Chapter Summaries

Zou Hyuga joined a Fire Squad training exercise and tested himself against Kakashi, Yamato, Oto, Shisui, and Guy. As Kakashi and Guy teamed up against him, Zou entered Sage Mode and advanced to meet them.

• Zou Hyuga recognized Kabuto's loyalty to Orochimaru and considered how he also had Kabuto's life in his hands through Sasori.
• Two days later, Zou followed Oto to a training ground, where the Fire Squad began paired encounter battles in the forest.
• Kakashi ambushed Zou with a lightning technique infused with natural energy, but Zou tracked him with Byakugan and fought back with Gentle Fist.
• Oto confronted Yamato, who used Wood Release clones and vines, then countered his Wood Release with a powerful Fire Release technique.
• Shisui joined the battle against Oto, while Yamato watched and waited for Guy to appear.
• Guy joined Zou and Kakashi's fight, and after they exchanged blows, Zou activated Sage Mode as Kakashi and Guy joined forces against him.

Zou Hyuga fought Kakashi and Guy while Hiruko and Shinnō prepared to attack Kirigakure. Hozuki Mangetsu, Zabuza, and Kisame went to confront the Fourth Mizukage, who feared they had come to assassinate him.

• Zou Hyuga overwhelmed Kakashi with his Sage Mode, then stopped Guy’s Sixth Gate attack as Kakashi recovered and readied his lightning technique.
• Hiruko and Shinnō reached the outskirts of Kirigakure and Hiruko ordered his spies inside the village to assist the attack.
• Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Zabuza received Hiruko’s order and gathered in a secret room to decide what to do.
• Hozuki Mangetsu chose to speak with the Fourth Mizukage, and Zabuza and Kisame followed him to the Mizukage’s office.
• The Fourth Mizukage asked whether the three men had come to assassinate him and said he would surrender his position if a suitable successor existed.

The Fourth Mizukage learned that Akatsuki was approaching Kirigakure and mobilized the village’s defenses. After a training exercise, Zou Hyuga and Oto sensed village observers, and Oto told Zou she would visit him that night to handle something.

• Hozuki Mangetsu told the Fourth Mizukage that Akatsuki threatened Kirigakure’s survival and located the enemy ten kilometers south of the village.
• The Fourth Mizukage ordered the ANBU assembled and sent Kisame to alert Genji and prepare the defenses while he left with Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza.
• Zou Hyuga’s team finished training, and Kakashi and Guy recognized how close Zou was to Kage Level.
• Oto beat Shisui and Yamato, discussed Shisui’s Wood Release and natural energy training, and promised to consult Zou about his next surgery.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto sensed observers as they returned to the village, and Oto told Zou she would visit him that night.

Jiraiya and Tsunade realized that Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha had mastered senjutsu as Konoha prepared for a coming war. At the village wall, Yamato asked Zou for help with a strange problem involving his Wood Release trees, and Zou suspected Danzo’s nearby base might be connected.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade watched the Fire Squad’s exercise and discussed the strength of its members.
• Jiraiya sensed powerful traces of senjutsu and identified Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha as the likely practitioners.
• Tsunade considered the danger of the coming war after Konoha’s failed attack on Amegakure.
• Yamato asked Zou Hyuga to persuade Oto Uchiha to help him replant trees destroyed at the training ground.
• Yamato told Zou that trees he had grown with Wood Release were growing excessively and mentioned Danzo’s base outside the village.
• Zou Hyuga frowned and looked toward the forest, suspecting a connection to Danzo’s base.

Zou Hyuga discussed Danzo’s movements with Oto as Danzo prepared a dangerous natural-energy experiment beneath the Valley of the End. In the Land of Water, the Fourth Mizukage’s forces defeated a group of monsters, but Hiruko and Shinnō then arrived carrying Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Yamato asked Zou Hyuga to help reduce his workload, and Zou agreed to consider his plea.
• Oto refused to help Zou play the villain and said Danzo was keeping Root hidden while guarding against the Uchiha.
• Danzo led Root into the restored underground node and ordered Yamanaka Fū to prepare an experiment using its dense natural energy to fuse his Wood Release and Sharingan.
• The Fourth Mizukage, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Zabuza fought and defeated the Type C Test Subjects, while the Mizukage questioned the scale and purpose of the attack.
• Hiruko and Shinnō appeared carrying Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

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.