Chapter Summaries

After Yahiko’s death, Nagato awakened the Rinnegan’s power and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, unleashing a massacre against Hanzō and the Root ninjas. Meanwhile, in Konoha, Anyo continued caring for Mei Terumi, whose feelings for him deepened as she recovered.

• Yahiko died, and Nagato used a mysterious force to repel the kunai Hanzō’s ninjas threw at him.
• Nagato rescued Konan, but Hanzō’s Explosive Flame Formation wounded him; Nagato then told Konan to stay with Yahiko while he faced their attackers.
• Root members charged at Nagato on Danzo’s signal, and Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path despite Konan’s warning.
• The statue impaled Nagato with metal rods, draining his life force, then devoured the souls of the ninjas with a purple dragon.
• In Konoha, Mei Terumi recovered under Anyo’s care and pressed him about visiting his home; he promised to rescue her if Konoha captured her, and she embraced him.

Hanzō reported his defeat by the Rinnegan wielder to the Third Kazekage, while Anyo learned of the upheaval in Amegakure and regretted not acting sooner. He decided to join Minato at the Iwagakure Battlefield and target Kannabi Bridge to disrupt Iwagakure’s supply lines.

• Hanzō told the Third Kazekage that Danzo had lured him back to Amegakure and that he had fled after facing the Rinnegan wielder.
• The Third Kazekage ordered Hanzō to record the battle and return to the Land of Hot Water, warning him not to interfere further.
• Anyo read Sasori’s intelligence about the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but abandoned the idea of searching Amegakure because he had duties on the battlefield.
• Anyo told Mei Terumi to return to Kirigakure, and she said she would try to persuade Genji to stop the war.
• Anyo volunteered to join Minato at the Iwagakure Battlefield and proposed destroying Kannabi Bridge to cripple Iwagakure’s supply transport.

Anyo left Konoha disguised as an Anbu to join Minato’s team on the battlefield, hoping to find Madara Uchiha and possibly take his Rinnegan. Before departing, he parted from Mei Terumi, and he joined Kakashi, Obito, and Rin as their mission support.

• Anyo had Mei Terumi disguise herself as him and leave Konoha while he hid in her shadow.
• Katsuyu passed Mei Terumi Anyo’s message that their promise still stood, and Mei said she would wait for him to come get her.
• Anyo thanked Katsuyu, summoned the War Hawk Puppet, and set off toward Iwagakure.
• Obito Uchiha arrived late to meet Minato, Kakashi, and Rin, and argued with Kakashi about rules and promises.
• Anyo appeared as Anbu Squad Captain Ye and joined Minato’s team as support for their mission.
• Anyo recognized Rin Nohara, warned her about her weak chakra, and promised to give her poisons for protection.

Minato briefed Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Anyo on an infiltration mission to destroy Kannabi Bridge and disrupt Iwagakure’s supplies. Kakashi rejected Anyo’s gift and walked away, while Minato worried that Kakashi still had not recovered from White Fang’s suicide.

• Minato explained that Iwagakure was invading Kusagakure with over a thousand Ninja and identified Kannabi Bridge as the target whose destruction would cut off reinforcements and supplies.
• Minato assigned Anyo to protect Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara as they infiltrated enemy territory, while he planned to intercept the enemy alone.
• Kakashi insisted that the team needed a temporary captain, and Minato agreed that Kakashi would lead them.
• Rin Nohara gave Kakashi a modified medical kit, and Minato gave him a specially made Kunai.
• Anyo offered Kakashi a scroll, but Kakashi rejected it and cut it in two with his White Light Chakra Sabre before walking away.
• Minato said Kakashi still had not gotten over White Fang’s suicide, while Anyo predicted that Kakashi would become an excellent Ninja.

Kakashi’s team encountered enemy scouts, and his reckless use of Chidori left him wounded before Minato rescued him and killed the enemy ninja. After Kakashi recovered, the group prepared to split up for the mission, while Anyo and Minato remained concerned about the young ninja’s teamwork and safety.

• Kakashi ignored Anyo’s warning and charged at the enemy with his new Chidori, while Minato’s kunai exposed the enemy’s clone tactics.
• Anyo dealt with a clone threatening Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara, then warned Minato that Kakashi was in danger; Minato rescued Kakashi from a lethal clash, though Kakashi’s shoulder was cut.
• Minato used Flying Thunder God to appear beside the real enemy ninja and kill him, then told the team to withdraw and regroup.
• Anyo and Minato criticized Kakashi’s lack of teamwork, and Minato forbade him from using Chidori in combat until the technique was improved.
• Obito Uchiha spoke with Minato and Anyo about teamwork, and Anyo explained how Hatake Sakumo had died by suicide after being condemned for saving his teammates.
• After Rin Nohara treated Kakashi’s wound, Minato split the group into two teams and left, trusting Anyo to protect the young ninja.

