Chapter Summaries

Momochi Zabuza explained the unnamed organization’s factions, influence, and unstable leadership to Namikaze Minato, who had just joined it. Minato learned that his son Uzumaki Naruto had been placed in Uchiha Itachi’s faction, while Orochimaru’s possible entry risked angering Senju Tobirama.

• Momochi Zabuza told Namikaze Minato that the organization had no name and described its three main factions: Uchiha Itachi’s, Senju Tobirama’s, and Kisame Hoshigaki’s.
• Momochi Zabuza explained that Senju Tobirama managed the organization’s daily affairs and that it pursued Orochimaru’s bases and the Akatsuki, though it might disband after Tobirama’s death.
• Namikaze Minato said Orochimaru intended to join, and Momochi Zabuza warned that Senju Tobirama hated him for using Impure World Reincarnation.
• Momochi Zabuza told Namikaze Minato that Uchiha Itachi had registered Uzumaki Naruto as an intern, placing him in Itachi’s faction.
• Namikaze Minato dismissed the warning that he might compete with his son for missions, while Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Itachi, and Kisame Hoshigaki argued over Konoha’s control.

Gato hired Team Seven to escort him to the Land of Hot Water, but Tsunade discovered he was wanted by Kirigakure. Tsunade left the decision to Team Seven, while Sarutobi Hiruzen objected to her handling of the problem so casually.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Team Seven a B-rank mission to escort Gato, and Gato demanded that the children call him Lord Gato.
• Hatake Kakashi questioned whether Naruto should be sent away, but Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted the mission would help him grow.
• Tsunade revealed that Kirigakure had identified Gato as a wanted criminal and asked Konoha to help capture him.
• Tsunade decided to send Team Seven the intelligence and let them choose how to proceed, prompting Sarutobi Hiruzen to protest.
• In a comedic exchange, Gato asked Uchiha Itachi and then Konan to help him attack the Land of Waves, but Konan demanded six hundred billion explosive tags.

Senju Tobirama sent Namikaze Minato to intercept Team Seven and help pursue Gato, while Kakashi led the team toward Yugakure despite worrying about a clash with Kirigakure. Momochi Zabuza and Haku ambushed them in the mist, leaving Kakashi to confront the reason a Kirigakure swordsman was hunting Gato.

• Senju Tobirama ordered Namikaze Minato to intercept Team Seven, and Minato brought Momochi Zabuza and Haku along.
• Kakashi urged the resting Team Seven to continue toward Yugakure before Kirigakure's ninja could catch up, despite wishing to abandon the mission.
• Namikaze Minato, Momochi Zabuza, and Haku waited at Yugakure's border and planned to demand Gato from Kakashi.
• Momochi Zabuza used Hidden Mist Jutsu to surround Team Seven and challenged Kakashi over accepting Gato's commission.
• Kakashi recognized Momochi Zabuza, while Second Pillar recalled that Zabuza had visited his brother with Kisame Hoshigaki.

Team Seven fought Zabuza Momochi and Haku after negotiations failed, but Namikaze Minato appeared, seized Gato, and revealed himself to Kakashi as the Fourth Hokage. Naruto and Kakashi were stunned by Minato’s return, while Sasuke prepared to confront him.

• Kakashi tried to negotiate with Zabuza Momochi, but Zabuza attacked Sasuke with Kubikiribōchō.
• Haku used Water Release and Ice Release to flood and freeze the forest, but Naruto and Sasuke countered his attacks.
• Sasuke opened the Sixth Gate and used Morning Peacock to defeat Haku and drive back Zabuza.
• Namikaze Minato appeared beside Gato, took him away, and then returned to check on Haku.
• Kakashi recognized Minato as the Fourth Hokage, and Naruto realized that his father had appeared again.

Sasori of the Red Sands, Jiraiya, and Second Pillar confronted Orochimaru near the Heaven and Earth Bridge. Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra began to surface, but Second Pillar forced it back before challenging Orochimaru to a fight.

• Second Pillar reflected on how Naruto had persuaded Sasori of the Red Sands to surrender, while he himself struggled to argue effectively.
• Twelve days later, Naruto met Sasori of the Red Sands near the Heaven and Earth Bridge, and Second Pillar questioned Sasori’s claim that he controlled Kabuto Yakushi.
• Jiraiya assigned the group’s tasks and warned Naruto not to act without orders, while Sasori promised to protect him.
• Sasori began extracting information from the disguised Kabuto Yakushi, but Jiraiya sensed Orochimaru nearby and confronted him.
• Second Pillar revealed himself to Orochimaru, and Naruto’s anger caused the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to emerge.
• Second Pillar used his Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan to make the Nine-Tails’ Chakra retreat, then turned to challenge Orochimaru.

