Chapter Summaries

Nagato captured Orochimaru with Adamantine Sealing Chains and disabled him with Yin-Yang Release black rods, while Soji faced Konan and the remaining Summoning Beasts. To counter their combined attack, Soji revealed an apparent ability to fuse wind and water Chakra into Ice Release, leaving Konan stunned but convinced he could not match Mizuki Ember.

• Nagato restrained Orochimaru with Adamantine Sealing Chains, then pinned his limbs with black rods that disrupted his Chakra.
• Nagato asked the defeated Orochimaru for his last words as Soji observed their fight from about a kilometer away.
• Soji prepared to deal with Konan, the Split Dog, and the Yata Crow as they attacked him together.
• Soji used Ice Release Gentle Fist—Rotating Ice Condensation to form a spinning ice sphere and withstand the combined assault.
• Konan recognized that Soji had fused wind and water Chakra into Ice Release but believed he remained far weaker than Mizuki Ember.

Hyuga Soji revealed his Ice Release and used it to overwhelm Konan and her summons. When he saw Nagato about to kill Orochimaru, Soji abandoned the fight and rushed to save his teacher, leaving the chapter with Orochimaru pinned down and in immediate danger.

• Soji revealed his Ice Release as Rotating Ice Condensation withstood Konan’s attacks and shattered her Angel Ring.
• Soji unleashed Ice Spikes that froze the Split Dog and wounded Konan with a chill that reached her soul.
• Soji noticed Konan looking toward the other battlefield and saw Nagato pinning Orochimaru down with Adamantine Sealing Chains and Yin-Yang Release Black Rods.
• Soji abandoned his fight with Konan and raced toward Nagato, who was preparing to drive another Black Rod into Orochimaru’s heart.

Soji saved Orochimaru from Nagato, then protected them both from Shinra Tensei and freed Orochimaru from the black rods. After seeing Soji’s strength, Orochimaru felt proud and guilty, while Soji concealed how he had gained his new Ice Release.

• Nagato threw a Yin-Yang Release Black Rod at Orochimaru’s heart, but Soji rushed in and knocked it aside.
• Soji pulled the remaining black rods from Orochimaru as Nagato attacked them with Shinra Tensei.
• Soji defended himself and Orochimaru with Ice Release Gentle Fist—Rotating Ice Condensation, survived the blast, and emerged unharmed.
• Orochimaru released the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu on the badly damaged Third Kazekage and gave up on taking Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• Orochimaru questioned Soji about his Ice Release and strength, and Soji claimed the battle had forced him to awaken the ability.
• Orochimaru accepted Soji’s explanation and privately felt guilty for having sent him against Konan and the Summoning Beasts.

Nagato chose to retreat with the injured Konan after learning she had made contingency preparations, while Soji tried to stop them and take the Rinnegan. Konan escaped by warning that she had buried a million Explosive Tags throughout the ruins of Uzushio Village, leaving Soji to reconsider pursuing them.

• Nagato became enraged when he saw Konan's injuries, but her pain and warnings about Konoha's pursuit persuaded him to withdraw.
• Konan revealed that she had prepared contingencies during the past year, and Nagato agreed to leave so he could treat her soul injury.
• Soji attacked the departing Nagato with Ice Release Gentle Fist—Ice Palm, but a hidden chameleon Summoning Beast pulled Nagato away and the attack froze his chariot.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to send earth and stones crashing toward Soji and Orochimaru, covering the Yata Crow's escape.
• Konan warned Soji and Orochimaru that she had planted a million Explosive Tags throughout the ruins of Uzushio Village, and Soji's expression changed as the Yata Crow flew away.

Soji abandoned the chance to seize Nagato's Rinnegan and rushed with Orochimaru to the Uzumaki Clan Ancestral Shrine to protect the Death God Mask needed to undo the Reaper Death Seal. After Soji's Ice Release shielded them from Konan's million Explosive Tags, he told Orochimaru that the mask was the key to breaking the seal.

• Konan revealed that she had planted a million Explosive Tags throughout the Uzushio Village Ruins, forcing Soji to choose between pursuing Nagato and reaching the ancestral shrine.
• Soji chose the shrine, and Nagato and Konan detonated the tags as they escaped on the Yata Crow.
• Soji protected the shrine and Orochimaru inside a massive ice lotus that survived the explosions.
• Orochimaru questioned Soji about his Ice Release and sensed that he was hiding secrets, but accepted Soji's assurance that he would remain his disciple.
• Soji told Orochimaru that the Death God Mask in the shrine was the key needed to undo the Reaper Death Seal.

