Recaps

Sasori admitted his role in the Fourth Kazekage’s murder and attacked Sasuke with the Third Kazekage puppet. Sasuke countered Sasori’s techniques with speed and a powerful Fire Style jutsu, leaving Sasori impressed and Sasuke suspicious of his lack of sweat.

• Sasori acknowledged that he had helped Orochimaru, an Akatsuki partner, kill the Fourth Kazekage and revealed that Orochimaru had asked the Akatsuki to kill Sasuke.
• Sasori sent the Third Kazekage puppet at Sasuke, but Sasuke kept pace and cut off its poisoned blades with Futsu-no-Mitama.
• Chiyo asked Sakura whether she worried about Sasuke, and Sakura said she believed only the Fifth Hokage might defeat him.
• Sasori unleashed a flood of puppet arms and then fired poison and weapons at Sasuke, who answered with Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame.
• Sasori shielded himself and the Third Kazekage with Iron Sand Defense, then praised Sasuke, while Sasuke noticed that Sasori had not sweated despite the flames.

Sasuke protected Sakura, Chiyo, and Gaara from Sasori’s iron sand and destroyed the Third Kazekage puppet with a Body Flicker feint and a Chidori Sharp Spear. Sasori revealed his true puppet body and prepared to fight Sasuke himself.

• Sasori attacked Sakura and the others with Iron Sand Drizzle, but Sasuke used Lightning Release Chakra Mode to deflect the iron sand cannonballs.
• Sasori unleashed Iron Sand World Method, and Sasuke carried Sakura, Chiyo, and Gaara beyond the barrier before its spikes destroyed the cave.
• Sasuke returned to the barrier, and Chiyo realized he meant to demonstrate Konoha’s strength to Sunagakure.
• Sasuke used his Body Flicker Technique to confuse Sasori and struck with Chidori Sharp Spear, destroying the Third Kazekage puppet with lightning and fire.
• Sasori accepted the loss of the puppet, removed his cloak, and revealed his true puppet body.

Sasuke defeated Sasori and his hundred puppets with Kirin, then waited with Sakura and Chiyo while Naruto and Kakashi pursued Deidara. Naruto continued chasing Deidara despite Kakashi’s warnings and narrowly avoided an explosive bird.

• Sasori unleashed his Performance of a Hundred Puppets and attacked Sasuke with puppets and ninjutsu.
• Sasuke countered Sasori’s attacks with fire techniques and shuriken, then unleashed Heavenly Incineration to destroy many puppets.
• Sakura led Chiyo away from the fight, and Sasuke used Kirin to pulverize Sasori and his remaining puppets.
• Chiyo wrote a letter and asked to be left alone, while Sasuke and Sakura waited with Gaara’s body.
• Chiyo suggested reinforcing Naruto and Kakashi, but Sasuke chose to wait, and Sakura reassured Chiyo that Naruto and Kakashi could handle Deidara.
• Naruto chased Deidara and narrowly avoided an explosive bird as Kakashi warned him not to be reckless.

Naruto used Sage Mode and his new abilities to overpower Deidara after drawing him away from Kakashi. The chapter ended with Naruto’s Rasenshuriken striking the ground and exposing Deidara from underground.

• Deidara tried to separate Naruto and Kakashi with hidden explosive spiders, but Naruto noticed the plan and continued after him alone.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode, and Deidara realized he had misjudged him and tried to flee.
• Naruto used shadow clones and nature energy to attack Deidara in the air and on the ground.
• Deidara used a Clay Doll and then an explosion to escape Naruto’s attacks, before hiding underground with Substitution Jutsu and Earth Release.
• Naruto launched a Sage Art: Rasenshuriken that tore into the ground and unearthed Deidara.

Naruto defeated Deidara’s attack but escaped his suicide explosion with Kakashi through a Reverse Summoning to Mount Myōboku. Sasuke protected Sakura and Chiyo from the blast, and the team regrouped, believing Deidara was dead.

• Naruto told the defeated Deidara that his power came from Sage Mode, but Deidara turned himself into a massive bomb and detonated it.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones and Rasengan to slow the blast, then escaped with Kakashi to Mount Myōboku through Gamakichi’s Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Naruto rested while Kakashi recovered, then returned with him to the battlefield where Sasuke, Sakura, and Chiyo had faced the explosion.
• Sasuke shielded Sakura and Chiyo, leaving their small patch of ground unharmed amid the surrounding wasteland.
• Naruto reunited with Sasuke and the others, and he and Kakashi concluded that Deidara was probably dead.

