Chapter Summaries

Anyo commissioned a powerful chakra-controlled weapon from Sixiang’s village and paid one billion for its creation. Five days later, the ring-shaped blade was completed and Anyo named it Supreme Edge.

• Sixiang and Shuihu decided to forge Anyo’s weapon using the village founder’s green gemstone and redirected the village’s craftsmen to the project.
• Sixiang quoted Anyo one billion, and Anyo agreed to pay while promising to handle trouble from the Five Great Nations.
• Sasori arrived with the money, and Anyo sent him to eliminate a small ninja village in the Land of Hot Water as the Zero Organization’s future base.
• Anyo paid Sixiang one billion and instructed the craftsmen to prioritize the weapon’s quality over speed.
• The Five Great Nations learned of the Land of Crafts’ dealings and dispatched elite ninja, while the craftsmen completed the weapon five days later.
• Sixiang explained the weapon’s splitting blades, and Anyo named it Supreme Edge.

Anyo visited the Land of Crafts to commission a thousand-blade weapon and met Minato, who had come to investigate the village’s canceled orders. Killer B arrived to challenge Anyo to a sword fight, but Ao’s Byakugan revealed immense chakra ahead, prompting Ao and Juzo Biwa to retreat.

• Sixiang told Anyo that his weapon was nearly complete and needed cursed seals inscribed on each blade.
• Minato arrived to investigate the Land of Crafts canceling Konoha’s orders, and Anyo explained that he had commissioned a weapon there.
• Killer B recognized Anyo as Baiyun and challenged him to a sword fight, which Anyo accepted.
• Minato sensed another arrival, while Ao used his Byakugan to watch the group from the forest.
• Ao detected enormous chakra ahead, including one person with more chakra than anyone he had ever seen, so Juzo Biwa ordered their group to leave.

Anyo reunited with Killer B in the Land of Crafts, defeated him in a swordsmanship match, and agreed to teach him. Mabui arrived and recognized Anyo as Baiyun, while Killer B’s deference to her left Anyo wondering who she was.

• Minato left to report the Kirigakure ninja’s Byakugan-like sensory ability to Konoha and the Third Hokage.
• Killer B asked Anyo to demonstrate his swordsmanship, and Anyo defeated him by disarming his seven short blades.
• Killer B took notes on the fight and asked Anyo to teach him, immediately calling him teacher.
• Mabui arrived, recognized Anyo as Baiyun, and stopped Killer B from explaining why he had come ahead.
• Anyo noticed Killer B’s nervous deference to Mabui and wondered who she was.

Anyo let Mabui inspect the forge and Supreme Edge’s blueprints, then traded information with her about Minato Namikaze and her Heavenly Transfer Technique. He explained how Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique worked, but admitted he did not know how to counter it.

• Anyo let Mabui enter the forge, where she saw craftsmen making the tiny blades for his weapon.
• Mabui realized Anyo had not shown her the weapon’s prototype, and Anyo gave her Supreme Edge’s blueprints instead.
• After studying the blueprints, Mabui learned Anyo was a Konoha ninja and asked him about Minato Namikaze.
• Anyo told Mabui that Minato’s signature ninjutsu was the Flying Thunder God Technique, while she revealed that she could use the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
• Mabui asked how the Flying Thunder God Technique worked and how it could be countered, and Anyo explained its teleportation marks but could not name a counter.

Anyo told Mabui about the Flying Thunder God Technique, learned how the Heavenly Transfer Technique worked, and persuaded her to stay in the Land of Crafts for two more days. As Mabui gathered more intelligence from him, Anyo secretly sent a message and continued ingratiating himself with her.

• Mabui explained that the Heavenly Transfer Technique transported objects, and Anyo realized the Third Raikage might be able to withstand it.
• Anyo teased Mabui and persuaded her to stay two more days by suggesting he might join Kumogakure; she set rules against him approaching without permission.
• Anyo sent a bird puppet bearing Sasori's mark, while Mabui questioned Killer B and then sent him back to Kumogakure with two Anbu guards.
• Mabui recorded intelligence about Anyo and learned more from him, including details about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Minato Namikaze's relationship with Kushina Uzumaki.
• On the second day, Anyo waited outside Mabui's room with breakfast, and she agreed to eat with him.

Anyo hosted Mabui for two days before driving off Kitsuchi and his Iwagakure Ninja, prompting Mabui to leave for Kumogakure. On the road, Sasori ambushed Mabui’s escort and captured her alive.

