Recaps

Uchiha Tajima used the Gunbai to test Sasuke Uchiha in battle, subtly teaching him to refine his combat fundamentals. Sasuke adapted to Tajima’s guidance and ultimately killed him, leaving Tajima pleased with the young Uchiha’s potential.

• Uchiha Tajima took up the Gunbai and revealed the graceful, precise fighting style that had made him a feared clan head.
• Tajima deflected Sasuke Uchiha’s attacks while exposing flaws in Sasuke’s timing, balance, and transitions between techniques.
• Sasuke recognized that Tajima was guiding him and began adjusting his movements instead of relying on sheer force.
• As Sasuke’s attacks grew more fluid, he drove his sword into Tajima’s chest and defeated him.
• Tajima praised Sasuke as a genius worthy of the Uchiha Clan and felt glad that Sasuke was still young.

Hashirama and Madara fought at full power in a devastated wasteland, but paused to discuss Naruto’s strength and hopes for peace. Hashirama’s faith in Naruto’s path enraged Madara, who confronted him about refusing their old plan to unite the Shinobi World by force.

• Hashirama summoned Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, and Madara reinforced his Perfect Susanoo with Wood Release: Heavenly Armor.
• Madara said the current era’s ninja were weaker than those of the Warring States Period, but praised Naruto Uzumaki as a powerful successor worthy of being Hokage.
• Hashirama declared that Naruto would end turmoil in the Shinobi World and lead it to true peace.
• Madara’s anger flared as he asked Hashirama why he had not agreed to unite the Shinobi World by force when Madara had proposed it before.

Madara accused Hashirama of excluding him from the first Five Kage Summit and rejecting his plan to unite the Shinobi World by force. Their argument gave way to an all-out clash between Madara’s wood-armored Susanoo and Hashirama’s True Several Thousand Hands, leaving their final battle raging across the devastated Pure Land.

• Madara accused Hashirama of shutting him out of the summit and refusing to pursue peace through military conquest.
• Hashirama remained silent, reaffirming his unchanged stance as the two prepared to fight in earnest.
• Madara sent ten wood dragons and a crossing sword strike against Hashirama’s Wood Buddha.
• Hashirama countered with hundreds of wooden hands and dragon heads, revealing he had secretly prepared his ultimate technique.
• The fighters unleashed their full power under the shogi rules, tearing open the Pure Land sky and carving a vast crater into the battlefield.

Asura fought Kaguya in the Pure Land while Naruto and Hagoromo played Go. Hagoromo restored the chakra and consciousness Asura had left in Naruto, empowering Asura to face Kaguya more seriously.

• Asura battled Kaguya with powerful attacks and defensive techniques, but her abilities kept him under pressure.
• Asura praised Kaguya's strength and acknowledged that neither of them was fighting at full power.
• Hagoromo sensed the situation while playing Go with Naruto and tossed a white stone toward Asura's battlefield.
• The white stone removed Asura's chakra and consciousness from Naruto and returned them to Asura, leaving Naruto feeling the connection break.
• Asura's power surged beyond his former peak, and he told Kaguya he would fight more seriously.

Naruto and the Sage of Six Paths encountered the Land of Snow film director, whose soul had wandered into the Life-and-Death Shogi and was filming the distant battles. After learning the Sage had protected him, Naruto returned to the game with renewed resolve.

• The director shouted excitedly as he filmed Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha battling in the distance.
• Naruto recognized the director from the Land of Snow mission and wondered how an ordinary man had entered the Shogi's domain.
• The Sage of Six Paths explained that the director had died and his soul had accidentally resonated with the Shogi's rules, making him an unexpected observer.
• The Sage revealed that he had shielded the director from the battles' shock waves.
• Naruto reflected on the director's devotion to filmmaking, then turned back to the board and clenched his fists with firmer resolve.

Indra switched places with Asura to face Kaguya, while Asura confronted Taichi, Orochimaru’s artificial human created from Naruto and Uchiha Hikari’s cells. As Naruto learned Taichi’s name and Orochimaru watched the battle from another front, the Sage of Six Paths was left unsettled by Naruto’s smile.

