Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Retsuo removed the God Tree’s root during Obito’s Limited Tsukuyomi, disrupting Obito’s control of the sea of trees and forcing him to retreat into Kamui Space. After Black Zetsu fled and Jiraiya emerged, Jiraiya asked Retsuo where the especially thick tree was.

• Retsuo spread Yin Release Chakra over the God Tree’s root and made it disappear, leaving Obito’s Wood Release unstable.
• Obito opened Kamui Space to escape the out-of-control sea of trees, and Jiraiya rushed out with two toads.
• Retsuo kept Black Zetsu distracted, but the sea of trees began draining Black Zetsu, who fled underground.
• Jiraiya emerged from Kamui Space, was briefly caught by a tree branch, then escaped and recognized that Retsuo had won.
• Jiraiya asked Retsuo whether he had seen an especially thick tree.

After rescuing Jiraiya, Retsuo returned to the surface and confronted the Hokage Rescue Team, where his provocative remarks harvested negative emotion. Far away, Nagato struggled to reproduce the technique that had generated an enormous, untraceable wave, unaware that its effects varied from person to person.

• Retsuo reflected on his clash with Obito, relieved that the Yin Release Barrier had stopped the Genjutsu despite consuming much of his Chakra.
• Retsuo and Jiraiya emerged from the mine with the two Toad Sages and ran into the Hokage Rescue Team, while Fugaku recalled Hiruzen’s concerns about Retsuo and the Uchiha Clan.
• Fukasaku and Shima showed interest in Retsuo’s Sage Mode, and Hiruzen rebuked Retsuo for acting without discipline.
• Retsuo defended his decision to rescue Jiraiya alone, saying the others would have kept him from displaying his full strength and generating negative emotion from the gathered shinobi.
• An enormous wave of unidentifiable negative emotion reached Retsuo as Nagato tried to reproduce the technique in the Land of Rain and worried that his interrogation results might reveal intelligence to Retsuo.

Nagato used his recovery treatment with Shinnō to investigate his doubts about Uchiha Madara and quietly gathered information about Shinnō. Meanwhile, Obito considered how to reach Mount Myōboku and decided to capture Jiraiya again despite Black Zetsu’s refusal to help.

• Nagato sensed Shinnō’s Dark Chakra during his second treatment and revealed that he was an early Akatsuki member named Nagato.
• Nagato asked Shinnō about Idaten Kyusuke and privately recalled that the organization had never found his body.
• Shinnō treated Nagato while asking questions to collect intelligence about the Akatsuki Organization.
• Obito considered sending Zetsu into Mount Myōboku through the spores on Jiraiya and the two toads, but Black Zetsu refused to go.
• Obito resolved to carry out his plan without Black Zetsu’s guidance and said they would capture Jiraiya again.

Jiraiya argued that Konoha needed a Five Kage Summit to address the threat posed by the Wood Release user and proposed inviting Hanzō of the Salamander to prevent an attack on Amegakure. Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted that Uchiha Retsuo hand over the White Cloth Person before the summit, while Jiraiya left troubled by the danger of war and the role Orochimaru had played.

• Jiraiya explained that a Mangekyō Sharingan user had trapped him and the Toad spirits, and Shisui connected the attacker to the Nine-Tails' Rampage and Danzo's Root.
• The group discussed the White Cloth People, Root's experiments, and the need to investigate the underground site where Wood Release—Deep Forest Emergence had been used.
• Jiraiya called for a Summit of the Five Kage and urged the others to invite Hanzō of the Salamander, warning that excluding him could provoke an assault on Amegakure.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Itachi to urge Retsuo to surrender the White Cloth Person before the summit and opposed inviting Hanzō beforehand.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade reflected on Orochimaru's role in the crisis, then Jiraiya abruptly bought food and devoured it in the street.

Jiraiya hid his embarrassing hunger for sausages while planning to meet his former disciples before the Five Kage Summit. Meanwhile, Obito and Zetsu prepared to capture him with the Nue, and Retsuo realized the Great Toad Sage had dreamed of him.

• Jiraiya dodged Tsunade's punch and tried to conceal why he was ravenously eating sausages, then told her he wanted to see his three disciples before the Five Kage Summit.
• Jiraiya wondered why there had been no information about Nagato, the true owner of the Rinnegan, before Tsunade punched him into a wall.
• Obito and Zetsu discussed capturing Jiraiya, and Zetsu explained that he had stored the Root's Nue inside his body and could control its Dark Chakra.
• Obito claimed his younger brother's strange attack had been Space-Time Ninjutsu, and Black Zetsu suggested he had developed it from the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Retsuo concluded that the Great Toad Sage's dream of him meant his influence on the Shinobi World had grown significant.

