Chapter Summaries

Hiashi watched the Hyuga elders argue over Senya's firearms mission, hoping their division would help him advance his own plans. The clan voted to send three hundred Branch House members, leaving the mission approved by a narrow margin.

• The Seventh Elder rebuked the Eighth Elder for opposing a mission ordered by Senya and the Hokage, and the Second Elder stopped their argument.
• The Sixth Elder argued that firearms would not threaten the Main House and suggested sending Branch House members, winning support from several elders.
• The Fifth, Fourth, and Third Elders voiced indecision, while Hiashi privately welcomed the elders' disagreements as an opportunity to pursue his goal.
• The Second Elder urged the clan to seek influence and honor by trying new things, then challenged the Great Elder's claims about the Hyuga clan's historical strength.
• Hiashi called for a vote, and the elders approved sending Branch House members by a five-to-four margin after the proposed number rose from two hundred to three hundred.

Hiashi left the clan meeting with a plan that Hyuga Hiyuan agreed to support, while Neji and Tenten explained how they had designed the firearms. At a shooting test for the Hyuga branch family, Tenten averaged seven rings with a pistol, and Neji wondered how her score compared with theirs.

• Hiashi left the ancestral hall looking pleased, and Hyuga Hiyuan decided to support whatever he was planning if it benefited the Hyuga.
• Neji told Tobirama that he and Tenten had worked together on the firearm designs, and Tenten clarified that Neji had drawn most of the blueprints and used his Chakra control to polish the parts.
• Tenten vowed to make ninja tools more powerful than the firearms, and Neji promised to wait for her to surpass him.
• Tobirama invited Neji and Tenten to test the firearms before more than two hundred Hyuga branch family ninja, and Orochimaru began the pistol shooting round.
• Tobirama explained how the pistol’s magazine and iron bullets reduced Chakra use, while Neji recorded that Tenten averaged seven rings over ten shots.

Senya received Tsunade’s report and went to observe the Hyuga branch family’s firearms tests, where he rapidly fired two Sniper Rifles and proposed designs for weapons with greater firing speed and area damage. He and Tobirama enthusiastically discussed new weapon ideas while Orochimaru was left overseeing the tests.

• An Anbu ninja delivered Tsunade’s scroll to Senya, who learned that Tobirama and Orochimaru were testing firearms with Neji, Tenten, and two hundred Hyuga branch family ninjas.
• Senya traveled to the testing grounds, where Tobirama and Orochimaru noted his increased Chakra and reported that the pistol tests had produced strong average scores.
• Senya fired twenty Sniper Rifle rounds in two seconds, overheated the rifles, and criticized their firing pins and heat resistance.
• Tobirama got angry at Senya for abusing the Sniper Rifles, but Senya proposed multi-barreled firearms and larger-caliber weapons that fired steel pellets.
• Tobirama praised Senya and joined him in brainstorming weapon designs as Orochimaru continued overseeing the firing tests.

Senya, Tobirama, and Orochimaru tested the Konoha No. 1 Cannon and saw its devastating explosive power. The Hyuga branch-family ninjas then took turns firing the cannons.

• Orochimaru reported the Sniper Rifle’s accuracy at several distances and explained that wind reduced its precision.
• Senya urged Orochimaru and Tobirama to present their artillery, and Tobirama introduced twenty-five Konoha No. 1 Cannons.
• Senya loaded and fired a shell, which blasted a deep crater and scattered shrapnel across the test area.
• Tobirama estimated that the shell could kill within fifteen meters and remain lethal out to around thirty meters without Chakra protection.
• The Hyuga branch-family ninjas fired the cannons in pairs, using their combined Chakra to power each shot.

Orochimaru and Tobirama completed weapons tests while Senya helped Neji prepare to carry out Hiashi’s plan to free the Hyuga branch family from the Caged Bird. Neji began recruiting branch family members at night, and Ganmen agreed to keep the plan secret and take part.

• Orochimaru recorded the Konoha One’s bombardment results, then he and Tobirama continued testing pistols and Sniper Rifles with Hyuga branch family ninjas.
• Senya used his Mangekyō Sharingan to calm Neji’s nerves about the Pure Eye Seal and the plan to remove the Caged Bird curse mark.
• Neji returned to Tenten and told her Senya had offered to help with his training, leading her to wonder if Senya would take him as a disciple.
• Neji approached Hyuga Ganmen at night, revealed the Pure Eye Seal and Hiashi’s plan, and asked him to keep the mission secret.
• Ganmen accepted the plan because he wanted freedom from the Caged Bird, then concealed his excitement as he returned to the others.