Anyo fought Ōnoki while Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara faced the events that led to Kakashi receiving Obito’s Sharingan. Anyo secretly followed the rescued Obito to the Mountain Graveyard, where he waited outside its barrier.

• Anyo shadowed Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara as Ōnoki confronted him and Rin was captured by an Iwagakure ninja.
• Anyo used his Mangekyō Sharingan dōjutsu, Reversal, to escape Ōnoki’s Dust Release and then vanished, while Obito was crushed beneath a boulder during the rescue.
• Obito gave Kakashi his Sharingan, and Kakashi used Chidori to kill the Iwagakure ninja who had captured Rin Nohara.
• Iwagakure ninja buried Obito beneath falling rocks, but Anyo saw that Obito had been switched with a substitute and followed the real Obito’s soul mark.
• Anyo followed Black Zetsu to the Mountain Graveyard in No Man’s Land, where a barrier blocked his ability to sense Obito’s soul.

Anyo met the frail Madara Uchiha after preparing for three days and bringing Sasori and Kakuzu as backup. Madara revealed he had once planned to control Anyo, but his final explanation was left unfinished.

• Anyo arrived with Sasori and Kakuzu and told them to wait for his signal while he entered alone.
• White Zetsu emerged, recognized Anyo, and led him through a passage to Madara Uchiha.
• Madara identified Anyo as his junior and revealed that he had tracked Anyo's movements by sensing changes in the surroundings.
• Anyo showed Madara his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Madara described the brutal era in which he had grown up.
• Madara admitted he had developed Yin-Yang Release to devour and control Anyo, but later abandoned the plan because learning more about him made Madara uncertain.
• Madara began to explain what he could do instead, but Anyo's question came before he finished.

Anyo learned that Madara Uchiha planned to target Haku and rushed to save her, while Madara tested Nagato as a possible vessel for the Rinnegan. Elsewhere, Kirigakure mobilized and Fourth Raikage A discovered Konoha's Root had helped Iwagakure target the Third Raikage.

• Madara Uchiha told Anyo he intended to kill him because his ambition and talent made him a dangerous variable, then threatened to start with Haku.
• Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu took control of Nagato to test whether he could perform Rinne Rebirth, then left after finding he was not ready.
• Nagato awakened from his ordeal, and Madara Uchiha told him he was the god of the future.
• Anyo flew away at full speed to reach Haku, while Sasori and Kakuzu followed to find out what had happened.
• Genji found the Third Mizukage absent as Kirigakure's Anbu and ninja mobilized under deployment orders.
• Fourth Raikage A learned that Konoha's Root had leaked the Third Raikage's rescue mission to Iwagakure and vowed revenge against Konoha.

Anyo searched the captured Konoha outpost, learned that the Konoha Ninja had scattered and that Jiraiya had gone to reinforce Kusagakure, then headed there. In Kusagakure, Shikaku prepared a trap with Inoichi and Chōza, but Anyo’s voice suddenly reached Inoichi’s mind.

• Anyo killed the Iwagakure Ninja at the outpost except for their captain, whom he controlled with his Sharingan to learn that the Konoha Ninja had fled in small groups.
• The captain told Anyo that Jiraiya had led Konoha Ninja to reinforce Kusagakure, but knew nothing about Ice Release users or a female Anbu swordswoman.
• Anyo killed the captain and left in the direction of Kusagakure.
• Shikaku, Inoichi, and Chōza discussed how to use Chōza’s food as bait and a flare to trap eight nearby Iwagakure Jonin.
• Anyo’s voice suddenly reached Inoichi’s mind, and Inoichi recognized him as their captain.

Anyo killed eight Iwagakure Ninja, learned that his two squad members had been reassigned to the Kumogakure Battlefield, and went there to find them. On the way, he consulted Orochimaru through a Shadow Clone about how his enemies could destroy him, then resolved to keep fighting despite the pressure closing in.

• Anyo killed eight Iwagakure Ninja before Shikaku, Chōza, and Inoichi could act.
• Inoichi told Anyo that the other two squad members had been reassigned to the Kumogakure Battlefield, and Anyo left to find them.
• Anyo sent a Shadow Clone to meet Orochimaru in Kusagakure and asked how Orochimaru would kill him.
• Orochimaru said that Anyo’s enemies could unite against Konoha and use the people he cared about there to draw him into a fatal confrontation.
• Anyo recalled his failed preparations against Madara Uchiha and resolved to carve a path forward with the Unintentional Blade.