Second Pillar confronted Orochimaru at the Heaven and Earth Bridge, revealing the Rinnegan and overwhelming Orochimaru’s allies with his strength. After defeating Manda and injuring Orochimaru, Sasuke left him unable to continue fighting.

• Orochimaru recognized Second Pillar’s Rinnegan, and Sasuke ordered Hiruko aside before striking Yakushi Kabuto and dragging him back with Banshō Ten'in.
• Sasuke brought up Kabuto’s adoptive mother, Yakushi Nonō, then sent Kabuto to speak with Naruto about his place in Konoha.
• Sasuke confronted Orochimaru, described his knowledge of the Curse Marks, and criticized Orochimaru’s cunning fighting style.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, but Sasuke manifested Susanoo and cut off the giant snake’s head.
• Orochimaru attacked Sasuke with a Kusanagi Sword from a snake head, but Sasuke dodged and seized him, leaving Orochimaru’s failing body sprawled on the ground.

Sasuke defeated Orochimaru with Planetary Devastation and Daytime Tiger, then led the group to one of Orochimaru’s lairs. There they encountered another Sasuke, a rogue ninja who challenged the Sasuke traveling with them.

• Orochimaru transformed into an Eight-Headed Serpent, but Sasuke sealed him with Planetary Devastation and shattered the stone sphere with Daytime Tiger.
• Jiraiya mourned his old friend Orochimaru, while Sasuke said he had wanted to kill him for a long time.
• Kabuto Yakushi surrendered and guided Sasuke, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Sasori of the Red Sands to Orochimaru’s lair.
• The group discovered a shadowy rogue ninja Sasuke inside the lair, and Kabuto and Naruto were shocked to see two Sasukes.
• Rogue Ninja Sasuke challenged the Sasuke in the ANBU uniform, who privately mocked his opponent’s choice of techniques.

Second Pillar overwhelmed rogue ninja Sasuke and mocked his weak Sharingan, training, and Cursed Seal while Naruto and Jiraiya watched. When Sasuke transformed to attack, Second Pillar began absorbing the Cursed Seal’s energy.

• Second Pillar dodged rogue ninja Sasuke’s genjutsu and sword attack, then knocked him down with a series of blows.
• Uzumaki Naruto tried to protect rogue ninja Sasuke, but Second Pillar warned Kurama, causing the Nine-Tails Chakra around Naruto to recede.
• Second Pillar taunted rogue ninja Sasuke about his abilities and compared his training unfavorably with his own.
• Rogue ninja Sasuke activated his Cursed Seal and grew wing-like claws from his back.
• Second Pillar condemned the Cursed Seal as a crude use of natural energy and used Sealing Technique Absorption on one of its wings.

Second Pillar drained Rogue Sasuke’s power but agreed to leave him alone after Uzumaki Naruto defended him. After learning Karin managed Orochimaru’s northern hideout, Second Pillar flew ahead to Kusagakure, where the others found the village destroyed and its people dead.

• Second Pillar absorbed Rogue Sasuke’s curse mark and Chakra, but Uzumaki Naruto stood between them and insisted Sasuke was his friend.
• Yakushi Kabuto explained that Karin managed Orochimaru’s northern hideout and had been mistreated for her healing ability.
• Second Pillar recalled Karin as a powerful rival from another world and flew to Kusagakure in his Susanoo.
• Jiraiya, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Rogue Sasuke, and Yakushi Kabuto reached Kusagakure and found the village reduced to ruins, with bodies scattered throughout.
• Second Pillar said he had extracted the villagers’ souls to examine their memories and claimed there had not been a single innocent person in the village.

Second Pillar destroyed Kusagakure with a meteor after killing its people, then arrived at the northern hideout and found Karin recognizing that he was not the Sasuke she knew. He opened the Eighth Gate and challenged her to fight, leaving Karin fearing that his punch could kill her.

• Second Pillar explained that he had killed Kusagakure's people after reading their memories and judging them guilty.
• Second Pillar summoned a meteor with Tengai Shinsei and flattened Kusagakure to erase the village's traces.
• Jiraiya feared that Second Pillar was an uncontrollable disaster, while the rogue Sasuke hoped to grow stronger by allying with him.
• At the northern hideout, Karin hugged Second Pillar but sensed that his Chakra differed from the Sasuke she knew.
• Second Pillar opened the Eighth Gate and activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode before challenging Karin to fight.

Second Pillar killed Karin with a punch, then used the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect her, worsening his own fatal injuries. He tried to draw out the Sage of Six Paths and vanished into the space between life and death, where the Sage finally confronted him.

