Recaps

Shihōin Naraku and the Fourth Raikage A fought a relentless close-quarters battle, and Naraku used the clash to master and strengthen the abilities he had gained. After battering A into a crater, Naraku faced the injured Raikage’s desperate lightning-charged counterattack.

• Shihōin Naraku and A exchanged powerful blows, recovering from injuries and preparing to fight at full strength.
• Naraku abandoned his other abilities and relied on Armament Haki to engage A in a fierce Taijutsu battle, gradually mastering his accumulated powers.
• Naraku struck A in the abdomen and drove him into the ground, then countered A’s surprise attack and repeatedly battered him through the surrounding trees.
• Naraku observed that A’s speed had dropped as the bloodied Raikage leaped at him with a lightning-charged knife-hand strike, ready to risk his life.

Shihōin Naraku defeated the Fourth Raikage A in a brutal fight, inflicting fatal internal injuries and then shattering his bones. A died on the battlefield, leaving the already losing Cloud Ninja without their commander.

• Naraku threw A into a crater and struck his back, severely damaging his internal organs.
• Despite his injuries, A stood and declared that the Raikage of Kumogakure would never admit defeat.
• A launched a final lightning-charged attack, but Naraku broke his leg and waist before smashing every bone in his body.
• Naraku caught A by the neck and broke it, killing the Fourth Raikage.

Shihōin Naraku killed the Fourth Raikage A, forced the Cloud ninja to accept defeat, and demanded peace talks within three days. As Konoha handled the aftermath and negotiations began, Naraku rejected Kumogakure’s request to meet him.

• Shihōin Naraku emerged from the dust holding the Fourth Raikage A’s corpse and used Conqueror’s Haki to overwhelm the battlefield.
• Naraku returned A’s body to the Cloud ninja, declared the war over, and ordered Kumogakure to attend peace talks within three days.
• The Cloud force withdrew, and Naraku led the Konoha ninja back while leaving sentries behind.
• Naraku assigned Shikaku Nara the postwar work, including arranging medical care, tallying losses, and secretly mapping the Land of Lightning.
• Tsunade told Shikaku that a negotiating team led by Mitokado Homura was on its way, while Kumogakure’s representatives arrived early and asked to meet Naraku.
• Naraku rejected Kumogakure’s request, telling them to get lost.

Jiraiya and Kakashi received word that Konoha had defeated Kumogakure and that a peace treaty was near, while rumors about Naraku’s feats grew increasingly extravagant. The chapter ended with Asuma claiming that Naraku had killed the Fourth Raikage, leaving Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Guy stunned.

• Jiraiya and Kakashi reviewed intelligence confirming Naraku’s victory over Kumogakure and discussed Konoha’s recovery and Naraku’s growing reputation.
• Jiraiya urged Kakashi to improve, and Kakashi considered exploring the Sharingan’s power after his fight with Itachi.
• Might Guy reported hearing that Naraku had set a mountain near Thunderclap Gorge ablaze, earning it the name Flame Mountain.
• Jiraiya and Kakashi learned that Naraku’s understated report had left out the details behind the rumors spreading across the Shinobi World.
• Asuma returned and said he had heard Naraku killed the Fourth Raikage, stunning Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Guy.

Orochimaru brought Kabuto to a hidden base in the Land of Lightning and put him in charge of its medicinal-herb supply. Their conversation revealed Orochimaru’s lingering injury from Naraku and their awe at Flame Mountain, leaving both silent before the scale of Naraku’s power.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto entered a concealed base in the Land of Lightning, where two Cloud Ninja reported that war had disrupted their medicinal-herb gathering quotas.
• Orochimaru warned the spies that this was their last chance to meet the quotas and appointed Kabuto to manage the base.
• Orochimaru explained that the base gathered a rare herb used in Konoha’s highly effective medicine, but Kabuto said he did not know Naraku’s secret formula.
• Orochimaru revealed that Naraku’s attack had left his right arm unusable and caused pain he believed came from damage to his soul.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto recalled failing to extinguish Flame Mountain and sat in silence, shaken by Naraku’s power.

