Chapter Summaries

Kazashiro secured the Fujiwara Clan’s ledger and arranged for the child’s mother to remain as his wet nurse, while Jiraiya and the Akatsuki fought Hanzo’s forces in Amegakure. Jiraiya defeated Hanzo, but Setsuna lost control of him and lamented that Nagato had not fallen into darkness.

• Kakuzu admired the Fujiwara Clan’s tax ledger while Kazashiro teased the baby and told him that Pakura and Kakuzu had killed his father.
• The child’s mother thanked Kazashiro, who directed her gratitude toward Shimura Danzō and explained that she would stay with the child as a wet nurse.
• Hanzo sent his forces to attack the Akatsuki, and Jiraiya’s group fought his men while Obito protected Yahiko.
• Jiraiya gathered the Akatsuki and their enemies inside the Toad Mouth Binding Technique, then struck Hanzo with a Flame Bullet and split his body apart.
• Setsuna lost control of Hanzo when Jiraiya’s group disappeared from the battlefield and cursed the setback, worrying that Nagato had not fallen into darkness.

Jiraiya and the Akatsuki Organization were ambushed, and Uchiha Yaowan stole both of Nagato’s Rinnegan before fleeing with Hidan. In Konoha, Kushina remained frustrated by Minato’s constant work and took it out on Kurama.

• Jiraiya warned Yahiko that Amegakure was no longer safe, and the group agreed to seek a new base near the Land of Rain.
• An attacker used an illusion to disorient Jiraiya and the others, then gouged out both of Nagato’s Rinnegan and escaped.
• Uchiha Yaowan revealed that his Mangekyō Sharingan could alter others’ perceptions and reverse their vision, and he kept the stolen Rinnegan for a new host.
• Yaowan met Hidan and said they were heading to the Land of Fire.
• Kushina remained upset that Minato’s Anbu duties kept them apart and bound Kurama with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Kazashiro played mahjong with Kakuzu and Pakura in North Central Town while Konoha and Root investigated the Fujiwara Clan’s destruction. Aburame Ryoma arrived, offered to cover up Kazashiro’s actions, and told him Danzo wanted him to return to the village.

• Kazashiro lost another mahjong hand to Kakuzu’s Pure Terminal and ordered him to handle business, while Kakuzu asked to put his losses on credit.
• Aburame Ryoma appeared without Kazashiro noticing and identified Pakura as the supposedly dead Scorching Release user from Sunagakure.
• Kazashiro introduced Kakuzu to Ryoma but struggled to explain their relationship or his plans for an organization.
• Ryoma said Danzo had guessed Kazashiro was responsible for the Fujiwara Clan affair and would help conceal it from the Daimyo’s Mansion investigation.
• Ryoma told Kazashiro that he had been away from the village for nearly a year and that it was time to return.

Kazashiro returned to Konoha, reunited with Itachi, Mikoto, Minato, and Kakashi, and worried that Mikoto's hospital visit meant Kushina's pregnancy and the Nine-Tails' attack were approaching. Minato asked him to deliver local specialties to Kushina, giving Kazashiro a chance to find out more.

• Kazashiro met Uchiha Mikoto and Itachi, learned Mikoto was going to the hospital for examinations, and suspected she might be pregnant.
• Kazashiro reunited with Minato and Kakashi, who welcomed him back after scolding him for leaving the village without telling them.
• Minato and Kakashi said they were investigating a noble's death in North Central Town, and Kazashiro learned they had found no suspicious evidence.
• Minato asked Kazashiro to deliver local specialties to Kushina while he went to report to the Fourth Generation.

Kazashiro returned to Konoha with Kakashi and reunited with Yamato, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kushina. At Minato and Kushina’s home, Kushina welcomed Kazashiro with an overenthusiastic embrace, while Kurama sensed Isobu and was promptly subdued by Kushina.

• Kazashiro spotted Yamato and Kabuto Yakushi tailing him, exposed them, and brought them along with Kakashi.
• Kazashiro learned that Minato and Kushina were already married and invited the group to gather at their home, planning to delay meeting his father.
• Kakashi suggested asking Kushina before arranging the gathering, but Kazashiro confidently brought everyone to her anyway.
• Kushina scolded Kazashiro for leaving the village without telling her, then squeezed him in a fierce embrace until Kakashi asked her to let go.
• Kurama sensed Isobu through Kushina’s chakra, but Kushina entered her mindscape and struck him with a chain when his resentment stirred.

