Chapter Summaries

Ino encouraged Hinata to bring food to Naruto, then Ayato used his new Spirit Transformation Technique to control Ino and prank her. After revealing himself, he apologized and offered to teach her the technique, which had worked well in his test.

• Ino told Hinata that Naruto often missed meals during training and suggested she bring him Ichiraku Ramen and other food.
• As Ino walked home, Ayato used the Spirit Transformation Technique to take control of her body.
• Ayato entered his home as Ino, searched his room, and took a Scroll while Ino feared he was stealing his ninjutsu.
• Ayato returned and pretended to be surprised by Ino's request for a surprise, then revealed that he had been controlling her.
• Ino hit Ayato for frightening her, and Ayato apologized and offered to teach her the Spirit Transformation Technique.

Ayato taught Ino the Spirit Transformation Technique and received Tsunade’s approval to assign her the secret art. Tsunade then sent him to resolve Kurama Yakumo’s dangerous sealed power, and Ayato planned to confront the truth behind it with Kurenai and the Kurama Clan’s help.

• Ayato explained the Spirit Transformation Technique to Ino and revealed that he could split his soul, while Ino vowed to learn the technique on her own before asking him for help.
• Ayato told Tsunade he had mastered the Spirit Transformation Technique and taught it to Ino, and Tsunade approved the lessons because the technique suited the Yamanaka Clan.
• Tsunade gave Ayato a long-standing mission concerning Kurama Yakumo, whose bloodline illusion had created a monster after her parents died in a fire.
• Ayato concluded that killing the monster alone would not solve Yakumo’s problem and asked for Kurenai and the Kurama Clan’s cooperation to help her face the truth.
• Tsunade issued Ayato a Hokage Dispatch Order, and Ayato considered whether Yakumo’s Genjutsu could help Sasuke’s Sharingan evolve.

Ayato investigated how his Spiritualized Shadow Clone affected his resistance to Genjutsu while securing the Kurama Clan’s consent to confront the monster inside Kurama Yakumo. Kurenai Yuhi agreed to help Yakumo face the truth and break free from her confinement.

• Ayato used the Spirit Transformation Technique on a Shadow Clone and sent his two bodies to speak with Kurama Unkai and Kurenai Yuhi.
• Kurama Unkai tested Ayato with Genjutsu, but Ayato’s unaffected consciousness caused it to dissipate, leaving Kurama Unkai baffled.
• Ayato tested Kurenai Yuhi’s Genjutsu and found that one soul could remain unaffected when the other was targeted; simultaneous identical Genjutsu affected him.
• Ayato learned that the Kurama Clan agreed to resolve the monster inside Kurama Yakumo rather than merely seal it away.
• Ayato urged Kurenai Yuhi to help Yakumo leave Mika Hill Estate and confront the truth, and Kurenai Yuhi finally agreed.

Ayato entered Kurama Yakumo’s memories and revealed that Idu had killed her parents, then helped her confront the monster. After Yakumo destroyed Idu, Ayato reported the mission to Tsunade, who planned to examine Yakumo and said she might still become a Genjutsu-type ninja.

• Ayato entered Kurama Yakumo’s mental world and showed her that Idu had emerged from her unconsciousness and killed her parents.
• Ayato frightened Idu with a Rasenshuriken and sealed the passage it used to escape Yakumo’s body.
• Kurenai Yuhi and Kurama Unkai subdued Idu while Ayato urged them to let Yakumo handle it herself.
• Yakumo remembered Kurenai’s genuine care and killed Idu with a sharp tool from her drawing board.
• Ayato told Kurama Unkai that Tsunade could examine Yakumo and said he might ask for her Genjutsu later.
• Ayato dictated his mission report to Tsunade, who said Yakumo might still be able to become a Genjutsu-type ninja.

Ayato absorbed the leaking Natural Energy from the Gelel Ore Vein while Naruto defeated Hyde after the vein’s power vanished. Later, Jiraiya took Naruto from Konoha to investigate the Akatsuki, and Ayato expected the group’s actions to begin soon.

• Ayato sensed Naruto fighting Hyde in the ruins and absorbed the Natural Energy leaking from the Gelel Ore Vein.
• Naruto defeated Hyde with a Rasengan after the Gelel Ore Vein’s power disappeared, then went to help Timothy.
• Ayato read Shikamaru’s mission report and learned that Naruto’s search for a lost ferret had led to the ruins.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade and Ayato that he planned to investigate the Akatsuki and take Naruto with him for further training.
• Ayato, Sakura, and Hinata watched Naruto and Jiraiya leave Konoha, while Sasuke watched Naruto from atop the gates and exchanged a smile with him.

