Chapter Summaries

Masahiko reunited with Iko and the Uzumaki Clan after returning to Konoha, then announced Tobirama was alive but needed months to recover. He became Acting Hokage and ordered the Uzumaki Clan compound disbanded, leaving the clan to establish its own country while preserving its alliance with Konoha.

• Hitomi accidentally knocked Masahiko down, then mistook him for his deceased teacher until Iko recognized Masahiko and embraced him.
• Masahiko told Iko and Hitomi about recent events and accepted responsibility for Ashina's death, while Iko insisted she was also at fault.
• After Konoha's clan representatives gathered, Masahiko announced Tobirama was alive but needed six months to a year to recover, and named himself Acting Hokage.
• Masahiko ordered the Uzumaki Clan compound in Konoha disbanded and said the clan would establish its own country after Tobirama recovered, while keeping its alliance with Konoha.
• Hiruzen rejoiced that Sensei was alive, while Danzo concealed his disappointment at the news.

Masahiko took charge of Konoha as Acting Hokage, discussed the village’s enemies and Sunagakure’s treaty with the elders, then assigned them mission requests to review. He ended the day reading reports about conflicts and emerging leaders across the ninja world, pleased with the work of being Hokage.

• Masahiko sorted the mission requests into piles and met with the three elders to discuss Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha’s next steps.
• The elders advised delaying retaliation against Kumogakure, and Masahiko revealed that Mu had also fought them and pledged to settle the score later.
• Masahiko gave the elders a weapon blueprint and ordered them to request the materials Konoha lacked from Sunagakure as part of the alliance negotiations.
• Masahiko assigned the elders the C-, B-, and A-Rank mission requests, pressuring Uchiha Izumiya and the Hyuga Clan Head to take on the work.
• Masahiko reviewed reports about unrest in the Land of Rivers, Takigakure seizing the Seven-Tails, and Hanzō becoming leader of Amegakure.
• Masahiko returned to his desk and decided that being Hokage did not feel too bad.

Acting Hokage Masahiko handled complaints, Sunagakure’s reparations, and news of Hatake Sakumo’s impending graduation. After learning that Sakumo was Yuna’s rival at school, Masahiko decided he might try to play matchmaker.

• The Nara Clan Head brought Masahiko another complaint and warned him to treat Fire Country officials politely, while Masahiko brushed off his advice.
• The Nara Clan Head reported that Sunagakure had delivered war reparations, and Masahiko ordered Konoha to gather blacksmiths while dismissing concerns about the One-Tail.
• The Nara Clan Head told Masahiko that seven-year-old Hatake Sakumo was expected to pass the Ninja Academy graduation assessment, prompting Masahiko to ask whether Might Duy attended the school.
• Yuna visited Masahiko after skipping class and asked him to teach her powerful ninjutsu so she could beat the white-haired boy in her class.
• Yuna learned Sakumo was applying for graduation and rushed off to apply too, while Masahiko considered arranging a match between them.

Masahiko checked on Konoha’s Chakra Dispersal Cannon project before learning that Tobirama had recovered enough to return as Hokage. Masahiko handed the office back to him and left Konoha to establish Uzumaki’s country, deciding that the clan would not join the coming war.

• Masahiko visited the Weapon Department, where Kenji said the first Chakra Dispersal Cannon was nearly complete, and urged the researchers to improve its size and Chakra requirements.
• A Slug told Masahiko that Tobirama had insisted on returning to Konoha despite not being fully recovered.
• Tobirama appeared at the Hokage Office Building less than an hour later, surprising Masahiko and dismissing the Anbu guards.
• Masahiko returned the Hokage position to Tobirama and said he would leave to establish Uzumaki’s country.
• Masahiko told Tobirama that Uzumaki would not take part in the coming war, then left Konoha for Uzumaki.

Masahiko returned to the Uzumaki Clan and found Gensuke had built a grand palace while preparing to establish the Land of Whirlpools. He put Iko in charge of the clan, preserved his old home as a memento, and watched the country’s founding without gaining any Witness Points.

• Masahiko returned to the Uzumaki Clan with the last group of clan members from Konoha and found a palace and new buildings around the compound.
• Masahiko learned that Gensuke had demolished his old house and built the palace, then told Gensuke to become Daimyo and appointed Iko Clan Head.
• Masahiko repaired and sealed his old house as a memento, then decided to live by the sea in the northeast of the Land of Whirlpools.
• At the beginning of Konoha Year 14, Gensuke announced the establishment of the Land of Whirlpools, but Masahiko received no Witness Points for it.

