Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation

The Shinobi World War Arc spans from chapter 515 to current and in the anime from episode 256 to current. It covers the Fourth Shinobi World War where the Five Great Shinobi Countries all ally into the Allied Shinobi Forces to oppose Tobi and Akatsuki, all to protect the last two jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki and Killer B. The arc began with the war finally starting with both the Allied Shinobi Forces and Akatsuki moving out for battle.

Both Sides March
Ōnoki, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi relocate the island turtle by flying it to Kumo. Naruto decides to return to Konoha since his mission is done so he can wait for Sasuke. B keeps Naruto from doing so by training him more about controlling his Nine-Tails chakra by stacking blocks which seems to be a challenge for Naruto. Anko's scouting team sends information about Tobi's lair known as Mountains' Graveyard and the size of his army to the Allied Shinobi Forces. They ready their troops for battle as does Tobi and Kabuto who uses Yamato to strengthen the Zetsu. Kabuto increases the army size by reviving the former Akatsuki members, previous jinchūriki, Kage and famous shinobi: Hizashi Hyūga, Dan Katō, Asuma Sarutobi, Hanzō, Chiyo, Kimimaro, Zabuza Momochi, Haku, Gari, Pakura, Chūkichi, Shin and Toroi as they march off to begin the war.

Reincarnated Shinobi
The first battle to happen in the war was when the two ambush squadrons met in battle. Kankurō led the Surprise Attack Division against Sasori, Deidara, Chūkichi and Shin of the Surprise Attack and Diversion Platoon, having been resurrected by Kabuto Yakushi to fight in the war.

While setting up base camp and traps for the enemy, one of the sensors realised an ally was approaching. Seeing that Muta was seriously injured, Zaji rushed out without thinking to help. However as he reached his comrade, he found himself being taken hostage. The Surprise Attack Division, then quickly realised that Muta was being manipulated by the enemy, which was quickly followed by the news that the jar on his back was filled with explosives. Reacting quickly, Kankurō managed to save Zaji while Ittan managed to get them to safety by lowering the ground before Muta was killed. Seeing that their strategy failed, the enemy sent another two of the Allied Forces own people to attack them, but were repelled by Omoi. They were quickly followed by Shin, who was knocked away by Sai. Deidara then revealed himself, while Kankurō correctly deduced that Sasori was with them. Omoi realising that they were using allies and friends to attack them, claimed that he will not forgive Akatsuki. With that he launched himself at Deidara, slicing at him, though this turned out to be a feint, as his intended target was the chakra strings controlling their allies. Kankurō then quickly attached his own chakra strings with Sasori's and pulled him down while telling Ittan to raise the ground. Now exposed, Sasori used Shin as a puppet, and tried to get him close to the Allied Shinobi Force ninja, but realising that the deceased Root ninja was stuffed with explosives, Kankurō and Omoi managed to corner Shin and contain the explosion. Angered that his brother was used as a bomb, Sai knocked down Sasori and Deidara where they were captured by Kankurō. After seeing the picture finished in Sai's picture book, Shin's ties to the world were severed and he could pass on, breaking the summoning bind. Chūkichi was returning to reinforce Deidara and Sasori. Sasori is then released from the summoning thanks to Kankurō in much the same way as Shin. With the new found information about how to release the Impure World Reincarnation by freeing the soul, Kankurō prepares his team to launch their ambush.

Elsewhere, Tobi meets up with Kabuto, who managed to defeat and capture Anko Mitarashi's. Kabuto sensed that Sasori and Shin were released from his technique, having good feeling about how things are going well with his plan. He tells Tobi to go ahead to the front lines while he stays hidden and focused on his technique. Gazing at Anko, Tobi realises that she was able to get incredibly close to his hideout and Kabuto knew about it, figuring that Kabuto must have led her there as part of his plan for him and the Allied Shinobi Forces to take each other out. However, Tobi quietly states that in the end, Kabuto isn't using him, but he is the one using Kabuto, which resulted unknowingly to them that they are using each other.

Killer B attempts to teach Naruto how to use the Tailed Beast Ball, but Naruto cannot turn into the Nine-Tails because his bond with it is weak. The Eight-Tails then explained to Naruto that whenever he uses the Nine-Tails' chakra he stocks his own and the Nine-Tails can steal it, in the end Naruto could lose it all and die if he uses the chakra constantly, and using shadow clones speeds up the process, making them useless. The Eight-Tails explained that he and B were able to compromise on how much chakra each would take from the other, eliminating the risk. Naruto decides to focus on his own skills with the Nine-Tails chakra, trying to perform the Rasengan using the fox's chakra shroud to make extra hands in lieu of shadow clones. Killer B notices the technique is similar to the Tailed Beast Ball, and upon learning it was created by the Fourth Hokage, he tells Naruto to keep on working on it.

While the ambush squad members were waiting to attack the incoming enemy force, they encountered Zabuza Momochi, Haku and two other ninja. Haku was able to defend against the first attack, but the reincarnated shinobi quickly realised that they were nearly invulnerable. With that, Haku attacked the Surprise Attack Division. Just as the reincarnated shinobi were about to finish of the Division, Kakashi and his Third Division arrived. Zabuza and Haku then had a brief chat with Kakashi until Kabuto brought a dramatic change to his technique, turning the four into mindless slaughter machines. Zabuza, Haku, Gari, former member of Explosion Corps from Iwagakure, like Deidara, and Pakura, kunoichi with rare kekkei genkai from Sunagakure who attacked Kakashi's division without hesitation cruelly. Then, he said he got an idea of enemy's tactics and it's their turn for the counter-attack. But Kabuto didn't even give them a chance, having Gari and Pakura summon the reincarnated, previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, with the majority of their swords.

The seven swordsmen then attacked, using their superior kenjutsu skills to kill at least a dozen more allied shinobi. Kakashi developed a plan involving Ensui Nara, Santa Yamanaka and Maki to trap Zabuza. However, Haku once more saved Zabuza, holding Kakashi in place, which Zabuza tried to exploit by attempting to slash through both of them. Kakashi was slashed yet survived and immediately countered, allowing Maki to immobilise the recovering Haku and Zabuza, stopping the Hiding in Mist Technique. Kakashi was angered by the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation to be an unforgivable matter stated that he'd go on a rampage. The war rages on and Gaara picks up the presence of Mū, the Second Tsuchikage with his Sand Sensing despite the latter being invisible and nearly undetectable. Kabuto decides to have Mū summons the reincarnated Second Mizukage, Third Raikage and Fourth Kazekage. They all try to learn who resurrected them until the Fourth Kazekage tells them of Second Hokage, the creator of Impure World Reincarnation, being dead long ago and the possible culprit of their revival being Orochimaru. Suddenly, he notices they are all being watched by his son. Ao informs the Kage of the revival of the past Kage and powerful well known shinobi such as the Gold and Silver Brothers of Kumo. After hearing of his father and the Gold and Silver Brother's reincarnation, enraged, A decides to enter the battlefield but Tsunade keeps him from doing so. Shikaku Nara formulates battle plans with portions of the Second, Fourth and Fifth Divisions to assist the First Division which the Raikage approves.

