Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Gen planned to join Orochimaru on the battlefield if Orochimaru became commander, while Hiruzen Sarutobi considered who should lead Konoha’s front against Kumogakure. The chapter ended with Shinnosuke Sarutobi appointed commander and the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio sent to assist him.

• Uchiha Gen decided he would avoid the battlefield for now but planned to follow Orochimaru if he took command, using Homie and possibly his Mangekyō Sharingan to collect souls.
• Sarutobi Gouei urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to appoint Shinnosuke Sarutobi as frontline commander and cultivate him as a possible Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to give Shinnosuke a chance and planned to send Shikaku Nara to keep the front under control.
• Sarutobi Gouei planned to have Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi transferred to support Shinnosuke alongside Shikaku.
• The next morning, Shinnosuke Sarutobi became Kumogakure Frontline Commander, with the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio and Sarutobi Clan ninja accompanying him.

Uchiha Gen learned that Danzo planned to send the retired ace spy Yakushi Nonō to Iwagakure and persuaded Orochimaru to recruit her first. They reached Konoha Orphanage, where Nonō came out to meet them.

• Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru discussed Shinnosuke Sarutobi's appointment and Danzo's plans to send a spy to Iwagakure.
• Orochimaru identified the spy as the retired Wandering Miko, and Uchiha Gen realized she was Yakushi Nonō.
• Uchiha Gen urged Orochimaru to bring Yakushi Nonō under his command, and Orochimaru agreed to visit Konoha Orphanage after their experiment.
• Uchiha Gen assisted Orochimaru with the experiment, recorded its data, and traveled with him to the orphanage.
• A silver-gray-haired boy alerted the adults, and Yakushi Nonō emerged to face Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru.

Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru warned Yakushi Nonō that Danzo would soon force her to infiltrate Iwagakure, then offered her a chance to serve them as a triple agent in exchange for protecting and funding the orphanage. Nonō agreed, and Yakushi Kabuto chose to train under Orochimaru as a medical ninja and research assistant so he could eventually take her place.

• Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru visited Yakushi Nonō at the orphanage and told Yakushi Kabuto that his medical talent had impressed Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru revealed that Danzo planned to force Nonō to infiltrate Iwagakure within days and use the orphanage to ensure her compliance.
• Uchiha Gen offered Nonō protection and generous funding for the orphanage if she served them while acting as a spy for Danzo.
• Orochimaru said he also wanted Kabuto, and Uchiha Gen clarified that Kabuto would train as a medical ninja and research assistant, not become a spy.
• Nonō agreed to serve them, and Kabuto resolved to work hard until he could replace her and let her return to the orphanage.
• Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru left money on the table and departed.

Orochimaru secured Yakushi Kabuto as his subordinate after Danzo recruited a child for Root, while Yakushi Nonō left the orphanage to infiltrate Iwagakure. As mysterious deaths among death row inmates continued, Uchiha Gen absorbed the collected souls and awakened a new Mangekyō Sharingan pattern.

• Yakushi Nonō agreed to send a willing child to Root, and Orochimaru persuaded Danzo to place Yakushi Kabuto under his care.
• Orochimaru took Kabuto into Root, where Kabuto received the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, and Yakushi Nonō departed for Iwagakure in disguise.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha's prison security strengthened after learning that death row inmates across the Land of Fire had died mysteriously.
• Konoha's investigation failed to find the black-robed killer, and the village and the nobles stopped taking substantive action.
• Uchiha Gen dismissed Bai Wuchang #1 and Bai Wuchang #2 to rest, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return home.
• Uchiha Gen depleted his Soul Energy while awakening a new Sharingan pattern in front of a mirror.

Uchiha Gen examined the abilities of his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan and discovered that his right eye could subtly influence others through deception. He decided to keep that power secret and went to make dinner.

• Uchiha Gen learned that his left eye's Izanagi could protect him for thirty seconds once a day without hand seals or sacrificing a Sharingan.
• Uchiha Gen discovered that Ama-no-Uzume's Decree could make a target believe his words, though its effectiveness depended on the lie, the target's will, and their eye power.
• Uchiha Gen considered using Ama-no-Uzume's Decree to manipulate enemies and gain advantages, while recognizing that stronger opponents would resist it.
• Uchiha Gen decided to conceal the ability and use the Soul-Soul Fruit's power as cover.
• Uchiha Gen returned his eyes to normal, left his bedroom, and headed to the kitchen to cook.

