Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Itachi’s squad defeated and sealed Huoguang, an Iwagakure ninja resurrected by Orochimaru, then prepared to infiltrate Amegakure. Yamato built the squad a house for the night while Itachi tended to Kitahara, the crow traveling with him on his mother’s orders.

• Orochimaru had Yakushi Kabuto excavate the Kannabi Bridge site and recover the remains of two Iwagakure jonin who had once fought Kakashi and Obito.
• Huoguang confronted Itachi’s squad, but Itachi’s Yin Fire Dragon broke through his Earth Flow Wall, and the squad sealed him with a scroll.
• Yamato explained that Huoguang had fought Kakashi at Kannabi Bridge, where Obito had supposedly died, prompting his teammates to exchange knowing glances.
• Itachi noted that Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation army had grown and ordered the squad to rest before entering the Land of Rain and infiltrating Amegakure.
• A Mount Myoboku messenger frog swallowed the sealed Iwa ninja, and Yamato used Wood Release to build a two-story house for the squad.
• Itachi set out a mattress and blanket for Kitahara and explained that his mother had told him to take care of the crow on missions.

Yamato encountered the reanimated Dan Katō, who revealed Orochimaru’s plans and offered Konoha intelligence. Meanwhile, Orochimaru left Amegakure with a group of children, confident that Dan’s betrayal had gone as he expected.

• Yamato spotted Dan Katō’s soul body and learned that Orochimaru had revived him and ordered him to delay Konoha’s squad for two days.
• Dan told Yamato how to seal his body if he lost control and shared Orochimaru’s location in Amegakure, his movements, and his search for powerful remains.
• Yamato woke Kisame and the others to report Dan’s intelligence, and Itachi led them outside to talk after Guy’s chakra rampage damaged the house.
• At the Land of Rain’s border, Orochimaru said Dan had acted as he predicted and warned that Itachi might grow suspicious if Dan had too much freedom.
• Hidan and the other children offered to kill whoever had betrayed Orochimaru, but Orochimaru questioned what had attracted Tsunade to Dan.

Uchiha Itachi and his allies encountered Dan Katō, whose Spirit Transformation Technique was disrupted as Orochimaru took control of him. Itachi restrained Dan’s soul while Yamato, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Might Guy went to find and seal Dan’s body, and Itachi warned Orochimaru that using Chakra could wake Kitahara.

• Dan Katō asked Uchiha Itachi how Tsunade and Shizune were doing before Orochimaru seized control of Dan’s soul.
• Orochimaru mocked Dan’s loyalty to Konoha and attacked Itachi, Yamato, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Might Guy with the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Yamato said Dan had told him where his body was hidden and instructed the group to seal it if he lost control.
• Itachi bound Dan’s soul with Sage Art: Blaze Release: Yin Flame Binding while Yamato, Kisame, and Guy went to find Dan’s body.
• Itachi warned Orochimaru that Kitahara was sleeping nearby and could sense his Chakra, then asked whether Orochimaru had sent Dan because he wanted to see Tsunade.

Uchiha Itachi destroyed Dan Katō’s soul, then rushed to help Yamato and Might Guy, who had encountered Kabuto Yakushi and an Impure World Reincarnation of Senju Hashirama. Yamato and Might Guy were forced onto the defensive by Hashirama’s Wood Release, leaving Kisame Hoshigaki to consider calling on Senju Tobirama or Kitahara.

• Orochimaru revealed that Dan Katō’s body was a trap and that Kabuto Yakushi had retrieved materials guarded by a powerful shinobi.
• Uchiha Itachi used Sage Art: Blaze Release: Yin Fire Dragon to destroy Dan Katō’s soul, and Dan shared his final words about Konoha’s Will of Fire.
• At the Land of Rain border, Yamato and Might Guy confronted Kabuto Yakushi after retrieving a box and scroll from Dan Katō’s body.
• Kabuto summoned Senju Hashirama, who used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to overwhelm Yamato and Might Guy.
• Kisame Hoshigaki considered using the Flying Thunder God marks to summon Senju Tobirama or wake Kitahara.

Yamato, Might Guy, and Kisame Hoshigaki struggled to escape Senju Hashirama’s overwhelming Wood Release after he trapped them in a vast forest. Guy got Yamato out while Kisame stayed behind to fight, but Hashirama’s techniques drained Kisame’s water ninjutsu and left him in a dire position.

• Yamato used Wood Release to defend the group from Senju Hashirama’s Deep Forest Emergence as Kisame Hoshigaki urged them to retreat.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate and used Morning Peacock to blast a path through the forest, but Hashirama’s Wood Human Technique struck him down.
• Kisame stopped Guy from charging back in and volunteered to hold off Hashirama while Guy carried Yamato away and promised to bring Itachi back.
• Kisame attacked Hashirama with Great Waterfall Technique and Water Dragon Bullet Technique, but Hashirama’s forest and wooden dragon absorbed their Chakra.

