Chapter Summaries

Shuo defended Sunagakure from an Akatsuki attack while Gaara stayed behind, and the attackers withdrew after Shuo defeated their techniques. Pain watched from a distance and left, while Gaara vowed to join Shuo next time.

• Shuo told Gaara that four Akatsuki members were watching the Kazekage Tower and reassured him that he could stop them.
• Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori attacked Sunagakure, and Shuo went downstairs to confront them while Gaara remained behind.
• Shuo evaded Hidan's curse, dispersed Kakuzu's five-nature attack with a barrier, and shattered Sasori's puppets with precise beams of light.
• Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori withdrew, while Pain watched Shuo from a distant tower before vanishing.
• Shuo returned to Gaara, who said he would go with him next time, and Pain reappeared briefly to call Shuo interesting.

Konan delivered Pain’s ultimatum to Shuo and warned that Pain would come to Sunagakure in three days. When Pain arrived at the deadline and gathered black chakra, an enormous shadow descended from the clouds.

• Shuo detected Konan’s paper figures surrounding Sunagakure and burned them with beams of golden light.
• Konan gave Shuo Pain’s message demanding the Jinchūriki and the light, and said Pain would come in three days.
• Gaara offered to fight alongside Shuo, who chose to wait for Pain.
• Tsunade sent Konoha’s reply: “Fight.”
• Pain arrived outside Sunagakure at dusk on the third day and began gathering black chakra as an enormous shadow descended from the clouds.

Shuo confronted Pain as the Six Paths attacked Sunagakure, then saved Gaara from Chibaku Tensei by enveloping and destroying the black sphere with light. The Six Paths prepared to continue fighting as an even larger shadow appeared on the horizon.

• Four colossal beasts fell around Sunagakure, and Shuo identified them as manifestations of Pain.
• Shuo left the Kazekage Tower and met Pain outside the village, where they tested their powers against each other.
• The other five Paths joined Deva Path, and Shuo discovered that the bodies were corpses controlled remotely.
• Deva Path used Chibaku Tensei, drawing Gaara and debris toward a growing black sphere.
• Shuo destabilized the sphere with layers of light, destroyed it, and caught the falling Gaara.
• The Six Paths moved to attack again as a shadow larger than the earlier beasts appeared, and Deva Path announced that the true pain had only just begun.

Shuo fought the Six Paths of Pain in Sunagakure, destroying Preta Path and ruining Deva Path’s eyes before collapsing from his injuries. As Sai carried him to safety and Minato warned that Pain would return, Akatsuki’s main force arrived.

• Shuo battled the Six Paths of Pain, using his light to destroy Preta Path after it absorbed his chakra.
• Shuo survived Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei and Asura Path’s laser barrage, then blinded Deva Path by destroying his eyes.
• Konan rescued Deva Path and withdrew with the remaining Pains, leaving Shuo wounded in the ruins.
• Sai carried the unconscious Shuo, while Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro reacted to the battle’s aftermath.
• Minato arrived, confirmed Shuo was alive, and warned that Pain would return.
• At least five Akatsuki members appeared in the distance as the organization’s main force arrived.

Shuo helped defeat the Six Pains, then used a fading spark of light to bluff Akatsuki's main force into retreating before collapsing from his injuries. As he slept in the ruins of Sunagakure, a horde of White Zetsu surrounded the survivors and focused on him.

• Obito, Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori of the Red Sands, and Kisame Hoshigaki arrived and learned that Shuo had defeated the Six Pains and ruined Deva Path's eyes.
• Shuo stood despite his injuries and produced a tiny spark of light, convincing Obito that he might still be able to fight.
• Obito ordered Akatsuki to retreat after spotting Minato and reinforcements approaching from Sunagakure.
• Shuo admitted to Minato that he had bluffed, then accepted a chestnut candy from Gaara and fell asleep.
• Temari, Sai, Minato, Gaara, and the others kept watch over Shuo as Sunagakure's survivors treated the wounded and cleared the ruins.
• Gaara sensed someone watching, and a horde of White Zetsu surrounded the ruins and fixed their attention on Shuo.

