Chapter Summaries

Asuka learned that the village had hidden a group of red-haired Whirlpool survivors because they had traded grain for money and later threatened villagers by making children disappear. When a red-haired survivor attacked the village, Asuka stepped in to protect his genin and recognized her as one of the Whirlpool survivors.

• The village chief revealed that red-haired monsters had threatened the village three years earlier and bought grain from its residents.
• The chief said the monsters stopped paying six months ago and that children began disappearing three months ago, so the villagers kept giving them food.
• Asuka ordered Hyuga Hanahana to prepare for battle after sensing Chakra approaching from the south.
• A red-haired woman appeared at the village entrance, struck Hyuga Hanahana, and attacked Uzuki Yugao and Iruka.
• Asuka caught the woman before she could hit Iruka and asked why she had come alone when the others were Whirlpool survivors.

Asuka confronted Whirlpool Kana, whom he suspected of stealing children, but learned she was pregnant and had come seeking food and a way out of the Land of Fire. He let her stay behind to give birth, while Kana collapsed from labor after Asuka and his companions left.

• Asuka caught Kana’s attack, exposed her red hair, and chased her after she smashed through a mud house while trying to escape.
• Asuka and Kana watched each other warily until Kana recognized his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and surrendered.
• Asuka discovered Kana was pregnant, and she explained that she had come with her family from the Land of Bears but was now alone and had not stolen any children.
• Hyuga Hanahana vouched for Kana, and Asuka agreed to leave her behind while he, Hanahana, and Uzuki Yugao departed.
• Kana tried to find her way out of the Land of Fire but collapsed unconscious when intense labor pains struck.

Asuka’s team found no clues about the missing child, so he taught his students how to redirect blame for a failed mission while they uncovered Xiang Nai’s hardship and debated bringing her to Konoha. Meanwhile, Pakura and Konan traveled together toward the Grass Country, with Konan quietly hoping to recruit Pakura.

• Yu Yan joined Asuka, Iruka, and Hyuga Hanahana after their investigation failed to uncover clues about the missing child.
• Asuka told his students to blame Orochimaru for the failed mission, then learned that Xiang Nai and another Whirlpool Clan member had used clones to fool villagers into providing food.
• Uzuki Yugao explained that Xiang Nai had lost her husband, run out of money, and planned to travel to the Grass Country; Asuka refused to bring her to Konoha.
• Yu Yan and Hyuga Hanahana persuaded Asuka that Xiang Nai’s drawing skills and his own reputation could help him become Hokage, and Asuka said his Second Grandfather might take in Uzumaki refugees.
• Pakura and Konan traveled along the Grass Country border, and Konan admitted she had gathered intelligence on Asuka and wanted to persuade Pakura to join her organization.

Black Zetsu worried that Madara’s presence in Konoha could be exposed, while Asuka brought Whirlpool Kana to the Uchiha grounds and presented her to Ryoichi as the daughter he had long wanted. Ryoichi erupted in anger at Asuka’s surprise, leaving Kana’s fate in the clan uncertain.

• Black Zetsu confronted Spiral Zetsu about Madara staying in Konoha, then told it to retrieve Madara if his life suddenly ended.
• Spiral Zetsu reported that Obito had been staring at the Nine-Tails and that Asuka had taken a Whirlpool Clan woman to get her hair done.
• Asuka and Uzuki Yugao dyed Kana’s hair white and discussed taking her to the Uchiha Clan, while Kana asked how they would treat her.
• Asuka brought Kana to Ryoichi’s home, where Ryoichi accused him of renewing his coup ambitions and bringing danger into the clan.
• Asuka explained that he had brought Ryoichi a daughter and granddaughter from the Whirlpool Clan, prompting Ryoichi to shout his name in outrage.

Uchiha Madara decided to make Whirlpool Kana his goddaughter and entrust her care to Uchiha Ryoichi, who also expelled Uchiha Asuka from the Police Force and ordered him to attend the Ninja Academy. Madara then began considering how to guide Asuka toward helping the Uchiha Clan escape its predicament, while privately weighing him as another potential spokesman for the Eye of the Moon plan.

• Uchiha Madara stopped Ryoichi and Uchiha Asuka's argument over taking in Whirlpool Kana, then declared that he would acknowledge her as his goddaughter and leave her care to Ryoichi.
• Ryoichi took Kana to register her household and ordered Asuka to attend the Ninja Academy, expelling him and his clone Uchiha Ri from the Police Force until graduation.
• Madara asked Asuka whether he intended to stage a coup, then criticized his lack of purpose and asked what he wanted to accomplish.
• Asuka said he wanted to help the Uchiha Clan escape its predicament, and Madara pointed out that the Clan Head had made no move toward the proposed marriage alliance.
• Madara refused Asuka's request for guidance until a few days later, then privately considered cultivating him as a possible spokesman for the Eye of the Moon plan.

