Chapter Summaries

Hokage Tsunade moved in with Tsunade and Shizune, then learned how Hyuga Shin had risen to power and driven Jiraiya into exile. After Tsunade warned that Hyuga Shin had his eyes on her too, Hokage Tsunade vowed to fight him rather than accept her fate.

• Hokage Tsunade followed Tsunade home and agreed to live with her and Shizune.
• Tsunade called Shizune her Master, making Shizune happy, and the two Tsunades began gambling together.
• Hokage Tsunade asked what had happened to Jiraiya, and Tsunade explained how Hyuga Shin's victory over Orochimaru's faction had killed Orochimaru and Sarutobi and made Minato a criminal.
• Tsunade revealed that Hyuga Shin had his eyes on Hokage Tsunade, who crushed her dice and vowed to make him pay even if she could not defeat him.

Naruto Tsunade visited Konoha Hospital, where she stopped a badly injured young ninja from bleeding to death and learned the hospital could replace his missing hand. She considered whether working at the hospital could suit her, then rejected the thought as a retreat from her problems.

• Tsunade left home in Samui's black skirt suit to serve as His Majesty's assistant, leaving Naruto Tsunade frustrated and unsure what to do.
• Shizune explained Tsunade's role, and Naruto Tsunade decided to take Tsunade's suggestion and visit Konoha Hospital.
• Hospital staff greeted Naruto Tsunade and reminded her that she had neglected her pharmacy work and a promised Military Rations Pills project.
• Naruto Tsunade stopped staff wheeling in a badly injured teenage ninja and used Medical Ninjutsu to stop the bleeding from his severed wrist.
• Naruto Tsunade learned the hospital could give the boy a new hand, then considered working there before deciding she was not looking for a retreat.

Naruto Tsunade learned that Tsunade might soon be ordered by Hyuga Shin to harm her, and Tsunade warned that she would obey. That night, Tsunade restrained Naruto Tsunade and prepared to carry out the threatened act.

• Naruto Tsunade and Tsunade discussed how Konoha’s technological advances were changing medical care and the future of ninja.
• Tsunade told Naruto Tsunade that she might soon be ordered to harm her and would not refuse Hyuga Shin.
• Shizune served dinner, and Naruto Tsunade embarrassed her by telling her she had suggested that Kakashi spend time with her.
• After Naruto Tsunade went to bed, Tsunade entered her room, pinned her down, and began carrying out the threat.

Shizune helped Hokage Tsunade confront her loneliness and decide to remain in this world without taking over its Shizune. Tsunade escorted Shizune away, then praised her for arranging the reunion to make Hokage Tsunade happier.

• Shizune recognized Tsunade leaving Hokage Tsunade's bedroom but hesitated to ask what had happened.
• Tsunade brought Shizune to meet Hokage Tsunade, and Shizune realized she had crossed over from another world after hearing that Kakashi had become Hokage.
• Hokage Tsunade learned Shizune hoped to see Rin and asked her to stay, but Shizune argued that this world and its experiences mattered too.
• Tsunade warned Hokage Tsunade not to take over this world's Shizune, and Hokage Tsunade decided to remain in the world without harming her.
• Hokage Tsunade sent Shizune to meet Rin, and Tsunade later revealed that Shizune had acted to make Hokage Tsunade happier before praising her.

Shinichi spent time with Hyuga Natsu before visiting Rin, who had been upset by his absence. He left Rin after an intimate evening, despite her asking him to stay, while Obito had unknowingly arrived at her door during their encounter.

• Hyuga Natsu fed Shinichi dessert, questioned him about Samui, and told him Ayari wanted him to wash before coming home because he smelled of perfume.
• Samui told Shinichi that Rin had visited the front hall on official business, and he went to see Rin that evening.
• Rin greeted Shinichi coolly, but accepted his gift of a pink dress and revealing white stockings.
• While Shinichi showered and Rin changed into the outfit, Obito knocked at her door with movie tickets; Rin made an excuse, and Obito left without realizing Shinichi was inside.
• Shinichi and Rin spent the evening together, but he left when she asked him to stay the night, leaving her alone and upset.

Shinichi expanded his plans for the Empire’s technology and Ninja Guild while investigating the Sunlight Tower’s unexpected collection of ordinary souls. As he and Kabuto watched another soul arrive, the Sage of Six Paths appeared before them.

