Recaps

Zhou Cheng disqualified the Daimyo’s late-arriving son, Yamada Masaaki, before learning that the apparent spoiled brat was acting on his father’s orders. Yamada warned Zhou Cheng of a plot involving Ōnoki and formed an alliance with him to overthrow the Daimyo, leaving them to prepare for the scheme.

• Zhou Cheng ordered the group to depart and declared that anyone who missed the deadline or failed to reach the next watchtower by sunset would be disqualified.
• Zhou Cheng rejected Shikamaru’s warning about the latecomer’s noble status and disqualified the Daimyo’s son in front of the group.
• Yamada Masaaki revealed his combat training and told Zhou Cheng that his father was plotting against him with Ōnoki.
• Yamada asked Zhou Cheng to help overthrow the Daimyo, and Zhou Cheng proposed abolishing the Daimyo position.
• Yamada agreed to the plan on the condition that he first become Daimyo and later become Zhou Cheng’s disciple, then began sharing what he knew.

Zhou Cheng learned that the Daimyo had allied with the Land of Earth against him and ordered Yamada Masaaki to deal with witnesses before leading the young shinobi toward Iwagakure. As Zhou Cheng planned to train a new generation of Konoha elites, Yamada secretly prepared an international plot against him while scheming to seize the Daimyo's position.

• Zhou Cheng learned that Yamada Masaaki had revealed the Daimyo's plans and ordered him to eliminate anyone who could expose what had happened.
• Zhou Cheng forced the shinobi traveling to the Chunin Ninja Exams to march at speed and make camp independently, and he noted Hanabi's talent.
• Zhou Cheng decided to develop a second squad of young elites to succeed the Konoha 15 and strengthen Konoha at every level.
• A black-clad man told Yamada Masaaki that Iwagakure was ready and that Kumogakure and Kirigakure had been asked to help kill Zhou Cheng.
• Yamada Masaaki declared that he would claim the Daimyo's position after killing his father and brothers, then become Zhou Cheng's disciple to protect himself.

Zhou Cheng pushed the group through forced marches toward Iwagakure, dismissing clan heirs who refused to keep up before revealing that the marches had improved everyone’s stamina and Chakra Reserves. The group reached Iwagakure ahead of the other villages and settled in to rest before the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Zhou Cheng praised Hanabi Hyuga for enduring the first forced march and promised to teach her a powerful Ninjutsu if she kept it up.
• When several clan children refused the next march, Zhou Cheng crossed their names off the exam roster and ordered them back to Konoha, but they later chased after the group.
• After three days of forced marches, the group reached the Land of Fire’s final Watchtower, and Zhou Cheng explained that the travel had trained their Chakra Reserves and stamina.
• At the border, Zhou Cheng greeted Kitsuchi, learned that the other villages would arrive in a few days, and led the group toward Iwagakure.
• After two more days, Zhou Cheng and the group arrived outside Iwagakure, where he told them to set up camp, rest, and avoid trouble until the exams.

Zhou Cheng watched Hanabi defeat an Iwagakure Genin who had challenged the Konoha team, then received an invitation from Ōnoki to visit the Tsuchikage Building. He left Hinata in charge of keeping the Genin under control and headed there with Kitsuchi, wondering if the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki would be present.

• Hinata told Zhou Cheng that Iwa Ninja had come to challenge Konoha's Genin, and he ordered the team to avoid fighting before the exams.
• Zhou Cheng found Hanabi fighting an Iwagakure Genin, and he let the match continue after stopping Hinata from intervening.
• Hanabi activated her Byakugan and defeated her opponent, then admitted she had fought because the Iwa Ninja insulted Zhou Cheng.
• Zhou Cheng let Hanabi off with a warning, and later the Iwagakure Ninja taunted Konoha again without anyone accepting their challenges.
• Kitsuchi invited Zhou Cheng to meet Ōnoki, and Zhou Cheng instructed Hinata to keep the Genin in line before leaving for the Tsuchikage Building.

Zhou Cheng confronted Ōnoki at Iwagakure and demonstrated that his chakra power could overwhelm the Tsuchikage and the gathered shinobi. In Ōnoki’s office, Zhou Cheng warned Iwagakure that the Akatsuki planned to capture all nine tailed beasts and had numerous Kage-level members.

