Recaps

Hashirama's resurrection brought many of the dead back, but left Madara and Hiruzen trapped inside the Shinigami's belly. As Hashirama neared death, he revealed the reincarnating feud between Indra and Asura and warned that Naruto's generation would have to confront it alongside the threat of Black Zetsu and Liao Wu.

• Izuna was resurrected, while Asuma mourned that his father Hiruzen remained sealed away and rejected Sarutobi Sasuke's explanation of the Hokage's sacrifice.
• Obito asked Kakashi to support his pursuit of Rin, and Kakashi urged him to respect Rin's choices and focus on becoming Hokage; they reunited with Rin at the Waterfall of Truth.
• Orochimaru found Hashirama near death after the worldwide resurrection, and Kushina tried to restore him with Nine-Tails chakra, but Hashirama refused.
• Hashirama explained that he was Asura's reincarnation and Madara was Indra's, and said their unresolved feud perpetuated conflict across the ninja world.
• Hashirama warned that Naruto would inherit Asura's chakra and identified Black Zetsu and Liao Wu as threats, before collapsing and coughing up blood.

Hashirama died after asking Tobirama to protect Izuna and welcoming the tailed beasts into the Ninja Sect. His death set Indra and Asura to reincarnate again, while Black Zetsu and Kaguya pursued Liao Wu for the Rinnegan, forcing him to seek refuge with Shukaku.

• Hashirama persuaded the tailed beasts to join the Ninja Sect, then asked Tobirama to spare Izuna and let him join the Leaf Village before dying.
• The ninjas and tailed beasts mourned Hashirama as Asura's chakra entered Kushina's unborn child and Indra's chakra entered Sasuke in Mikoto's womb.
• In the Pure Land, the Sage of Six Paths, Hamura, and the Great Toad Sage discussed the new reincarnations, while Hashirama's conscious soul arrived.
• Black Zetsu learned from Kaguya that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path would regenerate at Mount Myōboku and that the Rinnegan were there and with Uchiha Ryobu, so they set out to pursue Liao Wu.
• Liao Wu's Spore Clone sensed Madara's chakra and Liao Wu told Candy that Black Zetsu served Kaguya and planned to revive her.
• Liao Wu decided to capture the fleeing Shukaku and follow him to his home in the Nara Desert rather than return to Hozuki Castle.

After Hashirama’s death, the resurrected shinobi gathered around his body and learned that stronger enemies would threaten the world in the future. Tobirama urged them to carry on Hashirama’s peace ideals, while Mu called for a new Ninja Sect leader and Alliance Commander.

• Kinkaku and Ginkaku chased after the weakened Ryobu to reclaim their Six Paths ninja tools.
• Hashirama’s resurrection brought back many dead shinobi, including Mu, Hozuki Gengetsu, the Third Raikage, Might Duy, Sakumo, and Kagami.
• Hiruko thanked Hashirama and abandoned his ambition to complete the Chimera Technique, while Orochimaru eyed Hashirama’s corpse and Rinnegan.
• Sage Fukasaku learned from Toad Jade that Hashirama had warned of even stronger enemies appearing in the future.
• Tobirama urged the gathered shinobi to uphold Hashirama’s peace ideals, and Mu proposed choosing a new Ninja Sect leader and Alliance Commander.

The Kage argued over who should succeed Hashirama as leader of the Ninja Sect, and Tobirama’s candidacy sparked a confrontation. Sage Shima nominated Kushina, whose strength and the Nine-Tails’ support made her the leading choice, though the other villages still questioned her Leaf Village ties.

• Orochimaru sought Hiruko’s support for the leadership, while Minato declined to compete before becoming Hokage.
• Shikaku nominated Tobirama, but Mū, Ōnoki, and Hozuki Gengetsu opposed him as a Leaf Village loyalist.
• Tobirama claimed he was stronger than the Kage and began activating State Two, prompting the Third Raikage, Mū, and Gengetsu to challenge him.
• Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima stopped the confrontation, and Shikaku asked Mount Myōboku to decide the successor.
• Sage Shima nominated Kushina, and the Nine-Tails demonstrated her power in Kurama Mode before endorsing her as leader.
• Tobirama supported Kushina, arguing that she would not betray the other villages, while Killer B reassured the Third Raikage about her.

Kushina was chosen as the Ninja Sect’s Second Sect Master, with the Five Kage forming an Elder Council to supervise her authority. As Obito rushed to challenge the decision, Orochimaru turned his ambitions toward Hashirama’s corpse.

• The Tailed Beasts insisted that Kushina become the Ninja Sect’s leader, and Mu proposed restricting the Sect Master with a Five Kage Elder Council.
• Gengetsu and the Third Raikage supported Mu’s proposal, and Sage Fukasaku ended Tobirama’s objections.
• The assembled ninja hailed Kushina as Second Sect Master, and she celebrated before demanding that Minato address her by her title.
• Obito heard that Kushina had been chosen and charged off to contest the position, while Kakashi stayed behind to read.
• Itachi told Mikoto that the Ninja Sect would pursue Liao Wu, and Mikoto hoped he would escape as she anticipated her baby’s birth.
• Orochimaru resented Tobirama’s return and the delay to his Hokage ambitions, then eyed Hashirama’s corpse as a path to greater power.

