Chapter Summaries

Temari and Kurotsuchi competed over Luo Mang, who admitted he was dating Kurotsuchi and entertained Temari’s proposal to join them. Their argument subsided when Teacher Qiao suggested sparring with Kurotsuchi while they waited for Sand to return.

• Kurotsuchi told Temari that she and Luo Mang were dating, and Luo Mang confirmed it.
• Temari declared that she liked Luo Mang too and proposed that the three of them be together.
• Temari and Kurotsuchi argued over their relationships with Luo Mang and whether Kurotsuchi was only testing him.
• Teacher Qiao ended the romantic discussion and suggested a spar so she could assess Kurotsuchi’s abilities.

Luo Mang spent fifteen days in Iwagakure as an Exchange Student, where his team trained and completed missions without the conflicts he had expected. On their day off, he wrote in his Diary hoping to trigger a Video, while Tsunade continued waiting for Jiraiya and intelligence from Rock Shadow Village.

• Luo Mang and his teammates completed missions, sparred, and received instruction during his fifteen days in Iwagakure, with Temari and Kurotsuchi keeping their arguments friendly.
• Luo Mang planned to rest on his day off and complained about Naruto Uzumaki’s frequent calls, while deciding to limit Naruto’s phone use later.
• Luo Mang wrote in his Diary that the Exchange Student program felt unimpressive and hoped the entry would trigger a Video.
• Tsunade checked Luo Mang’s Diary but found no useful information, then asked Shizune when Jiraiya would return.
• Shizune told Tsunade that Jiraiya was safe, had gathered intelligence, and was waiting to meet with people from Rock Shadow Village, who were already on their way.

Jiraiya reported Uchiha Itachi’s assessment of Kumogakure’s divided leadership and presented two possible courses of action. As Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed whether to negotiate with the conservatives or destroy the village, an Anbu announced that the Tsuchikage and other Iwagakure members had arrived.

• Tsunade prepared to review intelligence, but Jiraiya returned and explained that he had fallen into a trap while traveling back.
• Jiraiya reported that Kumogakure’s hardliners wanted to find the Fourth Raikage and risk war, while the conservatives favored choosing a new Raikage and making peace.
• Jiraiya said Uchiha Itachi had suggested either supporting the conservatives and eliminating the hardliners or wiping out Kumogakure and dividing control of the region.
• Jiraiya argued that Konoha should destroy Kumogakure to prevent future threats, citing its past attempts to abduct Kushina and Hinata.
• An Anbu arrived and told Tsunade and Jiraiya that members of Iwagakure, including the Tsuchikage, were waiting outside.

Tsunade met with Ōnoki and his advisers to discuss the weakened Cloud Shadow Village and the threat posed by the Six Paths Tools. The meeting ended with the group still debating whether to steal the tools or bargain for them by supporting a Raikage candidate.

• Tsunade restrained her anger when Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura joined the meeting with Ōnoki and his advisers.
• Ōnoki’s strategist assessed Cloud Shadow Village’s weakened forces and noted that the village had not chosen a new Raikage.
• Kitsuchi emphasized the danger of the Six Paths Tools, which Kinkaku and Ginkaku had used to kill the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage.
• Ōnoki proposed stealing the Six Paths Tools through undercover agents, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura suggested buying off a faction.
• A Konoha adviser proposed secretly supporting a Raikage candidate in exchange for the tools, and the attendees continued debating the plan.

Luo Mang watched a specially adjusted video of Otsutsuki Toneri fighting Naruto Uzumaki on the moon. Toneri unleashed the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, which struck Naruto and split the moon in two.

• Luo Mang received a new video featuring Otsutsuki Toneri versus Naruto Uzumaki and decided to watch it.
• Otsutsuki Toneri imprisoned Hinata Hyuga and attacked Naruto Uzumaki with moon rocks controlled by the Tenseigan.
• Naruto Uzumaki damaged Toneri's bird puppet with a tailed beast Rasengan, but Toneri absorbed its energy with black sludge.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Otsutsuki Toneri fought across the moon before preparing their strongest techniques.
• Otsutsuki Toneri unleashed the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, engulfing Naruto Uzumaki and cleaving the moon in two.

