Chapter Summaries

Yuhara challenged the Hyuga Main Family’s plan to place the Caged Bird seal on Neji while he was undergoing an experiment, and refused to let them impose the seal on his student Nagahiko without Konoha’s permission. After Nagahiko won his match, the dispute left Hizashi trapped between gratitude to Yuhara and obedience to the clan.

• Neji overwhelmed Nagahiko with his superior Chakra and precise strikes, but Yuhara stopped him before he could injure his opponent further.
• Yuhara told the Hyuga elders that Neji could not receive the Caged Bird seal during his experiment, which he estimated would take three or four years.
• The Main Family argued that the seal protected the Byakugan and demanded that Hizashi sever Yuhara’s teacher-student relationship with Nagahiko.
• When Elder Shoya attacked Yuhara, Yuhara struck him down and damaged the training hall.
• Nagahiko defeated his opponent, and Yuhara told the Main Family that they could not act against him without permission from Konoha.

Yuhara clashed with the Hyuga Clan over Neji’s Caged Bird seal, defeated their fighters, and secured a temporary delay for his student. The Third Hokage mediated the dispute and ordered Yuhara to leave the village on a mission, while Danzō instructed Root to investigate the Human Cursed Seal and find Orochimaru.

• Elder Shouya attacked Yuhara, who struck him down and insisted he had acted in self-defense.
• Yuhara challenged the Hyuga Clan to spar and defeated their fighters with his armored taijutsu, destroying the inner dojo.
• Yuhara warned that the Human Cursed Seal could conflict with Neji’s Caged Bird seal, and Hiashi agreed to delay Neji’s seal temporarily.
• Yuhara told Hizashi that Konoha might be able to undo the Branch Family’s Caged Bird seal, leaving Hizashi hopeful.
• The Third Hokage summoned Yuhara, upheld the temporary delay for Neji, and ordered Yuhara to leave the village for a mission.
• Danzō ordered Root to observe the Hyuga Main Family, investigate the Human Cursed Seal, and locate Orochimaru.

Yuhara traveled to Sunagakure as Konoha’s envoy to investigate Sasori of the Red Sands and assess the village’s political stability. Despite Sunagakure’s hostility over the Fourth Kazekage’s death, Sasori greeted him, and Yuhara began his visit under the pretext of discussing the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Kushina Uzumaki gave Yuhara a mission to visit Sunagakure and determine Sasori of the Red Sands’ situation amid the village’s political uncertainty.
• Yuhara agreed to travel alone, while Konoha arranged advance contact with Sunagakure and used the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams as the diplomatic reason for his visit.
• Yuhara crossed the desert and observed Sunagakure’s sentries as he approached the village.
• Sasori of the Red Sands waited at the end of A Thread of Sky to welcome Yuhara, despite Sunagakure’s hostility toward him over the Fourth Kazekage’s death.
• Sasori’s puppet hand shook Yuhara’s hand against his apparent wishes, and Uchiha Matsushiro escorted Yuhara into Sunagakure.

Shisui tried to secure the release of an over-detained brawler from the Security Division, but the Kinoshita Tadashi clan’s refusal to obey the Hokage’s order exposed the growing rift between the clan and Konoha. Meanwhile, Danzō and the Eighth Hokage discussed the village’s succession, as ordinary ninjas increasingly viewed Yuhara as a possible future leader and the Crimson Crown expanded its Cursed Seal program.

• Shisui invoked the Eighth Hokage’s order to take the detained brawler, but the Security Division captain and other Kinoshita Tadashi ninjas refused to obey anyone but their clan leader.
• Itachi intervened and brought the detained ninja to Shisui, who left the Security Division with him after thanking Itachi.
• Uchiha Tsukasa and Mikura Hyōbei discussed who might lead ordinary ninjas after the Seventh Hokage and named Yuhara as a likely candidate.
• Danzō warned the Eighth Hokage that Yuhara was obstructing his plans, and they considered finding a successor, with Tsunade as the main possibility.
• The Crimson Crown completed Cursed Seal inoculations for its members without adverse reactions and began arranging a second round of strengthening.