Elsewhere, Black Zetsu appears before what appears to be the hideaway of the countries' daimyō. He decides to make a move but ends up alerting the guarding shinobi and he was laid to a trap. At the real hideaway of the daimyō, they bicker of the place they are hiding at. Black Zetsu escapes from the guards and continues his objective. Mei Terumī and Chōjūrō accompany the Frost Daimyō while he is escorted to the safe house of the daimyō and explains to him of their plan of hiding the daimyō by switching from safe house to another to hide from the enemy which puts the concerned daimyō at ease.

Darui vs. the Gold and Silver Brothers
The First Division begin their fight with enemy as Chōza Akimichi confronts Dan and Asuma Sarutobi and Hiashi Hyūga confronts his resurrected brother, Hizashi Hyūga. Darui decides to take on the Gold and Silver Brothers, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, ashamed of fighting once good men of their village. Samui and her brother Atsui arrive to assist him in his fight with the brothers. To fight against the trio, the brothers pull out the Treasured Tools of the Sage of the Six Paths. At Allied Shinobi Forces HQ, A tells Tsunade the reason why the brothers possess chakra of the Nine-Tails. At one point, Kumo tried to capture the Nine-Tails but the Gold and Silver Brothers ended being swallowed. Two weeks later, the Nine-Tails regurgitated them after they caused commotion in its stomach, resulting in them obtaining its chakra. They are able to possess the Sage of the Six Paths' tools due to their massive chakra which if a normal person wielding them would die by the massive chakra consumption. The brothers begin fighting Darui and his team-mates where Kinkaku tackles Atsui and Samui with the Kōkinjō and Ginkaku severs their pulled word souls with the Shichiseiken which are after that sucked in the Benihisago. The siblings try to keep themselves quite as their most spoken word will result in them being sealed in Benihisago. Kinkaku waves the Bashōsen to create a wave of fire that causes Atsui to say "hot", his spoken word, and gets sealed. Ginkaku holds Samui hostage and the brothers threatens Darui she will be killed unless he drops his weapon. Just as he appears to have given up, Darui slices Kinkaku's arm and aims Storm Release: Laser Circus on Ginkaku to free Samui. Ginkaku kicks his sliced arm wrapped with Kōkinjō at Darui causing his word soul to be pulled out. Ginkaku seals Samui despite her not saying a word and Kinkaku curses Darui's word soul. Darui discovers that if he keeps silent to long, he'll be sealed anyway. Ginkaku refers to shinobi of Kumo as tools of the Raikage though Darui calls them disgraces for thinking that. An angered Kinkaku yells at him saying he is a tool too but Darui states he is not a tool but the second right arm of the Raikage.

Despite not saying his most spoken word "dull", Darui is still sealed when saying words sounding similar to dull. Darui apologises to those he failed which cancels the sealing as the spoken word "dull" has changed to "sorry" due to Darui being very apologetic. Darui attacks Ginkaku which causes him to bump into Kinkaku holding the Kōkinjō and causes his word soul to be pulled out. Darui steals Shichiseiken and Benihisago from brothers and curses and seals away Ginkaku after he says "Kinkaku". Seeing his brother being sealed, Kinkaku becomes enraged and takes the form of a six-tailed fox. During his training, Naruto senses an evil presence from Kinkaku's transformation. Kinkaku begins going on a rampage against the First Division, taking out many shinobi. HQ learns of Kinkaku's transformation and A decides to seal him in the fifth treasure Kumo managed to take back from the brothers, the Kohaku no Jōhei. Mabui uses her Heavenly Transfer Technique to send Darui the sealing pot while Shikaku talks to Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka using Inoichi Yamanaka's telepathy to have them help Darui. Kinkaku notices Darui's plan and tries to strike him but Kitsuchi and his division saves Darui from him. Part of the Fourth Division arrives as well along with Shikamaru, Chōji and Ino. The trio use their Formation Ino–Shika–Chō to get a hold of Kinkaku, giving Darui the chance to seal him in the pot.

Ideals of Faith and Team 10 Reunited
Chūkichi receives back-up from a team consisting of Hanzō, Chiyo, and Kimimaro to fight the Surprise Attack Division. Hearing their arrival, Deidara demands them to save him. Kankurō's team retreats with the enemy following them. After enough focus, Hanzō summons his salamander Ibuse and commands him to use Poison Mist to stop them. Hanzō finds the Surprise Attack Division, who are paralysed by the poison and moves in to kill Kankurō with his kusarigama, but the attack is stopped by the arrival of Mifune and his division who came to back up the Surprise Attack Division. Mifune fights Hanzō, impeding him of using ninjutsu by attacking when he stops to weave hand seals. He remembers having fought Hanzō in his youth, and the two discuss their ideals during the fight. Hanzō decides to have faith in Mifune, and injures himself, creating an opening, and allowing Mifune's division to seal him.

With Kinkaku sealed, Darui, along with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane go against Kakuzu and the allied forces shinobi fight his heart monsters while Team 10 fights their reincarnated teacher. Asuma notices his students' growth and Team 10 charge their teacher. Shikamaru creates an opening for Chōji to attack, but he hesitates, allowing Asuma to use his Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique on him. Ino saves him and his team-mates. Asuma tries to get Chōji to grow up and fight back. Even with Asuma's goads to anger him into fighting, Chōji still refuses to hurt him. The controlled Asuma goes in to kill Chōji but Ino takes control of his body and dodges. Chōza saves his son from another attack from Asuma and reminds him of his oath. With enough encouraging, Chōji creates butterfly wings without the assistance of his clan's pills, much to others' amazement. Ino controls White Zetsu clones to fight Asuma, giving Chōji and Shikamaru a chance to hit and immobilise him. Before being sealed, Asuma thanks them and compliments them of their great teamwork. Chōji asks his team-mates to help him finish the war once and for all to which they happily agree.

Escaping Jinchūriki and the Fall of Night
Back at the Island Turtle, Naruto asks B if there are others that have chakra of the Nine-Tails. The Eight-Tails tells B Naruto can longer be lied to and asks what to do next. Naruto asks where the bathroom is and B points him the direction, upsetting the Eight-Tails and yelling at him to go after Naruto. A and Tsunade are notified by ninja in the temple of Naruto's escape and Tsunade has a team of hers to stop him. Naruto is confronted by Shibi Aburame and a team of Konoha ninja who try to persuade to explain what is happening back inside the temple. Naruto refuses, then suddenly, Iruka Umino appears. Iruka lies to Naruto telling him that they discovered untamed beasts on the island with chakra of the Nine-Tails. However, Naruto doesn't fall for it as he remembers Motoi telling him B has tamed all the animals on the island. Naruto goes Sage Mode and tells them he'll take care of them but the ninja won't let him. Naruto pushes them out of the Falls of Truth but gets caught in a Nara clan ninja's Shadow Imitation Technique. Suddenly, Naruto senses the chakra of his friends and other ninja fighting and asks what is going on. Having no choice, Iruka tells Naruto the truth that Tobi has declared war.