Naruto and the Sunagakure forces mourned Gaara until Granny Chiyo sacrificed her life to revive him. Gaara awoke surrounded by his people, while Temari delivered Chiyo’s final letter to Ebizo.

• Naruto grieved over Gaara’s death as Kankuro and Temari arrived with Sunagakure’s advance force, and Sasuke apologized that the rescue had come too late.
• Granny Chiyo gave Temari a letter for Ebizo, then began transferring her life force into Gaara to revive him.
• Sasuke and Naruto offered Chiyo their chakra, but she declined and used the last of her own to save Gaara.
• Gaara awoke to find Sunagakure’s ninja gathered around him, and Naruto supported him as the village celebrated his return.
• Granny Chiyo died peacefully in Sasuke’s arms, and Temari gave her letter to Ebizo.

After Gaara returned to Sunagakure, Ebizo read Granny Chiyo’s final message and resolved to support Gaara and his efforts to build ties with Konoha. In Konoha, Madara learned that Sasuke and Naruto had defeated Akatsuki members and ordered them to hunt the rest, while Jiraiya asked to join Madara when he confronted the Akatsuki’s leader.

• Naruto helped Gaara return to Sunagakure, where villagers gathered to welcome their Kazekage.
• Ebizo read Granny Chiyo’s message urging him to support Gaara and keep Sunagakure from making an enemy of Konoha.
• Madara defeated Shikaku at shogi, then received news that Sasuke and Naruto had killed Sasori and Deidara, Sakura had saved Kankuro, and Gaara had been rescued.
• Madara ordered Sasuke and the others to return after resting and then hunt the remaining Akatsuki members, prompting Jiraiya to question the danger to Naruto.
• Shikaku explained that Konoha knew the Akatsuki leader’s location, and Madara said he would face the leader himself when the time came.
• Jiraiya agreed to remain in Konoha for now but asked Madara to take him along when he attacked the Akatsuki’s leader.

Madara decided to coordinate with Kumogakure against the Akatsuki after learning its members had appeared in the Land of Lightning. The Fourth Raikage learned that Killer B might be in danger and rushed to find him.

• Jiraiya offered to accompany Madara, who accepted and began forming a new plan.
• Obito and Zetsu found the ruined cave, discussed Deidara and Sasori's deaths, and agreed to leave capturing the Nine-Tails until last.
• Madara received intelligence that Kakuzu and Hidan had appeared in the Land of Lightning and sent a letter proposing cooperation to the Fourth Raikage.
• Mabui told the Raikage that the Akatsuki targeted jinchūriki and that Konoha wanted its ninja to move freely in Kumogakure while pursuing them.
• The Fourth Raikage learned that Akatsuki members were in the Land of Lightning, smashed through his office wall, and rushed to Killer B in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.

The Raikage learned that Yugito had been abducted and agreed to cooperate with Madara in exchange for intelligence about the Akatsuki. Madara arranged to seek information from Kumogakure while Sai and Shin observed Kakuzu and Hidan attacking a temple in the Land of Fire.

• The Raikage ordered increased protection for Killer B, then learned from Mabui that Yugito had gone missing and ordered a search for the Akatsuki.
• The Raikage accepted Madara’s terms and approved Mabui’s proposal to negotiate with Konoha for advance intelligence on the Akatsuki.
• Madara asked Shikaku how to respond to the Raikage’s offer, and Shikaku suggested asking Kumogakure how its jinchūriki controlled their tailed beasts.
• Madara left Shikaku to communicate with Kumogakure and decided to handle Kakuzu and Hidan in the Land of Fire rather than send Sasuke’s group after them in the Land of Lightning.
• Sai and Shin watched Kakuzu and Hidan break into a temple, where the pair were knocked back by Chiriku before Hidan charged at him again.

Sai and Shin reported Hidan and Kakuzu’s attack on the Fire Temple, and Madara sent Naruto and Sasuke to deal with the Akatsuki duo. After Asuma arrived seeking revenge for Chiriku, Naruto invited him to join the mission.

• Sai sent Konoha an ink-bird report as Hidan killed Chiriku using his blood-linked ritual and Kakuzu and Hidan began slaughtering the Fire Temple’s inhabitants.
• Madara shared Sai’s intelligence with Shikaku, Sasuke, and Naruto, and Naruto identified Hidan’s blood-based ability and proposed ways to fight both Akatsuki members.
• Naruto volunteered to take on Hidan and Kakuzu, while privately worrying that Sasuke might be hurt.
• Asuma and a surviving monk rushed into the Hokage Office to report the attack, but Madara said Konoha already knew and planned to send Naruto and Sasuke.
• Asuma asked to join the mission to avenge Chiriku, and Naruto helped him up and agreed to go together.

