Chapter Summaries

Oto Uchiha and Shisui escaped Pain after stalling him during Akatsuki's attack on Takigakure. Pain and Konan turned their attention to the missing Seven-Tails, while Danzo's retreating group crossed into the Land of Fire and White Zetsu scouts were killed.

• Oto Uchiha and Shisui fought the Six Paths of Pain with Susanoo, but Oto realized Pain could revive his Paths unless they found his true body.
• Oto Uchiha used a senjutsu-enhanced attack to draw out Pain's Shinra Tensei, then dispelled her Susanoo and escaped; Shisui had already fled as well.
• Konan told Deva Path Pain that Oto was fleeing toward Amegakure, and Pain asked whether Madara Uchiha had captured the Seven-Tails.
• Hiruko defeated a Shadow Clone of Shisui and realized that Shinnō and Kakuzu had disappeared.
• Danzo and his retinue crossed into the Land of Fire with the jinchūriki, and Danzo hurried toward a familiar earth vein pulse.
• White Zetsu scouts emerged to watch Danzo's group, but someone severed their heads before they could return underground.

Zou Hyuga collected White Zetsu and Black Zetsu samples for research while Orochimaru and Oyashiro En watched the battle in Takigakure and discussed their business. They encountered an injured Danzo and his group in the forest, and Orochimaru agreed to talk while Danzo insisted his subordinates leave with the little girl beside him.

• Zou Hyuga sealed White Zetsu's corpse and reviewed his findings that Black Zetsu's fragments shared the same substance as the Karma on his body.
• Orochimaru asked Oyashiro En about the battle in Takigakure, and Oyashiro En said the Uchiha escaped after neither side won.
• Oyashiro En asked Orochimaru when he would deliver the Type C Test Subjects, and Orochimaru gave no specific date.
• Orochimaru and Oyashiro En sensed chakra in the forest and found Danzo, who was traveling with a little girl and Root ninja.
• Oyashiro En identified himself as neutral, and Danzo agreed to speak with Orochimaru on the condition that his subordinates leave with the girl.

Orochimaru negotiated with Danzo for Uchiha intelligence in exchange for Sharingan, then realized Danzo’s strength was tied to natural energy. Meanwhile, Kakashi fought the Masked Man evenly until White Zetsu delivered a message that ended their sparring.

• Orochimaru asked Danzo for intelligence on the young Uchiha, including the two Mangekyo Sharingan users, and Danzo agreed in exchange for Sharingan.
• Orochimaru and Danzo left and destroyed the temporary base, while Oyashiro En questioned why Orochimaru had not attacked Danzo.
• Oyashiro En declined Orochimaru’s suggestion to visit Konoha and asked when Orochimaru would leave the Akatsuki before disappearing.
• Orochimaru concluded that Danzo’s strength came from natural energy and that his own cursed seal research was on the right track.
• Kakashi asked the Masked Man whether he had stolen Minato and Kushina’s bodies, and White Zetsu then whispered a message to Obito.
• Obito ended the sparring and threatened to kill Kakashi next time before sinking into the ground with White Zetsu’s power.

Oto Uchiha’s squad withdrew after Danzo took the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, while Shinnō gathered Hero Water and escaped Konoha’s forces with Fū. After capturing her, Shinnō questioned whether he should remain in the Akatsuki or create Zero-Tails first.

• Obito fled as Oto Uchiha and Shisui arrived, and Kakashi told them that Danzo had taken the jinchūriki away.
• Oto Uchiha declared the mission complete, then discovered that Zou Hyuga was a shadow clone and treated her damaged eyesight while the squad rested.
• Shinnō returned to Takigakure, collected Hero Water, and carried the unconscious Kakuzu toward the woods.
• Shinnō encountered Danzo’s Root operatives escorting Fū, activated the Eight Gates Released Formation, defeated the operatives, and captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shinnō wondered whether to create Zero-Tails before handing Fū over to the Akatsuki.

Shinnō defected from Akatsuki and handed Fū over to the Sky Ninja, but Zou Hyuga found their temporary base, drained some of the Seven-Tails’ chakra, and uncovered troubling information about the Otsutsuki. Akatsuki’s leaders argued over their defeat and turned toward Iwagakure, while Danzo discovered his escort team was missing; Zou later reunited with Oto Uchiha, whose teasing turned personal.

