Chapter Summaries

After Konoha learned of Hatake Sakumo’s heroic death, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Minato to investigate a Kumogakure squad led by the Third Raikage’s son and Killer B. In the Land of Grass, Tetsuya captured a White Zetsu and began plotting a special gift for Obito Uchiha.

• Konoha memorialized Hatake Sakumo as a hero, while Kakashi returned home alone and struggled to accept his father’s death.
• An Anbu ninja reported that the Third Raikage’s son and Killer B had entered the Land of Fire, and Hiruzen ordered Minato to investigate.
• Huang Bai captured a White Zetsu near the Capital City and told Tetsuya that similar beings had appeared in the Land of Grass.
• Tetsuya sealed White Zetsu in a scroll and considered using him in a future deal with Orochimaru.
• Tetsuya connected White Zetsu’s presence to Black Zetsu’s plans around Kannabi Bridge and resolved to prepare a special gift for Obito.

Tetsuya learned that the Third Raikage had died after fighting ten thousand Iwa shinobi and predicted that the Third Shinobi World War was approaching its climax, with multiple villages set to target the Land of Fire. In Iwagakure, Ōnoki prepared to intensify the war.

• Tetsuya read reports about Minato repeatedly clashing with Kumogakure's A-B Combo, and Kakuzu brought him fresh intelligence that the Third Raikage had died the previous day.
• Kakuzu told Tetsuya that the Third Raikage had fought ten thousand Iwa shinobi until he died of exhaustion.
• Tetsuya predicted that Kumogakure would retreat after the Raikage's death, but said the war's climax was about to begin.
• Tetsuya told Kakuzu that multiple villages had their eyes on the fertile Land of Fire and would invade it.
• Ōnoki addressed Iwagakure's leaders and urged them to make the ongoing war even livelier.

As Iwagakure and Kirigakure forced Konoha into a two-front war, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Team Minato to destroy Kannabi Bridge and disrupt Iwagakure’s supply line. Minato accepted the mission, but felt uneasy about what might happen.

• Kirigakure invaded the Land of Fire from the sea while Iwagakure attacked through the Land of Grass, forcing Konoha to fight on two fronts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi repelled Kirigakure’s main force and returned to find Konoha’s troops retreating toward their second defensive line against Iwagakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi identified Kannabi Bridge as a key point in Iwagakure’s supply line and proposed destroying it.
• The Konoha High Command assigned Team Minato, including the newly promoted jonin Kakashi, to blow up Kannabi Bridge.
• Minato accepted the mission, then felt uneasy about what might happen behind enemy lines.

Minato led Kakashi, Obito, and Rin toward Kannabi Bridge, where Iwagakure forces were preparing a surprise attack on Konoha. After Minato left to warn the rear, Kakashi led the others toward the bridge, but they were spotted and attacked.

• Minato warned Kakashi, Obito, and Rin that they were entering dangerous Iwagakure territory and led them toward Kannabi Bridge.
• Minato discovered that more than fifty Iwagakure shinobi were gathered at Kannabi Bridge, and the team agreed to observe them before acting.
• When Dong Shiren led the Iwagakure force toward a Konoha position for a night attack, Minato appointed Kakashi temporary captain and hurried back to warn Konoha.
• Kakashi decided to destroy Kannabi Bridge and led Obito and Rin toward it despite their doubts.
• Several shuriken flew at the three young shinobi, and Kakashi deflected them with his White Fang Ninja Blade before warning that they had been exposed.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin defeated Mahiru after Minato arrived to save them, then continued their mission to destroy Kannabi Bridge. As they entered a dark bamboo grove, an enemy launched sharpened bamboo poles at the team.

• Kakashi fought Mahiru with Chidori and Hatake Style: White Fang Flash, but Mahiru wounded him and attacked Obito from underground.
• Minato appeared and killed Mahiru with a Rasengan, then urged Kakashi and Obito to cooperate before leaving to assist at the front.
• Rin treated Kakashi's wound and made Kakashi and Obito reconcile, and the three continued their mission the next morning.
• The team reached Kannabi Bridge, planned to destroy its key supports, and entered the bamboo grove while two watchers observed them.
• An enemy ambushed the team with sharpened bamboo poles, and Obito responded with Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were ambushed by Iwa shinobi, who captured Rin after Kakashi charged ahead. While Obito went to rescue her, Tetsuya found Rin and prepared to use a Straw Doll to make her death look reversible.

