Recaps

Shihōin Naraku pushed Akame through a battle that awakened her super Kage level combat strength, then named her new sword Kogarasu. After Konoha ANBU arrived too late to find them, Naraku met Black Zetsu elsewhere and heard his report about the Akatsuki, the tailed beasts, and Obito.

• Shihōin Naraku fought Akame at full strength until the pressure triggered a breakthrough in her chakra and combat ability.
• Akame survived Naraku's final slash, emerged from a lake, and demonstrated her newly gained super Kage level combat strength.
• Naraku named Akame's newly forged Supreme Grade Sword Kogarasu and sensed Konoha's forces approaching.
• Naraku and Akame left with Black Zetsu before Tenzo and the ANBU could find them at the ruined battlefield.
• Naraku told Black Zetsu that Akame was his student, and Black Zetsu reported on the Akatsuki, the tailed beasts, and Obito.

Shihōin Naraku questioned Black Zetsu about the Tailed Beasts and learned that they did not have to be sealed in order, except for the Nine-Tails, which had to be sealed last. Naraku then proposed that his student Akame join the Akatsuki, and Black Zetsu saw the arrangement as a way to gain leverage over him.

• Shihōin Naraku asked Black Zetsu whether the Two-Tails and Three-Tails had revived, and Black Zetsu said the Two-Tails was close to reviving.
• Black Zetsu claimed that the Rinnegan could detect signs of a Tailed Beast's revival, concealing that he alone knew when and where they would return.
• Shihōin Naraku asked whether the Akatsuki sealed the Tailed Beasts in order, and Black Zetsu explained that only the Nine-Tails had to be sealed last.
• Shihōin Naraku proposed that Akame join the Akatsuki, arguing that she was strong and shared their goal of capturing the Tailed Beasts.
• Black Zetsu accepted the idea in principle, believing Akame's position could give him leverage over Shihōin Naraku.

Naraku and Black Zetsu discussed Akame joining the Akatsuki, including concealing her Wood Release and creating a convincing background for her. Black Zetsu agreed that fabricating an identity would be straightforward, though he still did not fully trust Naraku.

• Black Zetsu judged Akame's strength against Shihōin Naraku and decided she could handle Akatsuki missions.
• Black Zetsu questioned why Naraku would let Akame, a Wood Release user, join the Akatsuki.
• Naraku said no one in Konoha knew Akame existed or that she had mastered Wood Release.
• Black Zetsu asked about Akame's background, and Naraku said she was an orphan whose family had died.
• Black Zetsu accepted responsibility for inventing Akame's identity but remained wary of Naraku.

Shihōin Naraku tasked Black Zetsu with creating a convincing background for his student and learned that Sasori had killed Kankuro in Amegakure. After Black Zetsu left with Akame, Naraku used Flying Thunder God to return to Konoha.

• Black Zetsu promised to create a background for Naraku’s student that would not arouse suspicion among the Akatsuki.
• Naraku asked whether Kankuro had died in Amegakure, and Black Zetsu confirmed that Sasori had killed him.
• Black Zetsu reminded Naraku that he had no further Akatsuki intelligence to share, then left with Akame.
• Naraku used Flying Thunder God to return to Konoha, relying on his Observation Haki to sense his marked formulas from far away.

Tsunade mistakenly suspected Orochimaru was behind a Wood Release user and sent Naraku to investigate, then ordered him to bring Jiraiya, Naruto, and Kakashi back to Konoha. Naraku realized Kakashi was near Obito’s base in the northern Land of Fire, but before he could intervene, Akame and Obito clashed while Zetsu watched.

• Tsunade told Naraku that Tenzo had found traces of Wood Release near the site of a recent battle and suspected Orochimaru had returned.
• Tsunade asked Naraku to kill Orochimaru if he found him and recruit the Wood Release user if possible, while warning that the Akatsuki remained Konoha’s main priority.
• Tsunade decided to recall Jiraiya and Naruto and ordered Naraku to bring back Kakashi, who had been searching for Obito in the northern Land of Fire.
• Naraku recognized that Kakashi’s search had led him toward the Mountain Graveyard, Obito’s base, and sensed that Kakashi and Obito had already encountered each other.
• Akame fought Obito with Wood Release and sword attacks, but Obito’s intangibility let him evade them until her trees drove him back.
• Black Zetsu watched Akame battle Obito and praised her strength, while White Zetsu asked why they had arranged the fight.

Akame defeated Obito in a test of strength and was accepted into the Akatsuki. After Black Zetsu explained her fabricated background and short life expectancy, Obito considered using her as a tool and pursuing Orochimaru’s Wood Release research.

