Chapter Summaries

Senju Chen used Enma’s Adamantine Staff to smash through Black Rock Castle, allowing the allied forces to capture it and push the war into Iwagakure. At Amegakure, he joined Orochimaru’s research on the Five-Tails and its jinchūriki, Han, while asking his teacher about preserving corpses and launching kunai.

• Senju Chen had Enma transform into the Adamantine Staff and enlarged it into a colossal pillar.
• Senju Chen smashed Black Rock Castle’s walls despite Iwagakure’s layered Earth Release defenses, and the allied forces charged through the breach to capture the fortress.
• Senju Chen visited Orochimaru’s underground laboratory in Amegakure and learned that Orochimaru had isolated unstable regenerative life energy from the Five-Tails.
• Orochimaru described plans for a recovery-enhancing forbidden technique and a virus targeting kekkei genkai while Han remained bound and unconscious.
• Senju Chen asked to join Orochimaru’s research into jinchūriki, and the two began working together on Han.
• Senju Chen asked Orochimaru about preserving corpses and building a tube-based device to fire kunai farther.

Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya learned that Senju Chen had captured the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and become a formidable force in the war. After studying Han with Orochimaru, Senju Chen arranged to meet Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and the others, intending to make friends and plan for the future.

• Minato Namikaze read a battle report describing Senju Chen's victories over Iwagakure, his use of Wood Release and Space-Time Ninjutsu, and the capture of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Jiraiya read the report and was stunned that Senju Chen had captured Han, regretting that he had not taken the boy as his disciple.
• Senju Chen discussed with Orochimaru whether combining chakra-active cells with his own could create soldiers who healed quickly without suffering Wood Release backlash.
• Senju Chen contacted Hatake Sakumo and arranged to meet Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and the early Akatsuki in the Land of Rain.

Senju Chen discussed the shifting war between the Five Great Nations with Hatake Sakumo and learned that Hanzo was targeting Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. He set out to meet the Akatsuki founders and become their ally before others could influence them.

• Hatake Sakumo told Senju Chen that Ōnoki had recalled Iwagakure's forces from the Land of Rain while waiting for Konoha and Sunagakure to weaken each other at Kikyo Mountain.
• Senju Chen described the other nations as predators waiting to exploit the conflict, and Hatake Sakumo marveled at his capture of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hatake Sakumo reported that Akatsuki's ideals were attracting support, but Hanzo had grown suspicious and Rain Ninja had attacked Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan several times.
• Senju Chen decided to meet the three and influence them before Obito could lead them astray.
• Hatake Sakumo's intelligence network located Akatsuki near an abandoned border town, and Senju Chen headed there to meet Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

Senju Chen approached Akatsuki’s hideout in the Land of Rain to make friends, but Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato attacked him. He evaded their coordinated assault and introduced himself, leaving the three wary and demanding to know his purpose.

• Senju Chen walked openly through the ruins toward the factory, while concealed Akatsuki members watched him.
• Yahiko attacked with Water Release as Konan launched paper shuriken and Nagato supported the assault with Wind Release.
• Senju Chen vanished from the attack and appeared on a steel beam above the factory floor.
• Nagato detected Senju Chen’s position, and Senju Chen praised his sensory abilities and called him by name.
• Yahiko demanded to know whether Hanzo of the Salamander had sent him, and Senju Chen said he had come to make friends.

Senju Chen faced Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato’s coordinated attack, evading their techniques until Nagato revealed the Rinnegan’s repulsive force. After Chen vanished and took Konan hostage, he told the others he had not come to fight.

• Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato combined their attacks to trap Senju Chen, but he dodged the water dragon, cut through the paper, and resisted Nagato’s invisible interference.
• Yahiko lost his composure and charged Chen with his short blade, prompting Chen to counter with a strike aimed at Yahiko’s wrist.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to repel Chen and disrupt the exchange, allowing Yahiko’s blade to fly toward him.
• Senju Chen vanished before Yahiko’s kunai could hit him and reappeared behind Konan, holding her with his blade at her neck.
• Senju Chen asked Yahiko and Nagato to stop, repeating that he had not come to fight.

Senju Chen ended his confrontation with Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan by revealing that he was Jiraiya’s fellow disciple and their junior martial brother. The group gathered around a campfire in the abandoned factory after Yahiko accepted that Chen had not been sent by Hanzō.

