Chapter Summaries

Kakashi’s team encountered the revived Jirobo, and Sakura stayed behind to hold him off while the others pursued Sasuke. She used Wood Release and sealing jutsu to defeat Jirobo, then set out to catch up with Naruto and the others.

• Tenten triggered Explosive Tags, but Sakura protected her with Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall.
• Jirobo emerged from the mist with an Impure World Reincarnation body, and Rock Lee’s attack revealed that he could regenerate.
• Sakura stayed behind to fight Jirobo while Kakashi, Guy, Naruto, and the others continued after Sasuke.
• Jirobo trapped Sakura in an Earth Prison Dome and entered his second Cursed Seal stage, but Sakura used genjutsu to mislead him.
• Sakura used Wood Dragon Technique and Cherry Tree Seal to bind Jirobo and absorb his chakra.
• The First praised Sakura, and she left to catch up with Naruto and the others.

Tenten stayed behind to fight Sakon and Ukon, using Hongshi-kun's Firearm Ninja Tools to destroy and seal the reincarnated Sound Four members. After resting, she joined Sakura and continued after Kakashi's group.

• Pakkun detected Sakon and Ukon ahead, and Tenten volunteered to hold them off while Kakashi and the others continued toward Sasuke.
• Tenten used a Ninja Tool Clone, kunai, and steel wires to trap Sakon and Ukon, then fought them with a Lightning Release club.
• Tenten shot Ukon with her Chakra Sniper Rifle and blasted both brothers apart with an RPG.
• Tenten summoned iron coffins and sealed Sakon and Ukon inside them.
• Sakura arrived about half an hour later, praised Tenten, and set off with her to catch up with Kakashi's group.

Orochimaru received Konoha’s declaration of war and decided to launch the Konoha Crush Plan, leaving Kimimaro and Jūgo to delay the pursuing team. Kimimaro and Jūgo began their final battle against Guy and Rock Lee, while Kakashi and Naruto continued toward Sasuke.

• Pakkun warned Kakashi’s group that Orochimaru’s party had slowed down, and Kakashi assigned Guy and himself to fight while Naruto and Rock Lee rescued Sasuke.
• Kimimaro arrived with Konoha’s declaration of war, and he chose to stay behind with Jūgo to face the pursuers.
• Orochimaru ordered Suigetsu to assemble Otogakure’s forces and release the laboratory test subjects, then took Kabuto to the lowest-level laboratory to begin the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Kimimaro asked Jūgo to protect Sasuke after his death, and Jūgo agreed to fight beside him while using Sage Transformation.
• Kakashi’s group encountered Kimimaro and Jūgo, and Guy and Rock Lee opened the Eight Gates before launching their attack.
• Kimimaro used the Dance of the Larch as Jūgo hurled him toward Guy and Rock Lee at tremendous speed.

Rock Lee fought Kimimaro through increasingly powerful taijutsu and survived Kimimaro’s final attack thanks to Hongshi’s Hardening Technique. Kimimaro died after exhausting himself, while Lee collapsed into a deep sleep.

• Guy and Rock Lee dodged Kimimaro’s attack, and Lee knocked Kimimaro into a crater with Konoha Whirlwind.
• Jūgo charged Guy with Sashingan and drove him deep into the forest, leaving Rock Lee to face Kimimaro.
• Rock Lee used Lightning Release to break Kimimaro’s ribs and injure his internal organs, prompting Kimimaro to transform with Cursed Seal of Earth Stage Two.
• Rock Lee swallowed Hongshi’s Erguotou Pill, opened the Seventh Gate, and fought Kimimaro with Drunken Fist, breaking his spine and bone armor.
• Kimimaro unleashed Dance of the Seedling Fern and struck Rock Lee with a bone spear, but Hongshi’s Hardening Technique protected Lee as Kimimaro died.
• Rock Lee’s Eight Gates state ended, and he fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

Might Guy defeated Jūgo in battle, but Jūgo went berserk after sensing Kimimaro’s death. Ainz appeared, revived Kimimaro, and teleported away with Kimimaro and Jūgo after Jūgo agreed to join his Nuclear Ninja Village; Guy and the others then continued pursuing Orochimaru.

