Chapter Summaries

Ōnoki proposed that the Five Great Shinobi Villages form a Special Action Team to fight Uchiha Madara, and the other leaders considered Chiyue the best choice to command it. Chiyue refused to join, so the meeting turned to choosing members, beginning with Iwagakure’s offer.

• After breakfast, Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura went to the Tsuchikage’s office for a meeting with the village leaders.
• Ōnoki proposed a joint Special Action Team, and Rasa warned that command and deployment could cause problems.
• Ōnoki suggested Chiyue as captain, and Rasa, Yagura, and A showed no objection.
• Chiyue refused to join or lead the team, but agreed that Konoha would share intelligence and recommend members.
• Ōnoki said Iwagakure would send three elite Jonin led by Kitsuchi.

Yagami Chiyue avoided Ōnoki’s attempt to force him into leading a multinational team by recommending Jiraiya as its captain. Jiraiya was appointed to investigate clues about Uchiha Madara, leaving him shocked at the news.

• Kitsuchi joined Iwagakure’s team, and A announced he would lead Kumogakure’s members, making Chiyue suspect Ōnoki was setting him up to command the group.
• Yagura and Rasa each agreed to send three elite Jonin, while Chiyue said Konoha would do the same.
• Chiyue declined to join and recommended Jiraiya as captain, and no one objected to the choice.
• Chiyue explained to Pakura and Kushina that he had chosen Jiraiya partly to keep him busy and stop him searching for the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya learned Tsunade had appointed him captain of the Special Action Team and ordered him to investigate Uchiha Madara’s clues where Orochimaru had been captured, and he was stunned.

Tsunade forced Jiraiya to lead a joint ninja team investigating Uchiha Madara, while Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura left Iwagakure for Kumogakure after the Third Raikage personally invited them. With Chiyue gone, Black Zetsu saw an opportunity to pursue Ōnoki’s Rinnegan research.

• Tsunade told Jiraiya he had to lead the joint team and warned him to keep Kitsuchi and A under control.
• Jiraiya accepted the assignment and resolved to investigate Uchiha Madara seriously.
• After two days touring Iwagakure, Chiyue told Kushina and Pakura they were leaving for Kumogakure.
• The Third Raikage arrived in person, invited the three to Kumogakure, and apologized to Kushina on A’s behalf.
• Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura packed their things, said farewell to Ōnoki, and traveled to Kumogakure with the Third Raikage.
• After Chiyue left, Ōnoki relaxed, and Black Zetsu saw a chance to resume pursuing the Rinnegan research.

Chiyue, Pakura, and Kushina traveled to Kumogakure with the Third Raikage, who discussed his strength and expressed interest in fighting Chiyue. The journey left the Third Raikage concerned after Chiyue revealed that he had secretly entered Kumogakure on past missions.

• Black Zetsu sent White Zetsu to search the Land of Earth for the Rinnegan and kept Iwagakure under surveillance.
• Kushina grew comfortable with the Third Raikage and asked why he traveled without guards, prompting Chiyue to explain the Raikage's strength.
• The Third Raikage said he wanted to fight Chiyue, and Chiyue replied that he should beat Kushina first.
• Chiyue explained that Kushina and the Nine-Tails could wear the Third Raikage down, and the Raikage eagerly agreed to test their strength someday.
• Kushina and Pakura admired the sights of the Land of Lightning, while Chiyue revealed that he had secretly entered Kumogakure on past missions.
• The Third Raikage worried that Konoha spies remained in Kumogakure and resolved to investigate after the village's crisis was over.

Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura visited Kumogakure before traveling to the Land of Water, where Yagura showed them Kirigakure. Kushina and Pakura disliked the village’s fog and poverty, and Kushina’s question about its damaged buildings prompted Yagura to point out Chiyue’s role in the wartime destruction.

• The Third Raikage welcomed Chiyue’s group to Kumogakure, and Kushina and Pakura went shopping while Chiyue sampled local food.
• Jiraiya led the assembled Special Action Team from Konoha toward Mountains' Graveyard, the first stop on their mission to investigate Uchiha Madara’s former base.
• Kushina and Pakura captured a small number of White Zetsu in Kumogakure, and the Third Raikage took the result as proof of the village’s strong defenses.
• Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura toured nearby countries before traveling to the Land of Water to keep Chiyue’s promise to visit Yagura.
• Kushina and Pakura complained about Kirigakure’s fog and poor conditions, and Yagura explained that scarce resources and past isolation had left the village economically backward.
• Kushina asked why Kirigakure’s damaged buildings had not been rebuilt, and Yagura’s amused look led Chiyue to admit that he and Minato had sabotaged the village during the war.