• Akame demonstrated her Wood Release and swordsmanship, then appeared behind Obito and forced him to admit defeat.
• Obito accepted Akame into the Akatsuki and told her to stay on the first underground level of the base.
• Black Zetsu told Obito that Akame was an escaped subject of Orochimaru’s Wood Release experiments and claimed the experiments had left her with little time to live.
• Obito called Akame a perfect tool and proposed stealing Orochimaru’s research to train more Wood Release users.
• Black Zetsu said Orochimaru’s materials were missing and warned that replicating the experiments would be difficult, but Obito insisted they experiment.

Obito and Black Zetsu detected Kakashi approaching their hidden base, and Obito went to intercept him rather than send Akame. Kakashi uncovered the area's genjutsu defenses and survived Obito's ambush, then confronted him at kunai-point.

• Obito abandoned his plan to capture test subjects and decided to send Akame to Amegakure, but he and Black Zetsu sensed an intruder near the base.
• Kakashi rested in the Mountain Graveyard to treat his injuries, then continued searching for Obito despite the danger and his lingering wounds.
• Obito recognized Kakashi and left to intercept him, refusing Black Zetsu's suggestion to send Akame instead.
• Kakashi dispelled a genjutsu that had made the wilderness appear familiar, realized the environment was designed to mislead intruders, and pressed deeper into the area.
• Kakashi entered a grove and was caught in a volley of hidden weapons and explosive tags, but Obito appeared beside the figure left on the ground.
• Kakashi sprang from a thicket and held a kunai to Obito's neck, demanding to know who he was and why he had attacked.

Kakashi fought the masked man and confirmed he was Obito Uchiha, who blamed the world and Konoha for Rin’s death. Obito revealed that he had caused the Nine-Tails’ Attack and Minato’s death, leaving Kakashi overwhelmed by the truth.

• Kakashi recognized Obito’s Sharingan during their fight and confirmed his identity after Obito removed his mask.
• Obito battered Kakashi and demanded to know where Rin was, then said he knew Rin had deliberately run into Kakashi’s Lightning Blade.
• Obito explained that Rin’s death convinced him the world was hell and that he wanted to create a world where Rin could be happy.
• Obito admitted that he had caused the Nine-Tails’ Attack, killed Kushina and Minato, and returned to Konoha unnoticed.
• Obito said he had attacked to test whether Minato would arrive too late again, while Kakashi struggled to process the revelations.

Naraku arrived as Kakashi and Obito fought, drove Obito away, and healed Kakashi, who resolved to grow stronger and reconsider his Sharingan. Obito escaped to his underground base and hurriedly evacuated with Black Zetsu and Akame to Amegakure.

• Kakashi regained his reason and confronted Obito, but Obito attacked him and nearly killed him.
• Naraku revealed himself, stopped Obito with a kick, and secretly placed a Flying Thunder God Technique mark on him.
• Naraku treated Kakashi's severe injuries, and Kakashi admitted he had underestimated Obito's strength.
• Kakashi resolved to get stronger, and Naraku reminded him that his Sharingan and Obito's were a pair.
• Obito reached the Mountain Graveyard base and told Black Zetsu they had to evacuate because Naraku was nearby.
• Obito and Black Zetsu prepared to take Akame to Amegakure so Nagato could introduce her to the Akatsuki.

Akame joined the Akatsuki as a reserve member and passed Konan’s test by demonstrating exceptional swordsmanship and speed. Konan began arranging Akame’s stay in Amegakure, while Obito and Zetsu left to check whether Naraku and Kakashi had found their Mountain Graveyard base.

• The Mysterious Masked Man introduced Akame to Nagato and Konan, who accepted her as a reserve member because the full roster had no vacancies.
• Konan led Akame to an underground training ground and warned that failure in the Akatsuki’s test would mean death.
• Akame deflected Konan’s paper attacks, then used thrown projectiles as a distraction to land a swift slash that Konan avoided with Dance of the Shikigami.
• Akame prepared a large-scale Wood Release attack, but Obito Uchiha and Zetsu stopped the test before the training ground could be destroyed, and Konan declared that Akame had passed.
• Obito and Zetsu left to check whether Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake had discovered the Mountain Graveyard base, while Konan arranged Akame’s lodging and future introduction to the members.

Naraku returned the injured Kakashi to Konoha, while Tsunade recalled Jiraiya and Naruto from their travels. Near the Bamboo Grove, Kakuzu and Hidan learned that the Two-Tails would soon revive and that Killer B was coming to secure it.

