Chapter Summaries

Donquixote Doflamingo used his threads to make the daimyo’s guards and samurai kill the daimyo instead of taking control of him. He then blamed them for the murder and offered them a chance to atone.

• Uchiha Fugaku and Donquixote Doflamingo reached the daimyo’s residence in the capital of the Land of Fire.
• Donquixote Doflamingo entered the main hall and restrained the guards and Konoha ninja with his threads.
• Donquixote Doflamingo forced Saki and the samurai to attack the daimyo, killing him.
• Uchiha Fugaku realized the plan to control the daimyo had gone awry, while the guards and samurai discovered they could move again.
• Donquixote Doflamingo accused the gathered men of murdering their lord, threatened their families, and offered them a chance to atone.

Donquixote Doflamingo seized the Daimyō’s seat and forced the assembled samurai and Konoha Ninja to submit. In Kirigakure, the Kaguya Clan Leader decided to evacuate with Namikaze Sui’s help, and River appeared to confirm he was ready to leave.

• Donquixote Doflamingo declared himself the Land of Fire’s new Daimyō and threatened to kill the Daimyō’s children and anyone who opposed him.
• A samurai charged Doflamingo, but a thread killed him, prompting the other samurai and Saki’s Konoha Ninja to kneel and submit.
• Uchiha Fugaku warned that killing the Daimyō alone would not let Doflamingo take the Land of Fire, but Doflamingo described his plan to replace the nobles and rule the country.
• The Kaguya Clan Leader told Kaguya Shugo that the clan would leave Kirigakure, since the Mist Ninja and Namikaze Clan both threatened them.
• The Kaguya Clan Leader spoke to a plant to contact Namikaze Sui, and River emerged from the plants and said he was ready to leave too.

River helped the Kaguya Clan Leader begin evacuating the Kaguya Clan from Kirigakure using a Teleportation Array. When Kirigakure's forces attacked, River urged the clan to flee and prepared to hold them off with Wood Release.

• The Kaguya Clan Leader ordered his clansmen to leave Kirigakure and the Land of Water, despite their objections.
• Kaguya Shugo reported that a clansman had slipped away to contact Kirigakure, so the Kaguya Clan Leader ordered an immediate retreat.
• River created a Teleportation Array that sent the Kaguya Clan members to the outskirts of Kirigakure.
• Kirigakure ninjas attacked the compound as the evacuation began, and River warned that at least fifty jōnin and chunin, along with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, were approaching.
• River told the Kaguya Clan to leave and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence as the Kaguya Clan Leader prepared to hold off the attackers.

River used a Wood Release clone to protect the Kaguya Clan’s escape from Kirigakure, then helped them travel from the Land of Water to the Land of Waves. He proposed building a new ninja village there with the Kaguya Clan and other allies.

• River’s Wood Release clone trapped and killed Kirigakure ninja while the Kaguya Clan escaped through the Teleportation Array.
• The Kaguya Clan arrived at River’s cabin, where River, Shisui, Shiro, and Kimimaro were waiting.
• River led the Kaguya Clan through successive Teleportation Arrays until they left the Land of Water.
• River told the Kaguya Clan Leader that he wanted to build a new ninja village with the clan and his other allies.
• River brought the Kaguya Clan to the Land of Waves and explained that its poor population could provide the foundation for a powerful ninja army.

River established Hidden Wave Village in the Land of Waves and prepared to expand its academy, while Kabuto cared for baby Naruto in Konoha. The chapter left River planning a trip to the Land of Rain and Kabuto fearing he would soon be sent on missions, leaving Naruto alone.

• River built Hidden Wave Village with the support of the Land of Waves' people and appointed Kaguya Junwu to oversee administration and security.
• Kaguya Junwu selected five Chunin from his clan to teach at the village's future Ninja Academy.
• After wandering ninja attacked, the Kaguya Clan defeated them and recruited some into Hidden Wave Village's forces.
• River decided to travel to the Land of Rain to bring a troubled young man under his command.
• Kabuto soothed baby Naruto, worried that Kakashi and Guy were away and that he might soon be sent on a mission without anyone to care for Naruto.

