Chapter Summaries

Hoshi revealed his Perfect Sage Mode to the gathered group, stunning everyone and humiliating Jiraiya by comparison. After the sages invited Hoshi to Mount Myōboku, they departed, and Jiraiya resolved to avoid using Sage Mode unless necessary.

• Jiraiya urged Hoshi to demonstrate Sage Mode, and the others joined in while Tsunade encouraged him.
• Hoshi entered Sage Mode, and Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima marveled at how quickly he absorbed Natural Energy.
• The group saw Hoshi's Perfect Sage Mode and laughed at the contrast with Jiraiya's appearance.
• Sage Shima told Jiraiya that Hoshi's Sage Mode was far stronger, and Sage Fukasaku learned that Hoshi had developed it through his own exploration.
• Sage Fukasaku invited Hoshi to visit Mount Myōboku, then returned there with Sage Shima.
• Jiraiya exited Sage Mode and decided he would not use it again unless his life was in danger.

Jiraiya gave the men first editions of Tale of the Gutsy Ninja and showed them his early adult manuscript, which he planned to expand into Make-Out Paradise. The women caught them reading, and Tsunade warned Jiraiya to keep his research away from the village women as his writing project was postponed.

• Jiraiya handed Hoshi, Sakumo, Minato, Nawaki, Orochimaru, and the other men first-edition copies of Tale of the Gutsy Ninja.
• Minato praised the novel, while Nawaki asked about Jiraiya's second gift and became absorbed in his illustrated manuscript.
• Hoshi and the others read the manuscript, praised it, and learned Jiraiya planned to call the book Make-Out Paradise and travel for ten years to gather material.
• The men hid the manuscript when Tsunade, Shinku's wife, Nawaki's girlfriend, and Kushina asked whether it was that good, and their partners dragged them away by their ears.
• Tsunade punched Jiraiya and warned him not to pursue women in the village, postponing the Make-Out Paradise project.

Sasori’s growing status in Sunagakure fueled Rasa’s concealed resentment, while Sasori grew more disgusted with the village’s hypocrisy. That night, Sasori went to the Kazekage Building and confronted Ryunosuke, who joked about Sasori’s previous assassination attempt.

• Rasa returned to Sunagakure with Karura and hid his resentment when he saw Sasori, his rival for the Fourth Kazekage position.
• Rasa greeted Sasori warmly in public, but Sasori sensed his deception and ignored him on the way to the Puppet Workshop.
• Sasori reflected that he wanted to leave Sunagakure after completing an unfinished task.
• Late at night, Sasori took an unfamiliar poison, evaded the patrols, and arrived at the Kazekage Building.
• Ryunosuke welcomed Sasori into his office and joked about whether he had come to assassinate him again.

Sasori apologized to Ryunosuke with a lubricant that made puppet joints more flexible, but secretly used it to disable Ryunosuke and capture him. Sasori declared that Ryunosuke would become his finest puppet.

• Sasori visited Ryunosuke, apologized for his attempted assassination, and offered him a lubricant he had developed.
• Sasori revealed that he had replaced his hands with Puppet Arms to pursue his ambition of controlling hundreds or thousands of puppets.
• Sasori demonstrated how the lubricant enhanced his Puppet Arm, and Ryunosuke applied it to his own hands and found that he could form seals faster.
• Sasori revealed that the lubricant temporarily prevented puppets from conducting Chakra, leaving Ryunosuke unable to use Magnet Release.
• Ryunosuke discovered that Puppet Scorpions had stung the joints of his arms, and Sasori announced that Ryunosuke would become his finest puppet.

Sasori killed the Third Kazekage, Ryunosuke, and fled Sunagakure with his body, prompting Madara to plan to spread news of the disappearance and use the resulting unrest to spark war. Meanwhile, Konoha celebrated Tsunade and Hoshi’s upcoming wedding as the couple struggled with preparations.

• Sasori killed Ryunosuke, turned him into a puppet, sealed him in a Scroll, and escaped from Sunagakure.
• Sunagakure discovered Ryunosuke’s disappearance and Sasori’s flight, concealed the news, and appointed Chiyo and Bunpuku to lead temporarily while searching for the Kazekage.
• White Zetsu reported Sasori’s actions to Madara, who ordered the news spread among the major ninja villages and told White Zetsu to watch Kirigakure’s new Fourth Mizukage.
• Konoha’s villagers decorated the streets to celebrate Tsunade and Hoshi’s wedding, while the couple faced a mountain of preparations and expected guests.
• Hoshi reflected that he had made a home in the Naruto World and now wanted only to build a family and live happily with Tsunade.

