Chapter Summaries

Tsunade returned to Konoha with Jiraiya and agreed to become the hospital director as the village prepared for the Akatsuki threat. Meanwhile, Oto Uchiha sent Zou Hyuga a report, and Zou continued researching chakra-transmitting materials at the Akatsuki base, hoping to develop something like the black rods.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived in Konoha and reported to the Third, who learned that Hiruko had joined the Akatsuki and become an elite jonin-level threat.
• Tsunade accepted the position of hospital director, and word of her return spread through Konoha as ninja clans sought to meet her.
• Oto Uchiha patrolled the village, wrote Zou Hyuga a report, and sent Bell Cat to deliver it despite his warning that Zou was in a dangerous place.
• Zou Hyuga continued experiments on chakra-transmitting materials at the Akatsuki base while gathering intelligence about the organization and Amegakure.
• Zou considered whether the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chakra-transmitting properties could help him create black rods, but recognized that Yin-Yang Release posed another obstacle.

After Hiruko’s Chimera Ritual sent him out of control, Zou Hyuga joined the Akatsuki’s pursuit through the Land of Earth, while secretly hoping to provoke a clash with Iwagakure. As the teams followed Hiruko’s trail, Orochimaru tested Zou’s willingness to help him seize Pain’s Rinnegan, and Sasori spotted something ahead.

• Zou Hyuga received a message that Hiruko had lost control and traveled to the Land of Earth’s Borderlands.
• Zou Hyuga found Orochimaru and Sasori amid the wreckage of their battle with Hiruko and learned that Hiruko had completed the Chimera Ritual using Scorch Release in place of the Sharingan kekkei genkai.
• Pain ordered the Akatsuki members to pursue Hiruko into the Land of Earth, and Zou Hyuga was paired with Orochimaru.
• Zou Hyuga planned to steer Hiruko into a fight with Iwagakure, while Orochimaru asked him to help make a move against Pain and paid him a million ryō to keep quiet.
• Sasori, controlling the Kazekage Human Puppet, noticed something from the air and descended.

Sasori, Orochimaru, and Zou Hyuga encountered a Root squad disguised as Akatsuki members while searching for Hiruko. The Root squad attacked them, but Zou effortlessly blocked their strikes and broke all four of their weapons.

• Sasori spotted an Iwagakure squad and joined Orochimaru and Zou Hyuga in approaching them cautiously.
• Zou noticed the squad's behavior resembled his village's ANBU, while Sasori prepared to eliminate them and collect their bodies for puppets.
• The Root captain lost contact with his scouting creatures, assembled his squad, and ordered them to prepare for an enemy.
• The Root squad mistook the three Akatsuki-clad ninja for their targets and attacked with ninjutsu and explosive traps.
• The Root members concealed themselves in the mist and flames, chose Zou as their target, and rushed him.
• Zou drew his short sword, blocked their attack, and broke all four Root members' weapons.

Zou Hyuga fought a Root squad disguised as Rock Ninja while concealing his identity and holding back. After the squad trapped him and unleashed a powerful combination attack, he emerged completely unharmed, leaving them despairing as Orochimaru and Sasori watched.

• Zou Hyuga recognized the attackers as Konoha Root operatives and charged them, but the squad used Super Beast Imitating Drawing to trap his sword and force him to fight with a kunai.
• Zou Hyuga held back and used the Root operatives to hone his skills, while Orochimaru recognized them as Danzo's men and speculated about their mission.
• The Root squad retreated and combined Fire, Wind, Earth, and ink techniques to trap Zou Hyuga inside Earth-Style Walls and blast him with enhanced flames.
• Zou Hyuga emerged from the collapsed walls completely unharmed, shocking the Root squad and drawing Orochimaru and Sasori's attention.

Zou Hyuga, Orochimaru, and Sasori headed toward a battle between Hiruko and Iwagakure’s elite forces, while Root ninja retreated and were captured by Orochimaru. They found Ōnoki leading the fight, and Hiruko was still holding out without Ōnoki using Dust Release.

• Zou Hyuga broke the Root Squad’s formation, but a distant blast and earthquake drew everyone’s attention, allowing the squad to retreat.
• Zou Hyuga told Orochimaru and Sasori that Hiruko was likely fighting Rock Ninja, and Sasori headed toward the disturbance on his puppet.
• Orochimaru blocked the Root Squad’s escape, questioned them about Danzo’s mission, then swallowed them with a summoned python.
• Zou Hyuga and Orochimaru headed toward the battle, and Zou Hyuga realized the squad had belonged to Root.
• Zou Hyuga and Orochimaru joined Sasori, Juzo Biwa, and Hozuki Mangetsu, then watched Hiruko fight Iwagakure’s elite forces led by Ōnoki.
• Zou Hyuga recognized Kitsuchi and Deidara among Iwagakure’s fighters, while Ōnoki continued to hold back Dust Release.

