Chapter Summaries

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki examined Kara’s Karma experiments as test subjects died or suffered severe reactions, while the most compatible boy remained unstable. Fearing Shihōin Naraku would soon find him, Isshiki ordered harsher, more frequent experiments to find a new vessel.

• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki inspected cultivation tanks holding captured people and found that the boy in tank 17 had the highest compatibility rate at 6.8%.
• A researcher told Isshiki that the boy’s condition was stable but Karma had caused a violent reaction that cost him an arm, and that more than seventeen test subjects had died.
• Isshiki reviewed the poor compatibility results and ordered the surviving subjects’ rates recalculated and experiments intensified, including forced Karma inscriptions on unsuitable candidates.
• Isshiki told Kara’s Inner Circle that Shihōin Naraku left him little time to find a vessel, and vowed to capture more test subjects if the current group failed.
• Isshiki inspected compartments holding surviving Karma recipients with unusual changes, then returned to a stone chair and closed his eyes.

After Ōtsutsuki Isshiki destroyed Kara’s secret bases, the villages strengthened their defenses while their leaders worried about a possible attack. The chapter left Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi discussing when they would leave for Konoha.

• Baki ordered Sunagakure’s patrols to keep watch over the dunes while Gaara was away in Konoha.
• Burūi and C reviewed Kumogakure’s defenses and agreed to attend the joint Chunin exams despite the danger.
• Chōjūrō ordered Kirigakure to expand its sea patrols and watch for unidentified vessels while Mei Terumi traveled to Konoha.
• Akatsuchi reported that Iwagakure’s patrols had set out and its exits were sealed.
• Akatsuchi asked Kurotsuchi when they would leave for Konoha, and she wondered if they were leaving that day.

Shihōin Naraku prepared Konoha for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials despite the threat from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, insisting that the exams proceed as scheduled. At Isshiki’s ruined base, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha prepared to finish collecting intelligence and return to Konoha, while Sasuke worried that Naruto might be ambushed.

• Shikaku Nara told Shihōin Naraku that the villages had tightened security and that some had suggested postponing the exams, but Naraku refused to cancel them.
• Shikaku explained the exam schedule and security measures, including jonin guards and Flying Thunder God Formulas at the venues.
• Naraku reviewed the participating villages’ team rosters and reaffirmed that the Chunin Ninja Exams would proceed as scheduled.
• Naruto Uzumaki told the ANBU members to rest before returning to Konoha the next morning, while Sasuke Uchiha stayed to finish searching Isshiki’s underground base.
• Naruto argued that Isshiki was unlikely to attack after destroying his own bases, but Sasuke warned that Isshiki might know their movements and ambush Naruto.

Naruto warned Sasuke that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki might attack the base after Naruto left, and Sasuke urged Naruto to call for help if danger arose. In the Alternate Space, Isshiki sensed two presences and realized they belonged to fellow Ōtsutsuki who had contacted him across time and space.

• Naruto warned Sasuke that Isshiki might target the base and its occupants after Naruto departed with the remains.
• Sasuke told Naruto not to face danger alone and to use his Flying Thunder God Formula to ask the Hokage for help.
• Isshiki sensed two presences in his Alternate Space and initially suspected Shihōin Naraku had infiltrated it.
• Isshiki realized the two presences had been transmitted into the space rather than entering it.
• Isshiki recognized the presences as belonging to his Ōtsutsuki kin, who had descended upon the world.

Isshiki learned that Momoshiki and Kinshiki had arrived in the Shinobi World and met them while concealing his weakened state. Momoshiki mocked him and declared that they had come to question him over the failed God Tree mission and missing Chakra Fruit.

• Isshiki sensed two Ōtsutsuki presences and decided to investigate, wary that his weakened condition might invite them to seize his assets.
• Momoshiki and Kinshiki waited on a mountain peak in the Land of Earth and confirmed Isshiki was nearby.
• Isshiki appeared before them as a projection and identified Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
• Momoshiki mocked Isshiki for his phantom form and Kaguya's betrayal, but Isshiki calmly asked why they had come.
• Momoshiki recounted the mission to plant the God Tree and deliver its Chakra Fruit, then said he and Kinshiki had come to question Isshiki and hold him accountable.

