Recaps

Hiruko’s attempt to merge five kekkei genkai failed when the Demon Bud turned on him, killing the five subjects and threatening to consume him. Lin Ze contained the backlash with sealing and Sage Art, leaving Hiruko alive but badly injured and asking who he was.

• Hiruko activated the Chimera Technique, using the formation to draw out the five kekkei genkai powers from his subjects.
• Hiruko began fusing the five powers, but the unstable Red Eye chakra disrupted their balance and triggered the Demon Bud’s backlash.
• The Demon Bud growths engulfed Hiruko and devoured his two Modified Human Assistants, while the five kekkei genkai ninja died drained of their essence.
• Lin Ze emerged from hiding, trapped Hiruko and the Demon Bud in a rock prison, and used a sealing jutsu to slow the growths.
• Lin Ze entered Sage Mode and applied Purifying Corrosion Clay, suppressing the Demon Bud until it stopped moving.
• Lin Ze removed the prison and found Hiruko alive but badly injured; Hiruko asked who he was.

Lin Ze saved Hiruko from the Chimera Technique backlash and took his research data in exchange for his life. After Lin Ze left, Hiruko decided to recover and seek Sharingan in Konoha, hoping to complete the technique during the Golden Ring Solar Eclipse.

• Lin Ze explained that the Red Eye was too weak to serve as a stable substitute for the Sharingan and that Hiruko had attempted the experiment at the wrong time.
• Lin Ze demanded all of Hiruko's Chimera Technique research data, and Hiruko handed it over under pressure.
• Lin Ze warned Hiruko that the Sharingan was the best choice but difficult to obtain, then vanished into the ground.
• Hiruko recalled that Konoha might have stored Sharingan recovered after the Uchiha Clan Massacre and planned to take advantage of a future Akatsuki attack on Konoha.
• Hiruko began repairing his laboratory and decided to recover from his injuries before going to Konoha for Sharingan.

Lin Ze and Kabuto analyzed Hiruko’s Chimera Technique and concluded that balanced Yin and Yang foundations could stabilize the fusion, though Demon Bud backlash remained dangerous. Lin Ze planned a resurrection fallback and began considering how to raise Kimimaro to Six Paths-level strength using tailed-beast chakra stored in Sea Dragon Jade Shells.

• Lin Ze reviewed Hiruko’s three-stage Chimera Technique, and Kabuto explained that balanced Yin and Yang foundations and evenly matched elemental kekkei genkai could improve its stability.
• Lin Ze judged that his Yang Release Sage Body, Yin Release Rinnegan, and five balanced kekkei genkai clones gave his experiment a strong foundation, but he remained concerned about Demon Bud backlash.
• Lin Ze considered using Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique as a fallback and chose Kimimaro, rather than Karin, as the person most suited to resurrect him.
• Lin Ze examined the sealed tailed-beast chakra stored in Sea Dragon Jade Shells and planned to link the shells to create a miniature Ten-Tails that could strengthen Kimimaro into a Mini Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

Lin Ze summoned Itachi after learning he was coughing blood, and Kabuto examined him while preparing to bring Kimimaro to the laboratory. Kabuto found that Itachi’s illness had damaged both his body and soul, and Itachi asked whether it could be treated.

• Lin Ze asked Kabuto whether Kimimaro could survive becoming the jinchūriki of a mini Ten-Tails, and Kabuto judged it theoretically possible.
• Tagitsuhime reported that Itachi had coughed blood in Konoha, so Lin Ze ordered her to bring both Itachi and Kimimaro to the laboratory.
• Tagitsuhime brought Kimimaro and Itachi, and Lin Ze asked Itachi about his worsening cough, sluggish chakra circulation, and difficulty using the Mangekyō.
• Kabuto examined Itachi and found that years of Sharingan use and existing bloodline disease had burdened both his body and soul.
• Itachi asked Lin Ze and Kabuto whether his illness could be treated.

