Recaps

Issui defeated Baki, helped turn the invasion battle in Konoha’s favor with Christina and his Flame Demon form, and then joined the Third Hokage against Orochimaru. He entered the Four Violet Flames Formation, declaring that his bonds with Konoha gave him the strength to fight, as Orochimaru pressed the First and Second Hokage to attack.

• Issui escaped Baki’s Genjutsu, defeated him with Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, and left him unconscious.
• Issui confronted Kabuto at the exam grounds, then went with Christina to destroy the giant snakes attacking Konoha’s entrance.
• Christina and Issui attacked the invaders, with Issui’s Flame Demon form turning the battle in Konoha’s favor.
• Issui approached the Third Hokage’s fight with Orochimaru and said he would enter the Four Violet Flames Formation to help.
• Issui told the Anbu and the Third that his bonds with Konoha gave him the strength to fight, while Orochimaru ordered the First and Second Hokage to attack faster.

Issui entered the Four Violet Flames Formation in his flame body and fought Hashirama Senju, using a combination of attacks to weaken him enough for the Ice Soul Seal to work. Hashirama’s soul was sealed inside Issui, leaving Issui with the First Hokage under his control as the battle against Orochimaru and the Second Hokage continued.

• Issui passed through the Four Violet Flames Formation and told the Third Hokage he would seal Hashirama’s soul while the Third faced Orochimaru and the Second Hokage.
• Issui’s first Ice Soul Seal attempt failed, and Hashirama attacked him with Wood Release before switching to Water Release and Earth Release to wear down his flame body.
• Issui combined Fire Release and Lightning Release to create a thunderstorm that struck Hashirama and left him badly damaged.
• Issui tried the Ice Soul Seal again, and Hashirama encouraged him to protect Konoha and agreed to the seal.
• The Ice Soul Seal succeeded, and Hashirama’s soul entered Issui’s soul space under his control.

Issui Kanna sealed Hashirama Senju’s soul and then fought Tobirama Senju while Hiruzen Sarutobi faced Orochimaru. Tobirama’s techniques overwhelmed Issui, who appeared to die after his heart was crushed, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Issui Kanna revealed that his Ice Soul Seal had removed Hashirama Senju’s soul from the Impure World Reincarnation vessel, exposing Zaku’s corpse.
• Issui left Orochimaru to Hiruzen Sarutobi and began fighting Tobirama Senju, using an ice bear, an ice python, and the White-Sealing Domain.
• Issui pulled Tobirama’s soul free with the Ice Soul Seal, but the seal failed when Tobirama resisted slightly, and Tobirama returned to his body.
• Tobirama used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and Dance of the Crescent Moon against Issui, crushing his chest and apparently killing him.
• Tobirama grieved over killing Issui, while the author’s note questioned whether Issui had truly died and promised an explanation in the next chapter.

Issui revived after his Ice Heart repaired itself and sealed the Second Hokage’s soul, then joined the Third in fighting Orochimaru. The Third began using the Reaper Death Seal on Orochimaru, but Orochimaru stabbed him with the Kusanagi Sword before the sealing was complete.

• Orochimaru mocked the Third over Issui’s apparent death, while the Third mourned Issui and vowed to avenge him.
• The Anbu, Hinata, Haku, Guy, and Kakashi reacted to Issui’s apparent death as rain poured over Konoha.
• Issui’s Ice Heart restored itself, and he rose just as the Third prepared to use the Reaper Death Seal.
• Issui used the Ice Soul Seal to capture the Second Hokage’s soul, and the First and Second agreed to serve Issui and support his ambition to change the ninja world.
• Issui told Orochimaru his bloodline ability had revived him, then left the exhausted Issui’s fate to the Third as the Third fought Orochimaru with Enma.
• The Third seized Orochimaru and began the Reaper Death Seal, but Orochimaru stabbed him with the Kusanagi Sword while Enma struggled to hold it back.

