Recaps

Tsunade assigned Konoha’s Akatsuki response and put Kakashi in charge of the Intelligence Department. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki completed sealing the Eight-Tails and prepared to continue their hunt after resting.

• Tsunade ordered Shikaku and Kakashi to keep Akatsuki information from leaking, then appointed Kakashi director of the Intelligence Department.
• Jiraiya examined the wanted posters and said he did not recognize the girl Orochimaru had abducted.
• Naraku told Tsunade that he still had no leads on Orochimaru, and that the Intelligence Department’s basic framework was ready.
• The Akatsuki sealed Gyuki into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path after four days and three nights, killing Killer B.
• Nagato ordered the Akatsuki to rest for one night before continuing, while warning members outside Amegakure to avoid Kumogakure’s search.
• The Deva Path told Konan that Kakuzu was no match for Akame, then examined the Amber Purifying Pot and noted its resemblance to Uzumaki sealing techniques.

Nagato examined the Amber Purifying Pot’s seal and prepared to release the Two-Tails without damaging the Six Paths Tool. The Akatsuki sealed the Two-Tails in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, then the Deva Path kept Sasori and Deidara behind.

• Nagato identified how to undo the seal on the Amber Purifying Pot and decided to leave it intact until the sealing ritual.
• Kakuzu confronted Akame about respecting her seniors, but she offered him money and the two agreed to work together.
• The Deva Path released the Two-Tails from the Amber Purifying Pot, and the Akatsuki began the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals.
• After three days, the Akatsuki completed sealing the Two-Tails inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• The Deva Path dismissed the exhausted members and told Sasori and Deidara to stay.

Sasori and Deidara attacked Sunagakure and captured Gaara, then escaped toward the Land of Rivers. As Sunagakure's leaders argued over what to do, Temari stormed into their meeting in anger.

• Deva Path ordered Sasori and Deidara to capture the One-Tail and take him to the Land of Rivers to avoid leaving clues for Kumogakure.
• Yura killed the Sand shinobi guarding Sunagakure's entrance and let Sasori and Deidara enter.
• Deidara attacked Sunagakure from the air, captured the unconscious Gaara, and flew back to Sasori.
• Sasori and Deidara escaped toward the Land of Rivers, while Sasori's traps wiped out Sunagakure's pursuit team.
• Sunagakure's higher-ups argued over rescuing Gaara and choosing a Sixth Kazekage until Temari burst into the meeting room, furious.

After Chiyo and Ebizo restored order in Sunagakure, Temari led a squad to pursue Akatsuki and the village requested help from Konoha and Kumogakure. Tsunade decided to send Team Kakashi to rescue Gaara, with Naraku leading the mission.

• Temari was forced to wait outside Sunagakure’s leadership meeting while Gaara’s fate remained unknown and Kankuro was missing.
• Chiyo and Ebizo arrived, rebuked Sunagakure’s leaders, and directed the village to assemble a pursuit squad under Temari.
• Baki proposed seeking Konoha’s aid, and Sunagakure also contacted Kumogakure to coordinate their pursuit of Akatsuki.
• Tsunade received Sunagakure’s request and summoned Naraku to discuss Konoha’s response.
• Tsunade chose Team Kakashi for the rescue mission, ruled out Kakashi and Jiraiya as leaders, and Naraku agreed to lead the team.

Tsunade assigned Shihōin Naraku to lead a temporary Team 7, with Neji Hyuga joining Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno for a dangerous mission. The team learned that Gaara had been abducted by the Akatsuki and prepared to head to Sunagakure to rescue him.

• Tsunade offered Sai a place on Team 7, but Naraku rejected the suggestion because the team was about to embark on a rescue mission.
• Naraku recommended Neji Hyuga as a temporary member, and Tsunade agreed that his Byakugan and jonin status would help the mission.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Neji gathered in the Hokage's Office, where Tsunade named Naraku their leader because Kakashi remained in the hospital.
• Tsunade told the team that Sunagakure had requested help rescuing the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, who had been abducted by the Akatsuki.
• Naruto urged the team to leave at once for Sunagakure.

After Gaara was abducted, Shihōin Naraku led Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Neji to Sunagakure as part of a joint rescue effort with Kumogakure. The group arrived, where Chiyo and Ebizo welcomed Naraku and his team.