• Shinichi prepared a teleportation array to receive souls from other worlds and oversaw plans for new giant mechs, Body Forging Pods, and other technology.
• To address the Ninja Guild’s shortage of missions, Shinichi proposed lowering fees, supporting small guilds, paying qualified Rogue Ninja, and holding an Imperial Martial Arts Tournament.
• At Kabuto’s Biological Science Research Institute, a dead test subject’s soul emerged and was drawn toward the Sunlight Tower, so Kabuto reported the event to Shinichi.
• Shinichi and Kabuto found the soul confined in the hall beneath the Sunlight Tower, then saw the tower draw another soul from Konoha Hospital.
• An Anbu reported that a sixty-seven-year-old woman had died at the hospital, and the Sage of Six Paths appeared through a space-time vortex before Shinichi and Kabuto.

The Sage of Six Paths warned Hyuga Shin that Orochimaru’s endlessly multiplying soul fragments had exhausted the Shinigami and disrupted reincarnation, so Shin helped restore the flow of souls and received the power to govern it. After Shin linked the giant Tenseigan to the Temple of Samsara, a vast spatial rift appeared above Konoha, and he spotted a mysterious girl in the rain.

• The Sage of Six Paths explained that Orochimaru’s splitting soul fragments had forced the Shinigami into slumber, leaving souls without a managed path to the Pure Land.
• Shin agreed to help restore reincarnation, received the Sage’s soul-related power, and tested it by briefly separating Kabuto’s soul from his body.
• Shin named the hall the Temple of Samsara, installed a soul-transfer formula, and modified the giant Tenseigan to guide wandering souls from Earth to the Pure Land.
• A giant spatial rift appeared above the Temple of Samsara during a storm, and an Anbu reported that monsters had appeared on the moon.
• Shin approached the rift and saw a short-haired girl in a black kimono standing on a utility pole.

Kamado subdued a Hollow that appeared in the Moon's mining area, while Shin encountered Kuchiki Rukia and discovered that the Soul Society had entered the Naruto world and replaced its Pure Land. Rukia returned to the Temple of Samsara as Shin anticipated that her superiors would soon seek him out.

• Kamado defeated a giant masked monster in the Moon's mining area and ordered a report sent to Shin.
• Shin captured Kuchiki Rukia in Konoha, identified her sword as Sode no Shirayuki, and learned that a Hollow had been subdued.
• Shin discovered that the Temple of Samsara's connection to the Pure Land had been severed and that souls sent through its formula disappeared.
• Shin followed a soul into the Soul Society with Rukia and confirmed that the entire Soul Society had appeared within the Naruto world.
• Shin concluded that the Soul Society might have replaced the Naruto world's Pure Land, and Rukia received a message from her superiors.
• Shin told Rukia that he was Hyuga Shin, founding emperor of the Sun Empire, and predicted that her superiors would soon come looking for him.

Shin severed the spatial rift linked to the giant Tenseigan, then learned that Hollows had appeared across the Empire and convened an emergency meeting to decide how to handle them. The chapter ended as Kyoraku, Rukia, and other visitors from Soul Society arrived at Konoha and saw its immense city and Mecha God.

• Shin cut off the giant Tenseigan’s connection to Earth, ordered the giant Hollow dismembered for Kabuto to study, and planned to expand the Sunlight Towers.
• Shin returned to Konoha and told Kamado to prepare to receive new visitors at the Temple of Samsara.
• Shin received reports that Hollows had appeared in several provinces and called an emergency meeting to explain their role in the cycle of reincarnation.
• Shin told the gathered ninjas that Hollows should be purified rather than killed and gave them a fabricated explanation involving the Sage of Six Paths.
• Kyoraku, Rukia, and other Soul Society visitors arrived at the Temple of Samsara and were welcomed by Hyuga Homura and Kakashi Hatake.
• The visitors saw Konoha’s vast city and the towering Mecha God outside it.

Mana met with Shunsui Kyoraku and the Soul Society delegation to negotiate how they would handle Hollows and the disrupted cycle of reincarnation in his world. He insisted that the empire must be able to protect its people, then took Rukia’s sword and proposed that ninja might use similar weapons.

