Chapter Summaries

Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Orochimaru began experimenting together while Sōkyū Hatake and Sara advanced Rōran’s partnership with Iwagakure. After Iwagakure’s Demolition Squad used Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes to help kill the Third Raikage, the other villages turned their attention to Rōran, and Sunagakure moved to summon its leader.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Orochimaru set aside Sōkyū Hatake and began conducting experiments together in the laboratory.
• Sara told Sōkyū Hatake that Rōran’s first shop had opened in Iwagakure, and he arranged for Iwagakure to receive an initial batch of one hundred Hirenkyaku Shoes after paying in advance.
• Iwagakure’s Demolition Squad used the shoes to attack the Third Raikage from the air until he died of exhaustion after two days and nights of fighting.
• The other villages learned that Rōran, not Iwagakure, had made the shoes and began investigating Rōran’s capabilities.
• Rasa ordered that Rōran’s leader be brought to Sunagakure for discussions about a partnership.

Rasa ordered Sunagakure to seize Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes technology, despite reports that Sōkyū Hatake was nearby. Pakura led the force toward Rōran and grew suspicious of the unusually cheerful citizens as her troops prepared to enter.

• Rasa learned that Pakura had led a team toward Rōran and privately feared she was building military prestige to challenge him.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to bring back Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes technology after learning it had strengthened Iwagakure.
• A Sunagakure Anbu reported that Sōkyū Hatake had been spotted near Rōran, but Rasa told the force to proceed with its mission.
• Pakura instructed her troops to control Rōran’s people without harming civilians and halted the advance after sensing they were being watched.
• Pakura questioned why Rōran’s citizens looked so happy despite the country’s weakness.

Sōkyū Hatake confronted Pakura and the Sunagakure shinobi who came to obtain information about Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes. Pakura attacked him, but he easily stopped her and caught her in his arms.

• Pakura prepared to enter Rōran alone, but Sōkyū Hatake appeared and revealed that he belonged to Rōran.
• Sōkyū Hatake admitted that he had created the Hirenkyaku Shoes, and Pakura demanded the information as part of her mission.
• Pakura drew her sword and threatened to take the shoes by force, while the Sunagakure shinobi backed away from Sōkyū Hatake.
• Pakura struck Sōkyū Hatake with her sword, but it failed to hurt him.
• Sōkyū Hatake vanished, pulled Pakura backward, and caught her in his arms.

Sōkyū Hatake captured Pakura and brought her to Rōran, where he argued that Sunagakure and Rasa had no future for her. Pakura remained wary as Sōkyū Hatake tried to persuade her to leave her village.

• Sōkyū Hatake held Pakura and used Conqueror's Haki to force the Sunagakure ninja to stand down.
• Pakura ordered her deputy and the Sunagakure ninja to retreat after Sōkyū Hatake told them to report to Rasa that he was keeping her.
• Sōkyū Hatake released Pakura and used Flying Thunder God to take her to Rōran.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked Pakura how she felt about staying in Sunagakure and suggested that Rasa had been suppressing her.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Pakura that Rasa would likely refuse to let her return after she had been captured, while Pakura questioned his reasoning.

Sōkyū Hatake kept Pakura in Rōran and believed Rasa would prevent her from returning to Sunagakure. After a report revealed that Rōran was Sōkyū Hatake’s territory, Rasa was left stunned by the news of Pakura’s capture.

• Sōkyū Hatake told Pakura that Rōran needed talented people and predicted Rasa would brand her a rogue ninja, while allowing her to move freely within Rōran.
• Sara welcomed Pakura, and Mitaraishi Anko and Ayame introduced themselves as Sōkyū Hatake’s girlfriends before taking Pakura to look around.
• Sara teased Sōkyū Hatake about comics featuring him and Pakura, while he wondered whether more girls were gathering around him.
• A Sunagakure Anbu member reported Pakura’s capture to Rasa and said Sōkyū Hatake had claimed Rōran as his territory.

Rasa learned that Sōkyū Hatake had joined Rōran and captured Pakura, then summoned Sunagakure’s elders to discuss how to respond. Chiyo challenged Rasa’s plan and urged him to pay compensation, while Rasa warned that letting Sōkyū Hatake become an enemy would be dangerous.

