Chapter Summaries

Snake Aunt killed the Fourth Kazekage and worried over Kimimaro, while the original Orochimaru returned from another world to the Rōran Ruins. There, the team defeated Mukade and freed Rōran before Orochimaru explained Naruto’s disappearance and congratulated the group on their mission.

• Snake Aunt found the Fourth Kazekage dead, checked on Kimimaro, and headed toward Konohagakure after the battle.
• Orochimaru returned to his world through the Dragon Vein, causing Naruto to begin fading as its power was drained.
• Asuma and Aoda disabled Mukade’s giant Puppet while Kakashi pierced its chest and Kurenai Yūhi’s Genjutsu stopped Mukade from detonating the Dragon Vein power.
• Anko killed Mukade with a sword strike, and the Puppet crashed down.
• Orochimaru explained that Naruto came from a different timeline, then praised the team and announced Anko, Asuma, and Kurenai Yūhi had become Special Jōnin.

As the Fourth Hokage election approached, Fugaku Uchiha rejected his clan’s hopes that he would run and urged the Uchiha to support Orochimaru after losing to him in a duel. Danzō feared Orochimaru’s succession would cost him his influence and began considering drastic measures.

• Fugaku Uchiha told the Uchiha clan that he had challenged Orochimaru and lost without making him move, then called on the clan to support Orochimaru for Hokage.
• Setsuna Uchiha objected, but Fugaku Uchiha said Orochimaru was worthy of the Uchiha’s honor and should be treated as the clan had treated the First Hokage.
• Yashiro Uchiha asked what the clan would gain, and Fugaku Uchiha said Orochimaru had agreed to take Shisui Uchiha into the Hokage Guard and train him as a disciple.
• Danzō argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi over Orochimaru’s succession and returned to Root’s base, fearing the new Hokage would strip him of power.
• Danzō decided Konohagakure could not be handed over to Orochimaru and resolved that he alone should lead the village.

Tsunade tried to cook a celebratory meal for Orochimaru, but her disastrous cooking caused an explosion and brought ANBU and Military Police to his home. As Orochimaru prepared for his inauguration as Fourth Hokage, Danzo ordered Root operatives to spread accusations against him, while an insect secretly carried evidence toward the Aburame Clan compound.

• Tsunade revealed her glowing dishes to Orochimaru and insisted he try her cooking.
• Orochimaru persuaded Tsunade to taste the food first, and she choked before spitting it out.
• Orochimaru discovered Tsunade had followed a prank cookbook, and her forgotten gas caused an explosion in the kitchen.
• ANBU and Military Police investigated the blast, then left after concluding Orochimaru and Tsunade were safe.
• Danzo ordered Bug and Leopard to spread rumors that Orochimaru had conducted cruel experiments and murdered Konoha's White Fang.
• An insect flew from Bug toward the Aburame Clan compound as Bug and Leopard left Root.

Shibi Aburame passed Root intelligence to Kakashi, who learned that Danzō and Root had been involved in his father's death. Acting without Orochimaru's knowledge, Kakashi infiltrated Root and uncovered human experiments before Danzō sensed the intrusion.

• An Aburame insect carried intelligence about Danzō and Root to Shibi Aburame, who decided the information could help align his clan with Orochimaru.
• Kakashi received the secret scroll instead of Orochimaru and concluded that Root and Shimura Danzō had caused his father's death.
• Kakashi resolved to infiltrate Root and expose Danzō's secrets without putting Orochimaru's Hokage bid at risk.
• Shibi Aburame guided Kakashi to Root's entrance with an insect swarm, and Kakashi disguised himself as a Root ninja to slip inside.
• Kakashi found babies in experimental containers and collected evidence, then encountered Kinoe, whose Wood Release revealed that Danzō's experiments had succeeded.
• Kakashi trapped Kinoe in Sharingan Genjutsu to question him, while Danzō opened his eyes deeper within Root.

Kakashi and Kinoe fought their way through Root after Danzō ordered them captured, until Might Guy and Tsunade arrived to help. Tsunade confronted Danzō over his experiments, and the Third Hokage appeared as Kinoe’s Wood Release exposed the purpose of Danzō’s actions.

• Danzō ordered Root to search the base and bring Kinoe and the intruder before him.
• Kakashi protected Kinoe from Root attackers, and Kinoe returned the favor as the two struggled against the outnumbering forces.
• Might Guy arrived and helped Kakashi and Kinoe fight the Root ninjas.
• Danzō confronted the group, but Tsunade broke into the base and claimed Kinoe as a Senju descendant who could use Wood Release.
• Tsunade revealed that Orochimaru’s Communication Watch had alerted her to Kakashi’s danger and said her illness had been cured.
• The Third Hokage arrived to stop Tsunade and Danzō, then saw Kinoe’s wooden arm as Tsunade accused Danzō of desecrating her grandfather’s corpse and experimenting on villagers and infants.

