Chapter Summaries

Mujo used his blood to trigger the restrictions and set Kankuro, Temari, Choji, and other youths on fire, driving Naruto Uzumaki to despair until the Nine-Tails took over his body and rampaged through Hozuki Castle. Granny Chiyo incapacitated Mujo and urged Master of Open Stratagems to sign contracts with the youths so they could be resurrected, as he rushed toward them despite the raging Nine-Tails.

• Mujo bit his thumb and triggered the restrictions, setting Kankuro, Temari, Choji, and other youths on fire.
• Naruto Uzumaki broke down at the sight of his friends burning, and the Nine-Tails took control of his body.
• The Nine-Tails grew into a gigantic beast, attacked the surrounding buildings, and gathered a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Granny Chiyo severed Mujo's thumb, restrained him with threads, and cut off his tongue before he could trigger the restrictions again.
• Granny Chiyo told Master of Open Stratagems to sign contracts with the youths so they could be resurrected, and he rushed out toward them.

Master of Open Stratagems risked the flames at Hozuki Castle to collect blood from the burning youths, while Granny Chiyo confronted Black Zetsu after he possessed Mujo. Black Zetsu revealed that he had come to capture the Tailed Beast, and Mujo’s body began transforming into an unfamiliar young man.

• Master of Open Stratagems placed the Soulwood Casket at a safe distance, dodged the Tailed Beast’s attack, and collected bodily fluids from the burning youths.
• The Tailed Beast changed targets and attacked other buildings in Hozuki Castle after Master of Open Stratagems shouted at it.
• Granny Chiyo prepared to imprison Mujo and interrogate him about Gaara’s whereabouts.
• Black Zetsu appeared behind Mujo, revealed that he was a member of Akatsuki, and declared his intent to eliminate the outsiders and capture the Tailed Beast.
• Black Zetsu possessed Mujo, blocking Granny Chiyo’s control, and Mujo’s body transformed to reveal a young face unfamiliar to her.

Black Zetsu took control of Bibiye and trapped the fighters at Hozuki Castle in Kusagakure’s Secret Art: Ultimate Black Domain. As Black Zetsu moved to kill Granny Chiyo, an unfamiliar white-haired old man stepped in front of her.

• Granny Chiyo questioned the confused Bibiye after Black Zetsu’s black liquid receded.
• Black Zetsu revealed he had taken control of Bibiye’s body and intended to kill everyone present.
• Granny Chiyo tried to buy time by asking who had sent Black Zetsu and how he planned to defeat them.
• Black Zetsu used Kusagakure’s Secret Art: Ultimate Black Domain, blinding everyone and cutting off their ability to sense their surroundings.
• Black Zetsu approached the helpless Granny Chiyo and thrust a spear of flesh toward her chest.
• An unfamiliar white-haired old man moved in front of Granny Chiyo, and Black Zetsu asked who he was.

Old Yu Next Door tried to protect Granny Chiyo from Black Zetsu, enduring repeated attacks despite having no way to fight back. After Black Zetsu pierced his head, he remained standing, and Black Zetsu began investigating him before setting his severed arm ablaze.

• Old Yu Next Door stood between Black Zetsu and Granny Chiyo, saying he would do everything he could to stop Black Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu pierced Old Yu Next Door's chest twice, but the old man refused to move aside.
• Black Zetsu thrust his flesh spear through Old Yu Next Door's head, yet Old Yu Next Door remained standing with a faint trace of life.
• Black Zetsu examined Old Yu Next Door and cut open his arm, whose hand gripped the flesh spear.
• Black Zetsu tore off Old Yu Next Door's arm, but its hand kept hold of the spear, so he formed a hand seal and set the arm on fire.

After Black Zetsu's Genjutsu plunged the battlefield and Falcon's Eye into darkness, Night Owl's distant livestream became the only view of the scene. The feed later cleared enough to show an old man resisting the Genjutsu and taking Black Zetsu's attack, leaving the viewers furious and horrified.

• Black Zetsu's Genjutsu incapacitated nearly everyone, while Night Owl remained high above the battlefield and kept Falcon's Eye's livestream running.
• Netizens argued over Black Zetsu's unexpected appearance and demanded clearer footage, but Falcon's Eye explained that the Genjutsu had sealed his senses and cut off his contact with Night Owl.
• Some viewers suggested using an outside force to break the Genjutsu, but Falcon's Eye could not control Night Owl while their connection was severed.
• The livestream view became clearer and showed an old man who had cursed out Orochimaru outside the Hidden Jun Village moving on the battlefield.
• The old man took Black Zetsu's attack with his body, prompting netizens to condemn Black Zetsu and react with horror.

