Chapter Summaries

Hatake Sakumo led Konoha’s forces into battle against Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure ninja while Didaze used Nano Bombs to devastate a separate Konoha force. The Konoha survivors were reduced to a few hundred elites, and Hatake Sakumo was left fighting alone as Iwagakure celebrated the explosion.

• Hatake Sakumo led the Konoha ninja in an assault, killing an Iwagakure scout and cutting through the enemy ranks as Kitsuchi and Kōdo moved to surround him.
• Didaze waited for the Konoha force to gather, then created nearly a thousand Clay Spiders and attacked from the air.
• The Aburame Clan unleashed Kikaichū against Didaze, so he spent much of his chakra deploying Nano Bombs that destroyed the insects and entered the Konoha ninja.
• Didaze detonated the Nano Bombs, killing most of the Konoha force and reducing its numbers from over a thousand to three or four hundred elites.
• Didaze returned to the Iwagakure forces after running low on chakra, while Hatake Sakumo continued fighting alone and heard the distant explosion.
• Iwagakure celebrated the Konoha casualties as Hatake Sakumo was struck by an enemy ninja.

Didaze’s nanoscale bombs devastated the Konoha forces while Hatake Sakumo fought through Iwagakure’s army. After joining the surviving Konoha elites, Sakumo led them into a coordinated assault on Iwagakure.

• Didaze detonated his remaining Clay Spiders, killing nearly a hundred more Konoha ninja before flying toward Iwagakure.
• Han joined the battle against Hatake Sakumo, whose swordsmanship let him fight off attacks from the surrounding Iwagakure ninja.
• Didaze’s arrival prompted Sakumo to escape the encirclement and regroup with the roughly two hundred Konoha survivors led by the Nara Clan Head.
• The Nara Clan Head explained that Didaze’s invisible bombs had caused the heavy losses, and Sakumo recognized Didaze as a formidable enemy.
• Sakumo ordered the Konoha forces into formation and led their elite ninja in an attack, with the Hyuga and Akimichi clans charging at the front.

Didaze used a clay flashbang to blind Hatake Sakumo and wound him, but Sakumo discovered that lightning release could disable Didaze’s clay bombs. Didaze let Konoha believe the weakness was decisive, then sent flame-covered spiders against the army as they prepared to counter him with lightning.

• Han transformed into the complete Five-Tails, but Hatake Sakumo slashed him with lightning-infused swordsmanship before the Human Bullet Tanks restrained him.
• Didaze lured Hatake Sakumo toward a clay double and escaped on a giant clay bird, then tricked Sakumo into catching explosive goggles that temporarily blinded him.
• Didaze sent clay centipedes after the blinded Sakumo, and one exploded on his back, leaving him bleeding.
• Hatake Sakumo discovered that lightning chakra stopped the clay centipedes and warned the Konoha army that lightning release countered Didaze’s clay bombs.
• Didaze pretended to panic while Konoha prepared to use lightning, then attacked with flame-covered giant clay spiders.
• Shikaku Nara ordered the Konoha ninja to strike the spiders with lightning release.

Didaze returned to the battlefield and used the Explosion Release Corps’ chakra to create a devastating explosive arrow against Konoha’s defenses. The arrow destroyed the Earth Style Walls, forcing the Nara Clan Head to order his people into Iwagakure’s ranks.

• Didaze withdrew to recover his chakra while Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure forces held off Hatake Sakumo and the Konoha ninja.
• After nearly an hour, Kōdo urged Kitsuchi to retreat, but Kitsuchi insisted they hold the position until Didaze returned.
• Didaze arrived as Hatake Sakumo unleashed a powerful slash that killed or wounded nearly a hundred Iwagakure ninja, followed by clan attacks that caused nearly three hundred more casualties.
• Didaze brought the Explosion Release Corps onto his giant clay bird and used their remaining chakra to make a powerful explosive arrow.
• Didaze fired the arrow at the Nara Clan’s position, destroying their Earth Style Walls, and the Nara Clan Head ordered his people to charge into Iwagakure’s ranks.

Uchiha Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and used Susanoo to battle Didaze and Han, while the allied shinobi tried to support him. The chapter ended with Fugaku breaking free of Kitsuchi’s Mountain Earth Technique in Susanoo’s third stage, though his eyes were bleeding from overuse.

