Recaps

Jiraiya was unable to free Naruto from Black Zetsu, who revealed that the cursed seal would kill Naruto if he were taken away before Sasuke reached the Six Paths level. Later, Sasuke learned of the prophecy about a coming god and Black Zetsu’s scheme, leaving him shaken.

• After Madara fell, the Five Kage and Jiraiya were freed from the Black Rods, and Jiraiya tried to remove Naruto’s cursed seal.
• Black Zetsu stopped Jiraiya and explained that taking Naruto more than a hundred meters away for over an hour would activate a seal that destroyed Naruto’s soul.
• Black Zetsu carried Naruto away, leaving Jiraiya unable to intervene, and Tsunade comforted him as the Five Kage questioned his choice.
• On Blue Moon Island, Sasuke received Jiraiya’s intelligence scroll from Kabuto Yakushi and saw the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy of a god awakening in twenty-nine years and four months.
• Sasuke saw Jiraiya’s fight with Madara and Black Zetsu’s declared scheme, then left the room shaken.

Sasuke and Orochimaru discussed how Madara's control over Naruto could end as Naruto's own strength grew, then devised a plan to provoke Madara into fighting them. Kabuto offered to lure Madara with information, and Sasuke named the scheme the Madara Luring Plan.

• Sasuke told Orochimaru he feared Madara's control over Naruto could lead Naruto to commit terrible acts before regaining himself.
• Orochimaru explained that the black cursed seal released power through emotion and accelerated Naruto's own growth, meaning Naruto could eventually reclaim his body from Madara.
• Sasuke proposed arranging intense battles to trigger the seal's release under their supervision instead of letting Madara cause uncontrolled destruction.
• Kabuto suggested spreading enticing information through his intelligence network to draw Madara to them, and Sasuke agreed.
• Sasuke ordered Kabuto to humble Madara, and he named their scheme the Madara Luring Plan.

Orochimaru warned Sasuke that his Eighth Battle against four reincarnated Kage and an unknown opponent would forbid sealing and offered no escape except one Sasuke created himself. Meanwhile, Madara recovered from the Toad Confrontation Chant, entered Perfect Sage Mode, and set out for Paradise Island after extracting false intelligence about Kabuto's mission.

• Orochimaru told Sasuke his Eighth Battle opponents would include the Second Tsuchikage, Second Mizukage, Third Raikage, Fourth Kazekage, and an unknown candidate, and forbade Sealing Jutsu.
• Orochimaru told Sasuke there was no way out of the battle unless Sasuke created one, then left him twenty-one days to prepare.
• Madara recovered from Jiraiya's Toad Confrontation Chant and celebrated the power of Mount Myōboku's genjutsu.
• Black Zetsu told Madara that Obito had taken control of the Demonic Statue and White Zetsu, prompting Madara to tear off his jacket and regain his composure.
• Madara entered Perfect Sage Mode, cut off a White Zetsu Clone's arm, and interrogated it about Obito's plans.
• Madara learned false information that Kabuto was headed to Paradise Island and decided to go there.

Madara arrived at Paradise Island searching for Kabuto Yakushi and struck Karui when she confronted him. Samui and Omoi recognized that he was far stronger than he appeared and demanded an explanation, but Madara welcomed the confrontation.

• The Raikage sent Samui, Omoi, and Karui to Paradise Island to look for Killer B, who they feared was dead.
• Omoi suggested that Killer B's ghost might return to Paradise Island, and C accidentally soaked Samui while trying to eavesdrop.
• Madara arrived on the island in a dramatic leap and asked the Kumogakure shinobi where to find Kabuto Yakushi.
• Karui challenged Madara and touched his chin, so he slapped her to the ground.
• Samui and Omoi stopped Karui from attacking and warned that Madara was far stronger than he looked.
• Omoi demanded that Madara apologize and explain himself, and Madara agreed to entertain the confrontation.