Madara ordered Konoha forces to seize Bounty Exchange Offices across the Land of Fire while Naruto, Sasuke, and Asuma pursued Hidan and Kakuzu. Naruto separated Hidan from Kakuzu to fight him alone, and Asuma prepared to face Kakuzu as Sasuke backed them both.

• Madara burned the Daimyo's letter and ordered Shikaku to raid every Bounty Exchange Office in the Land of Fire, while Neji Hyuga and other forces moved toward their targets.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Asuma tracked Hidan and Kakuzu to a Bounty Exchange Office, and Asuma struggled to contain his anger over Chiriku's death.
• Kakuzu received payment for Chiriku's body and began counting the money while Hidan left the restroom in disgust.
• Naruto ambushed Hidan outside and used Barrier: Gourd Toad Prison to take him away from Kakuzu.
• Sasuke reassured Asuma about Naruto and asked him to hold Kakuzu off, and Asuma readied his wind blades.

Naruto fought Hidan inside the Gourd Toad's Stomach, but Hidan's immortality and use of the stomach acid made him difficult to defeat. Naruto sought the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra as another solution, and a chakra tail appeared just as Hidan's attack neared him.

• Naruto used Sage Mode to catch Hidan's scythe and hit him with a Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan, sending him into the Gourd Toad's Stomach acid.
• Hidan emerged from the acid unharmed, and Naruto realized that his attacks had not permanently hurt him.
• Hidan hid in the stomach acid to avoid Naruto's kunai and watched him from below.
• Naruto asked the Nine-Tailed Fox for power, then deactivated Sage Mode as the fox poured chakra into him.
• Hidan threw a thread-attached kunai at Naruto, but an orange-red chakra tail appeared and swatted it away.

Naruto used his three-tailed Tailed Beast Cloak to defeat Hidan inside the Gourd Toad’s stomach, then joined Asuma’s fight against Kakuzu. The chapter left Naruto surprised by Kakuzu’s detached, thread-bound arm after it struck him.

• Naruto controlled the Nine-Tails’ chakra and kept his transformation to three tails before entering the Gourd Toad’s stomach to confront Hidan.
• Naruto severed Hidan’s head, then cut his body into pieces and scattered them so they could not reassemble.
• Naruto returned outside and told Asuma and Kakuzu that he had cut Hidan to pieces, prompting Asuma to thank him and Kakuzu to target him.
• Naruto clashed with Kakuzu, who hardened his skin with Earth Release: Earth Spear and blocked Naruto’s punch.
• Kakuzu extended a detached, thread-bound arm that struck Naruto and sent him flying.

Naruto fought Kakuzu, who revealed four masked monsters and powerful combined ninjutsu. After Naruto’s Rasenshuriken devastated the battlefield and made Kakuzu consider retreating, Naruto summoned Gamabunta to stop him.

• Asuma withdrew from the fight and returned to Sasuke’s side while Naruto faced Kakuzu alone.
• Kakuzu unleashed Fire and Lightning Release attacks, but Naruto avoided them with a Shadow Clone Technique and revealed four masked monsters.
• Naruto made four shadow clones to match Kakuzu and his monsters, then entered Sage Mode and formed a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
• Kakuzu evaded the Rasenshuriken, but it destroyed his Wind Release monster and left him afraid of Naruto’s attack.
• Naruto sensed Kakuzu trying to retreat and summoned Gamabunta to block his escape.

Naruto defeated Kakuzu while Sasuke raided a Bounty Exchange Office and recovered Chiriku’s body for Asuma. On their way back to Konoha, they met Kakashi’s squad, who had also been raiding the organization’s offices.

• Naruto and Gamabunta cornered Kakuzu, and Naruto overwhelmed him with shadow clones and attacks.
• Sasuke entered the Bounty Exchange Office, used genjutsu to extract its secrets, took its funds and records, and recovered Chiriku’s body.
• Naruto killed Kakuzu with a Big Ball Rasengan, and Sasuke handed Chiriku’s body to a grieving Asuma.
• Sasuke, Asuma, and Naruto headed back to Konoha carrying Kakuzu’s body and the people they had recovered.
• Naruto’s group met Kakashi, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino, who had raided another Bounty Exchange Office.

