Recaps

Jiraiya and the two sages battled the Eight-Tails, wounding it and setting its body ablaze, but the beast fired a half-formed Tailed Beast Bomb at Jiraiya. As death approached, Jiraiya tried to send Fukasaku and Shima back to Mount Myōboku.

• Fukasaku and Shima used genjutsu to free Gamabunta from the Eight-Tails, and Gamabunta struck back with Water Release: Iron Cannonball before returning to Mount Myōboku.
• Killer B awakened the Eight-Tails, which attacked Jiraiya as he fought in Sage Mode with Fukasaku and Shima.
• Fukasaku severed the Eight-Tails' tentacles with Sage Art: Water Severing, and Shima carried Jiraiya close enough to hit its head with a Big Ball Rasengan.
• Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima used Sage Art: Goemon, setting the Eight-Tails' body on fire and forcing it to abandon charging its Tailed Beast Bomb.
• The Eight-Tails fired its unstable Tailed Beast Bomb at Jiraiya, who could not escape and used Summoning Technique: Release to try to send Fukasaku and Shima away.

Naoki Senju saved Jiraiya from the Fourth Raikage and Killer B, then turned to face the A B Combo. After they damaged his wooden figure with a Double Lariat, Naoki leapt down and wounded both of them with his katana.

• Naoki Senju caught the Tailed Beast Bomb in a wooden hand and hurled it at the Fourth Raikage, who dodged it.
• Killer B ended his Complete Tailed Beast Transformation to extinguish the flames on Eight-Tails, leaving him temporarily weakened.
• The Fourth Raikage told Killer B that Konoha and Kirigakure might have trapped them and that their priority was to hold off Konoha's Kage Level fighters while their forces retreated.
• Naoki Senju tossed the injured Jiraiya toward Konoha's camp, where support personnel could treat him.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B struck the wooden figure's lower leg with a Double Lariat, severing it and making the figure sway.
• Naoki Senju leapt from the wooden figure and slashed both the Fourth Raikage and Killer B with his katana.

Naoki Senju fought Killer B and the Fourth Raikage’s coordinated assault, revealing that Futsunomitama could wound the Eight-Tails’ soul. As Killer B recognized Naoki’s newly activated Sage Mode and warned his brother, the battle’s outcome remained uncertain.

• The Fourth Raikage challenged Naoki Senju’s Futsunomitama and charged him at extreme speed while Killer B retrieved his Ninja Blades.
• Killer B used his Eight-Sword Style to attack Naoki from unusual angles, forcing Naoki to struggle to defend himself with Futsunomitama.
• Killer B wrapped an Eight-Tails tentacle around Naoki’s hand and launched his deadliest eight-blade attack, but Naoki cut the tentacle and wounded Gyuki’s soul.
• Gyuki urgently told Killer B to retreat, but Killer B stayed to fight alongside the Fourth Raikage, who attacked Naoki with Lightning Release: Liger Bomb.
• Naoki activated Sage Mode and said the A B Combo had nearly given him trouble, prompting Killer B to warn the Fourth Raikage.

Naoki Senju battled the Fourth Raikage and Killer B while Kumogakure’s forces fought to escape Konoha’s encirclement. After Darui opened another gap and the troops withdrew, Killer B unleashed a devastating Eight-Tails technique, leaving the battlefield in ruins.

• Naoki Senju blasted away Killer B’s stingers and repeatedly slammed the Fourth Raikage into the ground until Killer B struck him with a lightning-coated pencil and caught him.
• The Fourth Raikage recovered and chose to fight alongside Killer B while Kumogakure’s troops retreated.
• Killer B transformed into Gyuki, rallying the Kumogakure troops as they tore an opening in Konoha’s encirclement.
• Darui used Black Panther and then Double Black Panther to create another opening, drawing Jiraiya’s attention and prompting him to move against Darui.
• Killer B began spinning with all eight tentacles wrapped around himself, unleashing Tailed Beast Eight Twists and overturning the surrounding terrain.

Jiraiya fought Darui while Kumogakure's forces retreated, but Samui and Yugito Nii arrived to escort them away. Outnumbered and badly wounded, Jiraiya let the Kumogakure ninja withdraw.