• Second Pillar struck Karin down, and Yakushi Kabuto questioned why he had destroyed Kusagakure for her only to kill her himself.
• Second Pillar refused Yakushi Kabuto's medical treatment and used the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to bring Karin back to life, further damaging his body.
• Second Pillar grabbed rogue ninja Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto with Banshō Ten'in to test whether the Sage of Six Paths would appear, then released them.
• Second Pillar warned that his brother would destroy the world if he died, before suddenly vanishing.
• The Sage of Six Paths appeared in the space between life and death and called Indra from another world insane.

Second Pillar recovered with Otsutsuki Hagoromo’s help and returned to the world where Orochimaru’s hideout had been raided. He sent fugitive Sasuke toward Akatsuki as a spy, then watched him leave, confident Uchiha Itachi would not kill his younger brother.

• Otsutsuki Hagoromo healed Second Pillar and warned him not to act recklessly, while Second Pillar asked to use the Ten-Tails as a way to return to his world.
• Second Pillar returned to reality as the group prepared to take Orochimaru’s captured people and resources back to Konoha.
• Second Pillar revealed that he came from another world where the Uchiha clan thrived and Uchiha Itachi was Konoha’s Fifth Hokage.
• Second Pillar offered fugitive Sasuke power and ordered him to report Akatsuki’s tailed-beast hunt, and Sasuke accepted despite Naruto’s objections.
• Jiraiya let Sasuke go, and Second Pillar said Uchiha Itachi would not be able to hurt his younger brother.

Sasuke ambushed Killer B in the Land of Lightning to seize the Eight-Tails, using the Flying Thunder God Technique and Susanoo to overpower him. The battle escalated as Gyuki took control, but Sasuke’s tactics left Killer B and the Eight-Tails in danger.

• Sasuke surprised Killer B in Cloud-Ravine Gorge, marked him with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and demanded the Eight-Tails.
• Killer B recognized the technique from Namikaze Minato’s battle with him and A, then challenged Sasuke with seven ninja blades.
• Sasuke summoned Complete Body Susanoo, and Killer B tested its armor with his blades while Gyuki urged him to flee.
• Gyuki took over Killer B’s body and began forming a Tailed Beast Ball, but Sasuke used Amenotejikara to switch places with the Eight-Tails and cut several of its tails.
• Sasuke warned that he had to end the fight quickly because Kumogakure was nearby, while Killer B tried to negotiate after seeing Susanoo’s enormous sword.

Second Pillar captured Killer B and the Akatsuki scrambled to respond to the loss of the Eight-Tails. Back in Konoha, he revived Orochimaru to learn about the Reaper Death Seal and warned Team Seven that the true avengers were coming.

• Second Pillar defeated Gyūki, captured Killer B, and left the Valley of Clouds and Lightning as Kumogakure lost both its tailed beasts to him and the Akatsuki.
• Black Zetsu realized the missing Eight-Tails could disrupt the sealing plan, and the masked man ordered Nagato to attack Konoha while Itachi tested Second Pillar.
• Second Pillar used Chakra to revive Orochimaru from Mitaraishi Anko’s cursed seal while Team Seven confronted him in Konoha’s back mountain.
• Orochimaru admitted he had researched the Reaper Death Seal and revealed that it held Konoha’s successive Hokage.
• Second Pillar rejected Kakashi’s attempt to stop him and warned Team Seven that avengers were coming, including the true owner of Kakashi’s hidden eye.

Second Pillar used Orochimaru’s ritual to revive the past Hokage, then steered the rogue ninja Sasuke toward choosing revenge and taking control of Konoha. The chapter left Naruto’s attempt to reach Sasuke disrupted by a crow carrying Itachi’s Kotoamatsukami Sharingan, which Second Pillar destroyed.

• Orochimaru summoned the Reaper, reclaimed his soul, and revived himself using a prepared corpse.
• Orochimaru performed the Impure World Reincarnation, and Second Pillar restrained the revived Hokage with black rods before the Sage of Six Paths took Tobirama away.
• Second Pillar sealed Namikaze Minato in a coffin and said he was waiting for the Akatsuki to bring him the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Second Pillar met the rogue ninja Sasuke at the Uchiha compound and urged him to pursue revenge, take control of Konoha, and honor his brother’s wishes.
• Naruto arrived to call out to Sasuke, but a crow carrying Itachi’s Kotoamatsukami Sharingan emerged from his mouth, and Second Pillar cut it in two.

