Chapter Summaries

Sasuke sealed Itachi’s body while Rin fought Obito, then rested with Tetsuya and discussed the Uchiha Clan’s future. As Obito pushed Rin into a corner, she called on Isobu and began a Tailed Beast Transformation.

• Obito tried to tempt Sasuke with information about Itachi, but Rin appeared and attacked him with a Rasengan.
• Sasuke sealed Itachi’s body and crossed toward Tetsuya, who caught him with a fishing hook when his weakened chakra nearly sent him into the river.
• Sasuke told Tetsuya that revenge had left him feeling relaxed and that he hoped to restore the Uchiha Clan, even if he had to use Rinne Rebirth himself.
• Tetsuya revealed that Obito had helped cause the Uchiha massacre and explained his formidable abilities to Sasuke.
• Obito drove Rin into a corner, so Rin called on Isobu and began her Tailed Beast Transformation.

Rin transformed into the Three-Tails and drove Obito to retreat, while Tetsuya and Sasuke escaped before Jiraiya and the Konoha ninja arrived. Jiraiya reached the devastated Naka River Shrine, unaware of who had fought there.

• Obito recognized Rin as the Three-Tails' jinchūriki and attacked her, but Isobu's Water Release destroyed his Wood Release.
• Black Zetsu warned Obito that Jiraiya and Konoha ninja were approaching, so Obito tried to escape; Rin fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at him, but he got away.
• Rin asked Tetsuya how to counter Obito's Intangibility, and Tetsuya explained that Space Manipulation like Izuna's Rinnegan could overcome it.
• Tetsuya sensed approaching chakra signatures and used Flying Thunder God to take Rin and Sasuke away from the riverbank.
• Jiraiya arrived at the ruined Naka River Shrine and wondered what kind of battle had caused such destruction.

Jiraiya reported a battle involving a berserk jinchūriki near the Naka River, and Tsunade warned the other villages that Akatsuki was active again. Ōnoki proposed a Five Kage Summit to pressure Konoha into making concessions.

• Jiraiya showed Tsunade photographs and a Sensory Team report confirming a devastating battle and a powerful tailed-beast chakra fluctuation near the Naka River.
• Tsunade agreed to warn the villages that still had jinchūriki, despite their suspicions that Konoha was connected to Akatsuki.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Naruto had stalled in learning the Flying Thunder God Technique and might need to learn senjutsu at Mount Myōboku.
• Tsunade sent a statement to the other villages, describing the Naka River incident and warning that Akatsuki was moving again.
• Ōnoki and Raikage A discussed Konoha’s statement and agreed that attacking Konoha without evidence would invite condemnation.
• Ōnoki proposed holding a Five Kage Summit to pressure Konoha through negotiations.

Nagato and Obito discussed Akatsuki’s losses and the need to recruit members, then sent Obito and Zetsu to approach Kabuto Yakushi. Kabuto fled from Orochimaru’s pursuers, who cornered him with a series of attacks.

• Obito told Nagato that Uchiha Itachi was dead and reported that the Three-Tails had revived and was sealed within its jinchūriki.
• Nagato agreed with Obito that Akatsuki needed more members after losing Sasori, Itachi, and numerous rank-and-file members.
• Black Zetsu identified Kabuto Yakushi, an Otogakure defector who had stolen the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract and forbidden techniques, as a potential recruit.
• Nagato assigned Obito and Black Zetsu to approach Kabuto, then remarked that Master Tetsuya’s bait had drawn in a big fish.
• At the border of the Land of Rice Fields, Kabuto cut Kidomaru’s arrow with a chakra blade, but Sakon and Ukon blocked his escape with Rashomon while Jirobo hurled a massive boulder at him.

Obito and Black Zetsu watched Kabuto Yakushi fight the Sound Four, who revealed a powerful new third stage of their curse marks. As the Sound Four closed in on Kabuto, Obito intervened and escaped with him using Intangibility.

• Obito and Black Zetsu discussed Kabuto's past and speculated that his hatred of Konoha and Danzo had led him to betray Orochimaru.
• The Sound Four activated curse mark stage three, which transformed them into pale, adult-looking forms, and overwhelmed Kabuto with their attacks.
• Kabuto realized he could not use Subterranean Voyage after the Sound Four altered the bedrock beneath him.
• The Sound Four trapped Kabuto with genjutsu, spider silk, and a barrage of attacks, leaving him in danger.
• Obito caught Kidomaru's arrow, knocked aside a demon, and took Kabuto away using Intangibility.