The Third sealed Orochimaru's hands before dying, and Orochimaru escaped as Konoha defeated the invasion. Issui grieved the Third's death and survived Namiashi Raidō's mistaken attack after witnesses defended his efforts to save the village.

• The Third used his remaining strength to seal Orochimaru's hands and died after preventing him from using Ninjutsu.
• The Sound Four removed the barrier and helped Orochimaru escape while Kidomaru restrained the pursuing Anbu.
• Jiraiya learned that Issui had devastated the invaders and saved many of Konoha's lower-ranking ninja.
• Hinata and Haku reunited with Issui on the roof, where the others discovered the Third's body.
• Namiashi Raidō blamed Issui for the Third's death and punched him, but Kakashi stopped his attempt to stab Issui.
• An Anbu, Ibiki, and Kakashi defended Issui's accomplishments, prompting Namiashi Raidō to apologize before Jiraiya ordered the battlefield cleanup.

Sunagakure surrendered to Konoha after Issui revealed the Fourth Kazekage had been killed, and he negotiated heavy reparations. As Konoha rebuilt and mourned the Third Hokage, Issui urged Konohamaru and the villagers to carry on the Third’s will.

• Granny Chiyo offered Sunagakure’s surrender, but Issui revealed Orochimaru had killed the Fourth Kazekage and threatened further conflict if Sunagakure refused to make amends.
• Issui and Chiyo argued over reparations until Sunagakure agreed to pay a heavy price and took Baki and the Fourth Kazekage’s body back to their village.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu organized Konoha’s recovery, while Issui and the Konoha 12 helped repair damaged homes.
• Issui, Hinata, and Haku attended the Third Hokage’s funeral with the villagers of Konoha.
• Issui comforted Konohamaru and urged him to train and inherit the Third’s will, while Iruka and Naruto Uzumaki reflected on the Third living on in their hearts.

Itachi and Kisame entered Konoha after the Third Hokage’s funeral and investigated the village, where rumors about a powerful young ninja drew their attention. Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai confronted them, and after Itachi revealed Akatsuki’s interest in the Fourth Hokage’s legacy, Kakashi prepared to face Itachi’s Sharingan.

• Itachi and Kisame entered Konoha, using Genjutsu to evade the village guards.
• At a dango shop, Itachi and Kisame heard villagers praise a twelve-year-old ninja who had helped defeat Orochimaru and the revived First and Second Hokage.
• Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai noticed Itachi and Kisame, then followed and confronted them.
• Kurenai fought Itachi with Genjutsu while Kisame injured Asuma with Samehada; Asuma cut Kisame’s cheek with Flying Swallow.
• Kakashi arrived and matched Kisame’s Water Dragon Bullet Technique, then identified Itachi and Kisame as Akatsuki members targeting the Fourth Hokage’s legacy.
• Itachi activated his Sharingan, and Kakashi warned Kurenai and Asuma to close their eyes before he faced Itachi.

Itachi trapped Kakashi in Tsukuyomi before he and Kisame encountered Issui, who challenged them and revealed that his Eye of Heaven could resist Genjutsu. Issui led the Akatsuki pair away from Konoha and summoned Fini to make the fight two against two.

• Itachi used Tsukuyomi to torture Kakashi for seventy-two hours in the illusion, and Kisame attacked him after he collapsed.
• Guy arrived, rescued Kakashi, and prepared to fight Itachi and Kisame until Issui appeared and challenged the Akatsuki pair.
• Issui and Itachi exchanged attacks using Water Clones and Genjutsu, but Issui escaped with his third eye and explained that his Eye of Heaven resisted Genjutsu.
• Issui led Itachi and Kisame to a distant valley, where he summoned Fini and assigned her to fight Kisame while he faced Itachi.
• Kisame grew furious when Issui insulted his appearance, while Fini eagerly anticipated Issui's promised romantic reward.

Issui and Itachi fought with low-level techniques before escalating to their bloodline abilities. The chapter ended with Issui absorbing Itachi’s Amaterasu flames and leaving Itachi shaken.

