Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, whose name is not specified, is traveling home for the annual Ancestors' Day celebration.
• They hope to avoid traffic jams and charging station lines on the highway.
• The journey is a reflection of their internal struggle with their identity and family expectations.

Character Developments

• The protagonist grapples with their sense of self and their place in their family and community.
• They reflect on their past, hinting at a history of rebellion against traditional expectations.

Significant Themes

• Identity: The protagonist struggles with their personal identity and how it aligns with their family's expectations.
• Tradition vs. Individuality: The Ancestors' Day celebration represents tradition, while the protagonist's internal conflict represents their desire for individuality.
• Homecoming: The journey home brings up complex emotions and memories, highlighting the significance of home and family.

Character Interactions

• Although there are no direct interactions in this chapter, the protagonist's internal monologue reveals their complex relationship with their family and community.
• Their thoughts hint at past conflicts and a desire for understanding and acceptance.

Kaede settled into Fugaku and Mikoto’s home in Konoha after Chomei agreed to stay, while Iwata Sawaki, Nagato, and Konan responded to Iwagakure’s invasion of the Land of Waterfall. When Sasuke brought his friends home, Kaede and Naruto recognized each other as Jinchuriki, and Chomei confronted the Nine-Tails.

• Uchiha Toko agreed to respect Chomei’s choice and arranged for Kakashi to bring Kaede to Fugaku’s home.
• Mikoto welcomed Kaede and reassured her that Konoha would treat her as an ordinary child, not fear her Jinchuriki identity.
• After recovering from his clash with Kitsuchi, Iwata Sawaki ordered Takigakure’s ninja to learn Uchiha Toko’s combined ninjutsu.
• Nagato accepted Takigakure’s request for help against Iwagakure and promised to raise Kakuzu’s share of the reward.
• Sasuke brought his friends home, where Kaede and Naruto recognized each other as Jinchuriki and Chomei stood between Kaede and the Nine-Tails.

Uchiha Toko arranged covert support for the war between Iwagakure and Takigakure, recruiting Nara Shikaku to command a disguised Konoha unit while using supplies and other indirect means to influence the battle. As Ōnoki confronted him over Konoha’s apparent breach of their treaty, Uchiha Toko defended the village’s actions.

• In the Sealing Space, Chomei told Kaede that earning the Nine-Tails’ recognition would be difficult, while Mikoto and the others briefly guarded the household before Naruto and Kaede returned to their senses.
• Uchiha Toko explained his plan to Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, then asked Shikaku to command a covert elite unit on the Land of Waterfall battlefield.
• Uchiha Toko assigned Sarutobi Clan shinobi to the unit and arranged for Asuma to join Shikaku and Inoichi, with their departure set for three days later.
• Three days later, Shikaku’s group left Konoha under cover of night disguised as wandering shinobi, escorting the first shipment of supplies for Takigakure.
• Ōnoki grew furious as Takigakure’s combined Lightning Style and abundant Exploding Tags stalled Iwagakure’s advance, while Konan’s intervention had saved Iwata Sawaki and seriously injured Kitsuchi.
• Ōnoki accused Uchiha Toko of disrespecting their treaty during a video call, and Uchiha Toko replied that Konoha had rejected Takigakure’s request for an alliance.

Uchiha Toko concealed Konoha’s support for Takigakure as the war with Iwagakure dragged on and Takigakure paid an enormous human cost. As the Sarutobi Corps hid from Iwagakure’s hunters, Han encountered the Akatsuki and was struck by the orange-haired leader’s Shinra Tensei.

• Uchiha Toko denied Ōnoki’s accusations that Konoha was supplying Takigakure, while Kaede’s training and friendships in Konoha made her less eager to return home.
• Nara Shikaku and the Sarutobi Corps ambushed an Iwagakure unit, extracted its secrets, and helped Takigakure launch counterattacks that stalled the war.
• Iwata Sawaki borrowed more money from Konoha and sent people of all ages, including Academy children, to the front lines; Konan warned that Takigakure would have no future if it continued.
• Shikaku kept the Sarutobi Corps hidden after Iwagakure sent Elite Jonin squads to find them, and Yamanaka Inoichi sensed an approaching Jinchuriki.
• Han headed toward Takigakure’s rear lines, but six Akatsuki members blocked his path, and the orange-haired leader blasted him back with Shinra Tensei.

