Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya found Tsunade at an inn and persuaded her to return to Konoha after showing her Uchiha Senyo’s growing power and Danzo’s latest threats. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage’s Anbu reached Mount Katsujō, but En no Gyōja and his family had disappeared.

• Jiraiya arrived at the inn and urged Tsunade to return to Konoha.
• Jiraiya gave Tsunade intelligence about Uchiha Senyo’s victories, political rise, and recruitment of Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that the Third Hokage planned to move against Danzo and explained Danzo’s connection to his former Amegakure students.
• Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha and see what was happening.
• The Third Hokage’s Anbu found that the traps on Mount Katsujō had been triggered and that En no Gyōja and his companions were gone.
• The Anbu found En no Gyōja’s dead servant and prepared to report back to the Third Hokage.

Obito learned that Nagato and Konan had reappeared and watched the Akatsuki reorganize after its failed mission. Nagato and Konan then consulted Senyo about Nagato’s slow recovery and the black rods embedded in his body.

• Obito and Zetsu discovered Nagato and Konan were avoiding them, then Zetsu joined the Akatsuki’s ring projection after Nagato called.
• Pain ordered Kisame to leave the Land of Water, assigned Kakuzu to manage Amegakure, and favored Sasori with resources for saving Konan.
• Konan said the Akatsuki needed to rebuild and mocked Obito’s demands, while Zetsu noticed her and Nagato’s changed attitudes.
• Nagato told Senyo that he had stopped supplying energy to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path but was recovering slowly.
• Konan asked Senyo for a solution because the black rods had pierced Nagato’s internal organs and were difficult to remove.

Senyo arranged for Nagato and Konan to recover with the Uchiha, while they decided to send Amegakure’s children to Senyo as well. When Chiyo arrived from Sunagakure to retrieve Gaara, Senyo prepared to meet her as Gaara said goodbye to Naruto.

• Senyo told Konan that Nagato needed more time to recuperate before surgery and advised her to warn Obito that his identity might be exposed.
• Konan and Pain agreed that Senyo was more reliable than Obito, and Pain decided to send a Paper Clone to bring Amegakure’s children to the Uchiha Clan.
• Uchiha Rinto informed Senyo that Chiyo had arrived from Sunagakure with four others, and Senyo considered how to keep Gaara from being taken back.
• Senyo picked up Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara after school and told Gaara that Chiyo had arrived to take him.
• Gaara said goodbye to Naruto, and the two friends hoped they would meet again.

Senyo demanded three billion from Chiyo to return Gaara, but Sunagakure could not afford the ransom. He told Chiyo he would keep Gaara in the Uchiha compound as political leverage and left open the possibility of working together against Rasa, while Gaara was relieved to stay.

• Senyo met with Chiyo and demanded three billion for Gaara's return, but Chiyo said Sunagakure could not pay.
• Senyo explained that he planned to keep Gaara as leverage until he became Hokage, then return him to Sunagakure.
• Senyo told Chiyo that Rasa and the Hidden Mist Village had conspired to kill Pakura and urged her to remove Rasa as Kazekage when the chance came.
• Chiyo gave Senyo a token for contacting her, and Senyo said he would announce that negotiations had failed and Gaara would remain in Konoha.
• Senyo visited Gaara and told him Sunagakure could not afford the ransom, so he would have to stay; Gaara felt a surge of joy.

Senyo had Orochimaru use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to let Kisame Hoshigaki reunite with a dead Hidden Mist ninja. After she freed her soul and vanished, Senyo discussed medical equipment and a ransom channel with Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to revive the Hidden Mist ninja, and Senyo told her she had only a limited time.
• Kisame and the ninja shared the meal they had promised each other, while Senyo gave them privacy.
• Senyo asked Orochimaru about research equipment and proposed obtaining supplies from Iwagakure in exchange for returning Deidara and Kurotsuchi.
• Senyo explained that he avoided an Armed Coup because he wanted to take Konoha without risking the Uchiha Clan.
• The ninja freed her soul and vanished, leaving Kisame holding paper talismans as Orochimaru marveled at her release.

Senyo offered Kisame a way to resurrect Kurita Anko through an artificial Rinnegan, recruiting him to work for the Uchiha while he returned to the Akatsuki. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage planned to eliminate Danzo, and Gaara chose to be glad he could stay in Konoha with Naruto.