After Konoha destroyed the Bounty Exchange Office’s branches in the Land of Fire, Ibiki revealed that the Five Great Nations had secretly backed the organization. The revelation left Konoha’s leaders and ninja stunned, with the threat of conflict hanging over the village.

• Naruto returned to Konoha and saw that its ninja had captured numerous Bounty Exchange Office personnel and seized their cases.
• Jiraiya explained that the Bounty Exchange Office sold assassination services, and Madara gave him its bounty book.
• After Konoha wiped out the organization’s branches in the Land of Fire, Ibiki uncovered who funded it.
• Madara allowed Ibiki to report his findings before Konoha’s leaders and senior ninja.
• Ibiki revealed that the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations and their families had established the Bounty Exchange Office to keep the ninja villages from growing powerful enough to defy them.

Madara revealed that the Land of Fire’s daimyo had secretly placed bounties on Konoha’s ninjas, then spread the Bounty Exchange Office’s records to the other nations. The information deepened tensions between the great villages and their daimyo, while each village reacted according to its own interests.

• Naruto demanded to know why the Land of Fire’s daimyo had targeted shinobi, and Madara told him that becoming Hokage required the resolve to face the shinobi world’s darkness.
• Madara told Fugaku that he had sent people to other nations with the truth about the Bounty Exchange Office and its bounty lists, intending to weaken the daimyo’s influence and divide them from their Kage.
• The Raikage blamed Madara’s disclosure on fear, while Mabui questioned his motives and listened to the Raikage’s analysis.
• Kirigakure’s distrust of the Land of Water’s daimyo worsened, while Ōnoki concealed the news from Iwagakure and privately prepared the Land of Earth’s daimyo.
• Madara sent Gaara and Ebizo a secret letter, giving Sunagakure time to prepare, as the bounty records spread to smaller nations and set their shinobi against the great nations’ daimyo.

The Daimyo learned that Madara had uncovered the Bounty Exchange Office’s attempt on his life and feared retaliation, but Madara’s letter reassured him that Konoha would remain the Land of Fire’s ally. The Daimyo rewarded Konoha and dissolved the Twelve Guardian Ninja, while Shinhiko and Yuanxin recognized that Madara had secured what he wanted without openly breaking with the Daimyo.

• A samurai delivered a secret letter revealing the threat against Madara, his younger brother, and his father, and the Daimyo panicked over how Madara would respond.
• Shinhiko and Yuanxin read the letter and realized Madara had acted decisively after keeping quiet for three years.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi brought Madara’s letter to the Daimyo, who learned that Konoha blamed the Bounty Exchange Office’s scheme on Akatsuki and remained loyal to the Land of Fire.
• The Daimyo ordered a year’s supply of provisions and several hundred million ryō sent to Konoha, gave Madara control over the office’s assets and people, and disbanded the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
• Shinhiko and Yuanxin concluded that Madara had reassured the Daimyo while securing compensation, and Shinhiko wondered if he might eventually serve under Madara.

Kazuhiko returned to Konoha and received a safe post as captain of the Hokage Office's Guard Unit. Meanwhile, Obito and Pain agreed to pursue the remaining tailed beasts, with Pain targeting Konoha and Obito heading for Kumogakure.

• Kazuhiko returned to Konoha, where Madara and Hayato greeted him at the village gates.
• Madara appointed Kazuhiko captain of the Hokage Office's Guard Unit, and Kazuhiko accepted the peaceful position.
• Pain learned that Kakuzu and Hidan had died and discussed Naruto's growing strength with Obito.
• Pain volunteered to capture the Nine-Tails in Konoha while Obito took responsibility for the Eight-Tails in Kumogakure.
• Konan expressed confidence in Pain, and Obito agreed to the plan while privately considering what he would do if Pain failed.

Obito sent Kisame and Zetsu toward Kumogakure to capture Killer B, prompting Madara to warn the Raikage and assign Naruto an S-rank mission to gain control over the Nine-Tails. After Madara intimidated the fox in Naruto’s mindscape, he offered Naruto several ways to subdue it.

• Obito rejected Zetsu’s suggestion to involve Orochimaru and chose Kisame to capture Killer B in Kumogakure.
• Madara learned Obito’s group had reached the Land of Lightning’s border and sent a warning to the Raikage.
• Madara assigned Naruto an S-rank mission to fully control the Nine-Tails, with Sasuke assisting him.
• Madara and Sasuke entered Naruto’s mindscape, where Madara dispelled the Nine-Tails’ attack with a glance and frightened the fox into retreating.
• Madara told Naruto to remove the seal and offered him the choice of winning over the Nine-Tails, defeating it, or letting Madara take direct control.