After a month of firearms testing, Tobirama ended the mission and led Neji, Tenten, and the Hyuga Branch Family ninja back to Konoha. Hiashi welcomed them and confirmed their Caged Bird seals were gone, while Tenten blushed at his invitation to visit and hurried home.

• Tobirama crafted a Gatling gun while Neji and Tenten carried out their separate assignments, each misunderstanding the other's work.
• Tobirama announced the mission's completion, and the Hyuga Branch Family ninja eagerly set off for Konoha with him, Neji, and Tenten.
• At Konoha's South Gate, Hiashi saw that the Caged Bird curse marks had vanished and thanked Tobirama for the successful mission.
• Hiashi asked Neji whether the mission had gone smoothly, then thanked Tenten for helping him develop firearms and invited her to visit.
• Tenten blushed, called Hiashi Uncle, and hurried off to see her parents as the Hyuga ninja smiled knowingly at Neji.

Hiashi returned to the Hyuga compound to confront the elders over the Caged Bird curse, but the Great Elder halted his attack by threatening his daughters. The elders revealed that Hinata and Hanabi were captive and had been branded with the curse mark.

• Hyuga Tengen told Hiashi that the elders had noticed something was wrong, then said he would neither join nor stop Hiashi.
• Hiashi and Neji entered the compound with two hundred branch family ninjas and found the elders’ forces lying in wait, including branch family members still bound by the Caged Bird.
• The Great Elder demanded that Hiashi surrender and threatened to strip him of his position as clan head, but his words only inflamed Hiashi and the branch family ninjas.
• Hiashi accused the Great Elder of arranging Hizashi’s death and charged at him, but stopped when the elder threatened Hinata and Hanabi.
• The Third and Seventh Elders brought forward the unconscious, bound Hinata and Hanabi and revealed that both girls had been branded with the Caged Bird curse mark.

Hyuga Ganmen resisted the Great Elder’s attempt to restore his Caged Bird mark, sparking a clash between the branch and main families. Uchiha Senya intervened, killed the main family elders, and rescued Hinata and Hanabi, leaving Ganmen alive but injured.

• Hyuga Ganmen agreed to accept the Caged Bird mark to save his family, then bit off part of his tongue and attacked the Great Elder.
• Uchiha Senya arrived and used his Chakra pressure to pin down the Hyuga main family and branch family ninja.
• Senya killed the Great Elder by crushing his soul, then killed the other six elders with kunai.
• Senya asked Qianyue to free the unconscious Hinata and Hanabi from their restraints and curse marks.
• Hiashi carried Ganmen to Senya, who treated him and said he would likely recover with only a slight lisp.

Senya saved the Hyuga clan members and confirmed Hinata and Hanabi had no lingering effects from the Caged Bird. Hiashi began abolishing the main and branch family system and applying the Pure Eye Seal, while Neji collapsed from exhaustion after helping with the long line.

• Ganmen woke and thanked Senya for saving him, and Senya examined Hinata and Hanabi for harm from the Caged Bird.
• Senya told Hiashi the girls had no lingering aftereffects, and Hiashi planned to abolish the main and branch family system and replace the Caged Bird with the Pure Eye Seal.
• Senya left the clan grounds, and Hyuga Tengen arrived asking to be tied up and given the Pure Eye Seal; he praised its effect on his vision.
• The remaining Hyuga ninjas crowded around Hiashi and Neji to receive the Pure Eye Seal, waking Hinata and Hanabi, who sleepily headed home.
• The next morning, Hinata found Hiashi and Neji still administering the seal; Neji collapsed from exhaustion after the line continued through the night.

Hashirama completed his forest-building mission in Sunagakure and returned to Konoha with Zō after an alarming aerial journey. He reunited with Mito, while Tsunade confirmed the mission had earned Konoha six hundred million ryō in minerals.

• Hashirama finished planting a ring of forests around Sunagakure and secured two months of leave after protesting the work.
• Hashirama strapped makeshift petal parachutes and pollen launchers onto himself and Zō, then flew them back toward Konoha as Zō screamed in terror.
• Hashirama and Zō landed outside Konoha, and Hashirama left the unconscious Zō with Tsunade before rushing home.
• Tsunade reviewed the mission scroll and found that Hashirama had earned Konoha six hundred million ryō in minerals, then granted Zō two months of leave.
• Hashirama found Mito teaching Sakura, interrupted their lesson, and happily returned to the living room after Mito scolded him.