Naruto asks why he isn't helping them and Iruka tells him that the war is to protect the remaining jinchūriki from falling in Tobi's clutches and everyone is risking their lives to protect them. After remembering his talk with Nagato, he tells Iruka that his role is to stop the war and that he will endure the pain on his own. Iruka tells him to stop behaving like a child and that he cares for Naruto as if he was a little brother. Naruto tells Iruka he was the first to recognise him for Naruto and that he gave him his first forehead protector. Iruka stares down at the forehead protector and hands it to Naruto, giving him the thought that he'll let him go. However, Iruka still refuses to let Naruto go into the war and uses a barrier technique to try to stop, but, using the Nine-Tails chakra, he is able to break free and escape. As Naruto puts his forehead protector back out, a note slips out from Iruka. In case he couldn't hold him back, Iruka wrote a note to Naruto telling him to come back alive. B emerges from the Falls of Truth, noticing Naruto had got away. Iruka asks B to make sure that Naruto is safe.

Black Zetsu manages to find the location of the daimyō but is stopped by the Daimyō Protection Squad, led by Mei, forcing him to have to fight them all. A Hyūga clan member informs the Kumogakure Barrier Squad of Naruto's approach and they prepare the Thirty-Six Layer Self-Repairing Barrier covering the Island Turtle. As Naruto appears before the barrier, B shoots the Tailed Beast Ball at it and asks Naruto for his help to get them through. Together, with B bursting through in Version 2 and Naruto pushing in B's Tailed Beast Ball, the two jinchūriki escape and make their move to the battlefield. While fighting Mei's team, Black Zetsu senses the escape of the jinchūriki and informs White Zetsu who, in turn informs Tobi. With Naruto and B out in the open, Tobi no longer needs the daimyō as his bargaining chips for the remaining tailed beasts but decides to have Black Zetsu continue with his guerrilla tactics while he himself takes to the battlefield. Darui and Kitsuchi's divisions have defeated all the White Zetsu and Kakuzu's hearts on their side and have the reincarnated ninja immobilised and sealed. Suddenly, Tobi appears and summons the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Chōza and Chōji try to fight against the Demonic Statue but are easily defeated. While it fights against the allied shinobi, Tobi uses the opportunity to obtain Benihisago and Kohaku no Jōhei, containing the sealed Gold and Silver Brothers. Shikamaru realises Tobi sent them to the front lines so they can be sealed into the statue when given the chance. Tobi states he is a worthy opponent and has the statue stomp on him. Shikamaru and Darui are saved by Chōji and Kitsuchi and the statue is de-summoned but Tobi has taken the sealed Kinkaku and Ginkaku with him. A and Tsunade learn of Tobi and the Demonic Statue's appearances on the battlefield as well as Naruto's escape, accompanied by B which further angers his brother. A decides to leave Shikaku in charge during his absence while he and Tsunade leave to stop the jinchūriki. As night approaches, Tobi states that his Eye of the Moon Plan will be commenced the next day.

On the way to the battlefield, the Nine-Tails begins a conversation with Naruto, telling him to stop squandering his chakra. The Nine-Tails then tells Naruto it is impossible to handle both the war and Sasuke's hatred, though Naruto is confident he can shoulder both of them and tells the beast that he had even been contemplating getting rid of the Nine-Tails' own hatred as well someday. Neji becomes exhausted from overusing his Byakugan. Kiba insists on him going to the Logistical Support and Medical Division compound to recover. Neji arrives at the compound where many injured ninja are being treated. Sakura, who has joined up with the other medical-nin, patches up Neji. Word goes around that ninja are being killed off around the compound, though the sensors have not sensed any enemy presence. They come to the conclusion that there is a spy sneaking around and Neji decides to search for them. Neji enters one of the tents and kills the medical-nin, revealing he is the spy. A suspicious Iwa shinobi approaches Sakura, but ends up just giving her a love letter. She thanks him and kindly but tells him she loves someone else, disappointing him. "Neji" stops by Sakura's tent again to ask where Shizune is and she tells him that Shizune is tending to Tonton's injury, who "Neji" think is a ninja. Neji asks Sakura to check his hands again and when she leasts expects it, attack her. However, Sakura slams him to the ground before he can do so. After the attack, "Neji" is revealed to be a transformed White Zetsu clone that Neji had fought earlier. The White Zetsu asks how she knew and Sakura reveals that Tonton is pig. She then interrogates the Zetsu about how he was able to copy Neji right down to his chakra. After remembering the intel they received from Yamato about the White Zetsu turned Kisame clone killed by A and Killer B, she learns that the White Zetsu take the appearance and chakra of the person they touched. Other ninja arrive to assist Sakura while she reports the information to headquarters. Back at the Fifth Division camp, the real Neji is shown to have never left and refusing to get tended. At HQ, Shikaku receives the information and Ao informs him of chakras disappearing all over the divisions. Shikaku then begins to formulate a counter-measure against this imminent threat and find the imposters.

Naruto notices the chakras vanishing everywhere and suddenly, A and Tsunade appear before the jinchūriki. A declares that they won't pass them but Naruto tries to get past him only to be blocked by A. With Naruto resisting to return to the Island Turtle, A decides to kill him to delay Tobi's plans. A's attack is stopped by B who tells his brother to kill him as well. A appears to have no problem with this when the time is right, however, B denies that. B bumps his fists with A and he remembers the day they met. The Third Raikage and A were looking for a child that could partner with A to do a Double Lariat and form an A–B Combo. One of the children successfully decapitated one of the rubber dummies and is then named B and from then on became A's brother. A has a series of flashbacks, one of the predecessor jinchūriki of the Eight Tails telling A how B needs to fill the void with something after be becomes his successor and another of with A and B's team having encountered Minato's team. When his team retreats after hearing their signal, Minato remains to tell A that he should find out his brother's values as a person before he became neither a human nor a jinchūriki. A ignores this and charges ahead to punch Minato, but he teleports behind B holding his kunai to B's head with B also holding his sword to Minato's stomach. Minato compliments B, saying he is a true killer shinobi, despite being the enemy.

Naruto uses this opportunity to strike A, but A notices him and punches him out of the way. Both Naruto and B try to get past A but fail at every attempt. Remembering Naruto's statement that he'll never die until he becomes Hokage, Tsunade gives permission for Naruto to pass and argues with A if Naruto is killed, his successor won't be able to control the Nine-Tails like Naruto. B uses Lariat on his brother, though he failed, he bumps fists with him, giving A another flashback. After his father's death, A forbids B from using Lariat any more and from leaving the village ever again. B insists that he and Naruto will not fail and decides to let him pass, depending on whose Lariat is stronger. B's Lariat defeats his brother, sending him to the ground. B tells A that his and Naruto's powers don't come from them being jinchūriki, and that his brother's words, saying he is important to him, has made B surpass him. B also tells him that as long as he has people he cares about, he can overcome the tailed beast in him. B calls A as his sun, the person he cares about, and Naruto calls his parents his suns. Naruto tells A how he met both Minato and Kushina, and that they believed he could control the Nine-Tails. Tsunade states she will fight A if he continues his attempt to kill Naruto, but A charges towards Naruto who manages to successfully dodge A's top speed punch, saying he will not fail. A reveals he was just testing Naruto to see if he can avoid his punch and tells Naruto to get going. Back at HQ, Shikaku learns the only way to discover who are the White Zetsu is to have Naruto scatter his shadow clones at the locations, knowing in his Nine-Tails form, he can sense malice. But, knowing A will disapprove, Mabui doubts it will happen. A Katsuyu clone informs them of A letting Naruto enter the war.

