Recaps

Naruto and Itachi set out for Amegakure to speak with Pain and try to persuade Nagato to abandon the Akatsuki's plans. They entered the Land of Rain with Kakuzu and Sasori's help, while Kakuzu headed back to the Base to collect equipment.

• Minato agreed to let Naruto contact Nagato after Naruto explained Nagato's importance, and placed a Flying Thunder God Mark on him for protection.
• Naruto arrived at the Base, where Shisui left Itachi in his care, and the two departed for the Land of Rain.
• Rain Ninja mistook Naruto and Itachi for refugees, demanded a bribe, and told them to become ninja or bandits when Naruto said they had no money.
• Kakuzu and Sasori arrived, and Kakuzu recognized Naruto and Itachi as they entered the Land of Rain.
• Kakuzu pulled Naruto aside and asked him not to expose his double dealings to Pain, and Naruto reassured him before saying he would try to win the Akatsuki leader over.
• Naruto told Kakuzu that two thousand Virtual Headsets and a hundred satellites awaited him at the Base, and Kakuzu left to collect them.

Naruto and Itachi entered Amegakure and met Pain and Konan, where Pain explained the Akatsuki’s plan to force peace through a powerful weapon. Itachi challenged the plan, warning that the weapon could spark an even greater war, leaving Nagato pondering how to prevent that outcome.

• Naruto told Itachi that the rain over Amegakure came from Pain’s Rain Tiger at Will Technique.
• Pain and Konan confronted Naruto and Itachi after detecting their powerful chakra, and Itachi introduced himself as a spokesman for the red thought of communism.
• Pain invited Itachi to join the Akatsuki and described its goal of bringing peace by making the Shinobi World experience pain through a powerful weapon.
• Itachi warned Pain that the weapon could trigger a devastating war after Nagato’s death, and Nagato began thinking about how to prevent that possibility.

Itachi challenged Nagato’s belief that pain would teach people to value peace, then persuaded him to support a revolution while continuing his own plan. The two agreed to cooperate, and Pain asked that Naruto join the Akatsuki as their liaison.

• Itachi argued that widespread poverty and hunger were also forms of pain, reminding Nagato of his childhood with Konan and Yahiko.
• Nagato asked what Itachi would do, and Itachi invited him to support a revolution driven by ideology.
• Nagato agreed to help Itachi from the shadows but refused to abandon his own plan, and Itachi accepted the arrangement.
• Pain proposed that each side send someone to the Akatsuki, then chose Naruto to join.

Naruto joined the Akatsuki as an intern with full-member privileges, intending to recruit its members for the Red Team. After he and Itachi left Amegakure, Pain remained open to another path for the shinobi world, while Zetsu reported that the Fourth Hokage had returned as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.

• Naruto agreed to join the Akatsuki and introduced himself to Pain and Konan as Uzumaki Meizheren.
• Pain accepted Naruto as an intern with the privileges of a full member, and Naruto planned to recruit Deidara and Hidan next.
• After leaving Amegakure, Naruto told Itachi that Madara Uchiha was the true mastermind behind the Akatsuki and ordered him to expand the Red Team.
• Konan wondered whether Pain would abandon his plans, but Pain said he wanted to give the shinobi world another path.
• Zetsu told Pain that Konoha's Fourth Hokage had returned to life and become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, and Pain ordered him to keep gathering intelligence.

Naruto insisted on joining the Akatsuki despite Shisui, Itachi, and Minato Namikaze warning him about Obito and Black Zetsu. When a new person appeared in the Sealing Space, Naruto welcomed him, while Kurapika recognized him as Lelouch and suspected he was hiding his true intentions.

• Shisui and Itachi tried to dissuade Naruto from infiltrating the Akatsuki, but Naruto refused to change his mind.
• Naruto told Minato Namikaze about his plan, and Minato warned him that Black Zetsu was the greater danger and might outwit him.
• Kurapika alerted Naruto that the cage was activating, so Naruto rushed home and entered the Sealing Space.
• Naruto released the bewildered young man from the cage, and he introduced himself as Lelouch.
• Kurapika recognized Lelouch and suspected his fearful behavior was an act, while Lelouch wondered how he had returned after dying at the hands of ZERO.

