Chapter Summaries

Gaara and Darui arrived in Kirigakure for the Shadow Palace Conference and were startled by the village’s immense growth and Haku’s strength. Sasuke, Naruto, Gaara, and Darui gathered at the Mizukage Building, where an unseen person urged them inside as the conference was about to begin.

• Gaara arrived with Darui and noticed how much Kirigakure had changed over the past twenty years.
• Haku welcomed Gaara and impressed him with an aura that suggested his strength rivaled or surpassed Gaara’s.
• Sasuke arrived by speedboat, learned the other Kage were already inside, and vanished toward the Mizukage Building.
• Darui and Gaara raced Sasuke to the building, then entered nearly simultaneously and tied for last place.
• Naruto greeted Sasuke and reunited with Gaara, who noticed Naruto seemed less confident than before.
• An unseen person startled Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara and told them the Shadow Palace Conference was about to begin.

Naruto, Gaara, and Darui arrived at the Shadow Palace Conference in Kirigakure, where Kyuji welcomed them and the other leaders waited for Raito. After keeping the gathering waiting for over an hour, Kyuji announced that Raito had arrived.

• Kyuji greeted Naruto and led Naruto, Gaara, and Darui into the Mizukage Building, which Gaara saw was suspended over an artificial lake.
• The three entered the conference room, where village leaders were seated around a large table and Sasuke sat opposite Naruto.
• Kyuji welcomed the Kage and told them the conference would be delayed because Raito wanted refreshments.
• Gaara and Darui endured the other villages' probing looks while the leaders waited without protesting Raito's delay.
• After more than an hour, Kyuji announced Raito's arrival, and everyone stood immediately.

Gekkō Raito welcomed Gaara and Darui to the Shadow Palace, then demonstrated his authority by expelling Takigakure’s Kage. The meeting began with the other Kage subdued, while Mei Terumi inspected the Chunin Ninja Exams grounds on Kirigakure’s outskirts.

• Gekkō Raito took his seat and greeted Gaara and Darui as the Shadow Palace gathered the Kage of the Shinobi World.
• Raito said the Shadow Palace would welcome Sunagakure and Kumogakure, but Takigakure’s Kage demanded they be made to take lower positions.
• Raito proposed that Takigakure elect a new Kage and sent its current Kage back to the village with a wave of his hand.
• Raito asked if anyone else objected, and the Kage fell silent before he opened the meeting.
• Mei Terumi led elite shinobi through the forest to inspect the Chunin Ninja Exams grounds.

Mei Terumi was attacked in Kirigakure by Kinshiki Otsutsuki, who had sensed the immense Eight-Tails chakra within her. As their battle drew Mist Ninja to her aid, Gekkō Raito sent Kyuji to check on her and watched the fight from afar.

• Mei Terumi was struck by Kinshiki Otsutsuki but survived thanks to the Eight-Tails chakra protecting her.
• Mei Terumi counterattacked Kinshiki, and their fight escalated while the Kusakage continued his speech to Gekkō Raito.
• Gekkō Raito noticed something was happening to Mei Terumi and sent Kyuji to investigate.
• Mist Ninja heard the battle, assembled, and rushed to support Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi attacked Kinshiki with corrosive Boil Release mist, but he dodged it and scattered the acid with his red-glowing staff.

Kinshiki attacked Mei Terumi and fought off her Mist Ninja guards before retreating on Momoshiki’s orders. In another dimension, Urashiki introduced Ōtsutsuki Isshiki to Momoshiki, who recognized him as a vessel.

• Mei Terumi used Lava Release against Kinshiki, but he dodged and faced the Mist Ninja who came to support her.
• A Hozuki Clan member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist combined Hydrification Technique with Water Breathing swordsmanship, but his blade could not cut Kinshiki’s skin.
• Kinshiki heard an order and vanished from the battlefield, leaving Mei Terumi baffled.
• In another dimension, Kinshiki questioned Momoshiki’s order to retreat, and Momoshiki warned that the enemy reinforcements could trap him.
• An unfamiliar voice warned that the humans had grown powerful, and Urashiki emerged and introduced Ōtsutsuki Isshiki to Momoshiki.
• Momoshiki examined Jigen and mocked him as a vessel.

Jigen, speaking for the weakened Isshiki, approached Momoshiki and Urashiki about cooperating against the powerful Mizukage and exploiting the Shinobi World. The Otsutsuki considered the world’s potential to yield a God Tree Fruit and perhaps help them reach the Legendary Realm, but Momoshiki’s response remained unresolved.

