Chapter Summaries

The Sage of Six Paths sensed chaotic Chakra in the Shinobi World but chose not to interfere, while Menma fought the Fourth Raikage and Killer B in Moon Valley. Menma defeated the Eight-Tails’ ink clones, gained their Chakra, and left after deciding the injured Raikage would discourage further wars.

• The Sage of Six Paths sensed unusual Chakra in the Shinobi World, considered asking Hamura to investigate, and decided to leave events to the living.
• Menma confronted the terrified Fourth Raikage after an enormous explosion had devastated Moon Valley.
• Killer B transformed into Gyūki and used Ink Creation to restrain Menma, giving the Fourth Raikage time to escape.
• Menma broke free from the ink and chased down Killer B’s escaping ink clones, absorbing their Chakra with each strike.
• Menma stopped pursuing the remaining clones, telling Kurama that the Raikage’s injuries would deter war and that he had already achieved his goal.

Menma defeated the Cloud ninja forces at Moon Valley and left the wolves to feed on the corpses, while Black Zetsu watched and resolved to report his power to Madara. In Konoha, Danzō pushed the village toward war, but news that the Cloud Village had retreated exposed that his plan had been manipulated by the masked stranger.

• Menma let the wolf pack feed on the fallen ninja and walked toward the Leaf Village.
• Black Zetsu emerged with White Zetsu, wondered whether Menma had Hagoromo's or Hamura's bloodline, and set off to report him to Madara.
• A hundred Cloud ninja arrived at the battlefield and found their comrades dead; the Fourth Raikage ordered a retreat before collapsing.
• Danzō proposed a new vote for war after the report of the Cloud ninja attack, and the Konoha jonin approved sending two thousand ninja to the front.
• An ANBU delivered news that the Cloud Village had retreated, and Danzō accused the masked stranger of manipulating him.

After Cloud Village withdrew following a battle with an unknown powerhouse, Hiashi spared Hizashi from sacrifice but warned him not to challenge the clan’s fate. Later, Neji encountered his father, and a crying little girl with white eyes was saved from a stone thrown by bullies.

• Cloud Village’s withdrawal after a devastating battle led other nations to suspect that an unknown powerhouse had defeated the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hiashi agreed to send three Branch Family jonin into the ANBU, and Hizashi said he felt relieved to have survived.
• Hiashi forgave Hizashi for his earlier offense but warned him not to repeat it, while Hizashi mourned the Caged Bird fate awaiting Neji.
• Hiashi met Neji, learned that Hinata had postponed their sparring session, and sent Hizashi back with his son while he went to check on Hinata.
• A group of children mocked and bullied a crying little girl with white eyes, and an unseen person stopped a stone from striking her and asked why she did not fight back.

Menma rescued young Hinata from bullies and gave her a mysterious golden power, urging her to face the world with strength. As the Hyuga and village forces investigated his disappearance, Neji struggled with anger over the Caged Bird and the Main House.

• Menma drove off the children bullying Hinata, then encouraged her to protect herself as well as others.
• Hinata admitted she wanted her father to see her differently, and Menma gave her his right arm, which dissolved into golden light and was absorbed into her.
• Hyuga guards and village forces arrived, but Menma vanished before the Byakugan could locate him; the Hyuga took Hinata home and ANBU went to inform the Third Hokage.
• Neji struck a wooden post until it split, remembering his father's defense of the Caged Bird while privately questioning why the Main House accepted the clan's fate.

Neji questioned the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird seal and grew furious over his father’s sacrifice and the village’s silence. Menma appeared before Hizashi, demonstrated that he could activate the seal, and left Hizashi realizing Menma had been at the Moon Valley Battlefield.

• Neji reflected on the Caged Bird seal, the Main House’s power, and Hizashi’s decision to die in Hyuga Hiashi’s place.
• Neji’s anger toward the Main House and Konoha intensified as he questioned whether his father’s sacrifice had been worth it.
• Menma appeared to Hizashi and said he wanted to release the birds from their cages.
• Menma activated Hizashi’s Caged Bird Curse Mark, then knocked Neji unconscious when the boy approached.
• Hizashi tried to trigger the seal’s self-protection mechanism, but Menma disrupted his Chakra and taunted him about surviving by fate.
• Hizashi recognized Menma as the masked man who had appeared on the Moon Valley Battlefield.

