Chapter Summaries

Kimimaro headed to Kirigakure to kill its ninjas, while a mysterious woman followed after discovering his innocence. Inside the village, Mei Terumi fought the Kaguya Clan leader and his elite members as fires raged around them.

• Kimimaro met Zabuza and Haku in the forest, learned they were not Kirigakure ninja, and continued toward the village.
• At Kirigakure's entrance, Kimimaro attacked a mysterious woman, who easily kicked him away; after he accepted that she was not from the village, she followed him, interested in studying him.
• Mei Terumi battled the Kaguya Clan leader and three elite members amid the burning village, then dissolved one of them with her Lava Release.
• The Kaguya Clan leader rejected Mei Terumi's assurance that Kirigakure no longer killed its own people without reason, and he and the two remaining elites attacked her with Dance of the Camellia.
• Mei Terumi avoided their combined taijutsu and unleashed Multiple Water Dragon Bullets as she fell from the air.

Mei Terumi fought the Kaguya clan leader and tried to persuade him to end the rebellion, but he revealed his ambition to rule and refused. She declared the clan’s ties with Kirigakure over and ordered her forces to kill every Kaguya member, leaving the battle poised to turn deadly.

• Mei Terumi controlled three water dragons that killed the Kaguya clan leader’s two right-hand men and left him badly wounded.
• Mei Terumi urged the Kaguya clan leader to stop fighting, explaining that Kirigakure’s past crimes stemmed from the Fourth Mizukage being controlled by genjutsu.
• The Kaguya clan leader rejected her explanation, declared his goal was to become king, and insulted Mei Terumi for marrying another country’s Daimyo.
• Mei Terumi decided the Kaguya clan could not be spared, ended its ties with Kirigakure, and ordered her ninja to kill every Kaguya member.
• Kirigakure’s ninja celebrated being allowed to fight without restraint and prepared to attack the Kaguya Clan.

Mei Terumi defeated and killed the Kaguya Clan leader as Kirigakure slaughtered the clan. Kimimaro arrived too late to save his last comrade, then attacked the Kirigakure ninja in grief and fury.

• Mei Terumi overwhelmed the Kaguya Clan leader with taijutsu, rejected his pleas for surrender, and killed him with a kunai.
• Kirigakure ninja continued slaughtering the Kaguya Clan until Kimimaro appeared on the battlefield.
• Kimimaro cut apart a kunai with his Bone Blade, and a dying Kaguya clansman identified him as the clan’s powerful monster and urged him to avenge them.
• Kimimaro tried to save the wounded man, who died in his arms after angrily ordering him to fight.
• Kirigakure ninja surrounded Kimimaro and attacked with shuriken, but he deflected them with bones erupting from beneath his skin and vowed to kill anyone who harmed his comrades.

Kimimaro slaughtered the Kirigakure Ninja surrounding him, then fought Ao and Chōjūrō after learning they were from Kirigakure. Chōjūrō unleashed Hiramekarei’s full power, and Kimimaro formed a bone shield to meet the incoming chakra blast.

• Kimimaro escaped the Kirigakure Ninja’s Water Prison Technique after an unseen hand shattered it, then killed the surrounding Mist Ninja with Dance of the Larch.
• Ao and Chōjūrō confronted Kimimaro, who attacked them after identifying them as Kirigakure Ninja.
• Kimimaro overpowered Chōjūrō’s defense and knocked Ao away with ribs that burst from his back.
• Chōjūrō channeled his remaining chakra into Hiramekarei and fired a powerful chakra cannon at Kimimaro.
• Kimimaro rapidly grew a massive bone shield on his left hand as the chakra blast struck it.

Kimimaro survived Chōjūrō’s Chakra Cannon, but his hereditary illness surfaced during the fight. Ao exploited Kimimaro’s exhaustion and illness until he collapsed, then told Chōjūrō to prepare to collect his body.

