Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Fugaku asked Hatake Sakumo to help the Uchiha Clan defect from Konoha, but Sakumo refused and instead promised to protect them in battle. When Sunagakure returned with Bunpuku and Shukaku, Sakumo held off Rasa, Pakura, Chiyo, and Ebizo while Fugaku prepared to face the One-Tail.

• Uchiha Fugaku told Hatake Sakumo that the Uchiha Clan wanted to leave Konoha and asked him to lead them, but Sakumo refused because he could not protect them from Madara Uchiha.
• Hatake Sakumo promised to drive Sunagakure back and keep the Uchiha Clan safe, assigning Fugaku to fight the One-Tail while he faced the other four opponents.
• Several days later, Rasa brought Bunpuku and Sunagakure's army back to confront Konoha, and Hatake Sakumo appeared beside Fugaku.
• Hatake Sakumo broke through Rasa's Gold Dust Wall and fought off Rasa, Pakura, Chiyo, and Ebizo by himself.
• At Rasa's urging, Bunpuku prepared to release Shukaku, telling him to escape without harming anyone; Shukaku fell silent as Bunpuku explained that he wanted to give him freedom.

Shukaku fled the battlefield with Bunpuku while Uchiha Fugaku and Rasa fought to a stalemate, and Hatake Sakumo was held back by three opponents. Shukaku took Bunpuku to an unknown cave and returned to the mental space rather than fully reviving.

• Bunpuku removed Shukaku’s seal, but Shukaku burrowed into the sand and fled as soon as he emerged.
• Uchiha Fugaku used Susanoo to attack Rasa, who stayed behind to fight while assigning three opponents to hold off Hatake Sakumo.
• Rasa pierced Susanoo’s shield with a Gold Dust Spike, then tried to exhaust Uchiha Fugaku’s ocular power with defensive tactics.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Rasa resumed large-scale attacks, while Hatake Sakumo was kept occupied by fifteen puppets and Pakura’s Scorch Release.
• Shukaku took Bunpuku to an unknown cave and returned to the mental space instead of seizing Bunpuku’s body to fully revive.

Bunpuku reassured Shukaku as Konoha’s front against Iwagakure remained quiet for months, while Hiruzen Sarutobi grew wary of Uchiha Fugaku’s success against Sunagakure. Hiruzen ordered a surprise attack on Iwagakure, whose camp suffered heavy casualties before Didaze and Ōnoki woke and prepared to respond.

• Bunpuku told Shukaku he was kind, and Shukaku denied caring before lying down in their mental space.
• Nanako remained unconscious as her life chakra grew denser, while Ōnoki and Didaze waited for success instead of starting a fight.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Fugaku was holding off Sunagakure and chose not to seek an alliance, wary of Fugaku’s growing strength.
• Hiruzen ordered Konoha’s Jonin to launch a surprise attack on Iwagakure that night, keeping the plan from lower-ranked ninja.
• Hiruzen led Konoha’s forces into Iwagakure’s camp and killed many guards, while the first charge wiped out nearly a fifth of Iwagakure’s ninja.
• Didaze woke Gari, handed him the Exploding Blade Shibuki, and prepared to fight back with Ōnoki.

Minato Namikaze fought Gari, whose explosive attacks and hardened body countered Minato’s usual kunai tactics. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Orochimaru remained locked in a stalemate against Ōnoki and Didaze at Iwagakure’s main camp.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi destroyed Didaze’s Brood Nest with Earth Dragon Flame Flow after the Adamantine Staff’s suction drew the exploding spiders toward it.
• Gari intercepted Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Kunai and destroyed Minato’s attacks with the Blast Sword.
• Minato Namikaze used a Body Flicker attack, but Gari’s exploding Blast Sword forced him to teleport away.
• Gari hardened his body and threatened to attack Konoha ninja, prompting Minato Namikaze to scatter kunai and search for an opening.
• Gari’s Ground Explosion destroyed Minato Namikaze’s kunai and drove him out of range, while Minato stayed calm under Gari’s taunts.
• Ōnoki and Didaze stalemated Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Orochimaru as Didaze avoided using large bombs near Iwagakure’s camp.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Minato Namikaze fought Didaze and Ōnoki, but Didaze injected nanoscale bombs into Katsuyu’s clone and destroyed it. Katsuyu Sage recovered the damaged fragments and lost about one percent of her body, becoming interested in Didaze.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi rode on Katsuyu and attacked Didaze and Ōnoki with Lightning Release.
• Didaze’s acid-charged C3 destroyed Orochimaru’s Triple Rashomon, but Minato Namikaze’s shadow clone transported Ōnoki’s Dust Release away and was annihilated.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade attacked the airborne enemies, while Didaze became invisible and moved beneath Katsuyu.
• Didaze injected nanoscale bombs into Katsuyu, so Tsunade kicked Hiruzen Sarutobi away and jumped clear before Katsuyu exploded.
• Katsuyu Sage recalled the tiny fragments of her clone and discovered that Didaze had taken about one percent of her body mass.

