Recaps

Shihōin Naraku defeated Isobu and Karatachi Yagura, while Obito Uchiha fled and the island sank beneath the sea. Naraku returned to Konoha, where Tsunade reacted with alarm to his report and told him to stay in the village.

• Shihōin Naraku confirmed that Isobu and Karatachi Yagura were dead as the island began to sink.
• Mei Terumi and Ao led the Mist Ninja to recover Karatachi Yagura's body before the island collapsed into the sea.
• Shihōin Naraku watched the island sink, reflected that Kirigakure could rebuild without Obito's control, and flew toward the Land of Fire.
• Shihōin Naraku returned to Konoha and told Tsunade that he had killed Karatachi Yagura.
• Tsunade warned Shihōin Naraku to stay in the village, and he assured her Kirigakure was too weakened to cause trouble.

Naraku revealed that Obito Uchiha, whom Konoha had believed dead, was alive, shocking Tsunade and Kakashi. The chapter ended with Kakashi and Tsunade frozen by the revelation.

• Tsunade warned Naraku that Kirigakure would not ignore the Fourth Mizukage's death, but Naraku dismissed the prospect of protests.
• Kakashi asked Tsunade to take Sakura Haruno as her disciple, and Tsunade said Sakura would first intern at Konoha Hospital as a prospective medical ninja.
• Naraku drew a scarred Uchiha man's face and showed the portrait to Tsunade and Kakashi.
• Kakashi recognized the man as Obito Uchiha and reacted with disbelief because he had seen Obito buried.
• Naraku confirmed that Obito was alive, leaving Tsunade and Kakashi stunned.

Naraku told Tsunade and Kakashi how he had fought Obito before and encountered him again in the Land of Water, where Obito controlled the Fourth Mizukage. He revealed that he had severed Obito’s head, but explained that Obito might have survived by using Izanagi.

• Naraku recounted his earlier encounter with Obito, including the Wood Release creatures and the report he had made to the Third Hokage.
• Naraku suggested that Rin Nohara’s death had turned Obito against Konoha, Kakashi, and the Fourth Hokage, leaving Kakashi blaming himself.
• Naraku described meeting Obito in the Land of Water and explained that Obito’s Mangekyō ability let him avoid damage for ten minutes.
• Naraku reminded Tsunade and Kakashi that Obito had controlled Karatachi Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, with Genjutsu for years.
• Naraku said he had cut off Obito’s head, then revealed Obito had likely survived by preparing Izanagi and explained the technique.

Shihōin Naraku told Tsunade and Kakashi Hatake that Shimura Danzō had collected Sharingan and may have helped Uchiha Itachi massacre the Uchiha Clan, with Obito Uchiha potentially involved. Tsunade assigned Kakashi to discreetly reopen investigations into the massacre and the Nine-Tails' Attack, while Naraku suspected Obito’s identity had been exposed.

• Shihōin Naraku revealed that Shimura Danzō had an arm covered in Sharingan and likely used Izanagi during their fight.
• Naraku urged Tsunade to have Kakashi Hatake reinvestigate the Uchiha Clan massacre, raising the possibility that Obito Uchiha had helped Uchiha Itachi.
• Naraku pointed out unanswered questions about how the Nine-Tails had been controlled during its attack and argued that the events needed investigation.
• Kakashi objected that Obito could not have been powerful enough or known the sealing jutsu needed, but Tsunade assigned him to investigate discreetly.
• Kakashi left to begin the investigation, and Naraku departed the Hokage's Office while thinking that Obito's identity had been exposed.

Shihōin Naraku dealt with the fallout from killing Karatachi Yagura and asked Tsunade about learning Senjutsu at Shikkotsu Forest. Tsunade revealed that no one had mastered its Senjutsu, including Hashirama Senju, leaving Naraku with a difficult challenge ahead.

• Kirigakure's protest over Shihōin Naraku killing Karatachi Yagura sparked a war of insults between Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.
• Shihōin Naraku resigned from all his positions except senior adviser to escape the attention surrounding his fame, and Tsunade accepted.
• Naraku asked Tsunade about Kakashi Hatake's investigation into the Nine-Tails' Attack and the Uchiha's destruction, but Kakashi had found no concrete evidence.
• Naraku told Tsunade he planned to learn Senjutsu at Shikkotsu Forest, and she explained that every student had failed to master it.
• Tsunade said Mito Uzumaki had nearly crossed the threshold and developed the original Yin Seal, while Hashirama Senju had also failed to learn Sage Mode.

