Recaps

Black Zetsu rushed to save Obito Uchiha after Shihōin Naraku nearly cut him in half, but White Zetsu’s repairs and Hashirama Cells could not stop his life from fading. He brought Obito to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, intending to use it to keep him alive.

• Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to repair Obito Uchiha’s internal organs and extinguish the flames inside him.
• Black Zetsu took Obito to Madara Uchiha’s old base, where he injected him with Hashirama Cells.
• The Hashirama Cells caused branches to sprout from Obito’s body, and Black Zetsu feared he would die.
• Black Zetsu decided that only the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path could sustain Obito and ordered White Zetsu to monitor Nagato and Konan.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu brought Obito to the Akatsuki base containing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Ten-Tails’ drained husk.

Black Zetsu arranged for White Zetsu Ayan to impersonate the incapacitated Obito Uchiha while he recovered, then sent out orders to investigate Shihōin Naraku. After Naraku returned to Konohagakure and reported the battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected Shimura Danzō and led ANBU to surround Root, where Danzō denied involvement.

• Black Zetsu had White Zetsu Ayan take Obito Uchiha’s appearance and Mangekyō Sharingan, then instructed Ayan to master genjutsu and control Karatachi Yagura.
• Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to investigate and closely monitor Shihōin Naraku and the Shihōin Clan.
• Shihōin Naraku returned to Konohagakure with his two subordinates and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the enemy had used unusually powerful Wood Release and that another enemy had a Sharingan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected Shimura Danzō had sent the attackers and ordered the ANBU to surround Root.
• Shimura Danzō denied having anything to do with the attack.

Hiruzen Sarutobi searched Root for evidence that Shimura Danzō had continued the Wood Release experiments, but found only unimportant documents. The next morning, Shihōin Naraku discharged Kakashi Hatake from the hospital and urged him to prepare for his new role as an instructor, while Kakashi remained determined to uphold his strict standards for Naruto.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō over the Wood Release experiments and ordered ANBU to search Root, but they found no crucial evidence.
• Shimura Danzō denied wrongdoing, blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi for abandoning their experiment, and suspected Orochimaru had kept the results of a new Wood Release subject for himself.
• Shihōin Naraku watched the confrontation from outside Root and returned home after Shimura Danzō chose not to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shihōin Naraku examined Kakashi Hatake at Konoha Hospital and confirmed that his injuries had healed, then encouraged him to think about becoming an instructor again.
• Kakashi Hatake insisted he would not lower his standards for students and questioned whether Naruto could even pass the Ninja Academy's graduation exam.

Shihōin Naraku became Anbu Commander and received orders from Hiruzen Sarutobi to orchestrate a plan that would lead Naruto Uzumaki to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. After Naraku set the plan in motion, Mizuki grew resentful at the Ninja Academy and drank alone at a tavern.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi promoted Shihōin Naraku to Anbu Commander and Tenzo to Anbu Deputy Captain, then gave Naraku his first mission.
• Hiruzen explained that Naruto struggled with the Clone Technique because of the Nine-Tails Chakra and instructed Naraku to arrange for Naruto to learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
• Naraku recognized that the scroll Hiruzen gave him was a specially prepared copy and proposed using Mizuki to set the plan in motion.
• Hiruzen approved Naraku's plan and ordered him to ensure Naruto's safety while carrying it out.
• After class, Umino Iruka praised Naruto's improved mood and friendship with Sasuke Uchiha, while Mizuki hid his jealousy and refused Iruka's invitation to eat.
• Mizuki went to a tavern to drink and brooded over his resentment toward Iruka.

Mizuki learned that the Scroll of Seals was in the Hokage Building and fell for Shihōin Naraku’s staged opportunity. After Naruto Uzumaki failed the graduation exam, Mizuki lured him into taking the scroll, setting off a chase watched by Naraku and Hiruzen Sarutobi; the chapter ended with Naruto using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

• Mizuki overheard two ninja discussing the Scroll of Seals, then confirmed its location by questioning an ANBU friend who was secretly monitoring him.
• Shihōin Naraku revealed that he had arranged the tavern conversation and was tracking Mizuki’s movements.
• Naruto Uzumaki failed the graduation exam, and Iruka-sensei and Sasuke Uchiha tried to comfort him.
• Mizuki told Naruto that learning a technique from the Scroll of Seals would help him graduate, and Naruto took the scroll while guards watched.
• Iruka encouraged Naruto during the staged pursuit, and Naruto filled the clearing with shadow clones using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Naruto Uzumaki graduated after defeating Mizuki, and Shihōin Naraku took him and the Scroll of Seals to see the Third Hokage. After weeks of training, Naraku’s physique and other abilities grew, and he discovered his soul had strengthened through Kurikara; the system then offered to infuse him with his remaining chakra despite warning that the surge could injure him.

