Chapter Summaries

Karatachi Yagura broke free from Madara Uchiha’s control and returned to Kirigakure, where he and Genji began restoring the village. After secretly arresting those responsible for past atrocities, Yagura abolished the “Blood Mist” policy again, leaving the village cautiously hopeful.

• Karatachi Yagura entered Tailed Beast Transformation and fled Kirigakure while shouting Madara Uchiha’s name, as Genji, Mei Terumi, Ao, and the Mist Village Anbu pursued him.
• Outside the village, Karatachi Yagura vented his rage by destroying the surrounding land while deliberately avoiding the people following him.
• Genji recognized that Karatachi Yagura was restraining himself and told the others to wait until the Mizukage had released his emotions.
• After several hours, Karatachi Yagura returned to normal, and Genji welcomed him back as Ao confirmed with his Byakugan that Yagura’s condition was normal.
• Karatachi Yagura and Genji returned to Kirigakure, held a secret meeting with Genji’s faction, and began secretly arresting people responsible for past atrocities.
• Karatachi Yagura abolished the “Blood Mist” policy again, and Kirigakure gradually began to improve.

After returning to Konoha, Soji helped Yakushi Kabuto clear his suspicions, made him a Jonin and Ninja Academy director, and tasked him with establishing a medical class. Months later, after Yota, Haku, and Kimimaro graduated as Chunin, Soji began sensing an unexplained watcher in Konoha, though he ruled out the Third Hokage.

• Soji brought Yakushi Kabuto to Konoha, where the Third Hokage cleared Kabuto’s suspicions, promoted him to Jonin, and appointed him a Ninja Academy director.
• Soji ordered Kabuto to establish a medical class, then arranged an agreement with the acting Minister of the Medical Department to supply teachers and share the benefits.
• Yota, Haku, and Kimimaro graduated first, second, and third, became Chunin, and joined Itachi’s supervision with Kabuto as his deputy.
• Soji continued taking the three disciples on missions while Kabuto settled into his duties at the Ninja Academy.
• Soji felt someone watching him around Konoha, investigated an empty alley, and ruled out the Third Hokage after checking the Hokage’s office with his Byakugan.

Soji discovered and killed three White Zetsu Clones spying on him, then spent the next two years guiding the Hyuga Clan’s growth. The clan had embraced new techniques, but Soji still planned to reform the Caged Bird Curse Mark, while Neji showed promise in mastering Gentle Fist.

• Soji used his enhanced dojutsu to find three White Zetsu Clones hiding underground and froze them with Ice Release before they could escape.
• Obito stopped sending White Zetsu Clones after losing contact with the three, while the Third Hokage’s Anbu found no trace of the intruders.
• Over the next two years, the Uchiha Clan gained a reduced share of authority in the Konoha Police Force, and the Hyuga Clan developed quietly under Soji’s guidance.
• Hiashi, Brother Hizashi, Chizuru, and Kiyoka mastered Byakugan Pressure, Void Strike, and Elemental Gentle Fist, but none had yet learned Return to One.
• Soji resolved to improve the Caged Bird Curse Mark to remove the Main House’s control over the Branch House and restore the Branch House’s lost field of vision.
• Neji had learned One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms before graduating and was working toward Two Hundred Fifty-Six Palms, pleasing Soji.

Soji planned to strengthen Neji, Naruto, Sasuke, and his other students as he worried about future threats and his own uncertain path to Six Paths power. In Kirigakure, Karatachi Yagura convened a secret council and announced that he intended to resign as Fourth Mizukage to atone for the Blood Mist era.

• Soji planned for Neji to undertake a solo graduation mission in the Land of Birds, with Immovable, Fū, and No Fate secretly protecting him, and intended to help him evolve his Byakugan afterward.
• Soji arranged further enhancements for Kimimaro, Haku, and Yota, while Naruto and Sasuke continued competing, with Naruto winning about sixty percent of their matches.
• Soji worried that he might fail to reach Six Paths level through his Tenseigan and considered pushing Naruto and Sasuke to grow faster so they could face future enemies.
• Karatachi Yagura and Genji convened Kirigakure's trusted leaders after two years of purges had eliminated the remaining Blood Mist Faction.
• Karatachi Yagura announced that he intended to resign as Fourth Mizukage to take responsibility for the crimes committed while he was controlled.

Karatachi Yagura resigned as Fourth Mizukage and the Kirigakure leadership supported Genji’s recommendation of Mei Terumi as his successor. The meeting awaited Karatachi Yagura’s and Mei Terumi’s final responses.

