Recaps

Senju Chen successfully transferred Yahiko’s soul into a White Zetsu Puppet, and Yahiko woke two days later confused by his new body. As Konan and Nagato struggled to face his blank white appearance, Yahiko discovered the puppet’s smooth, unfamiliar form and screamed.

• Senju Chen transferred Yahiko’s soul into the White Zetsu Puppet, and Yahiko’s original body stopped breathing.
• The puppet began breathing, confirming the transfer had succeeded, and Senju Chen told Nagato and Konan they could stay with Yahiko.
• Two days later, Yahiko woke in the puppet body and saw Nagato and Konan asleep beside a tank holding his original body.
• Yahiko asked what had happened, and Konan and Nagato woke and rushed to him.
• Konan stopped short when she saw Yahiko’s featureless white face, while Nagato avoided looking at him.
• Yahiko felt his smooth face and body, then screamed after discovering the rest of his form.

Yahiko awakened in a sexless White Zetsu Puppet after Senju Chen saved his soul, then tried to reshape the body into his original appearance. His first attempts horrified Nagato, Konan, and Senju Chen, and he ended the chapter with a muscular body bearing a made-up face resembling Konan.

• Yahiko awakened in a White Zetsu Puppet and panicked when he discovered the body had no male parts.
• Senju Chen explained that Yahiko's damaged original body was healing in nutrient solution and that he could reshape the puppet with his imagination.
• Yahiko tried to sculpt his original face but created a grotesque face with misplaced eyes, a sideways nose, and serrated teeth.
• Nagato and Konan recoiled from Yahiko's new face, so he tried reshaping himself again.
• Yahiko emerged with a towering, muscular body and a cute, heavily made-up face resembling Konan, making Konan shout his name in embarrassment.

Yahiko finally formed a face resembling his own after several disastrous transformations, and Nagato and Konan discussed his treatment plan. In Kirigakure, Kirisame Ryo prepared to move against Obito’s trusted subordinates while Obito was away in the Land of Rain, beginning with a covert sweep of the eastern coastline.

• Yahiko first transformed into an absurd face and then Hanzō’s, prompting Nagato and Konan to threaten him before he eventually shaped a face resembling his own.
• Nagato and Konan accepted Yahiko’s new appearance, and the group prepared to discuss his treatment plan.
• Kirisame Ryo reviewed a list of Kirigakure officials he had identified as Obito’s trusted confidants while Obito was in the Land of Rain.
• Kirisame Ryo summoned his instructors and ordered one of them to lead Team A on a routine sweep of the eastern coastline, using a list of targets to obtain leads.
• The instructor saw that the first name on the list belonged to Kirigakure’s deputy head of Intelligence.

Kirisame Ryo ordered a covert purge of Kirigakure’s departments and used genjutsu to crush Jonin Inoue Ryoma when he challenged him. As the purge began, Ryo looked toward the Mizukage Building and anticipated Obito and Black Zetsu’s return to a transformed village.

• Kirisame Ryo assigned squads to investigate and eliminate people loyal to the Fourth Mizukage across Kirigakure’s departments.
• Jonin Inoue Ryoma stormed into Ryo’s office and accused him of deploying squads without Yagura’s orders.
• Ryo reminded Inoue Ryoma that Instructor Tsukiki had died after challenging his orders, then trapped Inoue in a terrifying genjutsu that left him convulsing on the floor.
• Kirisame Ryo ordered his instructors to remove Inoue Ryoma and report the results of their missions before dawn.
• Kirisame Ryo watched the village’s purge from the High Tower and anticipated Obito and Black Zetsu’s reaction when they returned.

Senju Chen summoned the ninja scattered across the Shinobi World back to the underground base in the Land of Waterfalls for a major mission. By the third day, two or three hundred powerful fighters had assembled in the plaza as Chen surveyed the imposing ranks.

• White Zetsu messengers delivered Chen’s emergency assembly notice, ordering all personnel to return to base within three days for a major mission.
• Zabuza Momochi and Yukimura Ryota received the notice during an intelligence mission and set out for the base.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Rin Nohara received their scroll in a tavern and prepared to return with dried fish for the journey.
• Mei Terumi and Chōjūrō received the notice while training, and Chōjūrō continued bandaging Mei’s injuries as they readied to leave.
• Hidan and Kimimaro received the notice at a Jashin altar and hurried back, eager to claim the mission before anyone else.
• Two or three hundred ninja gathered in the base’s underground plaza on the third day, and Senju Chen looked over the assembled force.

