Chapter Summaries

Obito Uchiha received a public reprimand for cheating and decided that getting expelled would free him from studying, while Rin vowed to help him prepare for a retake. Meanwhile, Kusana discussed a film distribution deal with Nonō, who passed the information to Danzo; Danzo planned to use the negotiations to undermine Hiruzen, but Kusagakure’s representatives arrived to discuss business.

• Obito Uchiha was publicly reprimanded for cheating, and Rin promised to study with him so he would not be expelled.
• Obito Uchiha secretly decided to get expelled to escape Teacher Madara’s lessons.
• Kusana asked Nonō whether she knew Shimura Danzō and explained that Kusagakure wanted agents in the Five Great Ninja Villages to distribute its films.
• Nonō wondered whether she should tell Lord Danzō that Kusana wanted to do business with him.
• Danzo received Nonō’s report, rejected the deal at first, then saw a chance to use it to stop Hiruzen and improve his own standing.
• An Anbu ninja told Danzo that the Hokage had summoned him because someone from Kusagakure had arrived to discuss business.

Kusagakure secured Konoha’s cooperation through Shimura Danzō’s opposition, and Grasswood opened cinemas in Konoha with Mitokado Homura as its spokesperson. At the first postwar New Year, Kakashi spotted Obito disguised on a cinema poster.

• Kusana learned that Konoha had appointed Mitokado Homura as an agent after Shimura Danzō called for war and the Third Hokage rejected his proposal.
• Kusana told Mujie to finish the Konoha deal before year’s end and publicize Kusagakure’s cooperation with the Five Great Ninja Villages.
• Kusagakure and the Land of Rain strengthened their ties as Grasswood opened cinemas in Konoha and Mitokado Homura became its movie spokesperson.
• Kakashi noticed a cinema poster featuring a disguised young man and recognized him as Obito.

Kakashi watched Obito’s film, which retold a comrade-rescue mission and ended with the village honoring the team, and resolved to bring Obito and Rin back. Meanwhile, Obito prepared to watch the movie with Madara, who claimed not to care but kept glancing at the screen.

• Kakashi reflected on Obito’s Mangekyo eye, their promise, and his hope that Minato would bring Obito and Rin back to the village.
• Kakashi bought a ticket and watched Obito’s film about a team that abandoned its mission to rescue Jonin Mizuki, endured the village’s condemnation, and was ultimately recognized as heroic by its leader.
• Kakashi recognized Obito’s role in the film’s message about cherishing comrades and left feeling reassured that Obito and Rin were doing well.
• Kakashi watched the snowfall and vowed to bring Obito and Rin back because they were his comrades.
• Obito set up a screen to watch his movie with Madara, who called it foolish while continuing to glance at it.

Obito and Madara watched a movie together, and Madara decided to tutor Obito after learning he had cheated on an exam. Kusana and Hanzo arrived at the Kusagakure gala, where Hanzo revealed that the puppeteer performing for the Land of Rain was Little Scorpion.

• Obito argued with Madara about whether comrades mattered more than missions while they watched a movie.
• After the movie ended, Madara scolded Obito for cheating and promised to tutor him during the holiday.
• Obito left to spend time with Rin, while Spiral White Zetsu kept the projector running for Madara.
• Kusana arrived at the gala with Kana, Fusang, Pakura, and Nonō as the audience gathered at viewing spots around the village.
• Hanzo arrived and told Kusana that Little Scorpion, a Factory Three worker from the Land of Rain, would perform puppetry at the gala.

The Land of Grass and the Land of Rain celebrated their alliance with a gala that reminded the assembled clans how much their lives had improved. The festivities ended with Hanzo of the Salamander deciding to adopt a child, and Kusana suggesting he ask Kakuzu about personal accident insurance.

• Uzumaki Yangzheng and Hyosuke reflected on how the Land of Grass had given their clans safety, prosperity, and a home, then thanked each other as they watched the performances.
• The gala showcased acts by ninja clans, factories, and ordinary people, while Kusana regretted abandoning his plan to have Nagato and the others perform in frog costumes.
• Sasori of the Red Sand appeared in his Kusagakure work uniform to perform the Hundred Puppet Technique, and Hanzo mistakenly praised him as a child from the Land of Rain.
• Hanzo told Kusana he wanted to adopt a war orphan, and Kusana advised him to ask Kakuzu about personal accident insurance.