• Yahiko demanded to know what Senju Chen wanted while Nagato blamed himself for giving Chen an opening to capture Konan.
• Senju Chen taunted the three by recounting embarrassing details about their teacher, Jiraiya.
• Senju Chen released Konan and explained that his teacher and Jiraiya were fellow disciples, making him their junior martial brother.
• Senju Chen introduced himself and claimed he had only wanted to test their training, while Yahiko admitted they had mistaken him for one of Hanzō of the Salamander’s men.
• Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Senju Chen sat around a campfire in the abandoned factory, with the hostility between them gone.

Senju Chen warned Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan that their ideals of peace would fail without strength and a strategy to avoid Hanzo of the Salamander. He proposed building support among the Land of Rain’s countryside and promised to provide supplies, intelligence, and weapons, leaving the three inspired and trusting him.

• Senju Chen joked about Jiraiya’s material-gathering, easing the distance between him and Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
• Yahiko explained Akatsuki’s goal of ending the Land of Rain’s suffering through mutual understanding, and Senju Chen challenged him to consider those who would refuse dialogue.
• Senju Chen warned that Hanzo would destroy Akatsuki if it became a threat and argued that strength was necessary to protect its ideals.
• Senju Chen proposed that Akatsuki avoid openly challenging Hanzo and instead build support among war-ravaged villages and civilians throughout the countryside.
• Senju Chen promised to supply Akatsuki with provisions, intelligence, and armaments, and Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan embraced him as a reliable ally.

Senju Chen advised Yahiko on building Akatsuki’s support among civilians, Amegakure’s ninja and officials, and foreign spies. He then urged Nagato to master the power of his Rinnegan so he could protect Yahiko and Konan.

• Senju Chen told Yahiko to win civilians’ trust by providing food, medicine, and security, and to gain support from Amegakure’s ninja through their families.
• Senju Chen urged Yahiko to recruit Hanzō’s dissatisfied subordinates and manipulate foreign spies into funding Akatsuki and turning against one another.
• Senju Chen spoke with Nagato about his repulsive power and warned that hesitation could put Yahiko and Konan in danger.
• Senju Chen encouraged Nagato to develop and master his Rinnegan so he could protect his comrades and the Land of Rain’s hope.

Senju Chen advised Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan on staying cautious and building strength, then gave Konan a paper rose and a way to contact him. Back at Konoha’s headquarters, he responded to Iwagakure movements, checked Orochimaru’s experiment, and secretly arranged intelligence and supplies for a nonexistent unit.

• Senju Chen urged Konan to temper Yahiko’s ideals, keep the group out of Hanzō’s sight, and grow strong before confronting him.
• Senju Chen gave Konan a communication scroll and made a white paper rose from her chakra-infused scraps, placing it in her hair and telling her to stay safe.
• Senju Chen left the factory, and Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan watched him depart as they reflected on his words and the rose.
• At Konoha’s headquarters, Senju Chen ordered two squads to intercept three probing Iwagakure squads without fighting and sent others to collect supplies behind them.
• Senju Chen visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru described using Five-Tails Kokuō’s chakra to develop a weapon capable of Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Senju Chen secretly sent Hatake Sakumo coded intelligence about Akatsuki and arranged a large supply transfer to a nonexistent unit.

After Konoha’s decisive victory at Kikyo Mountain pushed Sunagakure to the brink of defeat, Ōnoki realized Iwagakure’s forces had been manipulated into helping Konoha win and collapsed from shock. At Konoha’s command headquarters, Senju Chen continued planning beyond the Land of Rain, turning his attention toward Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

• Iwagakure officials reported that Konoha and Amegakure forces had repeatedly attacked supply stations and drained Iwagakure’s strength.
• An intelligence report revealed that Konoha had broken through Sunagakure’s defenses at Kikyo Mountain and driven its forces back into the Land of Wind.
• Ōnoki recognized that Konoha had used the fighting in the Land of Earth to create an advantage against Sunagakure, then vomited blood and collapsed.
• A communications ninja told Senju Chen that Jiraiya had crushed Sunagakure’s main force at Kikyo Mountain.
• Senju Chen read Hiruzen Sarutobi’s order to keep Iwagakure tied down and decided that the war’s next challenges lay in Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

Senju Chen planned to ally with Kumogakure against Iwagakure by offering help capturing its Four-Tails Jinchūriki, while keeping Han and the Five-Tails as leverage. He had Orochimaru begin contacting Kumogakure and sent the plan to Konoha for approval, then returned to the map to await the next move.

