Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru and Uchiha Yoichi made deals involving Hashirama Cells, Sharingan research, and support for Hatake Sakumo as Fourth Hokage, while Yoichi offered Yugito a chance to join Konoha. Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara learned that Fugaku had seen Nagato’s Rinnegan and ordered White Zetsu to draw him in; in the Land of Rain, Yahiko confronted Fugaku, who promised to keep Nagato’s secret.

• Orochimaru gave Uchiha Yoichi a new Sage Curse Mark cultivation method and proposed exchanging Hashirama Cells for a fusion method.
• Uchiha Yoichi agreed to provide Orochimaru with a fusion method and some Sharingan after the Wood Release deal, while asking him to support Hatake Sakumo for Hokage.
• Uchiha Yoichi told Yugito that she could use Chakra if she joined Konoha, and arranged for Uzumaki Mina to undo her seal.
• White Zetsu told Uchiha Madara that Uchiha Fugaku had seen Nagato’s Rinnegan, and Madara ordered it to lure Fugaku to him.
• Yahiko confronted Uchiha Fugaku after he saw Nagato’s Rinnegan, but Fugaku said he would not reveal the secret.

Yahiko kept Uchiha Fugaku under the Akatsuki Organization’s watch after learning he knew about Nagato’s Rinnegan. White Zetsu brought Fugaku to Uchiha Madara, who revealed the Moon Eye Plan and forced Fugaku to join; Madara said Fugaku would be needed later.

• Yahiko asked Fugaku to keep Nagato’s Rinnegan secret and told him to remain with the Akatsuki Organization, while Fugaku warned Nagato that an uncontrollable ability might not be his own.
• Yahiko introduced Fugaku to the Akatsuki Organization as Naka-dake and assigned him logistical work while Konan monitored him.
• White Zetsu lured Fugaku away by claiming Itachi missed him, then Tobi carried him underground to Madara’s secret base.
• Uchiha Madara revealed that he had survived his battle with Hashirama and described the Moon Eye Plan as his new path to peace.
• Madara used an illusion to overwhelm Fugaku and threatened to take his eyes if he refused to join the plan.
• Fugaku agreed to join the Moon Eye Plan, and Madara said he would be useful when Madara came to find him later.

Uchiha Yoichi expanded his clan’s businesses while Orochimaru obtained Hashirama Cells and research funding from Danzo. The chapter ended with Konoha preparing for a Chūnin Exam that would include Kumogakure, as several teams were registered to compete.

• Uchiha Yoichi saved his stored ability charge and planned to expand the Uchiha’s influence through businesses and media.
• Orochimaru negotiated with Danzo for Hashirama Cells and two hundred million ryō, promising experimental results and demonstrating his Cursed Seal Jutsu.
• Kushina learned from Uchiha Mikoto that Mikoto and Uchiha Yoichi were together, then rebuffed Minato Namikaze when he came to apologize.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the Chūnin Exams would begin in half a month, with Kumogakure among the participating villages.
• Uchiha Yoichi registered Yūhi Kurenai’s Team Eight, and Orochimaru registered his students for the exams.
• Minato Namikaze asked whether Kakashi should be replaced because he was already a Chunin, but Hiruzen Sarutobi decided Team Seven would keep competing.

Uchiha Yoichi prepared his students for the Chunin Ninja Exams and sent Uzumaki Mina to obtain Hashirama Cells from Orochimaru while the Uchiha Clan supported Konoha’s orphanages. The chapter ended with Uchiha Itachi waiting outside in the moonlight for someone who never came.

• Uchiha Yoichi taught Yūhi Kurenai, Hyuga Satomi, and Chishima Kazuhiko how to prepare the Sage Curse Mark and promised a Ninja Combat Suit to the exam’s first-place winner.
• Uchiha Yoichi warned Yugito that the Cloud Ninja would attend the Chunin Ninja Exams, and she agreed to remain inside the Uchiha compound.
• Uchiha Yoichi ordered Uzumaki Mina to use the least effective method to help Orochimaru create the Wood Style Bloodline and bring back the Hashirama Cells for him.
• Uchiha Mikoto gave donations from the Uchiha Clan to four Konoha orphanages and offered to fund suitable children’s Ninja Academy education; Yakushi Nonō realized she could leave Root.
• Uchiha Yoichi took Uchiha Mikoto home after she worked late, and she stopped worrying about what she had forgotten at the office.
• Uchiha Itachi sat outside late at night, and Shisui found him waiting for someone who did not appear.