After becoming Ninja Sect Master, Kushina declared her intention to punish the countries and villages responsible for destroying the Land of Whirlpools. The evidence and Kirigakure’s reactions pointed toward the village, leaving Hozuki Gengetsu to realize that his own descendants had been involved.

• Kushina took the title Uzushio Sage and asked Tobirama whether she could travel freely as Ninja Sect Master.
• Kushina’s first order was to punish those responsible for destroying the Land of Whirlpools.
• Kushina sensed hostility from Kirigakure, and Sage Shima forced Ao to the ground for disrespecting her.
• Mu accused Kirigakure of destroying the Land of Whirlpools, and Hozuki Gengetsu argued that he could not have been responsible because he had died before it happened.
• Gengetsu noticed Kirigakure’s older ninja avoiding his gaze and realized that the Third Mizukage and members of the Hozuki Clan had taken part.

Kushina demanded answers from the Mist Village over the Uzumaki Clan’s destruction, but Gengetsu and Yagura tried to redirect her toward preserving the alliance. As the dispute stalled, Tobirama weighed whether to support Kushina’s authority or maintain unity among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

• Gengetsu challenged Kushina to provide evidence that the Mist Village had destroyed the Uzumaki Clan, while Mist villagers accused her of slander.
• Kushina identified Hozuki Ryutaka as harboring the most malice toward her, and Sage Shima accused him and the Third Mizukage of orchestrating the Land of Whirlpools’ destruction.
• Fugaku proposed using the Sharingan to interrogate Ryutaka, who refused and attacked the Uchiha by citing Madara and Uchiha Ryobu.
• Izuna, guarded by the Uchiha Police Force, condemned the Uchiha for betraying Madara and predicted their destruction by the Senju.
• Gengetsu urged Kushina to focus on tracking Uchiha Ryobu, but the Nine-Tails reminded her that Kinkaku and Ginkaku were already pursuing him.
• Yagura appealed to Kushina to prioritize unity, while Tobirama considered how to uphold her authority as the Stone and Cloud Villages watched the dispute.

Three-Tails and Six-Tails confirmed that Kirigakure had used Uzumaki sealing techniques, exposing Kirigakure’s role in the Uzumaki Clan’s destruction. Kushina demanded the culprits, but Mangetsu challenged her motives, and the confrontation escalated until the Leaf and Mist shinobi prepared to fight.

• Three-Tails and Six-Tails testified that Kirigakure’s tailed-beast seals contained traces of Uzumaki techniques, and Kushina confronted Gengetsu over the Uzumaki Clan’s destruction.
• Kushina demanded that Kirigakure hand over Hozuki Liang Long and every ninja involved, while Liang Long claimed sole responsibility and knelt with his sword to offer his life.
• Hozuki Mangetsu questioned whether Kushina would also avenge Leaf comrades killed during the Third Shinobi War, leaving her silent.
• Nine-Tails defended Kushina’s right to seek vengeance as an Uzumaki and threatened Kirigakure with her power, prompting Mangetsu and the Mist shinobi to draw their weapons.
• Tobirama joined Kushina in suppressing Kirigakure, and shinobi from both villages prepared to fight as the other villages watched.

Kushina stopped Liang Long from killing himself and forgave him for destroying the Uzumaki Clan, but he used a Hozuki secret technique to take his own life. As Mangetsu’s Kekkei-genkai Illness worsened beyond the Mist medical ninja’s ability to treat, Kushina offered to examine him.

• Liang Long ordered the Mist Village ninja to stand down and tried to kill himself to atone for destroying the Uzumaki Clan.
• Kushina stopped Liang Long and explained that she would spare him to preserve the Ninja Sect’s unity and Hashirama’s legacy.
• Liang Long thanked Kushina, then ruptured his own internal organs with a Hozuki secret Water Style technique and died.
• Mangetsu collapsed into violent coughing, and Gengetsu recognized the symptoms of the Hozuki Clan’s Kekkei-genkai Illness.
• The Mist Village medical ninja could not treat Mangetsu’s failing heart and lungs, so Kushina stepped forward to examine him.

Kushina cured Hozuki Mangetsu’s terminal illness with the Nine-Tails’ chakra after Liang Long’s suicide, earning the Mist Village’s gratitude and acclaim. She was revealed as the second sect leader, while underground Liao Wu continued to overpower Shukaku.

• Kushina examined Mangetsu and used the Nine-Tails’ yang release chakra to repair his heart and lungs, curing his kekkei-genkai illness.
• Gengetsu thanked Kushina, and Mangetsu knelt to thank her for saving his life.
• Kushina apologized to Mangetsu for failing to stop Liang Long, and Mangetsu recognized her sincerity.
• Obito objected to the choice of second sect leader, learned that Kushina held the position, and was beaten after trying to flee.
• Liao Wu continued to overpower Shukaku despite having his chakra sealed, then told Candy to shock him.

