Chapter Summaries

Shadow Leaf City continued expanding as Yuhara began teaching physical training at the new Spring Flower Training Garden and secretly entered Naruto Uzumaki’s mind. Kakashi released the former Guardian Ninja, who left Konoha, while the Nine-Tails sensed Yuhara’s presence inside Naruto.

• Yuhara adjusted Tigo's Secret Realm so it could remain concealed within Shadow Leaf Mountain as construction and settlement expanded.
• Tsunade established the Spring Flower Training Garden, where Biwako Sarutobi managed the school and Yuhara began teaching the children physical training.
• Yuhara put the older children through dodgeball drills, striking Naruto and Neji with cotton balls as they practiced Chakra control and evasion.
• Kakashi received a visit from Tenzo, then obtained Tsunade’s order to release Jirōbō and the other former Guardian Ninja from detention.
• Kakashi offered Jirōbō and the others the option of staying in Konoha, but they chose to leave for the temple.
• After the children fell asleep, Yuhara pressed his palm to Naruto’s forehead and entered a dark inner space, where the Nine-Tails sensed his presence.

Kushina Uzumaki discovered that Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal on Mitaraishi Anko had weakened, while Yuhara entered Naruto’s seal to seize the Four-Tails’ Chakra. Yuhara escaped the sealed space after restraining the Four-Tails and transforming part of its tail, leaving his Chakra-theft plan underway.

• Kushina Uzumaki treated Mitaraishi Anko and found that Orochimaru’s spiritual imprint had suddenly become easier to remove.
• Yuhara entered Naruto’s sealed space and approached the Four-Tails, which he intended to rob of its Chakra.
• The Four-Tails disguised its hostility and backed away from the seal’s door, but Yuhara transformed into a four-headed snake and attacked when it opened.
• Yuhara constricted the Four-Tails and restrained its lower limbs with silver-white Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Yuhara’s Chakra continued eroding the Four-Tails, turning part of one tail white and scaly before he emerged from the seal.

Yuhara continued training Konoha’s children while helping Tsunade address the Land of Fire’s diplomatic isolation. Tigo proposed offering the Land of Wind influence in the Land of Rivers, and Yuhara left with a rookie squad to carry out the mission as a hidden observer reported their departure to Pain.

• Yuhara discussed the Four-Tails’ Chakra with Tigo and wondered whether Tailed Beast Chakra could be poisonous.
• Tsunade’s council debated how to resolve the Land of Fire’s isolation, and Tigo proposed letting the Land of Wind expand its influence into the western Land of Rivers without formally ceding territory.
• Tsunade and the other leaders approved the proposal, hoping to restore relations with the Land of Wind while preserving the rest of the Land of Rivers as a buffer.
• Yuhara continued teaching taijutsu, judged Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki’s fight a draw, and noted that Koto Uchiha had shown a slight advantage.
• Yuhara accepted Tsunade’s assignment and departed with Tenzo, Aoba Yamashiro, and Gekko Hayate; afterward, a figure hidden in the city wall told Pain that the target had begun acting.

Yuhara negotiated with Chiyo over the Joint Chunin Exams and Sunagakure’s role in the Land of Rivers, reaching a tentative agreement. As his team traveled home, White Zetsu ambushed them, and Yuhara ordered the others to retreat when Pain appeared.

• Yuhara told Chiyo that Sunagakure had to support the Joint Chunin Exams and proposed that it take responsibility for the western Land of Rivers in exchange for Konoha reducing its influence there.
• Chiyo agreed to persuade the Land of Wind’s daimyo, provided the Land of Rivers remained united and the Fire Lord approved the arrangement.
• Yuhara’s team left the Land of Wind and traveled back through the Land of Rivers after completing the negotiations.
• White Zetsu struck the team from behind, sending them flying as Yuhara blocked most of the impact.
• Yuhara ordered Tenzo, Aoba Yamashiro, and Gekko Hayate to return without him when Pain appeared ahead.

Yuhara fought Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain to protect his Konoha teammates and uncover Nagato’s hidden location. After enduring Chibaku Tensei and reaching Nagato, Yuhara was mortally wounded, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Yuhara used flames to cover the Konoha squad’s retreat, then confronted the Six Paths of Pain alone.
• Yuhara identified Naraka Path as a priority and destroyed it, then defeated several other Pain bodies while dodging their attacks.
• Nagato used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Chibaku Tensei, trapping Yuhara in a growing sphere before Yuhara escaped with his iron sand and giant armor.
• Yuhara reached Nagato and Konan, but Nagato’s attacks pierced Yuhara with black rods and left him gravely wounded.

Nagato and Konan survived their battle with Yuhara, but Nagato was left severely weakened and Yuhara disappeared after the fight. Tenzo investigated the battlefield and found Yuhara’s corpse, leaving both sides uncertain about what had happened and what information could be recovered.