Shuo fought off hundreds of White Zetsu despite his injuries, forcing Tobi to retreat after revealing his power to destroy them. Three days later, Shuo woke in Konoha Hospital while Tobi watched from Hokage Rock and wondered about his light.

• Tobi appeared with roughly three hundred White Zetsu and confronted Shuo, who recognized his Space-Time Ninjutsu as the power used to control the Nine-Tails.
• With little strength left, Shuo used Gaara's candy to steady himself, then unleashed golden light that destroyed most of the White Zetsu while Tobi remained unharmed.
• Tobi learned Shuo's name, Uchiha Saku, and vanished; Shuo collapsed after the battle and lost consciousness.
• Three days later, Shuo woke in Konoha Hospital, where Sai, Gaara, and Temari had stayed with him.
• Tobi watched the hospital from Hokage Rock and wondered what Shuo's light was.

After recovering from his injuries, Shuo learned that Obito was watching him and wanted him to agree to something. Shuo decided to wait for Obito and meet with Tsunade, while Obito and Pain revealed that using Shuo’s light against the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path would kill him or turn him into one of them.

• Minato visited Shuo in the hospital, shared what Jiraiya had learned about the Akatsuki, and said he suspected the masked man was his former subordinate Obito.
• Shuo left the hospital and found a note from Obito saying he had borrowed six candies; Tobi then appeared across the street before vanishing.
• Shuo told Sai that Obito was waiting for him to agree, then went to Tsunade and asked to meet Obito with Kakashi accompanying him.
• Obito told Pain that Shuo’s light could deal with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but using it would kill Shuo or make him one of them.

Shuo confronted Obito, who sought his light to support the Eye of the Moon Plan, and challenged his belief that an artificial dream could save anyone. Obito left with Shuo’s candy and reaffirmed his resolve to continue, while Shuo and Sai prepared for their next encounter.

• Shuo sensed Obito outside and confronted him as he emerged from the shadows.
• Obito revealed his identity and asked Shuo to help him save someone and create a world without war.
• Shuo identified the Eye of the Moon Plan and argued that Infinite Tsukuyomi was a false escape, then guessed that Obito was acting over Rin’s death.
• Shuo offered Obito chestnut candy, and Obito accepted it before warning that they would be enemies next time.
• After Obito disappeared, Sai asked Shuo whether he believed him, and Shuo said killing people would not save anyone.
• Obito watched from Hokage Rock, kept Shuo’s candy wrapper beside Rin’s old wrapper, apologized to Rin, and vanished.

After Obito revealed himself to Kakashi and invited him to join the Eye of the Moon Plan, Kakashi struggled with whether to accept. Shuo helped him steady himself, but Obito watched the village and wondered whether Kakashi would refuse him again.

• Obito told Shuo that Kakashi had gone missing, and Minato said Kakashi had been seen heading toward the Memorial Stone.
• Shuo found Kakashi at the Memorial Stone, where Kakashi revealed that the masked man was Obito and had told him about Rin, the Nine-Tails' Attack, and the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Kakashi said he had neither accepted nor refused Obito's invitation, and Shuo urged him to decide whether he wanted the real Rin or a false version in a dream.
• Kakashi returned to the village with Shuo and Minato, thanked Shuo, and went off to rest.
• Obito watched the village from Hokage Rock and wondered whether Kakashi would refuse him the next time they met.

Obito visited Shuo at midnight and asked whether Shuo’s light could help resurrect Rin, whose consciousness he said was sealed inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Shuo had three days to decide whether to help, while Sai promised he would stand by him if he chose to take a dangerous risk.

• Obito told Shuo that Kakashi had turned him down but still had not worked things out.
• Obito asked whether Shuo’s light could resurrect the dead, and Shuo explained that the Rinnegan could do so at the cost of the caster’s life or something equally important.
• Obito revealed that Rin’s consciousness was sealed inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and asked Shuo to help suppress its side effects.
• Obito said he would return in three days for Shuo’s answer, then disappeared.
• Sai told Shuo that he would go with him if Shuo chose to risk everything to save someone.
• Obito watched Shuo’s window from Hokage Rock, held a worn candy wrapper, and vowed to bring Rin back.

