Recaps

Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha and joined Tsunade’s meeting about the Five Kage Summit and the Akatsuki’s capture of the other villages’ Tailed Beasts. With the Allied Shinobi Forces facing mistrust and the Akatsuki targeting Naruto, Naraku urged Konoha to prepare for an inevitable Shinobi World War.

• Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha after assigning Kabuto Yakushi the task of training in Sage Mode.
• Shihōin Naraku helped Tsunade process documents, and Tsunade said she was glad he had told Naruto about his parents.
• Tsunade gathered Jiraiya, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Kakashi Hatake, Shikaku Nara, and Shihōin Naraku to share the Five Kage Summit’s results in secret.
• Tsunade revealed that the Akatsuki had captured Han and that the other villages had lost their Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts, leaving Konoha with the Nine-Tails.
• Shikaku Nara and the others worried that the other villages might not truly support the Allied Shinobi Forces while Konoha retained its Tailed Beast.
• Shihōin Naraku urged Konoha to prepare for a Shinobi World War, declaring that war was inevitable.

Konoha’s leaders discussed the growing danger of the Akatsuki and the possibility of another Shinobi World War. Tsunade proposed sharing selected intelligence with the allied villages, and Naraku ended by warning that someone else might be directing the Akatsuki.

• Mitokado Homura warned that a Shinobi World War could begin within two years and might surpass the previous wars in intensity.
• Jiraiya revealed that Akatsuki leaders Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had been his students, prompting Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to reproach him.
• Tsunade told the group that Akatsuki’s main base was in Amegakure and that she suspected the supposedly dead Obito Uchiha was an Akatsuki member.
• Shikaku Nara advised Konoha to share only suitable intelligence with its allies to avoid triggering war before the villages were ready.
• Naraku said Uchiha Itachi was close to death and did not want to live, then raised his suspicion that someone else was behind the Akatsuki.

Shihōin Naraku explained how the Akatsuki had changed after Yahiko’s death and suspected Obito Uchiha helped Nagato rebuild it. He warned that the Akatsuki planned to create the Ten-Tails by combining the tailed beasts, and Jiraiya vowed to stop them.

• Shihōin Naraku recounted how Hanzō and Shimura Danzō nearly destroyed the original Akatsuki and suggested Hanzō had later died at Nagato’s hands.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu agreed that Hanzō was likely dead, while Tsunade urged Naraku to continue.
• Shihōin Naraku suspected Obito Uchiha had helped Nagato rebuild the Akatsuki and might have shared its power.
• Shihōin Naraku questioned how the Akatsuki learned that the nine tailed beasts could merge, citing Neji Hyuga’s discovery of a creature that consumed tailed-beast chakra.
• Shihōin Naraku named the combined creature Ten-Tails and warned it could destroy a village or country with a single strike.
• Jiraiya declared that they could not allow the Akatsuki to gain control of Ten-Tails.

Shihōin Naraku argued that Obito Uchiha could not have survived his injuries without help and suggested Madara Uchiha might have saved and trained him. Tsunade rejected the idea, insisting Hashirama Senju had killed Madara, while Naraku pointed to Madara’s possible knowledge of Izanagi.

• The meeting agreed to share intelligence about the Ten-Tails and commit fully to fighting the Akatsuki while protecting Naruto Uzumaki.
• Naraku questioned how the Akatsuki obtained its intelligence and asked Kakashi to recount Obito Uchiha’s severe injuries.
• Tsunade said she could not have saved Obito, leading Naraku to conclude that someone had rescued and trained him.
• Jiraiya asked who had taught Obito and reproached Tsunade for not telling him about the possibility of Obito’s survival.
• Naraku proposed Madara Uchiha as the person behind Obito, but Tsunade insisted Hashirama Senju had killed Madara.
• Naraku asked whether Madara knew Izanagi, prompting Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to cough in warning about his blunt reference to Danzo’s death.

Naraku warned Konoha’s leaders that Madara Uchiha might still be alive and manipulating events behind the Akatsuki, prompting Tsunade to order preparations for a more dangerous Shinobi World. As Tsunade began assigning duties, Naraku interrupted her before she could give Jiraiya his task.