Scorpion performed a puppet show depicting Kusagakure’s reconstruction and won the evening party’s popular performance award. When Chief Kusana and Hanzo came to present it, Scorpion worried that they might have discovered his identity.

• Scorpion used his puppets to depict Kusagakure being rebuilt, impressing the audience and drawing praise from Hanzo and Pakura.
• After leaving the stage, Scorpion planned to depart through the Land of Grass, but his coworkers and factory director praised him and told him the winning performance would receive one million.
• Scorpion returned to watch the rest of the party after learning about the prize money.
• The audience chose Scorpion’s puppet show as the favorite, and he went on stage to receive the award.
• Scorpion thanked the factory director, then grew wary when Chief Kusana and Hanzo came to present his award.

Scorpion won first place at the factory gala but discovered he could not leave Kusagakure that night, while Kusana and his friends shared a peaceful evening after the celebrations. Obito brought Rin’s food to Madara’s cave to celebrate the New Year.

• Scorpion accepted his million-prize card, then learned the Green Trains had stopped and he had to stay in Kusagakure overnight.
• Kusana and Kana returned home with Fusang, who thanked Kusana before finding Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato waiting in her courtyard.
• Yahiko said he would take Mujitsu’s little brother to school in a few days, and Nagato followed Fusang and Konan inside.
• Rin sent Obito to Madara with food she had prepared, hoping Madara would enjoy it.
• Obito arrived at the cave, found Madara, Swirl Face, and White Zetsu’s main body watching a screen, and wished them a Happy New Year.

Kusana planned to expand Kusagakure’s trade through a new association and cheap goods, then went to Madara’s cave after White Zetsu summoned him. There, he watched Madara tutor Obito and began listening as Madara started a story about the Warring States Period.

• Kusagakure decided to establish a trade association under Kakuzu and use agents, nearby shops, and a price war to enter the Five Great Nations’ markets.
• White Zetsu’s main body told Kusana that Madara wanted to see him, and Kusana hurried to the cave to pay a New Year’s visit.
• Kusana found Madara tutoring Obito because Obito had cheated on his final exams, and he waited nearby with tea and snacks.
• Madara ended the lesson and began telling Obito a story about two powerful ninja clans during the Warring States Period.

Madara told Obito how Konoha was founded and reflected on whether his and Hashirama’s pursuit of peace had been mistaken. He gave Obito his book and asked him to inherit his will before breaking free of White Zetsu IV and dying, while Kusana realized Black Zetsu had not yet appeared.

• Madara recounted the founding of Konoha, the failed peace efforts, and his battle with Hashirama at the Valley of the End.
• Madara explained his changing doubts about the ninja village system and his former plan, then asked Obito to carry on his wish for peace.
• Obito accepted Madara’s book and promised to inherit his will.
• Madara tore free of White Zetsu IV, clasped Obito’s hand over the book, and died in his stone chair.
• Kusana noticed that Black Zetsu was missing and wondered where he was.

Black Zetsu emerged from Obito's book just as the others prepared to burn Madara's body, claiming he was born from Madara's will to supervise Obito's studies. Kusana accepted his explanation, leaving Black Zetsu's plan intact for now.

• Black Zetsu worried that Madara's death and the proposed cremation would ruin his plan to resurrect Kaguya, but he feared revealing himself to Kusana.
• Kusana urged Obito and the White Zetsus to arrange a proper funeral, and Obito resolved to inherit Madara's will and study hard.
• When Obito wondered how to hold the funeral, Kusana proposed burning Madara's body and spreading his ashes across the ninja world so he could witness peace.
• Black Zetsu emerged from Obito's book and objected to the cremation, presenting himself as a being created from Madara's written will to supervise Obito's studies.
• Kusana warmly accepted Black Zetsu's story, declaring that he unmistakably looked like a product of Madara's will.