• Anyo shared a lavish breakfast with Mabui and the village children, then spent two days playing shogi and speaking with her.
• Kitsuchi arrived with Iwagakure Ninja and threatened the Land of Crafts, but Anyo incapacitated his men and forced them to leave.
• Mabui reproached Anyo for provoking Iwagakure, thanked him for his hospitality, and departed for Kumogakure with an Anbu escort.
• Sasori ambushed Mabui and her escort, killing the Anbu and revealing his puppet’s Magnet Release before knocking Mabui unconscious with purple gas.

Sasori abducted Mabui and mistakenly believed Anyo wanted her for sexual reasons, while Anyo tested the Supreme Edge and prepared to recruit Mabui into the Zero Organization. After Sasori apologized, he questioned why Anyo would make such a weak woman a full member.

• Sasori took the unconscious Mabui away, bathed her, and carried her to Anyo while misunderstanding Anyo's intentions.
• Anyo tested the Supreme Edge and discovered that its Dark Green Gemstone held power tied to Seimei and the Land of Crafts' founding treasures.
• Sasori presented Mabui to Anyo, who realized Sasori had badly misunderstood his request.
• Anyo ordered Sasori to give him the antidote and apologize to Mabui, then said he wanted her to join the Zero Organization as a full member.
• Sasori apologized to Mabui but questioned what qualified her to join the organization.

Anyo recruited Mabui into Zero as its Secretary after she learned of his ambitions, while Sasori was instructed to keep her under watch. After the Supreme Edge was completed, Sixiang offered the Land of Crafts’ allegiance to Anyo, who accepted it for after the war.

• After Anyo gave Mabui the antidote, she recovered her voice, learned that he had been scheming to recruit her, and refused to join Zero at first.
• Anyo explained Zero’s goal of making money, growing stronger, and changing the Shinobi World, then persuaded Mabui to join by promising she could leave if his vision failed.
• Anyo named Mabui Secretary and told Sasori to watch her closely, though he preferred to win her genuine loyalty rather than turn her into a puppet.
• Sasori left the Land of Crafts with Mabui, while Anyo practiced and the Land of Crafts’ ninjas fended off questions from Kumogakure.
• When the Supreme Edge was completed, Sixiang offered the Land of Crafts’ allegiance, and Anyo accepted on the condition that they finish their current orders and join him after the war.

Anyo returned to Konoha, recounted the battlefield defeat to Jiraiya, and helped Shizune treat wounded ninjas at the hospital. After reuniting with Tsunade, he embraced and kissed her, and their reunion became intimate.

• Anyo returned to Konoha and met Jiraiya, who asked him to explain the defeat on the battlefield.
• Anyo told Jiraiya what had happened, then went to the hospital to find Tsunade.
• Anyo stopped Shizune from continuing to treat a dying ninja and taught her to accept the limits of medical care.
• Anyo and Shizune treated the hospital's wounded patients, saving all but two whose injuries were beyond treatment.
• Tsunade found Anyo at the hospital, and after Shizune left them alone, Anyo embraced and kissed her.

After recovering from his encounter with Tsunade, Anyo returned to the Anbu and trained Yugao and Haku, then sparred against them alongside Shisui. The chapter left Itachi inspired to train and become as strong as his godfather.

• Anyo encountered Kushina and Minato outside the hospital, learned Kushina had nearly been captured by Kumogakure ninja, and told Minato that Jiraiya had returned to the village.
• At the Anbu, Yugao asked about Gekko Hayate, and Anyo told her that Orochimaru had killed him before leading her to train.
• Anyo taught Yugao the Dancing Blade Technique and Hidden Swordsmanship while correcting her swordsmanship.
• Anyo challenged Haku to improve her battlefield performance and control of Ice Release, then trained her in using less chakra to kill an enemy.
• Shisui arrived with Itachi, and Anyo had Shisui, Haku, and Yugao attack him together before he countered with Lightning Swordsmanship.
• Itachi watched Anyo fight and resolved to train hard and become as strong as his godfather.

Anyo proposed that Konoha use small squads rather than large frontal battles, and the Third Hokage gave him broad battlefield command authority while hinting that he could become head of the Anbu. As the Third Hokage prepared Minato for a future leadership role, Anyo accepted his assignment but privately resolved to let the war continue until his organization was strong enough to act.