Tsunade ordered Tenzō to lead an Anbu raid on Orochimaru’s hidden base after Sasuke sensed its Curse Marks. At the base, Sasuke confronted a transformed monster whose strength and regeneration overwhelmed his attacks, leaving him injured and struggling to continue.

• Tenzō confirmed that Sasuke had located one of Orochimaru’s bases and received Tsunade’s order to destroy it.
• Tenzō assembled an Anbu team, and Sasuke joined the raid after sensing a strong connection to the Curse Marks inside the base.
• Tenzō used Wood Release to seal the base’s escape routes while the Anbu stormed the facility.
• Sasuke found a prison room that burst open, releasing a monstrous figure whose presence transformed the remaining enemies.
• Sasuke’s Chidori attacks failed to stop the regenerating monster, which struck him hard enough to send him crashing into a wall.

Sasuke awakened a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and defeated Jugo by piercing the source of his power, absorbing the curse-mark energy. After learning Jugo’s painful past, Sasuke invited him to leave his isolation and search for a future together.

• Sasuke realized his teammates were struggling against the transformed monsters and that his fire attack could not significantly harm Jugo.
• Sasuke rejected Itachi’s path of hatred and awakened a Three-Tomoe Sharingan through his resolve to protect his teammates.
• Sasuke used the Sharingan to find Jugo’s weak point and pierced it with Chidori, absorbing the energy as the monsters reverted to their original forms.
• Sasuke saw Jugo’s memories of Kimimaro, Orochimaru, and the fear that had driven him to lock himself away.
• Sasuke offered Jugo a chance to leave his self-imposed cage and search for a path forward together, and Jugo accepted his hand.

Sasuke returned from the Northern Outpost with Jugo, and Tsunade approved his temporary assignment to Sasuke’s team after learning Ayato’s seal could suppress his rampages. After Sasuke also brought Karin back from the Southern Outpost, Tsunade made her a Konoha citizen as Karin Uzumaki and assigned Sasuke to watch over her.

• Sasuke recognized Kakashi, who revealed that Tsunade had sent him to secretly watch over the mission, and learned Ayato was away training.
• Tsunade approved Jugo’s temporary assignment to Sasuke’s team, requiring him to prove the outpost was real and warning Sasuke to monitor his own health.
• Sasuke returned from the Southern Outpost with Karin, who explained that she had fled Kusagakure to escape being exploited for her healing abilities.
• Tsunade identified Karin as an Uzumaki survivor and told her Konoha would protect her, naming her Karin Uzumaki and framing her arrival as a reunion with Naruto Uzumaki.
• Tsunade assigned Sasuke to watch Karin, and he reluctantly accepted while Karin eagerly asked him to watch over her forever.

Orochimaru and Danzo agreed to cooperate against Ayato, though Orochimaru planned to involve the Akatsuki and demanded a costly advance from Danzo. While Ayato continued draining the Natural Energy beneath the lake, news emerged that Iwagakure had suffered a devastating attack by Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto discussed Konoha’s discovery of two abandoned bases and Danzo’s offer to cooperate against Ayato.
• Orochimaru explained that he intended to mislead Danzo and draw the Akatsuki into confronting Ayato through his Flying Thunder God mark on Naruto.
• Orochimaru agreed to cooperate with Danzo and sent him a reply demanding harsh terms.
• Danzo angrily accepted that he would pay part of Orochimaru’s demands in advance and renewed his resolve to kill Ayato.
• Ayato continued draining the Natural Energy vein beneath the lake, reducing it by at least half.
• The account revealed that Orochimaru had attacked Iwagakure in Konoha Year 65, inflicting devastating losses.

Ayato emerged from seclusion after absorbing the Natural Energy in an enormous mineral vein and discovered that his reserves and physical strength had greatly increased. At Shikkotsu Forest, the sages told him his lifespan already rivaled theirs and could grow even longer after his pending transformation.

• Ayato inspected his strengthened body and found that his Natural Energy could be converted into Chakra faster and in greater quantities than before.
• Ayato traveled to Shikkotsu Forest to undergo his coming transformation under Slug Sage’s watch.
• Slug Sage summoned the Great Toad Sage and the White Dragon Sage, who confirmed that Ayato had completed an accumulation of Natural Energy they had expected to take hundreds of years.
• Ayato learned that his lifespan already matched or exceeded the sages’ and might increase further after his transformation.

Ayato completed a long transformation in Shikkotsu Forest and became a true Sage, gaining a permanent, long-lived constitution and the ability to convert Chakra back into Natural Energy. He learned that the world’s scarcity of Natural Energy limits his growth, and discovered that half a year had passed during the transformation.