• Jiraiya watched a massive Tailed Beast storm from afar and decided to target Kumogakure's retreating younger generation.
• Darui used Storm Release against Jiraiya while explaining that Konoha had slaughtered most of his clan in the Second Shinobi World War.
• Samui interrupted their fight with Cloud-Style: Flying Blade and warned Jiraiya that Yugito Nii would soon join the battle.
• Jiraiya became distracted by Samui, then considered capturing her before a voice and a burst of blue flames announced Yugito Nii's arrival.
• Yugito Nii stood beside Samui and declared that she would take the Kumogakure ninja with her.
• Jiraiya judged that he was too injured and outmatched to stop them, and allowed Yugito Nii to cover the retreat.

Naoki Senju trapped the Fourth Raikage inside a Wood Release barrier and prepared to capture Killer B and the Eight-Tails as well. In a cave outside Amegakure, Black Zetsu reacted angrily to the news that Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails.

• Killer B used the Eight-Tails’ chakra to locate Naoki Senju, and the Fourth Raikage charged at him with Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop.
• Naoki Senju blocked the Fourth Raikage with Wood Locking Wall, but the Raikage smashed through it and forced his way into the Hōbi Technique.
• The Fourth Raikage struck a wooden decoy, and Naoki Senju sealed him inside the demon mask and declared him Konoha’s prisoner.
• Believing the Fourth Raikage had died, Killer B and the Eight-Tails charged Naoki Senju to avenge him, and Naoki prepared Sage Art: Gate of the Great God.
• Obito Uchiha heard Black Zetsu angrily report that Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails.

Obito Uchiha confronted Black Zetsu about his origins and his failed genjutsu, then learned that Naoki Senju had captured both the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage. Black Zetsu could provide no details of the battle, leaving Obito without answers about Naoki’s strength.

• Obito Uchiha used genjutsu on Black Zetsu and tried to pull him into the Kamui Dimension, but White Zetsu’s spore technique thwarted him.
• Obito Uchiha demanded to know Black Zetsu’s connection to Madara Uchiha and the Rinnegan, while Black Zetsu claimed he existed only to carry out Madara’s will.
• Obito Uchiha set aside his suspicions for the moment and asked why Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Naoki Senju had captured the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage.
• Black Zetsu said nearby White Zetsu had been destroyed and the others arrived too late to witness the battle.

Black Zetsu and Obito Uchiha agreed that the Akatsuki should kill Naoki Senju, while Obito kept his identity hidden and sought Pain. At an Akatsuki meeting, Pain reported how the war ended, and Kisame Hoshigaki asked about Kirigakure.

• Black Zetsu ordered Obito Uchiha to mobilize the Akatsuki and White Zetsu to kill Naoki Senju, even if they had to attack Konoha.
• Obito Uchiha refused to expose himself and hoped Nagato would lead the operation, while Black Zetsu privately considered Obito just as manipulable as Nagato.
• Obito Uchiha found Pain absent from the Tower of God and traveled to the Akatsuki's war room.
• Pain's Deva Path announced that the war between Konoha and Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had ended.
• Pain's Deva Path said Iwagakure had avoided fighting Konoha to the end and instead plundered the Land of Lightning; Deidara reacted with relief that Iwagakure had avoided defeat.
• Kisame Hoshigaki asked Pain's Deva Path how Kirigakure had fared.

Pain gathered the Akatsuki and explained that Mei Terumi had been captured by Konoha, while Naoki Senju kept the Mizukage as his maid and planned to seal the Eight-Tails inside Killer B. The chapter left Naoki heading to Killer B’s cell as Mei worried about the future of Kirigakure.

• Hidan demanded another war and Kisame wanted to kill a newcomer, but Pain stopped the dispute and called the Akatsuki together for important news.
• Pain told the Akatsuki that Mei Terumi had misjudged Konoha and was now a prisoner, while the Fourth Raikage was also in Konoha’s custody.
• Mei served Naoki Senju badly cut fruit, and Naoki threatened to send her to see the imprisoned Fourth Raikage if she kept disobeying him.
• Naoki considered the danger posed by Kumogakure and the Akatsuki, then went to Killer B’s cell to seal the Eight-Tails.
• Mei brought Naoki a carefully prepared fruit platter after he had left and hoped Ao and Chōjūrō could stabilize Kirigakure without the Byakugan or Hiramekarei.

At the Akatsuki base, Kisame Hoshigaki and Hidan clashed after Hidan provoked Kisame over Kirigakure. Kisame gained the upper hand, and Sasori predicted he would win because of his ruthless killing intent.

