Chapter Summaries

Hashirama Senju overwhelmed Obito with Wood Release, while Orochimaru and the Hokage questioned Obito's claim to be Madara Uchiha. Hashirama confirmed that Obito was not Madara, leaving Obito cornered and silent as the others demanded to know his identity.

• Orochimaru successfully summoned Hashirama Senju, whose Wood Release defeated Obito's Susanoo and trapped him in a Wood Dragon.
• Hashirama and the Second Hokage discussed Konoha, Tsunade, and the village's younger generation before Orochimaru and Kimimaro approached them.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had been the Third Hokage's student and Tsunade's teammate, then restrained the Second Hokage.
• Orochimaru asked Hashirama whether Obito was truly Madara Uchiha, and Hashirama confirmed that he was not.
• Orochimaru and the Second Hokage demanded to know who Obito was, but Obito stayed silent, feeling helpless before Hashirama.

Orochimaru and the reanimated First and Second Hokage reacted to the Akatsuki leader’s attack and prepared for the coming battle. The First rushed to confront the leader, while Orochimaru retreated with his subordinates and questioned the Second about the village and forbidden techniques.

• The Second Hokage suggested unmasking Obito, but an explosion near the Five-Tails Jinchuriki drew Orochimaru’s attention away.
• Orochimaru recognized the Akatsuki leader’s powerful Shinra Tensei and explained that the leader’s group had captured seven tailed beasts.
• The First Hokage decided to meet the strongest ninja of the era and rushed toward the Akatsuki leader despite Orochimaru’s weak control over him.
• The Second Hokage warned Orochimaru about abusing forbidden techniques and refused to interfere in his brother’s battle.
• Orochimaru ordered Kimimaro and the others to retreat, then began asking the Second Hokage about the village and his research while keeping watch on Obito.

Hashirama Senju confronted Pain outside Otogakure while Black Zetsu tried to rescue Obito and his Kamui Sharingan. Orochimaru and the Second Hokage repelled a White Zetsu attack, then noticed a mysterious black speck approaching.

• Pain recognized Hashirama Senju as the First Hokage, and Hashirama identified Pain as the Akatsuki leader pursuing the tailed beasts.
• Pain unleashed Super Shinra Tensei, but Hashirama blocked the attack with Fivefold Rashomon and countered with Wood Release.
• Black Zetsu watched Obito trapped in Susanoo and cautiously sent White Zetsu to attack Orochimaru and the Second Hokage.
• Orochimaru and the Second defeated the White Zetsu, and Orochimaru collected their bodies for experiments.
• The Second questioned Orochimaru about the White Zetsu and tried to return to Konoha, but Orochimaru kept him there to investigate.
• A tiny black speck appeared near Otogakure, drawing Orochimaru's and the Second's attention.

Nagato defeated and sealed the First Hokage with Planetary Devastation, while Orochimaru fled Otogakure and the Second Hokage escaped. The Akatsuki captured the Five-Tails, but a message brought news of a failed attempt to capture the Eight-Tails and an upcoming Five Kage Summit.

• The First Hokage tried to resist Nagato's Planetary Devastation with Wood Release, but ran out of chakra and could not enter Sage Mode.
• Orochimaru sensed that the reanimated First Hokage was nearing defeat, ordered the Second Hokage to keep watch, and fled to preserve his experimental data.
• Nagato sealed the First Hokage inside Planetary Devastation, then went to confront the Second Hokage and Obito.
• The Second Hokage escaped by Flying Thunder God, and Nagato mocked Obito's strength and suspected he was not the real Madara Uchiha.
• The Akatsuki captured the Five-Tails, but a letter informed Nagato that the attempt to capture the Eight-Tails had failed and that the Five Kage Summit would be held in the Land of Iron.

Obito learned that Nagato had discovered he was not the real Madara and ordered Black Zetsu to gather powerful shinobi bodies as protection against Orochimaru’s reanimations. At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, tensions rose between Konoha and Iwagakure while Zou Hyuga warned Oto that the Akatsuki was not their ultimate enemy.

• Obito told Black Zetsu that Nagato had confirmed he was not the Madara who fought Hashirama Senju, and ordered him to collect powerful shinobi bodies.
• A White Zetsu reported that the Five Kage Summit would take place in the Land of Iron, prompting Obito and Black Zetsu to consider the Akatsuki’s response.
• Zou Hyuga and the Fire Squad arrived at the summit venue, where the Third Hokage and Third Tsuchikage exchanged barbs over their dead sons and grandchildren.
• Mifune intervened before the Konoha and Iwagakure delegations could come to blows, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Ōnoki blamed each other for their villages’ ties to dangerous shinobi.
• Oto asked Zou Hyuga about his plans, and he told her that the Akatsuki’s leader was not their ultimate enemy and that a stranger threat would appear.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto received the Third Hokage’s order to assemble and left in silence.