Shihōin Naraku learned that Hashirama Senju had not mastered Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode there, then arranged to travel to the forest and begin his own training. Elsewhere, Orochimaru continued experimenting on Killer B in Kumogakure, while Han reviewed Ōnoki’s records of Akatsuki missions as he handled Iwagakure’s postwar burdens.

• Tsunade told Shihōin Naraku that Hashirama Senju had learned only the basics of Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode there, but later mastered a different, partially related form without returning.
• Naraku prepared for an uncertain stay in Shikkotsu Forest, summoned Katsuyu, and asked her to arrange the Reverse Summoning Technique.
• The Katsuyu Sage summoned Naraku from Konoha to Shikkotsu Forest.
• In Kumogakure, Orochimaru examined his research data and secretly experimented on the unconscious Killer B while Cloud Ninja monitored him.
• In Iwagakure, Ōnoki advised Fourth Tsuchikage Han to consult the record of Akatsuki missions, and Han began reading it after reflecting on the pressures of the postwar recovery.

Akatsuki assigned Sasori to monitor Sunagakure and sent Uchiha Itachi and Haku on a mission from Iwagakure, while Deva Path Pain said he would deal with Shihōin Naraku himself. Naraku arrived in Shikkotsu Forest and met the Katsuyu Sage, who remembered him from his childhood.

• Deva Path Pain ordered Sasori to use his remaining spies to watch the Kazekage and said he would personally handle Shihōin Naraku.
• Hidan proposed killing Naraku, but Kakuzu warned against it, and Uchiha Itachi considered passing Pain's plans to Konoha.
• Deva Path Pain assigned Uchiha Itachi and Haku to an Iwagakure mission and demanded they not fail.
• Naraku arrived in Shikkotsu Forest and learned that its slugs were all divided bodies of the Katsuyu Sage.
• Naraku entered the ancient temple, where the Katsuyu Sage greeted him and recalled that Tsunade had brought him there as a child.

Shihōin Naraku began training in Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode, where he had to balance natural energy amid severe corrosion and periodic acid rain. He struggled to control his powerful spiritual energy but resumed training after the Katsuyu Sage’s attendant warned him about the dangers.

• The Katsuyu Sage explained that Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode was difficult and warned Naraku not to force himself during training.
• A fragment of the Katsuyu Sage led Naraku to a limestone cave where unusually dense natural energy gathered and corroded the surrounding environment.
• The slug explained that acid rain fell every two hours and that Naraku had to train through the rain and afterward without leaving the area.
• Naraku began sensing and absorbing natural energy, but his powerful spiritual energy disrupted the balance and caused corrosion to appear on his skin.
• The slug knocked Naraku out of meditation twice to prevent him from absorbing too much natural energy, and Naraku realized his spiritual energy was devouring it before meditating again.

Shihōin Naraku trained in Shikkotsu Forest to balance natural energy with his own energies and learn Sage Mode. After three days, he produced Senjutsu Chakra, then continued practicing to enter Sage Mode faster and sustain it longer.

• Shihōin Naraku endured corrosive acid rain while trying to absorb a balanced amount of natural energy, and Katsuyu coached him through repeated failures.
• Shihōin Naraku trained day and night in Shikkotsu Forest, bringing his body’s energies into balance and producing Senjutsu Chakra on the third day.
• Shihōin Naraku learned he could maintain Sage Mode for less than ten minutes and needed twenty-three minutes to enter it.
• Katsuyu told Shihōin Naraku to become familiar with Sage Mode and reduce the time needed to form Senjutsu Chakra to under fifteen minutes before entering the Sage Art Cave.
• Shihōin Naraku focused on entering Sage Mode faster and maintaining it for longer.

Shihōin Naraku tested the abilities granted by Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode and discovered it let his Observation Haki glimpse the immediate future. He then entered the Sage Art Cavern to begin training, where Katsuyu explained that he had to control natural energy beside and inside a pool without letting it erode his body.

• Shihōin Naraku tested Sage Mode’s boost to his ninjutsu and found that his Observation Haki perceived chakra-bearing creatures more sharply.
• Naraku realized that Sage Mode let his Observation Haki see the immediate future, but that he could only do so while Sage Mode was active.
• Naraku sensed his life energy and recovery ability increase and considered how Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode emphasized survival.
• Katsuyu led Naraku into the Sage Art Cavern and showed him a pool filled with natural energy.
• Katsuyu explained that Naraku had to form senjutsu chakra beside the pool, then repeat the process inside it while controlling the natural energy and resisting bodily erosion.

