Chapter Summaries

Zou Hyuga reclaimed Ao’s Byakugan, then joined Obito in a standoff against the Konoha Squad and Kirigakure ninja. He fought Kakashi and the others, revealed his chakra-absorbing ability, and left after rescuing villagers became Might Guy’s priority.

• Zou Hyuga took Ao’s Byakugan and escaped the Mist Ninja’s attack by reaching a rooftop.
• Zou Hyuga and Obito faced the Konoha Squad and Kirigakure ninja, and Zou Hyuga refused to attack Obito.
• The Mist Ninja and Konoha Squad joined forces and charged the two Akatsuki members.
• Might Guy struck Zou Hyuga into a house, where Zou Hyuga found Kirigakure residents hiding.
• Zou Hyuga blocked Kakashi’s Chidori, absorbed much of his chakra, and threw him out of the house.
• Zou Hyuga escaped as Might Guy rescued the villagers, and Kakashi warned Yamato and Guy that their enemy could absorb chakra and had exceptional sensory abilities.

Kakashi and Ao regrouped after the Masked Man escaped, while Shisui failed to capture Zou Hyuga in Kirigakure. Mei Terumi, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Kisame subdued the Fourth Mizukage, who awoke free of the Masked Man’s genjutsu and learned that the Hokage had already discussed the enemy.

• Ao told Kakashi that the Masked Man had escaped using Space-Time Ninjutsu, and Kakashi described the enemy’s formidable abilities.
• Zou Hyuga encountered Shisui in an alley and escaped when his lightning clone exploded, leaving Shisui unable to capture his real body.
• Mei Terumi, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Kisame fought the berserk Fourth Mizukage in the water prison, and Mangetsu struck him down while Kisame called for him to be released.
• The Fourth Mizukage awoke and credited the missing-nin with freeing him from the Masked Man’s genjutsu.
• The Fourth Mizukage urged the village to warn the other ninja villages about the Masked Man’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and Mei Terumi replied that the Hokage had already held a meeting about him.

After Kirigakure’s crisis, Karatachi Yagura agreed to investigate Akatsuki and proposed an alliance with Konoha in exchange for the return of Kirigakure’s ninja blades. As Mei Terumi helped him assess the village’s troubles, Yagura planned to rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and pursue the traitor Juzo Biwa.

• Karatachi Yagura received Kakashi and the Konoha Squad, agreed to investigate Akatsuki, and asked Konoha to form an alliance and return Kirigakure’s ninja blades.
• Kakashi said only the Hokage could approve an alliance, and Karatachi Yagura handed him a letter for Konoha before the squad departed.
• Mei Terumi and Ao briefed Karatachi Yagura on reconstruction and the village’s administrative troubles, and he considered Mei’s command of affairs.
• Karatachi Yagura proposed sending Hozuki Mangetsu and Kisame to Konoha, reassembling the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and hunting Juzo Biwa.
• Mei Terumi accepted the plans but reflected that Karatachi Yagura should take responsibility for the Blood Mist Policy and the rebellions of the kekkei genkai families.

Zou Hyuga and Akatsuki continued manipulating Kirigakure while Kisame prepared to earn the Fourth Mizukage’s trust. Later, Shisui uncovered Zou’s identity, and Zou warned him that Akatsuki was too powerful to attack yet.

• Hozuki Mangetsu, Kisame, and Zabuza met Obito and Zou Hyuga underground and reported that the Fourth Mizukage trusted them and planned to rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Kisame told Obito that he would travel to Konoha to sign an alliance treaty and retrieve Samehada, while Zou admitted he had taken Ao’s Byakugan and joked about using it to cheat at gambling.
• Zou concluded that Akatsuki still had Kirigakure under surveillance, then left the village after completing his mission.
• Several days later, Shisui found Zou in the Land of Fire and identified him as an Akatsuki spy from the spare forehead protector he had left behind.
• Zou told Shisui that he had joined Akatsuki to study white Zetsu cells and find a way to prevent Mangekyo Sharingan blindness, then warned him to flee if he encountered Pain or Hiruko.
• Zou told Shisui that Akatsuki’s leader was not the Masked Man, that he had lost to the leader, and that attacking Akatsuki was not yet feasible.

Kakashi returned to Konoha after the Kirigakure mission, while Zou and Oto negotiated the Samehada issue and observed Danzo’s apparent enhancement. At his Leyline Base, Zou’s experiment on chakra replenishment succeeded with Haku but failed with ordinary kekkei genkai orphans, leaving him searching for a way to help them develop ninja abilities.