• Senju Chen reasoned that Konoha’s swift defeat of Sunagakure had made the other villages wary and saw a chance to turn Iwagakure and Kumogakure against each other.
• Senju Chen told Orochimaru he wanted to ally with Kumogakure against Iwagakure, proposing the Four-Tails Jinchūriki as bait while keeping Han and the Five-Tails in Konoha’s custody.
• Senju Chen outlined a plan to later ransom the Five-Tails back to Iwagakure and redirect its anger toward Kumogakure, while leaving open similar deals involving other villages’ tailed beasts.
• Orochimaru agreed to find an intermediary and establish contact with Kumogakure.
• Senju Chen told Sarutobi Kenzo to send the plan to Konoha’s leadership using the highest level of encryption, and Sarutobi Kenzo agreed.
• Senju Chen returned to the map at headquarters and waited for events to unfold.

Konoha’s High Command debated Senju Chen’s proposal to ally with Kumogakure against Iwagakure and use the Four-Tails to secure victory. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the plan, ordering support for the Land of Rain operation and intelligence gathering on Kumogakure and the Third Raikage.

• Utatane Koharu and other leaders objected to Senju Chen’s plan, fearing Kumogakure would become more dangerous and questioning why Konoha should give up the Four-Tails.
• Torifu Akimichi argued that involving Kumogakure could force Iwagakure to fight on two fronts while Sunagakure was already faltering.
• Shimura Danzō supported the plan, explaining that it could weaken Iwagakure and Kumogakure through lasting hostility while helping Konoha win at low cost.
• A Senju faction elder warned that the plan would expose Senju Chen to revenge from Ōnoki, but Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned whether Chen still needed protection as a child.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the plan, ordered full cooperation with the Land of Rain command, and directed Shimura Danzō to track Kumogakure and the Third Raikage.

The Third Raikage sent A to meet Senju Chen and assess Konoha’s offer to help Kumogakure take one of Iwagakure’s tailed beasts. At their meeting in the Land of Rain, A tested Chen with a lightning-fast punch, but Chen dodged it with a single precise step.

• The Third Raikage told A that Kumogakure would exploit Konoha’s offer to weaken Iwagakure and ordered him to evaluate Senju Chen.
• Senju Chen waited alone at the agreed meeting place in a misty valley on the Land of Rain border.
• A demanded to speak with someone responsible, and Senju Chen calmly said he was in charge of the joint operation.
• A challenged Chen to prove himself and charged with a punch while using Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Senju Chen sidestepped A’s punch, and A’s fist smashed into the rock wall behind him.

Senju Chen defeated A after A attacked him during Kumogakure’s alliance negotiations. With A bound by Wood Release, Chen asked whether they could finally discuss the alliance properly.

• A failed to hit Senju Chen with his first attack, and Chen questioned Kumogakure’s attitude toward an alliance.
• A charged again with Lightning Release: Lariat, but Senju Chen used Flying Thunder God Technique to evade him and taunt him.
• A unleashed Lightning Release: Liger Bomb, and Senju Chen teleported into the lightning storm and pierced A’s armor with Rasengan.
• Senju Chen bound the injured A with Wood Release as two Kumogakure jonin prepared to intervene.
• Senju Chen asked A if they could now discuss the alliance properly.

Senju Chen defeated A and secured Kumogakure's agreement to attack Iwagakure alongside Konoha in exchange for the Four-Tails. As Ōnoki faced mounting losses and political pressure, Genji arrived with an offer of Kirigakure's aid.

• Senju Chen released A from his Wood Release bindings after defeating him, and A questioned him about the technique and the alliance plan.
• Senju Chen proposed that Konoha pin down Iwagakure at the Land of Rain's border while Kumogakure attacked from the other side of the Land of Earth, with the Four-Tails promised to Kumogakure.
• A agreed to the alliance on Kumogakure's behalf, and Senju Chen told him to have the Third Raikage send troops to the Land of Earth's border in ten days.
• Ōnoki brooded over Iwagakure's losses, the capture of the Five-Tails, and demands for accountability from the Land of Earth's Daimyo.
• Genji arrived in Iwagakure as Kirigakure's envoy and offered aid to the Land of Earth.

Ōnoki accepted Kirigakure’s offer of help, then learned that Konoha had sent Minato Namikaze and a large force to the Land of Rain. Minato joined Senju Chen and Orochimaru, where Chen explained a plan to tie down Iwagakure while Kumogakure attacked from the north.