• Naraku refused Kakashi’s request to investigate Obito’s hideout, ordered him back to Konoha to recover, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring him home.
• Kakashi headed to report to Tsunade while watching the direction of Konoha’s Memorial Stone, and Naraku left him to mourn afterward.
• Jiraiya received Tsunade’s letter about instability in the shinobi world and told Naruto they were returning to Konoha.
• Naruto eagerly agreed to return with Jiraiya after they packed and ate at the inn.
• Zetsu told Kakuzu and Hidan that the Two-Tails would revive within days, Kumogakure had gathered forces near the Bamboo Grove, and Killer B was on his way.
• Kakuzu asked Zetsu to notify the Leader, who had already set out with other members and was expected to arrive the next day.

Nagato, Konan, and Akame joined Kakuzu and Hidan in the Land of Lightning to capture the reviving Two-Tails. As Akame watched Kumogakure’s preparations, the Two-Tails revived before Killer B and the assembled Ninja, and opened her eyes.

• Nagato led Konan and Akame to the Land of Lightning after Zetsu reported that the Two-Tails was nearing revival.
• Hidan tried to recruit Akame into the Jashin Cult, but she rejected him, and Nagato’s presence stopped Hidan from attacking her.
• Zetsu reported that blue flames had begun appearing around the bamboo grove, and the Akatsuki members prepared an ambush.
• Akame watched Kumogakure’s guards while Shihōin Naraku used his sensory abilities to observe the area and assess the sealing preparations.
• Killer B and the Kumogakure Ninja formed up as a blue fireball appeared, then the Two-Tails, Matatabi, revived in the grove.
• Gyuki explained that Matatabi was still small and had not fully regained consciousness, and Matatabi opened her eyes.

Akatsuki disrupted Kumogakure’s attempt to seal the revived Two-Tails, triggering a battle in the bamboo forest. Akame and Hidan confronted the Cloud Ninja as Killer B transformed to fight Two-Tails, and the chapter ended with Akame’s slash killing Rikiga while Hidan shouted at her for cutting off his arm.

• Matatabi revived in a furious, berserk state, and Killer B charged at her before striking her with a Lariat.
• Kumogakure’s Sealing Squad nearly captured Two-Tails with lightning chains, but Akame slashed the chains and enraged the beast, while Kakuzu attacked the Cloud Ninja.
• Dodai shielded the surviving Cloud Ninja from Akatsuki’s attacks as Killer B transformed into Gyuki to suppress Two-Tails.
• Hidan charged the Cloud Ninja and survived their attacks, including a barrage of Lightning Release techniques.
• Three Cloud Ninja restrained Hidan with Water Release, but Akame’s blade killed Rikiga and severed Hidan’s left arm.

Akame joined Hidan in wiping out the Cloud Ninja while Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain fought the Two-Tails and Killer B’s Eight-Tails. After Killer B’s Tailed Beast Bomb destroyed several Paths of Pain, Nagato sent Akame to defeat the rampaging Two-Tails before Kumogakure’s reinforcements arrived, while he handled the Eight-Tails.

• Akame and Hidan killed the Cloud Ninja in the Bamboo Grove as the tailed beasts battled in the distant mountains.
• Naraku discovered that Nagato had restored the Six Paths of Pain, including Ajisai as the Animal Path and Kankuro as the Asura Path.
• Nagato’s Paths attacked the tailed beasts, but Killer B’s Tailed Beast Bomb devastated the battlefield and destroyed the Human Path.
• Akame learned that Kumogakure reinforcements were approaching, and Nagato told her to defeat the Two-Tails while he fought the Eight-Tails.
• Akame approached the berserk Two-Tails, Matatabi, who sensed her coming.

Akame fought and restrained the Two-Tails, Matatabi, with Wood Release while Naraku coordinated the battle. When Killer B and Gyuki attacked, Naraku suppressed Akame’s forest so Matatabi could escape and the plan to let Kumogakure seal her could continue.

• Matatabi attacked Akame with fireballs and a pounce, but Akame blocked her claws and knocked her into a crater.
• Akame struck Matatabi with her sword and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to bind her with chakra-devouring trees and vines.
• Killer B gathered chakra in Gyuki, who fired a continuous stream of small Tailed Beast Bombs at Akame’s forest.
• Naraku suppressed Akame’s Wood Release so Matatabi could escape and Kumogakure could seal her.

Shihōin Naraku let Kumogakure seal the weakened Two-Tails in the Amber Purifying Pot, then Hidan and Kakuzu attacked the Cloud Ninja trying to take it away. The battle left Kakuzu fighting the squad while Omoi decapitated Hidan and pinned his head to the ground.

