Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya let Killer B escape rather than risk a Tailed Beast Bomb striking Konoha’s forces, and the battered Cloud Village troops retreated after their top fighters were devastated. Minamoto Takuya reflected on the victory and the changes it could bring to the future, including whether the Uchiha coup and massacre would still occur.

• Killer B threatened Konoha’s battlefield with a Tailed Beast Bomb, forcing Jiraiya to abandon his pursuit and let the Eight-Tails flee with the wounded Fourth Raikage A.
• Jiraiya recognized that Cloud Village’s leading fighters had been crippled, and Konoha’s troops celebrated as the remaining Cloud forces retreated.
• The Collector gave Jiraiya a Sealing Scroll containing the Eight-Tails’ severed limbs and tentacles, then vanished using a Shadow Clone.
• Jiraiya thanked Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima before they returned to Mount Myōboku, and he vowed to bring the war to an end.
• Minamoto Takuya watched Killer B carry away A and decided not to confront them, then considered how Konoha’s victory might alter future events, including the Uchiha coup and clan massacre.

After the war ended, Minamoto Takuya modified his Sharingan-awakening machine and used an Obito Uchiha template, gaining a Two-Tomoe Sharingan but not reaching Three Tomoe. He assessed his plans for gathering Tailed Beast Chakra, decided to wait until his Chimera Technique was complete, and opened a long-neglected letter.

• Kumogakure surrendered to Konoha, and Ōnoki withdrew Iwagakure's forces after learning of Kumogakure's losses, bringing the war to an end.
• Minamoto Takuya returned to his laboratory and modified the Memory Seal in his Sharingan-awakening device to better contain fabricated memories.
• Minamoto Takuya entered the machine using an Obito Uchiha template and emerged with a Two-Tomoe Sharingan, but failed to awaken Three Tomoe.
• Minamoto Takuya resisted the urge to repeat the experiment immediately and explored his old laboratory, where he inspected his cultivated miniature Ten-Tails.
• Minamoto Takuya decided to postpone collecting more Tailed Beast Chakra until his Chimera Technique succeeded, then retrieved and opened a letter he had long neglected.

Minamoto Takuya decided to recruit Zabuza Momochi to strengthen the Snow Ninja Village and lured him to an abandoned house. After defeating Zabuza’s attack and seeing through his Hidden Mist Technique, he held Zabuza at knifepoint and identified himself as the Collector.

• Minamoto Takuya chose Zabuza Momochi as a potential leader and protector for the Snow Ninja Village, judging Kisame Hoshigaki too difficult to recruit.
• Minamoto Takuya summoned Zabuza to an abandoned house and demanded his loyalty instead of offering an ordinary mission.
• Zabuza angrily attacked Minamoto Takuya with Kubikiribōchō, but Minamoto Takuya blocked the blade with a Kunai.
• Zabuza escaped outside and used the Hidden Mist Technique to conceal himself and launch a silent attack.
• Minamoto Takuya sensed Zabuza through the mist, evaded his strike with a clone, and stabbed him in the back.
• Minamoto Takuya called himself the Collector and told the defeated Zabuza that he would be his future master.

Minamoto Takuya forced Zabuza to submit through a sealing punishment, then paid him for the mission and disappeared. In Konoha, Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya discussed the Collector’s role in the war and planned to improve relations with the Uchiha Clan by appointing Shisui Uchiha as its representative.

• Minamoto Takuya sealed Zabuza and inflicted unbearable pain on him after warning that a third offense would trigger the Life-and-Death Pact.
• Zabuza submitted to Minamoto Takuya, accepted his mission payment, and resolved to endure the arrangement because the money was generous.
• Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya reviewed the Collector’s help in defeating Cloud Village and concluded that he might already have obtained Konoha’s Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Minato Namikaze promised to deliver the Collector’s remaining payment and discussed the Uchiha Clan’s future with Jiraiya.
• Minato Namikaze proposed Shisui Uchiha as the clan’s representative, hoping to build a bridge between the Uchiha and Konoha.

Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya settled on asking Tsunade to train Minamoto Takuya as a reward for his wartime medical work. At Konoha’s victory celebration, Takuya considered the Cloud Village visit and the possibility of a Hyuga kidnapping plot, then met Shisui Uchiha, who seemed nervous about speaking.

• Jiraiya suggested that Tsunade take Minamoto Takuya as her student, and Minato decided to write her a respectful request.
• Minato and Jiraiya agreed that the Ino-Shika-Cho clans could receive conventional clan rewards.
• Minamoto Takuya returned to Konoha for the victory celebration and considered whether Cloud Village shinobi might try to kidnap Hinata Hyuga.
• Minamoto Takuya decided to send Crows to watch the Hyuga Clan compound that night and spotted Hyuga Hiashi at the celebration plaza.
• Shisui Uchiha approached Minamoto Takuya and asked whether he had been invited to give a speech; Takuya confirmed it and asked if Shisui was nervous.

Minamoto Takuya encouraged Shisui Uchiha before the Konoha celebration, where Shisui spoke sincerely about bridging the village and the Uchiha Clan. That night, Minamoto discovered Otsutsuki Toneri and his father visiting Hinata Hyuga, then found their hidden passage to the moon and decided he needed far greater strength before pursuing them.

• Minamoto Takuya reassured Shisui Uchiha about speaking before the village and encouraged him to serve as a bond between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.
• Minamoto Takuya delivered a brief speech at the celebration, then Shisui Uchiha addressed the crowd and spoke of both sides sharing the ideal of protecting Konoha.
• Fugaku Uchiha watched Shisui's speech with cautious hope, while Uchiha Itachi was moved by his older clansman's words.
• Minamoto Takuya used the Clairvoyance Technique that night and saw Otsutsuki Toneri and his father visit the sleeping Hinata Hyuga.
• Minamoto Takuya decided not to attack the visitors because Toneri's father could be overwhelmingly powerful, and he secretly monitored them with Crows.
• At dawn, Minamoto Takuya found the visitors' hidden passage to the moon and concluded that he needed to reach the middle or upper stages of Super Shadow before going there.

Minamoto Takuya weighed ways to increase his strength and decided to resume researching the Cursed Seal while postponing his plans to pursue the Otsutsuki bloodline. Jiraiya then arrived and took him on a journey to find Tsunade, whose training Takuya hoped to complete quickly before returning to his research.

• Minamoto Takuya considered developing a controllable Cursed Seal and relying on Hashirama Cells to offset Mangekyō Sharingan overuse, while deciding to delay his trip to Lone Moon Palace.
• As Minamoto Takuya prepared to return to the Land of Snow, Jiraiya arrived and reminded him of the plan for Tsunade to take him as a disciple.
• Jiraiya admitted that Tsunade's exact whereabouts were unknown but said she was likely near Konoha, and Minamoto Takuya agreed to leave with him immediately.
• Jiraiya noticed Minamoto Takuya looked younger, but Minamoto Takuya brushed off the observation and resolved to use the Yin Seal as a possible explanation for his changing appearance.
• Minamoto Takuya packed his belongings and set out with Jiraiya to find Tsunade.

Minamoto Takuya traveled with Jiraiya while researching a strange Cursed Seal and developing his sealing techniques, as Jiraiya searched for Tsunade through taverns and casinos. A Shadow Clone finally located Tsunade’s recent whereabouts near a neighboring town, but Takuya waited to tell Jiraiya before pursuing her.

• Jiraiya returned drunk to Minamoto Takuya’s room and insisted that intelligence gathering required personal experience, while Takuya explained that Shadow Clones could search for Tsunade.
• Jiraiya passed out, and Minamoto Takuya carried him into the neighboring room before continuing his research the next day.
• Jiraiya and Minamoto Takuya moved from town to town as Takuya’s Shadow Clone analyzed the Cursed Seal and his real body studied Sealing Formulas.
• Minamoto Takuya considered the pain of another Flesh-and-Blood Inscription and imagined combining sealing techniques with Yin Release, Yang Release, Dark Release, and Sage Art.
• A Shadow Clone returned memories that placed Tsunade near a neighboring town’s casino, but Minamoto Takuya continued sorting his research because he needed Jiraiya before approaching her.