• Kakashi reported to the Third that Kirigakure’s Mizukage had escaped the Masked Man’s control, sought an alliance, and lost Ao’s Byakugan to Akatsuki.
• Zou met Oto at the Uchiha Training Ground and explained the alliance proposal and Kirigakure’s demand for Samehada; they agreed not to surrender it without compensation.
• The Third hinted that Oto should return Samehada, but Zou and Oto avoided the request, then noticed Danzo appeared younger and suspected he had received Hashirama cells.
• Zou returned to the Leyline Base and tested long-distance chakra replenishment through the chakra network on Haku, with successful results.
• Zou repeated the experiment on several kekkei genkai orphans with poor ninja aptitude, but it failed, prompting him to consider how kekkei genkai families had developed.

Zou Hyuga tested his chakra network and trained Haku before asking Vortex Shizuko about Uzumaki Sealing Jutsu and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Back in the village, he learned Kisame Hoshigaki had arrived as Kirigakure’s envoy, leaving the Third Hokage worried that a dispute over Samehada could threaten an alliance.

• Zou Hyuga concluded that only chunin-level ninja could barely use his chakra network and decided to strengthen the base’s defenses.
• Zou Hyuga sparred with Haku for several days to make him less hesitant in combat.
• Zou Hyuga asked Vortex Shizuko whether the Dead Demon Consuming Seal could be undone, and she suggested searching for Uzumaki shrines.
• Vortex Shizuko said the shrine in Uzushio Village might hold relevant knowledge but had likely been looted after the village’s destruction.
• Zou Hyuga returned to the village and learned that Kisame Hoshigaki had arrived as Kirigakure’s envoy.
• The Third Hokage worried that Kirigakure’s demand for Samehada would create conflict with Zou Hyuga, Oto Uchiha, and their clans, potentially jeopardizing the alliance.

Fugaku weighed Kirigakure’s alliance demands while Itachi trained and then encountered Kisame confronting Zou Hyuga in Konoha. Oto arrived with the Military Police Force and surrounded Kisame, leaving the standoff unresolved.

• Fugaku learned that Kisame’s terms for returning Samehada had angered him, and he waited to see how Oto would handle Kirigakure’s request for an alliance.
• Itachi returned from a mission, trained through his frustration at his stalled progress, and then went to visit Sasuke at the Ninja Academy.
• Itachi saw Kisame confront Zou Hyuga on the Shopping Street, where the two traded threats over a past encounter and Samehada.
• ANBU monitored the confrontation and sent word to the Hokage, while Itachi suspected Zou and Oto had staged the encounter.
• Oto arrived with the Military Police Force and ordered them to surround Kisame.

Kisame confronted Oto Uchiha over Samehada, but their staged clash drew a crowd and threatened to expose Kirigakure’s alliance condition. The Third Hokage worried about the political fallout, while Danzo chose not to intervene and waited for events to weaken Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Kisame demanded that Oto Uchiha return Samehada, and she challenged his nerve as the Military Police Force prepared to defend her.
• Kisame attacked Oto Uchiha, who blocked him and drove him back; Kisame recognized her strength and continued following the plan arranged with Zou Hyuga.
• Oto Uchiha and Kisame continued their confrontation as villagers gathered, while Oto warned that Kisame would not get Samehada.
• An ANBU member informed the Third Hokage of the street confrontation, and the Third feared villagers would learn that Samehada’s return was a condition of Kirigakure’s alliance.
• Danzo learned of the clash and decided against intervening, hoping Hiruzen Sarutobi would abandon his plans and take action against the Uchiha.

Oto Uchiha and Zou Hyuga manipulated a confrontation over Samehada to turn the villagers and ninja clans against the Third Hokage. After the Third forced Oto to surrender the blade, Zou said they only needed to wait for the Akatsuki’s next move.

• Tsunade questioned Jiraiya’s trust in Oto and Zou, then Jiraiya received intelligence that Hiruko had been seen in the Land of Hot Water capturing ninja with kekkei genkai.
• Oto Uchiha bested Kisame in their clash, but an ANBU arrived with orders that led her to surrender Samehada to him.
• Villagers and Jiraiya and Tsunade watched Oto leave without Samehada and resented the Third Hokage for forcing her to give up her spoils.
• Oto returned to Military Police Headquarters and reflected that she and Zou had intended the incident to weaken confidence in the Third Hokage.
• Zou Hyuga arrived and told Oto to wait, saying the Akatsuki had sent word about its next move.

Ōnoki used a supposed pursuit of the Akatsuki to gain control over Kusagakure, while Kakuzu and Hidan escaped after clashing with the Rock Ninja. News of Iwagakure’s occupation reached Konoha, where Danzo accused Iwagakure of colluding with the Akatsuki.