Kabuto told Itachi that damage to his soul left him roughly five years to live, or only two if he frequently used the Mangekyō; Lin Ze said he would not interfere with Itachi and Sasuke as long as they spared innocents. Lin Ze then announced that he would make Kimimaro a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and discussed how to prevent the transformation from being hijacked.

• Kabuto explained that modern ninjutsu could not repair Itachi's soul damage and estimated that Itachi had five years left, or two if he used the Mangekyō in combat.
• Itachi asked Lin Ze about his stance toward Konoha, and Lin Ze said he would not interfere with action against its leadership as long as innocents were not harmed.
• Lin Ze sent Itachi to rest and suggested he consult the White Snake Sage, while refusing Tagitsuhime's offer to secretly watch over him.
• Lin Ze told Kimimaro he would make him a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki using miniature Tailed Beast Chakra, and Kimimaro vowed to master Rinne Rebirth to revive Lin Ze if needed.
• Lin Ze and Kabuto turned to the risk of a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki being possessed or having their consciousness hijacked.

Lin Ze explained the risks and conditions for making Kimimaro a mini Ten-Tails jinchuriki, then sent him back to train for the next five years. Meanwhile, the Sage of Six Paths confronted a dragon-scaled being with Lin Ze’s face in the Pure Land, and their exchange revealed how it came to exist.

• Lin Ze told Kimimaro that he needed to avoid Black Zetsu, maintain an unwavering will, and grow strong enough to suppress the Ten-Tails’ chakra before they could begin the fusion plan.
• Kimimaro returned to Dragon Release Village to train, while Lin Ze and Kabuto resumed their research without noticing golden energy flowing into Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• The Sage of Six Paths faced a dragon-scaled Lin Ze in the Pure Land and recalled intercepting half of Lin Ze’s soul when it crossed into the Shinobi World.
• The Sage of Six Paths asked whether the dragon-scaled Lin Ze sensed the battle in the Land of Water three years earlier, and the figure confirmed that he had.

The Sage of Six Paths revealed that he gave Nagato Six Paths power to prepare against Black Zetsu and Kaguya, while secretly intending to retain control over him. Meanwhile, Obito infiltrated Kumogakure and urged the Fourth Raikage to cooperate by reminding him of the village’s many enemies and past losses.

• The Sage of Six Paths told Dragon Scales Lin Ze that Black Zetsu was likely Kaguya’s contingency and that he had empowered Nagato to help oppose them.
• The Sage of Six Paths concealed that his Six Paths power would leave a mark allowing him to influence its recipient.
• Obito entered Kumogakure using Kamui while the Fourth Raikage and Killer B trained.
• Obito offered the Fourth Raikage cooperation and listed Kumogakure’s concessions to Iwagakure, its conflict with Dragon Release Village, and its unresolved losses to Konoha.
• The Fourth Raikage fell silent as Obito described Kumogakure as surrounded by enemies.

Obito persuaded the Fourth Raikage to gamble on rebuilding Kumogakure through military mobilization and a major weapons project. On the moon, Black Zetsu approached Otsutsuki Toneri, hoping to use him and the Giant Tenseigan in his plan against Lin Ze.

• Obito met privately with the Fourth Raikage, who accepted his offer despite knowing he had ulterior motives.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered phase two of the Lightning Cloud Plan, recalled scattered ninja for training, and accelerated the Giant Chakra Cannon project, while Mabui worried about spies and finances.
• The Fourth Raikage returned to training with Killer B, determined to break his speed limit as Kumogakure began carrying out his orders.
• Otsutsuki Toneri, left alone after the elder's death, trained with the Giant Tenseigan and believed he needed a pure Byakugan to awaken his own Tenseigan.
• Black Zetsu emerged from hiding and approached Toneri, claiming he knew Toneri was a descendant of Hamura Otsutsuki.

Black Zetsu persuaded Toneri to awaken his own Tenseigan and eliminate Lin Ze, setting a three-month deadline to seize Byakugan. Three months later, unable to reach Naruto, Obito planned to use a message to trigger chaos in Konoha and implicate Dragon Release Village.

