Chapter Summaries

The Eight-Tails rampaged across the battlefield while Takahashi Yū kept the Third Raikage from reaching him, forcing Danzo to balance a chance at victory against the danger of Kumogakure’s destruction. As the Third Raikage revealed Black Lightning and the Eight-Tails launched a Tailed Beast Bomb, the two fighters charged into the blast.

• The Eight-Tails used Eight-Tails Twister, wiping out the first Cloud Shinobi scout squad and sweeping nearly five hundred troops into the air.
• Takahashi Yū pinned the Third Raikage, while Danzo learned that the Raikage was occupied and ordered Uchiha Shunji to control the Eight-Tails; Shunji admitted he could not.
• Danzo asked Yamanaka Ayano to tell Takahashi Yū to release the Raikage, then ordered Konoha’s forces to withdraw as the Eight-Tails formed a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• The Third Raikage activated Black Lightning Chakra Mode, and he explained that the Eight-Tails had once gone berserk and that he had sealed it again.
• The Tailed Beast Bomb struck between Takahashi Yū and the Third Raikage as they attacked each other with Black Lightning: One-Finger Nukite and Slam Fist.

Takahashi Yū’s wound triggered a savage surge of killing intent, letting him overpower the Third Raikage in a brutal clash. He realized that fighting for his life had awakened his body’s potential and prepared to attack with killing-intent fists enhanced by [Dan-Ability].

• The Third Raikage wounded Takahashi Yū with One-Finger Nukite, and the injury triggered Takahashi Yū’s adrenaline and dark red killing intent.
• Takahashi Yū charged the Third Raikage, endured a Black Lightning strike to the chest, and healed as he attacked.
• Takahashi Yū and the Third Raikage collided with Flying Shoulder Charge and Lariat, and Takahashi Yū hurled the Third Raikage into the crater wall.
• The Third Raikage discovered that Takahashi Yū’s killing intent had worn away his Lightning Chakra Mode and impaired his judgment.
• Takahashi Yū recognized that being wounded had awakened his body’s potential and formed dark red fists imbued with [Dan-Ability].

Takahashi Yū and the Third Raikage unleashed their strongest attacks in a head-on clash that obliterated most of Eight-Tails and left both fighters gravely wounded. Takahashi Yū found the Third Raikage nearby, barely able to speak, as Konoha forces rushed toward the crater.

• Eight-Tails charged into Takahashi Yū’s Killing Intent field, lost control, and leapt between him and the Third Raikage.
• Takahashi Yū charged through Eight-Tails’ tentacles and struck with Haymaker as the Third Raikage attacked with One-Finger Nukite.
• The attacks collided, triggering a massive blast and shock wave that devastated the crater and surrounding area.
• Danzo led the others toward the crater while Eight-Tails, badly mutilated, collapsed and lost chakra.
• Takahashi Yū woke with a hole through his chest and discovered that his Haymaker had struck the Third Raikage’s shoulder.
• The Third Raikage lay nearby with his right hand severed and his body shattered, and he struggled to say, “Konoha.”

Takahashi Yū survived his battle with the Third Raikage, leaving the Raikage gravely wounded and Kumogakure's forces devastated. As Cloud Shinobi prepared to attack him, Yū played the part of a noble warrior facing death, and Danzo and Konoha's arriving shinobi mistook his act for genuine patriotism.

• Takahashi Yū heard the wounded Third Raikage speaking underground and learned that Kumogakure had suffered heavy losses.
• Yamanaka Ayano contacted Yū, celebrated his victory, and relayed Danzo's order to let the Raikage go; Yū asked her to send food.
• Cloud Shinobi pulled the unconscious Third Raikage from the crater and began tending to him while sealing specialists approached the Eight-Tails' remains.
• A Cloud Shinobi drew his sword to kill Yū, but Yū delivered a speech about duty and dying for his country that made the warrior hesitate.
• Hatake Sakumo stopped the sword with Wind Release and carried Yū to Danzo's group, where Danzo praised Yū's supposed Will of Fire.

Shimura Danzō and Hatake Sakumo stood between the Cloud Shinobi and the gravely wounded Takahashi Yū, refusing to let him be killed. As the Cloud forces closed in, Takahashi Yū’s comrades arrived to reinforce them, leaving both sides facing off in the crater.

