Chapter Summaries

Sakura infiltrated Katabami Gold Mine to help free the abused miners and battled Raiga Kurosuki while the others prepared to move. She trapped Raiga and blew the signal whistle, but the heavy rain threatened to disrupt the rescue plan.

• Sakura stopped Naruto and Rock Lee from attacking the guards and arranged for Rokusuke, Kyūsha, and the others to prepare the miners’ escape.
• Sakura approached Raiga Kurosuki’s room, but rain began falling and Raiga detected her near the cliff.
• Sakura used Wood Release and genjutsu to fight Raiga while Ranmaru aided him with his Red Eye and sensory abilities.
• Sakura caught Raiga in cherry trees that absorbed his chakra, then put him to sleep with genjutsu.
• Sakura blew the bamboo whistle from the cliff to signal the others as the rain intensified.

Rock Lee and Naruto helped the miners escape the Katabami Gold Mine while fighting the Kurosuki Clan guards. Naruto incapacitated most of the guards with smoke bombs and Adamantine Sealing Chains, then sent Rock Lee to help Sakura after Raiga struck her with lightning.

• Rock Lee and Rokusuke gathered the miners and told them to flee when the signal came.
• Naruto and Nanasuki threw smoke bombs mixed with Life Curry seasoning into the guards' quarters, while Naruto blocked the door with gold ore.
• Naruto captured Karashi and used Adamantine Sealing Chains to restrain and weaken the guards.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones and Wind Release to overwhelm the guards as the miners escaped under Rock Lee's watch.
• Raiga struck near Sakura with lightning, so Naruto told Rock Lee to help her.
• Rock Lee opened the Sixth Gate and raced toward Sakura on the cliff.

Sakura and Rock Lee fought Raiga Kurosuki, whose lightning-powered attacks grew stronger as Rock Lee absorbed his chakra. After Rock Lee unleashed an incomplete Daytime Tiger, Kairyū and his companions intervened, leaving Raiga disarmed and Ranmaru in Kairyū’s grasp.

• Sakura freed Ranmaru from Raiga Kurosuki’s backpack, but Raiga escaped her genjutsu by using lightning stored in his blades.
• Rock Lee arrived and battled Raiga, absorbing his Lightning Release chakra as Raiga escalated to Stage Two and attacked with Lightning Fang.
• After Raiga’s lightning struck him, Rock Lee opened the Seventh Gate of Wonder and used an incomplete Daytime Tiger against Raiga’s lightning serpents.
• Kairyū appeared with three sword-wielding companions, canceled both attacks with Dragon Twister, and caught Ranmaru as the boy was swept away.
• Kyōai cut off Raiga Kurosuki’s arms, and Kendon quickly reattached them while Kairyū continued holding Ranmaru.
• Sakura and Rock Lee backed away from Kairyū and his companions, then realized Hongshi had been standing nearby disguised as a black stone.

After Kairyū’s group helped defeat Raiga Kurosuki and rescue the miners, Sakura joined negotiations over the captured clan. Kyōai proposed turning the Kurosuki Clan into a force for the Land of Rivers’ planned ninja village, while Rokusuke went to ask the miners whether they would accept the arrangement.

• Kairyū explained that his group had been commissioned by the Land of Rivers’ daimyo to suppress unrest, and Naruto’s fight ended with the guards captured.
• Sakura argued that Raiga’s fate should be left to Rokusuke, who demanded that Raiga and Ranmaru die and the other Kurosuki Clan members be imprisoned.
• Kyōai revealed that the Land of Spring planned to build a port and establish a ninja village in the Land of Rivers, and that the daimyo had tasked his group with eliminating local threats.
• Kyōai proposed sparing and recruiting the Kurosuki Clan to help protect the gold mine, but Rokusuke objected that the miners would not accept it.
• Kyōai suggested making the mine the group’s base of operations, and Rokusuke left with Nanasuki and Kyūsha to consult the miners.

