Chapter Summaries

Natsume helped Kazahana Koyuki establish a new government in the Land of Snow, then advanced trade and other plans across the region while continuing to strengthen his position in Konoha. After two and a half years of missions and growth, Tsunade told him she was pregnant, leaving him overjoyed at becoming a father.

• Kazahana Koyuki appointed Natsume, using the public name Kishi, Grand Minister of State, and Shisui Uchiha helped her purge corrupt officials from the court.
• Natsume promoted railways, port construction, and trade in the Land of Snow, then visited Mei Terumi in Kirigakure as five shipping routes opened and gave her an evening gown.
• Natsume arranged to deliver Shinno’s forbidden Medical Ninjutsu to Tsunade through Inoichi Yamanaka, and Tsunade recognized their value for medical ninjas and the Eight Inner Gates.
• Natsume accepted Ino Yamanaka’s invitation to lunch, and she cooked for him before returning to her Medical Ninjutsu studies.
• Over the next two and a half years, Natsume completed difficult missions, built his reputation, and mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Tsunade told Natsume she was pregnant, and he joyfully embraced and kissed her.

Natsume secured the Hyuga and Nara clans’ support for his succession as Hokage while Tsunade revealed her pregnancy and discussed his future responsibilities. At the chapter’s end, Natsume helped Mikoto Uchiha awaken her Mangekyō Sharingan, whose new abilities appeared as she reacted to his mention of having another child.

• Tsunade explained that winning the Jonin vote was the main obstacle to Natsume becoming Hokage, and she agreed to speak with Hiruzen Sarutobi while Natsume sought clan support.
• Natsume gained Hiashi Hyuga’s promise of support, including help persuading other Jonin, in exchange for giving the Hyuga Clan a Hokage adviser; Shikaku Nara also agreed to support him.
• Hiashi told Hinata Hyuga that the Hyuga Clan would support her marriage to Natsume, and she blushed at the prospect.
• Tsunade revealed her pregnancy to Shizune, and Natsume began restricting her food and drink while she insisted she would no longer serve as his aide or entertain him at night.
• Tsunade and Natsume discussed his future students, and Natsume agreed to take Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha onto his team, with Hinata Hyuga as a possible third student.
• Natsume told Mikoto Uchiha that Sasuke would graduate and that she could soon return to Konoha; after he provoked her by mentioning another child, Mikoto awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan and gained two new ocular techniques.

Natsume comforted Mikoto Uchiha after her Mangekyō Sharingan awakened, learned her abilities, and planned to help her reunite with Sasuke after becoming Hokage. He then sparred with Tayuya, who attempted to assassinate him and received a bell collar.

• Natsume learned that Mikoto Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan abilities were Ame-no-Koyane and Aka-no-Kashi, and her changed fate earned him one hundred Destiny Points.
• Mikoto Uchiha asked whether Kakashi would lead Sasuke's team, and Natsume said he would take Sasuke as his student and arrange for Mikoto to meet him after he became Hokage.
• Natsume considered using Mikoto's Aka-no-Kashi to help Sasuke awaken his Sharingan and thought about seeking the Box of Paradise in Hozuki Castle to strengthen Mikoto's combat experience.
• Natsume invited Mikoto to watch Sasuke graduate, then told her to use Aka-no-Kashi to amplify the joy of their reunion.
• Tayuya attacked Natsume with Monster Strength, but he caught her punch and dodged her follow-up attacks.
• Natsume gave Tayuya a bell collar, and she put it on before heading to the training ground, determined to defeat him next time.

Naruto Uzumaki graduated as a Genin, and Hinata Hyuga graduated early after Umino Iruka told her that Natsume wanted her as his disciple. The newly graduated students waited for their team leaders, while Natsume revealed that he had become Sasuke Uchiha’s team leader instead of Kakashi Hatake.

