Chapter Summaries

Mei Terumi agreed to help Uchiha Yoru investigate and potentially save Kirigakure, while Konoha prepared for a major Chunin Exam with intensive training and generous rewards. The chapter ended with Tsunade noticing Mei Terumi's scent and warning Uchiha Yoru about their daytime rendezvous.

• Mei Terumi reflected on Kirigakure's decay, and Uchiha Yoru invited her to become Fifth Mizukage and help change the village.
• Uchiha Yoru told Mei Terumi that Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage might be controlled by a mysterious person, and she agreed to act if his intelligence proved true.
• Kakashi and other Jonin trained their genin teams for the Chunin Exam, while Might Guy reminded Neji and Rock Lee of Kakashi's extraordinary record.
• The Hokage Office Building announced B-rank Ninjutsu rewards for Jonin whose students excelled, along with three months of special training for successful candidates who became Chunin.
• Uchiha Yoru explained his plans for the Chunin Exam and Konoha's Ninjutsu rewards to Tsunade, who then detected Mei Terumi's scent and complained that their meeting was happening during the day.

As Konoha prepared to host the Chunin Exam and a Five Kage Summit, Temari confronted Sunagakure genin who were bullying Konohamaru and reunited with her brothers Kankuro and Gaara. She left after apologizing to Gaara, who insisted that ninja did not need emotions.

• Uchiha Yoru ordered Konoha to raise its alert level and revealed a plan to expose the Fourth Mizukage's control and support Mei Terumi.
• Kankuro and the Sunagakure genin mocked Konohamaru, but Temari intervened and threatened them before leading them to their lodgings.
• Temari reprimanded Kankuro and recognized Gaara, who watched from a tree, while she warned the Sand Shinobi to obey Konoha's restrictions.
• Temari and Kankuro spoke privately about their lives since she left Sunagakure, and Temari acknowledged the hardship and loneliness both brothers had endured.
• Temari left after telling Gaara she was sorry she had failed to protect him, and Gaara replied that ninja were tools without a need for emotions.

More than six hundred genin gathered in Konoha for the Chunin Exam as the village closely monitored its guests and Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade prepared to use the event to display Konoha’s strength. At the first exam venue, Konoha’s genin arrived and faced down the hostile crowd, with eight squads assembled for the exam.

• Konoha patrols warned the visiting shinobi not to start fights, while Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade discussed the arriving villages and Konoha’s power.
• Tsunade told Uchiha Yoru that the major villages were treating the exam as a formality, while the smaller villages hoped to gain recognition.
• Temari told Pakura that she would prove Sunagakure had lost a talented shinobi by shining as a Konoha ninja.
• Tayuya stood up for Sakura Haruno when the other examinees targeted her, and Hozuki Suigetsu entered with the Kubikiribōchō to intimidate them.
• Konoha’s genin assembled in the venue, including Sasuke Uchiha, Minato Naruto, Kimimaro Kaguya, and the members of the eight participating squads.

At the Chunin Exam venue, Konoha’s genin sized one another up before Pakura, Senju Yamato, and Kabuto Yakushi began the first round. Yamato used Wood Release to create the exam room, and the written test started under strict rules that immediately disqualified one complaining candidate.

• Kiba Inuzuka asked Sasuke Uchiha about Kimimaro’s strength, and Minato Naruto said Kimimaro was among the strongest of their age group.
• Kimimaro Kaguya criticized Minato Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha for being weak, while Temari, Yuki Haku, and Hinata Hyuga revealed their confidence and ambitions for the exam.
• Shinobi from other villages began forming alliances against Konoha, while Gaara warned Kankuro not to underestimate Konoha and watched Kimimaro Kaguya and Jugo warily.
• Pakura, Senju Yamato, and Kabuto Yakushi appeared as the first-round chief examiners, and Yamato used Wood Style: House of Several Pillars Technique to build an examination room.
• Kabuto Yakushi announced the written exam’s strict rules, and a candidate who complained about being unable to leave his seat was disqualified and seized by a giant python.

Konoha’s public Chunin Exam drew crowds after Senju Yamato revealed his Wood Release, while Uchiha Yoru used the spectacle to promote the village and announce open exams and betting. The first test ended with every remaining Genin passing, and the chapter left Yamato preparing to show Uchiha Yoru a test paper where Hinata Hyuga had encoded the answers inside a love letter.