• Indra grabbed Asura and switched positions with him as Uchiha Hikari and a blond, crimson-eyed young man pursued them.
• Asura used Wood Release to block the newcomers, and the young man countered with Wood Release of his own.
• Indra took Asura’s place facing Kaguya, while Asura recognized the young man as Taichi, one of Orochimaru’s experiments.
• Orochimaru observed Taichi’s battle while fighting the First Kage alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade on another battlefield.
• Naruto learned Taichi’s name and smiled, leaving the Sage of Six Paths puzzled and uneasy.

Hatake Sakumo rescued a Konoha chunin who had once condemned him for abandoning a mission to save that same man, stirring painful memories of betrayal and the collapse of his faith in the Will of Fire. He pushed those feelings aside to search for the Third Kazekage, while the chunin watched him in silence.

• Hatake Sakumo saved a Konoha chunin from enemy attackers and recognized him as the comrade who had blamed him for choosing rescue over a mission.
• Sakumo recalled how rumors, his comrade’s accusation, and the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi’s silence had destroyed his reputation and shaken his faith in the Will of Fire.
• Sakumo warned the chunin not to get distracted on the battlefield, repeating advice he had once taught him.
• Sakumo searched the canyon for the hidden Third Kazekage, who used Magnet Release: Iron Sand and the terrain to avoid close combat and prepare a surprise attack.
• Sakumo steadied himself and raised his blade to hunt the Third Kazekage as the chunin watched, burdened by guilt and remorse.

Sasori confronted Hatake Sakumo in the canyon and summoned a human puppet made from the Third Kazekage, then challenged Sakumo over the killing of his parents. Sakumo accepted the duel despite the ongoing battle around them.

• Sasori appeared behind Sakumo and revealed that he still wanted to fight him.
• Sasori released a human puppet made from the Third Kazekage's body, which retained its kekkei genkai.
• Sakumo refused to fight at first, saying they should focus on the enemy forces and support their comrades.
• Sasori told Sakumo that he had killed Sasori's parents and named this as his reason for challenging him.
• Sakumo accepted Sasori's challenge, and both formally asked the other for instruction.
• The chapter revealed that Sasori had already defeated the Third Kazekage by countering his iron sand.

Hatake Sakumo faced Sasori of the Red Sands and used his knowledge of Sasori’s human-puppet body to plan a precise, nonlethal strike. Sasori launched a tailored storm of iron sand and poisoned weapons, but Sakumo fought through it, leaving their battle poised to escalate.

• Hatake Sakumo reviewed intelligence that Sasori’s Core of Regeneration in his chest was his true body and resolved to incapacitate him rather than kill a fellow Konoha ninja.
• Sasori revealed that he had studied Sakumo’s battles and habits, then attacked with Iron Sand Drizzle and concealed poisoned weapons designed to limit Sakumo’s movements.
• Sakumo charged into the metal and poison storm, weaving through its gaps and deflecting the attacks with his chakra-coated blade.
• Sakumo survived Sasori’s first counter to his intelligence, but recognized that Sasori’s more dangerous preparations were still ahead.

Hatake Sakumo defeated Sasori by seeing through his decoy body and capturing his true Core of Regeneration. With Sasori’s puppets disabled, Sakumo survived the battle and put away the core.

• Sakumo severed the Third Kazekage Puppet’s chakra threads and struck off Sasori’s head with Crescent Moon.
• Sasori revealed that his real body was inside the Third Kazekage Puppet and trapped Sakumo with chains and iron sand.
• Sakumo explained that the displayed Core of Regeneration was a decoy and revealed that his Lightning Clone had hidden underground.
• Sakumo’s Lightning Clone retrieved Sasori’s true Core of Regeneration from the severed head.
• The Lightning Clone cut off the core’s chakra supply, causing Sasori’s puppets to collapse and freeing Sakumo.
• Sakumo took the true core and said he would not risk dying before becoming a grandfather.

Hanzō struggled against Konan while Nagato attacked Obito, who was unable to use Kamui safely. Obito realized Nagato had joined Naruto’s side and accused him of betraying their alliance and the Eye of the Moon Plan.