• Fini and Kisame moved away from Issui and Itachi to begin their own fight.
• Issui and Itachi exchanged Fire and Water Release attacks, substitutions, shadow clones, and Explosive Tags without either gaining a decisive advantage.
• Issui used an ice snake to locate Itachi, but Itachi attacked from above with the Great Flame Flower Technique.
• Issui survived by activating Flame Body, then explained that it was immune to physical attacks and Fire Style.
• Itachi used Amaterasu, but Issui’s Flame Body absorbed the black flames and changed color, astonishing Itachi.

Issui explained the Eye of Heaven’s abilities and limitations before battling Itachi with increasingly powerful techniques. Itachi summoned Susanoo against Issui’s Flame Demon Descent, and the chapter ended as Issui’s unavoidable flame blade battered Itachi’s shield while the strain of his Mangekyō techniques blurred his vision.

• Issui told Itachi that his Eye of Heaven let him use Amaterasu without harming his eyes and described its stages and Secret Techniques.
• Itachi deduced that Issui’s Flame Body had a time limit, and the technique expired as Issui returned to flesh.
• Issui trapped Itachi in the White Eye’s Sealing Domain, restricting his Chakra, then attacked with Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
• Itachi summoned Susanoo, and Issui answered with Flame Demon Descent, forming a flame giant more than thirty meters tall.
• Issui’s Flame Demon Purgatory Slash repeatedly struck Itachi’s Yata Mirror, while Itachi’s heavy use of Mangekyō techniques caused his eyes to bleed and his vision to blur.

Issui drove off Itachi and Kisame after a fierce battle, then secretly collected Itachi’s blood for a plan to create bodies for Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. Back in Konoha, he accepted an S-rank mission to Kirigakure while refusing an offer to lead the Anbu.

• Issui ended his fight with Itachi, warning him and Kisame not to harm Konoha and letting them leave rather than risk a fatal battle.
• Fini fought Kisame until Issui told her to stop, and the battered Kisame and Itachi departed together.
• Issui collected Itachi’s spilled blood with a secret technique, intending to combine it with Senju and Uzumaki blood to create bodies for Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• At the Hokage building, Issui gave Mitokado Homura intelligence on Itachi and Akatsuki, including the Mangekyō Sharingan’s abilities.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu assigned Issui an S-rank mission to Kirigakure and offered him the Anbu leadership, which he declined.
• Issui agreed to the mission, left Fini with the Hyuga Clan for Konoha’s protection, and discussed Tsunade becoming the Fifth Hokage.

Issui arrived in Kirigakure to undertake an S-rank mission, where he confronted the village’s ninja and learned that its target was a seemingly immortal demon called the Wind Tanuki. He also faced Mei Terumi over Kirigakure’s past destruction of Heaven Village before preparing to pursue the monster.

• Issui left for Kirigakure after packing, intent on completing the mission and pursuing his other plans.
• Kirigakure’s ninja challenged Issui’s ability to handle an S-rank mission, so he used his Death God Encounter Genjutsu to overwhelm them until Ao intervened.
• Ao escorted Issui to Mei Terumi, who offered to recruit him, but Issui demanded the mission details and accused Kirigakure of destroying Heaven Village six years earlier.
• Mei Terumi apologized and promised to punish the elder responsible, while Issui said that would not erase his hatred or bring back his village.
• Mei Terumi explained that the mission target hunted people in a forest, and Ao identified it as the Wind Tanuki, a demon that revived when wind entered its mouth.

Issui accepted Kirigakure’s mission to kill the Wind Tanuki and fought the supposedly unkillable beast after it emerged at night. He defeated it with a combination of Genjutsu, Water Release, lightning, Ice Release, and black flames, then sealed its head as a trophy while Ao watched in alarm.