Kurapika exposed Lelouch’s identity, and Naruto explained that Lelouch had died and entered another world. Lelouch learned that his Geass no longer worked, then joined the others as they watched Code Geass.

• Kurapika recognized Lelouch Lamperouge and revealed his identity to Naruto and the others.
• Kushina questioned Lelouch for using a fake name, and Naruto defended his caution and tried to ease the tension.
• Lelouch asked whether he was dead and if he could see Euphemia, and Naruto explained that he was in a different world.
• Lelouch accepted that he could not control his fate and said he regretted being unable to see Nunnally again.
• Naruto asked whether Lelouch could still use his Geass, and Lelouch said the ability was gone.
• Zeff, Kushina, and the others began watching Code Geass on the big screen, and Lelouch joined them.

Jiraiya found Tsunade living at the Daimyo’s Residence and tried to persuade her to return to Konoha, but she refused because virtual games had become her refuge and she believed she could no longer be a ninja. Shizune revealed that Tsunade had developed hemophobia.

• Naruto left Lelouch watching Code Geass and went to find Minato, where Jiraiya reported that Tsunade would not return.
• Jiraiya recounted how he found Tsunade staying at the Daimyo’s Residence, where she had become hooked on virtual games.
• After Tsunade struggled to get valuable equipment drops, Shizune teamed up with her, and their successful runs helped Tsunade earn enough to pay off her debts.
• Tsunade built a profitable business farming equipment and helping nobles in virtual games, so Jiraiya’s appeal for her to return to Konoha came after she had regained financial stability.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya that her Virtual Headset was what kept her going and that she could not be a ninja anymore.
• Shizune explained that Tsunade had developed hemophobia.

Minato Namikaze arranged for Tsunade to serve as Konoha’s liaison to the Daimyo’s office and sent Jiraiya to investigate the Red Revolution. After secretly drugging Jiraiya to seal his chakra, Minato learned about Lelouch and finally agreed to let Naruto approach Akatsuki.

• Minato Namikaze explained that Naruto had created the Virtual Headset and proposed appointing Tsunade as a Konoha Elder and liaison to the Daimyo’s office.
• Jiraiya agreed to let Tsunade try the appointment, but Minato assigned him to investigate the Red Revolution instead.
• Jiraiya drank the drugged water and left, while Minato sent a Wood Clone to follow and protect him.
• Naruto told Minato about Lelouch, and Minato agreed that Naruto could go after Akatsuki with Lelouch’s help.
• Minato marked Naruto all over with Flying Thunder God Marks and warned him to put his safety first.

Naruto left Konoha for Amegakure after checking on the New District construction and speaking with Itachi and Shisui about their training. Meanwhile, Kakuzu, Sasori, and Hidan arrived at Sunagakure to conduct business, where Sand shinobi stopped them at the entrance.

• Naruto visited the Konoha New District construction site, returned home, and left a Shadow Clone before traveling away with his packed luggage.
• At the Red Base, Itachi taught red thought and Shisui led physical training; Naruto asked how the children were progressing and told Itachi to watch for someone they knew.
• Naruto set off for Amegakure, transformed into Lelouch, and used Coiling to help conceal his appearance.
• Kakuzu, Sasori, and Hidan reached Sunagakure, where Kakuzu warned Hidan not to cause trouble and led the group toward the village entrance.
• Several Sand shinobi stopped the trio at Sunagakure's entrance and grew wary of Kakuzu and Hidan's rogue ninja forehead protectors.

Sasori visited Granny Chiyo with Kakuzu and Hidan, asking her to teach him Life Reincarnation so he could try to revive his parents. After Chiyo agreed to help, Kakuzu offered Sunagakure Virtual Headsets, and Chiyo prepared to test one.

• Sasori arrived at Sunagakure with Kakuzu and Hidan, and Granny Chiyo recognized him despite his new puppet body.
• Sasori asked Granny Chiyo to teach him Life Reincarnation so he could attempt to revive his parents, Imu and Rokugatsu.
• Granny Chiyo agreed to teach Sasori on the condition that she be present when he tried to revive them.
• Kakuzu introduced the Virtual Headset to Granny Chiyo as a business offer for Sunagakure.
• Granny Chiyo asked to try the Virtual Headset, and Kakuzu began showing her how to use it.