Uzumaki Mina confirmed that a Root ninja had gained Wood Release and received Hashirama Cells from Orochimaru, while Kushina and Minato discussed their lives and ambitions. As the Chunin Ninja Exams approached, Hiruzen encouraged Minato to pursue the Hokage position, and the Cloud delegation arrived hoping to negotiate Yugito’s return.

• A Root ninja successfully performed the Wood Clone Technique, and Orochimaru gave Uzumaki Mina Hashirama Cells for her completed experiment.
• Uzumaki Mina met Kushina, who said she had made up with Minato, and agreed to visit her the next day.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Minato Namikaze if he wanted to become Hokage and said he would support him, prompting Minato to worry about rivals such as Hatake Sakumo.
• Konoha prepared for the approaching Chunin Ninja Exams as visiting ninja villages arrived, while Uzumaki Mina worked on cell fusion for Uchiha Yoichi.
• Dodai told Samui to relay the Raikage’s message to Yugito and try to enter the Uchiha compound to speak with her.

Yūhi Kurenai and her teammates began the Chunin Exams, where her sound-based genjutsu affected the crowded examination hall. At the Hokage Building, negotiations over Yugito’s return collapsed after Uchiha Yoichi attacked Cloud envoy Dodai, leaving Hiruzen to discuss the Hokage succession with Minato and Jiraiya.

• Yūhi Kurenai, Hyuga Satomi, and Chishima Kazuhiko entered Room 201, where Kurenai encountered Asuma and saw Kakashi and Obito among the examinees.
• The proctors began the first exam, and several squads were disqualified after their members were caught using forbidden methods.
• Kurenai used rhythmic tapping to cast a wide-area genjutsu, which caught many examinees before the proctors dispelled it.
• Dodai offered four inherited Six Paths ninja tools and the previous terms in exchange for Yugito, but Yoichi rejected the proposal and argued with him.
• Yoichi seized Dodai and slammed him into the floor before Hatake Sakumo intervened and led Yoichi away; Dodai then left without continuing negotiations.
• Hiruzen told Minato to prepare for the frustrations of becoming Hokage, while Jiraiya declined the prospect of being recommended for the position.

Minato considered Konoha’s response to the Cloud Ninja and the risks of protecting Yugito, while Uchiha Yoichi met Hatake Sakumo and sought an introduction to the Land of Fire’s Daimyo. After the Chunin Exam’s second round was changed, Yoichi helped Mikoto address her guilt over neglecting Itachi and urged her to bring him home.

• Minato said Konoha should reject the Cloud Ninja’s offer and protect Yugito, while Hiruzen questioned him about his readiness to become Hokage.
• Jiraiya told Minato that Uchiha Yoichi led the Uchiha’s hard-line faction, while Danzo seemed aligned with it.
• Yoichi took Hatake Sakumo to the Uchiha Hot Pot Restaurant, predicted the Cloud Ninja might resume the war, and asked Sakumo to introduce him to the Land of Fire’s Daimyo.
• Konoha changed the second Chunin Exam round to a Forest of Death scroll hunt after the first round eliminated nearly half the participants.
• Yoichi encouraged Obito to try to defeat Kakashi in the third round, then visited Mikoto and urged her to delegate work and bring Itachi to live with her.

Uchiha Yoichi arranged for Mikoto to live with Itachi, then successfully fused Hashirama Cells into himself and discovered they helped restore his Mangekyo’s power. A new Strategy Guide ability revealed that Tsunade could be conquered, while Mikoto and Mina already had perfect affection scores.

• Uchiha Shinji agreed to let Mikoto live with Itachi after Uchiha Yoichi threatened to raise the issue at a Clan Meeting.
• Mikoto told Uchiha Yoichi she had moved Itachi into her current home and was preparing to reduce her workload so she could care for him.
• Dodai asked Kitsuchi to arrange a remote meeting between the Cloud Ninja and Iwagakure, and Kitsuchi agreed to report the proposal after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Uzumaki Mina successfully fused Hashirama Cells into Uchiha Yoichi, whose wound healed rapidly and whose Mangekyo power began restoring itself.
• Uchiha Yoichi drew the Strategy Guide ability and found that Uzumaki Mina and Mikoto had 100% affection, while Tsunade had 64% and could be conquered.

