Recaps

After a nightmare about Sōsuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to step down and begin the election for the Fourth Hokage. Mu Yue and Orochimaru were nominated, while Minato Namikaze was deemed too inexperienced, and the Jonin vote was scheduled for a week later.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi woke from a nightmare about fighting Sōsuke and decided he needed to tell Mu Yue what had happened.
• Minato Namikaze reported on Special Jonin evaluations and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Mu Yue was more suited to becoming Hokage than the Sannin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu and announced that he was stepping down and initiating an election for the Fourth Hokage.
• At a high-level meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the advisors nominated Mu Yue and Orochimaru, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu rejected Mu Yue's suggestion to nominate Minato Namikaze.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi scheduled the Jonin election vote for one week later and outlined the following voting and confirmation process.

After losing to Sōsuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi confided in Mu Yue and began arranging for Mu Yue to be nominated as Fourth Hokage. Asuma learned of the coming election and brought Hiruzen’s Hokage hat to Mu Yue’s home, where he, Obito, and Shisui discussed preparing support for Mu Yue.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted his defeat to Sōsuke, apologized to Mu Yue, and shared what he had learned about Sōsuke’s defensive techniques.
• Hiruzen told Mu Yue to remain in Konoha until the election and claimed Konoha Newspaper would interview him, while quietly arranging to make him a candidate.
• At dinner, Hiruzen hinted to Asuma that the Hokage election was near, and Asuma guessed what was happening and took Hiruzen’s hat in a scroll.
• Asuma visited Mu Yue and placed the Hokage hat on his head, prompting Obito to take a picture before Mu Yue knocked them both on the head.
• Asuma told Mu Yue, Obito, and Shisui about the likely election, and they discussed ways to build support for Mu Yue against possible nominee Tsunade.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that he would step down and nominated Orochimaru and Hanyu Muyue as candidates for Fourth Hokage. Muyue won the jonin vote by a landslide, leaving his path to the position nearly secure.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the jonin that he intended to resign as Hokage and pass the position to a younger generation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi nominated Orochimaru and Hanyu Muyue as candidates for Fourth Hokage.
• Tsunade said she would vote for Mu Yue, while Jiraiya chose to abstain.
• The jonin cast secret ballots, and Hanyu Muyue received 139 votes while Orochimaru received 28.
• Obito celebrated Muyue’s overwhelming lead and reflected that Minato Namikaze had not even been nominated in this altered history.

Mu Yue won an overwhelming lead in the jonin vote, and his friends and students joined him for a celebratory dinner. Back at the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Fugaku urged Shisui to help build support for Mu Yue’s proposal to reform the Police Force.

• Kushina, Minato Namikaze, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya congratulated Mu Yue after the vote, and they agreed to celebrate over dinner.
• Mu Yue invited his students and disciples, including Asuma and Obito, to join the meal.
• Obito lamented that his elaborate plan for the Hokage election had become unnecessary, while Shisui cautioned him against reckless ideas.
• Uchiha Fugaku visited Shisui and told him to organize the clan elders and assembly to support Mu Yue’s proposal once the village’s momentum favored him.
• Shisui agreed and reflected that Fugaku had become more proactive because Mu Yue might become Hokage.

Mu Yue returned to Six Paths City after easily defeating Hiruzen Sarutobi, delighting Ninshu and alarming Iwagakure. In Konoha, Kakashi read a newspaper praising Mu Yue’s achievements, then heard rumors that Sōsuke had defeated the Third Hokage and headed toward the Southern Forest.

• Mu Yue returned safely to Ninshu headquarters, where the shinobi learned he had easily defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kakuzu told Yahiko and the Ninshu shinobi that Konoha had tried to interfere in the duel but failed, and he urged them not to fear Konoha.
• Hokage and Iwagakure operatives confirmed the reports, prompting Ōnoki to reconsider Ninshu’s growing power and order more investigation into the battle.
• Kakashi read a Konoha Newspaper article detailing Mu Yue’s teaching record and wartime achievements, including his appointment as Hokage Advisor.
• Kakashi heard Konoha residents dismiss rumors that Sōsuke had defeated Hiruzen, then went toward the Southern Forest.