• Konan helped Nagato up, and he explained that the damaged Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was only an empty shell and could be repaired.
• Nagato admitted that his body could not endure many more battles, while Konan reminded him that the statue had helped secure their victory.
• Nagato and Konan recovered Deva Path Yahiko’s corpse, destroyed traces of the fight, and discussed whether they could investigate how Yuhara learned Pain’s secret.
• Aoba Yamashiro and Gekko Hayate returned to report Yuhara’s intelligence, while Tenzo turned back to investigate the battlefield.
• Tenzo found the crater and the damaged sphere, then tracked down Yuhara’s corpse but could not determine how he had vanished.
• Nagato said Yuhara’s corpse might be useful, but he doubted they could recover the information Yuhara had known.

After Nagato’s defeat, Black Zetsu reported the battle to Obito while Konan repaired Yahiko’s corpse for use as a Pain puppet. As Konoha investigated Yuhara’s disappearance, the Nine-Tails exploited a brief weakening in its seal to sever its infected tail and begin a transformation.

• Black Zetsu told Obito that Nagato had died and concealed his own role in the battle, while Obito accepted the outcome and said Yuhara’s death helped the plan.
• Konan repaired Yahiko’s damaged corpse, and Orochimaru secretly watched her work before fleeing when he heard approaching footsteps.
• Tenzo reported Yuhara’s disappearance to Tsunade, who ordered him to keep searching; Jiraiya then decided to investigate the battlefield and the enemy’s identity.
• Jiraiya suspected Nagato’s Rinnegan had fallen into someone else’s hands after Tsunade explained the threat and Yuhara’s apparent defeat.
• Tigo sensed Yuhara’s dire situation and gathered power as the Nine-Tails forced Chakra through the Eight Trigrams Seal, severed its infected tail, and turned white.

After returning as a chakra consciousness inside Naruto’s seal, Yuhara trapped Kurama and took most of its chakra to sustain himself. Meanwhile, Nagato detected Jiraiya entering the Land of Rain and prepared to respond.

• Yuhara’s remaining chakra reunited with his clone in Naruto’s seal, restoring his consciousness but leaving him in danger of dispersing without a body.
• Yuhara tricked Kurama with a separation seal, split its chakra, and reclaimed most of it while giving chakra to the Four-Tails.
• Kurama attacked Yuhara, but Yuhara subdued it and refused to let it escape the seal.
• Naruto woke from a nightmare in his dormitory after Kurama frightened him inside the seal.
• Konoha sent Tenzo to search for Yuhara and Jiraiya to investigate the Rinnegan, while the village and Shadow Leaf City went on alert.
• Nagato detected Jiraiya in the Land of Rain with the Rain Tiger At Will Technique and decided to send someone to stop him.

Orochimaru met Deva Path in Amegakure and accepted a mission to lure Jiraiya away without exposing Akatsuki. Meanwhile, Kakashi investigated Naruto’s story about foxes and discovered that Naruto’s seal contained two enormous foxes.

• Orochimaru noticed Deva Path’s stiff movements and wondered whether he had been injured after Yuhara’s death, but decided against testing him.
• Deva Path told Orochimaru that Jiraiya had entered the Land of Rain and ordered him to lure Jiraiya away while keeping Akatsuki’s existence concealed.
• Kakashi questioned Naruto about the foxes he claimed to have fought, then checked him and used his Mangekyō Sharingan to enter Naruto’s seal.
• Kakashi saw a huge orange fox playing with a smaller fox inside Naruto’s seal, confirming that Naruto’s account had been true.
• Orochimaru intercepted Jiraiya in the Land of Rain and said he had something to show him before his body began to change.

Kakashi discovered that Yuhara had revived inside Naruto’s seal by taking over most of the Nine-Tails’ body. Tsunade and Kushina confirmed Yuhara’s identity, then released him from Naruto while leaving only a small remnant of the Nine-Tails sealed inside.

• Kakashi found Naruto with a huge fox emerging from his seal and learned that the fox was Yuhara, who had survived by borrowing the Nine-Tails’ body.
• Kakashi rushed to Tsunade and Kushina, who followed him to Naruto after hearing Yuhara had returned.
• Inside the seal, Yuhara explained his death and revival, and proved his identity by revealing Konoha secrets.
• Kushina opened the Eight Trigrams Seal, allowing Yuhara to emerge as a giant black fox while the tiny Nine-Tails remained bound.
• Tsunade accepted that Yuhara’s control of the Nine-Tails’ Chakra had made Naruto safer, and Kushina resealed a small remnant inside Naruto.