• Shimura Danzō unleashed Wind Release to stop a Cloud Shinobi from striking Takahashi Yū, then pulled the wounded man behind him and vowed to defend him.
• Hatake Sakumo joined Danzō as they faced the Cloud force, while Takahashi Yū wondered why everyone believed he was dying.
• Tomoi considered attacking the Konoha group and signaled his Cloud Shinobi to advance; Danzō exposed his cursed seals and prepared to fight.
• Uchiha Shunji, Delia, Kenichi, Yamanaka Ayano, and Nara Yūma arrived to support Danzō’s group, and Ayano began treating Takahashi Yū.
• The Cloud Shinobi recognized the Konoha reinforcements and grew wary as Yūma revealed himself beside Takahashi Yū.

After Takahashi Yū defeated the Third Raikage, Danzo led the wounded Konoha group back to camp, where Takahashi Yū astonished the gathered ninja by demanding food and rapidly healing as he ate. Watching him, Danzo doubted Hiruzen's suspicions about Takahashi Yū and wondered whether his old friend had deliberately set them against each other.

• The Third Raikage ordered the Cloud Shinobi to let Danzo's group leave, avoiding further losses for Kumogakure.
• Danzo led the group toward the Land of Fire and learned from Ayano that Takahashi Yū was recovering quickly but needed energy.
• Danzo reached the temporary Konoha camp and announced that Takahashi Yū had defeated the Third Raikage and was gravely injured.
• Konoha's ninja gathered to welcome Takahashi Yū, but he refused the stretcher and demanded food instead.
• Takahashi Yū devoured the camp's supplies while his wounds healed, leaving the medical ninja bewildered.
• Danzo watched Takahashi Yū and questioned Hiruzen's claims that he lacked affection for Konoha and his motives for requesting land.

After Danzo’s party left, the Third Raikage collapsed into a coma, leaving Tomoi to protect him and conceal the Eight-Tails’ apparent death. At the Konoha camp, Danzo arranged more food for the ravenous Takahashi Yū, who recovered from his wounds after eating his fill.

• The Third Raikage fell into a deep coma, and Tomoi ordered the Medical Ninja to stabilize him and summoned Cloud Shinobi with type O blood.
• Tomoi told a sensory Cloud Shinobi to warn the village about the Raikage’s condition and strengthen its defenses, then ordered the Sealing Squad to keep the Eight-Tails’ apparent death secret.
• Yamanaka Arashi told Danzo that Takahashi Yū was consuming the camp’s supplies, and Danzo ordered Arashi to find more food.
• Takahashi Yū finished eating, and his wounds had closed and begun healing.
• Hatake Sakumo brought a wild boar to camp, and several Konoha Ninja collapsed after struggling to keep up with Takahashi Yū’s appetite.

After recovering from the battle, Takahashi Yū met with Shimura Danzō, who mistakenly interpreted Yū’s boastful ideals as a shared ambition to help Konoha conquer the world. Danzo welcomed him as a comrade and called for wine.

• Takahashi Yū slept through a day and night while Konoha’s camp searched the mountains for food he had eaten.
• Shimura Danzō read Root’s intelligence about Konoha and blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi for the village’s troubles.
• Hatake Sakumo and Danzō visited Takahashi Yū after he woke and began eating.
• Danzō asked Sakumo to keep others away, then questioned Takahashi Yū about his ideals.
• Takahashi Yū declared that he wanted to conquer the world and create a world where people stood up to worldly power.
• Danzō mistook Takahashi Yū’s words as support for Konoha conquering the world and called for wine to celebrate their supposed bond.

Danzo misread Takahashi Yū’s question about Sakumo as a warning about Konoha’s succession and political schemes, then vowed to protect Sakumo and restore Konoha’s principles. He left Takahashi’s tent determined to thank him, telling Sakumo that Takahashi’s warning had nearly saved his life.

• Danzo noticed the bottle was medical alcohol and set it aside, then praised Takahashi Yū and warned him not to share his ambitions with outsiders.
• Takahashi Yū asked whether Danzo planned to use rumors to drive Sakumo to his death, and Danzo interpreted the question as a warning about malicious gossip and the ninja code.
• Danzo concluded that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mission-first code could be used to undermine the Will of Fire and keep ordinary people from power.
• Danzo told Takahashi Yū he would protect Sakumo and help put Konoha back on the right track, then left the tent without noticing Takahashi’s confusion.
• Danzo told Sakumo they needed to thank Takahashi Yū for his warning, and admitted that he had almost lost him.

Takahashi Yū returned from a fruitless scouting trip as Konoha waited for Kumogakure to surrender after the Third Raikage’s defeat. In Kumogakure, A and Dodai struggled to respond to Danzo’s ultimatum, while Konoha’s troops hoped the war would soon end.