• Didaze tried to stop the shinobi from reaching Iwagakure, but Uchiha Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned Susanoo.
• Uchiha Fugaku fired Susanoo arrows at Didaze, then used a hammer to strike Han, who had transformed into the Five-Tails.
• The Aburame Clan Head sent Explosion-Resistant Kikaichū after Didaze while Didaze continued firing arrows and inflicting casualties.
• Kitsuchi used Earth Release to unbalance Uchiha Fugaku and trap him between two halves of the Mountain Earth Technique.
• Uchiha Fugaku broke the technique with Susanoo’s third stage, alarming the Nara Clan Head as Fugaku’s eyes bled from the strain.

Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Sakumo fought to hold off Iwagakure as Didaze and Kitsuchi covered their forces’ retreat. Fugaku survived a massive clay-bomb blast by using his eye’s Rewind ability, while Didaze reassured Kitsuchi that Fugaku could not sustain Susanoo indefinitely.

• Kitsuchi and Didaze decided to retreat after Fugaku escaped the Mountain Earth Technique, and Kitsuchi urged Hatake Sakumo to protect the Konoha ninja from the approaching clay centipedes.
• Didaze countered Fugaku’s charged Susanoo arrow, then sent a giant centipede clay bomb toward Fugaku while the Iwagakure ninja withdrew.
• Didaze detonated the bomb, shattering Fugaku’s Susanoo, but Fugaku used Rewind to restore himself to his earlier state at the cost of severe strain on his right eye.
• Shimura Danzō coveted Fugaku’s Susanoo power as the Iwagakure forces retreated and Kitsuchi worried about their position.
• Didaze told Kitsuchi that Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan power would run out and that his vision was likely already deteriorating.

Kitsuchi withdrew Iwagakure’s forces after Didaze’s victory, while Ōnoki and Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted to the battle report and its consequences. In Kusagakure, Didaze found Nanako Uzumaki being used to heal an injured ninja.

• Kitsuchi sent a battle report and letter to Ōnoki, then retreated with Iwagakure’s forces to the Land of Grass border while Didaze searched Kusagakure for Karin’s mother.
• Ōnoki learned that Didaze had defeated the Konoha ninja and killed Orochimaru, then contacted Kirigakure after reading about Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned of Fugaku’s Mangekyō and Orochimaru’s death, decided to hide the death from Tsunade and Jiraiya, and feared the Uchiha Clan might threaten Konoha.
• Kusagakure ninja forced Nanako Uzumaki to heal an injured ninja, who bit her arm to absorb her chakra.
• A voice from the sky identified Nanako as a survivor of the Land of Whirlpools.

Didaze rescued Nanako Uzumaki from Kusagakure and let her choose the fate of the Grass Ninja who had abused her. After she ordered their deaths, Didaze destroyed the village and flew away with her, leaving her curious about who he was.

• Didaze rescued Nanako Uzumaki and told her to stay with him, while the Kusagakure ninja hesitated to attack an Iwagakure ninja.
• Didaze gave Nanako Uzumaki the choice of whether the Grass Ninja would live or die, and she chose to kill those who had bullied her.
• Didaze unleashed Clay Bomb: Brood Nest, and the clay spiders killed the Kusagakure ninja as Nanako Uzumaki watched.
• Didaze detonated the remaining Clay Bombs, killing Kusagakure's leader and razing the village.
• Didaze told Nanako Uzumaki his name and flew away with her on the Clay Giant Bird.

Didaze brought Nanako Uzumaki to Iwagakure and told Kitsuchi how Kusagakure had exploited her as a medical kit. As they flew toward Iwagakure, Didaze began explaining how the Land of Whirlpools had fallen, leaving Nanako with the revelation that Konoha had refused to help and later profited most.

• Didaze told Nanako Uzumaki she would become one of Iwagakure's people and could become his disciple after catching up on her training.
• Didaze introduced Nanako to Kitsuchi and explained that he had destroyed Kusagakure and rescued her from being used as a medical kit.
• Didaze told Kitsuchi that Nanako's chakra reserves could have been twice their current size, and he decided to take her to Ōnoki in Iwagakure.
• Didaze asked Nanako whether she wanted to know the truth about the Land of Whirlpools, and she firmly said yes.
• Didaze explained that Kumogakure attacked the Land of Whirlpools and Kirigakure joined to seize its Sealing Jutsu, while Hiruzen Sarutobi refused its request for Konoha's help.
• Didaze told Nanako that Konoha had profited the most after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed.

Didaze told Nanako Uzumaki that the Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed and that few survivors remained, prompting her to vow revenge. He brought her to Iwagakure, where Ōnoki learned of her mistreatment in Kusagakure and recognized her potential, while Didaze began to say that confronting Kusagakure might not be necessary.