Senju Chen announced that his organization would launch a large-scale operation against Kirigakure, prompting the base’s members to volunteer en masse. He ended by ordering them to follow the organization’s arrangements and rallying them to strike Kirigakure.

• Senju Chen told the assembled members that their mission target was Kirigakure in the Land of Water.
• Mei Terumi, Chōjūrō, Zabuza Momochi, and Yukimura Ryota reacted with excitement and renewed thoughts of revenge.
• Kisame Hoshigaki, Rin Nohara, Hidan, Kimimaro, and many other members volunteered for the dangerous operation.
• Yamato reported that all 262 available members had signed up, surprising Senju Chen.
• Senju Chen told the volunteers to follow the organization’s arrangements and urged them to give Kirigakure a “billion-sized” shock.
• The gathered ninja shouted for revenge and called to raze Kirigakure to the ground.

Senju Chen learned that Kuga and two other Intelligence Division ninja had escaped the purge, and he chose to monitor the village rather than pursue them. As White Zetsu spread through Kirigakure’s waterways, Kuga’s group hid in a sewer and worried about getting word to Yagura’s contact.

• An instructor reported that the purge had dealt with thirty-four of thirty-seven targets, while Captain Inoue remained confined with severe mental trauma.
• Senju Chen identified Kuga, a coded-message courier, among the three escapees and ordered patrols strengthened without revealing the effort.
• Senju Chen instructed White Zetsu to infiltrate Kirigakure’s waterways and drains and listen for activity without intervening.
• White Zetsu clones formed a surveillance network throughout the village over the next day.
• Kuga and two other ninja hid in a sewer and discussed their need to contact Yagura’s contact about the purge.

Senju Chen intercepted Kuga’s coded message and captured him and his two companions in Kirigakure. He forced them to become double agents under his control, leaving Obito’s communication channel compromised without the Land of Rain hideout knowing.

• Kuga sent a coded signal from Kirigakure’s underground drainage channel, and a White Zetsu intercepted it for Senju Chen.
• A White Zetsu appeared in the sewer and surrounded Kuga and the other two agents with clones.
• Senju Chen identified the trio as expendable agents planted by Yagura and revealed that he already knew their purpose.
• Senju Chen threatened the agents and their families until Kuga agreed to become a double agent.
• Senju Chen ordered the agents’ files compiled and claimed their communication channel for the High Tower.
• Senju Chen reflected that Obito’s hidden channel was now under his control, while the Land of Rain hideout remained unaware.

Obito planned to exploit Yahiko’s presumed death and Nagato’s grief to recruit him, but Nagato and Konan had vanished. When Obito went to the Land of Rain’s main city, he found the Akatsuki organizing relief and restoring order instead of collapsing into chaos.

• Black Zetsu told Obito that Hanzo was dead and Yahiko was gravely wounded and presumed dead, prompting Obito to plan his approach to Nagato.
• Obito sent Black Zetsu to find Nagato and Konan, but Black Zetsu returned to report that both had disappeared after the battle.
• Obito disguised himself as a wandering merchant and traveled to the Land of Rain’s largest town with a Black Zetsu clone.
• Obito saw Kakuzu distributing food and medicine while Hatake Sakumo directed cleanup and defenses, and realized the Akatsuki was helping the town rather than falling into disorder.

Obito was frustrated that Akatsuki had won the Land of Rain’s support before he could find Nagato, while Black Zetsu urged him to wait. In the Land of Water, Yukimura Shigure prepared to receive returning allies through Food Is Heaven’s teleportation array as the organization assembled for a coordinated operation against the country and Kirigakure.

• A child praised Akatsuki’s relief efforts, and Obito realized Kakuzu and Hatake Sakumo had won the hearts of the Land of Rain’s people.
• Obito complained that Akatsuki had taken over the Land of Rain and could not find Nagato, while Black Zetsu advised him to wait for Nagato to resurface.
• Yukimura Shigure and Aying prepared Food Is Heaven’s branches across the Land of Water to serve as bases for a coordinated operation involving roughly three hundred personnel.
• Zabuza Momochi and Yukimura Ryota arrived through the teleportation array, and Ryota reunited with Yukimura Shigure.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Rin Nohara arrived in the second group, followed by more returning personnel.

Yukimura Shigure welcomed the fighters who had been sent away five years earlier as they returned, and Senju Chen ordered the opening strike against Kirigakure. As the operation began, Senju Chen brought the frightened Kuga to his office to ask him for a favor.

