276: Black Zetsu finally locates the Feudal Lords' mansion and commences his attack. However, he is stopped by the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi and her squad. During the scuffle, Black Zetsu senses Naruto Uzumaki and Bee which he quickly conveys to Madara. At the coastline, Madara appears and summons the Gedo Statue to hold off his enemies while he goes after the Kohaku no Johei and the Benihisago to obtain Kinkaku and Ginkaku's Nine Tails chakra. As the Gedo Statue overwhelms the shinobi forces as their attempts to attack it are unsuccessful, Madara successfully obtains the relics and leaves the coastline. As night falls with Kabuto calling back his reanimated ninja army, the shinobi forces recuperate from the first day of the conflict while evaluating their counterattack.
277: Making his way to the battlefield with Killer Bee, Naruto is dragged into his subconscious by the Nine Tails, who berates the boy, asking him if he could even bear the hatred the war will bring. The beast then reminds Naruto of Sasuke Uchiha and the hatred the young Uchiha bore even as a child the day he and Naruto first met. Taking offense to the beast telling him anything he could do to stop hatred is futile, Naruto pins the Nine Tails down while telling him that he will manage to do something about the ensuing war, Sasuke's hatred and possibly even the Nine Tails' own hatred.
278: Neji loses his energy while scouting the company's outskirts for enemies, and Kiba advises him to go seek medical treatment. Meanwhile, at the medical encampment, Shizune and Sakura Haruno are treating numerous injured shinobi, while mysterious killings occur in secret throughout the base. Neji is revealed to be the culprit after slaughtering two more medics, and then goes after Sakura. However, back at the company's base, the real Neji is still resting with Kiba and Akamaru, while Hinata and Shino take over watching the frontlines. Back at the medical center, Sakura tells Neji that Shizune is treating Tonton's sprained leg injury. When Neji comments that it was a good thing Tonton's hands weren't hurt, Sakura discovers the true culprit is him, since the real Neji would know that Tonton does not have hands. She successfully defends herself against his attempted attack; it is revealed that White Zetsu is responsible for the attacks in the medic encampment, by absorbing peoples' chakras and manipulating himself into a perfect clone of everyone he comes in contact with. Sakura quickly relays the information to HQ while Shikaku attempts to come up with a plan to combat the White Zetsu.
279: Team 8's Kiba, Shino and Hinata investigate a cave where a barrier that protects them, now had an opening. In the cave, White Zetsus ambush them and they hold off until the Sealing Corps arrive. As the Sealing Corps is about to seal the cave and Team 8 escapes, White Zetsus try to follow and Kiba fights back. The White Zetsu accidentally bumps on an oil lamp and the flame lands on an oil connecting to the Paper bombs triggering an explosion in the process. After the explosion, Team 8 regroups and notices the deaths of the Sealing Corps. Suspicion grows among themselves and decide to play Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who's the fake among them. Shino somewhat reveals as the "fake" but when Kiba manages to defeat Shino, it was Hinata who is the fake and Shino appears elsewhere. Shino reveals that his Rock-Paper-Scissors is his hand signal and used his insect clone. They defeat the White Zetsu and find Hinata who is safely lying on the ground.
280: Kurotsuchi pays a visit to the Fifth division where Deidara was held prisoner. Earlier, A White Zetsu in a samurai's clothing approaches Deidara and tries to break Deidara's containment. However Kurotsuchi and Okisuke arrive and White Zetsu suddenly stops, leaving the katana on Deidara's containment. As a frustrated Kurotsuchi continues interrogating Deidara, Okisuke asks the samurai guarding Deidara but the samurai cannot answer properly so Okisuke slashes the imposter and a group of White Zetsu appears on them. Deidara breaks free from his confinement and escapes the area, which makes the entire Fifth division chasing him. Deidara tries to fight back and keeps on moving while thinking how to make his Super Ultimate Art a blast. As he stands on a lagoon, Sasuke appears which Deidara becomes enraged. Sasuke leaves and Deidara chases him then arrives on a valley where Sasuke was only a fake, revealing Kurotsuchi. The Fifth division corners Deidara and as he cannot fight back, they capture him again.