• Sunagakure Anbu reported that Sōkyū Hatake had appeared in Rōran and claimed to belong to it, and Rasa berated them for failing to uncover the information sooner.
• Rasa asked how Sunagakure could recover Pakura, and the Anbu said Sōkyū Hatake was unlikely to release her without compensation.
• Rasa summoned Elder Chiyo and the other elders to discuss Pakura’s capture after learning that the Great Elder was away.
• Rasa told the elders that Sōkyū Hatake had likely made the Hirenkyaku Shoes and had captured Pakura during Sunagakure’s attempt to seize them.
• Chiyo exposed Rasa’s plan and recommended paying compensation, but the finance elder claimed Sunagakure could not afford it.
• Chiyo mocked the finance elder and questioned Rasa, who argued that Sunagakure could not risk turning Sōkyū Hatake against it.

Rasa declared Pakura a rogue ninja so Sunagakure could distance itself from her and seek cooperation with Rōran over the Hirenkyaku Shoes. Chiyo shared the decision with Maki, while Ōnoki learned that his plan to draw Sunagakure to Rōran had succeeded.

• Rasa persuaded Sunagakure’s elders to declare Pakura a rogue ninja, despite Chiyo’s objections, and then turned the meeting to pursuing cooperation with Rōran.
• Maki asked Chiyo about Pakura, and Chiyo told her that Sunagakure had abandoned Pakura as a rogue ninja.
• Chiyo left Maki and lamented Sunagakure’s fading fortune.
• Ōnoki learned that Sunagakure had gone to Rōran and celebrated that his scheme to draw the village there had worked.

Sōkyū Hatake’s move to Rōran deterred other factions from acting against it, while his new Tailwind Express service drew attention across the Five Great Villages. In Rōran, he comforted Pakura after Sunagakure declared her a Rogue Ninja and asked her to become a ninja instructor, then pulled her into an embrace.

• Sōkyū Hatake’s move to Rōran prompted the factions to cancel covert missions that might provoke him, though they continued sending undercover agents to gather intelligence.
• Tailwind Express appeared in the Five Great Villages and demonstrated its ability to deliver items instantly.
• The Fourth Raikage concluded that Kumogakure had little chance of controlling Tailwind Express and ordered an infiltration attempt to learn how it operated.
• Pakura told Sōkyū Hatake and Ayame that she was hurt after giving so much to Sunagakure, which had declared her a Rogue Ninja.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked Pakura to teach ninjutsu in Rōran, and she broke down in tears as Ayame and Mitaraishi Anko left them alone.
• Sōkyū Hatake pulled Pakura into his arms, comforting her.

Pakura accepted Sōkyū Hatake’s offer to stay in Rōran as its ninja instructor after the two kissed. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki discussed Sōkyū Hatake’s strength and assigned Kakuzu, Sasori, and Konan to capture him.

• Sōkyū Hatake asked Pakura to stay in Rōran as its ninja instructor, and Pakura kissed him instead of answering.
• Sōkyū Hatake kissed Pakura, then disappeared with her; Ayame and Mitaraishi Anko arrived and found the spot empty.
• After the battle, Pakura surrendered to Sōkyū Hatake’s terms and agreed to remain in Rōran as its ninja instructor.
• Nagato, Obito Uchiha, Sasori, Kakuzu, and Konan discussed Sōkyū Hatake, with Obito warning that he was exceptionally strong and Sasori demanding his death.
• Nagato ordered Kakuzu, Sasori, and Konan to bring Sōkyū Hatake back, and Kakuzu insisted on claiming the bounty.

Kakuzu, Sasori, and Konan traveled to Rōran to pursue Sōkyū Hatake’s 150-million-yen bounty and assess the country for the Akatsuki. They entered the city in disguise and headed toward its shopping street.

• Kakuzu set out with Sasori and Konan, eager to claim Sōkyū Hatake’s bounty and improve the Akatsuki’s finances.
• Sasori left Hiruko behind when its slow pace annoyed him, and Kakuzu teased him before threatening to claim Chiyo’s bounty.
• The three discussed how they would spend their mission bonuses: Kakuzu would save his, Sasori would buy equipment, and Konan would stock up on Explosive Tags.
• At Rōran’s edge, Konan proposed inspecting the impoverished country as a possible Akatsuki branch, while Kakuzu recalled its weak defenses.
• The three disguised themselves as citizens of the Country of Roran, entered the city easily, and spotted a shopping street.

Konan, Kakuzu, and Sasori explored Rōran’s lively shopping street, where a vendor explained how visitors and trade had helped the town grow. After learning that a local shop sold weapons and materials developed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, including Hirenkyaku Shoes, Sasori hurried to see it.