• Tsunade appointed Naraku as the squad's jonin leader and warned the team to avoid provoking conflict with Kumogakure.
• Naruto rushed to the village gates, where Naraku told him, Sakura, and Neji to follow his orders before they set out for Sunagakure.
• Naruto's urgency drove the squad to travel without resting and reach Sunagakure quickly.
• Chiyo was astonished that Konoha had sent Naraku to help, and she and Ebizo welcomed his team alongside Kumogakure's senior officials.

Shihōin Naraku and his Konoha companions arrived in Sunagakure to help rescue Gaara, where Sakura volunteered to treat Temari’s poison. Kumogakure’s reinforcements arrived under Dodai, whose squad was shaken by encountering Naraku as the chapter left the villages preparing to work together.

• Shihōin Naraku’s group entered Sunagakure, where Naruto insisted they pursue the Akatsuki immediately, but Chiyo said they had to wait for Kumogakure’s reinforcements.
• Chiyo explained that Sunagakure’s pursuit teams had suffered devastating losses and that Temari was near death from a rare poison.
• Shihōin Naraku asked Sakura Haruno to treat Temari, and the Sand leaders agreed after learning she was Tsunade’s student.
• Naruto reluctantly agreed to rest until the Cloud Ninja arrived.
• Dodai led Kumogakure’s reinforcements into Sunagakure, where Naraku’s appearance created a tense silence before he left.
• Dodai asked Baki why Konoha had sent Shihōin Naraku, and Baki confirmed that Naraku would be working with them.

Dodai ordered the Cloud Ninja to focus on rescuing the Kazekage and gathering intelligence on Akatsuki, while Sakura Haruno cured Temari’s poison. Temari revealed that Sasori had taken Gaara, and Chiyo decided to join the mission to bring him back.

• Dodai told the Cloud Ninja not to provoke Shihōin Naraku and set their priorities as rescuing the Kazekage and investigating Akatsuki.
• Sakura Haruno’s antidote woke Temari, and Chiyo told Sakura to rest after treating her.
• Chiyo asked to speak with Temari alone, and Temari described how Akatsuki’s flying member took Gaara while Sasori held off the Sand shinobi.
• Temari reported that the dying puppeteer Ye He had identified their enemy as Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Chiyo realized Sasori was her grandson and declared that she would bring Gaara back herself.

Chiyo joined Konoha’s pursuit team to rescue Gaara, while Baki and Dodai led Kumogakure’s team. After reaching the Land of Rivers, Naraku kept watch and used his vision to observe Akatsuki sealing Shukaku as Zetsu reported the approaching rescue forces.

• Temari watched Chiyo leave to help rescue Gaara, despite worrying that the elderly retired ninja was too weak for the mission.
• Baki split the rescue force into two teams, sending Chiyo with Konoha under Shihōin Naraku and leading the Kumogakure team himself alongside Dodai.
• Chiyo learned that Naruto cared so deeply about Gaara because they were friends with similar childhoods, and she suspected Naruto was Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Naraku ordered the exhausted Konoha team to rest after they reached the Land of Rivers, while he took watch and used his vision to see Akatsuki sealing Shukaku.
• Zetsu informed the Akatsuki leader that the rescue teams had reached the Land of Rivers and identified Shihōin Naraku as the leader of the Konoha team.

The Akatsuki prepared to hold off Shihōin Naraku until they finished sealing Shukaku, while Naraku deliberately slowed the rescue teams’ search to give the ritual time. When the teams encountered Konan, Kakuzu, Akame, and Uchiha Itachi, Naraku launched an immediate attack.

• Nagato ordered the Akatsuki to avoid a direct clash and use the Shapeshifting Technique as a last resort while Zetsu monitored the Sunagakure teams.
• Naraku decided to delay finding the Akatsuki’s hideout until the One-Tail sealing was complete.
• Naruto urged the rescue teams onward as they searched the Land of Rivers, and Naraku reassured him that they were moving quickly.
• Naraku led the teams down from the trees after sensing trouble, and Konan, Kakuzu, Akame, and Uchiha Itachi appeared before them.
• Naruto charged at the Akatsuki, but Naraku overtook him and struck first with a powerful attack that shattered the ground and unleashed flames.

Shihōin Naraku ambushed the newly arrived Akatsuki members, forcing Uchiha Itachi to stay behind while he fought Akame, Konan, and Kakuzu. After surviving their combined attacks, Naraku gathered the flames around him into a phoenix that grew into an enormous bird of prey.