Senju Tobirama and Kisame Hoshigaki fought the reincarnated Senju Hashirama, while Tobirama’s plan was to make Orochimaru release enough of Hashirama’s power for him to break free. As the battle intensified, Uchiha Itachi and the Akatsuki rushed toward the battlefield, with Pain sending Konan and the Deva Path ahead.

• Kisame Hoshigaki used the Flying Thunder God mark on Samehada to summon Senju Tobirama, who shielded them from Hashirama’s Wood Release with a Water Wall.
• Orochimaru released more of Hashirama’s power, awakening his will, and Hashirama recognized the familiar Water Release before Tobirama revealed himself.
• Tobirama told Kisame to fight alongside him until Hashirama broke free of Orochimaru’s control, while Kisame questioned whether they could force Orochimaru to release Hashirama’s full strength.
• Tobirama decided they only needed to hold out until sunrise, when he could use Flying Thunder God to call for support; Kitahara was being carried toward the battlefield.
• Uchiha Itachi sensed the powerful fighters through Sage Mode as seven Akatsuki members raced toward the battle.
• Pain ordered Konan and the Deva Path to go ahead while the other Pain bodies followed.

Senju Tobirama, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Kabuto Yakushi fought Senju Hashirama while Akatsuki leaders confronted Kabuto over Orochimaru’s apparent defection. The battle exposed Akatsuki’s internal fracture, and Uchiha Itachi arrived to treat Kisame as Tobirama prepared to continue.

• Senju Hashirama used Deep Forest Emergence to exploit Senju Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God marks, but Tobirama counterattacked with the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique.
• Senju Hashirama shielded himself with Fivefold Rashomon, while Kisame Hoshigaki and Kabuto Yakushi were injured by the fight’s attacks and blast waves.
• Konan questioned Kabuto Yakushi about Orochimaru’s defection, and Kabuto revealed that Senju Hashirama was the First Hokage and claimed Orochimaru had no reason to stay with an organization that could not win.
• Pain attacked Kabuto with Banshō Ten'in, but Senju Hashirama restrained Pain with tree roots, and Kabuto explained that Hashirama possessed the Sage’s Body.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived and treated Kisame, while Senju Tobirama noted Akatsuki’s internal conflict and Kisame privately remarked that Tobirama had his own schemes.

Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi feared Senju Hashirama might escape Orochimaru’s control and threaten both the Akatsuki and their organization. Hashirama sensed Uchiha Madara’s aura in Pain’s Rinnegan, and Orochimaru warned Kabuto that he was losing control as Pain assembled the Six Paths.

• Kisame Hoshigaki suspected Senju Tobirama had resurrected Senju Hashirama to eliminate threats to peace, and he worried Hashirama might turn on them.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki speculated that the materials Orochimaru sought could be used to resurrect Uchiha Madara.
• Senju Hashirama recognized Madara’s aura in Pain’s Rinnegan and erupted with Chakra after Pain unleashed Shinra Tensei.
• Orochimaru warned Kabuto to leave the battlefield because he was about to lose control of Senju Hashirama.
• Pain pushed Konan away and gathered the Six Paths of Pain around himself as the confrontation with Hashirama approached.

Senju Hashirama overwhelmed the Six Paths of Pain and demanded to know where Madara was, while the crow joined the battle and attacked Pain. Hashirama then helped Pain withstand the crow’s barrage of Tailed Beast Bombs, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Senju Hashirama blocked the Asura Path’s missiles, defeated the Animal Path’s summoning beasts with Wood Release, and pressed the Six Paths of Pain across the battlefield.
• Konan prepared to assist Pain, but Hashirama restrained the Deva Path and demanded to know where Madara was and where Pain’s eyes came from.
• The Animal Path sent the other Pains away, and the Deva Path used Super Shinra Tensei to clear Hashirama’s forest before preparing Chibaku Tensei.
• The crow seized the Deva Path, broke its black rod, and forced the Pains to replenish their Chakra with a Tailed Beast Bomb as more bombs appeared overhead.
• Hashirama joined the fight and used a Wood Golem to catch the falling Tailed Beast Bombs.

Kitahara and Senju Hashirama fought in a devastating clash, with Kitahara learning and using Hashirama’s Sage Art to overwhelm him. As Hashirama faced defeat, he asked Pain to tell him about Madara.