• Konan suggested visiting Rōran’s shopping street, and Sasori and Kakuzu agreed to go with her.
• The three were struck by the cheerful crowds and Konan thought of the peaceful country Yahiko had hoped to create.
• Konan bought fried dough sticks and soy milk from a vendor, who said Sōkyū Hatake had invented the snack and that more visitors had brought business to the street.
• The vendor told Sasori that a nearby weapons shop sold novel items developed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
• After hearing that Hirenkyaku Shoes were on display, Sasori stood up to visit the shop, and Konan paid for their meal.

Konan, Sasori, and Kakuzu visited Rōran’s weapon shop, where Sasori discovered modern firearms with unusual capabilities. Sasori ordered several weapons, and Kakuzu reluctantly paid ten million yen; Konan planned to study them after they returned.

• Konan brought Sasori and Kakuzu to the busy weapon shop, where they recognized spies from other villages, including Kumogakure.
• Sasori examined the unfamiliar weapons as the shopkeeper explained the AK47 and the Bullet M82A1 sniper rifle’s range and ammunition.
• Konan realized the weapons could threaten powerful ninja and considered reporting them so Rōran’s defenses could be reassessed.
• Sasori ordered several weapons, hoping to add them to his puppets, and learned they would take at least half a month to prepare.
• Sasori found he lacked enough money, so Kakuzu reluctantly paid the ten million yen bill.

Sōkyū Hatake met Konan, Sasori, and Kakuzu and used his knowledge of Yahiko and Nagato to unsettle Konan before trying to recruit Kakuzu to Rōran as Finance Minister. Kakuzu declined, but Sōkyū Hatake began tempting him with Rōran’s immense wealth.

• Konan proposed that the group visit Rōran’s laboratory, but Sōkyū Hatake appeared and offered to guide them.
• Kakuzu considered Sōkyū Hatake’s 150-million bounty, while Konan invited him to join the Akatsuki; he refused and suggested the Akatsuki join Rōran instead.
• Sōkyū Hatake described Yahiko’s death and revealed that Nagato had made Yahiko the Deva Path, provoking Konan to unleash her aura and demand to know what he knew.
• Sōkyū Hatake invited Kakuzu to leave the Akatsuki and become Rōran’s Finance Minister, but Konan intervened and Kakuzu declined.
• Sōkyū Hatake claimed Rōran’s wealth was worth ten thousand of Kakuzu’s heads as he tried to persuade him.

Sōkyū Hatake offered Kakuzu a share of Rōran’s profits, then confronted Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain and proposed buying Akatsuki. After moving the group to the desert, he tested their strength, and Sasori’s attack on him was interrupted by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

• Sōkyū Hatake offered Kakuzu 1% of Rōran’s annual net profits to manage its finances, but Kakuzu initially affirmed his loyalty to Akatsuki.
• Nagato appeared through the Six Paths of Pain and challenged Sōkyū Hatake for trying to recruit Kakuzu.
• Sōkyū Hatake suggested buying Akatsuki, then moved its members to a nearby desert to assess their abilities.
• Sōkyū Hatake released Conqueror’s Haki, which affected Sasori most among the group.
• Sasori sent the Third Kazekage puppet to attack Sōkyū Hatake with Iron Sand Drizzle.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi stabbed the puppet with Ashisogi Jizō, paralyzing it briefly before it broke free and retreated to Sasori.

Sōkyū Hatake let Mayuri Kurotsuchi fight Sasori while trying to recruit Kakuzu by offering him control of Rōran’s finances. When Deva Path Pain attacked, Sōkyū resisted Shinra Tensei and faced a combined assault, ending with lightning gathering in his hands.

• Sōkyū Hatake allowed Mayuri Kurotsuchi to fight Sasori, who was angered when Mayuri criticized his puppets.
• Sōkyū Hatake offered Kakuzu complete authority over Rōran’s finances, and Kakuzu began considering the offer.
• Deva Path Pain attacked Sōkyū with Shinra Tensei, but Sōkyū endured the force with Sage Art: Iron Body.
• Deva Path Pain ordered Konan and Kakuzu to attack alongside him, and the three advanced on Sōkyū.
• Sōkyū summoned a Thunder Ring, which Deva Path Pain, Konan, and Kakuzu destroyed with their combined techniques.
• Sōkyū smiled and gathered lightning in his hands as he prepared another attack.