Naruto refused Madara’s plan to control the Nine-Tailed Fox and left with Sasuke for Mount Myōboku to train. Madara and Jiraiya headed for Amegakure, where Jiraiya infiltrated ahead while Pain detected the intrusion and awakened another Rinnegan user.

• The Nine-Tailed Fox offered Naruto its power if Naruto promised it would not be controlled, and Naruto chose to tame it himself.
• Madara arranged for Shikaku to serve as Acting Hokage, then set out for Amegakure with Jiraiya.
• Naruto and Sasuke left for Mount Myōboku, with Naruto promising to tame the Nine-Tailed Fox.
• Jiraiya entered Amegakure inside a toad while Pain sensed that someone had blocked his rain.
• Jiraiya went to an izakaya to gather intelligence as Pain entered a secret chamber and awakened a long-haired man with Rinnegan.

Jiraiya infiltrated Amegakure and confronted his former disciple Konan, hoping to learn about the Akatsuki and persuade her to leave it. After Jiraiya captured her and urged her to return to Konoha or ally with it, a low voice declared that the Akatsuki was the answer Konan and her companions had chosen.

• Jiraiya explored Amegakure as Madara secretly followed, while Konan discovered Jiraiya's identity and reported it to Pain.
• Pain ordered Jiraiya killed, and Konan went ahead to intercept him.
• Jiraiya fought Konan, using toad oil and his hair to bind her after fire failed to stop her paper attacks.
• Jiraiya questioned Konan about Nagato, Yahiko, and the Akatsuki, then urged her to abandon it and return to Konoha or form an alliance.
• Konan said the Akatsuki was the right answer they had found for themselves, just as a low voice interrupted.

Madara exposed the orange-haired Pain as a corpse controlled by Nagato and fought Konan while Jiraiya tried to reason with his former students. Nagato revealed five more Pain bodies, and Madara waited for the right moment to reach him.

• Jiraiya confronted the orange-haired Pain and recognized him as Nagato, but Pain summoned a lobster to wash the oil from Konan.
• Madara used a sword to decapitate Pain, then told Jiraiya that the body was only a Puppet and had been dead for some time.
• Nagato, hidden in Amegakure's tallest tower, raised five more Rinnegan-bearing bodies and prepared to kill Jiraiya and the Fifth Hokage.
• Konan attacked Madara and Jiraiya with explosive paper while Jiraiya dodged and searched for a way to persuade Madara to spare his students.
• Madara struck Konan with Majestic Destroyer Flame, and a plump Pain absorbed the flames with the Preta Path's Absorption Seal.
• Madara revealed that he had already pinpointed Nagato's location and waited for an opening.

Jiraiya was overwhelmed by the Six Paths of Pain in Amegakure, but Madara rescued him before the enemy could kill him. They escaped with the revelation that Pain’s bodies were puppets and Nagato was the true leader of the Akatsuki.

• A bald Pain and an orange-haired Pain ambushed Jiraiya, disrupting his chakra with Black Rods and leaving him badly wounded.
• Madara appeared before a missile attack hit Jiraiya and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to get them out of the Pipes.
• Six Paths of Pain revealed themselves, including a Pain whose head Madara had cut off, and Jiraiya realized the bodies could not be ordinary living people.
• Madara told Jiraiya that the six were puppets and none was the real body, leading Jiraiya to identify Nagato as the true Akatsuki leader and ask whether Yahiko was dead.
• The Six Paths of Pain attacked Madara and Jiraiya, but Madara teleported them to a Flying Thunder God array several kilometers outside Amegakure.

Madara left Jiraiya unconscious in Ajin and Shisui’s protection, then challenged Pain and the Six Paths in Amegakure. After wounding Deva Path Pain and provoking Konan, Madara asked Pain what he hoped to achieve with Amegakure, the Akatsuki, and the tailed beasts.

• Madara used his Sharingan to knock Jiraiya unconscious, and Ajin suggested killing him before Madara ordered Ajin to protect him until his return.
• Madara told Ajin that Konoha needed to allow different voices, then left with Shisui.
• Madara confronted Pain and the Six Paths in Amegakure and attacked them with Flying Thunder God kunai, which Deva Path Pain repelled with Shinra Tensei.
• Madara used his speed to slash Deva Path Pain’s chest, and Pain stopped Konan from attacking.
• Madara taunted Pain about Konan’s feelings and asked why they had established the Akatsuki and captured the tailed beasts.