Recaps

Shin visited Kushina in Orochimaru’s laboratory, told her Minato was caught between the village and her, and exploited her desperation to escape. The cage bars suddenly bent open, and Shin pulled Kushina into his arms.

• Kushina waited in her cage, hoping Minato would come rescue her, until Shin arrived.
• Shin told Kushina that the Fourth Raikage had escaped and suggested Minato had endangered the village because of her.
• Kushina asked Shin to let her out, and he reminded her of their past while touching her despite her fear.
• Kushina guided Shin’s hand and pleaded again, and the cage bars bent apart without him touching them.
• Shin pulled Kushina into his arms and said he would warm her up.

Samui and Mabui found Yugito after she learned that Killer B had become the Fifth Raikage and the Fourth Raikage intended to stay in Konoha. As Shikaku helped evacuate civilians during the prison riot, Orochimaru confronted and killed him.

• Samui and Mabui woke Yugito, who learned that Killer B was the Fifth Raikage and that the Fourth Raikage was wreaking havoc in Konoha.
• A freed prisoner attacked a mother and child, but Shikaku killed him and sent them to a shelter.
• Shikaku continued evacuating civilians and reassured them that Minato would defeat the enemy.
• Orochimaru confronted Shikaku and accused him of doing too little for Minato.
• A second Orochimaru stabbed Shikaku through the heart, and Shikaku died thinking of Minato.

Kamado and the Anbu hunted disguised White Zetsu in Konoha while the Fourth Raikage battled Hiruzen Sarutobi. Minato found Kushina at Orochimaru's Laboratory and, suspecting Orochimaru had harmed her, took her away to somewhere safe.

• Kamado killed a villager who transformed into a White Zetsu, then sealed away its corpse as he and Kakashi continued on.
• Hyuga Clan Anbu identified and executed White Zetsu hiding among the villagers in the shelter, using a method Shin had provided.
• The Fourth Raikage rampaged through Konoha, and Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to stop him while ordering other ninjas to stay back.
• Minato found Kushina outside Orochimaru's Laboratory, and they embraced as she tearfully said she wanted to leave Konoha with him.
• Minato noticed red marks on Kushina's neck and suspected Orochimaru had harmed her, but Kushina said she had escaped while he was away.
• Minato chose not to question Kushina further and took her away to somewhere safe.

Shin found that Orochimaru had transferred his powerful new body into Anko and escaped, leaving behind a message about the fear he inspired. As Konoha’s battle against the Raikage intensified and Minato faced a shadowy figure that stirred his hatred, Minato and Orochimaru finally spotted each other.

• Shin discovered Anko in Orochimaru’s body-making chamber, caught her when she emerged, and carried her out after hearing Orochimaru say he had spared him to keep him afraid.
• Ayari worried about Shin as rain fell, while Inoichi and Choza found Shikaku’s corpse and Choza charged at the Third Raikage in grief and fury.
• Tsunade blocked the Raikage’s attack on Choza and, with Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi, confronted him; Tsunade treated Choza after the Raikage injured him.
• Minato returned Kushina home, removed her Sealing Jutsu, and left to help defend Konoha after promising they would marry when he returned.
• A black-robed figure rose from Minato’s shadow and urged him to hate those who had taken the Hokage position and Kushina from him.
• Minato saw Orochimaru standing in the street below, and the two recognized each other.

Minato confronted Orochimaru over Kushina and Shikaku, but Orochimaru countered his Flying Thunder God and summoned the First and Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation. Minato faced the legendary former Hokage as Orochimaru urged them to kill him.

• Minato attacked Orochimaru with a Rasengan, but Orochimaru appeared unharmed and revealed he had survived the blow.
• Minato scattered marked kunai to use Flying Thunder God, but Orochimaru used Sealing Jutsu and other techniques to disable the markings.
• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama and Tobirama with Impure World Reincarnation and claimed Minato was a traitor bringing chaos to Konoha.
• Tobirama questioned Orochimaru about the situation, then agreed to kill Minato after sensing Konoha was in trouble.
• Orochimaru warned Tobirama that he was not at his peak, and Tobirama demanded that Orochimaru address him as Lord Second Hokage.

Minato fought Tobirama while Orochimaru accused him of helping the Fourth Raikage escape, but Hashirama trusted Minato and refused to intervene. Tsunade arrived, reunited with her grandfathers, and Hashirama announced that they would witness a trial to determine who was guilty and innocent, while Orochimaru hinted at bringing in more witnesses.