• Kamado reported that Shunsui Kyoraku, Sosuke Aizen, Byakuya Kuchiki, and their companions had arrived, and Mana recognized Aizen’s name.
• Mana entered the reception room and met the delegation, while Aizen felt dread when he looked into Mana’s eyes.
• Mana explained that the Soul Society’s arrival had disrupted reincarnation and left Hollows in the Living World, and Aizen and Shunsui offered to protect humanity and guide souls.
• Shunsui asked Mana to assist the Shinigami, who would not interfere in the Living World but wanted exclusive authority to purify Hollows.
• Mana argued that the empire had to defend its people from Hollows, then took Rukia’s sword and suggested that ninja could use weapons like it to become Shinigami.

After the Soul Society postponed its decision, Shin focused on his other duties and summoned Tsunade to Samui’s home. Samui brought Tsunade along while Hokage Tsunade wrestled with whether to join them.

• Kyoraku said the Soul Society needed time to discuss Shin’s proposal, while Rukia and Renji stayed behind to send accumulated souls to the Soul Society.
• Shin said ninjas could capture Hollows for a bounty but should leave massive Hollows to guild personnel, then returned to his work.
• Shin told Samui to summon Tsunade, and Samui found both Tsunades still at home after drinking the night before.
• Samui told Tsunade that Shin wanted to see her, and Hokage Tsunade grew angry but followed Tsunade into the bathroom to question her.
• Tsunade warned Hokage Tsunade that she would eventually face the same experiences if she wanted to stay alive, then left with Samui for her home.

Zhen and Yahiko finalized a peaceful agreement between the Sun Empire and the Soul Society, while Zhen began investigating Asauchi as a source of power for ninja Zanpakuto. Mayuri Kurotsuchi explored Konoha and was summoned to meet Zhen after discovering the city’s Energy Base Station.

• Zhen delegated negotiations with Shunsui Kyoraku to Yahiko, and the Sun Empire and Soul Society agreed not to invade or interfere with each other beyond matters involving Hollows and souls.
• The agreement assigned Shinigami to purify Hollows and perform Soul Burials, allowed them to request Ninja Guild assistance, and required the Soul Society to provide twenty Zanpakuto or Asauchi each month.
• Yahiko invited the Soul Society to observe the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi chose to explore Konoha on his own.
• Zhen materialized the soul-like form within an Asauchi and ordered Kabuto to modify it and forge a Zanpakuto for ninjas.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi investigated Konoha’s appliances and Energy Base Station, then an Anbu summoned him to meet Zhen.

Karatachi Yagura urged Mei Terumi to consider entering the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament and pursuing a future in Konoha, then discovered a report about people calling themselves the Pirate King. At the Imperial Palace, Zhen introduced Uchiha Shisui to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, whose awareness was caught by Shisui’s Sharingan.

• Karatachi Yagura explained to Mei Terumi that the Empire was hunting Hollows and that new Sunlight Towers were being built under the Emperor’s orders.
• Mei Terumi read about the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament, and Karatachi Yagura encouraged her to compete and seek opportunities in Konoha.
• Mei Terumi left an urgent document for Karatachi Yagura, who frowned when he saw that it concerned people calling themselves the Pirate King.
• Zhen summoned Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Nemu Kurotsuchi, and offered Mayuri a role overseeing Konoha’s future department for relations with Soul Society.
• Zhen introduced Uchiha Shisui as one of the Seven Mianwei and an Imperial Guard, and Shisui’s scarlet eyes caused Mayuri to lose awareness.

At a captains’ meeting, Kyoraku reported Soul Society’s agreements with the Sun Empire and discussed the coming ninja tournament and the vacant Thirteenth Division captaincy. Meanwhile, Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi investigated strange pirates in Water Province, and the chapter ended as a blue-flame-winged person appeared above their approaching fleet.

• Kyoraku briefed the captains on the Sun Empire’s agreements and said they would be invited to watch the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament.
• Yamamoto ordered Soul Society to restore its operations and investigate the Living World, then said the Thirteenth Division vacancy would be filled soon.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi discussed how the new pirates had no Chakra despite their extraordinary strength.
• Zabuza asked Kisame to help expand the Demon People beyond a small local group, and Kisame postponed his answer until after the battle.
• Kisame and Zabuza spotted a large pirate fleet approaching, then saw a person flying toward them with wings of blue flames.

Shin sent Kakashi to Water Province to suppress the growing pirate raids and investigate a powerful crew from another world. Kisame reported that Zabuza had joined the Whitebeard Pirates, and Kakashi prepared to negotiate with them or purge the pirates if they refused to submit.