• Zhou Cheng arrived at the Tsuchikage Building and provoked Ōnoki into coming outside.
• Ōnoki tried to make Zhou Cheng sit, but Zhou Cheng formed a chair from water with chakra and no hand seals.
• Zhou Cheng used Byakugan, Pressure to force Ōnoki and the surrounding Iwagakure shinobi to their knees, then agreed to speak inside.
• Ōnoki asked whether the Akatsuki intended to capture the tailed beasts, and Zhou Cheng confirmed they sought all nine.
• Zhou Cheng told Ōnoki and Iwagakure’s senior figures that the Akatsuki had ten Kage-level core members, with two already gone, and warned them not to underestimate the group.

Zhou Cheng left Ōnoki after learning Iwagakure’s jinchūriki were absent, while Ōnoki resolved to kill him during the chunin exams in exchange for Kara’s promise of eternal youth. Back in Konoha’s quarters, Zhou Cheng ordered his shinobi to defeat Iwagakure’s challengers, then launch challenges of their own; Konoha won every match, with Konohamaru crushing Iwagakure’s genin prodigies.

• Zhou Cheng refused Ōnoki’s offer of tea and vanished with his space-time ninjutsu.
• Ōnoki told his subordinates to target Zhou Cheng during the chunin exams, then recalled Kara’s offer to make him young again.
• Zhou Cheng ordered the Konoha 15 to accept Iwagakure’s challenges only when victory was assured, then challenge Iwagakure once the initial wave subsided.
• Iwagakure’s ninja challenged Konoha in droves, but Konoha won every match and eventually began challenging Iwagakure in turn.
• Konohamaru defeated Iwagakure’s genin prodigies and declared that Zhou Cheng was his teacher.

Zhou Cheng rescued Hanabi from an Iwagakure ambush during the Chunin Exams and accused Ōnoki of plotting to kill him. As Ōnoki launched a battle against Konoha, Zhou Cheng ordered his allies to unleash their full power in the forest.

• Fifteen Konoha Chunin defeated their Iwagakure opponents, and the assembled villages learned they had trained under Zhou Cheng.
• During the Forest of Death trial, Zhou Cheng sensed Hanabi was surrounded by sixteen Iwagakure Genin, including four Chunin, and rushed to save her.
• Zhou Cheng healed Hanabi, then confronted Ōnoki and accused him of arranging the ambush to create an excuse to kill him.
• Zhou Cheng activated Wind God Mode and ordered the Konoha Shinobi to gather around him as the Konoha 15 attacked in Chakra Cloaks.
• Ōnoki declared that he would destroy Zhou Cheng and Konoha, then sent Jonin into the woods while Zhou Cheng sensed more forces in reserve.
• Zhou Cheng ordered Kimimaro, Haku, and Sasuke to fight, and their powers devastated the forest as he challenged Ōnoki to account for them.

Zhou Cheng exposed the Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s plot and fought off Ōnoki and the hired ninja sent to kill him. He unleashed a Sage Art: Samadhi Rasenshuriken that stopped Ōnoki’s Dust Release and left the assembled shinobi stunned by his power.

• Zhou Cheng revealed that he sensed the Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s men beneath the Tsuchikage Building, and sixteen hired wandering Jonin emerged.
• Zhou Cheng combined Mount Myōboku’s senjutsu chakra with his Wind Release Chakra Mode and killed three wandering ninja with a single punch.
• Ōnoki attacked Zhou Cheng with Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, while Zhou Cheng answered with Sage Art: Samadhi Rasenshuriken.
• The clash caused a huge explosion that killed more Iwagakure Jonin, but Zhou Cheng protected the Konoha Genin behind his Chakra Shield.
• The Konoha Genin cheered as Ōnoki and the watching shinobi realized Zhou Cheng’s strength far exceeded their expectations.

Zhou Cheng battled Ōnoki in Iwagakure, unveiling powerful Earth and Yang Release Rasengan techniques that overwhelmed the Tsuchikage. Ōnoki was left badly injured while Zhou Cheng stood unharmed, as Akatsuki and the Raikage’s forces prepared to enter the conflict.

