Recaps

Konoha’s reinforcements drove back the Sand and Sound forces, and Shihōin Naraku stopped Baki’s escape and captured him. With the Fourth Hokage still trapped inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Naraku attacked the barrier with Getsuga Tenshō.

• Kakashi Hatake led the reinforcements into battle, overwhelming the Sand shinobi and Sound Ninja.
• Genma Shiranui wounded Baki, who ordered the Sunagakure forces to retreat while Konoha’s forces pursued them.
• Shihōin Naraku intercepted Baki’s group, killed two of the fleeing jonin, and took Baki and the remaining three prisoner after they surrendered.
• Kakashi Hatake explained that the Four Violet Flames Formation could only be broken from inside or by overwhelming force.
• Shihōin Naraku leaped into the air and struck the barrier with a massive Getsuga Tenshō.

Orochimaru killed Hiruzen Sarutobi and escaped after the Four Violet Flames Formation was shattered. He was intercepted by Shihōin Naraku, his former student, who blocked his way.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi died after Kimimaro Kaguya sacrificed himself to save Orochimaru from the Reaper Death Seal.
• Orochimaru celebrated his victory, then fled when a black blade shattered the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Orochimaru took Kimimaro Kaguya's remains in a white snake and left Hiruzen Sarutobi's body behind.
• Orochimaru escaped the pursuing Konoha ninja and met up with Kabuto Yakushi and the surviving Sound Ninja.
• Shihōin Naraku confronted Orochimaru on a rooftop and declared that he would go no farther.

Orochimaru revealed that he had killed Hiruzen Sarutobi and tried to provoke Shihōin Naraku by offering him the Fifth Hokage title. Naraku rejected the manipulation and attacked, leaving Orochimaru in agony from Kurikara’s soul-cutting power as their fight continued.

• Orochimaru told Shihōin Naraku and the arriving Konoha ninja that he had killed Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Orochimaru suggested Naraku become the Fifth Hokage and offered to eliminate the witnesses, then attacked him with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Naraku’s presence caused Orochimaru’s snakes to retreat, and Naraku cut off Orochimaru’s arm with Kurikara.
• Orochimaru suffered intense soul-deep pain from the wound and demanded to know what Naraku’s blade was.
• Kabuto Yakushi stepped in to help as Orochimaru drew out his Kusanagi Sword, but Naraku forced it down and charged with a slash.

Shihōin Naraku fought Orochimaru while the One-Tail rampaged outside Konoha. After Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy went to find Naruto Uzumaki, Naraku destroyed the Third Kazekage’s reanimated body, leaving Orochimaru shocked by the failure of Impure World Reincarnation.

• Orochimaru summoned the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the Second Kazekage, and Kabuto Yakushi placed control talismans in their heads.
• The One-Tail appeared outside Konoha, and Orochimaru threatened to escape while Shukaku attacked the village.
• Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy led the others to find Naruto Uzumaki, while Shihōin Naraku stayed to face Orochimaru and the reanimated Kazekage.
• The Third Kazekage attacked Naraku with iron sand, but Naraku passed through the flames and pierced him with Kurikara.
• Naraku split the Third Kazekage’s body and cut off his head, prompting the Kazekage to thank him before his soul was annihilated.
• Orochimaru watched his reanimated trump card fail to recover and lost his composure.

Shihōin Naraku defeated Rasa with Magnet Release and Kurikara, then attacked Orochimaru as he tried to escape. Naraku burned Orochimaru’s snakes to ash and searched the area for any survivors.

• Orochimaru sent Rasa to attack Shihōin Naraku, who countered the gold dust with Magnet Release.
• Shihōin Naraku pierced Rasa with Gold Dust World Method and destroyed his soul with Kurikara.
• Shihōin Naraku struck Orochimaru with Gold Dust Cube, then split his body with Hinokami Kagura: Dance.
• Orochimaru escaped his corpse as a white snake, but Shihōin Naraku crushed it with gold dust using Sand Burial.
• Orochimaru released a swarm of snakes to flee, and Shihōin Naraku burned them all with Kurikara’s flames.

Shihōin Naraku fought Orochimaru as the former escalated the battle by unleashing the Eight Branches Technique in central Konoha. Naraku summoned the Immovable Wisdom King and seized the serpent, but the fight’s destruction threatened to devastate the village.

