Chapter Summaries

Zou Hyuga’s squad returned to Konoha after learning that the Akatsuki had captured Shukaku, prompting the Third Hokage to consider a Five Kage Summit. Back in the forest, Zou explored the benefits of Shukaku’s chakra while sparring with Oto, where the loser would have to obey the winner.

• Zou Hyuga’s squad visited the ruins near Rōran, where Sand Ninja reported that Shukaku had been captured and Shisui asked whether the Akatsuki was responsible.
• Guy identified signs of a taijutsu battle at the ruins, while Oto used her Sharingan to study the damage and wonder how strong Zou and the Akatsuki leader were.
• After the squad returned to Konoha, the Third Hokage read their report, learned of Shukaku’s capture and Pakura’s death, and suspected the Akatsuki aimed to weaken the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
• Zou told Shisui, Guy, and Oto that the Akatsuki would eventually target every village and that Konoha would be last if it captured the tailed beasts in order.
• Zou went to the forest with Oto to practice Wind Release and sand release, discovering that Shukaku’s chakra had slightly increased his strength.
• Zou and Oto sparred under an agreement that the loser would obey the winner’s commands.

Orochimaru, Hiruko, and Sasori returned to the Akatsuki base after their failed attempt to capture the One-Tail, where Konan revealed that their leader had recruited the ninja who killed it and that Kakuzu had recruited another new member. In Konoha, the Third Hokage and his advisors agreed to call a Five Kage Summit, and he asked Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back to protect her from the Akatsuki.

• Orochimaru, Hiruko, and Sasori reached the Akatsuki base with the unconscious Pakura after failing to capture the One-Tail.
• Konan told them that the One-Tail had died at the hands of a ninja whom Pain had recruited as a core Akatsuki member.
• Konan said Kakuzu had recruited another immortal member and told Hiruko to prepare for his Chimera ritual.
• Orochimaru hinted that he knew the identity of Pain's new recruit, while Hiruko wondered why he might not want to meet him.
• The Third Hokage and the village's senior officials agreed to convene a Five Kage Summit to address the Akatsuki threat.
• The Third Hokage asked Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back, fearing the Akatsuki would target her.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha were assigned to protect the foreign envoys arriving in Konoha for the Five Kage Summit. After Zou inspected the delegations, a young Kirigakure envoy challenged Oto over her possession of Samehada, and a fight seemed imminent.

• The Third assigned Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha to protect the envoys and warned them not to cause another diplomatic incident.
• Zou inspected the arriving delegations with his Byakugan, and the Fourth Kazekage led the envoys in accepting the inspection.
• The Fourth Kazekage recognized Zou and asked about Shisui and Guy, while Zou noticed that Kirigakure's sickly young envoy showed no signs of outside control.
• The Kirigakure envoy approached Oto and asked whether the weapon on her back was Samehada.
• Oto said Samehada was her war trophy and refused to surrender it, so the envoy suggested they fight for the treasured blade.

Oto Uchiha fought Hozuki Mangetsu in a taijutsu match at Konoha’s gate and defeated him by catching him in Sharingan genjutsu. Hozuki admitted defeat and offered her one of his ninja blades, but Oto refused it and left to deal with the gathered Military Police Force.

• Zou Hyuga reassured the nearby ANBU while Yamato and Kakashi kept civilians away from the fight between Oto and the Mist Ninja Boy.
• Hozuki Mangetsu revealed two ninja blades from a scroll containing the Seven Ninja Swords, and Oto agreed to fight him using taijutsu only.
• Oto attacked Hozuki with a kunai, wires, and a short sword, but he used Hiramekarei and his Hydrification Technique to evade her physical strikes and put a blade to her throat.
• Hozuki realized that the Oto he had cornered was a genjutsu illusion, broke free with his ninja blade, and found Oto holding a short sword to his throat.
• Hozuki conceded defeat and offered Oto a ninja blade, but she declined and left as members of the Military Police Force gathered nearby.

Zou Hyuga warned Hiashi that Akatsuki threatened the Hyuga Clan and reflected on Hanabi’s unusually pure eyes and the finite supply of chakra. He asked Hiashi whether Hinata or Hanabi would inherit leadership of the Main Family.