Retsuo considered what he had learned about the Kamui Space and Black Zetsu while the Uchiha discussed his Wood Release arms. Itachi asked for advice on inviting Pain and Konan to meet the Hokage, but news of a major Root incident shocked Retsuo.

• Uchiha clan members debated the risks of replacing their arms with Wood Release arms while Retsuo listened from seclusion.
• Retsuo reviewed the Kamui Space’s limits and worried about Black Zetsu’s Dark Chakra and Little Black’s appetite for Black Sharks.
• Itachi told Retsuo that Jiraiya had asked him to invite Pain and Konan to meet the Hokage, and Retsuo predicted they would refuse.
• Retsuo asked whether the Third Hokage was still pressuring him to hand over the White Cloth Person, and Itachi said Root was overwhelmed by a major incident.
• Itachi reported that the Gozu Tennō project’s results were lost and Shigaraki was unconscious, prompting Retsuo to react in shock.

Retsuo visited the Hokage's Office to learn about the Gozu Tennō Project, but first helped Jiraiya understand how to handle the demands and overlapping responsibilities around him. Jiraiya began to see how he could clarify authority, and Retsuo suggested Root take responsibility for security at the Summit of the Five Kage.

• Retsuo ended his seclusion and headed to the Hokage Building to ask Jiraiya about the Gozu Tennō Project.
• Jiraiya questioned whether he was suited to be Hokage while Kakashi explained why Shigaraki had not been sent to the Interrogation Department.
• Retsuo told Jiraiya to make others adapt to his authority instead of yielding to every demand.
• Jiraiya realized Kakashi was overseeing ANBU security arrangements despite being part of Root.
• Retsuo advised Jiraiya to clarify everyone's responsibilities and have Root handle security for the Summit of the Five Kage.

Retsuo challenged Kakashi over the Root’s handling of the Gozu Tennō Project, forcing Jiraiya to confront the project and Kakashi’s complicity. After Jiraiya revealed that Nue and research data had been stolen, Retsuo returned when Shigaraki proved impossible to interrogate, bringing Uchiha Shisui to help.

• Retsuo accused Kakashi and the Root of incompetence or involvement in the theft of Shigaraki’s research, and Jiraiya ordered Kakashi to send Shigaraki to the Interrogation Department.
• Retsuo condemned the Gozu Tennō Project as a scheme to turn negative emotions into Dark Chakra and biological bombs, prompting Jiraiya to realize Kakashi had continued it without his knowledge.
• Kakashi admitted he had wanted to keep a powerful Human Weapon, and Retsuo said Kakashi had nearly lost the Will of Fire.
• Jiraiya told Retsuo that the Root had created the Gozu Tennō summoning beast Nue and that the stolen materials included research data; Retsuo suspected Obito, Zetsu, and Shinnō were connected to the project.
• Retsuo asked Jiraiya to share the intelligence after Shigaraki’s interrogation, then returned with Uchiha Shisui when they discovered Shigaraki’s mind was protected by a technique similar to the Mind Barrier Technique.

Retsuo and Shisui tried to free Shigaraki from a powerful Genjutsu controlled by Obito, but Shisui failed and warned that another attempt could erase Shigaraki’s memories. Retsuo then used his own technique to reach Obito’s Chakra and challenged his Moon Eye Plan, leaving Obito enraged.

• Shisui used his Mangekyo to try to overwrite the Genjutsu controlling Shigaraki, but the unseen controller severed his Chakra and strengthened the illusion.
• Fugaku declined to try after Shisui’s failure, and Retsuo announced that he would handle the Genjutsu himself.
• Retsuo used Demonic Illusion—Five Colors Cause to question the Chakra controlling Shigaraki.
• Retsuo identified the voice as Uchiha Obito and asked whether Obito had a plan besides the Moon Eye Plan.
• Retsuo suggested that Obito could reunite with Rin in the Pure Land and argued that it was better than the Moon Eye Plan, prompting Obito to rage and threaten him.

Retsuo analyzed his Genjutsu clash with Obito and recorded what he learned about Shisui’s and Obito’s techniques. Meanwhile, Hiruzen and Jiraiya argued over how to handle Shigaraki, leaving Retsuo to continue studying the mysterious God Tree root in his underground chamber.

• Retsuo drained Obito’s Chakra with his technique, and Shigaraki woke to find Konohagakure’s experts watching him.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen declared a village emergency, then argued with Jiraiya over whether Shigaraki should be treated as a victim or have his memories read.
• Jiraiya cited Uchiha Retsuo’s defeat of the enemy Genjutsu as evidence of its power, prompting Hiruzen to complain that Retsuo was provoking him for his negative emotions.
• Tsunade punched Jiraiya into a wall after he mocked Hiruzen’s Will of Fire.
• Retsuo returned to the clan grounds, recorded his analysis of Shisui’s [Kotoamatsukami] and Obito’s Thought Imprint, and inspected the God Tree root in his underground chamber.