Chiyue told Yagura that the Kaguya Clan’s defiance had become common knowledge, and Yagura decided to wipe them out after Chiyue and his companions left Kirigakure. Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura departed the Land of Water, while Yagura began preparing to surround the clan.

• Chiyue confronted Yagura about the disobedient Kaguya and Hozuki Clans, and Yagura admitted the Kaguya Clan had repeatedly caused trouble.
• Chiyue said Kushina would lead the inspection, and the inspection found no White Zetsu in Kirigakure.
• Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura said farewell to Yagura and left the Land of Water.
• After seeing them off, Yagura ordered the Anbu, pursuit forces, and village shinobi to surround the Kaguya Clan.
• Chiyue fished from the ship and shared grilled fish with Kushina and Pakura as they sailed away.

Black Zetsu infiltrated Iwagakure’s secret research base and stole the Rinnegan, prompting Ōnoki to warn the other villages about the Mangekyō Sharingan user. Tsunade recalled Chiyue to Konoha and summoned Uchiha Fugaku.

• Chiyue discussed the Kaguya Clan’s bloodline disease and wondered whether the Hozuki Clan would keep testing Yagura’s patience.
• Black Zetsu used Kamui to infiltrate Iwagakure’s research base and steal the Rinnegan from its laboratory.
• Ōnoki ordered the other villages to watch for Uchiha Madara and a Mangekyō Sharingan user whose appearance differed from Madara’s.
• Ōnoki sent intelligence documents containing a drawing of Uchiha Obito’s Mangekyō pattern to Konoha.
• Tsunade asked Katsuyu to recall Chiyue from his trip with Kushina and summoned Uchiha Fugaku to the Hokage’s Office.

Tsunade learned that Uchiha Fugaku could not identify the Mangekyō Sharingan behind the stolen Rinnegan, and she summoned Chiyue back from the Land of Crafts. Meanwhile, Black Zetsu revived Uchiha Madara with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu as Jiraiya’s team discovered the Outer Path Statue.

• Tsunade showed Uchiha Fugaku a copied Mangekyō pattern, but he said he did not recognize it and was the only Uchiha to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Katsuyu delivered Tsunade’s order for Chiyue to return to Konoha after Iwagakure’s Rinnegan was stolen, so Chiyue, Kushina, and Pakura ended their trip.
• In the Land of Grass, Black Zetsu used a captured Kusagakure jonin as a sacrifice to revive Uchiha Madara with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Uchiha Madara agreed to help recover the Rinnegan and capture the tailed beasts, while Black Zetsu urged him to retrieve the Outer Path Statue first.
• Jiraiya’s special operations team found Uchiha Madara’s underground hideout and identified the enormous Outer Path Statue.

After the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished, Jiraiya reported the incident while Chiyue returned to Konoha and briefed its leaders on the stolen Rinnegan. Chiyue identified Uchiha Obito as the attacker and warned that Kumogakure would be Uchiha Madara’s next target.

• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path disappeared, so Jiraiya summoned a toad to relay the news to Minato and Tsunade.
• Chiyue returned to Konoha, where Tsunade and the village leaders gathered to hear about the stolen Rinnegan and the Mangekyō Sharingan attacker.
• Chiyue identified the attacker as Uchiha Obito and explained that Uchiha Madara had used Orochimaru to provoke Obito into awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Chiyue warned that Madara would target Kumogakure to reclaim the remaining Rinnegan.

Chiyue defended the Uchiha Clan and warned Konoha’s leaders and clan representatives against further discrimination and political scheming. The meeting then turned to Uchiha Madara’s next likely target, Kumogakure, leaving the Third Hokage looking to Chiyue for an assessment of its chances.

• Chiyue explained that the Sharingan did not awaken or evolve from casually witnessing death, and Tsunade reminded the meeting that the Uchiha Clan were Konoha’s comrades with major contributions to the village.
• Chiyue challenged the claim that the Uchiha Clan posed a threat, warned the Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura about their own clans’ conduct, and criticized the Uchiha Clan for being manipulated into trouble.
• Tsunade stopped Chiyue from continuing the blame and returned the meeting to the missing Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• The meeting concluded that Uchiha Madara or someone under his control had taken the Rinnegan and summoned away the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha to warn Kumogakure and strengthen its defenses, while the Third Hokage asked whether Kumogakure could withstand Uchiha Madara and looked to Chiyue.