• Karatachi Yagura explained that he was resigning to take responsibility for leading Kirigakure while controlled by Madara Uchiha, and the village’s higher-ups approved his resignation.
• Karatachi Yagura opened the discussion of who should become Fifth Mizukage, and Genji recommended Mei Terumi.
• Kirigakure’s higher-ups backed Mei Terumi, citing her leadership, strength, and two Kekkei Genkai.
• Ao and Ringo Ameyuri voiced their support for Mei Terumi, with Ringo’s standing in Kirigakure and close friendship with her described.
• The meeting turned to Karatachi Yagura and Mei Terumi, whose responses would determine whether Mei became Fifth Mizukage.

Karatachi Yagura interrupted the meeting to choose Kirigakure’s Fifth Mizukage and revealed that Madara Uchiha was not the village’s only enemy. He left the gathered leaders shaken by the news that an unknown attacker with the legendary Rinnegan had once gravely injured him.

• Karatachi Yagura halted the succession discussion, while Mei Terumi silently welcomed the delay and kept her own plans secret.
• Karatachi Yagura told Genji and the other Kirigakure leaders that he had concealed details about his years under Madara Uchiha’s control.
• Karatachi Yagura revealed that another person had gravely injured him before Madara controlled him, and that the attacker possessed the Rinnegan.
• Genji questioned Karatachi Yagura’s account but accepted it after judging him sincere.
• The Kirigakure leaders despaired at facing both Madara Uchiha and an unknown Rinnegan wielder.

Karatachi Yagura argued that Mizuki Ember, not Mei Terumi, should become the Fifth Mizukage because he had fought Madara Uchiha and the Rinnegan wielder and could protect Kirigakure. He urged Kirigakure’s leaders to bring Mizuki Ember back, leaving them stunned by the revelation.

• Karatachi Yagura acknowledged that Mei Terumi was Kirigakure’s strongest current candidate but hinted that he favored someone else for Mizukage.
• Ao and Ringo Ameyuri realized Karatachi Yagura and Genji were discussing Mizuki Ember, while Genji warned that bringing a rogue ninja back could destabilize Kirigakure.
• Karatachi Yagura revealed that Mizuki Ember had battled Madara Uchiha and the Rinnegan wielder during the Yuki and Kaguya clans’ escape, in a fight that devastated the area later called the Sky Pit.
• Karatachi Yagura said Mizuki Ember had returned to Kirigakure two years earlier, stopped Madara Uchiha’s activity, and may have helped free him from genjutsu.
• Karatachi Yagura urged the leaders to bring Mizuki Ember back as Mizukage, claiming only he could lead Kirigakure against its enemies.

Kirigakure's leaders debated whether to recall Mizuki Ember as Fifth Mizukage, weighing his strength against the risk that he still resented the village. Mei Terumi withdrew from the contest and backed his return, leaving Mizuki Ember as the sole candidate.

• Karatachi Yagura revealed that Mizuki Ember could face Madara Uchiha and a Rinnegan wielder, prompting Kirigakure's leaders to consider inviting him back as Mizukage.
• Genji and other leaders questioned whether Mizuki Ember would return or seek revenge for Kirigakure's past betrayal.
• Ao voiced concerns that recalling Mizuki Ember could worsen Kirigakure's situation if he still held a grudge.
• Mei Terumi rose and declared that she was unfit to lead Kirigakure against its enemies.
• Mei Terumi withdrew from the Fifth Mizukage contest and supported recalling Mizuki Ember, leaving him as the only candidate.

Kirigakure’s leaders agreed to invite Mizuki Ember back from the Land of Snow to become the Fifth Mizukage, with Mei Terumi leading a secret mission. Meanwhile, Soji began transplanting his Byakugan into Kimimaro to save him from a severe Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Disease.

• Mei Terumi declined the position of Fifth Mizukage, and Genji agreed that Mizuki Ember should be invited to inherit it.
• Karatachi Yagura ordered the invitation kept secret and assigned Mei Terumi two Anbu squads; Ringo Ameyuri volunteered to guard her, while Ao stayed behind to help prepare the inauguration.
• Kirigakure’s leaders ended their meeting and divided up the preparations for Mizuki Ember’s return.
• Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Disease worsened until bones broke through his skin, and Haku and Yota begged Soji to save him.
• Soji sealed Kimimaro in ice, took him to his underground laboratory, and prepared to transplant a pair of Byakugan into him.