• Didaze explained that Konoha had obtained advanced sealing jutsu after the Land of Whirlpools fell, while Kirigakure and Kumogakure intercepted and killed many survivors.
• Nanako Uzumaki vowed to take revenge on the villages responsible, and Didaze promised to help her grow strong enough to do so.
• Didaze flew Nanako Uzumaki to Iwagakure and entered Ōnoki's office by crashing through the window.
• Ōnoki welcomed Nanako Uzumaki and learned that Kusagakure had used her as a source of healing chakra and bullied her.
• After seeing Nanako Uzumaki's bite marks and sensing her enormous chakra reserves, Ōnoki became furious at Kusagakure, but Didaze said that making trouble for the village might not be necessary.

Ōnoki accepted Didaze’s plan to handle the fallout from Kusagakure’s destruction and began preparing him as a successor. He enrolled Nanako Uzumaki in Iwagakure’s Ninja Academy, and the village changed its graduation-age rule to twelve.

• Didaze argued that Iwagakure could avoid trouble from other villages and potentially annex the Land of Grass if it handled Kirigakure carefully.
• Ōnoki agreed with Didaze’s plan to negotiate with Konoha for sealing jutsu and end the war, then told Didaze to prepare to succeed him as Tsuchikage.
• Ōnoki arranged for Nanako Uzumaki to attend the Ninja Academy at age twelve and live across from his home for safety.
• Ōnoki ordered Didaze to fix the shattered office window after Nanako Uzumaki left.
• The next day, Iwagakure changed the Ninja Academy graduation age to twelve and banned entry through the Tsuchikage’s office window.

Ōnoki forced Kitsuchi to withdraw Iwagakure’s forces, and the war with Konoha ended in a ceasefire proposal. The Iwagakure envoy demanded sealing jutsu as compensation, and Hiruzen Sarutobi showed he might accept.

• Ōnoki left Iwagakure in secret, struck Kitsuchi on the head for disobeying orders, and ordered him to withdraw.
• Konoha and Iwagakure withdrew their forces, while a white snake appeared on the abandoned battlefield.
• Ōnoki sent an Anbu envoy to Konoha to propose a ceasefire and demand ten sealing jutsu of each rank from A to D.
• Shimura Danzō dismissed the ceasefire intelligence and ordered Root to keep spreading damaging claims about the Uchiha Clan.
• The Iwagakure envoy threatened an alliance with Kirigakure and Kumogakure if Hiruzen Sarutobi refused the demands, and Hiruzen softened his response.

Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to give Iwagakure Sealing Jutsu to prevent it from joining forces with Kirigakure and Kumogakure, while Ōnoki prepared for the exchange. Three days later, Ōnoki and his guards arrived in the Land of Grass, where Hiruzen was waiting.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered Iwagakure five A-rank Sealing Jutsu and five of each other rank, including two techniques exclusive to the Uzumaki Clan.
• Ōnoki learned that the exchange would take place in the Land of Grass and summoned Didaze and Kitsuchi to serve as his guards.
• Didaze received the summons while training Wind Release and agreed to attend the talks in three days.
• Ōnoki arranged his plans as Han watched Roshi, and Iwagakure Anbu guarded Nanako Uzumaki.
• Three days later, Didaze flew Ōnoki to the center of the Land of Grass, where Hiruzen Sarutobi was already waiting.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Ōnoki negotiated Iwagakure’s surrender and a ceasefire, exchanging sealing techniques for the agreement. The villages ended hostilities, while Hatake Sakumo’s faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi began to falter.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi had Hatake Sakumo give Ōnoki five A-rank Sealing Jutsu, including the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal.
• Ōnoki handed Hiruzen Sarutobi a ceasefire agreement declaring Iwagakure’s surrender and one hundred million ryō in reparations.
• Didaze asked Konoha to pay Iwagakure one hundred million ryō, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to pay fifty million while keeping the larger sum in the agreement.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi signed the agreement, and Ōnoki said Iwagakure would await Konoha’s Anbu at the border to collect the money.
• Hatake Sakumo’s view of Hiruzen Sarutobi changed, and Iwagakure and Konoha officially ceased hostilities.

Didaze went to the Land of Earth's border to recruit Deido as his deputy and brought him into his service. He planned to return to Iwagakure with Deido and meet Dogen and Raito.