Konan, Uchiha Itachi, and Sasuke Uchiha watched a video showing Naruto Uzumaki battling Otsutsuki Toneri on the moon and reacted to the power on display. Sasuke was furious that he had not rescued Hinata Hyuga and kept watching to find out whether he appeared in the video.

• Konan watched the lunar battle and wondered how the Tenseigan and Rinnegan compared, while questioning whether Naruto Uzumaki could become a savior.
• Uchiha Itachi recognized the alien threat, speculated about its connection to the Sage of Six Paths and the alien woman, and took out his papers to organize what he knew.
• Sasuke Uchiha was shocked that Naruto Uzumaki could fight Otsutsuki Toneri and angry that he had not gone to rescue Hinata Hyuga.
• Sasuke Uchiha considered that his absence meant he was dead, lacked feelings, or was weaker than Naruto Uzumaki, and continued watching for his appearance.

Luo Mang questioned the Diary’s projection of a powerless version of himself, then watched Naruto defeat Otsutsuki Toneri on the moon. The video ended with Toneri’s Tenseigan fading, while Luo Mang remained embarrassed by how weak the projection had made him look.

• Luo Mang argued with the Diary after it explained that the video showed what might have happened without its help.
• Naruto Uzumaki continued fighting Otsutsuki Toneri, using shadow clones and Rasengan attacks while refusing to give up on bringing Hinata Hyuga back to Brother Mang.
• Naruto remembered Luo Mang’s plea and blocked Toneri’s golden attack with a small Rasengan before landing a punch that sent Toneri crashing across the moon.
• Otsutsuki Toneri lost his Chakra Cloak, and his Tenseigan began to disappear as the duel ended.
• Luo Mang complained that the video had portrayed him as pathetic and undermined his authority.

After watching a vision of Naruto defeating Otsutsuki Toneri, Konan reconsidered Luo Mang’s strength and decided her village would join the effort to reduce conflict. Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi Hatake reflected on the vision, while Itachi began planning to meet Luo Mang and help Sasuke grow stronger.

• Konan questioned Luo Mang’s apparent weakness, then decided her village would join Tsunade’s effort to reduce fighting and first target Cloud Shadow Village.
• Uchiha Itachi compared Naruto’s strength with his own analysis, finished his notes, and considered meeting Luo Mang to discuss the future.
• Uchiha Itachi planned to revise his approach to Sasuke’s growth, with Luo Mang as a key source of information.
• Kakashi Hatake was astonished by Naruto’s future strength and wondered why Otsutsuki Toneri wanted to abduct Hinata Hyuga.

After escaping his failed ambush with Shimura Danzō, Orochimaru read the Diary of the Flame Immortal and learned about aliens and the power of Otsutsuki Toneri. He decided to seek out Luo Mang, hoping to learn more and possibly cooperate in studying the Ōtsutsuki.

• Orochimaru survived by leaving a little snake behind and retreated to a hidden cave to recover and continue researching Hashirama cells.
• Orochimaru opened the Diary of the Flame Immortal and learned that Luo Mang’s presence in Konoha had helped cause his plan to fail.
• Orochimaru discovered that Luo Mang had come to Rock Shadow Village as an exchange student and decided to meet him.
• Orochimaru watched the replay of Otsutsuki Toneri splitting the moon with the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion and became fascinated by alien powers.
• Orochimaru wondered whether he could take over an alien body and sent a snake to seek out Luo Mang.

Luo Mang turned down Naruto Uzumaki’s request for a video call and went out to look for food. There he ran into Temari, who invited him to eat with her.

• Naruto Uzumaki called Luo Mang and asked to video chat, but Luo Mang refused because he was busy and hungry.
• Naruto Uzumaki complained that Sasuke Uchiha was spending his time with Karin, and Luo Mang teased him before ending the call.
• Luo Mang went out to find something to eat but found the local specialties unappealing.
• Luo Mang met Temari, who had been buying supplies for their team, and she invited him to eat with her.

Luo Mang and Temari carried groceries to her guest room, where they argued over his idea of robbing nobles before turning to dinner. Their private time ended when Kurotsuchi appeared and teased them, prompting Temari and Kurotsuchi to compete over their place in Luo Mang’s affections.