281: Konohamaru participates in a meeting organized by Ebisu in Konoha of the remaining villagers, mostly including the children and wives. Ebisu attempts to rally everyones' spirits together in the event that rogue ninja should attack the village while their shinobi families are away at war, but the mothers scoff and claim that they will protect the village as they always have while their husbands fought. Suddenly Konohamaru is approached by several children, each claiming to have seen terrifying rogue ninja roaming the east and west forests outside Konoha. He tries to recruit his classmates into hunting them down, but they refuse to believe him. Konohamaru investigates the area alone with Moegi and Udon, only to find a traveling circus troupe in the forest instead of rogue ninja. Heading back, Konohamaru is again alerted that people are attacking the village on the west side, and this time, the rumors are true. A group of rogue Sumo Wrestlers attack the children, but they are saved by the mothers of Konoha, who fight back against the intruders. Konohamaru delivers the final blow with his Rasengan and saves the village.
282: On their way to the battlefield, Naruto and Killer Bee are hindered by Tsunade and the Fourth Raikage A. While Tsunade watched, Naruto argues to A about his wanting support his friends who are fighting for him. A berates Minato Namikaze and Naruto tells that his father is not a failure, attempting to outrun the more faster A. However, to everyone's shock, A decides to simply kill Naruto with Bee quickly saving the younger Jinchūriki. Bumping fists soon after, Bee asks A why he can't read his soul and recalls their past where Bee became A's brother after passing his Double Lariat test. Their bond improves as they go on missions together prior to A receiving advice from Bee's cousin prior to his death and Bee becoming the Jinchuriki of the Eight Tails. Now a fully grown man, Bee and A encounter Minato. A makes his speedy attack however Minato evades and tries to land an attack on A's back but Bee's tentacle quickly saves A. As the Leaf group retreats, Minato compliments Bee's ability. A berates Minato and charges toward him but Minato teleports to Bee's back pointing at each other with a weapon.
283: As he and A exchange blows, Killer Bee lament to A out he is overprotecting him after reminding his foster brother that he urged him to develop his Tail Beast when he became Raikage after his father's death. A explains that both Bee and Naruto, as Jinchuriki, are extremely valuable and intends to keep them safe even if it is against their will. But Bee's determination allowed him to make a connecting Lariat on A, comparing his mindset to a sun and Naruto's own determination to two suns, referring to his parents Minato and Kushina. While Tsunade allows Naruto to enter the war, an unconvinced A makes a final move to take the boy out at lightning speed. However, impressed to see Naruto dodge his attack like his father had, A lets Naruto and Bee continue on their way as Shikaku learns that Naruto's negative sensing capability can give them the edge against the White Zetsu army. As the sun rises in the forest, Tobi summons his personal Six Paths of Pain: The Jinchuriki that Kabuto reanimated for him.
284: During the night, Kakashi Hatake tells his squad to take a rest but maintain their awareness. Two shinobi arrive from HQ bringing an enormous item to Kakashi and then he hands it over to Sai, with Lee assigned to be his bodyguard, to aid in sealing the reanimated ninja. Sai becomes stressed as he recalls a seal variation of his Super Beast Scroll ability that requires emotional energy that can be harmful if not in a controlled state of mind. At dawn, the reanimated ninja sprawl out and resume killing Allied ninja on the field. Among the enemies is Akebino Jinin who is being confronted and slashed by Kakashi as Ensui binds Jinin's body so Sai could perform the Sealing jutsu. However Gari arrives and Lee defends Sai and Ensui. Thinking of his time with Team Kakashi, Sai is able to control his emotions to execute his Sealing Jutsu: Crouched Tiger Bullet to trap Jinin in a scroll.
285: In a flashback, the Hidden Sand Village celebrates Pakura for her victory against the Hidden Stone village. Maki, Pakura's student, wants to train with her despite being tired from the previous skirmish and Pakura praises Maki for her fighting prowess. After their sparring match, Pakura advises Maki to be strong so she can protect her loved ones and the village. Meanwhile, in a meeting of Hidden Sand officials they stress about a truce with the Hidden Mist village despite it is against in their favor and suggest Pakura to solve the issue. However, as Maki was told, Pakura was assassinated by ninjas from the Hidden Stone village. In a present time, Allied ninja struggle to outgun the remaining Ninja Swordsman of the Mist as well as Gari and Pakura. Pakura confronts Maki and reveals that she was actually send as a sacrificial offering from their village to be killed by the Hidden Mist ninja. Though Ruka intervenes their argument that her village discarded its bloody and vicious reputation under the new leadership of the Fifth Mizukage, Pakura refuses to accept it as Maki pleads with her that Allied Shinobi Force will improve its relations and might change the future then she begs to remain a hero. Still skeptic, Pakura attempts to attack but she was stopped by Omoi and Zaji. In their successful coordinated attack, they manage to incapacitate Pakura but Gari arrives. Gari targets Maki but Pakura corners Gari with her fireballs and tells Maki to flee. After the group flee into the forest, with Maki praying by herself, Gari and Pakura have their minds erased by Kabuto again.