A year after the Hidden Wave Village was founded, River reviewed its growth and left with Shiro and Kimimaro to recruit powerful allies. He entrusted the village’s affairs to Kaguya Kungo and Shisui, while Kungo reflected on the strength of the village’s ANBU reserve.

• River’s ideological education campaign helped the people of the Land of Waves embrace shared goals of peace, unity, and strength.
• Kaguya Kungo reported that the Hidden Wave Village had twenty-five Jōnin, one hundred Chunin, and over three hundred Genin, including twelve Jōnin who had risen from ordinary citizens.
• River said the village still lacked resources and powerful fighters on the level of the Konoha Sannin, and announced he would seek like-minded allies.
• River left the village with Shiro and Kimimaro, placing Kaguya Kungo in charge and telling Shisui to support him.
• Shisui returned to train the ANBU reserve, and Kaguya Kungo recognized that its Six Powers trainees could rival Jōnin in battle.

River arrived in Amegakure with Shiro and Kimimaro, intending to meet Pain and join the Akatsuki. Pain noticed River and, drawn to his ideas about peace through pain, agreed to meet him.

• River warned Shiro and Kimimaro that Amegakure's leader might sense their words and explained that powerful Ninjutsu could detect people.
• River and the two children traveled through Amegakure, learned about its dangerous streets, and approached the tower at the village's center.
• Pain and Konan discussed the trio, and Pain identified River as someone who wanted to join the Akatsuki.
• Pain told Konan that he agreed with River's idea of making the world understand pain, and Konan went to arrange a meeting.
• River sensed Pain and Konan watching him, while Pain reflected on his own beliefs and wondered what River had experienced.

River met Pain in Amegakure and tried to persuade him that they shared a dream of peace, but Pain insisted that changing the world required godlike power. River revealed that he also possessed the Rinnegan, leaving Pain stunned.

• River waited with Shiro and Kimimaro in a tavern, expecting someone to invite him to meet Akatsuki.
• Konan arrived and escorted River to Pain, while Shiro and Kimimaro stayed with her.
• River told Pain that he understood his suffering and proposed that they work together to achieve peace.
• Pain said Yahiko's death had convinced him that realizing a dream required power like a god's.
• River challenged Pain's strength and revealed that he also had the Rinnegan.

River tried to recruit Nagato by proposing that they unite the Shinobi World and build lasting peace, but Nagato challenged him to prove his strength. River struck Pain and faced the other Six Paths as the fight began.

• Nagato was shocked to see River wielding a genuine pair of Rinnegan, and River claimed he had mastered their power better than Nagato.
• River urged Nagato to join him, arguing that the Akatsuki should grow stronger and eventually unite the Shinobi World under one nation.
• Nagato rejected River’s offer and demanded that he prove his strength in a fight.
• Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull River toward him, but River countered with Shinra Tensei.
• River punched Pain through a wall, then found himself surrounded by the other five Paths.

River fought Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain, overpowering the summoned beasts and revealing that he possessed both the Rinnegan and Shikotsumyaku. Konan learned River was Namikaze Sui, the Kage of the Land of Waves, as the battle continued with Pain confronting his bone manipulation.

• Asura Path attacked River with a punch and missiles, but River blocked the strike and repelled the missiles with Shinra Tensei.
• River used Great Fire Annihilation against Animal Path’s summoned beast, while Preta Path absorbed the flames.
• River broke Preta Path’s hands with a kick, then seized and hurled the summoned beast across the battlefield.
• Konan learned from Shiro and Kimimaro that River was Namikaze Sui, Minato Namikaze’s younger brother and the Kage of the Land of Waves.
• Preta Path summoned a host of creatures, and River drew a spinal column from his back as Deva Path Pain identified his Shikotsumyaku.