• Obito and Pain discussed a plan to attack Zhou Cheng alongside Ōnoki, the Raikage, and the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, then Pain summoned all Six Paths.
• An old Kara agent finished stealing Iwagakure’s research data on Dust Release clones and prepared to return to the Land of Valleys.
• Zhou Cheng unleashed an amplified Majestic Destroyer Flame, burning Iwagakure’s remaining forest and killing many of its ninja.
• Ōnoki ordered the other ninja to retreat and launched an all-out Dust Release attack against Zhou Cheng.
• Zhou Cheng countered with Earth Style: Saturn and the Golden Radiance Rasengan, creating a massive explosion that destroyed the forest and left Ōnoki badly injured while Zhou Cheng remained unharmed.

Zhou Cheng faced a coordinated attack from Ōnoki, Raikage A, and Killer B, then discovered Obito, Deva Path Pain, and Han had joined the battlefield. When the Konoha 15 refused to abandon him, he used Flying Thunder God to send them away so he could fight without worrying about them.

• Zhou Cheng gave Konohamaru, Hanabi, and the other genin single-use Flying Thunder God Kunai that could teleport them back to Konoha, then continued toward Ōnoki.
• Raikage A and Killer B ambushed Zhou Cheng alongside Ōnoki, but Zhou Cheng opened the Eighth Gate and stopped their attacks with his overwhelming chakra.
• Obito, Deva Path Pain, and Han arrived, while Ōnoki revealed that Roshi had refused to come.
• The Konoha 15 refused Zhou Cheng's order to leave and prepared to fight beside him.
• Zhou Cheng thanked the Konoha 15 for their loyalty and used Flying Thunder God to teleport them away.

Zhou Cheng fought the allied forces at Iwagakure, using Raikage A and Killer B’s attacks to devastate the village before confronting Pain and Obito. He ended the chapter by splitting Iwagakure with a Susanoo slash and declaring that the Shinobi World would learn the cost of crossing him.

• Zhou Cheng teleported the Konoha 15 back to Konoha, then activated Azure Dragon Mode and trapped Raikage A inside a mountain that he blew apart.
• Killer B transformed into Gyuki and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at Zhou Cheng, who dodged and redirected the blast into Iwagakure, destroying a third of the village.
• Killer B fired another Tailed Beast Bomb into Iwagakure, reducing half of it to ruins before Raikage A emerged alive but badly injured.
• Raikage A urged Ōnoki to attack together, and Pain assembled the Six Paths to fight Zhou Cheng.
• Zhou Cheng identified Pain as a corpse controlled like a puppet and accused Obito of turning to darkness after a comrade died.
• Zhou Cheng summoned a senjutsu-infused Susanoo and split Iwagakure in half with a slash, then vowed to show the Shinobi World what happened when people crossed him.

Zhou Cheng confronted the Six Paths of Pain and summoned powerful beasts from all Three Great Sage Lands to fight the Animal Path's summons. After targeting the Animal Path, he petrified the Preta Path with senjutsu chakra but struggled against the Six Paths' shared vision, leaving him preparing another attack.

• Zhou Cheng unleashed a golden-flamed Susanoo slash, but Pain repelled the flames with Shinra Tensei.
• The Animal Path summoned eight beasts, so Zhou Cheng summoned four toads, three giant snakes, and Katsuyu from the Three Great Sage Lands.
• Manda recognized Zhou Cheng and submitted to him, while Zhou Cheng ordered the toads and snakes to attack the Animal Path's beasts and Katsuyu to heal them.
• Zhou Cheng attacked the Animal Path with a senjutsu-charged Rasengan, which the Preta Path absorbed and turned him to stone.
• The Deva Path pulled Zhou Cheng toward him, and the Asura Path struck Zhou Cheng with weapons and a laser, but Zhou Cheng's stone armor held.
• Zhou Cheng hurled two Rasenshuriken at the Naraka Path and another target, but the Six Paths dodged them, and he prepared a different ninjutsu.

