Chapter Summaries

Yamanaka Kei stored his weapons, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and other treasures in his magical armory, then discussed how to unify the ninja world with Jiraiya. He left no room for negotiation with Mist Village, declaring the Mizukage dead.

• Yamanaka Kei moved his collection into the magical armory, including the Three-Tails and Samehada, and sealed Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan for later.
• Yamanaka Kei stored the giant lotus platform and four Wood Golems, then brought Tobi along and ordered him to talk less.
• Yamanaka Kei reunited with his Wood Release: Wood Clone’s memories and considered how Kitsuchi might succeed Ōnoki as Tsuchikage.
• Jiraiya asked Yamanaka Kei how he planned to handle Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand, and Yamanaka Kei proposed negotiations before uniting their forces against Mist Village.
• Jiraiya asked about the Mizukage, and Yamanaka Kei answered that he was dead.

Yamanaka Kei took command of the front and proposed that Konoha, Hidden Stone Village, and Sand Village negotiate a merger. Kitsuchi agreed to talks in ten days, while Fugi returned to Sand Village shaken by Kei’s power.

• Danzo handed Yamanaka Kei the appointment document, and Kei assigned Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, Mimura Hayaki, and others to organize the Konoha forces.
• Yamanaka Kei asked Kitsuchi and Fugi to join negotiations on merging the three ninja villages into one.
• Yamanaka Kei’s Sage Art Chakra forced Fugi to the ground when he tried to object, while Kitsuchi remained composed and raised concerns about the merger.
• Yamanaka Kei outlined a unified village with a cabinet of Kage and departments staffed according to ability, and Kitsuchi agreed to discuss the merger in ten days.
• Yamanaka Kei told Fugi to consult Chiyo and the others, and Fugi left planning to become a monk at Wind Temple.

Yamanaka Kei copied Ōnoki's Dust Release and planned to take Jiraiya to the Sand Village to secure its cooperation. He decided to bring back powerful predecessors with the Reanimation Jutsu for intimidation, then hinted that Jiraiya would soon see his former disciples Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

• Yamanaka Kei copied Ōnoki's Red Entry, Dust Release Successor, hoping to master more chakra nature transformations and eventually create a Bloodline Net.
• Jiraiya told Yamanaka Kei that he had finally seen a clear path toward peace after Iwa accepted Kei's proposal.
• Yamanaka Kei invited Jiraiya to the Sand Village, intending to prevent Chiyo from disrupting negotiations.
• Yamanaka Kei decided to use Orochimaru's Reanimation Jutsu to summon Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha, while Jiraiya eagerly asked to join him.
• Yamanaka Kei reminded Jiraiya of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, saying they had been eating so much seafood that they were probably tired of it.

After nearly a month stranded on a deserted island, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were rescued by Jiraiya and brought to the Konoha Camp. When Namikaze Minato arrived to meet them, the three attacked him over what they believed had been his neglect.

• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan struggled with their month-long seafood diet and prepared to escape the island on a reinforced raft.
• Jiraiya's huge black clam arrived with a feast and carried the three back to the Konoha Camp.
• A Medical Ninja diagnosed the three with gout and symptoms caused by severe diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance.
• Namikaze Minato entered Jiraiya's tent to meet his junior disciples, while the three secretly agreed he was the Minato they blamed for leaving them stranded.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan attacked Minato together, prompting Jiraiya to react in confusion.

Yamanaka Kei told Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan the truth about the Rinnegan and the forces that had shaped their lives, then urged them to choose their own future. He left them resolved to face what lay ahead and went to Danzo’s tent, wondering why their fates had not changed.

• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan apologized to Namikaze Minato, and Yamanaka Kei teased them about their mistaken belief that he was Minato.
• Yahiko asked Yamanaka Kei why he had disguised himself as a Hidden Mist Anbu and gone to Amegakure.
• Yamanaka Kei explained the history of the Rinnegan, Madara Uchiha, and the Ōtsutsuki, leaving Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and the Three Little Ones shaken.
• Yamanaka Kei challenged Nagato to consider whether he regretted meeting Yahiko and Konan, and Nagato affirmed that he did not.
• Yamanaka Kei encouraged the Three Little Ones to choose their own paths and offered to spar with them, with a month at Ryūchi Cave as the penalty for losing.
• Yamanaka Kei noticed that the Three Little Ones’ fates still had not changed and headed toward Danzo’s tent to figure out what he had missed.

Yamanaka Kei prepared to bring Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan closer to their dreams by uniting the great shinobi villages and creating peace, then decided to take Nara Shikaku into his plans. He arrived at Shikaku’s home with Tobi and White Zetsu and was promptly served a bowl of Yoshino’s highly nourishing porridge.