Konoha’s leaders responded to news that Sōsuke had defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi by ignoring the rumors and speeding up the Hokage election, while Mu Yue won overwhelming support from the village’s ninja. As the Daimyo arrived to confirm the candidate, Konoha’s senior officials began recommending Mu Yue.

• Kakashi told Mu Yue that rumors of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s defeat by Sōsuke had spread, and Mu Yue confirmed the report to Kakashi and Obito.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other leaders chose not to address the rumors publicly and accelerated the Fourth Hokage election.
• Mu Yue received ninety percent of the genin and chunin vote, making his victory effectively certain, so the leaders finalized the result ahead of the remaining civilian vote.
• Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku persuaded the Uchiha elders to support Mu Yue’s plan to free powerful Uchiha members from routine Police Force duties for high-level missions.
• The Daimyo arrived in Konoha and asked who the leaders recommended; Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu each named Hanyu Muyue.

Mu Yue was elected Fourth Hokage after Konoha’s leaders and the Daimyo approved his candidacy, and Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that his inauguration would take place in one week. As word spread through Konoha, the clans and Mu Yue’s friends reacted to his succession, while Tsunade arranged a lavish celebration.

• Konoha’s attendees and Fire Country officials supported Mu Yue, and the Daimyo appointed him Fourth Hokage; Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze reflected on his succession.
• After the meeting, Hiruzen confirmed Mu Yue’s appointment and set the inauguration ceremony for one week later.
• News of Mu Yue’s coming succession spread through Konoha, delighting civilians and the Uchiha patrol while worrying Hyuga Hiashi about his clan’s future.
• Mu Yue invited Orochimaru to dinner, where Orochimaru congratulated him and Tsunade celebrated his election with Shizune and Obito.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi’s defeat and Mu Yue’s impending succession became known, the Five Great Ninja Villages assessed the threat posed by Sōsuke and Ninshu. Ōnoki and Rasa considered curbing Ninshu’s growth, while the Third Raikage weighed Sōsuke’s power and the Third Mizukage chose cautious neutrality; Ninshu was left facing the prospect of opposition from multiple villages.

• Ōnoki reviewed reports of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s defeat, concluded that Konoha was unlikely to move against Ninshu, and considered the Land of Grass and the Land of Wind potential allies against its expansion.
• Rasa regretted helping spread news of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s defeat because it had helped Mu Yue rise to power, then decided to enlist Iwagakure against Ninshu.
• Rasa learned that Pakura had visited Six Paths City to hear Sōsuke’s lectures, ordered her movements watched, and considered eliminating her while acting against Ninshu.
• The Third Raikage and Dodai discussed Sōsuke’s undefeated record and whether he had inherited the Sage of Six Paths’ Ninshu.
• The Third Mizukage advised Karatachi Yagura that Kirigakure should avoid fully siding with either Konoha or its rivals, and sent him to Konoha’s ceremony as an envoy.
• The Third Mizukage predicted that Ninshu would soon face trouble as the Five Great Ninja Villages resisted any change to the balance of power.

Hanyu Muyue officially succeeded Hiruzen Sarutobi as Konoha’s Fourth Hokage in a ceremony celebrated by the village. As Mu Yue addressed the crowd, Obito’s Life Mission began to soar.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly handed the Hokage hat to Mu Yue, who put it on and accepted the office of Fourth Hokage.
• Obito vowed to become a Hokage like Mu Yue, while Shisui hoped Mu Yue’s new authority would help resolve the Uchiha Clan’s problems.
• Mu Yue addressed the assembled ninja and civilians, who erupted into cheers as he declared himself Konoha’s Fourth Hokage.
• Minato Namikaze admitted he felt some envy, but told Kushina he would pursue the Hokage position only if the opportunity arose.
• Mu Yue warmly acknowledged the celebrating crowd, and Obito’s Life Mission began to soar.

