Chapter Summaries

The Raikage beheaded Hidan and Kakuzu to restrain them, then learned that Jinchūriki from multiple countries had been abducted. Suspecting their captors were targeting all Jinchūriki, he ordered Kumogakure to seek cooperation with Konoha.

• The Raikage severed Hidan's and Kakuzu's heads but kept them alive so they could be questioned about Killer B.
• Kakuzu secretly tried to reconnect his head with black threads, but the Raikage ordered C and Darui to watch their bodies and prepare to seal them.
• Hidan taunted the Raikage, who was about to crush his head when Furai arrived with urgent news.
• Furai reported that Jinchūriki from other countries had also been abducted, and the Raikage realized the enemy was targeting Jinchūriki.
• The Raikage learned Konoha and Kirigakure had not reported missing Jinchūriki and ordered a message sent to Konoha proposing cooperation.

Furai began sealing Kakuzu and Hidan’s bodies under the Raikage’s orders, but Akatsuki members appeared before the sealing was complete. The newcomers were identified as Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, White Zetsu, and Black Zetsu, leaving the Raikage’s forces facing a new threat.

• Furai gathered the sealing ninja and ordered them to seal Kakuzu and Hidan, while Hidan shouted threats and Kakuzu accepted his apparent fate.
• The sealing ninja wrapped Kakuzu and Hidan in bandages, but crows suddenly swarmed around them.
• Darui attacked the crows with Lightning Release shuriken, and three Akatsuki figures emerged from the mist.
• C recognized Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki but could not identify White Zetsu.
• Kisame Hoshigaki grinned as Darui named the two rogue ninja’s crimes and their S-rank status.

The Raikage’s forces attacked Kisame, Itachi, and White Zetsu, but White Zetsu secretly moved Hidan’s and Kakuzu’s bodies and then trapped the Kumogakure ninja with Spore Technique. The Raikage and his men were immobilized as Kisame prepared to fight Darui.

• The Raikage struck Kisame with a lightning-fast attack, but Samehada absorbed some of his Lightning Release chakra.
• White Zetsu revealed that his clone had carried Hidan’s and Kakuzu’s bodies underground, and Furai noticed their heads were missing too.
• The Raikage ordered his ninja to surround Itachi and White Zetsu and demanded the bodies’ whereabouts.
• Kisame rose from the rubble nearly unharmed, and Darui volunteered to fight him while C went to help the Raikage.
• C found himself unable to move as white growths spread over him and the other Kumogakure ninja, including the Raikage.
• White Zetsu announced that Spore Technique had succeeded.

Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and Itachi escaped after immobilizing the Kumogakure ninja with spores, while Kisame stayed behind and was revealed to be a decoy. The furious Raikage ordered an investigation into the rogue-ninja organization, and Kakuzu finished reassembling Hidan in a cave.

• Black Zetsu urged White Zetsu to stop boasting, then he and Itachi escaped while the spores kept the Kumogakure ninja from pursuing them.
• The Raikage punched Kisame's head off, but the head transformed into the likeness of White Zetsu, revealing that the Kumogakure ninja had been fooled.
• The Raikage ordered Darui and C to secure the body and return to Kumogakure, and he called for the great nations to unite against the rogue-ninja organization.
• In a cave, Kakuzu reattached Hidan's head, and Hidan picked up his Triple-Bladed Scythe and vowed to fight the Kumogakure ninja again.

Hidan reluctantly returned with Kakuzu and the others, while Tobi brought Utakata and the Three-Tails to the Akatsuki Base. After learning that only the Nine-Tails remained uncaptured, Tobi called for the group to seal the beasts and then head to Konoha.

• Pain ordered Hidan to return for the Akatsuki’s mission, and Kakuzu persuaded him to obey before pursuing revenge on the Raikage.
• Kakuzu and the others crossed the sea and entered the Akatsuki Base.
• Deidara taunted Hidan about his severed head, and Hidan nearly attacked him.
• Tobi appeared with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata and released the Three-Tails from the Kamui Dimension.
• Tobi asked Pain how many Tailed Beasts had been captured, learned that only the Nine-Tails remained, and announced the group would go to Konoha after sealing the beasts.

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.