Kakuzu introduced Granny Chiyo to the virtual world, and she considered bringing Virtual Headsets to Sunagakure for intelligence sharing. At the Akatsuki base, Pain assigned Tobi to team up with Naruto, who was disguised as Mei Zheren Uzumaki.

• Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori waited for Granny Chiyo in the virtual world, where she appeared as a young woman and praised the experience.
• Chiyo said Sunagakure might accept Kakuzu’s Virtual Headset deal, and Kakuzu messaged Naruto that sales were going well.
• Kakuzu showed Chiyo around the virtual world as she recognized its potential for sending intelligence across long distances.
• Naruto arrived at the Akatsuki base in disguise, revealed his original appearance to Konan, and asked Pain what he should do.
• Tobi arrived at the base, and Pain assigned him to team up with Mei Zheren and show him the Akatsuki’s work.

Naruto demonstrated his Wind Release and invisible summoning beast to Obito, who decided to keep him as a useful pawn. Pain and Konan watched and suspected that the man posing as Madara was not who he claimed to be, while Naruto secretly planted nanometer robots on Obito.

• Obito questioned Naruto about his abilities and village, and Naruto demonstrated a powerful Wind Cutter Technique that sliced through a grove of trees.
• Naruto summoned an invisible Five-Finger Flower Picker, which jabbed Obito and sent him flying, leaving blood trailing behind him.
• Obito praised Naruto's summoning beast and decided to keep him around as a useful pawn rather than kill him.
• Pain and Konan watched Naruto and Obito, and Pain said Naruto could test the limits of the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha.
• Naruto put an arm around Obito and secretly slipped Wolffy's nanometer robots onto him.

Obito headed for Kirigakure after learning that someone was moving against the Fourth Mizukage, while Naruto stayed behind to give Konan and Nagato Virtual Headsets. Naruto realized Obito had left without him and went after him, leaving the story with Konan eager to show Nagato the virtual world.

• Lelouch concluded that the Shinobi World’s daimyo kept ninja under control through economic and ideological restrictions.
• Zetsu told Obito that a mission in Kirigakure had begun, prompting Obito to plan to retrieve Kisame and deal with the Fourth Mizukage.
• Obito sent Naruto to report to Pain, then used Kamui to leave for Kirigakure alone.
• Naruto learned through the Nanometer Robot that Obito had slipped away and met Konan on his way to follow him.
• Naruto gave Konan and Nagato Virtual Headsets, and Konan accepted hers after hearing that even a paralyzed person could move in the virtual world.

Konan introduced Nagato to the Virtual Headset, letting him walk and explore a virtual world where they encountered Kakuzu selling headsets to Sunagakure. Kakuzu made a huge profit and then offered the Akatsuki a discount, while Nagato ordered a smaller batch for Amegakure.

• Konan gave Nagato a Virtual Headset and helped him enter the virtual world, where he regained the ability to walk.
• Nagato and Konan encountered Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Baki hunting wild boars, with Kakuzu helping them level up.
• Kakuzu sold Rasa two thousand Virtual Headsets for one million each, earning a billion in profit.
• Konan confronted Kakuzu about his two-billion sale, and Kakuzu offered the Akatsuki a discount on headsets.
• Nagato identified himself as Pain, prompting Kakuzu to offer a forty-five-percent discount, and Nagato ordered a hundred headsets for Amegakure.

Naruto checked Kakuzu’s Virtual Headset sales and directed him to send the gold earnings to Itachi for the revolution. While pursuing Obito toward Kirigakure, Naruto encountered Zabuza and asked about Juzo Biwa and the Kubikiribōchō, then invited Zabuza to join the Tailed Beast Bomb-Cutting Alliance.

• Naruto learned that Kakuzu had sold two thousand Virtual Headsets in Sunagakure and told him to send the gold proceeds to Itachi for revolutionary expenses.
• Naruto left Itachi a message about Kakuzu’s funds, then set out to follow Obito toward Kirigakure.
• After running for two days, Naruto reached the former Land of Whirlpools and encountered Zabuza, Haku, and a boatman.
• Naruto asked Zabuza about the Kubikiribōchō and Juzo Biwa, and Zabuza confirmed that Juzo was dead.
• Naruto invited Zabuza to join the Tailed Beast Bomb-Cutting Alliance, and Zabuza suspected the invitation was a trap.