• The Great Toad Sage and White Dragon Sage explained that Ayato’s cultivation path had been cut short for others by the God Tree, and the Three Great Sages agreed to watch over his transformation.
• Ayato removed his restraints and began transforming as the White Dragon Sage and Great Toad Sage raised a barrier and the Slug Sage covered Shikkotsu Forest with her true body.
• After a long transformation, Ayato awoke with a new mark on his forehead and recognized that he had become a true Sage with a permanent state and greatly increased vitality.
• Ayato discovered that he could convert Chakra into Natural Energy, prompting the Three Great Sages to consider whether he could help restore the world’s Natural Energy.
• The Three Great Sages said Ayato’s transformation had lasted half a year, and Ayato realized it was likely Konoha Year 66.

After completing his long seclusion, Ayato returned to Konoha and learned that Mouryou had reemerged and Orochimaru had devastated Iwagakure. He questioned Tsunade about the Sand ninja, suspecting that Akatsuki might have captured Gaara.

• After Ayato left, the Three Great Sages agreed to stake their hopes on him and promised to help if he faced danger.
• Ayato returned home, apologized to Sinai for missing her birthday, and learned that Ino had celebrated with her.
• Tsunade told Ayato that Mouryou had emerged, that Neji, Rock Lee, Naruto, and Sakura were protecting the Priestess of the Demon Country, and that other forces were fighting the Ghost Legion.
• Ayato reassured Tsunade that the world was not as fragile as legends claimed, then promised he would never betray Ino.
• Tsunade told Ayato that Orochimaru had attacked Iwagakure and badly disrupted its recovery, and Ayato asked whether everything was all right with the Sand ninja.

Ayato learned that Akatsuki had captured Gaara and volunteered to go to Sunagakure’s aid, while Danzo secretly sent a message to enlist help against him. In the Demon Country, Naruto cleared a path through Mouryou’s Ghost Legion so Shion could reach the sealing site, and Kakashi arrived to take over the defense.

• Tsunade told Ayato that Gaara had become the Fifth Kazekage and that Chiyo had blocked an agreement to cooperate against Akatsuki.
• An emergency message reported that Akatsuki had defeated and captured Gaara, prompting Ayato to volunteer for the mission to Sunagakure.
• Danzo sent a Scroll away through a strange creature and looked forward to using outside help against Ayato.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones, red Chakra armor, and a Rasengan to break through Mouryou’s Ghost Legion and escort Shion to the sealing entrance.
• Shion went inside to seal Mouryou’s physical body while Naruto held off the Ghost Legion.
• Kakashi arrived to relieve Naruto, who entered the Sealed Land as Kakashi worried about the missions involving Temari and Ayato.

Naruto found Shion devastated after her seal failed and Mouryou absorbed her power, then reassured her as the monster revived. With Orochimaru warning that Ayato might be in danger, Naruto drew on more of the Nine-Tails' power and charged at Mouryou with Shion in his arms.

• Naruto reached Shion and learned that her seal had failed, allowing Mouryou to absorb her power and begin reviving.
• Naruto urged Shion not to blame herself and drew on the Nine-Tails' power despite its warning that overuse could make him lose control.
• Orochimaru appeared, denied breaking Mouryou's seal, and warned Naruto that Ayato might be killed if he arrived too late.
• Shion hugged Naruto, and her power flowed into him as his crimson eyes returned to normal.
• Mouryou attacked Naruto with black tendrils, and Naruto wrapped Shion in his Chakra cloak and charged at them with a Rasengan.

Naruto and Shion destroyed Mouryou with a holy Rasenshuriken, then learned that Ayato might be in danger in Sunagakure. Tsunade sent Kakashi Team and Guy Team to find Ayato and rescue Gaara, with Ino joining the mission.

• Naruto and Shion combined their powers to complete a holy Rasenshuriken and annihilated Mouryou, after which the Sealed Land's volcano erupted.
• Orochimaru chose not to investigate Ayato's fate in Sunagakure, reasoning that either outcome could benefit or endanger him.
• Kakashi told Naruto that Ayato had gone to Sunagakure to reinforce the rescue of Gaara, and Naruto insisted they hurry there.
• Shion warned Naruto that Mouryou might be reborn and asked him to support the Priestesses in the future; Naruto agreed to help whenever she asked.
• Tsunade suspected a powerful Konoha insider had arranged events to put Ayato in danger and dispatched Kakashi Team and Guy Team to find him and rescue Gaara.
• Ino asked to join the mission, and Tsunade assigned her to Kakashi's Team 7 before ordering everyone to depart.