Momoshiki challenged Isshiki’s authority by recounting his failure on the planet and mocking his weakened state. Isshiki restrained his anger as Momoshiki demanded freedom to act in the coming mission, and asked what he planned to do.

• Isshiki rebuked Momoshiki for his disrespect and insisted that his seniority gave him higher standing in the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Momoshiki acknowledged Isshiki’s rank but argued that his failure to control Kaguya had cost him the Chakra Fruit and left him gravely wounded.
• Momoshiki mocked Isshiki for surviving for a thousand years in an inferior creature’s body and questioned whether he deserved to speak of standing.
• Isshiki’s projection trembled with fury, but he suppressed his urge to attack because the two could not afford to fall out yet.
• Momoshiki said he would stop mocking Isshiki for admitting his failure, then demanded that Isshiki not hold him back during the mission ahead.
• Isshiki narrowed his eyes and asked Momoshiki what he planned to do.

Momoshiki told Isshiki that he intended to plant the God Tree and harvest its fruit, but Isshiki exposed his wariness about facing Shihōin Naraku. Momoshiki chose to test the waters by going with Kinshiki to the Land of Rivers, where they watched the camp holding the fox and the Rinnegan and decided to wait until the next day.

• Momoshiki summoned Isshiki to announce his mission and warned him not to interfere.
• Isshiki challenged Momoshiki's confidence against Shihōin Naraku and accused him of seeking help as a fallback.
• Momoshiki admitted that Shihōin Naraku was troublesome but insisted he could still complete the mission.
• Momoshiki decided to test the waters and traveled with Kinshiki to the Land of Rivers.
• Momoshiki spotted the camp holding the fox and the Rinnegan, but told Kinshiki to let them have one final peaceful night.

Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki watched Naruto Uzumaki’s camp through the night, planning to attack at dawn. Naruto unexpectedly left for Konoha, and Momoshiki had not yet decided whether to pursue or attack the remaining team.

• Momoshiki Otsutsuki watched the camp with Kinshiki and identified Naruto’s powerful Nine-Tails chakra as a source for strength-enhancing pills.
• Momoshiki chose to let the camp enjoy one final peaceful night before attacking at dawn.
• As dawn broke, Naruto and several ninja packed their gear, revealing they planned to leave the camp.
• Kinshiki asked whether they should attack, but Momoshiki observed Naruto’s departure without giving an order.
• Naruto said goodbye to Sasuke Uchiha and headed back to the village, while Sasuke told the remaining ninja to finish quickly and return.

Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki followed Naruto Uzumaki from the camp, choosing to ambush him in a narrow river valley before he reached the Land of Fire. They appeared in front of Naruto’s team and ordered him to surrender.

• Momoshiki abandoned his plan to attack Sasuke and Naruto at camp, and he and Kinshiki used a spatial portal to follow Naruto’s party.
• Naruto and several Jonin traveled east through the Land of Rivers toward Konohagakure, unaware that Momoshiki and Kinshiki were trailing them.
• Momoshiki decided to wait until Naruto reached the narrowest part of the river valley, where Sasuke would have less time to intervene.
• Naruto stopped when Momoshiki and Kinshiki emerged from a spatial rift less than a hundred meters ahead.
• Momoshiki called Naruto “Fox” and ordered him to surrender.

Momoshiki and Kinshiki ambushed Naruto and the ANBU team, with Kinshiki overwhelming Naruto in a rapid assault. As Kinshiki rushed to finish Naruto, two ANBU ninjas combined Fire and Wind Release against Momoshiki.

• Naruto mistook Momoshiki for Isshiki, then noticed Kinshiki and realized another Ōtsutsuki might be in the Shinobi World.
• Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to attack, and Kinshiki struck Naruto with blazing chakra claws.
• Naruto dodged Kinshiki’s first blows, but Kinshiki eventually kicked him into a cliff and hurried after him.
• Two ANBU ninjas cornered Momoshiki and used an Earth Release wall to funnel him into their combined Fire and Wind Release attack.
• Momoshiki finally moved as the amplified flames rushed toward him.

