Chapter Summaries

Sasuke was defeated by Hinata and Karin, learned that teamwork mattered more than strength, and was assigned to help Toru Kujyo build a house. Meanwhile, a Kumogakure ANBU squad infiltrated Amegakure to gather intelligence before Akatsuki summoned beasts attacked them.

• Karin sealed Sasuke’s chakra with a talisman after Hinata and Karin defeated him.
• Toru Kujyo photographed Sasuke and told him that his arrogance had caused his defeat while Hinata and Karin had succeeded through teamwork.
• Toru Kujyo announced that Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin would help build and fit out his new home near the Land of Fire’s border.
• A Kumogakure ANBU captain ordered his squad to retreat after they sent intelligence about Amegakure’s defenses.
• An armored centipede and a monstrous bird killed two ANBU, as a three-headed, six-armed figure with a mechanical tail descended on the squad.

Asura Path and the Six Paths of Pain slaughtered a Kumogakure ANBU squad before Deva Path Pain confronted Jiraiya in Amegakure. Pain denied responsibility for the incidents Jiraiya was investigating and revealed a mysterious enemy with a second pair of Sage Eyes, leaving Jiraiya to realize that Pain was Yahiko’s corpse controlled by Nagato.

• Asura Path and the other Six Paths of Pain killed most of a Kumogakure ANBU squad, and Deva Path Pain crushed the fleeing squad captain with Shinra Tensei.
• Pain sensed Jiraiya hiding nearby and called him out, and Jiraiya emerged from the shadows.
• Jiraiya recognized Pain’s face as Yahiko’s and demanded to know whether the Akatsuki was behind the attack on Konoha, Danzo’s death, the Wood Release ninja, and the stolen Scroll of Seals.
• Pain denied the Akatsuki’s involvement and told Jiraiya that a mysterious man with a second pair of Sage Eyes was behind the incidents.
• Jiraiya realized that Pain was Yahiko’s corpse controlled by Nagato and that Yahiko was truly dead.

Pain told Jiraiya that he planned to use the tailed beasts and an ultimate weapon to force the world to understand peace through suffering, while warning him about a mysterious man with a second pair of Rinnegan. Jiraiya withdrew to pursue the greater threat, as Toru Kujyo watched from a Wood Clone and Pain slaughtered the shinobi forces infiltrating Amegakure.

• Pain explained his plan to create an ultimate weapon from the tailed beasts and plunge the world into repeated cycles of war and peace.
• Pain claimed a mysterious man with a second pair of Rinnegan was behind the chaos, but Jiraiya refused to abandon his former student and vowed to stop him.
• Jiraiya reconsidered Pain's warning, then withdrew from Amegakure to investigate the hidden mastermind.
• Toru Kujyo watched Pain through a Wood Clone with matching Rinnegan and observed reconnaissance squads from the Five Great Shinobi Villages and smaller nations entering Amegakure.
• Pain attacked the infiltrators with powerful Rinnegan techniques, killing them before they could send warnings.
• The villages learned that their elite reconnaissance squads had been wiped out and fell into panic and silence.

Toru Kujyo learned that the Five Great Shinobi Villages were considering how to respond to the threat of the Sage Eye, then finished his fortified new home outside Konoha. He invited Konoha’s young standouts to visit, leaving them astonished by the estate and its private hot spring.

• The Five Great Shinobi Villages held secret meetings and considered pressuring Konoha or cultivating a hero to oppose the Sage Eye’s threat.
• Toru Kujyo’s Wood Clone vanished after observing the meetings, and Toru planned to wait for someone to make the first move.
• More than three months later, Toru Kujyo completed his estate, which included powerful defenses, a modern villa, an arena, and an underground base.
• Toru Kujyo invited Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the other young Konoha standouts to visit his home, and they marveled at its size and design.
• Toru Kujyo led the guests to the private hot spring, and Naruto rushed toward the water.

Toru Kujyo welcomed Naruto, Sakura, Ino, and the others to his luxurious new home, where they relaxed in his private hot spring and toured the grounds. Shikamaru grew suspicious of Toru’s unexplained wealth, while Toru hinted that he was waiting for the right time to reveal a surprise.

• Sakura and Ino were astonished by Toru Kujyo’s private hot spring, and Naruto asked to visit often; Toru welcomed him.
• Tsunade teased Toru about his wealth, while Shizune eagerly explored his unusual tools and devices.
• Shikamaru concluded that Toru’s mansion could not have been paid for with mission earnings and suspected he had a secret source of wealth.
• Ino noticed that the gate had no name plaque, and Toru said he was waiting for the right moment to hang it and reveal a surprise.
• During the garden tour, Shino sensed that the pavilion’s timber was still biologically active, and Toru explained that it was a special living building material.