After Mist sent a thousand elite ninja toward the Land of Whirlpools, Konoha appointed Orochimaru to command the response and Uchiha Gen prepared to join him. Just as Gen went to sleep before departing at daybreak, he suddenly remembered something and sat bolt upright.

• Mist mobilized a thousand elite ninja and sailed toward the Land of Whirlpools, prompting Konoha to call a high-level meeting.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Orochimaru as the frontline commander and ordered a thousand ninja from the southeastern border forces to block Mist.
• Uchiha Gen told Fugaku he would go to the battlefield with Orochimaru, and Fugaku agreed.
• Uchiha Gen told his three subordinates he was leaving, refused their requests to accompany him, and accepted the protective charms they brought him.
• Uchiha Gen went to bed before his departure, then suddenly remembered something and sat up.

Uchiha Gen found and captured all ten White Zetsu hidden in Konoha, then recruited them as his servants. After sending them to train with Bai Wuchang #1 and Bai Wuchang #2, he went to sleep, aware that Obito might target him when he left the village.

• Uchiha Gen used Spirit Transformation Technique to locate two White Zetsu hiding near the Uchiha Clan Estate and possessed them.
• Under genjutsu, the two White Zetsu revealed that ten were in Konoha, that they were gathering intelligence on jinchuriki, and that they had reported Uchiha Gen's planned departure.
• Uchiha Gen used a terrifying illusion to harvest the first two White Zetsu's souls and lifespans, then found and possessed the other eight.
• Uchiha Gen used Hypnotic Eyes to persuade the eight White Zetsu to surrender their souls, then revived all ten with soul cores and made them his servants.
• Uchiha Gen sent the ten White Zetsu to meet Bai Wuchang #1 and Bai Wuchang #2 for training, then went to sleep.

Uchiha Gen traveled with Orochimaru toward the Land of Whirlpools front and told him he had awakened a unique Kekkei Genkai that let him control souls and weapons. He demonstrated the power through the sentient blade Wusheng, leaving Orochimaru eager to learn more.

• Uchiha Gen met Orochimaru at Konoha's gates, and the two set out for the Land of Whirlpools front.
• Orochimaru asked why Uchiha Gen had joined him, and Gen said he wanted to harvest souls.
• Uchiha Gen explained that studying spiritual power, Yin Release, and the Spirit Transformation Technique had led him to awaken a unique Kekkei Genkai.
• Uchiha Gen threw his Kusanagi Blade at Orochimaru and revealed that he could control it as Wusheng.
• Wusheng attacked Orochimaru with increasingly powerful sword strikes until Gen ordered it to stop and return to his hand.

Uchiha Gen revealed his new Kekkei Genkai to Orochimaru and summoned Zhurong, a fiery dragon, to carry them onward. They left the ground at high speed and rode toward the sunrise.

• Orochimaru questioned Uchiha Gen about his ability to give souls to inanimate objects, and Gen explained how it worked.
• Orochimaru asked Gen for cells to study, and Gen agreed to provide plenty at their research base.
• Gen and Orochimaru agreed to say that Gen had awakened his Kekkei Genkai with Orochimaru's help.
• Gen summoned Zhurong, who warned Orochimaru not to touch him and nearly threw both riders off when he took off.
• Gen scolded Zhurong, who apologized by rubbing against him, as the dragon carried them toward the sunrise.

Obito learned that the White Zetsu infiltrating Konoha had disappeared, while Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru arrived at the Land of Whirlpools battlefield. They faced a gathering force of Hidden Mist elites, and the chapter ended as Gen recognized several powerful ninja and clans among them.

• Obito discussed Uchiha Gen's abilities and his ties to the past with Tobi, then ordered the White Zetsu to investigate Konoha cautiously after ten infiltrators lost contact.
• Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru rode Zhurong to the fiercest fighting in the Land of Whirlpools and landed among the battling Jonin.
• The Konoha Jonin recognized Orochimaru and Gen, while Suikazan Fuguki fired a signal flare to summon the Hidden Mist reinforcements.
• Hidden Mist Jonin gathered around the river valley and encircled the Konoha forces as Gen identified Suikazan Fuguki, Raiga Kurosuki, Juzo Biwa, Kisame Hoshigaki, and several prominent clans.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen faced a Mist assault led by Suikazan Fuguki, as the Konoha Jonin intercepted some of the attackers. After the pair killed or incapacitated two Mist Jonin, Suikazan split the enemy force between them, and Raiga Kurosuki charged at Uchiha Gen with Lightning Blade Kiba.

