Chapter Summaries

Tenten and the Konoha ninja defeated Deidara, while Sasori’s battle against Chiyo and the others remained locked in a stalemate. Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki arrived as reinforcements, and Sasuke prepared to confront his brother.

• Sasuke and Kakashi pursued Deidara through the air, but Deidara used a clay substitute and then self-destructed.
• Tenten detected Deidara hiding underground, lured him out, and killed him with a massive barrage of Explosive Tags.
• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki arrived and decided to leave the Jinchuriki alone while helping Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Naruto rushed to join Sasuke, but he fell into Itachi Uchiha’s genjutsu after looking at him.
• Sasuke faced Itachi Uchiha and vowed to avenge his clan.

Konoha’s team fought the borrowed bodies of Kisame Hoshigaki, Itachi Uchiha, and Sasori of the Red Sands, with Tenten helping defeat Kisame and Sasuke striking down Itachi’s proxy. The battle ended with Neji disabling the Third Kazekage Puppet and Sasori dying after his parents’ puppets pierced his heart core.

• Naruto broke free of Itachi Uchiha’s genjutsu after Rock Lee hit him, and the Konoha team put on sunglasses.
• Neji used the Tenseigan’s power to repel the Iron Sand, letting Might Guy and Neji restrain the Third Kazekage Puppet while Chiyo fought Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Tenten’s ammunition and Kakashi’s Chidori brought down Kisame Hoshigaki, but he transformed into a Sand Ninja, revealing that the fighters had been borrowed bodies.
• Sasuke used Tailed Beast Chakra and Chidori Sharp Spear to kill Itachi Uchiha’s borrowed body, which also transformed into a Sand Ninja.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate of View while Neji severed the Third Kazekage Puppet’s Chakra Threads and removed its heart.
• Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law puppets pierced Sasori of the Red Sands’ heart core, and Sasori died with a peaceful smile.

After Gaara’s rescue, Xia Mu protected Fuu in Konoha and refused Jiraiya’s proposal to investigate the Akatsuki’s hideout, urging him to let the younger generation take responsibility for the future. The chapter ended with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Xia Mu celebrating the rescue mission’s success.

• Chiyo mourned Sasori, collected the bodies of her family and the Third Kazekage, and prepared to take them to Sunagakure for burial.
• Neji gave Tenten the Kazekage Puppet’s heart energy source, and Naruto confirmed that Gaara was out of danger as Kakashi organized their return to Sunagakure.
• Xia Mu accompanied Fuu to a Konoha barbecue restaurant, where Jiraiya asked him to help investigate the Akatsuki’s base in the Land of Rain.
• Xia Mu refused to go immediately and persuaded Jiraiya that the younger generation, rather than the Child of Prophecy alone, would shape the world’s future.
• Tsunade joined Xia Mu, Fuu, and Jiraiya for a meal, and Xia Mu received Tenten’s message confirming that Gaara had been rescued and Deidara and Sasori had been defeated.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya celebrated by playing dice, and Xia Mu joined them after Jiraiya asked him to help Tsunade win.

After Gaara arrived in Konoha, Tsunade assigned guards to the gathered Jinchuriki and put Xia Mu on a special operations team. Naruto, Fuu, and Gaara sought Xia Mu’s help to grow stronger, and Xia Mu proposed a training plan to Kakashi.

• Xia Mu won Tsunade’s dice gamble by guessing there were no dice under the cup, and the group’s grilled meat feast lasted late into the night.
• The rescue team returned with Gaara and Tenten, and Fuu, Gaara, and Naruto became friends as fellow Jinchuriki.
• Tsunade assigned Jiraiya to guard Naruto, Tenten to guard Fuu, Kakashi to guard Gaara, and Xia Mu, Sasuke, and Neji to a special operations team.
• Naruto, Fuu, and Gaara visited Xia Mu to ask him to teach them, and Tenten invited them to stay for a meal.
• Xia Mu called Kakashi over and proposed that Naruto work on creating a technique by combining Chakra Shape Transformation and Nature Transformation.

Xia Mu advised Naruto, Gaara, and Fuu on ways to strengthen their abilities, and helped start their training with Kakashi, Yamato, and Shino. After returning home, Xia Mu was summoned by Tsunade, who said she had urgent intelligence.