Anyo reached the Kumogakure Battlefield, carved through the Mist Ninja, and learned from Fugaku that Shisui knew where his squad was. He found Shisui with rescued Uchiha clansmen, then cut ties with him for choosing them over his teammates.

• Anyo arrived at the battlefield, found Kirigakure forces leading the assault, and unleashed a devastating strike that wiped out the Mist Ninja around him.
• Anyo asked Fugaku about his squad, and Fugaku said Shisui had taken charge of them before Anyo left to find him.
• Anyo stopped a group carrying unconscious ninja, killed them in a spreading darkness, and learned where Shisui had gone.
• Shisui told Anyo that Mist Ninja were pursuing the squad, and Anyo realized Shisui had chosen to rescue Uchiha clansmen instead.
• Anyo threatened an Uchiha clansman, stopped Shisui from intervening, and cut Shisui's Anbu uniform before declaring him expelled from the squad.

Anyo rescued Yugao and learned that Haku had fallen into the sea, then annihilated the Mist Ninja surrounding them and searched the ocean for her. At Kannabi Bridge, Minato faced the Tsuchikage and A, who claimed Anyo was dead, and prepared to fight after sending Kakashi and Rin away.

• Anyo killed the Mist Ninja attacking Yugao, who told him Haku had been knocked into the sea while saving her.
• Anyo summoned Susanoo and used Eternity and Annihilation to immobilize and destroy the surrounding Mist Ninja, then searched the ocean for Haku with the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Minato, Kakashi, and Rin planted explosive tags on Kannabi Bridge, but Ōnoki and A confronted them before they could detonate them.
• Ōnoki told Minato that Anyo had died under Dust Release, while A accused Konoha of causing his father's death.
• Minato sent Kakashi and Rin away, then faced A as the Raikage charged at him.

Anyo stopped searching for Haku and admitted he should have given her freedom, then collapsed from exhaustion as Sasori and Kakuzu took him for treatment. At the Mountain Graveyard, Madara Uchiha rescued the badly injured Obito and said he expected repayment.

• Yugao guarded Anyo as Sasori and Kakuzu arrived and identified themselves as his allies.
• Sasori learned that Haku had fallen into the sea and that Anyo had searched for her for a day and a night.
• Anyo woke and said Haku was probably alive, but he regretted controlling her life and said he should have given her freedom.
• Anyo asked Kakuzu to carry him, then fell asleep; Sasori recognized that his body was severely depleted and decided to take him to Tsunade for treatment.
• Sasori, Kakuzu, Anyo, and Yugao flew toward the base at Kikyo Mountain.
• Madara Uchiha told Obito that he had rescued him and expected him to repay the favor.

Madara Uchiha revealed his identity to Obito and prepared to begin his plan, while Sasori suspected that Madara was targeting Konoha. Anyo survived his collapse after Tsunade treated him, and the Konoha Crush Plan began taking shape through an alliance against Konoha.

• Madara Uchiha told Obito that he was the ghost of the Uchiha, shocking him with his identity.
• Sasori and Kakuzu brought the unconscious, feverish Anyo to the Kikyo Mountain outpost, where Yugao carried him to Tsunade.
• Sasori concluded that Madara Uchiha might be targeting Konoha and returned with Kakuzu to Sunagakure to inform Rasa.
• Tsunade treated Anyo in a medicinal water tank, and Anyo regained consciousness and kissed her.
• Black and White Zetsu told Madara that Minato was occupied, the Three-Tails was ready, and Kumogakure and Iwagakure had agreed to Kirigakure's Konoha Crush Plan.

Anyo took command at Kikyo Mountain Base and led Konoha ninja in wiping out an Iwagakure force, but the resulting casualties provoked a bitter conflict with Tsunade. He asked Yugao to help make Tsunade angry enough to leave the base, hinting that a greater threat was coming.

• Tsunade questioned Anyo about his condition and the base's defenses, but an alert reported suspected enemies approaching Kikyo Mountain Base.
• Anyo assumed command from Tsunade and ordered the Konoha ninja to pursue the Iwagakure attackers, despite Tsunade's warning not to chase them.
• Anyo divided his forces to pursue the retreating enemy squads and killed all the Iwagakure ninja, while more than twenty Konoha ninja died.
• Tsunade confronted Anyo over his casualties and his disregard for human lives, then punched him when he told her to return to the village.
• Anyo let Tsunade's blow land and told Yugao that their opponent had changed and the attacks would grow more frequent.
• Anyo asked Yugao to help anger Tsunade enough to make her leave Kikyo Mountain Base.