Pain and the Six Paths captured Han, prompting Konoha's observers to warn the Hokage about the Akatsuki's growing strength. Meanwhile, Deidara fled Iwagakure and arrived in Konoha to visit Naruto, leaving Uchiha Toko to deal with his unexpected arrival.

• Pain's Six Paths defeated Han and took him away, while Inoichi and Shikaku watched from hiding and identified the attackers as Akatsuki members.
• Ōnoki learned the Akatsuki had captured Han and ordered contact with them, then discovered Deidara had left Iwagakure to pursue his idea of true art.
• Deidara flew to the Land of Fire and told Konoha's gate guards that he had come to see his little brother Naruto.
• Uchiha Toko went to meet Deidara and learned that he had slipped away from Iwagakure because he was bored and wanted to visit Naruto.

Deidara arrived in Konoha, and Ōnoki refused to bring his disciple home, leaving Uchiha Toko responsible for him. After Naruto and Deidara reunited over ramen, Toko found a way to put Deidara’s demolition skills to work on Yamato’s construction project.

• Uchiha Toko learned that Deidara had come to Konoha, but Ōnoki refused to send anyone to retrieve him and asked Toko to look after him.
• Deidara met Naruto outside the Ninja Academy, and Naruto took him to Ichiraku Ramen while their friends worried they might cause trouble.
• Neji reported the reunion to Uchiha Toko, who said Uchiha Inaho was keeping watch over the two boys.
• Yamato asked Toko for Exploding Tags to excavate the foundation of a planned commercial district, and Toko approved the project.
• Toko decided to put Deidara to work on the construction site and went to Ichiraku Ramen, where Naruto and Deidara were finishing their meal.

Uchiha Toko brought Deidara to Konoha as an exchange student and arranged for him to demonstrate his explosive art at a construction site. Deidara’s enormous blast carved out a crater and impressed Toko, who left him thinking about how to make his art more profound.

• Uchiha Toko told Deidara that the Tsuchikage had sent him to Konoha to avoid the war and asked Toko to guide his training.
• Uchiha Toko housed Deidara in a remote shack and promised to take him to demonstrate his art the next day.
• Deidara used metal-infused clay and repeated explosions to create a colorful blast that carved a crater roughly a thousand meters wide.
• Uchiha Toko used Susanoo to save himself and Deidara when Deidara ran out of chakra and their clay bird vanished.
• Uchiha Toko praised Deidara’s technique, gave him Soldier Pills, and suggested that colorful explosions alone might not represent the highest realm of art.

Uchiha Toko turned Deidara into a demolition expert for Konoha’s construction projects while the war continued to strain Iwagakure. After learning that Mei Terumi’s rebellion army planned to attack Kirigakure, Toko sent Kakashi and Might Guy to the Land of Fire’s eastern border and traveled in disguise to the rebellion army’s base.

• Uchiha Toko introduced Deidara to Yamato, whose Wood Style construction impressed Deidara and led him to join Konoha’s building work.
• Deidara’s demolition work accelerated Konoha’s construction, while Iwagakure struggled on the battlefield and Rōshi returned to the village.
• Black Zetsu told Uchiha Toko that Mei Terumi’s rebellion army had surrounded Kirigakure and planned a final assault in three days, with Utakata on their side.
• Uchiha Toko ordered Kakashi to reinforce the eastern border with Might Guy and Elite Jonin, hinting that Kakashi could act if an opportunity arose.
• Uchiha Toko traveled with Black Zetsu and A Fei to Kirigakure in disguise and entered the rebellion army’s base, where he saw Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Utakata.

Uchiha Toko attended Mei Terumi’s rebellion meeting and learned the plan to attack Kirigakure in three days. He chose to let the coup proceed so he could manipulate the conflict into securing Fire Country’s intervention and taking the Three-Tails and Six-Tails as payment.