• Guy used his taijutsu to overwhelm Jūgo, but Jūgo lost control after sensing Kimimaro’s chakra disappear and attacked Rock Lee.
• Ainz protected Rock Lee, revealed that he had Kimimaro’s body, and used Lightning Release: Dragon Lightning to suppress Jūgo’s Sage Transformation.
• Ainz showed Jūgo that Kimimaro was alive and offered to take him along if he joined the Nuclear Ninja Village; Jūgo agreed, and Ainz teleported them away.
• Guy found Rock Lee unharmed, and Lee explained that he had used Hongshi-kun’s pill to defeat Kimimaro.
• Sakura and Tenten caught up with Guy and Lee, learned that Naruto and Kakashi had gone after Sasuke, and set off with them to pursue Orochimaru.

Hongshi’s team delayed its pursuit of Orochimaru to eat before revealing their Blue Bird Type One devices, while Kakashi and Naruto caught up with Orochimaru’s group at the Valley of the End. Kakashi defeated Suigetsu, and Naruto, having prepared to fight in his strongest state, charged with Kakashi toward Orochimaru.

• Hongshi reassured Kiba that Kakashi and Guy were strong, then showed Hanabi and Gekko Hayate the Blue Bird Type One devices and said they would fly to the battle after eating.
• Kakashi and Naruto caught up with Orochimaru’s group, and Suigetsu stayed behind to fight them near the Valley of the End.
• Orochimaru sent Kabuto away with battle orders and carried Sasuke’s coffin toward the Valley of the End as Naruto’s shadow clones pursued.
• Kakashi and Naruto used explosive tags and fire to create steam, then Kakashi shocked Suigetsu with Lightning Release and defeated him with a lightning clone.
• Naruto prepared in his strongest state, then charged toward Orochimaru alongside Kakashi.

Sasuke awakened and gained control of Cursed Seal Stage Two, then fought Naruto while Orochimaru paralyzed and trapped Kakashi. Naruto’s cursed seal faded during their fight but reappeared as their fists collided, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Sasuke emerged from the coffin with Cursed Seal Stage Two, and Orochimaru praised his power and control.
• Orochimaru attacked Kakashi with golden arrows and venomous snakes, then trapped him inside a Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Sasuke confronted Naruto, rejected his comrades and Konoha, and declared that he planned to kill Hongshi and Itachi.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought as Sasuke used his Sharingan to defeat Naruto’s shadow clones and gain the upper hand in taijutsu.
• Sasuke’s cursed seal grew stronger as Naruto’s faded, but Naruto’s seal reappeared when their final punches collided.

Naruto and Sasuke fought at the Valley of the End, escalating their battle with the Nine-Tails' chakra and Sasuke's Stage Two Cursed Seal. Orochimaru interrupted the fight by shooting Naruto with a war bow and took Sasuke away, leaving Kakashi to reach the gravely wounded Naruto.

• Hanabi Hyuga, Gekko Hayate, Kosuke, and Hongshi flew over the Valley of the End on Blue Bird Type One, repeatedly passing overhead without knowing how to stop.
• Naruto and Sasuke traded attacks, and Naruto used a hidden Shadow Clone and Rasengan before Sasuke pierced his chest with Chidori.
• Naruto healed with the Nine-Tails' chakra and entered a three-tailed form, while Sasuke fully released his Cursed Seal and transformed into Stage Two.
• Naruto and Sasuke exchanged powerful attacks until Sasuke's Black Lightning injured Naruto and Naruto's chakra arms knocked Sasuke into the water.
• Orochimaru shot Naruto with five golden arrows, ended Sasuke's Cursed Seal transformation, and left with him as Kakashi was freed and rushed to Naruto.

Hongshi saved Naruto after Orochimaru escaped with Sasuke, and Naruto vowed to bring Sasuke back and asked Hongshi to train him. As Konoha’s pursuit team rested, Kosuke explained the Will of Fire, and Hongshi removed Naruto’s Cursed Seal before suggesting techniques for him to learn.