Naruto forced Zabuza to join his newly invented Tailed Beast Bomb-Cutting Alliance by overwhelming him and making him face a small Tailed Beast Bomb. After Naruto healed Zabuza, he sent him to find Uchiha Itachi or Shisui Uchiha and work with them.

• Zabuza tried to leave, but Naruto entered Kurama Mode and used his intimidating presence to make him join the alliance.
• Naruto made Zabuza attempt to cut a small Tailed Beast Bomb with the Kubikiribōchō, which shattered and wounded him.
• Naruto used the Five-Finger Flower Picker to heal Zabuza, impressing both Zabuza and Haku.
• Naruto told Zabuza to go to the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire and find Uchiha Itachi or Shisui Uchiha.
• Zabuza accepted the assignment, and Naruto wondered whether Itachi and Shisui could block a Tailed Beast Bomb with Susanoo.

Naruto learned that Yagura’s Genjutsu had failed and persuaded Zabuza to help him take control of the Land of Water. The chapter ended with Zabuza and Haku joining Naruto, who hid his identity behind the name Uzumaki Meizheren.

• Zabuza told Naruto that Yagura had gone berserk during his resignation ceremony, killing and injuring Mist Ninja before Kirigakure sealed him away.
• Zabuza explained that he had tried to assassinate Yagura but fled after Kisame stopped him.
• Naruto asked whether Zabuza wanted to become Mizukage, and Zabuza said he wanted to change Kirigakure.
• Lelouch urged Naruto to help Zabuza take power and use the troubled Land of Water as a base for their revolution.
• Naruto proposed killing the Elders Council and taking over the Daimyo’s position while Zabuza became Mizukage.
• Zabuza agreed to join Naruto, who introduced himself as Uzumaki Meizheren, and the three set out together.

After losing his chakra and strength, Jiraiya stayed in a remote village and learned how difficult ordinary people’s lives were. When Sweet Potato’s parents returned from the Base and offered to take village children to its school, Jiraiya recognized it as the border faction he had been sent to investigate and decided to go there.

• Jiraiya lost his chakra and strength, was robbed by bandits, and was rescued by the village chief.
• Jiraiya stayed to help the injured village chief farm and learned about the villagers’ hardships while eating with Sweet Potato.
• Sweet Potato’s parents returned from the Base and said they wanted to send him and other village children to its school.
• Jiraiya recognized the Base as the border faction Minato Namikaze had asked him to investigate and agreed to go there with Sweet Potato’s family.

Naruto watched Obito attack Kirigakure and planned to use the chaos to make Zabuza a hero and future Mizukage. Obito killed the village elders and moved to kill Yagura, where Mei Terumi confronted him and learned he claimed to be Madara Uchiha.

• Naruto, Zabuza, and Haku waited outside Kirigakure while Naruto watched Obito's actions on his phone.
• Obito sent Zetsu to rescue Kisame from the dungeon and began assassinating Kirigakure's elders.
• Naruto told Zabuza to wait until the elders were dead so he could step forward as a hero, though Zabuza doubted he had the strength and support to become Mizukage.
• Obito killed the elders and went to Yagura's prison, where Mei Terumi and Ao stood guard.
• Mei Terumi attacked Obito with Boil Release, but he phased through it and identified himself as Madara Uchiha.

Obito battled Mei Terumi and Ao until Zabuza joined the fight and wounded him with the Kubikiribōchō, which Naruto had called the Void Blade. Obito recognized the weapon as a threat and ordered Kisame to take it from Zabuza.

• Mei Terumi and Ao attacked Obito, but he wounded Mei Terumi and knocked Ao unconscious with Kamui and a powerful punch.
• Zabuza charged in against Obito, and Mei Terumi joined him despite Zabuza kicking her away to protect her.
• Obito's Kamui suddenly failed, allowing Zabuza to sever one of his arms; Zabuza then cut Obito again as he tried to escape.
• Obito asked about Zabuza's blade, and Zabuza claimed it was the Void Blade, Kassadin's former weapon, which could cut through space.
• Zabuza slashed at Obito from a distance and wounded him, frightening Obito despite his Hashirama Cells healing the cut.
• Zetsu arrived with Kisame, and Obito ordered Kisame to take the Void Blade from Zabuza.