Sakura traveled with Kyōai and Hongshi to Konoha to seek reinforcements, while the miners and Kurosuki Clan members worked together at Katabami Gold Mine under Kairyū's supervision. Ranmaru and Raiga Kurosuki ate Kairyū's fiery curry, which restored Ranmaru's strength and Raiga's chakra, as the miners' hostility toward the clan began to fade.

• Sakura asked Kyōai about the Nuclear Ninja Village, and he described its elders, his past, and his dream of maintaining peace in the Shinobi World.
• Kyōai demonstrated his Oni Giri swordsmanship by slicing falling leaves without Sakura seeing him move.
• Kendon distributed Mining Type One equipment, allowing the miners to work far faster while Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru replenished its chakra.
• The Kurosuki Clan members handled chores and cooked for the miners, while Karashi and Granny Sansho threatened them with punishing curry if they misbehaved.
• Kairyū ordered exhausted Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru to eat the fiery curry; Ranmaru felt alive as his body strengthened, and Raiga's chakra recovered.
• Tōhachi arrived with wild boars, and the miners' hatred for the Kurosuki Clan gradually eased.

Tsunade agreed to send Konoha reinforcements to the Land of Rivers after Sakura reported Kyōai’s request for aid. The chapter ended with Tsunade ordering Sakura to bring Kyōai to her.

• Neji, under Tobirama’s control, questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō about their failed intelligence mission and learned that Takigakure had allied with Iwagakure.
• Tobirama left the Hokage’s office after criticizing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Danzo’s proposed responses to the threat.
• Sakura brought Hashirama’s soul to the office, where he reunited with Tsunade and spoke with her about gambling before Sakura recalled him into her seal.
• Sakura told Tsunade about the Katabami Gold Mine mission and Kyōai’s request for help in the Land of Rivers.
• Tsunade agreed to send Shino Aburame, Choji Akimichi, and Rock Lee as reinforcements, and ordered Sakura to bring Kyōai to Konoha.

Kyōai negotiated with Tsunade over an alliance between Konoha and the Nuclear Ninja Village, demonstrating the power of chakra ninja tools and proposing joint development in the Land of Rivers. Tsunade agreed to take the proposal to Konoha’s High Command, while a team of Nuclear Guardian Pillars set out for the Land of Rivers on a separate mission.

• Kyōai showed Tsunade how Katen Kyōkotsu used chakra to change its nature and transform into a powerful broadsword.
• Kyōai explained the Nuclear Ninja Village’s plans for the Land of Rivers and said it was also negotiating with Sunagakure, ruling out a monopoly on chakra ninja tools.
• Tsunade told Kyōai about the situation in Kusagakure, and he offered three possible solutions before she agreed to bring the alliance proposal to Konoha’s High Command.
• Sōretsu Yachiru, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Komamura Ujin prepared to head to the Land of Rivers under Captain Jack’s lead.
• The three Guardian Pillars activated Blue Bird Type Seven and flew toward the Land of Rivers while Captain Jack returned to train.

Kairyū assigned Tōhachi to take Sea Stone Port from the Golden Shovel Organization so Rokusuke and his team could search for sea stone gold. After a brutal spar with Rock Lee, Tōhachi accepted the mission when Kairyū threatened to use the twenty bandits as Kendon’s test subjects.

• Kairyū told Rokusuke to bring Nanasuki, Kyūsha, and Ranmaru to Sea Stone Port after it was captured, where they would survey for sea stone gold.
• Kendon reported that the Golden Shovel Organization occupied Sea Stone Port with about twenty weak bandits and mercenaries, so Kairyū chose Tōhachi to handle them alone.
• Tōhachi and Rock Lee traded punishing blows in a no-dodging duel, then both unleashed powerful techniques that left them badly injured.
• Tōhachi and Rock Lee recovered from their injuries and declared each other friends.
• Kairyū offered Tōhachi the mission to take Sea Stone Port, and Tōhachi agreed when Kairyū threatened to send the Golden Shovel members to Kendon as test subjects.

