Chapter Summaries

Tsunade escaped Izanami after facing her attachment to the loop and saying goodbye to Dan and Nawaki. She woke in Shikkotsu Forest, while Orochimaru praised the results of her fasting treatment and risked her anger.

• Jiraiya urged Orochimaru to release Tsunade from Izanami, but Orochimaru explained that only Tsunade could escape it.
• Orochimaru revealed that Tsunade had fulfilled the trial's goal but remained trapped because she had grown attached to the loop and the chance to see her lost loved ones.
• Inside Izanami, Orochimaru summoned Dan and Nawaki's souls from the Paradise Pure Land so Tsunade could speak with them.
• Dan encouraged Tsunade, and Nawaki asked her to make the ninja world a true Paradise Pure Land; Tsunade promised and let their souls go.
• Tsunade woke in the rain, and Orochimaru joked that her fasting had produced skirt-lifting results after she warned him to choose his words carefully.

After Tsunade completed Izanami's trial, she reunited with Konan at Shikkotsu Forest and began the empowerment ritual to learn Stillness Sage Art. Jiraiya and Orochimaru discussed threats to the world and Jiraiya's plan to pursue Kara, leaving Orochimaru openly worried about his safety.

• Tsunade returned to Sage Katsuyu, who congratulated her and sent her to the sage pool for empowerment.
• Tsunade found Konan had reached the Half-Sage State, welcomed her progress, and called her a senior sister in senjutsu.
• Katsuyu began infusing Tsunade with Shikkotsu Forest sage power as she started her training.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya he planned to return to Sasuke and prepare a fuse for Sasuke's coming Ayekashi flare-up.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru discussed Naruto, Obito, Toneri, Kara, and the future danger posed by Eida's Clairvoyance and Charm.
• Orochimaru admitted he understood why Jiraiya wanted to investigate Kara but told him he was worried the mission was too dangerous.

Jiraiya revealed his plan to lure Kara’s Outer Circle into Amegakure and investigate the organization, and Orochimaru agreed to help. After leaving Shikkotsu Forest, Orochimaru was drawn into a mysterious maze and followed a golden light to Fushimi Inari Shrine.

• Jiraiya refused to suspend his investigation into Kara, then explained his plan to use Amegakure’s lawless state to lure out a Kara Outer Circle member.
• Orochimaru approved Jiraiya’s plan and offered Nagato’s help, then departed Shikkotsu Forest.
• Orochimaru realized he was walking in circles inside the Dharma Realm and suspected someone had trapped him in a maze.
• A golden light and urgent cries led Orochimaru through the mist, where he fought off foxfire with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
• Orochimaru followed the light to a mountain shrine and recognized it as Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Orochimaru recalled the history and taboos of Inari Ōkami, then confronted the deity at its remote shrine. Inari revealed it had lured him there to keep him from helping Sasuke, but Orochimaru challenged its plan and stopped short after seeing the possessed human’s face.

• Orochimaru reviewed the origins and powers of the Four Gods of the Earth, including Inari Ōkami’s rise from an ordinary fox.
• Orochimaru reached Fushimi Inari Shrine and asked the figure at the offering table why Inari Ōkami had summoned him.
• Inari Ōkami said it could sense thoughts about itself and accused Orochimaru of intending to claim it, as he had claimed Jinnai and the Nine-Tails Demon.
• Inari Ōkami admitted it had lured Orochimaru to the shrine and planned to trap him until Sasuke died in two weeks.
• Orochimaru said the shrine and the possessed human were the real obstacles, then lunged forward and stopped when Inari Ōkami turned to face him.

Inari Ōkami, possessing Anko, trapped Orochimaru and demanded an agreement to end their conflict. After Orochimaru threatened to retaliate if Sasuke was harmed, Inari proposed a ninjutsu duel as a compromise, leaving Orochimaru startled by her extraordinary hands.

• Inari Ōkami revealed that she possessed Anko and challenged Orochimaru to kill his former disciple to escape the maze.
• Inari proposed using the Oath-Keeping Seal, but Orochimaru threatened to die with her rather than risk being tricked.
• Orochimaru warned that if Sasuke were harmed, he would use Impure World Reincarnation and hunt down Inari’s real Shrine.
• Inari agreed to a compromise and challenged Orochimaru to a ninjutsu duel, promising to free him and Anko if he could best her.
• Inari removed her white gloves, and Orochimaru reacted to her extraordinary hands.

Inari Anko overwhelmed Orochimaru by combining teleportation, multiple chakra natures, stolen kekkei genkai, and copied techniques. She ended the chapter by striking him with a Shadow Hip Toss.