Soji transplanted a pair of Byakugan into Kimimaro to cure his secondary Bloodline Disease and potentially strengthen his Shikotsumyaku. Kimimaro’s symptoms subsided, and Soji promised Haku and Yota gifts of their own.

• Soji decided to use the Hyuga Clan’s second pair of Byakugan on Kimimaro rather than trade them, believing they could cure his worsening Bloodline Disease.
• With Kimimaro’s consent, Soji placed the Byakugan in his eye sockets without removing his original eyes and urged him to absorb their Dojutsu Power.
• Kimimaro absorbed the power as his Bloodline Disease receded and his eyes began merging, though they remained uncomfortable and needed to be bandaged.
• Soji led Kimimaro out of the laboratory, where Haku and Yota learned he was recovering and would become stronger.
• Soji reassured Haku and Yota that he had gifts prepared for them too, with their effects depending on their performance.

Soji brought Haku, Yota, and Kimimaro back to the Land of Snow, where King Kazahana Sōsetsu urged him to marry Koyuki. Soji deferred the wedding until after he revived Minato Namikaze, then prepared to empower Yota with chakra from the Nine-Tails.

• Soji arranged a mission from the Land of Snow so he could openly escort Haku, Yota, and Kimimaro there from Konoha.
• Snow Ninja recognized Soji as the Snow Emperor and welcomed him before an airship carried the group to the capital.
• King Kazahana Sōsetsu pressed Soji to marry Koyuki, but Soji said he would wait until he revived Minato Namikaze and could invite his family and friends.
• Soji took Yota to his private laboratory and brought out the Amber Purifying Pot, which contained chakra that had leaked from the complete Nine-Tails.
• Soji planned to give Yota the Nine-Tails chakra so he could advance from controlling weather to controlling natural disasters.

Soji implanted Nine-Tails Chakra in Yota and sealed it inside an ice sphere, giving him a safe way to access its power. He then brought Haku to the Land of Snow’s Rainbow Ice Wall to help him attain Ice Release Sage Mode.

• Soji implanted the Nine-Tails Chakra into Yota, whose body began to lose control as the power surged through him.
• Soji used Ice Release to gather and freeze the Nine-Tails Chakra in Yota’s consciousness space, then sealed it with Two Forms Sealing.
• Yota activated the seal and safely covered his hands with Nine-Tails Chakra before leaving to test his abilities.
• Soji left his Land of Snow laboratory and took Haku to the Rainbow Ice Wall, where he planned to give him Sage Mode.

Soji opened the Rainbow Ice Wall and gave Haku the Natural Energy it had gathered, awakening Haku's Ice Release Sage Mode. Haku emerged with a new ability to hear the voices of all things covered by snow.

• Haku sensed Natural Energy gathering around him and heard Soji's quiet muttering, leading Soji to suspect he had gained sensory abilities.
• Soji told Haku to stand between the six Rainbow Ice Walls and absorb the special energy when it appeared.
• Soji used the Hexagonal Crystal to open the Rainbow Ice Wall, and its Natural Energy rushed toward Haku.
• Haku absorbed the energy as ice and snow encased him in a growing egg, which eventually burst to reveal his transformed Sage Mode.
• Soji admired Haku's transformation, while Haku discovered he could hear the voices of things covered by snow without using Chakra.

Haku mastered an enhanced Ice Release Sage Mode at the Rainbow Ice Wall, while Soji taught him how to use it and learned about his new ability to hear all things. As Soji returned toward the capital, his angry fiancée Kazahana Koyuki intercepted him, leaving him to try to win her over.

• Haku used Sage Mode to create an ice path and travel through it, then learned from Soji that he had become an Ice Release Sage dependent on snowy conditions.
• Soji taught Haku the Snowfall Technique so he could create snow and enter Sage Mode in ordinary environments.
• Haku told Soji he could use Listening to the Voice of All Things, and Soji reflected on the improvements he had made to his three disciples.
• Kazahana Koyuki and Pakura waited outside the capital and confronted Soji because he had not visited Koyuki after arriving in the Land of Snow.
• Soji tried to reassure Koyuki that he had been on his way to see her, while Pakura watched with amusement.

Soji tried to calm his angry fiancée, Kazahana Koyuki, with excuses and sweet talk, while Pakura kept provoking her. Koyuki grew bashful and affectionate, but her talk of having little piglets revealed Soji’s identity to Pakura.