As the Land of Whirlpools celebrated its founding, Black Zetsu investigated the effects of Masahiko’s cells and considered using them to aid Kaguya’s revival. Masahiko settled into his new home and planned his training, wary that saving Tobirama had reduced his chances of gaining Witness Points.

• Masahiko reflected on the Land of Whirlpools’ prosperity during its Mask Festival and vowed to protect it from destruction.
• Black Zetsu told Uchiha Madara that Uzumaki Masahiko could perform the Rebirth Technique, but Madara could not make him do it.
• Black Zetsu tested White Zetsu implanted with Hashirama’s and Masahiko’s cells, and the Masahiko-cell subject defeated its opponents.
• Black Zetsu concluded that Masahiko’s cells had become far more powerful after witnessing his battle and considered using enhanced subjects to help unseal Kaguya.
• After the festival, Masahiko confirmed the Eight Inner Gates’ side effects had ended and resolved to train while conserving his Witness Points.

After ten years of seclusion, Masahiko discovered that his elemental training had hit a mortal limit, though he believed reaching Yang Release level nine could break it. He gained fifty Witness Points for his role in changing the First Great Ninja War, which had ended with the Five Great Nations still intact, but he no longer knew where to find more points.

• Masahiko tested his eighth-level elemental abilities, imitating several Rinnegan techniques and greatly amplifying his ninjutsu, but found some abilities limited or impractical.
• Masahiko examined his Attribute Panel and realized his five elemental natures had stopped improving despite two years of training.
• Masahiko considered whether experiments like Orochimaru's could break the human body's limits, then suspected level-nine Yang Release might grant him a Sage Body.
• Masahiko received fifty Witness Points for helping alter the First Great Ninja War by saving Tobirama.
• Masahiko recounted how Konoha had defeated Kumogakure and how Amegakure, Takigakure, and Kusagakure had failed to challenge the Five Great Nations.
• Masahiko worried that, without his foreknowledge of the story, he no longer knew where to obtain Witness Points.

Masahiko reflected on how his changes to history had spared the Uchiha and Orochimaru’s parents, while familiar future generations continued to be born. Yuna showed him her new chakra-powered hand cannon, and Tsunade brought Jiraiya and Orochimaru to meet him, leaving Masahiko intent on teaching Jiraiya manners.

• Masahiko considered how saving Kagami Uchiha and Tobirama had changed the future, including the survival of Orochimaru’s parents and the loss of possible Witness Points.
• Masahiko recalled the births of Uchiha Fugaku, the Hyuga Brothers, Uchiha Mikoto, and Ino-Shika-Cho, and hoped the story had not completely changed.
• Yuna returned with Senju Michiyama and showed Masahiko her new hand cannon, whose recoil knocked him to the ground.
• Tsunade arrived with Nawaki, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru so they could meet Masahiko.
• Jiraiya rudely dismissed Masahiko and the visit, prompting Masahiko to decide that Jiraiya needed manners training.

Masahiko reunited with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, teasing Jiraiya with his powers before learning they had come with a message from Tobirama. He tried to draw Orochimaru toward his research on bodily limits and immortality, but refused when Orochimaru asked for his blood.

• Masahiko caught Jiraiya in midair, repeatedly dropped and lifted him, and showed Tsunade and Orochimaru how Jiraiya had used clones and a decapitation technique to escape.
• Jiraiya finally called Masahiko Great-Grandfather after Tsunade explained their relationship, but Masahiko sent him on another airborne ride when he called him an old monster.
• Tsunade told Masahiko that her teacher had brought them on a caravan-escort mission to the Land of Whirlpools and that Nawaki was traveling with Yuna and two Anbu.
• Tsunade said her teacher had a message from Tobirama, so Masahiko went with her while Jiraiya followed and Orochimaru walked behind with him.
• Masahiko explained that his technique required extreme Lightning and Earth Release training, then asked Orochimaru if he desired immortality; Orochimaru requested Masahiko's blood, and Masahiko refused.

Masahiko and his companions arrived at Uzu Ninja Village, where Nanako told him her granddaughter had been born and named Uzumaki Kushina. Masahiko abandoned his plan to meet Hiruzen and hurried to see the newborn, leaving Jiraiya behind.

• Masahiko brought Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to Uzu Ninja Village and recalled how he had designed its villas.
• Nanako told Masahiko that her granddaughter had been born, and he learned the baby was named Uzumaki Kushina.
• Masahiko decided to visit Kushina before seeing Hiruzen, while Tsunade and Orochimaru followed him and Jiraiya was left behind.
• Hiruzen found Jiraiya alone and asked where Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Masahiko had gone.