Tōhachi reached the Golden Shovel Organization’s coastal territory and began fighting its members, while a group of strange black-cloaked figures from the Land of Water watched from the shadows. The lead figure sent a small white snake toward the battle.

• Tōhachi lost his way on the journey, and Rokusuke corrected his route to the Golden Shovel Organization’s territory.
• Kaneshovel Kazuo accepted two million ryō from the black-cloaked group, then discovered their monstrous appearance and let them leave.
• Tōhachi arrived at the beach and challenged the Golden Shovel Organization to abandon its territory.
• Kaneshovel Kazuo sent Kaneshovel Jūzō and Kaneshovel Nijūichi to attack Tōhachi, who killed them with a single slash.
• The black-cloaked figures watched Tōhachi fight, and their leader released a small white snake toward the beach.

Saraki Tōhachi defeated the Golden Shovel Organization at Golden Shovel Beach, then battled Kaneshovel Kazuo after a white snake transformed him into a monstrous sage creature. Tōhachi claimed the beach and led the defeated members away, while the black-clad leader recognized him as an obstacle to the plan to control the Land of Rivers.

• Tōhachi forced the Golden Shovel Organization members, including Kaneshovel Kazuo, to surrender and ordered them to come with him.
• A white snake entered Kaneshovel Kazuo, transforming him into a powerful, seemingly unconscious creature that attacked Tōhachi.
• Tōhachi fought back as Kaneshovel Kazuo grew stronger, healed by devouring corpses, and pierced Tōhachi with his tail.
• Tōhachi released Nozarashi and cut Kaneshovel Kazuo in half with a distant slash, after which the body dispersed into black smoke.
• Tōhachi claimed Golden Shovel Beach and led the surrendered members away.
• The black-clad leader identified Tōhachi as an obstacle to the plan to take control of the Land of Rivers and withdrew with the others.

Rokusuke, Nanasuki, and Kyūsha mined a large supply of sea stone ore on the Land of Rivers coast while Tōhachi returned with the Golden Shovel Organization. Tōhachi’s senior siblings arrived to assist, and the group prepared to rest before returning to the gold mine, where Tōhachi planned to explain his injuries.

• Rokusuke, Nanasuki, and Kyūsha used modified Mining Type Ones to extract a mountain of sea stone ore from the cliffs.
• Tōhachi returned with fifteen Golden Shovel Organization members, carrying injuries from a difficult encounter, and ordered them to haul the ore.
• Sōretsu Yachiru, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Komamura Ujin flew in from the Land of Spring and said they had come to help Tōhachi.
• Rock Lee told Sōretsu that his companion Yuhan had been captured, and he intended to find her and defeat her.
• Hongshi revealed that he had been present as a shadow clone, and Tōhachi’s senior siblings showed that they knew him despite denying it to Rock Lee.
• The group caught pheasants and a wild boar to grill before returning to the gold mine the next day.

Sōretsu investigated how Kaneshovel Kazuo had been transformed by natural energy and suspected Orochimaru’s involvement. Outside the mine, Hongshi helped Rock Lee develop a lightning-enhanced technique before Tōhachi summoned them to Sōretsu.

• Hongshi returned to the Katabami Gold Mine with a team of earth-and-stone turtles, while Sōretsu sent Kendon, Kashirō, Ujin, and Naruto to Golden Shovel Beach.
• Sōretsu questioned Tōhachi and Nozarashi about Kaneshovel Kazuo’s transformation, and Nozarashi explained that he had absorbed excessive natural energy and displayed animal traits.
• Sōretsu suspected Orochimaru had caused Kaneshovel Kazuo’s extreme Sage Transformation and warned that their trip to the Land of Rivers might involve bloodshed.
• Raiga used Lightning Release on Rock Lee, who absorbed the chakra until he could form it over his body.
• Hongshi named Rock Lee’s new technique Thunderstorm Unrivaled and explained how to combine it with the Fifth Gate.
• Tōhachi interrupted their training and told Hongshi and Rock Lee that Sōretsu wanted them inside.