• Minato and Tobirama battled through the rain, with Tobirama using powerful water techniques and countering Minato’s Flying Thunder God.
• Hashirama told Orochimaru that he trusted Minato and would not fight on the Fourth Hokage’s behalf, while Orochimaru realized Hashirama was beyond his control.
• Tobirama learned that Minato was Jiraiya’s student and questioned why he opposed the Hokage; Minato challenged whether a Hokage was always right.
• Hashirama blocked Tsunade’s attack, and Tsunade recognized her grandfather before Tobirama joined them and explained Orochimaru had summoned them with his forbidden technique.
• Orochimaru accused Minato of releasing the Fourth Raikage, but Minato denied it and said he had been with the Third Hokage and Shikaku.
• Hashirama proposed that he and Tobirama serve as witnesses in a trial, and Orochimaru agreed while suggesting they invite more witnesses.

Hashirama and Tobirama took charge of Konoha’s crisis, summoned its leaders to a sealed conference, and promised to determine who was guilty and innocent. Tobirama opened the inquiry by asking how the imprisoned Fourth Raikage had escaped, prompting Shin to look toward Orochimaru.

• Tobirama rebuked Sarutobi for Konoha’s condition, while Tsunade admitted she had smashed Hokage Rock.
• Hashirama and Tobirama agreed to investigate the village’s turmoil, and Hashirama asked Minato to summon everyone relevant.
• Shin secretly sent Hyuga Kiyomi on an errand before joining Orochimaru, Sarutobi, the Senju brothers, Minato, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Inoichi, and Fugaku in the conference room.
• Hashirama and Tobirama questioned Fugaku and Shin about their roles as clan heads, then Tobirama sealed the room so no one could leave before the matter was resolved.
• Tobirama began the inquiry by asking how the imprisoned Fourth Raikage had escaped, and Shin glanced at Orochimaru.

After the Fourth Raikage died and the rebellion was crushed, a meeting in the Hokage's Office turned into a confrontation over Nara Shikaku's death and the prison riot. Orochimaru summoned Kakashi Hatake as a witness, while Shin's control over the evidence and Anbu remained hidden.

• Anbu posing as Hokage's men took custody of the rebels and killed them, while another Anbu team entered Konoha Prison to erase witnesses.
• At the meeting, Tobirama questioned Minato about the seal on the Raikage and learned that Nara Shikaku was dead.
• Orochimaru admitted that he had killed Shikaku because he suspected him of planning the riot, provoking Sarutobi and Minato.
• Hashirama stopped Minato from attacking Orochimaru with a burst of Chakra and ordered everyone to continue the meeting peacefully.
• Tsunade left to find surviving prison guards or prisoners, while Inoichi secretly told Minato that they still had evidence against Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru asked for Kakashi Hatake to be summoned as a witness.

Kakashi testified that Nara Shikaku had plotted against Orochimaru, prompting Minato to openly declare his intent to kill the Fourth Hokage. Hashirama paused the heated meeting, and when it resumed, Kakashi offered to reveal what he had uncovered about Orochimaru.

• Kakashi testified that Shikaku had asked him to spy on Shin and Minato and gather evidence for a plan to kill Orochimaru and install Minato as Hokage.
• Minato admitted he had not firmly rejected Shikaku’s plan and declared that he would kill Orochimaru, leading Tobirama to threaten him before Hashirama calmed the room.
• Hashirama questioned whether Hiruzen had supported Shikaku’s scheme, and Orochimaru angrily challenged Hiruzen’s claims of a teacher-student bond.
• Hashirama called a break, while Tobirama admitted to Hashirama that returning to the Living World had made him reluctant to leave it again.
• During the break, Orochimaru offered Tsunade a chance to see Nawaki, then warned that seeing him might make Nawaki long for the Living World.
• After the meeting resumed, Kakashi said he had uncovered things about Orochimaru and asked Hashirama for permission to reveal them.

Tobirama and Hashirama confronted Orochimaru over a scroll accusing him of crimes against Konoha, including passing intelligence to Iwagakure during the war. Orochimaru admitted the accusation and surrendered the Naruto position, while Hashirama questioned Minato about his role in the prison riot and his qualifications to succeed.