Ōnoki and his Shadow Guard fought the uncontrolled Hiruko, whose multiple kekkei genkai made him a growing threat. The Akatsuki watched from a distance, planning to intervene after gauging Hiruko’s strength, while Zou Hyuga considered the consequences for Ōnoki.

• Hiruko attacked Ōnoki’s group, and Deidara joined the fight to demonstrate his explosive art.
• Hiruko charged Deidara through the smoke, but Ōnoki blocked the blow and warned his apprentice to keep his distance.
• Hiruko used Scorch Release, Storm Release, and Dark Release against the Shadow Guard, forcing them to retreat to Ōnoki.
• Ōnoki recognized Hiruko’s several kekkei genkai and judged that the unstable attacker could become even stronger if he completed their integration.
• Orochimaru and Sasori discussed Hiruko’s power and weaknesses as the Akatsuki watched without intervening.
• Zou Hyuga judged that Hiruko could not withstand Ōnoki’s Dust Release in his current state and expected the Akatsuki to rescue him afterward.

Hiruko fought Ōnoki with multiple kekkei genkai until his unstable body weakened, and Akatsuki members arrived to protect him. Ōnoki demanded Hiruko’s research and a mission from Akatsuki, but the confrontation escalated when Zou Hyuga formed a growing dark red sphere.

• Ōnoki attacked Hiruko with Dust Release, but Hiruko absorbed some of its chakra with Dark Release before narrowly escaping a fatal strike.
• Hiruko’s body and chakra weakened after hours of exertion, and Deidara attacked him with exploding Clay Spiders.
• Several Akatsuki members appeared beside Hiruko, prompting Ōnoki to demand an explanation from Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru called the incident an accident, but Ōnoki demanded Hiruko’s research and a free mission from Akatsuki.
• Ōnoki threatened Akatsuki, and Zou Hyuga formed a growing dark red sphere that both sides recognized.

Zou Hyuga blocked Ōnoki’s Dust Release, then helped stabilize Hiruko after his failed Chimera Ritual. The Akatsuki and Iwagakure concluded negotiations, while Ōnoki returned to the village resolved to prepare for the Akatsuki’s growing power.

• Zou Hyuga threw his unstable Tailed Beast Bomb into the sky and blocked Ōnoki’s Dust Release before the two sides ended their standoff.
• Zou Hyuga examined Hiruko and absorbed the hostile chakra inside him, then told Orochimaru that Hiruko’s life was not in danger.
• Sasori accepted Ōnoki’s offer to perform one mission for Iwagakure but refused to hand over the Akatsuki’s ninjutsu, and Ōnoki agreed.
• Ōnoki’s group headed back toward Iwagakure, where he told Deidara that he had chosen a deal because they had no conflict of interests with the Akatsuki.
• Ōnoki warned Kitsuchi that Iwagakure should take precautions against the Akatsuki and increase ninja patrols near the village’s borders.

After Hiruko’s failed Chimera Ritual, Pain worked to stabilize him while Obito and Zetsu assessed Zou Hyuga as a possible threat. Zou left Amegakure with leads from his research and returned to Daimyō Castle, where he advanced plans for a chakra network and considered future dealings with Orochimaru and the sage lands.

• Pain met the Akatsuki members at the Land of Earth’s border, criticized Hiruko’s ritual, and suppressed his chaotic chakra on the journey back to Amegakure.
• Obito watched from a distance as Zetsu warned him that Zou’s strength and abilities made him more dangerous than Hiruko.
• Pain told Konan that the Akatsuki needed Hiruko, while Konan learned Pain planned to address Hiruko’s problems with Sealing Jutsu.
• Orochimaru invited Zou to visit his base and proposed working together, but Zou continued toward the Land of Fire without accepting.
• Zou returned to Daimyō Castle, gave Haku his Akatsuki ring, and visited Kisame at the Leyline base.
• Zou gave Kisame fish-bone-shaped materials for building a chakra network and explained that extending it would require substantial time and money.

After returning to Konoha, Zou Hyuga told Oto Uchiha about Hiruko’s unstable Five Kage-level power and Orochimaru’s body change. Oto warned him that Danzo’s ANBU had become active again, and the chapter ended as the couple spotted a virgin approaching them on Konoha’s food street.

• Zou Hyuga assessed Kisame’s trainees at the Leyline Base and found only one with a faint trace of kekkei genkai.
• Zou returned to Konoha and told Oto Uchiha that Hiruko had fused five kekkei genkai with the Chimera Technique and reached unstable Five Kage-level strength.
• Zou told Oto that Orochimaru had changed bodies and was interested in Uchiha bodies, while Oto remained confident she could defeat him.
• Oto warned Zou that Danzo’s ANBU had become more active, and Zou considered the risk of Danzo’s Root operation in the Land of Earth.
• Zou and Oto went out for food, walked hand in hand through Konoha, and saw a virgin approaching them.