Madara defeated Omoi, Karui, and Samui, then attacked them for information about Kabuto Yakushi. Killer B intervened, and Black Zetsu identified him as the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, leaving Madara eager for a fight.

• Madara wounded Omoi and outmaneuvered him and Karui, then broke their blades and defeated Samui's lightning attack with his Uchiha Foxfire Cross Offering.
• Madara revealed his name and used his Mangekyo to knock Omoi, Karui, and C unconscious while Samui resisted long enough to face him.
• Madara questioned Samui about Kabuto Yakushi, judged her useless, and prepared to kill her with a Black Rod.
• Killer B struck Madara with a lightning-charged pencil and arrived at the temple while improvising a rap.
• Black Zetsu identified Killer B as the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, and Madara welcomed the chance to fight without holding back.

Madara and Killer B fought on the stone steps, escalating from swordplay to Sage Mode and tailed-beast power. Madara knocked Killer B down with Frog Sniper Fist and prepared to strike him with Sage Art: Yin Release Lightning Dispatch.

• Madara used Susanoo to cut off one of Killer B’s tails, while the other tails pulled Samui’s companions to safety.
• Killer B blocked Madara’s Yasaka Magatama with Samehada, then revealed seven swords hidden inside it and attacked with Lightning Release.
• Madara impaled Killer B with a Susanoo blade rising from underground, but Samehada’s strike also wounded Madara; both recovered from their injuries.
• Madara dismissed his Shadow Clone and entered Sage Mode, while Killer B activated his second-stage Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak and charged with Lariat.
• Madara stopped Killer B with Frog Sniper Fist and formed hand seals to use Sage Art: Yin Release Lightning Dispatch.

Madara exhausted his Sage Mode while attacking Killer B, but then overwhelmed him in close combat and pursued him out to sea. As Killer B began a full transformation, Madara replenished his senjutsu chakra and activated Sage Cursed Fox Chakra Mode.

• Madara's Yin Release: Lightning Dispatch paralyzed Killer B until Madara's Sage Mode ran out, allowing Killer B to recover and attack.
• Killer B struck Madara's Susanoo with a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Madara's four-tailed Demon Fox Cloak overpowered Killer B in hand-to-hand combat.
• Killer B retreated toward the sea to protect Samui and the others, then released Samehada and transformed into Gyuki.
• Inside Naruto, Nine-Tails urged Naruto to wake up and offered him all of his power, and the faint light in the darkness briefly brightened.
• Madara dispelled his senjutsu-gathering Shadow Clone, restored his senjutsu chakra, and activated Sage Cursed Fox Chakra Mode.

Madara fought Killer B and the Eight-Tails at sea, using his Sage Cursed Fox form and new techniques to overpower them. Samehada rescued Killer B before Madara could take the Eight-Tails, so Madara headed for Paradise Island to remove his seal and claim control of the nine-tails chakra.

• Madara and Killer B fired enormous Tailed Beast Bombs that collided in a massive explosion.
• Madara struck the Eight-Tails with an invisible Frog Sniper Fist, then blocked its tail slashes with Susanoo-armored fox tails.
• Madara used Southern Jambudvipa and Noblesse Oblige, then bound the Eight-Tails with Black Cursed Wood and disrupted its link to Killer B.
• Samehada surfaced, fused with Killer B, and carried him into the deep sea before Madara could release the Eight-Tails.
• Madara decided to go to Paradise Island to undo the Eight Trigrams Seal and take control of the nine-tails chakra.

Madara opened Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Seal after copying its formula, intending to seize the Nine-Tails’ chakra. Inside Naruto’s mindscape, the Nine-Tails joined forces with Minato and Kushina against Madara, and their battle was about to begin.