Soji and Orochimaru found the true Death God Mask and waited until they reached a secure laboratory to break the Reaper Death Seal. Orochimaru opened the seal at the cost of a mortal wound, and Soji brought out Minato’s body as the process began.

• Soji gathered twenty-seven Death God Masks, and Orochimaru identified one as the genuine mask needed to break the seal.
• Orochimaru explained that they had to leave Uzushio Village because Konoha’s ninjas would investigate the explosion and his condition was too poor to perform the ritual there.
• Soji followed Orochimaru to his underground laboratory, where they waited three days before preparing to break the seal.
• Orochimaru put on the mask and summoned the Death God, while Soji used his Byakugan to observe the entity and its rules.
• Orochimaru made the Death God cut open its chest, causing the same wound to appear on his own, and Soji took Minato’s body from the Reincarnation Mirror as the seal was undone.

Soji and Orochimaru freed the souls sealed in the Death God's stomach, and Soji helped Minato return to his living body. After Minato reunited with Soji, the three went to talk, with Soji beginning to explain how he had kept Minato's body alive and arranged his return.

• Orochimaru undid the Reaper Death Seal, releasing countless souls from the Death God's stomach, then switched into a new body.
• Soji waited anxiously for Minato's soul and used the Life Preservation Seal to restore Minato's body's vitality.
• Minato used the Spirit Transformation Technique to return to his body and woke up alive.
• Soji and Minato greeted each other with a familiar fist bump before Orochimaru asked how Minato had returned.
• Soji, Minato, and Orochimaru moved to a conference room, where Soji began recounting Minato's faked death and the plan that led to his return.

Soji explained Minato’s resurrection to Orochimaru, who thanked them and agreed to leave them alone. Soji then caught Minato up on the world and revealed that he had become Kirigakure’s Fifth Mizukage, leaving Minato stunned and Soji blaming an old curse.

• Soji told Orochimaru how he and Minato had prepared to break the Reaper Death Seal and preserve Minato’s body for resurrection.
• Minato thanked Orochimaru and promised not to pursue him as long as he did not harm Konoha or the Land of Fire.
• Orochimaru left, and Soji spent the day telling Minato about events in the Ninja World while withholding news about Kushina and Naruto.
• Soji told Minato that the Night Duke’s change would surprise Kushina, Homura, and Naruto when they learned Minato had returned.
• Minato asked whether Soji had really become Kirigakure’s Fifth Mizukage, and Soji blamed Minato’s old prediction for making it happen.

Soji and Minato discussed Konoha’s recent upheavals, including Danzo’s death and the resolution of tensions between the Uchiha Clan and the village. After leaving Orochimaru’s base with gifts for him, they traveled toward Konoha, where Minato hoped to reunite with his family and friends.

• Soji told Minato that Danzo’s coup had failed and Danzo had died after the Wood Style Cells in his body turned him into a tree.
• Soji explained how he had maneuvered the Uchiha Radical Faction, Danzo, Shisui, and Madara Uchiha to resolve the divide between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
• Minato began to suggest that Soji could become Hokage, but Soji stopped him, fearing another prediction would bring him more work.
• Soji and Minato said farewell to Orochimaru, and Soji gave him three White Zetsu corpses and Blood Crystal fragments as gifts.
• Soji and Minato traveled toward Konoha, with Minato reflecting on the years he had missed and the peace he had long hoped to see.
• After half a day of travel, Soji and Minato entered Konoha’s territory.

Soji brought Minato to Kushina’s tea stall, where Minato revealed himself and reunited with his wife after years apart. The next morning, Soji took Uchiha Homura to visit Kushina without telling him that Minato had returned.

• Kushina waited at her tea stall and complained that Soji had not visited or told her how Naruto was doing.
• Soji arrived at the stall with Minato, who was disguised as the Night Duke, and arranged for Kushina to discover his identity.
• Minato told Kushina he was back, and the two embraced tearfully while Soji left them alone.
• Soji returned to Konoha and invited Uchiha Homura to visit Kushina the next morning.
• Soji and Uchiha Homura left the village together, while Soji kept Minato’s return secret from his friend.