After becoming Fourth Hokage, Mu Yue appointed Minato Namikaze as Hokage Advisor and Shikaku Nara as head of the Jonin Corps, then used Obito’s and Shisui’s mission progress rewards. He upgraded Musou no Hitotachi to perfect level and discussed his Ninja Academy reform plans with Minato, who supported adding a middle school but doubted a university was practical.

• Mu Yue announced Minato Namikaze as Hokage Advisor and Shikaku Nara as head of the Jonin Corps at the jonin meeting.
• Mu Yue claimed Obito’s rewards, used a perfect-skill scroll, and upgraded Musou no Hitotachi to perfect level, gaining Swordsmanship Mastery.
• Mu Yue reviewed Obito’s and Shisui’s Life Mission progress and claimed Shisui’s fifty-percent reward.
• Minato Namikaze visited Mu Yue, who gave him a proposal to reform the Ninja Academy by adding a middle school division.
• Minato Namikaze supported the elementary and middle school plan but argued that a university would require too many teachers, money, and years of study.

Sunagakure sent Yashamaru to Six Paths City to turn Iwagakure against Ninshu, but he discovered that Iwagakure already distrusted its ally and the covert team’s attempt to frame Ninshu had been arrested. After Ōnoki considered how to learn Sōsuke’s strength, he decided to visit Ninshu himself for a friendly spar.

• Yashamaru’s Sunagakure team entered Six Paths City to approach Iwagakure while a disguised team prepared to frame Ninshu.
• Yashamaru met Iwagakure’s representative, Hokage, who agreed that Ninshu was ambitious but made no commitment to cooperate with Sunagakure.
• A Sunagakure ninja told Yashamaru that the disguised team had been arrested by Ninshu.
• Hokage reported Sunagakure’s approach to Ōnoki, who approved his handling of the situation and considered how to gather intelligence on Ninshu.
• Ōnoki decided to visit Ninshu and challenge Sōsuke to a friendly spar, and Iwagakure’s senior officials largely supported the plan.

Ōnoki secretly traveled to Six Paths City to challenge Sōsuke, hoping to assess Ninshu’s strength while keeping Iwagakure’s intentions hidden. Mu Yue accepted the match, and the chapter ended as both sides prepared to watch Ōnoki face him.

• Ōnoki disguised himself and entered Six Paths City with Kitsuchi and several trusted Iwagakure ninja, scouting the city before requesting a meeting with Sōsuke.
• Kitsuchi asked Mu Yue’s Shadow Clone for a friendly spar, and Mu Yue agreed to meet Ōnoki outside the city that afternoon.
• Ōnoki and Mu Yue exchanged polite greetings when they met, while Kitsuchi and the other spectators took positions away from the battlefield.
• Ōnoki warned his companions to retreat before the fight, and Rōshi mocked him for challenging Sōsuke as the two prepared to battle.

Mu Yue faced Ōnoki to demonstrate his abilities, surviving both Dust Release techniques without injury and defeating Ōnoki’s attacks. Ōnoki exhausted himself and fell from the air, while Kitsuchi and the other Iwagakure ninjas rushed to protect him.

• Ōnoki attacked Mu Yue with Earth Release techniques, but Mu Yue’s Limitless Cursed Technique stopped the spikes and his Fire Release destroyed the rock colossus.
• Ōnoki fired Dust Release at Mu Yue, who emerged unharmed from the blast and its destruction.
• Mu Yue struck Ōnoki’s stone-covered arm, shattered it, and sent him crashing to the ground.
• Ōnoki created three Stone Clones to restrain Mu Yue while preparing his strongest Dust Release, but Mu Yue destroyed the clones quickly.
• Ōnoki unleashed the Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, but Mu Yue remained untouched inside the erased forest and earth.
• Ōnoki’s depleted chakra caused him to fall, and Kitsuchi caught him as the Iwagakure ninjas gathered to shield them.