• Shihōin Naraku cut through Orochimaru’s shuriken barrage, while Orochimaru abandoned close combat and decided against summoning Manda.
• Orochimaru transformed into the Eight-Headed Serpent and began wreaking havoc in the center of Konoha.
• Kabuto Yakushi fled the battle after a summoned snake swallowed him and carried him away.
• Shihōin Naraku summoned the Immovable Wisdom King, which cut off two of the serpent’s heads and wounded Orochimaru.
• Shihōin Naraku recognized that the battle’s destruction could ruin Konoha, so he had the Immovable Wisdom King seize the Eight-Headed Serpent.

Shihōin Naraku defeated Orochimaru’s Eight-Headed Serpent and burned Orochimaru to ashes, though he knew Orochimaru could revive through his Cursed Seals of Heaven. Naraku then joined Naruto Uzumaki and Gamabunta’s battle against Shukaku, leaving the One-Tail bound and badly wounded.

• The Immovable Wisdom King and Naraku’s Black Dragon restrained the Eight-Headed Serpent and hurled it out of Konoha.
• The Immovable Wisdom King cut down the serpent’s heads while Orochimaru fought from within its last one, then Naraku burned Orochimaru and the serpent to ashes.
• Naraku used Observation Haki to confirm Orochimaru’s apparent death but realized Orochimaru might return through the Cursed Seals on Mitaraishi Anko and Sasuke Uchiha.
• Naraku spotted Gamabunta and Naruto Uzumaki fighting Shukaku and rushed over to help.
• The Immovable Wisdom King severed Shukaku’s remaining arm, while the Black Dragon bound him and the King’s sword cut deeply into his body.

Shihōin Naraku and Naruto Uzumaki stopped Shukaku the One-Tail, and Naruto woke Gaara so the beast was sealed again. The Konoha Crush Plan ended with Konoha victorious but badly damaged, and the village mourned the death of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Shihōin Naraku pinned Shukaku the One-Tail with Kurikara while Naruto Uzumaki punched Gaara awake, allowing the seal to take effect.
• Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy that Orochimaru had burned to ashes but might return, then ordered a ninja to retrieve Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara collapsed after their fight, and Konoha's ninja took Gaara and his siblings back to the village.
• Konoha's ninja ended the invasion, but the village suffered heavy damage, many casualties, and the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The next day, the people of Konoha mourned Hiruzen Sarutobi in a light rain.

Shihōin Naraku reflected on why Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged Danzo’s death and prepared to nominate Tsunade for Hokage instead of taking the position himself. He attended the meeting in the Land of Fire capital, where Konoha’s leaders and nobles began considering candidates for the Fifth Hokage.

• Yamanaka Tsuki reported that others had found Danzo’s body, and Shihōin Naraku said he had deliberately left evidence pointing back to himself.
• Shihōin Naraku considered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mission scroll, which authorized Danzo’s execution, and concluded that Hiruzen had intended him to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Shihōin Naraku decided he would not become Hokage yet and planned to let Tsunade take the position while he continued to grow stronger.
• Shihōin Naraku attended the nomination meeting in the Land of Fire capital with Shikaku Nara, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, the Daimyo, and several nobles.
• Shikaku Nara presented Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shihōin Naraku, and Kakashi Hatake as the four candidates and began reviewing their records.

At Konoha’s Hokage candidate meeting, Shihōin Naraku challenged the elders’ nomination of Jiraiya because Jiraiya had not agreed to serve, then nominated Tsunade as the best choice. The debate continued as Naraku began explaining why Tsunade could stabilize Konoha and the Land of Fire.

• Shikaku Nara presented information on the four Hokage candidates: Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu argued that Jiraiya’s experience, reputation, and steadiness made him suitable to become the Fifth Hokage.
• A noble and Shikaku Nara supported Shihōin Naraku, while the elders feared Naraku’s power and suspected he had killed Shimura Danzō.
• When the Daimyo asked for his view, Shihōin Naraku said Jiraiya was qualified but demanded to know whether Jiraiya had agreed to take the position.
• Shihōin Naraku criticized the elders for nominating Jiraiya without securing his consent, then proposed Tsunade as the most suitable candidate.
• Shihōin Naraku began arguing that Tsunade’s Senju lineage and connection to the First and Second Hokage would help stabilize Konoha and the Land of Fire.

Shihōin Naraku persuaded the Daimyo and Konoha’s leaders to appoint Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage, promising to bring her back. Afterward, Konoha’s older-generation ninja discussed the decision and agreed to avoid actions that could harm the village.

