Chapter Summaries

Ayato convinced the Nine-Tails to accept Moon Spirit visiting the Sealing Cage and revealed that he had created it using Yin-Yang Release. The Nine-Tails quietly accepted Naruto, while Ayato left it to wait for Naruto to defeat it and break the seal himself.

• The Nine-Tails entered the sealing gate but found it could not leave, then claimed it had only stayed because escaping would be pointless.
• Ayato defended Moon Spirit when the Nine-Tails called it a little thing and demonstrated his Chakra abilities to convince the fox he could create powerful techniques.
• The Nine-Tails doubted Ayato had created Moon Spirit until Ayato said Slug Sage could confirm it and explained that he had used the Nine-Tails' Chakra as a reference.
• Ayato asked the Nine-Tails to let Moon Spirit visit again, and the Nine-Tails agreed while pretending it would not play with it.
• Ayato left with Moon Spirit, and the Nine-Tails smiled as it considered that accepting Naruto might make life more interesting.

Ayato assessed Naruto’s immense strength and the Moon Spirit’s unusual spatial abilities, then returned to training and addressed staffing in the Intelligence Division. Shikaku reported a strange matter to Ayato, leaving its details unknown.

• Ayato considered how Naruto’s Sage Mode and possible Kurama Mode made him one of Konoha’s strongest fighters, while Sasuke still lagged behind.
• Ayato identified the Moon Spirit’s three known spatial-transfer abilities and told it not to sneak out again.
• The next morning, Ayato’s Spiritualized Shadow Clone took the Moon Spirit out while Ayato pretended to sleep in, then Ayato headed to Shikkotsu Forest.
• Ayato asked Shikaku Nara to review Yamanaka Inoichi’s workload after learning Inoichi was expecting a child, and Shikaku agreed to assign more help.
• Shikaku told Ayato that a strange matter had come up.

Ayato and Shikaku Nara investigated rumors about missing Kekkei Genkai users until Hiruko revealed that he had used the Chimera Technique to steal four Kekkei Genkai and planned to start a world war. Ayato dismissed Hiruko as a threat and assessed the political risks, then told Konoha’s ninja to keep a lower profile and take extra care.

• Shikaku Nara told Ayato that rumors about vanished Kekkei Genkai users had resurfaced, including stories about Yecang, who had died long ago.
• Ayato told Shikaku to have the Intelligence Division investigate the rumors while Konoha avoided getting involved without evidence.
• A giant image of Hiruko appeared in the sky, and he announced that he had acquired four Kekkei Genkai through the Chimera Technique and intended to obtain a fifth, start a war, and rule the world.
• Ayato recognized that Hiruko had spread the rumors to provoke conflict between Konoha and the other villages, and he dismissed Hiruko’s ambitions as unrealistic.
• Shikaku warned that Hiruko’s declaration could bring pressure from the daimyō, but Ayato judged that the shinobi villages were unlikely to attack Konoha soon.
• Ayato told Shikaku to order Konoha’s ninja to keep a lower profile and act cautiously during their missions.

Ayato learned that Hiruko would likely target Kakashi during the upcoming solar eclipse and arranged to watch over him. When Kakashi discovered Hiruko’s curse mark and offered to sacrifice himself, Ayato refused and promised to handle the threat, leaving Kakashi reassured.

• The Fire Country’s daimyo blamed Konoha for the unrest and demanded that Ayato deal with Hiruko quickly.
• Ayato told Shikaku Nara that Hiruko would act during the upcoming solar eclipse and ordered him to keep an eye on Kakashi.
• Kakashi visited Ayato and revealed that Hiruko had placed a curse mark on him through the Puppet Technique.
• Kakashi asked permission to attack Hiruko’s hideout and destroy his plans with his Mangekyo Sharingan, but Ayato rejected his offer to sacrifice himself.
• Ayato said he would place a Flying Thunder God Mark on Kakashi and take responsibility for resolving the threat, and Kakashi agreed to trust him.

Ayato used a Flying Thunder God Mark carved into Kakashi’s Sharingan to send the puppet-controlled Kakashi toward Hiruko, then brought Naruto along to join the operation. After Hiruko’s barrier blocked the mark’s signal, Ayato and Naruto vanished from Konoha’s Back Mountain to reach Kakashi.

• Ayato carved a Flying Thunder God Mark into Kakashi’s Sharingan, and Kakashi set off under Hiruko’s Puppet Technique after discarding his weapons.
• Kakashi knocked down Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki at Konoha’s gate, but Ayato explained the situation to Naruto and stopped him from intervening.
• Ayato sent the injured gate guardians to the hospital and told them Kakashi was on a classified mission.
• The Moon Spirit returned to Ayato with confirmation that Kakashi had met someone, and Ayato went to fetch Naruto from the Back Mountain.
• Ayato sensed that Hiruko’s barrier had blocked the mark, then took Naruto and vanished from Konoha’s Back Mountain.

