Chapter Summaries

After Konan’s attack on Hokage Rock, Shamu used the incident to pressure the Third Hokage to imprison Danzo and ordered the Hyuga Military Police Force to find hidden Exploding Tags. In the dungeon, the Third Hokage told Danzo that he would release him once the uproar died down, while his own resolve hardened as he left.

• Hayato reported seeing a winged figure near Hokage Rock, and Hyuga Clan members found Konan’s note and confirmed Exploding Tags had been used.
• Jiraiya confronted Shamu, who admitted he would contact Konan and offered money to repair Hokage Rock if the Third Hokage kept Danzo imprisoned.
• Shamu ordered Hayato and the Hyuga Military Police Force to search the marked areas and remove hidden Exploding Tags.
• The Third Hokage left Danzo alone in a cell and explained that he would keep him imprisoned until the pressure from Shamu and Tsunade subsided.
• Danzo asked for treatment from a Root physician, and the Third Hokage agreed before leaving the dungeon with a newly stern expression.

Hyuga Yuto uncovered signs that Hyuga Daisuke and Kaizaki were using the Byakugan to spy on Uchiha shops, and Hizashi traced their activity to Fourth Elder Hyuga Kaito. Hizashi sent Yuto to deliver a secret warning directly to Clan Head Fugaku.

• Hizashi assigned Hyuga Daisuke, Kaizaki, and Hayato to patrol Yachi alongside Uchiha officers.
• Yuto noticed Daisuke and Kaizaki ignored street disputes while watching Uchiha shops with their Byakugan, and later saw them instruct others to do the same.
• Yuto tested Daisuke at a stinky tofu stall and heard him reveal that the soaking brine was being watched.
• Yuto told Hizashi that he suspected a Hyuga traitor and described his observations.
• Hizashi found that the Hyuga members involved were close to Fourth Elder Hyuga Kaito and learned Kaito had recently gone out.
• Hizashi gave Yuto a letter and ordered him to deliver it personally to Clan Head Fugaku.

Danzo persuaded Hyuga Kaito to help obtain the Uchiha Clan’s Chinese Cuisine recipes by promising an honorary elder appointment and treatment for his leg. Kaito accepted the deal but, after Danzo left, regarded the appointment letter and his leg with an unreadable expression.

• Danzo warned Kaito that the Uchiha Clan’s growing restaurant profits could threaten the Hyuga Clan’s future and urged him to help acquire the secret recipes.
• Kaito considered the Hyuga Clan’s strained manpower and the Uchiha Clan’s rapid economic rise, then was tempted by Danzo’s honorary elder appointment letter.
• Kaito demanded the appointment letter and treatment before agreeing to help, and Danzo promised that his techniques could restore Kaito’s ability to stand within a month.
• Danzo gave Kaito the appointment letter and instructed him to send his medical records to Root; Kaito said he would send someone immediately.
• After Danzo left, Kaito’s smile vanished as he looked from the appointment letter to his leg.

Hiruko completed the Chimera Technique during the Golden Ring Eclipse, fusing five Kekkei Genkai and gaining powerful new abilities. He attacked Obito, who retaliated with Banshō Ten'in and Susanoo, smashing Hiruko with a crushing blow.

• Hiruko absorbed the five vessels’ energy beneath the Golden Ring Eclipse, and Chimera reconstructed his shattered body.
• Hiruko regained his youthful height, transformed his body, and demonstrated enhanced Sharingan, Steel Release, and Storm Release abilities.
• Obito proposed discussing their cooperation, but Hiruko attacked him with Steel Release and Swift Release.
• Hiruko’s punch passed through Obito and blasted a hole through the mountain wall, prompting Obito to retaliate.
• Obito used Banshō Ten'in to pull Hiruko toward him and struck him with Susanoo.

Shamu persuaded Kurama to reject Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s plan and trust him to free Kurama without harming Naruto. After Hagoromo vanished, Shamu reassured Naruto that he could deal with the souls of Asura and Indra within Naruto and Sasuke, then prepared to meet Sasuke.

• Naruto rejected the miserable future shown in the images, and Shamu challenged Hagoromo Otsutsuki over the suffering Naruto would have endured.
• Shamu argued that Hagoromo had treated Kurama as a tool and asked whether Kurama would choose freedom if fate could change; Kurama said he would.
• Naruto said he would release Kurama because Kurama was his friend, and Shamu promised to free Kurama within five years without killing Naruto.
• Kurama chose to trust Shamu and turned against Hagoromo, whose schemes failed before he vanished after insisting Naruto and Sasuke were destined to save the world.
• Naruto asked whether he could escape Asura’s influence, and Shamu reassured him that he had a way to deal with Asura and Indra before suggesting they go see Sasuke.

