Chapter Summaries

Sasuke’s rampaging dark power drove him to attack Itachi, who revealed Susanoo and provoked him further. As Ling, Kakashi, and Ino tried to intervene, Itachi transformed Susanoo’s Yata Mirror into the Totsuka Blade and struck at the twisted apparition behind Sasuke.

• Sasuke channeled his uncontrolled dark power into the Kusanagi Sword and charged Itachi.
• Itachi summoned Susanoo and blocked Sasuke’s strike with the Yata Mirror, which cracked under the impact.
• Itachi taunted Sasuke, causing his dark power to erupt and form a twisted apparition behind him.
• Ling rushed to separate the fighters, Kakashi attacked Susanoo with Lightning Blade, and Ino tried to reach Sasuke’s consciousness.
• Itachi changed the Yata Mirror into the Totsuka Blade and slashed at the apparition of darkness.

Uchiha Itachi sealed the Sacred Lord’s power inside the Totsuka Blade, freeing Sasuke from its corruption but taking a cursed fragment into his own chest. Sasuke and Itachi both collapsed, while Orochimaru’s soul fragment escaped and remained at large.

• Orochimaru’s soul fragment tried to exploit the sealing, but the Totsuka Blade destroyed most of it before a tiny remnant escaped into a crack in the ground.
• The Sacred Lord’s power launched a final dark essence at Sasuke, and Uchiha Itachi stepped in front of him and took the strike to his left chest.
• Itachi completed the Totsuka Blade’s seal, banishing the Sacred Lord’s power and its connection to Sasuke into the Genjutsu World.
• Sasuke collapsed unconscious, gravely injured but freed from the Sacred Lord’s corruption.
• Itachi fell after telling the others to handle what came next, and Ling used senjutsu chakra to try to contain the dark essence in his chest as Kakashi caught him.

Kakashi ordered an immediate retreat to save the critically injured Itachi and Sasuke, while Tobi watched and adjusted the Akatsuki’s plans. The group fled toward the Land of Fire, leaving Konoha to face the difficult consequences of bringing the Uchiha brothers back.

• Ling failed to remove the Sacred Lord’s corruption from Itachi, while Karin confirmed that Sasuke was free of it but gravely weakened.
• Kakashi ordered Ling, Ino, and Hawk to help evacuate Itachi and Sasuke, and Ino contacted Yamato and Neji for support.
• Tobi and the White Zetsu and Black Zetsu halves watched the evacuation, then Obito prioritized capturing the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails and let the group escape.
• Kakashi and Ling carried Itachi and Sasuke toward the Land of Fire as Karin monitored them and Guren, Jugo, Ino, Yamato, and Neji guarded the retreat.
• Ling warned that Itachi’s corruption was worsening, while Kakashi pressed on toward Konoha despite uncertainty about how the village would receive the brothers.

Tsunade ordered emergency treatment and strict isolation for the critically wounded Itachi and Sasuke after their return to Konoha. As the village watched over the brothers, Akatsuki and its allies monitored the situation, while suspicion grew among Konoha’s conservatives.

• Kakashi reported that Itachi had been gravely wounded while saving Sasuke, Sasuke was unconscious with severe soul damage, and an Orochimaru fragment and a masked man had escaped.
• Tsunade ordered the village’s highest-level medical response and insisted that both brothers receive treatment under strict surveillance.
• Tsunade and the medical teams treated Itachi and Sasuke in adjacent isolation rooms, while Karin helped monitor Sasuke and Kakashi briefed Shikamaru outside.
• Anbu placed Guren and Jugo under house arrest at a special guesthouse as Konoha’s conservative elders called for tighter surveillance and possible action against Itachi.
• Konan told Pain that the brothers had returned to Konoha, and Pain ordered Akatsuki’s tailed-beast plan to continue.
• Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to monitor Konoha’s handling of Itachi and search for the escaped Orochimaru fragment.

Tsunade and Katsuyu fought to cleanse the dark corruption inside Itachi, while Konoha's leaders grew wary of his return. Their treatment reached the corruption's core, leaving Itachi's fate uncertain.

• Tsunade summoned Katsuyu and combined their chakra to purify the corruption in Itachi's chest.
• The corruption resisted and tried to contaminate their chakra as Tsunade and Katsuyu slowly cleansed it.
• Ling, Sakura, and Ino watched the treatment anxiously, while Sasuke remained comatose under care and Karin stayed by his side.
• Koharu, Homura, and other conservative figures discussed tightening restrictions on Itachi and Sasuke.
• After several hours, Tsunade and Katsuyu purified about a third of the corrupted area and prepared to attack its core near Itachi's heart.