Sōkyū Hatake revealed his strongest form by combining Perfect Sage Mode with Chōmei’s Tailed Beast Transformation. Nagato, Konan, and Kakuzu attacked him with their strongest techniques while Black Zetsu and Obito Uchiha watched from a distance, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Sōkyū Hatake fused with Pikachu to enter Perfect Sage Mode, then called Chōmei and took on its Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Sōkyū Hatake announced that he would show Nagato his strongest form, while Konan and Kakuzu prepared to fight alongside Pain.
• Nagato gathered the other Pains’ chakra into Deva Path Pain and unleashed Super Shinra Tensei as Konan used Dance of the Shikigami and Kakuzu launched a combined fire-and-wind ninjutsu.
• Black Zetsu watched from ten kilometers away and doubted whether his plan could continue against Sōkyū Hatake’s strength.
• Obito Uchiha appeared beside Black Zetsu and questioned whether Nagato and the others could defeat Sōkyū Hatake.

Sōkyū Hatake defeated Pain’s combined attack and revealed that Nagato’s Rinnegan belonged to Madara Uchiha and were weakening his body. He exposed White Zetsu hidden on Nagato, Konan, Kakuzu, and the Six Paths of Pain, leaving Nagato to recognize the conspiracy behind them.

• Obito Uchiha and Black Zetsu discussed the possibility of Nagato and the others losing and agreed they would need to retrieve Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan.
• Sōkyū Hatake countered Pain, Konan, and Kakuzu’s combined attack with his Tailed Beast Thunder God Cannon and emerged victorious.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Nagato that his Rinnegan belonged to Madara Uchiha and that using the incompatible eyes was draining his life force.
• Nagato accepted that Sōkyū Hatake’s explanation made sense, while Konan questioned how Madara Uchiha could be involved.
• Sōkyū Hatake used clones and Flying Thunder God to reveal and paralyze White Zetsu hidden inside the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, Kakuzu, and Nagato.

Sōkyū Hatake revealed to Nagato that Black Zetsu had manipulated the White Zetsu and secretly fueled the ancient conflict between Indra and Asura. He explained how their descendants’ chakra led to the Rinnegan, leaving Nagato confronting the truth as an unknown power began to emerge.

• Sōkyū Hatake showed Nagato that the White Zetsu attached to him were acting under hidden orders and suggested Black Zetsu was responsible.
• Sōkyū Hatake explained Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s history and revealed that Indra and Asura were his sons whose chakra passed down through the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki lines.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Nagato that the Rinnegan required the powers of both Indra and Asura, which Nagato had never knowingly encountered.
• Sōkyū Hatake revealed that Black Zetsu had existed since Indra and Asura’s time and had provoked their conflict.
• Nagato noticed Sōkyū Hatake’s mention of Black Zetsu as an inexplicable power began to appear around them.

Sōkyū Hatake revealed that Black Zetsu had been working to free Kaguya Otsutsuki, and Kakuzu left the Akatsuki to join Rōran. After Sōkyū Hatake and Mayuri Kurotsuchi defeated the Akatsuki’s resistance, they returned with Kakuzu, while Sōkyū Hatake left to meet someone.

• Sōkyū Hatake told Deva Path Pain that Black Zetsu’s mission was to release Kaguya Otsutsuki from her imprisonment within the moon.
• Kakuzu agreed to leave the Akatsuki, handed Konan his robe and ring, and accepted a position as Rōran’s minister of finance.
• Deva Path Pain approved Kakuzu’s departure and asked him to keep the Akatsuki’s information confidential.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi revealed that he had dismantled Sasori’s puppets, including the Third Kazekage puppet, and Sōkyū Hatake mocked Sasori before leaving with Mayuri and Kakuzu.
• Black Zetsu sensed that someone had blocked something from him as the groups departed.
• Sōkyū Hatake sent Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kakuzu to his office while he went to meet someone.

Sōkyū Hatake met Hagoromo Otsutsuki and pressed him about whether he knew Black Zetsu was Kaguya Otsutsuki’s third son. Hagoromo denied knowing, but Sōkyū suspected he was hiding something, and the encounter ended as Hagoromo began to unleash a terrifying pressure.

• Sōkyū Hatake sensed Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s presence and called out to him as he prepared to leave.
• Hagoromo appeared and explained that he had been observing the world, while Sōkyū said his growing power let him sense Hagoromo.
• Sōkyū asked whether Hagoromo knew Black Zetsu was Kaguya Otsutsuki’s third son and had deliberately kept him alive.
• Hagoromo denied knowing Black Zetsu’s identity, but Sōkyū took his silence as a sign that he was concealing something.
• Hagoromo began releasing a terrifying pressure as Sōkyū dismissed the importance of his answer.