The Third Hokage learned that his son and daughter-in-law had died while gathering intelligence in the Land of Water, but their report revealed Akatsuki's presence in Kirigakure and the suspected control of the Mizukage. As the Third called a high-level meeting to respond, Danzo also received notice and headed to the Hokage Building.

• The Third Hokage read intelligence from his son and daughter-in-law, then learned from Enma and an Intelligence Division Jonin that the couple had died in the Land of Water.
• Enma reported that the couple's final message said the Mizukage was suspected of being controlled and Akatsuki members had been seen in Kirigakure.
• The Third Hokage told the Jonin to summon the Elder Advisors, Tsunade, and Jiraiya for a meeting, then resolved to accelerate operations against Akatsuki.
• Danzo completed a procedure to reinforce the seals on his arm, which held Sharingan eyes to suppress his transplanted Hashirama cells.
• A Root Ninja told Danzo that the Hokage had called a high-level meeting concerning Kirigakure, and Danzo left for the Hokage Building.

Konoha’s senior officials discussed the deaths of the Third’s son and daughter-in-law, the Akatsuki’s influence over Kirigakure, and possible links between the Akatsuki and Ōnoki. Danzo urged Hiruzen to expand ANBU intelligence gathering, but the Third questioned whether Konoha could spare the shinobi.

• Hiruzen told the officials that the Masked Man who caused the Nine-Tails’ Rampage might control Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura and may have killed the Sarutobi couple.
• Jiraiya revealed suspicions that Orochimaru and Hiruko were continuing brutal human experiments after joining the Akatsuki.
• Danzo reported that a Root Squad had found Akatsuki members in the Land of Earth and that Ōnoki had been seen nearby.
• The officials considered whether Ōnoki was working with the Akatsuki and narrowed the possible location of its base to the borderlands near the Land of Earth, Land of Rain, and Land of Grass.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to deploy more ANBU abroad to find the Akatsuki’s base, and Hiruzen questioned whether Konoha had enough shinobi to do so.

After attending the funeral of the ANBU Commander and Deputy Commander, Zou Hyuga learned that their deaths were connected to Kirigakure and was summoned by the Third Hokage to investigate Akatsuki activity in the Land of Grass. Zou and Oto Uchiha prepared for the mission and secretly left Konoha.

• The Third rejected Danzo's proposal to expand Root but considered calling retired and unregistered ninja into service.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto attended the funeral of the ANBU Commander and Deputy Commander, where Asuma Sarutobi said his brother's death was connected to Kirigakure.
• The Third Hokage summoned Zou and Oto and ordered them to investigate whether Akatsuki had bases in the Land of Grass.
• Oto questioned why Zou would not share his knowledge of Akatsuki with the village, and Zou said revealing it without a way to explain its source could draw suspicion.
• Zou prepared materials and Oto handed over her duties in the Military Police Force, then they disguised themselves and left Konoha to avoid White Zetsu.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha uncovered Kusagakure Hospital’s secret: a red-haired woman was being used to heal injured ninja, and the Grass Ninja were exploiting her. They infiltrated the hospital and found that the village had also promised not to touch her daughter, Karin.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha entered Kusagakure and learned that Grass Ninja charged unusually low fees for missions.
• Oto watched a severely injured Grass Ninja leave Kusagakure Hospital healed within minutes, then used her Sharingan to force him to reveal the hospital’s secret.
• Oto and Zou decided to rescue the Uzumaki, whose abilities could benefit them, and infiltrated Kusagakure Hospital.
• The Grass Ninja leader denied an injured ninja treatment and said the village had limited daily treatments, while the red-haired woman warned him to keep his promise not to touch Karin.
• The Grass Ninja leader silently calculated how much longer the woman could endure, believing her healing ability would help restore Kusagakure’s former glory.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha found an Uzumaki woman and her daughter, Karin, in Kusagakure and urged them to leave for safety. The woman sent Karin with them but stayed behind to honor her promise to the Grass Ninja, and Oto killed a drunken Grass Ninja who approached them.

• The red-haired woman welcomed Karin home and remembered that Kusagakure had promised Karin could become a Grass Ninja in exchange for her healing abilities.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha revealed they were Konoha ninja and urged the red-haired woman to take Karin away from Kusagakure's exploitation.
• The red-haired woman refused to go with them but asked them to take Karin and help her become an outstanding Konoha ninja.
• Oto Uchiha shared sweets with Karin while the exhausted red-haired woman fell asleep.
• Zou Hyuga spotted a drunken, wounded Grass Ninja approaching, and Oto Uchiha killed him when he began shedding his clothes.