Sōretsu divided the forces to attack three rebel factions in the Land of Rivers, while the team leaders set out for their assigned targets. As the teams departed, Sōretsu revealed her Sharingan to Ranmaru, and Hongshi discussed the eyes’ connection to the Chinoike Clan.

• Sōretsu assigned herself, Hongshi, and Ranmaru to attack the Purple Hammer Clan, sent Rock Lee and Raiga toward Windblown Sand Valley with Kairyū, and ordered Tōhachi to meet Konoha’s reinforcements at Green Copper Mountain.
• Sōretsu warned that Orochimaru’s research might be behind the black-clad figures and Kaneshovel Kazuo’s transformation, making the Land of Rivers a likely target.
• Tōhachi charged toward Green Copper Mountain, while Rock Lee and Raiga raced toward Windblown Sand Valley and promised Ranmaru they would return.
• Sōretsu opened her eyes and revealed Uchiha Fugaku’s Sharingan; Hongshi explained that he had taken them from Root and discussed how Hashirama Cells might prevent backlash.
• Hongshi asked Ranmaru whether he knew the Chinoike Clan because of his unusual eyes, but Ranmaru said he had never heard of them.

Sōretsu, Hongshi, and Ranmaru encountered Fūjin and Raijin transformed by Cursed Seals and Sage Transformation at Purple Gold Mountain. Hongshi subdued them, investigated the source of their seals, and discovered that Teacher Mizuki was responsible.

• Sōretsu, Hongshi, and Ranmaru reached Purple Gold Mountain and found Purple Hammer Clan members fleeing from Fūjin and Raijin.
• Fūjin and Raijin’s Cursed Seals activated, transforming them into monstrous forms as they attacked Sōretsu and Hongshi.
• Sōretsu severed the brothers’ legs, but their bodies regenerated, and Hongshi stopped their charge with Shinra Tensei.
• Hongshi pulled Fūjin and Raijin from the mountain, sealed their Cursed Seals and Sage Transformation, and examined their memories.
• Hongshi told Sōretsu that Teacher Mizuki had implanted the seals and fed Fūjin and Raijin Super Military Rations Pills.

Hongshi explained Mizuki’s Beast Seal Transformation and sent Sōretsu toward Purple Gold Mountain while recruiting Fūjin and Raijin and placing Ranmaru in their care. An explosion signaled that the fighting had begun, and Tōshirō, Kendon, and Ujin arrived at the mountain.

• Hongshi told Sōretsu that Mizuki had developed Beast Seal Transformation and warned that hidden accomplices might be helping him.
• Sōretsu launched a Thermonuclear Orb to signal Kendon and the others, then charged toward Purple Gold Mountain.
• Hongshi recruited Fūjin and Raijin with food and assigned them to protect Ranmaru, while secretly placing a thermonuclear bomb life-form inside him.
• After an explosion sounded nearby, Hongshi set out to see the fighting, and Tōshirō, Kendon, and Ujin approached Purple Gold Mountain.

Mizuki used the Beast Seal Transformation to turn the Purple Gold Clan into beastlike fighters and bind them to his control, then sent his allies toward the miners. Takuden's counterattack disrupted Mizuki's control, and an unknown woman appeared to strike Mizuki while Chuanshan was in danger.

• Mizuki claimed the miners in exchange for strengthening Shikin Shinma and his subordinates, then revealed that the transformed men needed fresh flesh and blood to keep their sanity.
• Takuden attacked Mizuki with lightning swordsmanship, but Chuanshan blocked the strike and countered with his scaled tail.
• Mizuki used a hand seal to make the transformed Purple Gold Clan members attack Takuden, exposing his control over them.
• Shirō and Hyōtsū turned against Mizuki, while the lion and leopard rushed toward the mine with blood-red medicine and the other beastmen engaged Shikin Shinma's group.
• Takuden used a Lightning Pillar to blind the fighters and disrupt Mizuki's control, after which a shuriken struck Mizuki and an unfamiliar woman attacked as Chuanshan faced danger.