Menma confronted Hizashi Hyuga with the possibility of freeing the Hyuga Branch Family from the Caged Bird curse and challenged his faith in the Third Hokage’s Will of Fire. Hizashi was left shaken and unable to answer Menma’s accusations about the system’s sacrifices.

• Hizashi recognized Menma as the powerhouse who had defeated the A-B Duo at Moon Valley.
• Menma asked Hizashi to help the Hyuga Branch Family and offered to free them from the Caged Bird curse.
• Hizashi resisted, but Menma argued that Neji would rebel against the cage and asked Hizashi to consider his son’s future.
• Menma declared that true freedom required removing the curse mark and overturning the Main House and Branch Family system.
• Menma questioned the Will of Fire and accused Konoha’s leaders and the Hyuga Main House of allowing children to die in the war, leaving Hizashi collapsed and speechless.

Uzumaki Menma argued that the Shinobi World’s systems and the Hyuga Main House and Branch Family divide perpetuated war and oppression, persuading Hizashi Hyuga to question the Will of Fire and fate. Hizashi asked Menma’s purpose, and Menma declared he wanted the Branch Family’s cooperation to purge corrupt systems and create a new world, leaving Hizashi alarmed by the prospect of another abyss.

• Uzumaki Menma cited the Shinobi World Wars and the Hyuga clan system as evidence that the One Country One Village System and Will of Fire had failed to bring peace or fairness.
• Uzumaki Menma removed Neji Hyuga’s bandage and showed Hizashi the Caged Bird mark, challenging Hizashi to consider whether Neji could love the clan or village.
• Hizashi questioned why the Branch Family had to sacrifice for the Main House and resolved to hear Menma’s true purpose while remaining ready to protect Leaf Village.
• Uzumaki Menma said he intended to purge stagnant systems and build a unified, relatively fair new world.
• Uzumaki Menma told Hizashi he needed the cooperation of the entire Branch Family, not just Hizashi, and dismissed the faction that had submitted to the Main House as pets.
• Hizashi recognized Menma’s clenched-hand gesture and feared he might lead the Branch Family into another abyss.

Konan killed a Kirigakure rogue ninja who infiltrated Amegakure and brought his body to Nagato. Nagato rejected it as a body for Pain, told Konan to give it to Orochimaru, and ordered White Zetsu to watch an unknown ninja.

• A Hozuki Clan rogue ninja entered Amegakure and wondered why other infiltrators had vanished.
• Konan attacked him with paper blades, exhausted his Chakra, and killed him.
• Konan brought the rogue ninja's corpse to Nagato, who said it was unsuitable as a body for Pain and ordered it sent to Orochimaru.
• Konan warned Nagato that Madara Uchiha had been preparing something, but Nagato insisted their goals were the same.
• Nagato told Konan to have White Zetsu watch the unknown ninja because Akatsuki was still weak.

Nagato and Konan discussed the missing powerful man and Orochimaru's search for eternal life, while Hizashi warned Neji not to show killing intent toward Hinata. An explosion led Hizashi to find Menma conducting dangerous experiments with Nine Tails Chakra, which still failed to reveal how to achieve Baryon Mode.

• Konan told Nagato that Zetsu had found no trace of the powerful man, but Madara Uchiha had identified a potential candidate for their group.
• Nagato dismissed Orochimaru's pursuit of eternal life and said that human effort could not overcome the gap between humans and gods.
• Hizashi admitted to Neji that he hated the Main House too, then warned him not to show killing intent toward Hinata.
• Neji remembered losing to Hinata in a spar and wondered how she had suddenly become so strong and decisive.
• An explosion shook the Hyuga Clan Grounds, and Hizashi went to investigate the underground chamber where Menma was experimenting.
• Menma's experiment combining Senju blood, Nine Tails Chakra, and Naruto's cells failed again, and Hizashi complained about the damage and the risk of discovery.

Menma temporarily suppressed Hizashi’s Caged Bird curse mark, giving him a taste of freedom and persuading him to seek the Hyuga clan’s forbidden texts. After the effect wore off, Menma studied Naruto’s rapidly increasing cell activity and began considering plans involving the Uchiha, Hashirama Cells, Danzo, and Obito.