Ye Chen discovered a livestream showing Black Zetsu tormenting Old Mr. Yu and regretted not stopping him from joining the mission. He checked Old Mr. Yu’s real-world condition, and what he found nearly made him collapse.

• Viewers condemned Black Zetsu for tormenting Old Mr. Yu and argued over whether the old man’s determination was admirable or pitiful.
• Ye Chen sensed an unease while soaking in a hot spring with Jiraiya, then searched the official forums for its cause.
• Ye Chen followed a forum link to Falcon's Eye’s livestream and watched footage of Black Zetsu tormenting Old Mr. Yu.
• Ye Chen regretted not stopping Old Mr. Yu before the main force departed and used the remaining Feedback System functions to check his condition in reality.
• Ye Chen discovered Old Mr. Yu’s real-world condition, and the result nearly made him collapse.

The Nine-Tails broke free of Black Zetsu’s Genjutsu and unleashed its power across Hozuki Castle, killing Old Yu Next Door and Granny Chiyo before Black Zetsu escaped its attacks. Black Zetsu used the rampaging beast to kill his enemies, but the Soulwood Casket resurrected many of them, turning the battle against his plans.

• The Nine-Tails recovered from Black Zetsu’s Genjutsu and struck at him, crushing Old Yu Next Door and Granny Chiyo in the process.
• The Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Bomb through Hozuki Castle, but Black Zetsu survived by using a chakra-made decoy and the Substitution Technique.
• Black Zetsu led the pursuing Nine-Tails around the battlefield, using its attacks to kill the Genjutsu-afflicted Allied Shinobi Forces members.
• Granny Chiyo returned with the Soulwood Casket, and Black Zetsu recognized the resurrection item as a threat.
• The Soulwood Casket resurrected many of the members killed by the Nine-Tails, while those without contracts remained dead.

Black Zetsu used White Zetsu infiltrators to sow chaos among the Allied Shinobi Forces, but Master of Open Stratagems devised a way for the Hidden Jun Village players to identify the clones and regroup. The allied force and Granny Chiyo cornered Black Zetsu again, and he clapped his hands as he prepared another attack.

• The Allied Shinobi Forces pursued Black Zetsu, but his clapping triggered disguised White Zetsu to attack their comrades and scatter the crowd.
• Black Zetsu evaded the Nine-Tails’ strike with the Substitution Technique while the Nine-Tails’ shock wave left nearby fighters vulnerable to further attacks.
• Master of Open Stratagems ordered the Hidden Jun Village players to gather and use the Rasengan to expose White Zetsu Clones who could not perform it.
• The players eliminated the infiltrators and regrouped, while Master of Open Stratagems left the other villages to fend for themselves.
• Granny Chiyo joined the renewed effort to surround Black Zetsu, and the Nine-Tails continued pursuing him until he clapped his hands again.

Black Zetsu and the disguised White Zetsu vanished, and Yamato helped the Allied Shinobi Forces subdue the rampaging Nine-Tails and restore Naruto. Yamato then learned the front line was still in danger, while Raijin arrived after being resurrected and was questioned about his death.

• Black Zetsu and the disguised White Zetsu disappeared, and the Nine-Tails crushed Mujo before Yamato rushed in to seal it.
• Yamato called for help, and the gathered experts restrained the Nine-Tails while its Tailed Beast Bomb shot harmlessly skyward.
• Yamato used his sealing technique to return Naruto to human form, then covered him and left his treatment to the medical ninja.
• Yamato told Master of Open Stratagems and Granny Chiyo that Kakuzu was stalling on the front line and that Raijin had advised him to join forces inside the castle.
• Master of Open Stratagems sent Yamato and Granny Chiyo toward the front line while he stayed behind to coordinate.
• Raijin arrived after being resurrected through the Soulwood Casket, and Master of Open Stratagems asked what had happened and how Raijin had died.

After Raijin reported Kakuzu’s attack at the front, Master of Open Stratagems urged the forces to concentrate on defeating him. Kakuzu tried to flee with Hidan as Granny Chiyo and Raijin returned to the battle, but the allied forces surrounded them.