Uchiha Itachi accepted the Third Hokage’s offer to join the directly subordinate ANBU as a channel between Konoha and the Uchiha, while Uchiha Shisui met with Shimura Danzō about the clan’s growing unrest. Yuhara inspected the Sand Village and found it stable, while Danzo’s suspicions of Shisui remained unresolved.

• Uchiha Shisui handled the brawl impartially, then went to meet Shimura Danzō in an underground location.
• The Third Hokage told Uchiha Itachi that he wanted him to join the directly subordinate ANBU to strengthen communication with the Uchiha Clan, and Itachi accepted.
• Uchiha Itachi left the Hokage’s Office and worried about how the Uchiha leaders would interpret his ANBU appointment.
• Shimura Danzō asked Uchiha Shisui to expand his faction and monitor signs of rebellion, while privately viewing Shisui as an uncontrollable threat.
• Yuhara inspected the Sand Village, judged it stable under Chiyo and the advisory council, and questioned Sasori of the Red Sands about serving the village again.

Yuhara prepared to leave the Sand Village after confirming its defenses and offering it a trial of Konoha’s strength-enhancing drug, but a young ninja attempted to assassinate him. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Tobi traveled together as Akatsuki recruits, and Orochimaru received a letter after reaching an island.

• Yuhara told Sasori of the Red Sands and Memma Matsudai that Konoha would send elite jonin to the Chunin Ninja Exams and offered the Sand Village a trial of a strength-enhancing drug.
• Yuhara left the Sand Village with Sasori of the Red Sands and Memma Matsudai, declining to formally bid farewell to Advisor Chiyo.
• A young Sand Village ninja rushed at Yuhara and stabbed toward his chest, but the kunai tip snapped against Yuhara’s defenses.
• Yuhara injected the assassin with a needle and released him, leaving the young ninja clutching his shoulder in fear.
• Orochimaru and Tobi traveled across the sea to an island, where a white snake delivered Orochimaru a letter that he burned.

Yuhara was assigned to find Tsunade and, before leaving Konoha, continued dealing with the Hyuga Clan by testing the Cursed Seal on Hinata. Meanwhile, Obito infiltrated Konoha to gather intelligence and prepare to inflame the conflict between the village and the Uchiha, while unrest also grew within the Hyuga Branch Family.

• Yuhara submitted his report on the Sand Village, then received a long-term mission to locate Tsunade and persuade her to return to Konoha, bringing Tenzo and Kakashi along.
• Before departing, Yuhara followed the Third Hokage’s arrangement to pacify the Hyuga Clan, and Neji brought Hinata to him for a Cursed Seal test.
• Hizashi quietly gathered trusted supporters among the Hyuga Branch Family as tensions over the Cursed Seal and the clan’s hierarchy continued.
• Obito infiltrated Konoha, evaded ANBU pursuit, and escaped after obtaining information about the village’s defenses and upcoming missions.
• Obito watched the Uchiha Clan’s restrained conflict with Konoha and planned to provide the spark that would make it erupt.

While Yuhara’s team continued its yearlong search for Tsunade, an emergency in Konoha prompted Yuhara to return by reverse summoning. There, an intruder with a spiral-patterned mask infiltrated ANBU and turned two ninja against each other, leaving the village facing a deadly threat.

• Yuhara told Tenzo to continue searching for Tsunade while he returned to Konoha after receiving an urgent message.
• The Summoning Beast used Yuhara’s blood and the Reverse Summoning Technique to send him to Tigo’s Secret Realm, from where he headed back to the village.
• A spiral-masked intruder was discovered inside ANBU headquarters, where a four-man squad had already been killed.
• The ANBU captain pursued the intruder toward the Uchiha clan compound, but the intruder’s genjutsu made two surviving ANBU ninja stab each other.
• Yuhara’s wider effort had influenced more than two thousand ninja, including hundreds who received the Human Cursed Seal, even as his undertaking grew increasingly dangerous.