Zhou Cheng sealed the Naraka Path and defeated Obito's Susanoo, but Akatsuki used the battle to capture the Two-Tails and Six-Tails jinchūriki. Pain unleashed Super Shinra Tensei before Akatsuki withdrew, and Zhou Cheng left for Konoha after warning Raikage A that Kumogakure was next.

• Zhou Cheng sealed the Naraka Path inside a pyramid and sent it to the Alternate Dimension.
• Zhou Cheng shattered Obito's Susanoo and attacked Pain, while Ōnoki regretted the destruction of Iwagakure.
• A Kumogakure shinobi reported that Akatsuki had captured Yugito, and a later report confirmed the Six-Tails Jinchuriki had also been captured.
• Obito and Pain withdrew after Pain used Super Shinra Tensei, which Zhou Cheng and the other shinobi endured with Earth Formation Walls.
• Zhou Cheng told Temari to protect Gaara, then threatened Ōnoki and Raikage A before leaving for Konoha.

The Konoha 15, Tsunade, and Jiraiya feared Zhou Cheng was fighting alone in Iwagakure and struggled to find a way to help him. Zhou Cheng returned unharmed and revealed that he had wiped Iwagakure off the map, leaving everyone stunned.

• The Konoha 15 debated rushing to Iwagakure, but Shikamaru and others concluded they could not reach Zhou Cheng in time.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived, and Karin, Ino, and Hinata tried to leave to save Zhou Cheng before Tsunade stopped them.
• After half an hour of waiting, Zhou Cheng returned through a swirling vortex, and the girls rushed to embrace him.
• Zhou Cheng said he was fine but that Iwagakure was not, then announced that he had demolished the village.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, Sasuke, and Itachi reacted with relief or shock as they considered Zhou Cheng's overwhelming strength.

Zhou Cheng revealed that Akatsuki was hunting the tailed beasts and warned Konoha that Naruto was in danger, prompting Tsunade to forbid him from leaving the village. That night, Haku, Karin, Hinata, and Ino each pushed themselves to become stronger, while their families urged them to rest.

• Zhou Cheng told Tsunade and the others that Pain was controlled through the Six Paths’ Black Rods and that Akatsuki had captured the Two-Tails and Six-Tails jinchūriki.
• Tsunade ordered Naruto to stay in Konoha indefinitely, and Zhou Cheng encouraged him to grow strong enough to control the Nine-Tails.
• Haku asked Zhou Cheng to teach him Sage Mode at Ryūchi Cave, and Zhou Cheng agreed to begin the next day.
• Zhou Cheng found Karin training Taijutsu late at night and told her to rest before she harmed herself.
• Hyuga Hiashi stopped Hinata from overtraining, and Inoichi Yamanaka removed Ino’s mental-training device before she could injure herself.
• Ino told Inoichi what had happened in Iwagakure, leaving him astonished by Zhou Cheng’s strength.

Inoichi Yamanaka found Choji training himself to exhaustion and joined Choza in urging him to rest, then the two clan heads discussed arranging a meeting with Zhou Cheng. As Zhou Cheng's victory at Iwagakure became widely known, the battered village debated rebuilding and repairing relations with Konoha, and Ōnoki named Kurotsuchi as an envoy and possible successor.

• Inoichi Yamanaka stopped Ino from insisting on training, then went to the Akimichi residence and found Choji pushing himself at the Training Ground.
• Inoichi Yamanaka told Choza Akimichi that the children who had traveled to Iwagakure with Zhou Cheng were overtraining, and Choza scolded Choji before agreeing with Inoichi to meet Zhou Cheng with Shikaku.
• In Amegakure, Obito and Pain discussed Zhou Cheng's strength, the difficulty of capturing the jinchūriki, and sending more people after the tailed beasts.
• Two days later, news of Zhou Cheng's victory spread across the Shinobi World as Iwagakure began rebuilding under Ōnoki's leadership.
• Roshi argued that Iwagakure needed to improve its relationship with Zhou Cheng, but Ōnoki insisted the village had to rebuild its defenses first.
• Kurotsuchi volunteered to go to Konoha with Kitsuchi to seek forgiveness and aid, and Ōnoki declared that success would make her the next Tsuchikage.

