Recaps

The Fourth Mizukage fought Hiruko while Shinnō battled Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza, as Akatsuki’s attack on Kirigakure continued. The chapter left the Fourth Mizukage surrounded by revived test subjects and Mei Terumi questioning Kisame about Yagura’s absence.

• The Fourth Mizukage confronted Hiruko and used his Three-Tails chakra, but Hiruko’s kekkei genkai let him break through the Tailed Beast Cloak.
• The Fourth Mizukage fired a Tailed Beast Bomb that injured Hiruko, then advanced with Kirigakure ANBU to restrain him.
• Hiruko clapped his hands and awakened the Type C Test Subjects, forcing the ANBU to fight them.
• Shinnō stopped fighting Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza after realizing they were supposed to target the Mizukage and Utakata; Hozuki Mangetsu chose to keep fighting for Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi asked Kisame where Yagura had gone, and Kisame said the Fourth Mizukage had left to intercept Akatsuki outside the village.

Mei Terumi and Kisame prepared Kirigakure for another Akatsuki attack while Obito ambushed Ao and targeted Genji to destabilize the village. Mei confronted Obito at Genji’s residence, forcing him to retreat after her corrosive mist began melting his Susanoo.

• Mei Terumi agreed to work with Kisame to protect Kirigakure, and Kisame warned her that Utakata was likely in danger.
• Ao sent a message about the attack on Kirigakure, but Obito destroyed the summoning beast and ambushed him with help from White Zetsu.
• Ao escaped after White Zetsu restrained him and Obito struck him with Wooden Advent, leaving him badly injured and draining his chakra.
• Obito went to Genji’s home intending to make the elder disappear, but found Mei Terumi and Kirigakure’s troops waiting for him.
• Mei Terumi’s corrosive mist began melting Obito’s Susanoo, so he abandoned the attack, threatened that Kirigakure would need a new Mizukage, and warped away.

Mei Terumi searched for the missing Genji after the Masked Man attacked Kirigakure, while Kisame protected Genji and brought him out to reassure villagers. Outside the village, the Fourth Mizukage was about to strike the weakened Hiruko when a space-time distortion appeared, leaving him trapped in an apparent ambush.

• Mei Terumi ordered Chōjūrō and Kirigakure’s forces to search for Genji and protect the villagers.
• Kisame told Genji that the Fourth Mizukage had ordered him to protect him, and Genji went out to reassure the people.
• The Fourth Mizukage and Hiruko continued fighting outside Kirigakure after Hiruko survived two Tailed Beast Bombs but suffered severe injuries.
• As the Fourth Mizukage lunged to strike Hiruko, he froze above altered ground and a swirling space-time distortion appeared.

The Fourth Mizukage fought Obito, but Kamui and the Sharingan gave Obito the advantage. After resisting Obito’s genjutsu with his tailed beast power, Yagura was thrown into the Kamui Dimension, while Shinnō noticed Tobi had arrived at Hiruko’s battle.

• Shinnō watched Hiruko struggle against his opponent and chose not to interfere until he sensed Tobi approaching.
• The Fourth Mizukage attacked Obito with water techniques and coral, but Obito evaded him and trapped him in a vortex.
• The Fourth Mizukage asked Obito why he targeted Kirigakure and the tailed beasts, while Obito hinted that the village was under attack.
• Obito tried to control the Fourth Mizukage with genjutsu, but Yagura’s tailed beast power disrupted it.
• Obito used Susanoo to seize the Fourth Mizukage, then sent him into the Kamui Dimension.

Obito captured the Fourth Mizukage and took Utakata, while Kirigakure learned of the losses from the battle and began facing the consequences. Genji restored order, and Mei Terumi examined a strange corpse that appeared connected to rumors about Hiruko.

• Obito left the captured Fourth Mizukage in the Kamui Dimension, found Utakata, and told Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza that the infiltration mission was over.
• Obito ordered Hozuki Mangetsu to stay in Kirigakure and gather intelligence, then took Utakata away.
• Shinnō treated Hiruko and reported that the Type C Test Subjects could fight at Jonin level but lacked teamwork.
• Orochimaru met Hiruko and Shinnō at a secluded bay and considered whether to use his current body before changing bodies.
• Genji calmed Kirigakure, then learned that the Fourth Mizukage had been captured, Utakata was missing, and many of the Mizukage's ANBU had been killed or wounded.
• An ANBU showed Mei Terumi a corpse containing cells from many ninja and summoning beasts, prompting her to recall rumors about Hiruko.