• Senyo told Kisame about the Rinne Rebirth Technique and promised an artificial Rinnegan could resurrect Anko within ten years; Kisame agreed to work for him and protect Anko's body.
• Senyo instructed Kisame to return to the Akatsuki, pass information to Pain, and leave with Rinto.
• An Anbu reported that Sunagakure could not pay the Uchiha's three-billion ransom for Gaara, and the Third Hokage discussed Danzo's plans and his intent to remove him.
• Gaara arrived at school with Sasuke and Karin, reunited with Naruto, and decided he was happy to remain in Konoha longer.
• Karin teased Sasuke that Naruto no longer wanted to play with him, and Sasuke dismissed her joke.

Kitsuchi negotiated with Senyo for the release of Kurotsuchi and Deidara, agreeing to provide three pieces of medical equipment. Back home, Senyo reassured Zhiyu and Ruri after they confronted him for hiding his dangerous actions and his succession as Uchiha Clan Head.

• Kitsuchi asked Senyo why the Uchiha had abducted Kurotsuchi and Deidara, and Senyo explained that Iwagakure had been preparing to probe the Land of Fire.
• Senyo asked Iwagakure to gather any three items from a list of expensive medical equipment, and Kitsuchi agreed to the terms.
• Rinto brought Kurotsuchi and Deidara to the meeting, and Senyo released them to Kitsuchi without waiting for the equipment.
• Ruri and Zhiyu confronted Senyo for hiding his fight with Kumogakure and his succession as Clan Head, and he explained that he had wanted to protect them from worry.
• Senyo urged Zhiyu to train her Sharingan and told her and Ruri that he was preparing for future dangers; Ruri privately wished her poor health did not burden him.

Danzo tried to force En no Gyōja to help test the Tsuchigumo Clan’s secret technique, but En no Gyōja sacrificed himself to activate it through his granddaughter, Light. As a sphere of white light erupted around Light, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune saw a huge flash above Konoha and rushed toward the village.

• Danzo refused to release En no Gyōja and Light until En no Gyōja cooperated with his experiments.
• En no Gyōja secretly placed the Tsuchigumo Clan’s seal on Light and urged her to endure the pain.
• When Danzo seized him, En no Gyōja used his final seals to accelerate Light’s absorption of energy, then died under Danzo’s curse seal.
• A white sphere shielded Light from Danzo as energy surged into her back and she cried for her grandfather.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed Uchiha Senyo and the recent events in Konoha while traveling with Shizune.
• The group saw a massive sphere of white light above Konoha and hurried toward the village.

Uchiha Senyo became the new Uchiha clan head, but a massive explosion at Konoha’s prison interrupted the ceremony and devastated the surrounding area. Senyo rushed to the blast site, where he found Danzo fleeing with Light and charged toward him.

• Uchiha Fugaku relinquished the clan head position, and Senyo succeeded him amid a ceremony attended by Konoha’s prominent clans and leaders.
• A huge explosion erupted near the prison, and Hiashi reported that the blast had affected an enormous area.
• Senyo ordered the Uchiha to prepare for rescue work, assigned Itachi and the elders to keep the clan stable, and told Sasuke and Karin to stay behind.
• Senyo reached the prison and found buildings flattened, villagers buried in rubble, and rescue efforts underway under the Third Hokage.
• Senyo spotted Danzo escaping with Light, and Danzo formed hand seals as Senyo charged at him.

Senyo fought Danzo, overcoming his repeated Izanagi revivals and lethal techniques before the Third Hokage intervened and cut Danzo in two. Senyo salvaged Danzo’s Sharingan and discovered that the injured girl he had covered was Light, a descendant of the Tsuchigumo Clan.

• Senyo attacked Danzo despite Danzo using seven-year-old Light as a shield, then struck him and killed him with a Chakra Scalpel after he revived with Izanagi.
• Danzo revived again and attacked Senyo with Vacuum Sphere, Amaterasu, the Baku, and Great Vacuum Sphere, but Senyo evaded his techniques and severed his arm.
• Danzo activated the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, but Senyo escaped; after Danzo revived and tried to flee, a masked man attacked him and the Third Hokage struck the masked man away.
• Senyo cut off Danzo’s arms, removed the Sharingan from them and Danzo’s eye, then cut off Danzo’s head and told the Third Hokage to explain the incident to the public.
• Senyo covered the burned girl with his robe, recognized her as Light from the seal and raised blood vessels on her back, and found that she had no internal injuries.