• Temari invited Luo Mang to her guest room to cook noodles, and he helped carry her groceries.
• Luo Mang proposed robbing nobles to support the women around him, but Temari objected that Ninja had to follow their clients’ orders.
• Luo Mang dropped the argument, and Temari cheerfully boasted that her cooking was excellent.
• After helping Temari distribute food to the Sunagakure group, Luo Mang went to her room, where Temari remarked that Kurotsuchi had not appeared.
• Kurotsuchi showed up at Temari’s doorway and teased her and Luo Mang about being alone together.
• Temari clung to Luo Mang and claimed their relationship was natural, while Kurotsuchi called her a little sister.

Luo Mang settled Temari and Kurotsuchi’s argument over who was senior and discussed their upcoming team training mission. The gathering ended with Kurotsuchi screaming after a snake appeared outside the guest-room window.

• Kurotsuchi explained that she had come to discuss how she and Temari would divide things in the future, while hiding the Diary from Luo Mang.
• Temari and Kurotsuchi argued over who had known Luo Mang first, and Luo Mang told them neither ranked above the other.
• Kurotsuchi asked Luo Mang about other planets and future threats, then brought up their team’s planned wilderness training mission.
• Luo Mang sensed a cold gaze and spotted a snake hanging outside the window, frightening Kurotsuchi and drawing Temari from the kitchen.

Luo Mang realized Orochimaru had contacted Temari to ask about him, while hinting that he had been involved in her father’s death. After weighing the danger and Orochimaru’s possible motives, Luo Mang decided to meet him, prepared to escape if necessary.

• Luo Mang recognized Orochimaru’s snake and watched it deliver a saliva-soaked letter to Temari.
• Temari and Kurotsuchi opened the letter, which asked Temari to exchange information about Luo Mang for compensation.
• Luo Mang interpreted Orochimaru’s mention of chatting with Temari’s father as a threat, and Temari wondered whether Orochimaru had killed him.
• Kurotsuchi comforted Temari, who said she had expected something like this and was not sad.
• Luo Mang considered why Orochimaru wanted information about him, then decided to investigate while keeping his pocket world ready for escape.

Luo Mang met Orochimaru at the river in Rock Shadow Village, where Orochimaru revealed an unstable body made with Hashirama cells and asked Luo Mang to find something that could suppress them. The chapter ended with Orochimaru offering to do three things for him in exchange.

• Luo Mang met Orochimaru at the agreed spot by the river, while Temari and Kurotsuchi watched nearby.
• Orochimaru raised a coffin from the ground, prompting Luo Mang, Temari, and Kurotsuchi to prepare for a fight.
• Orochimaru showed them a modified human made with Hashirama cells and explained that the unstable cells could consume chakra and destroy the soul.
• Orochimaru revealed that flowers and plants had grown from the corpse of his first sacrifice, making Kurotsuchi dry-heave.
• Orochimaru asked Luo Mang to find a material that could suppress Hashirama cells and offered to do three things for him in return.

Luo Mang refused to help Orochimaru study the cells he wanted to suppress, but offered a lead on a wounded Ōtsutsuki in exchange for Orochimaru leaving the people around him alone and avoiding innocent test subjects. Orochimaru accepted, and Luo Mang planned to warn Jiraiya and the others that he was alive.

• Orochimaru asked Luo Mang to help him suppress Hashirama's cells, and Luo Mang realized he wanted information about aliens.
• Luo Mang rejected Orochimaru's offer of favors and warned him not to harm the people around him.
• Orochimaru asked for even a lead, and Luo Mang agreed to provide one if Orochimaru kept their agreement and did not experiment on innocent people.
• Luo Mang told Orochimaru that a pilgrim monk in a small village west of the Land of Fire held the answer he sought.
• Luo Mang decided to tell Jiraiya and the others that Orochimaru was alive so they could prepare.

Orochimaru left after reading Luo Mang’s information, while Temari resolved to avenge her father and Kurotsuchi recoiled from learning that the lake and boats had grown from corpses. In Konoha, Jiraiya read Luo Mang’s Diary and learned that Orochimaru was alive and had sought information about aliens, leaving Jiraiya to weigh his anger against his lingering attachment to his former teammate.