Retsuo considered how to investigate the God Tree’s roots and continued training, while Nagato confronted Obito and Zetsu in Amegakure about their hidden identities and knowledge. As the confrontation escalated, Konan evacuated the area and other Akatsuki members gathered, just as Nagato revealed his Rinnegan.

• Retsuo decided to study the God Tree’s roots, preserve White Zetsu, and investigate whether the roots could grant him Wood Release.
• Retsuo improved his Chakra-Enhanced Strength technique while Itachi departed for the Land of Rain.
• Nagato appeared before Obito and Black Zetsu and questioned their relationship and how they had found him.
• Nagato challenged Obito’s knowledge of the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, prompting Obito to laugh loudly.
• Konan began evacuating Amegakure as Shinnō and Kakuzu arrived to see the confrontation.
• Nagato opened his Rinnegan as Shinnō began telling Kakuzu who he was.

Nagato confronted Uchiha Madara about the origins of his Rinnegan and the meaning of Creation of All Things, while Konan stood by Nagato. In Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya learned from Shigaraki’s memories that a masked enemy had attacked Retsuo, and Hiruzen decided to ask Retsuo about it later.

• Nagato asked Uchiha Madara how he was connected to Nagato’s Rinnegan and questioned him about combining Yin and Yang into Creation of All Things.
• Nagato revealed that a genjutsu had activated his subconscious, shocking Black Zetsu and Uchiha Obito, while Konan said she would support Nagato unconditionally.
• A report announced that Uchiha Itachi had arrived as Konoha’s envoy, and word spread that Jiraiya planned to convene a Five Kage Summit.
• Jiraiya sent Shigaraki to Konoha’s Interrogation Department, where his memories revealed that a masked man had rescued him and that Shigaraki had betrayed Uchiha Retsuo’s information to the enemy.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade identified the masked man as the same enemy who had attacked Minato and killed Minazuki, then Hiruzen said he would ask Retsuo about their underground battle in a few days.

Retsuo recounted his battle with Hashirama Senju and the White Cloth Person to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who questioned him about the fight and the destroyed wood that strengthened Wood Release. After Hiruzen left, Retsuo worried about his stalled efforts to provoke negative emotions and went to check on Naruto’s training.

• Retsuo told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he had reflected the White Cloth Person’s Dark Chakra technique and destroyed the wood strengthening Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release.
• Retsuo said he would hand over the White Cloth Person after finishing his experiments and asked the village for more Wood Style Ninjutsu.
• Uchiha Fugaku objected to Retsuo bargaining with the village, but Retsuo insisted he only wanted Wood Style techniques.
• Retsuo realized he could no longer provoke negative emotions from Hiruzen and felt anxious about it.
• Retsuo went to the back mountain and found Uzumaki Naruto practicing rock climbing with impressive speed.

Retsuo corrected Tenma’s training of Naruto, then learned that Akatsuki had refused the Hokage’s invitation and Amegakure might be mobilizing. When Darui, Samui, and Yugito appeared nearby, Retsuo attacked them, but Darui stopped his Great Fireball Technique with a lightning-powered kick.

• Retsuo climbed the cliff and told Tenma that the Academy’s Chakra Refinement Technique was unsuitable for Naruto because of Naruto’s Uzumaki blood and strong Yang Release.
• Naruto tried to avoid Retsuo’s assigned special training, but Retsuo caught him and promised him ramen afterward.
• Tenma told Retsuo that he might serve as Jiraiya’s guard at the upcoming Five Kage Summit.
• Itachi reported that Akatsuki had rejected the Hokage’s invitation and that Amegakure seemed to be mobilizing.
• Retsuo noticed Darui, Samui, and Yugito approaching, checked with Chōmei that the Seven-Tails remained undetected, and launched a Great Fireball Technique at them.
• Darui countered with a Water Wall, but Retsuo’s fire pierced it; Darui then stomped out the attack with his Lightning Release: Raikiri Axe.

Retsuo provoked the Kumogakure ninjas over their past crimes and confronted Yugito as she partially transformed into the Two-Tails. The Fourth Raikage arrived just as Yugito hesitated to fight.

• Retsuo mocked Darui, Samui, and Yugito over Kumogakure’s attempted abduction of the Hyuga heiress, angering them and drawing negative emotions.
• Retsuo revealed himself as Uchiha Clan head and warned that he would have killed the previous Kumogakure envoys if he had been present.
• Yugito entered a partial Tailed Beast Transformation, but the Two-Tails urged her not to fight Retsuo.
• The Fourth Raikage landed beside Yugito as she stood caught between advancing and retreating.