Kazashiro introduced Yamato and Kabuto to Kushina, then arranged a dinner that also brought Itachi along. On the way to meet Kushina, Kazashiro took Itachi from his unsuspecting father, Fugaku, and warned him not to anger her.

• Kushina welcomed Yamato and Kabuto and invited them to dinner after venting her frustration on the Nine-Tails in her mindscape.
• Kazashiro decided to bring Itachi to dinner and introduce the boys to Kushina.
• Fugaku met Kazashiro outside his home and recognized him after hearing his name, while Itachi left with Kazashiro without greeting him.
• Kazashiro held Itachi's hand on the way and warned him not to make Kushina angry.

Danzo unexpectedly invited Shisui and Ding to share dinner, while Minato welcomed Kazashiro home with a gathering at the Namikaze Residence. The celebration ended in chaos when Kazashiro choked on a fish bone, which Rin removed.

• Danzo stopped Shisui from leaving and invited him to eat with him and Ding.
• Minato returned home and joined Kakashi and Rin in watching over the children while Kazashiro prepared dinner with Kushina.
• Kakashi secretly read The Story of the Snow Woman in Minato's study, then hurriedly hid it when Kazashiro came to fetch him.
• Kushina hosted a welcome-home dinner for Kazashiro and said she had recently been feeling unwell after eating fish.
• Kazashiro choked on a fish bone and sprayed food onto Kakashi, but Rin removed the bone after everyone rushed to help.

Kazashiro returned home to face Danzo’s punishing test of his training, then accompanied Minato and Kushina to the hospital. While waiting outside, he unexpectedly met the badly injured Iroha Hyuga.

• Kazashiro took Kakashi and the children home, then returned to the Shimura Residence with Yamato and found Danzo waiting for him.
• Danzo told Kazashiro he would personally test the results of his training, and Yamato muffled the sounds of Kazashiro’s screams with earplugs.
• The next day, Kazashiro met Minato and Kushina at the hospital and claimed his swollen face came from a Chakra mishap.
• While waiting outside the examination room, Kazashiro recognized the wheelchair-bound Iroha, who said Mist Ninja had ambushed him.
• Tetsu Hyuga arrived to check on Iroha and greeted Kazashiro formally.

Kazashiro visited the injured Iroha Hyuga, then learned that Minato and Kushina’s childbirth would require careful security because Kushina was a Jinchuriki. The village leaders arranged the delivery outside the village, while Yahiko prepared to leave Kyusuke in charge of the Akatsuki Organization as he took Nagato away.

• Kazashiro visited Iroha Hyuga in the hospital and learned that Kirigakure had ambushed his squad, killing their Jonin and leaving Uchiha Yaowan missing.
• Tetsu Hyuga told Kazashiro that Iroha could recover from losing a leg and an arm, and Iroha said his Byakugan was unharmed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakumo, and the village advisors planned to hold Kushina’s delivery outside the village, with Minato maintaining her seal and Biwako handling the birth.
• Yahiko left Kyusuke in charge of the Akatsuki Organization and asked him to bring Nagato back safely.

Jiraiya brought Nagato, Konan, Yahiko, and Obito back toward Konoha, while Setsuna and Yaowan negotiated over the Rinnegan and agreed to divide the eyes. The group reached Konoha and went to Orochimaru’s Research Bureau.

• Jiraiya’s group crossed into the Land of Fire as Nagato reassured Konan that losing his eyes mattered less to him than his friends.
• Setsuna confronted Yaowan over taking the Rinnegan, and they agreed to kill Nagato when an opportunity arose and use his corpse as a vessel.
• Hidan threatened Yaowan, who beheaded him; Setsuna realized Hidan had an immortal body and reconsidered fighting Yaowan.
• Setsuna and Yaowan compromised by splitting the Rinnegan, taking one eye each until they found suitable hosts.
• Obito sensed someone watching the group near Konoha, but Jiraiya attributed it to the village patrols.
• Jiraiya’s group arrived at Orochimaru’s Research Bureau, where Orochimaru was directing Anko to fetch materials.

Jiraiya left Nagato in Orochimaru's care for new eyes, then was drafted by Hiruzen to cover Minato's duties while Kushina was on leave. Meanwhile, Tsunade won money betting on Hanzo, and Minato and Kushina settled on naming their child Naruto after Jiraiya's story.