Orochimaru feared that Naraku might be following the path of the Sage of Six Paths, then decided to seize Sasuke Uchiha while Naraku was away. Meanwhile, peace talks began after Konoha’s decisive victory over Kumogakure, with the villages still negotiating compensation.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi discussed the miracles associated with Naraku and the Sage of Six Paths, and Orochimaru wondered whether legends might become reality.
• Orochimaru considered taking Kumogakure’s Six Paths Tools but abandoned the idea because Naraku was in the Land of Lightning.
• Kabuto Yakushi urged Orochimaru to seize Sasuke Uchiha while Konoha’s defenses were weaker, and Orochimaru set off with him for their base in the Land of Fire.
• Konoha and Kumogakure began peace talks after the war, with Konoha reporting far fewer casualties and no fallen top ninja.
• Mitokado Homura handled the treaty negotiations as both sides disputed compensation, while Konoha sought to avoid weakening Kumogakure so much that other villages could exploit it.

After learning that Shihōin Naraku had killed the Two-Tails and become a major threat, Nagato and Konan traveled to the Land of Lightning to assess Flame Mountain. When Deva Path Pain approached its sea of fire, his cloak suddenly ignited and engulfed him.

• Deva Path Pain, Konan, and the Masked Man discussed Kumogakure’s defeat, the Two-Tails’ death, and the threat Shihōin Naraku posed to the Akatsuki’s plans.
• The Masked Man claimed he needed time to recover from his injuries, and Konan and Deva Path Pain agreed to be wary of him.
• Nagato decided to investigate Flame Mountain and kill Shihōin Naraku himself, and Konan accompanied him to the Land of Lightning.
• Nagato and Konan saw Flame Mountain burning beneath a sea of fire, with phoenixes rising and vanishing in its flames.
• Deva Path Pain approached the edge of the fire to test it, but his cloak caught fire and engulfed him.

Nagato tested Flame Mountain with Deva Path Pain, but repeated Shinra Tensei attacks failed to suppress its flames and provoked a devastating eruption. Pain escaped, but Yahiko’s body was left severely burned and disfigured, leaving Nagato remorseful and Konan anguished.

• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei against Flame Mountain, but the Sea of Fire quickly refilled every gap his attacks made.
• Nagato repeatedly attacked while Deva Path Pain retreated from the rising heat, until Konan urged Nagato to stop the test.
• Flame Mountain formed a phoenix and sent surging flames and fireballs after Deva Path Pain.
• Deva Path Pain struck the phoenix with Shinra Tensei, but its destruction triggered an explosion that let the Sea of Fire engulf him.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei to force the flames back and escaped into the sky after its cooldown passed.
• Nagato and Konan found Deva Path Pain severely burned, with his face, left arm, and part of his left leg destroyed; Nagato regretted his carelessness, and Konan cried out Yahiko’s name.

Nagato and Konan retreated after Flame Mountain destroyed Deva Path Pain, and they resolved to kill Shihōin Naraku. At the Konoha camp, Naraku trained, learned that Konoha had finished mapping the area, and walked back with Choza Akimichi, who had taught him the Multi-Size Technique.

• Konan sealed the crumbling Deva Path Pain, and she and Nagato left Flame Mountain in silence.
• Nagato doubted his own power after witnessing Flame Mountain, then reaffirmed his belief that he was a god and joined Konan in deciding to kill Shihōin Naraku.
• At the Konoha camp, Naraku sneezed, joked that someone might be plotting against him, and went to train while awaiting Jiraiya's reply.
• Naraku spotted Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi returning with a squad and learned that Konoha had finished drawing military maps without Kumogakure noticing.
• Choza Akimichi shared wild fruit with Naraku as they headed to the command center, and the narration revealed Naraku had learned the Multi-Size Technique from him.

Naraku left the Konoha Command Center to help Jiraiya bring the war in the Land of Grass to an end, flying there on Gore Magala. Meanwhile, Kitsuchi attacked Jiraiya’s forces, believing he could crush them before Konoha’s reinforcements arrived.

• Naraku confirmed that Jiraiya had agreed to the plan and departed immediately, reassuring Shikaku that the Cloud Ninja were unlikely to act while their Raikage position remained unsettled.
• Naraku flew toward the Land of Grass and summoned Gore Magala to travel faster.
• Kitsuchi led the Iwa Shinobi in a fierce battle against Jiraiya’s Konoha forces and used Earth Release to impale several attackers.
• After learning that Konoha and Kumogakure were negotiating, Kitsuchi had considered turning against the weakened Cloud, but Jiraiya’s sudden assault prompted him to target Konoha first.
• Kitsuchi ordered the demolition unit to prepare, hoping to defeat Jiraiya’s forces before Konoha’s reinforcements arrived.

Konoha and Iwagakure fought a brutal battle as Kitsuchi’s forces pushed Konoha toward defeat. Jiraiya’s clash with Kitsuchi began as the battle reached its fiercest point.