Uchiha Shisui discovered that two of the dead Anbu were Sarutobi Shinsuke, the Third Hokage’s eldest son and Anbu commander-in-chief, and his wife, bringing the Uchiha Clan to the edge of a crisis. Fugaku tried to keep Shisui aligned with the clan, but the Anbu blocked Shisui from reaching the Third Hokage, leaving the village and the Uchiha poised for confrontation.

• Uchiha Shisui examined four bodies found in the Uchiha Residential Area and realized that the dead ninjas had been Anbu, with two apparently killed by genjutsu.
• Shisui identified the masked Anbu commander-in-chief and his deputy as Sarutobi Shinsuke and his wife, and Fugaku ordered most of the Uchiha to return to Naka Shrine.
• Fugaku told Shisui he would suppress calls for an uprising and help investigate, while privately preparing to lead the Uchiha to flee if the crisis became unavoidable.
• Shisui left Naka Shrine to report the clan head’s intentions to the Third Hokage, but four squads of Anbu blocked him and accused him of conspiring with the Uchiha.
• The Anbu refused to let Shisui meet the Third Hokage, declaring that his dangerous eyes made him untrustworthy at such a critical moment.

Konoha was locked down after an ANBU squad led by Captain Hyōsube vanished in Uchiha territory and was found dead, raising fears of a clash between the village and the Uchiha. Yuhara went to retrieve the bodies for Kushina, while Orochimaru and Tobi entered Konoha and a sudden chakra disturbance announced another arrival.

• Konoha surrounded the Uchiha Residential Area with ANBU while the Third Hokage delayed judgment pending an investigation.
• Orochimaru and Tobi returned to Konoha and observed its lockdown as Yuhara learned that Captain Hyōsube’s squad had disappeared inside Uchiha territory.
• Kushina ordered Yuhara to retrieve Sarutobi Shinsuke’s corpse, and he gathered Aoba Yamashiro and Genma Shiranui to investigate the deaths.
• Yuhara’s group reached the scene, where they found four ANBU corpses, and Aoba and Shiranui sealed them in specialized scrolls.
• A violent chakra fluctuation erupted in central Konoha, and a figure staggered into existence at its source.

Yuhara learned that Sarutobi Shinsuke had been killed by a fast-moving Sharingan user skilled in genjutsu, and he warned the Third Hokage that the killer might be connected to the Nine-Tails incident. As tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha worsened, Uchiha Itachi prepared to act for the clan and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Inoichi Yamanaka searched Sarutobi Shinsuke's memories and found that a Sharingan user had killed him with a swift attack and powerful genjutsu.
• Yuhara reported the findings to the Third Hokage and suggested that Shinsuke's killer might be the mysterious enemy from the Nine-Tails incident.
• The Third Hokage ordered Yuhara to keep the Uchiha under surveillance while restraining the ANBU from provoking them.
• The Third Hokage met secretly with Uchiha Itachi, who said resistance within the Uchiha Clan was becoming impossible to suppress and that the underlying conflict needed a fundamental solution.
• Uchiha Fugaku asked Itachi to persuade Shisui to support the clan, and Itachi prepared to leave while resolving himself to act before the village intervened.
• Itachi's three tomoe transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan as he accepted the deaths he believed he would have to cause.

Orochimaru and Tobi infiltrated Konoha as its leaders debated how to handle the Uchiha, while Itachi entrusted Sasuke to Izumi and went to wait for Shisui. Danzō tried to capture Shisui, but Shisui escaped after collapsing the underground base, leaving Danzō to reassess his strength.

• Orochimaru and Tobi infiltrated Konoha, and Tobi questioned Orochimaru about Yuhara's rapid rise to power.
• The Third Hokage opposed searching or eradicating the Uchiha, while Danzō and the advisers pressed for action against the clan.
• Itachi left Sasuke in Izumi's care and said he would wait at Shisui's house for Shisui to return.
• Danzō ordered Shisui detained in Root's underground base, claiming the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha could not be reconciled.
• Shisui used Kotoamatsukami on a disguised Danzō, then realized the decoys were meant to exhaust his ocular power.
• Shisui unleashed a devastating attack that collapsed the underground chamber and escaped, while the real Danzō emerged covered in dust.

