Chapter Summaries

Soji rescued Mei Terumi from danger, and she joyfully clung to him, teasing him about his feelings while he tried to keep their reunion appropriate. When her exhausted legs gave way, Soji caught her around the waist and held her again.

• Mei Terumi woke to find Soji had saved her, and she took his return as a sign of fate.
• Soji approached Mei Terumi and asked whether she remembered him, and she leapt into his arms.
• Mei Terumi said she had missed Soji and complained when he called her little sister.
• Mei Terumi teased Soji by suggesting they change locations, then admitted she was joking when he pointed out the corpses around them.
• Soji eased Mei Terumi out of his embrace, but she collapsed from exhaustion and he caught her around the waist.

Soji rescued Mei Terumi from Kirigakure ninjas and learned that the Yuki and Kaguya clans were under threat from Karatachi Yagura. Mei Terumi devised a way to help Soji return to the Yuki Clan in disguise, then surprised him by asking him to marry her before joking that she would save her favor for later.

• Soji carried Mei Terumi out of the forest after defeating the Mist Ninjas who had attacked her.
• Mei Terumi told Soji that the Yuki and Kaguya clans had withdrawn to their territories while Karatachi Yagura's Anbu watched them.
• Mei Terumi proposed that Soji disguise himself as an Anbu assigned to protect her so he could enter the Yuki Clan without exposing his identity.
• Soji agreed to repay Mei Terumi, and she suddenly asked him to marry her.
• Mei Terumi claimed she had been joking and asked to save her favor for later, and Soji agreed as they reached a village.

Soji took Mei Terumi to an Anbu supply depot so she could recover and he could change clothes, but he treated her wounds first. As he carefully cleaned and medicated her legs, their mutual embarrassment and attraction grew, while Soji kept reminding himself to restrain himself.

• Mei Terumi led Soji to a hidden Anbu supply depot and told him it held supplies and standard Anbu gear.
• Soji settled the exhausted Mei Terumi on a couch and prepared herbal medicine for her wounds.
• Mei Terumi asked Soji to apply the medicine, and he treated and bandaged the five wounds on her calves.
• Soji cut away the bloodstained fishnet stockings and gently cleaned the wounds on Mei Terumi's thighs, and both of them blushed after his hand brushed her skin.
• Soji applied medicine to Mei Terumi's thigh wounds, and she repeatedly cried out from the painful stimulation as he struggled to stay composed.

Soji treated Mei Terumi’s wounds in an Anbu supply depot while she repeatedly teased and flustered him. After Mei asked whether carrying her had felt comfortable, Soji fled outside to escape the embarrassment.

• Soji applied medicine and bandages to Mei Terumi’s leg and arm wounds while she teased him.
• Mei Terumi tried to continue provoking Soji, but he turned serious and reminded her that the Yuki and Kaguya Clans were in danger if he delayed his return.
• Mei Terumi promised to rest, and Soji inspected the unguarded Mist Village Anbu supply depot.
• Mei Terumi asked whether Soji had enjoyed carrying her on his back, leaving him flustered.
• Soji claimed he was going outside for air and food, then hurried out of the supply depot.

Soji and Mei Terumi spent three days recovering together at a hidden Mist Village Anbu supply depot, where her teasing left him flustered but he kept his identity and first kiss safe. Once Mei Terumi had healed, they headed back to Kirigakure with Soji disguised as the deceased Anbu Murayama Yoshito, planning to contact the Yuki Clan.

• Soji fled Mei Terumi's teasing, washed off his nosebleed, and returned with food that she eagerly ate.
• For three days, Soji changed Mei Terumi's bandages while they teased each other and shared the supply depot, though he kept his Ice Mask on and avoided a kiss.
• After Mei Terumi's injuries healed, she and Soji left the depot, with Soji taking the identity of Murayama Yoshito, a deceased Anbu guard.
• Mei Terumi planned to ask Genji for a mission to contact the Yuki Clan, and she and Soji reached Kirigakure after traveling for several hours.

Soji surveyed Kirigakure’s worsening purge and waited for Pakura’s Snow Ninja to arrive so he could use Obito’s move to lead the Yuki and Kaguya clans out of the Land of Water. Mei Terumi brought him to the Yuki Clan under Genji’s authorization, where Mizuki Fuukaze eagerly asked for help before hearing a familiar voice question whether he welcomed its return.