• Shinnō chose to leave Akatsuki, hid Fū with the surviving Sky Ninja, and returned toward Takigakure.
• Zou Hyuga infiltrated the Sky Ninja’s temporary base, absorbed some of Fū’s chakra, and learned from Karma that other Six Paths-level figures might be active.
• Obito admitted to Nagato and Konan that Danzo had escaped with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and Nagato ordered an attack on Iwagakure.
• Danzo reached the rendezvous point and found his Root team gone, then hurried away rather than risk confronting Akatsuki.
• Zou Hyuga rejoined his team and received his Shadow Clone’s memories; Oto Uchiha questioned whether he had brought Fū to his secret base and teased him about the girls there.

After the Fire Squad returned, the Third Hokage questioned them about Akatsuki and confronted Danzo over his secret Wood Release experiments. Reviewing Root’s research materials afterward, he discovered that Hashirama cells could restore a ninja to their prime.

• The Third Hokage read the Fire Squad’s report and asked Oto, Zou Hyuga, and the others to predict Akatsuki’s next target.
• Kakashi predicted Kumogakure, Oto Uchiha predicted Konoha, and Zou Hyuga predicted Iwagakure.
• The Third Hokage dismissed the team and told Danzo he would cut funding for him and Root because of Danzo’s unauthorized Wood Release research.
• The Third Hokage ordered Danzo to hand over his Wood Release research materials and stop further experiments, and Danzo agreed.
• A Root spy delivered the research materials to the Third Hokage, who found a document stating that successful Hashirama cell transplants could restore a ninja to their prime.

The Third Hokage summoned Tsunade while Zou Hyuga focused on researching Black Zetsu’s tissue and considered the possible conditions for evolving the Sharingan. After Oto reported that Danzo and Root had increased surveillance of the Uchiha, Zou warned the clan to be careful in the coming days.

• The Third Hokage dismissed his thoughts about regaining his prime and called for Tsunade.
• Kakashi left the Fire Squad alone, and Guy and Yamato followed him while Zou and Oto discussed Obito and the possibility of Oto turning against Zou.
• Zou checked on Vortex Shizuko and asked Oto about her recovering ocular power and her inability to reach the Fourth-Stage Susanoo.
• Zou and Oto went to the underground laboratory, where Zou began studying Black Zetsu’s tissue to learn its secrets and potentially improve his chakra network.
• After two weeks, Oto told Zou that Danzo and Root had intensified surveillance of the Uchiha, and Zou warned her that the Uchiha Clan Compound needed to be careful.

Danzo reviewed Uchiha Itachi’s records and ordered Root to keep investigating the Uchiha despite its depleted forces and the Military Police Force’s scrutiny. After school, Itachi invited Naruto to walk with him and Sasuke, leaving Sasuke jealous of his brother’s attention.

• Danzo considered Hiruzen’s search for a successor and feared that Root’s losses and the Wood Release Experiment would undermine his own prospects of becoming Hokage.
• Aburame Ryoma gave Danzo information on Itachi and warned that the Military Police Force was obstructing Root’s investigations, but Danzo ordered Root to recruit more operatives and work discreetly.
• Ryoma reported that Akatsuki had increased the bounty on Danzo through the underground black market, and Danzo ordered continued surveillance.
• Itachi waited outside the Ninja Academy for Sasuke and joined him after classes ended.
• Naruto approached Sasuke, and Itachi recognized him and invited him to walk with them, making Sasuke feel that Naruto was competing for his brother’s affection.

Itachi investigated Danzo’s attempts to recruit him into Root while secretly monitoring Root for Oto. After half a month of feigned cooperation, Danzo gave Itachi a mission to investigate outside the village.

• Itachi treated Sasuke and Naruto to ramen, then left them and met Danzo, who tried to recruit him as a bridge between the Uchiha and the village.
• Itachi recognized that Danzo’s Sharingan had not been a gift from Kagami and continued pretending to be persuaded while monitoring Root for Oto.
• Danzo ordered Itachi to gather information on the Uchiha clan’s jonin, then returned the list to him as a gesture meant to win his trust.
• Itachi questioned Oto about the arrangement, while Kabuto noticed that Danzo had provided Uchiha intelligence unusually easily and asked for nothing in return.
• Half a month later, Danzo sought out Itachi again and assigned him an investigation outside the village.

Danzo and the Third Hokage weighed the threats facing Konoha, while Zou Hyuga put his Black Zetsu research on hold to focus on a chakra network for scientific ninja tools and Chakra Armor. As Zou left his laboratory, he sensed something and disappeared.