Masahiko worried that Kushina’s new status as the Land of Whirlpools’ princess would keep her from going to Konoha, so he traveled there with Hiruzen and the others. Tobirama greeted him at the Hokage Office Building and said he had called him to meet an old acquaintance.

• Masahiko sensed Hiruzen and Jiraiya in prison, where Hiruzen explained that he had been caught peeping at the women’s bathhouse.
• Masahiko agreed to accompany Hiruzen to Konoha after learning that Tobirama had an urgent secret matter for him.
• Yuna stayed behind to work on the Hand Cannon, while Masahiko took a Sealing Scroll and departed with Hiruzen, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Nawaki, and Jiraiya.
• Masahiko flew the group to Konoha and landed at the Hokage Office Building as villagers and ninja watched.
• Tobirama told Masahiko that he had called him to introduce an old acquaintance.

Masahiko discovered that Tobirama had resumed human experimentation and used Impure World Reincarnation to bring Hashirama back. After learning that Hashirama had seen Madara in the Afterlife, Masahiko tried to reach it with Chakra but realized the place he sensed might not be the Afterlife Tobirama meant.

• Masahiko followed Tobirama into his restored human experimentation facility, where he found captured ninjas held in prison cells.
• Tobirama summoned Hashirama with Impure World Reincarnation, and Hashirama attacked with Wood Style before recognizing Masahiko.
• Hashirama told Masahiko that he had seen his father and Madara in the Afterlife, while Tobirama argued with him about Madara and the village.
• Masahiko decided that learning Impure World Reincarnation could help him revive Hashirama someday and asked Tobirama how the technique worked.
• Masahiko tried to connect to the Afterlife with Chakra, but after using seventy percent of his supply without reaching it, he wondered which Afterlife he had sensed.

After dispelling the Impure World Reincarnation, Tobirama asked Masahiko to help choose Konoha’s Third Hokage. Masahiko argued for Hiruzen over Danzo, and Tobirama ended by teasing him about his preference.

• Tobirama dispelled the Impure World Reincarnation, and Masahiko suspected the Sage of Six Paths had blocked his connection to the Afterlife.
• Tobirama told Masahiko that Konoha needed to choose a Third Hokage within two years and explained his doubts about Hiruzen and Danzo.
• Masahiko suggested that Danzo could assist Hiruzen, then discussed the other candidates and argued that a Hokage needed public approval as well as strength.
• Tobirama explained Danzo’s exceptional Wind Release talent and said it might rival his own Water Release.
• Masahiko insisted that Hiruzen was more suitable, and Tobirama teased him for seeming to dislike Danzo.

Masahiko returned to Konoha and discussed the Third Hokage candidates with Mito, who favored Sarutobi Hiruzen because Danzo harbored more malice. The Hyuga Clan Head then asked Masahiko to take Hiashi and Hizashi as disciples, but Masahiko expelled the three after learning the clan head only wanted him to teach them the basics.

• Masahiko returned to Konoha and considered whether Nagato might have been born in the Uzumaki Clan and could become his disciple.
• Masahiko asked Mito whom she favored for Third Hokage, and she said Sarutobi Hiruzen because Danzo harbored more malice.
• Mito told Masahiko that Nawaki seemed kind and reminded her of Hashirama, while she could not sense Masahiko's thoughts.
• The Hyuga Clan Head brought his grandsons, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, and asked Masahiko to accept them as disciples.
• Masahiko asked the Hyuga Clan Head to send him the Gentle Fist techniques, but the clan head said he would teach them himself.
• Masahiko floated the Hyuga Clan Head and the two boys out of the guest room after realizing the elder only wanted him to teach them basic skills.

Masahiko dealt dice for Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru before teaching Hyuga brothers Hiashi and Hizashi the Gentle Fist Basics. After recognizing the forms as similar to Tai Chi and practicing them, he found Gentle Fist had appeared on his Attribute Panel, leaving him wondering if gentle techniques suited him better than high-speed taijutsu.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru played dice while Masahiko dealt, and Tsunade eventually won after the dice changed when they hit the floor.
• Tsunade asked about Hiashi and Hizashi, and Masahiko said they were his disciples who were practicing Chakra refinement.
• Masahiko looked through Gentle Fist Basics and recognized its forms as resembling Twenty-Four Form Yang Style Tai Chi.
• Masahiko practiced the Gentle Fist forms and told Hiashi and Hizashi to return the next day for more training.
• Masahiko noticed Gentle Fist LV1 on his Attribute Panel and wondered whether an old man like him suited gentle techniques better.