Ōnoki returned to Iwagakure after facing Sōsuke and reconsidered the village’s plans toward Ninshu. In Konoha, Mu Yue’s proposed Ninja Academy reforms met resistance from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, leaving the meeting unresolved.

• Ōnoki admitted Sōsuke’s overwhelming strength, then left Ninshu with his subordinates and declined treatment from Sōsuke.
• Ōnoki put Iwagakure’s cooperation with Sunagakure on hold, then considered using the conflict between Sunagakure and Ninshu to weaken both sides.
• Ōnoki briefed Iwagakure’s higher-ups on Sōsuke, and Kira proposed misleading Sunagakure into attacking Ninshu without Iwagakure sending troops.
• Minato Namikaze presented Mu Yue’s proposal to replace the six-year Ninja Academy program with four years of elementary school and three years of middle school before students became shinobi.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura challenged the reform’s costs, while Mu Yue defended the need to improve the academy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi urged the meeting to continue but withheld his view, leaving the reform debate unresolved.

Mu Yue secured approval for reforming Konoha’s Ninja Academy into an elementary and middle school system after sharply countering Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Later, Shisui brought Obito to an Uchiha Clan meeting, where Fugaku proposed suspending some Police Force duties so those ninja could take commissioned missions.

• Mu Yue presented the reform’s costs and defended expanding the Ninja Academy, while Minato Namikaze outlined plans for middle school and a proposed university.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu accepted the elementary-and-middle-school reform but opposed establishing a university for now.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi supported the middle school proposal, and the senior officials approved Mu Yue’s reform plan.
• Mu Yue told Minato that Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were easy to understand, while Minato praised Mu Yue’s political skill.
• Shisui explained to Obito how Uchiha Clan support could help his Hokage ambitions, and Obito suggested campaigning to help elderly villagers.
• At Naka Shrine, Uchiha Fugaku proposed suspending some Police Force ninja so they could accept commissioned missions as Konoha ninja.

Shisui explained that capable Uchiha ninja would temporarily leave the Police Force to take high-quality commissions, and Mu Yue’s inspection and praise won the clan’s support for the plan. With the first Uchiha teams assigned to missions, Mu Yue asked Minato Namikaze to take him to Mount Myōboku to obtain Sage Techniques.

• Shisui told the Uchiha that selected Police Force ninja would temporarily take commissions because Konoha needed capable teams, and the clan accepted the proposal.
• Obito and Shisui shared advice on completing high-level missions with the selected Uchiha ninja.
• Mu Yue and Minato Namikaze inspected the Uchiha Clan and Police Force, and Mu Yue praised the clan and encouraged those chosen for commissions.
• Mu Yue assigned Uchiha jonin and chunin to commission teams, while Minato hoped their success would ease approval of future proposals.
• Mu Yue asked Minato Namikaze to take him to Mount Myōboku so he could obtain Sage Techniques.

Mu Yue traveled to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode and quickly showed extraordinary talent for sensing natural energy. He discovered that his Breathing Technique drew in natural energy in a way that interfered with Mount Myōboku’s method, then successfully formed Sage Art Chakra after adjusting his approach.

• Minato Namikaze gave Mu Yue Mount Myōboku’s summoning contract, and Mu Yue summoned Sage Fukasaku on his first try.
• Mu Yue traveled with Sage Fukasaku to Mount Myōboku, where Sage Shima welcomed him and he cooked a meal that delighted both sages.
• Sage Fukasaku explained Sage Mode and offered to supervise Mu Yue’s training with toad oil, but Mu Yue chose to practice sensing natural energy without it.
• Mu Yue sensed and absorbed natural energy during his first session, then stopped when it disrupted his Chakra and found that his Breathing Technique was drawing natural energy into him.
• Mu Yue turned off his Breathing Technique and used Mount Myōboku’s method to successfully condense Sage Art Chakra, impressing Sage Fukasaku.