Hoshi and Tsunade celebrated their wedding in Konoha, with Minato and Kushina serving as best man and maid of honor. After the ceremony and evening banquet, the guests departed, with Orochimaru leaving Hoshi a mysterious gift.

• Hoshi asked Minato and Kushina to be the best man and maid of honor, and they accepted and gave him and Tsunade wedding gifts in advance.
• Seven days later, villagers and friends gathered in Konoha to witness Hoshi and Tsunade's wedding.
• Minato and Kushina accompanied Hoshi and Tsunade from the Hokage Building to the Senju Clan Compound, where Hiruzen Sarutobi officiated the ceremony.
• Hoshi and Tsunade celebrated their marriage at an evening banquet, where Jiraiya joked about competing for Tsunade and Orochimaru teased him.
• The guests presented their gifts, and Orochimaru gave Hoshi a mysterious present before leaving.

The morning after their wedding, Hoshi persuaded Tsunade to take a day off and open their wedding gifts with him. They discovered Orochimaru had given Hoshi the Sword of Kusanagi, and Hoshi learned it could be stored inside the wielder’s body and drawn out from anywhere.

• Hoshi skipped his morning workout at first so Tsunade could keep sleeping, then trained after leaving her a kiss.
• Hoshi convinced Tsunade not to go to the Hokage’s Office because Shikaku, Minato, and Sakumo were handling matters, and she joined her family for breakfast.
• Tsunade and Hoshi began opening their wedding gifts, and Hoshi considered using blind boxes to keep Tsunade from gambling.
• Hoshi recognized the last unopened gift as Orochimaru’s and opened it to find an exquisite traditional sword.
• Hoshi identified it as the Sword of Kusanagi and read Orochimaru’s letter explaining its origins and abilities.
• Hoshi learned he could infuse the sword with chakra, store it inside his body, and draw it out from anywhere, while Tsunade frowned at his close inspection of the blade.

Hoshi tested the Kusanagi Sword Orochimaru had given him and discovered it could be stored in his hand, extend, and fly through the air using his Chakra. He managed to stand on the hovering sword, leaving him eager to debut as the Moonlight Drunken Sword Immortal.

• Hoshi placated Tsunade by calling her "wifey" and explaining that the Kusanagi Sword differed from Kagetsu's Tenburyu Sword.
• At the Hayate Clan training ground, Hoshi charged the Kusanagi Sword with Chakra and learned he could store it in and summon it from his left hand.
• Hoshi extended the sword with Chakra and found he could manipulate it in midair, though doing so drained its stored power.
• Hoshi made the sword hover horizontally and jumped onto it, and it shook but held his weight as Tsunade watched in shock.

Hoshi mastered flying on the Kusanagi Sword and commissioned a custom sheath so he could carry it on his back. After collecting it, he flew toward the Senju Clan Compound in dramatic style.

• Hoshi tested the Kusanagi Sword’s flight, found that his Chakra could sustain it, and practiced flying around Konoha.
• Konoha’s Sealing Corps mistook Hoshi for an enemy, but he reassured them that he was practicing a new technique.
• Hoshi visited Mandiant Hall and commissioned a sturdy, understated sheath designed to carry the Kusanagi Sword on his back.
• Three days later, Hoshi collected the sheath, mounted the Kusanagi Sword, and flew toward the Senju Clan Compound.

After the Third Kazekage Ryunosuke vanished, Kumogakure and Iwagakure prepared to attack Sunagakure, while Kirigakure waited for the other villages to weaken. Konoha's leaders discussed preparing for war as Hoshi recognized that the Third Great Ninja War was about to begin.

• The Four Kage confirmed that Third Kazekage Ryunosuke had vanished, leaving Sunagakure without a leader.
• The Third Raikage and Fourth A decided to invade Sunagakure, and the Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure to mobilize fifteen thousand troops in half a month.
• Ōnoki planned to intercept Kumogakure on its route to Sunagakure and considered using Konoha as cover for his intentions.
• Yagura chose to wait and see whether the other villages would weaken each other before Kirigakure intervened.
• Tsunade asked Konoha's leaders how to respond, and Shikaku urged them to prepare for war.
• Hoshi realized the Third Great Ninja War was about to begin.

