Chapter Summaries

Shikaku and Inoichi argued over a plot to undermine Orochimaru, while Kakashi faced Orochimaru after being exposed as an informant. Kushina learned that Orochimaru had agreed to her marriage with Minato and eagerly awaited Minato’s proposal.

• Shikaku told Inoichi that he had sent Kakashi to spy and planned to destroy Orochimaru, while Inoichi warned that Minato would never approve.
• Shikaku said there was one more person who could help challenge Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru confronted Kakashi, asked why he should spare him, and offered him a chance to redeem himself through merit.
• Kushina told Mikoto that Orochimaru had agreed to her marriage with Minato and admitted that Shin had helped her.
• Kushina blushed as Mikoto teased her about wedding plans, and she continued waiting for Minato to propose.

Minato struggled with Orochimaru’s refusal to approve his marriage to Kushina and realized he would have to handle the matter himself. Kakashi, torn between loyalty to Minato and gratitude to Orochimaru, told Minato that their plans had been exposed.

• Minato told Sarutobi that he wanted to marry Kushina, but declined Sarutobi’s offer to help and decided to rely on himself.
• Kakashi reflected on Orochimaru’s orders to feed Shikaku misleading intelligence and wondered whether Minato’s faction still had a chance.
• Obito visited Kakashi and praised Orochimaru, while Kakashi questioned whether Minato or Orochimaru was more suited to be Hokage.
• Kakashi visited Minato and admitted that Shikaku had asked him to act as a spy between the Hokage and Mana.
• Kakashi told Minato that he believed Minato was more suited to be Hokage, then warned him that their plans had already been exposed.

Kakashi was caught searching Konoha’s archives and was brought to Hyuga Shin, who offered information about the Hokage in exchange for Kakashi’s cooperation. Shin revealed a seal called Sage Engraving Number Two, or Kite, leaving Kakashi facing a coercive bargain.

• Kamado found Kakashi searching the archive vault and gave him a single-use white magatama that concealed him from detection.
• Kamado brought Kakashi to the Hyuga Clan Compound, where Hyuga Shin told him that the Hokage’s surveillance made opposing him nearly suicidal.
• Shin offered Kakashi information about the Hokage’s leverage and secret research in exchange for something Kakashi could provide.
• Shin showed Kakashi a seal called Sage Engraving Number Two, also known as Kite.

Jiraiya received Shikaku’s letter reporting Orochimaru’s treason and set out to bring Tsunade back, while Minato prepared to confront Orochimaru and promised Kushina a wedding after the crisis. Orochimaru imprisoned Kushina in a sealed cage and had White Zetsu tell her that Minato planned to kill him and seize the Hokage’s position.

• Jiraiya received a letter from Shikaku stating that Orochimaru had committed treason, and he decided to bring Tsunade back with him.
• Minato reflected on Shikaku’s coup plans, then promised Kushina that he would give her a grand wedding once he had settled the crisis.
• An Anbu summoned Kushina to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru ordered her into a cage and she was knocked unconscious.
• Kushina woke inside the cage and met White Zetsu, who claimed Orochimaru had imprisoned her because Minato and Shikaku planned to kill him.
• Kushina tried to break free with her Chakra but discovered that her own and the Nine-Tails’ Chakra had been sealed.

Tsunade confronted Orochimaru after hearing he had defected, then read evidence of his crimes from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Furious at Konoha’s corruption, she destroyed the First and Second Hokage’s faces on Hokage Rock before Shin ordered the police ninja to leave.

• Tsunade returned to Konoha and questioned Orochimaru about his conflict with Minato and whether he had harmed the village.
• Tsunade went to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who showed her documents from Shikaku accusing Orochimaru of attacking the daimyo, killing Danzo, and conducting experiments on children.
• Tsunade asked what Jiraiya and Hiruzen intended to do, then condemned the power struggle and left.
• Tsunade destroyed the First and Second Hokage’s faces on Hokage Rock, leaving the Third and Fourth faces standing.
• Shin arrived, told the police ninja to go back, and returned to the Hokage’s Office as Tsunade watched him with contempt.