• Mei Terumi explained that the Wind Tanuki had killed several teams, and Ao described its resilience and apparent weakness to iris that had failed.
• Issui agreed to eliminate the beast, and Ao took him and an Anbu squad to the affected village.
• After night fell, Issui lured the Wind Tanuki to open ground and tried to confuse it with Genjutsu, but its sense of smell let it attack him.
• Issui swept the Wind Tanuki away with a Great Waterfall Technique, bound it with lightning, and blocked its tornado with repeated Water Formation Walls.
• Issui trapped the beast with an ice serpent, severed its head with a lightning axe, and burned its body with Amaterasu flames until it died.
• Issui sealed the shrunken head in a scroll, while Ao watched the black flames and wondered about Issui’s powers.

Issui returned to Kirigakure after killing the Wind Tanuki, and Mei Terumi decided to pursue a peaceful alliance with Konoha rather than attack him. When Issui met with her, their exchange over his lingering resentment turned intimate, and Mei Terumi demanded that he call her Mei in private.

• Issui and Ao returned to Kirigakure, where Ao reported Issui's strength and the Wind Tanuki's defeat to Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi refused Ao's suggestion to eliminate Issui and planned to build friendly ties with Konoha instead.
• Mei Terumi told Issui that the elder responsible for destroying Heaven Village had been assassinated, but Issui said that did not erase his resentment.
• Mei Terumi moved close to Issui, and the two shared an intimate encounter before she pushed him away.
• Mei Terumi threatened to keep Issui in Kirigakure, then ordered him to call her Mei when they were alone.

Issui left Kirigakure after agreeing to a secret relationship with Mei Terumi, then traveled to Tanzaku Town to witness the Sannin battle. After the fight, he collected Naruto’s and Tsunade’s blood and prepared to create flesh-and-blood puppets.

• Mei Terumi persuaded Issui to become her secret partner and discussed having his child, while Issui agreed to visit her when he could.
• Issui departed Kirigakure and headed for Tanzaku Town to find the Sannin battle.
• Issui watched Tsunade overcome her fear of blood and join Jiraiya and Naruto in the fight against Orochimaru and Kabuto, which ended with Orochimaru retreating.
• After the others left, Issui used his Bloodline Creation Technique to collect Naruto’s and Tsunade’s blood.
• Issui finished collecting the blood and set out to find a hidden place to make flesh-and-blood puppets.

Issui hid in a trapped cave and used the Heaven Clan’s Flesh Activation Technique to create living bodies for Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. After succeeding on his first attempt, he collapsed from exhaustion and later woke to find the bodies slowly transforming into warm flesh.

• Issui found a secluded cave, trapped its entrance, and protected it with a barrier of Amaterasu’s black flames.
• Issui sculpted ice figures resembling Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then inscribed them with seals to form blood vessels and organs.
• Issui summoned three Shadow Clones and used the Flesh Conversion Technique and Flesh Manifestation Formation to copy and expand the perfect blood using Natural Energy.
• When the Shadow Clones ran low on Chakra, Issui connected them to himself with a Chakra chain and continued the formation for ten hours.
• Issui injected the blood into both figures, saw their eyes light up and their hearts begin beating, then collapsed unconscious.
• Issui woke after recovering and found the figures’ ice gradually turning into warm flesh and blood.

Issui revived Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju in bodies with powerful combined bloodlines, then recruited them to help stop Madara Uchiha’s plan and transform the ninja world. The brothers agreed to support Issui and took on masked identities as they prepared to build strength in secret.

• Issui guided Hashirama Senju’s and Tobirama Senju’s souls into their newly created bodies, and they awakened with abilities tied to Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki bloodlines.
• Hashirama awakened the Rinnegan, Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and Wood Release, while Tobirama awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan but could not use Wood Release.
• Issui explained Madara Uchiha’s Eye of the Moon Plan and Obito Uchiha’s efforts to collect the Tailed Beasts and provoke a war.
• Issui argued that the coming war could unite the ninja world and create a single government or governing organization, and Hashirama and Tobirama agreed to help him.
• Issui gave Hashirama and Tobirama iron masks and the titles Azure Dragon and White Tiger, then proposed that they build strength in secret.