• Zou Hyuga visited the Hyuga residence, watched Hinata and Neji train, and waited for Hiashi to return.
• Zou Hyuga warned Hiashi about Akatsuki’s strength and urged him to keep the Hyuga Clan’s members out of danger.
• Hiashi agreed to restrain the clan, while Zou Hyuga reassured him that the villages could combine their strength against Akatsuki.
• Hanabi appeared in the corridor, and Zou Hyuga examined her eyes while recalling their potential to withstand Tenseigan chakra.
• Zou Hyuga concluded that chakra was finite and asked Hiashi whether Hinata or Hanabi would inherit the Main Family’s leadership.

Zou Hyuga delayed Hiashi’s decision about the Main Family heir and brought Hanabi home to study her unusually pure Byakugan chakra. He collected some chakra for research and secretly left his own chakra in her as protection, while considering a future attack on the Lunar Ōtsutsuki.

• Zou Hyuga advised Hiashi to postpone naming an heir and asked to look after Hanabi, which Hiashi allowed.
• Zou Hyuga took Hanabi home, where Oto Uchiha warned him that the upcoming conference could put the girl in danger.
• Zou Hyuga examined Hanabi’s Byakugan and found that her chakra was unusually pure, with signs of ancestral reversion.
• After sparring with Hanabi, Zou Hyuga collected some of her Byakugan chakra to research whether he could create a Tenseigan.
• Zou Hyuga considered using Byakugan chakra to find a route to the moon and secretly left some of his chakra in Hanabi for protection.

The Third Hokage and his advisers debated how to persuade the other villages to oppose the Akatsuki, while the Fourth Kazekage worried about Sunagakure’s vulnerability and its proposed cooperation with Orochimaru. Near the Ninja Academy, the Fourth Kazekage encountered an ANBU he recognized as Hyuga.

• The Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo discussed the other villages’ refusal to commit to fighting the Akatsuki.
• Danzo proposed secretly using a jinchūriki to attack Iwagakure’s and Kumogakure’s jinchūriki, but the Third Hokage rejected the plan.
• Kankuro and Temari reflected on Konoha’s lively streets as the Fourth Kazekage worried that Sunagakure might face another attack.
• The Fourth Kazekage considered Orochimaru’s offer to cooperate on exploiting the Land of Wind’s resources and selecting orphans for him.
• Near the Ninja Academy, an ANBU stopped the Fourth Kazekage, who recognized the figure as Hyuga.

Zou Hyuga visited Konoha’s Ninja Academy, where he checked on Hinata and watched Naruto and Sasuke during kunai practice. After seeing Naruto miss every target, Zou reassured Iruka that Naruto was doing well, and the chapter left Zou approaching Naruto and Hinata during the class break.

• Zou spoke with the Fourth Kazekage, learned Gaara was absent from the visit, and worried briefly about his condition.
• Zou entered the Ninja Academy and asked Iruka how Hinata was doing, learning that she excelled in class and taijutsu but held back because of her shyness.
• Zou and Iruka reminisced about graduating early during the Third Shinobi World War before watching the students practice throwing kunai.
• Sasuke hit the bull’s-eye with all three kunai and drew cheers, while Naruto missed every throw and was scolded by Iruka.
• Zou told Iruka that Naruto was already doing well, then walked toward Naruto, Hinata, and the other students during their break.

Zou Hyuga took Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata to Ichiraku Ramen, then escorted Sasuke and Hinata home while reflecting on the dangers facing them and the shinobi world. He researched the Nine-Tails chakra overnight, discovered it could transmit chakra across great distances, and began investigating a mysterious resonance beneath the Hokage Building while guarding the Two Kage summit.

• Zou Hyuga invited Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata to Ichiraku Ramen after school and treated them to a meal.
• Zou Hyuga escorted Sasuke and Hinata home, refused to explain how to awaken the Sharingan, and spoke with Itachi about possible encounters with the Masked Man.
• Zou Hyuga studied the Nine-Tails chakra in his laboratory and discovered its unusual ability to transmit chakra over long distances.
• The Nine-Tails chakra resonated with another source near the village center, but it vanished before Zou Hyuga could investigate.
• Zou Hyuga guarded the envoys at the Two Kage summit and searched for the resonance source, which he narrowed down to beneath the Hokage Building.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha planned to investigate the Hokage Building after the Five Kage talks, while tensions over the Uchiha and Sunagakure grew. As the envoys departed, Obito intercepted Hozuki Mangetsu and fought him over the summit’s results.

