, Nawaki Senju, and Hattori Masanari as opportunities arose.

• Black Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Shimura Danzō had been killed by a mysterious Sage Art expert, and Madara ordered him to identify and monitor the expert.
• Black Zetsu explained that Danzō’s Root had withdrawn to the Land of the Waterfall, where it had advanced its Impure World Reincarnation research, and Madara became interested in seizing the technique.
• Black Zetsu described the conflict between the Senju and Sarutobi factions in Konoha and warned that Kirito Tonsaka’s strength and Nawaki Senju’s Eight Gates training threatened Madara’s plans.
• Madara set aside immediate action against Old Root and asked about the war between Kumogakure and Amegakure, learning that Hattori Masanari had struck Kumogakure and escaped.
• Madara considered using Kumogakure’s likely retaliation against the Land of Rain to break Hattori Masanari’s resolve and make him a pawn.

After Hattori Masanari’s raid devastated Kumogakure, the Third Raikage ordered retaliation across the Land of Rain and bounty hunters to pursue him while Eruyi warned of threats from Iwagakure. In Iwagakure, Ōnoki weighed Amegakure’s plea for aid and considered the danger of its turning to another powerful ally.

• Eruyi persuaded the furious Third Raikage not to rush into Amegakure, but he ordered Cloud Ninja to plunder the Land of Rain and kill anyone who resisted.
• The Third Raikage offered to end Kumogakure’s operations if Amegakure surrendered Hattori Masanari and issued a one-billion bounty for him, with ten million for accurate leads.
• Eruyi warned that Ōnoki might support Amegakure or attack Kumogakure, and the Third Raikage decided to recall his son Brill to guard Kumogakure alongside Yugito Nii.
• Ōnoki regretted teaching Hattori Masanari Earth Style: Super Weighted Rock Technique, then received Salamander Hanzō’s request for Iwagakure’s aid against Kumogakure.
• Kurotsuchi advised Ōnoki to offer limited support so Amegakure would remain obedient, and Ōnoki said he feared Amegakure might turn to a powerful ally already lurking nearby.

Kirito, disguised as Hattori Masanari, offered Kirigakure a lucrative commission to pressure Kumogakure and protect Amegakure. The Third Mizukage decided to accept, then asked Karatachi Yagura how long it had been since he visited the continent.

• The Third Mizukage worried over Kirigakure’s finances and met with Hattori Masanari after Karatachi Yagura brought him to a forest cabin.
• Kirito revealed himself in midair, gave the Third Mizukage Nuibari, and asked Kirigakure to take Amegakure’s war commission against Kumogakure.
• The Third Mizukage repeatedly refused Kirito’s offer, but reconsidered when Kirito raised the payment to 15 billion and said Kirigakure only needed to pressure Kumogakure.
• After Kirito departed, Karatachi Yagura outlined the benefits and risks of intervening, and the Third Mizukage decided to accept the commission.
• The Third Mizukage considered Kirigakure’s need for new income and asked Yagura how long it had been since he last went to the continent.

Kirito returned to Amegakure as Kumogakure devastated the Land of Rain, and he argued with Hanzō over whether his raid had provoked the attacks. Kirito promised that Kirigakure might intervene, while Hanzō secretly killed two Rain Anbu; elsewhere, Kirito’s advance against Sunagakure was halted because peace talks had begun.

• Kirito returned to Amegakure and reassured Murasaki before meeting the exhausted Hanzō amid the influx of refugees.
• Kirito and Hanzō argued over whether Kirito’s raid on Kumogakure had made the Land of Rain’s suffering worse, then fought until both were bruised and bloodied.
• Kirito told Hanzō that Kirigakure might join the conflict, giving him renewed hope, and promised to lead the Abyss Division in support.
• After Kirito left, Hanzō killed two Rain Anbu and burned their bodies.
• At Konoha’s temporary headquarters, Kirito learned that the Third Hokage had rejected his request to attack Sunagakure because Sunagakure had proposed peace talks.

