Chapter Summaries

Kaze captured Orochimaru, destroyed his base, and arranged to bring 278 test subjects and guards back to Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other leaders learned of Kaze’s success and were left wondering how powerful he had become.

• Kaze restrained Orochimaru with the Eight Trigrams Seal and decided to bring the 278 test subjects and guards back to Konoha.
• Kakashi estimated the group would need ten days to half a month to reach the village and sent a report by carrier pigeon.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Kakashi’s report and froze when he learned Kaze had captured Orochimaru and destroyed his base.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura read the report and were stunned that Kaze had succeeded so quickly.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Orochimaru’s strength and concluded that Kaze might be a true monster.
• Mitokado Homura compared Kaze to Madara Uchiha, the legendary rival of the First Hokage.

After Kaze captured Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned the resettlement of Orochimaru’s orphaned child test subjects to the Konoha Police Force. Yamato arrived to help, demonstrating his Wood Release by building a house and startling Uchiha Kiyoshi.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed Homura and Koharu to arrange housing for the orphaned children, and they persuaded him to assign the work to the Konoha Police Force.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent an Anbu shinobi to inform the police that Kaze had captured Orochimaru and appointed Uchiha Kiyoshi to handle the children’s resettlement.
• Uchiha Kiyoshi and the gathered Uchiha and Hyuga members reacted with shock and excitement at Kaze’s swift capture of Orochimaru.
• Yamato arrived at the training ground on Captain Kakashi’s orders and offered to help with his Kekkei Genkai.
• Yamato used Wood Style to build a wooden house, prompting Uchiha Kiyoshi to mistake him for a member of the Senju Clan and warmly approach him.

Fugaku asked Itachi to leave the Anbu and help revitalize the Uchiha Clan, while Itachi privately suspected that Kaze had altered Hiruzen’s will. Kiyoshi then reported that Kaze had captured Orochimaru and rescued more than two hundred kidnapped children, leaving Fugaku and Itachi stunned.

• Fugaku told Itachi that the Uchiha Clan no longer needed him to spy on the village and asked him to leave the Anbu.
• Fugaku explained that Kaze’s appointment as Hokage had ended the need for the clan’s coup plans and said he would speak to Kaze about Itachi’s transfer.
• Itachi recalled Hiruzen’s sudden change in attitude, Setsuna’s assignment to protect the Daimyo, and his own suspicions about Kaze, but recognized that he had no proof.
• Kiyoshi arrived with Yamato and reported that Kaze had captured Orochimaru and was returning to the village with more than two hundred rescued children.
• Fugaku and Itachi reacted with astonishment, and Fugaku asked whether Kiyoshi was joking.

In the Hell Realm, Obito planned to recruit Orochimaru to strengthen Akatsuki, but White Zetsu reported that Kaze had defeated Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage. Obito learned Orochimaru was still alive and being taken to Konoha for trial, then considered asking Itachi for help.

• Obito told Black Zetsu that Akatsuki should recruit Orochimaru to bolster its strength against Kaze and Konoha.
• White Zetsu returned and revealed that Kaze had defeated Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage, whom Orochimaru had revived with the Impure World Reincarnation.
• Obito and Black Zetsu were shocked by Kaze's victory over two Kage-level opponents.
• White Zetsu clarified that Kaze had spared Orochimaru and was taking him and his experimental subjects to Konoha for trial.
• Obito considered how Akatsuki could rescue Orochimaru and thought of Itachi.

Kaze privately offered Orochimaru a chance to continue his research under Konoha’s protection if he stopped using human test subjects and helped build a world without war. He revealed that he needed Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect someone.

• Kaze’s group traveled slowly toward the Land of Fire with more than two hundred test subjects, using Ration Pills and Kakashi and Hizashi’s abilities to manage the journey safely.
• At night, Kaze kept Orochimaru nearby under guard and took him to a separate campsite for a private conversation.
• Orochimaru wondered about Kaze’s goals and secretly hoped for a chance to seize Kaze’s body with Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Kaze praised Orochimaru’s skills and offered him protection and continued research in exchange for contributing to Konoha without human test subjects.
• Kaze told Orochimaru he wanted to create a world without war and needed Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect someone.