• Umino Iruka congratulated Naruto Uzumaki on graduating and fastened a forehead protector around his head.
• Shihōin Naraku arrived with ANBU, warned Naruto that the Third Hokage could revoke his ninja status over the Scroll of Seals, and arranged for Iruka to go to the hospital.
• Shihōin Naraku took Naruto and the Scroll of Seals to the Hokage's Office, reported the mission, and left the matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shihōin Naraku trained for more than half a month, shattered a boulder, and found that his physique had advanced to S.
• Shihōin Naraku asked the system about his status panel, and it explained that Kurikara had strengthened his soul, spirit, and chakra reserves.
• The system offered Shihōin Naraku an infusion of his remaining chakra and warned that the sudden surge could damage his body and organs.

Shihōin Naraku accepted a dangerous chakra infusion that greatly increased his strength, then spent two days adapting to it. Kakashi Hatake later asked him to help manage Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, whose impatience for powerful ninjutsu had grown after seeing Naraku fight.

• Shihōin Naraku learned that his body could safely withstand only fifty percent of his chakra and chose to absorb thirty-two percent at once despite the risks.
• Shihōin Naraku's chakra infusion strained his body and unleashed an aura that tore open the training ground, leaving a massive crater.
• Shihōin Naraku trained with Kurikara for two days until he adapted to his increased strength.
• Kakashi Hatake told Shihōin Naraku that Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha wanted powerful ninjutsu instead of foundational training, while Sakura remained naive about being a ninja.
• Kakashi Hatake explained that Naruto Uzumaki had been showing off his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and stirring up the other graduates, and that Lord Hokage had sent him to Naraku for help.

Shihōin Naraku decided to address the Genin’s impatience with low-level missions after Kakashi Hatake explained that they were losing chances to build their skills. Having awakened Conqueror’s Haki, Naraku planned a test for all of this year’s Genin the next day, while their instructors wondered who could pass.

• Kakashi Hatake told Shihōin Naraku that this year’s Genin had become restless and impatient with low-level missions.
• Shihōin Naraku recalled awakening Conqueror’s Haki and decided to use it to scare the Genin into taking their training seriously.
• Shihōin Naraku asked Kakashi Hatake to gather the Genin, including Guy’s team, for a test at noon the next day and promised to teach powerful ninjutsu to those who passed.
• Kakashi Hatake agreed to notify the other instructors, then left while considering how to improve his own strength.
• The instructors discussed Naraku’s test, and Guy confidently predicted that Rock Lee and the others would pass.

Kakashi Hatake gathered the Konoha 12 at a training ground for a test from Konoha High Command, promising powerful rewards to those who passed. After the instructors disappeared, Shikamaru Nara and Neji Hyuga sensed trouble while the others remained unaware.

• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha privately planned to visit Shihōin Naraku's training ground, while Sakura Haruno wondered why she felt left out.
• Kakashi Hatake arrived at noon and took Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno to a training ground instead of giving them a mission.
• Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi assembled their teams, bringing the Konoha 12 together.
• Kakashi Hatake announced a Konoha High Command test with rewards including powerful ninjutsu and promotion, then vanished with the other jonin.
• Shikamaru Nara realized the test meant trouble, and Neji Hyuga also noticed something was wrong.

Shihōin Naraku arrived to test the Konoha 12 and unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki, overwhelming the genin and shaking the nearby jonin. After the trainees collapsed, Naraku withdrew the pressure and revealed that the jonin had been his real targets.

• Shikamaru Nara realized the genin were in for trouble, while Naruto Uzumaki, Kiba Inuzuka, and Rock Lee eagerly anticipated the test.
• Neji Hyuga spotted Shihōin Naraku approaching the training ground, and the assembled genin turned their attention to him.
• Shihōin Naraku unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki, darkening the sky and confronting the genin about what they thought being a ninja meant.
• Neji Hyuga and most of the Konoha 12 collapsed, while Sasuke Uchiha awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan and Naruto Uzumaki and Rock Lee resisted before falling unconscious.
• Shihōin Naraku withdrew his Haki, and the jonin recovered from its pressure as he revealed they had been its primary targets.