River fought Nagato’s Six Paths bodies and defeated five of them with his Bone Whip, Rinnegan abilities, Flying Thunder God Technique, and powerful attacks. He declared that his pain surpassed Nagato’s, then appeared directly in front of Deva Path Pain to continue the battle.

• River used his Bone Whip to slice apart the Preta Path and resisted Deva Path Pain’s Banshō Ten'in through sheer physical strength.
• River pulled the Asura Path toward him with Banshō Ten'in, pierced its abdomen with a bone spike, and threw it aside.
• River absorbed the Human Path and Animal Path’s Water and Fire attacks with the Absorption Seal.
• River used Flying Thunder God to strike down the Naraka Path with a Rasengan and the Human Path with Lightning Blade.
• River defeated the Animal Path with Daytime Tiger, leaving Deva Path Pain as the last body standing.
• River declared that his pain surpassed Nagato’s and appeared in front of Deva Path Pain.

River battled Deva Path Pain, countering his attraction and repulsion before Pain unleashed Super Shinra Tensei. As the attack tore through the village, River activated Sage Mode.

• River's Rasengan was repelled by Pain's Shinra Tensei, and the two fought to a stalemate using their opposing forces.
• River dodged Pain's Banshō Ten'in, appeared behind him, and struck him through a rooftop while telling Nagato he was inexperienced.
• Konan tried to intervene, but River's two young companions stopped her and revealed their kekkei genkai.
• Pain rose into the air and unleashed Super Shinra Tensei, destroying buildings and crushing the ground as River fled its expanding force.
• River's cheeks gained mysterious markings, and he stopped to activate Sage Mode.

River entered Sage Mode, blocked Pain’s Super Shinra Tensei, and overwhelmed him with True Several Thousand Hands. After defeating Deva Path Pain, River revealed that Minato Namikaze had died in Konoha’s political darkness and urged Nagato to join him in building a world without pain.

• River used Fivefold Rashomon to withstand Pain’s Super Shinra Tensei, which destroyed a third of Amegakure.
• River summoned Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands and used the Thousand-Armed Kannon to batter Pain despite his Shinra Tensei.
• River told Nagato that his own pain surpassed Nagato’s and revealed that his older brother, Minato Namikaze, had died in a corrupt political struggle in Konoha.
• River invited Nagato to join him in rebuilding the world, while Konan and Nagato reacted to his revelation and Nagato appeared on a distant roof.

River defeated Nagato’s final technique and persuaded him to join in building a better world. Nagato agreed to remain Akatsuki’s leader in Amegakure as River’s partner, and they planned to gather strength and wait for the right moment.

• River used Planetary Devastation and asked Nagato to work with him instead of killing him or destroying the Land of Rain.
• River urged Nagato to focus on the future, and Nagato accepted his proposal to build a new world together.
• River stopped the gravitational pull, and he and Nagato spoke about living well and carrying their loved ones’ dreams forward.
• River and Nagato agreed to be partners, with Nagato remaining in charge of Amegakure and Akatsuki.
• River proposed that they find like-minded allies, build their strength quietly, and wait for the right moment.

River joined Akatsuki as King and urged Pain to focus on developing the Land of Rain rather than relying solely on the tailed beast plan. A year later, after Akatsuki had grown and River had helped oversee development in the Land of Waves, Pain invited him to meet new recruit Orochimaru.

• River offered Akatsuki advice on unifying and developing the Land of Rain, while Pain agreed that development and recruitment should take priority for now.
• River revealed to Tobi that he knew Tobi had lost an eye and claimed to be Madara Uchiha, leaving Tobi stunned and skeptical.
• Zetsu joined Akatsuki under the codename Boar, while River continued traveling between Amegakure and the Land of Waves as both regions developed.
• Over the following year, Akatsuki recruited powerful rogue ninja and began working as mercenaries in wars between nations, though River rarely joined missions.
• Pain invited River to meet Akatsuki's newest member, Orochimaru, and River recognized him as an old acquaintance.

River reunited with the Akatsuki and confronted Kakuzu, revealing a Mangekyō Sharingan and using Kamui to destroy four of Kakuzu’s hearts. Tobi recognized River’s eyes as identical to his own, leaving the organization stunned and wondering who River was.

