Chapter Summaries

Shinnō secretly planted Dark Chakra in the disabled experimental subject Yuliu, while Nagato realized he could use Dark Chakra to break through his limits. Nagato then created a Clone with the appearance of Baibian Huashan and learned why Zetsu needed the Akatsuki Organization’s help.

• Shinnō used Medical Ninjutsu and a Chakra Scalpel to repair the disabled experimental subject while Angel watched.
• Shinnō concealed genjutsu within his treatment and planted Dark Chakra in the subject, who began jerking violently.
• Nagato pulled Dark Will from his soul, then sent it back as he decided to use Dark Chakra to grow stronger.
• Nagato formed a Clone in a White Zetsu and chose Baibian Huashan's appearance to avoid recognition by Konoha.
• Nagato saw the many White Zetsu hanging in the underground mine, and Zetsu explained that Konoha obtaining them would have unimaginable consequences.

The Akatsuki Organization gathered in disguise beneath Mine Town as Konoha’s ninjas fought through White Zetsu and confronted them in a vast underground cavern. The standoff erupted into battle when Obito used Wood Release against Uchiha Sen, and Retsuo intervened to protect him.

• Jūzō Biwa transformed into Karatachi Yagura, Uchiha Madara transformed into Hashirama Senju, Orochimaru requested White Zetsu specimens, and Zetsu disguised himself as an ordinary White Zetsu.
• Retsuo and the Konoha ninjas reached the cavern, where they faced the disguised Akatsuki and formations of White Zetsu.
• Tsunade recognized Orochimaru and challenged him, while Retsuo raised a barrier and laughed to rally the Uchiha ninjas.
• Uchiha Sen challenged the disguised Hashirama Senju, and Obito attacked him with Wood Release.
• Retsuo countered with Mountain Release, causing Obito’s wooden branches to wrap around stone pillars instead of Uchiha Sen.

Uchiha Retsuo and the Konoha team confronted Nagato and other enemies in an underground cavern, where multiple people revealed or attempted to use Wood Release. As Retsuo prepared to lead a retreat, the enemy blocked the exit with a massive Wood Golem.

• Tsunade recognized the disguised Hashirama's Wood Release and praised Retsuo for uncovering Orochimaru's secret base.
• Nagato used Great Forest Technique against Retsuo, who burned the wooden branches with Great Fireball Technique.
• Konan and others tried to gain Wood Release through White Zetsu's cloning, but Konan could not produce the technique.
• Obito warned that attempting to use Wood Release recklessly could be fatal and realized the Konoha team might be waiting for reinforcements.
• Retsuo ordered his team to prepare to withdraw, saying they had gathered information about Orochimaru and captured White Zetsu.
• The disguised Hashirama summoned Wood Golem Technique, blocking the cavern's only exit.

Uchiha Retsuo and Tsunade led the Konoha squad into battle against Obito, Nagato, and the disguised Akatsuki members in an underground cavern. As the clash erupted, Retsuo caught Nagato in his Genjutsu by invoking the name Baibian Huashan.

• Obito summoned a towering Wooden Men and used it to knock Uchiha Kumata away while Retsuo recognized the cavern as a serious crisis.
• Retsuo assigned Guy to attack Kakuzu and Xiomi, Tsunade to confront Obito's Wooden Men, and the rest of the squad to target Orochimaru and protect Ukyo and Sumire.
• The Akatsuki members discussed their abilities and plans as Retsuo decided to face the disguised Fourth Mizukage, whom he suspected was Jūzō Biwa.
• Tsunade attacked Obito's Wooden Men, Guy charged Kakuzu and Xiomi with the Seventh Gate open, and the other Konoha shinobi moved against Orochimaru.
• Nagato introduced himself as Baibian Huashan, and Retsuo began casting Demonic Illusion—Five Colors Cause, plunging Nagato into darkness.

Nagato resisted Retsuo's Genjutsu by defending his beliefs about Yahiko, peace, and the Rinnegan, but a question about how he obtained the Rinnegan drove him into a rage and broke the technique. As Nagato's negative emotions surged, Retsuo moved to intercept them and Little Black began absorbing them, while Black Zetsu watched in confusion.

• Nagato resisted the Genjutsu's Chakra drain and explained why he no longer agreed with Yahiko's ideals, arguing that the organization had to make the world feel pain to bring peace.
• Nagato defended turning Yahiko into Deva Path Pain and insisted that Yahiko's death had passed the responsibility for peace to him.
• The mysterious voice challenged Nagato's faith in his own power by bringing up the Ōtsutsuki Clan and questioning whether he had awakened the Rinnegan himself.
• Nagato erupted when the voice suggested Uchiha Madara had found him because of the Rinnegan's connection to Senju and Uchiha powers, breaking free of Retsuo's Genjutsu.
• Retsuo saw Nagato's negative emotions flow toward him and Black Zetsu, then leaped between them as Little Black began absorbing the energy.