• Naruto Uzumaki passed his graduation exam, registered as a Genin, and learned that Sasuke Uchiha might become his teammate.
• Umino Iruka told Hinata Hyuga that Natsume wanted her as his disciple, and Hinata agreed to graduate early.
• Hinata Hyuga passed the graduation exam, registered in the archives, and joined the newly graduated students waiting for their team leaders.
• Naruto Uzumaki greeted Hinata Hyuga and joked with Sasuke Uchiha about the possibility of them becoming teammates.
• Natsume comforted Kakashi Hatake and revealed that he had become Sasuke Uchiha’s team leader, leaving Kakashi disappointed.

Natsume took charge of Team Nine and tested Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga with a bell challenge. Hinata secured the bells and passed the test, while Naruto and Sasuke were left drenched after Natsume overpowered their teamwork.

• Mizuki assigned Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga to Natsume’s Team Nine, earning Natsume 370 Destiny Points.
• Natsume introduced himself and had his students share their interests and dreams before announcing a bell test at Training Ground Four.
• Sasuke used kunai, Fire Style, and his Sharingan while Naruto created Shadow Clones, but Natsume countered their attacks and used Genjutsu to mislead Sasuke.
• Hinata attacked Natsume with the Gentle Fist as Naruto and Sasuke worked together to reach the bells.
• Hinata found and picked up the bells, while Natsume swept away Naruto’s Shadow Clones and left both boys drenched.
• Natsume congratulated Hinata on passing the test as Naruto and Sasuke spat out water.

Natsume celebrated Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata's graduation by taking them to Ichiraku Ramen, where he admitted he had given Hinata special treatment during the test. Hinata's enormous appetite astonished everyone, and Naruto paid the 3,200-tael bill.

• Naruto and Sasuke suspected Natsume had gone easy on them, but Natsume praised their teamwork and told them to meet him at Ichiraku Ramen.
• Natsume held Hinata's hand, reassured her about graduating early, and admitted he had given her special treatment during the test.
• Naruto arrived at Ichiraku and treated Natsume, Sasuke, and Hinata to ramen to celebrate their graduation.
• Hinata ate fifty bowls of ramen, shocking Naruto, Sasuke, Minato, and Kushina.
• Ayame charged Naruto 3,200 taels after waiving the rest of the bill, and Naruto paid with a heavy heart.

Natsume discussed missions with his new students, walked Hinata home, and reported their potential to Tsunade. He and Tsunade spent the night together after Natsume proposed an alternative approach, then woke up teasing each other affectionately.

• Naruto Uzumaki asked Natsume for a mission, and Natsume said he could arrange higher-ranked missions after getting the Hokage's approval.
• Natsume walked Hinata to the Hyuga Clan residence, where Hanabi celebrated Hinata's early graduation and learned Natsume was her team leader.
• Natsume told Tsunade that his three students had exceptional potential, and they went home together after work.
• Natsume and Tsunade teased each other at home, and Tsunade agreed to his alternative approach before they spent the night together.
• Natsume and Tsunade woke up the next morning, and Tsunade teased him before kissing him at breakfast.

Natsume was elected Sixth Hokage after Tsunade called a Jonin meeting and he defeated Asuma Sarutobi in the vote. As Konoha announced the decision, Shimura Danzō heard the news in Sunagakure and demanded a meeting with the Kazekage.

• Kurenai Yuhi delivered the Daimyo’s official order, requiring Natsume to travel to the Land of Fire’s capital before taking office, and Tsunade arranged a Jonin meeting.
• Natsume asked Hizashi Hyuga to summon Konoha’s Jonin, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Maruboshi Kosuke discussed Natsume’s leadership and the Military Police Force.
• Tsunade announced that she was stepping down and nominated Natsume; the Shimura Clan head nominated Asuma Sarutobi, but Natsume won the vote by a wide margin.
• Tsunade named Natsume the Sixth Hokage and ordered the result announced, with a succession ceremony to follow his meeting with the Daimyo.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha saw the public notice and discussed what Natsume’s new position might mean for them.
• Shimura Danzō learned in Sunagakure that Natsume was about to become Hokage, reacted angrily, and asked to meet with the Kazekage.