Uchiha Yoichi tested the Strategy Guide, then traveled to Ryūchi Cave to learn Senjutsu and practice Wood Release. In Konoha, Jiraiya discovered Orochimaru’s research base and questioned him about Ryūchi Cave, Mount Myōboku, and Yoichi.

• Uchiha Yoichi checked several women’s Affection Points with the Strategy Guide and decided to visit Ryūchi Cave when he had time.
• Uchiha Yoichi went to Ryūchi Cave, where Ichikishimahime noticed his ability to absorb Natural Energy and offered to teach him Senjutsu.
• Uchiha Yoichi trained in Senjutsu and Wood Release while the Chunin Ninja Exams continued in Konoha.
• Jiraiya followed Orochimaru to his research base, mistook his work for the mistreatment of victims, and learned that the test subjects were purchased death-row inmates.
• Jiraiya asked Orochimaru about Ryūchi Cave’s relationship with Mount Myōboku and about Uchiha Yoichi, then left without revealing the prophecy that had prompted his questions.

Jiraiya told Hiruzen about Orochimaru’s experiments on condemned prisoners, then Hiruzen watched the Chunin Ninja Exams and discovered a Root Genin using Wood Release. Meanwhile, Uchiha Yoichi mastered more Wood Release and Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu, accepted Ichikishimahime’s transformation, and returned to Konoha with new abilities.

• Jiraiya reported Orochimaru’s human experiments to Hiruzen, who accepted them because the subjects were condemned prisoners and noted that the Second Hokage had conducted similar research.
• Jiraiya relayed Orochimaru’s warning about the village’s Genin in the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Hiruzen used the Telescope Technique to watch the Forest of Death.
• Hiruzen saw Asuma’s team lose its scroll to Team Eight, then witnessed a Root Genin use Wood Release to kill three Grass Ninjas and decided to speak with Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Yoichi practiced with Wood Clones in Ryūchi Cave, mastered most Wood Release techniques, and learned the White Roar Technique and Inorganic Reincarnation from Ichikishimahime.
• Uchiha Yoichi accepted Ryūchi Cave’s transformation, entered a changed Sage Mode, and found that he could control Senjutsu Chakra more easily.
• Uchiha Yoichi restrained Ichikishimahime with stone chains, returned to Konoha through Garaga’s Reverse Summoning Technique, and left Ichikishimahime arguing with Garaga.

Uchiha Yoichi negotiated with the Land of Fire’s daimyo about Hatake Sakumo becoming the Fourth Hokage while Danzo and Orochimaru argued over Wood Release research. As Yoichi headed back to the Uchiha compound, his Strategy Guide alerted him that Tsunade had returned and was nearby.

• Mikoto brought Uchiha Itachi to meet Uchiha Yoichi, who encouraged Itachi to train and advised Mikoto to hire Yakushi Nonō.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Danzo to hand over the Wood Release Ninja, then arranged funding and Anbu subjects for Orochimaru’s further research.
• Danzo confronted Orochimaru and demanded the Hashirama Cell fusion method, but Orochimaru refused to provide it.
• Uchiha Yoichi and Hatake Sakumo met the Land of Fire’s daimyo, and Yoichi privately gained his support for Sakumo as the Fourth Hokage.
• Uchiha Yoichi’s Strategy Guide alerted him that Tsunade had returned and pointed toward the Uchiha Clan’s supermarket.

Tsunade returned to Konoha with Shizune to collect two years of payments from Uchiha Yoichi, but a meal with him turned into a wager about his future as Hokage and her hemophobia. Tsunade left shaken, secretly hoping Yoichi would win, while Yoichi saw the wager as the final step toward winning her over.

• Tsunade and Shizune collected six million from Uchiha Mikoto and prepared to leave Konoha.
• Uchiha Yoichi persuaded Tsunade and Shizune to eat with him at the Food Court, where Tsunade praised the sushi and listened to his plans for the village.
• Tsunade questioned whether Yoichi could become Fourth Hokage and explained that her hemophobia could not be cured; Yoichi challenged her to bet on him becoming Hokage and changing the Ninja World.
• Tsunade angrily objected when Yoichi made himself the stake, but he declared the wager sealed and left; Tsunade hoped he would win.
• Jiraiya arrived after Yoichi had left, but Tsunade said she was only passing through and departed with Shizune.
• Yoichi checked the Strategy Guide and found that Tsunade's impression of him had risen to 82.