• Kakashi presented Hashirama with a scroll detailing Orochimaru’s alleged crimes, including Danzo’s execution, human experiments, and the deaths of thousands of Konoha ninja.
• Orochimaru challenged the evidence, revealed that the meeting was being manipulated, and restrained Tobirama with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru admitted that he had passed intelligence to Iwagakure to gain fame, and Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that Orochimaru had done it because he had been sidelined in favor of Minato.
• Orochimaru said he was willing to give up the Naruto position, but Hashirama declared that no one he had met was qualified to succeed him.
• Hashirama questioned Minato about when he learned of the prison riot and whether he understood he had benefited from it; Minato admitted he did not object to Hashirama’s judgment that he lacked the qualifications.

Orochimaru, Minato, and the Third Hokage left the ruined Hokage’s Office to fight at Hokage Rock while Shin arranged protection for the villagers. When the villagers demanded answers, Hashirama called the Fourth Hokage a traitor, and Shin accused both Orochimaru and Minato of betraying Konoha, leaving the crowd in uproar.

• Orochimaru destroyed the Hokage’s Office and fled toward Hokage Rock on a giant python, with Minato and the Third Hokage pursuing him.
• Hashirama freed Tobirama from his seal, and Shin sent Kamado to protect villagers from the battle.
• Tsunade told Hashirama and Tobirama that her brother Nawaki had died at twelve and had been Orochimaru’s student.
• Villagers gathered at the ruins and asked Hashirama whether the Fourth Hokage was a traitor and whether Minato had released the prisoners and Raikage.
• Hashirama called the Fourth Hokage a traitor, and Shin told the crowd that Orochimaru and Minato had endangered Konoha and that Minato had orchestrated the prison riot.

After Shin left to take over the village’s affairs, Tobirama urged Hashirama to stop Shin from leading Konoha and tried to make Tsunade Hokage. Hashirama rebuked Tobirama for trying to control her and vowed to purge Konoha’s darkness himself.

• Hashirama praised Shin’s influence, and Shin left the two criminals to him so he could handle the village’s affairs.
• Tobirama asked Hashirama whether he would let Shin lead Konoha and proposed Tsunade as a better candidate.
• Tsunade refused, and Hashirama reprimanded Tobirama for treating others as people he could control.
• Hashirama recognized how Tobirama’s fixation on Konoha had been intensified by his return through Impure World Reincarnation.
• Hashirama declared that he would personally purge all the darkness threatening Konoha.

Orochimaru fought Hiruzen Sarutobi and Namikaze Minato atop Hokage Rock, surviving their coordinated attacks and escaping Enma’s grasp with a body replacement. He remained unharmed and challenged them as the battle continued.

• Orochimaru taunted Hiruzen Sarutobi, who asked Minato to restrain him while Enma joined the fight.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God and a Rasengan to attack Orochimaru, but Orochimaru bound him with the Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal and nearly struck him with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Minato escaped the seal, marked Orochimaru by gripping his shoulder, and later teleported behind him to slam a Rasengan into his back.
• Enma caught Orochimaru and snapped all four of his limbs, but Orochimaru shed his ruined body and emerged fully healed from a white creature.
• Orochimaru made the Flying Thunder God mark on his shoulder disappear and sneered that the attacks were not enough.

Kushina learned that Minato had been declared a traitor and that Shin was offering to spare his life if she stayed obediently in Konoha. As Kakashi explained the situation, Kushina weighed her choices and the danger awaiting her.

• Kushina opened the door expecting Minato but found Kakashi, who said he had come to protect her.
• Kakashi and Guy told Kushina that Minato had been branded a traitor and stopped her from leaving to find him.
• Kakashi took Kushina inside and explained that Orochimaru had also been removed from office and that the First and Second Hokage were in Konoha.
• Kakashi warned Kushina that the Nine-Tails could not help Minato escape and relayed Shin's offer to spare Minato if she stayed in the village.
• Kushina asked whether Shin had threatened Kakashi, and Kakashi explained that Orochimaru had pressured him while Shin had offered help in exchange for a Sealing Jutsu called Kite.
• Kushina considered her special position as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the danger she would face from Shin in the future.

Minato, Enma, and Hiruzen trapped Orochimaru with sealing and earth techniques, but his White Zetsu allies repeatedly healed him. Hiruzen used the Reaper Death Seal to take Orochimaru’s soul, only for Orochimaru to reveal he had prepared a countermeasure and leave Hiruzen to collapse.