• Tsunade and the others considered whether Madara Uchiha had survived the Valley of the End using Izanagi, and Tsunade said Hashirama Senju might not have noticed because their strengths were close.
• Jiraiya suggested Madara Uchiha could have saved and trained Obito Uchiha, while Kakashi proposed that injuries might have prevented Madara from acting openly.
• Naraku reminded the meeting that the Akatsuki might not be Konoha’s only enemy, and Tsunade ended the discussion and ordered the village to prepare for unexpected threats.
• Tsunade tasked Kakashi with gathering intelligence, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura with contacting the Land of Fire and other Hidden Villages, and Shikaku with preparing the jonin and scheduling a meeting.
• Tsunade began assigning Jiraiya work, but Naraku interrupted her.

Naraku persuaded Jiraiya to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode, both to help Naruto withstand his new Ninjutsu and to keep him safer from the Akatsuki. After the meeting, Tsunade privately discussed her concerns with Naraku and Jiraiya and ordered Jiraiya to remain at Mount Myōboku with Naruto, though Jiraiya secretly intended to return if Konoha needed him.

• Naraku explained that Naruto's new Ninjutsu was so powerful that Naruto could not withstand its damage, and proposed sending him to Mount Myōboku.
• Jiraiya agreed to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku and teach him Sage Mode, partly because he felt Naruto was falling behind Sasuke Uchiha.
• Tsunade ended the meeting, ordered everyone to keep Naruto's situation secret, and kept Naraku and Jiraiya behind for a private discussion.
• Naraku told Tsunade that his conjecture had better than a fifty percent chance of being correct, prompting a confidential discussion among the three.
• Tsunade ordered Jiraiya to take Naruto to Mount Myōboku and stay there unless she or Naraku called him back, while Jiraiya secretly resolved not to abandon Konoha.

Shihōin Naraku asked Tsunade how forcefully to pursue the Akatsuki, and she ordered a gradual campaign while Konoha prepared for war. A jonin meeting then set Konoha’s defenses and selected five jonin to join Naraku in the Allied Shinobi Forces.

• Shihōin Naraku asked Tsunade whether he should attack the Akatsuki at full strength, and she told him to eliminate their peripheral groups gradually to avoid provoking a wider war.
• Naraku returned home to pack, while the formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces remained delayed by the villages’ preparations.
• Shikaku Nara opened Konoha’s jonin meeting and the leadership briefed the assembled jonin on the shinobi world’s situation and Akatsuki intelligence, including Akame’s Wood Release.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha to prepare for war by stockpiling supplies, reducing missions, reinforcing border forces, and strengthening security.
• Shikaku Nara announced that Shihōin Naraku would command the Allied Shinobi Forces and named five jonin, including Asuma Sarutobi and Neji Hyuga, to join them.
• Shikaku Nara told the selected jonin to assemble at Konoha’s gate in three days and explained that Konoha was sending experienced fighters rather than larger numbers of weaker ninja.

As Konoha prepared for war, Shihōin Naraku met Black Zetsu to learn Akatsuki’s plans. He discovered that Nagato was secretly testing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path before a possible attack on Konoha, and that its eight sealed tailed beasts had strengthened it.

• Konoha’s Jonin were selected for the Allied Shinobi Forces, and Naraku coordinated the village’s war preparations while awaiting departure for the Land of Iron.
• Naraku met Black Zetsu on a mountaintop and demanded to know Akatsuki’s plans.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Akatsuki had sealed the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, then gone quiet on Nagato’s orders.
• Black Zetsu said Nagato was testing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and intended to attack Konoha after the tests were complete.
• Black Zetsu explained that the statue held eight tailed beasts and could wield greater power, while Naraku realized Nagato was relying on it to defeat him.

Black Zetsu and Shihōin Naraku exchanged intelligence while each concealed plans concerning Nagato, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and the coming attack on Konoha. Nagato prepared to seize the Nine-Tails while Naraku led the Allied Shinobi Forces away, as Obito and Black Zetsu privately weighed Nagato’s fate.

• Black Zetsu warned Naraku not to damage the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Naraku agreed while revealing that he commanded the Allied Shinobi Forces.
• Naraku told Black Zetsu to ensure Akatsuki’s peripheral forces delayed him and the Allied Shinobi Forces, and Black Zetsu saw an opportunity to keep them away from Konoha.
• Black Zetsu and Obito privately considered Nagato expendable, while Obito’s plans for Nagato and Madara differed from Black Zetsu’s.
• Nagato learned Naraku would lead the Allied Shinobi Forces away from Konoha and decided to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while the village was vulnerable.
• Obito recognized Nagato’s intention to turn on him and resolved to kill him, while Black Zetsu advised Nagato to sacrifice peripheral members and bases to delay Naraku.

Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu prepared to give Sasuke information about Uchiha Itachi, while secretly assessing whether Sasuke was strong enough to face his brother. Sasuke and his team fought an Akatsuki ambush, with Akame watching as Obito and Black Zetsu waited to judge his strength.

• Obito Uchiha told Black Zetsu to warn Akame to retreat if she encountered Shihōin Naraku or the Allied Shinobi Forces, and to have White Zetsu watch Nagato.
• Obito decided to give Sasuke information about Uchiha Itachi, believing Itachi would win in strength but Sasuke would survive and become a useful pawn.
• Sasuke sensed an ambush, and Karin used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to detect thirteen enemies surrounding the team.
• Sasuke assigned Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Karin their positions, then led the attack as the team rapidly defeated most of the ambushers.
• Akame watched Sasuke's team fight while Shihōin Naraku observed through her eyes; Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu withheld the information until they could judge whether Sasuke was ready to face Uchiha Itachi.

Sasuke Uchiha and his companions fought Akame in a forest created by Wood Release, but Akame overwhelmed them with her speed and strength. Sasuke escaped a crushing kick with the Substitution Technique, while the battle continued.

• Akame unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, surrounding Sasuke, Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Karin with a forest and attacking them with branches and vines.
• Sasuke charged Akame with Chidori Sharp Spear, but she dodged and met his Kusanagi Sword with Kogarasu before launching a swift counterattack.
• Akame pressed Sasuke's sword down until Suigetsu and Jūgo attacked her together, but trees shielded her from their strikes.
• Akame knocked Sasuke from a tree with a powerful blow, and he used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique and a concealed wire to regain his footing.
• Akame cut through Sasuke's fireball and kicked what appeared to be him through a tree, but Sasuke had substituted a log and appeared unharmed nearby.

Obito and Black Zetsu watched Akame overpower Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Jūgo, then decided to leave after testing Sasuke’s strength. As Akame walked away, Sasuke pursued her, but Obito appeared in his path and was struck by Sasuke’s sword; the chapter ended with Sasuke unaware that anything was amiss.

• Obito and Black Zetsu judged Sasuke’s abilities inadequate and discussed ways to make him awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Black Zetsu decided the fight had achieved its purpose, and Obito and Black Zetsu left the area.
• Akame evaded Suigetsu and Jūgo’s attack, badly wounded Jūgo, sent both of them flying, and knocked Sasuke back before sheathing Kogarasu.
• Obito called Akame away, and she began to leave despite Sasuke’s demand that she stop.
• Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique to chase Akame, but Obito blocked him; Sasuke slashed Obito with the Kusanagi Sword and continued after Akame.

Sasuke and his team fought Obito, whose body let their attacks pass through him, while Sasuke tried to force him to reveal Uchiha Itachi’s whereabouts. Obito claimed he knew where Itachi was and taunted Sasuke about his chances of defeating him.

• Sasuke reacted to Obito’s surprise attack with Lightning Release and called Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Karin to join the fight.
• Suigetsu, Jūgo, and Sasuke attacked Obito together, but their strikes passed through him, and Karin spotted him on a tree trunk.
• Sasuke tried to dispel a Genjutsu, but Obito said his ability was not Genjutsu; Sasuke then ordered his team to use Plan C.
• Obito pretended he was about to leave, and Sasuke threatened him unless he gave up information about Uchiha Itachi.
• Obito claimed he knew where Itachi was and said Sasuke could not defeat him, then admitted that killing Itachi would help him become a full Akatsuki member.

Obito told Sasuke that Itachi was waiting at the Uchiha Clan's ruins and instructed him to come alone, while Sasuke decided to follow the lead. As Shihōin Naraku left Konoha for the Land of Iron, Nagato and Konan prepared to attack Konoha and capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Obito escaped Sasuke and his companions after directing Sasuke to meet Itachi at the Uchiha Clan's ruins alone.
• Karin failed to sense Obito, and Sasuke ordered his team to leave for the ruins despite Suigetsu's doubts.
• Shihōin Naraku led Might Guy and the others out of Konoha toward the Land of Iron as White Zetsu watched and reported their departure.
• Nagato prepared to attack Konoha, convinced the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was there, while Konan explained how she would delay the Allied Shinobi Forces and Naraku.
• Konan told Nagato they would capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki quickly, withdraw before Naraku returned, and move the sealing site to Base Nine.

Nagato prepared to attack Konoha and persuaded Konan to temporarily abandon Amegakure, believing the village could be exposed once the war began. Obito ordered Black Zetsu to monitor Nagato and Shihōin Naraku, determined to keep the Rinnegan out of Konoha’s hands.