Didaze and Ōnoki held the advantage against Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Orochimaru while Minato faced Gari elsewhere. Minato used his newly developed Rasengan to knock Gari unconscious, leaving Didaze to send a split body to rescue him.

• The Katsuyu Sage's nanoscale bodies returned to one location, while Tsunade attacked Didaze and he split into two to evade her and confuse Hiruzen Sarutobi's sensing.
• Orochimaru summoned the Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes, but Ōnoki's six or seven stone golems slaughtered the snakes as Didaze's bombs injured Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Didaze and Ōnoki kept the upper hand as Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Orochimaru struggled to counter their attacks.
• Gari tried to destroy Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Minato used a visual trick and Flying Thunder God to strike him from behind with the Rasengan.
• Minato knocked Gari unconscious, and Didaze directed his split body to rescue him.

Minato Namikaze joined Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade in fighting Ōnoki while Didaze rescued Gari and merged with his split body. With his allies at risk from C4, Didaze unleashed clay bombs infused with Dust Release, leaving Ōnoki to recognize the familiar technique.

• Minato Namikaze left Gari after Didaze lifted him, then used Flying Thunder God to join Hiruzen Sarutobi and help him locate Didaze.
• Minato Namikaze went to Tsunade and helped her reach Ōnoki by having her throw a Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Ōnoki blocked her punch with his strengthened Rock Fist.
• Minato Namikaze and Tsunade kept Ōnoki occupied while Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked from below, preventing Ōnoki from using Dust Release.
• Didaze retrieved Gari with his split body, merged with it, and decided not to use C4 because it would kill his own people.
• Didaze infused his clay bombs with Dust Release and threw them, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to flood the battlefield and Ōnoki to recognize the Dust Release chakra.

Didaze and Ōnoki overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Konoha fighters with Dust Release attacks, forcing Hiruzen to order a retreat. Minato Namikaze helped cover the withdrawal, but Ōnoki reached Konoha’s rear and attacked the retreating army with stone giants.

• Didaze bombarded Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, Tsunade, and Ōnoki with Dust Release Bullets while Ōnoki added his own attacks.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided that the four could not endure the assault and ordered a withdrawal, which Minato Namikaze relayed to Dan Katō.
• Dan Katō and Konoha’s Kekkei Genkai fighters stayed behind to cover the retreat as the rest of the army withdrew.
• Didaze sent a Dust Release Giant Dragon after the retreating army, but Minato Namikaze intercepted it with a shadow clone and Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used combination ninjutsu to keep Didaze occupied, but Didaze increased his Dust Release Bullet output so Ōnoki could fly ahead.
• Ōnoki summoned dozens of stone giants over Konoha’s rear guard, killing or wounding a tenth of the army before the Akimichi Clan helped contain them.

Minato Namikaze and the Konoha forces retreated after Ōnoki’s attack, while Didaze planned a solo sneak attack on Konoha. Back in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged an alliance with Kumogakure and Kirigakure as Shimura Danzō expanded Root’s control and celebrated himself as Hokage.

• Minato Namikaze evacuated Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi after Ōnoki killed an Akimichi Clan ninja and forced the Konoha army to retreat.
• Ōnoki estimated that Iwagakure had wiped out about a fifth of the enemy forces, and Didaze said he would sneak attack Konoha alone the next day.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered an Anbu to offer Kumogakure and Kirigakure ten percent of Konoha’s mission quota in exchange for an alliance.
• Shimura Danzō learned that Root had placed Tongue Eradication Cursed Seals on new recruits from bloodline limit and secret technique clans, and ordered further recruitment of talented orphans.
• Shimura Danzō asked a Root member whether he was a competent Hokage, and the member praised him as the greatest Hokage, surpassing the Third Hokage.

Shimura Danzō celebrated his success as Hokage while Hiruzen Sarutobi’s camp suffered a devastating acid attack by Didaze. Later, Didaze tried using Dust Release to weaken Nanako’s overpowering Wood Release and rouse her, and she groaned as he reduced it to ordinary Kage strength.