• Danzo reviewed reports on Itachi and Uchiha Sharingan users, then considered how he might obtain more Sharingan without provoking the Uchiha or Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Danzo hoped Orochimaru would act against the Uchiha and planned to rely on information he had given Kabuto Yakushi.
• The Third Hokage heard that the Akatsuki had intensified its activity and learned that Danzo had been secretly approaching Naruto.
• The Third Hokage asked how long Kakashi had stayed home and worried that Pain's strength had left him despondent.
• Zou Hyuga paused his research on the Black Zetsu fragment and focused on developing a chakra network to power scientific ninja tools and Chakra Armor.
• Zou Hyuga left the basement laboratory, furrowed his brow, and vanished.

Zou Hyuga received Nagato’s warning to monitor the Seven-Tails and prepared to leave Konoha, bringing Oto and Shisui to his old underground laboratory. There, they discovered that Sasori was alive as a human puppet and being forced to assist with Zou’s research.

• Zou Hyuga received Nagato’s message about keeping watch on the Seven-Tails and replied that he might soon have to leave the village.
• Zou Hyuga met Oto and Shisui at the Uchiha compound and led them to his old underground laboratory outside Konoha.
• Zou Hyuga entered Sage Mode, struggled to control his intensified power, and opened a passage underground with Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Zou Hyuga, Oto, and Shisui reached the laboratory, where a human puppet accused Zou Hyuga of betraying the Akatsuki.
• Zou Hyuga silenced Sasori and told Oto and Shisui that the human puppet was their old acquaintance, Sasori.

Shisui learned that Zou and Oto planned to act against Danzo to prevent him from targeting Itachi, while Danzo discovered his unstable powers might be pushed toward awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. The chapter ended with Danzo preparing a plan against the Uchiha as he weighed Itachi’s potential and his own urgent need for power.

• Shisui recognized Sasori in Zou’s laboratory, and Zou confirmed that he and Oto intended to move against Danzo.
• Zou told Shisui that Danzo might target Itachi and steal his Sharingan, ending Shisui’s hesitation about the operation.
• Danzo reviewed reports showing that his Hashirama cells and Sharingan were dangerously unstable, and researcher Shin suggested that more Sharingan might trigger an evolution.
• Danzo decided to obtain a pair of eyes for Shin and considered provoking a Uchiha’s Sharingan to evolve so he could gain the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• A Root ninja reported that Itachi had completed his fifth mission and might have reached jonin level, after which Danzo began planning against the Uchiha.

Itachi joined a Root squad on a mission to destroy one of Orochimaru’s bases near the village, where they uncovered a trap and suffered heavy losses. As Itachi and the squad captain retreated, a small snake watched them from the smoke.

• Itachi met Danzo in a secluded alley, accepted a mission to search for Orochimaru’s bases, and joined a Root squad outside the village.
• Itachi used his Sharingan to identify disguised ninjas at a dilapidated settlement and interrogated their leader, who died when Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal released a phantom snake.
• Itachi and the Root squad searched the settlement and found a deep well that concealed natural gas.
• The squad captain tossed a torch into the well, triggering a massive explosion that killed several Root members and set the settlement ablaze.
• Itachi and the squad captain fled the fire and abandoned their comrades, while a small snake watched them retreat.

Itachi confronted Danzo near Konoha, recognized him as the target of his mission, and led him away from the village. After finding the unconscious Root captain, Kabuto realized Danzo had exploited Orochimaru’s destroyed base and followed the fighters to gather intelligence.

• Itachi’s Shadow Clone killed a messenger snake, but a smaller snake emerged from its corpse and escaped inside another body.
• Itachi and the Root Squad Captain reached Konoha’s outskirts, where Danzo ambushed them, sealed the captain, and attacked Itachi.
• Itachi recognized Danzo beneath the Akatsuki robe and used two fleeing figures to draw him deeper into the forest.
• Kabuto arrived with Orochimaru’s spies, inferred that Danzo had used Orochimaru’s base, and continued after the fighters alone.

Danzo followed Itachi into ancient ruins and an underground palace, believing he had uncovered a secret behind the Uchiha and Senju clans’ power. He tricked the guardian puppet into letting him pass, while the puppet revealed that Danzo had been fooled.

• Danzo followed Itachi through the ruins and discovered a hidden underground palace marked with Senju and Uchiha crests.
• Itachi reached a vast gate with a puppet guardian and slipped through as the gate began to close.
• The puppet fought Danzo and warned that only Uchiha and Senju could enter the forbidden ground.
• Danzo showed his Sharingan and claimed membership in both clans, persuading the puppet to let him pass.
• After the gate closed behind Danzo, the puppet mocked him as another fool who had been taken in.