• Nagato told Konan that they would leave Amegakure after capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but she objected because the village was her home.
• Nagato argued that Akatsuki’s intelligence had likely leaked and that abandoning Amegakure would buy them time, and Konan reluctantly agreed.
• Nagato told Konan to pack and leave for Konoha ahead of Shihōin Naraku and the Allied Shinobi Forces.
• Obito told Black Zetsu to have White Zetsu watch Nagato and ensure the Rinnegan did not fall into Konoha’s hands.
• Obito also ordered Black Zetsu to track Shihōin Naraku, despite the risk that White Zetsu would be discovered.

Shihōin Naraku gathered the elite ninja from the Five Great Shinobi Villages in the Land of Iron, where old hostilities kept them divided despite their alliance against the Akatsuki. As the Allied Shinobi Forces Commander, he prepared to address them while privately considering his plans for Nagato and Konoha.

• Mifune told Shihōin Naraku that the ninja from every village had arrived and needed their next orders.
• Naraku and Mifune observed the gathered ninja standing in rival village groups, with the Kirigakure ninja keeping apart.
• Naraku considered how his plans, Nagato's goals, and Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu's schemes might unfold, and resolved to return to Konoha if needed.
• Mifune called Naraku's attention back to the waiting ninja, and Naraku walked onto the prepared platform.
• The gathered ninja watched Naraku with mixed hostility and suspicion as he stood calmly before them.

Shihōin Naraku addressed the Allied Shinobi Forces, acknowledging the harm he had caused while urging the villages to unite against the Akatsuki and pursue peace. He asserted his authority with Conqueror’s Haki, met no objections, and ordered everyone to regroup outside in half an hour.

• Shihōin Naraku spoke about the cycle of war and admitted that he had inflicted suffering on the shinobi villages, while calling the Akatsuki their common enemy.
• Naraku explained that Konoha had joined the Allied Shinobi Forces to help the other villages and declared that the Akatsuki would not take its Jinchūriki.
• Naraku told the gathered ninja they could voice opinions at the Training Ground but had to follow his orders once they left.
• Naraku unleashed Conqueror’s Haki, overwhelming most of the ninja and cracking the Training Ground before he withdrew it.
• Naraku invited objections, but nobody spoke, and he ordered the forces to rest and regroup outside in half an hour.

Shihōin Naraku planned the Allied Shinobi Forces’ attacks on suspected Akatsuki bases and split the troops into two teams. The forces departed from the Land of Iron, with Asuma Sarutobi leading one team and Naraku riding Gore Magala with the other.

• Shihōin Naraku marked two important suspected Akatsuki bases to leave untouched until the Allied Shinobi Forces had dealt with other targets.
• Shihōin Naraku assigned Asuma Sarutobi to lead Konoha and Sunagakure ninja to investigate and attack a suspected base in the Land of Rice Fields, requesting reinforcements if needed.
• Shihōin Naraku explained that he wanted to finish the mission quickly because Akatsuki might exploit the opportunity to attack Konoha.
• Mifune watched the Allied Shinobi Forces depart and noted that the villages still had not identified Akatsuki’s main hideout, while Konoha withheld some intelligence.
• At the Land of Iron’s border, Shihōin Naraku arrived on Gore Magala and divided the Allied Shinobi Forces into two teams.
• Asuma Sarutobi led one team toward its target while Shihōin Naraku and the other team set out for theirs.

Shihōin Naraku and the Allied Shinobi Forces reached the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rice Fields and brought it down with Earth Release instead of entering its trap-filled passages. Nagano and the other defenders were buried in the collapse, leaving the assault’s outcome unresolved.

• Shihōin Naraku arrived near the Akatsuki base on Gore Magala and learned that the Land of Rice Fields had cleared the area.
• Two sensory ninja detected enemy chakra signatures and numerous traps inside the Underground Base.
• Shihōin Naraku ordered six ninja to collapse the base with Earth Release techniques, burying its defenders.
• Inside the base, Nagano’s companion resolved to fight the Allied Shinobi Forces while Nagano secretly planned to escape.
• A rock spear pierced Nagano as the base’s ceiling collapsed around him.

Shihōin Naraku’s forces destroyed the Akatsuki’s Underground Base, but a few White Zetsu survived and attacked the Allied Shinobi Forces. After the ambush was repelled, Naraku realized that two White Zetsu had infiltrated the formation.