Toru Kujyo revealed a hidden battle arena, where Naruto defeated Kiba before challenging Sasuke. Sasuke overpowered Naruto and prepared to strike with Chidori, but Toru intervened and stopped the fight.

• Toru Kujyo opened a hidden arena in the clearing and assured everyone its barrier would contain the battle.
• Naruto defeated Kiba Inuzuka with a Rasengan after dodging Fang Over Fang with his shadow clones.
• Naruto challenged Sasuke Uchiha, who used his Sharingan to swiftly eliminate Naruto's clones and knock him down.
• Naruto charged again with Nine-Tails chakra, but Sasuke activated his Cursed Seal and overpowered him.
• Sasuke gathered Chidori to end the fight, but Toru Kujyo raised a wooden wall to block him and called off the spar.

After Sasuke and Naruto left the arena defeated and unsettled, Toru Kujyo showed Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka his estate and spent time with the girls in its hot springs. The guests departed, and Toru relaxed at home while Hinata Hyuga massaged him, ending with him calling her name.

• Sasuke dismissed his Chidori and left after Toru Kujyo blocked his attack, while Naruto knelt and wrestled with the scale of his defeat.
• Toru Kujyo mediated the conflict, then showed Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka his modern villa and walk-in closet, telling them he had made the clothes himself.
• Sakura and Ino teased Hinata Hyuga about Toru making her clothes, then felt outmatched by her figure at the hot spring and declared Karin their ally.
• Tsunade visited with Shizune the next day, leaving Ino and Sakura reassured and Shizune dejected by comparison.
• After the guests left, Hinata massaged Toru as he relaxed in the villa, and he noticed the stretched Pikachu on her shirt before saying her name.

Toru Kujyo mistook Hanabi’s complaints about harsh training for a plan to brand her with the Caged Bird Seal and prepared to confront the Hyuga Clan. He realized she had only used the word “cage” without understanding it, and concluded the clan had instead abandoned Hinata as its heir in favor of Hanabi.

• Toru Kujyo teased Hinata about her Pikachu outfit, embarrassing her until she rushed back to her room.
• Hanabi burst into the living room, complained that her family forced her to train constantly, and said she feared being locked in a cage.
• Toru Kujyo assumed the Hyuga Clan planned to give Hanabi the Caged Bird Seal and unleashed his killing intent as he vowed to confront them.
• Hanabi revealed she did not know what the Caged Bird Seal was, so Toru Kujyo realized she had misunderstood the situation.
• Toru Kujyo concluded that the Hyuga Clan had given up on Hinata and chosen the more talented Hanabi as its heir.

Toru Kujyo learned that Hanabi’s intense training prepared her to lead the Hyuga Clan, leaving Hinata free to marry him without clan burdens. After Hanabi delivered Hinata’s birthday invitation, Toru promised to attend Hanabi’s next birthday and caught her for secretly diluting his milk with water.

• Toru Kujyo understood the Hyuga Clan had chosen Hanabi as its future head so Hinata could marry him without the burden of leadership.
• Hanabi delivered an invitation to Hinata Hyuga’s birthday banquet and complained that Toru had not been invited to her own birthday.
• Toru Kujyo promised to attend Hanabi’s birthday next year, and they sealed the promise with a pinky swear.
• Toru Kujyo noticed that his milk had been watered down and realized Hanabi had diluted it during an earlier visit.
• Hanabi tried to escape, but Toru Kujyo caught her and tickled her until she apologized and called for Sis to help.

Toru Kujyo comforted Hanabi after she admitted she had missed him and offered to teach her personally at his home. After explaining his influence in Konoha, he played with her in the courtyard and showed her a photograph he had taken; they then returned to the villa, where Hanabi noticed the water beyond its glass wall.

• Hanabi told Toru Kujyo she had missed him during the nearly two months since they had last met.
• Toru Kujyo offered to teach Hanabi personally, assuring her that Hyuga Hiashi and the elders would agree.
• Toru Kujyo explained how he had destroyed Root and gained Lady Tsunade's trust and authority.
• Toru Kujyo carried Hanabi around the courtyard, where she admired the koi, trees, and swing, and he took her photograph.
• Toru Kujyo and Hanabi returned to the villa, where Hanabi noticed the blue expanse beyond the living room's glass wall.

