Chapter Summaries

Naruto sent Jugo and Suigetsu to find Sasuke and warn him that Danzo had left Konoha to seek Kabuto. After the attack on Kumogakure left Killer B captured and Darui gravely injured, Obito and Tobi subdued the Eight-Tails, while Sasuke awakened his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Obito.

• Naruto let Jugo and Suigetsu leave Amegakure and asked them to tell Sasuke that Danzo was seeking Kabuto and should be struck soon.
• Kumogakure shinobi assessed the battle damage and learned that the Raikage was unconscious and badly injured.
• Darui reached Kumogakure's gate, reported that B had fallen into Akatsuki's hands, and collapsed.
• Obito and Tobi subdued the Eight-Tails in Kamui's dimension, bound it with a summoning contract, and confined it in a space-time prison.
• Sasuke emerged with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Obito with an Amaterasu-coated Susanoo sword.

Sasuke challenged Obito and threatened the hideout, but Obito defeated him with the Uchiha Flame Formation and a Tailed Beast Bomb. Obito sealed Sasuke in his time-space dimension and left him there while the Akatsuki sought a new base.

• Obito used Wood Release and Fire Release against Sasuke, who countered with Susanoo, Chidori Stream, and Amaterasu.
• Sasuke summoned Kirin and threatened to destroy the hideout and its White Zetsu, dismissing Obito’s warning about the Red-Haired Woman inside.
• Obito blocked Kirin with the Uchiha Flame Formation and attacked Susanoo with a Tailed Beast Bomb released from his right eye.
• Obito defeated Sasuke, absorbed him into his time-space dimension, and decided to keep him there until the Akatsuki found a new base.

Naruto searched the sea near where Jiraiya died, hoping Kisame could find his body, but the first skeleton they recovered was not Jiraiya’s. After Konan explained how the Rinnegan could reach the Realm of Reincarnation, Naruto made thousands of Shadow Clones to try to enter it through their dreams and find summoning creatures to aid the search.

• Naruto, Konan, and Kisame went to the sea where Jiraiya died, and Kisame fused with Samehada to search underwater.
• Kisame returned with a skeleton that had both arms, and Naruto realized it was not Jiraiya’s body.
• Naruto told Kisame to rest before continuing the search, while Konan apologized for Jiraiya’s death.
• Konan explained that a Rinnegan wielder might reach the Realm of Reincarnation in their sleep, where the Animal Path’s summoning creatures came from.
• Naruto created thousands of Shadow Clones and declared that they would try to enter the Realm of Reincarnation that night.

Naruto and Konan entered the Realm of Reincarnation so Naruto could seek a summoning beast, and Naruto established a contract with one of Nagato’s former chameleons. Konan warned him that far more powerful creatures still inhabited the realm.

• Konan sheltered Naruto and his Shadow Clones from the rain with paper umbrellas while they tried to sleep, and Naruto used Sage Mode meditation to help them fall asleep.
• All of Naruto’s Shadow Clones vanished at once, and Konan used the Paper Curse Technique: Translocation to send her chakra into the Realm of Reincarnation beside him.
• Naruto entered Sage Mode and sensed an invisible chameleon, which Konan identified as one of Nagato’s former summoning beasts.
• Naruto struck the chameleon with Frog Kata, and Konan drove Black Receivers into it to establish a Summoning Contract.
• Konan explained that Naruto could summon the chameleon with the Animal Path, then warned him about stronger creatures in the realm that Nagato had never subdued.

Naruto and Konan searched the Realm of Reincarnation, where Naruto formed contracts with many summons, including Baku and Manda. They ventured into a forbidden area, where Naruto sensed a terrifying evil presence whose Sage Power came from the same source as his.

• Naruto contracted with Crab, then recognized and captured Danzo's summon Baku.
• Naruto sent out Shadow Clones to search for and contract summons, quickly gathering more than a hundred.
• Naruto found Manda, used his Sharingan to subdue him, and ordered him to find the Pervy Sage in exchange for his life.
• Naruto and Konan approached the realm's forbidden zone after Konan told him about the powerful Monkey King and an unknown being that had nearly killed Nagato.
• Naruto sensed an evil, terrifying chakra ahead with Sage Power from the same source as his own.