Hiruzen removed Danzō as Hokage advisor but refused to let Orochimaru move against him, warning that doing so could complicate Orochimaru’s succession. At Orochimaru’s home, Tsunade decided to take Kinoe in and give him the Senju name, and Orochimaru named him Yamato.

• Kakashi gave Hiruzen records from Root, but Hiruzen crushed them and removed Danzō from his position as Hokage advisor.
• Danzō stormed out after threatening Hiruzen, while Tsunade left with Kakashi and Guy and vowed to keep watching him.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen that Danzō had gone too far, but Hiruzen defended his decision to avoid unsettling the village’s older leaders during the succession.
• At home, Orochimaru scolded Tsunade about her kitchen mishaps, and Shizune and Kakashi offered to learn or help with cooking.
• Tsunade asked to take Kinoe in and have him inherit the Senju name because of his Wood Release and Senju heritage.
• Orochimaru suggested the name Yamato, and Kinoe accepted it.

Orochimaru studied the Space Gem’s ability to cut through space before being inaugurated as Konoha’s Fourth Hokage. The chapter ended with Jiraiya inviting Minato to celebrate and newly pregnant Kushina insisting on going along to supervise.

• Orochimaru defeated Shimura Danzō in the village votes, secured the Daimyo’s approval, and received increased funding for Konoha’s postwar reconstruction.
• Orochimaru tested the Sky Sword and found that its blade cut a Kunai with no visible seam, suggesting it could cut through space and ignore defenses.
• Orochimaru accepted the Hokage hat from Hiruzen Sarutobi and declared himself Konoha’s new Hokage as the villagers cheered.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on his teacher Tobirama, while Tsunade watched Orochimaru and thought of her grandfather and her pregnancy.
• Jiraiya invited Minato Namikaze to celebrate Orochimaru’s inauguration, and Kushina insisted on joining them despite being pregnant.

Danzo ordered an experimental transplant to strengthen himself as Orochimaru became Hokage. At a celebratory gathering, Tsunade revealed she was pregnant, and Minato and Kushina settled on names for their child.

• Danzo asked his researcher about transplanting the First Hokage's Cells and learned a new subject could accept foreign tissue without rejection.
• Danzo ordered the researcher to begin the transplant immediately, using the subject's arm as a medium.
• Orochimaru joined Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze at a gathering after work.
• Tsunade revealed she was pregnant, and Orochimaru wondered whether Tsunade's or Kushina's child would be born first.
• Jiraiya jokingly proposed the name Little Orochimaru, but Kushina rejected it and approved Minato's suggestion of Naruto, with Naruko as a girl's name.

Orochimaru installed J.A.R.V.I.S. to help with technology and administrative work as Pain defeated Hanzō and took control of Amegakure. The chapter ended with Orochimaru sending Minato home to spend time with pregnant Kushina while he planned to delegate the remaining paperwork to J.A.R.V.I.S.

• Orochimaru activated J.A.R.V.I.S., which offered advanced technology but warned that its current computer limited its processing power.
• Orochimaru asked J.A.R.V.I.S. to help him build a more powerful computer and scan and revise administrative documents.
• Pain defeated Hanzō and condemned him for betraying the people of the Land of Rain.
• Pain and the other Pains used Shinra Tensei, then Pain told Konan to take over Amegakure for Akatsuki.
• Pain and Konan discussed Madara's proposal to join forces against Konohagakure, but Pain postponed the decision until later.
• Orochimaru told Minato to leave work early and spend time with pregnant Kushina, saying he would have J.A.R.V.I.S. handle the remaining documents.

Orochimaru prepared for the Nine-Tails’ attack during Kushina’s delivery, moving the birth to a guarded base outside Konoha. Naruto was born safely, but Obito and Pain attacked, forcing Minato to move Kushina and Naruto to safety as Orochimaru confronted the intruders.

• Orochimaru arranged extra preparations for the Nine-Tails’ rampage and warned Tsunade to be careful at Sasuke’s one-month banquet.
• Two months later, Ayaka Kimura delivered Kushina and Minato’s healthy son, Naruto, at a guarded Anbu base outside Konoha.
• Orochimaru sensed Obito’s arrival and attacked him with the Sky Sword, but Pain intervened and killed Ayaka Kimura.
• Minato took Naruto to Kushina, then moved them both away and returned to face Obito and Pain.
• Orochimaru created a Shadow Clone to protect Naruto and Ayaka Kimura’s body while confronting Obito and Pain.

Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze fought Obito Uchiha and the Six Paths of Pain, using Sage techniques and Flying Thunder God coordination to wound their enemies. Obito escaped into the Kamui Dimension with Pain, but Orochimaru’s Sky Sword struck through the space-time barrier and left Obito grievously injured.

• Minato Namikaze dodged Pain’s space-time attack while Orochimaru summoned beasts and launched Sage Art: White Agitation Technique.
• Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze swapped places with Flying Thunder God: God Speed, letting Minato strike Pain with Sage Art: Super Ultimate Invincible Wind Style White Rasengan Zero.
• Orochimaru cut off half of Obito Uchiha’s body with the Sky Sword, and Obito tried to escape with Deva Path Pain.
• Obito released the Nine-Tails in Konohagakure, distracting Minato long enough for Obito and Pain to retreat into the Kamui Dimension.
• Orochimaru hurled the Sky Sword into the Kamui Dimension, where it struck Obito and split his body while Pain struggled against falling debris.

As the Nine-Tails escaped and attacked the village, Kakashi and Yamato rescued Kushina and Naruto and brought them to a shelter where Tsunade went into premature labor. Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha and Shikun Mitarashi confronted Root ninja obstructing the evacuation, and the Uchiha moved to protect the villagers.

• Kakashi and Yamato ambushed Black Zetsu as he tried to reach Kushina, but he escaped by merging with White Zetsu and fleeing underground.
• The Nine-Tails went berserk, and two young children guided Kakashi and Yamato, carrying Kushina and Naruto, to a shelter.
• Biwako Sarutobi organized the shelter and assigned Shizune to help deliver Tsunade's baby while other ninja prepared to guard the area and summon Minato.
• Fugaku Uchiha and Shikun Mitarashi confronted Root ninja who tried to obstruct the evacuation under Danzo's orders.
• After hearing Minato's order to treat anyone obstructing rescue operations as a traitor, the Root ninja withdrew, and Fugaku ordered the Uchiha to protect the villagers and stop the Nine-Tails.

The Konoha shinobi trapped the rampaging Nine-Tails in the Four Red Yang Formation while Fugaku Uchiha weakened the Sharingan control over it. Orochimaru arrived and pinned the Nine-Tails beneath red torii gates as Minato Namikaze went to retrieve Kushina.

• Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Might Duy attacked and restrained the Nine-Tails, while Fugaku Uchiha joined the battle.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Fugaku Uchiha to help form the Four Red Yang Formation, and Shikun Mitarashi transported Fugaku into position.
• Fugaku Uchiha used his Mangekyō Sharingan to break the control over the Nine-Tails, but the beast became more enraged when it saw his eyes.
• Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze arrived, and Orochimaru took over while Minato went to bring Kushina back.
• Orochimaru summoned red torii gates with Sage Art: Heavenly Hand of God and pinned down the Nine-Tails.

Minato and Kushina chose to split the Nine-Tails’ chakra between Kushina and their infant son, Naruto, with Orochimaru performing the sealing. The Two Forms Seal began to divide the Nine-Tails as the chapter ended.

• Orochimaru examined Kushina and said he could save her, but explained that her weakened life force meant she could no longer suppress the entire Nine-Tails.
• Kushina woke and insisted that Naruto should bear half of the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
• Minato agreed with Kushina and sent Shikun Mitarashi to bring Naruto from the shelter.
• Minato and Orochimaru began the Eight Trigrams and Reverse Eight Trigrams sealing techniques to split the Nine-Tails between Kushina and Naruto.
• The Two Forms Seal activated, covering the Nine-Tails in moving sealing runes while the Gate of the Great God kept it from struggling.

After the Nine-Tails was sealed into Naruto and Kushina, Orochimaru welcomed the birth of his twins, Yu and Kyu, and began gathering support against Danzo. Danzo planned to strike first, while Hiruzen rejected his attempt to gauge support for rebellion.

• The Nine-Tails split into two smaller beasts and was sealed into Naruto and Kushina, while the battle’s damage to Konoha remained limited.
• Shisui Uchiha told Orochimaru and the others that Tsunade had gone into labor, and Orochimaru rushed to her side.
• Tsunade gave birth to twins, and she approved Orochimaru’s names for them: Yu and Kyu.
• Shibi Aburame delivered a report detailing Danzo’s plans and Root’s obstruction of the Uchiha during the Nine-Tails attack, as influential clans backed Orochimaru.
• Danzo confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi to test his attitude toward a rebellion, but Hiruzen reminded him that Orochimaru was Hokage, and Danzo left.