After Kirigakure lost two jinchūriki, Zou Hyuga read Kisame’s report and considered how the Akatsuki’s growing strength was shifting the Shinobi World. He began training Hanabi to sense natural energy, and her remarkable talent surprised him before Oto Uchiha arrived.

• Small shinobi villages began seeking support from the Five Great Shinobi Villages or Amegakure after news spread that the Akatsuki had taken two jinchūriki from Kirigakure.
• Zou Hyuga read Kisame’s letter, learned that Kisame had protected Genji while Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza remained double agents, and noted Kirigakure had begun choosing its next Mizukage.
• Zou Hyuga replied to Kisame and continued developing his chakra network, which let him remotely grant or withdraw chakra from ninjas controlled through seeds.
• Hanabi visited Zou Hyuga after mastering Gentle Fist, and he took her to a secluded training ground to teach her how to sense natural energy.
• Hanabi gathered natural energy despite her young age, astonishing Zou Hyuga, who wondered whether she might be connected to Hamura.
• Oto Uchiha arrived and asked whether Zou Hyuga was teaching Hanabi senjutsu; he confirmed it and said Hanabi had far more talent for it than Oto.

Zou Hyuga attended a meeting where the Third Hokage revealed that Akatsuki had captured Kirigakure’s Fourth Mizukage and Utakata, and that its strength surpassed Konoha’s. Zou noticed natural energy around Danzo and suspected Danzo was watching him, so he and Oto changed direction to investigate.

• Oto told Zou that the village had called another meeting, and Zou escorted Hanabi back to the Main Family's Old Estate after she nearly collapsed during natural-energy practice.
• The Third Hokage announced that Akatsuki had captured the Fourth Mizukage and Utakata, and Shikaku Nara explained an emergency plan.
• Zou noticed a trace of natural energy around Danzo and saw Danzo watching him with a covetous gaze.
• After the meeting, Zou exchanged pleasantries with Kakashi and the others, then changed direction with Oto after suspecting Danzo was secretly following them.

Danzo watched Oto Uchiha and Zou Hyuga, then returned to Root’s new base near the Valley of the End to test whether its natural energy could advance Wood Release. When the Cold Pond’s water unexpectedly reversed the Root ninja’s transformation into trees, Danzo suspected the place held a secret.

• Danzo worried that Oto Uchiha’s influence and power could eventually threaten his vision of the village, while the Third Hokage suggested that their generation should step down after the Akatsuki conflict.
• Danzo went to Root’s new cavern base near the Valley of the End and ordered hashirama cell transplant recipients to undergo experiments using the area’s natural energy.
• The Root ninja drank water from the Cold Pond, and their bodies began turning green and wooden as Wood Release threatened to consume them.
• The Root ninja started returning to normal before the transformation was complete, and Danzo studied the Cold Pond, suspecting that the place had unusual properties.

Danzo discovered that natural energy could suppress Hashirama cells and began using it himself. Meanwhile, Zou Hyuga sensed someone touching his hidden chakra network and went to investigate with Oto.

• Researchers told Danzo that a mysterious power had stabilized the Hashirama cells in a Root ninja, who demonstrated Wood Release without an immediate backlash.
• Danzo ordered the Root ninja to continue testing, but the ninja was killed when he used Wood Release outside the laboratory's boundaries.
• A second Root ninja suggested the stabilizing power resembled Jiraiya's senjutsu, leading Danzo to suspect it was senjutsu chakra.
• Danzo drank water from the Cold Pond, sensed natural energy, and discovered he could draw on it even after leaving the pond's boundaries.
• Zou Hyuga sensed someone touching his concealed chakra network while shopping with Oto, then took her to investigate the supposed thief.

Zou Hyuga tracked the chakra thief to Danzo, who was secretly using Wood Release and seemed to have connected to the chakra network through Hashirama cells. Rather than confront him, Zou chose to let Danzo keep using a tightly restricted share of the earth veins’ power, then left with Oto Uchiha.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha followed the power thief to a Root Base near the Valley of the End and found Danzo there.
• Danzo used Wood Release to make vines burst from the ground, and Zou suspected he had connected to the chakra network through Hashirama cells.
• Oto Uchiha suggested exposing Danzo’s Hashirama cell experiments, but Zou declined because the Third would likely protect him.
• Zou decided to let Danzo use a small, restricted portion of the earth veins’ power and watch for further developments.
• Oto invited Zou to go shopping for ninja tools, and they left the Valley of the End.

Danzo, emboldened by his new power, proposed sending Root to hunt Akatsuki after the Third Hokage explained that the other villages would not attack Amegakure. Zou Hyuga watched Danzo’s confidence grow and regarded him as a test subject for exploring the Chakra Seed’s potential.