Samui learned that Shin would allow her and her companions to visit the Raikage, leaving her unsure why he had changed his mind. She returned home and teased Yugito with the news, which Yugito eagerly sought to hear.

• Samui brought documents to Shin and massaged him while he rested in Naruto's office.
• Shin asked Samui whether she missed Kumogakure and wanted to see the Raikage, then gave her permission to visit him with her companions.
• Samui returned home to find Mabui preparing dinner and Yugito resting on the sofa.
• Yugito asked Samui about her progress with Shin, and Samui hinted that she had good news concerning the Raikage.
• Yugito massaged Samui's sore feet in exchange for hearing the news, while Samui corrected her as she tried to remove the wrong layer.

Shinichi questioned Orochimaru about his experiments creating a new body and about his plans for Minato and Kushina. Orochimaru waited to see whether the Third Hokage and Jiraiya would side with Minato, then spent time with Anko, still convinced Shinichi would eventually become his enemy.

• Orochimaru explained that adding Uzumaki cells had changed the boy in the vessel and described his experiments with Living Corpse Reincarnation and White Zetsu bodies.
• Shinichi asked when Orochimaru would use the body and how he planned to deal with Kushina, Minato, and Minato’s accomplices.
• Orochimaru revealed that he was waiting to learn whether the Third Hokage and Jiraiya would support Minato before severing his last attachment to the past.
• Shinichi left the laboratory, and Anko arrived with food and told Orochimaru she had seen Shinichi teasing his female secretary.
• Orochimaru stroked Anko’s head and promised to show her something after they ate, while reflecting that Shinichi would likely become his enemy.

Samui, Mabui, and Yugito visited the imprisoned Fourth Raikage, whose demand that Yugito sacrifice herself for Kumogakure shattered her faith in him. After Samui comforted Yugito, she returned to Shin, who gave her a dungeon key and a scroll that could release the Raikage's seal, instructing her to give them to Yugito.

• Samui, Mabui, and Yugito visited the Fourth Raikage in Konoha Prison and found him shackled and weakened.
• The Fourth Raikage urged Yugito to kill herself to keep the Two-Tails from Konoha, then accused her of betraying Kumogakure when she refused.
• Samui defended Yugito, condemned the Raikage, and led the shaken women out of the prison.
• Yugito apologized to Samui for her past actions and broke down in tears as Samui comforted her and urged the three of them to live for themselves.
• Samui returned to Shin, who gave her a dungeon key and a scroll to release the Raikage's seal and told her to give them to Yugito.

Samui realized Shin regarded her as a tool and was told to handle the key and scroll related to the Raikage. Shikaku confronted Sarutobi over Orochimaru’s rule, but their discussion was interrupted when Minato reported that Kushina had disappeared or been impersonated and her Flying Thunder God mark had been sealed.

• Samui asked whether Shin planned to release the Raikage, and Shin told her to do her own task regardless of Yugito’s choice.
• Shikaku pressed Sarutobi to oppose Orochimaru, arguing that tolerating his oppression offered no way to protect Konoha.
• Sarutobi privately struggled with whether Orochimaru had truly betrayed Konoha and hesitated to act against him.
• Minato arrived using Flying Thunder God and announced that something had happened to Kushina.
• Minato explained that Rin had found Kushina acting strangely and that his connection to Kushina’s Flying Thunder God mark had been sealed.

A prison riot and level-one alert forced Minato to choose between protecting Konoha and rescuing Kushina, while Shikaku urged him to embrace harsher methods. Minato left to save Kushina, trusting Shikaku to protect the villagers.

• Shikaku learned that prisoners had escaped from Konoha Prison, and Minato realized the Raikage might be involved.
• Shikaku stopped Minato from leaving and argued that Naruto would stop the Raikage, while Minato struggled over whether to rescue Kushina or protect the village.
• Shikaku confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi, who left to protect the village without stopping Shikaku.
• Minato questioned Shikaku's motives, and Shikaku said Minato's ideals had driven him to become ruthless so he could fight their enemies.
• Minato asked whether the Third Hokage could handle the village and decided to go save Kushina while Shikaku protected and evacuated the villagers.

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.