Hoshi visited the Uchiha Clan Compound to see his disciple Kagetsu and her father, Beichen, and met Uchiha Fugaku, who was engaged to Mikoto. Fugaku hoped to improve the Uchiha Clan’s standing by winning Hoshi over, but his father rejected the idea, leaving Fugaku determined to try anyway.

• After Konoha established wartime policies and requested funds, Hoshi considered how saving Obito might disrupt Black Zetsu and Madara’s plans.
• Hoshi went to the Uchiha Clan Compound to visit Kagetsu and Beichen and met Fugaku, who escorted him toward his father’s residence.
• Hoshi recognized Fugaku and learned that he and Mikoto planned to marry in about two months.
• Fugaku told his father that Hoshi had come to visit Kagetsu and Beichen, then suggested using Mikoto to invite Hoshi for talks.
• Fugaku’s father rejected the suggestion and scolded him, but Fugaku still believed the Uchiha Clan should try to win Hoshi over.

Hoshi found Obito being bullied by other Uchiha children, but discovered that Obito was stronger than expected and had been learning from Kagetsu. The encounter revealed that Kagetsu had taken Obito under her wing, while Hoshi reflected on how his actions had changed the story.

• Hoshi hid near the river and watched Obito argue with a group of Uchiha children who mocked him for failing to use the Great Fireball Jutsu.
• Obito fought back against the children and showed Genin-level taijutsu, though their numbers let them pin him down and beat him.
• Kagetsu arrived and drove the children away, then told Obito to fight back more decisively when he was bullied.
• Hoshi revealed himself, and Kagetsu explained that she had taught Obito some moves after he began following her around.
• Obito realized Hoshi was the legendary Konoha Silver Moon, while Kagetsu scolded him for calling her Big Sis Kagetsu.
• Hoshi reflected that Kagetsu and Beichen had survived because of him, and that their presence had now changed Obito's fate as well.

Hoshi decided to resolve the budding love triangle between Obito, Rin, and Kakashi before war could disrupt their lives. He visited the Hatake household to ask about Kakashi’s feelings, and Sakumo heard his explanation.

• Hoshi considered how to keep Obito from falling under Madara’s influence and thought about clarifying Rin’s feelings for Kakashi.
• Hoshi suggested Kagetsu become Obito’s Jonin instructor, but Kagetsu declined and said she might explore other career paths instead.
• Hoshi left the Uchiha Clan Compound and went to the Hatake Clan to address the love triangle before the Third Great Ninja War began.
• Hoshi greeted Mayu and waited for Sakumo and Kakashi to return home.
• Sakumo sent Kakashi to train after Hoshi explained the situation involving Obito, Rin, and Kakashi.

Hoshi learned that Kakashi had no romantic feelings for Rin and Obito, while a clash at Kikyō Pass between Konoha and Sunagakure escalated into a wider conflict. Konoha, Sunagakure, and Cloud Village entered open warfare, with Iwagakure and Mist Village poised to join.

• Hoshi convinced Sakumo and Mayu to take Kakashi's emotional development seriously, and Sakumo said Kakashi only wanted to train and become a powerful ninja.
• Sunagakure's search party, led by Chiyo, encountered Konoha's thirty-ninja outpost at Kikyō Pass, and an argument over the border treaty and the missing Third Kazekage sparked a battle.
• Chiyo's forces killed twenty-five Konoha ninja, and three survivors carried news of the defeat to Konoha.
• Tsunade sent Jiraiya with more than three hundred ninja, who destroyed Sunagakure's forces near Kikyō Pass and captured many prisoners while Chiyo and several subordinates escaped.
• Cloud Village raided a Sunagakure camp three days later, drawing it into the conflict as Iwagakure and Mist Village began to stir.

Cloud Village nearly besieged Sunagakure, prompting Rasa to become Fourth Kazekage and seek Konoha’s aid. Ōnoki then attacked Konoha’s allies, drawing Konoha into a wider war that became a Lightning-Earth Alliance versus Wind-Fire Alliance conflict.

• Cloud Village’s invasion drove Sunagakure’s forces back to their village, where Rasa became Fourth Kazekage and used Shukaku’s power with Bunpuku to halt the advance.
• Rasa asked Iwagakure for aid, but Ōnoki demanded an unacceptable price, so Sunagakure sent Tsunade a humble request for an alliance with Konoha.
• Ōnoki accused Konoha and Sunagakure of colluding and launched large-scale attacks against the Land of Grass and the Land of Rice Fields.
• Tsunade committed roughly three thousand shinobi to the war and appointed Jiraiya frontline commander.
• Konoha harassed Cloud Village to keep Sunagakure from collapsing while focusing its more frequent battles on Iwagakure; the major villages continued to hold back their Kage-level fighters.