Obito accepted Kusana’s claim that he was born from Madara’s book and resolved to keep studying. Kusana convinced Black Zetsu to send the hundred thousand sleeping White Zetsu to work in factories, then left Black Zetsu to handle Madara’s funeral and the bill.

• Obito accepted Kusana’s explanation and renewed his resolve to study, while Black Zetsu took charge of Madara’s simple funeral.
• Kusana revealed that he knew about the hundred thousand White Zetsu, and Black Zetsu confirmed they were asleep as tools prepared by Madara.
• Kusana challenged Black Zetsu’s understanding of Madara’s ideas and argued that the White Zetsu should learn about ordinary people by working in factories.
• Black Zetsu agreed with Kusana and praised his interpretation, and Kusana declared him the book’s manifestation and left him to handle the funeral.
• Kusana and Obito departed through Kamui, leaving Black Zetsu to ask how they would settle the bill and conclude that Kusana was a trap.

After Madara died and left his will to Obito, Black Zetsu chose to continue working toward Mother’s return while Kusana found a use for the awakened White Zetsu. The chapter ended with the White Zetsu learning they had been recruited as workers rather than summoned for the final battle.

• Black Zetsu ordered the others to protect Madara’s corpse, hold a meeting, and awaken the White Zetsu so they could keep working toward Mother’s return.
• Kusana considered how to organize the hundred thousand White Zetsu and decided to discuss it with Yōsei and Kakuzu.
• Hanzo of the Salamander asked Kusana to approve funding for the Land of Rain’s sewer project, and Kusana approved it after offering White Zetsu workers for the job.
• The White Zetsu original body awakened more clones, who assumed the final battle was beginning and asked how many Tailed Beasts had been collected.
• The White Zetsu original body told the confused clones that they had a large order to fulfill by working in a factory.

Kusana and Pakura discussed adding Scientific Ninjutsu courses to the academy as Kusagakure expanded its research program. Obito had become a diligent student, but his studies left him disappointed in Black Zetsu.

• Kusana learned that Black Zetsu had quickly buried Madara, while Spiral White Zetsu had stopped sweeping near the village entrance.
• Kusana told Pakura that Kusagakure planned to establish Scientific Ninjutsu classes and a training system, with Elder Yang Zheng preparing the materials.
• Pakura questioned Kusana about Nonō's low salary and whether hiring rogue ninja would provoke the Five Great Ninja Villages; Kusana revealed that Nonō was a Konoha spy he kept because Kusagakure needed staff.
• Pakura reported that Obito had stopped sleeping in class and now actively answered questions, and Kusana said he had simply grown up.
• Obito asked Black Zetsu for help with his studies, then called him Little Black and said he was disappointed in him when it could not answer.

Black Zetsu worried that Madara’s changed plans and his own altered circumstances had endangered the Infinite Tsukuyomi scheme, while White Zetsu urged patience. In the Land of Rain, Ame watched Kusagakure’s engineers rapidly begin sewer construction.

• Black Zetsu lamented that he could no longer easily manipulate the Uchiha youth and feared Madara might suspect him if revived.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu discussed how Madara’s substitute, Madara’s eyes, and a tailed beast were already in place, and White Zetsu advised waiting for another opportunity.
• Black Zetsu asked White Zetsu to summon the other clones, then learned they had all gone to work.
• In the Land of Rain, Ame watched Kusagakure’s helmeted engineers dig sewers quickly and praised their speed.

Hanzo learned that Kusagakure workers had nearly finished the sewer project and vowed to erect a monument for them. Meanwhile, Kusana considered deeper business ties with Konoha, while Danzo struggled to fund Root and noticed Konoha residents seeking Grass Ninja goods.

• Ame reported that Kusagakure workers had rapidly dug the sewer framework, and Hanzo believed his account and promised to erect a monument when the project was complete.
• Kusana learned that Minato Namikaze had become Hokage and received a letter from Mitokado Homura proposing continued cooperation.
• Kusana agreed to deepen the partnership by offering Mitokado Homura household Scientific Ninja Tools at low prices, then asked Mujie what Danzo had been doing.
• Orochimaru told Danzo that his experimental base had run out of funds, and Danzo promised to transfer more money despite Root's financial troubles.
• Danzo heard that Konoha residents were flocking to buy Grass Ninja Manufacturing goods and decided to visit Homura.