Black Zetsu discovered that Uchiha Retsuo was stealing negative energy while the battle continued across the Gozu Tennō barrier. Konoha’s fighters countered the Akatsuki forces, and Retsuo addressed Konan after she noticed his imitation of a genjutsu.

• Black Zetsu saw Uchiha Retsuo stop the flow of negative energy and used Shigaraki's glasses to watch it being drawn toward Retsuo.
• Black Zetsu fled to Obito, who abandoned his struggle with Tsunade and charged at the Uchiha squad.
• Might Guy unleashed Daytime Tiger at Hashirama Senju, who escaped by using Wood Release—Wood Locking Wall.
• Uchiha Ukyo mocked Orochimaru as Orochimaru’s White Zetsu body could not bleed and trigger Tsunade’s hemophobia.
• Uchiha Retsuo continued stealing negative energy while Konan protected the Bald Man, then praised Baibian Huashan for seeing through his imitation of [Five Colors Cause].

Nagato and Retsuo kept each other occupied while the battle turned against the Uchiha squad. Nagato copied Retsuo’s supposed techniques and launched an elaborate Explosive Tag attack, leaving Retsuo stunned by how thoroughly Nagato had embraced his false identity.

• Konan realized Retsuo had tricked Nagato with the Genjutsu and continued hiding her identity while using her resistance to protect Orochimaru from Genjutsu.
• Nagato dismissed his doubts about the Rinnegan and ordered Jūzō Biwa to help the Wooden Men fight Tsunade and Konan to support Orochimaru.
• Konan’s support let Orochimaru overwhelm the Uchiha squad, while Retsuo stayed opposite Nagato to keep him occupied.
• Nagato tried to copy Retsuo’s [Genjutsu—Five Colors Cause], but Retsuo laughed and swept the Yin Release Barrier at him before Nagato could complete it.
• Nagato sensed the barrier, dodged it, and threw Explosive Tags that flew into a precisely controlled seal array, astonishing Retsuo.

Nagato shifted his attack toward Jiraiya while Obito tried to trap and defeat the Fifth Hokage in the mine tunnel. Jiraiya’s Toad Shadow Manipulation Technique briefly seized Obito, but Obito escaped and set off explosions around Jiraiya.

• Nagato abandoned his attempt to capture Uchiha Retsuo and targeted Jiraiya instead, while Obito complained that Nagato had wasted his chance to weaken Orochimaru.
• Obito sent White Zetsu to plant spores on Jiraiya, then continued fighting him with Wood Release techniques.
• Jiraiya tried to recruit Obito by promising him complete Wood Release Ninjutsu if he returned to Konoha.
• Jiraiya used Toad Shadow Manipulation Technique to control Obito, but Obito broke free and White Zetsu leaped at Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya used Needle Jizo to impale White Zetsu, and Obito triggered explosions on both sides of the tunnel.

Jiraiya discovered that White Cloth People could fight underground and summoned Shima and Fukasaku to enter Sage Mode. Obito decided to target Mount Myōboku and break free of Black Zetsu’s control, but Zetsu revealed that the God Tree’s roots and countless White Zetsu lay beneath their base.

• Jiraiya fled from more than a hundred White Cloth People underground, then summoned Shima and Fukasaku to help him enter Sage Mode.
• Obito dismissed Black Zetsu’s concern that Jiraiya had learned the White Zetsu could move underground and declared that he would strike at Konoha’s support from the Three Great Sage Regions.
• Obito watched Jiraiya use Sage Mode to overpower White Zetsu underground and remarked that sealing was needed to defeat a powerful ninja like him.
• Obito told Black Zetsu that he would arrange everything himself, while secretly resolving to escape Zetsu’s control.
• Black Zetsu revealed that the God Tree’s roots were beneath their base and that countless White Zetsu hung from them.

Jiraiya and the two Toad Sages discovered a huge, indestructible tree root in an underground cavern, where Obito prepared to fight Jiraiya and trap him with White Zetsu. After Jiraiya’s Sage Art: Goemon failed to damage the root, Obito summoned more White Zetsu and challenged him to keep up Sage Mode.

• Jiraiya and the two Toad Sages found a cavern filled with White Cloth People and a massive tree root that resisted their attacks.
• The White Cloth People came to life, and Obito emerged, ready to fight Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya and the sages unleashed Sage Art: Goemon, but Obito escaped into Kamui Space.
• Jiraiya used Goemon to burn the White Cloth People, but the giant tree root remained unharmed.
• Obito returned from Warped Space and summoned more White Zetsu, questioning how long Jiraiya could maintain Sage Mode.