286: As Tsunade and Raikage escort Naruto and Killer Bee to the war, Tsunade questions her faith in Naruto. She remembers a time before she met Naruto when she crossed paths with Raikage. Raikage was in need her medical talents to save a wounded subordinate. This encounter ultimately led up to Tsunade agreeing to help only if Raikage could best her in an arm wrestling match. The Raikage wins using his speed to his advantage. After seeing the state of the patient, Tsunade requires that they tell her what had happened.
287: As she listens on to the events of Raikage and his followers ambushed by a ninja group known as the Nokizaru, Tsunade realizes the nature of the insect as a bomb with another inside Raikage. After explaining this and having Raikage make a promise to her, Tsunade catches and destroys a bug which had been hovering near A for some time — unbeknownst to them that the Nokizaru had been using it as a method to spy on them. Preparing to operate, Tsunade has Shizune lead the surgery while she oversaw it. Though Raikage initially protested, believing that Tsunade should perform the surgery, the Sannin allays his fears somewhat. As Shizune, aided by Amai begins the surgery, blood is splattered on a terrified Tsunade as she excuses herself from the room. Seeking an explanation, Shizune tells the two of Tsunade's two great loves and loss which led up to her current state. Hearing this, the Raikage states that he would not have placed the lives of his subordinates in the hands of someone in that mental state, an indignant Shizune speaks out against his chastisement of her mistress, throwing the extracted exploding bug at his feet. The flashback ends with Naruto and B heading towards the battlefield while Raikage and Tsunade return to headquarters.
288: While en route, Kakashi receives word that Sai had managed to seal one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He later receives intel from headquarters on the ninja swordsmen before he rushes towards where he hears a commotion. Upon his arrival, he sees Jinpachi Munashi and Kushimaru Kuriarare, who are affronted that Kakashi was wielding the Kubikiribōchō. As they begin to battle, the two reincarnated Kirigakure shinobi begin to mercilessly cut down one another in order to get to Kakashi. Kakashi is not alone for long as Might Guy comes to his side and together the two take on the swordsmen after Kakashi awakens a kunoichi, who had been knocked unconscious on the battlefield. After telling her to flee, the four begin to battle, and it ends up that Kakashi is left momentarily blinded by Jinpachi's explosion. Despite this, the two men press on, remembering a time they went on a mission together along with Rin. The two are eventually able to stave off the Kiri-nin's attack until Ran returns with the Sealing Team who promptly seal away Kushimaru and Jinpachi.
289: As Guy and Kakashi prepare to regroup their forces, they receive word that one of the units were engaged in battle with Ameyuri Ringo and decide to head to that location. Elsewhere, Ameyuri merciless attacks the members of Yurui's unit. With Yurui dead and only a handful of members left, the new leader of the team Nurui decides that they should escape as they were no match for one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. As they flee, Omoi who believes that they should stand and fight, gets into an argument with Nurui and Kayui tries to quell the argument, but, Omoi unable to take the coward's way out turns and prepares to face Ameyuri. Clashing with the kunoichi, Omoi is soon overpowered until Nurui and Kayui arrive and lure her away as Ameyuri notes that she always saved the best for last. The two shinobi are soon incapacitated by Ameyuri's attack, leaving Omoi to lure her away once again. Using her Lightning Release: Depth Charge once again, Ameyuri is shocked to see the ground beneath her give way as she and Omoi began to sink into quicksand. When the Third Division arrives in time to rescue Omoi, Ameyuri who had seemingly grown to like the young Cloud ninja, gives him the blade Fang as a parting gift.
290: Taking place in the aftermath of the Kage Summit, Team Kakashi is sent out on a mission by Tsunade to a location known as "The Hole" to investigate an incident where its people were killed. Regretting that she could not assign more people to the mission because of recent incidents elsewhere, the team sets out nonetheless. While there, they split up into two teams, with Yamato and Sai encountering officers from the neighboring Hachō Village where Shiseru and her team, after learning they are from Konoha shinobi, escort them to their village leader Disonasu. Elsewhere, Sakura and Naruto, who are at The Hole's water spring, encounter Kabuto Yakushi who reveals that the ninja he reanimated were behind the killing so he can use The Hole's waters to create a clone of the still living Hidan.
Rating: 9/10(Average)
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