Minamoto Takuya and Jiraiya found Tsunade at a tavern, where she was drinking with Shizune after losing her money gambling. Jiraiya reunited with Tsunade and began to argue with her, while Takuya introduced himself to Shizune and learned Tsunade was reluctant to return to Konoha.

• Jiraiya arrived at the inn drunk and told Minamoto Takuya he had found information about Tsunade.
• Minamoto Takuya set out with Jiraiya to find Tsunade, despite Jiraiya insisting he was sober.
• Tsunade evaded gambling-house debt collectors with Shizune, then went to a tavern to drink despite having no money left.
• Jiraiya joined Tsunade at the tavern, and she asked why he had brought Minamoto Takuya along.
• Minamoto Takuya introduced himself to Shizune and learned Tsunade no longer wanted to return to Konoha.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya argued loudly as they drank, drawing the attention of the tavern's patrons.

Tsunade tested Minamoto Takuya's ability to learn Monster Strength, and he demonstrated remarkable chakra control despite injuring his arm. Although she refused to formally become his master or return to Konoha, she agreed to give him her medical ninjutsu knowledge and secret techniques.

• Tsunade challenged Minamoto Takuya to learn Monster Strength within a week, then demonstrated its chakra control principles.
• Minamoto Takuya attempted the technique immediately and smashed the ground, but suffered bruising when his protective chakra failed to perfectly match his strike.
• Tsunade diagnosed the flaw and recognized Minamoto Takuya's exceptional talent, while Jiraiya urged her to honor their bet.
• Tsunade refused to take Minamoto Takuya as a formal disciple but promised to give him her medical ninjutsu insights and secret techniques.
• Jiraiya accepted Tsunade's decision and asked Minamoto Takuya to honor her as a teacher; Minamoto Takuya agreed.

Tsunade finished compiling her medical knowledge for Minamoto Takuya, gave him the Shikkotsu Forest summoning contract, and warned him not to go to the front lines until he mastered two special techniques. She left with Shizune without returning to Konoha, while quietly hoping Takuya would strengthen the village’s medical support.

• Tsunade gave Minamoto Takuya her scrolls and revealed the Shikkotsu Forest summoning contract so Katsuyu could deliver anything she remembered later.
• Minamoto Takuya signed the contract and summoned Katsuyu, who greeted him as Shikkotsu Forest’s new contractor before returning to the forest.
• Tsunade told Minamoto Takuya she would leave quietly with Shizune and confirmed she would not return to Konoha.
• Tsunade warned Minamoto Takuya not to enter battlefield front lines until he had mastered the prerequisites for Hundred Healings Technique and Creation Rebirth, and he agreed.
• Minamoto Takuya thanked Tsunade and left with her scrolls, while Tsunade reflected that his future medical work could protect Konoha.

After Tsunade and Shizune departed, Jiraiya also left to resume his travels, while Minamoto Takuya returned to Konoha and reported to Minato Namikaze. Minato invited him to dinner, and Takuya began studying Tsunade’s scrolls, identifying the principles of the Yin Seal, Creation Rebirth, and the Hundred Healings Technique.

• Minamoto Takuya told Jiraiya that Tsunade had left with Shizune and had asked him to keep her destination secret.
• Jiraiya decided not to return to Konoha and departed after urging Minamoto Takuya to help with the village’s reconstruction.
• Minamoto Takuya reported his journey to Minato Namikaze, who discussed Konoha’s recovery and invited him to dinner.
• Minamoto Takuya returned home and examined Tsunade’s scrolls, discovering that they contained the Yin Seal, Creation Rebirth, and the Hundred Healings Technique.
• Minamoto Takuya analyzed the techniques, recognizing the Yin Seal as a Sealing Jutsu and understanding how the other two used stored chakra for regeneration and combat enhancement.

