Chapter Summaries

After absorbing Hashirama Senju, Meruem gained the power to create Truth-Seeking Balls, then consumed Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen as well. Minato Namikaze escaped to Mount Myōboku, revealing its location to Meruem, while Jiraiya and Fukasaku learned that Minato had arrived gravely injured.

• Meruem created twelve Truth-Seeking Balls after taking Hashirama Senju’s Ōtsutsuki bloodline power.
• Meruem absorbed Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen, assessing the gains each Hokage gave him.
• Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape Meruem, who recognized that he had found Mount Myōboku.
• At Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya asked Fukasaku how long he had to remain there, and Fukasaku warned him of the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy.
• A toad reported that the severely injured Minato had been found outside Mount Myōboku, startling Fukasaku and Jiraiya.

Meruem tracked Minato to Mount Myōboku and attacked the toad sanctuary while Minato recovered and warned Jiraiya that the Hokage had been revived. After Meruem slaughtered many of the toads, he demanded to know where the Great Toad Sage was, and Jiraiya and the sages prepared to fight him.

• Meruem entered Mount Myōboku, while Jiraiya and the medical toads treated Minato and kept him alive.
• Minato told Jiraiya that the First, Second, and Third Hokage had been revived, and a toad reported that Meruem was attacking the sanctuary.
• Meruem defeated Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro, and many other toads, leaving Mount Myōboku badly damaged.
• Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima confronted Meruem, who admitted to the attack and demanded the Great Toad Sage's location.
• Jiraiya and the sages began their counterattack with Sage Art: Five Righteous Gates and Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant.

Meruem defeated Jiraiya, Minato, Fukasaku, and Shima, then faced the Sage of Six Paths, who demanded that he leave the world. Their battle began with powerful Sage Arts, and Meruem unleashed Abyss: Manjusaka as the Sage countered his Iron Tree Bloom.

• Meruem broke free of Jiraiya's Toad Confrontation Chant and summoned a Nen Beast to block Jiraiya's attack.
• Meruem absorbed Minato, Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima, then confronted the Great Toad Sage on Mount Myōboku.
• The Great Toad Sage summoned the Sage of Six Paths, who told Meruem to leave the world or be erased.
• Meruem and the Sage of Six Paths exchanged attraction and repulsion attacks before Meruem unleashed Iron Tree Bloom.
• The Sage of Six Paths destroyed most of Iron Tree Bloom with Super Almighty Push and Planetary Devastation, while Meruem countered with Abyss: Manjusaka.

Meruem unleashed Abyss: Manjusaka against the Sage of Six Paths, who survived the blast but was fatally poisoned by the world’s malice. The Sage and Hamura sealed Meruem in darkness, but Meruem began absorbing Hamura’s power while a clone took charge in his absence.

• Meruem’s Abyss: Manjusaka devastated Mount Myōboku and severely wounded the Sage of Six Paths, whose body began to succumb to the flower’s poisonous malice.
• The Sage of Six Paths summoned his brother, Hamura, and the two used sealing techniques that trapped Meruem and Hamura in endless darkness.
• The Sage of Six Paths died from the malice poisoning, while Hamura vowed to guard the seal for eternity.
• Meruem broke free enough to begin absorbing Hamura with Taotie, declaring that the brothers’ efforts would come to nothing.
• A miniature Meruem told Neferpitou that his main body could not appear for now and that he would handle matters in its place.
• Meruem’s main body continued absorbing Hamura’s power, preparing to complete a transformation that would give him a certain advantage over Kaguya.

Meruem’s preparations held as Akatsuki captured most of the Tailed Beasts, while Sasuke and Naruto strengthened Konoha’s position under Musashi. Akatsuki’s attempt to capture the Three Tails ended in disaster, and Nagato assigned his remaining teams their next targets.

• Musashi reflected on Meruem’s imprisonment and the strength of his forces in the Land of Water and Konoha.
• Akatsuki captured Gaara, the Two Tails, and the Four, Five, Six, and Seven Tails, while Chiyo died saving Gaara and Asuma died in the operation against the Two Tails.
• Pouf joined Kakuzu after Hidan’s death and helped defeat Konoha’s squad, while Sasuke and Naruto later fought Orochimaru and Deidara and returned to Konoha with Karin and Suigetsu.
• Mist Ninja Village defeated Sasori and Deidara during Akatsuki’s attempt to capture the Three Tails, then announced that its captured members had been executed.
• Nagato ordered Itachi and Kisame to act, assigned Tobi and Pouf to the Eight Tails, and prepared to go to Konoha himself.