Senya brought Hashirama and Choza to help with the Konoha–Kirigakure cross-sea bridge project after Tazuna found deep-sea sections too deep for ordinary construction. The three reached the coast, where Senya introduced himself to Tazuna and offered their help.

• Tazuna found that the route between Konoha and Kirigakure had deep-sea regions that made it impossible to build bridge piers with the available methods, and he reported the problem to Konoha.
• Senya received intelligence about the construction problems and recruited Hashirama, who agreed after hearing he would not have to work alone.
• Senya and Hashirama carried Choza out of Konoha, then explained that they needed his Expansion Jutsu to help build the bridge.
• The three arrived at the coast and saw workers and Earth Release ninja constructing the bridge, including a worn-out Kakashi.
• Senya told Tazuna that he had reviewed the report and that he, Hashirama, and Choza would assist with the project.

Senya, Hashirama, and Choza helped Tazuna build a cross-sea bridge by raising enormous stone piers from the seabed. After Hashirama built most of the deep-sea piers in two days, Senya and Hashirama returned to Konoha while Choza stayed behind to help transport the materials.

• Tazuna learned Senya and Hashirama's identities, then showed them and Choza the bridge plans and explained the construction challenges.
• Senya and Hashirama used Sage Mode and Earth Release to raise giant stone pillars from the seabed as bridge piers.
• The craftsmen and shinobi on shore watched the construction, then returned to work with renewed enthusiasm.
• Hashirama became caught up in the work and built 184 piers in two days, while Senya built 40 as his Chakra recovered.
• Senya and Hashirama headed back to Konoha, leaving Choza to help transport the bridge materials with Super Expansion Jutsu.

Kakuzu and Hidan found the Bounty Brokerage sealed up, costing Kakuzu the five-million-ryo reward for his weeklong hunt. At an Akatsuki gathering, Pain prepared to share intelligence, but Hidan pointed out that Zetsu and Obito were still absent.

• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived at the restroom to collect Kakuzu’s five-million-ryo bounty, but Kakuzu discovered that the Bounty Brokerage entrance had been bricked over.
• Kakuzu smashed the restroom wall, realized the bounty office was gone, and kicked the jonin’s corpse into a toilet pit.
• Hidan suggested that Kakuzu use the restroom before leaving, so Kakuzu spent an hour in a stall and later returned to the Akatsuki base with Hidan.
• Pain gathered the Akatsuki members present and asked Konan to explain the latest intelligence.
• Hidan interrupted, asking why they were starting before Zetsu and Obito had arrived.

Konan and Nagato arranged a duel with Senya Uchiha to decide who would lead the Ninja Association, but Obito and Black Zetsu used the gathering to steal Nagato’s left Rinnegan. Obito escaped with the eye, leaving Nagato wounded and the Akatsuki’s plans thrown into uncertainty.

• Nagato expelled Obito and Black Zetsu from the Akatsuki, and Konan explained that she and Nagato would challenge Senya for control of the Ninja Association.
• The Deva Path announced that Senya had accepted a one-on-one duel at the Valley of the End one month later.
• Obito and Black Zetsu infiltrated Amegakure’s tower while Nagato focused on controlling the Deva Path.
• Black Zetsu disrupted Nagato’s control of the Rinnegan and seized his left eye as the other Paths attacked.
• Obito escaped with Nagato’s left Rinnegan, and Nagato warned Konan that Obito had stolen his eye.

After Obito took one of Nagato’s Rinnegan, Nagato insisted on fighting Senya despite Konan’s fears, and they agreed he would use a large-scale ocular technique only once. Alone, Nagato questioned whether he could fulfill his and Yahiko’s dream without relying on someone else, then began planning a new ninjutsu.

• Konan became furious that Obito had evaded her detection technique, but Nagato told her Obito had likely left Amegakure and said losing an eye had eased his physical strain.
• Konan urged Nagato to abandon his fight with Senya and join the Ninja Association, fearing he would sacrifice himself by overusing his remaining Rinnegan.
• Nagato transplanted the Naraka Path’s left eye into his empty socket and insisted that he would fight for the dream he had shared with Konan and Yahiko.
• Konan agreed to the battle on the condition that Nagato use a large-scale Rinnegan technique only once, then left to warn Senya about Obito and Black Zetsu.
• After Konan left, Nagato admitted to Yahiko’s silent image that he felt like a pawn and wondered whether he could defeat Senya, then began devising a powerful new ninjutsu.