• Danzo assessed his new abilities and decided he could lead Root against Akatsuki, though he acknowledged the Akatsuki Leader’s strength.
• Aburame Ryoma reported that Akatsuki had gone quiet outside the Land of Rain, and Danzo ordered him to keep monitoring its members.
• The Third Hokage told the meeting that Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure would not attack Amegakure, while Tsunade suggested asking Iwagakure for help.
• Danzo proposed hunting isolated Akatsuki members and offered to send Root, drawing surprise from the meeting’s attendees.
• Zou Hyuga judged that Danzo’s recent gains had inflated his ego and continued observing him as a test subject.

Danzo secured permission to hunt Akatsuki and recruit a squad, while Jiraiya and Kakashi visited the comatose Minato and Kushina and learned their souls remained sealed in the God of Death. The chapter ended with Jiraiya sensing something strange about the situation.

• Danzo gained the Third's approval to hunt Akatsuki, provided the Third reviewed any additional recruits.
• The Third questioned Oto Uchiha about Naruto's safety and worried about his own declining strength and Danzo's apparent renewed vitality.
• Kakashi trained with Jiraiya, then asked whether Minato and Kushina had shown signs of waking; Jiraiya said they had not.
• Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the Third visited Minato and Kushina in the underground laboratory, where the Third explained that their souls were sealed inside the God of Death.
• The Third said the Uzumaki Clan had no way to undo the seal and suggested Mount Myōboku's sages or Akatsuki's leader might know a way.
• Jiraiya stepped forward and murmured that something about the situation was strange.

The Third, Jiraiya, and Kakashi discovered that Minato and Kushina had been replaced by replicas and traced the switch to faceless figures resembling Akatsuki members. Meanwhile, Danzo prepared a trap for Kakuzu and Hidan, planning to hunt them with the Wood Release squad.

• Jiraiya noticed that the chakra in Minato and Kushina's cultivation tanks had changed, and Kakashi confirmed that the bodies were replicas.
• Kakashi found footage of faceless figures entering the laboratory on the day of the Masked Man's second attack, leading the Third and Jiraiya to suspect Akatsuki involvement.
• The Third, Jiraiya, and Kakashi left the basement after replacing the replicas, troubled by the possibility that Minato and Kushina might awaken as enemies.
• Danzo reviewed black market bounty records and chose Kakuzu and Hidan as targets because their weaknesses were known and hunting them posed less risk.
• Danzo told Aburame Ryoma that he and the Wood Release squad would handle the operation, using bait to draw Kakuzu and Hidan in.

Kakuzu and Hidan were ambushed by Root at a black market, where Danzo’s trap revealed a force of Wood Release users. After Danzo joined the attack, the injured Immortal Duo faced the assembled Root operatives.

• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived at a Land of Fire black market, where Kakuzu collected a bounty and asked about new missions.
• The black market boss revealed himself as a Root ninja, and an explosion destroyed much of Kakuzu’s money chest.
• Kakuzu and Hidan fought the surrounding Root operatives, discovering that many of them could use Wood Release.
• A concealed attacker struck Kakuzu and sliced off Hidan’s feet, which Kakuzu retrieved and stitched back on.
• Kakuzu recognized their attacker as Danzo, who approached with Root gathered around him.

Danzo used Wood Release to defeat Hidan and drive Kakuzu into a river, then captured and sealed Hidan. He tried to make Hidan reveal Akatsuki intelligence, but Hidan resisted, so Danzo fed him a mysterious seed and left to consider how to use the capture and pursue the other Akatsuki members.

• Danzo unleashed Wood Release, trapping Hidan and striking Kakuzu repeatedly as Kakuzu fled from the Root ninja.
• Kakuzu escaped by disappearing into a large river, while Danzo captured Hidan and ordered his subordinates to seal him.
• Danzo realized his Wood Release consumed too much chakra to match the First Hokage, though he felt he could eventually reach that level.
• Danzo questioned Hidan about the other Akatsuki members, but Hidan remained defiant through interrogation and torture.
• Danzo forced a nutrient-absorbing seed into Hidan, then left him with the Root ninja while considering how to use his capture and hunt the remaining Akatsuki members.

After Danzo returned to Konoha with Hidan captured, the village questioned how he had defeated Akatsuki while Zou Hyuga reported the news to Nagato and considered the growing disruption to his business. The chapter leaves Zou preparing to train Hanabi, Hinata, and Neji as he senses Karma nearing its next stage.