• Shihōin Naraku gave reasons for nominating Tsunade, arguing that her medical skill, experience, and ability to lead from the rear made her a strong choice amid rising threats.
• Shikaku Nara and the Land of Fire nobles supported Tsunade’s nomination, and the Daimyo confirmed her as the Fifth Hokage.
• Shihōin Naraku promised Shikaku Nara that he could bring Tsunade back, though Shikaku still believed Naraku was the better candidate.
• Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and older-generation ninja discussed how Naraku had gained credit for Tsunade’s nomination and considered their political response.
• Utatane Koharu argued that Hiruzen Sarutobi might have ordered Danzo’s death, while Mitokado Homura warned the group not to let their opposition to Naraku harm Konoha.

After the war, Shihōin Naraku arranged for Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back to Konoha to become the Fifth Hokage. Meanwhile, Kabuto Yakushi performed a ritual to revive Orochimaru, and a white snake emerged from the shattered coffin.

• Jiraiya peeped at women bathing in a stream until someone shoved him out of hiding and they pelted him with stones.
• Shihōin Naraku told Jiraiya that Tsunade had been chosen as the Fifth Hokage and asked him to bring her back.
• Jiraiya refused until Naraku threatened to recommend him for Hokage, then agreed and asked to take Naruto Uzumaki along.
• Kabuto Yakushi poured a prepared liquid into a coffin holding a person with the Cursed Seal of Heaven and two white snakes, then placed it in a sealing formation.
• The coffin cracked and burst open, and a white snake emerged with a pale, slime-covered arm reaching from its jaws.

After reviving, Orochimaru discovered that the soul wound from Shihōin Naraku’s Zanpakutō had left his right arm unbearably painful and useless. Hashirama cells made the pain tolerable, and Orochimaru decided to seek Tsunade’s help.

• Orochimaru revived through the White Snake, but the injury to his soul left his right arm in constant agony and unable to function.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi tested replacement arms and found that higher concentrations of Hashirama cells eased the pain, though too much could make the cells uncontrollable.
• Orochimaru replaced his arm with one grown by Kabuto Yakushi and found the remaining pain tolerable, but they could not safely increase the Hashirama cell concentration further.
• Orochimaru considered using Living Corpse Reincarnation to escape the injury but set the idea aside because Sasuke was in Konoha and Shihōin Naraku might be there.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto Yakushi they would seek treatment from Tsunade, confident that she would help him.

Shihōin Naraku absorbed Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword into Kurikara, strengthening his Zanpakutō, and used his new Executive Committee authority to prepare Konoha’s border defenses. As the committee debated how to respond to Sunagakure’s impending delegation, its members remained divided over whether to forgive the village or demand accountability.

• Shihōin Naraku took the Kusanagi Sword from the ANBU storeroom and fed it to Kurikara, strengthening the Zanpakutō and its abilities.
• Shihōin Naraku gained five draw chances for joining Konoha’s newly established Executive Committee.
• After reviewing intelligence about Iwagakure and Kumogakure, Shihōin Naraku ordered the Border Forces to increase vigilance and authorized them to counterattack incursions.
• At the Executive Committee meeting, Shihōin Naraku’s proposals to reinforce the border and send diplomatic personnel to Iwagakure and Kumogakure won approval.
• The Executive Committee debated how to respond to Sunagakure’s upcoming delegation, with members disagreeing over whether to forgive the village, seek compensation, or consider war.

Konoha’s leadership decided to demand compensation from Sunagakure, while Otogakure was left devastated after paying for its role in the Konoha Crush Plan. Shihōin Naraku continued training, awakened Armament Haki, and learned that Tsunade and Jiraiya were nearing Konoha.

• Konoha’s executive committee argued over how to respond to the Third Hokage’s death, then agreed Sunagakure must compensate Konoha, with the amount left for negotiations.
• Ebizo arrived in Konoha with Sunagakure’s delegation, while Konoha’s leadership left the negotiations to assigned representatives.
• Konoha’s forces had destroyed several of Orochimaru’s bases, and Otogakure’s Daimyo had paid up, leaving the village impoverished and its ninja scattered.
• Shihōin Naraku trained with Kurikara and 2.8 tonnes of weights, using up the Sea King meat that had accelerated his physical progress.
• Shihōin Naraku awakened Armament Haki and recognized that his strength had grown through both the system’s help and his own effort.
• Uzuki Yugao told Shihōin Naraku that Tsunade and Jiraiya were almost back in Konoha.