• Kitahara fired a barrage of Tailed Beast Bombs, and Senju Hashirama caught them with his wooden statue while the onlookers marveled at his strength.
• Senju Tobirama claimed Hashirama would defeat Kitahara, but Kitahara’s relentless attacks forced Hashirama to make the wooden statue dodge and use Sage Art: Gate of the Great God.
• Senju Tobirama warned Hashirama that Kitahara could learn forbidden techniques after seeing them once, and Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi decided to wait for the battle’s victor.
• Kitahara tore free of Hashirama’s torii gates and used Sage Art: Gate of the Great God to pin the wooden statue, causing its stored Tailed Beast Bombs to explode and destroy it.
• Senju Hashirama protected Pain from the blasts and, as his defenses failed, asked Pain to tell him about Madara before he fell.

Pain fled after telling Senju Hashirama that Uchiha Madara was still alive, while Hashirama revealed he already knew about Madara and prepared to face Kitahara’s Peace Tailed Beast Bomb. Hashirama summoned True Several Thousand Hands, and Black Zetsu and White Zetsu realized they could use Impure World Reincarnation to revive Madara at his peak.

• Pain decided the Akatsuki still had enough hidden strength to continue its plans, then retreated while telling Hashirama that Madara was alive.
• Hashirama said he already knew about Madara, but Kitahara interrupted his thoughts by preparing a Peace Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Tobirama warned Hashirama that Kitahara’s attack could destroy an Impure World Reincarnation body and prevent it from reforming freely.
• Hashirama summoned Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, stunning the shinobi watching the battlefield.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu concluded that using the Demonic Statue’s shell as Impure World Reincarnation material could revive Madara at his peak.

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched Orochimaru's revived Senju Hashirama fight Kitahara, hoping to judge whether the crow threatened Uchiha Madara. Kitahara overwhelmed Hashirama, and Senju Tobirama tried to redirect his brother toward joining Kitahara's organization as the Akatsuki continued falling apart.

• Black Zetsu stopped White Zetsu from fleeing so they could assess Kitahara's strength against Senju Hashirama.
• Kitahara canceled his Tailed Beast Ball, enlarged the Crow Tengu with natural energy, and faced Hashirama's Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformed Buddha.
• Uchiha Itachi prepared to help Kitahara, but Kisame Hoshigaki handed him a scroll and box before Kitahara began tearing apart the Buddha statue's arms.
• Hashirama asked Tobirama to identify Kitahara, and Tobirama said Kitahara was the fourth great sage and the leader of their organization.
• Tobirama offered to teach Hashirama how to release the Impure World Reincarnation, but Hashirama refused to leave while Madara remained alive.
• Tobirama told Itachi and Kisame that he would have the organization deal with Madara, prompting Kisame to question Tobirama's loyalty before asking for his orders.

Senju Tobirama tried to stop Senju Hashirama from seeking Uchiha Madara, but Hashirama instead learned that Uchiha Itachi had Tsunade’s old necklace. Itachi told Hashirama that Tsunade was in the Land of Waves and urged him to visit her.

• Senju Tobirama argued that the dead should not interfere in the living world, while Senju Hashirama insisted that Madara’s presence and Rinnegan worried him.
• Senju Tobirama told Senju Hashirama that the Akatsuki could send Uchiha Madara’s soul away and dismissed the masked impostor as an evil Uchiha.
• Senju Hashirama questioned Uchiha Itachi about Konoha, the Hokage, and the Uchiha clan, then recognized his necklace as one he had made for Mito before Tsunade took it.
• Uchiha Itachi explained that Lady Tsunade had given him the necklace and told Senju Hashirama that she had suffered many hardships.
• Uchiha Itachi told Senju Hashirama that Tsunade was in the Land of Waves and encouraged him to go see her.

Senju Tobirama learned that Tsunade had won a huge sum at his Land of Waves casino and went to see her with Senju Hashirama. They found her drunk and mourning Nawaki, leaving Tobirama holding back his anger.

• Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi discussed the Akatsuki’s losses and their next move after Orochimaru abandoned the organization.
• Senju Tobirama brought Senju Hashirama to his residence, where Haku reported that Tsunade had won a huge sum at the casino.
• Senju Tobirama blamed Senju Hashirama for encouraging Tsunade’s gambling and decided to visit her, recognizing Uchiha Itachi’s plan to draw her into the organization.
• Senju Tobirama and Senju Hashirama found Tsunade asleep amid wine bottles, and she murmured Nawaki’s name as she cried.

Tsunade woke to find Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama resurrected, and they questioned her about Konoha and Uchiha Itachi's prospects as the next Hokage. Tobirama then warned her about a supposedly evil organization that he had infiltrated, while Hashirama hinted that it might be righteous.