• Orochimaru finished reading the Diary, declared his interest in the aliens, and left.
• Temari decided she would kill Orochimaru and avenge her father, while Kurotsuchi retched over the corpse-grown lake and boats.
• Luo Mang and Kurotsuchi left the site for Iwagakure’s people to handle.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade complained about the exhausting meeting and the elders’ squabbling over spoils.
• Jiraiya read Luo Mang’s Diary entries and discovered that Orochimaru was alive, had visited Luo Mang, and had asked him about aliens.
• Jiraiya resented Luo Mang’s suggestion that he had let Orochimaru go, but admitted he still missed their former friendship.

Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed their coming operation against Cloud Shadow Village and whether Uchiha Itachi or Luo Mang could help. Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi traveled toward Rock Shadow Village, intent on asking Luo Mang how to make Sasuke stronger and secure an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Tsunade dismissed the alien threat as a problem for the future and focused on the coming battle and the village's troublesome elders.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya agreed to send the higher-ups into Cloud Shadow Village to remove its leaders and war instigators, and considered recruiting Uchiha Itachi or Luo Mang.
• Jiraiya argued that Luo Mang should remain in the village for its benefit, while Tsunade accused Jiraiya of acting out of personal jealousy.
• Uchiha Itachi raced from Amegakure toward Rock Shadow Village after becoming isolated from Obito Uchiha and losing access to Tobi.
• Uchiha Itachi worried that Sasuke Uchiha had lost his motivation and planned to ask Luo Mang how to help Sasuke grow stronger without sacrificing himself pointlessly.

Uchiha Itachi summoned Luo Mang to discuss Sasuke Uchiha and proposed a lie that would redirect Sasuke’s hatred toward him. They left the details of the plan unresolved as they began their discussion.

• A crow bearing Uchiha Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan delivered a meeting invitation to Luo Mang, who agreed to follow it.
• Uchiha Itachi led Luo Mang to a secluded place outside Iwagakure and said he wanted to discuss Sasuke Uchiha.
• Uchiha Itachi explained that Obito Uchiha had an intelligence network made up of White Zetsu, who could disguise themselves.
• Luo Mang realized Uchiha Itachi wanted to claim that White Zetsu had disguised himself as him and massacred the Uchiha clan.
• Uchiha Itachi said he wanted Sasuke Uchiha to kill him without guilt and take his eyes to protect Konoha.

Luo Mang rejected Uchiha Itachi’s plan to manipulate Sasuke Uchiha, though he agreed not to reveal it and left the brothers to decide their own course. He asked Itachi to protect civilians in Cloud Shadow Village, and Itachi agreed as he prepared to go there.

• Temari received messages indicating that Luo Mang had taken the day off and wondered whether he was sick.
• After hearing Uchiha Itachi’s plan, Luo Mang judged it highly likely to work but objected to deceiving Sasuke for the rest of his life.
• Uchiha Itachi dismissed Sasuke’s judgment, saying he would handle matters himself so his younger brother could live freely.
• Luo Mang promised not to reveal Itachi’s intentions in his Diary and left the choice to the two brothers.
• Luo Mang asked Uchiha Itachi to support efforts to protect civilians and reduce casualties in Cloud Shadow Village.
• Uchiha Itachi agreed and planned to visit Kumogakure, where he intended to work with Jiraiya.

Jiraiya led an alliance of shinobi in a nighttime assault on Cloud Shadow Village, ordering Konan and Pain’s group to lead the attack. Pain’s entry into the village triggered his own ambitions to rule the Shinobi World and end war, and the chapter ended as he began attacking its defenders.

• Jiraiya confirmed the plan to attack Cloud Shadow Village at night, target its leadership, and spare anyone who surrendered.
• Jiraiya assigned Konan and Pain’s group to lead the assault, with the allied forces set to follow once the attack began.
• Konan’s Paper Crane explosions caused panic in Cloud Shadow Village and drew its shinobi into action.
• Nagato watched the chaos and began considering taking control of the major villages to end war.
• Nagato summoned the Six Paths of Pain in the village square, then seized and smashed a Jonin, sending the crowd fleeing.