Natsume began his term as Hokage by retaining the previous Hokage Guard and inviting Ino Yamanaka to join the Hokage Secretary Corps as an intern secretary. Ino happily accepted, and Natsume prepared to introduce her to Hizashi Hyuga.

• Natsume reflected on his lack of prestige compared with previous Hokage and wondered what Shimura Danzō was doing in Sunagakure.
• Natsume told Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Kurenai Yuhi that they could continue serving as his Hokage Guard.
• Natsume reassured Ino Yamanaka that becoming Hokage would not change their relationship and invited her to sit in the Hokage's chair.
• Natsume offered Ino a position as an intern secretary, explaining that the Yamanaka Clan's intelligence skills suited the work.
• Ino accepted the position, and Natsume said he would take her to meet Hizashi Hyuga.

Natsume appointed Kurenai Yuhi to lead the Hokage Secretary Corps and learned that the black market had placed a hundred-million-ryo bounty on him. After asking his three students to meet him at Training Ground Four the next morning, he returned home to Tsunade and Shizune, where Shizune introduced their new pet pig, Tonton.

• Natsume introduced Ino Yamanaka to Hizashi Hyuga and asked him to train her as a Hokage secretary.
• Natsume promoted Hizashi Hyuga to Hokage Advisor and chose Kurenai Yuhi to take charge of the Hokage Secretary Corps.
• Kurenai Yuhi accepted the position, changed into a secretary's outfit, and showed Natsume a document revealing his new hundred-million-ryo bounty.
• Natsume told Kurenai Yuhi to summon his three students to Training Ground Four the next morning and said he would bring enough people when he traveled to the Land of Fire's capital.
• Natsume returned home, where he shared juice with Tsunade and learned that Shizune had found a pet pig named Tonton.

Natsume sent Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga to protect him on an S-rank trip to the Land of Fire Metropolis, then arranged an alliance with Sunagakure. In Kirigakure, he revealed to Mei Terumi that he was Konoha’s Hokage and negotiated an alliance, ending with Mei biting him on the lips.

• Natsume gave Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga an S-rank mission to accompany him to the Land of Fire Metropolis, and told them to meet at the village gate after preparing.
• Natsume asked Kurenai Yuhi to manage Konoha during his absence and agreed to Kazekage Rasa’s proposed alliance with Sunagakure.
• Natsume visited Mei Terumi and offered to help form an alliance between Konoha and Kirigakure.
• Natsume revealed to Mei Terumi that he was the Hokage, and she struggled to reconcile his identity with their relationship.
• Mei Terumi accepted Natsume’s condition that Kirigakure return Ao’s Byakugan to the Hyuga Clan, rejected his teasing demand for her first kiss, then stood up and bit him on the lips.

Natsume secured Mei Terumi’s agreement to an alliance before taking Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata on a mission outside Konoha. Zabuza and Haku ambushed the group at night, and the chapter ended with Zabuza attacking Naruto and Sasuke while Hinata faced Haku.

• Mei Terumi agreed to an alliance with Natsume after they kissed, and he told her to send someone to Konoha.
• Natsume joined Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga at the village gate and led them out on a mission.
• Natsume noticed Zabuza Momochi and Haku following the group, so he stopped for a meal as night fell.
• Zabuza Momochi attacked Natsume through the mist, but Natsume blocked Kubikiribōchō with a kunai.
• Natsume sent Hinata Hyuga to deal with Haku while Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha pursued Zabuza Momochi.
• Zabuza Momochi used his killing intent to freeze Naruto and Sasuke with fear, then raised Kubikiribōchō to strike them.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha fought Zabuza Momochi while Hinata Hyuga battled Haku, but Natsume quickly defeated both opponents. The team regrouped, and Sasuke Uchiha began to see Natsume as a model for reaching the strength needed to defeat Itachi Uchiha.

• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha attacked Zabuza Momochi, but he trapped Sasuke Uchiha in a Water Prison Technique and overwhelmed them with his Hidden Mist Killing Technique.
• Natsume rescued Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique and Monster Strength to defeat Zabuza Momochi.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha went to help Hinata Hyuga, while Natsume picked up Kubikiribōchō and considered handing Zabuza Momochi and Haku over to Mei Terumi.
• Haku attacked Natsume, who caught him and threw him to the ground, ending his fight with Hinata Hyuga.
• Natsume reassured Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga that their performance against the Jonin and Special Jonin had been good.
• Sasuke Uchiha acknowledged Natsume as his teacher and wondered whether reaching Natsume's level would let him defeat Itachi Uchiha.

Natsume traded Zabuza Momochi and Haku to Mei Terumi, trained his students during their journey to the Land of Fire’s metropolis, and used his Sharingan to bring Daimyo Maru Chikyū under his control. A Destiny Points notification revealed that Shimura Danzō, Mukade, and Sara’s fates had changed, leaving Natsume to suspect Danzō was involved with the Dragon Vein.

• Natsume offered Mei Terumi Zabuza Momochi and Haku in exchange for serving as his little maid for seven days, and she agreed to do so next time.
• Natsume traveled with Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga through seven assassination attempts, helping the three regain confidence before they reached the Land of Fire’s metropolis.
• Natsume spent the evening with Hinata Hyuga, then returned to Konoha to sleep beside Tsunade before heading to the Daimyo’s Mansion the next morning.
• Natsume used his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to put Maru Chikyū under his influence after the daimyo raised Konoha’s funding, and planned for Shisui Uchiha to manage him.
• Natsume returned to Konoha with his students after four more assassination attempts and received a notification that Shimura Danzō, Mukade, and Sara’s fates had changed.
• Natsume recalled the Dragon Vein and Mukade’s past journey, then wondered whether Shimura Danzō had gone back in time and become involved with Kazekage Rasa.

Natsume investigated the Dragon Vein ruins in Rōran and discovered Shimura Danzō was still working to break its seal. Back in Konoha, he spent the evening with pregnant Tsunade, then learned Sunagakure wanted to form an alliance in a week.

• Natsume reviewed records of Minato Namikaze's mission to Rōran, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach the Land of Wind.
• Natsume found Sunagakure ninjas guarding Rōran's ruins and used a summoned slug to observe Shimura Danzō working to undo the Dragon Vein seal.
• Natsume left a Flying Thunder God Mark and the slug near the seal before returning to Konoha, where Shizune told him to go home to Tsunade.
• Natsume found Tsunade dressed in a kimono, spent the evening with her, and stopped her from using the Yin Seal while pregnant.
• Natsume reviewed Hinata Hyuga's mission report, praised her work, and gave his students time off.
• Kurenai Yuhi told Natsume that Sunagakure had proposed an alliance meeting in the Land of Wind in a week.

Natsume arranged a large Konoha delegation for Sunagakure’s proposed alliance, while Shimura Danzo and Tadashi Shimura secretly planned to kill him during the meeting. Natsume approved the delegation list and told Tsunade he might be away because of the Dragon Vein, leaving her to manage Konoha.

• Natsume ordered Kurenai Yuhi to assemble a representative alliance delegation, and Hyuga Hiashi considered sending Hizashi Hyuga to Sunagakure.
• Hyuga Hiashi and Rinka Hyuga discussed delaying Hanabi Hyuga’s Caged Bird seal and considered asking Natsume to protect her.
• Shimura Danzo met Tadashi Shimura and recruited Shimura Clan members skilled in sealing and barriers to help trap and kill Natsume.
• Natsume approved the delegation list, including four Shimura Clan Jonin, and told Kurenai Yuhi to notify the participants.
• Natsume explained to Tsunade that he might disappear because of the Dragon Vein and persuaded her to manage Konoha while he was away.

Mikoto Uchiha’s letter led Konoha’s leaders to approve the Uchiha Clan’s return, and Sasuke Uchiha learned that his mother was coming back. Natsume continued toward Sunagakure while leaving the reunion arrangements to Tsunade, unaware that Tadashi Shimura planned to attack him.

