Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Itachi believed he was enduring a genjutsu designed to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan, but the events around him began to contradict his memories. After Izumi told him Shisui had died and that Itachi had discovered his body, he began to question what was real.

• Uchiha Itachi woke in the Shrine and assumed Oto and Shisui had placed him in a genjutsu to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Itachi reached the Uchiha grounds and saw a black-clad impostor who looked like him massacre clansmen, but the figure escaped using the Crow Clone Technique.
• At the Military Police Headquarters, Itachi found Izumi wounded and protected her from Madara Uchiha, who accused Itachi of killing his clansmen and told him to meet after defecting from Konoha.
• Itachi searched the headquarters for Oto and Shisui, then asked Izumi about them as they left.
• Izumi said she did not know Oto and that Shisui had died long ago, adding that Itachi had been the first to discover his death.
• Itachi fell silent and examined the world around him more carefully.

Itachi endured a genjutsu in which he experienced an alternate Uchiha massacre and his loved ones’ deaths, then awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan as he escaped it. He woke in reality exhausted, and Oto asked how his newly awakened eyes felt.

• Itachi entered the Uchiha mansion in the genjutsu and found Fugaku and Mikoto accepting his choice to side with the village; they killed themselves before him.
• Sasuke discovered his parents’ bodies, and Itachi put him to sleep before fleeing the Clan Grounds with him and Izumi as the Third and ANBU arrived.
• Itachi admitted responsibility to the Third, then escaped with Izumi and Sasuke to the forest outside the Konoha District.
• Izumi cut off her hair and declared herself Itachi’s enemy before vanishing into the forest; after failing to break the genjutsu, Itachi chose death at Sasuke and Izumi’s hands and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Itachi woke from the genjutsu in reality, where Shisui offered him a towel and Oto praised his awakening and asked how it felt.

Itachi learned that Zou had prepared the genjutsu world to help him awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan and discovered the memorial stone’s record of the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan. As the Uchiha gathered for a clan meeting, Zou confirmed Black Zetsu’s connection to Kaguya and began planning for the coming Shinobi World War.

• Oto explained that Zou had prepared Itachi’s genjutsu experience, while she had added details involving Izumi.
• Itachi read the memorial stone and identified the Eye of the Moon Plan and Infinite Tsukuyomi as the reason Madara Uchiha had collected the tailed beasts.
• Oto revealed that Obito Uchiha was carrying out the plan and told Itachi that his experience had been a Limited Tsukuyomi.
• Itachi described awakening Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu, and Oto said Sasuke was even more exceptional but would need years to reach the strength Itachi had seen.
• Shisui alerted Oto that clan members had arrived for the clan meeting, and Itachi left the basement with them.
• Zou analyzed Black Zetsu, confirmed he was Kaguya Otsutsuki’s son and vessel, and turned to planning how to win the Shinobi World War.

Zou Hyuga checked on Naruto and Sasuke as the shinobi world prepared for war, then extracted chakra from the Nine-Tails and from the reincarnations of Indra and Asura. The Sage of Six Paths did not appear, leaving Zou concerned that something had changed.

• Zou Hyuga joined Minato Namikaze in secretly watching Naruto's team train and discussed the looming war and the boys' importance to the shinobi world.
• Zou approached Naruto's team, where Sakura realized Minato was the Fourth Hokage and Sasuke reacted with surprise.
• Zou examined Naruto and Sasuke with his Byakugan, negotiated with the Nine-Tails, and obtained some of its chakra.
• Zou entered his second state and extracted some of Indra's and Asura's chakra from Naruto and Sasuke.
• Zou watched for the Sage of Six Paths, but when he did not appear, Zou left after telling Minato he would carry out his orders.

Zou Hyuga prepared to pursue the enemy who attacked the Second, while Konohagakure mobilized nearly all its ninjas against the Akatsuki. As the Third Hokage headed to the Five Kage Summit, Zou split off with Minato Namikaze and Kushina to begin his own operation at the underground base housing the Chakra Network Hub.

• Zou Hyuga told Minato Namikaze that he planned to act against the enemy who attacked the Second during the Third's Five Kage Summit.
• Oto Uchiha reported that Uchiha Itachi had awakened Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu after receiving white zetsu cells, then questioned Zou about the Uchiha massacre timeline; Zou assured her that her presence could prevent it.
• The Third announced that Konohagakure was at war with the Akatsuki and mobilized twenty thousand ninjas.
• The Third left for the Five Kage Summit with the Fire Squad as his Shadow Guard, while Jiraiya and Tsunade stayed behind to protect the village and Naruto.
• Zou split from the Fire Squad and met Minato Namikaze and Kushina, then led them through the forest toward the Daimyō Castle.
• Zou guided Minato and Kushina through the underground base where he planned to launch his operation and where the Chakra Network Hub was stored.