• Soji watched the Anbu surround the Yuki Clan compound, then gathered intelligence about Karatachi Yagura’s rule and the surveillance of the Kaguya Clan.
• Soji concluded that the clans could hold out for a while and waited for Pakura and the Snow Ninja, planning to use Obito’s actions to lead the clans out of the Land of Water.
• Mei Terumi obtained Genji’s authorization and took Soji to the Yuki Clan compound.
• The Anbu under Karatachi Yagura checked Genji’s document and allowed Soji and Mei Terumi to enter.
• Mizuki Fuukaze welcomed Mei Terumi and asked what the Yuki Clan could do to resolve its crisis, but she said she had brought someone back.
• A familiar voice asked Mizuki Fuukaze whether he did not welcome its return.

Soji reunited with Mizuki Fuukaze and explained that Genji would not intervene to save the Yuki Clan. With removing Karatachi Yagura from power effectively blocked, Soji left the clan head waiting to hear the only other path forward.

• Soji revealed an Ice Mask instead of his true face when Mizuki Fuukaze recognized his voice, then met with him privately after Mei Terumi left.
• Soji reassured Mizuki Fuukaze that he had returned to resolve the Yuki Clan’s predicament, while secretly intending to bring the clan under his command.
• Soji explained that Karatachi Yagura was unlikely to abandon his persecution of bloodline-limit ninja and that the Yuki Clan had only two paths left.
• Soji identified removing Karatachi Yagura from office as the first path and said it was nearly impossible without Genji’s support.
• Mizuki Fuukaze accepted that Genji would not help and concluded that the Yuki Clan would have to rely on itself.

Soji persuaded Mizuki Fuukaze to consider taking the Yuki Clan out of Kirigakure rather than waiting to be destroyed. After ruling out the other great ninja villages, Soji proposed the Land of Snow as their refuge, and Mizuki Fuukaze became convinced it could be their new home.

• Soji suggested that the Yuki Clan leave Kirigakure to escape Karatachi Yagura, reframing their departure as being forced out rather than defecting.
• Mizuki Fuukaze worried that the clan had nowhere to go, but began considering departure as a last resort if Kirigakure threatened their survival.
• Soji argued that the other Four Great Ninja Villages would distrust the Yuki Clan and that accepting them could provoke conflict or sabotage.
• Mizuki Fuukaze accepted that the other great villages were poor options and asked Soji where the clan should settle.
• Soji proposed the distant Land of Snow as a suitable home for the Yuki Clan, and Mizuki Fuukaze stared at its location with growing determination.

Soji persuaded Mizuki Fuukaze to consider leading the Yuki Clan out of Kirigakure, promising that the Land of Snow would help them relocate, then left to approach the Kaguya Clan. As he and Mei Terumi headed there, he revealed that he might leave Kirigakure, and Mei vowed to bring him back by making him the Fifth Mizukage.

• Mizuki Fuukaze agreed to consult the Yuki Clan's higher-ups before deciding whether the clan would leave Kirigakure.
• Soji promised that the Land of Snow would send help if the Yuki Clan had to flee, giving Mizuki Fuukaze confidence in persuading the clan.
• Soji told Mizuki Fuukaze he planned to visit the Kaguya Clan and invite them to leave with the Yuki Clan, and he gave him a scroll to contact his Summoning Beast.
• Soji and Mei Terumi left the Yuki Clan grounds while maintaining his cover as Murayama Yoshito for the Mist Village Anbu.
• Soji told Mei Terumi he might leave Kirigakure if his plan succeeded, and she resolved to make him the Fifth Mizukage so she could bring him back.

Soji persuaded the Kaguya Clan to abandon its plan for a coup against Kirigakure and prepare to leave for the Land of Snow with the Yuki Clan if Karatachi Yagura moved against them. The brothers accepted his proposal, though they still hoped the threat might not come to pass.

• Soji reminded Kaguya Sora and Kaguya Mei of his promise to help the clan’s Bloodline Disease patients and offered to develop new serum after resolving their crisis.
• Soji explained that he wanted the Kaguya Clan and the Yuki Clan to join the Land of Snow, not Konoha, and described the benefits of going there.
• Kaguya Sora asked Soji to assess the chances of a joint coup against Karatachi Yagura, but Soji warned that the clans lacked the strength to win without devastating Kirigakure.
• Kaguya Sora and Kaguya Mei abandoned the coup idea and agreed to go to the Land of Snow with the Yuki Clan if Karatachi Yagura targeted them.

Soji secured the Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan’s agreement to join the Land of Snow and prepared to use their departure to draw Obito’s attention. After learning Kisame Hoshigaki had returned, Soji found him training by the sea and confirmed his identity.