After Shihōin Naraku’s intimidating test left the genin unconscious, he trained with Might Guy while the instructors waited for their students to recover. Once the students had departed, Naraku received word that his custom weighted training gear was ready from the Ninja Cat Clan.

• Kakashi Hatake and the other instructors entered the training ground, where Shihōin Naraku told them to leave the unconscious genin until they woke up.
• Might Guy joined Naraku for taijutsu training, and Naraku warned him to watch over Neji Hyuga’s psychological problems.
• Naruto Uzumaki and the other genin awoke, then left with their instructors after Naraku and Might Guy stopped sparring.
• A black cat delivered a message that Naraku’s custom order was ready, and Naraku told it he would visit Cat Granny soon.

Shihōin Naraku visited the Ninja Cat Clan’s castle to collect his custom training gear and encountered Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki. After Itachi tried to trap him with genjutsu, Naraku broke through and attacked, leaving their fight about to begin.

• Shihōin Naraku traveled to the Empty District to collect his custom training gear from the Ninja Cat Clan.
• A white ninja cat let Shihōin Naraku enter after he offered the guard silver vine drinks.
• Shihōin Naraku waited in the Ninja Cat Castle corridor and encountered Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Kisame Hoshigaki drew Samehada, but Uchiha Itachi chose to handle Naraku with genjutsu rather than start a major fight near Konoha.
• Shihōin Naraku forced his way through Itachi’s genjutsu and lunged at him with Kurikara.

Shihōin Naraku overwhelmed Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki in battle, shrugging off Amaterasu without injury. Cat Granny stopped the fight because they were in the children's home, and Naraku agreed to stand down.

• Shihōin Naraku broke through Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu, struck Itachi, and kicked Kisame Hoshigaki through an unfinished building.
• Kisame Hoshigaki used Samehada to absorb chakra and heal, but Shihōin Naraku pinned him down and began cutting through the weapon with Kurikara.
• Uchiha Itachi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, used Susanoo to block Naraku's attack, and then set half of Naraku's body ablaze with Amaterasu.
• Shihōin Naraku remained unharmed by the black flames as Cat Granny arrived with ninja cats and asked everyone to stop fighting in the Empty District children's home.
• Shihōin Naraku sheathed Kurikara and walked toward Cat Granny while orange-red flames consumed the Amaterasu, leaving him without a scratch.

Shihōin Naraku obtained custom weighted gear from Cat Granny and pursued Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki after they fled. He avoided their traps and opened the renewed battle with a massive Fire Fist that engulfed them both.

• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki left the fight, and Kisame asked what Itachi knew about Shihōin Naraku.
• Kisame suggested using themselves as bait to lure Shihōin Naraku into another confrontation.
• Cat Granny gave Shihōin Naraku his custom weighted gear, which totaled 2.9 tons when worn together, and he paid her the remainder.
• Shihōin Naraku used his observation haki to locate Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki and charged toward them without triggering their traps.
• Kisame began preparing Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave, but Shihōin Naraku struck first with Fire Fist, engulfing both enemies in a huge explosion.

Shihōin Naraku fought Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, who used Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, and a water prison to try to defeat him. The chapter ended with Naraku hacking at the Tsukuyomi illusion while Itachi’s ocular power drained rapidly under the strain of restraining him.

• Uchiha Itachi manifested Susanoo with the Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade, and Shihōin Naraku dodged its attack as Itachi began bleeding from his eyes.
• Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Naraku with Samehada, but Naraku’s swordsmanship kept Kisame on the defensive and sliced off Samehada’s barbs.
• Itachi recovered and joined Kisame against Naraku, then cast Tsukuyomi when he caught Naraku’s gaze.
• Kisame trapped Naraku in a massive water prison with Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave and fused with Samehada to attack him.
• Inside Tsukuyomi, Naraku resisted the illusion and hacked wildly with Kurikara, forcing Itachi to expend ocular power at a frightening rate.

Shihōin Naraku overcame Uchiha Itachi’s genjutsu and revealed that Kisame Hoshigaki had been fighting his Shadow Clone. Naraku killed Kisame with a Getsuga Tenshō, while Itachi’s attempt to intervene failed.

• Uchiha Itachi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to trap Shihōin Naraku in a genjutsu space, but Naraku cut apart the red moon and escaped back to the real world.
• Shihōin Naraku realized that Kisame Hoshigaki had trapped and attacked his Shadow Clone while his real body waited nearby.
• Uchiha Itachi sensed the deception and shouted for Kisame Hoshigaki to run, but Kisame did not hear him inside the water prison.
• Shihōin Naraku detonated his Shadow Clone underwater, and the resulting lightning paralyzed Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Uchiha Itachi attacked Naraku with Yasaka Magatama, but Observation Haki and elementalization let Naraku avoid damage.
• Shihōin Naraku slashed through the water prison and killed Kisame Hoshigaki with Getsuga Tenshō, then burned away his body.