Shihōin Naraku mastered the second stage of Sage Mode in the Sage Art Cave by using his powerful mental energy to balance natural and physical energy. He discovered a new forehead mark and learned that he could enter Sage Mode in just over two minutes and maintain it for more than an hour.

• Shihōin Naraku endured the clash of natural, physical, and mental energy as Katsuyu watched over him.
• Shihōin Naraku used his mental energy to suppress the natural energy, balance all three energies, and form senjutsu chakra.
• Shihōin Naraku examined his new diamond-shaped forehead mark and fiery-red eye shadow in the pool's reflection.
• Katsuyu explained that Shihōin Naraku had surpassed the previous trainees, including Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki.
• Shihōin Naraku re-entered Sage Mode in just over two minutes and estimated he could maintain it for more than an hour.

Shihōin Naraku achieved true Sage Mode in the Sage Art Cave and learned that surviving its lethal pool could grant immortality. Determined to attempt it, he was lowered toward the pool under the Katsuyu Sage’s protection, but still had to complete the final step himself.

• Shihōin Naraku realized his new Sage Mode was far more powerful and efficient than the state he had achieved before.
• Katsuyu demonstrated that the pool instantly destroyed anything except her main body and explained that surviving it could grant immortality.
• The Katsuyu Sage confirmed the pool’s danger and clarified that immortality would protect Naraku from most fatal injuries, but not the destruction of every cell in his body.
• Shihōin Naraku decided to enter the pool, and the Katsuyu Sage warned that he would have to complete the final step himself.
• The Katsuyu Sage enveloped Shihōin Naraku in senjutsu chakra and slowly lowered him toward the pool.

Shihōin Naraku trained in the Katsuyu Sage’s corrosive natural-energy pool to complete the final stage of Sage Mode, relying on the Katsuyu Sage’s protective membrane and his regeneration to survive. After several days he endured the water for longer but still could not move freely without the membrane, and the Katsuyu Sage reminded him that he could stop and still extend his lifespan.

• Naraku lost his left hand to the pool water’s corrosion, but senjutsu chakra rapidly regenerated it.
• With the Katsuyu Sage’s protective membrane around him, Naraku entered the pool and endured the natural energy until it overwhelmed his senjutsu chakra and he neared his limit.
• The Katsuyu Sage pulled Naraku out, and Naraku identified the challenge of resisting the water while restoring his body and condensing senjutsu chakra.
• Naraku repeatedly entered the pool, gradually increasing the time he could endure at the bottom, and continued training over the next few days.
• The Katsuyu Sage praised Naraku as the first ninja to reach this stage, while Naraku complained that he still could not leave the membrane and move freely.
• The Katsuyu Sage told Naraku that he could give up and still extend his lifespan, but Naraku had not decided to stop.

Shihōin Naraku made rapid progress absorbing natural energy in the Sage Art Cave, but his first attempt to refine senjutsu chakra went wrong and left him injured. The Katsuyu Sage rescued him and ordered him to rest and reflect before trying again.

• Shihōin Naraku learned to draw natural energy into his body after months of training, and the Katsuyu Sage said he was nearing the point where he could touch the pool water without a protective membrane.
• Shihōin Naraku read intelligence from Tsunade about Orochimaru being invited to Kumogakure to treat Killer B, then sent Tsunade a reply.
• After two more months, Shihōin Naraku entered the pool without the protective membrane and carefully absorbed natural energy.
• Shihōin Naraku began refining senjutsu chakra, but the natural energy ran wild inside him and injured his organs.
• The Katsuyu Sage pulled Shihōin Naraku from the pool, treated his injuries, and told him to rest and reflect because he could safely touch the pool water only once a day.

Shihōin Naraku successfully refined senjutsu chakra in Shikkotsu Forest and gained a Sage Body, greatly increasing his power and vitality. After learning that his lifespan was five thousand years rather than immortality, he reflected on his new abilities before the Katsuyu Sage asked how his senjutsu chakra felt.

