Chapter Summaries

Danzo watched Orochimaru rampage against Hashirama and Madara while wrestling with the consequences of resurrection and the Empire’s place in a world dominated by exceptional fighters. He ordered Shikaku to investigate what happened before Orochimaru transformed and ask whether Takahashi had returned, while resolving to restrict Orochimaru’s research.

• Danzo recalled his argument with Sarutobi over research into resurrection as an energy cannon struck Orochimaru, whose black liquid proved highly corrosive.
• Chōza told Danzo that veterans were charging into battle to earn military merit because they no longer feared death, prompting Danzo to consider punishing them and restricting Samsara Rebirth.
• Shikaku said that strategy was pointless against an enemy of Orochimaru’s strength, and Danzo worried about the Empire’s future in a world shaped by a few extraordinary figures.
• Shikaku suggested Orochimaru could become a stabilizing pillar of the Empire, but Danzo rejected the idea that the Empire should keep stimulating his research.
• Danzo sent Shikaku to question a researcher holding part of a White Zetsu head about Orochimaru taking Shunji’s eyes to the Laboratory before running outside, and to find out whether Takahashi had returned.

Madara and Hashirama attacked Orochimaru’s evolving monster, which adapted to their techniques and struck back with Wood Release. As Hashirama tried to seal it, Madara questioned a researcher’s soul about the clans whose cells Orochimaru had used.

• The monster regenerated from the Chakra Cannon barrage, developed tiny pits, and fired blasts across Konoha, killing survivors and destroying the remaining buildings.
• Hashirama and Madara attacked the monster with Wood Release: Hotei Technique and Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands combined with Majestic Attire: Susanoo, but their strikes made no solid contact.
• Madara warned Hashirama that Orochimaru’s body might be adapting to their attacks, and a Wood Dragon emerged from the smoke and cracked their Susanoo barrier.
• Hashirama summoned the Gate of the Great God to press down on the monster while Madara seized a researcher’s soul and asked which clans’ cells Orochimaru had used.
• The researcher said Orochimaru had used every clan with anything special about it.

Orochimaru transformed into a monster and unleashed a chakra barrage that overwhelmed Madara and Hashirama’s defenses, while his chakra subjected Madara to a storm of hostile wills. After Hashirama rescued Madara from the blast, Madara realized Orochimaru was still fighting inside himself, and the two planned to use the Spirit Transformation Technique to enter that battle.

• Madara and Hashirama saw Orochimaru break free of the Gate of the Great God and gather natural energy as cursed seals spread over his body.
• Orochimaru fired a chakra beam at the giant Buddha, and Madara’s Absorption Seal absorbed chakra carrying a devastating torrent of mental wills.
• Hashirama cut off Madara’s chakra flow, carried him away, and used Fivefold Rashomon to shield them from the beam’s explosion.
• Madara recovered and told Hashirama that Orochimaru remained conscious and was fighting many forces inside himself, including the Shinigami summoned by the Uzumaki Clan.
• Hashirama suggested the Spirit Transformation Technique, and Madara asked him to locate the person who knew it so Madara could copy it with his Rinnegan.

Jiraiya and the Toad Sages used their powerful sound genjutsu on Orochimaru’s black monster, but the technique trapped the Shinigami instead. As the monster shrank, Hashirama and Madara continued toward Tsunade, with Madara resolving to be resurrected at full strength.

• The Toad Sages began the Toad Confrontation Chant, and Hashirama and Madara resisted its battlefield-wide genjutsu before setting off to find Tsunade.
• Jiraiya and the Toad Sages completed the genjutsu, immobilizing a figure inside its barrier.
• Jiraiya discovered that the trapped figure was the frightening Shinigami rather than Orochimaru, and he and the Toad Sages questioned whether to cancel the technique.
• The black monster shrank as the genjutsu took effect, while Hashirama sensed Tsunade nearby and urged Madara onward.
• Madara reflected on the battlefield’s lack of attachment to life and decided he would need to be resurrected at full strength.

At Konoha's shelter, Uchiha Daisheng and the younger Uchiha subdued a boy whose grief-stricken talk of creating a world with Xiaomei triggered the clan's rules. Hashirama then took Black Zetsu from Tsunade to help with the crisis, while Madara dismissed the battered boy's three-tomoe Sharingan and ordered the Uchiha to continue.