Kaze told Orochimaru that he wanted to revive Minato Namikaze so he could obtain the Yin Nine-Tails sealed inside him. Orochimaru was stunned that Kaze considered himself weak, and the chapter ended with Kaze asking him to revive Minato, remove the seal, and seal the Nine-Tails inside Kaze.

• Orochimaru recovered from his shock and asked Kaze who he wanted to revive.
• Kaze named the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, leaving Orochimaru unable to understand why Kaze would risk his position to bring him back.
• Kaze explained that he wanted enough power to create a world without war and said his current strength was still too weak.
• Orochimaru was shocked that Kaze called himself weak after defeating the revived Third Hokage and Orochimaru himself.
• Kaze explained that he needed the Yin Nine-Tails sealed inside Minato and asked Orochimaru to revive Minato, release the beast, and seal it inside him.

Kaze explained that reviving Minato Namikaze required freeing his soul from the Reaper Death Seal and revealed that Orochimaru was essential to the plan. When Orochimaru asked why he should cooperate, Kaze appealed to his scientific curiosity by describing Hizashi's transformation as the result of a Lineage Factor rather than Ninjutsu.

• Kaze told Orochimaru that Minato Namikaze had sealed his own soul with the Reaper Death Seal, so Impure World Reincarnation could not revive him until the seal was undone.
• Kaze explained that opening the Death God's stomach would free the sealed souls, and that Orochimaru could then use Impure World Reincarnation to revive Minato Namikaze.
• Orochimaru realized Kaze had recruited him as an indispensable part of a plan to obtain the Nine-Tails and asked why he should help when Kaze alone would benefit.
• Kaze said Orochimaru would be sentenced to life imprisonment with equipment for his experiments, then shifted the discussion to Hizashi's transformation ability.
• Kaze revealed that Hizashi's beastman form came from a Lineage Factor added to his body, not from Ninjutsu or Chakra, and asked whether Orochimaru was curious as a scientist.

Kaze explained Lineage Factor to Orochimaru and offered Hizashi’s blood sample in exchange for help dealing with the Nine-Tails inside Minato Namikaze. The chapter ended with Orochimaru demanding the sample first so he could examine it before accepting the deal.

• Kaze described how Lineage Factor could transfer Devil Fruit abilities and potentially let Orochimaru create artificial abilities for weapons or ninjas.
• Kaze explained that Hizashi’s Devil Fruit might have introduced Lineage Factor into the Naruto World and offered it as a path to strengthen Konoha.
• Kaze offered Orochimaru Hizashi’s blood sample in exchange for help dealing with the Nine-Tails inside Minato Namikaze, while forbidding harmful experiments on others.
• Orochimaru expressed interest but asked to examine Hizashi’s blood sample before deciding whether to accept the deal.

Kaze convinced Orochimaru that the Lineage Factor was real and promised him access to Hizashi's blood sample, leaving Orochimaru fascinated and increasingly cooperative. As they continued toward Konoha, Kakashi and Hizashi noticed that Orochimaru seemed eager to return.

• Kaze confirmed that Orochimaru could study Hizashi's blood and investigate the Lineage Factor.
• Orochimaru wondered whether Kaze had manipulated him into researching the Lineage Factor for Kaze's benefit.
• Orochimaru reflected on Kaze's knowledge of the Reaper Death Seal and Impure World Reincarnation, and speculated wildly about Kaze's origins.
• Orochimaru grew curious about the Lineage Factor, stopped seeking escape, and asked Kaze about Konoha and Anko Mitarashi.
• Hizashi admired Kaze's ability to win people over, while Kakashi remarked that Orochimaru seemed eager to return home.

Kaze returned to Konoha with Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi captured, earning admiration from the villagers and elders. He met with Hiruzen Sarutobi to discuss Orochimaru’s sentence.

• Kaze returned to Konoha after more than ten days of travel and handed Orochimaru’s followers over to Uchiha Kiyoshi for reassignment or release.
• Kaze sent Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi to the Leaf Village Police Force with the two women and Hizashi, then went to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Villagers and Chunin gathered to watch Orochimaru’s arrest and praised Kaze for capturing him and protecting the village.
• Orochimaru listened to the villagers’ admiration for Kaze and grew curious about his rise from an obscure Uchiha to Hokage.
• Kaze arrived at the Hokage’s Office with Kakashi, where Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura had gathered to discuss Orochimaru’s sentence.