• Inari Anko attacked Orochimaru with foxfire, concealed shuriken, and a Flying Thunder God ambush, then wounded him with flaming claws.
• Orochimaru used the Molting Technique to escape and watched as Inari Anko granted herself all seven chakra natures.
• Inari Anko used the True Chimera Technique to acquire Ice Release, Scorch Release, Explosion Release, Shikotsumyaku, and the Sharingan.
• Inari Anko copied Orochimaru's Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and combined it with five chakra releases and the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique to pin and blast him.
• Inari Anko picked up her shadow and hurled Orochimaru with a Shadow Hip Toss.

Sasuke and his allies searched for Orochimaru after learning he had vanished from Shikkotsu Forest, and they discovered Kakashi was missing from Konoha as well. Sasuke extracted Orochimaru’s clone from Anko, who revealed that his original body had been outplayed by Fushimi Inari, whose true face was about to be revealed.

• Itachi contacted Sage Katsuyu, who confirmed that Orochimaru had left Shikkotsu Forest ten days earlier and had not returned.
• Sasuke led Kabuto to find Anko, whom Konoha’s search team was using to investigate Kakashi’s disappearance.
• Sasuke subdued Anko and used genjutsu to incapacitate Tokuma after Tokuma witnessed the capture with his Byakugan.
• Sasuke, Kabuto, and Jugo released Anko’s Cursed Seal and drew Orochimaru’s clone from her body.
• Orochimaru’s clone told Sasuke that his original body had been thoroughly outplayed by an opponent in disguise.
• At Fushimi Inari Shrine, Orochimaru demanded that Inari Anko reveal her true face, and she began removing her disguise.

Inari Kakashi revealed that he had disguised himself as Anko to manipulate Orochimaru, then survived their explosive battle using a hidden escape technique. Orochimaru emerged transformed by the Shinigami’s power, while Inari Kakashi faced him unharmed.

• Inari Kakashi revealed his true identity, and Orochimaru realized the fox had disguised himself as Anko to make him hold back.
• Orochimaru summoned Kurama and the four Kage, who formed the Four Red Yang Formation around Inari Kakashi and the torii.
• Inari Kakashi seized control of Kurama’s Tailed Beast Bomb, intensified it with Scorch Release, and created eight physical reflections with Ice Release.
• The eight enhanced bombs detonated, destroying the Four Red Yang Formation when the four Kage dispersed.
• Orochimaru appeared in a transformed form wielding the Shinigami’s power, while Inari Kakashi emerged unharmed from a straw doll and explained how he had escaped the blast.

Orochimaru used Shinigami Mode and the Soul-Shaking Bell against Inari Kakashi, weakening Kakashi’s control of his body. After Kakashi’s lightning clones destroyed Orochimaru’s Susanoo, Orochimaru let Kakashi pierce his chest so he could seize his wrist.

• Orochimaru explained that Shinigami Mode lasted sixteen minutes and that he needed to finish the fight before its exhaustion left him unconscious for three days.
• Orochimaru rang the Soul-Shaking Bell, weakening Inari Kakashi’s control of Kakashi’s body and prompting the two to argue over their agreed contest of Ninjutsu.
• Inari Kakashi created eighteen Lightning Release shadow clones and sent them into a Fox Mound attack that shattered Orochimaru’s golden Crow Tengu Susanoo.
• Inari Kakashi formed Purple Electricity, charged at Orochimaru, and drove it through his chest.
• Orochimaru let the attack hit, then grabbed Kakashi Hatake’s wrist.

Orochimaru and Inari Ōkami fought over Inari Kakashi’s soul as both unleashed their divine techniques and ritual weapons. Orochimaru appeared to lose, but he prepared to seal Inari Ōkami’s hands with the Shinigami’s Soul-Cutting Blade.

• Orochimaru trapped Inari Kakashi with Cursed Beads and used the Reaper Death Seal to pull out his soul.
• Inari Ōkami activated Inari Celestial Fox Mode and grabbed the soul, forcing a struggle against Orochimaru’s Shinigami Mode.
• Inari Ōkami unleashed Heavenly Rice Ears while Orochimaru answered with Eight Branches Rampage, and the two fought as their strength waned.
• Inari Ōkami used the God-Striking Whip to make Orochimaru expel Hashirama’s soul, which then flew toward a chakra calling to it.
• Orochimaru summoned the Soul-Cutting Blade and brought it down as the Shinigami’s soul hand pulled at Inari Ōkami, who screamed for him to stop.

Orochimaru defeated Inari Ōkami but collapsed from the strain, leaving Sasuke and Kabuto to search the Dharma Realm for him. Hashirama guided them to Orochimaru and used the Shinigami’s authority to heal his chest wound, though Orochimaru remained unconscious and Sasuke’s Ayekashi still threatened to flare up.