At the Five Kage Summit, the Kage discussed Akatsuki’s threat and agreed to attack Amegakure, while Zou Hyuga and Oto recognized Orochimaru disguised as a Sunagakure kunoichi. The chapter ended with them choosing not to expose him and agreeing to warn Zou Hyuga’s original about him.

• Ōnoki handed the other villages reports on Akatsuki, and Mei Terumi revealed that Kirigakure had captured Shinnō and learned Akatsuki’s plans.
• Mei Terumi told the Raikage that the Two-Tails and most other hunted jinchūriki had been killed, prompting him to smash the table.
• The Third Hokage proposed attacking Amegakure, and the Raikage and Ōnoki supported the plan despite the Kazekage’s warning that destroying Amegakure would leave Akatsuki unrestrained.
• Oto noticed a suspicious female Sunagakure ninja, and Zou Hyuga realized that the disguise concealed Orochimaru.
• Oto suggested exposing Orochimaru, but Zou Hyuga refused and agreed to warn his original after bargaining with Oto over her eye power.

The Five Kage agreed to send elite teams on a surprise attack against Amegakure and the Akatsuki. At the Land of Rain border, Orochimaru joined the operation under Sunagakure’s protection and realized that the Third Hokage no longer recognized him.

• Oto Uchiha sneered at Orochimaru, while Zou Hyuga considered how the Five Kage might defeat Nagato.
• The Third Hokage told the Fire Squad that the villages would form Allied Shinobi Forces, but Zou Hyuga realized the announcement was a decoy for Akatsuki spies.
• The Third Hokage and his squad used shadow clones to mislead White Zetsu while their real bodies traveled to the Land of Rain border.
• The Third Hokage and Kazekage Rasa revealed that the villages would send small elite teams to raid Amegakure instead of assembling large armies.
• Kazekage Rasa introduced his son Gaara and Orochimaru, claiming Orochimaru had joined Sunagakure after the Akatsuki destroyed Otogakure.
• Orochimaru saw that the Third Hokage had grown old and no longer recognized him.

The Five Great Shinobi Villages prepared to attack Amegakure together, while the Fire Squad suspected that the Sound Ninja woman Orochimaru was impersonating was dangerous. As the joint assault approached, Zou Hyuga learned that his original body wanted him to fight without holding back but keep Oto out of the battle.

• Zou Hyuga greeted Gaara, who said he wanted to become Kazekage and asked whether Zou would become Hokage.
• Orochimaru warned the Konoha ninja that the Akatsuki was formidable, then left the cave as the Fire Squad discussed their suspicions about him.
• The Sunagakure and Konoha teams advanced toward Amegakure and sealed a White Zetsu they encountered along the way.
• The Third and Kazekage Rasa coordinated with the Tsuchikage and Raikage to launch a joint attack in fifteen minutes.
• Orochimaru revealed to himself that he intended to seize Nagato's Rinnegan, while Zou told Oto that his original body had ordered him to fight freely but limit her involvement.

Pain prepared to abandon Amegakure rather than let its people die fighting the Five Kage’s forces, while the allied shinobi battled Akatsuki’s fusion beasts. As the Third headed for Pain, Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha confronted Orochimaru for an explanation of how Pain destroyed Otogakure.

• White Zetsu warned Pain that the Five Kage and their forces had surrounded Amegakure, and Pain used fusion beasts to force the Rain Ninja to leave the Tower and seek a way to atone.
• Killer B blasted away the storm clouds, and the allied shinobi launched their assault on Amegakure as the Third fought through waves of regenerative fusion beasts with help from Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy.
• The Third left his comrades to face the beasts and headed into Amegakure, believing he could follow the Second and Fourth Hokage’s example if necessary.
• Shisui arrived with a fusion beast under his control and explained that his Mangekyo Sharingan could control only one of them at a time.
• Orochimaru watched the battle and wondered why Pain and Konan had not appeared, then Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha demanded to know how Pain had destroyed Otogakure.

Orochimaru told Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha about the Akatsuki’s assault on Otogakure before a Dust Release attack destroyed Zou’s clone. On the battlefield, Zou faced Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, and Killer B, then unleashed a Tailed Beast Bomb and disappeared in the resulting blast.