• Madara ignored the unconscious Samui, Karui, Omoi, and C and entered the Temple despite Black Zetsu’s suggestion that he test himself at the Waterfall of Truth.
• Madara used his Sharingan to study Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Seal and copied its reverse formula, while Black Zetsu encouraged him and planned to use him to eliminate Minato and Kushina’s chakra.
• Madara completed the copied key and released the Eight Trigrams Seal, opening the Nine-Tails’ prison inside Naruto’s mindscape.
• Madara confronted the Nine-Tails and began a chakra tug-of-war, demanding that it surrender its chakra.
• Minato and Kushina appeared beside the Nine-Tails and agreed to work with it to defeat Madara and wake Naruto.
• The Nine-Tails let Minato and Kushina stand on its head as Madara welcomed their united front and prepared to fight all three.

Madara fought Minato, Kushina, and the Nine-Tails while using Naruto’s body, countering their attacks with Susanoo, a Black Rasengan, and Sage Mode. After Madara began pulling the Nine-Tails’ chakra free, Kushina summoned her Adamantine Sealing Chains again and Minato prepared to give everything he had.

• Madara sent ten shadow clones to attack Minato and Kushina with a combined ninjutsu assault, but Minato absorbed and redirected it with Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder.
• Kushina bound Madara’s Susanoo with Adamantine Sealing Chains while the Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Bomb, which Madara countered with a Black Rasengan.
• Madara deflected the Tailed Beast Bomb, entered Sage Mode, and struck Kushina with Frog Sniper Fist, forcing Minato to catch her as the chains loosened.
• Madara restored Susanoo and used Sage Art: Yasaka Dragon Flame Song to drive back the Nine-Tails before pulling its chakra from its body.
• Kushina unleashed Adamantine Sealing Chains across the ground, and Minato closed his eyes and resolved to give everything he had.

Minato used Sage Mode and the Flying Thunder God Technique to separate Madara’s Susanoo and connect with the goodness buried in Madara and the Nine-Tails. After Kurama helped strip away part of Madara’s power, Minato bound that chakra to Naruto’s consciousness, leaving Naruto to follow his own path.

• Minato used Sage Art: Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport Madara’s Susanoo away, then reached into Madara’s heart and drew out a tether of goodness.
• Kurama released the Nine-Tails’ will of goodness, weakening Madara’s Black Cursed Seal and helping draw chakra from both Madara and the Nine-Tails through the opposing tethers.
• Madara gained the Nine-Tails’ chakra and Gold Body Mode, while Kurama severed the tether, gave Minato a ball of Madara’s purified chakra, and urged him to reach Naruto’s sleeping consciousness.
• Minato bound the purified chakra to Naruto’s consciousness so Madara could not regain his Complete Body through Naruto.
• As Minato faded, he regretted that he had not said goodbye to Kushina.

Madara took control of the Nine-Tails but discovered that thirty percent of the Black Cursed Seal's power had become bound to Naruto, limiting his future strength. Black Zetsu explained the seal's stages and the condition for awakening its true Rinnegan, while Madara sensed unfamiliar chakra as Kabuto Yakushi arrived on Paradise Island.

• Madara re-sealed the Nine-Tails and dismissed Kushina, whose final blessing reached Naruto's cocoon-like consciousness.
• Madara awoke in the Meditation Room and learned that thirty percent of the Black Cursed Seal's power was permanently bound to Naruto.
• Madara questioned Black Zetsu about the seal, and Black Zetsu described its four stages and the limits of the Pseudo-Rinnegan.
• Black Zetsu said Madara had to destroy his awakened Rinnegan to unlock a new pair, prompting Madara to seize him by the throat.
• Madara sensed unfamiliar chakra, while Kabuto Yakushi arrived on Paradise Island and surveyed its devastation.

Madara confronted Kabuto Yakushi, who had lured him to Paradise Island with false intelligence and revealed a deadly new dōjutsu. The chapter ended as Kabuto entered Sage Mode and Madara welcomed the challenge.