Kirito dealt with Orochimaru’s return and the resistance of Orochimaru’s military followers while gathering his young inner circle. He left them divided over how to treat senior ninjas and hinted that Konoha’s forces might still fight Sunagakure if the peace talks were sabotaged.

• Orochimaru visited Kirito after being recalled from the front, and Kirito concealed his suspicion that Orochimaru had come to monitor him.
• Kirito explained that senior officers tied to Orochimaru were undermining his command, while Orochimaru claimed the peace talks with Sunagakure were progressing smoothly.
• Takeshi Shiranui and Fū Uchiha argued against respecting the senior ninjas, while Yukimi Yūhi and Shikaku Nara urged restraint; Tsume Inuzuka and Aburame Shikuroo abstained.
• Kirito declared that respect should be mutual, leaving his young followers divided but pleased that he had sided with their position.
• When Takeshi asked whether they should attack Sunagakure, Kirito rejected an attack during peace talks but said they would respond if Sunagakure attacked or sabotaged the negotiations.

Kirito planned to sabotage the Konoha-Sunagakure peace talks by recruiting Sunagakure’s dissatisfied Martial Faction Ninja, while Shikaku Nara recognized how Kirito could use opposition to the talks to build military support. Kirito left Shikaku to organize the effort with promised rewards, and ended by reaffirming that gaining strength mattered more to him than political schemes.

• Kirito dismissed Shikaku Nara’s concerns and suggested that Konoha veterans would oppose another peace deal that demanded no compensation from Sunagakure.
• Shikaku Nara realized Kirito could rally military support by spreading opposition to the peace talks, while reflecting on the Nara Clan’s effort to keep pace with the Senju Clan’s rise.
• Kirito gave Shikaku a list of Sunagakure Martial Faction Ninja who opposed the peace talks and tasked him with recruiting them.
• Kirito offered Reinforcement Curse Marks and valuable techniques, equipment, and surgeries as rewards, motivating Shikaku to commit to the plan.
• After the others left, Chizuru questioned Kirito’s trust in Shikaku, and Kirito said he would focus on becoming stronger while leaving schemes to others.

Shikaku Nara and his teammates planned to recruit Uchiha Ninja to help carry out Kirito Tonsaka’s assignment, while Orochimaru continued secretly researching the Reinforcement Curse Mark. After learning that Kirito’s subordinates were sending Uchiha Ninja away on missions, Orochimaru warned Sunagakure but refused to take direct action against Kirito.

• Shikaku Nara rejected relying on his clan and decided to recruit Uchiha Ninja by demonstrating their strength and using them to influence Sunagakure’s Martial Faction Ninja.
• Shikaku Nara, Shito Akimichi, and Santen Yamanaka contacted Fū Uchiha and secretly approached most of the Uchiha Ninja in the camp over two days.
• Orochimaru tested his incomplete Reinforcement Curse Mark on a Sunagakure ninja, who died, and continued seeking a way to replicate Kirito’s technique without asking for help.
• A Konoha Anbu reported that Shikaku Nara and his companions had been meeting Uchiha Ninja, who were leaving the camp for missions, and suspected a plan to disrupt the peace talks.
• Orochimaru ordered the Anbu to warn Sunagakure to prepare, but refused to deal with Kirito Tonsaka personally and criticized those trying to manipulate him.

Karen Hyuga intercepted Anbu messages while Kirito tested his new recruits, and Chizuru Uchiha took command of a mission to provoke Sunagakure’s anti-peace faction. As the Third Kazekage ordered Sunagakure to prepare for battle, a massive sandstorm engulfed its frontline base and a terrifying creature announced its attack.

• Karen Hyuga destroyed a Messenger Hawk and its letter, then helped Kirito’s recruited Jonin capture the Anbu sent out from the camp.
• Chizuru Uchiha defeated a Jonin who challenged her and used Genjutsu to brief the Uchiha team on infiltrating Sunagakure and inciting anti-peace ninjas to attack Konoha.
• The Third Kazekage learned that Sunagakure was facing severe financial and military troubles and ordered the village to prepare for battle after Sarada reported that anti-peace ninjas had gone missing.
• A massive sandstorm buried much of Sunagakure’s frontline base, and a terrifying creature declared that it would settle its grudge with the village.