Kitsuchi visited Kusagakure to investigate its growing cooperation with Konoha, but Mujie warmly guided him around the prosperous village and promoted further business. The visit ended with Kitsuchi seeing a poster congratulating Mitokado Homura on earning one hundred million as Kusagakure's agent.

• Kitsuchi arrived in the Land of Grass and marveled at how much Kusagakure had prospered since the war.
• Mujie greeted Kitsuchi, reminded him that Iwagakure's ten harvesters were ready, and urged him to honor the order despite his plans to discuss cooperation.
• Kitsuchi agreed to tour Kusagakure with Mujie, whose warm welcome eased his suspicions about the village.
• Mujie led Kitsuchi to Kusagakure's Commerce Department and pointed out a poster celebrating Mitokado Homura's one-hundred-million earnings.

Kusana prepared an elaborate pitch to attract Iwagakure into a lucrative business deal, and Mujie brought Kitsuchi and the Iwa ninja to see it. Kakuzu reluctantly welcomed them with a forced smile, while Mujie pressed them to stay and sign a contract.

• Nonō told Kusana that Iwa representatives had arrived, and Kusana confirmed that his preparations were ready.
• Mujie led Kitsuchi and the Iwa ninja through a display of banners promising riches and prosperity.
• Kakuzu appeared and made the wary visitors tense, so Mujie urged him to smile and reminded him of the deal worth over a hundred million ryō.
• Kakuzu put away his kunai and forced a smile, then threatened Mujie over the promised money before leaving.
• Mujie continued showing the Iwa ninja around and insisted they could not leave until they settled the contract.

Mujie overwhelmed Kitsuchi and the Iwa ninja with Kusagakure’s sales pitches, then used a supposedly priceless piece of Wood Release timber to persuade them that investing could make them rich. When Kitsuchi said Iwagakure had little money, Mujie offered them a loan.

• Mujie promoted Little Can Milk to the Iwa ninja with extravagant claims and steep agent discounts.
• He pitched Grass-brand air conditioners and other products while keeping the visitors dazed with success slogans and fabricated stories.
• An Iwa ninja spotted a piece of wood priced at ten billion ryo, and Mujie claimed it came from the God of Shinobi’s Wood Release.
• Mujie used the timber as an example of how opportunity could raise a product’s value, then urged the Iwa ninja to invest in Kusagakure.
• Kitsuchi said Iwagakure lacked money after the war, so Mujie summoned Little Du, who offered them a loan.

Mujie helped Kusagakure persuade Iwa ninja to buy its products, then Kusana learned that a Sunagakure delegation was arriving to discuss an alliance. Kusana rushed to prepare for the new guests and ordered Mujie to tidy the venue.

• Mujie sent the Iwa ninja away after promoting Kusagakure's products, while they left dazed with a signed document.
• Mujie discovered that Kabuto had come to retrieve a piece of wood for class and tricked him into taking on several tons of old homework.
• Mujie reported to Kusana that the Iwa ninja had signed contracts, and Kusana told him to spread Director Huang's success story.
• Nonō informed Kusana that a Sunagakure delegation was arriving by Green Train to discuss an alliance.
• Kusana ordered Mujie to prepare the venue before the Sunagakure delegation arrived.

Chiyo and the Sand ninja traveled through the peaceful Land of Rain to Kusagakure, where Hanzo showed off the Green Train and the growing ties between the two lands. On arrival, they were greeted with a banner, while Iwa ninja learned that Sunagakure had also come to meet Kusagakure and considered alerting the Tsuchikage.

• Chiyo reflected on Sunagakure’s losses and explained that the delegation had come to assess Grass-Rain relations and reopen a route through the Land of Rain.
• Hanzo praised the peace and the Green Train as he and Chiyo traded insults during the journey.
• The Sand ninja arrived at Kusagakure Station after traveling from Amegakure in a few hours.
• A cheerful welcome and a banner greeted the confused Sand ninja as they left the station.
• Iwa ninja saw the Grass Ninja Leader meeting the Sunagakure delegation and decided they should notify the Tsuchikage.