Chapter Summaries

Soji warned Fugaku Uchiha that the Uchiha Clan’s absolute control of the Konoha Military Police Force was undermining its chances of gaining the Hokage’s trust. Fugaku understood that the clan might need to share authority, but left to discuss the proposal with its members.

• Fugaku Uchiha agreed to notify the Hyuga Clan after handling the Konoha Military Police Force’s affairs, so Soji could arrange for a squad to join the force.
• Before leaving, Soji told Fugaku that the Uchiha Clan’s reputation and the jonin confidence vote stood in the way of its ambitions for the Hokage position.
• Soji explained that the Hyuga Clan shared influence in the Ministry of Education, while the Uchiha Clan’s absolute control of the police force made the Hokage wary.
• Soji proposed that the Uchiha Clan give the village part of its police force authority and use squad and deputy commander positions to build alliances.
• Fugaku thanked Soji for opening his eyes but said he needed to discuss the major change with the Uchiha Clan.

Soji persuaded Fugaku Uchiha to consider reforming the Military Police Force and pursuing the Hokage position, and Fugaku agreed to seek Shisui’s support. The chapter ended with Itachi and Sasuke heading to visit Shisui, while Fugaku discussed his hopes for his sons’ futures.

• Fugaku Uchiha accepted Soji’s suggestion to reform the Military Police Force but recognized that convincing the clan to gamble its current benefits would be difficult.
• Uchiha Homura pledged to support Fugaku, and Fugaku resolved to bring Shisui into the reforms.
• Soji agreed to visit Naruto with Uchiha Homura and then told Itachi that Shisui would likely become the Ninja Academy’s new principal.
• Itachi was excited by Shisui’s prospective appointment, and Fugaku sent him to invite Shisui to discuss clan matters.
• Sasuke asked to accompany Itachi, and Uchiha Homura encouraged the brothers to visit Shisui together.
• Fugaku told Uchiha Homura that he expected Itachi to lead the clan one day and Sasuke to support or live happily under his brother’s protection.

Soji and Fugaku Uchiha reshaped the Ninja Academy leadership and the Police Force through a deal that the Third Hokage approved, while Danzo failed to stop the reforms. The Uchiha Clan placated its extremists by placing them in the Police Force, using them as pawns as Soji waited for events to unfold.

• Soji resigned as Ninja Academy principal and appointed Shisui Uchiha to replace him, while the Hyuga Clan took a quarter of the Police Force's strength.
• Fugaku Uchiha opened another quarter of the Police Force to capable outsiders and replaced its Uchiha emblem with Konoha's emblem.
• Soji explained the clans' deal to the Third Hokage, who approved it and summoned Fugaku Uchiha to discuss recruitment; Danzo's opposition failed.
• Fugaku Uchiha assigned the remaining two Police Force squads to the extremist Hawk Faction members, who stopped resisting the reforms without realizing they were pawns.
• Soji watched the changes sweep through the village and decided that all that remained was to wait.

Soji and Uchiha Homura tracked Naruto and eight other children to a cave outside Konoha, where they argued over Kiba Inuzuka’s treasure map. Naruto volunteered to enter first, leaving the group poised to explore.

• Soji found Naruto and eight other children outside the village through the Reincarnation Mirror, and he and Uchiha Homura went to meet them.
• Ino Yamanaka and Sakura questioned whether Kiba Inuzuka’s treasure map was reliable, while the children gathered at a dark cave entrance.
• Shikamaru Nara urged the group to return to the village, but Kiba insisted they had come too far to turn back.
• The children argued over whether to explore, and Sasuke Uchiha dismissed the debate as boring.
• Naruto proposed entering the cave first and promised to call the others in if it was safe or run if danger appeared.

Naruto and his companions followed Kiba’s treasure map into a dark cave, where they discovered a bear cub. Naruto realized the cave was a bear’s den and warned everyone to flee, just as a massive bear appeared.

• Naruto entered the cave first, followed by Sasuke, Hinata, Kiba, Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino.
• The nine young ninja pressed together as they explored the dark cave, then continued toward a brighter section.
• A bear cub grabbed Ino’s leg, and the group gathered around to admire and play with it.
• Naruto sensed something was wrong, recognized they were in a bear’s den, and shouted for everyone to run.
• A massive bear emerged from deeper in the cave and roared, leaving the children frozen with fear.

Naruto and Sasuke helped the children escape from two giant bears in a cave, drawing the beasts away while the others ran for help. Soji and Uchiha Homura entered the cave to retrieve them, as the exhausted boys clung to a wall above the bears.