• Menma showed Hizashi that he could temporarily block the Caged Bird curse mark and remove the blind spot in his Byakugan vision.
• Menma explained that a relay might connect the curse mark’s recipients and users, and asked Hizashi to obtain the Hyuga family genealogy and ancient Caged Bird texts.
• Hizashi agreed to find a way into the Hyuga Forbidden Ground, but the curse mark returned after its hour-long suppression ended.
• Menma tested Naruto’s blood and found that Naruto’s cell activity had doubled again, which he attributed to the Uzumaki bloodline, Asura Chakra, and Nine Tails Chakra.
• Menma considered acquiring Uchiha corpses and Hashirama Cells, targeting Danzo for an arm, and confronting the approaching deaths of Shisui and the Uchiha clan massacre.

Menma questioned Kurama about how the Tailed Beasts had developed their strength and hinted that his experiments might let Kurama defeat Madara Uchiha. Kurama began explaining that the Tailed Beasts had spent centuries considering what true strength was.

• Kurama interrupted Menma's experiment to say Naruto wanted to speak with him, but Menma postponed returning until he finished his research.
• Menma told Kurama that his research might let it beat Madara Uchiha, and Kurama became eager to hear more.
• Naruto struggled with a passage from Mozi's Da Qu while Kurama told him to return to his studies.
• Menma suggested Madara might still be alive, then asked Kurama whether the Tailed Beasts' strength had changed since their creation.
• Kurama said the Tailed Beasts had advanced along different paths and began explaining that they had spent centuries pondering true strength.

Menma explained that Kurama could unlock the potential of his vast chakra by finding a suitable host or learning Sage Mode, then returned to Naruto and found him stuck on a short-answer question. Menma began offering Naruto a similar trolley problem, leaving the answer unresolved.

• Kurama described how he had developed his chakra and doubted he could match Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha.
• Menma told Kurama that he lacked a key to unlock his potential and suggested a suitable host or Sage Mode could help.
• Kurama urged Menma to return after noticing that Naruto was struggling with a question.
• Menma found Naruto unable to explain a passage from Mozi's Da Qu about killing oneself for the benefit of the world.
• Menma told Naruto the question involved advanced subjects and began to pose a similar trolley problem.

Menma challenged Naruto with the Trolley Problem, and Asura Chakra left Naruto unable to choose between sacrificing one person and letting five die. Menma revealed that Naruto was Asura’s reincarnation, while Kurama began to question what he had believed about death and the Sage of Six Paths.

• Menma explained the Trolley Problem and asked Naruto whether he would divert a trolley from five people onto a track with one person.
• Naruto struggled between pulling the lever and refusing to decide who lived, as Asura Chakra made his conflicting feelings intensify.
• Menma asked whether Asura Chakra’s Love and Bonds could solve the dilemma and told Kurama that Naruto was Asura’s reincarnation.
• Kurama recalled Asura’s history and questioned how reincarnation could be possible, then stopped as he remembered something about the Sage of Six Paths.
• Menma told Kurama that the sky was colorless and that Kurama’s own eyes had deceived him.

Menma helped Naruto break free from Asura's influence, though Naruto concluded that strength would let him save everyone. Menma discussed the reincarnating chakra with the Nine-Tails and declared that he would make the rules, prepared to bear the consequences of his choices.

• Menma tore up the drawing and urged Naruto to step outside the rules of the dilemma, causing Asura's chakra to begin merging with Naruto's.
• Naruto said he needed to become stronger to protect everyone, while Menma believed Naruto still failed to grasp the need to change the Shinobi World's order.
• Menma doubled Naruto's physical-training homework and sent him away to complete it.
• The Nine-Tails questioned Hagoromo's influence, and Menma explained that Asura and Indra's chakra reincarnated while their souls remained independent.
• Menma told the Nine-Tails that he would become the one who made the rules and was prepared to be killed and bear everything.

Hinata destroyed a courtyard training trap with a newly revealed Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists, stunning Hiashi. Hiashi recalled how Hinata’s power had surfaced during a spar with Neji, and Hinata’s angry rejection of his interference left their conflict unresolved.

• Hinata used her Byakugan and Gentle Fist to shatter the wooden posts flying at her, then destroyed two spiked posts with Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists.
• Hiashi recognized the advanced Hyuga technique and demanded to know what Hinata was doing.
• Hiashi remembered Hinata overpowering Neji in a spar after calling him a peeping tom, then knocking him down with a single palm strike.
• Neji tried to attack Hinata again, but Hiashi activated the Caged Bird and made him collapse in pain.
• Hinata told Hiashi not to interfere in her battle and rejected the Cursed Seal.

