Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru injected Tsunade and Nawaki with the Hashirama Number One serum, triggering different reactions in them. Tsunade required Senyo to transfer vitality, but her body drained him so quickly that Karin had to replenish herself with Water of Life; Nawaki was placed in a medical pod to recover.

• Orochimaru injected Tsunade and Nawaki with the Hashirama Number One serum, and Tsunade developed a high fever and weakness while Nawaki grew warm and fell asleep.
• Orochimaru monitored their reactions and told Senyo that Nawaki had begun the first evolutionary response, while Tsunade's seventh response required a transfer of vitality.
• Senyo used the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique on Tsunade, but her body rapidly consumed his life energy until Karin offered him her arm to bite.
• Karin drank Water of Life as her vitality drained, while Orochimaru placed the sleeping Nawaki in a medical pod and filled it with pale green mist.
• Orochimaru gave Karin a fresh container of Water of Life, and she drank it after finishing the nearly depleted one.

After Tsunade's life-force flow slowed, Senyo took the exhausted Karin home. Karin asked him to stay with her, and he lay beside her as she fell asleep.

• Karin drank five bottles of Water of Life to support Tsunade's evolution until Orochimaru said the process could stop.
• Senyo carried the sleepy Karin home while Orochimaru remained to watch over Tsunade.
• Mio met Senyo at Karin's door and asked him to look after Karin while she worked at the laboratory.
• Senyo put Karin to bed, but she clung to him and asked him to stay.
• Senyo lay beside Karin, and she settled against his chest and fell asleep.

Senyo confessed to Orochimaru that he had used Kotoamatsukami on him and explained his ability to gain power from people close to him. They discussed the threat of the Ōtsutsuki Clan and agreed that they needed to cultivate more top-tier experts.

• Senyo told Orochimaru that he had used Kotoamatsukami to remove suspicion between them.
• Orochimaru questioned Senyo about what else he was hiding, and Senyo explained that he could gain some of a close ally's abilities or Chakra.
• Senyo revealed that he had gained the Five Elements Seal and Soul Power from Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru asked about the life force Senyo used to revive Kushina, and Senyo said it had come from Kushina herself.
• Senyo proposed cultivating more top-tier experts to face the Ōtsutsuki Clan, and Orochimaru identified the unconscious Tsunade as a future member of their plan.

Senyo and Orochimaru discussed Tsunade and Nawaki’s experiments, plans for evolving the Uchiha’s Sharingan, and Sasuke’s development. Orochimaru gave Senyo scrolls containing the Byakugou Seal and improved Sage Mode, and revealed that the Hyuga clan had traded their Byakugan for two resurrection slots.

• Orochimaru explained that Tsunade’s fusion could greatly increase her Chakra and that Nawaki’s fusion could strengthen his Wood Release, while Tenzo might use the Hashirama No. 1 Agent later.
• Senyo proposed having Itachi and Fugaku exchange eyes, and Orochimaru warned that only one might evolve into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan if Fugaku’s ocular power were transferred.
• Senyo told Orochimaru that Sasuke and Naruto had gained Indra’s and Asura’s Chakra at the Dragon Vein, then described Sasuke’s original-timeline experiences and behavior.
• Senyo asked about Orochimaru’s perfect body, and Orochimaru said he had not found ideal base material yet.
• Orochimaru gave Senyo scrolls containing the Byakugou Seal and his Sage Mode improvements, then explained that the Hyuga clan had exchanged their Byakugan for two resurrection slots.
• Orochimaru said the clones of Hyuga Mitsunobu, Hizashi Hyuga, and Sota Hyuga were ready, with Sota and Mitsunobu to be resurrected first and Hizashi reserved for Senyo.

Karin woke beside Senyo and clung to him, teasing him before he gently turned her down and suggested they wait until she became his bride. As they remained in bed, Senyo checked the Star of Bonds and noticed Sasori’s bond had reached four stars while Karin’s fifth star was still incomplete.