The Jinchūriki Enter The War
The sun rises, marking the second day of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Tobi makes his move, having his own Six Paths of Pain composed of the reincarnated jinchūriki who have eyes that mirror Tobi's. Knowing Naruto can sense malice in the Nine-Tails form, Tobi knows that Naruto will be taking out the White Zetsu, saying that it is going along perfectly. Back at the Logistical Support and Medical Division compound, Shizune and Sakura learn the secrets about the White Zetsu, using the clone Sakura captured. Shizune reveals that the White Zetsu have the same DNA as Yamato, meaning they are altered plant clones of the First Hokage. A and Tsunade return to HQ and learn about the White Zetsu's clones being created from the First Hokage's cells. Knowing that Tobi developed a technique with the cells to extend his life, Tsunade states there is no clue on how to defeat Tobi, saying he is a true immortal.

As Naruto and B head towards the battlefield, Shikaku contacts them telepathically through Inoichi's technique, telling them to search for the White Zetsu and explaining about Tobi, Kabuto and the reincarnated shinobi. Naruto and B come across a group of F|ninja heading back to "defend" HQ, but were revealed by Naruto to actually be a small force of White Zetsu. Naruto takes out a majority of them and summons Gamahiro to squish a merged white Zetsu and then to look out for more White Zetsu with B, while he sends his shadow clones to the other battlefields.

When Nagato and Itachi Uchiha encounter Naruto and Killer B, Kabuto planned to capture and use them to further blackmail Tobi. The battle reveals some truth on Itachi's mission and much to his chagrin, Itachi learns that Sasuke has turned to Tobi instead of returning to Konoha. With this, the battle begins with Nagato (forcefully) summoning his bird and multi-headed dog to battle Naruto. Itachi battles both Naruto and B. Itachi eventually activates his Mangekyō Sharingan. The crow Itachi had placed inside Naruto comes out using Kotoamatsukami on Itachi placing him on Naruto's side, freeing him from Kabuto's control. Itachi then uses Amaterasu on the summonings and Nagato himself.

Nagato uses Shinra Tensei to blow away the flames, and Kabuto removes Nagato's personality, making him more offensive in battle. Nagato hides in the chameleon summon and attacks them with a powerful Shinra Tensei. Nagato tries to attack B but B enters his version 2 form and attacks him with a Lariat. Nagato uses the Preta Path's ability to absorb B's chakra which leads Nagato to regain a youthful appearance. When Naruto comes to help, Nagato grabs hold of him and begins to remove his soul.

Naruto tries to escape by attacking Nagato with a Rasengan but he absorbs it. B tries to cut Nagato to save Naruto, but he stops him using two extra arms that grows from his shoulder and almost succeeds in removing Naruto's soul and destroying B until Itachi intercepts him using his Susanoo and attacks the summonings' eyes making them disappear. Nagato proceeds to use Chibaku Tensei to trap the three but is stopped by the combined effort of Itachi's Yasaka Magatama, B's Tailed Beast Ball and Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to destroy the sphere at the centre of the attack. As the smoke clears, Nagato finds himself impaled by Susanoo's Sword of Totsuka and his personality returns. Itachi then seals him but not before Nagato gives his last words to Naruto telling him that he was part of a trilogy that included Jiraiya and himself and to correct the wrongs that he had done during his lifetime.

Itachi finishes sealing Nagato. Kabuto expresses frustration on Nagato's sealing, believing that his amplified field of vision would compensate his impaired mobility, though Itachi managed to exploit its blindspots. Kabuto considers using his trump card. Itachi says he has a plan and will handle Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, but Naruto insists on fighting on his own, but begins feeling the effects of extended use of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. Itachi reminds Naruto that he shouldn't forget the people who supported him, that doing things on his own will lead to failure. Killer B tells Naruto about his promised to Iruka to keep Naruto safe. Itachi destroys the crow and Shisui's Sharingan, as it'll take another decade before its power can be used again, and then leaves.

Fourth Division vs. The Kage
Mū, using his Hiding with Camouflage Technique, was able to make his way into the Land of Lightning undetected until Gaara was able to locate him on the first day. Mū then summoned the Second Mizukage, the Third Raikage, and the Fourth Kazekage, ready to engage in battle. However, the Fourth Division slowly retreated, drawing the reincarnated Kage farther into the Land of Lightning while part of the division, led by Shikamaru Nara, broke off to aid in the Battle on the Land of Lightning's coast. After over a day of retreating and the understanding that the Battle on the Land of Lightning's Coast was won, Gaara and Ōnoki engaged the Kage; Gaara sends a huge wave of sand towards the enemy, his father uses his Gold Dust to counteract it. Using the opportunity, Ōnoki attacks using a cone shaped Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique but is countered by Mū who sensed him and uses a cylindrical form of the same technique which results in a colossal crater on the battlefield. As Gaara comes into sight, his father, who had thought that Shukaku had been released, is shocked to see Gaara before him and asks him where the One-Tail was. Gaara responds to him telling him that he was no longer the jinchūriki he had created.

Now having brought Akatsuki farther in to the Land of Lightning, it leaves them vulnerable to an attack from the rear by the First Division and the rest of the Fourth. The battle between father and son commences with the collision of their respective gold and sand, resulting in a mixture of the two. However, by attempting to protect two of the other Kage from an aerial barrage, Gaara restrains his father, and his counters continue to fail in the face of Gaara's Shield of Sand. After Gaara learns the truth about his mother, seals his father, turning his attention to the Raikage and Mizukage with new determination who escapes from Gaara's sand and they divulge their abilities on the fourth division. Meanwhile, Ōnoki follows Mū, who becomes invisible and states that Ōnoki is going to die if he dosen't call Gaara over. Ōnoki tells Mū not to underestimate him as he makes several clones.

After the clam begins casting its mirage, the shinobi try in vain to attack the Mizukage as he seemingly phases through them. He then reminds them that attacking him was useless as he was just a mirage and tells them to attack the clam instead to end the technique. Taking his advice into consideration, the shinobi let loose another onslaught of attacks but when the smoke clears, they realise that they had attacked a mirage again. Seemingly irate at them attacking mirages, the Mizukage tells them to attack the clam and upon trying again, the attack phases through the clam as well. Getting nowhere, the shinobi stand in confusion as how to deal with the situation. As several shinobi of the Fourth Division bear down on him, Temari uses the Wind Release: Cast Net technique to cut the Raikage and calls for the Sealing Team to seal him immediately. Gaara spots Mū behind Ōnoki, who strains his back from the impact. Mū prepares to attack, and Gaara notices a Rasengan behind Mū. Naruto's Planetary Rasengan misses at first, but then he manages to hit Mū with it and Mū is promptly sealed by Gaara. Naruto, Gaara and Ōnoki split up and go to different battlefields.