• Soji reassured Kazahana Koyuki that he had planned to visit her, and she began to soften.
• Pakura reminded Kazahana Koyuki to ask Soji why he had not visited her, reigniting her anger.
• Soji claimed he had avoided visiting because it was late and then wanted to let her sleep, but Koyuki objected to his excuses.
• Soji flattered Koyuki and pinched her cheek, leaving her embarrassed rather than angry.
• Soji joked that they could have little piglets together, and Koyuki shouted an embarrassed denial while Pakura realized Soji’s identity had been exposed.

After Kazahana Koyuki revealed Soji’s real name, Pakura felt betrayed and left him to comfort his fiancée. Soji spent the day with Koyuki, then broke into Pakura’s room at night to explain himself, while Mei Terumi’s group approached the Land of Snow.

• Kazahana Koyuki called Soji by his real name, and Pakura confronted him sarcastically before walking away in anger.
• Soji reassured Koyuki, then flew with her around the Land of Snow and spent the day with her.
• After returning Koyuki to the Royal Palace, Soji worried that Pakura’s anger could destabilize the Land of Snow and went to see her.
• Pakura lay awake, wondering whether Mizuki Ember had deceived and used her, when Soji entered her room.
• Pakura attacked the intruder with Nuibari, but stopped when the lights came on and she recognized Soji.
• Soji said he had come to have a heart-to-heart talk with Pakura as Mei Terumi’s group neared the Land of Snow.

Hyuga Soji revealed his true identity to Pakura and admitted that he had deceived her about sharing her experience of being betrayed. He told her he needed her and had wanted her by his side, leaving Pakura feeling that she belonged with him in the Land of Snow.

• Pakura confronted Soji about breaking into her room, and he joked with her before settling in to talk.
• Soji removed his Ice Mask, introduced himself as Hyuga Soji, and explained that Mizuki Ember was an identity he used while traveling.
• Pakura realized Soji was a Konoha ninja and asked whether he had been deceiving her about being a betrayed Kirigakure hero.
• Soji admitted that he had deceived Pakura, causing her anger and feelings of abandonment to surge.
• Soji told Pakura he needed her and would have brought her to the Land of Snow even if Sunagakure had not abandoned her.
• Pakura asked whether she truly mattered to him, and Soji assured her that she was irreplaceable to him and the Land of Snow.

Soji tried to make amends with Pakura after admitting he had deceived her, but an accidental Byakugan activation led her to throw him out. The next day, after Pakura had forgiven him, Soji learned Mei Terumi had arrived at the Land of Snow’s border, leaving him bracing for another complication.

• Soji admitted to Pakura that he intended to keep deceiving her, and she decided she was content to remain by his side.
• Soji accidentally activated his Byakugan while looking at Pakura, prompting her to mistake his gaze for an attempt to peep at her.
• Pakura grabbed Soji by the collar and threw him out of her house, then watched him leave and went to bed in a better mood.
• Soji saw that Pakura had returned to her usual self the next day and avoided raising the subject of his deception again.
• Soji learned that Mei Terumi had arrived at the Land of Snow’s border with Ringo Ameyuri and two Mist Village Anbu squads.

Mei Terumi and Ringo Ameyuri visited Soji in the Land of Snow on Kirigakure’s behalf, first revoking his status as a rogue ninja. Mei then revealed that Kirigakure’s main purpose was to ask him to return, leaving Soji stunned.

• Soji learned Mei Terumi had arrived and nervously went to meet her at the royal palace.
• Mei and Ringo greeted Soji, then explained that Kirigakure bore no hostility toward him or the clans that had defected with him.
• Mei announced that Kirigakure had revoked Soji’s charge of defection, and Ringo confirmed the decision.
• Soji accepted the revocation but said he had no reason to target Kirigakure.
• Mei revealed that Kirigakure’s true purpose was to ask Soji to return to the village, shocking him.

Soji refused Mei Terumi’s proposal to return to Kirigakure, but agreed to attend the Fifth Mizukage’s inauguration ceremony after she invoked an old promise. He agreed to travel back with her, unaware that Mei Terumi intended to make him the new Mizukage.

• Soji rejected Mei Terumi’s request to return to Kirigakure, and Mei Terumi stopped Ringo Ameyuri from revealing that he was being considered for Mizukage.
• Mei Terumi raised Soji’s old promise and asked him to attend the Fifth Mizukage’s inauguration ceremony, while Soji and Ringo Ameyuri mistakenly thought she was bringing up a personal matter.
• Soji promised to attend the ceremony, and Mei Terumi immediately insisted that he return to Kirigakure with her.
• Soji agreed to set off after informing the king and congratulated Mei Terumi, wrongly believing she was about to become the Fifth Mizukage and had cleared his defection charge as a favor.