• Black Zetsu told Toneri that Lin Ze threatened the Shinobi World and the moon, then urged him to obtain Byakugan and awaken a Tenseigan.
• Toneri agreed to seize Byakugan and wait three months for turmoil in Konoha to create an opportunity.
• Three months later, Obito watched Naruto's heavily guarded residence and gave up on approaching him directly.
• Obito decided to have White Zetsu tell Naruto the truth so the Nine-Tails' seal might loosen and Konoha would fall into chaos.
• Obito ordered White Zetsu to contact Uchiha Itachi and tell him Konoha would move to replace Naruto as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in three days.
• Obito instructed White Zetsu to leave Naruto a note in three days without being detected.

Itachi found a mysterious note claiming Konoha would replace Naruto as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and suspected Obito had planted it to provoke a conflict. He decided to investigate Konoha, and Lin Ze sent Tagitsuhime with him.

• Itachi criticized Sasuke’s chakra control during training, and Sasuke confronted him about his worsening health.
• At home, Itachi found a note in his locked room warning that Konoha would replace the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in three days.
• Itachi brought the note to Lin Ze and said he believed Obito was trying to seize the Nine-Tails or turn Dragon Release Village against Konoha.
• Itachi asked to go to Konoha to confirm Naruto’s safety, and Lin Ze agreed and ordered Tagitsuhime to accompany him.

Itachi and Tagitsuhime traveled toward Konoha as Itachi prepared to oppose the village if it tried to replace Naruto as jinchūriki. Naruto found a note claiming Konoha had erased his memories of growing up with the Uchiha, and Hinata confirmed that Mikoto, Fugaku, Itachi, and Sasuke had been his family.

• Itachi left Dragon Release Village with Tagitsuhime, while Sasuke suspected his brother would face a major crisis in Konoha.
• Tagitsuhime warned Itachi that his chakra and soul were deteriorating, and Itachi said he would fight Konoha if it tried to replace Naruto as jinchūriki.
• White Zetsu slipped a note beside Naruto's pillow accusing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha's leadership of sealing Naruto's Uchiha memories and giving him a false past.
• Naruto took the note to Hinata and demanded to know whether it was true.
• Hinata admitted that Naruto had grown up in the Uchiha Clan and that Mikoto, Fugaku, Itachi, and Sasuke had been his family.

Naruto recovered his sealed memories and, enraged by Konoha’s role in his family’s fate, lost control of the Nine-Tails’ chakra and charged toward the Hokage Building. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hizashi Hyuga moved to stop him as Obito watched the crisis begin.

• Naruto’s memories returned, and he blamed Konoha for taking his family and hiding his past; when the Nine-Tails urged him to give in, Naruto tried to resist but struck Hinata aside.
• Naruto’s rage brought forth multiple tails, and he charged toward the Hokage Building as villagers fled; Obito watched and welcomed the destruction.
• Tsunade recognized Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra, ordered an emergency response, and joined Jiraiya in racing to stop him before he transformed completely.
• Hizashi found Hinata injured in the courtyard and learned that Naruto had regained his memories; after promising to do his best, he summoned the Giant Tenseigan and activated Tenseigan Chakra Mode.

Naruto’s rage over Konoha’s deception drove him into complete Nine-Tails transformation, and Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hizashi fought to stop him. After Hizashi forced the Nine-Tails to release Naruto, the fox used the villagers’ wary reactions to deepen Naruto’s distrust of Konoha.

• The fully transformed Nine-Tails attacked the plaza and accused Tsunade and Jiraiya of lying about Naruto’s past and sealing his memories.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode with Fukasaku and Shima while Tsunade activated the Strength of a Hundred Technique, and they fought the Nine-Tails.
• Hizashi arrived and used the Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion to pin down the Nine-Tails, but Naruto rejected his plea to stop.
• Hizashi struck the Nine-Tails with the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, and Tsunade’s Sealing Squad formed a barrier around it.
• The Nine-Tails released Naruto, who saw wariness and concern in the gathered Konoha ninja as the fox urged him not to trust them.