After reviving, Yuhara returned to Konoha and explained the Rinnegan’s abilities to Tsunade, who sent him to find Jiraiya after he stopped reporting in. Yuhara reached the Land of Rain as Orochimaru confronted the injured Jiraiya.

• Yuhara explained that Nagato would likely believe reports of his death and told Tsunade about the Rinnegan’s abilities and its user’s injuries.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha to strengthen intelligence gathering and avoid fighting the mysterious enemy near the village.
• Kushina placed a jutsu on Yuhara to conceal the overwhelming Chakra that had been startling people in the city.
• Tsunade told Yuhara that Jiraiya had not reported back from investigating the enemy, so Yuhara set out to find him.
• Orochimaru tracked Jiraiya to his hiding place in the Land of Rain, and Jiraiya threw a kunai that grazed Orochimaru’s cheek.
• Yuhara arrived at the tree hollow and greeted the injured Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

Yuhara reunited with Jiraiya in the Land of Rain, traded Orochimaru information about the Rinnegan for Shennong’s whereabouts, and warned him that Akatsuki’s leader was a puppet. Back in Konoha, Yuhara encouraged younger ninja to support a durable, systematic vision for the village, while construction continued for the new capital and Chunin Exams.

• Yuhara revealed himself to Orochimaru, gave Jiraiya an umbrella, and told him to return to Konoha after warning him that the rain had exposed his infiltration.
• Yuhara traded Orochimaru a scroll about the Rinnegan’s abilities for information on Shennong’s whereabouts.
• Yuhara warned Orochimaru that Akatsuki’s apparent leader was one of several puppets and that the true leader was someone else.
• Yuhara returned to the Land of Fire and told Konoha ninja that the village needed sustainable strength rather than relying on a few exceptional people.
• Yuhara reassured ninja concerned about the new capital by describing Konoha’s goal of building strength that would make neighboring countries fear it.

Yuhara urged Konoha to strengthen itself rather than confront the Rinnegan threat immediately, while Jiraiya revealed that Nagato, his former student, possessed the eyes. As Konoha prepared for the joint Chunin Ninja Exams, Naruto tried to tame the Four-Tails, and the enemy spotted Yuhara in Shadow Leaf City and questioned whether his apparent survival was a deception.

• Yuhara spoke to Konoha's Ninjas about building a stronger village, then advised Tsunade and Jiraiya to avoid alerting Nagato's forces while Konoha prepared for the looming threat.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Nagato was the red-haired orphan he had once taught in the Land of Rain, and Tsunade realized he now possessed the Rinnegan.
• Tsunade questioned whether Konoha should notify Hanzo, but Jiraiya and Yuhara warned that Hanzo might already be under Nagato's control and that sending a message could expose them.
• Yuhara inspected a highly classified scroll in the Infinite Library and later watched the Rain Village Genin arrive in Shadow Leaf City for the joint Chunin Ninja Exams.
• White Zetsu spotted Yuhara and wondered whether Konoha was pretending he had survived, while Naruto visited the Four-Tails and tried to make it serve him.

As the joint Chunin Exams approached, Tsunade and Jiraiya considered Konoha’s security and the threats posed by Nagato and Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Yuhara designed a devastating layered fission technique called Heavenly Waterfall and planned to complete Tigo’s transformation into a self-sustaining Chakra life-form.

• Tsunade dismissed Jiraiya’s concerns about Orochimaru as less important than the threat of the Rinnegan.
• Yuhara collected a sample of crimson blood and worked on ways to increase his combat power after his defeat by Nagato.
• Yuhara explained to Tenzo his plan for a layered, hand-seal-free technique using Senjutsu Chakra, Tailed Beast Balls, and an aluminum sphere.
• Yuhara described how the technique would trigger cascading fission and shock waves, then named it Heavenly Waterfall.
• Yuhara focused on completing Tigo’s Chakra life-form and waited for Orochimaru to send the promised information.

Yuhara discussed the risks of his new explosive technique as Konoha’s barriers detected White Zetsu spies infiltrating the town. Kakashi captured one, and Tsunade learned that Konoha was already under surveillance.

• Yuhara told Tenzo that a Tailed Beast Ball would not be enough against a truly formidable shinobi, then explained that his new technique still needed a safe testing site and a way to protect himself from its blast.
• Yuhara used his Chakra to help Tigo’s perception barriers detect White Zetsu clones following him, and he ordered Kakashi to strike them directly.
• Kakashi captured a White Zetsu, while the other clones were eliminated or withdrew from the town.
• White Zetsu concluded that Konoha’s barriers had exposed the spies and ordered his forces to avoid Konoha’s core areas.
• Kakashi brought the White Zetsu corpse to Tsunade, who examined it and learned that the enemy had been gathering intelligence in the town.