• Suikazan Fuguki ordered the Mist Jonin to attack Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen while the Konoha Jonin moved to intercept them.
• Orochimaru used his Kusanagi Blade and venom to knock a Mist Jonin unconscious.
• Uchiha Gen cut down a Mist Jonin, trapped him in genjutsu, and absorbed his soul and lifespan.
• Suikazan Fuguki ordered Raiga Kurosuki to attack Uchiha Gen while six Jonin surrounded Orochimaru.
• Raiga Kurosuki charged at Uchiha Gen with Lightning Blade Kiba, and Uchiha Gen smiled at him.

Uchiha Gen nearly killed Raiga Kurosuki with a fear-based genjutsu, but Suikazan Fuguki rescued him, and the two Mist swordsmen answered with a concealed attack. Their plan shifted from ambushing Gen to targeting Orochimaru, forcing Gen to emerge and send Zhurong and Wusheng after them.

• Uchiha Gen trapped Raiga Kurosuki in the Hell Viewing Technique until Suikazan Fuguki disrupted his Chakra and freed him.
• Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki used the Hidden Mist Technique and Silent Killing Technique to approach Uchiha Gen with Water Clones, but Gen's ash dust destroyed the clones and disrupted their sensing.
• Suikazan Fuguki proposed that they bypass Uchiha Gen and ambush Orochimaru, and Raiga Kurosuki agreed to the plan.
• Uchiha Gen noticed the pair moving toward Orochimaru, burst out of the ground, and sent Zhurong and Wusheng to attack them.

Uchiha Gen fought Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki in the mist, killing Raiga while Suikazan Fuguki called for reinforcements and withdrew. Two Mist Jonin engaged Uchiha Gen, leaving the battle unresolved as one clashed with Wusheng and the other faced Zhurong.

• Uchiha Gen ambushed Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki with Zhurong's flames and Wusheng, but the two Mist swordsmen survived and climbed out of the valley.
• Uchiha Gen attacked the pair again with Fire Release and his Kusanagi Blade; Suikazan Fuguki saved Raiga Kurosuki from the sword, and both were blasted away by exploding flames.
• Uchiha Gen trapped Raiga Kurosuki with Earth Release and later killed him through genjutsu that drained his soul and lifespan, while Suikazan Fuguki sent a distress signal.
• Two Mist Jonin arrived, and Suikazan Fuguki warned them about Uchiha Gen's Sharingan and Zhurong before leaving to support Jūzō and the others.
• The Kaguya Clan Jonin charged Uchiha Gen while the other Mist Jonin formed hand seals, but Wusheng attacked the latter and Zhurong confronted the Kaguya Clan Jonin.

Uchiha Gen and his Summoning Beasts defeated several Hidden Mist Jonin and helped drive the enemy force out of the area. After the Konoha forces pursued them into the central-eastern Land of Whirlpools, they withdrew, while Manda watched Zhurong with curiosity.

• Zhurong and Wusheng fought Kaguya Gangzhong and Tian Zhang, preventing them from switching opponents as they tried to escape their attacks.
• Uchiha Gen returned with the Lightning Blade Kiba, and his Shadow Clone used it to strike and severely injure Tian Zhang and Gangzhong.
• Uchiha Gen absorbed the souls and lifespans of the fallen Hidden Mist Jonin and the Kaguya Clan ninja, then flew with Zhurong toward Orochimaru.
• Suikazan Fuguki saw Uchiha Gen approaching and ordered the Hidden Mist ninja to retreat, while Orochimaru, Uchiha Gen, and the Konoha Jonin pursued them.
• The Konoha forces drove the Hidden Mist ninja back into the central-eastern Land of Whirlpools before withdrawing, and Manda continued watching Zhurong curiously.

Uchiha Gen subdued Manda with his Sharingan and forced the snake to waive its usual sacrifice, then returned to Konoha’s camp. His battlefield record had earned him a reputation as the camp’s second strongest ninja as he went to meet Orochimaru.

• Manda threatened to eat Uchiha Gen, but Gen trapped him in Sharingan genjutsu and warned him against acting up.
• Gen forced Manda to waive his sacrifice by threatening to make him drink and lick from a cesspit, then told him to ask Orochimaru about the crimson dragon.
• Gen made Manda sever the summoning connection and return to Ryūchi Cave before the snake could ask about his abilities in front of the camp.
• Gen ate lunch and learned that word of his defeat of Mist ninja had spread through the camp, earning him a reputation as its second strongest person.
• Gen greeted the guards outside Orochimaru’s command tent and entered to see his teacher.