Uchiha Retsuo confronted the Fourth Raikage after clashing with Kumogakure ninjas, while Itachi rushed to warn Sarutobi Hiruzen. The chapter ended with Hiruzen learning that Retsuo intended to kill the Raikage and that Naruto was present.

• Retsuo told Itachi to inform Sarutobi Hiruzen that he might kill the Raikage and asked Tenma to get Naruto to safety.
• Itachi left to alert the Hokage while Tenma backed away with Naruto, and the Fourth Raikage stopped his ninjas from circling them.
• Retsuo and the Fourth Raikage prepared for a potentially fatal fight, each recognizing the other as a serious threat.
• Itachi burst into the Hokage's Office and told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Retsuo was confronting the Fourth Raikage with Naruto nearby.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen threw his pipe to the floor after hearing Itachi's report.

Uchiha Retsuo fought the Fourth Raikage, Yugito, Darui, and Samui, using Flying Thunder God and blinding scale powder to disrupt them. The Raikage fled blindly, while Yugito stayed behind to cover Darui and Samui as Retsuo approached.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Jiraiya whether he could kill the Fourth Raikage, and Jiraiya said he would win outside an arena battle before rushing to the rear mountain.
• The Fourth Raikage attacked Retsuo, but Retsuo used Flying Thunder God to evade his punch and reappear near the Kumogakure shinobi.
• Yugito attacked Retsuo with Rat Tail Bombs, but Retsuo’s Great Ball Yin Garo deflected them before Darui’s Laser Circus forced him to detonate it.
• Retsuo spread scale powder through the forest and blinded the Fourth Raikage, Darui, and Samui, while Yugito’s Tailed Beast Cloak protected her.
• The blinded Fourth Raikage charged away in a random direction, and Yugito urged Darui and Samui to flee as Retsuo approached her.

Uchiha Retsuo fought the Fourth Raikage, while Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Might Guy intervened to defuse the confrontation and protect the Summit of the Five Kage. Retsuo then accused the Raikage of wanting to kill him, leaving the dispute unresolved before the assembled witnesses.

• The Fourth Raikage recovered his sight, realized he was surrounded by Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Might Guy, and accused Konoha of ambushing him.
• Jiraiya told the Raikage that they had come to clear up a misunderstanding and save him from Uchiha Retsuo, then led the group up the hillside.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen said Retsuo would not kill the Raikage's guards because he wanted to harvest their negative emotions first.
• Retsuo teased Naruto by calling the Raikage his uncle and the Raikage's two guards his great-aunts, while the guards stood silent.
• The Raikage demanded an explanation from Konoha, but Retsuo insisted he had acted in self-defense and accused the Raikage of fleeing because he had wanted to kill him.

Uchiha Retsuo turned his apparent victory over the Fourth Raikage into a public display, while privately recognizing that A could defeat him in a rematch. After the crowd dispersed, Retsuo refused Baki’s attempt to arrange a meeting with Rasa before the Five Kage Summit.

• A roared in frustration, sending negative emotions into Little Black, while Retsuo taunted him and kept Naruto safe beside him.
• Retsuo reflected that his knowledge of A and the Sharingan had helped him win, though A’s speed and strength could overwhelm him in a rematch.
• Retsuo confronted A again and claimed that the Sharingan could see through any speed or strength, drawing Jiraiya’s, Tsunade’s, and Sarutobi Hiruzen’s reactions.
• After the crowd dispersed, Baki approached Retsuo and asked him to meet with the Fourth Kazekage before the Five Kage Summit.
• Retsuo refused, saying he would train and study the Will of Fire before meeting Rasa at the summit.

Retsuo sought a place as a Hokage Guard at the Summit of the Five Kage so he could negotiate with the other nations over the White Cloth People. He won permission to attend, and the chapter ended with him meeting the young Kurotsuchi among Ōnoki’s guards.

• Retsuo went to the Hokage Building and argued that his knowledge of the White Cloth Person made him the best choice to join the summit as a Hokage Guard.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen refused, while Tsunade demanded a share of the White Cloth People and questioned Retsuo about how he had driven off A.
• Retsuo defended his actions against Kumogakure, saying a great nation should take down threats first and ask questions later.
• Jiraiya backed Retsuo’s decision to stop the Two-Tails Jinchuriki from entering Konoha, and the others stopped opposing his attendance.
• Ōnoki arrived late with his young granddaughter Kurotsuchi, who explained that she guarded him by pounding his lower back.