• Xia Mu recommended that Fuu seek advice from Shino about the Seven-Tails, and that Gaara train in taijutsu and Wind Release: Air Bullet.
• At the training grounds, Xia Mu demonstrated Vortex Boiling Water and Water Disc, then taught Gaara the hand signs for Air Bullet, which Gaara used to devastate part of the forest.
• Shino arrived to help Fuu, and his Summoning Beast reacted to the Seven-Tails; Kakashi then brought Yamato to assist Naruto's training in case the Nine-Tails went out of control.
• Kakashi began Naruto's Wind Nature training with leaf-cutting practice, while Gaara practiced Air Bullet and Fuu spoke with Shino about getting stronger.
• After Xia Mu returned home, an Anbu summoned him to Tsunade's office, where Tsunade said she had urgent intelligence.

After Kabuto Yakushi captured Yugito Nii and used Impure World Reincarnation against Kumogakure, Xia Mu began developing a sealing technique while Tsunade watched the threat grow. The chapter left Xia Mu in seclusion and Naruto, Gaara, Fuu, and their allies training for the dangers ahead.

• Xia Mu read that Kabuto Yakushi had captured Yugito Nii and joined the Akatsuki, then proposed studying sealing techniques to create the Evil Sealing Wave.
• Tsunade gave Xia Mu the Senju Clan’s sealing scrolls, including Mito Uzumaki’s inherited knowledge, and Xia Mu entered seclusion to develop the technique.
• Kumogakure and Iwagakure dismissed Konoha’s warning, but Ōnoki changed course after the Akatsuki captured Roshi; Kumogakure’s rescue squad later suffered heavy losses against Kabuto’s reincarnated Mu and Gengetsu Hozuki.
• Fuu used Seven-Tails Chakra to enlarge and command Shino’s insects, while Gaara practiced Air Bullet, struggled to develop the Destructo Disc, and trained taijutsu with Rock Lee.
• Naruto trained Wind Nature Transformation at Yamato’s waterfall, and Sakura visited the training ground, left homemade military ration pills, and returned to her own training.

Kakashi learned that Sasuke had chosen to become a Jinchuriki and agreed to tell Tsunade, while Xia Mu perfected the Evil Sealing Wave and was assigned to help Kumogakure fight Kabuto Yakushi’s Impure World Reincarnation squad. Xia Mu and Tenten then began researching the Third Kazekage’s heart energy source and ways to expand her combat abilities.

• Kakashi asked Sasuke whether he was a Jinchuriki, and Sasuke explained that he had chosen the Three-Tails’ power to grow stronger and draw Akatsuki to him.
• Sasuke told Kakashi how Xia Mu had helped him seal the Nine-Tails and how he had mastered the Three-Tails, and Kakashi asked Tsunade for permission to disclose Sasuke’s secret.
• Xia Mu perfected the Evil Sealing Wave in the Special Laboratory, sealing a puppet into a coffin before he left exhausted and Tenten carried him to the bathroom.
• Tsunade told Xia Mu that Kabuto Yakushi’s squad was hunting the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and that Kumogakure needed support after Darui failed to stop the reincarnated Second Tsuchikage Mu, Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki, and Third Raikage A.
• Xia Mu requested coffins and sealing talismans and asked to bring Kakashi so he could learn the Evil Sealing Wave, then returned home and helped Tenten research the Third Kazekage’s heart energy source.
• Tenten continued developing Magnet Release and planned to imitate Sasori of the Red Sands’ compression device to create high-pressure fire and water weapons.

Xia Mu and the special operations team arrived in the Land of Lightning to help Kumogakure, where Kabuto Yakushi was using Impure World Reincarnation bodies to capture Jinchuriki. Xia Mu demonstrated his Evil Sealing Wave and taught it to Kakashi and Sasuke, leaving them sealing the other revived warriors while the battle continued.

• Xia Mu took Sasuke, Neji, and Kakashi to the Land of Lightning, where they found Kabuto Yakushi and three Impure World Reincarnation bodies fighting Darui.
• Neji, Sasuke, and Kakashi intervened to protect Darui, and Xia Mu struck Kabuto with a Light Speed Kick that forced him to reveal his Sage Mode.
• Xia Mu used the Evil Sealing Wave to restrain Hozuki Gengetsu and seal him into a coffin covered with Sealing Talismans.
• Xia Mu asked Kakashi and Sasuke to copy the technique, then fought Kabuto while Neji and Darui held off Mu and Third Raikage A.
• Kakashi and Sasuke successfully used the Evil Sealing Wave as they began sealing the remaining Impure World Reincarnation bodies.