Mu Yue mastered Mount Myōboku’s Sage Mode in two days while learning from Fukasaku, who warned him not to combine it with his Breathing Secret Technique. Mu Yue left for Konoha planning to return in five days to continue studying Sage Art.

• Mu Yue showed Fukasaku how his Breathing Secret Technique absorbed natural energy, and Fukasaku warned that using it alongside Sage Mode could cause a deadly conflict.
• Fukasaku explained how different Sage Mode schools transformed their users, and Mu Yue focused solely on Mount Myōboku’s method.
• Fukasaku brought Mu Yue to a field of stone spires, where Mu Yue condensed Sage Art Chakra and entered Sage Mode without transforming into a frog.
• Mu Yue asked Fukasaku to teach him Sage Mode theory and stayed at Mount Myōboku until the morning of the third day.
• Mu Yue said he would return in five days, and Fukasaku arranged his return to Konoha through a reverse summoning.

Mu Yue tested how Sage Art Chakra enhanced his abilities in the mountains of the Land of Fire, finding that it greatly increased their power but consumed Sage Art Chakra quickly. He ended by confirming that Sage Art strengthened his most powerful attacks and defenses, though Six Paths-level techniques could still threaten them.

• Mu Yue left Konoha and entered Sage Mode with Flame Breathing Chakra Mode to test Sage Art’s effects.
• Mu Yue used Sage Art: Fire Dragon Dance to burn a vast forest, then extinguished the blaze with Water Release and restored the woodland with Wood Release.
• Mu Yue tested Sage Art Armament Haki against the Six Paths Staff and found that it resisted the staff but could not reliably block it head-on.
• Mu Yue tested the Sage Art-powered Limitless Cursed Technique and found that it stopped the Six Paths Staff just short of him, though Six Paths-level methods could still break through.
• Mu Yue tested his stronger abilities and found that Musou Isshin remained his most destructive attack even when he could not unleash its full potential.

Obito became the substitute captain of Team Six and began training Kotetsu Hagane, Izumo Kamizuki, and Anko Mitarashi. Meanwhile, Uchiha Inabi earned his teammates’ trust, helping nudge Konoha’s perception of the Uchiha in a better direction.

• Mu Yue assigned Obito to lead a three-person team, and Obito discovered that his teammates had been plotting how to handle their new captain.
• Obito revealed himself as Team Six’s substitute captain, flicked his teammates on the head, and started a Bell Test with a ninjutsu or taijutsu reward and an exam-paper penalty.
• Anko, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki took the bells before sunset after Obito deliberately held back.
• Uchiha Inabi trained his teammates strictly but treated them considerately, then led them through a B-rank mission in which the client had lied about the situation.
• After Inabi completed the mission and confronted the client, his teammates warmed to him and explained that rumors about the Uchiha had made them wary.
• Inabi denied abusing his Police Force authority, and his teammates came to believe that the Uchiha were not as bad as the rumors suggested.

Rasa and Sunagakure’s leaders questioned Iwagakure’s offer to fund a campaign against Ninshu while refusing to send troops, and Ebizo began investigating. His findings suggested that Sasori had created Ninshu’s puppet prostheses and might be in Six Paths City, leaving Chiyo distressed by the possibility that her grandson had joined Sunagakure’s enemy.

• Rasa convened Sunagakure’s higher-ups to discuss Iwagakure’s suspicious offer and its reluctance to send troops against Ninshu.
• Ebizo proposed investigating Iwagakure and its unusual behavior, and the leaders agreed to wait for intelligence before deciding how to cooperate.
• Ebizo found evidence suggesting Sasori was the source of Ninshu’s puppet prostheses and might be in Six Paths City.
• Ebizo told Chiyo about the possibility that Sasori was in the Land of Rain and connected to Ninshu.
• Chiyo worried that Sasori might have joined Sunagakure’s enemy and hoped Ebizo’s intelligence was mistaken.