• Jigen explained that Isshiki’s soul remained inside him but could not reincarnate because Jigen was not a Perfect Vessel.
• Jigen challenged Momoshiki’s confidence, claiming that he and his allies could not conquer the world and harvest the God Tree Fruit alone.
• Urashiki intervened to discourage a fight and warned that the Mizukage was more terrifying than any ordinary Otsutsuki.
• Urashiki described how the fusion of human and Otsutsuki blood had made the Mizukage’s power stronger and unpredictable.
• Jigen argued that Kaguya’s legacy and the world’s unusual power could help the Otsutsuki obtain an unprecedented God Tree Fruit and approach the Legendary Realm.

Momoshiki, Isshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki discussed Gekkō Raito’s unprecedented power and Kirigakure’s mysterious way of using tailed beast chakra. The chapter ended with Momoshiki considering Isshiki’s proposal to join forces against Raito.

• Momoshiki said Gekkō Raito was beyond what any single Ōtsutsuki could handle and suspected he had mastered the Ten-Tails’ power.
• Urashiki reported that Kirigakure’s jinchūriki could use tailed beast chakra despite having no tailed beasts inside their bodies.
• Kinshiki confirmed that the Eight-Tails’ chakra had come from outside the woman he fought, and Urashiki suggested the beasts might be held in another dimension.
• Jigen warned that Kinshiki’s attack had alerted Kirigakure and urged Momoshiki to cooperate against Gekkō Raito.
• Urashiki argued that Momoshiki and Isshiki should unite first and settle the spoils later, leaving Momoshiki weighing the proposal.

Momoshiki agreed to a temporary alliance with Jigen, while Mei Terumi returned to Kirigakure after a strange enemy attacked her and the village’s Tailed Beast power remained safely hidden. Gekkō Raito ended the Shadow Palace Conference, welcomed Gaara and Darui, and again ordered Takigakure to choose a new Kage.

• Momoshiki accepted Jigen’s offer of a temporary alliance, and Jigen led him and his companions through a Distorted Space-Time Passage to his organization.
• Kyuji checked on Mei Terumi and the others after their battle, and Mei described an attacker whose speed, lightning, and physical durability had overwhelmed their attacks.
• Kyuji urged Mei Terumi to return to Kirigakure and report to Gekkō Raito, while Mei suspected the attacker had targeted the Eight-Tails.
• Mei Terumi recalled that Gekkō Raito had hidden the Tailed Beasts in a Mysterious Space and let selected ninja draw on their chakra through a Special Technique Formula.
• Gekkō Raito concluded the Shadow Palace Conference, welcomed Gaara and Darui, and announced the Chunin Ninja Exams would begin their fifteen-day competition period.
• Takigakure’s envoy rushed into the meeting to ask about the village’s chosen Kage, and Gekkō Raito ordered Takigakure to select a new candidate.

Gekkō Raito severed Takigakure from Kirigakure’s protection, leaving the village vulnerable to invasion and collapse. He then told Mei Terumi, Sasuke, and the others that Kinshiki belonged to the true Ōtsutsuki Clan from beyond the Shinobi World, and explained how Kaguya and her descendants differed from them.

• Gekkō Raito rejected the Takigakure envoy’s demand and declared that Kirigakure would no longer recognize Takigakure’s existence.
• Kirigakure expelled Takigakure personnel and severed trade routes, isolating Takigakure and prompting people to flee.
• Gekkō Raito listened as Mei Terumi described her encounter with Kinshiki and identified her attacker as a member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Gekkō Raito clarified to Mei Terumi and Sasuke that the Ōtsutsuki on the moon were a distant branch, distinct from the true Ōtsutsuki beyond the Shinobi World.
• Gekkō Raito explained that Kaguya was the true Ōtsutsuki progenitor on Earth, while the Sage of Six Paths and Hamura were her children and not pureblood Ōtsutsuki.

Gekkō Raito explained how the Ōtsutsuki Clan planted God Trees, sacrificed members who could resurrect through Karma, and faced risks from imperfect vessels. He revealed that the Ōtsutsuki who came to the Shinobi World with Kaguya was still alive, secretly leading Kara, and that he had been tracking the organization while waiting for an Ōtsutsuki to appear.

• Gekkō Raito told Sasuke, Mei Terumi, and the others that Ōtsutsuki pairs planted God Trees by sacrificing one member to the Ten-Tails, who could later resurrect through a vessel bearing their Karma.
• Gekkō Raito explained that failed reincarnation could cause an Ōtsutsuki’s body to break down and kill them again.
• Mei Terumi asked about the power of the man who ambushed her, and Gekkō Raito said he did not know his exact rank but that Kinshiki Otsutsuki and Momoshiki Otsutsuki were beyond Kage Level.
• Gekkō Raito reasoned that the Ōtsutsuki who came to the Shinobi World with Kaguya had left behind Karma and was still hiding in the world, plotting his resurrection.
• Gekkō Raito revealed that the surviving Ōtsutsuki secretly controlled Kara, which he had been investigating for years while waiting for a real Ōtsutsuki to appear.
• Sasuke asked whether Gekkō Raito had planted a spy in Kara.