• Shimura Danzō dismissed Root members and congratulated himself on bringing Konoha’s clans into line.
• Didaze attacked Konoha’s encampment with acid-filled puppets, killing a third of its forces and wounding another third before Minato Namikaze could catch him.
• Didaze proposed injecting his Dust Release chakra into Nanako to counterbalance her Wood Release, and Ōnoki agreed to accompany him.
• Didaze found Reigyō and Watanabe Kawa training beside the unconscious Nanako, then channeled Dust Release into her body.
• Didaze gradually weakened Nanako’s Wood Release, and she groaned when he reduced its power to ordinary Kage level.

Nanako awakened Wood Release, recovered her strength, and learned the Wood Clone Technique as Didaze and Ōnoki prepared to launch an assault on Konoha. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze discovered that the clans had rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi’s request for reinforcements because of Shimura Danzō’s actions.

• Didaze helped Nanako awaken and circulate her Wood Release chakra, which quickly restored her body after half a year of inactivity.
• Ōnoki taught Nanako the hand seals for the Wood Clone Technique, and she created a durable clone that ran half a kilometer from her.
• Didaze and Ōnoki agreed to launch an all-out assault on Konoha the next day, while Didaze urged Nanako, Watanabe Kawa, and Reigyō to stay safe.
• Minato Namikaze returned to Konoha to seek reinforcements, but the clans with kekkei genkai or secret techniques refused to see him, and only the Akimichi Clan let him in.
• Minato Namikaze learned that the clans blamed Shimura Danzō and held Hiruzen Sarutobi responsible, and they refused to send reinforcements.

Hiruzen Sarutobi imprisoned Shimura Danzō and tried to repair relations with Konoha’s clans, but Iwagakure launched an all-out attack the next day. As Minato Namikaze led Konoha’s forces into battle, Nanako revealed Wood Release and surrounded him with dozens of clones.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha, punched Shimura Danzō, stripped him of his position, ordered Root disbanded, and had him imprisoned.
• The clans’ captive members returned home, but the clans remained distrustful and offered Konoha only limited support.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recruited more Jonin, then sent Dan Katō and Minato Namikaze to intercept Iwagakure’s all-out attack.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, and Tsunade engaged Didaze while Minato Namikaze led Konoha’s forces against the attackers.
• Nanako used Wood Release to create dozens of clones and sent them to surround Minato Namikaze.

Nanako and Gari overwhelmed Minato Namikaze with their attacks and captured him, turning the battle in Iwagakure’s favor. Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Minato being carried away and realized the tide of the war had shifted.

• Nanako used Adamantine Sealing Chains while Gari challenged Minato Namikaze, forcing Minato to summon Gamabunta for help.
• Nanako trapped Gamabunta in a Wood Release prison and sealed Minato Namikaze’s summoning contract.
• Gari endured Minato’s Rasengan, grabbed him, and struck him with Explosion Release: Landmine Fist, leaving both men injured.
• Nanako bound the unconscious Minato Namikaze and assigned Watanabe Kawa to watch him while Reigyō took the severely wounded Gari away.
• Didaze celebrated Minato’s capture as Hiruzen Sarutobi watched with unease.

Nanako and Iwagakure devastated Konoha’s forces, and Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the village facing a worsening war. After Kumogakure and Kirigakure declared war, Didaze sent word that he would meet Hiruzen to discuss a ceasefire.

• Nanako captured Dan Katō and slaughtered Konoha’s other ninja while Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Orochimaru fled the battlefield.
• Ōnoki and Didaze finished off Konoha’s remaining forces, sparing only selected successors, Minato Namikaze, and Dan Katō.
• Didaze ordered Iwagakure to slow its advance through the Land of Fire and avoid harming villages, intending to seek a ceasefire and payment rather than conquer the country.
• Kumogakure and Kirigakure declared war on Konoha, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to decide to release Shimura Danzō and face the threat of the village’s destruction.
• Didaze sent a message inviting Hiruzen Sarutobi to meet at the Land of Fire–Land of Earth border to discuss a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to surrender to Iwagakure and went alone to negotiate the return of Konoha's captured fighters. After Didaze accepted Hiruzen's ransom offer, he revealed that Iwagakure would also demand compensation for withdrawing its troops.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi convened Konoha's leaders, and they decided to surrender after a day of discussion.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left Konoha alone to meet Ōnoki and Didaze at the agreed location.
• Didaze brought forward Dan Katō, Minato Namikaze, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Shibi Aburame, then demanded half of Konoha's mission quota in perpetuity for their release.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a permanent tenth of the mission quota each for Dan Katō and Minato Namikaze, and a fortieth each for Inoichi Yamanaka and Shibi Aburame.
• Didaze pretended to reject Hiruzen Sarutobi's offer before accepting it, then demanded additional compensation for Iwagakure's withdrawal.