• River arrived at the Akatsuki gathering, greeted Konan, and drew wary attention from Zetsu, Kakuzu, Sasori, and Orochimaru.
• Pain introduced the gathering as a chance for the organization’s members to meet, while Kakuzu demanded to know River’s identity.
• River threatened Kakuzu and stayed seated as Kakuzu attacked him, but the attack passed through River’s body.
• River revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and used Kamui to rip apart four of Kakuzu’s hearts, prompting Kakuzu to beg for mercy.
• River spared Kakuzu after fulfilling his threat, while Tobi realized River’s eyes matched his own and Orochimaru wondered who River was.

River attended the Akatsuki meeting under the codename King, alarming Obito with his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities and claiming he could be Madara Uchiha. After revealing himself to Orochimaru, River offered to work with him and grant him the power and immortality he desired, leaving the terms of their alliance to be heard.

• Obito recognized River's abilities as an even more complete version of his own Mangekyō Sharingan powers and grew wary of him.
• Pain ended the confrontation with Kakuzu and had Sasori, Orochimaru, Zetsu, Tobi, Konan, and River introduce themselves to the Akatsuki.
• River claimed he possessed every ability Madara Uchiha had, shocking the other members and angering Tobi.
• River discussed improving Sasori's Puppet Technique and hinted to Orochimaru that they already knew each other and that he had benefited from Orochimaru's experiments.
• River revealed part of his face to Orochimaru, who recognized him, then offered to help him gain power and immortality.
• Orochimaru asked what River wanted in return, and River told him to listen.

River grew closer to Orochimaru in Amegakure, revealed that he had awakened Wood Release, and invited Orochimaru to join his research. River then asked Orochimaru to help him study Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode, leaving Orochimaru astonished that River had already mastered Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode.

• River told Orochimaru he had left Konoha to travel, while reflecting on Nagato’s efforts to make the Akatsuki a place of warmth and bonds.
• River demonstrated Wood Release, stunning Orochimaru by revealing he had awakened it after observing an experiment.
• Orochimaru asked to join River’s research, and they agreed to establish a laboratory and build their own forces.
• River asked Orochimaru how to learn Sage Mode in Ryūchi Cave and explained that he wanted to study the sage lands’ methods to develop a Sage Mode for humans.
• Orochimaru learned that River had already mastered Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode and reacted with astonishment.

River advised Orochimaru about the risks of the Reincarnation Technique while learning that Tobi had begun approaching Uchiha Itachi. As Konoha’s tensions mounted, River decided to return there and declared that he and Clan Head Fugaku were dear friends.

• River signed the Summoning Contract for Ryūchi Cave and discussed Sage Mode research with Orochimaru.
• River warned Orochimaru that the Reincarnation Technique could damage his soul and leave him vulnerable to mental Ninjutsu and powerful Genjutsu.
• Orochimaru told River that Tobi was watching the Uchiha Clan, and later revealed that Tobi had begun contacting Uchiha Itachi.
• River and Orochimaru discussed the Akatsuki’s growing influence as the Land of Rain and the Land of Waves strengthened their ties.
• River told Orochimaru he would leave for Konoha and affirmed that he and Clan Head Fugaku were dear friends.

After five years away, River returned to Konoha and found Naruto being shunned and stoned by other children. River comforted his nephew, Naruto Uzumaki, as the boy stood alone in the village.

• River returned to Konoha, while hidden ninja recognized him as Minato Namikaze's younger brother and reported his arrival to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen recalled River's mysterious strength and wondered about his return after five years away.
• River walked through the village, thinking about Naruto and his former disciples.
• Naruto defended a girl from bullies, who threw stones at him before fleeing when a Hyuga Clan member arrived.
• The Hyuga member took the girl away and warned her to stay away from Naruto, leaving Naruto hurt by the rejection.
• River approached Naruto, ruffled his hair, and praised him for rescuing the girl.