After Tsunade ordered Naruto’s memories reinforced, Shino Yamanaka found that the Nine-Tails’ chakra prevented the sealing, and Tsunade decided to replace Naruto as the Jinchūriki. Uchiha Itachi and Tagitsuhime arrived to take Naruto home, and Itachi fought Konoha’s leaders before attempting to release the Nine-Tails from Naruto.

• Shino Yamanaka reported that the Nine-Tails’ chakra blocked attempts to alter Naruto’s memories unless the beast was extracted.
• Tsunade decided to replace Naruto as the Jinchūriki, but Uchiha Itachi and Tagitsuhime arrived and objected to the plan.
• Itachi rejected Jiraiya’s warning that taking Naruto would lead to war and summoned Perfect Susanoo in the square.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade attacked Susanoo together, damaging its chest armor, while Tagitsuhime kept Hizashi Hyuga from joining the fight.
• As Konoha’s ninja approached, Itachi used his eye power to pierce the Sealing Squad’s barrier and release the Eight Trigrams Sealing on Naruto.

Uchiha Itachi freed the Nine-Tails and joined forces with it to fight Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Konoha's jōnin as Konoha descended into chaos. Toneri sent a puppet to seize Byakugan, Hiruko headed for the ANBU base, and Hiruzen Sarutobi set out to defend the village.

• Uchiha Itachi loosened Naruto's seal, and the Nine-Tails agreed to help him escape in exchange for a degree of freedom.
• The Nine-Tails bombarded Konoha's central district while Itachi's Susanoo drove Tsunade and Jiraiya back; Tsunade and Jiraiya prepared a counterattack.
• Toneri sensed the Tenseigan's power in Konoha and sent a puppet to seize Byakugan without revealing the moon's existence.
• Hiruko watched Itachi's Susanoo from a secluded inn and left to search the Konoha ANBU underground base for Sharingan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shinnosuke to evacuate civilians and organize defenses, then headed to the main battlefield in his battle gear.

Itachi tried to escape Konoha with the unconscious Naruto, but Hiruzen Sarutobi knocked his Susanoo out of the sky and Konoha's strongest fighters surrounded him. To protect Naruto from being killed as a replacement Jinchūriki, Itachi unleashed his full power and expanded his Perfect Susanoo to over five hundred meters tall.

• Itachi secretly arranged for Tagitsuhime to withdraw and persuaded Nine-Tails to return to Naruto's body so Susanoo could carry them out of Konoha.
• Itachi's Susanoo grabbed the unconscious Naruto and flew toward the barrier, but Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma and smashed Susanoo back to the ground with the Adamantine Staff.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hizashi Hyuga, and other Konoha fighters surrounded Itachi in the crater while the Sealing Squad sealed off the plaza.
• Itachi chose to protect Naruto rather than fight at full strength, then unleashed immense eye power and expanded Perfect Susanoo to over five hundred meters tall.

Uchiha Itachi used his enormous Susanoo to overwhelm Konoha’s defenders and escape toward Dragon Release Village. Konoha was left devastated after losing the battle, while Sasuke Uchiha raced toward the village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Konoha’s fighters tried to stop Itachi’s Susanoo, but its sword strike wounded them and devastated the village.
• Hizashi Hyuga attacked Susanoo with the Giant Tenseigan, but the Yata Mirror blocked his Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion beams.
• Itachi shattered Hizashi’s tornado attack with a single thrust of the Totsuka Blade, then struck Hiruzen with Divine Punishment when he tried to attack.
• Itachi flew out of Konoha toward Dragon Release Village, and Tagitsuhime followed him as the surviving defenders admitted they could not catch up.
• Sasuke Uchiha saw his brother’s Susanoo from the forest and hurried toward Konoha, where the village’s people faced the ruins and their defeat.

Obito’s attempt to exploit the Nine-Tails’ rampage failed after Tagitsuhime intervened, while Itachi rescued Naruto and escaped Konoha. Sasuke reached them and awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, as Konoha’s leaders began dealing with the devastation and casualties.