Shuo went with Obito to see Rin and learned that her consciousness was alive inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Obito returned to Hokage Rock in tears, still determined to bring her back, while Shuo and Sai went home.

• Shuo and Sai waited for Obito, who appeared and offered to take Shuo to see Rin.
• Shuo left Sai behind and traveled with Obito through twisted space.
• Shuo returned shaken and told Sai that Rin was alive inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and had responded to Obito.
• Shuo asked Sai what he would do if someone went mad for him, but Sai said he did not know.
• Obito knelt on Hokage Rock in tears, clutched an orange candy wrapper, and vowed that Rin only had to wait a little longer.

Shuo and Sai discussed Obito’s plan to bring Rin back and agreed Shuo would try to stop him from risking his life. Obito revealed he would act in seven days, and Shuo went to tell Tsunade so they could decide what to do.

• Shuo told Sai that Rin’s consciousness remained, but bringing her back might not work, and said he would tell Obito the truth.
• Shuo told Sai he would oppose Obito because his method would not save anyone, even though Obito would not listen.
• Obito told Shuo he had decided to proceed, and said he would act in seven days when Rin’s seal ran out.
• Shuo told Obito he would keep an eye on him, then decided to inform Tsunade and see what they chose.
• Obito watched the village from Hokage Rock, kept Rin’s orange candy wrapper, and vanished into the darkness.

Shuo told Tsunade, Minato, and Kakashi that Obito planned to revive Rin within seven days, risking the Ten-Tails' return. He proposed draining the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chakra before it awakened and vowed to go in seven days, with Sai choosing to accompany him.

• Shuo recounted Obito's plan and the seven-day deadline to Tsunade, Minato, and Kakashi.
• Minato confirmed Obito's identity, and Kakashi said Obito would not be stopped once he had made up his mind.
• Shuo proposed letting Obito try to bring Rin back while draining the statue's chakra to prevent the Ten-Tails from awakening.
• Shuo declared that he would go in seven days, despite Tsunade warning that the attempt could kill him.
• Sai told Shuo he would go with him, while Obito watched the Hokage Building and urged Rin to wait a little longer.

Shuo and Obito worked together to free Rin from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Shuo survived the failed revival of the Ten-Tails. The chapter left Rin and Obito reunited while Shuo recovered with his friends.

• Shuo, Sai, Minato, Kakashi, and Gaara traveled to the Valley of the End and found Obito waiting behind the waterfall.
• Shuo entered the cave, contacted Rin inside the statue, and learned that its chakra chains prevented her from escaping.
• Obito began reviving the Ten-Tails so Rin could be freed, and Shuo confronted the statue's surging chakra with his own light.
• The revival failed, the statue became inert, and Shuo emerged bloodied while carrying Rin; Obito reunited with her as Shuo collapsed.
• Shuo woke beside Rin, received candy from her, and accepted two candy wrappers from Obito as repayment.

Minato and the wounded returned to Konoha, where Shuo was praised and reunited with Rin and Obito. As Shuo rested in the hospital, Pain and Konan watched the village and vowed to investigate him, leaving a new threat looming.

• Sai put Shuo on a stretcher after Shuo weakened, while Obito stayed beside Rin during the three-day journey back to Konoha.
• Tsunade welcomed the group at Konoha’s entrance and told Shuo he had done well; Rin promised to treat him to candy the next day.
• Obito thanked Shuo in the hospital, and Shuo accepted his gratitude.
• Shuo asked Sai what would happen next, and Sai said things probably would not be peaceful.
• Pain and Konan discussed the destroyed Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Rin’s rescue, and Obito’s defection before Pain vowed to confront Uchiha Saku himself.