• Danzo kept his suspicions about Konoha’s internal threats from Sakumo and resolved to protect his adjutant from dirty tricks.
• Takahashi Yū and Yamanaka Ayano returned to camp with rabbits after scouting near the Land of Rice Fields, while Konoha’s army waited near the Land of Lightning.
• Danzo threatened to expose the Third Raikage’s condition and the Eight-Tails’ death unless Kumogakure surrendered.
• A accused Kumogakure’s leaders of leaking information, but Dodai warned him that Konoha and other countries could exploit the village’s weakness.
• Dodai proposed sending Danzo a letter to stall for time and appealing directly to Konoha for surrender terms with reduced reparations.
• Takahashi Yū joined Konoha’s hungry ninja at the mess camp as Danzo ordered them to avoid reckless advances and wait for Kumogakure’s surrender.

Danzo ordered Root to strike the Cloud Shinobi guerrillas and sent Takahashi Yū and Sakumo to pressure Kumogakure. As the pair approached Mount Raimei, Kumogakure’s leaders prepared to surrender, but A and Fukai volunteered to go to Konoha and seek help.

• Danzo cursed Kumogakure’s reply, ordered Yamanaka Arashi and Aburame Hideki to attack its border fighters, and sent Takahashi Yū and Sakumo toward the village.
• Takahashi Yū and Sakumo crossed the mountainous border without meeting resistance, while Cloud Shinobi sensors reported their approach to Mount Raimei.
• Dodai told Kumogakure’s senior leaders that Danzo was forcing them to surrender and that they should be grateful he did not know about the Eight-Tails.
• Dodai asked whether Konoha had received their letter, and the secretary questioned whether they should risk lives waiting for a reply.
• A volunteered to go, and Fukai joined him, saying the Eight-Tails was dead and he wanted revenge.

Takahashi Yū and Sakumo defeated A and his Cloud Shinobi at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, leaving A unconscious but alive. Takahashi recognized the captured Blue B and realized he might have news that would delight Danzo, so he proposed returning to Konoha.

• Takahashi Yū learned that Sakumo's son was named Kakashi Hatake and was born at the end of Year 38.
• A charged at Takahashi Yū using Lightning Chakra Mode, but Takahashi knocked him unconscious with a rising elbow and sent him into the valley pool.
• Sakumo and Takahashi defeated the remaining Cloud Shinobi, capturing them and confirming that A was still alive.
• Takahashi recognized one unconscious Cloud Shinobi as Blue B, the future Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, and wondered why the Eight-Tails was not inside him.
• Takahashi told Sakumo they should return because he had found news that would make Danzo pass out from joy.

Takahashi Yū and Sakumo captured Fukai, whom Takahashi identified as a candidate Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and brought him to Danzo. Realizing the Eight-Tails was missing and the Raikage was badly wounded, Danzo summoned the Jonin and asked whether they wanted revenge.

• Takahashi Yū told Sakumo that the unconscious Fukai was a candidate Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and they carried him toward camp.
• Takahashi Yū and Sakumo camped for the night, where Fukai woke up bound and Takahashi blocked him from biting off his tongue.
• Takahashi Yū brought Fukai to Danzo and explained that he was A's older cousin and a candidate Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, but the Eight-Tails was not inside him.
• Danzo realized something had happened to the Eight-Tails, called a war council, and spread maps across the table.
• Danzo faced the assembled Jonin and asked, "Do you want revenge?!"

Danzo rallied Konoha’s Eastern Front troops to avenge their fallen comrades after Kumogakure refused to surrender. The army committed to invading the Land of Lightning as Danzo returned to planning the campaign.

• Akimichi Daixiong called for revenge, and the Jonin in Danzo’s tent joined him in demanding a fight against Kumogakure.
• Yamanaka Arashi revealed that the camp’s ninja had gathered outside the command tent, ready to return to battle.
• Disabled ninja pleaded to fight, and Danzo directed them to logistics while promising to restore them when possible.
• Danzo addressed the crowd, accepted blame for the front’s losses, and urged them to honor their fallen comrades by fighting on.
• Danzo ordered the entire army to advance into the Land of Lightning, and the troops roared their approval.

Danzo led Konoha’s forces into the Land of Lightning and planned how to dismantle Kumogakure, while weighing the political risks of taking the country. After rejecting Takahashi Yū’s proposal to eliminate the daimyo, Danzo chose a slower strategy to win prestige and advance their ambitions.

• Danzo sent Yamanaka Arashi to deliver an urgent letter to Konoha as the army occupied a border outpost in the Land of Lightning.
• Danzo ordered reconnaissance squads to move ahead and assigned Sakumo and the Undying Squad to focus on the Two-Tails.
• Danzo told Takahashi Yū that he wanted to cripple Kumogakure and considered replacing its Raikage with a Hokage governing the Land of Lightning.
• Takahashi Yū suggested killing the daimyo, but Danzo rejected the idea because they were not ready to face the political consequences.
• Danzo decided to strike Kumogakure while building prestige for himself and Sakumo, then ordered Arashi to deliver a declaration of war and secretly sell a copy on the black market.