• Obito realized Tagitsuhime’s intervention had thwarted his plan to target Itachi, but he considered Konoha’s losses and the breakdown in relations with Dragon Release Village useful results before retreating through Kamui.
• Itachi struggled with the strain of his injuries and Mangekyō use inside Perfect Susanoo while Tagitsuhime sensed Sasuke approaching.
• Itachi lowered Susanoo and brought Sasuke into its crystal, where Sasuke found Itachi bleeding and Naruto unconscious.
• Tagitsuhime explained that Itachi had fought Konoha to rescue Naruto, and Itachi told Sasuke that Konoha had sought to replace its jinchūriki after Naruto’s seal was undone and the Nine-Tails rampaged.
• Sasuke’s Sharingan evolved from two tomoe to three amid his anger and distress, while Itachi explained the physical burden of overusing his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Tsunade heard Konoha’s casualty report and ordered the medical teams, rubble-clearing crews, and temporary shelters to address the crisis.

After Hanabi disappeared and ten pairs of Sharingan were stolen, Tsunade ordered Konoha into full alert and requested a Five Kage Summit while the village struggled to recover from the Nine-Tails' rampage. Meanwhile, Deidara and Zabuza moved to capture Sunagakure's jinchūriki while the Fourth Kazekage was away.

• A Hyuga clansman reported that Hanabi had vanished and that an unfamiliar presence had been found in her room, so Hizashi rushed away to search for her.
• An ANBU reported that an intruder had stolen ten pairs of Sharingan and classified scrolls from the underground base after incapacitating six guards with genjutsu.
• Hiruzen asked what Konoha would do about Naruto Uzumaki, and Tsunade said the village lacked the strength to confront Dragon Release Village and Lin Ze.
• Tsunade ordered a level one alert, suspended missions, and requested a Five Kage Summit, arguing that informing the other nations could buy Konoha time.
• Outside Sunagakure, Deidara and Zabuza confirmed that Rasa was away and planned to seize the village's jinchūriki, with Deidara creating an aerial distraction as Zabuza infiltrated on the ground.

Ōnoki confronted the Fourth Raikage over Kumogakure’s reparations, but Pain interrupted and announced the Akatsuki would take the tailed beasts. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki attacked the Three-Tails at its lake and the Six-Tails jinchūriki in Kirigakure.

• Ōnoki demanded Kumogakure’s overdue reparations, and the Fourth Raikage revealed a chest of spirit money instead of real payment.
• Pain and the other Paths appeared around the Iwagakure and Kumogakure forces, and Deva Path Pain declared that they would take the tailed beasts.
• Lin Ze’s White Tiger Clone and Kisame found Isobu at the bottom of a remote lake, and Isobu attacked them with a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Hidan and Orochimaru ambushed Utakata in Kirigakure, and Utakata countered with Water Release: Bubble Technique.

Naruto recovered from the Nine-Tails’ rampage in Dragon Release Village and reunited with the Uchiha family members who had raised him. He vowed to make Konoha pay, but Itachi revealed that Obito had orchestrated the clan massacre and controlled the Nine-Tails, giving Naruto another target for revenge.

• Yakushi Nonō treated Naruto and found that his injuries were healing, while Itachi insisted that Naruto be saved before him.
• After nearly two hours of treatment, Naruto woke and broke down as memories of his life with the Uchiha returned.
• Uchiha Mikoto embraced Naruto and apologized, while Uchiha Izumi welcomed him home and Sasuke quietly shared his grief.
• Naruto declared that he would take revenge on Konoha for the Uchiha Clan and himself, and Sasuke agreed with his goal of destroying it.
• Itachi told Naruto that Obito, not the Konoha High Command, had planned the Uchiha Clan Massacre and controlled the Nine-Tails during the attack on Konoha.
• Naruto recognized Obito as the enemy behind his parents’ deaths, the clan’s slaughter, and the destruction of his home.

Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure responded to the disappearance or capture of their leaders and jinchūriki as Konoha called for a Five Kage Summit. The chapter left the villages preparing to attend while questioning whether Dragon Release Village was truly behind the attacks.

• Kitsuchi learned that Ōnoki, Roshi, Han, and 127 Iwagakure ninja had vanished, then ordered surveillance of Kumogakure.
• Kitsuchi accepted Konoha’s invitation to the Five Kage Summit and assigned Higashishibito and Kurotsuchi to jointly manage Iwagakure in his absence.
• Rasa consulted Chiyo and Ebizo about Gaara’s capture and the loss of the One-Tail, and Ebizo suggested the attackers might be impersonating Dragon Release Village.
• Rasa decided Sunagakure would attend the summit and assess the situation there.
• Mei Terumi learned that Utakata had been taken from inside Kirigakure by two attackers wearing slashed Dragon Release Village forehead protectors.

Mei Terumi decided to warn Lin Ze that the Dragon Release Village was being blamed for the jinchūriki abductions, while the Fourth Raikage and Obito prepared to use the Five Kage Summit to move against Lin Ze and seize the Two-Tails. The summit was set for three days later in the Land of Iron, where the Raikage planned a decisive fight for Kumogakure’s future.

• Mei Terumi and Ao suspected someone was framing the Dragon Release Village, so Mei ordered Ao to warn Lin Ze in private before she attended the Five Kage Summit.
• Obito told the Fourth Raikage that Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain were waiting near the Land of Iron and that the Two-Tails was on an island near the Land of Whirlpools.
• The Fourth Raikage planned to turn the other Kage against Lin Ze at the summit while Obito and Nagato seized the Two-Tails.
• The Fourth Raikage reaffirmed his secret agreement with Obito to cooperate with the Akatsuki in exchange for help against Iwagakure and Lin Ze.
• Mabui delivered Konoha’s invitation to the summit, and the Fourth Raikage told her to prepare for the meeting three days later.

Lin Ze accepted Kirigakure’s offer of cooperation and recognized that the Five Kage Summit was a ploy to draw him away while Akatsuki targeted the Two-Tails and Nine-Tails. He ordered heightened defenses before traveling to the summit, where the Kage began accusing Dragon Release Village of abducting tailed beasts.

• Ao delivered Mei Terumi’s invitation and assurance of Kirigakure’s support, and Lin Ze accepted her goodwill.
• Lin Ze inferred that Obito and Black Zetsu planned to lure him to the Five Kage Summit so Akatsuki could seize the Two-Tails and Nine-Tails and revive the Ten-Tails.
• Lin Ze ordered Dragon Release Village and Ascension Island placed on high alert, with reinforced barriers and Uchiha Itachi sent to defend the island.
• Lin Ze traveled to the Land of Iron, where Mifune opened the Five Kage Summit and invited Konoha to present its account.
• Tsunade accused Dragon Release Village of backing Itachi’s abduction of Naruto, while Rasa reported that Dragon Release ninja had taken Gaara from Sunagakure.
• Kitsuchi said Iwagakure’s Tsuchikage, two jinchūriki, and 127 elite ninja had vanished near the Kumogakure border, where investigators found traces of snakes and eye power.

At the Five Kage Summit, the Fourth Raikage accused Dragon Release Village of capturing most of the tailed beasts and seeking to unify the shinobi world. The five great villages agreed to issue Lin Ze an ultimatum and invite him to negotiations in the Land of Iron in three days.

• The Fourth Raikage said Dragon Release Village had ambushed him, captured Killer B, and proclaimed that a unified shinobi world was near.
• Mabui showed footage of the battle, and the Fourth Raikage identified Susanoo and techniques associated with Ryūchi Cave among the attackers.
• Mei Terumi revealed that Kirigakure's Utakata had been abducted, while Tsunade reported that Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchuriki was missing.
• Mifune and the Kage concluded that all tailed beasts except the Three-Tails had been captured, and the Fourth Raikage proposed a joint ultimatum against Dragon Release Village.
• Rasa, Kitsuchi, Tsunade, and Mei Terumi agreed to the ultimatum, and Mifune said he would invite Lin Ze to the Land of Iron in three days.