• Raijin told Master of Open Stratagems that Kakuzu had taken his heart during the fighting on the front line.
• Master of Open Stratagems called for everyone to concentrate their forces on Kakuzu, while Granny Chiyo and Raijin set out for the front.
• Kakuzu struggled against four Hidden Jun Village experts as Hidan’s recovery neared completion.
• Granny Chiyo and Raijin arrived with reinforcements, and Kakuzu decided to flee with Hidan.
• Kakuzu dodged attacks from the pursuing forces but was surrounded, so he dropped Hidan and told him they were on their own.

Kakuzu tried to steal Kurenai Yuhi’s heart, but her genjutsu let her evade his attack as Raijin and the others continued to overwhelm him. Granny Chiyo tortured Hidan with threads until they cut through his body and bones, while he kept cursing her.

• Kakuzu dodged Raijin and Asuma Sarutobi’s combined attack and redirected his assault toward Kurenai Yuhi.
• Asuma Sarutobi moved to protect Kurenai Yuhi, who used genjutsu to evade Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear sneak attack.
• Raijin and Azure Bird: Thunderclap pressed Kakuzu while Granny Chiyo joined the assault with her puppets.
• Granny Chiyo attacked Hidan with threads that slowly cut into his flesh as he cursed her.
• Granny Chiyo pulled the threads until they cut through Hidan’s body and bones, but no blood came from his severed sections.

Granny Chiyo subdued Hidan and ensured he could not recover, while the Allied Shinobi Forces killed Kakuzu. Hozuki Castle fell, leaving Hidan sealed away and Kakuzu dead.

• Granny Chiyo threatened to scatter Hidan's body parts in barren places, then had his severed head placed in a special container.
• Hidan offered to reveal Gaara's location, but Granny Chiyo told him he was no longer useful and left him to die.
• The Allied Shinobi Forces destroyed Kakuzu's remaining heart, and he died as Earth Grudge Fear departed his body.
• Hidan called for Kakuzu to help reassemble him, but received no answer and realized Kakuzu was dead.
• Granny Chiyo had Hidan's head sealed in a special box and ordered a Sunagakure shinobi to bury it in a barren place.
• Hozuki Castle fell.

After the Immortal Duo's defeat, the village leaders discussed who would control Hozuki Castle, and Asuma Sarutobi proposed that Hidden Jun Village manage it while other villages stationed intelligence officers there. Granny Chiyo saw through the maneuvering and began to offer a fairer arrangement.

• The leaders gathered to discuss Hozuki Castle's ownership, while Granny Chiyo said Sunagakure had no interest in the island and reminded Master of Open Stratagems to honor his promise to help search for Gaara.
• Asuma Sarutobi proposed that Hidden Jun Village manage the island, and the village representatives agreed.
• Asuma Sarutobi then proposed allowing every ninja village to station intelligence officers on the island as a base for investigating Amegakure.
• Master of Open Stratagems silently considered the risks of letting other villages into Hidden Jun Village's base, while the other leaders supported Asuma's proposal.
• Granny Chiyo quieted the discussion and announced that she had a fairer arrangement in mind.

Master of Open Stratagems considered Granny Chiyo’s proposal to station intelligence officers on the island and postponed a decision until he could consult Hidden Jun Village’s Village Chief. Before leaving with Granny Chiyo, he learned that Old Mr. Yu could no longer be revived and explained the problem to her.

• Granny Chiyo argued that other villages could station intelligence officers on the island during hostilities, then withdraw once matters were settled.
• Master of Open Stratagems privately weighed claiming the island for Hidden Jun Village and told Granny Chiyo he would ask the Village Chief before deciding.
• A subordinate told Master of Open Stratagems that the online community was demanding a player’s revival, prompting Granny Chiyo to suspect he was avoiding his promise.
• Master of Open Stratagems recounted Old Mr. Yu’s benevolent deeds, and Granny Chiyo asked why he could not be revived.
• Master of Open Stratagems said a summoning master learned what happened through a summoning companion and suspected Old Mr. Yu could no longer be revived for a special reason.

The Master of Open Stratagems told Granny Chiyo he would stay on the island until he learned whether Old Mr. Yu could revive, while she prepared to leave and search for Gaara. News from the official forums confirmed Old Mr. Yu had died in the real world, leaving the Master of Open Stratagems to investigate and Granny Chiyo grieving.

