Chapter Summaries

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.

Issui helped Kazahana Koyuki take her place as daimyo of the Land of Snow, then began a secret relationship with her before leaving for Konoha. After reporting his mission to Tsunade, he was assigned a reconnaissance mission with Shizune.

• Issui and Sandayū’s forces defeated Kazahana Dōtō’s remaining troops, and Kazahana Koyuki formally became the Land of Snow’s daimyo.
• Koyuki confessed her love to Issui and asked him to visit her; Issui returned her feelings, and they began a secret relationship.
• The next morning, Issui and Koyuki agreed to keep their relationship private, then he boarded the director’s boat and left the Land of Snow.
• Issui arrived in Konoha on October 8 and reported the mission’s outcome to Tsunade through Shizune.
• Tsunade assigned Issui and Shizune to scout the Land of Fire’s border and the area around Konoha.

Issui took time off to reunite with Hinata, who fainted from embarrassment when he affectionately greeted her at training. After bringing her home, he promised to include Haku and Fini on an upcoming mission, then agreed to keep secretly making baby dragons with Fini.

• Issui persuaded Tsunade to give him time off to visit Hinata and return on October 10 for a mission with Shizune.
• Issui arrived at Hinata's training session, apologized for being away, and embraced her; Hinata fainted while Kurenai, Shino, and Kiba watched.
• Issui gave Kurenai an A-rank Genjutsu scroll he had created before carrying Hinata home.
• Issui invited Haku and Fini to join his upcoming mission, then Haku helped Hinata prepare a meal.
• Fini asked Issui to secretly make baby dragons with her again, and he agreed on the condition that Hinata and the others never find out.

Issui spent the night with Hinata, who fainted during their intimacy, then secretly joined Fini in her room. He reassured Fini that she was important to him before returning to Hinata.

• Issui and Hinata went to bed together, while Haku secretly watched them through a hole in the window paper.
• Hinata fainted, and Fini, who had been watching from the roof, persuaded Issui to leave and come to her room.
• Issui and Fini were intimate, and Fini asked him not to send her away.
• Issui told Fini that she and Hinata were both important to him and promised to raise any child they had.
• Fini agreed not to object to Hinata but urged Issui to stay with her longer before he returned.

After leaving Fini’s room, Issui returned to Hinata and tried to conceal his affair, but Hinata confronted him over the perfume on his clothes. He knelt on a washboard until dawn, then fell asleep; when he woke, Hinata was still furious.

• Issui left Fini’s room after tenderly tucking her in, while Fini was pleased that he still cared for her.
• Hinata grew suspicious as Issui stayed away and got out of bed to find him.
• Issui claimed he had only gone to the bathroom and asked Fini for paper, but Hinata noticed that he smelled of perfume.
• Issui embraced Hinata and begged her forgiveness, then knelt on a washboard while she ignored him.
• At dawn, Hinata tried to forgive Issui, but found him asleep and drooling on the washboard, so she slapped him awake.
• Issui woke, forgot the night’s events, and headed out to eat before noticing Hinata’s angry expression.

After Hinata discovered Issui’s betrayal, he stabbed himself in the heart, and the pair confessed their love as he died in her arms. Hinata’s grief transformed her eyes into a seven-colored Mangekyō-like pattern.

• Hinata’s eyes developed black Tomoe as she grieved, while Issui resolved to atone by dying.
• Fini, Haku, Mei Terumi, and Kazahana Koyuki each sensed an ominous change.
• Issui stabbed himself in the chest, and Hinata stopped blaming him and begged him to live.
• Issui confessed his love and urged Hinata to find someone else before losing consciousness.
• Hinata felt Issui’s heart stop and her eyes changed into a pattern of two spinning, seven-colored petals.