• Anyo told the Third Hokage that Konoha should avoid large battles and deploy stronger small squads against enemy forces.
• The Third Hokage appointed Anyo, under the codename Night, to take command on the battlefield when necessary and suggested he could later lead the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage told Jiraiya that Minato was his intended future Hokage and assigned Jiraiya to command the Iwagakure Battlefield.
• The Third Hokage assigned Uchiha Fugaku to command against Kumogakure and sent Anyo there as well.
• Anyo accepted the plan to fight for Konoha but privately decided that the longer the war lasted, the more time his organization would have to grow.

Minato led a team to investigate a rumored puppet army in the Rōran Ruins while learning that war had resumed on the Kumogakure Battlefield. Anyo arrived there in time to save Uchiha Fugaku, but the Raikage appeared and confronted him.

• The Third Hokage assigned Minato, Shibi, Chōza, and Kakashi to protect the queen and investigate the Rōran Ruins.
• Minato questioned Anyo about an Anbu squad and learned that fighting had resumed against Kumogakure.
• Anyo sent a bird puppet marked for Sasori toward the Rōran Ruins to investigate the rumors.
• Killer B and a lightning-armored fighter attacked Uchiha Fugaku, who revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan as they cornered him.
• Anyo struck with Iaido, forcing Killer B to abandon his attack and saving Fugaku.
• The Raikage arrived, warned his son away from Anyo, and faced Anyo as Kumogakure's forces rallied.

Anyo fought the Raikage, whose lightning armor and speed overwhelmed Anyo’s attacks. Anyo used his Mangekyō abilities to evade the Raikage’s counter and land a poisoned sword strike, believing he had won.

• The Raikage used his lightning armor and Hell Stab to break Anyo’s Dancing Blade Technique and send him flying.
• Anyo used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, but the Raikage’s strongest lightning armor blocked his sword strike and let him counterattack.
• Anyo activated Eternity’s Time Stop to escape the Raikage’s grasp and retreat into the darkness.
• Anyo coated his blade with poison and attacked the Raikage, who relied on his armor to withstand the assault.
• Anyo used a powerful Iaido strike and Time Acceleration to bypass the Raikage’s One-Finger Nukite and pierce his body.

Anyo used a poisoned Iaido strike and a shadow clone to stall the Raikage, then helped Fugaku lead Konoha’s forces in a retreat. The Raikage broke free of the darkness technique but chose not to pursue, wary of Anyo and the risks of a decisive battle.

• The Raikage recovered from Anyo’s poisoned strike, while Anyo realized that the Raikage’s body activation made him nearly impossible to defeat in a direct fight.
• Anyo used a Lightning Release: Shadow Clone and Illusion Blade Technique to distract the Raikage, then slipped back to the battlefield as the fighting became even.
• Anyo joined the fight against Killer B, told his squad to retreat, and interrupted Fugaku’s battle with the Raikage’s son to give Konoha’s forces time to withdraw.
• Anyo urged Fugaku to order a retreat, and Konoha’s ninja escaped through their trenches while triggering buried traps.
• The Raikage exposed Anyo’s shadow clone with Black Lightning, but decided against pursuing Konoha’s retreating forces and became wary of Anyo.

As Konoha and Kumogakure settled into a bloody war of attrition, Anyo learned from Sasori that Sasori had claimed the power of the Ryūmyaku and sent him the empowered Third Kazekage puppet. The chapter left Anyo anticipating how powerful Sasori would become after mastering the Ryūmyaku.

• Anyo told Fugaku that the Raikage was difficult to defeat and urged Konoha to fortify its positions, disrupt supplies, and fight defensively with smaller units.
• Konoha and Kumogakure shifted into a prolonged struggle of raids and squad battles, while Anyo's Anbu squad and Shisui Uchiha distinguished themselves.
• Anyo fought the Raikage again, then withdrew when he could not defeat him and the Raikage could not quickly escape the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
• Anyo used the Supreme Edge to kill Kumogakure Ninja from a distance as he practiced Okatana Swordsmanship on the battlefield.
• Sasori sent Anyo a letter explaining that he and Mabui had unsealed the Ryūmyaku beneath the Rōran ruins and that he had infused some of its power into the Third Kazekage puppet.
• Sasori sent the empowered Third Kazekage puppet to Anyo through Mabui's Heavenly Transfer Technique, and Anyo burned the letter after reading it.

Anyo discovered that the Third Kazekage’s Dragon Vein-powered body could pass for a living person and devised a plan to impersonate him, take control of Sunagakure, and establish a hidden Zero Organization base. After Minato arrived and delivered a transfer order sending Anyo to investigate Sunagakure, Anyo set off with Haku and Yugao.