• Hanzō found Konan’s Paper Release powerful enough to challenge his poisonous mist, Water Release, and Chain Scythe.
• Nagato unleashed Asura Path cannon blasts against Obito, who dodged rather than risk using Kamui.
• Nagato launched tracking Chakra Missiles with Strange Arm Rocket, forcing Obito to rely on movement and terrain to escape.
• Obito realized Nagato had survived and joined Naruto’s camp, then accused him of betraying their dream and their alliance.

Nagato overwhelmed Obito, who could not risk using Kamui and struggled to find a way out. After rejecting Obito’s claim of betrayal and repelling his final attack with Shinra Tensei, Nagato prepared to finish the fight.

• Obito recognized that Nagato was holding back and that, without Kamui, he was badly outmatched.
• Obito considered several escape plans but found none viable as Nagato’s attacks continued to trap him.
• Nagato told Obito that they had merely used each other, rejecting the idea that their relationship had been built on shared ideals.
• Enraged, Obito charged Nagato with Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance, but Nagato swept the firestorm aside with Shinra Tensei.
• Nagato’s repulsion hurled Obito into a rock wall, and Nagato declared that it was time to end the game as his cannons charged another attack.

Hanzō used chakra-infused cursed rain to weaken Konan’s Paper Release, but Nagato seized control of the rain and turned it against him. With her strength restored, Konan launched a renewed attack while Nagato returned his attention to Obito.

• Hanzō identified that chakra-infused water weakened Konan’s paper and summoned torrential Cursed Rain to suppress her.
• The rain disrupted Konan’s paper and chakra, and Hanzō prepared to finish her off.
• Nagato formed two additional arms and overwrote Hanzō’s control of the rain with his Rain Tiger at Will Technique.
• Nagato dismissed Hanzō and turned back to Obito, while Konan’s pressure eased and her chakra recovered.
• Konan sent a storm of paper surging toward Hanzō as he reeled from losing control of his technique.

Might Guy remembered Naruto’s determination to become Hokage and resolved to protect him and their comrades by unleashing the Eight Gates. Guy and Might Duy opened the Gate of Death together, their crimson chakra blazing across the Life-and-Death Shogi battlefield.

• Might Guy and Might Duy defeated a wave of attackers while Guy watched their comrades struggle across the battlefield.
• Might Duy praised Guy, prompting Guy to remember Naruto’s childhood promise to follow his dream and protect the people he cherished.
• Might Guy wept with pride over Naruto becoming Hokage, then vowed to fight so he could open a path for his student.
• Might Duy reminded Guy that the Eight Gates Released Formation was meant to protect the people most important to them.
• Might Guy and Might Duy opened the Gate of Death, unleashing immense crimson chakra across the battlefield.

Might Guy and Duy unleashed the Eighth Gate’s power, devastating the Pure Land Ninja and breaking Madara Uchiha’s Susanoo before Guy sent him crashing into a mountainside. Madara acknowledged Guy as the strongest in taijutsu, while Guy rushed toward Asura’s battle with Uchiha Hikari.

• Guy and Duy used Evening Elephant: Fifth Step to crush the Pure Land Ninja in their path.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake witnessed their power as Guy used Daytime Tiger to destroy Madara Uchiha’s Wood Dragon.
• Guy punched through Madara’s Wood-Armor Susanoo and broke his chakra Gunbai with a kick, sending Madara crashing into a mountainside.
• Guy continued toward Asura, who was fighting Uchiha Hikari, without stopping to check on Madara.
• Madara recovered and declared that he acknowledged Guy as the strongest in taijutsu.

Might Guy and Might Duy raced through the Pure Land with the Eighth Gate open, combining their strength for Guy’s ultimate strike against Asura. As Naruto watched, the Sage of Six Paths called Guy a taijutsu genius and suggested Naruto might one day surpass the limits Guy was reaching.