Anyo tried to persuade Yugao to help send Tsunade away before the expected decisive battle at Kikyo Mountain, while Madara Uchiha manipulated Nagato into becoming Pain and began turning Konan against Anyo. The chapter left Anyo unknowingly facing Madara’s schemes with no way to retreat.

• Anyo explained to Yugao that a major battle would soon reach Kikyo Mountain and that he wanted Tsunade to survive, and Yugao offered to help before he declined her embrace.
• Nagato questioned whether gods could end the world’s suffering, and Madara Uchiha’s words convinced him to take the name Pain and resolve to make the world feel his pain.
• Madara Uchiha visited the imprisoned Konan and gave her a scroll containing intelligence about Anyo.
• Konan rejected Madara Uchiha’s claim that Anyo had used her and Nagato for the Rinnegan, while Madara said he would soon release her to assist Pain.
• Madara Uchiha decided that Anyo would become Pain’s greatest enemy if he survived the next year, and concluded that Anyo could only advance, not retreat.

Minato fought A and Ōnoki after destroying Kannabi Bridge, while Anyo learned that a Four-Nation Allied Forces army was preparing to attack Kikyo Mountain. Anyo decided to leave, but Tsunade remained angry with him and Yugao hinted that he was carrying a burden.

• Minato destroyed Kannabi Bridge and faced A and Ōnoki, who used a Space-Time Barrier to restrict his movement.
• Rasa agreed to join the allied forces, and the Third Kazekage offered Sasori’s puppets to support him.
• Sasori sent intelligence about the alliance to Kurotsuchi, and Anyo learned that more than twenty thousand ninja might attack Kikyo Mountain.
• Anyo concluded that Madara Uchiha was behind the scheme and prepared to face the coming attack.
• Anyo told Tsunade he was leaving, but she rejected his explanation, and Yugao said he had something weighing on his mind.

After learning that the Four Great Ninja Villages had joined forces to besiege Konoha, Anyo decided to face them and recruited allies to help trap them. He then sought Orochimaru’s help, offering to reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan and its power over time.

• Anyo lost all his money at the Aima Room, then told Kakuzu, Sasori, and Mabui he planned to fight the Four-Nation Allied Forces.
• Anyo asked Kakuzu and Sasori to help set up the Four Red Yang Formation, with Hanzō and Orochimaru as the other two Kage Level fighters; Kakuzu agreed, and Anyo planned to contact Hanzō and recruit Orochimaru.
• Anyo returned to war-torn Kusagakure and visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru again invited him to become his right-hand man.
• Anyo refused Orochimaru’s offer and said he had come to ask for help, then revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained that its power was time.

Anyo persuaded Orochimaru to support his plan to use Impure World Reincarnation against the Four-Nation Allied Forces, paying him with two bottles of blood. After rejoining Sasori and the others at Kikyo Mountain Base, Anyo hinted that Dragon Vein Power would make their victory certain.

• Anyo explained his plan to Orochimaru, who warned that Impure World Reincarnation could not fully control the resurrected or restore their living chakra reserves.
• Anyo proposed using an elite jonin as the sacrifice and relying on the resurrected ninja’s loyalty to Konoha; Orochimaru agreed to help in exchange for more of Anyo’s blood.
• After Anyo left, Orochimaru indulged his fascination with Anyo’s blood and sent Danzo a request for an Aburame member with poisonous insects and Uchiha Sharingan subjects.
• Anyo reunited with Sasori and the other two at Kikyo Mountain Base and asked whether Dragon Vein Power could merge easily with the earth underground.
• Sasori confirmed it could, and Anyo declared that nothing remained uncertain in the coming battle.

As Konoha faced a four-nation alliance and the threat of a crushing invasion, the Third Hokage and Danzo prepared the village for war. At Kikyo Mountain, Tsunade stood with Anyo as the allied army advanced, and Anyo confirmed he had stayed because she was there.

• Sasori left after hearing Anyo's plan, while Hanzō received the intelligence through the Heavenly Transfer Technique and hurried over.
• The Third Hokage confronted Danzo, took in Root's intelligence, and learned that Minato's fate was unknown and that the Four-Nation Alliance planned to crush Konoha.
• The Third Hokage ordered Shinku to lead Konoha's younger ninja to the Senju Clan's former grounds and identified Kikyo Mountain as the allied army's likely first target.
• Danzo persuaded the Third Hokage to remain in Konoha as its final stronghold while Tsunade and Ye held Kikyo Mountain.
• Three days later, the twenty-three-thousand-strong allied army advanced toward Kikyo Mountain, where Tsunade and Anyo watched its approach.
• Tsunade asked why Anyo had stayed, and he admitted he had remained because she was there.