• Jiraiya gave Orochimaru Hanzo's remains to study in exchange for transplanting eyes for Nagato, and Orochimaru offered to use his latest research on the procedure.
• Jiraiya fled the Research Bureau, but Hiruzen found him and brought him to the Hokage Building to fill in for Minato until Kushina gave birth.
• Sakumo handed Jiraiya a huge stack of documents, and Jiraiya reluctantly took over Minato's workload.
• Tsunade decided to return to Konoha after one final round of gambling, uneasy about having won her bet on Hanzo.
• Minato and Kushina praised Jiraiya's The Tale of Unyielding Perseverance and agreed to name their son Naruto, while Kazashiro joked about Minato's naming habits.

Obito and Kazashiro discussed Minato naming Kushina’s baby Naruto, while Fugaku visited Hiruzen to ask permission to name his unborn son after Hiruzen’s father. Meanwhile, Setsuna’s group and Sasori prepared to target Konoha, leaving Sakumo and the Jinchuriki in danger.

• Obito relieved Kazashiro and learned that Minato had chosen Naruto as Kushina’s baby’s name.
• Fugaku visited Hiruzen and asked to name his unborn son after Hiruzen’s father.
• White Zetsu told Setsuna that Konoha’s Jinchuriki was about to give birth, and Setsuna planned to use the opportunity to target Konoha and control Nagato.
• Yaowan offered to handle the Jinchuriki while Setsuna prepared to pursue his own plans.
• Sasori watched Hokage Rock from an inn and vowed to make Sakumo his next human-puppet trump card.

Kazashiro created the Eightfold Light Wheel by shaping Wind Release Chakra into a rapidly spinning blade, and Minato offered to help refine it. As Kushina was escorted out of the village for childbirth, Setsuna and Yaowan prepared to act against Konoha.

• Kazashiro added Wind Release to the Rasengan’s rotation and formed a cutting wind wheel that sliced through a target.
• Minato praised Kazashiro’s technique and offered to help perfect it, and Kazashiro named it the Eightfold Light Wheel.
• Biwako and Kazashiro escorted Kushina toward the cave prepared for her delivery, where she met Mikoto, Itachi, and Sasuke along the way.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi remained at home as Minato, Kakashi, Obito, and elite Anbu went to the delivery site to protect Kushina.
• After learning that Kushina had departed, Setsuna and Yaowan put on masks and prepared to carry out Madara Uchiha’s plan against Konoha.

Setsuna led an assault on Konoha while Jiraiya confronted Hidan at an outpost, and Sakumo rushed to defend the village. Sakumo discovered that Sasori was operating Hiruko and suspected the puppet concealed Sasori’s real body.

• Jiraiya investigated the fallen Outpost D and learned that Hidan had an immortal body and could transfer damage onto others.
• Setsuna attacked Konoha’s main gate, killed its guards, and sent controlled corpses into the village before heading toward Orochimaru’s Research Bureau.
• Sakumo left his office to respond to the attack and fought alongside Konoha’s defenders against the controlled corpses.
• Sasori used Hiruko to ambush Sakumo, but Sakumo evaded its poisoned tail and deduced that Sasori was hiding beneath the puppet.

During Naruto’s birth, Yaowan attacked the cave and used a Dojutsu to distort the defenders’ vision while trying to reach Kushina. Kazashiro’s ice constructs restrained him long enough for Kakashi to pierce his chest, leaving Yaowan’s fate uncertain.

• Kushina’s cries during childbirth echoed outside the cave as Minato maintained the seal and Biwako urged him to focus.
• Yaowan killed an Anbu guard and used his Sharingan-like Dojutsu to disorient Kazashiro, Obito, and the other Anbu.
• Obito recognized Yaowan as the person who had ambushed Nagato and taken his eyes, while Kazashiro used Flying Thunder God to escape the illusion’s effects.
• Obito’s summoned Iron Wall Toad was struck down, and Kazashiro stopped preparing a large-scale attack to avoid harming his allies.
• Kazashiro summoned ice skeletons that seized Yaowan, and Kakashi used the opening to stab him through the chest.

Kakashi, Obito, and Kazashiro fought Yaowan, an Uchiha who used Susanoo, until Kazashiro’s explosive attack destroyed the surrounding forest and cave. Yaowan survived, stabbed Kazashiro, and was about to kill him when red Chakra began spilling from Kazashiro’s body.