Pain visited Shuo in the hospital to learn about his light and propose joining forces to create peace through the Eye of the Moon Plan, but Shuo rejected his vision. Pain left with Konan and decided that Shuo would have to die, as rain began falling over Konoha.

• Pain visited Shuo in the hospital and confirmed that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been destroyed.
• Pain tested Shuo with Banshō Ten'in, but Shuo's golden light blocked the pull.
• Pain proposed combining Shuo's light with his Rinnegan to create a world without war, and Shuo rejected the Eye of the Moon Plan as false peace.
• Pain warned Shuo that their next meeting would be different, then vanished from the room.
• Sai returned and asked Shuo what Pain had wanted; Shuo said Pain would come back soon.
• Pain met Konan on Hokage Rock and decided to kill Shuo as rain began to fall over Konoha.

Shuo learned that the Akatsuki were gathering to attack Konoha and prepared to face them with Sai and Obito. Pain and Konan watched the village and set their attack for the next day.

• Shuo spotted an Akatsuki scout and sensed hidden veterans watching him and Sai.
• At the Hokage Building, Tsunade reported that at least two hundred Akatsuki members and the Six Paths of Pain were gathering in Amegakure; Shuo revealed that the Deva Path had asked him to work together, and Tsunade prepared for war.
• Shuo worried about the sweet shop’s fate, gave his remaining candies to the general store owner, and told her he might not return the next day.
• Obito volunteered to go with Shuo, while Rin gave Shuo a candy to settle what she owed him.
• Pain and Konan watched Konoha from Hokage Rock, and Pain said they would attack tomorrow.

Shuo and his allies fought the Six Paths of Pain at Konoha’s east gate, but Deva Path revealed that the six were puppets and that the real Pain was at the Hokage Building. The living Demonic Statue of the Outer Path advanced into the village as the real Pain urged it onward.

• Pain’s forces attacked Konoha from all four directions, and Minato told Shuo where the Akatsuki members were positioned.
• Shuo chose to face the Six Paths of Pain at the east gate, where his golden light withstood Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei.
• Obito, Kakashi, Sai, and Gaara joined Shuo, and the five fought the Six Paths of Pain.
• Shuo and his allies defeated four Paths, leaving Deva Path and Naraka Path standing.
• Deva Path revealed that the six were puppets and that the real Pain was at the Hokage Building, then vanished with Naraka Path.
• The living Demonic Statue of the Outer Path marched into Konoha while the real Deva Path Pain watched from the Hokage Building and made it move faster.

Shuo fought the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to keep it from reaching Naruto, then used a blinding burst of golden light to destroy it. He collapsed from his wounds, and Pain watched him unconscious, wondering who he was.

• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path marched toward the Hokage Building and told Shuo it wanted the Nine-Tails.
• Shuo stopped the statue’s hand from reaching the building and ordered Sai to get Naruto out of the village.
• Shuo unleashed a much brighter golden light and drove the statue back while Pain tried to direct it.
• Shuo sent his light into the sky, and the resulting luminous rain dissolved the statue’s chakra and left it lifeless.
• Shuo collapsed, and Sai caught him as Pain watched and questioned who he was.

Shuo survived his confrontation with Pain and challenged his belief that killing could bring peace, forcing Pain to hesitate before retreating. Three days later, Shuo recovered in the hospital, but he expected Pain to return as a dark cloud drew closer to the village.

• Sai tried to save the gravely wounded Shuo and shielded him from Pain, who released Sai and prepared to strike Shuo.
• Shuo woke, confronted Pain over the lives taken in pursuit of peace, and linked his grief to Rin and Obito.
• Konan warned Pain that the Gedo Statue had been destroyed and Konoha's reinforcements were near, so Pain asked Shuo's name and withdrew with her.
• Shuo collapsed after Pain left, and Sai caught him while Minato and Jiraiya prepared to help the survivors.
• Three days later, Shuo woke in the hospital and learned that Pain had retreated, Naruto was safe, and Obito was staying near the village with Rin.
• Shuo told Sai that Pain would return, then accepted his candy and promised he would not die.