Shamu confronted Todoroki and Marutetsu over the misunderstanding that led Todoroki to stab the man who had saved Akio, then treated Marutetsu and uncovered his history with The Inhumans. The chapter left Todoroki looking to Shamu to decide what would happen to Marutetsu.

• Shamu revealed that Marutetsu had saved Akio, and Todoroki realized he had wrongly believed Marutetsu killed his brother.
• Shamu criticized Marutetsu for staying silent, then used the Mystical Palm Technique and a healing pill to save him.
• Marutetsu apologized to Akio and admitted he had once robbed people with The Inhumans, while Akio and the other children defended him.
• Shamu had Sasuke bring in a captured member of The Inhumans, and Marutetsu explained that he had stolen their money, endured torture, and let himself be captured to leave them.
• Akio and the children begged Todoroki to spare Marutetsu, but Todoroki deferred to Shamu.

Shamu tried to prevent the Uchiha from revering Madara by spreading damaging rumors and ordering the clan’s stone tablet buried beneath a busy gate. In Konoha, he met Minato, invited him to Itachi’s wedding, and learned that Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao were alive as Anbu agents, earning two system rewards.

• Shamu planned to undermine Uchiha Madara’s reputation by mixing true events with rumors about his motives and departure from Konoha.
• Shamu ordered Iori to bury the Shrine Stone Tablet beneath the ground outside the Uchiha gate so clansmen would walk over it, warning that its words could mislead the clan.
• Shamu used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Minato in the Hokage Office, where Minato directed him to meet Orochimaru and accepted an invitation to Itachi’s wedding.
• Shamu transformed into an Anbu agent as Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao entered, and the system rewarded him for changing both of their life trajectories.
• Shamu received the Transparency Technique and Konoha-Style Swordsmanship: Hazy Moon Night, then found that reverting the swordsmanship produced no energy.

Anko presented evidence that Sarutobi Hiruzen had committed extensive crimes, including embezzling Kushina Uzumaki and Uzumaki Naruto’s inheritance and helping destroy rival clans. Orochimaru confirmed the charges and ordered the Sarutobi Clan to return the stolen properties within seven days, while still demanding repayment for the money he had lent them.

• The elders read documents showing that Kushina Uzumaki had owned five streets whose properties Orochimaru later sold to the Sarutobi Clan.
• Anko accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of corruption, plotting against Nawaki and Dan Katō, and causing the Senju Clan’s destruction through deadly Wood Release experiments.
• Orochimaru testified that the experiments were unsafe and that Hiruzen had deliberately sent young Senju Clan members to their deaths.
• Anko listed further charges involving Hatake Sakumo, the Uchiha Clan, and the embezzlement and mistreatment of Uzumaki Naruto.
• Anko ordered the Sarutobi Clan to return over a thousand shops within seven days or be treated as traitors to Konoha.
• Orochimaru told Sarutobi Ko that the clan had to return Kushina’s inheritance and repay his loan, and Sarutobi Ko fainted.

Sasuke learned that Itachi had nearly lost his sight and could no longer fight, and his Sharingan evolved into Three-Tomoe as he clung to his brother. Meanwhile, Hidden Mist Village prepared to attack Cloud Village's stronghold before reinforcements arrived, with Kisame and his allies volunteering to lead the assault.

• Sasuke rushed to the hospital and learned from Tsunade that Itachi's damaged eyes left him nearly blind and unable to fight.
• Itachi comforted Sasuke, and Sasuke's Sharingan evolved into Three-Tomoe as he wept over their bond; Shamu observed the transformation.
• Tsunade suggested asking Orochimaru to clone eyes for Itachi, and Shamu said he would handle it while telling Sasuke about his evolved Sharingan.
• Hidden Mist Village launched cautious probing attacks against Cloud Village, but traps and hidden patrols slowed its progress.
• Mei Terumi decided to lead an assault on Cloud Village's stronghold, and Kisame, Biwa Juzo, and Zabuza volunteered to take the lead.

Shamu’s system rewarded him for changing Karin and Jūgo’s lives, while Orochimaru explained his research into treating Itachi and Shisui and separating Hashirama’s cells. The chapter ended with Shamu considering the Third Hokage’s past interest in Orochimaru as Hokage.

• Karin thanked Shamu for bringing her to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where she had food and a comfortable life, and the system rewarded Shamu with Adamantine Sealing Chains and Physical Healing.
• Shamu met Jūgo, who thanked him for arranging his rescue, and the system rewarded Shamu with Cursed Seal Transformation and Natural Affinity.
• Orochimaru explained that Karin could help manage Jūgo’s berserk episodes by sensing and draining his excess Natural Energy, then Jūgo removed the tube restricting him.
• Shamu sent Itachi to introduce Karin and Jūgo to their new companions.
• Orochimaru told Shamu that his treatment had stopped Itachi and Shisui’s bodies from being damaged by their Sharingan, though their ocular power would no longer increase for now.
• Orochimaru reported that separating Yang Release Chakra from Hashirama’s cells remained difficult and recounted Jiraiya’s visit, prompting Shamu to consider whether the Third Hokage might once have chosen Orochimaru as Hokage.

