Ch. 21Nothing but boundless wilderness

Naruto endured Sasuke’s Amaterasu and battled his increasingly powerful Susanoo without using the Rinnegan’s ocular abilities. After Sasuke asked whether Naruto would help him destroy the village, Naruto proposed they switch to fighting with their right hands.

  • Naruto sealed the Amaterasu flames burning his body into a scroll with the Fire Sealing Method: Flame Seal.
  • Sasuke summoned Susanoo, and Naruto struck it with a Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, nearly collapsing its skeletal form.
  • Sasuke’s Susanoo advanced, formed its bow, and fired an arrow that Naruto deflected with a Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
  • Sasuke fired a stronger arrow, and Naruto stopped it with Triple Rashomon.
  • Sasuke asked what Naruto was and whether he would help destroy the village, and Naruto suggested they switch to their right hands.

Ch. 22The torrent suddenly stilled

Naruto confronted Sasuke over his plan to destroy Konoha, then defeated him after Sasuke revealed a powerful new Susanoo form. As the Five Kage and Konoha shinobi arrived, Obito escaped with Sasuke, leaving Naruto to face the Raikage and an anxious Hinata.

  • Naruto told Sasuke he knew the truth about Itachi and would stop him from harming anyone beyond Danzo, provoking Sasuke to unleash the Crow-Tengu Form Susanoo.
  • Sasuke fired a massive Blaze Release arrow, but Naruto shattered it with Shinra Tensei and attacked with hundreds of Shadow Clones using Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
  • Naruto summoned Gamahiro to break Sasuke's Susanoo, then drained Sasuke's chakra with the Preta Path until Sasuke lost consciousness.
  • Obito carried Sasuke away with Karin, while Konan and Orochimaru joined Naruto as the samurai and Five Kage arrived from the south and Konoha shinobi approached from the north.
  • The Raikage demanded to know where Sasuke was, while Naruto focused on Hinata among the arriving Konoha group.

Ch. 23One after another

Hinata reached Naruto as the Raikage attacked him over Sasuke’s whereabouts, but Shikamaru stopped her from interfering. After Naruto and his allies endured the Raikage’s assault, the other Kage declined to join the fight, and Naruto revealed that Killer B was alive but in danger from the Akatsuki.

  • Hinata tried to approach Naruto, but Shikamaru restrained her with the Shadow Imitation Technique.
  • The Raikage charged Naruto, broke his katana, dislocated his shoulder, and struck him with Lightning Release Chakra Mode II; Naruto absorbed the lightning cloak and Konan blasted the Raikage with explosive tags.
  • Naruto stopped the Raikage’s next charge with Shinra Tensei, while Orochimaru and Konan moved to protect him.
  • Mifune, Ōnoki, Mei Terumi, and Gaara declined to intervene, leaving the Raikage to demand that Naruto reveal Sasuke’s location.
  • Naruto told the Raikage that Killer B was alive and that the Akatsuki had targeted him, leaving the Raikage shocked.

Ch. 24Endure and press on

Naruto ended the Raikage’s confrontation and formally broke with Konoha, refusing Sakura’s pleas to return. He then walked toward Hinata, still afraid that her tears might weaken his resolve.

  • The Raikage accepted Naruto’s claim about Sasuke and left after threatening them both, while Ōnoki and Mei discussed seeking Danzo’s impeachment.
  • Naruto asked Mifune for time to speak with the Konoha ninja, and Mifune ordered him to leave the Land of Iron by midnight.
  • Naruto told the Konoha group that Danzo was alive and explained that Sasuke had refused Naruto’s help in killing him.
  • Shikamaru warned Naruto that attacking Danzo meant setting himself against Konoha, and Naruto confirmed that was his choice.
  • Sakura punched Naruto and begged him to return, but he rejected her and said they had to endure and press on.
  • Naruto pushed Sakura away, then walked toward Hinata while fearing that her tears could shake his resolve.

Ch. 25Intertwining convictions

Naruto apologized to Hinata but put her to sleep rather than let her join him, then warned Neji to keep her safe in Konoha. After exchanging messages with Shikamaru about Danzo, Sasuke, and Anko, Naruto left with Konan and Orochimaru to find a place to transplant Shisui's right eye.