• Soji gave the Kaguya brothers a summoning scroll, secured their agreement to join the Land of Snow, and asked Mei Terumi to find Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Mei Terumi reported that Kisame was away on a mission, while Soji waited for news from the clans and Pakura’s reception force.
• The Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan told Soji they were ready, and he planned to draw Obito’s attention while the clans escaped Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi informed Soji that Kisame had returned, so Soji went to Kisame’s seaside home but found no one there.
• Soji watched a shark-like man break through a massive wave during training and recognized him as Kisame Hoshigaki.

Soji revealed himself to Kisame Hoshigaki and persuaded him to become his subordinate by promising he could return to Kirigakure after the Fifth Mizukage took office. Kisame accepted, and Soji gave him a Storage Scroll containing two ninja blades.

• Soji removed his Anbu mask and revealed the Ice Mask, identifying himself as Mizuki Ember to Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Kisame relaxed and expressed admiration for Mizuki Ember, who praised Kisame's training and potential.
• Soji offered Kisame a place under his command and explained that Kirigakure could no longer tolerate him.
• Kisame hesitated about becoming a missing-nin, but Soji promised he would return when the Fifth Mizukage took office.
• Kisame agreed to follow Soji, who gave him a Storage Scroll that revealed two flat ninja blades.

Soji gave Kisame Hoshigaki Twin Swords Hiramekarei and recruited him to spy on the Fourth Mizukage before infiltrating the Akatsuki Organization for intelligence. After Kisame pledged his loyalty and began training, Soji considered returning to Kirigakure later to recruit more of its talented ninja.

• Soji gave Kisame Hoshigaki Twin Swords Hiramekarei and suggested he might seek Samehada in the future.
• Soji ordered Kisame to follow the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, and watch his movements.
• Soji told Kisame to join the Akatsuki Organization if Madara Uchiha approached him and to gather intelligence for Soji.
• Soji gave Kisame a scroll to summon his Summoning Beast and urged him to put his own safety first.
• After Soji left, Kisame trained underwater with Twin Swords Hiramekarei, while Soji used Byakugan Mind Reading to confirm Kisame's loyalty and considered recruiting more Kirigakure ninja later.

Soji returned to Kirigakure as Mizuki Ember, drawing the attention of villagers and prompting Obito to prepare a trap with Nagato. He reached the Yuki Clan’s territory and knocked out the Anbu guards who tried to stop him.

• Soji confirmed that Pakura and his allies had prepared ships and an escape route for the Yuki and Kaguya clans, then decided to reveal himself in Kirigakure.
• Soji rode the Golden Eagle to Kirigakure’s gate and openly entered the village as Mizuki Ember, while onlookers reacted with fear, admiration, and hostility.
• Obito learned that Mizuki Ember had returned, celebrated, and vanished to notify Nagato and prepare their trap.
• Soji walked toward the Yuki Clan’s territory and dismissed the idea of using his return to overthrow Karatachi Yagura, since it would not benefit him.
• Four Anbu guards blocked Soji at the clan’s entrance, but he knocked them unconscious and continued into the Yuki Clan’s territory.

Soji exposed Karatachi Yagura’s plan to lure Mizuki Ember away before the Yuki Clan’s extermination and helped the Yuki and Kaguya clans escape Kirigakure. He stayed behind to block the village gates, where Obito confronted him and threatened to pursue the fleeing clans unless he went to the appointed meeting place.

• Karatachi Yagura ordered Mizuki Ember to fight him, and Soji revealed that the challenge was a trap to leave the Yuki Clan vulnerable to extermination.
• Soji showed the Yuki Clan elders Mei Terumi’s letter and announced that the Yuki Clan would leave Kirigakure that night while he attended the meeting alone.
• Soji arranged for the Yuki and Kaguya clans to escape Kirigakure together at two in the morning, using genjutsu to keep their route unnoticed.
• After the clans passed through the gates, Soji stayed behind and knocked unconscious the Mist ninja sent to pursue them.
• Obito controlled Karatachi Yagura to order a pursuit, then confronted Soji in disguise and demanded that he go to the appointed meeting place.
• Soji recognized Obito when his punch passed through the disguised Mist Anbu member.

Soji confronted Obito at a stone forest, only to discover that Obito had brought the Pain Six Paths to fight him. Soji rejected Pain’s offer to join Akatsuki and survived Deva Path Pain’s surprise Shinra Tensei unharmed, leaving the battle underway.