Momoshiki absorbed and returned an ANBU member’s Fire Release, killing both ANBU, while Naruto battled Kinshiki in Sage Fox Mode. Naruto struck Kinshiki with a Big Ball Rasengan and left him embedded in a shattered mountainside.

• Momoshiki absorbed the ANBU’s flames and sent them back as a stronger fire attack, killing both ANBU members.
• Naruto emerged from the crater and entered Sage Fox Mode as Kinshiki charged at him.
• Naruto summoned over a hundred Shadow Clones, but Kinshiki destroyed them with a sweeping strike from his naginata.
• Naruto hit Kinshiki with a Rasengan, then used the Shadow Clones to distract him and attack from behind.
• Naruto struck Kinshiki with a Big Ball Rasengan, hurling him into the mountainside and embedding him in the rock.

Naruto fought Kinshiki as Momoshiki watched, then learned that the pair wanted the Nine-Tails inside him. Momoshiki absorbed Naruto’s Rasengan and triggered a massive explosion, prompting Sasuke to race toward the battlefield.

• Momoshiki urged Kinshiki to finish the fight, and Kinshiki unleashed more of his power against Naruto.
• Naruto and Kinshiki traded blows and clashed Rasengan against weapons created with Bōshijin, sending both fighters flying.
• Naruto confronted Momoshiki, who demanded that he hand over the Nine-Tails; Naruto refused and attacked him.
• Momoshiki absorbed Naruto’s Rasengan with his Rinnegan, then caused a tremendous explosion.
• Sasuke saw the explosion from the Land of Rivers’ border, realized Naruto and the others were in danger, and rushed toward them.

Naruto fought Momoshiki and Kinshiki in a river valley, discovering that Momoshiki could absorb and return ninjutsu while Kinshiki overwhelmed him in close combat. Naruto filled the valley with hundreds or thousands of shadow clones, and Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to use an area attack.

• Naruto dodged Kinshiki’s strike and realized Momoshiki had absorbed his Rasengan and returned a stronger attack.
• Kinshiki drove Naruto into the ground with his naginata, but Naruto protected himself with Nine-Tails Chakra Arms.
• Naruto used shadow clones to distract Kinshiki and attack him, but Momoshiki’s flames forced Naruto to dodge before Kinshiki struck and injured him.
• Momoshiki told Naruto that his ninjutsu was useless and that he could not defeat both opponents in close combat, but Naruto responded by summoning hundreds or thousands of shadow clones.
• Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to use an area attack, and Kinshiki spun his chakra-charged naginata.

Naruto’s Shadow Clones overwhelmed Kinshiki and distracted Momoshiki, who drained Naruto’s chakra while holding him captive. One clone kicked Naruto free, leaving him badly weakened as Momoshiki turned furious.

• Naruto sent over a hundred Shadow Clones to swarm Kinshiki and slow him down.
• Naruto struck Momoshiki’s Rinnegan palm and began losing his chakra as Momoshiki seized him by the neck.
• Momoshiki blasted the charging Shadow Clones with fire and a dark red chakra sphere while Kinshiki remained occupied.
• A Shadow Clone used the smoke as cover and kicked Naruto out of Momoshiki’s grasp.
• Naruto landed in the river valley with his chakra cloak nearly gone, and Momoshiki reacted with genuine anger.

Naruto used a mass of Shadow Clones to stall Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki while Kurama gathered Chakra to restore his Sage Fox state. As the clones dwindled, Momoshiki began moving toward Naruto’s hiding place, leaving Naruto unsure whether he had been found.

• Kurama told Naruto that his Sage Fox state had ended after Momoshiki absorbed some Chakra, and began gathering Chakra to enter Sage Mode again.
• Naruto summoned over a thousand Shadow Clones to hold off Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki while Kurama recovered.
• Kinshiki and Momoshiki cut through the clones as Naruto concealed his real body among them and used the terrain to evade capture.
• Momoshiki recognized that Naruto was stalling and ordered Kinshiki to search for his real body.
• As the number of clones fell below half, Naruto saw Momoshiki stepping in his direction and wondered whether he had been discovered.