  • Naruto comforted Hinata as she asked to stay by his side, but used a jutsu to put her to sleep because he believed traveling with him would be dangerous.
  • Naruto asked Neji to protect Hinata and keep her from leaving Konoha, while vowing to prevent Neji's future tragedy.
  • Shino asked Naruto whether he had killed Muta, and Naruto denied it; Shikamaru warned him that Danzo had turned the village against him and that Anko could prove his innocence.
  • Naruto exchanged a secret message with Shikamaru, warning him about Danzo and explaining that he would let Sasuke pursue his own plan against Danzo.
  • Naruto told Shikamaru not to hold back if they met on a battlefield, then vanished with Flying Thunder God.
  • Naruto rejoined Konan and Orochimaru outside the Land of Iron and proposed finding a place to transplant Shisui's right eye.

Ch. 26Blazing brilliance

Danzo concealed his injuries, tried to secure his Hokage legacy, and secretly left Konoha after receiving a mysterious scroll. Sasuke chose to take Itachi’s eyes to grow stronger, while Naruto gained Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan and set his sights on saving Kisame Hoshigaki.

  • Danzo ordered construction of a Hokage Rock carved in his likeness despite concerns about Konoha’s reconstruction and public sentiment.
  • Terai returned from hunting Kabuto Yakushi, but a white snake emerged from his mouth and killed him; Danzo read the scroll it carried and secretly arranged to leave Konoha, with a double covering his duties.
  • Danzo recalled Aburame Ryoma to serve as his personal guard, then departed Konoha under cover of night.
  • Sasuke woke at the Akatsuki Hideout, learned Naruto had escaped the Land of Iron, and told Obito he wanted Itachi’s eyes transplanted so he could defeat Naruto and Konoha.
  • Naruto recovered from surgery to receive Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan and told Konan he wanted to save and recruit Kisame Hoshigaki.

Ch. 27The long night was not yet over

Kisame defeated Killer B and set out to deliver the Eight-Tails to the Akatsuki. He traveled alone toward a village where Tobi was expected to meet him, while Kumogakure searched for the captured jinchūriki.

  • Kisame defeated Killer B after Samehada's apparent betrayal proved to be part of the plan.
  • White Zetsu told Kisame that Tobi was occupied with Sasuke's decision to transplant Itachi's eyes and directed him to a village a hundred li east.
  • White Zetsu warned Kisame that Kumogakure was searching for the Eight-Tails and might cross his path.
  • Kisame carried the unconscious Killer B on Samehada and set off alone for the village, where his life would be rewritten.

Ch. 28Dawn broke in the east

Kisame fought the Raikage while carrying the unconscious Killer B, trapping the Raikage in a massive water prison and draining his chakra. As the Raikage began to falter, Killer B murmured, “The eighth blade.”

  • Kumogakure's search party found the battlefield and concluded that Kisame had defeated Killer B, so the Raikage led an all-out pursuit.
  • Kisame stopped when the Raikage and Kumogakure forces caught up with him, then chained Killer B to his back and faced the Raikage alone.
  • The Raikage struck Kisame with a powerful Lariat, but Kisame countered with water techniques and trapped him inside a vast water prison.
  • Kisame fused with Samehada and repeatedly attacked the Raikage underwater, absorbing his chakra until the Raikage unleashed Full Release of Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
  • Kisame tried to evade the Raikage and wait for him to weaken, but Killer B murmured, “The eighth blade.”

Ch. 29Past the Point of No Return

Killer B and the Raikage broke free from Kisame's water prison and prepared to finish him with a Double Lariat. Naruto Uzumaki rescued Kisame at the last moment, causing the brothers to collide, and revealed himself to Kisame.

  • Samehada rejected Kisame, returned to Killer B, and gave him the chakra it had absorbed.
  • The freed Raikage and Killer B powered up and charged Kisame with a Double Lariat.
  • Naruto used Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu to pull Kisame underground, making the Raikage and Killer B strike each other instead.
  • The Raikage and Killer B fell unconscious, while Kisame recognized that someone was hiding underground.
  • Naruto emerged from the earth and greeted the stunned Kisame.

Ch. 30Orioles in flight, grass in bloom

Naruto used Kotoamatsukami to recruit Kisame and took him away from the Raikage’s group. After reuniting with Konan and Orochimaru, Naruto said he still needed to visit somewhere before returning to Amegakure.

  • Naruto absorbed Darui’s Storm Release attack and used Kotoamatsukami to make Kisame join him.
  • Naruto subdued Samehada, returned it to Kisame, and escaped with him using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
  • A hidden snake watched Naruto destroy the bloodstained ground and lamented that he had become cautious.
  • The Raikage and Killer B woke to learn that Naruto had taken Kisame, and the Raikage scolded Killer B.
  • Naruto reunited Kisame with Konan and Orochimaru, then said he needed to visit somewhere before returning to Amegakure.