• Kabuto Yakushi revealed that the other half of the Nine-Tails was not inside him and admitted he had spread false intelligence to lure Madara to Paradise Island.
• Madara attacked Kabuto, but the golden chakra hand struck a substitute made from the Eight-Tails' severed tail.
• Kabuto used his left-eye dōjutsu, Blade Reversal, to cut through the Temple's stone pillars, and Madara narrowly dodged the attack.
• Kabuto gathered natural energy and transformed into Sage Mode, delighting Madara as the battle escalated.

Madara and Kabuto Yakushi exchanged techniques, with Kabuto using Blade Reversal to exploit the White Rage Technique and wound Madara. Madara activated the Black Cursed Seal and combined its power with Nine-Tails chakra and Sage abilities, but Kabuto’s spatial slashes forced him to retreat.

• Kabuto Yakushi marked Madara’s wrist with Blade Reversal, then used the White Rage Technique and teleported Madara into a sword strike.
• Madara healed his chest wound with Nine-Tails chakra and severed his marked right hand, while the Black Cursed Seal rebuilt it as a black hand.
• Madara combined the Black Cursed Seal, Nine-Tails chakra, and Sage power, then attacked Kabuto Yakushi with Frog Sniper Fist and Black Cursed Fist.
• Kabuto Yakushi countered with Eight-Headed Serpent Devour, then used Blade Reversal to slice through Madara’s Susanoo and Majestic Attire: Kurama, forcing Madara to retreat.

Kabuto Yakushi and Madara fought through a series of powerful techniques, with Kabuto poisoning and apparently defeating Madara. Madara awakened the Straight Tomoe and summoned Perfect Susanoo as the battle reached a new turning point.

• Madara attacked Kabuto from ten directions with Nine-Tails chakra, but Kabuto intercepted most of the assault with Eight-Headed Serpent Sage Jade and cut through another strike with Blade Reversal.
• Madara reflected Kabuto’s Blade Reversal back at him, splitting Kabuto’s body, but Kabuto rejoined himself with white snakes and petrified Madara’s left side with Sage Art: Stone Spit.
• Kabuto trapped Madara with Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation and poisoned him with a black snake that seeped through Susanoo’s defenses.
• Madara resisted the poison and began rising despite his worsening condition, while his Straight Tomoe appeared and Black Zetsu announced that it had finally awakened.
• Madara activated Perfect Susanoo.

Kabuto Yakushi used the paired power of Blade Reversal to destroy Madara’s Perfect Susanoo and warned him that the old era’s power no longer guaranteed victory. He left Madara with a challenge from Uchiha Itachi, who would meet him in half a month if Madara agreed not to attack the Five Great Shinobi Villages before their battle.

• Madara summoned his Perfect Susanoo and demanded that Kabuto Yakushi bring the person behind him to meet him.
• Kabuto Yakushi prepared marked kunai and used both eyes’ Blade Reversal to form a cutting web that shattered Madara’s Perfect Susanoo.
• Madara avoided the moving cuts, while Kabuto Yakushi explained that his technique required preparation and warned him that the Eye of the Moon Plan would fail.
• Kabuto Yakushi invited Madara to meet Uchiha Itachi at Saikawara in half a month and relayed Itachi’s condition that Madara leave the Five Great Shinobi Villages unharmed until their battle ended.
• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew, and Madara declared that he would ride the tide of the new age.

After Kabuto reported his defeat by Madara, Sasuke prepared to face five powerful shinobi revived through Impure World Reincarnation in the Eighth Battle. Orochimaru explained Sasuke’s plan to overcome them through their own specialties, while keeping the identity of one opponent secret; Kabuto then rescued four Kumogakure shinobi and was ordered to return them home.

• Kabuto showed Orochimaru and the others a record of his battle with Madara, and Sasuke asked Itachi to fight Madara in the next battle.
• Sasuke prepared for the Eighth Battle, while Kabuto told Orochimaru he had found the requested opponent and worried about Sasuke facing five reincarnated shinobi without sealing jutsu.
• Orochimaru explained that Sasuke planned to use clones to overwhelm four opponents in the fields they prized, then face an unknown opponent with power comparable to the Second Hokage.
• Kabuto revealed that he had protected Samui, Karui, Darui, and C inside snakes; Orochimaru took a blood sample from Samui and told Kabuto to return all four to Kumogakure.