Chiyue warned Konoha that Kumogakure could not withstand Uchiha Madara and advised the Third Raikage to prepare for a desperate battle. After arranging to offer help if Kumogakure requested it, Chiyue returned home and spent time with Nawaki and Minato, while Uchiha Mikoto arrived at his villa.

• Chiyue told the Third Hokage that Kumogakure would be devastated if it fought Uchiha Madara and urged him to prepare for casualties and relief efforts.
• Tsunade ended the meeting, then asked Chiyue whether Madara was truly so powerful; Chiyue reassured her and suggested asking Kumogakure whether it wanted help.
• Tsunade sent an intelligence scroll to Kumogakure and ordered Jiraiya to bring the Special Action Team back.
• Chiyue ate hot pot with Nawaki and Minato, who complained that he had gone traveling without them.
• Chiyue treated Nawaki and Minato to a meal and a hot spring soak, then brought them home to collect gifts from Kushina as Uchiha Mikoto arrived at the villa.

Chiyue reluctantly took responsibility for teaching Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi after Uchiha Mikoto brought them to the villa. He led the boys to the training yard to assess their abilities, while Minato followed to see why Chiyue had become interested in them.

• Kushina, Pakura, Uchiha Mikoto, and Hinata Suzune sorted through the huge pile of goods Kushina had brought home.
• Uchiha Mikoto told Chiyue that Uchiha Fugaku had asked her to take in Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, and Chiyue agreed to teach them the basics.
• Kushina gave Minato a Ninja Tool Pouch and Nawaki a bedding set, prompting Nawaki to protest and the others to laugh.
• Chiyue called Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi to the training yard to test their foundations, and Minato followed, curious about Chiyue's interest in them.

Chiyue observed Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui training and offered them basic advice, while Minato explained why he had declined Tsunade's offer to become a Jonin Instructor. Chiyue then told Minato to summon Jiraiya back to Konoha, wanting to keep him away from the dangerous situation in Kumogakure.

• Chiyue watched Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui train and praised their solid foundations, advising them to persist and later add swordsmanship and Taijutsu.
• Minato told Chiyue he had refused Tsunade's offer to become a Jonin Instructor because he felt unprepared to teach new graduates.
• Chiyue asked Minato to send word for Jiraiya to return to Konoha immediately for an important mission.
• Chiyue decided Jiraiya and Konoha's people should stay out of Kumogakure, fearing Black Zetsu could endanger Jiraiya and possibly use the Rinnegan to revive Uchiha Madara.

Chiyue warned Minato that Black Zetsu’s possession of a Rinnegan meant the threat from Uchiha Madara had escalated, and arranged for Jiraiya to return to Konoha by telling him Kushina was a target. Jiraiya recalled the Special Action Team and ended its first mission, leaving the group to share intelligence and return to their villages.

• Chiyue told Minato that Black Zetsu no longer needed to act cautiously and that Kumogakure could suffer a major attack.
• Chiyue urged Minato to summon Jiraiya back to Konoha, and Minato sent a toad with a warning that White Zetsu and Uchiha Madara were targeting Kushina and the Nine-Tails.
• At the Mountains' Graveyard, Jiraiya and the Special Action Team reviewed their failed investigation as A and Kitsuchi prepared to take their people home.
• The toad delivered Minato’s message, and Jiraiya decided to return to Konoha with everyone.
• A proposed that the team exchange intelligence and then disband for the time being, and Jiraiya apologized for missing his planned visit to Kumogakure.

After the villages shared their intelligence, Ōnoki dismissed the threat to Kumogakure as too dangerous to get involved in, while Uchiha Madara rejected a direct confrontation with the Third Raikage as uninteresting. Madara left Black Zetsu to pursue the Rinnegan and considered turning his attention toward Konoha.