• Karin woke to find Senyo asleep beside her and pressed herself against his chest.
• Karin touched Senyo suggestively, but he stopped her and told her to save such things for when she became his bride.
• Karin agreed to listen to Senyo, then refused to get out of bed and wrapped herself around him.
• Senyo examined the Star of Bonds and saw that Sasori had reached four stars, Gaara remained at three, and Karin’s fifth star still needed more Bond Value.
• Senyo lightly smacked Karin’s butt and asked whether this was what she had planned when she drank the Water of Life.

Senyo and Karin acknowledged their love for each other, and Senyo urged her to return to work with the Barrier Team. After spending the night at Karin's home, Senyo returned to find Ruri and Zhiyu teasing him about their relationship.

• Karin told Senyo she liked him, and Senyo said he liked her too.
• Karin asked why Senyo had accepted her so quickly, and he explained that he cherished her devotion and already knew her well.
• Senyo told Karin to report to the Barrier Team and said he still had two Hyuga clan members to revive.
• After Senyo left, Karin showered and privately wondered whether he had liked what he saw.
• Ruri detected Karin's scent on Senyo and asked if he had spent the night at her home.
• Senyo told Ruri and Zhiyu that Karin was not yet his wife but was already destined to become their sister-in-law.

Senyo confirmed that he intended to marry Karin and said they would discuss it when she turned eighteen. After learning Senyo had returned, Ao Hyuga prepared for the resurrection of Mitsunobu and Sota, while worrying how Neji would react that Hizashi was not among those being revived.

• Ruri asked Senyo if he had decided to marry Karin, and he affirmed that he had.
• Zhiyu asked whether Senyo would follow the old or new marriage system, and he said they would wait two years until Karin turned eighteen.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Ao Hyuga that Senyo had returned and would resurrect Hyuga Mitsunobu and Sota Hyuga at five that afternoon.
• Ao Hyuga agreed to send people to Orochimaru's laboratory and then worried about telling Neji that Hizashi would not be resurrected.

Senyo asked Fugaku whether he still wanted to fight, promising a way to restore his ocular power while confirming Itachi would fuse the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. He then explained that Sasuke lacked the drive to reach his full potential and headed to the training ground to assess him.

• Senyo visited Fugaku and asked whether he still wanted to return to the battlefield, and Fugaku eagerly agreed.
• Senyo told Fugaku he had a way to restore his ocular power, while Itachi would still fuse the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Senyo explained that Sasuke's peaceful circumstances and acceptance of Naruto's superiority had weakened his motivation to grow.
• Fugaku agreed that Sasuke needed a reason to keep improving and told Senyo that Sasuke had been training with Itachi at the training ground.
• Senyo left to assess Sasuke and his training, while Fugaku decided to prepare his body for battle again.

Obito allied with the Sky Ninja Village and offered Shinnō a plan to use Corpse Poison and an air raid against Konoha. Obito secretly intended to exploit the sky ninja to obtain the Zero-Tails, and he prepared to visit the Temple of Fire.

• Obito met Shinnō and showed him potent Corpse Poison, explaining that a million units were being prepared to spread through Konoha.
• Shinnō agreed to coordinate the attack, saying the Zero-Tails and the Sky Ninja Village’s preparations would be ready in about half a month.
• Obito promised to gather intelligence on Konoha’s defenses before returning to Shinnō.
• In the Kamui Dimension, Moryo revealed that the Zero-Tails was still in its cocoon and would be ready in about ten days.
• Obito revealed that he had only pretended to cooperate with the Sky Ninja Village so he could use their air raid to catalyze the Zero-Tails.
• Obito picked up a bottle of white powder and set out for the Temple of Fire.

Sasuke fought Itachi in a training duel and used careful predictions and quick tactics to gain the apparent upper hand. Itachi revealed that Sasuke had restrained a Shadow Clone, leaving Sasuke startled and unsure when the substitution happened.

• Itachi held back as he fought Sasuke, using smoke and crows to test his younger brother's reactions.
• Sasuke predicted Itachi's escape from underground and attacked with the Great Fireball Jutsu and Chidori Senbon.
• Sasuke anticipated Itachi's appearance among the crows and countered his attack with wire, then restrained his wrist.
• Sasuke trapped Itachi with Chidori Flow and believed he had won, but Itachi pointed to the right before bursting into smoke.
• Sasuke realized he had caught Itachi's Shadow Clone and turned toward the direction Itachi had indicated.