Naruto and Konan escaped a poison attack, but Konan collapsed with a high fever, so Naruto brought Shizune from Konoha to care for her. As Naruto reflected on life as a rogue ninja, Obito confronted a subdued Sasuke at the Akatsuki hideout.

• Naruto and Konan encountered a sage-powered attacker in the mist, and Naruto used the Realm of Reincarnation to escape the poison arrows with Konan.
• Konan developed a high fever after using her Paper Clones and staying in the rain, and Naruto decided to find a woman to help her.
• Naruto took Shizune from Konoha to Amegakure with Flying Thunder God and asked her to treat Konan.
• Shizune entered Konan's room to care for her while Naruto reflected on his life as a rogue ninja and spoke to Tonton.
• Obito opened a Kamui vortex at the Akatsuki hideout and asked Sasuke whether he had calmed down.

Obito persuaded Sasuke to join the Akatsuki in attacking Konoha, revealing a hundred-thousand-strong White Zetsu army. After Sasuke committed to revenge, Obito tore off Jugo’s arms to remove Naruto’s Flying Thunder God marks, and Sasuke dismissed Naruto’s warning about Danzo.

• Obito explained that Sasuke could not defeat Konoha alone and revealed the Akatsuki’s army of roughly a hundred thousand White Zetsu.
• Obito proposed using an attack on Konoha to draw Naruto into a confrontation, and Sasuke chose revenge and agreed to attack the village.
• White Zetsu reported that Jugo and Suigetsu had arrived, and Obito brought them to the hideout.
• After Suigetsu recounted their time with Naruto, Obito found Flying Thunder God marks on Jugo’s shoulders and tore off his arms before sending them into Kamui.
• Jugo passed on Naruto’s warning that Danzo had gone to Kabuto for help, but Sasuke rejected the advice and said Naruto should worry about his own survival.

Kabuto Yakushi prepared Danzo as a weapon to lure Sasuke into seeking greater power, while Naruto learned the Akatsuki's plans from a captured White Zetsu. Naruto left Shizune with a warning for Tsunade that he intended to kill Danzo and expected her to reclaim the Hokage position.

• Kabuto Yakushi revealed that he had implanted Danzo with First Hokage cells and two hundred Mangekyō Sharingan from Uchiha Shin Clones to make him a devastating opponent for Sasuke.
• Shizune treated Konan, then confronted Naruto about leaving the village, but he refused to explain his reasons and sent her back to Konoha with Tonton.
• Naruto told Shizune to inform Tsunade that he would not let Danzo return to Konoha alive and that Tsunade should prepare to reclaim the Hokage position.
• Naruto used Banshō Ten'in and the Human Path to capture a White Zetsu and read the Akatsuki's plans from its mind.
• Naruto extracted the White Zetsu's soul and vanished into the dawn to prepare countermeasures.

Naruto told Konan that Akatsuki was preparing major moves and began strengthening their intelligence and support efforts. After mourning Killer B in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, he headed for Kumogakure and threatened war if it did not meet his demands.

• Konan woke, changed, and joined Naruto for a meal, where he shared White Zetsu's intelligence about Akatsuki's plans.
• Konan agreed to assemble Amegakure's reserve ninja for an intelligence division, and Naruto summoned amphibious creatures to support Kisame underwater.
• Naruto and Konan used Flying Thunder God to travel to Kumogakure, stopping at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning so Naruto could mourn Killer B.
• Naruto vowed to keep moving forward despite the deaths along his path, then ordered Kumogakure to prepare his demands or face all-out war when Bright Akatsuki arrived at midnight.

The Raikage prepared to confront Naruto Uzumaki over Killer B’s death and the secret technique scroll, despite Dodai’s warnings. At midnight, Naruto and Konan set out from the foot of Heavenly Thunder Mountain.

• The Raikage received a message from Naruto and rejected Dodai’s advice to avoid a fight and hand over the scroll.
• Dodai analyzed Naruto’s gravity-based sealing technique and proposed destroying its Gravity Core with a barrage of long-range ninjutsu.
• The Raikage ordered Dodai to assemble five hundred long-range fighters for a battle that night.
• Naruto and Konan waited at the foot of Heavenly Thunder Mountain until midnight, when Naruto’s Mechanical Clock vanished and he announced they should go.