Sasuke sparred with Itachi while Obito infiltrated the Uchiha Clan Grounds and escaped into the Kamui Dimension after being discovered. Itachi anticipated Obito’s return and struck him with Amaterasu, forcing him to flee again as the danger to the clan ended.

• Sasuke asked Itachi about Fugaku and who had invaded the clan, then sparred with his brother.
• Obito cautiously infiltrated the Uchiha Clan Grounds, but a warning flare exposed him and he escaped into the Kamui Dimension.
• Itachi followed surveillance clues while Obito waited in the Kamui Dimension and decided to return once he believed the danger had passed.
• Itachi waited at Obito’s exit point and struck him with Amaterasu as he emerged, forcing Obito back into the Kamui Dimension.
• Itachi took medicine to ease the strain on his eye and fired a signal flare to announce that the danger had been eliminated.

Shamu resumed Dream Realm combat training against Orochimaru and the reanimated First and Second Hokage, pushing his Susanoo to its limits. The session ended when Hashirama’s flowering trees paralyzed him, and Shamu returned to the real world reflecting on Orochimaru’s growing strength.

• Shamu entered the Dream Realm and faced Orochimaru alongside the reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama.
• Shamu used his Susanoo to break Hashirama’s Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and withstand attacks from the Hokage and Orochimaru.
• Tobirama unleashed Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, forcing Shamu to dismiss his Susanoo as Tobirama regenerated.
• Shamu exchanged sword attacks with Orochimaru, took a cut, and healed himself while Hashirama recovered.
• Hashirama used Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, and its pollen paralyzed Shamu after Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals failed.
• Shamu returned to the real world and considered Orochimaru’s increased abilities and his unused Eight Branches Technique.

Danzo tried to recruit Hyuga Kaito into helping him steal Uchiha’s restaurant recipes, offering to restore Kaito’s damaged leg with Root’s body-enhancement technique. Kaito refused to betray the Uchiha, but Danzo presented a report showing how much the restaurants earned.

• The Third Hokage withheld Root’s funding while promising to restore it if Danzo obtained more than half of Uchiha’s recipes, and Danzo secretly planned to keep the recipes for himself.
• Hyuga Kaito reflected on his useless left leg and the years of rehabilitation that had failed to restore it.
• Danzo visited Kaito and revealed that Root had developed a technique that could strengthen the body and repair severed nerves.
• Danzo offered to restore Kaito’s leg if Kaito arranged for the Hyuga Military Police Force to use their Byakugan to inspect Uchiha’s restaurant recipes.
• Kaito refused to betray the Uchiha, but Danzo claimed their shops earned twenty million a year and handed him an investigation report.

While impersonating Orochimaru, Minato learned that Naruto's team had captured Morino Ida and reported the situation to the real Orochimaru. Orochimaru ordered a joint Chunin Exams in two months to display Konoha's strength and pressure its ninja clans to prove their worth.

• Hizashi told Minato that Naruto's team had captured Morino Ida, Morino Ibiki's rogue-ninja younger brother, and another fugitive, and Minato ordered them imprisoned and medically treated.
• Minato went to Orochimaru's laboratory and reported Ida's capture and the recent return of Sarutobi Clan members to Konoha.
• Orochimaru told Minato to announce Chunin Exams in two months, invite every ninja village, and require Konoha's ninja clans to participate.
• Orochimaru planned to use the exams to demonstrate Konoha's strength and evaluate its clans, with poor performances potentially leading to funding cuts.
• Orochimaru ordered Minato to leak news of Ida's capture to Ibiki and told him to consult Shamu if needed, then returned to his experiment.

Kakuzu and Scorpion completed a bounty mission and met Obito, who offered Scorpion thirty ancient puppets in place of the money he owed. Kakuzu pretended to consider siding with Obito while privately weighing how to sell information about him to Shamu.

• Kakuzu and Scorpion completed an assassination mission with White Zetsu’s help, then split the bounty after White Zetsu took thirty percent.
• Obito met Scorpion in the cave and described the Moon Organization as a growing network that exchanged intelligence, funds, and protection.
• When Scorpion asked whether Obito had brought money, Obito offered him puppets from the Kamui Dimension instead.
• Kakuzu let Obito believe he might join him, while privately considering selling Shamu information about the puppets and Black Zetsu’s disappearance.
• Scorpion valued each puppet at about one million and accepted thirty of them as payment, then identified their design as ancient and pointed out an unfamiliar emblem.
• Kakuzu memorized the moon-and-orb emblem on the puppets’ forehead protectors.