• Kitsuchi’s Explosion Corps helped Iwagakure overwhelm Konoha, while Kakashi and Asuma fought off thirteen Iwa Shinobi.
• Might Guy led reinforcements onto the battlefield, using Morning Peacock to disrupt the enemy and relieve pressure on Kakashi and Asuma.
• Kurenai Yuhi joined the fight, but Konoha’s reinforcements only brought the battle to a stalemate.
• Kitsuchi ordered Iwagakure’s remaining units to join the battle and planned to crush Konoha with their superior numbers.
• Iwa Shinobi emerged from underground behind Konoha and attacked from both sides, but Jiraiya trapped many in a swamp and struck them with flames.
• Kitsuchi charged at Jiraiya, bringing the commanders of both sides to the brink of a clash.

Jiraiya and Kitsuchi fought fiercely as Iwagakure’s numerical advantage threatened to overwhelm Konoha. Jiraiya began entering Sage Mode while the Konoha ninja waited for Naraku, whose arrival was heralded by a red comet crashing onto the battlefield.

• Jiraiya and Kitsuchi traded powerful attacks, and Kitsuchi struck Jiraiya, who had used a shadow clone as a decoy.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamahiro, whose twin swords Kitsuchi blocked with rock fists before countering with Earth Release techniques.
• Jiraiya asked Gamahiro to hold Kitsuchi off while he entered Sage Mode, hoping to prevent Konoha’s heavy losses.
• Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Aoba Yamashiro, and the other Konoha ninja struggled against Iwagakure’s encirclement.
• A red comet streaked across the sky and crashed into the center of the battlefield.

Shihōin Naraku arrived on the battlefield with a devastating comet strike, then cut down Iwagakure Ninja and rallied Konoha’s forces into a counterattack. As the battle turned in Konoha’s favor, Naraku targeted the elite Demolition Corps and set his sights on Gari.

• A comet struck the Iwa Shinobi’s position, killing and injuring many and leaving the battlefield in ruins.
• Shihōin Naraku emerged from the dust and killed an Iwa Shinobi who confronted him.
• Naraku evaded the Iwa Shinobi’s attacks and killed thirty-seven of them with a lightning-fast sword strike.
• Naraku called on the Konoha Ninja to counterattack, and they charged the weakened Iwagakure forces.
• Naraku began hunting the Iwagakure elites, killing a Demolition Corps Ninja before turning toward Gari.

Shihōin Naraku killed Explosion Release Gari and wiped out Iwagakure's Explosion Corps, then broke the Iwa Shinobi's morale and helped Konoha defeat their force. With the battlefield cleared, Jiraiya continued fighting Kitsuchi as Naraku descended nearby.

• Explosion Release Gari attacked Shihōin Naraku with an explosive strike, but Naraku appeared behind him, wounded him, and killed him with Kurikara.
• Shihōin Naraku charged through the Explosion Corps and killed its remaining members, crushing a Cloud Ninja's explosive clay before decapitating him.
• Shihōin Naraku used Conqueror's Haki to overwhelm the Iwa Shinobi, then urged the Konoha Ninja to finish them off.
• The Konoha Ninja defeated the remaining Iwa Shinobi while Jiraiya kept Kitsuchi occupied and struck him with a Rasengan.
• Jiraiya dismissed Gamahiro, and Shihōin Naraku descended beside the battlefield as Jiraiya and Kitsuchi continued their final fight.

Kitsuchi used the Mountain Earth Technique in a last attempt to kill Shihōin Naraku, but Naraku escaped unharmed and killed him. After Konoha celebrated its victory, Naraku questioned why the battle had unfolded differently than planned, then reacted to something in the distance.

• Kitsuchi trapped Shihōin Naraku between two massive rock hemispheres with the Mountain Earth Technique, but Naraku burst free and struck Kitsuchi through the heart with a spear of flame.
• Naraku extinguished the flames on Kitsuchi’s nearly charred body and sealed his corpse in a scroll for the Corpse Disposal Unit to examine.
• Might Guy praised Naraku while Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Aoba Yamashiro recovered from the battle.
• The exhausted Konoha ninja celebrated their victory, and Jiraiya thanked Naraku for arriving in time to save them.
• Naraku questioned Jiraiya about why the battle had not followed their plan, then looked into the distance after his expression suddenly changed.

Shihōin Naraku discovered that an Iwagakure force was approaching and stayed behind to delay it while Jiraiya led the exhausted Konoha Ninja into retreat. Naraku destroyed the advancing force with his Great Spiraling Ring, then returned briefly to the Konoha camp before heading back to the Land of Lightning’s border.