Naruto and Konan launched an aerial assault on Kumogakure, using bombs and massive summons to overwhelm its defenses. The Raikage headed to confront one of the creatures, the Three-Headed Hellhound.

• Naruto and Konan appeared in Kumogakure, where Naruto spoke to the guards before summoning a Bomb Bird and escaping into the sky.
• Naruto dropped a bomb that exploded among the Kumogakure ninja, beginning the assault.
• Naruto and Konan discussed Deidara’s aerial bombing abilities as Naruto bombed the village from above.
• Naruto scattered marked kunai and used Flying Thunder God to summon enormous creatures throughout Kumogakure.
• The Raikage ordered an all-out defense and rushed to a battle, where he confronted Naruto’s Three-Headed Hellhound.

Naruto’s summoned creatures overwhelmed Kumogakure as the Raikage and the village’s shinobi struggled to fight them. Samui, Omoi, and Karui faced a Chameleon, and a young Kumogakure shinobi confronted Naruto in the sky.

• The Raikage split Naruto’s Three-Headed Hellhound, but it multiplied into three hellhounds and attacked him.
• Kumogakure shinobi failed to injure the Mukade Centipede, which paralyzed them with poisonous mist.
• Samui, Omoi, and Karui reached the battlefield, where the Chameleon caught Samui with its tongue; Omoi and Karui freed her and the Chameleon vanished.
• Naruto watched from atop the Bomb Bird and said he had fulfilled a long-held dream.
• A young Kumogakure shinobi landed on the Bomb Bird and attacked Naruto with Cloud Style: Crescent Moon Slash, which Naruto had been waiting for.

Naruto defeated Buroi without killing him, then negotiated with Dodai and obtained Kumogakure’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode secret scroll. Naruto and Konan returned to Amegakure, the summoned beasts disappeared, and Kumogakure was left to recover from the battle.

• Naruto overpowered Buroi, disarmed his hidden Explosive Tags, and softened his fall so the young Kumogakure ninja survived.
• Dodai trapped the Rhino with Lava Release and reasoned that Naruto was controlling the summoned beasts through shared vision.
• Naruto appeared before Dodai and took the Lightning Release Chakra Mode secret scroll in exchange for ending the attack.
• Dodai refused Naruto’s offer to work for him, and Naruto returned to the Bomb Bird with the scroll.
• Naruto and Konan used Flying Thunder God to return to Amegakure, causing the summoned beasts to vanish as the exhausted Raikage celebrated their defeat.

Naruto studied Lightning Release Chakra Mode and decided to master Purple Electricity by building on his newly acquired Yin Release and training with Shadow Clones. He and Konan went into the rain as nearly a thousand clones began practicing Chidori, setting up another sleepless night.

• Naruto read about Lightning Release Chakra Mode and joked with Konan until she managed a faint smile.
• Naruto told Konan that Kakashi Hatake developed Purple Electricity after losing his Sharingan, and explained that Shisui's Sharingan had given him the Yin Release he needed to learn it.
• Naruto said he would master Lightning Release through Shadow Clone training, while Konan chose to follow him into the rain.
• Naruto summoned nearly a thousand Shadow Clones and had them practice using Chidori without hand seals.

Naruto mastered Purple Electricity and developed a powerful chakra mode while Obito prepared Dark Akatsuki’s future offensive. As Orochimaru returned to Amegakure, Naruto and Konan awaited the next developments.

• Naruto perfected Purple Electricity, destroying ten shadow clones’ Lightning Tiger Massacre and deciding to train in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Obito brought the captive Yamato to the Akatsuki Hideout, learned Naruto sought the Lightning Release Chakra Mode scroll, and discussed Sasuke’s growth and the threat of Naruto’s Bright Akatsuki.
• Obito rejected White Zetsu’s proposal to investigate Amegakure and declared that Dark Akatsuki would launch its full offensive when Konoha’s reconstruction was complete.
• Naruto used shadow clones to master Purple Electricity Chakra Mode, giving him formidable strength even without Kurama’s cooperation.
• Naruto sensed Orochimaru entering Amegakure, and Konan prepared for his arrival.