• Spectators and shinobi from other villages watched Senju Yamato use Wood Release, and Tsunade confirmed that he had recently become a Konoha Jonin.
• Uchiha Yoru announced that the exams would be open to the public, with high ticket prices and betting pools, while Tsunade tried to get money from him to gamble.
• Sakura Haruno and Hinata Hyuga wrote quickly during the first test, while Sasuke Uchiha copied Hinata’s answers and discovered they were hidden in a love letter.
• Kabuto Yakushi explained that the test assessed intelligence gathering, discernment, and teamwork, then announced that every Genin who remained had passed.
• Uzumaki Kushina, Mitaraishi Anko, and Mei Terumi introduced themselves as examiners for the second test in the Forest of Death.
• Senju Yamato found Hinata Hyuga’s coded love letter among the papers, and Kabuto Yakushi praised her ingenuity as Yamato prepared to take it to Uchiha Yoru.

The second stage of the Chunin Exam showcased Konoha’s powerful young shinobi, while Kakashi helped Sasuke Uchiha find a new purpose as Konoha’s guardian across two worlds. The top ten advanced to a third-stage tournament scheduled for half a month later, alongside a Five Kage Summit.

• Hinata Hyuga used her Strength of a Hundred-enhanced Gentle Fist to defeat opponents, and she, Ino Yamanaka, and Uzumaki Karin recovered a Heaven Scroll.
• Kakashi explained the value of making choices and protecting teammates, prompting Sasuke Uchiha to embrace Konoha and resolve to become its guardian across both worlds.
• The top ten contestants were announced, including Hinata Hyuga, Temari, Gaara, Sasuke Uchiha, Minato Naruto, and Kimimaro.
• Konoha announced the third-stage matchups and scheduled the final battles for half a month later, when the Five Kage would gather for a summit.

As Konoha prepared for the Chunin Exam and Five Kage Summit, Sasuke sought special training and Temari pursued the Sage's Curse Mark to grow stronger. Jiraiya returned to Konoha, questioned its direction, and ended the chapter resolving not to drift away from Minato and the others.

• Sasuke asked Uchiha Yoru for special training, and Yoru assigned him to train with the masked Sasuke of the Snake Squad.
• Pakura advised Temari to seek Lord Yoru's Sage's Curse Mark, and Temari went with her to the Hokage Building to ask about it.
• Jiraiya arrived at Minato Namikaze's dinner and reunited with Minato and Naruto.
• Minato explained how Konoha's power and overseas deployments had brought peace and development to smaller countries, and defended Uchiha Yoru's reforms against Jiraiya's doubts.
• Jiraiya reflected that he had grown distant from Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Minato, then vowed not to fall behind or drift farther away from them.

Jiraiya agreed to teach Naruto Toad Summoning and confronted Konohamaru about his desire for revenge, while Konoha advanced its secret Cursed Seal program. Kushina began recruiting Hinata and Temari into her plans to support Yoru's ambitions.

• Minato explained Naruto's early Wind Nature training to Jiraiya, who agreed to teach him Toad Summoning and practical combat skills.
• Minato gave Jiraiya a Sage Curse Mark Reagent and explained that Naruto had adapted to it, while eligible Konoha shinobi could undergo testing.
• Hinata and Temari received compatibility results of ninety-eight and eighty-six percent, and Mabui instructed them to keep the top-secret Cursed Seal Plan confidential.
• Konohamaru demanded Jiraiya help him gain power and restore the Sarutobi Clan, but Jiraiya told him his talent was limited and urged him to abandon revenge and the Sarutobi name.
• Kushina teased Hinata and Temari about becoming part of Yoru's family and resolved to help Yoru achieve his ambitions of becoming a god.

Hinata Hyuga revealed that the Kazekage and Mizukage were impostors inhabited by the souls of the real Kage, prompting Uchiha Yoru to prepare Konoha for a coordinated attack. At the Chunin Exam, Yoru publicly taunted the other Kage and showcased the strength of his guards as Samui began the first examination.