• Naruto and Sasuke threw kunai at a bear guarding its cub, then Naruto realized the bear was protecting the cub and told Ino to put it down so the group could retreat.
• The children reached the cave entrance, where a larger, scarred bear blocked their escape; Naruto and Sasuke drew its attention while Shikamaru led the others toward the village.
• The fleeing children encountered Soji and Uchiha Homura, who went into the cave to bring Naruto and Sasuke back.
• Naruto and Sasuke held off two bears for half an hour by climbing onto the cave wall, but they were tiring as the nearby Anbu prepared to intervene.

Soji and Uchiha Homura rescued Naruto and Sasuke from the bear cave, then escorted them and their companions back toward the village. Soji offered the children ramen while arranging for Homura to pay, and Naruto recognized a familiar resemblance between Soji and the Night Duke.

• Soji and Uchiha Homura entered the bear cave, where Homura used genjutsu to control the bears and Naruto's hidden Anbu protector.
• Soji and Homura helped Naruto and Sasuke leave the cave, and Sasuke reluctantly addressed Soji as Senior.
• Soji teased Homura about Sasuke's resemblance to him, prompting Homura to decide that Sasuke needed extra training.
• Soji offered to treat the children to ramen and persuaded Homura to pay, claiming it would help him build a relationship with Naruto.
• Naruto overheard Soji's scheme and thought that Soji's personality resembled the Night Duke's.

Soji decided to travel to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran after Sasori asked Mizuki Ember to meet him and discuss matters related to Akatsuki. He also hoped to gain Queen Sara’s help with the Dragon Vein, then used Otsutsuki Genji’s body as a puppet.

• Soji continued researching a safer way to help Hyuga Clan members undergo the Byakugan’s first evolution, unwilling to risk Hiashi or Hizashi’s lives.
• Neji began attending the Ninja Academy, while Soji and the Night Duke continued teaching the five children.
• Sasori wrote that Konan and Zetsu had recruited him into Akatsuki and asked Mizuki Ember to meet him in the Ancient Kingdom of Roran.
• Soji decided to discuss the next stage of his plans with Sasori and seek Queen Sara’s cooperation in using the Dragon Vein to revive Kushina Uzumaki.
• Soji took Otsutsuki Genji’s corpse from the Reincarnation Mirror and used a Tenseigan Chakra energy sphere to animate it as his puppet.

Soji gave Otsutsuki Genji’s body the identity Mizuki Ember and used it to travel to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, where he discovered that Sasori had revived the kingdom’s puppet craft. Sasori revealed that he had helped Roran protect itself, and Soji suspected that his request was tied to his new home there.

• Soji took control of Otsutsuki Genji’s body, named him Mizuki Ember, and left Konoha in that identity.
• Soji traveled to the Land of Wind and met Sasori outside the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, where Sasori said he would soon have to focus on Akatsuki Organization duties.
• Soji entered Roran and was astonished to find its streets filled with puppets and puppeteers using designs such as Crow, Black Ant, and Ibuse.
• Sasori explained that Queen Sara had told him about Anrokuzan’s puppet techniques, which Sasori had organized and promoted to help Roran defend itself.
• Soji realized Sasori deeply cared about Roran and suspected that Sasori’s reason for summoning him was connected to the kingdom.

Soji visited the Ancient Kingdom of Roran as Mizuki Ember and discovered that Sasori and Queen Sara had grown close while rebuilding the kingdom through puppet techniques. The chapter revealed how Sara won Sasori over, and left Soji watching their affection alongside Sasori’s parents.

• Sasori used Anrokuzan’s puppet techniques to strengthen himself and help the Ancient Kingdom of Roran replace the Dragon Vein with a puppet-based defense.
• A soldier summoned Sasori to Queen Sara, and Soji noticed their awkward familiarity as Sasori brought him to the queen’s residence.
• Queen Sara eagerly showed Sasori that she could control a Hiruko puppet, while Soji suspected they were in love and felt ignored.
• Sasori’s parents arrived and apologized to Mizuki Ember for leaving him standing aside as they watched Sasori and Sara together.
• The chapter recounted how Sara recruited Sasori and his parents to teach puppet techniques, then pursued Sasori by giving him Anrokuzan’s research and showing him the Centipede Demon puppet.