• Kakashi charged at the hidden Iwa shinobi Kakkō, while Obito and Rin fought through the bamboo traps to catch up.
• Taiseki captured Rin, and Kakkō and Taiseki escaped with her after Obito was delayed by another trap.
• Obito blamed Kakashi for Rin’s capture, slapped him, and left to rescue her after condemning Kakashi’s rigid loyalty to missions.
• Kakkō and Taiseki tied the unconscious Rin to a post in a cave, where Tetsuya emerged and trapped both Iwa shinobi in genjutsu.
• Tetsuya drew Rin’s blood onto a Straw Doll and wondered how Obito would react if his dead first love returned to life.

Obito and Kakashi fought Taiseki and Kakkō to rescue Rin, and Obito awakened his Sharingan while protecting his comrades. After Tetsuya secretly killed the wounded Kakkō, he waited to see whether Black Zetsu would act.

• Obito found Rin’s cave, but Taiseki ambushed him before Kakashi arrived and drove him off with a surprise attack.
• Taiseki struck Kakashi in the eye during another ambush, and Obito awakened his Sharingan as he vowed to protect his comrades.
• Obito recognized that Rin was under genjutsu, and he and Kakashi fought Kakkō together despite Kakashi’s injury.
• Kakashi slashed Kakkō and Obito knocked him down, but they ran to Rin without checking whether Kakkō was dead.
• Tetsuya secretly pierced Kakkō’s skull with a senbon and asked whether Black Zetsu would make a move.

Tetsuya followed White Zetsu to Madara Uchiha's cave, where he interrupted the plan to retrieve Obito and questioned the aged Uchiha. Madara recognized Tetsuya's Mangekyō Sharingan as Izuna's eye.

• Tetsuya used Sage Mode to discover that White Zetsu had caused the cave to collapse, then followed him to Madara Uchiha's hideout.
• White Zetsu reported that Obito Uchiha was trapped, and Madara ordered Black Zetsu to bring Obito back alive.
• Tetsuya revealed himself as Tobi, bound the White Zetsu with a Golden Rope, and sealed them in a Red Gourd.
• Tetsuya told Madara he wanted answers and showed him his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Madara recognized the eye as Izuna's.

Tetsuya and Madara Uchiha took turns asking questions, discussing why Madara and Hashirama Senju founded a village instead of unifying the Shinobi World. Tetsuya revealed his face to the dying Madara, whose unimpressed reaction left Tetsuya defending his looks.

• Madara Uchiha recognized the Sharingan in Tetsuya's eyes as Izuna's and demanded to know where he got them.
• Tetsuya proposed that he and Madara take turns asking one question each, and Madara agreed.
• Tetsuya asked why Madara and Hashirama Senju had not unified the Shinobi World, and Madara said building a village had been their childhood dream.
• Madara asked Tetsuya who he was, and Tetsuya called himself an ordinary merchant who dealt in everything.
• Madara asked Tetsuya to remove his mask, and Tetsuya revealed his face.
• Madara stared at Tetsuya and asked, "That's what you look like?" while Tetsuya protested that he was handsome.

Tetsuya explained why Madara Uchiha had chosen to fake his death rather than kill Hashirama Senju and pursue his plans directly. He revealed that the white-masked man impersonating Madara was Uchiha Izuna, leaving Madara shaken and convinced Tetsuya was an Uchiha who had read the hidden stone tablet.

• Tetsuya asked why Madara Uchiha had not killed Hashirama Senju, and Madara explained that Hashirama’s strength, the threat of reinforcements, and the time his plan required made faking his death the best choice.
• Madara Uchiha asked who had impersonated him in the white mask at the Amegakure battlefield, and Tetsuya revealed that it was Uchiha Izuna.
• Madara Uchiha rejected the revelation, but Tetsuya insisted Izuna had died and described ways the dead could be revived.
• Tetsuya offered to bring Madara Uchiha back to life if he would work for him, as Izuna did.
• Madara Uchiha reasoned that Tetsuya was likely an Uchiha who had used Mangekyō Sharingan to read the hidden contents of the stone tablet.