Shihōin Naraku wounded Uchiha Itachi and killed Kisame Hoshigaki, then wondered how the battle might affect the coming Shinobi World War and his own rise. Itachi contacted Akatsuki for treatment, prompting Nagato to mobilize its members and vow to kill Naraku if he appeared.

• Shihōin Naraku concluded that Kisame Hoshigaki was dead and that Uchiha Itachi had escaped with a serious wound.
• Uchiha Itachi hid in a cave, treated his injuries, and used his ring to contact Akatsuki.
• Nagato and Konan learned that Kisame Hoshigaki could not be reached, and Itachi reported that Shihōin Naraku had killed Kisame and injured him alone.
• Nagato ordered Konan to send Sasori and Deidara to support Itachi, then told Itachi to lure Naraku to the Land of Fire's border.
• Nagato said he would meet Itachi at the border and kill Shihōin Naraku himself if he appeared.

After Kisame Hoshigaki was killed and Uchiha Itachi was injured by Shihōin Naraku, the Akatsuki dispatched members to support them. Black Zetsu worried that Obito Uchiha’s unconscious state and Kisame’s death had thrown the hidden plan into disarray.

• Konan told Deidara and Sasori that Uchiha Itachi was injured and Kisame Hoshigaki had been killed by a single Konoha ninja, so they prepared to travel to the Land of Fire.
• Deidara and Sasori flew toward the Land of Fire on Deidara’s clay bird to reach Uchiha Itachi quickly.
• Konan refused Nagato’s plan to go to the border and left to provide support, while Nagato ordered Zetsu to tell Madara Uchiha to meet him.
• Black Zetsu learned that Kisame Hoshigaki had died and lamented that the Akatsuki’s plans had gone off course since Obito Uchiha fought Shihōin Naraku.
• Black Zetsu left the hidden base, determined to keep the unconscious Obito Uchiha alive as emerald-green branches grew across his body.

Shihōin Naraku returned to Konohagakure, learned that Uchiha Itachi was secretly working as a spy for the village, and was appointed supervisor of the Chunin Ninja Exams. As he prepared for the exams and managed his departments, he learned Kabuto Yakushi was acting unusually and told Shihōin Chun Zai that Chun Yuan would soon return from the border forces.

• Shihōin Naraku told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had fought Uchiha Itachi and killed Kisame Hoshigaki, prompting Hiruzen to reveal Itachi's secret role as a Konoha spy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Shihōin Naraku to keep Itachi's identity secret and gave him codes and hand signals for contacting the spy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Shihōin Naraku to oversee preparations for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the system awarded him two draw chances.
• Shihōin Naraku delegated ANBU and Medical Department duties to subordinates and promoted members of his clan within the Medical Department.
• Shihōin Chun Zai reported Kabuto Yakushi's irregular movements, and Shihōin Naraku told him that Chun Yuan would soon return from the border forces.

Shihōin Naraku recalled how Shihōin Harumoto had protected him from Shimura Danzō and arranged for Tsunade to take him as a student. After Kabuto Yakushi resigned, Naraku took on several posts and reached ten Draw Chances, enough to begin his third Ten-Pull.

• Shihōin Naraku remembered that Shihōin Harumoto had resisted Shimura Danzō and secured Tsunade as Naraku's mentor to protect him and the Shihōin Clan.
• Kabuto Yakushi resigned as Corpse Disposal Unit Leader, and Shihōin Naraku approved the resignation while warning him that his choice would have consequences.
• Shihōin Naraku appointed himself acting Corpse Disposal Unit Leader and received two Draw Chances.
• Shihōin Naraku took the posts of Chunin Ninja Exams Logistics Preparation Supervisor and Chunin Ninja Exams Training Ground Squad Leader, gaining one Draw Chance from each.
• Shihōin Naraku reached ten Draw Chances and prepared to begin his third Ten-Pull.

Shihōin Naraku assigned preparations for the Chunin Ninja Exams while the Akatsuki investigated Kisame Hoshigaki’s death and discussed Uchiha Itachi’s next teammate. They chose Zabuza Momochi and Haku, with plans to recruit them and train them while Itachi recovered.