• Didaze told Ōnoki he was heading to the border to recruit someone, and Ōnoki said Nanako Uzumaki would become his Jonin student after she graduated.
• Kōdo told Ōnoki that Didaze was already strong enough to be considered a Kage.
• Didaze reached the border and greeted Dogen, who refused Didaze's offer to leave his post.
• Didaze formally invited Deido to become his deputy, and Deido eagerly accepted.
• Didaze told Deido to accompany him to Iwagakure the next day, then headed to meet Dogen and Raito.

After Iwagakure agreed to a ceasefire, the Third Kazekage convened Sunagakure’s leaders, who voted to end the war and negotiate compensation with Konoha. Meanwhile, Orochimaru secretly took over a weak Genin’s body in the Land of Grass to recover, and Konoha and Sunagakure finalized a ceasefire deal as Jiraiya and Tsunade returned to the village.

• The Third Kazekage called a leadership meeting after learning that Iwagakure had agreed to a ceasefire, leaving Sunagakure isolated.
• Granny Chiyo supported a ceasefire, and most of Sunagakure’s leaders agreed to end the war.
• Orochimaru found a female Genin in the Land of Grass, took over her body, and began secretly recovering in a house whose occupants he had killed.
• After three days of talks, the Third Kazekage and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that Sunagakure would pay Konoha one hundred million in compensation.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade led the ninjas back to Konoha.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha, got arrested after crashing into the women's bathhouse, and learned from Hiruzen Sarutobi that Orochimaru had died in battle. Tsunade and Jiraiya reacted with fury and grief, and Jiraiya stopped Tsunade from striking the Hokage.

• Jiraiya peered toward the women's bathhouse, and Tsunade punched him through its door before Anbu took him to the Hokage's office.
• Jiraiya claimed he had entered the bathhouse to gather material for a book, then asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether something had happened to Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya admitted that he had forged the battle reports he gave Tsunade to keep her from worrying about Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Jiraiya and Tsunade that Orochimaru had fallen in battle and that Iwagakure's Didaze had killed him.
• Tsunade smashed Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk and tried to punch him, but Jiraiya caught her wrist.

Didaze took Nanako Uzumaki to meet Karen, Iwagakure’s strongest Sealing Jutsu user, and proposed that Karen train her after school. Karen agreed to assess Nanako’s talent first, while Didaze believed she had the potential to become a great sealing specialist.

• Didaze picked Nanako Uzumaki up from school and asked whether she had made friends.
• Didaze brought Nanako to Iwagakure’s Sealing Squad and introduced her to Karen.
• Karen told Didaze that people had nicknamed him the “Bomb Maniac,” making Nanako laugh.
• Didaze asked Karen to take Nanako as her student, and Karen said she would first test Nanako’s talent for Sealing Jutsu.
• Didaze reflected that Nanako had exceptional potential and hoped she would become a master of sealing.

Karen discovered Nanako Uzumaki’s exceptional talent for Sealing Jutsu and agreed to teach her while she continued attending school. Didaze then received an A-rank mission from Ōnoki to hunt the missing-nin Ōiwa and met the Anbu assigned to assist him.

• Nanako Uzumaki told Karen she had earth and water chakra natures, and Didaze considered whether she might awaken Wood Release by combining them.
• Karen gave Nanako a scroll for the D-rank Rock Seal, and Nanako mastered it after reading the instructions once.
• Karen urged Didaze to let Nanako stop attending school and study Sealing Jutsu full-time, but Nanako said she still wanted to go to school.
• Didaze left Nanako with Karen and went to Ōnoki’s office, where Ōnoki assigned him an A-rank mission to hunt Ōiwa with help from five Anbu.
• The Anbu removed their masks, and Umu introduced herself to Didaze as Silver Rabbit.

Didaze joined Ōnoki’s Anbu squad and set out to capture the defector Ōiwa, following Golden Tiger’s lead toward the Land of Rivers. By nightfall they reached its border, where Didaze left command to Golden Tiger as the search was about to begin.

• Umu, Kindo, Satō Kei, Atsuchi, and Watanabe Tora introduced themselves to Didaze, and Ōnoki appointed Didaze captain with Golden Tiger as vice-captain to capture Ōiwa alive if possible.
• Golden Tiger gave Didaze a smiling mask, and the squad left Iwagakure after presenting Ōnoki’s authorization to the gate guard.
• Golden Tiger reasoned that Ōiwa was likely hiding in the Land of Rivers, and Didaze agreed to follow that lead without using a conspicuous clay Giant Bird.
• The squad crossed the border near the Land of Rain, where Rain Ninja fled from them, and reached the Land of Rivers’ border after nightfall.
• Golden Tiger asked Didaze whether he would take command, and Didaze told him to continue leading the squad.