Kisame overpowered Zabuza, but the Void Blade and Void Crossbow repeatedly thwarted Obito’s Kamui. Naruto freed Yagura from Obito’s control, and when Obito and Kisame tried to retreat from the arriving Mist Ninja, the battle turned into an all-out fight.

• Kisame knocked Zabuza aside and took the Void Blade, while Obito reattached his severed arm and discovered that Kamui could not work against the blade.
• Haku gave the injured Zabuza the Void Hand Crossbow, and Zabuza shot Obito when Kamui failed to protect him.
• Mei Terumi arrived with Mist Ninja and the freed Fourth Mizukage, whom Naruto had rescued and helped break free of Obito’s control.
• Obito chose to retreat with Kisame, but another crossbow bolt interrupted Kamui, forcing them to fight their way out.
• Yagura entered Tailed Beast Mode and joined Zabuza in pressuring Obito and Kisame, while Samehada weakened near the Three-Tails’ power.
• Kisame used Water Release: Great Waterfall to clear a path and flee, and Obito blocked Yagura with Wood Release.

Obito escaped Kirigakure after Yagura broke free of his control, and Yagura made Zabuza the Fifth Mizukage. Naruto returned to Amegakure while Obito replaced his damaged Sharingan and reunited with Kisame, whose doubts about Obito’s identity remained.

• Obito used Izanagi to survive Isobu’s exploding Tailed Beast Bomb, then escaped after Kisame got away.
• Yagura returned to normal and, at Naruto’s direction, named Zabuza the Fifth Mizukage, with Mei Terumi accepting an elder position.
• Naruto placed a Teleportation Device near Kirigakure, returned to Amegakure, and planned to send Shisui or Itachi to establish a base in the Land of Water.
• Obito replaced his ruined Sharingan with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and used a Revival Coin before seeking out Kisame.
• Kisame questioned whether Obito was really Madara Uchiha, then said he followed him because he wanted to see the Real World Obito had described.

Obito brought Kisame to Amegakure to join the Akatsuki, but Naruto, disguised as Mei Zheren, arranged for Kisame to become his partner instead. Naruto took Kisame to the Base, where he learned that Jiraiya had joined the Revolutionary Movement after studying red thought.

• Obito introduced Kisame Hoshigaki to Konan as a Kage Level rogue ninja seeking to join the Akatsuki.
• Obito asked for Kisame to partner with Mei Zheren, and Naruto arrived in disguise to accept the partnership.
• Konan assigned Kisame to Mei Zheren, and Naruto told Kisame he would help him find where he truly belonged.
• Naruto took Kisame to the Base, where they saw Jiraiya leading children on a run and met Shisui Uchiha.
• Shisui explained that Jiraiya had infiltrated the Library, studied red thought, and decided to join the Revolutionary Movement.

Naruto brought Kisame to the Base, where Kisame read about red thought and came to believe that changing the Shinobi World required changing how people thought. The chapter left Kisame embracing the idea of becoming a revolutionary.

• Shisui praised red thought to Naruto, who agreed that it had proved its power.
• Kisame asked to read about red thought, and Shisui led him to the library while Naruto returned to his original appearance and joined Jiraiya's exercises.
• Itachi told Jiraiya that Naruto had first taught them red thought, and Jiraiya concluded that Minato must have influenced his son.
• Kisame read introductory books on red thought for several hours and reconsidered the world's problems and his own beliefs.
• Kisame decided that changing the Shinobi World would require changing everyone's thinking, and he began to see himself as a revolutionary.

Naruto revealed that the Masked Man was Obito Uchiha and explained his supposed condition of chuunibyou to Kisame, Itachi, Shisui, and Jiraiya. After Kisame chose to leave the Akatsuki and stay with them, Naruto sent Shisui to put the Land of Water's Daimyo under genjutsu as they planned to establish a base there.

• Kisame asked to stay with Naruto's group and said he would not return to the Akatsuki.
• Kisame reasoned that the Masked Man was not truly Madara, and Naruto revealed that he was Obito Uchiha.
• Naruto described chuunibyou as a dangerous condition when it affected powerful people, and warned Itachi that Sasuke might develop it.
• Itachi decided to bring Sasuke to Naruto for ideological education, while Jiraiya considered whether Orochimaru had chuunibyou.
• Naruto told Shisui to travel to the Land of Water and put its Daimyo under genjutsu, and the group discussed building a base there.