The Fourth Raikage learned that the Akatsuki had abducted Yugito, while Chojuro asked Zhou Cheng to help Kirigakure rescue the Six-Tails. Mei Terumi’s note persuaded Zhou Cheng to visit her, where she admitted she would pursue him if he were older.

• The Fourth Raikage heard that three powerful Akatsuki members had taken Yugito and set out with Killer B to pursue them.
• Chojuro asked Zhou Cheng to help Kirigakure recover the Six-Tails, but Zhou Cheng refused until he knew what he would receive in return.
• Chojuro gave Zhou Cheng a sealed note from Mei Terumi, which promised that she would be his if the mission succeeded.
• Zhou Cheng used Phasing to take Chojuro to Kirigakure and sent him out of Mei Terumi’s office.
• Mei Terumi confirmed she had written the note and told Zhou Cheng she would give up everything to pursue him if he were a few years older.

Zhou Cheng refused to exploit Mei Terumi’s predicament, promised to rescue Utakata, and hurried toward the rescue site after arranging protection for Naruto. He reached the Ten-Tails’ body, fought Deepa, and broke through his armor, but Deepa survived as Zhou Cheng continued onward.

• Mei Terumi confessed that she had fallen in love with Zhou Cheng, and Zhou Cheng promised to rescue Utakata before returning to her.
• Zhou Cheng returned to Konoha, briefed the Xiaoqiang group, told Tsunade to watch Naruto, and asked Itachi to keep an eye on him.
• Zhou Cheng raced toward the rescue site while considering how to obtain the Rinnegan and more Sharingan, including through Nagato and Uchiha Shin.
• Zhou Cheng spotted the Ten-Tails’ body and realized that Obito and the others were extracting tailed beast chakra there.
• Deepa intercepted Zhou Cheng, but Zhou Cheng struck him with a Rasenshuriken that shattered his armor and severely injured him.
• Deepa survived the attack, and Zhou Cheng continued running toward the Ten-Tails.

Zhou Cheng failed to stop Pain from extracting the Six-Tails and Two-Tails, but saved Utakata and Yugito by healing them in his Alternate Dimension. He returned Yugito to Kumogakure and Utakata to Kirigakure, leaving the two former jinchūriki alive but without their tailed beasts.

• Deepa tried to delay Zhou Cheng while the Ten-Tails absorbed the Six-Tails and Two-Tails, and Pain summoned the Six Paths after the Ten-Tails vanished.
• Zhou Cheng fought Pain, caught Yugito and Utakata when Shinra Tensei sent them flying, and took them into his Alternate Dimension.
• Zhou Cheng used Yang release chakra to restore Yugito and Utakata, and Yugito woke up and punched him after finding his hand on her chest.
• Yugito and Utakata learned Zhou Cheng had saved them and thanked him, then Yugito chose to return to Kumogakure and swore not to oppose Zhou Cheng or Konoha.
• Zhou Cheng took Yugito to Kumogakure and brought Utakata back to Kirigakure at the Mizukage's request.

Yugito and Utakata returned to their villages after Zhou Cheng saved them from dying when the Akatsuki extracted their tailed beasts. The news left Kumogakure and Kirigakure reeling, while Zhou Cheng returned home lamenting a missed romantic opportunity.

• Yugito returned to Kumogakure, where Killer B revealed that the Two-Tails was no longer inside her.
• Yugito confirmed that the Akatsuki had extracted the Two-Tails and said Zhou Cheng had saved her after it happened.
• Kumogakure's elders focused on losing the Two-Tails, while Killer B, Mabui, and Samui comforted Yugito.
• Utakata told Mei Terumi that the Akatsuki had extracted the Six-Tails and Zhou Cheng had only been able to save his life.
• Mei Terumi sat alone in her office, wondering whether Kirigakure was finished and whether she and Zhou Cheng were not meant to be.
• Zhou Cheng returned to Konoha and brooded over missing his chance to taste a ripe peach.

Zhou Cheng learned that Gaara had been attacked and rushed to rescue him, only to be blocked by Boro of Kara while the Akatsuki began extracting Shukaku. The chapter ended with Zhou Cheng attacking Boro as Gaara screamed and the extraction continued.