Masahiko learned that Tobirama planned to hold Joint Jonin Exams in Konoha the following year and agreed to help prepare them. He planned to return to Uzumaki to find young candidates for the exams and left Tobirama worried about the difficulty of his test questions.

• Masahiko asked Tobirama when Konoha would choose the Third Hokage, and Tobirama said an election would take place in a couple of years.
• Masahiko decided to return to Uzumaki, but Tobirama showed him a scroll announcing Joint Jonin Exams for March of Year 25 of Konoha.
• Tobirama explained that Konoha would invite most hidden villages and hoped Tsunade, Jiraiya, and a promoted Might Duy would help secure victory.
• Masahiko agreed that Uzumaki should participate and offered to create unexpected mission scenarios for the written exam.
• Tobirama warned Masahiko not to make the questions too difficult, then regretted asking him to help.

In Year 25 of Konoha, Masahiko trained young ninja for the upcoming Jonin Exams before meeting Chiyo and her Sunagakure delegation. The arrival of a lone Kirigakure ninja left Masahiko curious about the newcomer.

• Masahiko intensified Jiraiya's taijutsu training while Tsunade and three Uzumaki youths sparred ahead of the Jonin Exams.
• Hatake Sakumo summoned Masahiko to meet Tobirama, who was receiving Chiyo and three Sunagakure Chunin.
• Masahiko and Chiyo recognized each other and recalled their meeting in the Land of Wind twenty-five years earlier.
• Masahiko recognized Chiyo's young companions as the future parents of Sasori of the Red Sands, though he did not recognize the dark-blue-haired young man.
• An Anbu reported that a Kirigakure ninja had arrived alone, and Tobirama ordered him brought in.

Masahiko and Tobirama discussed threats facing the joint Jonin examination, including Sunagakure’s powerful Misa and the arrival of Takigakure’s acting Takikage. They discovered that Kakuzu had become Takigakure’s leader and agreed to let him leave after he offered the village’s mercenary services to Konoha.

• Masahiko and Tobirama discussed Hozuki Hangetsu and Misa, whose abilities could threaten Konoha’s taijutsu fighters in the examination.
• Masahiko suggested teaching the children trump cards, and Tobirama told him that Takigakure’s acting Takikage would be attending.
• When the Takikage arrived, Kakuzu identified Tobirama and Masahiko by their names and bounties, then explained that Takigakure had hired him.
• Kakuzu announced that Takigakure would be his village and offered its services for war and assassination commissions.
• Masahiko persuaded Tobirama to let Kakuzu leave, saying Konoha might find his strength and nerve useful.

Masahiko prepared Tsunade, Jiraiya, and three Uzumaki clan members for the Joint Jonin Exams by teaching them special techniques. He gave Tsunade and Jiraiya powerful chakra seals, while realizing that Gai could not use the weapon he had brought for him.

• Masahiko warned Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the three Uzumaki clan members about the strong opponents they would face, especially Sunagakure's Magnet Release user.
• Masahiko taught the three Uzumaki clan members several sealing methods he had developed, then gave Gai a Hand Cannon before discovering that Gai had no Chakra and taking it back.
• Masahiko sealed one-third of his Chakra into a Diamond Mark on Tsunade's forehead and some of his Sage Mode Chakra into an Eight Trigrams Seal on Jiraiya's abdomen.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya gained nearly inexhaustible Chakra and five minutes of Sage Mode, leaving Mito hopeful that they could catch up to Orochimaru.

Masahiko proctored the Jonin written assessment, whose unusual final questions left the examinees with difficult choices and bizarre answers. After grading the papers, he manipulated the combat lots, while Chiyo discussed the Red-Haired Boy’s question with him at Sunagakure’s lodgings.

• Masahiko distributed the exam papers to twenty-two Chunin and explained that the required final question could cost them points.
• Hozuki Hangetsu objected to his desert mission question, while Jiraiya submitted the answer that any mission he accepted would be completed.
• Masahiko graded the papers, giving Hozuki Hangetsu a perfect score and noting Jiraiya’s low written score and Gai’s twenty points.
• Masahiko manipulated the drawing lots to shape the combat matchups and wondered how Jiraiya would use his Sage Mode.
• The Red-Haired Boy asked Chiyo whether she could use Water Release after receiving a question about saving his mother or a client from Water Prison Techniques.
• Chiyo said the question had no clear correct answer, and the Red-Haired Boy told her he would save her first.