• Shin reviewed reports of rising pirate raids, ordered more ninja forces and Sunlight Towers in Water Province, and dispatched Kakashi to test his new Sage Engraving.
• Mei Terumi met Kisame in a tavern, where he said Zabuza was dead, then took him to see Karatachi Yagura.
• Kisame told Yagura that the Whitebeard Pirates had overwhelmed him and Zabuza, that Zabuza had joined them, and that their crew included many fighters as strong as jonin.
• Hyuga Kiyotaka summoned Yagura, Mei Terumi, and Kisame to the Ninja Guild headquarters, where they met Kakashi.
• Kakashi said Shin had sent him to suppress the pirates and seek an agreement with their strongest members, but the Empire would purge them if they refused to obey.

Shin revised the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament plans and invited Soul Society’s captains and vice-captains to attend. Neji asked to graduate early, but Shin told him to remain in school until he understood what he truly wanted.

• Ninja guilds publicized the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament, and Konoha announced that provincial capitals would broadcast it live.
• Shin removed the tournament’s written tests and other assessments, ordered the venue expanded, and told Samui to make the event grand.
• Shin considered holding a beauty pageant and ordered an invitation sent to Soul Society’s captains and vice-captains.
• Neji asked Shin for permission to graduate early, explaining that school offered little challenge and that Itachi and Kakashi had graduated early.
• Shin told Neji to stay in school until he was ready to pursue his own wish, and Neji left to join Jugo and Toneri.

Mei Terumi and Kisame arrived in Konoha with a group of Water Province ninjas to enter the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament. After registering and learning that the preliminary round would eliminate more than ninety percent of participants, Mei explored Konoha’s new district and decided she wanted to stay there.

• Mei Terumi and the Water Province ninjas entered Konoha, registered their identities, and were led to the tournament registration office.
• The group bypassed the long registration line with help from their Konoha escort and learned the tournament preliminary round would take place in three days with an elimination rate above ninety percent.
• Mei rented an inn room for a week after deciding the communal dormitory was not for her.
• Mei visited Konoha’s new district, marveled at its neon lights and shops, and decided she had to stay in Konoha.

The Soul Society captains and lieutenants arrived in Konoha to watch the martial arts tournament and meet the emperor of the Living World. When Hyuga Shin appeared before the crowd, Mei Terumi felt her heart stir at the sight of him.

• Shunsui Kyoraku led the Soul Society captains and lieutenants into Konoha, where Kamado welcomed them on His Majesty's command.
• Kamado used a transfer beam to take the visitors to a VIP room overlooking the tournament arena.
• The Shinigami sampled the refreshments and discussed the Living World and its peace agreement with the Sun Empire.
• Hyuga Shin appeared on the arena screens to cheers and worship from the crowd, and the captains discussed his rule and the Empire.
• Mei Terumi saw Hyuga Shin for the first time and felt her heart stir because he was young, handsome, powerful, and her age.

Mei Terumi won the Imperial Ninja Martial Arts Tournament after defeating Kari and Baki, while Kisame Hoshigaki withdrew from the competition. At the awards ceremony, Shin asked Mei Terumi whether she wanted to become his Imperial Guard.

• Kisame Hoshigaki defeated his opponent with a large-scale Water Release technique, then forfeited his next match.
• Mei Terumi defeated Kari by flooding the arena and using her Water Release and acidic mist, then scolded Kisame for withdrawing.
• Baki defeated Darui before Mei Terumi forced Baki to surrender in the final with her Boil Release mist.
• Shin presented the contestants with Konoha uniforms and forehead protectors, and the final-stage contestants received apartments.
• Shin asked Mei Terumi whether she was interested in becoming his Imperial Guard.

Shin hosted the visiting Shinigami in Konoha and proposed a friendly martial exchange between ninja and Shinigami. As the visitors prepared to return to Soul Society, Kyoraku reflected on his responsibilities, while Rangiku’s shopping and drinking with the other women ended with her seeing Gin across the courtyard.

• Shin welcomed the Shinigami and offered to share knowledge of ninja powers during a lavish banquet.
• Shin proposed a friendly martial exchange between ninja and Shinigami, and Kyoraku agreed to report the idea to the Captain-Commander.
• Kyoraku spoke with Unohana about the Living World and the pressure he felt after Yamamoto’s serious warnings.
• Rangiku, Rukia, Momo, and the other women shopped in Konoha and later gathered for drinks, where Rangiku hinted that Renji had feelings for Rukia.
• Rangiku spotted Gin outside his room across the courtyard, and the two silently looked at each other before Gin went inside.