Second Pillar joined the Akatsuki assault on Konoha and quickly defeated several of Pain’s bodies before killing Konan’s paper clone. As Nagato prepared to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Second Pillar turned toward the attackers at the village gate and confronted Kisame Hoshigaki.

• Second Pillar destroyed the crow carrying Kotoamatsukami and argued with Rogue Sasuke about Itachi’s plan for the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The Akatsuki launched a coordinated attack on Konoha, and Second Pillar destroyed Asura Path and Preta Path Pain.
• Second Pillar pulled Konan’s paper clone toward him with Banshō Ten'in and broke its neck, while Nagato prepared to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Konan warned Nagato that Second Pillar had turned away from the Pain rendezvous point to attack Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Second Pillar intercepted Hidan’s attack, took his scythe, and cut open his neck before confronting Kisame Hoshigaki.

Namikaze Minato joined Team 7 on its escort mission to Yugakure, where he explained his continued presence and reassured Kakashi about Obito. After the mission concluded, Minato revealed he had marked Naruto and checked his seal, while Zabuza took Gato back to Kirigakure.

• Minato told Kakashi that Orochimaru had revived him with Impure World Reincarnation and that Itachi had rescued him.
• Minato praised Naruto and Sasuke, while Kakashi explained Karin's influence on Naruto and Sasuke's exceptional strength.
• Team 7 arrived in Yugakure, where signs barred Tsunade and crows from local taverns and gambling houses.
• Zabuza knocked Gato unconscious, then took him away with Haku after Kakashi confirmed the escort mission was complete.
• Minato told Zabuza that he had placed a Flying Thunder God mark on Naruto and checked the Nine-Tails' seal, and he said he could not stay with Naruto under the current circumstances.

Uchiha Itachi prepared Konoha for the joint Chunin Exams and learned that Temari and Kankuro had come seeking help with suspicions about Orochimaru’s control of Sunagakure. He agreed to protect them, despite knowing his decision could provoke Orochimaru.

• Uchiha Itachi ordered the hospital to prepare a ward for Sarutobi Hiruzen and assigned ANBU to guard him, then appointed Karin as the Forest of Death examiner for the joint Chunin Exams.
• Team Seven encountered the visiting Kirigakure team, and Sasuke taunted Momochi Zabuza before Hozuki Mangetsu stopped Zabuza from drawing his sword.
• Temari and Kankuro asked how they could meet Uchiha Itachi privately and revealed that they were the Fourth Kazekage’s children seeking answers about a five-year-old case.
• Temari told Uchiha Itachi that she and Kankuro suspected Orochimaru had killed their father and Gaara, and said they had escaped Sunagakure during the Chunin Exams.
• Uchiha Itachi promised to protect Temari and Kankuro, while Orochimaru accused him of trying to gain leverage over Sunagakure and threatened to appoint a Fifth Kazekage.

Uchiha Itachi prepared Konoha for the joint Chunin Exams and planned a Five Kage Summit after the exams and his Hokage succession ceremony. At home, he learned Sasuke’s team had defeated Momochi Zabuza on a mission and promised to cheer for him.

• Temari chose to stay in Konoha, and Uchiha Itachi agreed that Karin would arrange refuge for her in the Land of Waves after the exams.
• Uchiha Itachi confirmed Teams Three, Seven, Eight, and Ten for the joint Chunin Exams, which would begin in two days.
• Uchiha Itachi ordered Konoha’s defenses to use rotating shifts and began preparations for his delayed Hokage succession ceremony after the exams.
• Uchiha Itachi announced that he would convene a Five Kage Summit and planned to reclaim the tailed beasts and confront Akatsuki.
• At home, Sasuke told Uchiha Itachi that his team had defeated Momochi Zabuza during a B-rank mission.
• Uchiha Itachi promised to watch Sasuke compete in the third stage of the Chunin Exams.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki watched Inuzuka Hana administer the Chunin Exam’s written test, where her crow Kitahara and the Haimaru brothers aggressively caught cheaters. The first round eliminated many genin, including Hana’s brother Kiba, while Sasuke remained under Kitahara’s suspicious scrutiny.

• Uchiha Itachi told Kisame Hoshigaki that Orochimaru controlled Sunagakure and that he had agreed to monitor Orochimaru’s research rather than destroy his influence there.
• Inuzuka Hana began the written test, and the Haimaru brothers dragged out genin they caught cheating as frustrated candidates streamed from the examination hall.
• Uchiha Itachi questioned Hana about the high elimination rate, and she explained that the remaining examinees would have a final chance to gather intelligence.
• Inuzuka Hana learned that Kiba had used Akamaru to cheat and had been eliminated, while Kitahara continued to suspect Sasuke.