Hiruko’s plan to take Kakashi’s Sharingan was interrupted when Ayato and Naruto appeared at his palace and freed Kakashi from the Puppet Technique. Ayato prepared to fight Hiruko while Kakashi and Naruto faced his three subordinates.

• Hiruko welcomed the controlled Kakashi to his palace, believing Konoha had handed him over so he could obtain his fifth Kekkei Genkai.
• Ayato and Naruto arrived despite Hiruko’s barrier, and Ayato removed the Puppet Seal to restore Kakashi’s awareness.
• Ayato assigned Kakashi and Naruto to fight Hiruko’s three subordinates and said he would face Hiruko himself.
• Hiruko recalled developing the Chimera Technique to steal Kekkei Genkai and pursuing five stolen abilities to achieve invincible power.
• Hiruko challenged Ayato to show him the strength of the Sixth Hokage.

Ayato confronted Hiruko, evading his Storm Release attacks and questioning his past and his choice of Kakashi as his fifth Kekkei Genkai. After overpowering Hiruko and identifying his Dark, Steel, and Swift Releases, Ayato became intrigued by Swift Release’s potential alongside the Flying Thunder God and chose to prolong the fight.

• Hiruko attacked Ayato with Storm Release, but Ayato casually avoided the lightning bolts.
• Ayato questioned Hiruko about surviving the Three Great Shinobi and choosing Kakashi as his fifth Kekkei Genkai, and Hiruko stayed silent about his reasons.
• Ayato fired Wind Release Vacuum Spheres, which Hiruko absorbed with Dark Release and returned as a Vacuum Great Sphere.
• Ayato dodged the returned attack, struck Hiruko through walls and pillars, and recognized his Steel Release.
• Hiruko used Swift Release to accelerate beyond Ayato’s earlier pace, and Ayato evaded his attacks while sensing the technique.
• Ayato considered combining Swift Release with the Flying Thunder God and decided to keep fighting Hiruko so he could study it.

Ayato revealed that he had marked Hiruko during their first exchange and had been holding back while Hiruko’s plan failed with the end of the annular solar eclipse. He defeated Hiruko with Lightning Release - Kirin, then sealed the body for research.

• Naruto and Kakashi defeated Hiruko’s three subordinates, and Naruto shouted at Ayato for not fighting seriously.
• Hiruko realized the eclipse had ended and tried to flee using Swift Release, but Ayato struck him and revealed a Flying Thunder God Mark on his body.
• Ayato explained that his sealing technique let him mark an opponent through contact, then challenged Hiruko to absorb his Lightning Release - Kirin.
• Hiruko’s Dark Release absorbed only a fraction of the lightning before its cursed mark collapsed, and Hiruko gave up as the kirin struck him.
• Ayato waited for the lightning to subside, then sealed Hiruko’s charred body in a Scroll for the research team.

Ayato returned to Konoha with Kakashi and Naruto after demonstrating Lightning Release: Kirin, then revealed he had arranged a meeting between Kakashi and Shizune. Kakashi reluctantly agreed to go, with Naruto enthusiastically helping him prepare, while Ayato returned to Shikkotsu Forest.

• Kakashi realized Ayato's ordinary Lightning Release: Kirin gave him insight into how he might learn the technique.
• Ayato told Naruto he had held back for a reason, then led Kakashi and Naruto back to Konoha.
• Ayato revealed he had discussed Kakashi's marriage prospects with Tsunade and arranged for Kakashi to meet Shizune.
• Ayato persuaded Kakashi to attend the meeting, while Naruto promised to watch over him and urged him to change clothes.
• Naruto dragged Kakashi into a nearby clothing store, and Ayato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Shikkotsu Forest.

Ayato tried to fuse Wind Style and Lightning Release to develop Swift Release, then investigated which chakra natures formed Magnet Release. He decided to test Earth Release and Wind Style first, leaving the experiment to his original body.

• In Shikkotsu Forest, Ayato entered Sage Mode and used large amounts of Chakra to attempt fusing Wind Style and Lightning Release into Swift Release, enduring pain as his body healed.
• Ayato concluded that Kekkei Genkai were difficult and dangerous to develop, and considered exploring only abilities useful to him, including Swift Release and Magnet Release for Railgun.
• Shikaku Nara brought Ayato a Scroll containing information on the Fourth Kazekage, whose recorded Chakra natures included Earth Release, Wind Style, and Water Release but not Lightning Release.
• Ayato wondered whether Magnet Release combined Earth Release and Wind Style, and decided to try that combination before testing his own Earth Release and Lightning Release theory.
• Ayato set the experiment aside for his original body, since his Spiritualized Shadow Clone lacked flesh and blood and could be forcibly dispelled if it attempted to fuse a Kekkei Genkai.