• Ayi reunited with Yukimura Shigure and demonstrated how much his Ice Release had improved.
• Hidan and Kimimaro arrived, and Aying received a message confirming that the fighters were ready to move.
• Yukimura Shigure reported that 262 fighters were positioned at 37 Food Is Heaven branches across the Land of Water, with their targets and supplies prepared.
• Senju Chen placed a shogi piece on the Mizukage Building on his map and ordered the operation to begin.
• Senju Chen had Kuga brought to his office and told him he wanted to ask for a small favor.

Senju Chen forced Kuga to send Obito false intelligence that Kirigakure's unrest was contained, buying time for the coming attack. The base raid began at Tide Town, where the garrison came under assault from the Twins and their allies.

• Senju Chen dictated a misleading report to Kuga, who transmitted it to his mysterious lord through a stone shard.
• Senju Chen ordered the instructor to keep Kuga alive as an important liaison and anticipated Obito would continue searching for Nagato.
• Senju Chen began the raid on Tide Town, Kirigakure's key port city guarded by more than three hundred ninja.
• The western barrier melted under a Lava Release attack as the Twins' Boil Release acid mist covered the southern defenses.

Zabuza, Chōjūrō, Yukimura Ryota, Hidan, and Kimimaro launched coordinated attacks across the Land of Water against Kirigakure forces and facilities. At the Yuki Clan’s former grounds, Yukimura and Zabuza began slaughtering the Blood Mist assassins responsible for the clan’s massacre, while Hidan and Kimimaro entered a weapons research facility.

• Chōjūrō and his White Zetsu Puppet destroyed the enemy command tower with their lightning-charged swords.
• Zabuza and his puppet attacked the Blood Mist Assassination Division camp at the Yuki Clan’s former grounds.
• Yukimura Ryota and his puppet trapped the camp in Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and rained ice senbon on the Kirigakure ninjas.
• Zabuza killed a pinned Kirigakure ninja as Yukimura watched the massacre and mourned his clansmen.
• Hidan and Kimimaro entered a secret weapons research facility after a researcher reported that the enemy was immortal.

Senju Chen’s forces continued their surprise assault on Kirigakure, capturing strongholds and crippling Yagura’s forces. Kirigakure’s elders suspected Lord Genji was behind the attacks after learning that the missing Seven Ninja Swords were among the enemy’s weapons.

• Kimimaro killed charging guards with Dance of the Larch while Hidan used his ritual to make a guard suffer his injuries.
• Senju Chen received reports of victories across Kirigakure and ordered his squads to clear the areas around their Food Is Heaven branches while staying alert.
• Kirigakure’s elders learned that thirty-seven strongholds had been attacked and that the enemy appeared inside them without warning.
• The Intelligence Division chief reported that the attackers fought in identical pairs and carried the Kubikiribōchō, Samehada, and Hiramekarei.
• The first elder suggested that Lord Genji was the only person who could have hidden all seven ninja blades from Kirigakure’s intelligence network.

Kirigakure's elders blamed the village's crisis on Genji's hidden faction and ordered the village to prepare for battle, while a communications blackout cut them off from outside forces. In the southern forests, Zabuza and his White Zetsu duplicate ambushed Kirigakure's Third Reinforcement Battalion, and a Yuki Clan fugitive intervened as the fight continued.

• The grand elder concluded that Genji had secretly prepared a force to overthrow the Mizukage and ordered the village to activate its Water Prison Formation and enter combat readiness.
• A communications ninja reported that all external channels were down, and the grand elder feared Genji's faction had trapped the village.
• Hozuki Getsuga led the Third Reinforcement Battalion toward Tide Town, but a dense mist engulfed the troops in the forest.
• Zabuza and his White Zetsu duplicate emerged from the mist and attacked the battalion, killing Kirigakure ninja and breaking its formation.
• Hozuki Getsuga used the Hydrification Technique to attack Zabuza, but a Yuki Clan fugitive blocked his strike with an ice mirror.

Yukimura Ryota (Yuki) and Zabuza defeated Hozuki Getsuga and prepared to join the fight in Kirigakure. Meanwhile, Hidan and Kimimaro cleared a Kirigakure mining base and moved on to the next stronghold.

• Yukimura Ryota (Yuki) froze the charging Kirigakure ninja, allowing Zabuza to kill three of them with the Kubikiribōchō.
• White Zetsu Zabuza copied Hozuki Getsuga's Hydrification Technique, enraging Getsuga and drawing him into Zabuza's attack.
• Yukimura Ryota (Yuki) froze the mist into thousands of senbon, encasing Hozuki Getsuga in ice, and Zabuza shattered the sculpture with one slash.
• Yukimura Ryota (Yuki) urged Zabuza to support the others, and Zabuza set off toward Kirigakure for the main battle.
• At a northern Land of Water mining base, Hidan used his curse ritual to kill Kirigakure ninja while Kimimaro wiped out the fleeing garrison with Dance of the Seedling Fern.
• Hidan and Kimimaro argued over their methods, then headed toward the next target as their White Zetsu copies collected spoils.