• Shihōin Naraku told Mitaraishi Anko to inspect Training Ground 44 and clear any dangerous beasts from the Forest of Death.
• Zetsu reported that Kisame Hoshigaki was dead and that his ring had been destroyed, while Konan and White Zetsu said Uchiha Itachi appeared genuinely exhausted from battle.
• Deva Path Pain ordered Zetsu to keep investigating Shihōin Naraku and determine whether he threatened the Akatsuki’s plan.
• Obito Uchiha recommended Zabuza Momochi and Haku as Uchiha Itachi’s new teammates.
• Deva Path Pain and Konan agreed to recruit and train Zabuza Momochi and Haku, ordering the Akatsuki to kill Zabuza if he refused and bring back Haku.

Obito Uchiha and Zetsu recruited Zabuza Momochi and Haku into Akatsuki after defeating them, then took Gato’s fortune. With Gato dead, his thugs plunged the Land of Waves into greater chaos, and its civilians struggled to afford hiring ninja from Konoha.

• Obito Uchiha and White Zetsu Ayan discussed their distrust of Madara, then decided to recruit Zabuza Momochi into Akatsuki.
• Obito Uchiha and Zetsu attacked Gato’s residence in the Land of Waves, where Zabuza Momochi and Haku fought the Masked Man.
• The Masked Man overpowered Zabuza Momochi and Haku, and Black Zetsu told them they would have to train before working for Akatsuki.
• Zabuza Momochi and Haku joined Akatsuki, while Zetsu killed Gato and took his money.
• Gato’s thugs began robbing and killing civilians, the bridge construction stopped, and the villagers debated pooling money to hire ninja from Konoha.

Tazuna gathered the Land of Waves civilians’ money to post a mission in Konoha, while Kakashi decided his students were ready for harder assignments. After Shihōin Harumoto returned to the village and became director of the Chunin Ninja Exams, he learned Naraku was considered a possible Hokage candidate and began plotting to discredit Kakashi, but Naraku stopped him from acting on it for now.

• The Land of Waves civilians pooled their money and sent Tazuna to Konoha to post a mission.
• Kakashi decided Naruto Uzumaki and the others had improved enough to attempt more difficult missions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed Shihōin Harumoto back and appointed him director of the Chunin Ninja Exams after Shihōin Naraku stepped down.
• At the Shihōin Clan banquet, Harumoto praised Naraku and offered to give the director position back to him.
• Naraku told Harumoto that Hiruzen had discussed him and Kakashi as possible Hokage candidates, prompting Harumoto to devise a campaign against Kakashi based on Hatake Sakumo’s past.
• Naraku clarified that he did not intend to become Hokage yet, and Harumoto agreed to build confidential ties with smaller clans for Naraku’s future.

Shihōin Naraku completed his third ten-pull and received several powerful rewards, including heart enhancement, chakra, and Conqueror’s Haki. After stabilizing his strengthened body, he absorbed the chakra and began fusing Conqueror’s Haki, unleashing a storm around him.

• Shihōin Chun Yuan returned to his room troubled by Naraku’s ideas, while Shihōin Naraku worried that Chun Yuan might disrupt his plans for the Hokage candidacy.
• Shihōin Naraku used the system for his third ten-pull and received Shukaku’s chakra, Kirin, Conqueror’s Haki, a ten-percent heart enhancement, and other rewards.
• Shihōin Naraku secretly left Konoha and stopped in a forest, where his newly strengthened heart caused his heartbeat to affect the surrounding nature.
• Shihōin Naraku realized his physique had risen to S+ and confirmed with the system that his body could withstand absorbing the remaining chakra.
• Shihōin Naraku absorbed the chakra and began fusing Conqueror’s Haki, stirring up a hurricane as dark clouds and lightning gathered overhead.

After a night spent mastering his surging presence, Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha and fed two powerful swords to Kurikara, awakening new abilities. He discovered that his mental strength had also reached an absolute limit, leaving him immune to genjutsu.

• Shihōin Naraku practiced swordsmanship through the night until his presence settled, then realized he had reached the Valley of the End and returned to Konoha.
• Shihōin Harumoto noticed that Naraku's presence had changed, but Naraku claimed he had merely slept poorly and went back to bed.
• Shihōin Naraku had Kurikara devour Shusui and Tenken, increasing the Zanpakutō's weight to 522 kilograms and granting it indestructibility, soul-cutting, and an Immovable Wisdom King manifestation.
• Shihōin Naraku checked his status and found that his mental strength had reached EX, making him immune to genjutsu.