Tetsuya challenged Madara Uchiha’s belief in the stone tablet and Infinite Tsukuyomi, revealing that the Sage of Six Paths and the Rabbit Goddess were aliens. Madara accepted a wager to be resurrected when an alien appeared in ten-odd years, after which he would work for Tetsuya if Tetsuya’s claims proved true.

• Madara Uchiha mistakenly concluded that Tetsuya was an Uchiha abandoned by his clan who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and read the stone tablet.
• Tetsuya questioned why Madara trusted the tablet, but Madara said its contents were likely genuine because he had verified some of them.
• Tetsuya argued that Infinite Tsukuyomi was only a genjutsu and could not change reality, while Madara insisted the tablet promised otherwise.
• Tetsuya told Madara that the Sage of Six Paths and the Rabbit Goddess were aliens, and Madara angrily rejected the claim.
• Tetsuya offered to resurrect Madara when an alien appeared in ten-odd years, with Madara agreeing to work for Tetsuya if Tetsuya’s claims proved true.

Tetsuya left Madara after they agreed to a wager, while Obito survived his injuries and was brought to Madara’s cave. Kakashi, Rin, and Minato destroyed Kannabi Bridge, but the war intensified as Iwagakure joined forces with Kirigakure; Obito later awoke and found himself facing Madara.

• Tetsuya left after Madara agreed to his wager, and Black Zetsu brought the badly injured Obito back to the cave.
• Madara ordered Black Zetsu and White Zetsu to keep Obito alive while he considered Tetsuya’s claims and his suspicions about Black Zetsu.
• Minato arrived too late to save Obito, and Kakashi, Rin, and Minato went to Kannabi Bridge and destroyed it.
• Iwagakure’s supply line was disrupted, but Iwagakure chose to join Kirigakure’s invasion, and the war against Konoha intensified.
• Obito awoke in a dark place and questioned the elderly Madara, who identified it as the gap between the Underworld and the Living World.

Kakashi and Rin’s squad fell into a Kirigakure ambush, where Kakashi fought through the mist to protect his teammates. After Rin was captured, Kirigakure began sealing Isobu, the Three-Tails, inside her so she would carry it back to destroy Konoha.

• Kakashi and Rin’s squad was ambushed by Kirigakure ninja using the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Kakashi used Obito’s Sharingan to spot the attackers, protect Rin, and fight back with Chidori and Hatake Style: Lightning Fang: Thousand Mountains.
• A Kirigakure ninja knocked Rin unconscious and carried her away while the other attackers blocked Kakashi from reaching her.
• Kirigakure ninja released Isobu, the Three-Tails, from a sealed host and restrained it with chains.
• The Kirigakure leader revealed the plan to seal the Three-Tails inside Rin and release it after she returned to Konoha.
• The Kirigakure squad leader stopped Rin from killing herself with genjutsu and ordered the others to seal the Three-Tails inside her.

Tetsuya replaced the Three-Tails sealed inside Rin with another Isobu, then watched Kakashi rescue her from Kirigakure. Rin sacrificed herself by intercepting Kakashi’s Chidori, and Obito arrived in time to witness her death.

• Tetsuya sealed the original Three-Tails in the Box of Ultimate Bliss and summoned another Isobu to be sealed inside Rin.
• Tetsuya left the camp, and Kirigakure’s genjutsu wore off as its ninja sealed Isobu inside Rin.
• Kakashi found the camp, rescued Rin, and fled while Kirigakure ninja pursued them.
• Rin remembered Kirigakure’s plan to unleash the Three-Tails on Konoha and asked Kakashi to kill her, but he refused.
• Kakashi fought the pursuers and thrust his Chidori at a Kirigakure swordsman, but Rin stepped between them and was pierced through the chest.
• Obito arrived and watched Rin fall, crying, “This is... hell!”

Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan after Rin appeared to die and slaughtered the Kirigakure ninja who had attacked them. Tetsuya used a straw doll to save Rin, brought her to a hidden refuge, and welcomed her to a world between life and death.

• Rin fell before Kakashi and Obito, causing both of their Sharingan to awaken into the Mangekyō, and Kakashi collapsed from exhaustion.
• Obito's Kamui and newly awakened Wood Release let him kill the Kirigakure ninja who tried to seize Rin's body.
• Tetsuya crushed a straw doll that had taken Rin's fatal wound, then carried her away while leaving clues that pointed Obito toward the sea.
• Rin awoke at the Weasel Burial Mound, where Tetsuya told her she was in a space between life and death.