Shukaku trapped Sunagakure’s forces in a sandstorm while Konoha’s ninja waited outside, and the remaining Sand ninja eventually surrendered. When Shukaku recognized Shayun among them, he attacked him despite Kirito’s orders, and a fist of iron sand intervened just before the blow landed.

• Shayun’s forces lost control as frightened Sunagakure ninja fled Shukaku’s sandstorm, while Shayun decided that surrender offered better odds than escape.
• Shukaku rampaged outside the camp and maintained the sandstorm, as Chizuru reassured the Konoha ninja that Kirito still controlled him.
• Nawaki opened four gates and killed a Sunagakure Jonin Puppet Master who broke through the storm, impressing Orochimaru and Minato.
• Kirito ordered Shukaku to stop frolicking and disperse the sandstorm, and Shukaku revealed the buried headquarters and demanded that its occupants surrender.
• Several Sand ninja emerged with their hands raised, but Shukaku recognized Shayun and struck at him; a massive iron sand fist rose from the ground to block the blow.

Kirito Tonsaka confronted the Third Kazekage after suppressing Shukaku and preventing the surviving Sunagakure ninja from escaping. The Third Kazekage revealed himself to be controlling an Iron Sand Puppet while his real body hid underground, frustrating Kirito’s attempt to kill him.

• The Third Kazekage used Iron Sand to restrain Shukaku and attack Konoha’s forces as Shayun and the surviving Sunagakure ninja fled.
• Kirito suppressed Shukaku, freed the trapped Konoha ninja, and captured the fleeing Sunagakure group, while Konoha’s fighters killed Shayun and many others.
• Kirito confronted the Third Kazekage and accused Sunagakure of starting the war and sabotaging peace talks.
• Kirito detected that the Third Kazekage was using an Iron Sand Puppet and pursued his real body, which had retreated more than ten kilometers away.
• Kirito pierced the puppet’s head with Storm Release, but the real Third Kazekage remained underground and evaded a direct fight.

Kirito pursued the Third Kazekage to Sunagakure and unleashed an enormous Rasenshuriken at the village. The Third Kazekage blocked the attack to protect his people, but Kirito killed him, and he disappeared into iron sand as Sunagakure’s ninja cheered.

• Kirito blocked the Third Kazekage’s Wind Style attack, then studied and copied his control of Iron Sand Snakes while they fought with sand and iron-sand constructs.
• Kirito caught up with the Third Kazekage near Sunagakure and threatened the village with a growing Wind Style Rasenshuriken.
• The Third Kazekage attacked Kirito, but Kirito countered his techniques and launched an enormous Rasenshuriken toward Sunagakure.
• Sunagakure’s ninja tried to stop the incoming attack, but the Third Kazekage raised a massive Iron Sand wall to shield them.
• Kirito pierced the Third Kazekage with a Storm Release laser as the Rasenshuriken exploded against the Iron Sand wall.
• The Third Kazekage turned toward Sunagakure, smiled, and vanished into iron sand while the village’s ninja celebrated his apparent victory.

Kirito withdrew after killing the Third Kazekage, securing his command through a devastating victory while sparing Sunagakure from total destruction. As grief and political calculations spread, Konoha’s leadership debated how to punish Kirito for attacking during peace talks.

• Kirito confirmed the Third Kazekage’s death, signaled the retreat, and left the remaining Sunagakure forces alive to avoid creating a lasting underground enemy.
• Orochimaru and Minato recognized that Kirito had secured the army’s loyalty, while Minato began considering how to make his teammates more useful to his Flying Thunder God system.
• Sunagakure shinobi recovered the Third Kazekage’s corpse, and Rasa mourned his mentor before swearing to kill Kirito.
• Akasuna told Sasori he might eventually help him turn the Third Kazekage into a puppet, and spies sent news of the Kazekage’s death across the Shinobi World.
• At a late-night meeting, the Third Hokage and his advisors reviewed Kirito’s victory, and Utatane Koharu called for him to be severely punished for defying orders.