Dodai and Kumogakure's leaders reacted to Shimura Danzō's threat to destroy their nation, while Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Danzō was pressing ahead despite the order accepting Kumogakure's surrender. Hiruzen sent messages to Danzō and the Land of Fire's daimyo, then remained alone in the Hokage's office.

• Dodai and A read Danzō's threat, and Kumogakure's leaders raged over the humiliation.
• Dodai ordered the leaders to contact the country's nobles, study a map, and stall for time.
• News of Danzō's threat spread through the Black Market and reached Konoha's Land of Water Frontline.
• Hiruzen received a Root letter saying Danzō planned to take Kumogakure and had requested administrative support.
• Hiruzen sent a letter to Danzō with a Root operative and entrusted Sarutobi Shinnosuke with a sealed message for the Land of Fire's daimyo.

As the war in the Land of Lightning intensified, Takahashi Yū intervened when Danzo berated a Shimura ninja and then comforted the young survivor, Shimura Tarō. After Tarō mourned his father and brother, Takahashi Yū urged him to lead the charge toward the fiercest fighting.

• Danzo berated a Shimura ninja for failing to take an enemy position and refused to send reinforcements despite the clan's heavy losses.
• Takahashi Yū stopped Danzo from attacking the Shimura ninja and volunteered to go to the front with him.
• Takahashi Yū carried the ninja away from headquarters, learned his name was Shimura Tarō, and comforted him as he mourned his father and Jirō.
• Takahashi Yū asked Tarō if he wanted revenge, then urged him to lead the way to the battlefield.
• Tarō stopped crying and ran with the giant beast toward the defensive line the Shimura Clan had been attacking.

Takahashi Yū led Konoha's outnumbered forces up a mountain to seize a Kumogakure outpost and destroy its communications equipment. After he joined the fight, Kumogakure's defenders rallied against him, leaving him wondering if he had become the villain.

• Takahashi Yū arrived at the mountain and learned that more than a hundred Cloud Shinobi held the high ground against just over two hundred Konoha Ninja.
• Takahashi Yū formed a massive shield of killing intent and led the Konoha forces uphill, letting them engage the Cloud Shinobi along the defensive line.
• Takahashi Yū charged into the outpost, smashed its communications equipment, and killed the Cloud Shinobi inside.
• Beruto rallied the Kumogakure defenders and fought through the Konoha ranks with her twin swords.
• Takahashi Yū struck Beruto down, and she cursed him as a demon defending Kumogakure's home; he wondered if he had become the villain.

Takahashi Yū crushed the Cloud Shinobi defensive line and charged into reinforcements, while Danzo ordered forces to surround the Two-Tails and ignored a letter from the village. Sakumo’s squad fought the fully transformed Two-Tails, which prepared to attack as Uchiha Delia cast a genjutsu.

• Takahashi Yū killed Beruto and used his killing intent to pierce resisting Cloud Shinobi as Konoha forces finished them off.
• Takahashi Yū ordered the wounded evacuated, then charged into a company of roughly three hundred Cloud Shinobi and unleashed an attack among them.
• Danzo ordered Akimichi Daixiong’s squad and two reconnaissance squads to surround Sakumo’s squad and take down the Two-Tails.
• Danzo ignored a letter from the village, then ordered his forces to relocate to the Shimura squad.
• Sakumo’s squad battled the fully transformed Two-Tails while Uchiha Kenichi directed the team to divide the Cloud Shinobi forces.
• The Two-Tails blocked Sakumo’s blade and formed a fireball, as Uchiha Delia used the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique.

Sakumo and Delia defeated the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki, while Akimichi Daixiong and the Ino-Shika-Cho team tore through Cloud shinobi. Shunji grew frustrated that his Sharingan had not helped him find an enemy, but Gekko Yūma praised his improved sensory abilities.

• Delia briefly caught the Two-Tails in her Sharingan genjutsu, giving Sakumo an opening to strike it with Moonlight Wheel.
• The Two-Tails’ flames receded, revealing its badly wounded jinchūriki, whom Delia caught alive.
• Akimichi Daixiong joined the battle with his Human Bullet Needle Tank as Nara Yūma and Yamanaka Ayano guided his attacks through their techniques.
• Shunji complained that his Sharingan had not helped him find an enemy and threw away his kunai.
• Gekko Yūma appeared and blocked Shunji’s kunai, praising his improved sensory abilities.