Sasori accepted Centipede Demon's puppet from Queen Sara and repaid her by teaching her Puppet Technique, growing close to her as the Ancient Kingdom of Roran recovered. Before infiltrating the Akatsuki Organization, he asked Mizuki Ember to protect Sara and his parents, share intelligence, and stop him if a mission required killing innocent people.

• Queen Sara gave Sasori Centipede Demon's puppet, and Sasori began teaching her Puppet Technique in return.
• Queen Sara rapidly mastered puppeteering, grew closer to Sasori, and helped him and his parents restore the Ancient Kingdom of Roran by promoting Puppet Technique.
• Sasori asked Mizuki Ember to protect Sara and help summon his parents again if their Impure World Reincarnation bodies were released; Mizuki Ember agreed to respond to Sara's calls for help.
• Sasori requested intelligence about the Akatsuki Organization, and Mizuki Ember agreed to prepare a report for him.
• Sasori asked Mizuki Ember to stop him if the Akatsuki assigned missions involving indiscriminate slaughter of innocents, and Mizuki Ember promised to intervene or send someone else.

Soji sought a Hiruko puppet as proof of Sasori’s identity so he could later bargain with Chiyo for her Self-Resurrection jutsu, then turned to Queen Sara to negotiate for Rōran’s Dragon Vein. Sara was willing to part with the Dragon Vein but explained that the Fourth Hokage’s seal prevented her from accessing it.

• Soji asked Sasori to make him a plain Hiruko puppet, and Sasori agreed to try to finish it within a month.
• Soji planned to use Hiruko to convince Chiyo to teach him Self-Resurrection, and he gave Sasori information about the Akatsuki Organization.
• After exploring Rōran, Soji praised its development and asked Queen Sara to trade him the Dragon Vein.
• Sara said Rōran no longer needed the Dragon Vein and she was willing to trade it, but she could not undo the Fourth Hokage’s seal.

Soji negotiated with Queen Sara to unseal the Dragon Vein in exchange for helping Sasori and Rōran. He brought Kushina Uzumaki’s Ice Coffin to the altar, where Sara prepared to help him revive her using the Dragon Vein.

• Soji assured Queen Sara that he could break the Dragon Vein’s double seal without harming Rōran, and she agreed to the deal.
• Queen Sara asked Soji to give Sasori Impure World Reincarnation immediately, revive Sasori’s parents, and help establish ties between Rōran and the Land of Snow; Soji agreed.
• Queen Sara asked Soji to guarantee Sasori’s safety, and he promised to revive him if he died.
• Queen Sara led Soji to the altar where Minato had sealed the Dragon Vein, and Soji brought out the Ice Coffin containing Kushina Uzumaki.
• Soji explained that he needed Sara’s help to channel the Dragon Vein into Kushina within ten seconds of lifting the seal, and Sara agreed to assist him.

Soji and Queen Sara revived Kushina Uzumaki by releasing the Dragon Vein’s power into her body, and she eventually woke after more than an hour. The next day, Kushina questioned Mizuki Ember’s identity and purpose, worried that something had happened to Soji.

• Soji broke Minato’s seal on the Dragon Vein, and Queen Sara controlled its dragon-shaped Chakra before it could threaten Rōran.
• Soji released Kushina Uzumaki from the Life Preservation Seal, and Queen Sara sent the Dragon Vein into the Ice Coffin to restore her life force.
• Kushina Uzumaki remained unconscious for more than an hour before waking and asking who Soji was.
• Queen Sara took Kushina Uzumaki to rest, and the revived woman spent the next day recovering with her.
• Kushina Uzumaki confronted Soji as Mizuki Ember, asking why he had claimed they were friends and what he wanted from her.

Soji revealed his identity as Mizuki Ember to Kushina Uzumaki and told her about his years of secret activity, Minato’s uncertain revival, and Naruto’s life in Konoha. Kushina was relieved that Soji had protected Naruto from Danzo’s scheme, but she vowed not to spare anyone who threatened her son.

• Soji proved his identity to Kushina by recalling their childhood memories and explained that he had been controlling Minato’s body to care for Naruto.
• Soji described his work as Mizuki Ember, including infiltrating Kirigakure, and Kushina accepted that his adventures fit his personality.
• Soji told Kushina that Minato could not be revived until Orochimaru found a way to break the Reaper Death Seal, then described Naruto’s life and friends in Konoha.
• Kushina thanked Soji for raising Naruto and became furious when she learned Danzo had planned to brand Naruto as the demon fox’s incarnation.
• Kushina marked Danzo as an enemy and resolved to show no mercy to anyone who harmed Naruto.