Hoshi trained Minato and helped him develop the Rasengan while guiding Obito’s romance with Rin. Minato mastered the Rasengan in under three days, bringing him much closer to his future strength as the Third Great Ninja War approached.

• Hoshi’s training and advice helped Obito improve, and Obito and Rin officially confirmed their relationship.
• Rin’s growing reliance on Obito and concern over his admirers led her to fall for him.
• Minato struggled to develop a stronger attack, so Hoshi demonstrated the Rasengan and gave him its complete training method.
• Hoshi transformed Wind Revolve into a Rasenshuriken, astonishing Minato with his chakra control.
• With Hoshi’s guidance, Minato mastered the Rasengan in less than three days.

Hoshi’s progress in training had left him confident in facing the Third Raikage, who had joined the war and threatened Sunagakure. After Konoha debated how to respond, Hoshi volunteered to confront him and saw the fight as a chance to advance his swordsmanship.

• Hoshi reflected that Minato had developed the beginnings of the Rasenshuriken and had strong potential to grow even more powerful.
• Konoha received word that the Third Raikage had entered the war to crush Sunagakure before joining forces with Iwagakure against Konoha.
• Sunagakure asked Konoha for aid, and Tsunade, Sakumo, and Shikaku debated whether and how to block the Third Raikage’s offensive.
• Hoshi volunteered to handle the Third Raikage, surprising the others, who then agreed he was the most suitable fighter for the task.
• Hoshi revealed through his thoughts that his Master-level Swordsmanship was near its limit and that he hoped the fight would push him to Grandmaster-level.

Yahiko refused to abandon Akatsuki’s mission to protect the Land of Rain, winning his followers’ support despite Hanzō’s purge. Obito knew Yahiko’s fate was already caught in Madara’s plan and that the coming peace talks would end in despair.

• At an Akatsuki meeting, a Squad Leader warned Yahiko that Hanzō’s purge and the war against outsiders could destroy the organization.
• Yahiko recalled why he had founded Akatsuki, struck his forehead against the table, and insisted they continue protecting the Land of Rain.
• Konan, Nagato, and the Squad Leaders were moved by Yahiko’s resolve, and many pledged to follow him.
• Obito, disguised as a Squad Leader and inhabiting Danzo’s body, outwardly supported Yahiko while privately judging him doomed and weak.
• Obito reflected that the Hashirama Cells for Nagato were ready and that his letter would lure Hanzō into arranging peace talks that Yahiko would attend.

Hoshi left Konoha to confront the Third Raikage and help Sunagakure, which was on the verge of defeat. As Hoshi headed toward the battlefield, Pakura rallied Sunagakure’s demoralized forces to defend their homeland.

• Hoshi said goodbye to Tsunade, then flew toward Kikyō Pass on the Sword of Kusanagi.
• At Kikyō Pass, Yamanaka Inoichi and Chōza Akimichi told Hoshi that the Third Raikage was rapidly advancing on Sunagakure and that the village might surrender by the next day.
• Hoshi ordered the Konoha forces to mobilize through the Land of Rain while he went ahead to hold back the Third Raikage.
• As Sunagakure’s troops struggled against the Cloud Village attack, Pakura used Scorch Release to defeat nearby enemies and urged her comrades to fight for their homeland.
• Pakura restored the Sunagakure ninja’s resolve and led them into battle.

Pakura led Sunagakure’s fighters in a successful counterattack, but the Third Raikage tricked Rasa into lowering his defenses and rushed to confront her. Pakura’s desperate Scorch Release nearly burned through his Lightning Release Armor, but he punched through her attack and left her at his mercy.

• Pakura used Scorch Release to lead Sunagakure ninja through the Cloud Village’s outer ranks, restoring their fighting spirit and inflicting heavy casualties.
• The Third Raikage mocked Rasa and praised Pakura, provoking Rasa into using Magnet Release: Gold Dust Boundary Technique.
• Bunpuku warned Rasa that the Third Raikage was baiting him, but the Raikage broke through the defenses and charged toward Pakura.
• Rasa redirected his Gold Dust to attack ordinary Cloud Village ninja while the Third Raikage confronted Pakura.
• Pakura combined her five spheres into one and hurled it at the Third Raikage, but he punched through it after nearly having his Lightning Release Armor burned through.