• Hinata Hyuga told Uchiha Yoru that her Byakugan had seen the Fourth Kazekage and Fourth Mizukage as souls inhabiting strangers' bodies.
• Uchiha Yoru suspected Danzo's scheme and ordered Konoha to accelerate its plans against Sunagakure and Kirigakure, place its forces on maximum alert, and prepare to evacuate the village.
• Uchiha Yoru and the other Kage arrived at the Chunin Exam venue, where he traded barbs with Third Tsuchikage Onoki and Fourth Raikage A.
• Konan, Mabui, and Yugito described how the Land of Lightning had mistreated them before they joined Konoha, and Uchiha Yoru mocked Fourth Raikage A for losing talented shinobi.
• Uchiha Yoru assigned the first examination to Samui, who appeared in the arena wearing her Lightning Armor.

Samui presided over the Chunin Ninja Exams finals, where Tayuya conceded to Temari after a spectacular demonstration match. An emergency alert followed, and Yugito announced the second match: Hinata Hyuga against Gaara, leaving the spectators eager as the two prepared to fight.

• Samui appeared as the referee, drawing attention to her speed and leaving the Cloud Shinobi bitter over losing a powerful ninja.
• Tayuya and Temari fought with taijutsu before revealing their Cursed Seal powers, and Tayuya conceded after Temari gained the upper hand.
• Kakashi issued an emergency mission alert to the Konoha Genin, who readied themselves as Yugito arrived to referee the next match.
• Yugito unleashed her Tailed Beast-level Chakra and announced that Hinata Hyuga would face Gaara.
• Mei Terumi warned Hinata to be careful and surrender if necessary, but Hinata promised to defeat Gaara.

Hinata Hyuga overwhelmed Gaara in their Chunin Exam match before a coordinated attack by Sunagakure and Kirigakure interrupted the tournament. Uchiha Yoru declared war on both villages, and Mabui revealed she had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to strike Shimura Danzō.

• Hinata Hyuga shattered Gaara's sand defenses with the Gentle Fist and withstood his Sand Burial using the Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin.
• Kakashi explained that Hinata had combined the Strength of a Hundred with the Gentle Fist and fused with the Cursed Seal, while Minato Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha prepared for their match.
• Uchiha Mikoto dispelled the Nirvana Mansion Technique, and disguised attackers revealed what appeared to be a hostage-taking plot against Uchiha Yoru by the Fourth Kazekage and Fourth Mizukage.
• Uchiha Yoru exposed the apparent hostage scene as a Genjutsu, declared Konoha at war with Sunagakure and Kirigakure, and Konoha's forces moved to defend the village.
• Shimura Danzō was exposed and trapped with Uchiha Yoru inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, while Might Duy and Uchiha Mikoto kept the Tsuchikage and Raikage guarded.
• Mabui used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear beside Shimura Danzō and strike him in a vital spot.

Shimura Danzō used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the past Hokages, Madara Uchiha, and the Third Raikage to fight Uchiha Yoru. As the resurrected figures confronted the present, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha bickered over the Uchiha rise to power and Uchiha Yoru’s marriage to Tsunade Senju.

• Mabui and Samui attacked Shimura Danzō, while Konan and Yugito fought Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura.
• Konan’s explosions badly injured Rasa and Yagura, but their bodies regenerated, revealing that Danzō had revived and controlled them with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Danzō summoned five figures, including Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Madara Uchiha, and the Third Raikage.
• Tsunade Senju broke through the barrier, while Danzō and Hiruzen told Hashirama and Tobirama that the Uchiha had taken over Konoha.
• Hashirama accepted Uchiha Yoru’s rule and marriage to Tsunade without concern, frustrating Tobirama and leaving Madara surprised.
• Madara asked Uchiha Yoru how many children he had with Tsunade and whether they had inherited the Sharingan, provoking Tobirama.

At the Chunin Exam, Tsunade exposed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō’s experiments, and Danzō used Edo Tensei to turn the resurrected Hokage against Uchiha Yoru’s forces. As Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined battle with Yoru, Tsunade, and Uchiha Mikoto, Tsunade made a familiar hand seal that shocked the former Hokage.