Kushina reunited with Karin, an Uzumaki survivor living at Zou Hyuga’s base, while Minato learned about the base’s growing natural-energy training and chakra network. Zou then reached the altar and met the Ley Line Consciousness, which told him it had finally come.

• Kushina criticized the base’s outer barrier, then learned that Shizuko had died and her daughter Karin maintained the interior seals.
• Karin recognized Kushina as an Uzumaki and embraced her, while Minato and Zou Hyuga discussed Zou’s past and the survivors he had taken in.
• Hanabi met Minato and told Zou she could enter Sage Mode after calming her mind for several hours.
• Zou led Minato to the altar, where the Box of Ultimate Bliss housed Minato’s, Kushina’s, and Danzo’s spirit bodies.
• Zou connected to the earth veins and encountered the Ley Line Consciousness, which told him it had finally come.

Zou Hyuga discovered the Treasure Tool Kura, which could send someone into the past, and brought the Leyline’s core under his control. He moved with Minato Namikaze and Kushina to an island near the Land of Water to prepare his plan, while sending a clone toward the Land of Rain and summoning Akatsuki.

• Zou Hyuga used the Leyline to explore the earth veins and found a turtle named Kura, who said it could take him into the past and let him try to change history.
• Zou Hyuga judged time travel too dangerous to use but memorized Kura’s location, then returned to his body with the Leyline’s core.
• Zou Hyuga asked Minato Namikaze to arrange a Flying Thunder God Formation to move the Box of Ultimate Bliss near the Land of Water.
• Zou Hyuga spent a day attuning himself to the Ley Line Consciousness while Minato Namikaze and Kushina completed the formation.
• Zou Hyuga, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina traveled to an island off the Land of Water, where Zou Hyuga prepared his plan, sent a shadow clone toward the Land of Rain, and summoned the remaining Akatsuki members to a meeting.

At the Five Kage Summit, Zou Hyuga assessed the gathered forces and recognized that the meeting was bait for Obito. Obito appeared nearby, learned Oto Uchiha and the others were present, then left to order an attack while Zetsu worried an unknown threat was nearby.

• The Five Kage gathered at a military stronghold as Zou Hyuga watched the escorts and noted Kakashi's unusually dense natural energy.
• Gaara greeted Zou Hyuga warmly, surprising Sunagakure's elite ninja, then returned to his group.
• Zou Hyuga sensed uninvited guests as Obito and Black Zetsu arrived on a distant mountain after recovering and taking control of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Obito learned Oto Uchiha, Zou Hyuga, Kakashi, and the Nine-Tails were at the summit and recognized the meeting as a trap.
• Black Zetsu suggested attacking the villages, and Obito ordered the White Zetsu to strike while asking after the President, Nagato, and their companions.
• Obito vanished into a vortex, leaving Black Zetsu wondering whether an Otsutsuki had arrived or whether his Mother had failed to kill someone.

Obito appeared before the Five Kage, then summoned the real Madara Uchiha and left him to face them. Madara battled the Five Kage, whose attacks began breaking through his Susanoo, before he unleashed a massive Fire Release that destroyed the conference building.

• Obito appeared in the Five Kage's conference room and evaded Ōnoki's Dust Release attack with his intangibility.
• The Five Kage confronted Obito, who revealed he was not the real Madara Uchiha and summoned Madara in a coffin.
• Madara emerged from the coffin, questioned Obito about Nagato and the Tailed Beasts, and watched Obito escape through a vortex.
• The Five Kage attacked Madara together, damaging his Susanoo with their combined techniques.
• Madara unleashed Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame, reducing the conference building to ruins.

The Five Kage fought Madara while Oto Uchiha and the other elite ninja confronted Obito, who summoned White Zetsu and reanimated bodies to attack the villages. The battlefield split into multiple fights, and Oto challenged Obito to stop hiding his identity.

• Oto Uchiha identified the blue Susanoo fighting the Five Kage as the real Madara, while the masked Madara was Obito.
• Obito appeared before the elite ninja, and Oto explained that two people were using the name Madara Uchiha.
• Oto taunted Obito about fleeing with Space-Time Ninjutsu, while Kakashi prepared Purple Lightning and struggled with his feelings about his old friend.
• Obito summoned more than ten thousand White Zetsu and numerous reanimated bodies, forcing the village ninja into battle.
• The elite ninja fought the reanimated bodies as the Fire Squad watched Obito, and Oto asked if he still planned to hide his identity.