Soji, Kushina, Uchiha Homura, and Minato reunited after Minato’s revival, and the three friends teased and scolded Soji for keeping the news from them. When they discussed Minato and Kushina returning to Konoha, Minato hesitated, then prepared to explain his reasons and promised to help his friends with their troubles.

• Uchiha Homura arrived with Soji at Kushina’s closed tea stall and was shocked to find Minato alive inside.
• Minato greeted Uchiha Homura, and the four friends reunited warmly after twelve years apart.
• Uchiha Homura and Kushina confronted Soji for concealing Minato’s revival, while Minato guessed Soji’s excuse and left him unable to defend himself.
• The three friends criticized Soji for half an hour before they resumed chatting together.
• Uchiha Homura asked why Minato and Kushina were hesitant to return to Konoha, and Soji hoped Minato would lead the village again.
• Minato finally raised his head to explain his feelings and said he would help his friends resolve their troubles.

Minato decided to delay returning to Konoha so he could spend time with Naruto and Kushina, while Soji and Uchiha Homura teased the couple and nearly sparked a sparring match. Minato then revealed that Soji had mentioned having a fiancée more than a decade earlier, leaving everyone eager for Soji to explain.

• Minato said he wanted to wait before returning to the village because he felt guilty about missing Naruto's childhood and wanted time with Kushina.
• Soji and Uchiha Homura complained about Minato and Kushina's displays of affection, and Kushina teased them about being single.
• Uchiha Homura challenged Kushina, but Minato stopped them from sparring because their fight could alert Konoha's Anbu and sensory ninja.
• Minato reminded the group that Soji had said over a decade earlier that he had a fiancée, and Kushina, Uchiha Homura, and Minato pressed Soji for details.

Soji handed the Night Duke’s identity and equipment to the resurrected Minato, who visited Naruto in disguise and retrieved the memories he had left inside him. Inside Naruto’s seal, the Yin Nine-Tails met its Yang half but refused to merge, leaving the Yang Nine-Tails stunned.

• Soji told Minato, Kushina, and Uchiha Homura that his fiancée was a princess, then left with Uchiha Homura after spending the day with them.
• Minato decided to stay outside Konoha for a while and visit Naruto while dressed as the Night Duke.
• Naruto excitedly told the Night Duke he had completed his Graduation Trial Mission and mastered the Wind Style ninjutsu, without realizing Minato had replaced Soji.
• Minato retrieved the Chakra he had left in Naruto, allowing him to access its memories, and brought his Yin Nine-Tails into contact with Naruto’s Yang Nine-Tails.
• The Yin Nine-Tails explained how Minato had been resurrected, then refused the Yang Nine-Tails’ request to merge because it was content with its current life.

The Yin Nine-Tails rejected the Yang Nine-Tails’ proposal to merge, arguing that staying with Minato let it remain free and that their full power would not help them escape Konoha. Before leaving, it urged the Yang Nine-Tails to reconcile with Naruto, but the Yang half decided to wait and see how strong Naruto became.

• The Yin Nine-Tails asked what the Yang Nine-Tails hoped to gain by merging, leaving the Yang half unable to name a reason.
• The Yin Nine-Tails explained that it trusted Minato after years of talking with him inside the Death God’s belly and did not consider him an enemy.
• The Yang Nine-Tails accepted that the Yin half had suffered longer and agreed not to force a merger unless it became necessary.
• The Yin Nine-Tails mocked the Yang half, then advised it to open its heart to Naruto so Minato would not seal it again if it escaped.
• The Yang Nine-Tails considered reconciling with Naruto but decided to wait until the boy’s strength surpassed its own.

Minato met Naruto at their training ground, where Naruto realized that the man posing as Soji was not his usual Sensei. Minato admitted it and confirmed Naruto’s suspicion that he was his father, but Naruto attacked him, convinced he was an impostor.

• Minato retrieved the Chakra he had left in Naruto’s consciousness and learned about Naruto’s life since his parents died.
• Minato took Naruto to their usual training ground and tested his abilities, but his praise and gentler teaching style made Naruto suspicious.
• Naruto confronted Minato, who admitted that he was not Soji and confirmed Naruto’s guess about his identity.
• Naruto struck at Minato with Wind Style: Gale Palm, mistaking him for an enemy trying to trick him.
• The Yang Nine-Tails called Naruto an idiot and reminded him that Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique and body made his identity obvious.

