Chapter Summaries

At the Five Kage Summit, Shikaku proposed that Konoha host the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, inviting shinobi clans and factions from across the world and covering all costs. The Four Kage remained wary of how much prestige Konoha and Shihōin Naraku would gain, leaving the proposal under discussion.

• Shikaku proposed expanding the Chunin Ninja Exams into Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials open to clans and factions throughout the Shinobi World.
• Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, Burūi, and Gaara questioned the timing, scale, and cost of holding the trials after the war.
• Naraku told the Four Kage to hear Shikaku out before giving their opinions.
• Shikaku announced that Konoha would host the trials in May of the following year and pay all expenses.
• The Four Kage examined Konoha's preparations but hesitated, concerned that Konoha and Naraku would gain too much prestige.

Shihōin Naraku proposed that Konoha host the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, but the other Kage feared the event would strengthen Konoha’s influence. He offered a rotating hosting arrangement, leaving them to consider the proposal.

• Gaara, Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, and Burūi hesitated to support the trials because their villages lacked resources and feared Konoha would gain most from hosting.
• Shihōin Naraku argued that the trials would raise morale and help villages identify promising Genin after the war.
• Naraku recognized that forcing agreement could lead the other villages to send unqualified participants and undermine the event.
• Naraku offered for Konoha to cover the first trials’ costs and proposed that the Five Great Shinobi Villages take turns hosting future events.
• Naraku guaranteed that Konoha would not host again until every nation had taken a turn, and the conference room fell silent.

Naraku persuaded the Four Kage to support Konoha’s first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials by promising that the villages would take turns hosting future events. The Kage agreed to participate and began discussing the event’s rules, eligibility standards, and oversight.

• Naraku assured Kurotsuchi, Burūi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara that the Five Great Shinobi Villages would take turns hosting the trials.
• Gaara agreed on behalf of Sunagakure, and Kurotsuchi agreed on behalf of Iwagakure after considering the benefits to her village.
• Naraku set the first event for May next year, seven months later, and said the Five Kage would decide the next event’s timing and location afterward.
• Burūi agreed for Kumogakure but questioned the expense of inviting small factions, while Naraku proposed that the Five Kage jointly establish eligibility rules.
• Mei Terumi agreed for Kirigakure after Naraku accepted her request for shared oversight and allowed other villages to send proctors.
• Naraku said the Kage would review Konoha’s prepared rules and regulations, including the eligibility standards and first-round format.

Naraku and the Four Kage reviewed Kakashi's Chunin Ninja Exams plan through the night, with Shikaku answering their questions. They adjourned until morning, and Shikaku told Naraku that the Kage's focus on protecting their own villages' interests made a hostile turn unlikely.

• The Four Kage questioned Shikaku about Kakashi's detailed exam plan while Naraku observed.
• As the meeting stretched late into the night, Burūi, Kurotsuchi, and Mei Terumi showed signs of fatigue.
• Naraku ended the meeting and told the Kage they would discuss the remaining details the next day.
• The Four Kage left with their escorts, while Shikaku stayed to organize the documents.
• Shikaku told Naraku that the Kage's questions showed they wanted their people treated fairly, making hostility unlikely at the next meeting.
• Naraku and Shikaku left the conference room to rest before continuing the discussions in the morning.

Gaara, Temari, and Baki discussed the Five Kage Summit’s decisions, including cooperation against the Ōtsutsuki Clan and the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials. Sunagakure agreed to participate and began planning how to choose and prepare its young ninja.

• Gaara told Baki that the summit had reached a consensus and accepted Konoha’s decision to keep some information about Otsutsuki Toneri private.
• Temari explained that the villages would strengthen communication to guard against threats from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, a proposal Gaara supported.
• Temari gave Baki the documents for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, and Baki said Sunagakure should focus on gaining practical benefits rather than competing to host.
• Gaara and Baki agreed that Sunagakure would participate without providing the event’s funding or manpower.
• Baki noted that the trials would take place next May and said Sunagakure needed to begin selecting and training its participants.

Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Burūi spent the night considering the proposed Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials and their villages’ plans. The Five Kage resumed their meeting in Konoha, where they addressed practical details of the inaugural trials.

• Baki explained that Sunagakure could improve its finances if its Genin impressed the Daimyo or attracted mission commissions, and Gaara agreed to prepare after the meeting finalized its plans.
• Temari named Chōjūrō, C, Akatsuchi, and Shikaku Nara as notable representatives accompanying the other Kage, and Gaara said Sunagakure could not embarrass itself at the trials.
• Kurotsuchi discussed Iwagakure’s recovery with an accompanying Jonin and decided to consider hosting a Chunin Ninja Exam in three years after seeing how Konoha’s trials went.
• Mei Terumi told Chōjūrō that the success of the proposals depended on the meeting and called Shihōin Naraku a difficult Hokage to deal with.
• The Five Kage resumed their meeting at ten, and Shikaku Nara answered questions about testing grounds, proctor numbers, and accommodations for the Daimyo.

Shihōin Naraku and the Four Kage finalized the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, setting them for May seventeenth of next year in Konoha. After the Kage departed, Naraku assigned Kakashi Hatake to organize the event’s implementation.

• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Burūi approved the final proposal, and Naraku declared the trials would be held in Konoha on May seventeenth of next year.
• Mei Terumi visited a Konoha ninja tool shop with Chōjūrō, while Kurotsuchi viewed the village from the path to Hokage Rock.
• The Four Kage departed Konoha the following morning after saying farewell to Naraku.
• Naraku returned to his office and summoned Kakashi Hatake, then gave him responsibility for arranging the trials’ venue, assessments, proctors, and logistical support.
• Kakashi reluctantly accepted Naraku’s assignment.

Naraku and Kakashi prepared Konoha for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, while the Search Team discovered two more damaged ruins with no useful intelligence. Naraku concluded that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki remained hidden inside Jigen and had not yet found a suitable vessel.

• Naraku asked Kakashi to draft implementation guidelines for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, and Kakashi delivered a revised plan that Naraku approved as final.
• Konoha gradually prepared for the trials by making small repairs, selecting examiners, approving venues, and coordinating logistics.
• The Search Team found two more ancient sites in the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, but the Analysis Team recovered little decipherable information.
• Naraku told the ANBU to keep the search at its current pace and not force results from the damaged ruins.
• Naraku reflected that Sasuke had found no trace of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and reasoned that Isshiki was still living inside Jigen and was not yet at his peak.

Shihōin Naraku sent Naruto to join Sasuke’s Search Team and investigate the Ōtsutsuki Clan while preparations for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials continued. Naruto headed for the team’s rendezvous point in the northern Land of Rivers, and Naraku returned to his paperwork while considering the possibility of an attack during the exams.

• Shihōin Naraku decided to send Naruto to assist Sasuke’s Search Team in finding clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Naraku gave Naruto a transfer order and told him to follow Sasuke’s orders and avoid acting recklessly.
• Naraku gave Naruto directions to a rendezvous point in the northern Land of Rivers and explained that the team had to return before the selection trials began.
• Naruto left to meet the Search Team, promising to find clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Naraku returned to reviewing preparations and wondered whether the Chunin exams might bring a Konoha Crush Plan.

Naruto prepared to leave Konoha for the Land of Rivers to join Sasuke’s Search Team and track down Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. After saying goodbye to Sakura and Iruka, he headed to the Hyuga Clan’s residence to see Hinata.

• Naruto packed his belongings and set out for the Konoha Gate, then remembered to tell Sakura and the others where he was going.
• Naruto told Sakura that Shihōin Naraku had assigned him to join Sasuke’s Search Team in the Land of Rivers, and Sakura gave him medical supplies and urged him to be careful.
• Naruto visited Iruka, explained his mission, and received a reminder to listen to Sasuke and an offer of Ichiraku Ramen when he returned.
• Naruto went to the Hyuga Clan’s residence to see Hinata, where a clan member welcomed him and led him inside.