• Shihōin Naraku spotted an approaching Iwagakure force of roughly a thousand Ninja and warned Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya ordered the exhausted Konoha Ninja to retreat while Naraku flew out to confront the reinforcements.
• Naraku identified the young Kurotsuchi among the Iwagakure force and launched his Great Spiraling Ring at them.
• The Great Spiraling Ring caused a massive explosion that engulfed most of the Iwagakure force.
• Jiraiya and the retreating Konoha Ninja witnessed the distant blast, and Jiraiya wondered whether Naraku was the Child of the Prophecy.
• Naraku returned to the Konoha camp, spoke with Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others, then departed for the Land of Lightning’s border.

Shihōin Naraku destroyed Kitsuchi’s Iwa Shinobi unit and forced Kumogakure to conclude peace negotiations. After the ceasefire was signed, Dodai asked Naraku to extinguish the enormous fire near Thunderclap Gorge.

• Kurotsuchi and the surviving Iwa Shinobi struggled through the aftermath of Naraku’s devastating attack, and the survivors sent messengers to Iwagakure and searched for Kitsuchi’s unit.
• Naraku returned to the Land of Lightning’s border and told Shikaku Nara that he had killed Kitsuchi and wiped out the Iwa Shinobi unit.
• Naraku ordered Konoha to give Kumogakure three days to sign a peace treaty and began sending wounded ninja and medical personnel back to Konoha.
• Kumogakure and Konohagakure signed a peace agreement two days later, with Naraku and Dodai signing and exchanging the documents.
• Dodai asked Naraku to extinguish the sea of fire near Thunderclap Gorge before it caused irreparable damage.

Shihōin Naraku refused Dodai’s request to extinguish Flame Mountain, and the Konoha forces returned home after the war with Kumogakure ended. In the Land of Grass, Ōnoki accepted a ceasefire with Jiraiya after learning that Kitsuchi had died and Iwagakure’s frontline forces had been wiped out, leaving Konoha’s prestige unrivaled.

• Dodai asked Shihōin Naraku to extinguish Flame Mountain for the sake of the Land of Lightning, but Naraku refused and led his group away.
• The Konoha forces crossed the Land of Lightning’s border and returned through the Land of Hot Water to the Land of Fire.
• Ōnoki arrived in the Land of Grass and learned that the Iwa Shinobi frontline had been destroyed, Kitsuchi had died, and Kurotsuchi had been badly injured.
• Ōnoki offered Konoha a ceasefire, and he and Jiraiya agreed on terms that included Iwagakure paying to ransom captured Iwa Shinobi.
• News of Konoha’s victories over Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure spread throughout the Shinobi World.

Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha after the wars, and his victories made him famous across the Shinobi World as the Phoenix and a contender for its strongest shinobi. The chapter ended with Konoha’s elders realizing that other nations feared and courted Konoha because Naraku was an unknown power no one could restrain.

• Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha to a jubilant welcome and reported to Tsunade after the ninja forces’ victories.
• Konoha’s civilians debated whether Naraku or Jiraiya was stronger as news spread of their victories over Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
• People throughout the Shinobi World gave Naraku fearsome titles, with Phoenix becoming the name most widely accepted.
• Naraku’s reputation brought Konoha and the Land of Fire greater prestige and hidden benefits as other nations sought their favor.
• Mitokado Homura explained that other countries feared Naraku because he was neither Hashirama Senju nor Madara Uchiha, and no one could predict or restrain him.

Shihōin Naraku’s date with Uzuki Yugao was interrupted by a drunken Tsunade, and after Jiraiya returned to Konoha, the group found Naruto Uzumaki training in despair over his failure to save a comrade. Jiraiya prepared to leave again, while Kakashi Hatake blamed himself for Naruto’s distress.

• Shihōin Naraku and Uzuki Yugao ate in a private room while villagers’ attention and jealous stares followed them.
• Tsunade and Shizune burst into the room, and Tsunade drank heavily and complained about the pressures of being Hokage before Shizune took her away.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha with his troops, then chose to resume his travels rather than stay for the celebrations.
• At the training ground, Tsunade, Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, and Jiraiya watched Naruto Uzumaki repeatedly strike the ground with Rasengan.
• Tsunade explained that Naruto blamed himself for failing to bring back his comrade, and Kakashi admitted he had failed to teach Naruto properly.