• Shihōin Naraku absorbed natural energy and awakened powerful senjutsu chakra, whose life-giving aura restored the wasteland into a lush forest.
• Shihōin Naraku checked his attributes and found that his constitution had become a Sage Body, while his chakra control and reserves had increased and he had gained Lava Release and Boil Release.
• Shihōin Naraku learned from the system that his Sage Body could heal fatal injuries and gave him an estimated lifespan of five thousand years.
• The Katsuyu Sage called to Shihōin Naraku, who explained that he had been distracted and confirmed that he could feel the new power and vitality within him.

After mastering Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu, Shihōin Naraku left the forest and prepared to combine its Sage Mode with Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode. The two types of senjutsu chakra clashed inside him, and he spat out blood.

• Shihōin Naraku mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu techniques in about two days, astonishing the Katsuyu Sage.
• Shihōin Naraku thanked the Katsuyu Sage, said he was ready to leave, and departed Shikkotsu Forest.
• Shihōin Naraku flew high above the clouds, realized he could not absorb natural energy there, and descended into an uninhabited ravine.
• Shihōin Naraku checked the area with Observation Haki, activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode, and then activated Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode.
• Shihōin Naraku's two types of senjutsu chakra clashed inside him, and he spat out blood.

Shihōin Naraku abandoned his attempt to combine Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest Sage Modes after the energies clashed, then returned to Konoha after completing his training. He reunited with Tsunade, who assumed he had failed to master Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode.

• Shihōin Naraku suffered internal injuries when the two Sage Modes clashed, healed quickly, and stopped trying to combine them for now.
• Naraku suspected that learning Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode might let him unite all three Sage Modes, but he planned to seek it through the system's prize draw.
• Naraku left Shikkotsu Forest and flew back to Konoha in less than a dozen minutes.
• Naraku passed through Konoha's sensory barrier and greeted the ninja near the Hokage Building, relieved that the attention around him had faded.
• Naraku entered Tsunade's office, and Tsunade expressed concern that he might not have learned Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode.

Shihōin Naraku revealed to Tsunade that he had mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode, astonishing her. He explained that the training had greatly increased his combat strength and might grant him eternal life and youth, though he could only confirm that he would live for several thousand years.

• Tsunade realized Naraku had succeeded in learning Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode, and Naraku confirmed it by displaying its markings.
• Tsunade dismissed the ANBU from the Hokage's Office and compared Naraku's Sage Mode aura to Jiraiya's and the difference between Hashirama Senju's and Tenzo's Wood Release.
• Tsunade asked whether Sage Mode had made Naraku stronger, and he said it had increased his combat strength.
• Naraku told Tsunade that the Katsuyu Sage had said successful training brought eternal life and youth, and he confirmed that his vitality was unusually strong.
• Naraku said he could expect to live for several thousand years, then considered possible reasons Hashirama Senju had died despite his powerful vitality.

Tsunade abandoned the idea of learning Sage Mode after Naraku warned her of its dangers, then assigned him to escort Mei Terumi to Konoha for peace and trade talks. Tsunade also revealed that Kakashi had uncovered evidence linking a mysterious masked man at the Nine-Tails' Attack to Obito Uchiha.

• Tsunade pressed Naraku about eternal youth and asked whether she could learn Sage Mode, but Naraku warned her about the dangers and the time required.
• Tsunade gave up on training and assigned Naraku to escort the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, safely from the Land of Water to Konoha.
• Naraku accepted and recalled that Mei Terumi had been nearby when he killed Karatachi Yagura.
• Naraku asked about Kakashi, and Tsunade said he was away investigating intelligence found in Konoha's old records.
• Tsunade explained that witnesses had seen a mysterious masked man during the Nine-Tails' Attack and that his apparent space-time abilities had strengthened suspicions about Obito Uchiha.

Shihōin Naraku learned that Kakashi was investigating the Mysterious Masked Man and heard from Shihōin Harumoto about the Sarutobi and Shimura clans' hidden influence. After spending two days with Uzuki Yugao, Naraku headed to the border to escort Mei Terumi's delegation, where Kirigakure's fragile state left Mei worried.

• Tsunade told Naraku that Kakashi was searching for witnesses to the Mysterious Masked Man, and Naraku concluded Kakashi was still uncertain about Obito Uchiha's role.
• Naraku returned to the Shihōin Clan compound, greeted its members, and spoke with Shihōin Harumoto about the clan's growth and the Sarutobi and Shimura clans' hidden reserves.
• Naraku spent two days with Uzuki Yugao before leaving for the border after Tsunade urged him to escort Mei Terumi's delegation.
• At the Land of Fire border, Ao and Namiashi Raidō completed the handover while they waited for Naraku to arrive.
• Mei Terumi watched the Konoha ninja nearby and worried that Kirigakure could not withstand even a small upheaval.