Kaze asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether Orochimaru had to die and persuaded him to let Orochimaru defend himself. Orochimaru argued that Danzo had driven his actions and claimed he had never truly betrayed Konoha.

• Kaze asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether Orochimaru must die, then proposed giving him a chance to defend himself.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed and told Kakashi to bring Orochimaru from the Police Department.
• Orochimaru greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi and faced questions about his crimes.
• Orochimaru blamed Danzo for initiating the human experiments and said he had only acted under pressure.
• Orochimaru argued that he had never shared Konoha's intelligence or intended to attack the village, and defended possessing Tobirama's Forbidden Jutsu.
• Orochimaru claimed Danzo had forced him to leave Konoha and insisted he had never truly betrayed the village.

Orochimaru blamed Danzo for the human experiments, the stolen Forbidden Jutsu, and his defection, while Hiruzen questioned whether he was simply evading responsibility. Kaze proposed detaining Orochimaru and having the Leaf Village Police Force investigate, and Hiruzen approved the plan.

• Orochimaru said Danzo had urged him to continue the human experiments and ordered him to implant Hashirama's cells in Danzo.
• Orochimaru claimed Danzo had ordered him to take Tobirama's Forbidden Jutsu and had planned to give him a new identity so he could return to Konoha.
• Orochimaru said Kabuto Yakushi had served as a go-between for him and Danzo, and argued that he had never spread intelligence about Konoha.
• Hiruzen asked Kaze how to handle Orochimaru, and Kaze proposed detaining him while Kiyoshi and the others investigated Danzo's former Root Organization members.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu accepted Kaze's proposal, and Hiruzen ordered the Leaf Village Police Force to conduct a second investigation.

After returning to Konoha and resting at home, Kaze discovered that Tama had brought back a third Devil Fruit, which he suspected was the Mori Mori no Mi. Uchiha Kiyoshi arrived with news of new research progress on the giant snail found at Kaze’s home.

• With Hiruzen Sarutobi’s permission, Kaze had Orochimaru confined in the Leaf Village Police Force and brought Orochimaru’s test subjects, instruments, and experiment data back to Konoha.
• Kaze returned home after more than half a month away, reunited with Tama, and put her favorite dried fish in her bowl.
• Tama brought Kaze a pale green, pineapple-shaped Devil Fruit, then ate the dried fish instead.
• Kaze wondered how Tama had repeatedly carried rare treasures back from the Pirate World without being caught and considered asking Two-Tails Matatabi to speak with her.
• Uchiha Kiyoshi visited Kaze and reported new research progress on the giant snail found at Kaze’s home.

Kaze learned that Uchiha Kiyoshi had found a Den Den Mushi Tama brought back from the Pirate World and taken it to the Technical Development Bureau for study. Kaze gave Kiyoshi a Devil Fruit to eat, then told him it was a Chakra Fruit.

• Uchiha Kiyoshi told Kaze that he had found the giant snail in Kaze's house and brought it to the Technical Development Bureau, where researchers discovered it could understand speech and had humanlike emotions.
• Kaze recognized the snail as a Den Den Mushi and considered using it for long-distance communication, though he worried that they could not find enough of them to make it practical.
• Kaze tossed the Devil Fruit to Uchiha Kiyoshi and told him to eat it, believing it was the Mori Mori no Mi.
• Uchiha Kiyoshi cut the fruit into pieces, ate one, and collapsed in disgust, warning Kaze that it was spoiled.
• Kaze explained that the fruit simply tasted that bad and told Uchiha Kiyoshi it was called a Chakra Fruit.

Kaze explained that Chakra Fruits granted different abilities and helped Uchiha Kiyoshi awaken the Mori Mori no Mi’s power to grow plants wildly. Kiyoshi mistook Kaze’s gift for a profound act of trust, pledged his loyalty, and forced himself to eat the rest of the disgusting fruit.

• Kaze explained that Hizashi’s Beast Transformation Technique came from a Zoan-type Chakra Fruit, while Kiyoshi’s fruit was a Paramecia that made plants grow wildly.
• Kaze guided Kiyoshi as he twisted his body and used the fruit’s power, causing a potted plant to grow into thick vines that cracked the ceiling.
• Kaze stopped Kiyoshi before the vines damaged the roof, and Kiyoshi was stunned by the plant-growing power he had gained.
• Kiyoshi believed Kaze had given up the Mori Mori no Mi for him, was moved to tears, and swore to follow Kaze faithfully.
• Kiyoshi returned to the kitchen and forced himself to eat the rest of the fruit, gagging and weeping as Kaze watched.