Obito rescued Kabuto Yakushi and offered him a chance to join forces against Konoha and Danzo, but Kabuto collapsed from his wounds before they could talk further. Tetsuya learned that Kabuto had made contact with Obito and ordered the next stage of the plan to begin.

• Obito rescued Kabuto Yakushi from the Sound Four and revealed that he called himself Madara Uchiha.
• Obito asked whether Kabuto hated Konoha and Danzo, and Kabuto declared that he would never forgive them.
• Kabuto spat blood and collapsed, revealing a severe wound that Black Zetsu suspected Orochimaru had inflicted.
• The Sound Four reported their failed mission to Orochimaru and said a masked man had rescued Kabuto.
• Orochimaru messaged Tetsuya that Kabuto had contacted Obito, and Tetsuya approved the next stage of the plan.

After learning that the Akatsuki had destroyed the Tsuchigumo Clan and captured Utakata, Kakuzu urged Takigakure’s leaders to seek a powerful ally. Takigakure asked Konoha for an alliance and protection for its jinchūriki, and Tsunade considered agreeing to counter rumors that Konoha controlled the Akatsuki.

• A Takigakure ninja told Kakuzu that the Akatsuki had wiped out the Tsuchigumo Clan and captured Utakata.
• Kakuzu convened the Elder Council and warned that Takigakure could not withstand an Akatsuki attack alone.
• Kakuzu proposed seeking an ally, and the council discussed whether to trust Konoha or another major village.
• Takigakure sent an envoy to ask Konoha for an alliance and protection for its jinchūriki.
• Tsunade asked Jiraiya for advice, and he recommended agreeing to show the shinobi world that Konoha was not behind the Akatsuki.

Tsunade and Jiraiya agreed to Takigakure’s alliance request and arranged for the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Kaede, to travel secretly to Konoha. As Kaede set out, Zetsu and Obito revealed to Nagato that they knew her route and planned to capture her and implicate Konoha.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya agreed to form an alliance with Takigakure and arranged for Jiraiya to receive Kaede in secret.
• Kakuzu told Kaede she would be sent to Konoha, and she accepted the decision while reassuring him about Takigakure.
• Kaede left for the Land of Fire with a small escort five days later.
• Zetsu informed Nagato that Takigakure was sending Kaede to Konoha for protection.
• Obito proposed capturing Kaede and making the outside world believe Konoha was connected to the Akatsuki.

Obito and Kabuto disguised themselves as Konoha ninjas to escort Kaede, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, but Jiraiya exposed their ruse and confronted them. The battle began with Konoha forces fighting White Zetsu while Jiraiya faced Kabuto, who knew Orochimaru’s whereabouts.

• Genma Shiranui’s disguised impostor used a scroll with a Jiraiya projection to convince the wary Takigakure group to travel with him.
• Kaede secretly scattered scale powder along the route so Jiraiya could track them, while the Takigakure leader grew suspicious that Jiraiya had not caught up.
• Jiraiya arrived with more Konoha ninjas and accused the three escorts of impersonating Konoha shinobi.
• Obito ordered Black Zetsu to summon White Zetsu, and Jiraiya commanded the Konoha ninjas to attack and protect Kaede.
• Obito revealed his disguise and assigned Kabuto to capture Kaede, but Kabuto chose to face Jiraiya and discussed his respect for Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya asked Kabuto where Orochimaru was and formed a Rasengan when Kabuto refused to tell him.

Obito pursued Kaede while the White Zetsu army held off the Waterfall Ninja, and Kabuto Yakushi challenged Jiraiya with Ryūchi Cave senjutsu. The chapter left Jiraiya and Kabuto fighting in Sage Mode as Kabuto unleashed his White Rage Technique.

• Obito attacked Kaede’s Waterfall Ninja protectors, and Kaede flew away to draw him from them.
• White Zetsu emerged from underground and blocked the Waterfall Ninja from pursuing Obito.
• Kabuto told Jiraiya he had learned Ryūchi Cave senjutsu and activated Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, then entered Mount Myōboku’s Sage Mode with their help.
• Jiraiya charged Kabuto, whose Sage Art brought the soil to life to block Fukasaku’s water blades.
• Kabuto opened his mouth and used Sage Art: White Rage Technique.