• Pain discussed Konoha's victories over Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure, and Sasori proposed taking advantage of the villages' losses.
• Hidan volunteered to attack Kirigakure and taunted Kisame, who threatened to kill him; Pain ordered Kisame to keep Hidan's corpse intact.
• Kisame struck Hidan with Samehada, but Hidan blocked the blow with his Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe before Kisame forced him back and cratered the floor.
• Hidan withdrew, reclaimed his scythe, and declared that he would sacrifice Kisame to Lord Jashin.
• Deidara asked Sasori who would win, and Sasori chose Kisame, citing his ruthless willingness to pay any price to achieve his goals.

Hidan fought Kisame Hoshigaki, who beheaded him with a water technique, but Hidan’s immortal body let him revive. Kisame realized why Pain had shown no concern, while Sasori watched Hidan’s return with intense interest.

• Hidan initially pressured Kisame Hoshigaki with his scythe, but Kisame trapped the weapon with Samehada and disarmed him.
• Kisame used Water Release: Five Feeding Sharks to bite through Hidan’s neck, leaving him apparently dead.
• Sasori focused on Hidan’s body and considered whether its immortality could help him achieve eternal art, while Deidara began showing symptoms of poison.
• Pain remained calm after Hidan’s apparent death and said they should wait for one more person, putting the eavesdropping Obito Uchiha on alert.
• Hidan’s head and body moved after his beheading, and he taunted the others as he tried to reunite with his head.
• Kisame understood that Hidan could survive decapitation, while Sasori watched his revival and Deidara collapsed from the poison.

Naoki Senju took the dazed Killer B from the Anbu dungeon and announced he would reseal the Eight-Tails, prompting Kakashi to organize the operation. The chapter ended with Mei Terumi serving Tsunade mandarins while trapped in the role of her maid.

• Naoki Senju silenced Killer B's rap by telling him that single-syllable rhymes did not count, leaving him dazed and unable to respond.
• Naoki Senju removed Killer B from his cell and carried him past the dungeon's checkpoints.
• Kakashi asked Naoki Senju what he planned to do with Killer B, and Naoki said he intended to reseal the Eight-Tails.
• Kakashi began arranging sealing, medical, and security support for the operation.
• Tsunade asked Mei Terumi to peel another mandarin, and Mei reluctantly obeyed while remembering the Fourth Raikage's torture.

Kakashi visited the injured Jiraiya in the hospital and coaxed him into remembering where he had left the next Icha Icha Paradise manuscript. At Training Ground Four, Naoki Senju began releasing Killer B’s seal, leaving Gyuki’s chakra surging out of control.

• Kakashi visited Jiraiya in the hospital and learned that Naoki Senju was handling the Eight-Tails resealing.
• Kakashi offered Jiraiya apple and a massage until Jiraiya began to remember the location of his next Icha Icha Paradise manuscript.
• Naoki Senju raised a Four Violet Flames Formation around Killer B at Training Ground Four.
• Naoki Senju used a sealing technique he had developed to exploit a weakness in Kumogakure’s seal.
• Killer B and Gyuki realized Gyuki’s chakra was surging uncontrollably as the seal began to unravel.

Eight-Tails Gyuki exploited Killer B’s broken seal to escape Konoha, choosing freedom over returning to Kumogakure or rescuing his unconscious Jinchūriki. Naoki Senju tracked him down and struck with Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, but Gyuki used another tentacle as a substitute.

• Naoki Senju released the Four Violet Flames Formation as Killer B’s rampaging chakra overwhelmed the barrier and the Eight-Tails emerged.
• Gyuki abandoned the plan to return to Kumogakure and fled while Konoha’s Anbu Ninja fought his tentacles.
• Gyuki left a weakened substitute behind, and Naoki Senju pursued the real Eight-Tails east using senjutsu chakra he had planted in Killer B.
• Naoki Senju caught up with Gyuki and used Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, which Gyuki avoided by sacrificing another tentacle as a substitute.

Naoki Senju sealed the Eight-Tails Gyuki and returned toward Konoha, anticipating that the Akatsuki would soon act. At the Akatsuki base, Pain stopped Hidan and Kisame Hoshigaki from fighting and warned the group not to disrupt its next operation.

• Naoki Senju used the Sage Art: Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to break the seal between Killer B and Gyuki and seal the Eight-Tails.
• Gyuki joined the Three-Tails and One-Tail inside the sealing space, and Naoki finished the seal by nightfall.
• Killer B's unconscious body fell to the ground, and Naoki headed back to Konoha while expecting the Akatsuki to respond to Gyuki's capture.
• At the Akatsuki base, Hidan recovered from Kisame Hoshigaki's attack and threatened to sacrifice him to Lord Jashin.
• Kisame asked Pain to explain his power, and Pain used an invisible force to throw Kisame and Hidan aside before warning the group against disrupting the next operation.