• Orochimaru recounted Otogakure’s destruction and discussed the Akatsuki with Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha.
• Ōnoki’s Dust Release struck Zou Hyuga’s clone, which vanished, and Oto Uchiha left Orochimaru alone.
• Zou Hyuga’s original body, who had returned to Amegakure for fragments of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, faced Ōnoki and Deidara.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B arrived with the Cloud Ninja Assault Unit and charged at Zou Hyuga.
• Zou Hyuga unleashed a Tailed Beast Bomb, blasting the surrounding ninja and vanishing from Ōnoki’s sight.

The Fourth Kazekage and the other village leaders regrouped after fighting Fusion Beasts and debated how to draw out the Akatsuki, then followed Ōnoki toward Amegakure’s Tower. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage reached the peaceful Inner District and headed for the Tower, wondering why Nagato and Konan had started a war.

• The Fourth Kazekage accepted Gaara’s suggestion to regroup and led Sunagakure’s unit toward the explosion.
• Chōjūrō and Mei Terumi fought Fusion Beasts before deciding to investigate the distant flames.
• The Sunagakure and Kirigakure units joined Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage, and the leaders discussed the missing Akatsuki Members.
• The Fourth Kazekage proposed using Amegakure’s Rain Ninja to force the Akatsuki out, but Ōnoki pointed toward the Tower as a place to find answers.
• The Third Hokage entered Amegakure’s untouched Inner District and hurried toward the Tower, unable to understand why Nagato and Konan had provoked a war.

The Third Hokage searched Amegakure for Nagato, Konan, and the Rain Ninja, while Oto Uchiha headed toward the explosion and encountered Zou Hyuga. The Third learned that Lady Angel might be in the central tower, and Oto questioned Zou after nearly striking him with Susanoo.

• The Third Hokage found Ajisai hiding in the Ninja Academy and used genjutsu, learning that classes had been canceled and she had nowhere to go.
• The Third Hokage visited a Tailed Beast Merchant Association shop, where a waiter directed him toward the central tower; the waiter was Orochimaru, who chose not to attack because Kakashi, Shisui, and others were approaching.
• Oto Uchiha fought past Fusion Beasts on her way to the explosion site and suspected they were connected to Akatsuki.
• Oto Uchiha sensed chakra underground and split the earth with her Skeletal Susanoo, revealing Zou Hyuga.
• Zou Hyuga warned Oto Uchiha to check chakra signatures before attacking, and she noticed that his chakra had changed.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha investigated a strange underground space beneath Amegakure and returned to the assault force outside the central Tower. As the Five Kage captured the fusion beasts, the Tower doors opened and bloodied Amegakure ninja called for help against the Akatsuki.

• Zou Hyuga entered Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode and led Oto Uchiha underground, explaining his plans to rebuild the Akatsuki.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto discovered an unusual node beneath Amegakure that seemed connected to an unknown alternate dimension, then concealed sealing jutsu and traps nearby.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto returned to the assault force near the central Tower and joined Kakashi and the other ninja.
• Orochimaru sensed a familiar presence in Zou Hyuga but became uncertain after Zou concealed his Ryūchi Cave senjutsu chakra.
• The Five Kage captured the fusion beasts guarding the Tower, and the assault force waited at its closed doors.
• Bloodied Amegakure ninja emerged from the Tower and said that the village had suffered under the Akatsuki for too long.

The Five Kage investigated Amegakure and heard a jonin claim that the Akatsuki had oppressed the village, though they suspected the account might have been altered. They chose sanctions and surveillance rather than attacking Amegakure, while the Akatsuki's whereabouts remained unknown.

• The Five Kage learned that over a thousand Rain Ninja were inside the prison-like Tower and questioned an Amegakure jonin.
• Shisui used genjutsu to question the jonin, who blamed Pain and Konan for Amegakure's suffering and called them traitors.
• Oto Uchiha challenged the Fourth Raikage after he accused Konoha and doubted the jonin's testimony, but the other Kage stopped their confrontation.
• The Five Kage considered whether Pain had altered the jonin's memories and decided not to retaliate against Amegakure while the Akatsuki remained at large.
• The Five Kage planned economic sanctions and elite squads to monitor Amegakure, uncertain whether the Akatsuki had already reached one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

After the raid on Amegakure, Zou Hyuga accepted the Third Hokage’s secret mission to investigate the Tailed Beast Merchant Association while preparing to leave the village. Meanwhile, Nagato planned an attack on Konoha to seize the Nine-Tails, with Madara Uchiha joining the operation.