Hinata’s sudden combat prowess unsettled Hiashi, while the older Hinata sharing her mind explained how she came to be there and warned her that admiration would keep her from understanding Menma. Hinata followed her father to a clan meeting, still conflicted about the older Hinata and her feelings.

• Hinata rejected Hiashi’s interference and the Caged Bird seal, then defeated Neji with Older Hinata’s help.
• Hiashi questioned Hinata’s dangerous training, forbade her from training for several days, and told her to attend a clan meeting with him.
• Older Hinata explained that she had crossed worlds with Menma and had been asleep in Hinata’s mind until she took control during the spar.
• Younger Hinata asked whether Older Hinata intended to take over her body, and Older Hinata said she could return to Menma to seek another body.
• Older Hinata admitted Menma had not accepted her confession and warned Hinata that admiration was farthest from understanding.

Older Hinata explained to Younger Hinata why admiration could not replace understanding, then watched through her as the Hyuga Main House tried to intimidate the Branch Family at a clan meeting. As Hizashi submitted to the elders’ accusations, an unseen voice condemned them.

• Older Hinata recalled Menma’s criticism and explained that she had worked to stand beside him rather than remain a distant admirer.
• Younger Hinata followed Hiashi into the Hyuga Council Hall, where Older Hinata noticed that Branch Family members had been summoned to the meeting.
• A Main House Elder accused Neji of threatening Hinata and claimed Branch Family members had secretly gathered to discuss forbidden matters.
• Hizashi grabbed Neji’s wrist, knelt, and promised the Branch Family would not let such things happen again.
• The elders privately celebrated their attempt to suppress Hizashi, before an unseen voice called them old fools who relied on the Caged Bird.

Younger Hinata openly challenged the Main House elders over the Caged Bird system, leaving them fearful of her potential power. In the Land of Rain, Obito learned that Itachi had awakened Three-Tomoe Sharingan and joined ANBU, and decided he might guide Itachi toward darkness.

• Hinata condemned the Main House elders for using the Caged Bird Curse Mark to control the Branch Family and questioned their strength.
• Hinata left the meeting with Hiashi, while the elders feared she could someday replace them and Neji and Hizashi watched her go.
• White Zetsu told Obito that Itachi's ocular power had grown to Three-Tomoe and that he had joined the ANBU.
• Obito recalled sparing Itachi after his teammate's death awakened Two-Tomoe in both eyes and considered him a useful pawn amid tensions between the Uchiha Clan and the Leaf Village.
• Obito decided that he would personally guide Itachi toward darkness when the time came.

Naruto meditated and trained under Menma’s guidance while Uchiha Shisui stood watch as a substitute ANBU. Hiruzen praised Naruto’s talent and asked Shisui about his time in ANBU, leaving Shisui’s answer unresolved.

• Shisui filled in for Eagle and watched Naruto meditate while a silver-haired ANBU warned him not to do anything unnecessary.
• Naruto meditated until nightfall as Menma explained how mental discipline would prepare him for future training.
• Menma thought about obtaining Sharingan and Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami while keeping his own negative emotions in check.
• Naruto demonstrated a powerful Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, surprising Shisui and impressing Hiruzen.
• Hiruzen praised Naruto’s potential and gently asked Shisui what he thought of serving in ANBU.

Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Shisui about ANBU and the Uchiha clan, but Naruto’s greeting interrupted Shisui before he could reveal his plans. Hiruzen praised Naruto’s rapid progress and asked whether he looked forward to entering the Ninja School, leaving Naruto to conceal his true intentions behind an eager smile.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shisui about his ANBU duties and discussed complaints about the Military Police Force, prompting Shisui to promise that the Uchiha would improve their conduct.
• Shisui stopped Hiruzen and recalled the Uchiha clan’s growing anger, the Radical Faction’s coup proposal, and his own reluctance to choose between his clan and Konoha.
• Shisui prepared to reveal the full power of his Mangekyo ocular technique, Kotoamatsukami, but Naruto called out to Hiruzen before he could speak.
• Hiruzen went to Naruto, praised him for learning Wind Release: Great Breakthrough quickly, and refused to teach him another ninjutsu until he mastered it.
• Hiruzen asked whether Naruto looked forward to enrolling in the Ninja School, and Naruto said he did while remembering Menma-nii’s advice to blend in and disguise himself.