Didaze forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to accept Iwagakure’s demands, including compensation, forbidden jutsu, and a surrender and nonaggression treaty. After Hiruzen signed and handed over the jutsu, Iwagakure withdrew from the Land of Fire, leaving Konoha humiliated.

• Didaze demanded a quarter of Konoha’s mission quota, one-third of its annual revenue, and the Land of Whirlpools’ Sealing Jutsu and Wood Release Ninjutsu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed.
• Didaze released Minato Namikaze and the others, and Hiruzen returned to Konoha.
• Two days later, Didaze tore up Konoha’s proposed peace agreement and insisted that Hiruzen sign a surrender and nonaggression treaty.
• Didaze punched Mitokado Homura when he objected, and Hiruzen signed the treaty and handed over copies of the requested jutsu.
• Didaze and Ōnoki patted Hiruzen’s head as Iwagakure’s ninja withdrew from the Land of Fire.

Didaze set out to find the Land of Whirlpools so he could obtain the Shinigami Mask and test whether the Reaper Death Seal could expel Jashin’s power from the Jashin Statue. He landed on an island inhabited by Nadeshiko Village ninja and was attacked just as he tried to leave.

• Didaze told Ōnoki to return to Iwagakure with the main force, then flew off alone and told Nanako to keep training in Wood Release.
• Didaze discussed with Saiken using the Reaper Death Seal against Jashin’s power, and Saiken agreed to help despite the risk of losing half its strength.
• Didaze searched the sea for the Land of Whirlpools without a map and landed on an island he thought might be the ruins.
• Several Nadeshiko Village kunoichi attacked Didaze, but he blocked their weapons, pinned them down, and learned they were waiting to defeat men and make them marry into their families.
• After Didaze knocked the kunoichi unconscious, one set off a firework, and a beautiful female ninja rushed in with Nadeshiko Style: Roaring Waves Violent Wind Fist as Didaze tried to fly away.

Didaze defeated Nadeshiko Harukawa and her companions, then learned that Nadeshiko Village’s customs required Harukawa to marry the man who defeated her. He declined the marriage but accepted her offer to guide him toward the Land of Whirlpools, stopping at the village for a meal.

• Didaze overwhelmed Harukawa’s Water Formation Wall with Great Fire Annihilation, knocked out another female ninja, and used the Mystical Palm Technique to wake Harukawa.
• Harukawa explained that Nadeshiko Village’s tradition required her to marry Didaze after he defeated her, but Didaze refused and asked for a map.
• Didaze told Harukawa he was heading to the Land of Whirlpools, and she asked whether he was a wandering ninja.
• Didaze showed Harukawa his Iwagakure forehead protector and agreed to stay for a meal before continuing his journey.
• Harukawa led Didaze to Nadeshiko Village’s palace, where he saw that most of its residents were women and the men had married into the village.

Didaze killed the family members who threatened him and challenged his authority in Nadeshiko Village, while Nadeshiko Harukawa welcomed his intervention. After eating, Didaze prepared to travel with Harukawa to the Land of Whirlpools.

• A boy who had been pursuing Nadeshiko Harukawa threatened Didaze, who broke his arm and threw him into a painting.
• Didaze confronted the boy’s parents, and they attacked him together with a powerful Wind Release tornado.
• Didaze used Wild Air Current Dance to take control of the tornado and killed the couple, then killed their son as well.
• Nadeshiko Harukawa led Didaze to the dining room and served him food, explaining that the family had been trying to seize control of Nadeshiko Village.
• Didaze checked the food for poison, ate, and planned to travel with Harukawa to the Land of Whirlpools.

Didaze and Nadeshiko Harukawa flew to the ruined Land of Whirlpools and searched for the Uzumaki Clan’s ancestral grounds. They found a sealed old man, but after Didaze freed him, the man alternated between seeming lucid and behaving like an animal.

• Didaze took Nadeshiko Harukawa from her village on the Clay Giant Bird, and she directed him southwest toward the Land of Whirlpools.
• Didaze and Nadeshiko Harukawa landed on the devastated island and searched together for more than a day.
• Didaze sensed Chakra near a shelter, destroyed its entrance with a Dust Release Bullet, and found an old man inside a weakening Sealing Jutsu.
• Didaze released the old man from the seal, and the man first pretended to be a swan before briefly seeming lucid.
• Didaze asked about the Uzumaki Clan’s ancestral grounds, but the old man began crawling and barking like a puppy, leaving Didaze helpless and Nadeshiko Harukawa struggling not to laugh.