After the Chunin Exams ended, Yahiko and Konan failed to secure a meeting with the Third Hokage and were targeted by Danzo. As Shin ambushed them with Wood Release outside Konoha, an unknown person appeared between the two sides.

• Kakashi won the individual matches, with Yūhi Kurenai placing second and Samui taking third; Hyuga Satomi and a Stone Ninja tied for fourth, while Danzo’s Wood Style contestant finished sixth.
• Yahiko and Konan asked to meet the Third Hokage to discuss peace, but a guard turned them away; Danzo then ordered Shin to kill them.
• Shin attacked Yahiko and Konan with shuriken and Wood Release, but they evaded his assault with Water Release and Konan’s explosive paper shuriken.
• Shin prepared another Wood Release attack, but someone suddenly appeared between him and Yahiko and Konan.

Uchiha Shisui stopped Root from attacking Yahiko and Konan, and Hiruzen brought Jiraiya in to hear their peaceful aims while promising to investigate Danzo's orders. Later, Uchiha Yoichi caught Samui trying to persuade Yugito to return to Kumogakure and agreed to spare her after Yugito asked, on the condition that Yugito step on him in white socks.

• Uchiha Shisui intervened when Root tried to kill Yahiko and Konan, then brought both sides to the Hokage with the Security Force.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned Yahiko and Konan were Jiraiya's students, summoned Jiraiya, and promised to investigate Danzo's order.
• Yahiko told Hiruzen that the Akatsuki Organization wanted to resolve conflicts through peaceful negotiations, and Hiruzen praised his ideal.
• Samui found Yugito and urged her to return to Kumogakure, but Yugito said the village had abandoned her and refused.
• Uchiha Yoichi captured Samui, then agreed to let her go after Yugito pleaded for her and demanded that Yugito step on him in white socks.

After the Chunin Ninja Exams, Yoichi discussed Hashirama Cell research and plans for his students while Konoha struggled to balance its alliance with Hanzō against protecting the Akatsuki Organization. Danzo received a Hashirama Cell transplant, and Yahiko and Konan staged an attack so the Akatsuki could appear to have been hunted by Konoha.

• Yoichi learned from Samui that Kumogakure planned to use a Six Paths artifact and the Heavenly Transfer Technique to bring Yugito back, then discussed Hashirama Cell cultivation and his students with Mina.
• Hiruzen confronted Danzo over Root's attack on Jiraiya's students, then told Jiraiya to stage a convincing hunt that left the Akatsuki leaders seriously injured but alive.
• Danzo underwent a Hashirama Cell transplant at Orochimaru's base, gained Wood Release, and failed to persuade Orochimaru to share his Cursed Seal Jutsu.
• Kitsuchi reported Konoha's strength to Ōnoki, who prepared to meet the Third Raikage as tensions between the villages continued.
• After learning Hanzō had ordered the attack, Yahiko agreed to Jiraiya's plan, and Yahiko and Konan staged his injury before Rain Ninja at the border.

Yahiko accepted Uchiha Fugaku’s advice to shift the Akatsuki Organization toward civilian support and hide its members’ identities to survive Hanzō’s coming attack. Meanwhile, Uchiha Yoichi expanded his power and business in Konoha, but the brief calm ended with a sudden incident.

• Yahiko revealed that he had pretended to be injured to guard against Hanzō’s spies and explained that Hanzō planned to destroy the Akatsuki Organization.
• Uchiha Fugaku advised the Akatsuki Organization to abandon its Ninja identities temporarily and win support among the civilians of the Land of Rain.
• Yahiko approved Fugaku’s plan, and the Akatsuki Organization changed its communications while continuing to spread its ideals and help civilians.
• Uchiha Yoichi summoned fifteen Kumogakure Jonin with Edo Tensei, assigning Azabum to the trading company and the others to protect Uchiha business interests.
• Uchiha Yoichi persuaded Konoha’s senior officials to approve a Ninja Amusement Park near the village barrier, with support from the Daimyo’s Mansion.
• Uchiha Yoichi’s power grew after he absorbed Star Stone Chakra, while Team Eight became Yūhi Kurenai’s squad after she and Hyuga Satomi became Chunin; then a sudden incident shattered the peace.

Uchiha Yoichi learned that Takigakure and Yugakure were demanding compensation from Konoha, and the Hokage’s meeting raised the prospect of war with Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Konoha assigned Yoichi to strike Yugakure alone and sent a team led by Minato Namikaze to Takigakure; as the forces prepared to depart, Yoichi warned Yugito that war was beginning.