Shamu read intelligence about the Grass Ninja and considered how Orochimaru was using the Hokage position to strengthen Konoha and his experiments. He then visited Tenten at the hospital and brought her a summoning contract scroll for the Kubisaki Lizard.

• Shamu returned to the Uchiha Clan Grounds with Kimimaro and Haku, then collected intelligence from Iori after Hayato had left.
• Shamu read about the Grass Ninja and reasoned that the Chunin Exams would let Orochimaru test rival factions and build his prestige.
• Shamu considered Orochimaru's growing access to resources, research equipment, and medical talent, and judged Konoha secure with Minato's support.
• Iori told Shamu that Tenten was at the hospital, so Shamu went there after settling Kimimaro and Haku.
• Tenten successfully summoned a fish, and Tsunade advised her to find a larger summoning clan for better practice.
• Shamu arrived with a large summoning scroll marked Kubisaki Lizard and offered it to Tenten.

Shamu's team boarded a ship to escort Marutetsu to Forest Country, and Sasuke cut Captain Todoroki's sword after Todoroki dismissed the Konoha shinobi. When Hinata detected two groups watching the ship, Shamu sent Hinata and Sasuke to investigate from opposite sides.

• Tsutsumi welcomed Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Shamu, then introduced the Security Bureau guards and Captain Todoroki.
• Captain Todoroki claimed his guards could handle the mission, so Shamu signaled Sasuke, who sliced Todoroki's sword in half.
• Shamu admonished Naruto for arguing instead of using his strength, while Sasuke explained that he had acted to defend their master's respect.
• Tsutsumi apologized for Todoroki's behavior, and Shamu's team boarded the ship carrying the caged Marutetsu.
• Hinata detected two groups watching the ship, and Shamu sent her and Sasuke to investigate from opposite sides.

Shamu prepared to revive Dan Katō, explaining to Orochimaru and Tsunade that Dan’s Spirit Transformation Technique could help with future threats. Tsunade accepted the plan and went to dress up before meeting Dan after twenty-eight years apart.

• Shamu told Orochimaru he was preparing to revive Dan Katō and explained how the Spirit Transformation Technique could help address Indra and Asura’s souls and control Urashiki’s body.
• Orochimaru raised doubts about whether Urashiki’s Rinnegan could use the Rebirth Rinnegan Technique and noted that Dan would need to learn it.
• Shamu clarified that he would use the Spirit Transformation Technique himself, then told Tsunade that Dan would be the first person revived.
• Shamu explained his plan to Tsunade, who recognized the value of Dan’s technique and accepted that reviving him could take priority over reviving Hashirama.
• Shamu told Tsunade to dress up to meet Dan, and she left to prepare.

Shamu and Orochimaru tried to save Kimimaro by transferring Shamu’s blood, but Kimimaro’s toxins surged and his heart stopped. Shamu drained his vitality to revive Kimimaro, then appeared to die; Kimimaro woke and grieved over his body.

• Orochimaru discovered that Shamu’s healing genes were multiplying in Kimimaro, but Kimimaro’s toxins kept rising and the genes would consume his life force.
• Kimimaro’s heart stopped as the toxins surged, so Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto opened Shamu’s arteries and pumped his blood into Kimimaro.
• Shamu’s Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique failed after three minutes, and his heart monitor went silent.
• Orochimaru shocked Kimimaro’s chest until his heartbeat returned, while Yakushi Kabuto found that Kimimaro’s body was adapting to the toxins.
• Kimimaro woke, saw Shamu lying like a corpse, and wept as Yakushi Kabuto told him Shamu had suffered an accident while saving him.

Shamu trained to master the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique and prepared his teams for Konoha’s joint Chunin Exams. After Kakuzu sent intelligence about Kusagakure’s allies and Hozuki Castle, Shamu suspected that Hidden Sand and other factions might exploit the exams to attack Konoha.

• Shamu trained in the Dream Realm, repeatedly dying while trying to modify the Yin Seal, then returned to reality as the Chunin Exams approached.
• Shamu brought Kimimaro, Haku, Hyuga Shu, and a Uchiha squad to Konoha, while noting the presence of teams from several other villages.
• Shamu received Kakuzu’s report that Hozuki Castle was expanding its prison, Muwi had disappeared, and Kusagakure had mentioned having allies.
• Shamu paid Kakuzu’s messenger and considered whether Kusagakure, Obito, Black Zetsu, and Rasa planned to target Naruto or take advantage of chaos in Konoha.
• Shamu suspected Rasa’s large delegation and Gaara’s participation might signal Hidden Sand’s interest in the Land of Fire, and anticipated that the exams would bring competing schemes into play.