Temari asks Dodai how the Raikage died in the first place. Dodai explains that he held off ten thousand opponents to allow his comrades to escape and also says that long-range wind techniques are the only attacks that will affect him. Temari says she's probably the best wind user in that group. Naruto arrives, saying he's also a wind user. Meanwhile, at the Mountains' Graveyard, Sasuke attacks White Zetsu with his Susanoo and coats him with Amaterasu, he then states that his eyes could see better in the dark so he tests them outside. After two missed attacks of the Raasenshuriken, Naruto finally manages to hit the Raikage with the technique, but the Raikage recovers fast. The shinobi prepare multiple earth walls, supported by Dodai's Lava Release: Rubber Wall, to defend against the Raikage's strongest ninjutsu, Hell Stab but he breaks through all their defenses. Dodai explains that the Third was very resilient, and was only injured when he fought the Eight-Tails. Naruto prepares to attack with the Tailed Beast Ball.

Despite attempting the Tailed Beast Rasengan, Naruto fails to form it fully and is forced out of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. Naruto tells Dodai that he needs to contact B and the Eight-Tails. Kabuto focuses all of the Third Raikage's attacks on Naruto but Dodai forms a rubber ball as a decoy to buy Naruto some time. Naruto then asks the Eight-Tails how he defeated the Third Raikage. When he learned that both fought each other to a stand still, and the Third Raikage had only been injured after he fell. Suspecting what had happened, he entered Sage Mode and created a Rasengan, he plans to use Frog Kata to sense the Raikage's attack faster. The Raikage attacks with a one-finger nukite, but Naruto dodges and hits the Raikage's arm with a Rasengan, knocking his attack into his own chest. The sealing team immediately seals the Raikage. Elsewhere, Gaara faces the Second Mizukage alone and and asks Gaara if that was all he is capable of, his Shield of Sand failing against him.

Gaara notices how the Mizukage's oil is nullifying his sand as he uses his Sand Sensing to find the Giant Clam. After locating it, the Third Tsuchikage uses Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique combined with Earth Release: Super Added-Weight Rock Technique to destroy it, revealing the Mizukage's real body. Ōnoki throws out his back, rendering him immobile as the Mizukage uses the Water Gun Technique to shoot him in the neck. The Third is shown to be a sand clone, which then envelopes the Mizukage. The Second starts to wash away the sand with oil, but Gaara layers the sand into a large pyramid. Then, upon attempting to seal the Mizukage, the pyramid explodes due to Steaming Danger Tyranny. It starts hailing, shrinking the Mizukage's clone, but a member of the Fourth Division senses the Mizukage, because he's no longer a mirage. The clone wreaks havoc, and as Gaara again uses Desert Layered Imperial Funeral, the clone removes the sealing tag and explodes. Gaara protected his division, and appeared before the Mizukage and his clone. The clone attacks Gaara, slicing him, but is shown to have sliced another sand clone. Gaara uses his father's gold dust, mixed in with the sand clone, along with the clone's heat, to fuse the gold to its body. The clone then finds the real Gaara, and tries to attack him, only to be stopped by Gaara's sand and stopped from exploding. The Fifth explains that the gold not only slowed the clone down, but acted as a thermal conductor to draw heat away from the body. With that, the Mizukage is sealed.

Madara Uchiha, Kabuto's Trump Card
In the rubble of a smashed pillar, a damaged Mū stands up. He reveals that he split his body in two, and that only half of him was sealed. He tries to remove the tags from his other half, but the seal is too strong in his weakened state. He then performs a summoning, who is revealed to be Madara Uchiha.

Mū finishes summoning Kabuto's trump card, whose power makes the coffin's lid burst open. The figure gets out of the coffin, stating that Nagato had grown, thinking it had been brought back with Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. Mū is impressed that someone would bring this person back with Impure World Reincarnation. They move to the Fourth Division's location where is revealed that the summon is actually Madara Uchiha. Madara questions Mū about who the user of the technique is. Kabuto takes full control of Mū to talk directly with Madara, explaining he brought him back in a special manner that makes him stronger than he was in his prime. Gaara attacks Madara but he dodges his sand and moves to counter-attack using a widespread fire technique, which is countered by the combined usage of Water Encampment Wall by several shinobi. Moving on to general melee attacks, given free reign by Kabuto, Madara wreaks havoc on the Fourth Division, prompting Ōnoki to raise the ground below him to force him into Naruto's Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.

Madara responds by activating his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and blocking the attack with his Susanoo and go on and continue decimating the division's forces. As Naruto enters Sage Mode and creates his attack, Ōnoki lightens Gaara's sand, allowing him to manipulate it easier, which he uses to pull Madara out of Susanoo into the path of Naruto's Sage Mode-enhanced Rasenshuriken. Claiming the attack to be 'too much', Madara surprisingly activates his Rinnegan and uses the Preta Path's chakra absorption technique to dispel the technique, to which Kabuto rejoices that the hypothesis that he came up with based on the data gathered by he and Orochimaru was validated, as he improved Madara's body beyond what it was in his prime. Madara replies that his power is not of Kabuto's creation, but his own. Using his twin-bodied Susanoo to weave two seals at once in conjunction with his own, pulling a giant asteroid earthbound towards the Fourth Division, stunning everyone, leading Gaara to question whether this was the power of a god.

As the giant meteorite descends, Ōnoki tells the Allied Shinobi not to give up before even trying. He flies towards the meteorite intending to lighten it. Gaara orders everyone to retreat, as he stays behind to help Ōnoki. Kabuto speaking through Mū, surmises that Madara intends to destroy everything with the meteor, and Madara states that he is correct as they will simply regenerate. Ōnoki successfully lightens the meteorite, as Gaara catches it with his sand. Madara asks what they will do about the second one, as it collides it with the first. At the Allied HQ, A, Tsunade and Shikaku discuss why the masked man would falsely claim that he is Madara. Tsunade says he used the name because the world would always fear the name. It got the world's attention and that it was enough to drag them into war. The shock from the second meteorite's impact reaches HQ. They receive intel about what happened, and they determine that it must be Madara's attack. Tsunade states that she will be heading to the front. Back at the battlefield there are barely any survivors left. Dodai protected Naruto's clone due to him being a valuable asset.

Ōnoki was severely injured by the attack. Madara and Mū regenerate, and speak about Madara's plans. They notice survivors and Madara attempts to summon the Nine-Tails, but fails due to it being sealed. Kabuto points out that the jinchūriki is Naruto Uzumaki. Madara uses Hashirama's Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees to attack the the remaining Allied Forces. The Nine-Tails gives Naruto some of its chakra without any of its will, preferring to help Naruto over being controlled by Madara again. Naruto rushes towards the approaching forest and creates many shadow clones. The clones create multiple Big Ball Rasengan and destroy the advancing forest. Naruto says that he used up all of the Nine-Tails chakra and that he feels like he could disappear at any moment. Ōnoki tells Naruto to rest while they finish the battle. He proclaims that it's finally time to pick himself off the ground and that there's no opponent more worthy than Madara Uchiha.