Naruto reunited with Minato, and the two spent hours sharing stories before deciding Minato would delay returning to the village so he could stay with his family. Naruto set out to find his missing Sensei, and the chapter ended with Minato, Kushina, and Naruto sharing their first family dinner together.

• Naruto realized Minato was his father, and Minato apologized for being absent from his life.
• Naruto and Minato talked about their memories, and Minato agreed to postpone returning to the village so he could spend time with Naruto and Kushina.
• Naruto asked where his Sensei was, and Minato encouraged him to find Sensei himself without revealing Soji's identity.
• Naruto's stomach growled, reminding Minato that they had missed Kushina's dinner deadline, so Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Naruto home.
• Kushina scolded Minato and Naruto, then reheated dinner, and the reunited family talked and ate together until nearly midnight.

Naruto and Sasuke were set to fight on graduation day to decide who would graduate first, drawing intense interest across Konoha. Naruto headed to the ceremony confident he could win, especially after Minato and Kushina promised to secretly watch him.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Shino were the only students in their class to pass the Graduation Trial Mission, and Shino accepted third place behind them.
• Itachi and Kabuto decided Naruto and Sasuke would fight on graduation day to settle first place, and Soji approved the plan.
• News of the deciding match spread through Konoha, and Soji secretly bet one hundred million on Naruto to win.
• Naruto spent the weeks before graduation sharing meals outside the village with Minato and Kushina while continuing to search for his teacher.
• On graduation morning, Naruto promised Minato and Kushina he would take first place, and they told him they would disguise themselves and attend the ceremony.

Sasuke prepared for his graduation match against Naruto, received encouragement from his parents, and bickered with his uncle Uchiha Homura on the way out. Homura then solemnly warned Sasuke not to be discouraged if Naruto defeated him, leaving Sasuke baffled and questioning whose side his uncle was on.

• Itachi asked Sasuke about his preparations and hoped the pressure of fighting Naruto would help Sasuke's Sharingan advance to Three Tomoe.
• Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha encouraged Sasuke before he and Itachi left for the Ninja Academy.
• Sasuke teased Uchiha Homura about avoiding Mikoto's marriage nagging, and Homura smacked him on the head.
• Sasuke tricked Homura into thinking Mikoto was behind him, but Homura returned and struck Sasuke again before choosing not to rough him up before the ceremony.
• Uchiha Homura warned Sasuke not to lose heart if Naruto beat him, and Sasuke protested that his uncle should be supporting him.

Uchiha Homura told Sasuke that Naruto had an important background and powerful secret training, urging him to treat Naruto as an equal in their official graduation duel. The graduation ceremony began with Minato and Kushina secretly attending, while Soji and village security watched the crowd.

• Uchiha Homura warned Sasuke that Naruto’s status and training matched his own, and Itachi confirmed Naruto’s background was important but classified.
• Sasuke set aside his sense of superiority and vowed to give everything he had to defeat Naruto.
• Homura revealed that he had spoken up because Soji had challenged him by saying Naruto would surpass Sasuke.
• Minato and Kushina disguised themselves and entered the village to watch Naruto’s graduation and duel with Sasuke.
• The graduation ceremony began as Soji spotted Minato and Kushina in the crowd, while ANBU and the Konoha Police Force guarded the event.

Soji watched Itachi announce the graduates ranked tenth through seventh, including Sakura, Choji, and Hinata. As the ceremony continued, Soji considered whether he could help Sakura develop her genjutsu talent and reflected on why Choji and Hinata ranked below their abilities.

• Itachi announced a civilian student as the tenth-ranked graduate, and Kabuto presented the student with the award.
• Itachi announced Sakura Haruno in ninth place, and Sakura endured her parents’ exuberant celebration while Soji considered helping her explore genjutsu.
• Itachi announced Choji Akimichi in eighth place, and Shikaku and Choza explained that Choji’s reluctance to compete had kept him from ranking higher.
• Choji went to collect his award, while Soji concluded that his strength could have earned him a place in the top five.
• Itachi announced Hinata Hyuga in seventh place, and Soji reflected on her kind nature and the limits of her Byakugan’s advantages.