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted his quiet life after stepping down, while Orochimaru prepared to confront Shimura Danzō over his past crimes. Danzō was escorted to a meeting of village leaders and found the accusations laid out before everyone, then angrily claimed Orochimaru had framed him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Orochimaru's leadership and hoped Shimura Danzō would avoid provoking the new Hokage.
• Shikun Mitarashi and Fugaku Uchiha surrounded Danzō after Orochimaru had his movements monitored, and Shikun summoned him to the Hokage Building.
• Danzō chose to go with them rather than give Orochimaru an excuse to arrest him for attacking fellow ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and leaders of Konohagakure's major clans gathered with Orochimaru for a meeting, and Danzō grew alarmed at the large assembly.
• Danzō opened a dossier listing his crimes, including the cases of Konoha's White Fang and Dan Katō, and shouted that Orochimaru had framed him.

Orochimaru exposed Shimura Danzō’s crimes, stripped him of Root, and ordered its personnel transferred to the Anbu. Danzo escaped the meeting and fled across Konoha, aided by loyal Root ninja as Hiruzen Sarutobi pursued him.

• Orochimaru confronted Danzo with evidence, and Hiruzen urged him to step down before the crisis worsened.
• Danzo resisted arrest, but Orochimaru removed him as Root’s leader, disbanded Root, and placed its former members under Shikun Mitarashi’s command in the Anbu.
• Yūhi Shinku arrived with evidence of Danzo’s crimes, and Danzo fled from the meeting.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and pursued Danzo while Shikun used Flying Thunder God to slip away.
• Danzo raced across Konoha rooftops as Anbu and clan forces tried to block him, but loyal Root ninja emerged and opened an escape route.

Shimura Danzō escaped Konohagakure’s borders but was confronted by Hiruzen Sarutobi, who fought to keep him from dying at someone else’s hands. Danzō revealed his transplanted Sharingan and trapped Hiruzen in the Mirror of the Outer Clouds, leaving him to battle his own reflection.

• Shimura Danzō escaped Konohagakure with help from his Root ninja, but Hiruzen Sarutobi intercepted him in the forest.
• Hiruzen and Danzō exchanged Wind Release and Fire Style attacks, and Hiruzen countered Danzō’s techniques.
• Danzō summoned Baku and used Wind Release, but Hiruzen evaded the attack and discovered Danzō could use Wood Release.
• Danzō revealed the Sharingan hidden beneath his bandages and activated the Mangekyo technique Mirror of the Outer Clouds.
• Danzō trapped Hiruzen in a mirror world where he had to defeat his own reflection to escape.

Shimura Danzō survived Hiruzen Sarutobi’s apparent killing and escaped Konohagakure, where Konan confronted him and offered him refuge with the Akatsuki Organization. Danzō recognized the organization’s name and clothing as he considered her offer.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi stabbed Shimura Danzō, who confessed that he had killed Kagami before collapsing and transforming into a tree.
• Shikun Mitarashi examined the tree, but Danzō later emerged alive after using Izanagi and left Konohagakure.
• A white face watched Danzō’s escape from a tree outside Konohagakure’s barrier.
• Konan confronted Danzō beneath a stone bridge and offered Akatsuki’s protection, warning that his enemies would hunt him if they learned he was alive.
• Danzō recognized Konan’s Red Cloud Black Robes and began connecting Akatsuki to the Nine-Tails Incident.

Danzo joined the Akatsuki Organization under the code name Kōchin, while Orochimaru revealed to Minato Namikaze that Madara had manipulated Obito and discussed preparing Kakashi to oppose him. Orochimaru introduced Senju Yamato as one possible way to address the strain Kakashi’s Mangekyō Sharingan placed on him.

• Danzo accepted Konan’s offer to join the Akatsuki Organization, intending to undermine it for Konohagakure, and learned his code name was Kōchin and that joining required painting his nails.
• Orochimaru told Minato Namikaze that the Masked Man was Obito and explained that Madara had chosen him to inherit his unfinished plan.
• Orochimaru showed Minato the White Zetsu specimens and described how Madara’s clone had stopped him from reaching the Iwa Front when Obito supposedly died.
• Minato and Orochimaru agreed to keep Obito’s identity from Kakashi until he was older and stronger, and Orochimaru confirmed Kakashi’s eye was a Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Minato worried that using the Mangekyō would burden Kakashi’s body, so Orochimaru introduced Senju Yamato as one possible solution.