After Senyo killed Danzo, Konoha’s ninja raced to rescue survivors from the devastating explosion, and Tsunade summoned Katsuyu to treat the wounded. Senyo returned to the Uchiha grounds, where he scolded Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara for sneaking into the disaster area.

• Senyo ordered Rinto to give the recovered items to Orochimaru and carry Light away for treatment, then sent the Uchiha clansmen to search for survivors.
• The Third Hokage directed rescue efforts and reflected that he had secretly leaked En no Gyōja’s information to Danzo, intending to eliminate Danzo and obtain the Tsuchigumo Clan’s secret technique.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived, and Tsunade summoned Katsuyu, whose many smaller slugs treated injured villagers across Konoha.
• The ninja continued rescue work until nightfall, while Nonō, Kabuto Yakushi, Shizune, and other Medical Ninjas treated the wounded in a makeshift hospital.
• Senyo returned to the Uchiha grounds, where Itachi told him he had caught Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara sneaking out to the disaster scene.
• Senyo scolded and flicked Sasuke and Karin, then pinched Gaara’s cheek before sending all three to rest.

After a devastating explosion destroyed Root and killed thousands, Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that En no Gyōja’s secret technique had caused the disaster and decided to step down as Hokage. He planned to promote Tsunade as his successor rather than allow Uchiha Senyo to take office.

• Senyo told Itachi that Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara had gone out while Itachi watched over them, and said they would discuss the village’s future later.
• Mitokado Homura reported that more than two thousand civilians and over five hundred shinobi had died, Root and its laboratory were destroyed, and Shigaraki Tanuki was the sole surviving researcher.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that En no Gyōja’s secret technique had caused the explosion after Danzo brought him to Konoha.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that he planned to step down, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura feared Uchiha Senyo might become Hokage.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed Tsunade as his successor, then directed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to warn former Root members and begin building support for her.

Senyo advised the Uchiha elders to avoid competing directly for Hokage and instead prevent Hiruzen from stepping down. At the new Uchiha hospital, Orochimaru examined Light’s Tsuchigumo secret seal, while Anko hurried back to Konoha after learning Orochimaru had been cleared.

• Senyo told the Uchiha elders that challenging Tsunade for Hokage carried too many uncertainties and proposed making Hiruzen unable to step down.
• Senyo visited the Uchiha hospital, where Kabuto reported that Light had burns and severe exhaustion but should recover with rest.
• Senyo asked Orochimaru to examine the Tsuchigumo secret seal on Light’s back, and Orochimaru said it had inspired changes to his Heavenly Cursed Seal.
• Orochimaru said Anko lacked the resolve to make much of her survival, while Senyo noted that she had survived the seal.
• Anko learned in the Land of Tea that Orochimaru had been cleared of charges and rushed toward Konoha to confront her former teacher.

After Danzo's death and the destruction in Konoha, the Third Hokage persuaded Tsunade to become the next Hokage to prevent Uchiha Senyo from taking power. As Konoha handled the disaster's aftermath and Tsunade's reputation grew, the Third Hokage called a Konoha High Council Meeting.

• News spread that the Uchiha had claimed the black market bounty for Danzo's head, then took the head back as evidence.
• The Third Hokage asked Tsunade to become Hokage, explaining that Danzo's people had infiltrated the Anbu and caused the disaster.
• Tsunade condemned the deaths of more than a thousand villagers and reluctantly agreed to serve, while the Third Hokage and Jiraiya promised to assist her.
• The Third Hokage's Anbu investigation pinned the explosion on Danzo, and Tsunade and Shizune improved the medical corps' efficiency at the hospital.
• As villagers heard more about Tsunade's achievements, the Third Hokage convened a Konoha High Council Meeting.

At Konoha’s high-level meeting, Senyo blocked the Third Hokage’s attempt to resign and proposed that he remain in office until a qualified successor emerged. Tsunade supported Senyo’s plan to put her in charge of Konoha Hospital and appoint Utatane Koharu as Hokage’s Assistant.

• The Third Hokage apologized for the disaster and presented a report on its causes and casualties.
• Senyo accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of failing to prevent the disaster and blamed him for Konoha’s losses.
• The Third Hokage announced his resignation, but Senyo objected and argued that he should stay until a suitable successor could be chosen.
• The Third Hokage put forward Tsunade as a Hokage candidate, but Senyo said she was unfamiliar with the village and proposed that she manage Konoha Hospital instead.
• Senyo proposed that Utatane Koharu become Hokage’s Assistant after handing hospital authority to Tsunade.
• Tsunade supported Senyo’s proposal.