• Zou Hyuga told Oto Uchiha that Nine-Tails chakra had resonated elsewhere in the village, and they decided to investigate the Hokage Building after the Five Kage talks ended.
• The Third rejected Danzo’s proposal to send Oto Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha to Sunagakure, recognizing that Danzo wanted to undermine the Uchiha while they were away.
• Obito and Zetsu watched the departing envoys, and Obito concealed himself when Kazekage Rasa’s Eye of the Sand searched the mountain.
• Obito disguised himself as Kirigakure ANBU and blocked Hozuki Mangetsu, claiming he was ordered by the Fourth Mizukage to retrieve the summit’s results.
• Hozuki Mangetsu challenged Obito’s claim and attacked him with Hiramekarei’s chakra sphere.

Obito, posing as an ANBU serving Yagura, met Hozuki Mangetsu and learned what had happened at the Five Kage Summit. He decided Mangetsu could become a useful recruit because Obito had several ways to control him.

• Obito let Hozuki Mangetsu's attacks pass through him, then proved his identity with an official Mizukage Building scroll.
• Hozuki Mangetsu questioned Obito about Yagura, and Obito claimed the Mizukage was handling an important matter.
• Hozuki Mangetsu said he had been defeated by Oto Uchiha and explained that the Five Kage Summit had failed to unite the villages against Akatsuki.
• Obito considered how the villages' distrust could serve Akatsuki's plans and realized Mangetsu could become part of his own inner circle.
• Obito chose Hozuki Mangetsu as a potential recruit, believing he had nine ways to keep him under his thumb.

The Third sent Kakashi Hatake and Yamato to investigate reports of a battle near Konoha, where they found Hozuki Mangetsu alone. After evading the ANBU, Mangetsu met Obito and learned that he controlled Kirigakure, then agreed to swear allegiance to him.

• The Third received Rasa's warning that the Masked Man had been spotted near Konoha and ordered ANBU to escort the departing envoys.
• After another report of intense chakra nearby, the Third sent Kakashi Hatake and Yamato to investigate.
• Kakashi's squad found Hozuki Mangetsu practicing ninjutsu, and Kakashi warned him about the Akatsuki's Masked Man before leaving.
• Hozuki Mangetsu revealed to Obito that he suspected him of controlling Kirigakure and asked whether he had directed Yagura's policies against kekkei genkai families.
• Obito denied ordering those policies and offered to help Mangetsu collect the Ninja Blades, protect Suigetsu, and bring peace to the world.
• Hozuki Mangetsu accepted Obito's offer by swearing allegiance to his Lord Mizukage.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha encountered Obito while trying to infiltrate the Hokage Building, and their confrontation drove him away before the Third arrived. The Third rewarded them with access to the Scroll of Seals, then brought them to a secret laboratory where they discovered Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki preserved in medical equipment.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha reached the Hokage Building rooftop, where Obito appeared through a vortex and mistook them for part of a Konoha ambush.
• Obito set nearby buildings on fire to raise the alarm, and Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha attacked him before he escaped through a wall.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha found Obito in the Hokage Office, but he vanished into a vortex as the Third approached.
• The Third praised Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha for driving off the Masked Man and offered each of them a forbidden technique from the Scroll of Seals.
• The Third led Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha into a secret underground laboratory, where they saw Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki inside medical equipment.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha learned that Minato and Kushina were alive but trapped in the God of Death’s stomach, and they considered how to free their souls. The next morning, they visited the Scroll of Seals to choose two forbidden techniques.

• The Third revealed that Minato and Kushina had survived the Nine-Tails’ Rampage but remained in a near-death state with their souls sealed inside the God of Death.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha promised the Third to keep the couple’s survival secret.
• Zou Hyuga reasoned that freeing Minato and Kushina would require mastering the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, but said they could not use a technique that killed its user.
• The next morning, the Third took Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha to the Scroll of Seals and allowed each of them to choose two forbidden techniques.
• Zou Hyuga examined the scroll and considered the Eight Gates Released Formation, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Impure World Reincarnation among the useful options.

Zou Hyuga studied the Spirit Transformation Technique and attempted to use it for the first time, but a force from his body dragged his spirit back inside. Oto Uchiha chose the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and left to carry out her duties.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha each chose a forbidden technique, and the Third let them take scrolls containing both the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
• Oto told Zou she was willing to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal if necessary, and Zou urged her to run from danger instead; she handed him the Scroll of Seals before leaving for her duties.
• Zou studied the Spirit Transformation Technique and concluded that its risks made it only a limited option for him.
• Zou went to a safe location outside the Village and used the technique to separate his tangible spirit from his body.
• Black markings lit up across Zou's palms, and a powerful suction pulled his spirit back into his body despite his resistance.