Ayato learned that Rock Lee had a natural talent for Drunken Fist and urged Might Guy to train him to use his instincts while sober. Later, Ayato heard that Kakashi and Shizune were growing close and hoped Kakashi would find happiness with her.

• Ayato reviewed Rock Lee's file and discovered that alcohol unleashed his exceptional Drunken Fist talent.
• Ayato told Might Guy to expose Rock Lee to Drunken Fist and help him learn to fight through instinct without being drunk.
• Might Guy accepted the challenge and hurried off to train Rock Lee, while Ayato told Shikaku Nara how powerful Guy could become with the Eight Gates.
• Ayato finished checking the other files and concluded Rock Lee was the only person whose abilities he had forgotten.
• Tsunade told Ayato that Shizune was preparing Kakashi's meals, and Ayato learned Kakashi seemed receptive to her attention.

Nagato prepared to capture the Nine-Tails in Konoha, confident that his power could defeat Ayato despite Konan’s worries. Konan doubted the Masked Man was truly Uchiha Madara and feared Nagato might face their former teacher Jiraiya, but she resolved to follow Nagato.

• The Masked Man told Nagato and Konan that the One Tail through the Seven Tails had been secured and Akatsuki members were pursuing the Eight Tails in Kumogakure.
• The Masked Man criticized Nagato for allowing Itachi Uchiha to die and warned that Konoha had grown stronger, but Nagato declared he would capture the Nine-Tails himself.
• Konan asked what Nagato would do next, and he said he would confront Ayato in Konoha without needing to maintain a barrier.
• Konan questioned whether the Masked Man was truly Uchiha Madara, and Nagato admitted he was unsure but said the man’s identity did not matter to their plan.
• Konan doubted the Masked Man’s identity and worried about Nagato facing Konoha and Jiraiya, yet she chose to stay by Nagato’s side.

The Masked Man and Zetsu prepared for Nagato’s likely defeat as he headed toward Konoha, worrying that they might lose the Rinnegan. Meanwhile, Ayato successfully developed Swift Release in Shikkotsu Forest and discovered that it boosted his Dynamic Vision along with his speed.

• The Masked Man told Zetsu to prepare to retrieve the Rinnegan in case Nagato failed against Ayato.
• Ayato successfully figured out Swift Release and found that it enhanced his speed far more than he had expected.
• Ayato realized Swift Release also improved his Dynamic Vision and reactions enough to keep pace with his increased speed.
• Ayato considered combining Swift Release with Flying Thunder God, while noting that opponents had begun destroying the tools bearing his marks.

Ayato developed Magnet Release and combined it with Lightning Release to create a powerful Railgun, then assessed his abilities as the final battle approached. Shikaku Nara reported that Akatsuki had captured the first seven Tailed Beasts and was pursuing Eight Tails, while Ayato remained confident in Konoha’s strength and anticipated an attack after Eight Tails fell.

• Ayato fused Earth Style and Wind Style to develop Magnet Release, then combined its magnetic field with Lightning Release to fire a Railgun powerful enough to rival Railgun Girl’s.
• Ayato reviewed his Sage Modes, affinities, and Ninjutsu, concluding that his strength had reached its peak and that fusing the three Sage Arts was his next step toward breaking through.
• Shikaku Nara told Ayato that Akatsuki had been sighted in the Lightning Country and had probably captured One Tail through Seven Tails, leaving Eight Tails as its next target.
• Ayato dismissed Shikaku Nara’s concerns because he believed Naruto could face Nagato and that Konoha could handle Akatsuki’s eventual attack.
• Ayato predicted that Nagato might attack Konoha after capturing Eight Tails and wondered whether Obito would join him, while reflecting on an untested idea involving Hidan and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

Ayato intercepted the Six Paths of Pain before they could reach Konoha, countered the Asura Path with Magnet Release, and deployed his summoned beasts against Pain’s summons. Jiraiya arrived and recognized Yahiko’s body as Pain; Ayato prepared to continue the fight and confront Nagato’s true body.

• Ayato ordered Shikaku Nara to sound the alarm and evacuate Konoha’s vulnerable residents to shelters.
• Konan left the Six Paths of Pain, and Ayato met Nagato’s group outside Konoha before they could reach the village.
• Ayato used Magnet Release to immobilize and destroy the metal Asura Path, while his summoned beasts engaged Pain’s giant summons.
• Jiraiya arrived and recognized the Deva Path as Yahiko’s body, and Pain identified himself as Nagato’s emissary of God.
• Ayato told Jiraiya to step back and faced the remaining five Paths of Pain alone.