• Tsunade Senju revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were fugitives who had experimented on shinobi using Sharingan and Wood Release.
• Shimura Danzō controlled the resurrected Hokage with Edo Tensei, and Uchiha Yoru sent Konan, Samui, Yugito, and Mabui to fight the enemy Kage and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha questioned Tsunade about her marriage to Yoru and argued over whether their children should bear the Senju or Uchiha surname.
• The Kage Guards fought their opponents while Yoru, Tsunade, and the resurrected Hokage clashed; Uchiha Mikoto arrived and kicked Tobirama Senju into a wall.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined forces and unleashed overwhelming chakra, but Tsunade brought the battle to a halt by forming a familiar hand seal that shocked the three Hokage.

Tsunade Senju revealed that she had awakened Wood Release as the battle at the Chunin Exam arena erupted into a clash between Konoha’s fighters and the revived Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha. The fighting shifted to the Forest of Death, where Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru entered Sage Mode and prepared to seal the revived legends.

• Tsunade Senju unleashed Wood Release, and Hashirama Senju answered with his own Deep Forest Emergence as he and Madara Uchiha challenged Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru.
• Madara Uchiha and Uchiha Yoru clashed with immense Fire Style attacks, while Kushina Uzumaki used Adamantine Sealing Chains to protect the arena from the flames.
• Hinata Hyuga entered her Cursed Seal state and attacked the transformed One-Tail Shukaku, while Kimimaro Kaguya and Jugo fought Shimura Danzō.
• Kakashi and the Earth Release shinobi opened the arena, and Kushina Uzumaki swept Shukaku and the other revived fighters into the Forest of Death.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha argued over the Uchiha and Senju legacies as they fought Tsunade Senju and Uchiha Yoru.
• Tsunade Senju and Uchiha Yoru entered Sage Mode, and Yoru prepared to seal the revived fighters.

Hashirama and Madara joined forces with Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru in a battle between two Susanoo Great Buddhas, while Kushina and Mikoto formed a Susanoo-clad Nine-Tails and attacked Tobirama. The Four Red Yang Formation contained the devastation, but the battles were still raging when the chapter ended.

• Hashirama and Madara summoned the True Several Thousand Hands and covered it with Susanoo armor, while Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru created a second Susanoo Great Buddha.
• Madara and Hashirama kicked Shukaku aside, and Nawaki Senju, Orochimaru, Uchiha Shisui, and Sasuke Uchiha maintained the Four Red Yang Formation around the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke told Itachi that he wanted to protect Konoha, and Itachi accepted that Sasuke had made this world his home.
• Hashirama and Madara fought Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru as their clashes devastated the Forest of Death and left the Kage struggling around the battlefield's outskirts.
• Kushina entered the barrier in Nine-Tails Mode, and Mikoto covered the Golden Nine-Tails with Susanoo before they attacked Tobirama with a greatsword.
• The Nine-Tails urged Kushina and Mikoto to beat up Tobirama, enjoying his predicament as the battle continued.

Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade defeated and sealed Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha’s Susanoo Great Buddha after a devastating clash inside Konoha’s barrier. Tsunade revealed that her Sharingan was her own, and the chapter ended with Hashirama declaring that the Senju and Uchiha were one family, enraging Madara.

• Uchiha Obito escaped Konoha after Minato Namikaze wounded him, while Sasuke Uchiha realized how much stronger shinobi could become.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined forces against Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade, and their clash with the opposing Susanoo Great Buddha and a Tailed Beast Ball nearly overwhelmed the barrier.
• Orochimaru and several others entered Curse Mark Mode to reinforce the barrier, which held as the blast’s shockwave cleared the clouds over Konoha.
• Uchiha Yoru sealed Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha after Tsunade protected their Susanoo Great Buddha with the Yata Mirror.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were shocked to see Tsunade’s Sharingan, and Tsunade explained that she had awakened it herself as the Senju and Uchiha began intermarrying.
• Hashirama Senju called Madara Uchiha his little brother because the Senju and Uchiha were one family, and Madara angrily rejected his logic.

After Danzō’s defeat ended the Impure World Reincarnation, Hashirama and Madara spoke with Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru before fading away. Tsunade restored the Forest of Death with Wood Release, while Yoru declared his intention to conquer the Shinobi World and rule it.

