Chapter Summaries

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.

Shihōin Naraku reviewed his new abilities after drawing Shukaku’s chakra and absorbing two blades, then was ordered to protect Naruto Uzumaki on his first mission outside the village. Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake, and Tazuna departed for the Land of Waves.

• Shihōin Naraku confirmed that Kurikara’s weight adapted to him and learned his mental strength made him immune to genjutsu, including Kotoamatsukami and Infinite Tsukuyomi.
• Shihōin Naraku considered selling a signed copy of Icha Icha Paradise to Jiraiya, then admitted he had skipped work for a week while training.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shihōin Naraku to protect Naruto Uzumaki during the Land of Waves mission and told him to prioritize bringing Naruto home if danger arose.
• Shihōin Naraku accepted the assignment, and Hiruzen Sarutobi warned him to avoid causing a commotion on the trip.
• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake, and Tazuna left Konohagakure for the Land of Waves, where their mission was to deal with petty thugs.

Shihōin Naraku discovered that Zabuza Momochi had vanished after a battle in the Land of Waves, and he and Kakashi Hatake let Team 7 continue the bridge-protection mission without their help. Kakashi then faked an injury, leaving Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno to handle the threats themselves.

• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha dealt with ambushing thugs as Kakashi Hatake's team traveled to the Land of Waves, while Zabuza Momochi never appeared.
• Shihōin Naraku sent ANBU to investigate and learned that Gato had been killed in a battle and Zabuza Momochi had disappeared.
• Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake that Zabuza had left and that only weak thugs and low-level Ninja remained in the Land of Waves.
• Kakashi Hatake led Team 7 in protecting civilians building the bridge and clearing out attacks from thugs and low-level Ninja.
• Kakashi Hatake pretended to be badly injured, leaving Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno to plan how to complete the mission.

Naruto Uzumaki and his teammates completed the bridge mission, and the Land of Waves celebrated the newly finished Great Naruto Bridge as Konoha prepared to secure it. Back in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s leadership discussed Sunagakure’s decision to bring the One-Tail Jinchuriki to the chunin exams, while Shihōin Naraku warned that Sunagakure might act out of desperation.

• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno improved their chakra control while Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku watched over their training.
• Shihōin Naraku explained that the bridge would extend Konoha’s influence, and Konoha arranged to station ninja there after Kirigakure failed to intervene.
• The bridge was completed, the people of the Land of Waves named it the Great Naruto Bridge, and Kakashi Hatake’s team returned to Konoha as garrison personnel headed to the bridge.
• Shihōin Naraku returned to the ANBU base and canceled the ANBU ninja’s time off, prompting Tenzo to ask Yamanaka Tsuki if she had reported them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisers debated why Sunagakure was sending the One-Tail Jinchuriki to the chunin exams, and Shihōin Naraku recommended increased surveillance of the Sand ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved surveillance of the One-Tail Jinchuriki but ordered the others left alone, then felt an unexplained unease as he looked over Konoha.

Orochimaru killed Fourth Kazekage Rasa and several Sunagakure Anbu Ninja, then headed toward Konoha as the village prepared to host the chunin ninja exams. As the exams approached, Shihōin Naraku inspected Konoha’s barrier while Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kimimaro Kaguya watched the village from a nearby mountain.

• Orochimaru killed Fourth Kazekage Rasa and several Sunagakure Anbu Ninja in a desert canyon, while Kimimaro Kaguya’s illness worsened and Kabuto Yakushi helped with the ambush.
• Orochimaru praised Kabuto’s training under Naraku and looked forward to returning to Konoha to face his former teacher.
• Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi recommended their teams for the chunin ninja exams, and Konoha selected eighty-seven participants.
• Iruka-sensei objected to Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno taking the exams so soon, but Kakashi defended their readiness.
• Shihōin Naraku checked that the Barrier Team stayed alert as visitors poured into Konoha for the exams.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kimimaro Kaguya watched Konoha from a mountain as Orochimaru imagined the village destroyed.

Shihōin Naraku investigated Konoha’s sealed No. 0 Training Ground and discovered Shimura Danzō’s secret research base. Meanwhile, the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams began in the Forest of Death as Jiraiya considered returning to Konoha.

• Naruto Uzumaki’s speech ended the first round of the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the candidates began the second round in the Forest of Death under Mitaraishi Anko’s supervision.
• Shihōin Naraku spotted Orochimaru disguised as a Kusagakure Ninja but left without exposing him, and Orochimaru noticed Naraku had been watching.
• Jiraiya heard that Sunagakure had brought the One-Tail Jinchuriki to the exams and considered visiting Konoha before becoming distracted by a beautiful woman.
• Shihōin Naraku entered the abandoned No. 0 Training Ground and evaded the guards by using Observation Haki to locate their ambushes.
• Shihōin Naraku found Shimura Danzō’s hidden laboratory, where Yashiro Ao and researchers were conducting Wood Release research and keeping several Sharingan in vessels.