Ōnoki decides to take on both Madara and Mū with the assistance of the remaining Fourth Division. Tsunade and A decide to head to Madara's location through Mabui's Heavenly Transfer Technique, a technique that only transports objects as transporting a living being would surely rip them apart. However, Tsunade decides to take the gamble using her Yin Seal: Release. Shikaku telepathically communicates to Genma to have him, Raidō and another Konoha shinobi to perform the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport Mei to Madara's location as well after Chōjūrō incapacitates Black Zetsu with a single slash. The three Kage arrive at the battlefield and the Gokage prepare to fight Madara.

Mei and A battle Madara while Tsunade heals Gaara and Ōnoki. Gaara and Ōnoki protect the group when Madara goes into the offensive. The five Kage tell Naruto's clone that he isn't needed in that battlefield any more, and urge him to beat the other Madara. The clone disperses.

Showdown with Tobi
Naruto and B encounter Tobi and Naruto headbutts him head-on. Tobi's mask doesn't even get a scratch on it. Then, Naruto and B start fighting Tobi's Six Paths of Pain. Rōshi starts the assault by lunching lava boulders at his opponents, which B and Naruto responds by attacking head on. Yagura however manages to counter the attacks causing B and Naruto to fall into Utakata's trap. B and Naruto manage to escape it, but find themselves being blinded by Fū, which were followed by fast attacks from Yugito and Han, and though the assault were successfully blocked, Naruto and B were still driven back. Tobi finds out that Madara was reincarnated. He tells Naruto he can call him whatever he wants, and that he is no one. He states his goal of completing the Eye of the Moon Plan while Naruto and B state their own goal of tearing his mask off and finally revealing his identity. Tobi responds by saying "you're going to have to work for it". He ends the conversation by proclaiming that he will capture both of them and complete his plans.

Naruto states they won't hand over the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails. B questions if the jinchūriki had their tailed beasts removed, and the Eight-Tails concludes that they must have been resealed, as it can sense them in their hosts, though different. B begins attacking despite Naruto's call to wait. B attacks Fū with Samehada, but she dodges it by flying. B launches swords coated in lightning chakra from her blindspot, but she dodges it as the other jinchūriki watch the two. B wonders how she could dodge from a blindspot, so Naruto informs him about the Rinnegan's shared field of vision. Rōshi coats himself in lava and attacks Naruto, who narrowly evades it, the heat burning his cheek. Yugito launches her guided attack, and clashes with B, cutting his scarf. B and Naruto take cover, and B is surprised by her speed, and the Eight-Tails points out that the Sharingan allows them to react faster, while the Rinnegan coordinate attacks. Naruto tells B and the Eight-Tails about the Paths of Pain and the chakra receivers. B points one in Yugito's chest, from a hit he landed earlier. Naruto goes in the open and tries destroying a receiver in Rōshi while being attacked, but is stopped by Han, who sends him flying with a kick. The Eight-Tails says that the forest will hinder their field of vision, so B transforms into the Eight-Tails to level the forest.

B devastates the forest, also knocking down the other jinchūriki. At the Allied Shinobi HQ, Ao detects that B has transformed into the Eight-Tails. Inoichi receives updates on the Kage holding Madara back. Shikaku requests other divisions' statuses, and learns that the First and Second Divisions are almost done with their enemies, the Third only has one more resurrected shinobi to seal, and the Fifth has the advantage on their fight. Shikaku orders that as soon as they're done, that they go back up B and Naruto, and asks their coordinates. Naruto notes that the jinchūriki are down, and the Eight-Tails urges B to seal them. B spits out ink clones, which proceed to lock them in place.

Before the clones can finish sealing them, Tobi appears from underground, the jinchūriki advance in their transformations and resume attacking. Fū and Yugito tag-team on Naruto, followed by Yagura, who impairs Naruto's movements. Meanwhile, Utakata frees himself from B's hold and Rōshi attacks. The Eight-Tails is concerned and thinks they should retreat, but B is rammed by Han, who has fully transformed into the Five-Tails. Tobi moves in, to warp Naruto away, stating that six against two puts the odds in his favour. However, this was thwarted as Kakashi and Guy attacked Tobi with his Violent — Leaf Adamantine-Strength Whirlwind technique and causes Tobi to become intangible and slip through Naruto while Kakashi retrieve Naruto. Naruto is happy to see them, while Tobi states that two more shinobi doesn't make a difference against the power of his eyes and tailed beasts. Kakashi then states that they too have a Sharingan followed by Guy who states that to not underestimate him as he was Konoha's Sublime Green Beast of Prey.

At the Mountains' Graveyard, Sasuke breaks out of the hideout while elsewhere, having escaped the samurai, Jūgo and Suigetsu discuss Sasuke and Karin, as well as Suigetsu's goal to collect swords as they head to one of Orochimaru's hideouts. On the battlefield, Naruto warns Guy and Kakashi about Tobi's abilities. As the Five-Tails attacks, Guy frees Naruto from the coral before seeing the beast turn on Tobi who chains and suppresses the Five-Tails, who is dismayed at being controlled in that manner. The Eight-Tails tries crushing Tobi, but he simply slips through it. Tobi returns Han back to his Version 2 form. Guy and Kakashi speculate that Tobi doesn't have full control over the tailed beasts. The Eight and Nine-Tails speak to each other telepathically about the treatment of the tailed beasts and the Nine-Tails says that as the second strongest beast, going by tails, the Eight-Tails should just finish the battle already, and feigns sleep. The Eight-Tails snaps back, saying that this belief about their powers being defined by the number of tails is exactly why the Shukaku hated the Nine-Tails so much. Guy and Kakashi charge at the jinchūriki, intending to figure out which of the Six Paths of Pain techniques each one used, only to conclude that Tobi isn't making them use Six Paths techniques because they already have strategies against those. Tobi praises them for figuring that out, and proceeds to make Rōshi and Utakata transform completely into their respective beasts. Naruto falls out of Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and considers creating more shadow clones with the Nine-Tails' chakra as diversions. B thinks that creating more clones would surely kill him, but the Eight-Tails points out that Naruto should already be on the brink of death, and thinks that the Nine-Tails has stopped taking Naruto's chakra for a while. The Six-Tails attacks Kakashi and Guy, who dodge. The Four-Tails tosses the Eight-Tails, and Naruto almost falls into its mouth, but resists being eaten by the Four-Tails, now back in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, as the Nine-Tails opens one eye watching on.

The Four-Tails tosses the Eight-Tails on the ground, and keeps forcing its mouth shut with Naruto in it while the Nine-Tails watches on. Guy wants to save Naruto, but Kakashi points out their own unfortunate situation between two attack fronts: the Six-Tails' corrosive gas and the other jinchūriki's chakra arms. Kakashi creates a shadow clone and slices through the arms, while Guy punches and burns the gas away. The Eight-Tails wraps its tentacles around the Four-Tails, telling it to let go of Naruto. It beseeches the Nine-Tails to grant Naruto some of its chakra, to which it replies that it won't wag its tails for its jinchūriki like the eight-tails, leading the eight tails to question the nine-tails if it cares for Naruto at all. The Nine-Tails recalls how many shinobi in the past have restrained it and denied it an identity. The Four-Tails closes its mouth. Naruto meets the Four-Tails, bound by chains. It asks if Naruto is there to take its power, and demands to be called by its proper name, making a boisterous introduction. Naruto apologises for not listening to Son Gokū, which impresses it. Naruto and Son Gokū discuss issues of recognition, identity, and existence. The Four-Tails laughs when Naruto says he's jealous of how B and the Eight-Tails are with each other, before seeing Naruto is serious about it. Considering Naruto to be a better sight than Tobi, Son Gokū offers to help Naruto if he can undo the chains that bind it.