• Guy recalled how Duy taught him that youth never ended as long as it kept moving forward, and that his father’s youth would live on through him.
• Guy remembered enduring thousands of laps and training to earn the right to challenge Kakashi through effort rather than talent.
• As Guy and Duy flew toward Asura, Duy deliberately fell behind to channel his power into Guy and become the tail of a crimson dragon.
• Naruto recognized that Guy and Duy had opened the Gate of Death, while the Sage of Six Paths praised Guy and said only he and Naruto could withstand the coming kick.
• Naruto said he could not withstand Night Guy and had not yet reached humanity’s limit, and the Sage replied that he meant the Naruto of the future.
• The crimson dragon reached Asura as Guy and Duy prepared to unleash Night Guy.

Might Guy and Might Duy unleashed Night Guy against Indra and Asura, with Indra shielding his brother as Konoha's support cleared the Truth-Seeking Orb defenses. Both attacks devastated the brothers, while Guy and Duy died after burning through their lives; Indra and Asura disappeared from the battlefield, gravely wounded.

• Indra broke away from his fight with Kaguya Otsutsuki to shield Asura with his Perfect Susanoo, and Asura reinforced it with Wood Release armor, shields, and Truth-Seeking Orbs.
• Minato Namikaze and Tobirama used Flying Thunder God to remove the Truth-Seeking Orb shields from Guy's path.
• Might Guy and Might Duy joined their wills and unleashed Night Guy, smashing through the brothers' defenses.
• Guy's attack severely injured Indra and Asura, and Duy followed with a second Night Guy that struck them as they lay wounded.
• Might Guy and Might Duy died from burning away their lives, while Indra and Asura exchanged weak jabs before disappearing from the battlefield.

Beyond the Six Paths Life-and-Death Shogi, Yuyun questioned Naruto about Guy and Dai sacrificing their lives for one brilliant strike, and Naruto explained that each person chose their own way to live. Naruto also told Yuyun that he and his beloveds would remain together in life and death, while their children would find their own happiness.

• Yuyun watched the battlefield and wondered whether humans could reach the power Guy and Dai had displayed.
• Yuyun asked Naruto whether sacrificing an entire lifetime for one strike was worthwhile, comparing their brief glory to a cicada's song.
• Naruto told Yuyun that people valued life differently and that Guy and Dai had chosen to burn through their youth to protect those they loved.
• Yuyun asked whether Naruto and Kaguya's immortality meant they could live forever, and Naruto said he might leave the Shinobi World with his beloveds or seek a successor.
• Naruto told Yuyun that he and his beloveds had agreed not to resurrect one another, choosing to stay together in life and death.
• When Yuyun asked what would happen to him and his siblings, Naruto said they would find their own happiness, and Yuyun laughed.

Rock Lee mourned Might Guy and Might Duy after their sacrifice, while Genma comforted him and urged him to carry on their will. Elsewhere, Hashirama used a sealing jutsu to put Madara to sleep as the battle continued on other fronts.

• Rock Lee grieved as Guy and Duy's bodies dissolved into light, and Genma comforted him about his progress and the legacy of youth.
• Genma urged Lee to dry his tears and continue fighting, and Lee addressed him as Senior.
• With Asura and Indra out of the battle, Kaguya and Uchiha Hikari turned their attention to Hamura, who was already struggling against Otohime.
• Hashirama apologized to Madara for the battle's course, and Madara said he had enjoyed fighting at his peak and regretted missing a proper fight with Guy.
• Hashirama used Wood Release: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands to lull Madara to sleep, and Madara accepted without resisting.

As the Pure Land forces faltered, the Sage of Six Paths used the Heavenly Evolution Technique to probe Naruto Uzumaki’s memories and future, but Adult Naruto blocked his view. The Sage’s failure gave Naruto an opening to attack, though the Sage calmly deflected the strike and acknowledged him.

• Might Guy and Might Duy’s attacks, Hashirama Senju’s sealing of Madara Uchiha, and the combined efforts against Hamura Otsutsuki left the Pure Land forces close to defeat.
• The Sage of Six Paths rose and used the Heavenly Evolution Technique to probe Naruto’s memories and glimpse his future.
• Adult Naruto cut off the Sage’s access to Naruto’s future beyond age fourteen, causing the Sage’s vision to blur and fail.
• Naruto seized the Sage’s momentary distraction and thrust a Yin-Yang Release chakra rod at his head.
• The Sage of Six Paths intercepted Naruto’s attack with his staff and called him interesting.