• Uchiha Yoichi left home for Hiruzen Sarutobi’s summons after Yugito angrily refused to count their interrupted massage toward the next day.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Jonin that Takigakure and Yugakure had killed Konoha patrol Ninja and were demanding compensation and the perpetrators, possibly as allies of Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• Uchiha Yoichi, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo supported striking Takigakure and Yugakure before they could join a wider war.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, and Todo Inuzuka to warn Takigakure, while Uchiha Yoichi volunteered to handle Yugakure alone.
• Uchiha Yoichi sent eighty Uchiha, including Uchiha Shinji and Uchiha Yokokawa, with the first wave of troops, and equipped many with Sage Curse Marks and Ninja Combat Suits.
• After returning home, Uchiha Yoichi prepared Raiya and told Yugito to stay in Konoha and leave some Two-Tails Chakra with him so she could contact him during the war.

Uchiha Yoichi learned that Uzumaki Mina was pregnant before leaving Konoha on a mission to Yugakure, where he found Cloud Ninja negotiating with Yugakure over joining the war. He killed the Cloud Ninja envoys, sealed the village inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, and confronted the Yugikage and an Evil God Cult believer.

• Yugito transferred Two-Tails' Chakra to Uchiha Yoichi so they could communicate, then left angrily after he noticed a scent on his hand.
• Uzumaki Mina told Uchiha Yoichi she was pregnant, and he ordered her to stay in Konoha while he left to carry out his mission.
• Uchiha Yoichi visited Mikoto to say goodbye, then traveled to Yugakure, where he found Cloud Ninja negotiating with Yugakure's Evil God Cult believers.
• Uchiha Yoichi killed the four Cloud Ninja envoys and raised the Four Violet Flames Formation around Yugakure.
• Uchiha Yoichi demanded to know who had sought compensation from Konoha, while the Yugikage claimed the Evil God Cult believers had contacted the Cloud Ninja without his approval.

Uchiha Yoichi crushed the Evil God Cult in Yugakure and drove the Yugikage to relocate the village, while Minato Namikaze’s team unleashed the Seven-Tails in Takigakure. Afterward, Yoichi encountered Shizune and went with her to meet Tsunade, who was surprised to see him.

• Uchiha Yoichi hypnotized the Yugikage, learned that Akai had allied Yugakure with Kumogakure, and ordered the Evil God Cult’s followers and records gathered.
• Uchiha Yoichi killed Akai and burned the gathered cultists with four Shadow Clones, then left the Yugikage to relocate Yugakure away from the war.
• The Yugikage ordered Yugakure’s villagers to move, and Uchiha Yoichi watched from outside before dispelling his Shadow Clone.
• Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, and Todo Inuzuka freed the Seven-Tails, which devastated Takigakure as they escaped.
• Uchiha Yoichi changed his appearance and encountered Shizune carrying a pig, then accompanied her to the inn where Tsunade was staying.
• Tsunade opened the door in her pajamas, noticed Uchiha Yoichi, and asked what he was doing there.

Uchiha Yoichi helped Tsunade leave the gambling town by giving her his casino winnings and directing her toward the Land of Tea, then returned to the battlefield and gave Konoha an alliance contract that Orochimaru planned to use against Kumogakure. Meanwhile, Dodai welcomed Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki and forces, who joined the Cloud Ninja’s preparations for an attack on the Land of Fire.

• Uchiha Yoichi told Tsunade about the Evil God Cult and offered her its information to study, but kept the cult leader’s corpse for Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Yoichi lent Tsunade money to gamble for three days, won roughly thirty million ryō, then handed her the money and urged her to travel to the Land of Tea.
• Tsunade realized Uchiha Yoichi was trying to keep her away from the war and decided to leave for the Land of Tea with Shizune.
• Uchiha Yoichi returned to Hatake Sakumo’s camp, reported that Yugakure’s people had left, and gave Orochimaru the alliance contract between the Hot Water Ninja and Cloud Ninja.
• Orochimaru ordered copies of the contract distributed through the Land of Lightning to turn Kumogakure’s hostility toward Yugakure, while Hatake Sakumo assigned missions to his forces.
• Dodai welcomed Rōshi, Han, Kitsuchi, and nearly a hundred Stone Ninja, who had joined the Cloud Ninja’s preparations to attack the Land of Fire.