Ayato used Super God Speed to defeat four of the Six Paths of Pain with a series of Rasengan strikes, leaving only the Deva Path standing. After the others departed, Ayato felt the severe strain of using his technique and recognized that the Deva Path had survived because he unleashed Shinra Tensei in time.

• Nagato ordered the Deva Path to use Banshō Ten'in against Ayato, but Ayato evaded it with an afterimage.
• Ayato activated Super God Speed and struck the Animal Path, Hell Path, Human Path, and Preta Path with Rasengan attacks, slamming them into the ground.
• The summoned beasts disappeared after the Animal Path fell, and Manda and the three toads dispelled themselves while Katsuyu remained briefly.
• Jiraiya watched Ayato defeat four Paths almost instantly and realized that he would only have gotten in the way.
• Ayato suffered tearing pain from Super God Speed and noted that the Deva Path had survived because Shinra Tensei kept him away.

Ayato faced the Deva Path, who launched Planetary Devastation as a final gamble. Ayato destroyed the black sphere with repeated Railgun shots, leaving the Deva Path gravely injured as Ayato approached him.

• The Deva Path deduced that Ayato could not use Super God Speed again and recognized the limits of coordinating the Six Paths’ abilities.
• The Deva Path formed hand seals and created Planetary Devastation, drawing Ayato and the surrounding ground toward a black sphere.
• Ayato used Flying Thunder God to send Jiraiya away, then stayed to keep the Deva Path from dropping Planetary Devastation on Konoha.
• Ayato fired successive Railguns at the same spot, breaking through the gathered rocks and piercing the black sphere.
• The Deva Path spat out blood as Planetary Devastation’s gravity vanished and the sphere began to collapse.
• Ayato told the half-kneeling Deva Path that he had lost and walked toward him.

Ayato defeated the Six Paths of Pain, while Nagato and Konan prepared to meet him. Black Zetsu and Obito tried to steal Nagato’s Rinnegan, but Nagato sacrificed his eyes to protect Konan and thwarted their immediate plan as Ayato and Jiraiya approached.

• Ayato defeated the Deva Path, removed its Black Rods, and sealed Yahiko’s corpse in a Scroll.
• Nagato accepted defeat, told Konan to prepare for the Sixth Hokage, and refused to flee without her.
• Black Zetsu possessed Konan and demanded Nagato’s Rinnegan in exchange for her safety.
• Nagato tore out his Rinnegan and used Gale Palm to send the eyes away from Black Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu left Konan to protect the Rinnegan, then escaped with the eyes using Tobi’s phasing ninjutsu; Konan stayed with the injured Nagato.
• Obito entered the different dimension to find Black Zetsu, while Ayato led Jiraiya toward Nagato’s Tree Cave.

Obito obtained Nagato’s Rinnegan and a bead containing Nine-Tails Chakra, while Ayato and Jiraiya found Nagato and Konan after the failed ambush. Konan revealed how Yahiko’s death and Uchiha Madara’s influence had changed Akatsuki’s goals, and the chapter ended with Ayato dismissing world peace as impossible.

• Obito received the Rinnegan from Black Zetsu and discussed using the Nine-Tails Chakra bead he had taken from the battlefield to advance their plans.
• Ayato brought Jiraiya to the Tree Cave, where they found Konan and Nagato, whose Rinnegan had been removed.
• Nagato asked Jiraiya and Ayato to spare Konan, and Ayato let Jiraiya decide their fate after Konan agreed to explain their past.
• Konan recounted Akatsuki’s founding, Yahiko’s death in Hanzo and Danzo’s trap, Nagato’s rise, and the group’s later alliance with a man claiming to be Uchiha Madara.
• Nagato defended using pain to force peace, but Ayato called world peace an impossible and boring goal.

Ayato challenged Nagato’s plan for world peace and offered to spare him and Konan if they worked for Konoha. After arranging for them to live near Jiraiya, Ayato asked what had happened to Nagato’s Rinnegan.

• Ayato argued that Nagato’s plan to force peace through the tailed beasts would only create resistance and further turmoil.
• Ayato told the story of Emiya Kiritsugu and argued that absolute peace could be achieved only by eliminating all life, exposing the emptiness of Nagato’s goal.
• Konan asked how she and Nagato could both survive, and Ayato said they would be spared but punished through service to Konoha.
• Konan agreed to follow orders, while Nagato stayed silent and Jiraiya showed gratitude to Ayato.
• Ayato arranged for Konan and Nagato to live near Jiraiya, then asked Nagato what had happened to his Rinnegan.