Jiraiya fought the Wood Release Ninja while Obito’s real body reached the battlefield near the Root of the God Tree. Obito transformed into Hashirama Senju and bound Jiraiya, but Jiraiya counterattacked with a barrage of hair needles.

• Jiraiya learned that Reverse Summoning was blocked and refused to abandon his comrades.
• The Wood Release Ninja summoned a giant wooden golem, which Jiraiya destroyed with Sage Art—Super Great Ball Rasengan.
• Obito’s real body arrived, his Clones dispersed, and he gained access to Transformation Jutsu near the Root of the God Tree.
• Obito transformed into Hashirama Senju and used his intangibility to pass through Jiraiya before binding him with chains.
• Jiraiya fired Sage Art—Hair Needle Senbon at Obito from close range.

Obito captured Jiraiya in Kamui Space after Jiraiya’s Sage Mode ran out, but Jiraiya and the Toad Sages found that their Toad Song affected Retsuo’s eye and Yin Release Barrier. Retsuo’s eye opened a small rift into Kamui Space, letting a trace of Mangekyo power pass through, though Jiraiya and the toads did not notice the opening.

• Obito phased through Jiraiya’s Needle Hair attack until Jiraiya’s Sage Mode ended, then pulled him and the two Toad Sages into Kamui Space.
• Jiraiya attacked Kamui Space’s boundary, but it repaired itself, while Obito mocked his efforts.
• Retsuo’s left eye began trembling and bleeding as he led the Uchiha squad toward Jiraiya and Yulong.
• The Toad Sages used Toad Song inside Kamui Space, and the technique resonated with Retsuo’s Yin Release Barrier and left eye.
• Retsuo opened a tiny crack into Kamui Space and kept his eye open to draw a trace of Mangekyo power through it.

Retsuo briefly opened a Kamui rift to send Jiraiya a sausage, then led the survivors out of the underground battle and tested whether White Zetsu could replace Ukyo’s lost arm. Yulong’s crude transplant restored Ukyo’s hand movement, though he did not know whether he could use Wood Release.

• Retsuo widened a tiny rift into Kamui Space and threw a sausage through it for Jiraiya.
• Tsunade and the others escaped as Nagato withdrew, and Retsuo told Might Guy and Kumata to report to the Third Hokage and Fugaku.
• Retsuo presented a live White Zetsu for Ukyo to use as a replacement arm.
• Ukyo recognized a White Zetsu as the Kirigakure fighter who had taken his arm, and Yulong cut off its arm and attached it to Ukyo.
• Ukyo regained control of his right hand and swung a Ninja blade, then admitted he did not know Wood Release.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade argued over how to respond to Orochimaru’s threat beneath Mine Town, while Uchiha Retsuo warned that Konoha had left itself dangerously exposed. Toad Kōsuke then arrived with news that the Great Sage had received a prophecy.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived in Mine Town with over four hundred Konoha ninja, while most of the Uchiha forces also gathered there and left the village lightly guarded.
• Tsunade urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to involve the other great nations and focus on rescuing Jiraiya, but he insisted the crisis was an internal matter of the Land of Fire.
• Tsunade explained that ordinary Kage-level fighters could barely survive in the underground battlefield and praised Might Guy’s strength, prompting her and Sarutobi Hiruzen to seek him out.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Uchiha Retsuo, who warned that bringing Fugaku and Shisui away had weakened Konoha’s defenses against infiltrators.
• Toad Kōsuke arrived and announced that the Great Sage had received a prophecy.

After the Great Toad Sage prophesied that Uchiha Retsuo must rescue Jiraiya, Shima, and Fukasaku, Retsuo prepared food for the toads while trying to get it into the Kamui Space. The Yin Release Barrier trembled again, signaling that Toad Song had been activated.

• Toad Kōsuke relayed the Great Toad Sage's prophecy that Uchiha Retsuo must rescue Jiraiya, Shima, and Fukasaku, who were trapped but not in danger.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen blamed Retsuo for splitting the group and demanded that he hand over Ukyo, but Retsuo argued that the Uchiha should be allowed to study him first.
• Retsuo gathered mole crickets and longhorn beetles to feed the Toad Sages and practiced sending them into the Kamui Space.
• Seven-Tails Chōmei offered to teach Retsuo insect control so he could guide the insects into the Kamui Space himself.
• Retsuo and Seven-Tails Chōmei felt the Yin Release Barrier tremble as Toad Song activated again.

Retsuo helped Jiraiya and the Toad Sages communicate through Kamui Space, then dealt with Ukyo’s rejection reaction to a White Zetsu limb. He stabilized Ukyo with Takigakure’s Hero’s Water, while the chapter left Jiraiya’s code in Retsuo’s hands and Kakashi awkwardly caught up in Retsuo’s request for a book.