• Inari Ōkami’s spirit departed after cursing Orochimaru, and the exhausted Kakashi and Orochimaru collapsed.
• Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal Clone sensed that his original body was inside the Shikkotsu Forest’s Dharma Realm, so Sasuke and Kabuto set out to find him.
• Sasuke encountered Hashirama’s soul, who offered to guide them to Orochimaru in exchange for answers to his questions.
• Hashirama led the group to the unconscious Orochimaru and Kakashi, and Kabuto began treating Orochimaru’s chest wound.
• Hashirama drew dormant Nine-Tails chakra from the Shinigami to heal Orochimaru, while the Cursed Seal Clone warned that Sasuke’s Ayekashi might flare up before the original body awoke.

Hashirama learned that Madara had destroyed Konoha and that Sasuke had stopped him, while the group prepared to escape to Blue Moon Island. A surviving White Zetsu reported their route to Obito, who found a lingering spatial anchor and planned to use it to locate the island.

• Hashirama learned that Konoha had been destroyed by Madara and that Sasuke had stopped him.
• The group returned to the cave with unconscious Orochimaru and Kakashi, where Orochimaru's clone explained that their base was on Blue Moon Island.
• Hashirama detected a hidden White Zetsu, and Sasuke burned it with Amaterasu before the group left through Kabuto's Blade Reversal.
• The White Zetsu reassembled after the group departed and reported what it had seen to Obito.
• Obito returned to the cave, spotted a lingering anchor from Blade Reversal, and decided he could decipher Blue Moon Island's coordinates within two days.

Hashirama praised Sasuke for protecting the Ninja world, then warned him that Ayekashi had killed Hashirama three months after it struck. Orochimaru’s curse-mark body explained that his original body could use a fuse to halt the technique until Sasuke could undergo the near-death experience needed to awaken the Rinnegan, and Hashirama asked whether the original body could wake in time.

• After hearing Sasuke’s story, Hashirama rolled across the tatami, then bowed twice to thank and honor Sasuke for protecting the Ninja world.
• Hashirama learned that Ayekashi had struck Sasuke nearly three months earlier and warned that the technique was about to take effect.
• Hashirama described how Ayekashi had caused his body to fail and subjected him to unbearable pain before killing him.
• Orochimaru’s curse-mark body explained that his original body could place a fuse after Ayekashi took effect, then release it to give Sasuke the near-death experience needed to awaken the Rinnegan.
• Orochimaru explained that Sasuke needed to awaken his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan’s innate dōjutsu before the Rinnegan, and Hashirama asked whether Orochimaru’s original body could wake before Ayekashi killed Sasuke.

Hashirama and Orochimaru explained that the forbidden Seven-Star Lamp Formation could awaken the Shinigami’s loving reverse form, Ikukishin, and free Orochimaru from the Shinigami’s punishment. As they prepared to gather seven participants, Kakashi awakened and volunteered to complete the group.

• Orochimaru explained that the Seven-Star Lamp Formation burned its participants’ souls and lifespans, and Hashirama revealed he had learned about it from Mito.
• Orochimaru deduced that Tobirama and Mito would have died if they had used the formation to save Hashirama.
• Orochimaru revealed that the formation could awaken Ikukishin, the Shinigami’s reverse form, and Hashirama explained that this transformation could release Orochimaru from his coma.
• Hashirama ruled out Sasuke and Nagato as participants, then learned that Itachi was also afflicted with Ayekashi.
• Hashirama counted only six eligible participants, but Kakashi awakened and volunteered to be the seventh.

Obito assembled his forces and prepared to attack Blue Moon Island, while Shikaku revealed to Inoichi that he had accepted Obito’s genjutsu control as part of a calculated gamble to protect the Shinobi World. After Inoichi made a control talisman, Obito upgraded his reanimated jinchūriki and ordered the assault.

• Obito gathered reanimated ninja, genjutsu-controlled leaders, and eighty-seven thousand White Zetsu, then ordered Inoichi to make a control talisman for the powerful woman sealed in a coffin.
• Shikaku privately told Inoichi that he had willingly accepted Obito’s genjutsu control to save Tsunade and believed Sasuke and Orochimaru could still stop Obito.
• Shikaku urged Inoichi to endure his captivity so he could eventually return to Konoha and reveal how Black Zetsu had framed Sasuke.
• Before dawn, Inoichi handed Obito the kunai containing the control scroll, and Obito showed him the modified former Pillar Jinchūriki, including Hashirama Senju’s face embedded in Yugito Nii’s chest.
• Obito declared that he would take the Nine-Tails and ordered his forces to raze Blue Moon Island.

Obito invaded Blue Moon Island with an army of eighty-seven thousand White Zetsu while Orochimaru's allies worked to awaken the Shinigami's Reversal Body. Sasuke, Itachi, and Nagato went to confront him, and Sasuke tore through the White Zetsu army with a devastating new technique.