Toru Kujyo entertained Hanabi at his mansion before she, Hinata, and Karin enjoyed the hot spring under the stars. A water fight ended when Hinata was accidentally drenched, leaving Toru, Hanabi, and Karin frozen as she opened her eyes.

• Toru Kujyo showed Hanabi the indoor pool and sports room, where they swam, played table tennis, and shot basketball.
• Toru Kujyo told Hanabi that he had built the facilities for Naruto and the other boys, and mentioned the wine cellar and recreation room he had made for Lady Tsunade.
• Hinata and Karin returned to the mansion and found Hanabi happily playing table tennis with Toru Kujyo.
• Hanabi suggested the group soak in the hot spring, and Toru Kujyo opened its wooden dome so they could see the stars.
• Hanabi splashed Toru Kujyo, and Karin joined the resulting water fight until an errant jet drenched Hinata.
• Hinata opened her eyes as Toru Kujyo, Hanabi, and Karin stared at her in silence.

After Hinata accidentally turned a hot spring gathering into a battle, Toru Kujyo beat Tsunade at cards and learned that a Rinnegan-wielding mastermind had stolen Danzo’s body and Root’s Hashirama-cell subjects. He trained his clone and began designing something with heavenly silkworm silk.

• Hinata unleashed her Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams-Water Flow Palm at the hot spring, and Toru Kujyo dispersed the attack before carrying her back to her room.
• Toru Kujyo won every round of cards against Tsunade, leaving her with gambling losses and a large hot spring maintenance debt.
• Tsunade warned Toru Kujyo that the Konoha Crush Plan’s hidden mastermind possessed the Rinnegan, had killed Danzo, and stolen his body and Root’s Hashirama-cell subjects.
• Tsunade offered to sell Toru Kujyo forbidden techniques, but he mocked the offer and rejected them.
• Toru Kujyo sent a Shadow Clone to train his senjutsu chakra control and began designing a garment from moon-white heavenly silkworm silk.

On Hinata Hyuga’s birthday, Toru Kujyo attended the Hyuga Clan’s lavish banquet, where the clan’s elders welcomed him with unusual deference. Hinata celebrated with her family and friends, and Karin gave her a birthday present.

• Toru Kujyo sensed that his dormant Tenseigan was beginning to awaken new power.
• Hyuga Hiashi and the Main Family elders personally welcomed Toru Kujyo and Karin to Hinata’s birthday banquet.
• Hanabi Hyuga excitedly greeted Toru Kujyo, and Hyuga Hiashi thanked him for looking after Hinata.
• Toru Kujyo complimented Hinata on her pale purple kimono, and she blushed.
• Hinata made a wish and blew out the candles on her birthday cake.
• Karin gave Hinata a beautifully wrapped birthday gift.

Toru Kujyo set aside the Hyuga elders’ banquet to celebrate Hinata’s birthday with her, then used Space-Time Ninjutsu to take her to Star Peak for a view of the stars. After sharing a kiss, he told her that more surprises awaited.

• Toru Kujyo declined to meet privately with the Hyuga elders, choosing to spend Hinata’s birthday with her instead.
• Hanabi smeared cake cream on Toru Kujyo and Hinata, and a Wood Clone captured their playful moment with a camera.
• Toru Kujyo took Hinata by Space-Time Ninjutsu from the dining room, shocking Karin and exciting Hanabi.
• Toru Kujyo brought Hinata to Star Peak in the Land of Lightning, warmed her with a cloak, and showed her the starry sky.
• Toru Kujyo kissed Hinata and told her that more surprises awaited as they walked along the snowy ridge.

Toru Kujyo took Hinata to a secluded cliffside to celebrate her birthday and gave her a necklace he had made for her. Hinata treasured the gift and its name, while Toru Kujyo awkwardly agreed that “Marguerite” meant daisy.

• Toru Kujyo brought Hinata to a cozy stone seat at the cliff’s edge and wished her a happy birthday.
• Hinata opened Toru Kujyo’s gift and admired the gemstone necklace he had made himself.
• Toru Kujyo named the necklace “Marguerite,” and Hinata asked if the name meant daisy and referred to her.
• Toru Kujyo stiffly agreed with Hinata’s interpretation and fastened the necklace around her neck.
• Hinata thanked Toru Kujyo and told him it was the best birthday present she had ever received.