• Kakuzu escaped the river after losing three hearts, killed a nobleman's convoy to replace one of them, and headed for Akatsuki's base to report to Pain.
• Danzo's capture of Hidan made him a celebrated hero in Konoha, while the Third Hokage planned to investigate Danzo's natural-energy research and Tsunade dismissed the achievement.
• Jiraiya sensed dense natural energy within Danzo and told the Third Hokage that Danzo had likely learned to cultivate it.
• Zou Hyuga reported Danzo's hunt to Nagato and learned that the incident had killed a noble who was a business partner of the Merchant Company.
• Zou Hyuga watched Hinata and Hanabi spar with Neji nearby, sensed Karma nearing its next stage, and invited Hinata and Neji to join Hanabi's training.

Pain and Konan discussed Danzo’s attack on Kakuzu and Hidan, the risks facing the Akatsuki, and the need to keep Danzo and Madara Uchiha in check. Meanwhile, Zou Hyuga brought Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi to a valley to begin teaching them senjutsu, where he assessed their discipline before formal training.

• Konan told Pain that Danzo had attacked Kakuzu and Hidan with Wood Release and captured Hidan.
• Pain rejected Konan’s suggestion to target Iwagakure’s jinchūriki because of the village’s ties to the Land of Earth and Ōnoki’s Dust Release.
• Pain explained that he wanted Danzo to remain in Konoha as an intelligence source and a counterweight to Madara Uchiha.
• Zou Hyuga brought Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi to a valley with suitable natural energy for their senjutsu training.
• Hanabi identified the valley’s natural energy, and Zou Hyuga reprimanded her and the others before their formal instruction began.

Zou Hyuga discovered that Hanabi’s pure Byakugan, combined with natural energy, could briefly immobilize others with her gaze. He tested how chakra affected her eyes, while Otsutsuki Toneri awoke on the moon after sensing a pair of Pure Byakugan on Earth.

• Hanabi fought Neji and Hinata in Sage Mode and overpowered them with her enhanced strength and speed.
• Zou Hyuga saw Hanabi’s Byakugan glow and learned that she had frozen Neji and Hinata with her gaze.
• Zou Hyuga tested the ability on Hinata and Neji, then concluded that it likely required a highly pure Byakugan and vast chakra.
• Zou Hyuga sent chakra from the underground network into Hanabi and recorded how her body and eyes changed as her chakra grew.
• Otsutsuki Toneri awoke in the Moon Palace and sent his attention toward Earth after sensing a pair of Pure Byakugan.

Toneri tried to obtain Hanabi’s pure Byakugan, but Zou Hyuga sensed his surveillance and stopped the meteorite Toneri sent at the valley. Toneri remained on the moon, while Zou and the children were left to reckon with the ruined valley and Zou’s power.

• Alone on the moon, Toneri sensed Hanabi’s exceptionally pure Byakugan and searched for her through the Great Tenseigan.
• Toneri recognized Zou Hyuga watching him and, suspecting a trap, sent a meteorite toward the valley rather than confronting him directly.
• Zou entered Sage Mode and used Eight Trigrams Palm, Rotation to stop the meteorite, protecting Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi as the valley became a wasteland.
• Zou realized Toneri had been watching from the moon and dismissed the attack as childish, while considering the power of the Tenseigan and the Byakugan.
• Neji asked whether Zou had stopped the meteorite with Rotation, Hanabi praised Zou, and Hinata wondered whether Teacher Oto could do the same.

Toneri’s meteorite attack failed to trouble Zou Hyuga, while its aftermath prompted Konoha’s leaders to prepare for possible future strikes. As the Third and his advisors discussed defenses, Danzo focused on exploiting Hidan’s immortality.

• Toneri watched Zou Hyuga withstand the meteorite attack, considered sending puppets to monitor the Shinobi World, then returned to sleep.
• Zou Hyuga grilled game with Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji before leaving the valley when nearby ninja arrived to investigate.
• Konoha ninja found the devastated valley and reported their suspicion that the Akatsuki Leader had attacked.
• The Third, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Oto Uchiha discussed the threat and began planning defenses against meteorites.
• Danzo thought about combining Hidan’s immortal body with Hashirama cells and studying the Evil God behind him.

Danzo investigated Hidan’s immortality and questioned him about the Akatsuki, then exchanged intelligence with Orochimaru while considering Root’s plans for modifying summoning beasts. The chapter left Danzo weighing potential cooperation with Shinnō and the Sky Ninja’s plans for the Zero-Tails.