• Ōnoki led the Rock Ninja Assault Force across Kusagakure’s border, using the Akatsuki as a pretext to pursue Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Kakuzu and Hidan fled into Kusagakure, where Kakuzu killed a Grass Ninja guard and escaped into the village.
• The Rock Ninja fought Kakuzu and Hidan inside Kusagakure, then found letters linking a Kusagakure Elder to the Akatsuki.
• Ōnoki left elite Rock Ninja squads behind to help sympathetic jonin overthrow the Kusagakure Leader and install a friendly faction.
• Konan confronted Ōnoki over his manipulation of the Akatsuki and Kusagakure, then disappeared after delivering Nagato’s message.
• After news of Iwagakure’s actions reached Konoha, Danzo told Hiruzen that he believed Iwagakure was colluding with the Akatsuki.

Danzo told the Third Hokage that the Akatsuki had taken control of Amegakure and might be allied with Iwagakure, while the Hokage and his advisors discussed rumors sparked by Oto Uchiha surrendering the Samehada Greatsword. The Third later met with Oto and Zou Hyuga to explain his decision and was expected to offer them compensation.

• Danzo told the Third Hokage and the Elder Advisors that Iwagakure and the Akatsuki might have secretly allied, and identified the Land of Rain as the Akatsuki's base.
• Danzo revealed that the Akatsuki had taken control of Amegakure and that Ibuse had not appeared there for several years.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura urged the Third Hokage to address rumors that the village leadership was weak after Oto Uchiha surrendered the Ninja Blade to Kisame.
• The Third Hokage met with Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha, explained that the Samehada Greatsword had been surrendered to protect the alliance with Kirigakure, and left them expecting some benefit in return.

The Third Hokage offered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha the ANBU Deputy Commander position, but neither accepted immediately. Outside Kusagakure, Konan questioned Nagato’s alliance with Iwagakure after seeing the village’s suffering, leaving him unable to defend the arrangement.

• The Third Hokage offered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha the ANBU Deputy Commander position, and they left to consider it.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha agreed that the Third’s offer reflected the success of their plan and discussed why neither wanted the job.
• Zou Hyuga joked that he would empty the ANBU warehouses if he took the position.
• Deva Path Pain and Konan surveyed Kusagakure, where residents endured reconstruction alongside the Rock Ninja Assault Force.
• Konan challenged Nagato over cooperating with Ōnoki, and Nagato reflected that the alliance protected Amegakure from the Five Great Nations while serving his own goals.

After returning to Amegakure, Konan visited the Ninja Academy and went to a popular hot pot restaurant with Shion. Learning that former Rain Ninja worked for the Tailed Beast Merchant Association because it was safer and paid better than missions, she began to worry about its influence and thought of the Association’s President.

• Konan returned to Amegakure and watched students at the Ninja Academy, reflecting on how she and Nagato had made it a normal school.
• Shion invited Konan to Sun Wukong Hot Pot Restaurant, where Konan tried the spicy broth and understood its popularity in the cold Land of Rain.
• The restaurant owner revealed his identity as a former Rain Ninja and explained that he and others joined the Tailed Beast Merchant Association for safer, better-paying work.
• Konan questioned why Rain Ninja worked for the Association instead of taking missions, then recognized she could not refute the owner's reasons.
• Shion urged Konan to visit the Association's shop next door, and Konan thought about its President as she looked over the bustling street.

Zou Hyuga investigated the Byakugan and grew suspicious of his identity and his uncle Hyuga Yu’s past. After questioning Hiashi and other elders, he entered the Archives Room to search for more clues.

• Zou Hyuga experimented on a Pure Byakugan but stopped before it collapsed, then reflected on the mysteries surrounding Hyuga Yu, his parents, and his own memories.
• Zou Hyuga warned Hiashi that the Third Hokage’s ANBU Deputy Commander appointment might have an ulterior motive and asked about his uncle’s youth and the time before his Caged Bird Seal was placed.
• Hiashi told Zou Hyuga what he knew and suggested asking clan elders or searching the Archives Room, while Hanabi noticed that Hiashi treated Zou like an equal.
• Zou Hyuga learned from elderly clan members that Hyuga Yu had been the Hyuga’s strongest fighter before retiring at his peak and that Zou’s parents had died in war with their bodies unrecovered.
• Zou Hyuga entered the Archives Room to search for answers.

Zou Hyuga searched the Archives Room for clues about his unusual past, then met Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy and advised Kakashi on ways to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Oto Uchiha urged Itachi to train, while Orochimaru and Hiruko reached a remote island and met the informant Shinnō.

• Zou Hyuga found discrepancies in the clan records suggesting he had lived outside Konoha before receiving the Caged Bird Seal, but the Main Family member could not explain them.
• Zou Hyuga met Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy, and advised Kakashi to pursue Flying Thunder God, Rasengan, and senjutsu after Kakashi lamented his weakness.
• Oto Uchiha met Itachi at the Training Ground, learned that he had three tomoe, and encouraged him to become stronger and seek her out for sparring.
• Orochimaru warned Hiruko not to provoke the Kumogakure brothers, then told him they would meet the person who had supplied information about the Chinoike Clan.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko reached a remote island in the Land of Lightning, where Orochimaru introduced Hiruko to the old man Shinnō.