Naruto established Orochimaru’s laboratory in Amegakure and tried to use Impure World Reincarnation on Itachi, but the jutsu failed, leading him to suspect Kabuto had already revived him. He ordered Orochimaru to make Hidan a new body, used Kotoamatsukami to bring Hidan under his command, and then challenged Konan’s assembled Intelligence Department to attack him together.

• Naruto helped Orochimaru set up a research base and asked him to use Impure World Reincarnation on Itachi, but the jutsu failed.
• Naruto deduced that Kabuto had likely already revived Itachi and postponed dealing with the problem.
• Naruto asked Orochimaru to make a new body for Hidan, and Orochimaru estimated it would take about half a month.
• Naruto used Kotoamatsukami to make Hidan obey him while still allowing him to worship Lord Jashin.
• Konan showed Naruto the Intelligence Department, a force of 108 elite Rain Ninja, and Naruto challenged them to attack him together.

Naruto tested Amegakure’s ninja and selected Liuguang, Setsuna, and Violet to lead its new Anbu squads under the name Pain. On the way back, Konan explained that Violet was Ajisai’s older sister, and that Ajisai had died on an S-rank mission before becoming Pain’s Animal Path.

• Naruto faced the Rain Ninja’s coordinated attacks and defeated them with Purple Electricity and his speed.
• Naruto praised the group’s teamwork, then asked the three Rain Ninja still standing to reveal their names: Liuguang, Setsuna, and Violet.
• Naruto established Amegakure’s new Anbu, divided its 108 ninja into three squads, and appointed Liuguang, Setsuna, and Violet as captains under his command as Pain.
• Konan instructed the three captains to take the injured ninja for treatment and report for their missions after recovering.
• Konan told Naruto that Violet was Ajisai’s older sister and that Ajisai had died during an S-rank mission before becoming Pain’s Animal Path.

Naruto equipped Amegakure’s new shinobi squads with marked kunai and intelligence rosters, then sent them on missions with Orochimaru’s help. Afterward, Naruto decided to strengthen his body in Hell Valley, Kumogakure, to advance his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

• Naruto gave the 108 Amegakure shinobi marked kunai and warned them to treat the rescue signal as a last resort.
• Konan handed out detailed shinobi rosters and privately instructed the squads to flee or take their own lives if they could not escape Obito.
• Orochimaru taught the shinobi how to sense White Zetsu and supplied them with a toxin designed to fight it.
• Naruto ordered the squads to gather intelligence on the major shinobi villages, neighboring forces, and Dark Akatsuki, and to report back regularly.
• Naruto told Konan he would train his body at Hell Valley in Kumogakure to draw out more power from his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Naruto traveled to Hell Valley in the Land of Lightning to train in its extreme conditions and reach its forbidden area. There he encountered the Fourth Raikage, A, who attacked him, and Naruto countered with a Thunderclap Bomb.

• Naruto told Konan about Hell Valley and left a clone to guard Amegakure before traveling alone to the Land of Lightning.
• Naruto slipped past Kumogakure's guards and gradually trained his way deeper into Hell Valley, using shadow clones and lightning chakra to withstand its alternating heat and cold.
• After ten days, Naruto reached the forbidden area, where the Fourth Raikage, A, was training with the Heavenly Thunder Pillar.
• A recognized Naruto and attacked him, but Naruto endured A's Liger Bomb and lifted him for a counterattack.
• Naruto slammed A toward the ground with his Thunderclap Bomb.

Naruto defeated the Raikage in a Nintaijutsu duel after demonstrating his Purple Electricity techniques and other abilities. The Raikage fell, having sworn not to pursue Sasuke if Naruto won.

• Naruto struck the Raikage with Thunderclap Bomb, and the Raikage demanded to know how Naruto had learned his technique.
• Naruto and the Raikage traded attacks, with Naruto using Purple Electricity Shadow Clones and Thunderclap Lotus before the Raikage countered with Liger Bomb.
• Naruto used Shinra Tensei and Flying Thunder God to escape the Raikage's attacks, then agreed to a head-on Nintaijutsu duel in exchange for the Raikage leaving Sasuke alone.
• The Raikage attacked with the One-Finger Nukite, but Naruto dodged and pierced both of the Raikage's shoulders with Thunderclap: Chidori.
• The Raikage's lightning faded, and he collapsed, ending the duel in Naruto's victory.