Zou Hyuga tested the limits of the Rhombus Mark and received Nagato’s summons to an Akatsuki gathering. Meanwhile, Shizune encountered Orochimaru outside a casino where Tsunade had gone to gamble.

• Zou Hyuga discovered that the Rhombus Mark pulled his spirit back whenever it moved more than three meters from his body.
• Zou Hyuga considered whether the mark could resist the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and let him take power from the God of Death.
• Zou Hyuga received Nagato’s message summoning him to an Akatsuki gathering, sent a Shadow Clone to the village, and headed for the Land of Rain.
• Tsunade ignored Shizune’s warnings and went into a casino despite having no money left for food or an inn.
• Shizune recognized Orochimaru approaching in a Red Cloud Robe and blocked his path.
• Orochimaru appeared beside Shizune and greeted her, noting how much she had grown.

Tsunade confronted Orochimaru and Hiruko, who had come seeking her medical ninjutsu. After Hiruko challenged her, Tsunade revealed her hemophobia might be a deliberate rumor and began overpowering his Fusion Summoning Beast.

• Shizune questioned Orochimaru and Hiruko outside the casino, and Hiruko demanded that Tsunade come out.
• Tsunade left the casino after losing her money, recognized Orochimaru, and learned that Hiruko wanted her medical ninjutsu.
• Hiruko removed his bandages, identified himself, and threatened Tsunade unless she treated him.
• Hiruko summoned a Fusion Summoning Beast and followed Tsunade out of Town, while Orochimaru said he would watch from the sidelines.
• Tsunade cracked the ground with a punch, dodged Hiruko's attack, and struck the Fusion Summoning Beast so hard that half its body sank underground.

Hiruko and Orochimaru failed to capture Tsunade after Jiraiya arrived and drove them away, and Tsunade agreed to return to the village with him and Shizune. Meanwhile, Zou Hyuga entered the Land of Rain and was escorted by Konan toward the Akatsuki.

• Tsunade overcame her hemophobia with Katsuyu's help, but Hiruko summoned another beast before Jiraiya arrived with Gamabunta and attacked alongside him.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, but he and Hiruko fled when Jiraiya and Gamabunta unleashed Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet.
• Jiraiya stayed with Tsunade, told her about the Akatsuki's activities, and persuaded her to return to the village with Shizune.
• Tsunade asked Jiraiya for money to cover her debts and then had him treat her and Shizune to a meal.
• Zou Hyuga traveled into the Land of Rain wearing a self-made Akatsuki uniform and carrying a chakra-conducting sword.
• Konan appeared before Zou Hyuga, recognized him as the organization's newcomer, and led him deeper into the Land of Rain.

Zou Hyuga followed Konan to an Akatsuki base, where he met Orochimaru, Hiruko, Sasori, and Juzo Biwa. The chapter ended when Obito arrived as Tobi and exchanged greetings and a glance with Zou.

• Konan led Zou Hyuga to a base near Amegakure and told him to call her Angel and avoid disturbing villagers or fighting fellow members.
• Zou entered the base and greeted Orochimaru and Hiruko, revealing that he was the Tailed Beast Merchant Association's Mastermind.
• Zou explained that Pain had forced him to join Akatsuki, and Hiruko realized he had killed Shukaku and survived an encounter with Pain.
• Sasori and Juzo Biwa arrived, and Orochimaru told Zou that Kakuzu was another member who loved money.
• Obito arrived disguised as Tobi, greeted the members, and exchanged a glance with Zou Hyuga.

Zou Hyuga observed new Akatsuki recruits and the organization’s plans to gather tailed beasts while secretly preparing to weaken it. After Konan ordered him to leave Amegakure, he returned to the base and continued collecting information and supplies.

• Obito introduced Hozuki Mangetsu as a new Akatsuki recruit, while Zou Hyuga recognized him and noted his rivalry with Juzo Biwa over Kubikiribōchō.
• Sasori and Orochimaru visited Zou Hyuga, and Kakuzu later brought Hidan to the base.
• Pain convened the Akatsuki, where Zetsu reported on the shinobi world and Pain outlined plans to build strength before the One-Tail revived.
• Zou Hyuga visited his association’s shop in Amegakure, where Konan arrived with a drenched little girl and told him to leave the village.
• Zou Hyuga returned to the Akatsuki base, gathered information about its members, and sealed large quantities of research materials into scrolls.