Soji arranged for Kushina Uzumaki to stay hidden near Konoha until Minato could be revived, while secretly teaching and watching over Naruto. After leaving Rōran, Kushina settled into a new identity as the owner of a tea stall outside the village.

• Soji told Kushina Uzumaki he had planned Danzo's downfall and suggested she remain hidden until Minato could return with her to Konoha.
• Kushina agreed to stay near the village and asked Soji to bring Naruto to see her occasionally while she secretly taught him.
• Soji arranged for the Land of Snow to send envoys and Snow Ninja to support the Ancient Kingdom of Roran, while Kushina recovered and began preparing to master the Dragon Vein's power.
• Soji and Kushina bid farewell to Queen Sara, Sasori, and Soji's parents, then departed Rōran together.
• Kushina followed Soji back to the Land of Fire but did not return to Konoha; Soji set up a tea stall outside the village for her to run under a concealed identity.

Kushina Uzumaki began running a tea stall outside Konoha while learning to use the Dragon Vein’s power. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki Organization expanded as Obito and Nagato’s distrust grew, leaving them quietly vying for influence.

• Kushina Uzumaki disguised herself as an ordinary rural woman and opened a tea stall outside Konoha with Soji’s support.
• Kushina Uzumaki began mastering the Dragon Vein, which strengthened her and could eventually bring her normal abilities to Kage-level.
• Nagato sent Deva Path Pain to recruit Orochimaru and left Obito to manage Kakuzu and Sasori.
• Obito resented Nagato’s authority and considered taking his Rinnegan, but held back because of Black Zetsu and the curse seal on his heart.
• Obito planned to recruit Kisame Hoshigaki and Biwa Juzo, leave Raiga Kurosuki alone, and eliminate Suikazan Fuguki.
• Black Zetsu agreed to tell Obito about potential recruits first as Akatsuki expanded and Nagato and Obito began competing for influence.

Nagato used Deva Path Pain to destroy Orochimaru’s research bases and draw him out. After Pain defeated him with Shinra Tensei, Orochimaru agreed to join Akatsuki, though he still coveted the Rinnegan.

• Nagato had Deva Path Pain destroy five of Orochimaru’s bases, prompting Orochimaru to go investigate the attacks.
• Orochimaru confronted Deva Path Pain and recognized his Rinnegan, then charged in an attempt to take the eyes.
• Deva Path Pain blasted Orochimaru away with Shinra Tensei and demanded that he submit or die.
• Orochimaru chose to join Akatsuki while secretly intending to seize the Rinnegan if the opportunity arose.
• Deva Path Pain gave Orochimaru the Void ring and red-cloud robe, and Orochimaru put them on.

Naruto mastered basic ninjutsu and improved his Chakra control under Night Duke’s guidance, while his rivalry with Sasuke pushed both boys to Genin-level strength before entering the Ninja Academy. Night Duke prepared a special gift for Naruto before enrollment, setting the stage for his planned reunion with Kushina Uzumaki.

• Soji discovered that the Nine-Tails’ Chakra had affected Naruto’s body since birth, giving him immense reserves and making his ninjutsu difficult to control.
• Naruto gradually improved his Chakra control and learned Konoha Style taijutsu, adapting the techniques into his own fighting style.
• Naruto and Sasuke trained intensely after trading narrow victories, and both reached the Ninja Academy’s graduation standard before enrolling.
• Naruto promised Night Duke that he would defeat Sasuke, while their rivalry remained friendly and neither fell behind the other.
• Night Duke told Naruto that he had prepared a special gift for him before enrollment.

Naruto spent the days before enrolling anxiously waiting for the Night Duke’s promised gift, while the Third Hokage remained unaware that Soji had secretly trained him. On the night before school began, the Night Duke brought Naruto to a small house to meet Kushina Uzumaki, and Naruto sensed she was connected to him.

• Naruto repeatedly asked the Night Duke about his enrollment gift, but the Night Duke kept its nature secret.
• Naruto kept the Night Duke’s existence hidden, and the Third Hokage mistakenly credited Naruto’s rapid growth to his inherited talent.
• The Night Duke reassured Naruto that his gift would not be extra training and promised Naruto could make a request if he disliked it.
• The Night Duke took Naruto to a small house beside a tea stall and knocked, calling for Kushina Uzumaki.
• Naruto heard Kushina’s trembling voice and felt an instinctive connection to the person inside.