• Hongshi treated Naruto’s fatal injuries while Kakashi and the others arrived and learned that Orochimaru had taken Sasuke.
• Naruto woke, promised Sakura he would bring Sasuke back, and asked Hongshi to teach him how to become stronger.
• Zetsu watched from hiding and decided to encourage Konoha’s punitive expedition against Otogakure.
• Kosuke cooked for the exhausted pursuit team and described how war had shaped his understanding of the Will of Fire.
• During night watch, Hongshi absorbed Naruto’s Cursed Seal and suggested that Naruto learn the Flying Thunder God Technique and perfect the Rasengan, then admitted he did not know either technique.

Kosuke, Gyokucha, and Hanabi Hyuga fought off a Sound Ninja assault on the support squad, with Kosuke killing many attackers before poison weakened him. Gyokucha defeated the remaining enemies with genjutsu, and Hongshi arrived to treat the wounded as the main force began battling nearby.

• Ashinara Hyuga spotted a fast-moving Sound Ninja force behind the support squad, and Gyokucha sent the others toward the main force while she, Kosuke, and Hanabi stayed to cover their retreat.
• Hanabi used her Byakugan to track the attackers while Kosuke killed Sound Ninja with his knife techniques and Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, despite sustaining wounds and being poisoned.
• Hanabi used Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm to deflect poisoned shuriken, and Gyokucha killed the remaining Sound Ninja with Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Great Sound Lock.
• Hongshi crashed through the forest, then treated Kosuke and Hanabi after Gyokucha told him they had been poisoned.
• The main force's battle began nearby, and Hongshi prepared to join the fight with Gyokucha.

Orochimaru ordered Otogakure to attack Konoha while he and his allies evacuated the Land of Rice Fields for the Land of Wind. Shikamaru’s trap strategy and Hongshi’s aerial assault devastated the Sound Ninja, leaving Konoha’s punitive force advancing as the support team arrived.

• Orochimaru ordered Otogakure’s forces to continue their attack while he, Kabuto, Sasuke, and Suigetsu prepared to relocate to the Land of Wind.
• Shikamaru led Konoha’s punitive force toward Venomous Snake Valley and used traps to draw in and weaken the approaching Sound Ninja.
• Hongshi and his companions flew over the battlefield, and Hongshi’s Fire Dragon Flame Bullet devastated the Sound Ninja and set the forest ablaze.
• Shikamaru ordered Konoha’s force to charge the scattered Sound Ninja, while Gekko Hayate and the Hyuga Clan members helped rout them.
• Ashinara Hyuga arrived with the support team and hurried to treat the wounded.

Tenten, Naruto, Sakura, Rock Lee, and two ambush squads attacked the Sound Ninja at the far end of Venomous Snake Valley. Naruto defeated forty enemies with his new Flying Thunder God technique but collapsed, leaving Sakura, Rock Lee, and the ambush squads in danger as the Nine-Tails lent its chakra to Sakura and Rock Lee.

• Shikamaru sent Hongshi and the others to support Naruto and Sakura, while Tenten flew ahead and attacked the Sound Ninja with ninja tools and RPG fire.
• Naruto, Sakura, Rock Lee, and two ambush squads launched a surprise attack on the distracted Sound Ninja.
• Naruto marked forty enemies with shadow clones, then used Flying Thunder God and Wind Release to defeat them before losing consciousness.
• Sakura shielded Naruto from explosive attacks, while Rock Lee and Tenten struck back against the Sound Ninja.
• After Naruto woke, he asked the Nine-Tails for chakra, but it instead lent chakra to Sakura and Rock Lee, who prepared to keep fighting.

Choji, Ino, and the Konoha assault squads fought overwhelming numbers of Sound Ninja, with Choji and Ino exhausting themselves to kill many enemies. Gyokucha, Kosuke, and Hanabi arrived just as the remaining Sound Ninja pressed their attack, bringing reinforcements and healing pills.