Oto Uchiha and Zou Hyuga kept Karin and Shizuko safe while searching Kusagakure for the Box of Ultimate Bliss, and learned that the village planned to enlist Akatsuki to unseal it. After Shizuko sensed a sinister chakra at the village entrance, Zou and Oto returned to find Orochimaru accompanied by Kimimaro.

• Oto Uchiha told Shizuko that she and Karin were still in Kusagakure, and Shizuko shared what she knew about Uzumaki sealing jutsu.
• Zou Hyuga reported that the Box of Ultimate Bliss was not at Hozuki Castle, while Kusagakure's elders discussed using Akatsuki and a jinchūriki to unseal it.
• Mui sensed a disturbance above the elders' meeting, killed a lizard, and returned without discovering a spy.
• Zou Hyuga recalled overhearing the elders' plan to contact Akatsuki and dismissed their hopes of controlling the Box's power.
• Shizuko sensed a stranger with immense, sinister chakra, so Oto Uchiha and Zou Hyuga moved her and Karin somewhere safer.
• Oto Uchiha and Zou Hyuga returned to Kusagakure and found Orochimaru with Kimimaro, whose body Oto sensed was dangerous.

Orochimaru and Kimimaro visited Kusagakure to investigate the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while the village's leaders sought help unsealing it. Orochimaru confirmed that the box consumed enormous amounts of chakra and questioned Kusagakure’s intentions toward the Akatsuki.

• A Kusagakure jonin escorted Orochimaru and Kimimaro through the village, which was under lockdown after two ninja defected.
• Kimimaro shattered the horse-masked elder’s mask with a sudden attack, showing the elder the strength of Orochimaru’s companion.
• Orochimaru inspected the Box of Ultimate Bliss as Mui used prisoners to supply it with chakra.
• Orochimaru fed his chakra and then his Cursed Seal’s power to the box, confirming that it required a vast amount of chakra to open.
• Mui said the box needed ten more portions of Orochimaru’s chakra, and the horse-masked elder claimed Kusagakure would side with the Akatsuki.

Zou Hyuga and Oto infiltrated Kusagakure as Orochimaru and the village prepared to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss by draining prisoners and sacrificing Mui’s son, Muku. The box began to open, and Zou wondered whether he could interrupt the ritual by making his own wish.

• Oto told Zou that Kusagakure was bringing death row prisoners from Hozuki Castle, and Zou suspected the village was preparing to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
• Zou investigated Kusagakure’s headquarters and concluded its leader was likely a puppet, then watched Orochimaru’s experimental subjects arrive in the village.
• Zou and Oto knocked out the Kusagakure elders’ trusted followers and infiltrated the underground chamber as the ritual preparations continued.
• The horse-faced elder, Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Mui watched as prisoners had their chakra drained and Muku was placed on the operating table.
• Mui operated the apparatus and sacrificed Muku, whose body crumbled to ashes as the Box of Ultimate Bliss began emitting strange fluctuations.
• Zou watched the box gather black-and-purple chakra and wondered what would happen if he made a wish to it.

Mui opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss and was swallowed, after which the box released the monster Gō. Gō fought Kimimaro and ravaged the underground chamber, leaving the survivors facing walking corpses as Gō circled above them.

• Mui ignored the Horse-Faced Elder’s wish for Kusagakure and was dragged into the Box of Ultimate Bliss after making his own wish.
• The Horse-Faced Elder’s command went unanswered, and the box swallowed him and the chakra-depleted prisoners before Gō emerged.
• Gō attacked the Grass Ninja and then fought Kimimaro, whose Cursed Seal and Shikotsumyaku kept him alive but could not let him land a blow.
• Orochimaru stopped Kimimaro from continuing the fight and shielded their group with an Earth Release dome as the underground chamber collapsed.
• The survivors emerged from the rubble, saw mindless walking corpses rising from the earth, and watched Gō circle overhead.

Gō rampaged through Kusagakure after emerging from the Box of Ultimate Bliss, forcing the village to prepare an evacuation while Orochimaru searched for a way to stop it. Gō then attacked Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha in the forest, and its words suggested it recognized something about Zou.

• Gō attacked Kusagakure, while Orochimaru watched the corrupted ninja and assessed the monster’s power.
• Kusagakure’s leader learned that the elder had opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss and that both the elder and Lord Mui had been swallowed, so he ordered an evacuation toward the Land of Fire.
• Orochimaru discovered that Gō evaded attacks and sensed hostility, but Gō bypassed him and flew toward the forest.
• Zou Hyuga tried to defend himself with Rotation, while Oto Uchiha attacked Gō with genjutsu and Samehada.
• Gō impaled Oto’s illusion, broke Samehada’s tendrils, and evaded her Skeletal Susanoo before Oto protected Zou.
• Zou asked Gō why it had targeted him, and Gō said Zou’s existence offended it more than the others; Zou then questioned what Gō was.