Itachi and Kisame left the Land of Water with the Three-Tails, unaware that Meruem had allowed them to take it. Meanwhile, the Six Paths of Pain attacked Konoha, and after Deva Path devastated the village, Naruto and Sasuke confronted the attackers while Musashi went after Nagato and Konan.

• Itachi and Kisame captured the Three-Tails and escaped the Land of Water, as Meruem and Pitou confirmed that their departure had gone according to plan.
• Nagato and Konan settled outside Konoha, and the Six Paths of Pain invaded the village to capture Naruto.
• Tsunade and Konoha's fighters fought the Six Paths, while Musashi ordered the Uchiha to help civilians and stay away from the central battle.
• Deva Path unleashed Super Almighty Push, reducing Konoha's buildings to rubble and leaving a vast hollow at the village's center.
• Naruto and Sasuke entered the fight at full strength, and Musashi left them to battle Pain while he tracked down Nagato and Konan.

Naruto and Sasuke defeated the Six Paths of Pain, while Uchiha Musashi confronted Nagato and Konan to claim the Rinnegan. Konan escaped Musashi’s hold, and he prepared to kill them both.

• Sasuke discovered that Deva Path Pain needed time to recharge after using Almighty Push, and Naruto continued attacking him.
• Naruto was caught in Deva Path Pain’s Planetary Devastation but escaped with space-time ninjutsu and defeated Pain with a Super Mini Tailed Beast Ball.
• Nagato acknowledged that the final Path had been defeated, and Uchiha Musashi arrived at his hiding place.
• Musashi restrained Konan and demanded Nagato’s Rinnegan, but Konan escaped by transforming into scattered paper.
• Musashi said he would kill Nagato and Konan after Konan escaped.

After Konoha chose Uchiha Musashi as acting Hokage, he took Naruto and Sasuke to the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron. The summit began with the Raikage clashing with the others, and Naruto and Sasuke pinned him against a wall at Musashi’s command.

• Musashi abandoned his attempt to obtain Nagato’s Rinnegan after Obito intervened and considered the remaining Akatsuki threat.
• After Pain’s attack, Konoha celebrated Naruto, Sasuke, and the Uchiha Clan, while Musashi became the leading candidate for acting Hokage.
• The Raikage called a Five Kage Summit after Akatsuki captured Killer Bee, and Musashi decided to attend with Naruto and Sasuke.
• Musashi killed mercenary ninjas on the journey to the Land of Iron, where the summit gathered Gaara, Raikage A, Onoki, Musashi, and Pitou as Mizukage.
• When Onoki provoked Gaara and the Raikage smashed the table, Naruto and Sasuke pinned Raikage A against the wall at Musashi’s order.

The Five Kage Summit erupted into disputes over Akatsuki and the proposed Ninja Alliance, while Musashi restrained Sasuke and Pitou from escalating the tensions. Obito appeared as Uchiha Madara, demonstrated his intangibility, and demanded that the Kage hand over the Nine-Tails.

• The Fourth Raikage challenged Sasuke and Naruto, but Mifune urged the Kage and their guards to remain calm.
• The Tsuchikage provoked Pitou, whose killing intent unsettled his guards, until Meruem's miniature clone stopped her.
• The Raikage accused the villages of failing to stop Akatsuki, and Meruem's miniature clone explained how Akatsuki had controlled the Fourth Mizukage and harmed the Mist Ninja Village.
• Mifune proposed forming a Ninja Alliance, but the Kage argued over who should lead it.
• White Zetsu appeared and was killed by the Raikage, then Obito introduced himself as Uchiha Madara and evaded the Kage's attacks with Kamui.
• Obito described the Eye of the Moon Plan and demanded that the Kage hand over the Nine-Tails.

Musashi exposed the man calling himself Madara as Uchiha Obito, who declared the Fourth Ninja World War and escaped. The Five Kage then argued over Konoha’s responsibility and who should lead the Ninja Alliance, finally agreeing to choose a leader by strength.

• Musashi identified the false Madara as Uchiha Obito, and Obito declared war before escaping with his space-time ninjutsu.
• The Five Kage recognized that Akatsuki had captured eight tailed beasts, including Killer Bee, and considered the threat of war.
• The Raikage demanded that Konoha take responsibility, but Musashi rejected the accusation and threatened Cloud Village with war.
• Mifune mediated between the Raikage and Musashi, then proposed that Konoha not lead the alliance because several Akatsuki members came from the Uchiha Clan.
• Musashi argued that strength should determine the alliance leader, and the others agreed to the proposal.