Oto revealed that Obito was behind the Nine-Tails' Rampage and confronted him alongside Kakashi and the others. As Obito and the reincarnated First Hokage battled the Uchiha Susanoo, Uchiha Itachi used black flames to destroy the Wood Golem, leaving Obito stunned by Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Oto identified Obito and blamed him for the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina, while Kakashi urged him to surrender.
• Obito rejected Kakashi's appeal and attacked with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, prompting Oto to burn through the trees with Majestic Destroyer Flame.
• The reincarnated First Hokage appeared atop a Wood Golem and fought the Susanoo, while Shisui narrowly escaped a Wood Clone's trap.
• Black flames engulfed and immobilized the Wood Golem, and Obito traced the attack to Uchiha Itachi, whose Mangekyō Sharingan surprised him.

Obito loosened his control over the First Hokage, who unleashed a colossal Wood Release giant against the battlefield's ninja. Meanwhile, the Five Kage struggled against Madara Uchiha and discovered that he had the Rinnegan, leaving them facing overwhelming odds.

• Obito weakened his restraints on the First Hokage, who entered Sage Mode and summoned Wood Golems to fight the Susanoo.
• The First Hokage created a nearly hundred-meter-tall Wood Release giant, halting the fighting around him.
• The Five Kage acknowledged Madara Uchiha's overwhelming strength as a distant tremor drew their attention to the First Hokage's Wood Release giant.
• Ōnoki, Mei Terumi, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fourth Kazekage attacked Madara Uchiha while gold sand held him in place.
• Madara Uchiha revealed the Rinnegan and absorbed Ōnoki's Dust Release, prompting Ōnoki to warn the Third Hokage about cremating corpses.

Orochimaru, Sasori, Shinnō, and the Second Hokage’s Shadow Clone met Nagato and Konan in an abandoned Akatsuki base to discuss the danger in Amegakure and the ongoing Shinobi World War. Minato Namikaze and Kushina arrived with Zou Hyuga’s Shadow Clone, bringing Nagato face to face with his fellow disciple Minato.

• Orochimaru and the former Akatsuki members entered the underground cavern and reunited with Nagato and Konan.
• Nagato questioned the Second Hokage about the trouble in Amegakure, and the Second explained that trained ordinary people with special ninja tools could threaten low-ranking ninja.
• Orochimaru told Nagato that an Uchiha impersonating Madara had started a Shinobi World War to collect the remaining tailed beasts.
• Orochimaru taunted Nagato about losing his Rinnegan, but declined to challenge him, and Nagato motioned for Hiruko to stand down.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina appeared alongside Zou Hyuga’s Shadow Clone, and Minato and Nagato recognized each other as Jiraiya’s former disciples.

Zou Hyuga led Minato Namikaze, Nagato, and the others toward Amegakure to confront a dangerous Otsutsuki, after warning them that death in the battle would be permanent. Along the way, Minato and Nagato agreed to visit Jiraiya together if they survived.

• Zou Hyuga briefed the group on the war and warned that a hostile Otsutsuki in Amegakure threatened the village and could not be overcome by Impure World Reincarnation.
• Sasori and Orochimaru agreed to face the Otsutsuki for their own reasons, while Shinnō had no real choice but to join the mission.
• The group ended their meeting in the Underground Cave and set off for Amegakure.
• Konan asked Minato Namikaze how Jiraiya was doing, and Minato said he was in good health but that he had little chance to meet him.
• Minato and Nagato promised to visit Jiraiya together if they returned alive, while Nagato admitted he would be content to see his former teacher from a distance.

Konoha’s leaders prepared for an assault by more than ten thousand White Zetsu and hundreds of reanimated ninjas while protecting the village. They learned that the Land of Fire Daimyō was also under attack, leaving them caught between protecting him and keeping the Nine-Tails from the enemy.

• Tsunade ordered the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled villagers evacuated to shelters, even if force was needed.
• An Intelligence Division ninja reported that more than ten thousand White Zetsu and hundreds of reanimated ninjas, including Hatake Sakumo and Torifu Akimichi, were approaching Konoha.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi volunteered their clans and forces to fight outside the village, and Mitokado Homura joined them.
• The remaining defenders guarded Konoha against White Zetsu, reanimated ninjas, and possible space-time attacks while an Anbu delivered a report from Daimyō Castle.
• Utatane Koharu told Jiraiya and Tsunade that White Zetsu were attacking the Daimyō, and Tsunade warned that the enemy intended to use his life to pressure Konoha into surrendering the Nine-Tails.