• Danzo visited the Root Base, where researchers explained that Hidan’s immortal body could be weakened or killed by depriving it of nutrients.
• Danzo used Wood Release to drain Hidan’s nutrients and questioned him about the Akatsuki’s members and plans.
• Aburame Ryoma recorded Hidan’s information, including profiles of powerful Akatsuki members, and Danzo ordered him to give a copy to Hiruzen Sarutobi in a week.
• Danzo received a scroll from Orochimaru detailing the Akatsuki’s recent movements and sent a reply through the viper.
• Danzo considered Root’s interest in using the Chimera Technique on summoning beasts and wondered whether Shinnō’s Zero-Tails research could align with Root’s plans.

Danzo used Orochimaru’s intelligence to predict the Akatsuki’s next targets, then emerged from his training near the Valley of the End with newfound power. Meanwhile, Zou Hyuga refused Hiashi’s invitation to join the Main Family and warned him to guard the children against the Ōtsutsuki before Danzo led Root toward Takigakure.

• Danzo compared Orochimaru’s intelligence with Hidan’s report and concluded that Takigakure’s Seven-Tails was a likely Akatsuki target.
• At the Valley of the End, Danzo felt his body grow younger and improved his control over natural energy, though he believed he had not yet mastered it.
• After hearing about Toneri’s attack, Zou Hyuga resolved to train Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji in natural energy, while Hiashi and Hizashi considered his power and influence within the clan.
• Zou refused Hiashi’s request to join the Main Family and told him to guard the children against the Ōtsutsuki; he also predicted that Hanabi would soon surpass Neji through senjutsu.
• Hizashi asked Zou to take Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi to safety if the clan was attacked, and Zou said the Hyuga had not reached the point of needing someone to die in another’s place.
• Danzo emerged from his cave able to sense natural energy and mobilize great chakra, then ordered Root to move out for Takigakure.

The Third learned that Danzo had secretly taken Root out of Konoha and summoned the Fire Squad after realizing Danzo was likely pursuing the Seven-Tails’ jinchūriki. At the Uchiha training ground, Sasuke’s confidence took a hit when Itachi revealed he had mastered the Great Fireball Technique in one try, while Oto learned that Root’s surveillance had thinned and sensed an ANBU approaching.

• ANBU surveillance revealed that Root operatives watching the major clans had sharply decreased, confirming Danzo had left the village.
• Aburame Ryoma gave the Third a list of Akatsuki members, and the Third deduced that Danzo had gone to Takigakure to pursue the Seven-Tails’ jinchūriki.
• The Third chose to accept Danzo’s unauthorized mission for the sake of their agreement and summoned the Fire Squad.
• Sasuke performed the Great Fireball Technique for the first time, but Itachi said he had mastered it in one try, discouraging Sasuke.
• Oto asked Itachi about his natural energy training and the Root operatives watching the Uchiha, and Itachi reported that their numbers had fallen.
• Oto and Shisui sensed an ANBU ninja approaching the training ground.

Oto Uchiha and the Fire Squad were sent to Takigakure to protect the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki while Danzo pursued his own mission against Akatsuki. Before the squad left Konoha in disguise, Zou Hyuga secured the Fourth Hokage couple’s bodies and put Vortex Shizuko into dormancy as part of his preparations for breaking the God of Death’s seal.

• An ANBU summoned Oto Uchiha and Shisui to meet the Third, and Oto asked Zou Hyuga what Danzo was planning.
• The Third assigned the Fire Squad to retrieve and protect Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, noting that Danzo had already departed.
• Oto shared Akatsuki’s membership list with the squad, prompting Yamato, Kakashi, and Shisui to consider the organization’s members and missing intelligence.
• Zou Hyuga checked on the Fourth Hokage couple’s bodies, infused them with natural energy, sealed them in a scroll, and put Vortex Shizuko into dormancy.
• The Fire Squad rendezvoused, disguised themselves as ordinary ninja, and secretly left Konoha to guard against an Akatsuki attack.

The Fire Squad crossed into Takigakure while Danzo used the village and its Seven-Tails jinchūriki as bait to lure Akatsuki. Shibuki worried about Takigakure’s dependence on Konoha, and a guard began to sympathize with Suien’s reasons for defecting.

• Zou Hyuga used his Byakugan to scout Takigakure, and the Fire Squad crossed the river toward the village.
• Shibuki accepted Danzo’s protection of Fū after Danzo demonstrated Wood Release, then learned that Kakuzu was missing and Suien’s whereabouts remained unknown.
• Danzo examined Takigakure’s Hero Water and concluded that it was spring water infused with natural energy and chakra, identical to water from the Valley of the End.
• Yamanaka Fū told Danzo that Akatsuki had discovered the false intelligence, but Danzo remained confident they would take the bait.
• A Takigakure guard watched Danzo disregard the village’s rules and began to find Suien’s criticism of Takigakure persuasive.