Pain sent Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi to capture the Two-Tails Jinchūriki in Kumogakure, then told the remaining Akatsuki members that Naoki Senju’s capture of several tailed beasts threatened their plan. He ordered the entire Akatsuki to mobilize and kill Naoki Senju.

• Pain assigned Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi to capture the Two-Tails Jinchūriki while the Fourth Raikage was away.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi left the base together as Pain secretly monitored them.
• Pain explained that Naoki Senju had collected the Three-Tails, One-Tail, and Eight-Tails, leaving Konoha with four tailed beasts including the Nine-Tails.
• Hidan eagerly volunteered to kill Naoki Senju, while Sasori of the Red Sands asked about his strength.
• Pain revealed that Naoki Senju had Wood Release and the Three-Tails’ chakra, then declared that the entire Akatsuki would mobilize to kill him.

Tsunade reviewed the Ninja Academy graduates and focused on Naruto Uzumaki’s poor exam results despite his strong ninjutsu performance. She approved a team of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, then chose Kakashi as their Jonin instructor, leaving him to balance the new duty with his Anbu command.

• Shikaku Nara presented Tsunade with the graduates’ rankings and records, including Sasuke in first place and Naruto in tenth.
• Tsunade read Naruto’s score report, saw that he had fallen asleep during the written exam, and decided he needed punishment.
• Shikaku recommended assigning Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke to the same team, and Tsunade agreed.
• Shikaku offered Kakashi, Jiraiya, Naoki, or Tsunade as possible instructors for the team.
• Tsunade rejected Jiraiya and ordered Shikaku to summon Kakashi, expecting him to manage both his Anbu duties and the Genin team.

Shikaku Nara brought Kakashi to the Hokage Building and pushed for him to become Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha's Jonin instructor. Kakashi protested the assignment, while the Fourth Raikage remained in Anbu custody for interrogation.

• Shikaku Nara woke Kakashi and took him to the Hokage Building to assign him as Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha's Jonin instructor.
• Kakashi admitted he had forgotten that Kumogakure's envoys had arrived and assured Shikaku Nara that the Anbu would continue interrogating the Fourth Raikage.
• Shikaku Nara explained that he had placed the Kumogakure envoys under house arrest after they demanded the Raikage, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and compensation.
• Kakashi rejected the idea of secretly disposing of the Fourth Raikage and intended to extract Kumogakure's secrets despite the Raikage's sealing technique.
• Kakashi entered the Hokage's office and loudly refused to become Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha's Jonin instructor.

Kakashi reluctantly accepted the assignment to lead Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura, while worrying about his Anbu duties and Jiraiya’s plans for Naruto. Naoki Senju then ordered a delegation to Sunagakure, revealing he intended to use the dangerous mission to eliminate advisors Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

• Tsunade made Kakashi accept the Jonin instructor position unless he could find someone more suitable, and he reluctantly agreed.
• Kakashi worried that Naruto was meant to study under Jiraiya, Sasuke was consumed by hatred, and leading the team would add to his Anbu workload.
• Tsunade told Kakashi to appoint an acting Anbu commander, while Kakashi considered using tears to escape his duties.
• Naoki Senju entered the Hokage's office and ordered Temari, Kankuro, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to assemble for an immediate trip to Sunagakure.
• Shikaku Nara questioned why the two advisors had to go, and Naoki explained that the mission could conveniently result in their deaths in the desert or at the hands of Sunagakure ninja.

Temari and Kankuro met Naoki Senju at the designated meeting point before their return to Sunagakure, where Naoki rescued Kankuro from Utatane Koharu and Temari used her status as the Fourth Kazekage’s daughter to secure Naoki’s protection. Temari left determined to use her family’s standing to negotiate favorable terms for her siblings.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura welcomed the mission, believing they could control Konoha after Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were gone.
• Temari and Kankuro arrived at the meeting point and greeted Naoki Senju despite their hatred and fear of him.
• Naoki taunted Temari, and Kankuro reached for his puppet scrolls before Temari ordered him to stand down.
• Utatane Koharu seized Kankuro and his puppet scrolls, but Naoki used Wind Release to pull Kankuro safely back to Temari.
• Temari thanked Naoki on behalf of Sunagakure and invoked her status as the Fourth Kazekage’s daughter, frustrating Mitokado Homura and gaining Naoki’s protection.
• Temari resolved to return to Sunagakure and use her family’s status to secure favorable terms for herself and her brothers.