Naruto struggled to evade Momoshiki and Kinshiki while the Nine-Tails gathered chakra, leaving him nearly cornered. The Nine-Tails reminded Naruto that he could use the ANBU's Communication Technique to summon Shihōin Naraku.

• Naruto created more shadow clones and retreated while Momoshiki swept the battlefield for his real body.
• Momoshiki fired waves of black chakra rods, destroying the shadow clones as Naruto fled.
• Kinshiki toppled part of the rock wall and blocked Naruto's escape route.
• Naruto hid as Momoshiki and Kinshiki closed in, while the Nine-Tails struggled to gather enough chakra.
• The Nine-Tails reminded Naruto to activate the ANBU's Communication Technique so Shihōin Naraku could sense his location and come to his aid.

Naruto Uzumaki managed to activate Shihōin Naraku’s emergency signal while Momoshiki and Kinshiki cornered him, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki watched from afar without intervening. The chapter left the battle’s outcome uncertain as Naraku attended a meeting in Konoha, unaware that a drastic change had just swept through the river valley.

• Naruto recalled the emergency technique and activated the mark on his chest while dodging Momoshiki’s black rods.
• Momoshiki identified Naruto as the original and ordered Kinshiki to block his escape.
• Naruto was trapped and stood his ground before Momoshiki’s attack engulfed the river valley in an explosion.
• Isshiki watched Momoshiki and Kinshiki prepare to capture Naruto, considered intervening, then decided to leave.
• A sudden change swept through the river valley just as Isshiki was about to return to his Alternate Space.
• In Konoha, Naraku told Jiraiya that Naruto and his companions were expected to arrive that afternoon.

Naraku learned that Naruto and the others had been attacked and rushed to their aid after the Communication Technique was dispelled. In Konoha, Tsunade assigned the others to follow their emergency plan while keeping the attack secret; meanwhile, Naruto was left badly injured as Momoshiki and Kinshiki approached.

• Naraku sensed that the Communication Technique had been dispelled and announced that Naruto and the others had been attacked.
• Naraku summoned Kurikara and vanished from the conference room to reach Naruto's group.
• Kakashi identified Ōtsutsuki Isshiki as a likely enemy, and Tsunade ordered the village to follow its emergency plan without pursuing Naraku.
• Tsunade assigned Kakashi, Shikaku, and Jiraiya their duties and ordered them to keep the attack and Naraku's departure secret.
• Naruto survived a devastating explosion but was injured and struggled to stand as Momoshiki and Kinshiki approached him.

Naraku arrived just as Momoshiki was about to capture the exhausted Naruto, then confronted Momoshiki and Kinshiki. He wounded Kinshiki with a sudden sword strike, leaving Momoshiki unable to explain Naraku’s speed.

• Momoshiki and Kinshiki prepared to take Naruto alive while Naruto waited desperately for Naraku to arrive.
• Naruto charged Momoshiki with a kunai, but Naraku appeared and cut through the chakra rod aimed at him.
• Naraku caught Naruto and confirmed that his main problem was depleted chakra, then recognized Momoshiki and Kinshiki as his attackers.
• Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to attack Naraku, but Naraku vanished and pierced Kinshiki beneath the ribs with his Black Blade.
• Momoshiki searched for signs of teleportation or space-time techniques but found none and could not understand Naraku’s speed.

Shihōin Naraku overwhelmed Momoshiki and Kinshiki with his speed and swordsmanship, severing Momoshiki’s horns and driving Kinshiki back. As Naraku struck Kinshiki’s naginata aside, Momoshiki launched a massive, lightning-wreathed chakra sphere at him.

• Momoshiki chose to fight alongside Kinshiki rather than retreat, hoping to test Naraku’s strength.
• Naraku wounded Kinshiki with Kurikara, then dodged Momoshiki’s volley of chakra rods and cut off Momoshiki’s horns.
• Naraku mocked the Ōtsutsuki Clan and rushed Kinshiki, knocking aside his all-out naginata strike and hurling him through a boulder.
• Momoshiki attacked Naraku from midair with a huge, rapidly spinning chakra sphere wreathed in purple lightning.