Ayato arrived in Sunagakure after Akatsuki captured Gaara, treated Kankuro’s poison, and learned the pursuers had identified Sasori and recovered a piece of his clothing. He summoned Blue-Black Snakes to follow the enemy’s scent, beginning the search for Gaara.

• Ayato learned that Deidara and Sasori had defeated Gaara and that Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing them.
• Ayato treated Kankuro at Sunagakure’s Medical Center and removed the poison from his body.
• After waking, Kankuro told Baki and Ayato that Sasori had fought him and that he had obtained a piece of Sasori’s clothing.
• Ayato had a Blue-Black Snake examine the cloth and asked the snakes to track its scent.

Ayato tracked the Akatsuki to a cave while investigating whether wind-heavy environments could strengthen his elemental abilities. As Sasuke and the others set out after him, Ayato entered the cave, where he encountered Pain and his Rinnegan.

• Ayato sensed wind-aligned Natural Energy in Sunagakure and told Baki he would pursue the Akatsuki alone, leaving him a Blue-Black Snake to follow.
• Sasuke, Jugo, Karin, and Temari left Sunagakure after learning Ayato had already gone ahead.
• Kakashi Team and Guy Team arrived afterward, learned Ayato's route from Baki, and hurried after him.
• Ayato's Shadow Clone confirmed that Gaara was in the concealed cave, and Ayato entered after leaving a Flying Thunder God kunai outside.
• A trap opened beneath Ayato, and he sensed an enemy above him before turning to see Pain's familiar face and Rinnegan.

Ayato was trapped in a cave by Pain and faced Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, and Hidan. He deduced Pain had to remain at the barrier’s core, then overwhelmed Hidan and left the remaining Akatsuki members confronting his unexpected strength.

• Pain used Shinra Tensei to knock Ayato into a cave and sealed the passage, while the barrier restricted Ayato’s senses and prevented him from sensing his Flying Thunder God Mark outside.
• Ayato found Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, and Hidan waiting for him and inferred that Pain stayed above to maintain the barrier.
• Hidan charged Ayato with his Bloody Three-Section Scythe, but Ayato stopped its blade, pulled Hidan toward him, and struck him with a Rasengan.
• Kakuzu and Itachi attacked Ayato with Fire Release while Kisame Hoshigaki held back, and Hidan recovered from the Rasengan and urged Kakuzu on.
• Ayato appeared atop Hidan’s scythe and kicked him into the cave ceiling, embedding him in a boulder as Ayato realized he was stronger than he had expected.

Ayato used his fight against Itachi and Kisame to test his newly strengthened abilities while Kakuzu pulled Hidan from the cave ceiling and began repairing him. After demonstrating a cutting technique that could split ninjutsu, Ayato ended the chapter by cleaving Itachi’s Great Fire Annihilation in two.

• Ayato’s Flying Thunder God Mark on Hidan’s Bloody Three-Section Scythe revealed how he had transported Hidan to the ceiling, while Itachi and Kakuzu recognized the force behind his attacks.
• Kakuzu cut Hidan free and retrieved him, then began stitching him back together despite the severe damage to his body.
• Ayato summoned Ink Shadow Sword and fought Itachi and Kisame to familiarize himself with his increased strength, while Itachi tested his Chakra-based senses with Chakra-free kunai.
• Ayato unveiled Nintaijutsu—Vacuum Cut, forcing Kisame to retreat after the strike overwhelmed Great Sword Samehada and threatened to destroy it.
• Itachi launched Great Fire Annihilation, and Ayato swung Ink Shadow Sword to split the massive fireball in two.

Ayato overwhelmed Itachi and Kisame, then used the Spirit Transformation Technique to attack Itachi from inside Kisame’s body. Itachi survived the betrayal and Tsukuyomi, leaving the Akatsuki group battered while Ayato remained in control of Kisame’s body.

• Ayato split Itachi’s Great Fire Annihilation with Vacuum Cut and destroyed Kisame Hoshigaki’s Great Shark Bullet Technique with a Lightning Release Rasengan.
• Itachi blocked Ayato’s strike with the Yata Mirror, but Kisame Hoshigaki approached to help him.
• Ayato, controlling Kisame Hoshigaki with the Spirit Transformation Technique, severed Itachi’s arm and wounded his torso, but Kisame’s resistance prevented a fatal blow.
• Itachi trapped Ayato in Tsukuyomi, but Ayato remained conscious and could move freely within the mental space, so Itachi withdrew from the technique.
• Hidan and Kakuzu struggled to understand the sudden betrayal, while Kakuzu realized he was the only intact fighter left.
• Ayato concluded that his chance to kill Itachi had passed and that the Akatsuki’s plan to kill him had failed.