Uchiha Ryoichi tried to get Uchiha Ri to attend school, while Uchiha Asuka’s blame for a failed mission left Orochimaru wondering what Asuka knew about him. The chapter ended with Anko deciding that Asuka’s report had insulted her.

• Uchiha Ryoichi welcomed Yuhi Kurenai, claimed he had fired Uchiha Ri from the Police Force, then changed his mind about Asuka and kicked open Asuka’s window to order his grandson to school.
• Uchiha Madara heard from Spiral Zetsu that Asuka had blamed Orochimaru for the failed mission, saying Orochimaru was born too late, lacked strength and ninjutsu, and had not become Hokage.
• Orochimaru reread Danzo’s intelligence report and suspected Asuka might know some of his secrets, while considering the report’s praise of his ability to train ordinary ninjas.
• Anko read the report and angrily told Orochimaru that she felt Asuka was insulting her.

At the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Asuka distracted Yuhi Kurenai with his knowledge and got caught drawing an explicit caricature while supposedly studying the Will of Fire. The next morning, Uchiha Itachi found a booklet Asuka had dropped and became absorbed in its provocative account of Hashirama Senju’s dream of dissolving the clan system, leaving Itachi wondering who the limping child was and what the unfinished book would reveal.

• Yuhi Kurenai called on Uchiha Asuka in class, and he explained the origin of Konoha’s forehead protector using a leaf and a story he attributed to Uchiha Madara.
• After class, Uchiha Asuka followed Yuhi Kurenai to her office, where she discovered he was drawing a revealing paper figure instead of paying attention.
• Yuhi Kurenai refused to accept Uchiha Asuka’s excuses, and a fight broke out in the office.
• The next morning, Uchiha Itachi found a booklet dropped by a limping child who disappeared before Itachi could return it.
• Uchiha Itachi read the booklet, titled “The Most Primitive Will of Fire,” and found its account of Hashirama Senju’s plans to dissolve the clan system both compelling and unsettling.

Uchiha Madara explained his plan for easing the Uchiha Clan’s predicament by helping Uchiha Fugaku build ties with other clan heads through repeated dinners. He left Asuka with the task of arranging them, though he angrily added that a certain toad could be invited if Asuka truly wanted the couple to divorce.

• Madara woke when Asuka called him and acknowledged that he had little time left to teach him.
• Madara advised Asuka not to let romance obstruct his plans, and Asuka explained that Tsunade had once been his idealized crush.
• Madara asked whether Asuka wanted to free the Uchiha Clan from its predicament, and Asuka affirmed that he did.
• Madara outlined a three-step plan—estrangement, separation, and divorce—and suggested arranging dinners where Fugaku could grow closer to other clan heads.
• Asuka questioned how the dinners would cause estrangement, and Madara explained that repeated gatherings could build alliances even if nobody had an affair.
• Madara suggested inviting a certain toad if Asuka still wanted the couple to divorce, then threw his cane at Asuka as he left.

At the Uchiha clan meeting, Asuka heard that Itachi wanted to dissolve the clan and spread the Uchiha bloodline throughout Konoha, while Shisui planned to approach Danzo. The Great Elder adjourned the meeting after setting Itachi’s proposal aside and deciding that Asuka’s safer suggestion to have Fugaku take a concubine was worth considering.

• Asuka arrived at the clan meeting and learned that Elder Ryoichi had skipped the last two meetings.
• The Great Elder reported that Itachi and Shisui had discussed dissolving the Uchiha Clan and merging its bloodline into Konoha’s population.
• Asuka praised Itachi’s extreme idea, then suggested keeping Shisui’s allies and Setsuna’s faction occupied by holding clan meetings in Konoha Prison.
• A clansman told the Great Elder that Shisui planned to seek out Danzo, and the Great Elder warned that Danzo might not favor him because of Kagami.
• Asuka rejected Itachi’s proposal as unrealistic and suggested that Fugaku take a concubine and have more children instead.
• The Great Elder adjourned the meeting and privately resolved to set aside Itachi’s idea while favoring Asuka’s safer suggestion.

Asuka tried to arrange a dinner between Uchiha Fugaku and other clan heads, but his plans stalled after he consulted Nara Yoshino. That night, an unseen attacker blinded Asuka and the Orange Cat and attacked them, leaving their fate uncertain.