• Shihōin Naraku wounded Kakuzu, forced Akame back, and sheared off one of Konan's wings before ordering the others to handle Uchiha Itachi.
• Naruto, Neji, and Chiyo confronted Uchiha Itachi, who trapped Chiyo in genjutsu as the battle began.
• Konan and Kakuzu withdrew from close combat while Akame fought Naraku and they supported her with ranged attacks.
• Konan and Kakuzu bombarded Naraku with explosive tags, fire, and wind, but he emerged from the flames unharmed.
• Shihōin Naraku gathered the surrounding fire into a phoenix, which spread its wings and grew into an enormous bird of prey.

Shihōin Naraku’s team and the Akatsuki exchanged attacks while the sealing ritual continued, and Naraku defeated the disguised opponents after Uchiha Itachi withdrew. The Akatsuki planned further delays as Naraku returned to find Chiyo injured and his team reporting that their apparent enemy was not Uchiha Itachi.

• Naraku monitored Uchiha Itachi’s fight with Naruto, waited until Itachi withdrew, then rushed in and cut Kakuzu apart.
• Phoenix’s fireballs forced Konan to escape as paper scraps, while Naraku killed the disguised Akame and recognized the Shapeshifting Technique.
• In the cave, Itachi and Konan reported their losses, Haku reported defeating another rescue squad, and the Deva Path ordered more Shapeshifting Technique delays.
• Naraku returned to his team and found Sakura Haruno treating Chiyo, who had been injured and mentally drained by genjutsu.
• Naruto and his teammates told Naraku that their opponent had suddenly died after being struck by their ninjutsu and had not seemed to be Uchiha Itachi.

Shihōin Naraku’s group resumed their pursuit of the Akatsuki, but repeated attacks kept them fighting and drained their strength. After the third skirmish, the squad was exhausted, while Naruto and Sakura Haruno remained in relatively good condition.

• Neji Hyuga reported the earlier battle, and Naraku warned the group that their enemy had used a puppet capable of imitating Uchiha Itachi’s abilities.
• After Sakura treated Chiyo, the group set out again, but Deidara and Sasori blocked their path with the Deva Path.
• Naruto charged Deidara and was caught in an explosion, while Naraku told Chiyo that Naruto could withstand it and pointed out Sasori’s presence.
• Naraku fought the Deva Path, resisted Shinra Tensei, and hurled him into the ground before the Six Paths of Pain appeared.
• Naraku realized Nagato might have used White Zetsu to rebuild the Six Paths of Pain and attacked them with Kurikara.
• After three Akatsuki attacks, Neji and Chiyo were heavily fatigued, while Naruto and Sakura Haruno were still in relatively good condition.

Naraku’s group discovered that Akatsuki had attacked Baki and Dodai’s rescue squad to force them to delay their search for Gaara by caring for the wounded. Naraku revealed that Sunagakure reinforcements would soon arrive, leaving the group free to continue their mission.

• Naraku ordered his group to leave any future Akatsuki attacks to him so the exhausted Neji and Chiyo could conserve their strength.
• Naraku’s group spotted Baki’s distress signal and rushed to support his squad.
• Haku, Akame, and Deva Path had severely wounded Baki and Dodai’s squad, then withdrew after the survivors sent the signal.
• Naraku’s group reached the wounded, and Neji recognized that Akatsuki was using them to hold the rescue mission back.
• Naraku told Naruto that Sunagakure reinforcements were on the way and would take care of the wounded.

Shihōin Naraku led Naruto Uzumaki and their companions toward the Akatsuki's lair after handing the wounded over to Sunagakure reinforcements. Neji Hyuga discovered that the Akatsuki was nearly finished extracting the Tailed Beast from Gaara, and Naraku and Naruto rushed to attack.

• Naraku ordered the team to rest while they waited for Sunagakure reinforcements, then warned them to move out as soon as the handover was complete.
• Chiyo verified the reinforcements' codes and entrusted them with escorting Baki, Lord Dodai, and the other wounded back to safety.
• Naraku and his four companions traveled through the night and found the Akatsuki's base beside a stream near dawn.
• Neji used his Byakugan to see the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and found Gaara inside as the Akatsuki extracted the Tailed Beast from him.
• Naraku and Naruto leaped down to the river and prepared to attack the boulder-blocked entrance.