Senyo confronted Itachi for being too gentle with Sasuke, then tested Sasuke in a fight meant to expose him to real combat. Senyo broke two of Sasuke’s ribs with a single punch and began treating him with the Mystical Palm Technique.

• Senyo criticized Itachi for indulging Sasuke and blamed his teaching for Sasuke’s slow progress.
• Itachi explained that he had deliberately added misleading habits to his fighting style to test whether Sasuke could notice and learn from them.
• Senyo told Sasuke that Itachi and Shisui had spoiled him, then ordered him to attack with the intent to kill.
• Sasuke used a sword’s reflection, shuriken, and a fast approach to attack Senyo, but Senyo dodged, took his sword, and punched him in the abdomen.
• Senyo’s punch broke two of Sasuke’s ribs, and Itachi rushed to help him.
• Senyo pushed Itachi aside, reset Sasuke’s ribs, and began healing him with the Mystical Palm Technique.

Senyo treated Sasuke’s injuries and taught him to stop relying on others, fight seriously, and believe he could become stronger than anyone. Sasuke embraced the challenge, and Senyo left after promising to begin special training in a few days.

• Senyo treated Sasuke and explained that he had erred by trying to probe a much stronger opponent instead of fighting with intent to kill.
• Senyo urged Sasuke to believe in his potential and strive to surpass both Itachi and Senyo, reigniting Sasuke’s determination.
• Senyo warned Sasuke that he could not depend on Itachi, Shisui, or Fugaku to rescue him, and Sasuke vowed to rely on his own strength.
• Senyo told Itachi that he had spoiled Sasuke, and Itachi agreed to stop treating their fights like ninja games.
• Senyo told Sasuke to rest before starting special training, then left as Sasuke resolved to surpass his brother.

Senyo met Shikaku to discuss the wireless communication barrier, then collected Karin and went to Orochimaru's Laboratory. There, Ao Hyuga reported that the Hyuga Clan was rebuilding its population and raising a new generation of children.

• Senyo asked Shikaku about the wireless communication barrier's testing and urged him to speed up its construction.
• Senyo picked up Karin from the Barrier Division, and they traveled together to Orochimaru's Laboratory.
• Ao Hyuga told Senyo that the Hyuga Clan was recovering after the Branch Family's victory and that its first batch of children would soon turn five.
• Senyo asked about the children's talent, and Ao said the clan would raise them well regardless of their abilities.

Senyo and Orochimaru resurrected Hyuga Mitsunobu and Sota in younger cloned bodies, allowing them to learn that the Branch Family had won its freedom. After Karin fell asleep from replenishing her vitality, Senyo carried her away while his clones headed to the Uchiha training ground.

• Orochimaru used two Sarutobi clansmen as sacrifices to resurrect Mitsunobu and Sota, and Senyo transferred their souls into younger clones.
• Senyo replenished his vitality by biting Karin's shoulder, then repeated the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique for Sota.
• Mitsunobu and Sota awoke, and Ao tearfully told them the New Bud Plan had succeeded and the Branch Family was free.
• Ao explained that years had passed, Sarutobi Hiruzen's faction had been driven out of Konoha, and Namikaze Minato was now Hokage.
• Senyo ordered Karin to drink the Water of Life, and she fell asleep before finishing what she wanted to tell him.
• Senyo carried Karin from the laboratory while his clones headed toward the Uchiha training ground.

Temari and Kankuro returned to Konoha and found Gaara with their resurrected mother, Karura. They reunited with her, while Gaara’s explanation left them stunned.

• Temari and Kankuro returned from a transport mission and discussed their worries about Gaara and his hatred of Rasa.
• Temari and Kankuro went to Gaara’s home in the Uchiha clan grounds.
• Gaara welcomed them inside and introduced the woman beside him as their mother, Karura.
• Temari recognized Karura, embraced her, and asked Gaara how she had returned.
• Kankuro approached Karura, who told him that she was his mother.