Sasuke and Kakashi sealed Mū and the Third Raikage with the Evil Sealing Wave, while Kabuto Yakushi escaped Xia Mu’s assault. After the Fourth Raikage attacked the Konoha team by mistake, he reconciled with them and welcomed them to Kumogakure to discuss cooperation.

• Sasuke and Kakashi used the Evil Sealing Wave to seal Mū and the Third Raikage, while Kabuto Yakushi fled after Xia Mu attacked him.
• The Fourth Raikage mistook the Konoha reinforcements for enemies and charged Kakashi, but Xia Mu stopped him and defeated him in an arm-wrestling match.
• The Fourth Raikage challenged Sasuke and Neji to contests of strength and beat them, then reluctantly apologized to Xia Mu for losing.
• The Fourth Raikage recognized Xia Mu’s Flying Thunder God Technique and argued with him about their past battles before Darui explained the misunderstanding and invited the Konoha team to Kumogakure.
• Darui led Xia Mu, Sasuke, Neji, and Kakashi to Kumogakure, where the Fourth Raikage welcomed them to a banquet and raised a toast with Kakashi.

Xia Mu joined Konoha's negotiations with Kumogakure, while Akatsuki assigned missions to capture several tailed-beast jinchuriki, including targets in Konoha. The talks ended without an agreement, and Tsunade prepared to return to Konoha with Xia Mu and the others.

• Raikage Ai tried to recruit Xia Mu, who jokingly demanded to become Raikage and merge Kumogakure into Konoha before refusing.
• Kabuto Yakushi joined Pain's Akatsuki meeting and reported that Xia Mu had thwarted his plans with the Evil Sealing Wave and Storm Release.
• Black Zetsu reported the locations of several jinchuriki, including Sasuke Uchiha as the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, and Pain assigned capture missions to Itachi, Kisame, Kabuto, and himself.
• Xia Mu found Neji brooding over Kumogakure's role in his father's death, and Neji said his revenge would target the Hyuga Main Family's system.
• Tsunade and Raikage Ai failed to agree on cooperation, so Tsunade decided to return to Konoha, and the two leaders resumed arguing.

Xia Mu returned from Kumogakure, helped Tenten develop her Magnet Release device, and supported Konoha as Akatsuki’s threat grew. After learning the Five-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured, Xia Mu was approached by Sasuke.

• Xia Mu stepped in for Tsunade when Raikage Ai challenged Konoha, then used Flying Thunder God to return with the others.
• Back in Konoha, Tsunade caught Jiraiya writing erotica instead of guarding the village, while Kakashi eagerly collected his manuscripts.
• Xia Mu watched Tenten complete a Magnet Release External Heart and suggested they develop an electromagnetic gun and, eventually, an electromagnetic cannon.
• Fuu and Tenten trained together, and Shino thanked Xia Mu for introducing him to Fuu before promising to fight alongside his friends.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha’s jonin and Special Jonin to remain ready for an Akatsuki attack, while the Five-Tails Jinchuriki was captured and Kumogakure requested help that Tsunade refused.
• Sasuke came to find Xia Mu.

Sasuke confronted Itachi Uchiha at Naka Shrine while Xia Mu stood by to guard against interference. Sasuke’s Tailed Beast power overwhelmed Itachi’s Susanoo, but after Amaterasu struck him, Sasuke sealed the black flames and remained ready to continue the fight.

• Sasuke told Xia Mu that Itachi Uchiha might be targeting the Three-Tails and asked him to guard the area while Sasuke pursued revenge.
• Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha clashed with Sharingan genjutsu, and Sasuke demanded to know whether Itachi had an accomplice in the Uchiha Clan massacre; Itachi named Madara Uchiha.
• Sasuke fought Itachi Uchiha with his Kusanagi Sword and Body Flicker Illusion, then used Tailed Beast Chakra to pierce Susanoo and wound Itachi.
• Sasuke transformed further and battered Itachi Uchiha’s fully armed Susanoo until he broke it apart with close-range attacks.
• Itachi Uchiha used Amaterasu on Sasuke, but Sasuke sealed the black flames into a scroll with the Seal of Fire Release.

Sasuke watched Itachi Uchiha die after Itachi sealed Orochimaru and removed Sasuke’s curse mark, leaving Sasuke uncertain about his brother’s motives. Obito Uchiha tried to recruit and deceive Sasuke, but Xia Mu exposed his identity, and Obito fled.