Uchiha Gen began training under Orochimaru to handle frontline military affairs as they planned to prolong the war. In Kirigakure, the heavy losses led the leadership to continue the campaign and send reinforcements, while Obito learned about Gen’s soul-extracting ability.

• Orochimaru told Uchiha Gen that he intended to prolong the war and invited him to become his deputy, then taught him how to review military documents.
• Yagura summoned Kirigakure’s higher-ups after Mist lost Raiga Kurosuki and eight other Jonin, along with Lightning Blade Kiba.
• Yagura and the other elders defended Suikazan Fuguki and chose to continue the war, ordering three hundred Genin, thirty Chunin, and ten Jonin to the front line.
• White Zetsu told Obito that Uchiha Gen had a dragon Summoning Beast and could extract souls through fear, prompting Obito to question where Gen had learned the ability.
• A pool of black liquid seeped from the floor and attached itself to White Zetsu.

Obito and Black Zetsu discussed Uchiha Gen’s soul-extracting ability and the plan to control the Mizukage. In Konoha, Hiruzen approved Orochimaru’s recommendation to appoint Uchiha Gen deputy commander despite Danzo’s objections, and the appointment letter was sent to the front lines.

• Black Zetsu warned Obito that Uchiha Gen’s ability to extract souls through fear could be dangerous, but Obito and Tobi claimed they did not fear him.
• Obito left Black Zetsu and Tobi to discuss their plan to control the Mizukage.
• Hiruzen read Orochimaru’s battle report and decided to approve his recommendation for Uchiha Gen’s appointment.
• Danzo argued that Uchiha Gen was ambitious, dangerous, and too young for the post, but Hiruzen rejected his objections as speculation and personal bias.
• Hiruzen signed the appointment document, and the letter was sent to the front lines by early afternoon.

After Uchiha Gen became Orochimaru’s deputy commander, the Konoha and Mist forces observed a New Year’s Day ceasefire. During a hot-pot meal, Gen asked Orochimaru about Sage Mode and decided to learn it, with Orochimaru offering to accompany him to Ryūchi Cave.

• Orochimaru announced Uchiha Gen’s appointment as deputy commander, and the Jonin accepted him despite their doubts.
• Mist reinforcements arrived, but both sides paused their fighting for New Year’s Day and the Konoha ninja celebrated while maintaining sentries.
• Uchiha Gen prepared a hot-pot feast and invited Orochimaru, then asked how they should respond to Mist’s reinforcements.
• Orochimaru predicted Mist would wage a war of attrition, and he and Gen discussed eating snake meat and the ancient sacred lands.
• Uchiha Gen asked Orochimaru about Sage Mode, learned how it worked and how dangerous training could be, and chose to pursue it.
• Orochimaru proposed that he and Uchiha Gen go to Ryūchi Cave to learn Sage Mode together.

Uchiha Gen persuaded Orochimaru to pursue Sage Mode and reconsidered how to achieve true immortality. After New Year's Day, Mist resumed its war of attrition, but Uchiha Gen secretly harvested souls in the combat zone by forcing a Mist Chunin to kill his squad and then himself.

• Uchiha Gen urged Orochimaru to make time to learn Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode and proposed that transcending humanity could be the best route to immortality.
• Orochimaru agreed that a leap in one's level of life was the best path, while Living Corpse Reincarnation could serve as a safeguard.
• After New Year's Day, Mist resumed the war with attritional tactics and became more cautious after learning Uchiha Gen was deputy commander.
• A nearly transparent streak of light struck a Mist Chunin squad leader, who then stabbed and killed his three Genin subordinates.
• The squad leader absorbed their souls and lifespans, then used a clone to stab himself through the heart, allowing his soul to flee.

Uchiha Gen began harvesting Hidden Mist Ninja souls as a daily routine while Obito Uchiha planned to lure him away from the Konoha camp and take his eyes. Obito reinforced his control over Yagura and prepared to begin the operation against Uchiha Gen.

• Uchiha Gen decided to harvest a set number of Hidden Mist Ninja souls each month, and a week passed without the increased casualties drawing notice.
• Obito Uchiha and Tobi questioned White Zetsu about Uchiha Gen, learning he had become Konoha's deputy commander and was guarded in camp by a Summoning Beast.
• Obito rejected a plan to lure Uchiha Gen out using stolen chakra and proposed sending a White Zetsu disguised as a Konoha Anbu bearing a special order.
• Obito chose Red Moon Lake as the place to ambush Uchiha Gen and take his eyes, then tightened his control over Yagura.
• Obito and Tobi launched their operation against Uchiha Gen one day later.