Senya met Nagato’s Deva Path Pain at the Valley of the End for their wager, and the two traded grandiose speeches that sparked Nagato’s competitive spirit. Nearby, Akatsuki members watched while Hidan and Kakuzu ate Deidara’s snacks, prompting Deidara to attack them with Explosive Clay.

• Senya waited atop Uchiha Madara’s statue and greeted Nagato’s Deva Path Pain when he arrived.
• Nagato declared that Senya had accepted their wager, and Senya answered with a Madara impression and lofty claims about victory, peace, and war.
• Nagato felt an unexpected urge to beat Senya at their contest of dramatic speeches, while Konan reacted to Senya’s performance.
• Akatsuki members gathered nearby to watch and snack, but Hidan and Kakuzu ate Deidara’s sweet dumplings.
• Deidara attacked Hidan and Kakuzu with C1 Explosive Clay after they stole his food.

Deidara’s explosive clay exposes Juzo Biwa secretly eating watermelon, and Konan restrains the misbehaving Akatsuki members before Senya and Deva Path Pain begin their battle. After Senya gains the upper hand in close combat, Nagato summons his beasts, and Qianyue manifests as an armored warrior to face them.

• Deidara’s clay spiders explode, revealing Juzo Biwa eating watermelon and provoking Deidara to attack him.
• Hikari and Konan break up the commotion, and Konan binds Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, and Juzo with paper.
• Senya and Deva Path Pain form the Opposing Seal and leap into battle across the lake.
• Senya breaks Deva Path’s Chakra rods and slashes his cloak, forcing Nagato to use Summoning Jutsu.
• Qianyue transforms into an armored warrior with seven weapons and charges at Nagato’s summoned beasts.

Senya fought Deva Path Pain, using Susanoo to withstand missiles and counter a spinning saw attack. He then advanced Susanoo to its third stage and infused it with Fire Style Sage Chakra, greatly increasing its power at a steep Chakra cost.

• Senya activated Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Deva Path with Susanoo, but Deva Path deflected the first blow with Shinra Tensei and blocked the next with mechanical arms.
• Deva Path launched missiles from his arm, and Senya's Susanoo endured their explosions without damage.
• Deidara and Sasori argued over whether Deva Path's explosives or puppet mechanisms represented true art, until Konan warned them to follow the leader's orders.
• Deva Path used a spinning sawtooth to cut into Susanoo's hand, but Senya flung him into the lake.
• Senya activated the third stage of Susanoo and infused it with Fire Style Sage Chakra, boosting its power while sharply increasing its Chakra consumption.

Chiba, posing as Uehara Inoshita, stayed with Mei Terumi’s family after saving her and offered a way to ease Kirigakure’s power struggle. His flirtation with Mei ended in a promise to marry her after she became Mizukage, while Terumi Teruki overheard and began to suspect Chiba’s identity was unusual.

• The author explained that back pain had forced a day off, then shared an old draft featuring Mei Terumi as the female lead.
• Chiba told Mei Terumi that he was a Konoha ninja gathering intelligence and suggested weakening Genji’s authority rather than wiping out his side; he asked her to arrange lodging for the remaining two months of his mission.
• Mei Terumi brought Chiba to the Terumi household, where he introduced himself to Terumi Teruki as the bounty ninja Uehara Inoshita.
• Mei Terumi told her father that Genji had sent assassins after her and shared Chiba’s proposal, which Terumi Teruki considered worth presenting to the Fourth Mizukage.
• At dinner, Chiba charmed Terumi Tsukiko, while Mei Terumi blushed; afterward, he promised Mei Terumi he would marry her once she became Mizukage.
• Terumi Teruki overheard the promise from the rooftop and decided to discuss Chiba’s unusual identity with Terumi Tsukiko.

Nagato used Planetary Devastation against Senya, who endured its gravitational pull with his Susanoo. Nagato released control of the enormous stone sphere, and Senya prepared to cut it apart before it struck.

• Nagato launched Planetary Devastation at Senya, while Konan warned the Akatsuki members to flee its pull.
• Senya strengthened his Susanoo with Chakra and Sage Chakra and resisted being drawn into the growing stone sphere.
• Nagato pushed Planetary Devastation to a diameter of four hundred meters, then released his control when he reached his limit.
• Konan worried that the falling sphere would harm civilians, while Nagato accepted the potential casualties as a sacrifice for his ambitions.
• Senya sensed Konan and Hikari's concern, then drew Qianyue and prepared to cut the falling sphere into pieces.