• Itachi Uchiha used Amaterasu to trigger Sasuke’s curse mark, releasing Orochimaru and a mass of white snakes.
• Itachi Uchiha sealed Orochimaru with the Totsuka Blade, freeing Sasuke from the curse mark, then touched Sasuke’s forehead and died.
• Sasuke questioned why Itachi Uchiha had died without being defeated and told Xia Mu that the circumstances felt full of mysteries.
• Obito Uchiha appeared and claimed that Itachi Uchiha had committed the massacre and fought Sasuke to protect him, but Sasuke refused to trust him.
• Obito Uchiha called himself Madara Uchiha, and Xia Mu exposed him as Obito Uchiha and taunted him about Rin Nohara.
• Obito Uchiha panicked and fled using Kamui, leaving Sasuke even more curious about the secrets surrounding Itachi Uchiha and Obito Uchiha.

Xia Mu revealed the history behind the Uchiha massacre, explaining how Konoha's leaders and the masked man manipulated Shisui and Itachi. Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and vowed to take revenge on Konoha's higher-ups, while Xia Mu began explaining his own knowledge of Danzō and Root.

• Xia Mu took Sasuke home and explained how the Uchiha's conflict with Konoha grew, with Shimura Danzō pushing to suppress the clan while Hiruzen Sarutobi pretended to seek peace.
• Xia Mu told Sasuke that Shimura Danzō stole one of Shisui's eyes, driving Shisui to entrust his remaining eye to Itachi before apparently dying at a waterfall.
• Xia Mu explained that Itachi had been manipulated by Konoha's leaders, chose to massacre the Uchiha to protect Sasuke, and accepted exile and undercover work in the Akatsuki.
• Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and vowed revenge on Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Konoha's higher-ups, and Konoha, but Xia Mu persuaded him to target the leaders rather than the village.
• Xia Mu described Danzō's crimes, including stealing Shisui's eye and using Uchiha Sharingan in experiments; Sasuke smashed Xia Mu's table and demanded to know where Danzō was.
• After calming Sasuke and rebuilding the table with Wood Release, Xia Mu began explaining that he had hidden his abilities because he knew about Danzō's Root and its abductions of village geniuses for Wood Release experiments.

Xia Mu explained Danzo’s crimes to Sasuke and persuaded him to pursue revenge by exposing Danzo and stripping him of power rather than attacking Konoha. Sasuke learned more about Itachi’s sacrifices and the Uchiha massacre, then struggled with whether to accept Itachi’s eyes.

• Xia Mu told Sasuke that Danzo had targeted clan geniuses and proposed exposing his crimes with Tsunade’s help so he would lose his dream of becoming Hokage.
• Sasuke agreed to the plan after Xia Mu said Itachi had wanted him to live as a hero of Konoha, and he also called for Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to be removed from office.
• Xia Mu told Sasuke about Itachi’s connection with Izumi Uchiha and reminded him that Itachi had also killed innocent Uchiha during the massacre; Sasuke accepted that his brother had been at fault and said he would atone for him.
• When Sasuke examined Itachi’s corpse, a Crow carrying Shisui’s eye flew into his mouth; Xia Mu warned Sasuke about Kotoamatsukami, Danzo’s Izanagi, and the risk of Mangekyo blindness.
• Xia Mu explained that Itachi had planned to leave his eyes to Sasuke, and Sasuke broke down in grief before thanking Xia Mu for revealing the truth.
• Sasuke asked whether he should fuse Itachi’s Mangekyo with his own, torn between accepting the gift and preserving his brother’s body.

Xia Mu shared the hidden history of the Shinobi World and detailed Akatsuki intelligence with Konoha’s leaders and selected shinobi, leaving Jiraiya and Kakashi grieving over the truth about their former comrades. The group now knew Akatsuki’s origins and schemes as they prepared for its imminent attack on Konoha.

• Sasuke left Xia Mu after agreeing not to attack Konoha and to remain in the village, while Xia Mu brought dinner to Tenten and joined her and Fuu for a late-night card game.
• Pain learned that Itachi had died at Sasuke’s hands and ordered Kisame Hoshigaki, Kabuto Yakushi, and Tobi to meet him before invading Konoha to capture its Jinchuriki.
• After Kisame Hoshigaki, Kabuto Yakushi, and the masked man were spotted near the border, Tsunade gathered the jonin, and Xia Mu asked her to keep Jiraiya, Kakashi, Neji, Sasuke, and Shikamaru behind.
• Xia Mu presented a scroll claiming the Sage of Six Paths had revealed the truth, including Kaguya’s history, Black Zetsu’s manipulation, Madara’s plan, and Akatsuki’s secrets.
• Jiraiya realized Danzo and Hanzo had turned Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko’s fate into tragedy, while Kakashi learned Tobi had witnessed Rin’s death and acted to create a world with her in it.
• Sasuke and Neji understood the history behind their Sage Eyes, while Shikamaru complained that Xia Mu had burdened him with far more than Akatsuki’s intelligence.