• Mikoto threatened Asuka for supposedly leading Itachi astray, and Asuka told her to teach Itachi gratitude instead.
• Asuka considered how to gather the clan heads for dinner while leading new Police Force recruits around their duties.
• Asuka visited Nara Yoshino’s shop and asked how he could invite all the clan heads; Yoshino suggested holding a charity banquet and auctioning deer antlers.
• Asuka went to bed still unable to find a way to arrange the gathering, while the Orange Cat complained that she could barely see in the dark.
• An attacker suddenly took away Asuka and the Orange Cat’s vision, and Asuka drew a kunai as weapons clashed nearby.

Asuka fought Orochimaru while blinded by the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, but Shukaku’s attack helped him break the genjutsu. Asuka and Shukaku counterattacked together, leaving Orochimaru badly burned and revealing that Konoha had underestimated Asuka’s strength.

• Shukaku sneaked toward the bedroom and prepared a chakra pellet while Orochimaru struggled to defeat the blinded Asuka.
• Shukaku’s pellet exploded near Asuka, and the chakra blast helped him break Orochimaru’s Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
• Asuka recognized Orochimaru, drew the Kusanagi Sword, and kicked him through the bedroom wall.
• Asuka and Shukaku combined Fire Release and Wind Release to launch an enormous fireball at Orochimaru.
• Asuka found Orochimaru burned in the street, and Orochimaru admitted that Konoha had underestimated him.

Uchiha Asuka and Orochimaru fought across the Uchiha Clan Grounds before agreeing to call their injuries even and settle the matter with meals. After learning Orochimaru had tried to assassinate him, Asuka asked Uchiha Madara how to kill him, and Madara pointed him toward a notice and information about Orochimaru’s suspicious activities.

• Shukaku amplified Asuka’s Fire Release attacks, and Orochimaru countered them with Water Release before exchanging blows with Asuka.
• Asuka and Orochimaru traded ninjutsu and swordsmanship while Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Ryoichi watched and dismissed their fight as boring.
• Asuka pointed out his wounds and asked Orochimaru to pay for a few meals, and Orochimaru agreed before leaving the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• Asuka admitted that Orochimaru had the advantage in a fight to the death, then asked Madara and Ryoichi how to kill him.
• Madara warned Asuka that killing Orochimaru could force him to leave Konoha, then directed his attention to Anbu and Military Police investigators outside.
• Madara cited a clan notice about reporting suspicious activity and said he had seen Orochimaru among people coming and going in the village’s southeast corner.

Orochimaru recovered after his fight with Uchiha Asuka while Danzo and Shisui discussed Asuka’s abilities and unpredictable character. At dawn, Asuka visited Uchiha Mikoto, who warned him to be careful and grew troubled when he reacted to her with disgust.

• Orochimaru told Danzo he had underestimated Asuka’s combined ninjutsu, and Shisui described Asuka as difficult to read and neither dangerous nor safe.
• Danzo questioned Orochimaru about Asuka and complained about Sarutobi’s daughter-in-law, then wrote requests for funds to Sarutobi and Minato.
• Asuka arrived at Uchiha Fugaku’s home at dawn, and Uchiha Mikoto noticed his torn clothes and battle wounds.
• Asuka told Mikoto that Orochimaru had attacked him after Asuka had praised him while making him take the blame for something.
• Mikoto warned Asuka to be careful, but he moved away warily and joked that her divorce would not benefit him.
• Mikoto saw Asuka’s disgusted reaction and wondered whether Fugaku also disliked her.

Fugaku received Orochimaru’s invitation to dinner, while Danzo explained Orochimaru’s attack as a dispute over his beloved Kusanagi Sword. Asuka learned that Kushina and Mikoto had been told he liked married women, then left them baffled with Fei Fei’s transformation and his denials.

• Mikoto found Orochimaru’s dinner invitation among Fugaku’s documents, and Fugaku told her to cancel their dinner plans.
• Asuka read that Konoha was nearing final peace negotiations with Kumogakure, and Fei Fei told him Orochimaru had invited Fugaku and other clan heads to dinner.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that Orochimaru had attacked Asuka because Asuka had taken Orochimaru’s beloved Kusanagi Sword, and he urged Hiruzen to have Orochimaru apologize.
• After spending the day helping Uzuki Yugao, Asuka met Kushina and Mikoto, who accused him of liking married women.
• Asuka had Fei Fei transform into a catgirl, mocked Kushina and Mikoto, and walked home while bickering with Fei Fei.

Asuka investigated Orochimaru’s secret base while Spiral Zetsu helped him by infiltrating it and organizing a mass theft. Asuka documented the horrors inside, while Spiral Zetsu belatedly realized that Asuka was still in the cave.