Orochimaru and Hiruko visited Shinnō at his island base, where Shinnō examined Hiruko and found he could only suppress the damage from the Chimera Technique, leaving him at most five years to live. Orochimaru invited Shinnō to join the Akatsuki and offered help with his Zero-Tails project, but Shinnō insisted that creating the Zero-Tails was all he wanted.

• Shinnō examined Hiruko and said his medical Forbidden Technique could suppress, but not cure, the damage in his body.
• Shinnō explained that Hiruko had no more than five years to live because his body contained cells from several Ninja.
• Orochimaru asked about Shinnō's Zero-Tails project, and Shinnō said he lacked a suitable source of chakra.
• Orochimaru invited Shinnō to join the Akatsuki and revealed that the organization had caused the One-Tail's death and the Nine-Tails' Rampage in Konoha.
• Shinnō asked whether the Akatsuki would help him create the Zero-Tails, and Orochimaru agreed while describing the organization's larger goal of capturing every Tailed Beast.
• Shinnō firmly said that the Zero-Tails was all he wanted.

After joining the ANBU, Oto Uchiha settled into her new role while Zou Hyuga pursued his own interests and learned that Kazahana Koyuki was coming to Konoha. As Kakashi took charge of Yukie’s security, Zou and Oto headed to the theater, where Zou spotted Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura and began studying them.

• Oto Uchiha accepted the ANBU Deputy Commander position, and the major clans interpreted it as a sign that tensions between the Hokage and the Uchiha were easing.
• Zou Hyuga complained to Oto about the ANBU’s leadership, then visited a shop run by the Tailed Beast Merchant Association and read reports about the shinobi world.
• Zou learned that Fujikaze Yukie was touring Konoha and recognized her as Kazahana Koyuki, the Land of Snow’s former Daimyō’s daughter, whose family’s scientific research interested him.
• A week later, the Third Hokage assigned Kakashi to protect Yukie, hinting that Kakashi had met her before.
• Zou and Oto went to watch a movie, met Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao on the way, and saw Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura heading to the theater.
• Zou focused on Naruto and Sasuke’s inherited chakra and then turned his attention to the mysterious Sakura.

Zou Hyuga noticed ANBU watching Kazahana Koyuki at the movie theater, while Koyuki struggled with whether to reclaim her position as the Land of Snow’s daimyō. That night, snow ninja ambushed and captured her in Konoha, just as cries of birds sounded nearby.

• Zou Hyuga saw an ANBU squad near the movie theater and suspected they were there because of Kazahana Koyuki.
• Koyuki greeted fans after the screening and wrestled with whether to pursue revenge and reclaim her position or continue acting.
• Koyuki spotted Kakashi in the crowd and remembered that a young ninja had once helped her escape the Land of Snow.
• Koyuki practiced her lines at the inn and hid her Crystal Pendant in a wooden box before answering the door.
• A snow ninja disguised as Asama Sandayu lured Koyuki outside, where another snow ninja blocked her escape and captured her.
• Koyuki was unable to speak or resist as mournful bird cries sounded on the street.

Kakashi and Might Guy stopped the Snow Ninja’s attack on Kazahana Koyuki, who revealed she was the former princess of the Land of Snow. After returning to the inn, she discovered her Crystal Pendant was missing, while the fleeing Snow Ninja captain Nadare Rōga encountered someone in the forest.

• Kakashi and Might Guy rescued Kazahana Koyuki and captured the attackers, but the last Snow Ninja destroyed himself with Explosive Tags before Kakashi could extract useful intelligence.
• Kazahana Koyuki confirmed to Kakashi that she was the former princess of the Land of Snow, and Kakashi realized the attackers had likely been sent by her uncle.
• Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki back to the inn, where she found Asama Sandayu unharmed and discovered her Crystal Pendant was gone.
• Nadare Rōga defeated a Konoha Chunin squad while escaping the village, then met a figure blocking his path in the forest.

Zou Hyuga defeated Nadare Rōga, took the Crystal Pendant, and revealed that he had manipulated Nadare into attacking Konohagakure. After Zou escaped, the ANBU Captain suspected the lone mole in ANBU had orchestrated the incident.

• Nadare Rōga attacked Zou Hyuga, but Zou overpowered him and took the Crystal Pendant.
• Zou revealed that he had enabled Nadare’s mission and planted a Chakra Seed in him before knocking him unconscious.
• Zou spotted the approaching ANBU Squad and vanished into the darkness.
• The ANBU Squad found evidence of the fight but no trail to pursue, so the captain ordered them to report to Lord Hokage.
• The ANBU Captain removed her mask, revealing her Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and realized the incident pointed to the mole in ANBU.