The Battles of Uchiha Brothers & The Five Kage
In the Konohagakure Intelligence Division, Karin feigns mental instability to lessen the guards' attention to her, and begins plotting her escape with a lock-pick set hidden in her glasses and under a portrait of Sasuke she made. Jūgo and Suigetsu learn about the war, near one of Orochimaru's hideouts. Jūgo questions Suigetsu's reasons to be part of Taka, and while the two argue, Jūgo's killing intent kicks in, and he attacks Suigetsu. Suigetsu simply reforms and begins drowning Jūgo to subdue him. He notices that the attack revealed a secret room caused by Jūgo's attack, where Suigetsu discovers an scroll detailing secrets to winning the war. Sasuke runs into a group of White Zetsu, who question his presence outside, and realise he's killed the original White Zetsu before attacking. Sasuke uses Susanoo and incinerates several of them. He interrogates one of the White Zetsu using genjutsu, and learns about the war and its purpose. Sasuke finishes the White Zetsu and decides to go kill Naruto. Sasuke is pleased with Itachi's eyes, and reminisces about him. Elsewhere, Itachi is on the move.

Ōnoki attacks Madara with a giant rock golem, which Madara destroys, creating several flowers. Tsunade recognises the technique as her grandfather's. Gaara suspends the Kage above the attack, Ōnoki levitating A. The flowers begin releasing a toxic pollen. Kabuto muses on how people who heard of Hashirama Senju's strength consider it a myth, just like the Sage of the Six Paths, and that he'll show everyone that this is real. Dodai, Genma, and Raidō give chase to Mū. Having steered the Kage's attention towards the flowers, Madara uses Susanoo to knock them down from behind, throwing them at the flowers, and proceeds to set the forest ablaze. Mei tries putting out the fire, but collapses due to the pollen, as do the other Kage. Ōnoki thinks back to his youth, talking to the First Tsuchikage about the strong will of Iwa shinobi. Ōnoki musters enough strength to destroy the flowers and injure Madara. The other Kage regain conciousness just in time to see the face formed from the DNA of the First Hokage's face in Madara's chest. Kabuto gushes on how Orochimaru's creation allowed him to create the ultimate trump card. Elsewhere, Sasuke detects someone in the woods nearby. Taking out his sword, he goes investigate, only to be shocked at seeing Itachi.

After Sasuke spots Itachi, he chases his brother down. Itachi refuses to be swayed from his mission, so Sasuke attempts to use Susanoo to stop him, but Itachi counters with his own. As Sasuke chases his brother the two have a conversation. Elsewhere, a regenerating Madara decides to target Tsunade after realising she was a Senju. Deeming her a weak woman who had seemingly inherited nothing from Hashirama who he claimed was even more skilled in medical ninjutsu than she was, he goes on to say that even more so that a weak person, he detested a weak Senju. Tsunade however rebuffs him, telling him that though she had not inherited the Wood Release kekkei genkai her grandfather possessed and that he may have even been more skilled than her with medical ninjutsu — since he did not require the use of hand seals to use it, Madara made two mistakes. One was assuming she was a weak woman and the other was that she had inherited nothing from her ancestor. She states that she inherited something more than simple power, the Will of Fire — something Madara should not take so lightly.

Madara doubts Tsunade can defeat him with the Will of Fire, stating power has nothing to do with will. Tsunade disagrees, saying that the will she inherited made her strong, crediting it for her revolution of medical ninjutsu, building an entire system, and making its three rules, which she lists to him as she releases her seal. She then reveals another rule: that only those who have mastered the Strength of a Hundred Technique are allowed to break the other three rules. The other Kage are stunned to learn about this, while Madara is unfazed, having never heard of the technique. Tsunade explains it's a kinjutsu only she knows how to use. Madara says that getting rid of the pollen and adding a medical-nin won't help their odds. Tsunade says all of them will go at it at once if it comes down to it, and that she's not just a medical-nin. Madara covers himself with Susanoo's ribcage, which Tsunade cracks with her attack. Madara notes her to be slower than the Raikage, but stronger than him. Madara tries immolating Tsunade, but is stopped by Mei, who also attacks. A and Ōnoki deal a heavy blow just as Tsunade lands a powerful kick, sending Madara crashing down. Madara concedes that Tsunade isn't as weak as he thought. Madara reminds her that she'll get herself killed if she simply rushes into battle, the Kage's source of treatment and recovery. Madara wonders what Hashirama left them, saying they're nothing compared to Hashirama, and that if he had known how weak they'd be, he'd have taught Hashirama how to rise from the dead. He says the only power Hashirama left is clinging to him, and that his own brother only left him his eyes and their power. Tsunade asks if he heard nothing of what she said. Madara says the only thing that could be passed to them is hatred. At the same time, Dan Katō and Chōza Akimichi have a conversation where Chōza informs him that Madara had been resurrected and that Tsunade — as Hokage — and the other Kage were battling him, which shocks Dan. Despite Chōza's confidence in Tsunade, Dan tells him that he should use his time finding the caster of the technique instead of guarding the barrier that held him as Madara was not to be taken lightly, expressing his belief that only Hashirama could possibly defeat Madara. Back at the battle with Madara, Tsunade manages to land a devastating blow on Madara and as he regenerates, Gaara binds and seals him. This is however, revealed to be nothing more that a wood clone, as Tsunade is impaled by a Susanoo Sword and Madara emerges from a root telling them that when he fought Hashirama in the past, only his dōjutsu could see through the clone. To keep Sasuke from following him, Itachi summons a flock of crows, which stall Sasuke. Itachi finds Kabuto, saying that he felt where his chakra came from while he was being controlled earlier, citing it as a weakness of the technique. Kabuto isn't concerned, as he's the only one who can stop the technique. After seeing Sasuke close behind Itachi, Kabuto gets excited, exclaiming his luck had turned for the better which leaded and exasperated Itachi to remark that things had turned out worse than he expected.

Having arrived at Kabuto's hideout, Sasuke identifies Kabuto. Kabuto attempts to manipulate him into attacking Itachi, but Sasuke explains his goal was to talk with his brother and that Kabuto, who has now taken Orochimaru's mantle, is his enemy. Meanwhile Tsunade reveals her new technique's power, which allows nearly instant regeneration without the usage of hand seals, and throws the sword that impales her back at Madara. While he absorbs it into his Susanoo, Ōnoki tries to blast Madara with Dust Release from behind, but Madara simply absorbs it, claiming he could have done it earlier but instead took it as a chance to demoralise them with Hashirama's visage. Tsunade questions his confidence, stating the Kage forced him into using a wood clone. Instead of rebuffing her, Madara admits five versus one is a good match-up number and creates twenty-five wood clones, five for each Kage. Sasuke attempts to kill Kabuto, but Itachi stops him, explaining the need to discover the counter to the Impure World Reincarnation beforehand. Sasuke agrees to cooperate on the terms that Itachi will answer his questions once they're done, and Itachi accepts, as both brothers and Kabuto ready themselves for battle.