Shihōin Naraku and his squad broke the Five-Seal Barrier and entered the cave after the Akatsuki completed sealing Shukaku the One-Tail. The chapter left Sasori and Deidara behind to face the intruders while the rest of the Akatsuki withdrew.

• Shihōin Naraku recognized the Five-Seal Barrier, and Neji Hyuga used his Byakugan to locate all five talismans.
• The Akatsuki completed sealing Shukaku the One-Tail, and Gaara fell lifeless to the ground.
• The Deva Path ordered Sasori and Deidara to retreat, but Sasori chose to stay, and Deidara stayed with him.
• Shihōin Naraku and four shadow clones removed the talismans together, breaking the barrier as Sakura Haruno smashed the boulder.
• Naruto Uzumaki and the others charged into the cave while Shihōin Naraku and his shadow clones easily defeated the trap clones.

After finding Gaara apparently dead, Naruto pursued Deidara in a rage while Naraku and the others stayed behind to face Sasori. Naraku caught up and cut down Deidara’s bird, but Deidara made another bird and escaped the fall with Gaara’s body.

• Naruto found Gaara lying dead and charged at Sasori and Deidara, but Deidara escaped through a concealed passage with Gaara’s body.
• Naraku ordered Sakura Haruno, Neji Hyuga, and Chiyo to fight Sasori, then melted Sasori’s volley of hidden weapons and pursued Naruto.
• Sasori revealed Hiruko as a human puppet, and Chiyo summoned her own puppets to face him alongside Sakura Haruno and Neji Hyuga.
• Naraku caught up with Naruto as he chased Deidara, whose explosive clay birds failed to stop Naruto’s pursuit.
• Naraku sent a crescent-shaped blade of energy through the air, splitting Deidara’s bird and sending Deidara and Gaara falling before Deidara created another bird and escaped.

Naraku and Gore Magala pursued Deidara after he dropped Gaara and attacked Naruto. Deidara baited Naraku into striking a clone, then prepared to detonate it and his clay dragon with Naraku nearby.

• Naruto caught Gaara before he hit the ground but crashed into the forest, giving Deidara a chance to attack.
• Gore Magala plunged from the sky and destroyed Deidara's giant bird, but Deidara survived and hid in the bushes.
• Naraku rode Gore Magala after Deidara, who summoned his C2 Dragon and launched explosive clay pigs at them.
• Gore Magala outran the bombs, and Naraku used his lightning-charged Kurikara to cut Deidara in two.
• Deidara revealed his real body on the ground and prepared to detonate the clone and clay dragon with Naraku nearby.

Shihōin Naraku defeated Deidara with Kirin and Kurikara, then found Chiyo had destroyed Sasori’s core. The rescue party gathered around Gaara’s apparently lifeless body, where Chiyo began using a technique to save him.

• Deidara’s C4: Garuda failed to stop Shihōin Naraku, who summoned Kirin and struck him with lightning before killing him with Kurikara.
• Shihōin Naraku sensed Chiyo pierce Sasori’s core, then burned Deidara’s corpse and went to meet the others.
• The rescue mission ended with Sasori and Deidara dead, but the group mourned because they believed they had failed to save Gaara.
• Temari and the Sunagakure ninja arrived, and Temari wept when she saw Gaara’s body.
• Chiyo placed her hands on Gaara’s chest and began a chakra technique, saying there was still time.

Chiyo used her life and Naruto’s chakra to revive Gaara, then died as Gaara awoke. In Amegakure, Nagato and Konan discussed the deaths of Sasori and Deidara and planned the Akatsuki’s next targets.

• Chiyo asked Naruto to lend her chakra for her technique to bring Gaara back to life, and Naruto agreed after Shihōin Naraku approved.
• Chiyo’s life force revived Gaara, and she collapsed and died as Gaara opened his eyes.
• Nagato learned that Sasori and Deidara were dead and that White Zetsu had found neither of their bodies.
• Nagato decided the Akatsuki would not recruit new members and said they would target Kirigakure while Zetsu gathered intelligence on the Six-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Nagato considered capturing Han in Iwagakure difficult because Han was the Tsuchikage and Ōnoki’s Dust Release threatened the Akatsuki.

After the Akatsuki captured Gaara and several other Jinchūriki, Iwagakure and Konoha assessed the danger and discussed forming a wider alliance. Tsunade considered Naraku’s suggestion to convene a Five Kage Summit.