• Uchiha Toko discussed with A Fei how Mei Terumi’s rebellion could fracture over leadership after defeating Karatachi Yagura.
• Mei Terumi introduced a redesigned Kirigakure forehead protector and rallied the shinobi to march on the village in three days.
• Mei Terumi assigned the rebellion forces to attack Kirigakure’s gates and coordinate with Genji inside the village before besieging Karatachi Yagura.
• Uchiha Toko returned to his residence and rejected Black Zetsu’s suggestion to expose Genji, arguing that a prolonged conflict would better serve his plan.
• Uchiha Toko proposed that Karatachi Yagura seek Fire Country’s aid, with Kirigakure paying its military debt by surrendering two Tailed Beasts.
• Black Zetsu eagerly accepted the plan because it could let them claim the Three-Tails and Six-Tails for Konoha.

Uchiha Toko spread suspicion through the Rebellion Army while Kakashi prepared to bring Konoha forces to the Land of Water. As the rebels attacked Kirigakure, Karatachi Yagura killed Genji and transformed into the Three-Tails, forcing Mei Terumi and her allies to fight him.

• Uchiha Toko told his squad to conserve their strength so they could support Mei Terumi’s bid to become Mizukage, then asked Black Zetsu to spread the same doubts through the Rebellion Army.
• Rumors spread among the rebels, and Kakashi received Karatachi Yagura’s plea for aid before ordering most of his troops to sail for the Land of Water.
• The Rebellion Army launched a coordinated assault on Kirigakure, opened the gates with help from Genji, and began evacuating civilians as Uchiha Toko fought the village’s Anbu.
• Under Black Zetsu’s control, Karatachi Yagura went to Genji’s residence and killed him after Genji attacked.
• Mei Terumi, Zabuza Momochi, and Utakata confronted Karatachi Yagura, who transformed into the Three-Tails as Utakata became the Six-Tails.
• The Three-Tails rampaged through Kirigakure, and Mei Terumi ordered the Barrier Team to prepare to seal it.

Mei Terumi and Utakata fought Karatachi Yagura and Isobu as the Rebellion Army gained ground, but Konoha forces arrived to aid Kirigakure. Kakashi headed for the Mizukage while Might Guy confronted Kisame Hoshigaki, and their battle began with Guy opening the Sixth Gate.

• The Three-Tails and Six-Tails fired Tailed Beast Bombs that collided, devastating the battlefield and injuring Barrier Team members who had not retreated in time.
• Mei Terumi sent Zabuza to assist the Rebellion Army, where he joined Uchiha Toko and noted the rebels’ growing advantage.
• As Karatachi Yagura’s Mangekyō Sharingan Genjutsu began to break, Isobu’s Chakra grew more violent, while Kisame Hoshigaki’s forces neared defeat at the south gate.
• Might Guy arrived at the south gate and shattered Kisame Hoshigaki’s Water Shark Bullet with a kick; Kakashi then appeared and announced Konoha’s intervention at the Mizukage’s request.
• Kakashi learned that the Mizukage was fighting the insurgent leader and went to help him, leaving Guy to face Kisame.
• Kisame unleashed the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, and Guy opened the Sixth Gate of View as Samehada split into shark-like scales and lunged at him.

Might Guy battled Kisame while Kakashi used his new Mangekyō-and-railgun fighting style to defeat Zabuza and join the fight against the tailed beasts. After Uchiha Toko redirected the Three-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb into the Mizukage Building, Kakashi confronted Mei Terumi and the others, demanding their surrender.

• Might Guy destroyed Kisame’s water sharks with Morning Peacock, but Kisame trapped him in a vast whirlpool and attacked him with Samehada and more water techniques.
• Kakashi dodged Zabuza’s surprise slash, used lightning-accelerated steel balls to wound him, and took the Kubikiribōchō with Kamui.
• Kakashi explained that he had combined his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities with a railgun technique to create his new fighting style, then headed toward the tailed beast battle.
• Mei Terumi and Utakata worked with Six Tails Saiken to weaken Isobu, and Mei’s acid attack exposed the Three-Tails to a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Uchiha Toko redirected the Tailed Beast Bomb into the Mizukage Building, and Kakashi emerged beside Isobu and ordered the Kirigakure Rebellion Army leaders to surrender.