After the Five Kage established the Five Great Nations Ninja Alliance, Jiraiya withheld Sasuke’s secret from Tsunade and urged her to lead Konoha in implementing the agreement. He then reunited with Konan, who chose to become his comrade.

• The Five Kage unanimously approved Gaara’s proposal and established the Five Great Nations Ninja Alliance.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade he knew little about Sasuke’s motives and encouraged her to rally Konoha behind the alliance, while keeping Sasuke’s plans secret.
• Jiraiya sensed Konan’s paper butterflies, entered Sage Mode, and went to meet her in the forest.
• Konan told Jiraiya that she regretted not trusting Sasuke, and Jiraiya explained that Orochimaru had revived Nagato through Impure World Reincarnation.
• Konan asked why Jiraiya had not officially joined Sasuke’s group, then said she wanted to become Jiraiya’s comrade.

On the eve of Sasuke’s Eighth Battle, he shared a peaceful meal with his companions and chose a nearby island for the fight so their home would remain untouched. Kabuto Yakushi summoned five reincarnated warriors, and the figure revealed in the central coffin stunned Sasuke.

• Sasuke joined his companions for a feast in the Washitsu, where Nagato recalled his past with Yahiko and Konan.
• Karin offered Red Bean Rice at the shrine, and Sasuke watched the rain and thought of Naruto and their coming reunion.
• Sasuke rejected holding the Eighth Battle on their home island, so Orochimaru chose a neighboring island as the battlefield.
• Kabuto Yakushi brought Sasuke to the desolate island and used Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation to raise five coffins.
• The coffins revealed Mu, Gengetsu Hozuki, A, and Rasa, while the central coffin’s occupant left Sasuke shocked.

Sasuke recognized the reincarnated Uchiha Izuna and faced five shinobi revived by Kabuto, who revealed that Sasuke had defeated the Five Kage. As the revived fighters prepared to battle, Izuna challenged Sasuke to show his Sharingan.

• Sasuke remembered Hashirama identifying him as resembling Madara’s younger brother, Uchiha Izuna, and recognized Izuna among the reincarnated shinobi.
• The revived Rasa attacked Kabuto with Magnet Release, but Sasuke stopped the gold dust and identified Rasa as Gaara’s father.
• Sasuke declared that the reincarnated shinobi had been brought back to fight him, and Kabuto revealed Sasuke had defeated the combined Five Kage forces.
• Kabuto withdrew into the Blade Reversal Vortex, leaving Sasuke to face the four Kage and Izuna without using sealing jutsu.
• Mu addressed Izuna with respect, but Izuna rejected his praise of Madara and demanded that Sasuke show his Sharingan.

Sasuke revealed his Byakugan to Izuna and fought the resurrected Uchiha ancestor and several Kage with Susanoo, Wood Release, and other abilities. After demonstrating his immense chakra, he sent four Wood Release Clones to face the Kage as he prepared to challenge his limits.

• Sasuke revealed his Byakugan to Izuna, who attacked him with Susanoo, but Sasuke's bone-reinforced Susanoo shattered Izuna's defenses.
• Izuna immobilized Sasuke with his right-eye dōjutsu, but Sasuke encased Susanoo in bones and escaped when Mu destroyed the shell with Dust Release.
• Sasuke fought off Rasa's gold dust and the Third Raikage's attack, then raised a forest with Wood Release.
• Hozuki Gengetsu spread mist across the forest, and Mu cleared it with Dust Release as the resurrected Kage regenerated.
• Sasuke gathered enormous chakra and sent four Wood Release Clones toward the Kage, declaring that he intended to challenge his limits.