Tsunade and the Sealing Squad suppressed and sealed the darkness source inside Itachi, while Sasuke awakened after being rescued and realized the dark power that had tormented him was gone. Itachi remained unconscious, and Konoha's leaders faced disputes over how to handle the brothers.

• Tsunade and Katsuyu weakened the darkness source inside Itachi, and the Sealing Squad sealed it in a mark on his chest.
• Tsunade warned that Itachi's injuries were severe and that the seal's stability remained uncertain.
• After the Shizune Team and Karin cared for him, Sasuke awakened in the hospital, extremely weak.
• Sasuke realized the dark power that had tormented him was gone, leaving him with an unfamiliar emptiness.
• Konoha's leaders renewed their debate over whether to monitor Itachi as a prisoner or seek his cooperation.

Sasuke struggled with the pain and confusion left by Itachi’s sacrifice while Konoha’s leaders debated what to do with the brothers. Tsunade kept them in a high-security hospital ward for treatment and interrogation, as Zetsu and Black Zetsu turned their attention to the tailed beasts and the escaped snake.

• Sasuke woke briefly in the isolation ward and wondered why Itachi had stripped away his power to save him.
• Tsunade examined the sleeping Itachi, confirmed that his sealed dark power remained stable, and left his care to trusted medics.
• Konoha’s leaders argued over whether to keep Itachi and Sasuke in the village, with Shikaku advocating for their intelligence and Hiashi supporting strict surveillance.
• Tsunade ordered the brothers held in the hospital’s highest-security Isolation Zone under a joint guard and authorized cautious interrogation once they recovered.
• Zetsu and Black Zetsu discussed Konoha’s dispute and decided to focus on the tailed beasts and finding the escaped snake.

Tsunade prepared to use a dangerous prototype seal to remove the dark power from Itachi, while the village advisors sought information and applied political pressure. As she began the procedure, Sasuke showed a faint sign of renewed chakra, and the White Little Snake sensed a vulnerable vessel and a chakra it craved within Konoha Hospital.

• Tsunade and the Katsuyu clone halted the dark corruption's spread but found its core near Itachi's heart too dangerous to purify directly.
• Kakashi received a scroll reporting that the advisors were questioning the cost of saving Itachi and demanding information about his power.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura discussed pressuring Tsunade and obtaining an analysis of the dark power.
• Tsunade ordered Shizune to prepare Yin Seal: Reverse Evacuation and began channeling the dark core toward a prepared Chakra Crystal.
• Sasuke moved a finger, and Karin sensed a faint rise in his chakra.
• The weakened White Little Snake sensed a vulnerable vessel and a familiar, purer current of chakra stirring inside Konoha Hospital.

Tsunade extracted the dark core from Itachi and revived his heart, though he remained critically weak and unconscious. Sasuke awoke and learned Itachi had nearly died saving him, while Utatane Koharu ordered surveillance of Itachi and the sealed power.

• Tsunade and Katsuyu contained the dark core as Tsunade extracted its main root from Itachi’s heart.
• Sasuke awoke in the next room and asked Karin about Itachi.
• Itachi’s heart stopped, and Tsunade and Katsuyu restored his heartbeat after extracting the dark core into a chakra crystal.
• Tsunade warned that Itachi’s body and soul were severely weakened and that his recovery was uncertain.
• Kakashi told Sasuke that Itachi had survived, and Sasuke silently struggled with his feelings.
• Utatane Koharu ordered an Anbu operative to keep watch on the sealed power and Itachi’s condition.

Sasuke visited the comatose Itachi and found he could no longer summon hatred or killing intent toward his brother. Meanwhile, the sealed dark energy stirred faintly, and Tsunade refused the elders’ demand to take custody of it, leaving tensions inside Konoha unresolved.

• Tsunade and Katsuyu stabilized Itachi, while Sasuke woke in the next ward and struggled with the fact that Itachi had saved him.
• Sasuke insisted that Karin take him to see Itachi, and Kakashi and Ling let him enter the isolation ward.
• Sasuke silently watched Itachi and left with Karin, unable to summon any killing intent toward him.
• Ling sensed a faint response from the sealed dark energy when Sasuke approached and grew wary of the crystal.
• Tsunade rejected the elders’ request for joint custody of the sealed energy and warned that nobody would touch it until she understood how to destroy it.
• After Sasuke left, Itachi’s eyelashes trembled, but his injuries kept him unconscious as Ling continued guarding the crystal.