Kakashi helped Konoha crush Mei Terumi’s rebellion in Kirigakure, but Akatsuki arrived to seize the surviving Jinchuriki. As Pain confronted Kakashi and the eagles carried Karatachi Yagura and Utakata away, Uchiha Toko appeared and destroyed the Summoned Beasts.

• Kakashi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to strengthen and control Three-Tails, forcing Mei Terumi’s Rebellion Army to retreat while the Tailed Beasts battled.
• Mei Terumi led the survivors south, where Might Guy defeated Kisame Hoshigaki and Konoha let the rebels escape.
• Three-Tails and Six-Tails unleashed point-blank Tailed Beast Bombs, leaving Karatachi Yagura and Utakata alive but collapsed.
• Deva Path Pain and the other Akatsuki members attacked Kakashi, while two eagles seized the fallen Jinchuriki.
• Pain warned Kakashi that Akatsuki and Konoha would eventually fight, but Uchiha Toko struck down the eagles with lightning and began forming Susanoo beside Kakashi.

Uchiha Toko defeated the Six Paths of Pain in Kirigakure and identified Nagato as the person controlling them. He spared Nagato for Jiraiya's sake, but warned that the favor would not be repeated.

• Uchiha Toko blocked Pain's attacks with Susanoo and caught the two falling Jinchuriki as Deva Path Pain declared its plan to gather the Tailed Beasts.
• Uchiha Toko destroyed Preta Path with naturally formed lightning after it absorbed his attack, though Naraka Path later restored the puppet.
• Uchiha Toko used lightning attacks and Swift Lightning to dismantle the Paths of Pain, overcoming their abilities and preventing them from harming him.
• Uchiha Toko revealed that he knew Nagato had studied under Jiraiya and challenged Nagato's claim that great nations alone caused suffering in war.
• Uchiha Toko let Naraka Path repair the puppets and ordered Nagato to leave for Jiraiya's sake, warning that the favor covered only this once.

After helping Kirigakure recover from its coup, Uchiha Toko dealt with the aftermath and assessed the village’s remaining leaders. He selected Takagi Shoban as a potential Fifth Mizukage, offering him the position and leaving his response uncertain.

• Deva Path Pain departed after Uchiha Toko explained that the Six Paths of Pain were still needed at the Takigakure front, while Konoha began sheltering villagers and tallying Kirigakure’s losses.
• Uchiha Toko demoted Higashino Ryosuke to Chunin for executing a Kirigakure Jonin who had insulted him and Kakashi.
• Might Guy asked to return to Konoha, and Uchiha Toko arranged for him to travel back with Shiranui Genma and the others.
• Kakashi reported that Utakata had awakened under Uchiha Toko’s seal and that Karatachi Yagura was unlikely to survive; Uchiha Toko said Karin should be asked before anyone chose her as the Three-Tails’ Jinchuriki.
• After reviewing Kirigakure’s surviving Elite Jonin, Uchiha Toko summoned Takagi Shoban and offered to help make him the Fifth Mizukage.

Uchiha Toko secured Takagi Shoban’s election as the Fifth Mizukage by offering Konoha’s support in exchange for Kirigakure accepting its debts and joining the Konoha Covenant. After Mei Terumi and the Rebellion Army rejected Takagi’s rule, they declared an independent Kirigakure in the north, leaving the Land of Water with two Mizukage.

• Uchiha Toko persuaded Takagi Shoban to accept Kirigakure’s debt to Konoha and promised support against the Rebellion Army in exchange for joining the Konoha Covenant.
• Takagi Shoban won Kirigakure’s vote and became the Fifth Mizukage, with Uchiha Toko placing the hat on his head as Konoha ninja kept dissenters in check.
• Takagi Shoban signed an agreement to join the Konoha Covenant, and Uchiha Fugaku took command of the Water-Fire Army stationed in the Land of Water.
• Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and Kisame Hoshigaki rejected Takagi Shoban’s authority after learning of his agreement with Uchiha Toko.
• Mei Terumi and the Rebellion Army established an independent Kirigakure in the northern Land of Water, creating a second Mizukage regime.