• Asuka returned to the clan grounds, spoke with Spiral Zetsu, and learned that Madara wanted Spiral Zetsu to help with his investigation of Orochimaru.
• Spiral Zetsu disguised itself as a researcher and entered Orochimaru’s base to obtain evidence.
• Asuka found the base and watched as Spiral Zetsu and disguised White Zetsu led more than a hundred people out carrying boxes and other goods.
• Asuka entered the emptied cave, found corpses and scattered papers, and photographed the evidence as he explored deeper inside.
• Spiral Zetsu counted the stolen money and realized that Asuka had gone into the base.

After investigating the chaos in Konoha, Asuka realized the impostors were likely White Zetsu and began to suspect that the old man living across from him was Uchiha Madara. Madara blamed Spiral Zetsu for the disaster but still ordered it to pass evidence of Konoha’s corruption to Asuka.

• Asuka found the injured Hyuga Meng Meng, who said Konoha residents—including his clan head—had ambushed his group while disguised as themselves.
• After taking Meng Meng to the hospital, Asuka deduced that the impostors were White Zetsu and connected their presence to the old man across from his home.
• Asuka realized the old man was likely Uchiha Madara, and he hesitated to return to the clan grounds.
• Madara scolded Spiral Zetsu for causing chaos in Konoha, then ordered it to keep a copy of the evidence and show it to Asuka.

Minato Namikaze and Konoha’s elders failed to find the people who infiltrated Danzo’s base, and Danzo blamed the Uchiha despite Sarutobi Hiruzen rejecting his intuition. Asuka rushed Ryoichi away from Uchiha Madara, then returned with him to bring Madara food, where Madara revealed that he knew Asuka recognized him.

• Minato Namikaze, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and the other elders reviewed the failed search and agreed to investigate secretly while keeping the incident quiet during negotiations with Kumogakure.
• Asuka left his perch in the park and hurried to Ryoichi’s home, where he pulled Ryoichi away from Madara and accidentally tore his clothes and knocked down a wall during their escape.
• Asuka asked Ryoichi about the relative living in his home, and Ryoichi explained that his cousin was Uchiha Madara and had little time left to live.
• Ryoichi bought food for Madara and returned to the clan grounds with Asuka, who worried that Madara might be dangerous.
• Ryoichi told Madara that Asuka knew his identity, and Madara laughed before inviting Asuka to have a bite.

Asuka met Uchiha Madara, who offered to teach him before his life ended, and agreed to learn from him. Meanwhile, a Kumogakure delegation arrived in Konoha, including a girl mourning the disappearance of her chickens.

• Uchiha Madara told Asuka that he still wanted something from him and offered to teach him; Asuka agreed to learn.
• Spiral Zetsu reported that a report had failed, and Madara reflected on Konoha while looking toward Hashirama Senju's stone face.
• A group of Kumogakure shinobi approached Konoha, complaining about the heat until their leader warned them to behave as representatives of their village.
• The leader asked a girl to review Konoha's precautions, and she wondered whether the Uchiha really sold fried chicken.
• The leader explained that the girl had come to relax after her chickens disappeared, and she realized her neighbors' chickens had also gone missing.

Asuka and Might Guy tested a combined S-Rank Ninjutsu near the Konoha gates, startling the arriving Kumogakure delegation with its immense power. Nara Shikaku identified the pair and revealed that Uchiha Asuka also owned the Uchiha Fried Chicken Shop.

• The Kumogakure Ninja reached Konoha, but Asuka and Guy’s powerful Fire Release attack scorched a large forest and nearly killed them during their spar.
• Asuka and Guy survived, then began running handstand laps around Konoha as part of their training.
• The Cloud Ninja questioned the Konoha reception party about the two strange, powerful men, and Nara Shikaku identified them as Uchiha Asuka and Might Guy.
• Shikaku listed Asuka’s roles as a Uchiha jonin, Police Force captain, and Medical Team captain.
• A curious girl asked whether Uchiha sold fried chicken, and Shikaku confirmed that Asuka owned the Uchiha Fried Chicken Shop.

Asuka trained under Uchiha Madara’s guidance while Mabui, a visitor from Kumogakure, grew curious about him and his fried-chicken shop. After Mabui found him training before dawn, Asuka sent her away and continued working to strengthen his Sharingan, ending the session exhausted.

• Asuka met Mabui outside his shop, where she questioned why a Konoha jonin sold fried chicken and privately suspected his cheap chicken might be questionable.
• Uchiha Madara praised Asuka’s rapid training progress, though he said Asuka still fell far short of his own youth.
• Asuka woke before dawn and went to the forest to cultivate his Sharingan according to Madara’s instructions.
• Mabui revealed she had been watching Asuka train, and he warned her not to come to the forest at four in the morning before sending her away.
• Asuka trained for an hour, draining his strength and Chakra, then left the forest exhausted.