Sasori reflected on his captivity and the technology of his new puppet body while Danzo explored the Senju and Uchiha rooms in the Underground Palace. Danzo found Hashirama Senju’s diary and followed a hidden passage, while Zou Hyuga and the others watched from the laboratory, having used Itachi to lure him there.

• Sasori recalled how Zou Hyuga had built the Underground Palace and lamented that his powerful new puppet body also kept him prisoner.
• Danzo searched the Senju room, found Hashirama Senju’s diary, and discovered insights into ninjutsu and natural energy.
• Danzo searched the Uchiha room, found no trace of Itachi, and uncovered a ventilation passage behind disturbed soil.
• Danzo followed the passage, becoming engrossed in the ruins’ secrets and forgetting that he had come for Itachi’s Sharingan.
• Itachi joined Zou Hyuga and Shisui in the laboratory, where Zou praised him for luring Danzo and confirmed that Danzo had attacked him.

Zou Hyuga convinced Oto, Itachi, and Shisui that he had uncovered a secret about the Rinnegan and a looming threat to the shinobi world. When Kabuto investigated the underground palace, he came face to face with Sasori.

• Itachi, Shisui, and Oto suspected Zou had gained his knowledge and power from hidden ruins, and Zou claimed he had discovered records about the Rinnegan and a coming crisis.
• Oto and Shisui rejected the Eye of the Moon Plan as a path to lasting peace, while Itachi asked whether the Akatsuki’s founder was collecting tailed beasts to enact it.
• Zou sensed an intruder, ruled out a village operation, and went to investigate, telling Oto he would handle the visitor alone.
• Kabuto followed chakra traces into the ruins, sent snakes ahead to scout, and found a passage leading to a vast underground palace.
• Kabuto entered the palace and met Sasori at its entrance, and the two looked at each other in the darkness.

Kabuto encountered Sasori in the underground palace and discovered that the missing Akatsuki member had been making puppets nearby. Sasori ordered Kabuto to stay and help with his research, leaving Kabuto caught between Sasori and Orochimaru.

• Kabuto cautiously approached Sasori’s puppet, unaware that Sasori recognized him as his spy in Konoha.
• Sasori considered escaping his restraints but abandoned the idea, then attacked Kabuto with a puppet that instantly repaired its severed joints.
• Kabuto summoned a giant python, but Sasori’s Human Puppet overwhelmed it and held a Senbon to Kabuto’s neck.
• Sasori revealed himself and questioned Kabuto about Orochimaru’s recent activities.
• Sasori ordered Kabuto to remain and assist with his research, and Kabuto agreed while secretly hoping to report Sasori to Orochimaru.

Zou Hyuga lured Danzo to the Box of Ultimate Bliss and trapped him with help from Shisui, Itachi, and Oto Uchiha. He assured the group that Danzo would not escape unless he was the leader of the Akatsuki.

• After Sasori revealed Kabuto Yakushi’s identity, Zou Hyuga ordered Sasori to place a new cursed seal on him and continued toward the laboratory.
• Zou Hyuga watched Danzo investigate the earth vein and approach the Box of Ultimate Bliss, believing the fabricated diary had helped draw him in.
• Danzo realized he might be caught in an Uchiha trap and found Itachi and several disguised ninja waiting behind him.
• Zou Hyuga struck Danzo into the box, and Shisui used Kotoamatsukami to cloud Danzo’s consciousness before Zou Hyuga shut him inside.
• When Itachi questioned whether the box could hold Danzo, Zou Hyuga assured him that Danzo had no chance of escaping unless he was the leader of the Akatsuki.

Danzo awoke at the Shimura Clan estate with missing memories and a changed attitude toward the Uchiha, then tried to approach Uchiha Fugaku in public. Fugaku suspected a scheme, while Itachi hinted that his recent actions had a reason he could not explain.

• Danzo awoke at home, recalled a dream in which he had attacked an Uchiha, and realized that parts of his memory seemed to be missing.
• A Root ninja briefed Danzo on the Akatsuki, the Uchiha's movements, and an explosion near the village; Danzo then asked the ninja to accompany him around Konoha.
• Danzo encountered Uchiha Fugaku on the shopping street and began trying to reconcile, but Fugaku left before he could finish.
• Fugaku heard further reports that Danzo's attitude toward the Uchiha had softened and wondered whether the change was a plot.
• At home, Fugaku questioned Uchiha Itachi about his strange behavior, and Itachi told him not to worry; Sasuke listened in confusion.