Jiraiya and Kabuto fought in Sage Mode while Obito captured Kaede, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. After learning the mission was complete, Kabuto withdrew underground, leaving Jiraiya to face Konoha Ninja revived with Impure World Reincarnation.

• Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima used Sage Art: Goemon against Kabuto, who countered with Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Obito knocked Kaede unconscious, sealed her in the Kamui Dimension, and told Black Zetsu that he had captured the Jinchuriki.
• Black Zetsu informed Kabuto that the mission was complete and ordered him to withdraw.
• Kabuto bound Konoha Ninja with white snakes and used Impure World Reincarnation to revive fallen comrades in front of Jiraiya.
• Kabuto escaped underground while Jiraiya prepared to send the revived Konoha Ninja back to the Pure Land.

After Kaede was captured by the Akatsuki, Kakuzu considered a last path forward while Tsunade learned that the five nations had sent an envoy to discuss a Five Kage Summit. Danzo and Obito saw the summit as a chance to exploit the villages’ weakened defenses.

• Kakuzu learned that the Akatsuki had captured Kaede and called an emergency meeting with Takigakure’s Elder Council.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed the capture and Konoha’s need to explain what happened to Takigakure.
• Shizune told Tsunade that Chūsuke, an envoy from the Land of Iron, had arrived with a Five-Nation Letter.
• Chūsuke met with Tsunade and said he had come at the request of the five nations of Lightning, Water, Earth, Wind, and Waterfalls.
• Danzo learned of the envoy’s arrival, decided the Five Kage Summit could help him take the Hokage position, and warned Obito about the opportunity.
• Obito told Nagato that the Five Great Shinobi Villages would hold a summit in the Land of Iron, and Nagato agreed they should take advantage of it.

On the second day of the Five Kage Summit, a video call showing Akatsuki and Konoha ninja attacking Kumogakure drove the Raikage to attack Tsunade. News that the Akatsuki and Konoha had also attacked Iwagakure sent Ōnoki into battle as well, leaving the summit in chaos.

• The Raikage and Ōnoki resumed accusing Tsunade of aiding the Akatsuki, and the Kage traded insults.
• Dodai called the Raikage and showed him Akatsuki and Konoha ninja attacking Kumogakure and targeting Killer B.
• The Raikage crushed his phone, activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and attacked Tsunade, who dodged his strike.
• Jiraiya intervened with a Rasengan, and the Raikage fought both him and Tsunade while the others watched.
• Kitsuchi told Ōnoki that Deidara and the Akatsuki had attacked Iwagakure and taken Han, and confirmed Konoha ninja were there too.
• Ōnoki accused Konoha of going too far and began forming Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.

Tsunade and Jiraiya fought the Raikage and Ōnoki in the Land of Iron while Mifune and the Kage’s guards sought a way to stop the battle. At the Akatsuki hideout, Obito continued extracting Han’s Tailed Beast Chakra and promised Kabuto Yakushi a chance to take revenge on Konoha and Danzo.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya refused to leave the Land of Iron, then faced the Raikage and Ōnoki in battle.
• Mifune calculated the damage to the town while Gaara and Mei Terumi watched the Kage fight.
• C reported that Killer B had driven off the Akatsuki members, and Akatsuchi agreed to try to reason with Ōnoki.
• The Akatsuki extracted Tailed Beast Chakra from Han as the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path’s sixth eye opened.
• Obito told Kabuto Yakushi that he would soon have a chance to take revenge on Konoha and Danzo, then prepared the next stage of his plan.

Jigen met with Danzo at an old temple and offered him a Sharingan in exchange for hearing his conditions. Meanwhile, the Five Kage Summit ended bitterly after the battle, and Tetsuya learned that Danzo had traveled to the Land of Fire's border to meet an unknown person.

• Jigen welcomed Danzo to the temple and showed him a Sharingan, but said he would first have to hear his conditions.
• Jiraiya rejected the Raikage's demand for compensation and prepared to take the unconscious Tsunade back to Konoha.
• Mifune gave Jiraiya a bill for the damage caused by the battle, and Jiraiya promised Konoha would pay its share.
• News and footage of the clash spread online, prompting fears that another Shinobi World War was imminent.
• Tetsuya boosted Mifune's post about the battle, then Tobirama reported that Danzo's signal had met an unknown signal near the border of the Land of Fire.