• Yamanaka Kei considered Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan’s possible futures and planned to use his political reforms to fulfill their dreams of peace.
• Yamanaka Kei overheard Tobi and 'Danzo' discussing Tobi’s imagined Eyes of Dreams, then took Tobi and White Zetsu back to Konoha.
• Yamanaka Kei decided to involve Nara Shikaku in integrating Konoha’s factions and merging the shinobi villages.
• Nara Yoshino welcomed Yamanaka Kei into the house while Nara Shikaku endured her nourishing porridge.
• Nara Shikaku urged Yamanaka Kei to eat a bowl too, and Yamanaka Kei reluctantly thanked him.

Yamanaka Kei told Nara Shikaku about his power, plans for the villages, and extraordinary lifespan, then discussed choosing Tsunade as the Fourth Hokage and consolidating Konoha. Shikaku agreed to organize Konoha’s forces within three days and was left reeling at the prospect of living for over a thousand years.

• Yamanaka Kei secretly stored the medicinal porridge Nara Shikaku fed him, then joked with Shikaku about his physical condition.
• Yamanaka Kei described his encounter with the hidden force behind Madara Uchiha, his plans to visit the Sand Hidden Village, and his intention to complete Konoha’s merger and transfer of power.
• Yamanaka Kei confirmed that he did not want to become Hokage and explained that he planned to hold power above the Five Kage instead.
• Yamanaka Kei told Nara Shikaku that he could live for thousands of years, easing Shikaku’s concerns about the alliance’s future.
• Yamanaka Kei and Nara Shikaku settled on Tsunade as a possible Fourth Hokage, with Kei offering to strengthen her and Shikaku promising to consolidate Konoha’s forces within three days.
• Yamanaka Kei said Orochimaru’s research might eventually let Shikaku live for over a thousand years, leaving Shikaku astonished and considering birth control.

Yamanaka Kei brought Tobi and White Zetsu to Root, where he checked on Yakushi Nonou’s reforms and asked Tobi to enhance Yamato and Xiao He without harming them. The children received only modest gains for now, while Tobi remained in Root and Nonou prepared to register him.

• Yamanaka Kei learned from Yakushi Nonou that Root’s new training system was nearly complete and its specialized classes were operating.
• Yamanaka Kei asked Tobi to enhance Yamato and Xiao He, and Tobi said their similar physiques and Chakra let him boost them together to the level of a strong Jonin.
• Yamanaka Kei encouraged Yamato and Xiao He to train so they could protect world peace, prompting Yakushi Nonou to accuse him of brainwashing them.
• Yamanaka Kei took Yamato and Xiao He away with the Flying Thunder God Technique, while A-Zang settled down to read their comic books.
• Tobi asked Yakushi Nonou about her exchange with Yamanaka Kei, and she changed the subject by asking for his employment details.

Tsunade woke to find Xiao He and Yamato calling her Mother, while Yamanaka Kei used the situation to pressure her into becoming Hokage. After Tsunade and Hashirama Senju tricked each other into admitting she might take the position, the System warned Kei that his interference had brought the original World Line close to collapse and reconstruction.

• Tsunade woke to Xiao He and Yamato calling her Mother and realized Yamanaka Kei had arranged the situation.
• Kei teased Tsunade about becoming Hokage, and she attacked him before he teleported them to the Cultivation Cave.
• Tsunade tried to poison Kei, but he resisted the drug and provoked her into fleeing before she learned he had faked its effects.
• Kei demanded that Tsunade become Hokage, and Hashirama Senju appeared to help trick her into revealing she might accept.
• Hashirama Senju suggested Tsunade adopt Xiao He and Yamato, then took her aside to speak privately.
• The System told Kei that Tsunade's altered fate had caused a major World Line deviation and that the original trajectory was nearing collapse and reconstruction.

Yamanaka Kei activated Dust Release Successor and considered the Chakra natures he still needed, then learned Hashirama Senju had arranged for him to accompany Tsunade to the Sand Village. When Tsunade demanded a serious taijutsu fight, Yamanaka opened the first seven gates and overwhelmed her.

• Yamanaka Kei activated Dust Release Successor and received Dust Release techniques and training memories.
• Yamanaka Kei reviewed wind and fire Chakra training and decided to postpone experimenting with Kekkei Genkai.
• Tsunade punched Hashirama Senju, who told Yamanaka Kei they would go to the Sand Village together before returning to the Pure Land.
• Tsunade challenged Yamanaka Kei to fight her seriously with taijutsu, and he opened the first seven gates of the Eight Gates Formation.
• Tsunade released Mitotic Regeneration and Strength of a Hundred Seal, charged at Yamanaka Kei, and was blasted backward, spitting blood.

Yamanaka Kei forced Tsunade’s body to adapt to Sage Art Energy, strengthening her and giving her new Entries. As Sarutobi Hiruzen struggled to control Konoha amid secret clan meetings, Tsunade stormed into his office and challenged him for the Fourth Hokage position.