Issui brought Hashirama and Tobirama Senju to Konoha and introduced them to the new Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, while concealing their identities with a story about wandering ninja. Tsunade examined Hashirama and learned that the brothers claimed mixed Senju and Uchiha heritage.

• Issui told Genma Shiranui that his masked companions were subordinates named Azure Dragon and White Tiger, then learned Tsunade had become the Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade and Shizune reviewed Issui's record and discussed his strength, reputation, and role in Konoha's recovery.
• Issui met Tsunade, declined the offer to lead Anbu, and accepted an A-rank mission.
• Tsunade questioned Issui's masked companions, and Hashirama demonstrated Wood Release before claiming he and Tobirama were wandering members of the Senju Clan.
• Tsunade examined Hashirama and found no evidence of cloning or transplanted cells, while Tobirama revealed a Two-Tomoe Sharingan and said their mother had belonged to the Uchiha Clan.

Issui revealed the Senju and Uchiha heritage of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to Tsunade, who agreed to keep their identities secret. After bringing the brothers to stay at the Hyuga Clan, Issui found Fini clinging to him and determined to imitate the romance in her novels.

• Issui told Tsunade and Shizune that Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju were sons of a Senju father and Uchiha mother, and Tsunade agreed to conceal their identities.
• Tsunade recalled the history of the Senju and Uchiha and decided the brothers might become pillars of Konoha.
• Issui praised Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju for acting convincingly, then told Hashirama Senju about Tsunade’s grief over her lover and Senju Nawaki.
• Issui brought Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to the Hyuga Clan and told them they could explore Konoha until he called on them for the Fourth Shinobi World War.
• Fini climbed into Issui’s bed and refused to let go, explaining that her romance novels had convinced her that embracing meant making babies.

Issui began an escort mission to take actress Fujikaze Yukie to the Land of Snow, where he discovered she was the runaway princess Kazahana Koyuki. He tracked her to a lake after she repeatedly tried to escape, and greeted her there.

• Issui woke beside Fini, helped her dress, and warned her to keep their relationship secret from Little Haku Haku and Hinata.
• After breakfast, Issui read Tsunade’s mission scroll and learned he was assigned to escort Fujikaze Yukie to the Land of Snow for a film shoot.
• Issui met Sandayū Asama at the film set and learned that Yukie had ridden away on a white horse again.
• Issui used the Body Flicker Technique to catch up with Kazahana Koyuki and tried to bring her back as her escort.
• Kazahana Koyuki rode out of town and stopped at a lake, but Issui followed and greeted her there.

Issui protected Kazahana Koyuki as she returned to town, where her dismissive treatment of her young fans and her resentment toward ninjas led to a conversation about their burdens and purpose. He shared his dream of changing the ninja world, and Kazahana Koyuki was moved but still feared confronting Kazahana Dōtō; Issui asked why he pursued his dream despite the risk of death.

• Kazahana Koyuki left Issui behind on her horse, but Issui followed as her bodyguard.
• Issui stopped Kazahana Koyuki's horse before it hit a group of children, who recognized her as Princess Gale and asked for autographs; she rebuffed and mocked them.
• Kazahana Koyuki went to a bar and drank sake with Issui, while Issui noticed a man leave after watching her necklace.
• Kazahana Koyuki condemned ninjas as murderers, and Issui explained their sacrifices and their role in protecting their countries and people.
• Issui said he would change the ninja world and become greater than the Sage of Six Paths, stirring Kazahana Koyuki despite her fear of Kazahana Dōtō.
• Issui told Kazahana Koyuki he had nearly died while pursuing his dream and asked why she thought he kept going.

Issui promised to protect Kazahana Koyuki and took her to the Land of Snow despite her fear of returning. When Nadare Rōga and his companions attacked the film crew, Issui stood between them and Koyuki as the enemy revealed the power of their Chakra Armor.