• Hongshi's Chakra Furnace cracked, sending him plummeting while Gyokucha, Hanabi, and Kosuke continued toward the battlefield.
• Choji took the Spinach Pill and struck down a Sound Ninja while Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique to turn the enemy's sword against his allies.
• Sakura sent Lee and Tenten to support Choji's group, and Tenten's Heavenly Chain Disaster showered the Sound Ninja with weapons.
• Choji swallowed the Curry Pill and used Super Multi-Size Technique to crush more than twenty Sound Ninja, then collapsed from the strain.
• Ino used the Spirit Transformation Technique to kill thirty Sound Ninja in ten seconds, leaving herself too exhausted to fight.
• Gyokucha, Kosuke, and Hanabi arrived; Kosuke stopped the Sound Ninja's advance, and Hanabi distributed Super Military Rations Pills to the injured.

After Konoha’s forces defeated the Sound Ninja at Viper Valley, Hongshi took Naruto and Gyokucha to face an Impure World Reincarnation unit and began forcing their Uzumaki bloodline abilities to awaken. He left them trapped without chakra in an illuminated earth prison with fifty opponents, telling them they could not come out until they awakened Adamantine Sealing Chains.

• Kosuke, Gyokucha, and the others helped defeat the Sound Ninja, while Hongshi arrived after the battle had ended.
• Hongshi sensed a fifty-man unit nearby and took Naruto and Gyokucha toward it using Earth Release: Earth Train.
• Hongshi told Naruto and Gyokucha that they had Uzumaki blood and that Adamantine Sealing Chains were their inherited ability.
• Hongshi used Illusory Nine Dragons Sealing to seal Naruto and Gyokucha’s chakra, then trapped fifty reincarnated Sound Ninja inside a massive earth prison with them.
• Naruto and Gyokucha woke in the prison unable to use chakra, and Hongshi left them there to fight until they awakened their Adamantine Sealing Chains.

After Konoha’s victory over the Sound Ninja, Hongshi forced Naruto and Gyokucha to fight reincarnated enemies until their Adamantine Sealing Chains awakened. Naruto’s awakening threatened to destroy the Eight Trigrams Seal, so Hongshi extracted the Nine-Tails and helped Naruto seal it back inside himself.

• Shikamaru learned that fewer than thirty Konoha ninja had died in the battle and ordered the survivors to rest before advancing on Otogakure.
• Hongshi trapped Naruto and Gyokucha with fifty reincarnated Sound Ninja and made them fight until their bloodline powers began to awaken.
• Gyokucha awakened nine Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Naruto began forming chains as the Nine-Tails threatened to break free of his seal.
• Hongshi extracted the Nine-Tails from Naruto and used Super Creation Rebirth to keep Naruto alive while he completed his awakening.
• Naruto formed nine chains, sealed the Nine-Tails back inside himself, and absorbed the Eight Trigrams Seal along with two strands of chakra from his parents.

Hongshi rejoined Shikamaru’s punitive force and carried the group to Otogakure, where they found the village empty and rescued the Land of Rice Fields’ imprisoned leaders. After the force returned to Konoha, the Land of Rice Fields became its ally, while the mission’s hidden purpose and casualties left Shikamaru confronting the cost of war.

• Tenten found Hongshi, Naruto, and Gyokucha, and Naruto’s Harem Technique failed to affect Hongshi until he coughed up blood and pretended to die; Black Zetsu collected the blood for Hidan.
• Hongshi returned to Shikamaru’s unit, sulked when the others ignored him, then accepted their attempts to cheer him up and led the force toward Otogakure using the Great Earth Train.
• Hongshi brought the force to Otogakure, where Gyokucha found hidden laboratory entrances and the group rescued the imprisoned daimyo and senior ministers of the Land of Rice Fields.
• Five Anbu members told Shikamaru that the claim of a thousand captives had been used to reassure neighboring countries, and the Anbu Captain explained the sacrifices behind Konoha’s prosperity.
• Ten days after the force returned, the Land of Rice Fields became an ally under the Land of Fire’s protection, and the Hyuga Clan began showing signs of unity between its Main Family and Branch Family.