• Anyo examined the Third Kazekage’s lifelike shell and realized its Dragon Vein Power gave it an enormous chakra supply.
• Anyo planned to use the Spirit Transformation Technique to impersonate the Third Kazekage and secretly gain control of Sunagakure for the Zero Organization.
• Minato arrived at the Kumogakure Battlefield, and Anyo told him about his fight with the Raikage and the Raikage’s formidable strength.
• Minato gave Anyo a transfer order to gather intelligence in Sunagakure, where Konoha suspected the village was preparing for another war.
• Anyo allowed up to two squad members to accompany him, and Haku and Yugao joined the mission while Shisui and Inoichi stayed behind.
• Anyo flew toward Sunagakure with Haku and Yugao aboard his eagle puppet.

Anyo sent Haku and Yugao to gather intelligence on Sunagakure while he headed to the Rōran Ruins to check on Sasori. He found Sasori still absorbing the Ryūmyaku’s power, and Sasori greeted him as Kurotsuchi, big brother.

• Anyo met Ying and the other Anbu, concluded Sunagakure might have wiped out Konoha’s outpost, and stayed behind to investigate.
• Anyo assigned Yugao to gather information from merchants and gave Haku Ying’s Mark so she could contact Gardenia in Amegakure.
• Anyo sent Haku and Yugao on their missions and rode his Eagle Puppet toward the Rōran Ruins.
• Anyo broke through the barrier around the ruins, where Mabui told him Sasori had remained at the Ryūmyaku seal.
• Anyo found Sasori absorbing the Ryūmyaku’s power, and Sasori greeted him as Kurotsuchi, big brother.

Anyo helped Sasori control and absorb the Dragon Vein Power, then explained his plan to impersonate the Third Kazekage and take control of Sunagakure. After a day of practice, the group prepared to enter the village with Mabui posing as the Queen of Rōran.

• Anyo sealed Sasori's chaotic Dragon Vein Power, allowing Sasori to absorb all of it safely.
• Anyo told Sasori and Mabui that he planned to use the Third Kazekage's body to control Sunagakure, then demonstrated the impersonation with the Soul Division Technique.
• Sasori taught Anyo the Third Kazekage's history and mannerisms, and Anyo practiced the role for a day.
• Sasori warned Anyo to watch out for Rasa, but Anyo said Rasa could be useful to the plan.
• Anyo gave Mabui an elegant ivory dress and told her to pose as the Queen of Rōran.

Anyo, controlling the Third Kazekage, returned to Sunagakure with Sasori and Mabui and gave the village leaders a fabricated account of their disappearance. After Mabui blamed Konoha and mourned Rōran, the Kazekage revealed his new Ryūmyaku power, leaving Sunagakure’s leaders confident in their strength.

• Anyo, controlling the Third Kazekage, arrived at Sunagakure’s gates with Sasori and Mabui, and the guards welcomed him back.
• Chiyo recognized Sasori and brought the returning group into the village for a meeting with Sunagakure’s senior leaders.
• The Third Kazekage introduced Mabui as the queen of Rōran, and Sasori claimed they had been trapped in the ruins during a battle involving a rogue Ninja and Konoha Ninja.
• Mabui pretended to grieve over Rōran’s destruction and accused Konoha Ninja of helping ruin the kingdom.
• The Third Kazekage activated the Ryūmyaku power he had absorbed and told the leaders that Sunagakure would no longer be at anyone’s mercy.

Anyo, controlling the Kazekage, learned that Sunagakure had allied with Iwagakure to attack Konoha and handed the next Kazekage armband to Rasa. He approved Operation Hurricane but stayed in the village, then ordered a 2,000-ninja force to be disguised as 5,000 with Sasori’s puppets before the attack in ten days.

• An official reported that Sunagakure had fewer than 5,000 ninja and had secretly joined Iwagakure’s Operation Hurricane against Konoha.
• The Kazekage named Rasa his successor and gave him the next Kazekage armband.
• Senior officials stopped the Kazekage from going to the front, so he assigned Rasa to lead the attack.
• The Kazekage ordered Sunagakure to send 2,000 ninja while claiming to have 5,000, using Sasori’s puppets to make up the numbers.
• The Kazekage ordered all ninja to help Sasori prepare the puppets for an attack on Konoha in ten days.