• Minato unleashed a Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, and the White Zetsu attached to Orochimaru healed his wounds again.
• Minato bound Orochimaru with the Four Violet Flames Formation, and Hiruzen raised walls and stone pillars to trap him.
• Enma destroyed White Zetsu that emerged from the stone as Hiruzen began the Reaper Death Seal.
• Hiruzen pulled Orochimaru’s soul from his body, but Orochimaru remained conscious and said he had prepared a countermeasure.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen to fall into hell with an incomplete fragment of his soul, and Hiruzen collapsed.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died and Orochimaru escaped in spirit form, the poisoned Minato went to Kushina and tried to leave Konoha with her. Hashirama agreed to investigate Minato’s case, while Kakashi carried a warning back to Hyuga Shin.

• Orochimaru split from his failing body and escaped as a streak of light, while Minato collapsed from the poison spreading through his leg.
• Hashirama and Tobirama arrived, found Hiruzen and Orochimaru’s bodies, and saw Minato teleport away using the Flying Thunder God.
• Minato reunited with Kushina and proposed that they leave Konoha, marry, and name their child Naruto; Kushina accepted, but Minato began coughing blood.
• Kakashi, Guy, Maruboshi Kosuke, and Might Duy arrived, and Kushina told Minato that Hyuga Shin had promised to protect them.
• Tobirama entered and condemned Minato, but Kakashi cited Shin’s request for a thorough investigation, and Hashirama let Kushina take Minato to the hospital.
• Hashirama told Kakashi to inform Hyuga Shin that he would investigate the case and warned that he would not forgive anyone who treated villagers as tools for power and profit.

While Namikaze Minato underwent surgery, Hashirama spoke with Kushina about her life as a Jinchuriki and her memories of Minato. Tobirama learned about Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, and Hyuga Shin’s growing influence, then ended the night alone, feeling he had no place in Konoha.

• Hashirama asked Kushina about becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and about Minato while they waited outside the operating room.
• Tobirama visited Biwako, who explained Hiruzen’s struggles and how he had shifted his hopes for Naruto from Orochimaru to Namikaze Minato.
• Tobirama met Asuma and spoke with Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Torifu Akimichi about Konoha’s history and Hyuga Shin’s power.
• The elders told Tobirama that Hyuga Shin controlled the Anbu, held influence across the village, and had no serious rival for becoming Naruto.
• After leaving the Sarutobi home, Tobirama wandered to the Third Hokage Rock and looked over Konoha, feeling that he had nowhere to belong.

At a meeting in the Hyuga compound, Hyuga Shin revealed the truth about the prison riot and the deaths of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Namikaze Minato. As Konoha’s ninja debated who should become Fifth Hokage, Shin proposed that the villagers elect their leader.

• Senju Hashirama arrived at the Hyuga compound, where Hyuga Shin had gathered Konoha’s chunin and higher-ranking ninja.
• Shin recounted the prison riot and said Hiruzen Sarutobi had died defeating Orochimaru, while Namikaze Minato and Nara Shikaku had orchestrated the riot and Minato had confessed.
• Hashirama urged the village to unite and recover from the damage caused by the Raikage.
• When the ninja asked who should become Fifth Hokage, Hashirama said Konoha needed a new leader and that he could not decide alone.
• Shin agreed that the Hokage should have the people’s support and proposed a village-wide election.

Hyuga Shin proposed letting the villagers elect the Hokage, winning support from the assembled ninja and clan heads. Hashirama reflected on the proposal, then spoke with Tsunade about the costs of pursuing the Hokage’s office and the crimes of Orochimaru before gambling with her.

• Hyuga Shin proposed that the villagers choose the Hokage, and the gathered ninja and clan heads supported the idea.
• Hashirama agreed with Shin’s proposal as the crowd shared their hopes with him after the meeting.
• Hashirama visited Tsunade and asked whether she hated the idea of becoming Hokage.
• Tsunade told Hashirama that Shizune’s uncle and her grandson Nawaki had died wanting to become Hokage, and Hashirama defended the value of their service to the village.
• Hashirama said Orochimaru should be held accountable for killing thousands, and Tsunade agreed he deserved execution.
• Tsunade invited Hashirama to gamble, and Shizune found them playing while preparing for the Third Hokage’s funeral.

Minato woke to find himself sealed and treated as a criminal, while Kushina sought help from Ayari to protect him. Ayari’s water broke as Kushina pleaded with her, leaving the household facing an urgent birth.