• Issui promised to protect Kazahana Koyuki, and she blushed before insisting she did not need his kindness.
• Sandayū Asama arrived to take Kazahana Koyuki to the Land of Snow, so Issui knocked her out and carried her back to the set.
• Nadare Rōga reported to Kazahana Dōtō that Kazahana Koyuki had the Hexagonal Crystal and was traveling with Issui Kanna.
• Kazahana Koyuki woke aboard a ship, accepted that she had to film in the Land of Snow, and began shooting at an ice cliff.
• Nadare Rōga and his companions attacked the filming, and Issui defended Kazahana Koyuki before Fuyukuma Mizore explained how their Chakra Armor worked.

Issui fought Nadare Rōga and his companions to protect Kazahana Koyuki, using Ice Release to defeat them despite being briefly presumed dead. He killed Flying Swallow Fubuki and Fuyukuma Mizore, while Nadare Rōga escaped, and remained beside the unconscious Koyuki.

• Issui refused to surrender Kazahana Koyuki and battled Nadare Rōga, Flying Swallow Fubuki, and Fuyukuma Mizore with his Ice Release techniques.
• Issui trapped Fuyukuma Mizore in an ice cage, but Nadare Rōga and Flying Swallow Fubuki combined their attacks and seemingly crushed Issui with a giant ice whale.
• Kazahana Koyuki fainted, believing Issui had died, while Nadare Rōga and Flying Swallow Fubuki celebrated their victory.
• Issui revealed that he had hidden himself during the attack and used an Ice Clone as a decoy, then killed Flying Swallow Fubuki by destroying her Chakra Armor’s control core.
• Nadare Rōga fled, and Issui killed the trapped Fuyukuma Mizore by piercing his heart after destroying his armor’s control core.
• Issui spoke over the fallen Mizore and stroked Kazahana Koyuki’s face as she lay unconscious.

Kazahana Koyuki learned that she was the Land of Snow’s rightful princess and agreed to face Kazahana Dōtō with Issui’s help. As Dōtō confronted them, Issui destroyed his train with a giant ice snake to protect Sandayū and his men.

• Issui reassured Koyuki after the Snow Ninja attack, and Sandayū revealed that she was the princess and heir to the Land of Snow.
• Sandayū explained that Kazahana Dōtō had seized the country ten years earlier and killed Koyuki’s father, Kazahana Sōsetsu.
• Koyuki agreed to oppose Dōtō after Issui promised to protect her, while the director decided to film their real struggle for the movie.
• The group reached the Land of Snow, where Dōtō and Nadare Rōga arrived by train and confronted Issui and Koyuki.
• Sandayū led his men in a charge against Dōtō, and Issui summoned a giant ice snake that destroyed the train and its carriages.

Issui defeated Nadare Rōga, then rescued Kazahana Koyuki and defeated Kazahana Dōtō at the Kazahana family’s secret chamber. With Dōtō dead and the geothermal generator warming the Land of Snow, Koyuki’s childhood dreams returned to her, and a rainbow appeared.

• Kazahana Dōtō took Kazahana Koyuki to the secret chamber while Nadare Rōga attacked Issui, but Issui killed Nadare Rōga with a giant ice hammer.
• Issui left Sandayū to tend to the wounded and went with the director to rescue Kazahana Koyuki.
• Kazahana Dōtō used the Hexagonal Crystal to activate the geothermal generator, but the revealed treasure was not the power he had expected.
• Issui reunited with Kazahana Koyuki and used Flame Demon Descent to overpower Kazahana Dōtō’s black dragon blizzard.
• Issui killed Kazahana Dōtō with the seven-colored flame blade, and the geothermal generator melted the surrounding ice and brought warmth to the Land of Snow.
• An image showed Kazahana Sōsetsu encouraging young Kazahana Koyuki to pursue her dreams, and Issui comforted Koyuki as she wept with happiness.