Ch. 31Revisiting Familiar Ground

Naruto secretly returned to Konoha, where he saw the village's hostility toward him and investigated Danzo's return before reuniting with Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame. He recovered Hidan's still-living head, then set off with the group for Amegakure.

  • Naruto used a disguise to eat at Ichiraku and saw Iruka mourning over an untouched bowl of ramen.
  • Naruto found hateful words written on the ruins of his former home, and Konohamaru covered them with paint while defending him.
  • Naruto watched Kakashi and Uzuki Yugao at the cemetery, then reflected on Jiraiya and his plan to find the body before Amado did.
  • Naruto learned Danzo had become the Sixth Hokage, sensed something in the Hokage's tent, and left a Flying Thunder God Mark before teleporting away.
  • Naruto returned to the forest and pulled Hidan's head from a pit with Banshō Ten'in, then sealed it in a box.
  • Naruto told Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame to return with him to Amegakure.

Ch. 32First arrival in Amegakure

Naruto arrived in Amegakure with Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame, intending to make the neglected village his refuge and repay his past debt to it. Konan raised a hidden tower as their new base, and welcomed Naruto to Amegakure.

  • Naruto entered Amegakure with Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame, while villagers watched the outsiders warily and honored Konan as their Lady Angel.
  • Konan explained Amegakure's history and suggested Naruto become village chief after building his reputation; Naruto said taking power immediately would harm her standing.
  • Konan told Naruto that Obito had marked Pain's tower with his space-time dōjutsu, so she abandoned it and raised a reserve tower in the north.
  • Naruto, Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame agreed to rest in the new tower and discuss their plans the next day.
  • Kisame chose a room on the second floor, Orochimaru chose one on the fourth, and Naruto and Konan took rooms on the seventh floor.
  • Naruto chose the middle room, and Konan welcomed him officially to Amegakure.

Ch. 33Bright Akatsuki, rising in the shadows

Naruto tried to reconnect with Kurama, but the Nine-Tails rejected him as someone who was no longer the Naruto he knew. The next morning, Naruto planned the group’s campaign to collect secret techniques and named their organization the Bright Akatsuki.

  • Naruto asked Kurama to open their hearts again, but Kurama angrily rejected him and shut off their chakra pathway.
  • Naruto asked Konan whether she was helping him because of the memories he had shown her, and she said those memories mattered but were not the only reason.
  • Naruto gathered Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame to plan their future and declared that they would collect secret techniques from the major shinobi villages.
  • Orochimaru advised against starting with nearby villages, but Naruto chose to strike Kumogakure first because conflict with it was inevitable.
  • Naruto explained that he wanted Kumogakure’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode and declared that their organization would be called the Bright Akatsuki.

Ch. 34Akatsuki in the shadows, moves in the light

After Kisame defected and Kumogakure reclaimed the Eight-Tails, Obito decided to capture the Eight-Tails himself. Tobi returned and chose to accompany him, concerned that Obito’s anger could make him kill the target.

  • Obito left after Kisame failed to bring Killer B to their meeting place.
  • Sasuke laughed as he felt power surging from Itachi’s transplanted eyes, while Karin trembled nearby.
  • Black and White Zetsu reported that Kisame had joined Naruto and Kumogakure had reclaimed the Eight-Tails.
  • Obito concluded that Naruto held two of the three elements needed to revive the Ten-Tails and vowed to secure the Eight-Tails himself.
  • After Obito left, Tobi returned and said he would accompany him to prevent him from accidentally killing the Eight-Tails.

Ch. 35The journey to Kumogakure

Naruto and his companions set out for Kumogakure to steal the village’s secret Lightning Release technique. In the Land of Iron, they encountered Jugo and Suigetsu and brought them along after Naruto offered to restrain Jugo’s Cursed Seal.

  • Konan gave Naruto the Akatsuki ring bearing the character for zero and fresh soldier pills before joining his group’s journey.
  • Naruto left a shadow clone to guard the Amegakure base and planned to use Flying Thunder God to shorten the trip to Kumogakure.
  • Jugo absorbed a samurai’s life essence to restore his adult form while Suigetsu stood watch in the Land of Iron.
  • Naruto appeared behind Jugo and Suigetsu with Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame, then offered to restrain Jugo’s Cursed Seal until he could find Sasuke.
  • Jugo agreed to join Bright Akatsuki’s operation, and Suigetsu followed as Naruto’s party headed for Kumogakure to steal its Lightning Release Chakra Mode scroll.