• Jiraiya returned toward Konoha after being ordered back with news that White Zetsu had appeared and Madara had set his sights on Kushina.
• Kitsuchi reported to Ōnoki that Konoha had recalled Jiraiya, and Ōnoki judged the warning an excuse to keep Jiraiya out of danger in Kumogakure.
• Kitsuchi asked whether Ōnoki had really been beaten by Madara, and Ōnoki sent him flying in anger.
• Madara dismissed the Third Raikage as too weak to interest him and agreed that Black Zetsu should use White Zetsu to trouble Kumogakure while searching for the Rinnegan.
• Madara left the Rinnegan search to Black Zetsu and considered going to Konoha instead.

Chiyue explained why he had kept Jiraiya away from Kumogakure and treated him to three days of entertainment, while Orochimaru studied a White Zetsu corpse and discovered its connection to Hashirama’s cells. Orochimaru then exposed three White Zetsu spores that had been monitoring him.

• Chiyue admitted to Jiraiya that he had asked Minato to lie so Jiraiya would not get involved in the danger surrounding Kumogakure.
• Chiyue warned that Uchiha Madara might go to Kumogakure himself and offered Jiraiya three days of paid entertainment as an apology.
• Jiraiya accepted Chiyue’s offer, and the two drank together before going their separate ways.
• Orochimaru found that the White Zetsu corpse contained Senju Hashirama’s cells and began considering using it for the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Orochimaru removed three White Zetsu spores from his body, revealing that they had been watching him.

Orochimaru used White Zetsu as sacrifices to test the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and successfully revived Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama in their peak condition. Tobirama rebuked Orochimaru for using the forbidden technique, leaving Orochimaru stunned.

• Orochimaru captured the White Zetsu and prepared them as sacrifices for the Impure World Reincarnation experiment.
• Orochimaru performed the jutsu in his hidden underground laboratory and revived Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
• Senju Tobirama recognized the jutsu he had created, while Senju Hashirama asked where they were and who had revived them.
• Orochimaru introduced himself as Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple and realized his experiment had produced powerful, peak-condition bodies.
• Senju Tobirama angrily questioned why Orochimaru had used the forbidden jutsu, leaving Orochimaru stunned.

Orochimaru’s attempt to control Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama backfired, and their powerful Chakra erupted across Konoha. As the village rushed toward the disturbance, the brothers emerged from Orochimaru’s laboratory and Hashirama surveyed the modern village.

• Orochimaru tried to seize control of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, but Hashirama broke free and unleashed a surge of Chakra.
• Tsunade returned home early, sensed the familiar Chakra of her grandfathers, and left with Chiyue to investigate.
• Nawaki, Minato, Kushina, Pakura, and other shinobi joined Tsunade and Chiyue as they headed toward Orochimaru’s laboratory.
• Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama escaped the damaged laboratory with a disheveled Orochimaru while the watching Anbu recognized the two Hokage.
• Senju Hashirama looked over Konoha, and Jiraiya arrived and demanded to know what Orochimaru was doing.

Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to bring Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama back, and Konoha’s forces gathered to confront him. Hashirama learned about the shinobi wars and Tsunade’s position as Fourth Hokage as the Third Hokage arrived to demand an explanation from Orochimaru.

• Jiraiya arrived at the scene and recognized the revived Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, then warned Orochimaru with a knowing look.
• Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu surrounded Orochimaru while Hashirama asked who led Konoha and learned that Tsunade was Fourth Hokage.
• Hatake Sakumo told Hashirama that Tobirama had died in the First Shinobi World War and that the Second and Third wars had also taken place.
• Uchiha Fugaku arrived with the Police Force and joined the Anbu in surrounding Orochimaru.
• The Third Hokage arrived in pajamas, and Hashirama teased him before he angrily demanded to know what Orochimaru had done.

Orochimaru blamed Danzo and Senju Tobirama for his forbidden jutsu, but quieted down when Tsunade arrived, while Chiyue watched from nearby. Tsunade reunited with Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, and the chapter ended as Kushina and the others arrived and asked what was happening.

• Orochimaru defended his study of the forbidden jutsu by claiming Danzo had given it to him and he was following Senju Tobirama's example.
• Tsunade arrived and rebuked Orochimaru, who restrained himself as Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama observed.
• Chiyue joined Hatake Sakumo and told him to play things by ear while Tsunade approached her grandfathers.
• Senju Hashirama recognized Tsunade with surprise, then embraced her after Senju Tobirama corrected his confused remark.
• Chiyue told Nawaki that Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama were his grandfathers, leaving him stunned.
• Kushina, Minato, and the others arrived, and Kushina asked what was going on.