Kakashi showed Sasuke records revealing that Itachi had massacred the Uchiha to protect his younger brother and prevent conflict, leaving Sasuke reeling as Itachi showed signs of waking. Meanwhile, Utatane Koharu considered how Konoha would control the sealed power, which stirred in response to Itachi’s chakra.

• Kakashi gave Sasuke secret records about the Uchiha massacre and explained that Itachi had borne the blame to protect him and the village.
• Sasuke rejected the truth at first, then erupted in anger and anguish over Itachi’s deception and sacrifice.
• Ling, Tsunade, and Shizune detected faint signs that Itachi’s consciousness was returning and prepared treatment to stabilize him.
• Sasuke heard the commotion and wondered how he could face Itachi if his brother woke.
• An Anbu member reported the situation to Utatane Koharu, who planned to raise control of the sealed power at the next high command meeting.
• The purplish-black energy inside the sealed chakra crystal stirred faintly when it sensed Itachi’s chakra fluctuation.

Itachi awoke in Konoha after Tsunade sealed the Sacred Lord’s power, and warned Kakashi and Ling that the Akatsuki sought vessels and anchors. As Tsunade faced a dispute with the village elders over the sealed power, Sasuke grew suspicious of Konoha’s leadership and felt something dormant stirring within him.

• Itachi woke in the hospital, asked after Sasuke, and learned that Sasuke had also awakened.
• Itachi warned Kakashi and Ling that the Sacred Lord had a will and targeted Uchiha as vessels because of their Yin Release and spiritual energy.
• Tsunade reinforced the seal on the chakra crystal and said she would question Itachi about the Akatsuki and the Sacred Lord once he recovered.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura demanded that the sealed power be placed under joint village supervision, but Shikaku Nara defended Tsunade’s decision to keep it secure.
• Shikaku reported the elders’ objections to Tsunade, who angrily struck the hospital wall after seeing Itachi unconscious beside the sealed crystal.
• After hearing Karin’s account, Sasuke questioned Konoha’s motives and felt something dormant awakening as his emotions surged.

Itachi revealed that the Sacred Lord was an intelligent extradimensional being tied to the Akatsuki and capable of using Sharingan as vessels, while Konoha leaders began pushing to control the sealed power and Itachi. Sasuke demanded to hear the truth from Itachi, but Ling sensed the sealed crystal reacting to a distant presence and warned that the barrier was failing.

• Itachi told Tsunade, Kakashi, Ling, and Shikaku that the Sacred Lord worked with the Masked Man and Zetsu toward the Eye of the Moon Plan and could turn hosts into incarnations.
• Itachi said the sealed power was only part of the Sacred Lord and that other seeds or vessels might exist, while he knew no way to destroy it permanently.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura argued that the sealed power should be moved and that Itachi should be treated as a possible threat.
• Ling warned Kakashi and Tsunade that surveillance around the hospital had increased as leadership grew distrustful.
• Sasuke entered the ward and demanded to hear Itachi's account of the Uchiha massacre directly from him.
• Ling sensed the sealed crystal beating and battering its barriers, then warned that the seal was about to break.

The Sealing Crystal erupted when Sasuke entered Itachi’s hospital room, and Sasuke briefly synchronized with the dark energy as he shielded his brother. After Tsunade and Ling contained the crisis, Sasuke demanded that Itachi explain the Uchiha Clan Massacre as Elder Guards hurried to the hospital.

• The Sealing Crystal surged, and Tsunade and Ling joined forces to keep its barrier from collapsing.
• Sasuke entered the room, intensifying the crystal’s pulse and triggering a breach that sent dark energy toward Itachi.
• Sasuke intercepted the energy, which hesitated and synchronized with his chakra before Tsunade and Ling sealed it away.
• Tsunade examined Sasuke and warned that the energy could still target him.
• Sasuke demanded that Itachi explain the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and Itachi gathered his strength to answer.
• Elder Guards hurried toward the hospital under orders from the elder advisors.

Itachi explained that Danzō forced him to massacre the Uchiha to prevent a civil war and spare Sasuke, leaving Sasuke shaken by the truth and unsure what to do with his hatred. As the Elder Advisors’ agents confronted Tsunade over Itachi and the Sealing Crystal, Sasuke’s turmoil stirred the crystal again.

• Itachi told Sasuke that Danzō had made him choose between carrying out the massacre himself or risking Sasuke’s life and a devastating civil war, and that he had accepted the bargain to protect his brother.
• Itachi said he had given Sasuke revenge as a goal to help him grow stronger, but left the final choice of how to respond to the truth to Sasuke before losing consciousness.
• Mori no Suke arrived with an Elder Advisors’ order to take custody of the Sealing Crystal and place Itachi under stricter surveillance.
• Tsunade refused to let Mori no Suke’s squad enter, and Kakashi joined her at the doorway as their opposing chakra heightened the standoff.
• Sasuke’s emotional turmoil caused his chakra to surge, and the Sealing Crystal began flickering faintly as Ling struggled to maintain the barrier.