• Zhou Cheng received word in the Hokage Office that Gaara had been attacked and might be dead, then used his marker to teleport to him.
• Zhou Cheng found the unconscious Gaara with Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara, but Boro of Kara intercepted him and revealed Kara’s interest in the Ten-Tails.
• Zhou Cheng activated Wind God Mode, and the Ten-Tails appeared as Gaara’s body rose into the air.
• Boro released poisonous gas from vents in his body, forcing Zhou Cheng to retreat while Gaara’s tailed beast extraction began.
• Zhou Cheng hurled a Rasenshuriken at Boro as Gaara screamed during the extraction.

Zhou Cheng rescued Gaara after the Akatsuki extracted Shukaku, then returned him safely to Sunagakure. As the Akatsuki prepared to capture more tailed beasts, Zhou Cheng resumed refining his talents and set his sights on acquiring Dust Release.

• Zhou Cheng used Susanoo to disrupt the battle, found Gaara near death after Shukaku's extraction, and healed him in the Alternate Dimension.
• Gaara worried that his capture would undermine his authority, but Zhou Cheng reassured him and brought him back to Sunagakure, where the villagers welcomed their Kazekage's return.
• Zhou Cheng left Sunagakure to protect Naruto, while Gaara reaffirmed his commitment to Sunagakure's alliance with Konoha.
• Pain assigned Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara to capture Takigakure's Seven-Tails and sent Kisame, Konan, Zetsu, Madara, and Ao after Iwagakure's Four-Tails and Five-Tails.
• After two peaceful days in Konoha, Zhou Cheng received twelve drops of talent original liquid and decided to pursue Dust Release.

Zhou Cheng failed to fuse the chakra nature needed for Dust Release and decided to pursue stronger eyes by finding Uchiha Shin and Obito. After enlisting Kakashi’s ninja dogs to help search, he asked whether they could locate someone using only their appearance.

• Zhou Cheng tried to fuse wind, earth, and fire chakra for Dust Release, but the attempt failed.
• Zhou Cheng decided to seek Uchiha Shin’s Sharingan and target Obito to pursue the Rinnegan.
• Zhou Cheng asked the Three Great Sage Lands for news of Uchiha Shin, but their summoned beasts had found nothing.
• Zhou Cheng visited Kakashi and signed the ninja dog Summoning Scroll so he could search without continually troubling Kakashi.
• Zhou Cheng summoned a giant ninja dog, forced it to submit, and asked if it could find someone based only on their appearance.

Zhou Cheng went to Takigakure seeking Chōmei’s chakra, but arrived during an Akatsuki attack on Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki. As Chōmei fought Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara, Zhou Cheng watched and waited for a chance to act.

• Zhou Cheng failed to locate Uchiha Shin with the ninja dogs and left Kakashi’s home using Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Zhou Cheng invited Isobu to visit Takigakure and see Chōmei, but Isobu refused to leave his pond.
• Zhou Cheng traveled to Takigakure and found the village burning under attack by Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara.
• Zhou Cheng watched as the Akatsuki surrounded Fū, who transformed into Chōmei and charged her attackers.
• Chōmei fired a Tailed Beast Bomb that destroyed much of Takigakure, and Kakuzu ordered his companions to attack.

Zhou Cheng stole a piece of Chōmei’s wing during the Akatsuki’s battle to capture the Seven-Tails, then drew Obito out and replicated his abilities. He returned to his Alternate Dimension to use the wing to create a new Seven-Tails, leaving only three tailed beasts for him to obtain.

• Zhou Cheng sliced off part of Chōmei’s wing and stored it in the Alternate Dimension while Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara attacked the Seven-Tails.
• Deidara’s C4 badly wounded Chōmei, but the tailed beast regenerated, allowing Fū to return to human form before the Akatsuki captured and bound her.
• Zhou Cheng confronted Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara, demanding that they leave Fū behind, and Kakuzu summoned Obito for support.
• Zhou Cheng used the Purple-Gold Gourd to replicate Obito’s perfect Sharingan and Kamui, then let Obito take the others away with Fū.
• Zhou Cheng returned to the Alternate Dimension and used the stolen wing to form a new cage for a Seven-Tails, noting that only the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Nine-Tails remained.