Itachi's Question!!

Nagato remarks that something in Naruto's face has softened since they last stood opposite one another. Naruto credits the change to his parents, to Killer B, and to the lesson about pain that Nagato himself once delivered, all of which helped him master his own hatred. Itachi announces he has a question, and Naruto admits he has one of his own.

Elsewhere, Kabuto congratulates himself on locating the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails before anyone else, amused by how Tobi might react, then orders his revived pawns to strike. Itachi opens with a fireball, which B splits apart using Samehada, and the exchange pulls both hosts into direct combat with the Uchiha.

As they trade blows, Itachi steers the talk toward Sasuke. Naruto describes his friend's vow to raze Konoha and reveals that Tobi disclosed Itachi's covert assignment. Itachi requests that the truth stay buried so the Uchiha name keeps its honor. Nagato then hurls Naruto and a lake boulder together with a pulling force, but Naruto slips clear, and two summoned beasts join the fray. Naruto tears into the multiplying hound while Itachi and B keep fighting. Finally Itachi mounts Nagato's giant bird and flares his Mangekyo Sharingan, and a crow slides out of Naruto's throat.

Naruto explains how he overcame his hatred, and Itachi confirms his wish to protect the reputation of the Uchiha even in death. Kabuto reveals his satisfaction at claiming both hosts first.

Nagato uses his shared vision and summons to press the hosts, while Itachi's activation of the Mangekyo Sharingan coincides with a crow emerging from Naruto, hinting at a hidden plan left behind by the Uchiha.

The chapter sits in the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation arc and was collected in volume 58. The concealed crow becomes central to how Itachi later slips free of Kabuto's control.