Musashi, Naruto, and Sasuke assessed the Kage and their guards after the alliance leadership contest, then discussed the people each of them still needed to confront. The chapter left Naruto facing the prospect of meeting his parents while Musashi questioned whether Minato’s soul fragment remained inside him.

• The Fourth Raikage won the contest among the Kage, with Pitou placing second and Gaara and the Tsuchikage tying for third.
• Musashi asked Naruto and Sasuke to evaluate the Kage, and Sasuke judged the Raikage and the Mizukage especially dangerous while Naruto singled out Youpi as a powerful threat.
• Musashi confirmed that Youpi was no weaker than he was and said the Mist faction might become their ally.
• Musashi urged Sasuke to meet Itachi, and Sasuke agreed to settle matters with him.
• Musashi asked Naruto whether he was ready to meet his parents and wondered if Minato’s soul fragment still existed within Naruto.

Kabuto joined Obito’s war effort with an army of revived shinobi, while Musashi became Konoha’s Sixth Hokage and the Fourth Ninja World War began. As Sakumo Hatake and other legendary fighters devastated the Alliance, Meruem awakened in darkness, reclaimed his identity as the Chimera Ant King, and chose to stabilize his new power before emerging.

• Kabuto used Impure World Reincarnation to summon powerful dead shinobi, including Nagato, several former Kage, and Uchiha Madara, and Obito showed him an army of roughly a hundred thousand White Zetsu.
• The Alliance named Uchiha Musashi the Sixth Hokage while Tsunade remained unconscious from a toxin Musashi had secretly arranged to administer.
• Kabuto launched the Fourth Ninja World War, and the revived fighters and White Zetsu inflicted heavy casualties on the Ninja Alliance.
• Sakumo Hatake fought the Alliance alone with deadly swordsmanship, while Kimimaro, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and eight former Kage also gathered for battle.
• Meruem awakened in darkness, remembered that he was the Chimera Ant King, explored his ancestral Chimera Ant form, and decided to stabilize his power before leaving.

Meruem’s awakening strengthened his plans as the Ninja Alliance fought the White Zetsu and Impure World Reincarnation forces. Sasuke faced Itachi, Naruto prepared to meet his parents’ soul fragments, and Shikamaru grew suspicious of the Mist Ninja Village’s unusually steady troops.

• Meruem’s clones learned that the original body had awakened, and Musashi continued to let the Ninja Alliance fight while preparing the Chimera Ant army.
• Sasuke’s subordinate challenged Itachi and was killed in one slash after Itachi used Tsukuyomi; Sasuke ordered the Alliance ninjas to retreat so he could face his brother.
• Musashi arranged for Naruto to face the soul fragments of Minato and Kushina, hoping Naruto would resolve his inner conflict without turning against him.
• The Alliance’s battle intensified as Konoha’s young ninjas, including Choji, Neji, and Lee, distinguished themselves against the immortal reincarnated fighters.
• The Mist Ninja Village’s troops remained rigid but reliable, and Shikamaru was among the few who suspected something was wrong with them.

Meruem’s awakening strengthened the hidden forces backing the Ninja Alliance, while the war against White Zetsu and the Impure World Reincarnation fighters intensified. Sasuke confronted Itachi, and Naruto was brought toward a trial involving the souls of his parents, as Musashi watched both young men’s fates unfold.

• Meruem awakened stronger than before, and his clones recognized the change while the modified Mist forces fought White Zetsu under Pitou’s command.
• Sasuke faced Itachi, and an Earth Ninja Elite Jonin challenged Itachi before being killed by a single slash after falling victim to Tsukuyomi.
• Sasuke ordered the Alliance ninjas to retreat and prepared to settle matters with Itachi, his older brother and the murderer of their parents.
• Musashi arranged for Naruto to face the soul fragments of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, hoping Naruto would resolve his feelings without opposing Konoha.
• The Alliance’s fiercest fighting continued as young Konoha ninjas, including Choji, Neji, and Rock Lee, distinguished themselves, while Shikamaru began to suspect something was unusual about the Mist forces.

Kisame infiltrated the Ninja Alliance to capture Naruto as Musashi helped turn the battle against the reincarnated fighters and White Zetsu. Madara Uchiha entered the battlefield and fought Musashi, who rejected his offer to join the Eye of the Moon Plan, leaving their duel unresolved.

• Kisame reached the Ninja Alliance's territory under Obito's orders to capture Naruto Uzumaki.
• Musashi fought the reincarnated Kage-level fighters and Nagato, helping the alliance regain the advantage as Sasuke and Naruto joined the battle.
• Great Snake Kabuto summoned Madara Uchiha, who quickly overwhelmed the alliance with his Fire Release techniques.
• Musashi stepped forward to challenge Madara, and the two clashed in taijutsu and swordsmanship.
• Madara used Advent of the World Tree, but Musashi's black flames burned its roots, and Madara offered him a place in the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Musashi rejected Madara's plan, and Madara declared that he would kill him.