Raito revealed that Ao had volunteered to infiltrate Kara twenty years earlier and explained how Kaguya’s betrayal left Ōtsutsuki Isshiki alive inside Jigen. The chapter ended with Sasuke understanding that Isshiki had been far more powerful than Kaguya, forcing her to rely on a surprise attack.

• Raito told Mei Terumi that Ao had spent twenty years undercover in Kara, certain the Ōtsutsuki would eventually appear.
• Raito explained that Ao joined Kara’s Inner Shell after posing as a badly injured survivor of the destruction of Iwagakure, a plan Ao had volunteered for.
• Raito told Sasuke that Ao had obtained key information about Kara and its founder, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Raito explained that Kaguya ambushed Isshiki and fed him to the Ten-Tails, but it devoured only half of him, allowing him to survive inside the monk Jigen.
• Raito described Isshiki as Kaguya’s superior, and Sasuke concluded that Kaguya had needed a surprise attack to defeat him.

Gekkō Raito prepared Kirigakure for a possible clash with Kara and the Ōtsutsuki while revealing that he intended to step down and leave the next era to Kyuji. He left the office to attend the Chunin Ninja Exams, where he reunited with Sasuke.

• Gekkō Raito warned that Kara might strike during the Chunin Ninja Exams and ordered preparations for the highest level of combat readiness.
• Gekkō Raito told Sasuke to watch Kirigakure’s Ōtsutsuki-bloodline remnants, and ordered Mei Terumi to assemble the Tailed Beast Unit and Kyuji to ready the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Gekkō Raito hinted that he planned to step down as Mizukage and named Kyuji as the successor he trusted to lead Kirigakure.
• Gekkō Raito explained that he wanted the next generation to take the stage and that Kyuji had already been prepared to manage the village.
• Gekkō Raito left to attend the Chunin Ninja Exams, then met Sasuke, who had been waiting for him in the corridor.

Gekkō Raito and Sasuke discussed Sarada’s abilities, the upcoming Chunin exams, and Raito’s unresolved relationships before arriving at the grand arena. Raito took his seat as Mizukage, and his presence silenced the assembled crowd as the exam was about to begin.

• Sasuke told Gekkō Raito that his daughter Sarada, who had awakened the Rinnegan, was taking the exam and hoped to become Mizukage.
• Sasuke challenged Raito about delaying marriage and leaving Hinata and Ino waiting, while Raito said he would answer them someday.
• Sasuke confirmed that Naruto and Sakura’s son, Boruto Uzumaki, was among the exam participants, and he insisted Sarada would beat him.
• Raito and Sasuke walked from the Mizukage Building to the arena, where more than a thousand candidates from ninja villages across the Shinobi World had gathered.
• Raito entered the VIP Passageway and took his seat of honor, silencing the crowd with his imposing presence.

Gekkō Raito assessed the Chunin Ninja Exams’ promising young contestants before the opening ranking match began. Kirigakure’s Kaguya Shinichi faced Sarada Uchiha, who resolved to defeat the Mizukage’s disciple.

• Gekkō Raito sensed promising abilities among the village teams, including unusual talents from the Land of Snow and Hoshigakure, and strong contenders from Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
• Gekkō Raito noted that Kirigakure’s five brightest clan prodigies had chakra and killing intent at jonin level, and he examined Sarada’s powerful chakra and ocular abilities.
• The host opened the Chunin Ninja Exams and announced that the villages’ representatives would compete to determine their order in the following day’s exams.
• Yuki Ryūun announced the first match between Kirigakure genin Kaguya Shinichi and Sarada Uchiha.
• Sarada learned that Shinichi was Kyuji’s nephew and had received instruction from the Mizukage, then resolved to beat him and prove herself.
• Gekkō Raito teased Sasuke about Sarada’s fiery temper.

Sarada faced Kaguya Shinichi in a genin match, using her Sharingan, chakra-enhanced strength, and Lightning Release to survive his Shikotsumyaku attacks. After escaping his grip, Sarada prepared to look for an opening as Shinichi announced that the warm-up was over.

• Sasuke and Naruto discussed Sarada’s chances against Shinichi, while Gekkō Raito hinted that the match would not be simple.
• Sarada activated her Sharingan, and Gekkō Raito noted that she could switch it on separately despite possessing the Rinnegan.
• Shinichi charged Sarada at startling speed, but she met his punch head-on with chakra coating her fist.
• Shinichi broke Sarada’s kunai with a bone protruding from his shoulder and caught her ankle as she tried to retreat.
• Sarada used Lightning Release to numb Shinichi’s arm, escaped his grip, and landed at a safe distance.
• Sarada planned to exploit a brief opening or finish the fight with powerful ninjutsu as Shinichi declared the warm-up over.

