Chapter Summaries

Lin Ze used purified Hashirama cells to strengthen his body, relying on his Uzumaki bloodline and Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon to suppress and absorb them. Three months later, he completed the integration and gained a powerful new life force without developing Hashirama’s physical features.

• Lin Ze’s three bodies prepared to pursue separate goals: the main body sought a Sage Body, Youying aimed to awaken the Rinnegan, and Genbu left to gain experience in battle.
• Lin Ze injected purified Hashirama cells into his left arm, and his Uzumaki bloodline and Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon countered their attempt to overwhelm him.
• Lin Ze spent three months guiding his Yang Release chakra and physical vitality as they broke down and absorbed the Hashirama cells.
• Lin Ze confirmed that the integration had succeeded, finding no Hashirama face or wooden skin on his body.

Lin Ze tested the immense strength and regeneration of his completed Yang Release Sage Body, then continued his bounty work as his Genbu shadow clone. Konan approached Genbu to recruit him into the Akatsuki, leaving him to consider her offer.

• Lin Ze found that his Sage Body had greatly increased his chakra and healed a wound through his heart in three seconds, then planned to prepare his other clones and pursue the Rinnegan.
• Genbu killed an Iwagakure missing-nin and sealed the bounty target’s head in a scroll, marking his seventh such kill over three months of missions.
• Konan appeared at the abandoned temple and confirmed that Lin Ze was Genbu, while a concealed powerful presence watched nearby.
• Konan said the Akatsuki had observed Genbu’s actions in Sunagakure and Kumogakure and invited him to join in pursuit of peace.
• Genbu mocked the Akatsuki’s promise, and Konan replied that the organization would prove its resolve through action.

Lin Ze used the Deva Path Pain’s power to convince Konan and joined the Akatsuki as Genbu. After receiving his Vermilion ring and meeting Sasori and Shinnō, he learned that his first assignment with Sasori would begin in three days.

• Lin Ze claimed he had survived the destruction of his village and demanded that Konan prove the Akatsuki was worthy of him.
• The Deva Path Pain appeared, demonstrated the Rinnegan, and persuaded Lin Ze to join the Akatsuki.
• Three days later, Pain welcomed Lin Ze as Genbu and gave him a Vermilion ring and an Akatsuki cloak.
• Pain introduced Sasori and Shinnō, then assigned Lin Ze and Sasori to complete commissions while the organization prepared for its larger plan.
• Sasori showed Lin Ze his temporary room in Amegakure and told him they would hunt Iwagakure missing-nin in the Land of Hot Water in three days.

Obito and Utakata ambushed Genji at the lake, revealing their plan to seize control of Kirigakure by killing Genji and Mei Terumi. After Obito killed Genji, Mei Terumi approached the lake with Ao and three guards, unaware of the trap until she smelled blood.

• Utakata attacked Genji at the lake, and Genji recognized the Mangekyō Sharingan’s control over him.
• Obito revealed his revenge motive and planned to install Utakata as Kirigakure’s Sixth Mizukage after eliminating Genji and Mei Terumi.
• Utakata defeated the wounded Genji, and Obito killed him with a wooden spike.
• Mei Terumi traveled to the lake with Ao and three guards after receiving a forged invitation sent in Genji’s name.
• Mei Terumi stopped near the lakeside after detecting the scent of blood.

Mei Terumi and her guards discovered that Utakata had been controlled and that Obito had lured them into a trap. Obito killed one guard and declared that he intended to make Utakata Kirigakure’s new Mizukage, and the battle continued as Utakata attacked another guard.

• Mei Terumi found Genji and two guards dead, while Ao used his Byakugan to identify Sharingan genjutsu controlling Utakata and locate Obito hiding nearby.
• Obito emerged beside Mei Terumi and tried to grab her, but she dodged while a guard’s intervention gave her time to retreat.
• Obito deflected a guard’s kunai with a wooden spike and killed him with a strike through the throat.
• Mei Terumi recognized Obito as the masked man linked to the Uchiha Clan Massacre and the Night of the Nine-Tails, and he said Utakata was suitable to become Kirigakure’s new Mizukage.
• Mei Terumi attacked Obito with acid mist and water dragons, but he remained intangible and Utakata avoided a water dragon before striking at another guard.

Utakata, under Obito’s control, transformed into the Six-Tails and overwhelmed Mei Terumi and Ao. As Obito prepared to finish them, an unknown figure appeared across the lake.

• Utakata killed the two remaining guards with his corrosive chakra.
• Obito ordered Utakata to end the fight quickly, and Utakata transformed into the Six-Tails.
• Mei Terumi and Ao attacked the Six-Tails, but their techniques failed to stop him from forming a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Utakata briefly resisted Obito’s control and redirected the Tailed Beast Bomb into the sky, though the blast injured Mei Terumi and Ao.
• Obito prepared a corrosive water cannon to kill Mei Terumi and Ao, but an unknown figure appeared on the opposite shore.

Uchiha Itachi confronted Obito over the Uchiha Clan Massacre, using his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo to counter Obito’s attacks. The battle continued with Obito’s intangibility under pressure from Itachi’s Amaterasu, while the Six-Tails failed to break through Itachi’s defenses.

• Itachi appeared before Obito and said it was time to settle the score for the massacre.
• Itachi manifested his Susanoo, whose Yata Mirror neutralized Obito’s Wood Release and whose sword carved a massive trench when Obito dodged with Kamui.
• Itachi used Amaterasu to trap black flames at the boundary of Obito’s intangibility, threatening to engulf him if he became tangible.
• Itachi cast Tsukuyomi, and Obito countered with his Mangekyō ocular power, creating a clash that forced Mei Terumi and Ao to retreat farther.
• Obito ordered Utakata’s Six-Tails to attack, but Itachi’s Susanoo stripped away its corrosive slime and part of its chakra cloak, making it stagger back.

Obito escaped Itachi's Amaterasu and tried to retreat into the Kamui Dimension, but Ryōta Uchiha was waiting there with Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Ryōta attacked Obito to avenge his brother, leaving their fight underway inside the dimension.

• Obito used Kamui Dimension Stripping to remove Itachi's Amaterasu, then attacked Mei Terumi and Ao with Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance.
• Itachi blocked Obito's fire with Susanoo's Yata Mirror, protecting Mei Terumi, while Obito used the distraction to prepare his escape with Utakata.
• As Obito began retreating through Kamui, Itachi revealed that he knew Obito would not be safe in the Kamui Dimension.
• Ryōta appeared inside the Kamui Dimension, and Obito realized Ryōta had fused his Mangekyō with his dead brother Ghost Fire's eyes to create Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Ryōta formed his Susanoo and attacked Obito with Thousand-Blade Wind Prison, while Obito used Kamui Dimension Distortion to redirect the wind blades.

Ryōta cornered Obito in the Kamui Dimension, wounded him with a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and forced him to spend a Sharingan on Izanagi before Obito escaped. Obito emerged at the lake battlefield, where Itachi interrupted his next escape and swung the Totsuka Blade at him.

• Ryōta used Divine Crossing to evade Obito’s attacks and pressed him with a giant wind-blade spear, forcing Obito to defend himself with a Wood Wall.
• Ryōta interrupted Obito’s attempt to leave the Kamui Dimension and struck him with a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, badly wounding him.
• Obito used Izanagi to erase his fatal wound, then escaped through Kamui as Ryōta pursued him.
• Obito emerged at the lake battlefield while Itachi’s Susanoo was fighting the Six-Tails.
• Itachi ignited Amaterasu around Obito, then turned his Susanoo and slashed at him with the Totsuka Blade.

Obito escaped Itachi and Ryōta by using Kamui, but Ryōta pursued him with Divine Crossing while Itachi defeated the Six-Tails. After an hour, Obito’s ocular power was nearly exhausted, and Ryōta cornered him in a valley in the Eastern Land of Fire.

• Obito used the Six-Tails to knock Itachi’s Susanoo off course, escaped through Kamui, and sent Black Zetsu a distress message.
• Ryōta followed Obito through the space-time vortex, while Itachi used Susanoo: Divine Punishment Sword to defeat the Six-Tails and leave Utakata unconscious.
• Obito fled toward Amegakure, but Ryōta’s Divine Crossing steadily gained on him.
• Obito increased the frequency of his Kamui jumps, exhausting his ocular power as Ryōta continued the pursuit.
• Obito slowed in a dead-end valley, where Ryōta appeared within a thousand meters and confronted him.

Ryōta nearly killed Obito, but Black Zetsu intervened and attacked him with a life-draining bone spike. Ryōta healed the wound with Time-Reversal Trace and faced Black Zetsu, still driven by anger.

• Ryōta used his Susanoo and wind techniques to shred Obito's back, but Obito restored himself with Izanagi using a spare Sharingan.
• Obito prepared to use his Mangekyō for another Izanagi as Ryōta raised a massive wind-blade sword to finish him.
• Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows to save Obito, whom he needed as a pawn for his plan.
• Ryōta attacked Black Zetsu, but his sword struck a fake while the real Black Zetsu appeared behind his Susanoo.
• Black Zetsu pierced Ryōta's back with a bone spike that began draining his life force, but Ryōta healed the wound with Time-Reversal Trace and turned to confront him.

Ryōta fought Black Zetsu but was nearly killed by his All-Killing Ash Bones and escaped with Divine Crossing. Black Zetsu and Obito concluded that Lin Ze’s three pairs of eternal Mangekyō Sharingan posed a major threat and would require Nagato or the full Akatsuki to counter.

• Ryōta’s wind blades failed to stop Black Zetsu’s tendrils, so he used Time-Reversal Trace to repair Susanoo and restore its condition.
• Black Zetsu struck Susanoo with an All-Killing Ash Bones spike that erased its shield, arm, and chest, forcing Ryōta to spend his ocular power restoring them.
• Ryōta decided he could not risk dying before avenging his brother and escaped using Divine Crossing.
• Obito urged Black Zetsu to pursue Ryōta, but Black Zetsu explained that Ryōta’s speed made pursuit impractical and Obito was too injured to help.
• Obito asked how they could handle Lin Ze’s three pairs of eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and Black Zetsu said they needed Nagato or the entire Akatsuki to attack together.

Obito and Black Zetsu discussed how to deal with the three pairs of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Lin Ze, while Ryōta escaped their encounter. Three days later, Itachi reported the events to Lin Ze and delivered Six-Tails and Seven-Tails chakra, as Dragon Release Village considered Kirigakure’s offer of friendship.

• Obito agreed with Black Zetsu that Akatsuki might be able to attack the Eternal Mangekyō wielders together, and they planned to consult Nagato in Amegakure.
• Black Zetsu vowed to stop Lin Ze if he opposed Kaguya’s revival, while Ryōta escaped to a forest and swore to kill Obito next time they met.
• Uchiha Itachi recounted the encounter with Obito and Black Zetsu to Lin Ze at the underground laboratory three days later.
• Itachi gave Lin Ze Sea Dragon Jade containing one-third of the Six-Tails’ and Seven-Tails’ chakra and reported that he had freed Utakata from Obito’s control while leaving a contingency in his mind.
• Itachi told Lin Ze that Mei Terumi was grateful for Utakata’s rescue and wanted Kirigakure to establish friendly relations with Dragon Release Village.

Lin Ze planned to counter Black Zetsu and kill Nagato before he could become a greater threat, while Obito warned Nagato that Lin Ze’s alliance with three Eternal Mangekyō users endangered the Akatsuki. The chapter ended with Konan questioning Obito’s evidence as he blamed Lin Ze for sabotaging their plans.

• Lin Ze agreed to establish diplomatic relations and a mutual aid treaty with Kirigakure, then told Ryōta to recover while he planned to confront Black Zetsu himself.
• Lin Ze analyzed Black Zetsu’s abilities and decided that Itachi and Ryōta could expose his weaknesses, while he believed their group could overwhelm Nagato.
• Obito reported the recent battle to Pain and Konan, emphasizing the threat posed by Ryōta’s ability and the three pairs of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan serving Lin Ze.
• Pain considered Lin Ze’s past victories and recognized that even mastering the Rinnegan might not let him defeat Lin Ze decisively.
• Obito argued that Lin Ze was targeting the Akatsuki and blamed him for events in Kirigakure, but Konan asked whether he had any proof.

Pain and Obito decided that Akatsuki would target Uchiha Itachi, Ryota Uchiha, and the Uchiha codenamed “Crescent Moon,” while first attempting to recruit Lin Ze. Lin Ze secretly attended the meeting through his White Tiger Clone and Genbu Shadow Clone as Akatsuki scheduled the operation for three months later.

• Obito urged Pain to gather Akatsuki and attack the three Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan holders, and Pain agreed to try recruiting Lin Ze before targeting him as well if he refused.
• Konan summoned Akatsuki members to the Demonic Illusion: Mirage space, where Lin Ze secretly appeared as both the White Tiger Clone and Genbu Shadow Clone.
• Pain announced that Akatsuki would surround and kill Uchiha Itachi, Ryota Uchiha, and the Uchiha codenamed “Crescent Moon,” while Obito said all three served under Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze's Genbu Shadow Clone questioned whether Akatsuki could defeat Lin Ze, and Pain claimed the Rinnegan and the members’ abilities would be enough.
• Pain ordered Akatsuki to gather intelligence and continue their missions before assembling again in three months to begin the operation.

Obito and Black Zetsu planned to recruit Lin Ze with the promise of Rinne Rebirth, while Lin Ze prepared to turn the Akatsuki’s attempt to target Ryōta into a trap. The chapter ended with Lin Ze visiting his Youying clone in the laboratory as forces gathered for a coming battle.

• Obito and Black Zetsu agreed to offer Lin Ze Rinne Rebirth in hopes of securing his cooperation.
• Kisame decided to avoid getting deeply involved in the Akatsuki’s plans and left the forest with his imitation Samehada.
• Kirigakure and Dragon Release Village signed a mutual assistance treaty, drawing attention to Lin Ze’s growing power.
• Lin Ze told Uchiha Itachi and Ryōta to act as bait to draw out Black Zetsu, and Ryōta agreed to probe his abilities.
• Lin Ze summoned the White Snake Sage and ordered Ryūchi Cave’s forces to prepare for a major battle.
• Lin Ze entered the life-support chamber, where his Youying clone opened his eyes.

Lin Ze decided to seek the Six Paths power in Nagato’s Rinnegan so he could awaken his own Rinnegan and pursue kekkei mōra. Meanwhile, Obito and Black Zetsu approached Dragon Release Village, where Obito’s clone offered Lin Ze a way to revive Rei Uesugi.

• Lin Ze concluded that Nagato’s Rinnegan could provide the Six Paths power he needed and resolved to eliminate Black Zetsu before taking the eyes.
• Obito and Black Zetsu reached Dragon Release Village and sent an Obito Wood Clone ahead to approach Lin Ze cautiously.
• After the White Snake Sage informed him of Obito’s arrival, Lin Ze went to the Dragon Shadow building to meet the clone.
• Obito’s clone invited Lin Ze to join his plan to create a perfect world, but Lin Ze rejected the offer.
• Obito’s clone claimed that he and Black Zetsu had a way to bring Rei Uesugi back to life.

Obito offered Lin Ze the Rinnegan’s Rinne Rebirth to win him over, but Lin Ze agreed only to meet the organization in the Land of Demons in three months. After Obito and Black Zetsu left, Lin Ze prepared to draw them and Nagato into his plan.

• Obito’s clone promised to revive Rei Uesugi with Rinne Rebirth if Lin Ze joined the organization, and showed him a recording of Pain wielding the Rinnegan.
• Lin Ze demanded that the leader revive Ling immediately, but Obito’s clone claimed the technique required preparation and proposed meeting in the Land of Demons in three months.
• Lin Ze accepted the meeting while threatening to destroy the organization if Obito lied or failed to show him the Rinnegan and a way to resurrect her.
• After Obito’s clone vanished, Lin Ze reasoned that Obito had not revived Rin Nohara because he believed Infinite Tsukuyomi offered a better salvation and Black Zetsu would stop him.
• Obito told Black Zetsu that Lin Ze had agreed to go to the Land of Demons, and the two departed to prepare their plan to eliminate three pairs of Eternal Eyes.

Black Zetsu sought a new weapon against Lin Ze and the Eternal Eyes by locating the sealed Uchiha Hikari and preparing to use Shisui Uchiha’s Kotoamatsukami eye on her. After freeing Hikari from her century-old seal, Black Zetsu brought the eye forward, leaving her fate unresolved.

• Black Zetsu worried that Lin Ze and Ryota Uchiha could disrupt the planned ambush and decided to seek out the sealed Uchiha Hikari.
• Black Zetsu revealed that it had secretly replaced Obito’s and Nagato’s Kotoamatsukami eyes with replicas and preserved the genuine eyes.
• Black Zetsu traveled to a hidden space-time entrance in the mountains between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass and opened the sealed dimension.
• Black Zetsu found Hikari suspended in the dimension, restrained by golden chains that drained her chakra.
• Black Zetsu eroded the chains with its All-Killing Ash Bones power, caught Hikari as she fell, and produced Shisui Uchiha’s right eye to use Kotoamatsukami on her.

Black Zetsu used Kotoamatsukami to make the sealed Uchiha Hikari his loyal subordinate and planned to restore her strength as a hidden weapon. Three months later, the Shinobi World entered a new year as villages dealt with the consequences of recent conflicts and Lin Ze prepared for the threats ahead.

• Black Zetsu used Shisui's eye and Kotoamatsukami to rewrite Uchiha Hikari's will, making her his loyal subordinate.
• Hikari explained that her Yachihoko marks could control targets and absorb their chakra, and that she also possessed Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu.
• Black Zetsu took Hikari away to recover her strength and adapt to the era, while Obito prepared for a confrontation in the Land of Demons three months later.
• Lin Ze sensed an unexplained unease in his underground laboratory and considered Black Zetsu, Nagato, Obito, and Kotoamatsukami among the threats he needed to account for.
• Three months passed, and the villages faced differing fortunes: Kirigakure formed ties with Dragon Release Village, Kumogakure struggled under reparations, and Iwagakure prospered.
• In Konoha, Tsunade governed, Jiraiya focused on teaching Naruto, and he remained convinced that Lin Ze was the Great Toad Sage's prophesied variable.