Sōretsu attacked Mizuki at Purple Gold Mountain, but he unleashed the transformed miners and other beastmen into a rampage before escaping. As the beastmen overwhelmed the defenders, Sōretsu completed her technique and immobilized those nearest her.

• Sōretsu struck at Mizuki, but Chuanshan blocked her sword and was badly wounded by her Fire Style.
• Mizuki revealed that he could trigger an uncontrollable rampage in the transformed beastmen, then escaped while leaving a snakeskin decoy behind.
• Sōretsu set the square ablaze to destroy the charging beastmen, while Takuden and the Purple Gold elders fought beside her.
• Takuden and the elders used Lightning Pillar and Earth Style Walls to protect Sōretsu as the beastmen broke through their defenses and killed one elder.
• Sōretsu unleashed Sage Art: Evil Eye Shira, stopping every beastman within ten meters from advancing.

Sōretsu and the arriving Thirteen Nuclear Guardian Pillars fought the transformed beastmen at Purple Gold Mountain, where Ujin unleashed a devastating attack. The battle left a red-haired beastman with intelligence and ninjutsu revealed, and it bit Kendon after resisting his poison.

• Sōretsu cut down beastmen with Kaijin but began absorbing too much natural energy and prepared to remove her seal’s limit.
• Tōshirō, Ujin, and Kendon arrived, and Ujin summoned an earth-and-stone warrior with his Bankai.
• Ujin used Hakoku to erase much of the plaza and continued cutting through the beastmen, forcing Sōretsu, Takuden, and Shikin Shinma to retreat.
• Kendon and Tōshirō spotted a red-haired beastman devouring its own kind and showing signs of intelligence.
• The red-haired beastman formed hand seals and attacked Kendon with lightning spikes, then resisted his poison and bit his shoulder.

Ujin and Sōretsu battled the beastmen as rising natural energy pushed Ujin toward Sage Transformation. Kendon defeated and captured the red-haired beastman after a brutal fight, while Kashirō sealed him in ice as the remaining beastmen dwindled.

• Ujin continued slaughtering the beastmen with his earth-and-stone warrior as natural energy caused his arm to transform, and Sōretsu warned him not to lose control.
• Kendon restrained the red-haired beastman with Lightning Release, but the beastman absorbed the chakra and pierced Kendon's chest.
• Kendon used a Venom Clone and Nuclear Heavy Fist attacks to batter the red-haired beastman, who regenerated and seemingly devoured him.
• Kendon reappeared behind the red-haired beastman and paralyzed him with lightning chakra while recording his regeneration in a notebook.
• Kashirō froze and sealed the red-haired beastman, then urged the others to finish off the remaining beastmen.

Ujin and the Nuclear Ninja Village fighters wiped out the beastmen on Purple Gold Mountain, but Ujin and Sōretsu were suffering dangerous Sage Transformation. Hongshi arrived and began gathering the mountain’s natural energy while they tried to control it themselves.

• Sōretsu trapped most of the beastmen inside a contracting ring of fire while Kendon poisoned them, Tōshirō attacked those who flew away, and Kashirō froze the strongest survivors.
• Ujin used Hakoku to destroy the remaining beastmen and much of the plaza, after which his earth-and-stone warrior crumbled.
• Takuden and Shikin Shinma recognized the Nuclear Ninja Village fighters’ extraordinary strength as Ujin and Sōretsu’s Sage Transformation worsened.
• Hongshi arrived with Fūjin, Raijin, and Ranmaru, who warned that Sōretsu’s and Ujin’s chakra resembled the beastmen’s.
• Hongshi dismissed his role-play beard, called himself Master Roshi, and drew the natural energy across the area into a liquid sphere while Kendon took notes on the frozen beastmen.