Takagi Shoban secured recognition as Mizukage while Mei Terumi’s Rebellion Army failed to defeat Uchiha Fugaku, and Konoha tightened its influence over Kirigakure. As Konoha worked to weaken Kirigakure from within, Mei Terumi agreed to cooperate with Kumogakure to resist Konoha, pending negotiations over the terms.

• Takagi Shoban bribed the Land of Water’s officials to recognize him as Mizukage, officially branding Mei Terumi’s New Kirigakure a Rebellion Army.
• Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Kirigakure again but were defeated by Uchiha Fugaku, and Zabuza and Kisame rescued Mei after she fell under his Genjutsu.
• After a Konoha squad beat Kirigakure civilians who had insulted them, Takagi Shoban punished the civilians and Kirigakure ninja involved while Uchiha Fugaku detained the Konoha squad.
• Uchiha Toko advised Fugaku to punish the Konoha ninja lightly and let the conflict run its course, as part of his plan to break Kirigakure’s power and increase Konoha’s influence.
• The Fourth Raikage warned Mei Terumi that Konoha might turn its forces against her once the fighting in the Land of Waterfall ended, and Mei agreed to cooperate with Kumogakure while leaving the details to be negotiated.

The Fourth Raikage allied with Mei Terumi’s New Kirigakure, while Uchiha Toko prepared to influence Kumogakure through rap music. His talent show drew Killer B, whom Toko recruited after helping him develop more socially conscious lyrics.

• The Fourth Raikage traveled to New Kirigakure, signed a mutual assistance agreement with Mei Terumi, and exchanged public accusations with Konoha.
• Uchiha Toko had A Fei’s White Zetsu perform rap and explained to Black Zetsu that music could open a breach in Kumogakure’s united society.
• Toko arranged the Land of Lightning Has Hip-Hop talent show, and Killer B left Cloud-Lightning Valley to enter it.
• At the auditions, Toko criticized Killer B’s boastful lyrics and performed a rap about prejudice and dignity.
• Killer B responded with lyrics condemning racism, and Toko praised him and invited him to join his team.

Uchiha Toko’s rap competition turned Killer B into a star while stoking racial hostility in the Land of Lightning. A found Killer B in the finals venue, broke his contract by paying a huge penalty, and took him home, while Toko left the growing rift to deepen.

• Uchiha Toko’s promotion made Killer B a finalist and a star, while rap contestants’ lyrics and style helped fuel hostility between Black and white residents of the Land of Lightning Capital.
• A returned to Kumogakure, discovered Killer B had left for the competition, and found a poster showing him dressed as a rapper.
• A tracked Killer B to the contestants’ hotel and punched him after Killer B greeted him with “Hey, nigga.”
• A learned that Killer B had signed a ten-year contract with Uchiha Toko’s label, then agreed to pay a four-hundred-million-ryo breach penalty.
• A paid the penalty, tore up the contract, and took Killer B away, while Uchiha Toko remained confident that the racial rift he had helped create would grow.

Two years after Uchiha Toko helped destabilize the Land of Lightning, Konoha prospered and its young shinobi advanced. As Neji graduated, he discussed with Uchiha Toko the long-range vision-sharing and ninja-tool support system he and Tenten were developing, though its summoning technique still had a serious limitation.

• Uchiha Toko ended the Killer B program and used White Zetsu to fuel racial conflict and unrest in the Land of Lightning.
• The Land of Lightning’s unrest spread into Kumogakure, while Killer B’s songs of peace failed to overcome rumors that he had been co-opted.
• Konoha flourished over two years, and Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kaede, Karin, and Deidara pursued their respective paths.
• Uchiha Toko awarded Neji his Forehead Protector and discussed squad assignments after Tenten joined the Ninja Tool Research Institute.
• Neji explained that Tenten had developed a tool for sharing vision over ten kilometers and a method to summon tools to him, but it still required his Chakra and attention.