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi confronted the Uchiha crisis from opposing ideals: Shisui sought a peaceful solution, while Itachi believed only the clan’s self-determination could prevent a wider disaster. They parted with neither able to accept the other’s path, as Konoha’s forces quietly prepared for possible conflict.

• Shimura Danzō concealed his failed attempt to capture Shisui’s Sharingan, then told Orochimaru that the larger plan remained on track.
• Yuhara watched the Uchiha Clan from a lookout post while Tigo prepared to redirect stored Chakra if fighting broke out.
• Itachi explained that the Uchiha and Konoha could no longer resolve their conflict through communication and argued that the clan had to choose its own fate.
• Shisui refused to accept a plan that would sacrifice most of the Uchiha, insisting that both the clan and Konoha could still preserve peace.
• Itachi told Shisui that his ideals were unrealistic and that he himself would become the obstacle Shisui had to overcome.
• Kakashi remained at Konoha’s archives as Kushina gathered nearby forces, while Shisui and Itachi stood beneath the moon as close friends on incompatible paths.

Uchiha Itachi and Black Flame fought over the Uchiha Clan’s fate, with Itachi’s stronger Susanoo eventually overpowering Black Flame. After a masked woman intervened and attacked Itachi, Black Flame used Amaterasu to escape and the woman reached for his eyes, while Yuhara began responding to the disturbance.

• Uchiha Itachi and Black Flame fought with taijutsu, and Black Flame warned Itachi that his Susanoo would make the fight one-sided.
• Itachi summoned his armored Susanoo and overwhelmed Black Flame’s weaker Susanoo, leaving Black Flame badly injured and unable to fight.
• Itachi prepared to leave, but a masked woman appeared and pierced Black Flame’s chest as she intervened.
• Black Flame used Amaterasu to burn his Susanoo and free himself, while the masked woman kicked Itachi away.
• The masked woman reached for Black Flame’s eyes, and Yuhara began taking action after noticing the Susanoo battle in Uchiha Clan territory.

Yuhara helped Itachi Uchiha attack Obito Uchiha, but Obito escaped after White Zetsu restrained Yuhara. Uchiha Tsukasa warned Yuhara that Konoha’s Anbu were hunting him because he had been accused of murdering the Eighth Hokage.

• Itachi Uchiha engulfed Obito Uchiha in Amaterasu, and Yuhara interrupted Obito’s attempt to absorb the flames by charging into him.
• Yuhara and Itachi Uchiha pressed the attack, but White Zetsu swarmed Yuhara and delayed him long enough for Obito Uchiha to escape.
• Yuhara learned that the Anbu were hunting him and asked Uchiha Tsukasa why he would fear them if he had murdered the Hokage.
• Uchiha Tsukasa told Yuhara that he had been accused of murdering the Eighth Hokage, and Yuhara realized someone had targeted him.

Yuhara realized that Danzō's faction had likely framed him as Konoha descended into coordinated attacks on the Hokage Tower, the Uchiha, and the archive building. As Yuhara and Kakashi fought through the village, Tigo and Naruto defended the archive from attackers targeting the young Jinchuriki, while Itachi joined the violence around the Uchiha.

• Yuhara suspected Shimura Danzō had manipulated his ANBU mission and spread the accusation that he assassinated the Third Hokage, then discovered that he could not contact Tigo.
• Kushina Uzumaki's reserve forces noticed a disturbance at the Hokage Tower, while Kinoshita Tadashi and Itachi fought unidentified enemies and moved toward the residential district.
• Yuhara found Kakashi injured at the Uchiha defensive line, warned the ANBU blocking his way, and carried Kakashi away when they refused to listen.
• Around twenty elite ninja broke into the archive building and identified Naruto Uzumaki as their target, revealing that they knew he was a Jinchuriki.
• Tigo summoned the Strongest Kazekage puppet to shield Naruto from the attackers' elemental techniques as she prepared a technique against the intruders.
• Itachi attacked an enemy with brutal force while Yuhara and Kakashi rushed onward through Konoha's spreading crisis.