Mu Yue studied Sage Art at Mount Myōboku and began developing a Breathing Style method for sensing natural energy that could be taught to his disciples. Meanwhile, Obito arranged for Kakashi and Nohara Rin to teach his team members Lightning Release and Water Release, then wondered whether Rin’s kindness toward him meant something more.

• Mu Yue learned from Sage Fukasaku, gained five hundred Sage Mode proficiency points, and estimated that he could reach mastery in about two months.
• Mu Yue wrote down plans for Breathing Style Sage Art and identified sensing and absorbing natural energy as the first problem to solve.
• Kakashi tested his newly reforged White Fang katana, then agreed to teach Obito’s Lightning-affinity team member for 100,000 taels.
• Obito asked Nohara Rin to teach his Water-affinity team member, offering her the same fee, and she agreed to help him without needing a reward.
• After leaving Rin, Obito thought about her kindness and wondered whether she felt for him what he felt for her.

Obito gathered his team at Training Ground Two and arranged for Kakashi and Nohara Rin to teach them new techniques. After Obito stopped Kakashi from handing out photographs, the mentors began training their students, and Obito taught Anko Flame Vortex.

• Obito arrived early at Training Ground Two and promised Izumo Kamizuki and the others that a powerful jonin would teach them.
• Kakashi and Nohara Rin arrived, and Kakashi agreed to teach Izumo Kamizuki Lightning Release while Nohara Rin took Kotetsu Hagane.
• Kakashi offered everyone photographs as rewards, so Obito pulled him aside and paid him an extra 100,000 ryo to abandon the idea.
• Kakashi assessed Izumo Kamizuki and chose Mu Yue's B-rank Lightning Release: Violent Lightning Spear for him to learn.
• Nohara Rin began teaching Kotetsu Hagane Torrent Stream, while Obito taught Anko Flame Vortex.

Nagato took Sasori around Six Paths City, where Sasori encountered a ninja grateful for the prosthetic technology he had developed and began reflecting on its value. A Sunagakure spy watched the pair and reported that Sasori appeared to have joined Ninshu.

• Nagato invited Sasori to walk through the rapidly growing Six Paths City, and Sasori joked about escaping prison.
• Nagato showed Sasori a building from the site where Sasori had once worked, then reassured him that his contributions to Ninshu went far beyond construction.
• Sōsuke greeted Sasori and enthusiastically recommended local food, while Nagato explained that Sasori’s prosthetic technology had allowed Sōsuke to continue as a ninja.
• Nagato praised the importance of Sasori’s prosthetic technology, prompting Sasori to reflect that he had never considered using Puppet Technique to save people.
• Sasori and Nagato debated whether food could be genuinely enjoyable as they sampled takoyaki, while a Sunagakure spy observed their closeness and sent intelligence home.

Chiyo learned that Sasori had likely joined Ninshu and decided to travel there to speak with him before Sunagakure and Ninshu came into conflict. In Konoha, Shisui advanced the Uchiha reforms by reviewing the transferred ninja’s work and encouraging better cooperation with outsiders, earning a system reward for his progress.

• Ebizo told Chiyo that Sasori had been seen in Six Paths City with Nagato and had likely joined Ninshu, and Chiyo resolved to persuade her grandson in person.
• Ebizo urged Chiyo to visit Ninshu as an official Sunagakure representative, and she agreed to seek the Fourth Hokage’s help in making contact.
• Uchiha ninja gathered at Naka Shrine to report their mission results, while those still in the Police Force asked Fugaku when the next transfer selection would begin.
• Uchiha Inabi described how rumors had complicated his work with teammates, and Shisui backed his argument that communication and team coordination mattered.
• Shisui distributed a questionnaire after the meeting, and his progress in reforming the Police Force earned him chakra, skill-scroll fragments, and a Yin Release comprehension boost.