Obito learned that Kirigakure was in turmoil but dismissed it as a minor power struggle while he continued searching for Nagato. Meanwhile, Senju Chen’s forces encircled Kirigakure, seized control of its Water Prison Formation, and prepared to confront the village leadership as Yukimura Shigure addressed the returning survivors.

• Obito learned from Black Zetsu that Nagato remained hidden behind anti-sensory barriers and chose not to intervene in Kirigakure’s internal conflict.
• Senju Chen received reports that his forces had captured Hozuki Mangetsu, cut off Kirigakure’s support routes, and surrounded its headquarters.
• Senju Chen learned that Kirigakure’s elders believed the attack was Genji’s revenge operation and ordered his forces to gather at the headquarters and take control of the Water Prison Formation.
• Kirigakure’s elders panicked as the Twins Organization assembled outside the village’s barrier, and Yukimura Shigure learned that control of the barrier had been transferred.
• Yukimura Shigure raised his hand and told the assembled forces that they had returned to reclaim their homeland.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan discussed rebuilding the Land of Rain after Hanzō’s death, and Senju Chen offered them resources and support in exchange for his people’s freedom to operate there and use Akatsuki’s name. Yahiko rejected the deal, saying Akatsuki belonged to everyone, not just him.

• Yahiko experimented with reshaping his puppet body while Nagato and Konan teased him about his awkward combat forms.
• Nagato told Yahiko and Konan that thirty-seven people, including Old Zhang and his family, had died, and that Hanzō had been killed by a half-black, half-white monster.
• Nagato argued that Akatsuki could seize the chance to restore order in the leaderless Land of Rain before other factions took control.
• Senju Chen offered supplies, intelligence, personnel, and training in return for his people operating freely in the Land of Rain and acting under Akatsuki’s name when needed.
• Yahiko thanked Senju Chen for saving his life but refused the terms, saying Akatsuki belonged to all its members.

Yahiko refused Senju Chen’s offer because he would not let the Akatsuki become a tool for unjust actions, so Chen challenged his idealism and showed him the scale of his base’s forces and technology. The chapter left Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stunned by the resources Chen could offer.

• Yahiko refused Senju Chen’s terms, insisting that the Akatsuki remain devoted to peace and never become a hidden weapon.
• Senju Chen warned Yahiko that the Land of Rain would be vulnerable to invasion and proxy wars after Hanzo’s death.
• Senju Chen led Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan into a facility containing thousands of White Zetsu bodies that could imitate others and carry out covert missions.
• Senju Chen showed them a weapons center producing Scientific Ninja Tools, including Chakra amplification bracers, vibrating blades, and a simplified Chakra Cannon.
• Senju Chen toured them through the base’s research, medical, training, and living facilities, leaving the three visitors overwhelmed.

Senju Chen showed Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan the forces he had gathered and offered Nagato a way to wield the Rinnegan through six modified White Zetsu bodies. Yahiko accepted Senju Chen’s investment and agreed that the Akatsuki would cooperate.

• Senju Chen showed the trio footage of Zabuza, Kimimaro, and other fighters, explaining that he intended to use them to clear obstacles to a new order.
• Senju Chen challenged Yahiko’s belief in dialogue and understanding, arguing that peace required overwhelming force.
• Nagato realized Senju Chen did not need the Akatsuki’s military strength, but wanted them to unite civilians and serve as public spokespeople for peace.
• Senju Chen offered to create six modified White Zetsu bodies for Nagato to control through the Soul Conversion Device, letting him use the Rinnegan without straining his real body.
• Yahiko looked at Nagato and Konan, then bowed his head and agreed that the Akatsuki would cooperate.

Mei Terumi and Yukimura Ryota broke through Kirigakure's east gate and fought its Anbu, while Kirigakure's elders struggled to contain the assault. Senju Chen opened the sealed room beneath the Mizukage Building and reached the controlled Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

• Mei Terumi and her White Zetsu Clone destroyed the east gate barrier, but Hozuki Akatsuki and the Anbu Special Tactics Third Squad confronted them.
• Yukimura Ryota trapped the Anbu in an ice mirror formation, and Mei Terumi's Lava Release badly wounded Hozuki Akatsuki as the Anbu withdrew under plan B.
• Mei Terumi and Yukimura Ryota spotted at least a thousand Kirigakure shinobi gathering and ordered their teams to disperse and use guerrilla tactics.
• Kirigakure's elders learned Hozuki Getsuga had been killed and Hozuki Akatsuki gravely wounded, then resolved to find a way to awaken Lord Mizukage.
• Senju Chen used the sealing formulas he had collected to open the forbidden room beneath the Mizukage Building and found Yagura under Obito's Sharingan control.