Musashi and the other Kage fought Madara while Naruto and Sasuke defeated the reincarnated Jinchuriki, and Pitou’s group confronted Kabuto. As the battle shifted, Obito summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and attacked Naruto.

• Musashi and Madara clashed with their Complete Body Susanoo, and the other three Kage joined the fight against Madara’s wood clones.
• Naruto and Sasuke overcame the eight Impure World Reincarnation Jinchuriki while Pitou, Youpi, the miniature Meruem, and the puppet Fourth Mizukage found Kabuto.
• Kabuto entered Sage Mode to face Youpi, while Meruem’s forces prepared in the Land of Water and the Faith Group infiltrated villages.
• Madara’s Impure World Reincarnation body began to destabilize, and Musashi warned the Kage that the instability might be temporary.
• Obito summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and sent it after Naruto, but Sasuke ignited it with Amaterasu as Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Madara and Obito overwhelmed the battlefield as the Ten-Tails emerged and the Ninja Alliance suffered heavy losses. Meruem and his strongest clone, Uchiha Musashi, watched from afar, while Madara revealed that the Ten-Tails could become complete even if Obito became its jinchuriki.

• Madara restored his physical body and declared that he would unleash his full power, while Kakashi recognized Obito and fought him alone.
• Madara defeated the other Kage and claimed that Uchiha Musashi had forced him to use his full strength, leaving Naruto and Sasuke shocked by his arrival.
• Madara absorbed Naruto's Tailed Beast Ball, and Obito summoned the Ten-Tails as Naruto's attacks failed to hurt it.
• The Ninja Alliance arrived and attacked the Ten-Tails, but the creature inflicted heavy losses on them.
• Meruem and Uchiha Musashi watched the battle from a distant mountain and discussed waiting to see how events unfolded.
• Madara revealed that the other half of the Nine-Tails' chakra had been given to Black Zetsu, allowing the Ten-Tails to become complete if Obito became its jinchuriki.

Madara Uchiha became the Ten Tails Jinchuriki, cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, and believed he had subdued the world. Meruem and Uchiha Musashi revealed themselves as the illusion failed to ensnare the Chimera Ants, leaving Madara stunned by their survival.

• Madara Uchiha demanded Hashirama Senju's return, then defeated the four First Kage when they could not summon him.
• Black Zetsu took control of Obito and forced him to use Rinne Rebirth, reviving Madara in a living body.
• Madara seized the Rinnegan, absorbed the Ten Tails, and became Six Paths Madara while Meruem and Musashi watched from a mountain.
• Madara explained Rin's death to Obito, took Obito's other Rinnegan, and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi over the world.
• Meruem and Musashi remained awake because the Chimera Ants' collective telepathy protected them, and they confronted Madara.

Jiang Hao encountered hostility from Cheng Qiu on his way to the Herb Garden, then discovered and purified a dark grievance attached to a Sadness Grass plant. He continued tending the garden as tensions within the Heavenly Note Sect rose.

• Jiang Hao ignored a spiritually aware black crow that shouted insults and accusations at him.
• Cheng Qiu confronted Jiang Hao, accused him of cozying up to the Law Enforcement Hall, and threatened him.
• The black crow distracted Cheng Qiu, allowing Jiang Hao to leave for the Herb Garden.
• Jiang Hao suspected someone had encouraged Cheng Qiu to target him amid the growing conflict in the sect.
• Jiang Hao discovered a dark grievance on a Sadness Grass plant and purified it before resuming his work.

Kaguya emerged from Six Paths Madara and transported Meruem to her dimension to fight him, believing she could reclaim his Chakra. Their battle revealed the extent of her abilities, but Meruem adapted to her techniques and began overpowering her.

• Black Zetsu transformed Six Paths Madara into the sacrifice that released Kaguya, whose arrival altered the surrounding seasons.
• Kaguya attacked Meruem, then learned he had killed her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, before becoming upset that the earth had been damaged.
• Kaguya transported herself and Meruem to another space and demanded his Chakra, starting a battle that let Meruem learn her elemental techniques.
• Meruem tracked Kaguya through a spatial rift and struck her, while Black Zetsu urged her to end the fight quickly.
• Kaguya used Super Gravity Space and attacked with destructive rods, but Meruem stood under the increased gravity, dodged her strike, and declared himself a God Slayer.