• Great Toad Sage Gamamaru abandoned plans to investigate the changing ninja world and decided humanity should shape its own future.
• Yamanaka Kei fought Tsunade, then offered to help her master his Sage Arts despite her lack of aptitude for the summoning sages’ methods.
• Yamanaka Kei infused Tsunade with Sage Art Energy, repeatedly healing her as her body adapted, and granted her three Entries to strengthen her abilities.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen grew alarmed after receiving no frontline intelligence for three days and learning that Konoha’s clans and elite jonin were meeting secretly.
• Tsunade entered the Hokage’s office and challenged Sarutobi Hiruzen, declaring that she would take the position of Fourth Hokage.

Tsunade confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen and transported him, her restrained companions, and two unconscious Anbu to a field where Konoha's leaders and the former Hokage had gathered. She challenged Hiruzen for the Hokage position, while Yamanaka Kei watched confidently, convinced that Tsunade's enhanced strength would secure her victory.

• Tsunade entered the Hokage's office with the Three Snake Princesses, who restrained Koharu and Homura and subdued the Hokage's Anbu.
• Tsunade used a sealing talisman prepared with Kushina and Yamanaka Kei's formulas to transport everyone in the office to a field outside the Cultivation Cave.
• Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Konoha's clan leaders and elite ninja waited in stands overlooking the field.
• The Three Snake Princesses escorted Koharu and Homura away as Tsunade told Hiruzen that their teacher had let everyone down.
• Hiruzen rejected Tsunade's forceful succession as harmful to Konoha and challenged her to prove herself in combat.
• Yamanaka Kei reviewed Tsunade's powerful Entry panel and believed she was too strong for anyone to defeat in the Hokage challenge.

Tsunade overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi in their spar, revealing the power of her Sage Art Mitotic Regeneration Seal while holding back. As the spectators reacted, Madara Uchiha and Tobirama Senju nearly clashed, and Nara Shikaku considered Tsunade’s restraint a valuable sign to Konoha’s clans.

• Tsunade shattered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Earth Dragon Bullet, broke free of his Darkness Genjutsu, and forced him to summon Enma.
• Tsunade activated Sage Art Mitotic Regeneration Seal: Sage Mode and rapidly overpowered Hiruzen, whose attacks and Adamantine Staff could not stop her.
• The spectators watched in shock as Tsunade tossed Hiruzen around, while Madara Uchiha estimated she had used less than half her strength.
• Madara Uchiha rose to confront Tobirama Senju over his hostile remarks, but Hashirama Senju stopped him and Yamanaka Kei used Sage Art Wood Release to silence Tobirama.
• Nara Shikaku judged that Tsunade’s decision to hold back would help unite Konoha’s clans behind her leadership.

Jiraiya reflected on Konoha’s clan tensions while Orochimaru concealed his recent fight with Tobirama Senju. After Tsunade defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi, she healed him and assured him Konoha would improve; meanwhile, Tobirama learned about a planned trip to intimidate the Sand Village and realized he had been left out.

• Jiraiya recalled the complaints he had heard from Konoha’s clans and understood why many refused to register their ninja as village shinobi.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya that he was content to move forward with the group, while hiding that Tobirama Senju had attacked him after being Reanimated.
• Tsunade shattered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Five Element Great Barrage, defeated him, and then healed his injuries as he asked whether Konoha would become better.
• Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju released the Reanimation Jutsu and returned to the Pure Land, while Hashirama asked Yamanaka Kei to summon them again in a few days.
• Yamanaka Kei told Tobirama Senju that the group planned to intimidate the Sand Village, and Tobirama realized he had been excluded from their outing and suspected Orochimaru had Izuna’s remains.

Tsunade settled into her new role as Fourth Hokage while Konoha reorganized its departments. Three days later, Sand Village leaders debated resistance as Konoha’s forces surrounded the village with enormous summons and constructs, leaving them paralyzed with fear.

• Tsunade approved documents as Konoha’s leaders worked through a crushing backlog and planned departmental reforms.
• Nara Shikaku told Tsunade he would serve as her assistant and relayed Yamanaka Kei’s warning about the Fighting Arena.
• Chiyo told Sand Village’s leaders that Ōnoki and Kitsuchi had refused to join their resistance plan, leaving only Roshi willing to help.
• Pakura reflected on how Chiyo had sidelined her after Rasa was crippled and considered abandoning Sand Village.
• Gigantic Wood Release statues, Susanoo, tailed beasts, and summons appeared around Sand Village, and its leaders made no move to resist.

As Konoha’s overwhelming force stood outside Sand Village, Chiyo rallied the village and prepared it to resist if Konoha sought to enslave them. Pakura questioned whether she wanted to become Kazekage, then realized Chiyo had made a decision that showed her attachment to the village.