Naoki Senju traveled through the Land of Wind with Temari and Kankuro, planning to use them to control Sunagakure while pursuing a greater objective. The Akatsuki mobilized its forces to intercept him, with Nagato insisting on joining despite his failing body.

• Naoki Senju entered the Land of Wind with Temari and Kankuro, intending to make them puppets who could lead Sunagakure.
• Pain ordered the White Zetsu in the Land of Wind and nearby shapeshifting bodies to stop Naoki Senju from reaching Sunagakure.
• Deidara and Hidan transformed into Akatsuki peripheral members' bodies, prepared their equipment, and flew toward Naoki Senju on Deidara's Clay Bird.
• Sasori of the Red Sands traveled into the Land of Wind to intercept Naoki Senju if he appeared near Sunagakure or Iwagakure.
• Nagato told Konan to take him to the Land of Wind hideout so he could direct the Six Paths of Pain, despite her concern for his health.

Deidara attacked Naoki Senju, Temari, Kankuro, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu with a massive barrage of clay bombs, while Hidan survived Deidara’s explosion and turned on him. Deidara escaped a Fire Release attack after breaking free of Genjutsu, leaving the elders to wonder whether he belonged to Ōnoki’s elite forces.

• Naoki Senju spotted a dark cloud of clay bombs and warned Temari and Kankuro to cover their ears and flee toward Sunagakure.
• Deidara detonated a series of clay bombs across the area, then attacked Hidan with a clay centipede after Hidan threatened him.
• Hidan survived the explosion with horrific injuries and attacked Deidara from behind, but Deidara blasted away his scythe.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu endured the bombardment with Earth Release and launched a Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique at Deidara.
• Deidara recognized the Genjutsu, broke free, and narrowly evaded the fire dragon while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu suspected he was one of Ōnoki’s elite.

Naoki Senju saved Temari and Kankuro from the explosion, then killed Hidan, while Deidara unleashed C3: No. 18 at him. Temari and Kankuro fled the blast, but Deidara’s clay bombs caught up with them, forcing Kankuro to sacrifice his puppets to protect them.

• Naoki Senju told Temari and Kankuro to run, and Temari used her fan to conceal their escape with a gust of sand.
• Naoki Senju impaled Hidan with splitting wooden trunks, killing him and revealing that he had been a sacrifice for the Shapeshifting Technique.
• Deidara sent clay bombs after Temari and Kankuro, then dropped C3: No. 18 on Naoki Senju.
• Temari and Kankuro ran from the enormous explosion as its blast filled the sky behind them.
• Temari’s Wind Release slowed the pursuing clay bombs but failed to stop them, so Kankuro sent his puppets to intercept the bombs.

Naoki Senju saved Temari and Kankuro from Deidara’s final Clay Bomb, then defeated Deidara and killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. With the siblings headed back to Sunagakure, Naoki turned his attention to the Akatsuki.

• Kankuro lost his three puppets while he and Temari sheltered beneath the Three Star Fan from Deidara’s Clay Bombs.
• Naoki Senju blocked the final Clay Bomb and told Temari and Kankuro to run back to Sunagakure.
• Naoki’s Wood Release pierced Deidara, dispelling his Shapeshifting Technique and leaving his real body hidden in a cave with Hidan.
• Naoki found the unconscious Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura and killed them with kunai.

Naoki Senju fought off waves of White Zetsu sent to stall him until Pain arrived, crushing most of them with Water Release and Magnet Release. Black Zetsu ordered the remaining White Zetsu to merge, and the grotesque creatures advanced on Naoki as he dismissed their commander as an idiot.

• A White Zetsu taunted Naoki Senju about killing Konoha shinobi, and Naoki killed it with a kunai.
• More White Zetsu emerged, so Naoki used Water Formation Pillar and Sand Waterfall Funeral to destroy or trap them.
• Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to use the Pitcher Plant Technique, and a spore clone relayed the command to the army.
• The White Zetsu merged into grotesque forms, broke free of the sand, and lumbered toward Naoki.
• Black Zetsu expected the merged White Zetsu to delay Naoki until Akatsuki reinforcements arrived, while Naoki judged their commander an idiot.