Naruto left Konoha for the Land of Rivers to join Sasuke’s search for clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan, carrying military rations Hinata had prepared for him. Sasuke received word of Naruto’s arrival and went to meet him while the Search Team continued investigating.

• Naruto told Hinata he was leaving on a mission and reassured her when she worried about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Hinata gave Naruto a pouch of homemade military rations, and he promised to return safely.
• Naruto left Konoha and ran north toward the Land of Rivers.
• Shihōin Naraku watched Naruto depart and sent orders to the Search Team by ninja hawk.
• Sasuke examined strange tracks, received Naraku’s message that Naruto was coming, and set off to meet him.

Sasuke met Naruto at the rendezvous point in the Land of Rivers and brought him back to the Search Team’s camp. Naruto’s arrival was warmly welcomed by the Jonin, and the team prepared to resume searching the ruins the next morning.

• Sasuke fired a signal flare and waited until Naruto arrived at the rendezvous point.
• Sasuke told Naruto that the team had found more clues near the ruins and might still uncover something useful.
• Sasuke brought Naruto to the camp, where the Jonin greeted him enthusiastically and recalled his actions during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
• Sasuke called off the search for the night and told everyone to rest before resuming in the morning.
• Naruto told Sasuke he was surprised that everyone remembered him, and Sasuke teased him about his memory.

Sasuke told Naruto about a newly discovered ruin with symbols resembling those in Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s ruins, and Naruto agreed to inspect the area with him. The next morning they reached the damaged stone chamber, where Naruto began searching for anything the Analysis Team had missed.

• Sasuke showed Naruto a map and explained that a damaged ruin had been found about twenty li north of their camp.
• Sasuke said a Search Team member had accidentally broken a stone wall, revealing clues that might point to other nearby ruins.
• Naruto agreed to use Sage Mode to search the area and asked Sasuke whether they would find Ōtsutsuki Isshiki in the Shinobi World.
• The next morning, Sasuke and Naruto left camp and traveled to the stone chamber while the rest of the Search Team continued looking for possible ruins.
• Naruto inspected the chamber’s familiar carvings and spotted the hole left by the demolished wall, though Sasuke said the recovered items had already been taken to Konoha.

Naruto and Sasuke found no clues in the stone chamber and continued searching the Land of Rivers border. Naruto eventually detected a chakra signature beneath an area Huangyan had already searched, and the Search Team set out to investigate it.

• Naruto used Sage Mode to search the stone chamber, found nothing, and left with Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke returned to camp and split up to recheck areas the Search Team had already searched.
• After two days of fruitless searching, Naruto detected a faint chakra signature and a large underground space about thirty to forty meters beneath the ground.
• Naruto fired the Search Team's signal flare, and Sasuke and the other Jonin gathered at the hill.
• Huangyan said his earlier Rock Release investigation had revealed only solid rock, but Naruto suggested that natural energy sensing might detect what ordinary chakra sensing could not.
• Sasuke led the Search Team toward the underground space, with Naruto eager to guide them.

Naruto and Sasuke led the search team to a concealed underground passage, which the jonin uncovered and cleared. The group entered the passage to investigate the vast base, unsure whether it belonged to Orochimaru, Obito, or someone connected to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

• Naruto located a hidden passage beneath a patch of bushes and directed the team to its blocked entrance.
• Huangyan used Earth Release to split open the ground, revealing the artificial stone passage below.
• Sasuke ordered the jonin to clear the rubble, and they opened more than ten meters of passage.
• Sasuke left Mikazuki and Tetsufune to guard the entrance while he, Naruto, Huangyan, and the other jonin went underground.
• As the team explored the passage, Naruto wondered whether Orochimaru or Obito had built the underground base.

The Search Team discovered an enormous underground hall and a mural depicting the God Tree, confirming the ruin was connected to the Ōtsutsuki. Sasuke and Naruto split up to search its passages, but Sasuke’s group found an empty chamber and continued onward.