• Obito summoned the White Zetsu army on Blue Moon Island as Karin struggled to maintain her place in the Seven-Star Lamp Formation.
• Sasuke, Itachi, and Nagato set out to confront Obito, while Hashirama stayed behind to protect the formation and Orochimaru.
• Sasuke activated his Purple Battle Armor Susanoo and charged into the White Zetsu army, destroying hundreds with Blaze Release: Vacuum Break.
• Shikaku directed the White Zetsu to spread out and counter Sasuke with Wood Release and preparations to seal Amaterasu.
• Sasuke unleashed Susanoo Killing Technique: Endless Earth Grudge, skewering White Zetsu across the battlefield as Obito watched in anger and disbelief.

Obito sacrificed the surviving White Zetsu to revive the dead ones as an immortal army, but Nagato sealed them with hundreds of Chibaku Tensei. Obito withdrew and unleashed the jinchūriki Pain, whose six members transformed into tailed beast chakra modes.

• Obito used the surviving White Zetsu to perform Impure World Reincarnation on the dead White Zetsu, creating an immortal army.
• Nagato transformed into a mechanized Asura Path and automated Chibaku Tensei, sealing forty thousand White Zetsu beneath massive masses of rock.
• Obito attacked Nagato with the Banana Palm Fan, but Nagato absorbed its five-nature blasts while Itachi's Yasaka Magatama failed to hit Obito.
• Obito retreated after losing the first exchange, and Nagato returned to human form after sealing the White Zetsu.
• Obito brought Shikaku to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and unleashed the jinchūriki Pain, whose six members activated tailed beast chakra mode transformations.

Obito deployed the New Pei Six Paths of Pain against Itachi, Sasuke, and Nagato, whose attacks revealed the Jinchūriki Pains’ enhanced abilities and regenerative bodies. After the trio sealed Yagura with Itachi’s Totsuka Blade, Shikaku advised Obito to commit the remaining forces as the battle continued.

• Obito ordered the six Jinchūriki Pains to surround Itachi, Sasuke, and Nagato, and Yugito Nii wounded Nagato before he absorbed her chakra and blasted her away.
• Sasuke defeated Roshi, Yagura, and Han with his techniques, but their Impure World Reincarnation bodies regenerated.
• Itachi, Nagato, and Sasuke agreed to seal the Pains, and Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Yagura toward Itachi’s Totsuka Blade.
• Itachi sealed Yagura, who recognized him and said he was glad to be freed from the Three-Tails and his manipulated life.
• Nagato tried to draw in the remaining Pains, but they retreated as Fū obscured the battlefield with scales, prompting Shikaku to urge Obito to deploy the rest of their forces.

Sasuke completed Mountain-Shaped Fire Offering: Ama no Hoko, a powerful jutsu that fired streams of arrows and shattered the remaining Paths of Pain. The battlefield was left with the enemy’s forces devastated, while Nagato remained caught in Roshi’s hellfire.

• Nagato and Itachi protected Sasuke while he gathered chakra, and Han attacked Itachi’s Susanoo with a steam-powered Asura fist.
• Itachi trapped Han with Susanoo: Crow Clone and the Totsuka Blade, but Fū rescued Han using tailed beast chakra.
• Shikaku identified Roshi as the Naraka Path and Utakata as the Deva Path, and their combined attacks pulled Nagato into Roshi’s soul-burning hellfire.
• Itachi seized Nagato with Susanoo and Yugito attacked, while Sasuke continued preparing his jutsu instead of intervening.
• Sasuke unleashed Mountain-Shaped Fire Offering: Ama no Hoko, pulverizing Han and Fū before its arrow streams shattered Yugito, Roshi, and Utakata.

Obito summoned Mito Uzumaki to defend the Demonic Statue from Sasuke’s attacks, but Sasuke broke through her sealing chains and forced her to use a powerful sealing technique. After reconsidering his priorities, Obito began preparing a massive Uchiha Blazing Fire Formation.

• Ama no Hoko’s arrow Flows tore apart the reincarnated Seven Ninja Swordsmen and forced Obito to use the Demonic Statue’s arms as a shield before he escaped the attack.
• Obito summoned Mito Uzumaki, whose Adamantine Sealing Formation barely held back Sasuke’s arrow barrage.
• Sasuke shattered Mito’s formation with the Wooden Human and attacked her, while Mito countered with the True Reverse Four Symbols Seal and captured the Wooden Human.
• Mito sensed the island’s immense chakra and realized the current conflict could overturn the order established in the Warring States Period.
• Shikaku urged Obito to focus on the larger objective, and Obito formed purple flames on the Demonic Statue’s fingers to cast the Uchiha Blazing Fire Formation.