Tsunade returned to Konoha with Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki, and Shizune, and prepared to take office as the Fifth Hokage. She told Shihōin Naraku that she had fought Orochimaru, who escaped.

• Shihōin Naraku, Tenzo, and Shikaku Nara waited at the Konoha Gate and welcomed Tsunade, Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki, and Shizune back to the village.
• Tsunade teased Naraku, then complained that his improvements to Konoha's medical care had cost her gambling income.
• Naraku told Naruto Uzumaki that Sasuke Uchiha had left the hospital and was training, while Naruto bragged about a powerful move he had learned.
• Naraku escorted Tsunade and Shizune to the Hokage Building, where Tsunade toured the building and discussed her upcoming inauguration with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
• Tsunade told Naraku that she had fought Orochimaru, who had escaped after being beaten.

Tsunade learned how Shihōin Naraku had transformed Konoha’s Medical Department and prepared to take office as the Fifth Hokage. The chapter ended as her inauguration ceremony began, with Naraku, Jiraiya, Shikaku Nara, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura standing behind her.

• Tsunade questioned Naraku about Kabuto Yakushi’s strength and Orochimaru’s damaged right arm, and Naraku explained that Kurikara had severed Orochimaru’s arm and harmed his soul.
• Tsunade vowed to hunt down and kill Orochimaru as many times as necessary, then listened as Naraku described the changes Konoha had undergone.
• Naraku showed Tsunade the expanded Medical Department, and she praised its work and resumed studying Medical Ninjutsu.
• People in Konoha and the Land of Fire learned about Tsunade and anticipated her becoming Hokage.
• Tsunade’s inauguration ceremony began as she stood atop the Hokage Building wearing the Hokage Hat.

After Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, Iwagakure and Kumogakure prepared limited attacks on the Land of Fire to exploit Konoha’s transition. Tsunade appointed Shihōin Naraku supreme commander of Konoha’s front against Kumogakure.

• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure to rush supplies to the front, keep the war limited, and prepare Kitsuchi to support the troops if needed.
• The Fourth Raikage sent Dodai, Darui, and Yugito Nii to invade the Land of Fire and target Konoha’s medical ninja and medical ninjutsu.
• A Cloud ninja reported that Killer B had disappeared, prompting the Fourth Raikage to order a wider search.
• Tsunade reviewed reports of the two villages’ planned attacks and agreed that they intended to seize limited advantages while Konoha recovered.
• Tsunade relieved Shihōin Naraku of his Anbu Commander post and appointed him supreme commander against Kumogakure.

Shihōin Naraku took command of Konoha’s front against Kumogakure and sent his forces into the Land of Hot Water to stop the enemy before it reached the Land of Fire. As fierce fighting began, Naraku strengthened the border defenses and continually sent fresh ninja into battle.

• Tsunade assigned Shihōin Naraku to lead the fight against Kumogakure and chose Jiraiya to command Konoha’s forces against Iwagakure.
• Tsunade appointed Shikaku as Naraku’s deputy, and Naraku led an elite vanguard toward the Land of Fire’s border.
• Naraku learned that Darui’s Kumogakure vanguard had entered the Land of Hot Water and was clearing Konoha’s spies.
• Naraku sent Yuan Gen and Yura with squads to secure positions in the Land of Hot Water, including White Valley.
• Naraku established a field hospital, reinforced the border defenses, and adjusted his plans as fighting with Kumogakure intensified.
• Naraku sent wounded ninja to the field hospital and deployed fresh troops into the Land of Hot Water.

Shihōin Naraku pressed the Cloud Ninja forces in the Land of Hot Water while Dodai planned a surprise attack on Konoha’s Command Center and Field Hospital. At a hidden Konoha camp near the border, Shikaku Nara learned the Cloud Ninja had taken the bait and ordered the troops to prepare to move out.

• Shihōin Naraku sent Konoha elites to drive Darui’s Cloud Ninja forces out of the Land of Hot Water, leaving the Command Center and Field Hospital vulnerable.
• Darui and Yugito Nii led a ten-person ambush team toward Konoha’s Command Center and Field Hospital while Dodai’s main force held its positions as a decoy.
• Dodai, Darui, and Yugito Nii judged the ambush opportunity promising and agreed to risk the attack.
• At a Konoha camp near the Land of Fire’s northern border, Shikaku Nara received intelligence from Shihōin Naraku confirming that the Cloud Ninja had taken the bait.
• Shikaku Nara ordered the camp’s forces to prepare to move out.