Sasuke Uchiha’s despair triggered a resonance that shattered the Sealing Crystal’s barrier and plunged the ward into chaos. After briefly seeing Itachi’s concern, Sasuke fled Konoha, while the others struggled to contain the escaped energy.

• Sasuke Uchiha’s chakra erupted in despair, and the Sealing Crystal’s dark energy resonated with it.
• Tsunade and Ling tried to reinforce the barrier, but the crystal’s containment shattered and dark tendrils attacked everyone in the ward.
• Kakashi defended Sasuke from the tendrils as Tsunade and Ling protected Itachi and the medical staff.
• Itachi briefly regained consciousness and reached toward Sasuke before losing consciousness again.
• Sasuke recognized that Itachi had protected him, then fled through the ward window with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Mori no Suke ordered his team to contain the energy, seal off the hospital area, and search for Sasuke.

Tsunade, Ling, and Kakashi contained the Sealing Crystal’s rampage after Sasuke Uchiha escaped, then Tsunade moved to investigate Mori no Suke’s team and the Elder Advisors. Ling sensed a hidden network of icy threads in Sasuke’s lingering chakra, suggesting his escape carried a deeper danger.

• Tsunade, Ling, and Kakashi held back the Sealing Crystal’s dark energy while Mori no Suke evacuated nearby personnel and expanded the lockdown.
• The dark energy subsided into a sphere that Ling contained, but the ward was wrecked and Itachi’s vital signs became unstable.
• Tsunade confronted Mori no Suke, blamed his team’s actions for the crisis, and ordered an emergency investigation into the Elder Advisors’ orders.
• Tsunade placed Mori no Suke and his Special Action Team under Kakashi’s temporary command and ordered Ling to guard the energy with the highest-level seal.
• Ling sensed icy threads intertwined with Sasuke’s lingering chakra and feared that Sasuke had carried a hidden danger with him.

Tsunade used the hospital crisis to strip the elder advisors of authority over special matters and disband their Special Action Team. As Sasuke fled Konoha with the dark force still lingering inside him, Orochimaru’s weakened remnant sensed an opportunity and sent out a tempting message to draw others toward him.

• Tsunade presented evidence that the advisors’ orders had worsened the hospital incident and demanded their suspension from special matters, the Special Action Team’s disbandment, and confirmation of the Hokage’s authority.
• Shikaku and the other officials backed Tsunade’s proposals, which passed by an overwhelming majority and temporarily stripped Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura of their authority.
• Sasuke fled through the Land of Fire’s border forests, troubled by his memories of Itachi and the lingering chill of the dark force in his chakra.
• In the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru’s weakened snake apparition absorbed a dead ninja’s life energy and sensed Sasuke’s unstable state.
• Orochimaru’s remnant sent a subtle message about great power and a weakened vessel to nearby places, hoping others would pursue Sasuke.

After fleeing Konoha, Sasuke struggled with exhaustion and the dark power growing within him, while multiple parties began closing in on his location. As hunters approached, Sasuke sensed them and prepared to fight.

• Sasuke wandered through the forest, noticed a violet-black glimmer in his Sharingan, and felt the cold power inside him respond to his desire for strength.
• Black Shovel learned of a tempting mental signal in the forest and sent his men to capture the power it seemed to promise.
• Ling warned Tsunade that Sasuke was in danger and that a hostile mental scan had targeted his direction.
• Tsunade ordered more Anbu teams to find Sasuke and bring him back if necessary.
• Sasuke sensed approaching hunters, activated his Sharingan, and gripped his Kusanagi Sword.

Sasuke Uchiha unleashed the dark chakra within him to defeat Black Shovel and his missing-nin, then fled rather than return to Konoha. The Anbu confirmed he had used dangerous dark power and reported that his destination was unknown.

• Black Shovel and his missing-nin attacked Sasuke, who struggled to fight while weakened.
• Sasuke drew out his dark chakra, which empowered his attacks and drained the life from his enemies.
• Sasuke killed Black Shovel and the other missing-nin, then chose to embrace the darkness and flee into the forest.
• Konoha's Anbu squad found the corpses and reported Sasuke's use of dangerous dark power and his escape.
• Tsunade and Kakashi received the news that Sasuke had refused to return to Konoha.