Minamoto Takuya studied the Yin Seal, Creation Rebirth, and Sage techniques, then formed a plan to investigate whether Cursed Seal Mode could automatically absorb Natural Energy. He arrived at Minato Namikaze’s home with milk for Naruto and unexpectedly met Uchiha Mikoto and Sasuke Uchiha, where Minato and Kushina greeted him.

• Minamoto Takuya compared Creation Rebirth’s automatic healing with his research into Attribute Sealing Jutsu and concluded that studying Yin Release would have to wait until he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Minamoto Takuya considered whether the Yin Seal could store Sage Chakra and whether Cursed Seal Mode could absorb a single type of Natural Energy to simplify Sage Mode training.
• Minamoto Takuya identified Jugo as a potential research partner and imagined combining Jugo’s traits with Hashirama Senju’s cells to develop a powerful Sage Mode, while resolving to test the ideas carefully.
• Minamoto Takuya realized he was nearly late to his visit with Minato Namikaze, gathered his belongings, and bought fresh milk for Naruto.
• Minamoto Takuya arrived at Minato Namikaze’s home and steadied Sasuke Uchiha after the child ran into his leg.
• Uchiha Mikoto apologized and asked Sasuke to apologize, then Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki greeted Minamoto Takuya while Naruto watched Sasuke.

Minamoto Takuya visited Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, where he met their young son Naruto and reflected on the happier childhood Naruto was growing up with. The evening ended with warm conversation among friends, while Takuya privately considered how difficult it would be for him to trust a romantic partner.

• Uchiha Mikoto recognized Minamoto Takuya's close bond with Minato Namikaze and left with Sasuke after declining to stay.
• Kushina Uzumaki introduced Naruto to Minamoto Takuya, and Naruto thanked him for saving his parents and declared that he and Sasuke were best friends.
• Minamoto Takuya reflected on how Naruto's loving family gave him a future unlike the lonely childhood he remembered from the story.
• Kushina Uzumaki praised Naruto, and Minamoto Takuya credited her with raising him into a cheerful, sensible child.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki shared a tender moment, while Minamoto Takuya privately wondered whether he could ever trust a partner completely.
• Minamoto Takuya, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki shared dinner and lively conversation.

Minamoto Takuya studied the Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth, then discovered that the mysterious intruder was connected to Yakushi Nonō and Kabuto Yakushi. Hoping to recruit Kabuto before Orochimaru could, he tracked Nonō to Konoha’s Orphanage and spotted her arriving.

• Minamoto Takuya formed a Yin Seal and continued researching Creation Rebirth after returning to his routine following the war.
• The Anbu Captain reported that the intruder had lingered outside an abandoned Orphanage, and Minamoto Takuya identified Yakushi Nonō and Kabuto Yakushi in its records.
• Minamoto Takuya decided to find Yakushi Nonō before the Anbu did, intending to use her bond with Kabuto Yakushi to recruit him.
• Minamoto Takuya went to the new Orphanage and used Mind's Eye of the Kagura to monitor it alongside his Anbu subordinates.
• Yakushi Nonō evaded the Anbu surveillance and approached the Orphanage, where Minamoto Takuya detected her.

Yakushi Nonō returned to Konoha after years undercover and learned that the children from her orphanage had found a new home, while Kabuto Yakushi had entered Root. Minamoto Takuya abducted her and tried to force her to work for him, then showed her evidence that he was monitoring the orphanage children.

• Yakushi Nonō returned to Konoha and discovered that Root had been destroyed and her old orphanage was abandoned.
• Yakushi Nonō learned that Minato Namikaze had crippled Shimura Danzō and that the orphans had moved to a new orphanage, while Kabuto Yakushi had joined Root.
• Yakushi Nonō went toward the new orphanage, but Minamoto Takuya found her, knocked her unconscious, and took her beyond the Konoha Great Barrier.
• Minamoto Takuya identified himself as the Collector and demanded that Yakushi Nonō work for him, but she refused to betray Konoha.
• Minamoto Takuya tortured Yakushi Nonō with the Life-Death Talisman, but she still refused.
• Minamoto Takuya showed Yakushi Nonō a scroll containing records and photographs of the orphanage children and asked whether she would keep refusing.