Ch. 36Infiltration beneath the clouds

Naruto and his companions infiltrated Kumogakure by triggering its Heavenly Retribution Formation and using diversions to draw the village's shinobi away. Naruto approached the Raikage’s residence in disguise, but Dodai exposed him and ordered the Anbu to attack.

  • Orochimaru explained the Heavenly Retribution Formation’s flaw, and Naruto sent a shadow clone into it to test the barrier before teleporting to the falling Flying Thunder God kunai.
  • Naruto summoned Konan, Orochimaru, Kisame, Suigetsu, and Jugo, then sent the others to create distractions across Kumogakure without killing anyone.
  • The Barrier Team detected the intrusion and dispatched shinobi to the Raikage’s residence, while Naruto transformed into Samui and headed there.
  • Dodai recognized Naruto’s disguise, exposed him as an Akatsuki member, and ordered the Anbu to attack.
  • Kumogakure’s Anbu surrounded Naruto and used Lightning Release: Earth Flow, and Naruto countered with Shinra Tensei.

Ch. 37Light and shadow intertwined

Naruto overwhelmed Kumogakure’s defenders, sealed the Raikage’s residence behind a modified Four Violet Flames Formation, and entered it while his allies fought the village’s elite. After the Raikage returned to the village using the Heavenly Transfer Technique, Obito appeared before Killer B and the remaining ninja.

  • Naruto repelled Kumogakure’s attacks twice with Shinra Tensei, incapacitating the attackers while Dodai protected himself with Rubber Jade.
  • Naruto flew above the Raikage’s residence, created a modified Four Violet Flames Formation, and broke into the building as his allies battled Kumogakure’s elite.
  • The Raikage warned Killer B to remain in the village, then received word that Kumogakure was under attack.
  • The Raikage used Mabui’s Heavenly Transfer Technique to return to Kumogakure, while Killer B and the others prepared to follow.
  • Obito emerged from a black space-time vortex and confronted Killer B, noting that the Raikage was gone.

Ch. 38A cornered beast still fights

Obito attacked the Kumogakure team guarding Killer B, using Kamui to evade their strikes and Wood Release to kill Mabui and overwhelm the others. Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Obito phased through it and began forming the Uchiha Flame Formation.

  • Obito appeared before Darui's team, and Atsui charged him but was pulled into another dimension by Kamui.
  • Obito evaded Darui and the Anbu as he advanced on Killer B, while Darui used Black Panther to paralyze B and warned that Obito became solid when attacking.
  • Darui ordered Mabui to prepare the Heavenly Transfer Technique to send B away, but Obito impaled and killed her with Wood Release.
  • Obito attacked the Kumogakure ninja with Cutting Sprigs, and Darui urged Killer B to run as the team was overwhelmed.
  • Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Obito phased through the blast and began using the Uchiha Flame Formation.

Ch. 39The Earth's Soaring Song

Obito trapped Killer B in the Uchiha Flame Formation, but Killer B’s desperate barrage of Tailed Beast Bombs destroyed the barrier and left him badly injured. Meanwhile, Raikage A burst into his office and found Naruto searching for the Lightning Release Chakra Mode scroll.

  • Obito sealed Killer B inside the Uchiha Flame Formation and withstood his attacks.
  • Killer B unleashed consecutive Tailed Beast Bombs, forcing Obito to escape the barrier before it collapsed in a massive explosion.
  • Obito found the charred Killer B alive, but Killer B’s pencil strike through Obito’s mask failed to stop him.
  • Obito prepared to attack Killer B with Wood Release: Hellish Rampage.
  • Raikage A broke through the barrier around his Residence and found Naruto searching his office for the Lightning Release Chakra Mode scroll.

Ch. 40A successful hunt

Naruto defeated the Raikage with Planetary Devastation, then freed him and returned to Amegakure with his team. Elsewhere, Obito captured Killer B and planned to use the Eight-Tails until he recovered the Rinnegan, with Sasuke as the focus of his next move.

  • Naruto drove the Raikage from his residence, then trapped him in Planetary Devastation after confronting him over Kumogakure’s past actions.
  • Naruto used Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to make an opening in Planetary Devastation, then returned to Amegakure with Konan, Suigetsu, Jugo, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Orochimaru.
  • The Raikage escaped the stone sphere and vowed to make Naruto his and Kumogakure’s number one enemy.
  • Obito captured the defeated Killer B with Kamui and told Tobi that the hunt for the Eight-Tails was complete.
  • Obito decided to extract the Eight-Tails and use it as a summoning beast until he recovered the Rinnegan, then returned with Tobi to focus their next move on Sasuke.
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