• Mikoto Uchiha and Uzumaki Huina served Natsume as maids, and Mikoto admitted she had arranged it because she wanted the Uchiha Clan to return to Konoha sooner.
• Natsume devised a cover story for the surviving Uchiha and arranged for evidence in the Land of Water to support their account.
• An encrypted letter from Mikoto reached Konoha, and Natsume called a meeting where the leaders agreed to investigate and accept the Uchiha Clan’s return.
• Tadashi Shimura objected to the Uchiha’s return, then decided to send every Shimura Clan ninja to help Shimura Danzō attack Natsume and the others.
• Sakura Haruno told Sasuke Uchiha that his mother and the surviving Uchiha were returning, and he hurried toward the main street with Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura following.
• Natsume received 130 Destiny Points and stopped for the night on the way to Sunagakure, leaving a Shadow Clone behind before visiting Mikoto Uchiha and Uzumaki Ena.

Shimura Danzō sealed most of the Dragon Vein and planned to use its chakra to awaken his Wood Style, while Rasa prepared to attack Natsume’s Konoha delegation under the guise of alliance talks. After Rasa presented demands for aid and mission work, Natsume called them absurd, and Rasa rose in anger as he waited to see how Danzō’s shinobi would respond.

• Shimura Danzō finished sealing the Dragon Vein and told Rasa he planned to use its chakra to strengthen himself and create Dragon Vein Ninjas.
• Rasa ordered Baki to prepare Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro to attack when he dropped his cup, while Shimura Danzō warned him not to underestimate Natsume.
• Natsume arrived with a Konoha delegation, and Hizashi Hyuga noticed a barrier concealing something beyond the negotiations site.
• Natsume and Rasa began their talks as the two groups watched each other warily, while Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Hizashi Hyuga discussed the danger.
• Rasa offered alliance terms demanding one-fifth of the Land of Fire’s annual aid and one-fifth of Konoha’s mission volume, and Natsume mocked Sunagakure for begging.
• Rasa rose and released his killing intent, waiting to see whether Shimura Danzō’s shinobi would react before deciding to use Gaara.

Natsume exposed the Shimura Clan's coup, defeated their barrier, and fought Rasa and Gaara as the village factions clashed. After Gaara unleashed Shukaku, Natsume revealed powerful Wood Style and covered the battlefield in a vast forest, leaving the Sand shinobi retreating.

• Four Shimura Clan Jonin trapped Natsume and Kurenai Yuhi in a barrier while Tadashi Shimura revealed the clan's plan to overthrow Natsume and install a true Hokage.
• Natsume broke the barrier with a punch, ordered Hizashi Hyuga to capture the Shimura Clan, and sent its attackers flying as the battle began.
• Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Baki fought the Shimura shinobi while Natsume faced Rasa and Gaara.
• Gaara attacked Natsume with sand, but Natsume broke through his defenses and struck him hard enough to bring out Shukaku.
• Natsume blocked Shukaku's attacks with a massive Water Heaven Wall and then used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence to overwhelm the sand barrage and drive the Sunagakure shinobi back.

Natsume defeated Shukaku and the Sunagakure forces with powerful Wood Style, but Shimura Danzō triggered the Dragon Vein and sent him through space-time. He awoke in the Land of Demons with Kikuri, who knew nothing of Konoha or Hashirama Senju, leaving him uncertain how far into the past he had traveled.

• Natsume used a Wood Dragon to subdue Shukaku and rescue Gaara, while Shimura Danzō intervened with Dragon Vein-enhanced Wood Style.
• Natsume summoned True Several Thousand Hands and defeated Rasa and the Sunagakure shinobi, capturing them alive.
• Natsume discovered that Danzō's body was a Shadow Clone and followed the real Danzō to the Dragon Vein, where Danzō activated Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
• Natsume bought Revival Armor and tried to escape, but the Dragon Vein's eruption swept him through space-time and left him unconscious in another world.
• Natsume awoke in the Land of Demons, where Kikuri treated him and said she knew neither Konoha nor Hashirama Senju.