• Shihōin Naraku hid Akame among the flames and allowed Kumogakure's Sealing Squad to bind the exhausted Two-Tails, which willingly entered the Amber Purifying Pot.
• Dodai ordered Tsukitoki to carry the pot back to the village while Rei and Nen escorted him, as Hidan and Kakuzu blocked the remaining Cloud Ninja.
• Kakuzu survived a heart-piercing attack by killing the Cloud Ninja who stabbed him, then lost one of his lives and prepared to fight the squad with his black threads and masks.
• Hidan used his blood curse to kill Shū, but experienced Cloud Ninja recognized the danger and Omoi joined others in washing away Hidan's blood formation with a torrent.
• The Cloud Ninja trapped Hidan in the water and struck him with lightning, then Omoi cut off his head and pinned it to the ground.

The Cloud Ninja captured Hidan, while Akame killed the two shinobi sent to stall her and pursued Yueshi, who was carrying the Amber Purifying Pot. Akame seized the pot after severing Yueshi’s legs, leaving the Two-Tails in her possession.

• The Cloud Ninja incapacitated Hidan, called in the Sealing Squad, and sealed him away.
• Shihōin Naraku watched through Akame’s eyes and decided Hidan’s capture would help Akame join the Akatsuki.
• Akame blocked Yueshi, who carried the Amber Purifying Pot containing the sealed Two-Tails, while Rei and Nian attacked her.
• Akame killed Nian with Kogarasu and killed Rei with a branch that burst from the ground.
• Yueshi escaped at high speed, but Akame had severed his legs; she picked up the Amber Purifying Pot and left.

Akame secured the Two-Tails and brought the Amber Purifying Pot to Nagato’s battle with Killer B, while Shihōin Naraku considered whether the Akatsuki should capture the Eight-Tails too. Nagato weighed the opportunity against the danger of provoking Kumogakure, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Fire, then ordered the capture.

• Akame carried the Amber Purifying Pot past Kakuzu’s battle and trapped three pursuing Cloud Ninja teams with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
• Akame reached the Eight-Tails and set down the pot, prompting Killer B to realize the Two-Tails had been captured and Gyuki to charge at her.
• Nagato’s Deva Path repelled Gyuki and his Asura Path attacked with missiles while Shihōin Naraku judged that Nagato might need to concentrate the Six Paths’ power to capture Killer B quickly.
• In a distant cave, Nagato and Konan debated whether to capture Killer B before reinforcements arrived, considering the risk of provoking multiple great nations.
• Nagato ordered the Akatsuki to capture Killer B.

Nagato ordered Akame to assist him in capturing Killer B and the Eight-Tails before Kumogakure’s reinforcements arrived. Akame’s Wood Release restrained the Eight-Tails, allowing the Deva Path and Asura Path to strike, and Killer B was left dazed after being hurled into a mountain.

• Nagato decided to capture Killer B despite the danger, and Konan warned that Nagato’s weakened body could not withstand fighting at full strength.
• Konan suggested that Akame help defeat the Eight-Tails, and Nagato agreed to send her into battle.
• Konan told Akame to take down Killer B quickly, while Akame hid the Amber Purifying Pot containing the Two-Tails in a nearby tree.
• Akame used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to spread trees and chakra-draining vines around the Eight-Tails.
• The Deva Path and Asura Path attacked the restrained Eight-Tails, and the Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei sent Killer B crashing into a mountain.
• Gyuki called to Killer B inside the sealing space, urging him to recover as the enemy approached.

Akame and Deva Path fought the Eight-Tails as Killer B endured their attacks and countered with powerful Tailed Beast Bombs. The clash ended with Akame’s Wood Golem and the Eight-Tails both sent flying, while Akame pretended to be exhausted so Nagato would not become wary of her strength.

• Nagato warned Konan that the Eight-Tails had survived Shinra Tensei and praised Akame’s ability to restrain a Tailed Beast with Wood Release.
• The Eight-Tails feigned weakness, then bombarded Deva Path with Tailed Beast Bombs and destroyed Asura Path with a hidden tentacle.
• Akame rode a Wood Dragon into battle, cutting through the bombs as Deva Path dodged the barrage.
• Killer B used Tailed Beast Eight-Volume to pull in the Wood Dragon, and Deva Path countered with Shinra Tensei.
• Akame summoned a Wood Golem and struck the spinning Eight-Tails, sending both combatants flying and devastating the battlefield.
• Akame acted exhausted to keep Nagato from suspecting how strong she really was.