• The Seven-Tails helped Retsuo prepare bugs for the opening into Kamui Space, and Retsuo tossed insects through to the starving Jiraiya and the Toad Sages.
• Retsuo received a numbered code from the opening, but Yulong soon summoned him because Ukyo was showing a rejection reaction.
• Retsuo found that Ukyo’s body was rejecting the White Zetsu limb, and Kakashi explained that Minato had suppressed his Sharingan Chakra to overcome his own rejection reaction.
• Retsuo used Takigakure’s Hero’s Water to strengthen the White Zetsu limb’s Yang Release Chakra, easing the necrosis and stabilizing Ukyo.
• Retsuo asked Kakashi to lend him Paradise of Passion, prompting Sarutobi Hiruzen to object.

Retsuo deciphered Jiraiya’s message that tree roots enhanced Wood Release and decided to investigate the cavern before Konoha’s rescue force entered. He sought permission for Ukyo to learn Wood Release in exchange for information about the potion used to graft Ukyo’s arm, and explained that the village would need a substance that strengthened Yin Release for similar experiments.

• Retsuo deciphered Jiraiya’s coded message, “Tree roots enhance Wood Release,” and suspected the roots might explain why Jiraiya could not escape.
• Retsuo decided to enter the cavern, despite worrying that the Akatsuki Organization might use an anti-teleportation barrier.
• Retsuo learned that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade planned to explore the cavern the next morning with a powerful rescue team.
• Retsuo asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to allow Ukyo to learn Wood Style Ninjutsu and offered to exchange Uchiha secrets.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked about the potion that had helped graft Ukyo’s arm, and Retsuo explained that it strengthened Yang Release while village experiments would require a substance that strengthened Yin Release.

Retsuo's clone exposed his underground infiltration while Ukyo successfully awakened Wood Release. Black Zetsu used the discovery to trigger a surge of negative emotion in the Gozu Tennō Barrier, which Retsuo sensed as he approached the God Tree's roots.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Retsuo's potion was Takigakure's Hero's Water and understood how Retsuo had recognized Baibian Huashan's alias.
• Obito and Black Zetsu argued over whether to destroy or preserve the God Tree's roots as Konoha prepared another rescue attempt.
• Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to expose Retsuo, who had entered the underground alone while his Shadow Clone impersonated him.
• With Yamato's guidance, Ukyo used Wood Release—Great Forest Technique and grew two wooden shoots from his palms.
• White Zetsu revealed Retsuo's infiltration at the training site, and Retsuo's Shadow Clone grabbed him for Yamato before vanishing.
• Black Zetsu sensed negative emotion enter the Gozu Tennō Barrier, while Retsuo sensed that the emotion had formed within the barrier and flown away.

Retsuo suspected Black Zetsu was collecting his negative emotions and returned to the God Tree cavern to confront him and Obito. There, Black Zetsu exposed Retsuo’s use of Dark Chakra as Obito unleashed Wood Release and Black Zetsu attacked with Fish Sense.

• Retsuo realized someone was leeching off his negative emotions and suspected Obito and Black Zetsu, then began plotting to expose Black Zetsu to Obito.
• Retsuo returned to the cavern, studied six unfamiliar patterns carved into the wall, and descended toward the God Tree’s roots.
• Retsuo found Obito and Black Zetsu waiting for him and pretended to seek Jiraiya while boasting about becoming the Uchiha Clan’s Esteemed Clan Head.
• Obito and Black Zetsu recognized Retsuo’s Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Retsuo chose to launch a direct attack.
• Black Zetsu threatened to reveal Retsuo’s use of Dark Chakra as Obito filled the cavern with Wood Release, then Black Zetsu used Fish Sense to attack Retsuo.

Retsuo fought Obito’s Wood Release and Black Zetsu’s Dark Chakra fish while Little Black devoured the fish inside the Yin Release Space. Obito’s delayed genjutsu failed to stop Retsuo, who escaped through the forest and sent the remaining fish back toward him.

• Obito and Black Zetsu attacked Retsuo with a massive Wood Release forest and Dark Chakra fish, but Retsuo’s fire and shuriken passed through the fish.
• Retsuo drew the fish into the Yin Release Space, where Little Black rapidly swallowed them as he manipulated the space to disorient the swarm.
• Obito prepared a Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, then hesitated after realizing Retsuo’s left eye was his own Sharingan.
• Obito cast Limited Tsukuyomi too late, and Retsuo broke through the forest toward the God Tree roots.
• Retsuo blasted the remaining black fish out of the Yin Release Space and sent them toward Obito.