After Sasuke Uchiha defected with Orochimaru, Tsunade returned Naruto Uzumaki to Konoha, where he began training obsessively. At a meeting about Jiraiya taking Naruto away to train, Shihōin Naraku argued that learning to control the Nine-Tails outside the village would limit the damage if Naruto lost control.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi intercepted the pursuit team, but Tsunade badly wounded Kabuto before leaving to search for Naruto; Kabuto later escaped despite being buried underground.
• Tsunade fought Orochimaru and his subordinates, but Orochimaru still persuaded Sasuke Uchiha to leave with him, and Tsunade brought the unconscious Naruto Uzumaki back to Konoha.
• Naruto began training obsessively, while Kakashi left to visit the Memorial Stone and Tsunade, Shihōin Naraku, and Jiraiya went to the Hokage's Office.
• Jiraiya proposed taking Naruto away to train, and Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura opposed the plan because they considered Naruto the village's emergency trump card.
• Shihōin Naraku argued that Naruto should learn to control the Nine-Tails outside Konoha, where a loss of control would cause less damage.

Tsunade approved Jiraiya taking Naruto Uzumaki away to train, then shared Uchiha Itachi’s intelligence about the Akatsuki with Jiraiya and Naraku. After Naraku reassured her that Itachi remained loyal and Sasuke Uchiha was safe from Orochimaru for the time being, Jiraiya and Naruto left Konoha to travel.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Naraku settled that Jiraiya would take Naruto Uzumaki away to train, with Naraku reminding Jiraiya to improve Naruto’s fundamentals.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya and Naraku that Uchiha Itachi had revealed intelligence about the Akatsuki, and Jiraiya considered visiting the Land of Rain before Tsunade warned him not to investigate.
• Tsunade asked Naraku whether Uchiha Itachi could be trusted, and Naraku said Itachi was loyal to Konoha and expected Sasuke Uchiha to kill him one day.
• Tsunade worried that Orochimaru had taken Sasuke Uchiha, but Naraku assured her Orochimaru would not be able to take Sasuke’s body for at least three years.
• Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki departed through the Konoha Gate, accompanied by farewells from Tsunade, Naraku, and Kakashi Hatake.

Shihōin Naraku presented Tsunade and Shikaku Nara with a huge set of proposals to reorganize Konoha, hoping to secure more positions and rewards. Shikaku suggested presenting all the plans together at a meeting, giving Tsunade and Naraku a way to win approval for the changes they valued most.

• Sakura Haruno arrived after Naruto Uzumaki had already left and asked Kakashi Hatake where he was.
• Shihōin Naraku brought Tsunade and Shikaku Nara a large collection of proposals for restructuring Konoha's departments and forces.
• Tsunade complained about the workload and admitted that the plans could benefit Konoha, though she could not approve them all herself.
• Shikaku Nara suggested presenting the proposals together at a meeting so that some of them would be easier to approve.

Konohagakure’s leaders debated Naraku’s proposals for sweeping village reforms, approving more than half after two days. Tsunade appointed Naraku Barrier Team Leader, and he began planning to use new posts to gain more system rewards.

• Konohagakure’s senior officials and clan heads argued over Tsunade’s proposed reforms, especially changes to the barrier and Defense Force.
• After two days of debate, the leaders rejected some of Naraku’s proposals and confirmed more than half of them.
• Tsunade appointed Naraku Barrier Team Leader, and the system rewarded him with two draw chances.
• Naraku focused on rebuilding Konoha’s barrier while relying on his subordinates and Shihōin Harumoto to manage the Medical Department.
• Naraku planned to resign from his posts after completing the barrier work, keeping only his Konoha High Command Advisor position so Tsunade could assign him elsewhere.

Shihōin Naraku oversaw preparations for Konoha’s new barrier and discussed its component sites with Tsunade, who ordered one location changed to preserve Sasuke Uchiha’s home. The story then shifted to Turtle Island, where a Kumogakure elder learned that Killer B remained unconscious and angrily berated the medical ninja.

• Shihōin Naraku managed Konoha’s barrier preparations while the village gathered supplies and produced talismans.
• Shihōin Naraku showed Tsunade his proposed sites for the barrier’s components, and she told him to preserve Sasuke Uchiha’s home by changing the sixth site.
• Shihōin Naraku considered whether Sakura Haruno’s future as a medical ninja could affect his plans, then decided it did not matter to him.
• The elder and Dodai arrived at Turtle Island and found Killer B unconscious in a newly built medical facility.
• A Cloud ninja reported that every attempt to awaken Killer B had failed, and the elder called the medical ninja useless fools.