Jirō learned that Konoha had taken control of all land in the Land of Fire, threatening the temples’ finances, and Obito recruited him to bring mysterious white powder into Konoha. Jirō agreed to help and arranged for other temples to send representatives with him to Konoha.

• Jirō ordered the monks to cooperate with Konoha’s land survey and avoid conflict.
• Obito told Jirō that the Daimyō would not fund their opposition to Konoha and suggested the temples could benefit if the Land of Fire fell into turmoil.
• Obito gave Jirō a bottle of white powder and asked him to bring it into Konoha and expose more people to it.
• Jirō agreed to find a way to bring the powder into Konoha’s inner city, then rubbed some onto a prayer bead.
• Jirō told a monk to invite representatives from other temples to accompany him on his planned trip to Konoha.

Senyo met Nagato and Yahiko at the Uchiha training grounds, where Nagato explained that he had returned to help Orochimaru study his eyes. Senyo began training in four unfamiliar chakra nature transformations, and Nagato offered to teach him the techniques.

• Senyo arrived at the Uchiha training grounds and found Yahiko practicing Water Style while Nagato sat nearby.
• Nagato told Senyo that he and Yahiko had returned two days earlier and that he was assisting Orochimaru with experiments on his eyes.
• Nagato explained that his eyes were highly active but produced little ocular power, and that he would undergo an injection of the Hashirama Number One serum to stimulate them.
• Senyo said he was developing Earth, Lightning, Wind, and Water chakra nature transformations because his strength had reached a bottleneck.
• Nagato saw Senyo's clones struggling with the four transformations and offered to explain the techniques.

Hyuga Mitsunobu and Sota returned to a thriving Hyuga Clan and discussed its future after learning how much the world had changed. Mitsunobu refused to take over as clan head immediately, then encouraged Sota by explaining that they could seek the resurrection of their fallen comrades, beginning with Hizashi.

• Ao led Hyuga Mitsunobu and Sota Hyuga into the clan compound, where branch family members welcomed them back.
• Mitsunobu thanked the clan for resurrecting them and declined to become clan head until he understood the current Shinobi World better.
• Sota lamented that Hayato, Shigeto, and Shuchi had not been resurrected, but Mitsunobu told him there was hope if the Hyuga Clan contributed to Konoha.
• Mitsunobu suggested that the clan should first seek Hizashi's resurrection, and Sota proposed asking Neji to make the request to Senyo.

Senyo cared for Karin at her home and agreed to get engaged to her. He planned to announce their engagement to the Uchiha clan after finishing his work over the next few days.

• Senyo brought Karin breakfast and explained that he had sent twenty Shadow Clones to train in Water Element nature transformation at the Uchiha training grounds.
• Senyo told Karin not to use Water of Life to make herself sleepy again, and she admitted she had wanted to be closer to him.
• Senyo asked Karin whether she wanted to sleep with him every day and proposed that they get engaged; Karin eagerly accepted.
• Senyo said they needed to inform the clan and promised to announce the engagement after he finished his work over the next few days.
• Senyo asked Karin to bring her belongings to his house after work, and Karin happily agreed to move in with her fiancé.

Senyo told Ruri and Zhiyu that he and Karin were engaged, then trained his Water Element Chakra nature transformation with Shadow Clones while reading Orochimaru's senjutsu research. Meanwhile, Neji and Tenten returned to Konoha, where Hitomi Hyuga told Neji that someone wanted to see him.

• Senyo announced his engagement to Karin, and Ruri and Zhiyu congratulated them while confirming they did not need to get engaged themselves.
• Karin left to return to work and said she would tell Senyo's mother about the engagement.
• Senyo trained Water Element Chakra nature transformation with Shadow Clones, reaching a limit of fifty and estimating he could use ordinary Water Release ninjutsu in about five days.
• Senyo spent the day reading Orochimaru's scroll about improving senjutsu and its compatibility with the human body.
• Tenten and Neji returned to Konoha from a merchant convoy mission, and Neji greeted Hitomi Hyuga at the western gate.
• Hitomi Hyuga told Neji to go back quickly because someone wanted to see him.