After Kumogakure and Iwagakure severed ties with Konoha and prepared for war, Danzo used Tsunade’s unconsciousness and a decree from the Daimyo to take the Hokage position. Jiraiya was left facing Danzo’s claim to power as the village stood on the brink of crisis.

• Kumogakure and Iwagakure publicly denounced Konoha, cut off relations, and began gathering ninja near their borders.
• Jiraiya struggled to respond to the looming war while Tsunade remained unconscious from her injuries.
• Danzo entered the Hokage Office with former officials and challenged Tsunade’s right to remain Hokage.
• The Daimyo’s envoy read a decree dismissing Tsunade and appointing Shimura Danzō as Hokage.
• Danzo declared himself Hokage, leaving Jiraiya stunned.

Tetsuya told Tobirama that Danzo had taken the Hokage position after Tsunade was knocked unconscious, then recounted the events that led to her removal. Madara and Izuna returned from investigating Danzo’s mysterious contact with no lead beyond a dilapidated temple, while Tetsuya began explaining Danzo’s policy changes.

• Tetsuya rushed into Tobirama’s laboratory with news, interrupting his research and prompting Tobirama to wonder whether Tsunade was pregnant.
• Tetsuya revealed that Tsunade was unconscious and Danzo had taken the Hokage position, then explained that Madara and Izuna had gone to investigate Danzo’s Unknown Signal Source.
• Madara and Izuna returned through Izuna’s Rinnegan ability and reported that they had found only a dilapidated temple at the meeting place.
• Tetsuya told Tobirama that Tsunade had fought the Tsuchikage and Raikage at the Five Kage Summit, fallen unconscious, and been blamed by Danzo before the Land of Fire’s Daimyo appointed Danzo Hokage.
• Tobirama objected that the Daimyo had no authority to appoint Konoha’s Hokage, and Tetsuya began describing how Danzo had overturned Tsunade’s policies.

Danzo became Hokage and planned to visit Chiba Tetsuya’s grave in the Land of Grass, secretly hoping to raise money and seize the Chiba Commerce Association’s assets. Tetsuya learned of Danzo’s plan and said the Hokage would never reach the Land of Grass.

• Danzo learned that Iwagakure and Kumogakure had halted reinforcements, then ordered Konoha to station troops along the borders.
• Danzo discovered Konoha’s finances had worsened after the Chiba Commerce Association distanced itself from the village.
• Danzo announced he would travel to the Land of Grass to pay respects at Chiba Tetsuya’s grave, while secretly plotting against the Chiba Commerce Association.
• Ōnoki and A grew more suspicious of Danzo after hearing he planned to leave Konoha.
• Tetsuya read the news and told Shinada of the Salamander that Danzo would not make it to the Land of Grass.

Kabuto asked Obito to help him ambush Danzo, who was traveling to the Land of Grass, and Obito agreed. Tetsuya rallied the Uchiha to join the revenge, then recruited Izuna and Madara after warning that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki might be hiding behind Danzo.

• Kabuto told Obito he wanted revenge on Danzo and asked him to locate Danzo's route and draw away the Root ninja.
• Obito agreed to help, planning to use Zetsu to track Danzo and White Zetsu Clones to distract his guards.
• Tetsuya summoned the Uchiha Clan and told them Danzo was coming to the Land of Grass, prompting them to prepare for revenge.
• Tetsuya explained Kabuto's plan to the Uchiha and said others also wanted Danzo dead.
• Izuna and Madara discussed Danzo's visit, and Tetsuya asked them to join the effort because Ōtsutsuki Isshiki might be hiding behind Danzo.

Kabuto Yakushi ambushed Danzo on the road to the Land of Grass, seeking revenge, but Danzo revealed that his Root guards had stayed nearby. Kabuto activated Sage Mode and attacked Danzo directly, leaving their fight underway.

• Danzo realized the repeated attacks were a diversion aimed at drawing away his guards and ordered Ryoma to continue the journey.
• Kabuto appeared at the carriage after Ryoma and most of the Root members pursued another attacker, then killed the Root ninja guarding Danzo.
• Danzo burst from the destroyed carriage, survived Kabuto's attack, and revealed that Ryoma and the other Root ninja had been waiting nearby.
• Danzo ordered the Root ninja to attack Kabuto, who activated Sage Mode and summoned massive earthen snakes to hold them off.
• Kabuto rode an enormous snake toward Danzo and declared that Danzo's life was his.