The Great Toad Sage revealed that Mount Myōboku had sided with the Pure Land, while the Slug Sage chose neutrality, leaving Ryūchi Cave’s position uncertain. Orochimaru pressured Manda to remain in the battle by warning him that Naruto might punish him for deserting.

• The Great Toad Sage appeared before Jiraiya, and Gamabunta threw Jiraiya aside before taking up a guard’s position behind the sage and declaring Mount Myōboku’s loyalty to him.
• Katsuyu told Tsunade that the Slug Sage had chosen neutrality, withdrew her combat support, and threw Tsunade toward Manda as a final act of assistance.
• Manda demanded five hundred living sacrifices from Orochimaru in exchange for defying the White Snake Sage and fighting beside him.
• Orochimaru warned Manda that Garaga could oppose him if he acted without the White Snake Sage’s orders, and Manda began preparing to leave.
• Orochimaru warned Manda that Naruto might remember his desertion and retaliate, leaving Manda silent and conflicted.

Orochimaru replaced Manda with the secretly engineered Second Manda after Manda hesitated over whether to remain loyal. Tsunade narrowly avoided being swallowed, and the three Sannin resumed arguing while Jiraiya reminded them they still faced an enemy.

• Orochimaru silenced Jiraiya and decided Manda's hesitation showed that he still intended to exploit their crisis.
• Orochimaru used Jiraiya's hand to perform the Summoning Technique, and Second Manda swallowed Manda whole.
• Second Manda declared that he had taken Manda's name and position, while Orochimaru said Manda had failed the chance he had been given.
• Tsunade jumped onto Second Manda's head and angrily confronted Orochimaru for summoning him without warning her.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade traded barbs about gambling and human experiments until Jiraiya urged them to focus on their enemy.

Naruto revealed Six Paths Sage Mode and spoke with Kurama, who offered his full support as a companion. After the Sage of Six Paths caught Naruto distracted and tapped his shoulder with his staff, Naruto refocused and prepared to fight in earnest.

• Naruto revealed Six Paths Sage Mode as he faced the Sage of Six Paths.
• Kurama complained that Naruto had not used his power, and Naruto explained that he did not want to force Kurama to fight the Sage of Six Paths.
• Kurama promised to give Naruto all his power whenever he needed it.
• The Sage of Six Paths noticed Naruto's distraction and tapped his shoulder with his staff, interrupting Naruto's conversation with Kurama.
• Naruto acknowledged his mistake, focused on the Sage of Six Paths, and declared that he would go all out.

Naruto used the Tenseigan’s power, transferred from Hinata Shin and integrated with his Six Paths Power, to force the Sage of Six Paths back. The Sage answered by summoning his Amenonuhoko and enormous Perfect Susanoo, and Naruto prepared to face him at full strength.

• Naruto attacked the Sage of Six Paths with the Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, forcing him to retreat.
• The Sage of Six Paths questioned how Naruto had gained the Tenseigan’s abilities.
• Naruto had used Orochimaru’s research and Amenotajikara to transfer the Tenseigan from Hinata Shin and integrate it into himself.
• The Sage of Six Paths transformed his Truth-Seeking Orb Staff into the Amenonuhoko and summoned his enormous Perfect Susanoo.
• Naruto declared that he would use his Ninja Way and everyone’s future to challenge the Sage of Six Paths.

Naruto Uzumaki summoned the Eight-Armed Asura and combined the Power of Connection with a Chakra Fruit to challenge the Sage of Six Paths. The Sage prepared to meet Naruto’s eight-weapon assault head-on.

• Naruto created the Eight-Armed Asura, a colossal Wood Release construct armed with eight weapons, to face the Sage’s blue Perfect Susanoo.
• Naruto used the Power of Connection to draw chakra and strength from Konoha’s allies, including Hashirama Senju, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Hikari.
• Naruto swallowed the Chakra Fruit refined from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, greatly increasing his power and strengthening the Eight-Armed Asura.
• Naruto sent the Asura’s eight weapons crashing toward the Sage’s Susanoo, and the Sage raised Amenonuhoko to meet the attack.