Naruto gathered Neji, Sasuke, and Shino to sneak into the practical Chunin Ninja Exam, claiming he had a pass that would let them through. The pass turned out to be the rare Senju of the Forest Honor Medal, which Naruto had borrowed, leaving his friends to weigh the danger of helping him.

• Naruto, Neji, Sasuke, and Shino met at the Three-Way River and discussed how to get past the exam grounds' barrier and guards.
• Naruto proposed using Transformation Jutsu to pose as medal holders and their subordinates, and Neji agreed to join him.
• Naruto revealed that he had a special pass and pulled out the Senju of the Forest Honor Medal.
• Shino asked if the medal was forged, but Naruto admitted that he had borrowed it.
• The children hid in a lumber warehouse to plan their attempt to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Naruto and his friends impersonated Yuhara to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams, only to realize they had no idea how to pass the assessment. As a Sand Village squad attacked, Uchiha moved to protect the children while Yuhara arranged to intervene.

• Naruto transformed into Yuhara and led Neji, Sasuke Kakashi, and Shino past the exam guards using Yuhara’s medal, while Yexuejuan followed them into the forest as their bodyguard.
• Yuhara learned that Naruto’s group had entered the venue and told Uchiha to watch over them; Konoha’s intelligence staff discovered the impersonation and began responding.
• Shino pointed out that the children did not know what counted as passing the assessment, so Neji proposed capturing ninjas from another village for information.
• The group encountered a Sand Village squad led by Mori, who ordered Shima to attack despite their mission to earn Chunin qualifications without provoking Konoha.
• Mori’s poisoned needles curved toward Naruto, but Naruto blocked them with iron armor, and Uchiha prepared to take the children out of danger.

Naruto and the other children defeated a Sunagakure squad during the exam, and Naruto unexpectedly manifested the Nine-Tails’ Magnet Release. After Kushina ordered Naruto to become Yuhara’s disciple, Yuhara took Neji aside to discuss the Caged Bird and the Hyuga Branch Family’s future.

• Naruto’s Nine-Tails used Yuhara’s chakra to gain a more efficient form of Magnet Release, while Yuhara explained that the exchange had weakened both himself and the Nine-Tails in some ways and strengthened them in others.
• A Sunagakure squad ambushed Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Shino, but Naruto’s new iron-sand defense and the children’s attacks helped them defeat the attackers.
• Uchiha brought the unconscious Sunagakure ninja and the four children to Kushina and Yuhara, who discussed Naruto’s unusual power and the possible use of the Human Cursed Seal.
• Kushina declared Naruto Yuhara’s disciple to prevent gossip about his inherited ability, then ordered Naruto dealt with separately and the other children locked up.
• Yuhara asked Neji to accompany him and warned that Neji would need to surpass the Hyuga Clan to gain the Hokage’s support against the Caged Bird.
• Yuhara told Neji that Naruto’s sudden increase in strength could change their standing, then urged Neji to hone his abilities and decide the fate of himself and the Branch Family.

Yuhara met with Shijo, Miyano, and Shimizutani, who asked him to arrange for Tsunade to become pregnant so her rule would have an heir. Unable to solve the problem, he postponed a detailed discussion until after his mission and prepared to leave Shadow Leaf City.

• Hyuga Neji responded to Yuhara's criticism by training relentlessly and resolved to refuse Naruto's reckless invitations.
• Konoha's joint Chunin Ninja Exams with the Sand Village weakened the isolation of the Land of Fire and secured Tsunade's position as ruler.
• Shijo, Miyano, and Shimizutani approached Yuhara because they feared their influence and families would be at risk without a successor to Tsunade.
• The three men asked Yuhara to arrange for Tsunade to become pregnant, and he said he would discuss their difficulties after returning from his mission.
• Yuhara admitted he could not solve the problem, then set out from Shadow Leaf City to handle his other affairs.

Kakashi brought Tsunade’s experimental spatial-transfer technique to a training ground while Yuhara was away on a mission, and Tenzo became its first test subject. The technique worked, but it also exposed Tenzo’s back and left him desperately trying to keep the rest of his clothes on.

• The Land of Fire’s leaders worried that Tsunade’s lack of an heir could undo the political unity between the country and Konoha.
• Kakashi arrived at Yuhara’s office to find Tenzo filling in, then explained that the experimental technique was ready for testing and Tsunade wanted to see it that day.
• Tsunade and Kushina watched as Tenzo activated the metal card’s formula and was instantly transferred a short distance across the training ground.
• Kakashi judged the fixed-direction technique limited in combat, while Tenzo realized the transfer had left his back completely bare.
• Tenzo tried to keep his remaining clothes from slipping away as Tsunade and Kushina struggled to suppress their laughter.