• The Third Hokage asked Zou Hyuga to investigate the Tailed Beast Merchant Association because he suspected it was connected to the Akatsuki.
• Oto Uchiha learned that Zou Hyuga was leaving, but he persuaded her to stay in the village and support his plans by appealing to her ambition to become Hokage.
• Oto Uchiha told Zou Hyuga that Orochimaru had secretly left Amegakure while disguised as one of the Fourth Kazekage’s subordinates.
• Konan warned Nagato that the Five Kage’s Assault Unit had attacked Amegakure, and Nagato explained that he had already taken measures to avoid a direct confrontation.
• Nagato told Konan that the Akatsuki would attack Konoha to take the Nine-Tails and revive the Ten-Tails, with Madara Uchiha joining them.

Nagato led the Akatsuki in a full-scale assault on Konohagakure to capture the Nine-Tails, while Obito slipped into the village separately. Jiraiya prepared to confront his former students, and an unexpected figure appeared at the Hokage Building, offering to fight the Akatsuki while the leaders protected Naruto.

• Nagato gathered the Akatsuki and chose to attack Konoha directly while the Five Kage were in Amegakure.
• White Zetsu reported that Konoha's leaders and clan heads remained in the village, and Kakuzu speculated that Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito dismissed the concern and entered Konoha alone as Nagato led the Akatsuki toward the village.
• The Akatsuki breached Konoha's gates, prompting the Defense Force to respond and villagers to evacuate.
• At an emergency meeting, Jiraiya volunteered to face Nagato and left to fight, while Tsunade and the advisors discussed who would protect Naruto.
• An unexpected figure entered the meeting room and offered to fight the Akatsuki so Tsunade and the advisors could protect Naruto.

Danzo joined Konoha’s defense as Jiraiya arrived to help fight the Akatsuki, while Kabuto continued working in Sasori’s underground laboratory. The battle rumbled above the lab, where another administrator briefly appeared.

• Danzo surprised Tsunade and the Advisory Duo by leading Root Ninja toward the village entrance, and Tsunade set out with ANBU to protect Naruto.
• Jiraiya arrived at the ruined battlefield and received Shikaku Nara’s report on the Akatsuki’s forces and their summoning beasts.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro to fight the enemy beasts, then entered Sage Mode with help from Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.
• Kabuto continued experiments in Sasori’s underground laboratory and learned that Sasori was also a prisoner there.
• A tremor shook the laboratory, and Sasori said that things above were unsettled before identifying a passing figure as the laboratory’s other administrator.

Tsunade found Naruto missing and the ANBU guards protecting him dead, then learned that powerful chakra signatures and traces of Nine-Tails chakra were nearby. Obito confronted a masked blond Minato Namikaze, who insisted he was not the Fourth Hokage and cared only about protecting Naruto.

• Tsunade found the ANBU guards dead at Naruto's ruined residence and suspected that an Akatsuki member using Space-Time Ninjutsu had taken him.
• Tsunade summoned Katsuyu, who sensed Nine-Tails chakra and several powerful chakra signatures nearby.
• Tsunade ordered the Elder Advisors to accompany her toward the fight while the other ninja evacuated civilians.
• Obito recognized the masked blond fighter's Flying Thunder God Technique and assumed he was Minato Namikaze revived through Impure World Reincarnation.
• Minato Namikaze denied being the Fourth Hokage and said that protecting Naruto mattered more to him than the village.

Obito fought Minato Namikaze, failed to capture him, and escaped when more Konoha ninja arrived. Tsunade and the Advisory Duo discovered evidence that the Fourth Hokage had returned, while Naruto woke in the woods facing an angry red-haired woman.

• Obito tried to draw Minato Namikaze into the Kamui Dimension, but Minato evaded his attacks and injured him with a Rasengan.
• Obito sensed approaching ninja and escaped underground, while Minato Namikaze vanished using Flying Thunder God.
• Tsunade and the Advisory Duo found traces of Flying Thunder God and a Rasengan, then considered whether the Fourth Hokage had returned and what had happened to Naruto.
• Tsunade left to fight alongside the wounded Jiraiya, and the Advisory Duo followed to join the battle.
• Naruto woke in the woods, confronted the red-haired woman, insulted her, and was struck down.

Naruto learned that Kushina and Minato Namikaze were his parents, newly returned from death, as they protected him during an attack on Konohagakure. Minato had driven away the Masked Man, but his parents stayed with Naruto because the attackers were targeting him.

• Kushina embraced Naruto and told him she was his mother and had once been the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Naruto doubted Kushina's claim until she explained that she and his father had died and were recently brought back.
• A tremor revealed that giant beasts and enemy ninja were attacking Konohagakure, and Naruto asked Kushina to drive them away.
• Minato Namikaze appeared, said he had driven away the Masked Man, and told Naruto that he was his father.
• Naruto recognized Minato's resemblance to the Fourth Hokage, but Minato denied being him and stayed with Kushina to protect Naruto.