• The Master of Open Stratagems said he could not leave until he knew whether Old Mr. Yu was safe, and Granny Chiyo agreed to depart while he waited for news.
• Granny Chiyo asked the Master of Open Stratagems to meet her near Amegakure and hear his ideas for finding Gaara.
• The Master of Open Stratagems' aide reported that an obituary had confirmed Old Mr. Yu's death and told him to check the official forums.
• Granny Chiyo misunderstood the official forums as a kind of Anbu platform and waited while the Master of Open Stratagems went temporarily offline to read them.
• The forum discussions revealed that Old Mr. Yu had died from a sudden severe illness while playing Hidden Jun Ninja, prompting rival games to attack Hidden Jun Ninja's management.

After Old Mr. Yu’s death sparked widespread condemnation of the Hidden Jun Ninja team, his granddaughter posted an obituary explaining his illness and the team’s efforts to help him. Her account left netizens with evidence that the team had supported the family and that Yu’s final in-game choice had been his own.

• People flooded the official forum with accusations against the Hidden Jun Ninja team and some reported the game to authorities.
• Old Mr. Yu’s granddaughter posted an obituary announcing his death after his chronic illness recurred.
• She shared his diary and photos, saying the game had improved his outlook and brought him happiness before he died.
• She revealed that the team had alerted the family, arranged emergency care, and handled compensation and other final arrangements.
• She said the Yu Family supported Old Mr. Yu’s in-game choice and would oppose anyone attacking the team in their name.

After online accusations that Hidden Jun Ninja had invaded Old Mr. Yu’s privacy, the game team issued an official announcement explaining its actions and introducing new measures. The announcement also promised a commemorative NPC and a chance for Jingnan to take his grandfather’s place in the game.

• Jingnan’s obituary letter asked the Hidden Jun Ninja team to let him try the game, prompting fans to support his request.
• Some netizens accused the game team of spying on Old Mr. Yu and questioned whether his medical emergency had been staged.
• The Hidden Jun Ninja team announced that it had detected Old Mr. Yu’s health abnormalities during screening and monitored him after contacting him, with relevant records and penalties reviewed by authorities.
• The game team said it would create an NPC named Old Yu Next Door and let Jingnan fill the spot left vacant by his grandfather.
• The game team announced a new health system, stricter health screening, oversight authorities in the game, and stronger moderation of the official forums.

Ye Chen reflected on how he had used Hidden Jun Ninja’s crisis to secure official support for a health system that could improve players’ physical fitness, while drawing the attention of authorities interested in training elite personnel. At the hot spring, Ye Chen sensed something unusual that vanished, and Jiraiya wondered whether an uninvited guest had arrived.

• Hidden Jun Ninja’s announcement quieted the forum, and the authorities began strict reviews of online games.
• Ye Chen recalled arranging official cooperation and creating a health system that could improve players’ real-world fitness.
• Ye Chen explained that the agreement brought regulatory oversight and reserved closed-beta slots for a secretive department seeking to develop elite personnel.
• At the hot spring, Ye Chen sensed something unusual but could not detect its source.
• Jiraiya sat up and asked Ye Chen whether they had an uninvited guest.

Ye Chen realized an attacker had trapped him in a sophisticated Genjutsu and identified the caster as Obito Uchiha, also known as Tobi. He tracked the caster through the illusion and attacked, but the chapter ended before revealing whether his Kunai hit.

• Ye Chen entered a desert illusion after leaving Jiraiya at the hot spring and found that he could not reach or warn him.
• Ye Chen deduced that an Akatsuki member was using Genjutsu and named Obito Uchiha, or Tobi, as the likely attacker.
• The caster attacked Ye Chen with a spatial distortion, but it only destroyed Ye Chen's Shadow Clone.
• Ye Chen sensed the caster shifting position, pursued him through the distorted illusion, and threw several Kunai wrapped in talismans.
• Ye Chen threw another Kunai toward an apparently empty spot, with the result still unknown.

Ye Chen used the Flying Thunder God Technique to identify and ambush Obito Uchiha, then attacked him with a rapid series of Lightning Blade strikes. Obito survived by activating Kamui’s intangibility, leaving Ye Chen’s assault unresolved.

• Ye Chen baited the genjutsu caster into attacking by scattering kunai and taunting him about his teacher.
• Ye Chen used the kunai as anchor points to perform the Flying Thunder God Technique and appear behind his charging opponent.
• Ye Chen recognized the spiral-masked opponent as Obito Uchiha and struck him with Lightning Release: Lightning Blade.
• Obito used Kamui’s intangibility to evade Ye Chen’s rapid palm strikes, while Ye Chen continued attacking through the swirling sand.