• Kakashi recognized Yaowan’s Dojutsu, but Obito warned him to retreat as Yaowan summoned Susanoo.
• Kazashiro created Wind Spirit and battled Yaowan’s Susanoo, which severed Wind Spirit’s arm with Futsu-no-Mitama.
• Kazashiro escaped with Flying Thunder God and detonated Wind Spirit, destroying the forest and the cave nearby.
• The group mistook the approaching Yaowan for Minato, and Yaowan stabbed Kazashiro through the waist.
• Obito attacked with Kamui, but Yaowan reversed their perspectives and prepared to kill Kazashiro as red Chakra emerged from him.

Kazashiro drove off Yao Wan with a Tailed Beast Bomb, then hurried with Obito and Kakashi toward a distant explosion. Meanwhile, Setsuna attacked Orochimaru’s Research Bureau and was caught in a coordinated assault by Orochimaru, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, ending with Susanoo exposed and striking at Orochimaru.

• Yao Wan fled after Kazashiro activated his Tailed Beast cloak, and Kazashiro fired a Tailed Beast Bomb after him before confirming his wound had healed.
• Obito and Kakashi checked Kazashiro, then the three headed toward another explosion they feared might involve the Nine-Tails and Captain Minato’s group.
• Setsuna broke into Orochimaru’s deserted Research Bureau, where Orochimaru attacked him with snakes and Nagato and Yahiko joined the ambush.
• Nagato used mechanical prosthetic eyes to strike Setsuna through the mist, prompting Setsuna to summon Susanoo and collapse the Research Bureau.
• Setsuna found Orochimaru, Konan, and Yahiko and swung Susanoo’s fist at Orochimaru as Konan and Yahiko prepared to defend him.

A Susanoo attack threw Konoha into chaos, while the Uchiha Clan struggled to prove it had no part in the assault. Hiruzen and Nagato damaged and drove back Setsuna’s Susanoo, but Danzo blocked Fugaku’s reinforcements and accused him of planning a rebellion.

• Danzo questioned Shisui about the Susanoo, and Shisui feared the Uchiha radicals might have planned the attack.
• Fugaku denied the radicals’ claims that the Susanoo belonged to their clan and ordered the Uchiha to prepare to fight the enemy.
• Nagato redirected Setsuna’s Susanoo strike with lasers from his prosthetic eyes, destroying the Medical Unit headquarters under construction.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and struck Susanoo hard enough to crack it and push it toward the village outskirts.
• Danzo’s Root ninjas blocked Fugaku’s Military Police Force and accused him of joining the attacker and raising a banner of rebellion.

Uchiha Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and joined the fight against Setsuna, while Kazashiro and Minato struggled to restrain the rampaging Nine-Tails. Isobu told Kazashiro that completing a Tailed Beast transformation was the way to face it.

• Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Danzō stepped aside as Fugaku led the Military Police Force to help the Third Hokage.
• Fugaku and Setsuna fought each other with their Susanoo as the Uchiha joined the battle.
• Kakashi learned from Biwako that Kushina had been consumed by the Nine-Tails' Chakra after Minato could not reinforce the seal in time.
• Kazashiro used Ice Release and Water Release to trap the Nine-Tails, while Minato struck it with a Rasengan, but it quickly regenerated.
• Isobu told Kazashiro that partial Tailed Beast transformation would not defeat the Nine-Tails and revealed that Kazashiro needed a complete Tailed Beast transformation.

Kazashiro unlocked Isobu’s seal and transformed into the Three-Tails to help Minato suppress the rampaging Nine-Tails. When Isobu could not stop Kurama from forming a seventh tail, Kazashiro entered Kushina’s consciousness space to try to wake her and restore her control of the seal.

• Kazashiro opened Isobu’s cell and joined with him, gaining the power to perform a complete Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Kazashiro transformed into Isobu and charged the Nine-Tails while Obito, Minato, and the others fought to protect Naruto and contain the rampage.
• Setsuna broke away from Fugaku and fled as Hiruzen returned to the battlefield and turned his attention toward Isobu and the Nine-Tails.
• Isobu’s attacks weakened the Nine-Tails but failed to stop his seventh tail from forming, so Kazashiro decided to reach Kushina through their connected Chakra.
• Kazashiro entered Kushina’s consciousness space and told Kurama to settle down as he searched for her.