• Ao used his Byakugan and saw that Kimimaro had emerged unharmed from the smoke.
• Chōjūrō despaired after his attack failed and believed he had failed Mei Terumi.
• Ao noticed Kimimaro’s heart briefly stop and realized the boy might have the Kaguya Clan’s hereditary disease.
• Ao created water clones to wear Kimimaro down while Kimimaro formed a spear from his bones and destroyed the clones.
• Kimimaro collapsed as his illness and exhaustion overtook him, and Ao told Chōjūrō to prepare to collect his corpse.

After defeating the Kaguya rebellion, Ao ordered Chōjūrō to kill the wounded Kimimaro, but a mysterious figure abducted the boy underground. Mei Terumi arrived and joined Ao in pursuing the kidnapper.

• Ao told Chōjūrō that Kimimaro had no future because of the Kaguya Clan’s nature and illnesses, and ordered him to kill the boy.
• Chōjūrō raised Hiramekarei to strike Kimimaro, but pale hands burst from the ground and began dragging him away.
• A sword appeared on its own and blocked Chōjūrō, allowing Kimimaro to disappear underground with the mysterious figure.
• Ao sensed the kidnapper fleeing toward the woods, while Chōjūrō admitted he could not defeat the sword.
• Mei Terumi arrived with Kirigakure Ninja, and Ao led her in pursuit of the mysterious figure.

Mei Terumi and Ao pursued a mysterious figure carrying someone, and Mei suspected the figure might be Orochimaru because of the sword they wielded. After Ao collapsed from exhaustion, Mei called off the chase, declaring that the Kaguya Clan had effectively ceased to exist in the Land of Water.

• Mei Terumi asked Ao about the mysterious person, and Ao said they could extend their limbs and wielded a sword that fought on its own.
• Mei recognized the blade as possibly the Kusanagi Sword known as the Void Longsword and privately suspected the stranger was Orochimaru.
• Ao stumbled and fell while leading the pursuit, then insisted he could continue despite his exhaustion.
• Mei saw how exhausted Ao and the other Kirigakure Ninja were and ordered them to stop chasing the thief.
• Mei declared the Kaguya Clan effectively extinct in the Land of Water and led her group back.

Zabuza and Haku left Kirigakure together, while Orochimaru rescued Kimimaro and invited him to come along. Kimimaro accepted the comfort of Orochimaru’s words and began to believe he would no longer be alone.

• Zabuza told Haku he did not have to leave with him, but Haku chose to follow him away from Kirigakure.
• Kimimaro woke in a cave and asked Orochimaru why he had saved him when no one cared about him.
• Kimimaro saw a white flower and tried to destroy it, but Orochimaru urged him to keep living and find meaning.
• Kimimaro placed stones around the flower and cautiously asked whether Orochimaru would abandon him.
• Orochimaru said he had watched Kimimaro for a long time and invited him to come along.

Xia Yu rode the Yingying Beast to the Land of Water, intending to reach Kirigakure and find his lover. As they descended through the fog, he persuaded the beast not to eat its future mate.

• After several hours of flight, Xia Yu and the Yingying Beast reached the skies above the Land of Water.
• Xia Yu told the Yingying Beast that the thickest fog covered Kirigakure, their destination.
• The Yingying Beast said its instincts told it to eat its mate, so Xia Yu urged it to follow human habits and spare its future mate.
• The Yingying Beast agreed not to eat its mate for now, though it still wanted to taste their flesh.
• Xia Yu spotted lifeless buildings through the fog and told the Yingying Beast to land in Kirigakure.

After Mei Terumi returned to Kirigakure from quelling the Kaguya Clan's rebellion, she and her aides detected two immense chakra sources approaching from the sky. One belonged to Xia Yu, but a gigantic woman appeared instead, leaving Mei Terumi wondering where her husband was.

• Mei Terumi returned to Kirigakure with her ninja after nearly wiping out the Kaguya Clan's rebellion, and Genji welcomed them at the village gates.
• Mei Terumi sent the exhausted ninja home, then agreed to let Ao and Chōjūrō accompany her to the Mizukage Building.
• Ao sensed two chakra sources in the sky more powerful than Tailed Beasts and recognized one as Xia Yu's.
• A gigantic woman emerged from the misty sky, startling Ao, Chōjūrō, and the villagers.
• Mei Terumi looked for Xia Yu and asked Ao why a woman had appeared instead of her husband.