Mei Terumi tried to keep Kirigakure’s restless delegation in line while they waited at the border for Konoha’s response to her proposed trade agreement. Shihōin Naraku finally appeared without being detected, leaving the meeting poised to begin.

• Mei Terumi proposed a trade agreement with Konoha, despite opposition from some Mist Ninja and the risk of backlash if Kirigakure made excessive concessions.
• Ao rebuked the protesting Mist Ninja as Namiashi Raidō observed their unrest and questioned why Shihōin Naraku had not arrived.
• Mei Terumi silenced her subordinates by turning on them, then told Namiashi Raidō that Konoha seemed unwilling to establish normal relations with Kirigakure.
• Shihōin Naraku appeared beside the group undetected and said Konoha was ready, but questioned Kirigakure’s sincerity.
• Mei Terumi greeted Shihōin Naraku with a strained laugh as he walked toward the delegation.

Shihōin Naraku escorted Mei Terumi and Kirigakure’s delegation through the Land of Fire to Konoha for negotiations, while ANBU thwarted probing attacks along the way. They arrived at Konohagakure, where Tsunade personally welcomed Mei Terumi.

• Shihōin Naraku greeted Mei Terumi at the border, and they shook hands, signaling a thaw in relations between Konoha and Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi entered the Land of Fire with Naraku, while Ao stayed at the border to protect his sealed Byakugan from possible Konoha interest.
• Naraku escorted Mei Terumi’s delegation toward Konoha as ANBU secretly dealt with several probing attempts.
• An explosion sounded during the journey, but Naraku and Mei Terumi continued without stopping.
• The delegation reached Konohagakure, where Fifth Hokage Tsunade welcomed Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi at the gate.

As the Kirigakure delegation arrived in Konoha for official talks, Shihōin Naraku stopped a Mist Ninja who was about to activate a hidden sealing formula near Tsunade and Mei Terumi. The attack nearly sparked a clash between the villages, but the leaders ordered their guards to stand down after the trap was revealed.

• Tsunade welcomed Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure delegation at the Konoha Gate, where the leaders exchanged pleasantries about reaching a peace alliance.
• As the delegation prepared to enter Konoha, Shihōin Naraku sensed danger and slammed a Mist Ninja into the ground, then sealed him.
• The Mist Ninja and Konoha guards drew weapons, but Tsunade and Mei Terumi ordered their people to stand down.
• Naraku revealed seals inscribed on the dead Mist Ninja's chest and explained that he had been approaching the leaders to activate them.
• Mei Terumi recognized the formula as a trap that could draw everyone within a hundred meters into a space inside its bearer and drown them.

Mei Terumi recognized that a Mist Ninja had tried to sabotage peace negotiations by killing her and Tsunade, but a second attack interrupted the talks. After Naraku saved Mei and exposed the traitor, she killed him and promised Tsunade that negotiations would continue.

• Mei Terumi concluded that an extremist Mist Ninja had tried to provoke war between Kirigakure and Konohagakure, and she thanked Naraku for intervening.
• As Mei prepared to decide whether negotiations should continue, Naraku cut off the attacker’s arm and hurled an explosive scroll into the sky, saving Mei from the blast.
• Mei recognized the wounded Mist Ninja as Ao, who denounced Konoha and Naraku as Kirigakure’s enemies before collapsing from Kurikara’s soul wounds.
• Mei killed Ao with her Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique, then apologized to Tsunade and said the peace negotiations would continue.

As Konoha debated whether to continue negotiations with Kirigakure, Shihōin Naraku argued that Mei Terumi’s support among Mist Ninja made her position likely to stabilize. At the Kirigakure camp, Mei waited to resolve the attempted assassinations, while Elder Genji ordered a search for those responsible and Kirigakure soon uncovered the truth.

• Utatane Koharu argued that Konoha should suspend negotiations, while Mitokado Homura favored continuing them.
• Tsunade asked Shihōin Naraku for his view, and he explained that Kirigakure’s desire for stability would strengthen Mei Terumi’s position.
• Mei Terumi dismissed her delegation at the camp outside Konoha while suspicion and unrest spread among its members.
• Genji condemned the attacks on Mei Terumi and ordered Mist Ninja to find and eliminate those behind them.
• Kirigakure investigated the attacks and soon discovered the truth.