• Madara argued with Hashirama that their descendants should bear the Uchiha name, while Tsunade rebuked both reanimated founders.
• Shimura Danzō charged at Uchiha Yoru, but Kimimaro’s bone forest impaled him and his Reverse Four Symbols Seal consumed part of the forest as he died.
• Hashirama and Madara realized the Impure World Reincarnation was ending, and Tsunade told them about Konoha and its current state.
• Uchiha Mikoto reported on the Uchiha Clan, and Madara acknowledged her right to wield the Gunbai.
• Tsunade used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to restore the ruined Forest of Death, shocking the gathered shinobi from other nations.
• Madara and Hashirama faded away, leaving behind White Zetsu’s sacrificial corpse, while Madara secretly anticipated surprising Hashirama when they met again.

At the Five Kage Summit, Uchiha Yoru secured recognition for Mei Terumi as Fifth Mizukage and Pakura as Fifth Kazekage while tightening Konoha’s influence over Kirigakure and Sunagakure. The summit ended with the Raikage and Ōnoki looking for ways to counter Konoha, while Ōnoki considered preparing his granddaughter to succeed him.

• Fourth Raikage A challenged Uchiha Yoru over the Land of Whirlpools’ invasion of the Land of Water, and Yoru asserted Konoha’s right to deploy troops.
• Mei Terumi arrived, took the Mizukage’s seat, and blamed Shimura Danzō for Kirigakure’s suffering; Yoru recognized her as Fifth Mizukage and announced she was his wife.
• Konan defended Kirigakure’s alliance with Konoha, and the other Kage did not object to Mei’s position.
• Elder Chiyo yielded Sunagakure’s Kazekage seat to Pakura, who was recognized as Fifth Kazekage and blamed Rasa’s death on a plot by Shimura Danzō and a mysterious person.
• Uchiha Yoru proposed sending two thousand Konoha ninja to support Pakura and keeping Gaara in Konoha for training, while warning the Kage about the mysterious person.
• After the summit, Fourth Raikage A and Ōnoki discussed strengthening their alliance against Konoha, and Ōnoki privately considered succession preparations for Iwagakure.

Konoha’s rapid conquest of Kirigakure and Pakura’s rise as Kazekage left the other villages wary of Konoha’s growing power. Uchiha Yoru chose to pause and integrate the villages while preparing for greater threats, as Obito and Black Zetsu saw the delay as time to advance their own plan.

• Fourth Raikage A and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki received reports that Konoha’s forces had broken Kirigakure’s defenses in four hours and taken the village in five days.
• Pakura became Fifth Kazekage with Chiyo and Ebizo’s support, punished the elders who had betrayed her, and revealed the truth to Sunagakure.
• Ōnoki left Kurotsuchi in Konoha, where Uchiha Yoru assigned her to learn administrative work under Konan.
• Uchiha Yoru told Tsunade Senju that Konoha should wait and begin integrating Kirigakure and Sunagakure, while keeping his fears about Black Zetsu and the Sage of Six Paths to himself.
• Obito and Black Zetsu discussed Konoha’s plans in the Land of Rain, and Obito decided the delay gave the Akatsuki Organization time to begin its operation.

Konoha’s expanding alliances with Kirigakure and Sunagakure brought reforms, trade, and exchanges that began to ease old divisions. As Jiraiya accepted Uchiha Yoru’s peace efforts, the story left the new generation training and forming bonds across villages.

• Mei Terumi reported Kirigakure’s successful reforms and cooperation with Konoha, while Mabui and Samui helped manage the integration.
• Pakura strengthened her rule in Sunagakure as trade with Konoha and the Land of Water improved, and Chiyo and Ebizo accepted Konoha’s influence and Temari’s future as Sixth Kazekage.
• Jiraiya told Minato Namikaze that he had once doubted Uchiha Yoru’s ideals, then toasted the possibility of peace through cooperation.
• Sasuke Uchiha, Minato Naruto, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Gaara trained together against Kakashi, and Kankuro was surprised by Gaara’s growing camaraderie.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Kankuro to invite his teammates to eat, as Konoha and Sunagakure continued integrating their shinobi.