Akame, the Deva Path, and Kakuzu escaped the Land of Lightning with Killer B and the Two-Tails, leaving the Cloud Ninja behind. After returning to the Land of Rain, the Akatsuki gathered to seal the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails.

• Nagato told Konan to have Zetsu investigate Akame’s identity and background again after seeing her defeat the Eight-Tails with Wood Release.
• The Deva Path carried the unconscious Killer B away while Akame retrieved the Two-Tails in the Amber Purifying Pot.
• The Deva Path and Akame reached Kakuzu’s battlefield, where the Cloud Ninja abandoned their fight to try to rescue Killer B and recover the pot.
• Akame, the Deva Path, and Kakuzu attacked together, then withdrew with Killer B and the Amber Purifying Pot as the Cloud Ninja reeled.
• Akame made Kakuzu carry the heavy pot, and the three joined Nagato and Konan before crossing the Land of Lightning’s border.
• The Akatsuki returned to the Land of Rain and gathered to seal the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails.

Akame joined the Akatsuki as a provisional member named [Void] and took part in the sealing of Killer B and the Two-Tails. As the Akatsuki began sealing the Eight-Tails, Kumogakure searched for them and neighboring nations raised their defenses.

• Deva Path introduced Akame to the Akatsuki and gave her a provisional ring and the code name [Void], telling her to kill Orochimaru and recover his ring to become a full member.
• Deva Path ordered Zetsu to monitor the Land of Rain and investigate the Land of Lightning, then the Akatsuki began sealing the Eight-Tails from unconscious Killer B.
• Akame noticed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had two eyes open, confirming that the Akatsuki had already sealed the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails.
• Kumogakure's reinforcements discovered that the Akatsuki had taken the Two-Tails and Killer B, and began searching the Land of Lightning and surrounding small nations.
• The Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water went on alert and reinforced their defenses as Kumogakure's search spread.

Kumogakure reacted to the Akatsuki capturing Killer B and the Two-Tails, while Iwagakure feared Roshi might also be missing. Mei Terumi learned that Kumogakure had lost all its tailed-beast jinchūriki and considered the resulting opportunity.

• A Kumogakure elder berated Dodai over the Akatsuki capturing Killer B and ordered wanted notices issued to find them.
• Ōnoki learned that Kumogakure had lost the Two-Tails and Killer B, then realized Iwagakure had not heard from Roshi for about two months.
• Han told Ōnoki that Roshi had last planned to train in the mountains, and Ōnoki ordered an investigation and a message to Roshi.
• Mei Terumi heard from Ao that the Akatsuki had captured Kumogakure's Two-Tails and Killer B, leaving the village without a tailed-beast jinchūriki.
• Mei Terumi considered Kumogakure's weakness a good opportunity.

Mei Terumi secured Kirigakure’s defenses and considered Utakata’s situation, while Gaara pursued negotiations with Amegakure over Kankuro. After returning to Konoha with Naruto, Jiraiya proposed investigating the Akatsuki in Amegakure, but Tsunade threatened to declare him a deserter if he left.

• Mei Terumi ordered two more teams to Kirigakure Lake and weighed what to do about the exiled Utakata.
• Gaara learned Amegakure was vague about exchanging Kankuro for captured spies, and kept sending envoys to negotiate.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha with Naruto and went to the Hokage Building to meet Tsunade and the others.
• Jiraiya announced that he intended to investigate the Akatsuki in Amegakure because Nagato had once been his student.
• Tsunade forbade Jiraiya from going and threatened to declare him a deserter, so he abandoned the plan.

Tsunade and the others discussed Kumogakure’s protest over an Akatsuki member’s Wood Release and how Konoha should respond to Akatsuki’s hunt for tailed beasts. Naraku argued against relying on Kumogakure and proposed sharing safe intelligence while preparing Konoha’s jonin for Akatsuki’s abilities.

• Tsunade told Jiraiya that Kumogakure had protested after an Akatsuki member used Wood Release, which Konoha suspected came from Orochimaru’s experiments.
• Shikaku Nara advised against sharing intelligence widely because Uchiha Itachi’s identity as a spy could be exposed, while Naraku said Kumogakure was using the incident as a pretext.
• Tsunade proposed joining Kumogakure to hunt Akatsuki, but Naraku pointed out that Kumogakure would not cooperate with Konoha while it hated him for killing the Fourth Raikage A and nearly killing Killer B.
• Naraku recommended sharing intelligence that would not expose Uchiha Itachi and argued that Akatsuki would face strong resistance from the villages guarding their jinchūriki.
• Naraku said Konoha needed to inform its jonin about Akatsuki’s members and their abilities.