Tsunade continued directing Konohagakure’s defenses while Jiraiya left to protect Naruto, and the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans joined the battle against the White Zetsu Army. Hiashi and Hizashi rescued Kosuke from the reanimated Hatake Sakumo, whose body was then torn apart by chakra bullets.

• Tsunade managed the village’s war council as Jiraiya departed to protect Naruto.
• Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku reached the walls, identified the reanimated enemies, and agreed that the Hyuga would face Hatake Sakumo while the Uchiha fought Torifu Akimichi.
• Hiashi directed Hyuga chunin to fire new ninja tools from the walls and led the clan’s jonin toward Hatake Sakumo.
• Hatake Sakumo overwhelmed Kosuke and the defenders until Hiashi and Hizashi arrived and forced him back with Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin.
• Hatake Sakumo attacked Hiashi, but chakra bullets from the Hyuga ninja on the walls tore apart his reanimated body.

Hiashi and Hizashi confronted Hatake Sakumo as Fugaku’s forces fought through the forest and sealed Torifu Akimichi. In Konoha, the jinchūriki Pain bodies found the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, but were trapped inside a Four Violet Flames Formation.

• Kosuke left Hiashi and Hizashi to reinforce another defensive line after Hiashi said they could handle Hatake Sakumo.
• Fugaku led Uchiha elites through the woods, using Fire Release and genjutsu against White Zetsu and reanimated ninja.
• Fugaku formed a Susanoo and fought Torifu Akimichi while the Uchiha elites joined in with Chakra Cloaks.
• The Uchiha elites tripped and weakened Torifu Akimichi, then sealed him in a scroll.
• Special puppets learned the location of Konoha’s shelter, then spotted the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki on the way there.
• Figures emerged as the jinchūriki Pain bodies entered the park and enclosed it in a Four Violet Flames Formation.

Jiraiya used Sage Mode and an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan to cripple the Jinchūriki Pain trapped inside Konoha’s Four Violet Flames Formation, but they escaped before he could finish them. Outside the village, Black Zetsu learned the infiltration had failed and that the tailed-beast jinchūriki were not in Konoha.

• The reincarnated Second Hokage’s Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags battered the Jinchūriki Pain inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, and Jiraiya arrived to attack them.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode with Fukasaku and Shima, then struck the Jinchūriki Pain with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan and broke the Black Rods from a defeated body.
• The remaining Jinchūriki Pain vanished using the Summoning Technique, and Sage Fukasaku told Jiraiya that the Great Toad Sage was gravely unwell and could not perceive the destinies of more and more ninja.
• Jiraiya left to continue defending Konoha, while Black Zetsu met the escaped Jinchūriki Pain outside the village.
• Pain told Black Zetsu that the operation had failed and the jinchūriki were not in Konoha; Black Zetsu said they would obey once the First and Madara defeated the Five Kage Allied Forces and revived the Ten-Tails.

Asuma watched Taro Utada summon the Tailed Beast Merchant Association’s armored ninja to help defend Daimyō Castle from the White Zetsu. As the battle turned in the defenders’ favor, a powerful Ice Release attack began, leaving Asuma wondering what other strength the association possessed.

• The Land of Fire Daimyō refused to evacuate while he and Taro Utada finished their shogi game, claiming he would not abandon his people.
• Asuma met the Daimyō and Taro on the Tenshu, where they discussed the White Zetsu attack and Taro’s mysterious president.
• At the Daimyō’s urging, Taro used a Fire Release signal flare to summon the Tailed Beast Merchant Association’s forces.
• Ninja in Chakra Armor marched to the gates and joined the defenders, using tachi and C-rank ninjutsu against the White Zetsu.
• Snow fell over the city and became a prolonged rain of icicles that pierced the White Zetsu, astonishing Asuma with the caster’s power.
• The icicles stopped, and an enormous tornado of snow and ice formed over the battlefield.

Haku and Karin helped defend Daimyō Castle from the White Zetsu, while Black Zetsu learned of their connection to the Tailed Beast Association and sent Mito Uzumaki after the jinchūriki. On Turtle Island, Mito found Naruto and Sasuke as they waited in hiding.

• Haku and Karin defeated the White Zetsu outside Daimyō Castle and met Asuma and the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
• A White Zetsu reported Haku and Karin's presence to Black Zetsu, who learned their location and prepared to target the jinchūriki.
• Black Zetsu summoned Mito Uzumaki through Impure World Reincarnation and told her to pursue the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Naruto and Killer B stayed on Turtle Island while Sasuke resented being kept there and refused Naruto's suggestion to sneak away.
• Mito Uzumaki emerged from the sea on Turtle Island and announced that she had found the remaining jinchūriki.