The Third Hokage was trapped in his office by Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru, who revealed their plan to seize control while stirring up trouble among the Uchiha. The Hokage fought Orochimaru, and the chapter ended with Orochimaru’s head exploding after he met the Hokage’s staff head-on.

• The Third Hokage entered his office and was trapped inside a Seven Purple Flames Formation set by seven Anbu ninja.
• Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō entered the sealed office, and Danzō criticized the Third Hokage’s leadership and changes to Konoha.
• Orochimaru revealed that an assistant would cause a disturbance among the Uchiha, while the Third Hokage realized they intended to attack him.
• The Third Hokage summoned his staff and struck Orochimaru as Danzō retreated.
• Orochimaru’s head exploded, and the Third Hokage stared at him in shock.

Yuhara and his allies fought through attacks on Konoha’s archives and Hokage Building as a scheme sought to seize control of the village. The Third Hokage confronted Orochimaru far from Konoha, while Yuhara faced Danzō and the elders amid the growing chaos.

• The Third Hokage broke free of the forced teleportation and prepared to fight Orochimaru, resolving not to repeat his earlier mistake of letting him escape.
• Yuhara concluded that the ninjas attacking him were acting without the Hokage’s orders and refused to let them force him into becoming a rogue ninja.
• Kushina Uzumaki dismantled the sealing barrier at the Hokage Building, found the Third Hokage missing, and returned toward the archives after learning they were under attack.
• Shisui and Yuhara’s allies fought off the attackers at the archives, while Danzo protected Naruto and Tigo guarded the area outside.
• Yuhara and Kakashi reached the Hokage Building and encountered Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu, whom Yuhara suspected of seeking control of Konoha.

At a Konoha crossroads, Yuhara rejected Shimura Danzō and the advisers’ demand that he submit to an investigation into the Eighth Hokage’s disappearance. As Danzō’s accusations faltered, Yuhara revealed Sage Mode and turned the confrontation against Konoha’s leadership.

• Shimura Danzō and Mitokado Homura accused Yuhara of attacking the Eighth Hokage and demanded that he surrender for investigation.
• A huge fire erupted in the Uchiha district as Danzō’s witnesses claimed Yuhara had attacked the Hokage and allied with the Uchiha.
• Yuhara dismissed the accusations, challenged the higher-ups’ judgment, and killed both advisers with his swords.
• Yuhara appeared among the surrounding ninjas and prevented Danzō’s supporters from moving against him.
• Yuhara released a visible surge of Chakra, crimson eye shadow appeared around his eyes, and the crowd recognized his Sage Mode.

Yuhara confronted Shimura Danzō before Konoha’s assembled ninja, accusing him of stealing the Summoning Beast clan’s Sharingan and secret techniques. With Kushina choosing not to restrain him, Yuhara fought Danzō and left him exposed as an unfit leader.

• Kushina decided to stand by while Yuhara dealt with Shimura Danzō, judging that further restraint would let the Third Hokage resolve the conflict on his own terms.
• Yuhara accused Danzō of possessing the Sharingan and using the Summoning Beast clan’s secret ocular techniques, prompting the surrounding ninja to recall the clan members who had disappeared.
• Danzō summoned Dream Tapir and launched Wind Release attacks, but Yuhara blocked them with heavy iron-sand armor and trapped Danzō with Mercury Lamp.
• Yuhara used Sage Art: Wind Release: Super Big Ball Rasenshuriken and followed it with Sage Art: Secret Technique: Fourfold Yajūshi.
• Yuhara argued that a ninja who stole the abilities of subordinates could not become Hokage, while Kushina prepared to take charge once the fighting ended.