• Ōnoki and Han concluded that the Akatsuki had likely captured Roshi, and Han proposed joining forces with Konoha and Kirigakure.
• Han told Ōnoki that the Akatsuki had also captured the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, leaving more than half the Tailed Beasts in their hands.
• Tsunade heard Naraku and Naruto’s account of Gaara’s rescue and praised Chiyo for sacrificing her life to revive him.
• Tsunade warned Naruto to stay alert, then asked Naraku about the Akatsuki’s strength and likely next target; Naraku predicted they would target Kirigakure.
• Naraku told Tsunade that Iwagakure appeared to be searching for its missing Four-Tails Jinchūriki, and Tsunade said she would propose an alliance.
• Naraku suggested holding a Five Kage Summit, and Tsunade recognized that Kirigakure and Sunagakure would support the idea.

After Gaara was rescued through the cooperation of several villages, Mei Terumi pushed Kirigakure to seek an alliance against the Akatsuki. Tsunade’s proposed Five Kage Summit was arranged for the Land of Iron, but the other villages refused to let Shihōin Naraku accompany her as a guard.

• Mei Terumi ordered Kirigakure to pursue cooperation with the other shinobi villages, fearing the Akatsuki would target her village next.
• Mei received intelligence that Gaara had been rescued by the combined efforts of the Cloud Ninja, Konoha, and Shihōin Naraku, though the One-Tail had been taken.
• Mei prepared to sound out the other great nations as Tsunade proposed a Five Kage Summit and communications between the villages increased.
• The Kage debated possible summit venues and eventually agreed to meet in the neutral Land of Iron.
• The villages agreed that each Kage could bring three protective ninja, but they firmly rejected Shihōin Naraku accompanying Tsunade as one of her guards.

Tsunade prepared to attend the Five Kage Summit without Naraku, while Nagato and Obito discussed the Akatsuki’s plans to capture more Tailed Beasts. White Zetsu discovered that Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, was hidden on a protected island, giving the Akatsuki a lead for a future attack.

• Tsunade told Naraku he could not accompany her to the summit and planned to take Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Might Guy instead.
• Naraku and Tsunade wondered who Kumogakure would send, since Darui was dead and the village had not chosen a new Raikage.
• Nagato and Obito discussed the Five Kage Summit, and Obito planned to target Han after it ended.
• Nagato told Obito to find the Six-Tails Jinchuriki while the Akatsuki waited for the Three-Tails to revive.
• Mei Terumi visited Utakata on a remote island protected by a barrier, and White Zetsu secretly observed her.
• White Zetsu reported Utakata’s location to the Akatsuki, and Nagato hoped the Three-Tails would revive while Mei Terumi was away at the summit.

As the Five Kage Summit approached, Mifune explained why the Land of Iron had to host it and ordered heightened security. Tsunade and Han departed for the summit with their escorts, while Konoha and Iwagakure arranged for others to handle affairs in their absence.

• Mifune ordered the samurai to maintain vigilance and tighten security throughout the Land of Iron.
• Mifune told a young samurai that the Land of Iron had accepted the summit because its neutrality depended on its strength and it could not refuse the major villages.
• Shikaku Nara asked Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy to protect Tsunade as she left Konoha, while Jiraiya asked Shihōin Naraku to oversee Naruto Uzumaki's training.
• Tsunade instructed Shihōin Naraku to manage Hokage work with Shikaku Nara while she was away, then departed with Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy.
• Han set out for the Land of Iron with Ōnoki, Akatsuchi, and a Jonin escorting him because he was Iwagakure's Five-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Ōnoki strained his back while insisting he needed no help, and Akatsuchi carried him on his shoulders.

As the Kage traveled toward the Five Kage Summit, Kumogakure struggled to choose a successor to the missing Killer B. Dodai became the Sixth Raikage as a temporary compromise and prepared to leave for the summit.

• Mei Terumi warned Kirigakure's leaders to protect Utakata if the Akatsuki attacked while she was away, then departed for the Five Kage Summit with Yuki Yuki, Ao, and Chōjūrō.
• Gaara traveled toward the Land of Iron with Temari, Ebizo, and Shira, who defeated a giant scorpion that attacked them.
• Kumogakure's elders and advisers argued for days over who should become the Sixth Raikage as the Five Kage Summit approached.
• The leadership chose Dodai as a temporary Raikage because the factions could not agree on another candidate.
• Dodai accepted the position and prepared to attend the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron.