Recaps

Tobi revealed himself as Madara Uchiha and explained that the Akatsuki’s true purpose was to use the Ten-Tails’ husk and the tailed beasts to cast the world into an illusion. The members questioned his claims, and Hidan rejected his account in favor of the Jashin Cult.

• Tobi dropped his usual shrill voice, revealed his Sharingan, and introduced himself as Madara Uchiha, the leader behind the Akatsuki.
• Kakuzu and Sasori doubted that Tobi was the legendary Madara, while Tobi said he had been gravely injured and was now only an insubstantial form.
• Tobi announced that the Akatsuki’s true purpose was to fill the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with the Nine Tailed Beasts’ power, merge it with himself, and cast everything into illusion.
• Tobi described the Uchiha stone tablet beneath Konoha and said the Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Rinnegan could decipher progressively more of its secrets.
• Hidan called Tobi’s explanation nonsense and proclaimed faith in Lord Jashin and the Jashin Cult.

Obito explained that the Sage of Six Paths had sealed the Ten-Tails inside himself, divided its chakra into the Nine Tailed Beasts, and sent its empty body to another dimension. He revealed his Eye of the Moon Plan to revive the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchūriki, then began explaining its ultimate purpose as Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori considered leaving.

• Obito told Hidan and Deidara that the Sage of Six Paths had been worshipped for his power and for saving people from the Ten-Tails.
• Obito explained that the Sage sealed the Ten-Tails inside himself, split its chakra into nine parts, and sent its empty body to another dimension; only someone with the Rinnegan could summon it.
• Sasori realized that Obito intended to awaken the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchūriki, and Obito confirmed that this was his Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Kakuzu rejected the plan and prepared to leave, and Hidan decided to go with him while Sasori also said he was leaving.
• Obito told them to wait for his explanation of the plan’s ultimate purpose, then revealed that it was Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Obito explained that after becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he would cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi and create a dream world where everyone could fulfill their desires. The Akatsuki members chose to continue sealing the tailed beast, while Obito remained wary of Itachi.

• Kisame Hoshigaki eagerly anticipated the completion of the plan, with only the Nine-Tails left to capture.
• Obito described how he would project his eye onto the moon and place everyone under a genjutsu where they could live out their deepest wishes.
• Sasori asked whether Obito could truly create such a world, and Obito assured him that the plan was nearly complete.
• After Obito gave the members a minute to decide whether to leave, they all returned to their positions and resumed sealing the tailed beast.
• Obito called the Akatsuki the world's saviors and watched Itachi, whose unchanged expression made Obito uneasy.
• Obito decided not to act against Itachi yet, trusting Kisame to monitor him.

Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi learned that Akatsuki had captured Kumogakure’s Jinchūriki and identified Deidara and Sasori as the culprits. Ōnoki recognized the group as a mercenary corps he had hired before and concluded that the Five Kage needed to meet.

• Ōnoki read an urgent message from Kumogakure reporting that both of its Jinchūriki had been captured, and Kurotsuchi blamed him for not monitoring Iwagakure’s Jinchūriki.
• An intelligence ninja delivered information from Sunagakure identifying Deidara and Sasori as the culprits behind the Tailed Beast captures.
• Kurotsuchi recognized the black cloaks with red clouds, and Ōnoki confirmed that the group was Akatsuki, a mercenary corps he had hired in the past.
• Ōnoki decided that the Five Kage should gather to discuss Akatsuki’s dangerous plans.

The Five Kage prepared to attend the summit as Rasa and Mei Terumi set out despite their personal concerns, while Tsunade struggled to locate Jiraiya and Naruto. The chapter left Tsunade considering contacting Mount Myōboku if they remained missing.

• Rasa departed Sunagakure with Chiyo and Ebizo, promising to learn more about Deidara and Sasori and bring back the village’s Tailed Beast.
• Mei Terumi decided to attend the summit despite her pregnancy, reassuring Ao and Chōjūrō that she would be safe with them.
• Tsunade learned that the Anbu had still found no trace of Jiraiya and Naruto, whom Jiraiya had taken away from Konoha.
• Tsunade told Shizune they would seek help from Mount Myōboku if they could not find Jiraiya and Naruto within a day.

Tsunade left Shizune in charge of Konoha’s government affairs while she traveled to the Five Kage Summit. Two days later, Ōnoki and his attendants arrived in the Land of Iron and entered the conference room, where the Five Kage had assembled.

• Tsunade told Shizune to manage government affairs while she attended the summit, then set off with Kakashi and Might Guy.
• Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi traveled with Ōnoki through the snowy Land of Iron as Ōnoki explained its samurai and neutral status.
• Ōnoki warned Kurotsuchi not to cause trouble in the Land of Iron, and she agreed impatiently.
• Mifune welcomed Ōnoki and his attendants at Three Wolves Mountain and led them toward the conference room.
• Ōnoki and his attendants entered the conference room, where the Five Kage had assembled.

At the Five Kage Summit, the Raikage accused the other villages of enabling Akatsuki and demanded answers. Rasa and Ōnoki defended their villages’ use of mercenary organizations, leaving the meeting on the verge of a confrontation.

• Mifune opened the Five Kage Summit and urged the leaders to set aside old grudges to address the tailed beasts’ capture.
• The Raikage said the summit was also meant to hold Konoha, Iwa, Suna, and Kiri accountable for rogue ninja who joined Akatsuki.
• Ōnoki provoked the Raikage by suggesting Kumogakure’s ninja might simply be too incapable to attract Akatsuki.
• Rasa explained that reduced military funding and limited peacetime experience had led villages to outsource dangerous missions to mercenaries.
• Ōnoki agreed with Rasa, and the Raikage angrily blamed their policies for helping mercenary organizations grow.
• Rasa defended Sunagakure’s choices by describing the struggle to keep the desert village alive.

At the Five Kage Summit, the Kage debated how to find the Akatsuki and rescue the captured Jinchūriki. Tsunade revealed that Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was not in Konoha and that she did not know where he was or whether the Akatsuki had attacked him.

• Tsunade stopped the Raikage and redirected the discussion toward rescuing the Jinchūriki.
• Mei Terumi proposed that the villages divide search regions and share intelligence about the Akatsuki.
• Ōnoki argued that the Kage should use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as bait and keep him in Konoha to lure the Akatsuki into a trap.
• Raikage A, Rasa, and Mei Terumi responded to Ōnoki's proposal, while Tsunade remained silent.
• Ōnoki pressed Tsunade for her position, and she revealed that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was not in Konoha and that she did not know his whereabouts or condition.

After Tsunade revealed that Naruto Uzumaki and Jiraiya had been missing for half a year, the Five Kage and Mifune organized a joint search. Mei Terumi then told Tsunade that she was also Xia Yu’s wife and was carrying his child.

• Tsunade told the Kage that Naruto had left Konoha with Jiraiya six months earlier and neither had returned.
• The Kage and Mifune agreed to search together, and Tsunade gave them detailed descriptions of Naruto and Jiraiya.
• The other nations began sending the descriptions to their countries as the Kage discussed how to respond once the pair were found.
• Mei Terumi reassured Tsunade that Kirigakure stood with Konoha and said they were family.
• Mei Terumi revealed that she was Xia Yu’s wife and was pregnant with his child.

Tsunade learned that Mei Terumi was also Xia Yu’s wife and discussed finding him after the Akatsuki were defeated. Meanwhile, Naruto mastered the Rasengan under Jiraiya, who resolved to keep him hidden after learning that the Five Kage were searching for him.

• Tsunade asked Mei Terumi about Xia Yu, and Mei said she believed he was in the Land of Sea and offered to take Tsunade to find him.
• Tsunade decided to focus on the Akatsuki first and visit Xia Yu with Mei Terumi after giving birth.
• The Five Kage Summit ended with the Kage agreeing to find Naruto and use him to draw out the Akatsuki.
• Naruto mastered the Rasengan after training with Jiraiya for a month at the former site of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Jiraiya read reports about the Five Kage Summit and the search for Naruto, then vowed to keep Naruto hidden and protect him.

Jiraiya kept Naruto hidden at the former site of the Land of Whirlpools and rewarded him for learning the Rasengan. In the Land of Sea, Xia Yu was visited by Orochimaru, whose unexpected arrival left him intrigued.

• Jiraiya decided to keep Naruto hidden rather than return to Konoha, protecting him with barriers and surveillance frogs.
• Naruto learned the Rasengan using a Shadow Clone to compress chakra, and Jiraiya rewarded him with instant Ichiraku Ramen.
• Jiraiya told Naruto he would teach him another ninjutsu after he finished eating.
• Xia Yu woke in the Daimyo Mansion in the Land of Sea after spending the night with one of his wives.
• A subordinate announced that Orochimaru had come to see Xia Yu, surprising him.

Orochimaru returned Funato Aopon to Xia Yu after studying the Funato Clan’s pureblood lineage and gave him the location of the clan’s widows. As Xia Yu examined the map, Orochimaru returned to ask what he thought of Akatsuki’s recent moves.

• Orochimaru brought the unconscious Funato Aopon to Xia Yu and said her sedative would last about another day.
• Orochimaru told Xia Yu that Aopon was over twenty despite her childlike appearance, and Xia Yu considered combining the Funato bloodline with the Uchiha’s.
• Orochimaru gave Xia Yu a scroll showing the location of the Funato Clan’s widows as payment for borrowing Aopon.
• Orochimaru left, and Xia Yu put Aopon on a chair before studying the scroll’s coordinates.
• Orochimaru returned and asked Xia Yu what he thought of Akatsuki’s recent moves.

Xia Yu told Orochimaru he had helped Akatsuki capture three Jinchūriki and intended to let its plans proceed, while keeping his own designs secret. Several days later, Akatsuki finished extracting Killer B’s Tailed Beast, and its members discussed their mission as Itachi stayed silent.

• Xia Yu said he would not stop Akatsuki and revealed to Orochimaru that he had helped capture three Jinchūriki.
• Xia Yu assured Orochimaru that Akatsuki would not easily conquer the world and boasted about his Sharingan.
• Orochimaru warned Xia Yu to be careful, then vanished after he asked whether she was worried about him.
• Several days later, Akatsuki finished extracting the Tailed Beast from the drained Killer B at its base.
• Hidan complained about the work, while Black Zetsu, Sasori, Deidara, and Kisame discussed Akatsuki’s goal; Itachi remained silent.

Tobi ordered the entire Akatsuki to capture Naruto Uzumaki at the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, where Jiraiya was with him. At the Five Nations' headquarters in Konoha, the Raikage learned that Naruto and Jiraiya had been found and that Naruto was still free.

• Tobi called for the Akatsuki to attack the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki together, despite Hidan, Sasori, and Deidara volunteering to go without the others.
• Black and White Zetsu warned that the Five Great Nations were prepared to oppose them and revealed that Naruto was hiding with Jiraiya at the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Tobi ordered Pain to lead the Akatsuki members to capture Naruto while Tobi stayed hidden and Black Zetsu remained behind with Akatsuki.
• Pain signaled the Akatsuki to set out, and the members vanished.
• At Konoha's Intelligence Department, the Raikage demanded news of Jiraiya and Naruto as the Five Kage waited for reconnaissance reports.
• An intelligence ninja reported that Jiraiya and Naruto had been located at the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools and that Naruto had not been captured.

The Five Kage prepared to join forces and retrieve Naruto, while Jiraiya explained what he knew about Akatsuki to the search party. The chapter left Jiraiya defending Naruto’s identity and demanding that Wenya stop calling him the Nine-Tails.

• Ōnoki, Raikage A, Rasa, Mei Terumi, and Tsunade agreed to go retrieve Jiraiya and Naruto, and Ōnoki ordered everyone to move out.
• Inoichi Yamanaka, Shibi Aburame, Tsume Inuzuka, Dodai, and Wenya met Jiraiya outside the cottage where Naruto was sleeping.
• Jiraiya confirmed that he already knew Akatsuki was searching for Naruto and knew what the Five Kage had decided.
• Kiba Inuzuka and Wenya criticized Jiraiya for staying away while the nations searched for him and Naruto.
• Jiraiya told Wenya that Naruto had a name and was not the Nine-Tails.

Jiraiya and the others faced the Six Paths of Pain after the Akatsuki broke through his barrier. They recognized the Rinnegan in all six figures and prepared to protect Naruto until reinforcements arrived.

• Jiraiya sensed that someone had broken through his barrier, and six Akatsuki figures appeared before him and the others.
• Wenya urged the group to hold out for reinforcements and keep the Akatsuki from taking Naruto.
• Jiraiya recognized the Deva Path as Yahiko, but the figure denied being him.
• The six Paths revealed matching pairs of Rinnegan, leaving Jiraiya and the others shocked.
• Dodai explained that the Rinnegan belonged to the legendary Sage of Six Paths, frightening Wenya.
• Kiba rallied the group to fight and protect Naruto, even if they died.

Pain’s Six Paths attacked the allied ninja with a swarm of giant summoning beasts while Jiraiya confronted the Deva Path. Jiraiya recognized the faces of the Six Paths from people he had met before, including some who should have been dead.

• Pain positioned the Six Paths for battle as the Animal Path summoned a giant Yatagarasu.
• Dodai ordered Wenya to hold off the bird while the others targeted its summoner.
• The Animal Path summoned several more giant beasts, leaving Dodai and the others stunned by the Akatsuki’s strength.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to help the allied ninja and confronted the Six Paths, demanding to know where Nagato and Konan were.
• The Deva Path claimed he was neither Yahiko nor Nagato, but a god.
• Jiraiya recognized the Six Paths as people he had encountered before and realized some of them should already be dead.

Jiraiya recognized the six pale figures as dead and realized Nagato was controlling them through the Rinnegan. Nagato rejected Jiraiya’s hopes for peace and revealed that he planned to use the Tailed Beasts to create a weapon capable of destroying a nation instantly.

• Jiraiya suspected the six figures were dead and identified Nagato as the one speaking through them.
• Nagato explained that the pain and loss around him had shaped his view of the world and led to the Akatsuki’s emergence.
• Nagato claimed that becoming a god had let him understand human evolution and that he wanted to end a world filled with despair.
• Jiraiya asked why Nagato was collecting the Tailed Beasts, and Nagato revealed he would use them to create an ultimate forbidden-jutsu weapon that could destroy any nation in an instant.

Pain explained to Jiraiya that he intended to use a Forbidden Technique Weapon to make nations fear suffering and deter them from war, calling this his ideal as a god of pacifism. Jiraiya rejected Pain’s reasoning and prepared to summon the two great Sages while his allies held off the enemy.

• Pain’s Deva Path told Jiraiya that using the Forbidden Technique Weapon to cause mass casualties would frighten nations into avoiding conflict.
• Jiraiya called Pain’s plan twisted, but Pain insisted it was his ideal and insulted Jiraiya as a child who had never grown up.
• At Gamabunta’s request, Jiraiya summoned Gamaken and Gamahiro to help fight the Summoning Beasts.
• Jiraiya told the toads that he needed to summon the two great Sages because their opponent possessed the Rinnegan.
• Jiraiya called Squad Eleven to his side and ordered them to buy him time as he prepared to activate the Sages’ power.
• Wenya, Dodai, and Tsume Inuzuka reacted to Jiraiya’s plan, and Tsume vowed to fight the enemy alongside Black Fang.

Tsume Inuzuka, Kuromaru, and Wenya attacked the Six Paths of Pain, but their techniques were countered. Dodai and Wenya raised a reinforced defensive wall that stopped and reflected the Asura Path’s lasers, leaving the group protected behind it.

• Tsume Inuzuka and Kuromaru charged the Animal Path with Fang Over Fang, but a summoned giant panda blocked them.
• Wenya launched six Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears at the Six Paths of Pain, but the Preta Path absorbed them.
• The Asura Path fired rockets and then lasers at the group, forcing everyone to scatter and seek cover.
• Wenya raised an Earth-Style Wall, and Dodai reinforced it with his Rubber Wall, stopping and reflecting the lasers.
• Inoichi Yamanaka praised Dodai’s Kekkei Genkai, Jiraiya recalled fighting him during the Third Shinobi World War, and Dodai boasted that only the previous Lord Raikage could break through his rubber defense.

The Konoha ninja attacked Pain’s Paths, but Inoichi’s mind techniques failed to control them. Jiraiya realized the Paths were likely dead bodies, and Deva Path repelled the attackers with Shinra Tensei, leaving their fate unclear.

• The ninja celebrated after a reflected laser split Asura Path in two, then Inoichi organized an assault on the remaining Paths.
• Inoichi tried to control Deva Path with the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, but the technique had no effect.
• Inoichi used the Mind Body Disturbance Dance Technique on all the Paths, but that also failed.
• Jiraiya told Inoichi that he had met the Paths’ original bodies before and believed they were dead.
• Tsume Inuzuka and Kuromaru attacked Deva Path with Fang Over Fang while Wenya struck at the other Paths with Earth Release: Fist Rock.
• Deva Path unleashed Shinra Tensei, repelling the attacks as smoke covered the scene.

Jiraiya confronted the Six Paths of Pain after they restored the Asura Path, and summoned Fukasaku and Shima to help him fight. He deduced that the six opponents were corpses controlled by the hidden Rinnegan user, leaving Shima ready to attack.

• Naraka Path summoned the King of Hell, which restored the shattered Asura Path and returned the Six Paths of Pain to full strength.
• Konan appeared and warned Pain that his attack could have caught the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but Pain said Naruto was unharmed because Jiraiya was there.
• Jiraiya emerged from the crater with Fukasaku and Shima on his shoulders and told them their opponent had the Rinnegan.
• Fukasaku and Shima recognized the Six Paths Eyes, while Jiraiya said the six opponents were likely corpses rather than living people.
• Fukasaku concluded that the real Rinnegan user was hiding behind the scenes, and Shima urged them to destroy the puppets.

Jiraiya explained that the Six Paths of Pain were controlled by his former student, who might be the Child of Prophecy, and fought to stop him from bringing destruction to the world. After the Six Paths countered his Sage Art: Goemon, Jiraiya identified several of their abilities but remained uncertain about the last one.

• Jiraiya stopped Shima from attacking the Six Paths and revealed that the person behind them was his former student, who possessed the Rinnegan.
• Jiraiya told Fukasaku and Shima that his student might be the Child of Prophecy but seemed destined to destroy the world.
• Fukasaku and Shima agreed to help Jiraiya stop his student, and they launched Sage Art: Goemon at the Six Paths of Pain.
• The Preta Path absorbed the boiling oil, and Jiraiya concluded that each of the six had a distinct ability.
• Jiraiya told Fukasaku and Shima what he had learned about five of the Six Paths, while admitting he did not know the last one's ability.

Jiraiya fought Pain’s Six Paths on the island while trying to protect Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. After Gamabunta’s brief intervention let Jiraiya escape Pain’s pull, Jiraiya chose to hold the enemy until reinforcements arrived, and Fukasaku prepared to use a song.

• Jiraiya attacked the Preta Path in Sage Mode, but the Deva Path pulled him backward with an unknown force.
• Jiraiya realized the Deva Path could attract and repel, while Fukasaku warned him not to be drawn close.
• Shima anchored herself and Jiraiya with her tongue as the other Paths charged, but Gamabunta arrived and attacked the Deva Path.
• The Deva Path repelled Gamabunta into the sky, and Jiraiya used the opening to escape.
• Jiraiya refused to retreat because Pain was targeting Naruto and said he only needed to hold the enemy until reinforcements arrived.
• Fukasaku noted that Konan would also be difficult to handle and told Shima to prepare to sing.

Jiraiya and the two toad elders prepared to use their song-based Genjutsu against the enemy, despite Shima’s reluctance. Just as Fukasaku and Shima were about to sing, Jiraiya stopped them to offer a suggestion.

• Shima refused to use the singing Genjutsu, but Fukasaku argued that it was their only option against the enemy.
• Fukasaku threw a smoke bomb, and Jiraiya hid while the elders explained that their song could ensnare enemies but would reveal their location as they performed it.
• Jiraiya promised to protect Fukasaku and Shima as they cast the Genjutsu, while Fukasaku refused to abandon him if he was in danger.
• Shima agreed to proceed so they could win and return home, and she and Fukasaku prepared to sing.
• Jiraiya interrupted them and asked them to hear his suggestion, saying it was also for their safety.