• Chiyo nearly fainted at the sight of Konoha’s Thousand-Armed Statue, but Pakura and Ebizo urged her to stand firm as Sand Village’s backbone.
• Chiyo recalled her role in Sand Village’s current crisis, then invoked the village’s history and ordered its ninja to prepare for battle while remaining open to peace.
• Chiyo sent Pakura to escort Class A children and preserve Sand Village’s legacies in case war broke out.
• Pakura suspected the village’s leaders were staging resistance to secure better merger terms and asked Yamanaka Kei what job he would give her if she refused to become Kazekage.
• Yamanaka Kei told Pakura to accept the Kazekage position because Chiyo had made her decision, and Pakura sensed Chiyo’s attachment and tenderness toward Sand Village.

Yamanaka Kei and Konoha’s leaders arrived at the Sand Village to negotiate, demonstrating their overwhelming strength while the Sand Ninja stood their ground. Chiyo recognized the show of force as a warning and ordered the villagers evacuated before returning to the conference room.

• Yamanaka Kei and Hashirama Senju extended Wood Release bridges to the Kazekage Building, while Madara Uchiha and Uchiha Izuna bickered with Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Yamanaka Kei praised the Sand Ninja’s courage as Chiyo recognized the Reanimation Jutsu and led Tsunade and the others into the Kazekage Building.
• Madara Uchiha told Uchiha Izuna and Tobirama Senju to fight elsewhere, and Tobirama Senju used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uchiha Izuna to the village wall.
• Tobirama Senju rode Isobu and blasted Uchiha Izuna’s Complete Body Susanoo with the Great Waterfall Technique, flooding houses and damaging the wall.
• Tsunade called for negotiations, and Chiyo ordered Ebizo to evacuate the villagers before returning to the conference room.

Yamanaka Kei removed Nagato’s fake Rinnegan and replaced them with a pair of unfinished eyes, then investigated the Transcription Seals on Yahiko and Konan. When the seal on Yahiko affected him, Kei recognized a strange technique and decided to travel to Wind Country before the negotiations with Iwa.

• After the Sand Village treaty was signed, Kei sent the Konoha delegation home and brought Kushina and Jiraiya to the border camp, where Tobi explained the dangers hidden in Nagato’s eyes and the seals on Yahiko and Konan.
• Kei demonstrated his speed by taking Konan’s hairpin, then used Kushina’s inspection and Medical Ninjutsu to safely remove Nagato’s fake Rinnegan.
• Kei gave Nagato a pair of unfinished eyes cultivated by Orochimaru and kept the fake Rinnegan and Sharingan.
• Kei took Yahiko and Konan away from camp to undo their seals, but Yahiko’s seal released Tsukuyomi and Kei noticed its eye power resembled the One Thread Light Formation.
• Kei told Kushina he would likely travel to Wind Country and return before the negotiations with Iwa, while Uchiha Hikari watched Mist Village as its Fifth Mizukage, surrounded by devoted jonin bearing Eight Thousand Spears Imprints.

Genshi urged Mist Village’s Rational Faction to wait for a chance to oppose Uchiha Hikari while Yamanaka Kei investigated the prosperous desert city of Rōran. He found Queen Sāya and a strangely familiar girl waiting to welcome him, leaving him baffled by how different events were from what he expected.

• Ao asked Genshi whether the Rational Faction would act against Uchiha Hikari, and Genshi argued that they should wait for a chance to prove useful.
• Genshi’s followers considered the threat of Konoha merging with Sand Village and Hidden Stone Village, while Mei Terumi remained confused.
• Yamanaka Kei flew to Rōran and wondered whether his future self had arranged for the city to be built near the Dragon Vein.
• Kei explored Rōran, where lifelike puppet guards patrolled the streets and residents appeared to work without being mistreated.
• Queen Sāya welcomed Kei, while the girl he recognized as Saya watched him with intense admiration.

Yamanaka Kei met Tenten, Hinata, and Saya in Loulan, where they had spent six years completing their mission, and agreed to send them back six days after their original time. He distributed their rewards by giving Tenten and Saya his cultivation memories and beginning Hinata’s transformation with Tenseigan power.

• Queen Sāya led Yamanaka Kei into the tower, where Tenten, Hinata, and Saya showed him their Mission Scrolls and Sage Art Seals.
• Yamanaka Kei activated the seals and absorbed memories explaining how the three girls had spent six years developing Loulan and completing their mission.
• Tenten, Hinata, and Saya chose to return six days after their original time so their families would not have to wait longer.
• Yamanaka Kei gave Tenten memories of space-time techniques and Saya memories of Yamanaka Clan secret techniques.
• Yamanaka Kei used the Tenseigan’s power to activate Hinata’s bloodline and warned her to be careful while her eyes transformed over the next half month.