Kaguya Shinichi revealed his Water Breathing swordsmanship and attacked Sarada with increasingly powerful water slashes. Sarada countered his Striking Tide with Chidori Stream, and the two remained standing as Shinichi challenged her to show what she could really do.

• Shinichi pulled his spine from his body and formed a Spiral Bone Sword, revealing that he was a reserve member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Shinichi used Water Breathing’s Water Surface Slash, but Sarada dodged it with help from her Sharingan.
• Shinichi accelerated his sword attacks with Striking Tide, overwhelming Sarada’s options for evasion.
• Sarada defended herself by unleashing Chidori Stream, and the two techniques collided in a blast that shook the arena.
• Shinichi praised Sarada’s defense, then plunged his Ninja Blade into the arena floor and challenged her to show her full ability.

Shinichi Kaguya and Sarada traded powerful Water and Fire Release attacks while Gekkō Raito protected the arena with a barrier. Gekkō revealed that Shinichi had inherited bloodlines from both the Kaguya and Waves Clans and explained how Shinichi’s training and his help had reconciled their powers.

• Shinichi unleashed a Great Waterfall Technique, and Sarada answered with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Gekkō Raito raised a pale blue barrier around the arena, containing the fighters’ explosive clash.
• Sasuke watched through the mist and remarked on Shinichi’s vast chakra and Water Release talent.
• Gekkō pointed out Shinichi’s parents, and Sasuke realized Shinichi was descended from both the Kaguya Clan and the Waves Clan.
• Gekkō explained that Shinichi’s perseverance and mastery of Water Breathing had helped him harmonize his two bloodlines, with Gekkō’s assistance.

Gekkō Raito restored the ruined arena with his Creation Technique while Shinichi and Sarada continued their intense battle. In Kara’s base, Jigen revealed a plan to exploit the villages’ empty strongholds and introduced a human as a possible trump card against Gekkō Raito.

• Gekkō Raito cleared the arena’s mist and used the Creation Technique to restore the shattered grounds, astonishing the spectators.
• Shinichi attacked Sarada with a Water Dragon Bullet, and Sarada held it back with a spiraling barrier of flame.
• Gekkō Raito noticed a drone recording the tournament and transmitting the footage to Kara’s secret base.
• Isshiki, Momoshiki, and Kinshiki watched the ninjas’ battle and discussed their use of chakra and ninjutsu.
• Jigen said the Chunin Ninja Exams had gathered the Kage in Kirigakure, leaving their home bases vulnerable, and outlined two possible paths to oppose Gekkō Raito.
• Jigen summoned a scruffy, bespectacled middle-aged man, who greeted the Ōtsutsuki as gods.

Amado introduced the Ōtsutsuki to Scientific Ninja Tools and demonstrated a powerful laser weapon, convincing Momoshiki that human technology could threaten Gekkō Raito. He asked them to steal Kirigakure’s research so he could improve his weapons, claiming his core technology was decades ahead of theirs.

• Amado explained that Scientific Ninja Tools could shift the balance of power and asked the Ōtsutsuki to steal research from shinobi villages.
• Jigen demonstrated a wrist-mounted tool that fired flames, which Momoshiki absorbed while questioning how the device worked.
• Amado led Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki to an underground testing ground and asked Kinshiki to act as a target.
• Amado fired a laser machine at Kinshiki, who raised a chakra shield and survived the blast, while Momoshiki and Urashiki recognized its speed and power.
• Amado claimed his smaller combat laser was three times stronger and said he needed Kirigakure’s research to upgrade his weapons against Gekkō Raito.
• Amado asserted that his core technology was fifty years ahead of Kirigakure’s because a single genius could surpass thousands of ordinary scientists.

Jigen persuaded Momoshiki to let him target the Otsutsuki Remnants on the moon as potential vessels and began an operation during the Chunin Ninja Exams. At the exams, Sarada Uchiha and Kaguya Shinichi drew, and Naruto hinted that Konoha's representative planned to challenge Gekkō Raito.

• Jigen told Momoshiki that the Otsutsuki Remnants could make suitable vessels, and Momoshiki agreed to let him act against them.
• Jigen ordered the Artificial Humans to begin the operation while the Chunin Ninja Exams distracted the crowds.
• Sarada Uchiha and Kaguya Shinichi fought to a draw, collapsed unconscious, and were healed by Gekkō Raito's Hydrification Healing Technique.
• Gekkō Raito awarded Sarada and Shinichi shared second place, prompting both to vow to win next time.
• As the challenge matches began, Naruto revealed that Konoha had a representative with a grudge against Gekkō Raito, and the referee announced the representative's entrance.