Toru Kujyo asked Hinata why she had run away nine years earlier, and she explained how guilt over her uncle Hizashi’s death had driven her from home. They confessed their love for each other, and Toru revealed a real meteor shower as his final surprise.

• Toru Kujyo asked Hinata what had made her run away from home as a child.
• Hinata explained that she had blamed herself for the Kumogakure ninja’s death and for Hizashi taking her father’s place, so she had fled because she could not face her father or Neji.
• Hinata told Toru Kujyo she was glad she had run away because it had led her to meet him, and he said he was glad they had met too.
• Hinata confessed that she liked Toru Kujyo, and he immediately told her he liked her as well.
• Toru Kujyo took Hinata’s hand and said they were already together.
• Toru Kujyo pointed out a real meteor shower that lit the night sky, while a faint blue glow flickered in his eyes.

A vast meteor shower threatened Kumogakure, forcing the village to race through an evacuation and mount a desperate defense. The chapter ended as Killer B's Tailed Beast Bomb struck the swarm, triggering a massive explosion.

• An alarm woke Kumogakure's residents, who saw meteors rushing toward the village and fled toward the shelters.
• Raikage A learned that the meteors would arrive before the evacuation finished and ordered the village's fighters to defend Kumogakure.
• Mabui relayed A's orders and reported that the Lightning Release Team and Earth Release Team were in position.
• Kumogakure's Barrier Team raised the Heavenly Canopy Formation as the Lightning Release Team attacked the incoming meteors.
• Killer B fired a Tailed Beast Bomb into the densest part of the meteor swarm, causing a blinding explosion and a powerful shock wave.

Kumogakure survived Toru Kujyo’s meteor assault with most of its people alive, but Raikage A realized the attack had been a probe. When the village lowered its barrier to begin recovery, Akatsuki forces launched a coordinated invasion.

• Raikage A shielded Mabui as the meteor strike battered Kumogakure’s Sky-Covering Barrier Formation.
• Hinata watched the distant explosion with Toru Kujyo, who called it a birthday surprise for her.
• Kumogakure’s defenses destroyed most of the meteors, and the barrier held against the few that struck it.
• Mabui reported the village’s casualties, and Raikage A suspected the attack had tested Kumogakure’s defenses.
• Toru Kujyo’s Wood Clone observed that Kumogakure had not used its Chakra Cannon, confirming the probe’s purpose.
• Raikage A ordered the barrier lowered, and Akatsuki forces immediately attacked Kumogakure from all sides.

Akatsuki launched a surprise assault on Kumogakure after the meteor drained the village’s strength, using more than a thousand puppets, including human puppets with the abilities of missing ninja. Raikage A and the defenders struggled against the unpredictable attackers as the puppets collected the fallen, and the battle continued with the Raikage demanding intelligence on their weaknesses.

• A watchtower ninja spotted the attack and was killed as Akatsuki forces poured into Kumogakure.
• Raikage A realized the meteor had been used to exhaust the village, while Mabui ordered the Barrier Team to protect shelters and the medical corps to retreat.
• Raikage A used Liger Bomb to destroy more than a dozen attackers, but the charred figures rose again as puppets.
• A sensory ninja identified the attackers as puppets, and Kumogakure’s defenders recognized human puppets made from missing ninja, including Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū.
• The human puppets used unpredictable combinations of abilities while ordinary puppets collected the bodies of fallen Kumogakure ninja.
• Darui fought Torune’s insect puppet and C faced Fū’s Mind Body Switch Technique as Raikage A called on the Sensor Division to find the puppets’ weaknesses.

Toru Kujyo used his Wood Clone to turn the battle in Kumogakure against its defenders, multiplying the puppet army and unleashing a golden attacker using the Flying Thunder God Technique. The Kumogakure ninja fled in panic as the puppets seized the chance to devastate the village with ninjutsu.

• A sensory ninja told the Raikage that the puppets would run out of chakra, so the Kumogakure ninja adopted delaying tactics.
• Toru Kujyo’s Wood Clone used the Ninja Art: Shuriken Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to send shuriken carrying Shadow Clones into the nearly depleted human puppets, multiplying the enemy forces.
• A golden attacker used the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill Kumogakure ninja, and a veteran identified him as Konoha’s Yellow Flash.
• The Kumogakure ninja broke formation and scattered, just as Toru Kujyo’s Wood Clone had intended.
• The human puppets unleashed powerful elemental attacks on the fleeing defenders, devastating Kumogakure.