Minamoto Takuya forced Yakushi Nonō to serve him by promising to protect the orphanage children and help her find Kabuto Yakushi. After she secretly tried to warn Konoha, he used Genjutsu to make her believe he had killed one of the children, leaving her terrified and fully submissive.

• Minamoto Takuya offered to help Nonō find Kabuto Yakushi and protect the children if she agreed to serve him, and Nonō accepted.
• Nonō asked to visit the orphanage, and Takuya led her into Konoha through a secret entrance while warning her not to alert the village.
• Nonō secretly left a warning, but Takuya's crows watched her and Genjutsu made the Anbu guard forget seeing them.
• At the orphanage, Takuya appeared to kill a sleeping boy after revealing Nonō's warning, and she begged him to spare the children.
• Takuya revealed the scene was Genjutsu and showed Nonō the scrap of cloth bearing her message; she apologized, vowed not to betray him again, and watched the sleeping children.

Minamoto Takuya sent Yakushi Nonō to establish an orphanage in the Snow Ninja Village while planning to draw Kabuto Yakushi out by spreading information about her. He brought Jugo and Haku north and began using Jugo’s body to investigate whether Sage Mode could be achieved without animal influences.

• Minamoto Takuya sent Yakushi Nonō away with a letter directing her to establish an orphanage in the Snow Ninja Village, while a crow followed her to monitor her movements.
• Minamoto Takuya planned to spread information about Yakushi Nonō to lure Kabuto Yakushi out, then traveled to the Land of Rivers to test Sage Mode using Jugo’s body.
• Minamoto Takuya told Jugo and Haku they would move to the Snow Ninja Village, and both agreed to follow him.
• Minamoto Takuya used the Spirit Transformation Technique to enter Jugo’s body and sense Natural Energy directly.
• Minamoto Takuya concluded that Natural Energy was pure and animal traits came from the methods used to channel it, then began trying to fuse Jugo’s Chakra with Natural Energy to create Sage Chakra.

Minamoto Takuya discovered that Jugo’s Sage Body passively absorbed Natural Energy, so he planned to develop a barrier to control it. After bringing Jugo and Haku to the Snow Ninja Village, he arranged their placement in an orphanage and appointed Zabuza Momochi as its vice director, while refusing Haku and Jugo’s request to accompany him to his laboratory.

• Minamoto Takuya realized Jugo could not control his passive absorption of Natural Energy and decided to develop a barrier that would isolate it.
• Minamoto Takuya flew with Jugo and Haku to the Land of Snow, where the snow reminded Haku of his former home.
• Kazahana Dōtō reported that Yakushi Nonō had arrived and that the orphanage was ready, then suggested creating orphans before Minamoto Takuya warned him to bring back only genuine orphans.
• Minamoto Takuya ordered Kazahana Dōtō to place Jugo and Haku in the orphanage and appoint Zabuza Momochi as its vice director.
• Haku asked to follow Minamoto Takuya, but Minamoto Takuya refused and promised to visit the children at the orphanage.

Minamoto Takuya assigned Haku and Jugo to watch Yakushi Nonō while establishing an orphanage staffed by Nonō and Zabuza Momochi. As the orphanage filled with children, Nonō, Zabuza, Haku, and Jugo began adjusting to their new roles and the uneasy relationships between them.

• Minamoto Takuya ordered Haku and Jugo to keep constant watch on Yakushi Nonō, while he considered his many research and training goals.
• Kazahana Dōtō told Zabuza Momochi that he had been appointed vice director of the orphanage, and Zabuza threatened him with the Kubikiribōchō before reluctantly accepting the order.
• Minamoto Takuya brought Haku and Jugo to the orphanage and told Yakushi Nonō to care for them, leaving her afraid and confused about his intentions.
• Children arrived at the orphanage, and Nonō learned that they were genuine street orphans rather than victims of Minamoto Takuya's schemes.
• Haku and Jugo helped the children approach Zabuza, whose initial hostility gradually gave way to awkward warmth, while they resolved to dissuade Nonō from betraying Minamoto Takuya.