• The Allied Shinobi Forces used Earth Release to collapse the Underground Base, killing most of the White Zetsu and the Akatsuki members inside.
• A handful of White Zetsu escaped the ruins with the Mayfly Technique and followed their orders to attack the Allied Shinobi Forces.
• Shihōin Naraku sensed the survivors approaching and warned his troops as three White Zetsu burst from the ground and were quickly killed.
• Naraku noticed that two additional figures had infiltrated the Allied Shinobi Forces, while the other ninja failed to recognize them.

Shihōin Naraku exposed and eliminated two White Zetsu infiltrators among the Allied Shinobi Forces, then Nagato and Konan launched a surprise attack on Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The Six Paths of Pain breached the village’s sensory barrier, and Konoha’s sensory unit raised the alarm.

• Shihōin Naraku ordered the Allied Shinobi Forces to identify two impostors, and Iwagakure’s leader found two pairs of identical ninja among his troops.
• Sensory ninja could not distinguish the real Iwa Shinobi from the White Zetsu copies, so Shihōin Naraku killed two of them with shuriken, revealing the impostors.
• Nagato prepared to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while Konan worried that the mission could go wrong.
• The Six Paths of Pain killed Konoha patrol ninja, then the Animal Path summoned the other Paths above the village as Konan’s Shadow Clone followed.
• The Six Paths of Pain entered Konoha at separate locations, and the sensory unit detected the attack and sounded the alarm.

The Akatsuki launched a surprise attack on Konoha while Shihōin Naraku led the Allied Shinobi Forces against them. Tsunade mobilized the village’s defenses as the Human Path continued searching for information about Naruto.

• The Barrier Team detected seven unfamiliar chakra signatures and declared a Level One Alert, quickly pinpointing the attackers across Konoha.
• Tsunade ordered civilians moved to safety, Kakashi Hatake to lead a counterattack, and the wounded to be received at Konoha Hospital; she also had Jiraiya and Naraku notified.
• Tsunade noted that Naruto was at Mount Myōboku and wondered whether Jiraiya would bring him back to face the Akatsuki.
• The Human Path killed a Konoha ninja after failing to learn anything about Naruto, then spotted two other ninja and moved toward them as potential targets.

As Pain and Konan attacked Konoha to find Naruto, Kakashi confronted them while Naruto struggled to extend his Sage Mode training at Mount Myōboku. Naruto realized that Naraku had suggested using shadow clones to solve the problem.

• Pain and Konan overwhelmed Konoha's defenders, prompting Kakashi to face them and refuse to reveal Naruto's location.
• Deva Path attacked Kakashi's group with Shinra Tensei.
• Naruto's Sage Mode training hit a snag because the Nine-Tails prevented Fukasaku and Shima from using the Two Lives Technique to replenish his senjutsu chakra.
• Naruto recalled that Naraku had said shadow clones could help if he ran into trouble training in Sage Mode.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha after learning that Nagato and the Akatsuki had attacked, leaving Naruto on Mount Myōboku to solve Sage Mode’s duration problem. In the Land of Rice Fields, Shihōin Naraku warned the Allied Shinobi Forces that White Zetsu spies still remained among them and ordered the ninja to identify them.

• Jiraiya and Naruto considered whether Shadow Clones could help Naruto overcome Sage Mode’s short duration, but the Messenger Toad reported that the Akatsuki had attacked Konoha.
• Jiraiya refused to let Naruto return before mastering Sage Mode, asked Sage Fukasaku to keep him on Mount Myōboku, and left to defend Konoha.
• Naruto protested that he wanted to fight alongside Jiraiya, but Sage Fukasaku explained that Naruto could not return without the toads’ help.
• In the Land of Rice Fields, Shihōin Naraku told the Allied Shinobi Forces that White Zetsu had infiltrated their ranks and challenged them to find the impostors themselves.

Shihōin Naraku exposed and killed a White Zetsu impersonating Kumogakure's leader, then led the Allied Shinobi Forces onward while learning that Nagato had attacked Konoha. In Konoha, Jiraiya struck down the Human Path and recognized Nagato.

• Shihōin Naraku identified a third White Zetsu disguised as Kumogakure's leader, and the impostor's corpse revealed its true form after Naraku snapped its neck.
• Naraku ordered the White Zetsu corpses collected and led the Allied Shinobi Forces toward their rendezvous.
• Naraku learned through his shadow clone that Nagato had begun attacking Konoha and decided to stay with the Allied Shinobi Forces because Jiraiya was there to help defend the village.
• Jiraiya hit the Human Path with a Rasengan, then called out to Nagato and recognized him.