• A grieving Uchiha boy worried that Xiaomei could not be resurrected and shouted that he would create a world with her in it.
• Uchiha Daisheng cited the Uchiha Clan Rules and led the young Uchiha in beating the boy and making him quiet.
• Tsunade comforted the trembling Black Zetsu while assuming Hashirama could handle Orochimaru's crisis.
• Hashirama rushed into the shelter and took Black Zetsu from Tsunade, despite her protests.
• Madara heard what the boy had said, examined his Sharingan, found only three tomoe, and told the Uchiha to carry on.

Hashirama urged Black Zetsu to demonstrate the Spirit Transformation Technique so Madara could support Orochimaru, but the seal on Black Zetsu prevented him from using it and no one knew how to remove it. As Orochimaru’s monster form shrank, Madara explained that Orochimaru was only buying time, then sensed that his blade had returned.

• Hashirama shook Black Zetsu and pressed him to use the Spirit Transformation Technique, while Tsunade defended him as a patient.
• Black Zetsu declared that he would teach Madara the technique and help Orochimaru, but revealed that Danzo’s seal blocked him from leaving his body.
• Tsunade, Hashirama, and Madara admitted that none of them knew how to undo the seal, leaving Black Zetsu disappointed.
• Orochimaru’s monster form shrank, and Madara said Orochimaru was trying to gain control and build defenses while the old ghost remained.
• Danzo arrived with Shikaku and reported that Chōza was down and Inoichi was looking after him; Madara warned that Jiraiya’s sound-based genjutsu would not hold the spiritual opponent for long.
• Madara sensed that his blade had returned and suppressed an excited smile.

Hatake Sakumo used a conviction-laden slash to purge the ancient souls from Orochimaru and stop the crisis. As Orochimaru’s body shrank, Mito Uzumaki sensed a familiar presence within a Genjutsu Barrier nearby.

• Hatake Sakumo drew the White Fang and unleashed a slash that challenged the Black Monster with the force of his convictions.
• Madara, Hashirama, and Danzo watched as Sakumo’s blade light struck Orochimaru and carried out struggling soul fragments.
• Hatake Sakumo exhausted his mental strength, then used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Danzo and asked about Takahashi brother and his son.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that Takahashi brother had planted a Seed in Orochimaru that could make him collapse, while Danzo complained about people risking their lives for merit.
• Mito Uzumaki sensed a familiar presence near Orochimaru and asked whether a Genjutsu Barrier was there.

Takahashi Yū discovered his farm had been destroyed and learned that the Shinigami had invaded Orochimaru’s mental world through Uchiha Shunji’s Mangekyo. With Madara guiding him, Yū trapped the Shinigami in an airtight sphere and prepared to wear it down with [Dan-Ability].

• Takahashi Yū arrived at the ruined farm and demanded to know whether Orochimaru was dead.
• The Shinigami appeared, forcing Jiraiya to flee as Hashirama explained that it had invaded Orochimaru’s mental world.
• Danzo said Uchiha Shunji’s Mangekyo had enabled the Shinigami to attack Orochimaru.
• Takahashi Yū released a new, pale-blue-edged killing intent and asked Madara to guide him toward the Shinigami.
• Madara directed Yū, who enclosed the Shinigami in an airtight sphere and sensed its presence with [Dan-Ability].

After Konoha’s destruction, Orochimaru prepared to revive its dead with a mass Impure World Reincarnation, drawing Hagoromo Otsutsuki out of the Pure Land. Hagoromo restored the dead, admitted his mistakes, and disappeared, leaving Danzo to prepare the revived leaders for the threats ahead.

• Half a month after the disaster, Orochimaru told Takahashi Yū that he had cloned enough Hashirama cells to revive the victims, while the survivors gathered at the temporary laboratory.
• Orochimaru used the Impure World Reincarnation Formation to summon the dead, and Hagoromo Otsutsuki appeared above the formation.
• Hagoromo told the group he had been observing them and would not stop them, then used his remaining power to revive everyone present.
• Hagoromo admitted that his favoritism toward Asura and the prophecy had led to repeated conflict, warned that his disappearance would end the Pure Land’s support for the summoning technique, and faded away.
• Orochimaru concluded that Hagoromo had empowered the old ghost that invaded his mind, while Danzo called for a meeting to prepare for external threats.