Ch. 821I Will Become the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki (Continued)
Key plot points and events
- Hashirama captures Naruto and rushes away, signaling that Danzo is close to achieving his plan.
- Surrounded by resurrected Kage, Xia Le reveals his full power: a Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan, flight, and Truth-Seeking Orbs.
- Minato attacks first, but Xia Le kills him with a single punch. Tobirama’s multiplying explosive tags then engulf Xia Le in a massive blast, only for him to emerge unharmed behind a protective cube.
- Xia Le uses Particle Style to expand the cube around the battlefield and disintegrate the Kage. They reform because of Impure World Reincarnation, but his Truth-Seeking Orbs can destroy their bodies and release them from the technique.
- Yagura is freed and thanks Xia Le. Several other Kage charge Xia Le, apparently hoping to help their successors, but he cuts them down.
- Danzo watches through the Kage and remains focused on his plan: absorb the Nine-Tails’ chakra, awaken the Ten-Tails, and become its jinchūriki.
- Hiruzen and his clones launch a combined attack using five chakra natures. Xia Le’s Truth-Seeking Orb absorbs it effortlessly.
Character developments and interactions
- Xia Le shifts from holding back to openly displaying overwhelming power. He remains calm and contemptuous, treating the Kage’s attacks as ineffective.
- Danzo reveals his willingness to sacrifice the resurrected Kage as pawns to reach his goal, confident that becoming the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki will let him surpass Xia Le.
- Yagura responds to his release from Impure World Reincarnation with gratitude. Reto, Byakuren, Ishikawa, and the Second Raikage also turn against their forced role, charging Xia Le in a bid to aid the living.
- Tobirama, Minato, and Hiruzen each attack Xia Le in turn, but none can injure him; Hiruzen’s final assault is absorbed.
Significant themes
- The gap between apparent and true strength: Xia Le’s enemies underestimate him until he reveals his full abilities.
- Control and sacrifice: Danzo treats the resurrected Kage as expendable tools, while they struggle with being made obstacles to their successors.
- Liberation and loyalty: Yagura’s release—and the other Kage’s response—frames freedom from control as a reason to act for the living.
- Escalation: As the Kage’s attacks fail, Danzo’s ambition grows toward the greater threat of the Ten-Tails.