Sasuke’s Wood Release Clone challenged Hozuki Gengetsu to a Water Release contest while Sasuke faced Izuna, who revealed the dōjutsu Ayekashi and declared that Sasuke would die within three months. Orochimaru linked the technique to Hashirama Senju’s sudden death and reassured Itachi that he would seek a way to counter it.

• Sasuke sent four Wood Release Clones to face the four Kage, and one provoked Hozuki Gengetsu into a Water Release battle.
• Sasuke’s clone summoned a gigantic water whale, and Gengetsu answered by compressing seawater into a massive Water Iron Cannon.
• The whale and Gengetsu’s Shichahai collided, unleashing a storm that drenched Rasa and impressed Mu and the Third Raikage.
• Izuna activated Ayekashi and told Sasuke that the dōjutsu had sentenced him to die within three months.
• Orochimaru connected Ayekashi to Hashirama Senju’s unexplained death, then assured Karin and Itachi that he would look for a counter.

Sasuke’s clone used the water collected by the Divine Whale Fall to create explosive water creatures and fight Hozuki Gengetsu. As Gengetsu summoned his Giant Clam and unleashed Steam Mirage, the Eighth Battle began in earnest across the battlefields.

• Sasuke’s clone explained that his Whale Fall had absorbed Gengetsu’s chakra and shaped the water into creatures that could attack as explosive water bullets.
• Sasuke’s water crab exploded against Gengetsu, who regenerated and recognized the technique as an efficient form of explosive ninjutsu.
• In a flashback, Sasuke told Orochimaru he intended to create abilities suited to each opponent and give the reincarnated ninja a satisfying battle rather than treat them as props.
• Orochimaru explained that the challenge was meant to help Sasuke explore his humanity beyond combat, and Sasuke admitted he wanted to preserve his tough image because he felt embarrassed.
• Gengetsu summoned his Giant Clam and used Demonic Illusion: Steam Mirage as confrontations began across the battlefields.

Sasuke's clones fought Hozuki Gengetsu and Mu, using their abilities to expose and counter the revived Kage's techniques. The battle against Mu continued as Sasuke began an unfamiliar Earth Release technique.

• Sasuke's clone used the Byakugan to find the real Giant Clam inside Gengetsu's mirage and charged at it as Gengetsu activated Steaming Danger Explosion.
• Sasuke's clone raised the earth beneath Mu with Super Moving Earth Core, then used a Rock Fist, but Mu increased its weight and broke the clone's arm.
• Mu increased the clone's weight and brought down the raised earth, but a Wood Release Clone escaped by shedding its body and flew clear of Mu's Dust Release attack.
• Sasuke's clone used Heat-Sensing and Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to capture Mu through his Dustless Bewildering Cover, then threw him into the raised earth.
• Mu escaped the snakes with Earth Release: Golem Technique and challenged Sasuke to show his prepared moves, so Sasuke began Earth Release: Earth Rumble.

Sasuke’s clone used Earth Rumble to bombard Mu with the earth’s natural energy, then revealed a new Magnet Release technique against Rasa. Rasa was struck by Sasuke’s declaration that Gaara was his friend before the Magnetic Storm Coil pierced his defenses and body.

• Sasuke’s clone used Earth Rumble to draw natural energy from the earth and fire concentrated beams from lotuses that endlessly bloomed around Mu.
• Mu recognized the lotuses as tools for channeling the earth’s energy, asked the technique’s name, and welcomed Sasuke’s attack.
• Sasuke’s clone activated a Magnet Release Chakra Mode that resonated with the geomagnetic field to create a Magnetic Storm Coil.
• Rasa questioned why Sasuke had developed the technique, and Sasuke explained that he respected Gaara as his friend.
• Sasuke’s clone unleashed Magnet Release: Heavenly Punishment Formula, piercing Rasa’s gold dust defenses and his Impure World Reincarnation body.