• The Search Team entered a vast hall with three passages and a damaged dome.
• Naruto noticed a mural overhead showing the God Tree, its roots, and a fruit.
• Sasuke concluded the base was unrelated to Orochimaru or Obito, and Naruto guessed it was connected to Kaguya.
• Sasuke ordered the Jonin to document the hall and inspect the passages, then split up with Naruto to search them.
• Sasuke and a Jonin inspected an empty, carefully cleared stone chamber and continued their search.

Naruto and Sasuke searched the underground passages and found that the chambers had been thoroughly emptied, with only signs of past use and a tiny pottery shard remaining. Their team concluded that the base had been deliberately abandoned and sealed several years earlier, around the time part of its ceiling collapsed.

• Naruto and Yuan found projectile marks in one chamber and inferred that it had once been used for training, but discovered nothing else there.
• Naruto searched the chambers again on the way back and found traces of beds, tables, and shelves, though all the objects had been removed.
• Naruto met Sasuke, who reported that his passage was also empty and estimated the rooms had been cleared at least two or three years earlier.
• Two Jonin reported that nine chambers in the right-hand passage had been living quarters and handed Sasuke a tiny pottery shard for the Analysis Team.
• Sasuke sent two more people to help clear the rubble, then led the team in concluding that the base had been deliberately emptied and abandoned several years earlier.

Sasuke and the Search Team concluded that the Underground Base had been deliberately abandoned and confirmed its connection to the Ōtsutsuki, though its origins remained uncertain. After clearing the rubble, they uncovered part of a mural depicting the Ten-Tails, leading them to suspect the base belonged to Isshiki rather than Kaguya.

• Sasuke explained that the base had been cleaned during a planned evacuation, and the Search Team discussed whether it was connected to Kaguya or Isshiki.
• The ninja cleared the remaining rubble, allowing Naruto to spot surviving lines in the mural above the northeastern corner.
• Sasuke and the Jonin recognized the lines as a possible depiction of the Ten-Tails and ordered the rubble searched for mural fragments.
• Sasuke noted that the mural's depiction of the Ten-Tails differed from Kaguya-era ruins, and Naruto agreed the base likely had nothing to do with Kaguya.
• Yuan suggested the base might have belonged to Isshiki, and Naruto urged everyone to search the passages carefully for clues.

The Search Team searched the Underground Base more thoroughly and found evidence of a laboratory, a workshop, and a food warehouse, suggesting many people had once lived there. Sasuke concluded that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki or his followers may have operated the base for a long time, though its connection to Kaguya's era and Isshiki's supposedly solitary habits left the mystery unresolved.

• Sasuke organized the Search Team into three groups and instructed them to search the passages, rooms, and underground hall for hidden spaces and overlooked clues.
• Naruto and his group searched the stone chambers carefully, and Sasuke identified experimental marks that suggested one chamber had been a laboratory.
• The teams found dark residue likely left by maintained ninja tools, along with heavy-object drag marks and food crumbs that pointed to a workshop and a supply warehouse.
• The Search Team moved its Temporary Camp near the base and shared their findings around a bonfire.
• Sasuke and Naruto reasoned that the base had housed many people, and Sasuke said Isshiki's history might be incomplete and that his serious injuries could explain why he needed others.

Sasuke and Naruto concluded that the Underground Base had been one of Isshiki’s strongholds and that he had a hidden organization serving him. After Sasuke’s team reported their findings to Konoha, Naraku received the urgent message and read it.

• Sasuke and Naruto reasoned that the base’s size and supplies suggested many people had lived and worked there for a long time.
• A jonin reported that two mural fragments showed part of the Ten-Tails, strengthening Sasuke’s conclusion that the base was linked to Isshiki.
• Sasuke concluded that Isshiki had an organization of at least ten people helping him gather intelligence, maintain bases, and prepare supplies.
• Sasuke decided to notify Konoha and continue searching the Underground Base the next day, while Naruto told everyone to rest.
• Naraku received Sasuke’s Priority A report from the Search Team and read it with interest.