Senju Chen read Yagura's memories and discovered that Obito had controlled him for five years, using Kirigakure to advance his plans. When Hozuki Anyue's forces confronted Senju Chen, Yagura awoke under Obito's control and threatened him.

• Senju Chen used his Spirit Transformation Technique to read Yagura's memories, discovering Obito had forced him to enforce the Blood Mist Policy and massacre the Yuki Clan.
• Senju Chen saw Obito and Black Zetsu discuss Nagato, the Rinnegan, and the Eye of the Moon Plan, and learned Obito treated Kirigakure as a disposable tool.
• Yagura's suppressed consciousness briefly awakened and begged Senju Chen to kill him, but Senju Chen sealed it away because he still needed Yagura's body.
• Hozuki Anyue and the Kirigakure Assassination Special Forces stormed the forbidden grounds and accused Senju Chen, as Kirisame Ryo, of treason.
• Senju Chen claimed Yagura had been controlled by someone for five years, but Hozuki Anyue rejected the explanation and prepared to seize him.
• Yagura's purple chakra surged, and he opened his eyes with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan reflected in them as Obito threatened Senju Chen.

Senju Chen broke Obito’s control over Yagura, but the Fourth Mizukage died soon afterward. Chen ordered the Special Assassination Squad to help establish a new order in Kirigakure, while Obito vowed revenge from the Land of Rain.

• Obito, controlling Yagura, attacked Senju Chen as Hozuki Anyue and the Assassination Squad realized the Mizukage might be under Sharingan control.
• Senju Chen told Hozuki Anyue that Obito had controlled Yagura for five years and used him to enforce the Blood Mist Policy and slaughter Kekkei Genkai clans.
• Senju Chen severed Obito’s control formula with a mental assault, freeing Yagura from the Sharingan’s influence.
• Yagura thanked Senju Chen, asked him to take care of Kirigakure, and died as Hozuki Anyue recognized Chen as the village’s savior.
• Senju Chen told Captain Anyue to assemble the Special Assassination Squad so they could establish a new order in Kirigakure.
• In the Land of Rain, Obito lamented losing Kirigakure and vowed to kill Kirisame Ryo after obtaining the Rinnegan and gathering the Tailed Beasts.

After Yagura died and the truth about his control was revealed, Senju Chen rallied the Special Assassination Squad to take Kirigakure and arrest the elders. The squad then turned on Kirigakure’s forces at the front, reversing the battle and prompting the ninja to flee or surrender.

• Senju Chen ordered Hozuki Anyue to recall the Special Assassination Squad and tell its members the truth about Yagura.
• The squad withdrew from Kirigakure’s battlefronts and gathered in the village, where Senju Chen announced Yagura’s death and the Sharingan-wielding man’s control over him.
• Hozuki Anyue and the assembled squad pledged to follow Senju Chen, and many others joined them.
• Senju Chen entered the conference room and ordered Hozuki Anyue to take the elders into custody.
• Hozuki Anyue and the Special Assassination Squad attacked Kirigakure’s forces from behind and called on them to surrender, causing them to flee in panic.

Yukimura Shigure’s forces seized Kirigakure’s streets, while Hozuki Anyue persuaded most defenders to surrender by revealing that an outsider had controlled Karatachi Yagura and directed the Blood Mist Policy. In the Mizukage Building, Senju Chen confronted the elders with evidence tying them to the clan purges, and the chief elder claimed they had only followed Yagura’s orders.

• Yukimura Shigure ordered his forces into Kirigakure after they disabled the Water Prison Formation’s remaining nodes.
• Kirigakure’s defenders attacked, but the High Tower forces and their weapons broke through the village’s formation.
• Hozuki Anyue revealed that an outsider’s secret technique had controlled Karatachi Yagura and that Yagura’s final words had asked others to care for Kirigakure.
• Three hundred and sixty defenders surrendered, while Hidan hunted down those who fled.
• Mei Terumi and Chōjūrō joined the victors in the street as Mei Terumi faced the Mizukage Building.
• Senju Chen showed the elders Genji’s seal and the Blood Mist Policy’s original records, then exposed their signatures on orders to exterminate the Yuki and Kaguya Clans.