• Soji abandoned his post at Kirigakure’s gate and followed Obito to a stone forest, hoping the Golden Eagle would protect the fleeing Yuki and Kaguya clans.
• Obito revealed the Pain Six Paths, who arrived on a giant chameleon, and Soji realized that Obito and hidden allies were also watching the confrontation.
• Deva Path Pain offered Soji a place in Akatsuki, but Soji refused because he valued his independence and had no time for the organization.
• Deva Path Pain attacked Soji with Shinra Tensei, blasting him through eight stone pillars.
• Soji emerged unharmed from an Ice Release block and mocked Pain’s attack, having taken the hit to study its repulsive force.

Soji fought Pain’s Six Paths, identifying several of their abilities and sealing the Split Dog with Ice Release. As the battle continued, he began using the Snowfall Technique to gather Natural Energy and prepare to enter Sage Mode.

• Soji charged the Human Path, then dodged the Asura Path’s launched fist and identified its attack method.
• Soji recognized the Animal Path’s Split Dog and sealed its chakra with Ice Release, while Nagato refused Konan’s offer to join the fight.
• Soji fired Ice Spears at three unidentified Paths, identifying the Preta Path when it absorbed one and making guesses about the Human Path and Hell Path.
• Soji announced he would end the battle quickly, and Nagato remained confident that Pain would win.
• Soji activated the Snowfall Technique to gather Natural Energy and prepare to enter Sage Mode.

Soji fought the Pain Six Paths while trying to gather enough Natural Energy to enter Sage Mode, but Deva Path Pain ended his snowfall and left him unable to reach it. Soji adapted by using Ice Release to defeat the Asura Path and turn the stone forest into an Ice Domain.

• Obito saw Soji's snowfall and began questioning whether Mizuki Ember had been involved in Rin Nohara's death.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei to disperse the snow clouds, cutting off Soji's Natural Energy before he could enter Sage Mode.
• The Animal Path summoned the Hell Crab, Yata Crow, and Taurus; Soji knocked Taurus away and survived the Yata Crow's explosive eggs with his automatic Ice Release defense.
• Soji blocked the Human Path's attack and countered, but Deva Path Pain used Banshō Ten'in to redirect Soji's Ice Spear away from the Human Path.
• Soji unleashed Magic Crystal Arrows across the battlefield, freezing the Asura Path and forcing the Animal Path to sacrifice the Hell Crab to shield it.
• Soji froze most of the stone forest with his attack, creating an Ice Domain around Deva Path Pain.

Soji used his Ice Domain to defeat the Animal Path and Hell Crab, then let Deva Path Pain pull him into an attack. He blocked the other Pains’ Chakra Receivers by revealing Shikotsumyaku, leaving Nagato, Obito, and Zetsu stunned by his second Kekkei Genkai.

• Soji used the Ice Domain to appear behind the Animal Path and freeze it with an Ice Spear.
• Soji destroyed the Hell Crab after it attacked him with foam, while the remaining Summoning Beasts stayed on the battlefield.
• Obito refused to attack and waited for Nagato to expose Mizuki Ember’s abilities, insisting that Zetsu call him Madara Uchiha.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Soji toward Deva Path Pain, and the four Pains attacked him with Chakra Receivers.
• Soji grew bone spikes across his body and blocked all four attacks, revealing that he possessed the Kaguya Clan’s Shikotsumyaku as well as Ice Release.

Obito concluded that Mizuki Ember was secretly the child of the Yuki and Kaguya Clans, and planned to use Karatachi Yagura to question captured Kaguya Clan members. Meanwhile, Soji continued fighting Pain and retreated into his Ice Domain when Black Zetsu appeared nearby.

• Obito questioned White Zetsu about Mizuki Ember’s past and decided the Kaguya Clan had helped conceal his identity.
• Obito persuaded Black Zetsu that Mizuki Ember was the child of the Yuki and Kaguya Clans, then revealed that he had sent Karatachi Yagura after the defecting clans.
• Black Zetsu praised Obito’s progress, and Obito angrily objected when Black Zetsu called him by the wrong name.
• Soji used Shikotsumyaku bone spikes to block attacks from four Pains and armed himself with two spikes taken from his knees.
• Deva Path Pain questioned Soji about wielding the Kaguya Clan’s Shikotsumyaku, but Black Zetsu emerged from the ground before Soji could answer.
• Soji retreated to the edge of his Ice Domain when he noticed Black Zetsu appearing beside Pain.