• Tsunade woke hungover and learned that Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama had returned through the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Tsunade told her grandfathers that Uchiha Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and was considered a potential successor to the Hokage.
• Senju Tobirama objected to Itachi becoming Hokage but admitted that Konoha had no more outstanding candidate.
• Senju Tobirama said that Kitahara and Kisame Hoshigaki had created an evil organization and that Itachi had joined it.
• Senju Hashirama suggested that the organization might actually be righteous, recalling Tobirama's plan to occupy Amegakure as its base.

Tsunade agreed to stay in the Land of Waves after Senju Tobirama recruited her into the organization. In the Land of Rain, Uchiha Itachi’s team planned to investigate Akatsuki and Orochimaru, while Konan pressed the masked “Madara” to fill Orochimaru’s place.

• Senju Tobirama explained that the organization needed stronger members who could help Konoha, and Tsunade agreed to observe the Land of Waves.
• Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Yamato, and Might Guy discussed Akatsuki’s scattered forces and planned to investigate its members and ties to Amegakure.
• Uchiha Itachi warned the team to avoid starting a war and said they also needed to find Orochimaru and investigate his Impure World Reincarnation army.
• Konan questioned whether the masked “Madara” was powerful enough to replace Orochimaru, while Zetsu doubted that she and Nagato were truly counting on him.

Konan assigned Akatsuki members to capture the tailed beasts while explaining the organization’s shortage of manpower and need to strengthen the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. She asked the masked man and Zetsu to help defend Amegakure from Uchiha Itachi’s approaching squad, leaving the masked man wanting to remove his mask.

• Konan urged Zetsu to join a combat team, and Zetsu volunteered to capture the One-Tails so Sasori could be assigned elsewhere.
• Konan outlined Akatsuki’s targets: Sasori would pursue the Two-Tails, the masked man would handle the reborn Three-Tails, and Konan and Pain would target the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.
• Konan explained that Akatsuki needed to capture tailed beasts quickly to power the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but Orochimaru’s defection had left the organization short-handed.
• The masked man agreed to proceed with Konan’s plan while privately considering a new plan of his own after Pain’s defeat.
• Konan asked the masked man and Zetsu to help drive away Uchiha Itachi’s squad, which was heading for Amegakure.

Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu tried to persuade Konan to leave Amegakure and continue their plan by promising it could bring back Yahiko and create true peace. Konan demanded proof, so Black Zetsu explained Izanagi and the power of the Rinnegan, leaving her mostly convinced and Obito claiming he wanted Nagato to restore his Sharingan.

• Obito worried that Konan and Nagato would stay in Amegakure and risk ruining his plans after hearing about the crow's victory.
• Obito told Konan the plan could bring back Yahiko and create the Amegakure she wanted, but she rejected the idea and insisted her homeland mattered.
• Konan demanded concrete proof before agreeing to abandon Amegakure or help capture the tailed beasts.
• Black Zetsu explained that Izanagi could alter reality and claimed the Rinnegan and the tailed beasts could create power capable of changing the world.
• Konan watched Obito's reaction and became mostly convinced, while Obito said he wanted Nagato to restore the light to his Sharingan.

Konan returned to Amegakure to direct its panicked evacuation, warning residents that Konoha’s forces could destroy the village. Uchiha Itachi’s squad entered Amegakure in disguise and found the villagers fleeing because they believed Konoha had launched a war, leaving Itachi and his teammates bewildered.

• Nagato agreed to let Konan return to Amegakure and summon her back if danger arose.
• Konan organized Amegakure’s ninja and civilians to evacuate, while genin spread warnings about Konoha’s destructive power.
• Amegakure’s residents fled in fear and argued about who was responsible for the coming war.
• Konan searched the village as the evacuation proceeded slowly and worried that Uchiha Itachi’s squad might already have infiltrated it.
• Uchiha Itachi led Kisame Hoshigaki, Yamato, and Might Guy into Amegakure in disguise, where they discovered the villagers believed Konoha had declared war.

Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Yamato entered Amegakure to gather intelligence while Konan watched them and prepared to protect the village. An orange-haired man suddenly appeared before Konan, leaving her stunned as he greeted her.

• Itachi, Kisame, and Yamato heard increasingly exaggerated rumors about Konoha forces and identified Pain's tower as a likely Akatsuki base.
• Konan spotted the newcomers, recognized them as a threat, and considered delaying them so Amegakure's civilians could escape.
• Kisame speculated that the Akatsuki feared Kitahara, while Itachi defended Kitahara's actions and Kitahara remained ready for danger.
• Kitahara's crow landed near Konan and recognized her, prompting her to scatter into paper airplanes.
• An orange-haired Amegakure ninja attacked Konan's paper forms with Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm, and she reassembled before him.
• The orange-haired man awkwardly greeted Konan, saying, "Konan, long time no see..."