Tetsuya showed Rin Nohara the danger of returning while Isobu remained inside her, then offered to train her in Senjutsu so she could eventually protect her comrades. Rin accepted him as her master, while the Shinobi World War outside moved toward its end.

• Tetsuya brought Rin into a vision of Isobu, whose roar forced her consciousness out of the dark space.
• Rin feared she could do nothing to help her comrades, but Tetsuya told her the Tailed Beast's power could be controlled and that she could try communicating with it.
• Tetsuya called himself the Immortal of Limbo and offered to teach Rin Senjutsu, promising she could return to the Shinobi World after mastering it.
• Rin Nohara accepted Tetsuya as her master and learned that she would be his fourth disciple, with two senior brothers and one senior sister.
• Tetsuya took Rin to rest and prepared to teach her cultivation mantras as Konoha counterattacked Kirigakure and Iwagakure retreated, sealing the war's outcome.

Obito approached the Akatsuki trio in the Land of Rain, claimed to be Madara Uchiha, and tried to recruit Nagato for the Rinnegan. Yahiko rejected his plan, and a message from Konan reached Tetsuya, who recognized Obito and noted that the trio had changed too much for his scheme to work.

• Obito ignored Black Zetsu's warning and approached Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, claiming to be Madara Uchiha.
• Yahiko questioned Obito's identity, and Obito admitted he wanted Nagato's Rinnegan.
• Obito urged Nagato to join his organization and promised a world of peace, but Yahiko rejected his offer and argued for mutual understanding.
• Yahiko led Konan and Nagato away, while Obito said he would wait for Nagato every day.
• Konan sent a paper butterfly message to Tetsuya, who recognized Obito and observed that the trio's new teacher had made them very different from their original selves.

Akatsuki’s leaders received letters from Izuna and Tetsuya about the impostor claiming to be Madara Uchiha, including a detailed account of Obito Uchiha and his allies. Yahiko and Nagato resolved to change the world, but Konan reminded them that their immediate struggle was in Amegakure.

• Konan told Yahiko and Nagato that she had written to both Izuna and Tetsuya about the man impersonating Madara Uchiha.
• The three read Izuna’s letter, in which he offered support and urged them to gang up on the impostor.
• Tetsuya’s letter identified Obito Uchiha, described his abilities and his connections to Zetsu, and warned Akatsuki not to trust him.
• Yahiko and Nagato blamed the great nations’ greed for ordinary people’s suffering and vowed to make the arrogant leaders feel that suffering.
• Konan reminded Yahiko and Nagato that Akatsuki’s immediate problem was the situation in Amegakure.

After breaking with Hanzo of the Salamander, the Akatsuki received a peace offer from an envoy who was secretly Shimura Danzō. Yahiko agreed to attend a meeting, while the Akatsuki’s senior members debated whether to trust the offer.

• The Akatsuki and Hanzo of the Salamander’s supporters clashed, and Nagato and his companions proved strong enough to hold their own against him.
• An envoy claiming to represent Hanzo arrived at the Akatsuki headquarters and introduced himself as Kanzō.
• Yahiko read Hanzo’s letter proposing peace and agreed to attend a meeting, while Danzō left intending to destroy the Akatsuki.
• Yahiko convened the Akatsuki’s senior members, who split over whether Hanzo’s offer was sincere.

Yahiko and the Akatsuki decided Hanzo of the Salamander’s peace offer was a trap, then took over Amegakure’s administration during negotiations. As the final talks approached, Danzo’s alliance with Hanzo and Obito’s warning to Nagato revealed that a crisis was imminent.

• Yahiko questioned Kanzō’s identity and conduct, and he, Nagato, Konan, and the senior members committed to armed struggle against Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Yahiko and the Akatsuki negotiated with Hanzo’s deputy, accepted sweeping authority over Amegakure, and agreed to govern for half a month before further talks with Hanzo.
• Hanzō and Danzo discussed their plan to kill Yahiko and reaffirmed their agreement, while Hanzō insisted Danzo address him as the Rain Shadow.
• Yahiko and Nagato worked through Amegakure’s administrative duties as they prepared for the final negotiations with Hanzo.
• Obito Uchiha appeared before Nagato at dawn and urged him to leave Yahiko and the others, warning that reality was about to change drastically.