Naruto and Gyokucha awakened Adamantine Sealing Chains and tested them against Hongshi, who endured their attacks and helped Naruto’s parents appear in Nine-Tails’ sealed space. As Naruto slept beside Gyokucha, Zetsu watched the battle and decided to report Hongshi’s strength to Akatsuki.

• Naruto and Gyokucha used their Adamantine Sealing Chains to defeat and seal the reincarnated Sound Ninja, then attacked Hongshi without managing to pierce him.
• Naruto drew on Nine-Tails’ chakra and struck Hongshi with a Rasengan wrapped in Adamantine Sealing Chains, but Hongshi melted the chains and resisted Gyokucha’s genjutsu.
• Naruto and Gyokucha collapsed from exhaustion, and Hongshi released the Super Earth Prison Technique as Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki appeared from Naruto’s released seal.
• Hongshi persuaded Minato and Kushina to inhabit Nine-Tails and sustain their existence, and the two entered Naruto’s sealed space.
• Zetsu emerged after observing the battle, judged Hongshi far beyond Tailed Beast level, and sank underground to report to the leader.

With Konoha’s Jonin away, Tsunade assigned Hongshi and Rock Lee a B-rank mission to rescue villagers trapped at the Katabami Gold Mine and deal with Raiga Kurosuki. The team learned Raiga had been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and prepared to leave with Sakura and Naruto.

• Tsunade reorganized the Genin teams, and Hongshi trained Hanabi Hyuga in water walking after they completed a cat-finding mission.
• Hongshi, Hanabi Hyuga, and Rock Lee rescued three miners from the river, and Rokusuke asked Konoha to save Hakkan and the villagers at the Katabami Gold Mine.
• Tsunade assigned Hongshi and Rock Lee the B-rank mission and added Sakura and Naruto to the team, while Hanabi Hyuga stayed behind to continue training.
• At Ichiraku Ramen, Rock Lee told the others that Raiga Kurosuki had been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielded the lightning blades, Kiba.
• Sakura led Hongshi, Naruto, and Rock Lee out to prepare for the mission.

Sakura, Naruto, Rock Lee, and their companions traveled to the Land of Rivers, where Rock Lee proposed rescuing Karashi from the Kurosuki Clan. After everyone ate Granny Sansho’s dangerously spicy Life Curry, Hongshi collapsed and begged for help.

• The group left Konoha, and Hongshi used his Fast-Running Turtle Jutsu to speed them toward the Land of Rivers.
• At Rock Lee’s recommended restaurant, Granny Sansho revealed that her son Karashi had joined the Kurosuki Clan, and Sakura approved Rock Lee’s request to rescue him.
• Granny Sansho served the group her bubbling black Life Curry, and Rock Lee eagerly ate his portion.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Rokusuke’s companions convulsed after tasting the curry, while Hongshi remained seated and appeared unharmed.
• Naruto discovered Hongshi was bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and Hongshi said the curry was poisonous and asked them to save him.

After recovering from the Curry of Life, Rokusuke and his companions hurried off to save Hakkan, while Hongshi stayed behind with Granny Sansho. Hongshi reunited with Kairyū and the Thirteen Nuclear Guardian Pillars, who explained their plan to establish a ninja village in the Land of Rivers for security, training, mining, and trade.

• Rokusuke decided to return to save Hakkan despite the danger, and Nanasuki and Kyūsha chased after him while Naruto and Sakura stayed behind with Hongshi.
• Kairyū arrived at the Curry of Life restaurant with Tōhachi, Kyōai, and Kendon, and Hongshi woke to greet his clone.
• Kairyū explained that the group had come to establish a ninja village in the Land of Rivers after assessing the likelihood of conflict between major nations.
• Kyōai outlined how the village would help secure the region, provide a training ground and access to valuable resources, and support trade with the Land of Spring.
• Granny Sansho served the Curry of Life, and Hongshi assured Kairyū and the others that it was delicious before they began eating.