Xia Yu arrived in Kirigakure after the Kaguya Clan’s rebellion and reunited with Mei Terumi, who embraced him and reassured him she was safe. The villagers learned that Xia Yu was Mei Terumi’s husband and a powerful daimyo, leaving them stunned and jealous.

• Ao sensed Xia Yu’s chakra on the giant woman’s back as the villagers feared she would crash into Kirigakure.
• The Yingying Beast landed safely, and Xia Yu greeted the group before asking Mei Terumi if she was all right.
• Mei Terumi became emotional, embraced Xia Yu, and told him the Kaguya Clan’s rebellion had been dealt with.
• Nearby male villagers grew jealous as they watched Xia Yu and Mei Terumi together.
• A villager identified Xia Yu as Mei Terumi’s husband and the Daimyo of the Land of Sea, shocking the crowd.

Mei Terumi reunited with Xia Yu in Kirigakure and wanted to take him home, but she grew jealous after learning he had ridden there on the beautiful Yingying Beast. Xia Yu revealed that the beast had been cultivated by the Fourth Mizukage, prompting Mei to recognize her as the legendary strongest Summoning Beast in history.

• Mei Terumi stopped focusing on village work and invited Xia Yu to her home, while Ao and Chōjūrō left to rest.
• Mei Terumi noticed the Yingying Beast following Xia Yu and learned that she was his Summoning Beast.
• Xia Yu admitted that he had ridden the Yingying Beast from the Land of Sea to Kirigakure, and Mei Terumi felt jealous of her.
• Xia Yu said the Yingying Beast had been cultivated by the Fourth Mizukage on Mother Island, and Mei Terumi asked if she was the previous Mizukage’s strongest Summoning Beast in history.

Mei Terumi spent the night with Xia Yu, then arrived late to a Kirigakure leadership meeting and announced two major decisions. She revealed that she was pregnant and that Kirigakure would welcome the Uchiha Clan as part of the village’s reconstruction.

• Xia Yu explained that the Yingying Beast had rampaged on Mother Island because she needed chakra to evolve, and that she obeyed him because he could supply it.
• Xia Yu fed the Yingying Beast his chakra, and she returned to her summoning realm after saying she would come when called.
• Mei Terumi brought Xia Yu home instead of working, and they spent the night together.
• Kirigakure’s officials and elders waited impatiently for Mei Terumi, while some discussed her leadership and the village’s recent battles.
• Mei Terumi arrived at the meeting with Ao and Uchiha Xia Yu, announced that she was pregnant, and declared that Kirigakure would welcome the Uchiha Clan.

Mei Terumi announced that the Uchiha Clan wanted to join Kirigakure, prompting the elders to argue over the risks and benefits. Xia Yu defended the proposal with a show of overwhelming power, leaving the elders stunned.

• The elders reacted with surprise to Mei Terumi's pregnancy and debated whether Kirigakure should accept the Uchiha Clan.
• Mei Terumi vouched for Xia Yu, credited him with helping stop the Funato Clan's rebellion, and urged the elders to trust him.
• The senior elder said the village would accept the Uchiha if they had truly severed ties with Konoha, but would refuse if ties remained.
• Xia Yu said he was joining Kirigakure for Mei Terumi's sake and told the elders to stop suspecting a conspiracy.
• Xia Yu released powerful chakra that left the elders deathly pale.

Xia Yu used his killing intent to secure the Uchiha Clan’s admission into Kirigakure, and the village assigned the clan its own compound. At the Akatsuki base, Hidan joked about sacrificing Konan’s baby to Jashin and was blasted away by Pain, who then announced a job.