Closing his hood and stating that he was an introverted person and as such it was unsettling to be stared at by so many people, Kabuto sends his snakes charging towards Sasuke and Itachi. The brothers are able to fend this attack off, however Kabuto uses this opportunity to hide in one of his snakes. Here, Kabuto reveals the abilities that he had gained from experimenting with Sasuke's former team-mates: Karin's healing abilities, a similar ability to Suigetsu's Hydrification Technique as well as Jūgo's ability to absorb the forces of nature. After revealing that he had found and trained at the Ryūchi Cave — much to Itachi's shock — he narrowly dodges Sasuke's attack. Emerging from the snake's mouth he reveals that he had finally surpassed Orochimaru and was able to become a sage and declares that he was now a dragon after Sasuke mistakes him for an imperfect snake like Orochimaru was.

Kabuto launches a dragon at the brothers. As Itachi rushes over, a blinding light and violent air vibrations erupt. Sasuke and Itachi are paralysed by the air vibrations, but Kabuto is still able to move because of his liquified body. Kabuto goes after Sasuke first. Itachi protects him with Susanoo. Itachi explains that he already knows where Kabuto's going to attack, so he can guard properly. Kabuto jumps onto the ceiling. Itachi tells Sasuke to remember the plan they used when they went on a mission together. Sasuke remembering hunting a huge boar as he puts the plan into action with his brother. Sasuke thinks he has Kabuto, but then is shocked to see Kabuto off to the side stabbing Itachi. Itachi's body is revealed to be a crow clone, and the real Itachi counterattacks, cutting off a piece of Kabuto's horn. Itachi and Sasuke remember their time together and prepare to catch the snake.

Amused at the fact that though Sasuke should hate Itachi, the two seemed to be getting along well, Kabuto states that he understands that something might have happened during the brothers' battle, could not understand what Sasuke could want from a dead person. After hearing Sasuke declare that he wanted to know the truth, Kabuto surmises that Sasuke was suspicious of his brother, having already heard the truth and as such never returned to Konohagakure because of his intent to destroy it for making his brother suffer. Calling Itachi a liar and stating that he had went as far as to eradicate his entire clan in order to protect the village, he asks Sasuke whether or not what he was doing was more akin to his own goals of wanting to contunue what Orochimaru started and destroy Konoha. Attempting to inveigle him to his side once again, Sasuke has a flashback of a conversation he overheard with a group of Konoha-nin bad-mouthing Itachi after which he declares that he was nothing like Kabuto and that crushing Konoha was his own ambition. Recalling his life in Konoha, Kabuto begins to renounce the village and tells Sasuke that he would be his new brother. Telling his brother not to listen to Kabuto, Itachi commences his plan of action, telling his brother that he would use one of the clan's ultimate dōjutsu. Believing it to be Izanagi, Sasuke questions his brother on this. Itachi however corrects his brother as he clashes with Kabuto while wielding Sasuke's sword telling him that this is another technique, able to decide destiny: Izanami.

Kabuto attacks the Uchiha brothers with his Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation causing the cave formations to attack them. Having used his Susanoo to protect Sasuke, Itachi is incapacitated between the rocks. As Kabuto retrieves a talisman from his snake, intent on rewriting Itachi's mind, Sasuke creates a ring of Amaterasu flames to prevent Kabuto from taking any further action. Commending Sasuke's strategy, Kabuto tells him nonetheless that they were not capable of defeating him. Continuing to brag about his accomplishments, he states that of anyone currently alive, he had come the closest to the Sage of the Six Paths and that compared to him, the Uchiha were nothing. This prompts Sasuke to lash out at him, but he is stopped by a fully-regenerated Itachi. Itachi tells Kabuto that he reminded him of his former self though the two of them were very different. He then tells him that because he did not understand his own limitations, the value of comrades and who he really was, he was doomed to fail as he did when he was alive. With this, Kabuto retorts that they were the ones that knew nothing about him and that for his whole life, he had tried to find who he really was. With this Kabuto has a flashback to his earliest memory of being found by Nonō and Urushi. He then states that for his whole life, he had nothing.

Kabuto flashes back to the time when they aided several Konohagakure shinobi by healing them. Asked by Orochimaru who thought his skills were impressive whether or not he had thought of being a shinobi, to which Kabuto declines. Nonō is later approached by Danzō Shimura, Orochimaru and another unknown shinobi, who blackmail her into undertaking an intelligence gathering mission based on the intel they had received that Iwagakure was planning a big attack. Taking Kabuto along with them to replace a dead Root member, the young man was sent on several spy mission in different hidden villages inclusive of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. On a mission in Iwagakure, his cover was blown and as he attempted to escape he was confronted by an Iwa-nin. Kabuto attacked the ninja with his chakra scalpel severely wounding them. This person turned out to be Nonō much to Kabuto's shock as he tried to heal her. She however did not remember him, which devastated Kabuto who ran off and left her as Kitsuchi and another Iwa-nin approached them. Devastated that she did not remember him and wondering who he was, Kabuto is once again approached by Orochimaru who states that Kabuto had become quite the shinobi.

Kabuto is startled by Orochimaru's approach. Orochimaru says he's been watching Kabuto and Nonō for a long time, and invites him to come with him, promising to reveal to him the reason Nonō attacked him and didn't recognise him. Orochimaru takes Kabuto to his medically-equipped hideout, telling Kabuto he's the first person he has brought there. Kabuto questions Orochimaru on why he brought him there, and Orochimaru is pleased with his enquiring nature. Orochimaru reveals that Root designed for Kabuto and Nonō to kill each other, as they became too skilled as spies, and that their knowledge made them too dangerous. Orochimaru explains that Danzō told Nonō the reason Kabuto joined Root, and she begged him to free Kabuto. Danzō agreed, provided she killed one man, which turned out to be Kabuto, though she wasn't told of this. Orochimaru shows Kabuto photos Nonō was shown through the years, as proof Kabuto was growing up.

At some point, the photos were changed, showing someone other than Kabuto, making Nonō believe Kabuto was someone else, living a civilian life, and being sent on missions on different countries, they would never meet. Kabuto figures Orochimaru was sent to kill the one who survived. Orochimaru tells him he's correct, and Kabuto attacks him viciously, all the while asking who he is now that the only person who knew him was gone. Orochimaru regurgitates himself, and tells Kabuto he's not who he thinks, and that he is like him. He explains to Kabuto that he is the research he makes, always changing himself, adding knowledge and skills, and that he values Kabuto's skill, that being the reason why he assembled that hideout. He adds that he intends to create Otogakure, a village without country, and fashions Kabuto a new background. Kabuto becomes Orochimaru's spy, pretending to be a spy for Sasori in order to learn about Akatsuki, and aids Orochimaru in his experiments through the years. After Orochimaru's defeat at Sasuke's hand, Kabuto injects himself with blood from Orochimaru's true form's remains, looking for his true self.

Episodes