Senyo secured the Third Hokage’s continued leadership while Tsunade took charge of Konoha Hospital and Utatane Koharu became the Hokage’s Assistant. Meanwhile, Senyo brought Haku and Kimimaro back toward the Land of Fire, where their growing bond showed as they trained together at sea.

• Senyo led the vote that kept the Third Hokage in office, appointed Tsunade to oversee Konoha Hospital, and made Utatane Koharu the Hokage’s Assistant.
• Shikaku Nara invited Senyo to play shogi, but Senyo described himself as someone who preferred watching others play before leaving with Fugaku.
• Senyo’s clone brought Haku and Kimimaro from a merchant ship to the sea and taught them to walk on water as they headed for the Land of Fire.
• When Haku ran low on Chakra, Senyo told him not to force himself, and Kimimaro carried him on his back across the water.

Senyo brought Kimimaro and Haku to Konoha and arranged for them to attend the Ninja Academy. Meanwhile, Jiraiya fled the village, leaving Tsunade to stay and take on more responsibilities, including meeting Orochimaru.

• Senyo's clone brought Kimimaro and Haku to the Uchiha Clan Compound, where Senyo arranged for them to attend the Ninja Academy.
• Tsunade continued working at Konoha Hospital as it recovered from the disaster, while the Uchiha hospital and Orochimaru's laboratory were completed.
• Jiraiya left Konoha after leaving a note for the Third Hokage, who told Tsunade that the village needed her to stay.
• Tsunade agreed to remain in Konoha for a while and accepted the Third Hokage's money for her work.
• The Third Hokage persuaded Tsunade to visit Orochimaru and train Uchiha medical personnel, and Tsunade agreed to see Orochimaru the next day.

Senyo brought Light into the Uchiha clan after En no Gyōja died, using genjutsu to make her believe Senyo was her family. The next day, he introduced Light, Kimimaro, and Haku to Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara as new Uchiha companions and took them to the Ninja Academy.

• Senyo learned that Light had awakened and questioned her about how she and En no Gyōja had been captured.
• Senyo hypnotized Light into believing he was her family and arranged for her to stay with the Uchiha clan and attend school.
• Senyo introduced Kimimaro, Haku, and Light to Sasuke, Karin, and Gaara as fellow members of the Uchiha.
• Karin comforted Light and reached out to Haku, while Haku and Kimimaro learned that Senyo considered them his disciples.
• Sasuke protested when Senyo said Haku and Kimimaro could call him Master, and the group set off for the Ninja Academy.

Sunagakure struggled with the loss of Gaara while Kakashi’s team reached the Land of Demons to invite Miroku to Konoha. Shirakumo Hayama revealed his suspicions about White Fang’s death, and Senyo’s clone began secretly following the team.

• Rasa and Elder Chiyo’s council blamed each other for Gaara’s capture while Sunagakure searched for a way to retrieve its Tailed Beast.
• Kakashi, Tenzo, and Shirakumo Hayama arrived in the Land of Demons on a mission to invite Miroku to Konoha.
• Shirakumo Hayama criticized Kakashi’s reliance on the Sharingan and urged him to develop his own abilities.
• Shirakumo Hayama suggested that Danzo had helped bring about White Fang’s death, and Kakashi vowed to interrogate Danzo.
• Senyo’s clone discovered Kakashi’s team and began tailing them from a distance.

Senyo began selecting students for Konoha's Elite Class through class competitions, admitting the strongest candidates from each group. The chapter ended with the excluded students learning they would have another chance to qualify in a month.

• Senyo announced that each class would compete for a limited number of Elite Class places, and Kimimaro and Haku joined the competition.
• Kimimaro and Haku easily defeated their classmates, while Neji also earned a place in their class; Tenten and Rock Lee were eliminated.
• Neji challenged Kimimaro to spar, but Kimimaro struck him down before Neji could properly begin fighting.
• Senyo admitted Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara, Karin, Light, and Hinata from Naruto's class, while Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, Ino, and Shino were eliminated.
• Iruka told the disappointed students that they could try again for the remaining Elite Class spots in one month.