• Xia Yu intimidated Kirigakure’s elders until they agreed to let the Uchiha Clan join the village.
• Mei Terumi arranged the clans’ compounds while Xia Yu fell asleep during the meeting.
• Kirigakure officially established the Uchiha No. 3 Clan Compound.
• Konan brought her month-old son, Akatsuki, out to meet the Akatsuki members.
• Hidan joked about offering Akatsuki to Jashin, and Pain struck him with Shinra Tensei.
• Pain told everyone to gather because they had work.

Pain called an unscheduled Akatsuki meeting and announced that the organization would abandon its gradual plan and move directly to conquering the world. He ordered the members to collect the Tailed Beasts so Konan’s child could grow up in a peaceful world.

• Pain summoned Akatsuki’s members to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to discuss the organization’s future.
• Tobi joined the meeting despite Hidan’s objections, and Pain allowed him to stay.
• Pain explained Akatsuki’s former three-stage plan to build wealth, monopolize mercenary work, collect the Tailed Beasts, and eventually conquer the world.
• Pain said Konan’s child had changed his thinking and declared that Akatsuki would skip the first two stages and begin conquering the world.
• Pain ordered the members to collect the Tailed Beasts immediately so the child could grow up without war or pain.

Pain ordered the Akatsuki to begin capturing the Tailed Beasts and assigned teams to their targets. He left the Three-Tails assignment unfinished when Tobi volunteered to handle it.

• The Akatsuki members reacted with surprise when Pain announced that the capture plan was beginning immediately.
• Pain assigned Sasori and Deidara to capture the One-Tail in Sunagakure, warning that they might face the Fourth Kazekage and other shinobi.
• Pain ordered Hidan and Kakuzu to target the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails in Kumogakure, including the powerful Killer B.
• Tobi interrupted Pain before he finished discussing the Three-Tails and volunteered to capture it.

Pain assigned Akatsuki members to capture the remaining Jinchūriki and gave Itachi and Kisame the Nine-Tails after Itachi claimed he could take Naruto unnoticed. Deidara and Sasori then approached Sunagakure, each focused on a different target.

• Pain assigned Tobi to capture the Three-Tails and Kisame and Itachi to capture Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Pain said his Six Paths of Pain would capture Han, Utakata, Fū, and Naruto, prompting Deidara to protest and Hidan to mock him.
• Itachi asked Pain to let him and Kisame capture Naruto, saying he could take the Nine-Tails without Konoha noticing.
• Pain agreed to Itachi's request and gave him three days to capture Naruto.
• Near Sunagakure, Deidara asked Sasori to leave the One-Tail Jinchūriki to him, while Sasori said he wanted to capture the Fourth Kazekage.

Sasori and Deidara approached Sunagakure, where Sasori’s secret arrangement let them enter without resistance. Captain Yura revealed his allegiance by killing the gate guards and welcoming Sasori.

• Deidara told Sasori he wanted to handle the enemies protecting the One-Tail Jinchuriki, including the Fourth Kazekage, while Sasori watched.
• Sasori made a mysterious hand seal and said they would proceed to Sunagakure and adapt to the situation.
• Sunagakure’s sensory ninja detected the approaching pair’s powerful chakra and tried to alert Captain Yura.
• Yura killed the Chunin guarding the walls before they could react.
• Yura stood at the village gate and confirmed to Sasori that the hand seal had reminded him whom he served.

Deidara infiltrated Sunagakure to abduct Gaara, but Fourth Kazekage Rasa intercepted him and revealed that he had already sent assassins to kill his own son. Deidara mistook Rasa’s motives for a possible scandal before Rasa attacked him.

• Deidara praised Sasori for controlling Yura, and Sasori explained that he used ninjutsu to make Yura obey.
• Deidara rode a giant clay bird into the sky to search for Gaara while Sasori waited below.
• Deidara spotted Sunagakure Jonin preparing to fight and was confronted by Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
• Deidara demanded that Rasa hand over Gaara, but Rasa said he had sent people to assassinate his son.
• Deidara wondered whether Gaara was Rasa’s biological son, and Rasa denounced the question before attacking him.