• Minato woke in the hospital and learned that the village considered him a traitor and that he would be placed in solitary confinement.
• After the Anbu took Minato away, Kushina asked Mikoto to help her plead his case to Ayari.
• Kushina and Mikoto visited Ayari at the Hyuga Clan Compound, where Kushina explained Minato’s situation and begged Ayari to intervene with Shin.
• As Ayari tried to help Kushina up from her knees, she felt pain and her water broke.

Shin waited anxiously as Ayari gave birth, then welcomed their son, Neji Hyuga, and named him the future head of the Hyuga Clan. Kushina held Neji and, grieving over her lost hopes with Minato, softly said his name alongside Naruto’s.

• Ayano told Shin that Kushina and Mikoto had arrived, but an Anbu soon announced that Ayari was about to give birth.
• Shin rushed to the Hyuga delivery room, where doctors kept him outside as Ayari went through labor.
• After a baby’s cry announced the birth, Shin held his newborn son and hurried to Ayari’s bedside.
• Shin named the boy Neji Hyuga and declared he would become the next Hyuga Clan head.
• Mikoto and Kushina took turns holding Neji, and Kushina tearfully murmured both Neji’s name and Naruto’s.

Kushina pleaded with Shin to protect Minato from punishment and secure his release, while Shin used her fear and dependence to pressure and humiliate her. The chapter ended with Kushina asking Shin for help and him saying it depended on how she performed.

• After Ayari and the child fell asleep, Shin continued working in the courtyard while Kushina waited for him.
• Kushina asked Shin to keep Minato safe and wanted to know when he would be released from prison.
• Shin said Minato would remain imprisoned until the village had recovered and people had stopped talking about the incident.
• Shin pulled Kushina onto his lap and warned that Minato might suffer punishment, leaving her desperate to protect him.
• Kushina begged Shin to help her, and Shin told her it depended on how she performed.

Shin secured Lord Gen’s reluctant acceptance of a village election in which Konoha’s villagers would recommend candidates for the daimyo to appoint. He then challenged Hashirama’s belief that a Hokage should be ready to die for the village, declaring that he would make Konoha strong enough to avoid such sacrifices.

• Shin informed Lord Gen that Hashirama and Tobirama were in Konoha, prompting the daimyo to visit and meet Hashirama.
• When Lord Gen asked Hashirama who should become Fifth Hokage, Hashirama proposed letting villagers elect their leader, and Shin framed the process as villagers recommending candidates for the daimyo’s approval.
• After Lord Gen left, Shin showed Hashirama his election rules, and Hashirama questioned whether Shin could be a good Hokage and would give his life for Konoha.
• Shin argued that a leader should build a prosperous, powerful village rather than glorify sacrifice, and said he would put his own life first because only he could lead Konoha.
• Shin admitted the election proposal was a show designed to secure his position, insisted that Hashirama could not defeat him without force, and declared that he would make Konoha greater than ever.

Hashirama considered whether Hyuga Shin could lead Konoha toward lasting peace, while Tobirama refused to leave and sought a way to revive the dead. As Shin prepared for the Hokage election and spent time with his family, he wondered whether Naruto would still be born, and Itachi told Mikoto about seeing Shin touch Natsu's butt.

• Hashirama told Tobirama that Shin might forge a new path for Konoha, and said it was time for them to go.
• Tobirama refused to leave, explaining that Orochimaru's research might eventually make it possible to revive the dead.
• Shin released the finalized Hokage election procedures as spies arrived in Konoha and other clans sought his favor.
• Shin visited Ayari, Mikoto, Itachi, and newborn Neji, then wondered whether he could help bring Naruto into the world.
• Itachi told Mikoto that Shin had touched Natsu's butt, and Mikoto warned him not to tell anyone or imitate Shin.

Tsunade told Shin that Senju Hashirama had died, and Shin became the Fifth Hokage after winning more than ninety-five percent of the vote. As he addressed the celebrating village, a dried snakeskin shed fell before him, and an eagle disappeared into the sky.

• Tsunade told Shin that Senju Hashirama was gone and said Senju Tobirama remained in the village.
• Shin considered enlisting Senju Tobirama to help with Orochimaru's research and his Tenseigan project.
• Konoha held a three-day Hokage election, and Shin received more than ninety-five percent of the votes.
• Kamado told Shin that he had become the Fifth Hokage, and Shin left home to address the villagers.
• Shin used the Mirage Effect to project himself above the square, but a dried snakeskin shed fell before him as an eagle flew away.