Kaze brought a Den Den Mushi to Orochimaru and explained how it could enable long-distance communication, asking the scientist to study its potential. Orochimaru was astonished and skeptical as he examined the snail.

• Kaze retrieved the Den Den Mushi from the Leaf Village Police Force and brought it to Orochimaru with Uchiha Kiyoshi and Hizashi.
• Hizashi agreed to provide blood so Orochimaru could study his connection to the Chakra Fruit, and Orochimaru began testing a sample.
• Kaze sent Uchiha Kiyoshi and Hizashi outside, then used the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to keep their private discussion from being overheard.
• Kaze explained that Den Den Mushi could transmit calls across great distances and could give Konoha a major communications advantage in battle.
• Orochimaru picked up the Den Den Mushi and asked Kaze if he was joking.

Kaze convinced Orochimaru that the Den Den Mushi was real and asked him to replicate it. After Orochimaru analyzed Hizashi's blood, he confirmed the Lineage Factor's astonishing power and realized Uchiha Kazekage had discovered it.

• Kaze explained that Orochimaru only needed to replicate the Den Den Mushi, and Orochimaru agreed that he could experiment on its genes.
• Orochimaru's instruments completed their analysis of Hizashi's blood sample.
• Orochimaru saw the results and was so shocked that he staggered, struggled to sit down, and could barely respond to Kaze.
• Orochimaru told Kaze that the Lineage Factor could grant life and transform nonliving things, surpassing anything he had understood.
• Orochimaru struck a precision instrument and declared that Uchiha Kazekage had discovered the great achievement.

Kaze left Orochimaru to study Lineage Factors and arranged for Hizashi to monitor his experiments. He then visited Yugito Nii in the Root base and offered to free her in exchange for having Matatabi teach him to communicate with cats.

• Orochimaru confirmed that Lineage Factors existed, overcame his initial discouragement, and promised Kaze he would continue the research.
• Kaze told Orochimaru to focus first on the Den Den Mushi, then left the laboratory and ordered Hizashi to review Orochimaru's experiment reports.
• Kaze had Kiyoshi lead him to Yugito Nii, who was confined under Anbu guard in the Root Organization's underground base.
• Kaze offered to remove Yugito Nii's Seals and restore her freedom if Matatabi taught him how to communicate with cats.
• Yugito Nii refused, suspecting Kaze wanted her to betray Kumogakure, but was bewildered when he explained his unusual request.

Kaze brought Yugito Nii to meet Tama after arranging for her Seal to be partially lifted, allowing her to use the Two-Tails Matatabi. Yugito Nii and Matatabi then launched a surprise attack on Kaze and reached for Tama.

• Yugito Nii agreed to Kaze’s proposal while planning to use Tama as a hostage and escape Konoha.
• Kaze had the Sealing Squad partially lift Yugito Nii’s Seal, then took her and Uchiha Kiyoshi to the Uchiha Compound.
• Yugito Nii saw Tama and decided the cat was important enough to use against Kaze, while Kiyoshi warned her not to harm it.
• Yugito Nii released her Tailed Beast Chakra and switched control with Matatabi, who appeared in Kaze’s living room.
• Matatabi fired a Great Fireball at Kaze and sent a tail transformed into a hand toward Tama.

Kaze watched Tama confront Two-Tails Matatabi after Matatabi attacked her, and Tama revealed a strange power that overwhelmed the Tailed Beast. Matatabi crashed into the Uchiha Compound street, leaving Yugito Nii battered and stunned.

• Kaze anticipated Matatabi's resistance and prepared to stop his attack, but paused when he saw a blackish-purple current around Tama's paw.
• Tama charged Matatabi and struck his tail with a Kitty Fist, knocking him off balance and flipping him onto the floor.
• Tama roared at Matatabi as invisible blows formed dents across his body, then sent him flying through Kaze's window.
• Matatabi crashed into the street inside the Uchiha Compound, and Tama returned to her food bowl.
• Yugito Nii reverted to human form with bruises covering her body and stared in disbelief at Matatabi's defeat.