After the truth about the Akatsuki’s plan was revealed, Konoha prepared for an imminent invasion while Jiraiya and Kakashi resolved to confront Nagato and Obito. As the village braced for battle, Xia Mu stood watch with Tenten, who asked whether they would win.

• Shikamaru, Tsunade, and the others planned to protect the Jinchuriki, expose the Akatsuki’s information, and evacuate Konoha’s villagers to shelters.
• Jiraiya took the intelligence scroll and vowed to show Nagato the truth, while Tsunade agreed to deal with Danzo after the Akatsuki invasion.
• Kakashi told Xia Mu that he would stop Obito, and Xia Mu described their previous fight and advised Kakashi to use Kamui against Kamui.
• Konoha went into lockdown as the ninja prepared for battle, and Tsunade kept Naruto, Gaara, and Fuu in the Hokage Building under her protection.
• Tenten joined Xia Mu atop the village’s central stone pillar and asked whether they would win, prompting Xia Mu to warn her about raising a death flag.

Pain’s invasion of Konoha began as the Six Paths and Konan scattered through the village, while Xia Mu confronted Deva Path Pain and shinobi teams fought the other attackers and their summons. As battles continued, Deidara arrived on clay birds and bombed Konoha with clay spiders.

• Tenten spotted Pain approaching Konoha, fired a warning flare, and the invading Paths scattered through the village.
• Animal Path summoned giant beasts that rampaged through Konoha as Xia Mu confronted Deva Path Pain, whose Shinra Tensei repelled Xia Mu’s blade.
• Sasuke and Kakashi attacked Asura Path, dodged its tracking rockets, and discovered it had hidden weapons in its body.
• Might Guy’s Team fought Preta Path, who absorbed their attacks, while Tenten teleported explosive tags onto him with Flying Thunder God.
• Shibi Aburame and Shino fought Konan; Shino’s insects protected him from her exploding paper clones, and his Solar Flare blinded her before she escaped.
• Deidara flew into Konoha on a clay bird and dropped clay spiders that exploded across the village.

Kabuto Yakushi sent a large force of Reanimated Bodies to attack Konoha, forcing Naruto, Gaara, Fuu, the Anbu, and Might Guy’s team to fight on multiple fronts. Tenten flew after Deidara and Kabuto, countered their attacks with lightning and Iron Sand, then prepared to use the Sage of Six Paths’ ninja tools.

• Tsunade let Gaara and Fuu join Naruto in confronting Kabuto Yakushi’s Reanimated Bodies after Naruto rushed out to fight.
• Naruto faced Zabuza Momochi and Haku, while Gaara and Fuu fought Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, and Sasori of the Red Sands.
• The Sound Five blocked the Anbu as Deidara bombed Konoha from the air.
• Might Guy sent Tenten to stop Deidara, and she flew on Iron Sand before destroying his Clay Birds with the Lightning Blade Fang.
• Tenten struck Deidara and Kabuto Yakushi with Iron Sand, but Kabuto survived and Deidara remained intact as a Reanimated Body.
• Tenten summoned a red gourd, a white rope, and a fan-shaped sword, preparing to show Deidara the power of the Sage of Six Paths.

Tenten sealed Deidara inside the Benihotaru, while Xia Mu fought Deva Path Pain and the other Pains in Konoha. After damaging Deva Path and the Hell Path, Xia Mu faced three Pains and prepared to continue the fight.

• Tenten used the Kōkinjō and Shichiseiken to draw out Deidara's word spirit and seal him inside the Benihotaru.
• Xia Mu battled Deva Path Pain, but the Hell Path intervened before Xia Mu could finish him.
• Xia Mu used Wood Release and Storm Release to strike the Hell Path and Deva Path Pain, marking Deva Path with a Flying Thunder God formula.
• The Animal Path arrived with a rhinoceros and shielded the Hell Path while the King of Hell repaired both injured Pains.
• Xia Mu explained the Hell Path's repair ability to the Interrogation Department ninjas, then used Yasakani no Magatama against the three Pains and the rhinoceros.
• Deva Path Pain repelled the attack, and Xia Mu killed the rhinoceros with a Light Speed Kick before preparing to fight the three Pains again.