• Genji offered Kirigakure’s elite forces to help Iwagakure in exchange for territory in the eastern Land of Rain, and Ōnoki said he would consider the deal.
• An Iwagakure ninja reported that Minato Namikaze and Konoha reinforcements had arrived at the eastern border of the Land of Rain, prompting Ōnoki to mobilize every available unit and accept Kirigakure’s terms.
• Ōnoki urged Sunagakure to exploit Konoha’s reduced forces at Kikyo Mountain.
• Minato arrived at the Land of Rain camp, greeted Orochimaru, and checked on Senju Chen with concern.
• Senju Chen told Minato to make Konoha’s forces appear ready for a major offensive, keeping Iwagakure occupied while Kumogakure attacked the Land of Earth from the north.

Senju Chen proposed infiltrating the Land of Earth to help Kumogakure hunt the Four-Tails, but Minato Namikaze doubted the danger and tested Chen’s strength in a spar. After their fight ended in a draw, Minato recognized Chen’s ability, though he remained worried as Chen insisted he could handle the mission.

• Minato Namikaze rejected Senju Chen’s plan to infiltrate enemy territory, then offered to lead the mission himself.
• Senju Chen explained that Minato, his Teacher, and Hanzo of the Salamander had to draw Iwagakure’s forces to the main battlefield, and challenged Minato to a spar.
• Minato and Senju Chen fought across the training ground, using Flying Thunder God and their opponents’ marked kunai to launch rapid attacks.
• Senju Chen combined Flying Thunder God with Rasengan and Wood Release, and the spar ended in a draw with Minato’s kunai at Chen’s neck and Chen’s Thunder God Sword at Minato’s head.
• Minato Namikaze acknowledged Senju Chen’s strength but remained concerned, while Chen reassured him that he could escape if the mission became dangerous.

Iwagakure prepared for a decisive battle against Konoha while Kumogakure launched a surprise invasion of the Land of Earth’s undefended northern border. After learning that the attack had shattered his defenses, Ōnoki ordered a desperate response and set out to face the Third Raikage.

• Iwagakure’s troops and Kitsuchi anticipated crushing Konoha with help from Kirigakure.
• The Third Raikage led Kumogakure’s main army against the northern fortresses and broke through the defenses.
• Ōnoki learned that Kumogakure had invaded and realized Konoha’s reinforcements in the Land of Rain had been a feint.
• Ōnoki ordered every available shinobi to defend the route to the village and called for Kirigakure’s aid.
• Ōnoki ordered the Dust Release Barrier Team and Roshi to prepare, then decided to go to the northern front himself.

Konoha and Iwagakure’s forces learned that their enemies had secured unexpected allies, as Iwagakure’s pact with Kirigakure was exposed during a clash. Senju Chen concluded Ōnoki would head north to face Kumogakure and left to pursue the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, while Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru remained to hold the front.

• Akatsuchi told Kuroiwa that Iwagakure was withdrawing troops after the Third Raikage led Kumogakure’s forces into the Land of Earth, and he revealed that Iwagakure had Kirigakure reinforcements.
• Konoha ninja ambushed Akatsuchi’s patrol, and the Hyuga captain exposed the Kirigakure ninja among them as both sides accused each other of forming secret alliances.
• Kuroiwa and the Hyuga captain ordered their forces to resume fighting, and the battle grew more desperate as both sides recognized the intelligence at stake.
• Konoha’s camp celebrated Kumogakure’s attack, while Minato Namikaze told Senju Chen and Orochimaru that reconnaissance had confirmed Kirigakure’s presence with Iwagakure.
• Senju Chen reasoned that Ōnoki would take the Four-Tails Jinchūriki north to confront the Third Raikage, then left to pursue his target and entrusted the front to Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru.

Sunagakure launched a second assault on Kikyo Mountain after Konoha sent Minato Namikaze’s forces to the Land of Rain. Jiraiya prepared to defend the pass, but Rasa’s Gold Dust Imperial Funeral smashed through Konoha’s defenses as the battle began.

• Kumogakure’s Third Raikage invaded the Land of Earth from the north while Konoha sent troops to the Land of Rain.
• Rasa persuaded Ebizo and Chiyo to send Sunagakure’s forces back to Kikyo Pass for revenge.
• Jiraiya ordered Konoha to retreat to defensive positions and use Kikyo Mountain’s terrain against the larger Sunagakure force.
• Sunagakure began the Second Battle of Kikyo Pass, and Rasa’s Gold Dust Imperial Funeral crushed Konoha’s barriers and buried dozens of ninja.