Shihōin Naraku prepared Konoha’s headquarters and field hospital for a Cloud Ninja raid while Shikaku Nara moved the main force into position. Darui’s ten-man raiding squad reached headquarters and charged, where the chapter ended with Konoha’s apparent defenders staring in shock.

• Shikaku Nara led Konoha’s main force toward headquarters as its clans set up surveillance, defenses, poisons, and traps.
• Shihōin Naraku inspected sensory-disrupting puppets and ordered Mitaraishi Anko to defend the evacuated field hospital.
• Ibiki Morino reported that the Cloud Ninja raiding force had crossed the border, and Shihōin Naraku ordered his forces to withdraw.
• Darui led ten Cloud Ninja through the woods to Konoha’s headquarters, believing Shihōin Naraku would die in the raid.
• Darui signaled his squad to attack, and the Konoha Ninja around the building appeared shocked and froze.

Shihōin Naraku lured Darui’s Cloud Ninja squad into an explosive trap, then confronted the surviving Darui and Yugito Nii. After Yugito’s transformation proved she could recover from the blast, Naraku attacked her and clashed with Darui, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Darui led ten Cloud Ninja into an attack on the command post, but discovered the Konoha Ninja there were Shihōin Naraku’s explosive Shadow Clones.
• The clones detonated, badly injuring Darui and two other Cloud Ninja while Yugito Nii survived and began healing with the Two-Tails’ Chakra.
• Shihōin Naraku identified Yugito as the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and ordered Ibiki Morino and eight other Konoha Ninja to follow their battle plan and attack the wounded Cloud Ninja.
• Yugito charged Naraku in Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, but he kicked her into the woods before Darui attacked with Storm Release: Laser Circus.
• Naraku revealed the lasers had pierced his vital points without stopping him, then met Darui’s black-lightning blade with Kurikara and countered his next strike.

Shihōin Naraku killed Darui and defeated the Cloud ninja, then faced Yugito Nii after she transformed into Matatabi. He blocked Matatabi’s fireball with one hand and hurled it back as a flaming fist, sending her crashing into the forest.

• Shihōin Naraku used hidden weapons to kill Darui, then kicked his corpse toward Yugito Nii.
• Yugito Nii tore apart Darui’s body and saw that the other Cloud ninja had been defeated and killed by Konoha’s forces.
• Shihōin Naraku ordered his subordinates to notify Shikaku and begin driving the Cloud ninja out of the Land of Hot Water.
• Yugito Nii transformed completely into Matatabi and attacked Shihōin Naraku with a massive fireball.
• Shihōin Naraku stopped the fireball with one hand and returned it as a flaming fist, hurling Matatabi into the forest.

Shihōin Naraku overwhelmed Matatabi with Lightning Release: Kirin and a relentless barrage of attacks. As Yugito Nii and Matatabi discussed fleeing, Naraku summoned the Immovable Wisdom King and began a powerful sword strike.

• Shihōin Naraku used Lightning Release: Kirin to paralyze Matatabi and destroy her unfinished Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Shihōin Naraku slashed Matatabi, severed her two tails, and continued attacking after evading her claws.
• Ibiki Morino told the Konoha trio that Naraku's power resembled that of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
• Matatabi urged Yugito Nii to escape, but Yugito insisted they could still survive.
• Shihōin Naraku summoned the Immovable Wisdom King, drew the Black Longsword, and brought it down in a fierce slash.

Shihōin Naraku killed Yugito Nii and wounded Killer B, who fled with her remains while Naraku pursued him toward the Land of Hot Water. Their chase reached the front line as Konoha and Kumogakure began a fierce battle, with the Cloud forces rapidly overrunning Konoha’s positions.

• Shihōin Naraku defeated Matatabi, returned Yugito Nii to human form, and stabbed her through the heart with Kurikara.
• Killer B attacked Naraku with Lariat, but Kurikara pierced him and flames engulfed him; B escaped by leaving an octopus tentacle clone behind and carrying Yugito’s remains.
• Killer B fled toward Kumogakure, suffering soul-deep pain as Gyuki warned that Yugito and Matatabi were dead.
• Naraku caught up with Killer B and repeatedly forced him toward the Land of Hot Water with blade-energy attacks.
• Killer B and Naraku reached the front line, where Dodai led Kumogakure’s troops in an assault that quickly overwhelmed Konoha’s prepared defenses.