Facing the Shinobi World War…!!

Refuelling after her long coma, Tsunade hears Kakashi's gratitude for stirring in time to spare him the Hokage seat, a role he insists never suited him. He walks her through the declaration of war and all she slept through, then reflects grimly that the Uchiha's cursed cycle of hatred continues to haunt the village. Tsunade soon gathers a council to plan the village's course. Once Sakura tells him the Hokage is awake, Naruto is toasting her recovery at Ichiraku when a reverse summons whisks him off to Mount Myoboku.

Carrying out an arrangement Jiraiya left behind, the toad Gerotora lodges himself inside Naruto, effectively handing him command over the Nine-Tails' seal. Meanwhile Kabuto, now fully merged with what remained of Orochimaru, presents himself before Tobi. To sweeten a proposed partnership, he brings back every Akatsuki member from the dead as a bargaining chip.

A recovered Tsunade is briefed on the war and calls a strategy council. Naruto is summoned to Mount Myoboku, where Gerotora seals himself within him to grant control of the Nine-Tails' seal per Jiraiya's plan. Kabuto, fused with Orochimaru, confronts Tobi and revives the fallen Akatsuki to pressure him into an alliance.

This chapter opens the Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown storyline and was collected in the fifty-second volume. Viz Media titled it Facing A Great Ninja War…!!, and it marks the point where the coming conflict's major players commit to their sides.