Ryobu hid inside Shukaku to escape Black Zetsu’s perception while Shukaku carried him and Candy toward the Land of Wind. At Mount Myōboku, Orochimaru and Hiruko coveted Hashirama’s corpse and the Rinnegan, but Tobirama confronted Orochimaru and then faced the Allied Forces’ competing claims to the Rinnegan.

• Candy shocked Shukaku with Lightning Style, then used Water Style to force him to take Ryobu and the others toward the Nara Desert.
• Shukaku swallowed Ryobu and Candy and concealed them with the Wind God Curse Mark, blocking Black Zetsu’s pursuit and Kaguya’s perception.
• Kaguya ordered White Zetsu to search for Ryobu after she lost track of him.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko approached Hashirama’s corpse, but the Toad Martial Venerable caught them; Hiruko fled, and Orochimaru claimed he was mourning Hashirama.
• Tobirama tested Orochimaru by discussing destroying Hashirama’s corpse and the Rinnegan; Orochimaru argued against it but left without either.
• Mu, Ōnoki, Gengetsu, and the Third Raikage arrived with their forces, leaving Tobirama unable to claim the Rinnegan for himself because it belonged to the Allied Forces.

Kushina and Minato set out to capture Sasori, while Tobirama and the village leaders debated who should wield the Rinnegan. The debate remained unresolved, and Izuna secretly hoped to use the eye to free Madara from the Shinigami’s seal.

• Inoichi told Kushina that the revived Third Kazekage, Fourth Kazekage, Rōshi, and Han were keeping Sasori occupied, and Kushina agreed to capture him with Minato.
• Sage Fukasaku urged Tobirama and the others to destroy the Rinnegan, but the Kages rejected the idea and debated who could wield it.
• Tobirama and Sage Fukasaku explained that only descendants of the Sage of Six Paths with vast chakra, such as the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha, could receive the Rinnegan.
• Yashiro claimed the Rinnegan for the Uchiha, but Izuna rejected the integrated clan, and Kagami urged the Uchiha to avoid drawing attention.
• Izuna resolved to seek the Rinnegan to undo the Shinigami’s seal and free Madara, while the Ninja Sect’s leaders continued arguing over its ownership.

Tobirama chose Kushina to receive the Rinnegan, while Orochimaru secretly plotted to take her body and powers. Kushina returned with Sasori captured and the Third Kazekage, who joined the Ninja Sect, as she planned to free Chiyo and Pakura from Liao Wu’s control.

• Tobirama proposed Kushina as the Rinnegan transplant recipient, and the gathered Kage approved the choice.
• Orochimaru grew jealous of Kushina and decided to watch for a chance to possess her body and take her abilities.
• Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime left Mount Myōboku after warning Orochimaru that he could not escape the White Snake Sage’s control.
• Hiruko and Kakuzu coveted Hashirama’s remains but abandoned any attempt to seize them because the Five Kage and sage toads guarded the corpse.
• Kushina and Minato returned with the Third Kazekage, Rasa, Rōshi, Han, Sasori, and Sasori’s Human Puppets; Kushina had captured Sasori after the Third Kazekage and Rasa impeded his escape.
• The Third Kazekage accepted Kushina’s invitation to join the Ninja Sect, and Kushina proposed returning to Sand Village to remove Liao Wu’s control from Chiyo and Pakura.

Kushina agreed to receive Madara’s Rinnegan so she could gain Six Paths Power and stand against Liao Wu. As the transplant began in a cave on Mount Myōboku, Minato and the others waited outside, where Obito showed off his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• The Third Kazekage agreed to accept help while Tobirama’s group took Scorpion away for interrogation.
• Tobirama told Kushina that she was the best candidate for the Rinnegan and that its power could help her counter Liao Wu’s Time Stop.
• Kushina and the Nine-Tails accepted Tobirama’s reasoning, and Kushina agreed to the transplant.
• Tobirama arranged for the Rinnegan surgery in a cave on Mount Myōboku while the Five Kage and the toads guarded the entrance.
• Minato waited outside the cave and worried about Kushina bearing the burden of protecting everyone.
• Obito revealed his space-time Mangekyō Sharingan to Kakashi, Rin, and the others, while Minato warned him not to disclose its abilities.

The Third Raikage and Fourth Raikage tried to bring Gyuki back under Cloud Village’s control, but Killer B defended the Eight-Tails’ freedom. Gyuki and Killer B agreed to remain battle partners without a sealing bond, and the Raikage accepted their arrangement.

• The Third Raikage demanded that Gyuki return to Cloud Village, and the Eight-Tails refused to be sealed again.
• Killer B stood between Gyuki and the Raikage, insisting that Gyuki was a comrade who deserved to choose freely.
• Tobirama explained that the Tailed Beasts belonged to the Ninja Sect and that the Nine-Tails was also free from Kushina’s seal.
• Gyuki offered to lend his Chakra to Killer B and fight alongside him without being bound by a seal.
• Killer B and Gyuki agreed to remain partners, and the Third Raikage and Fourth Raikage accepted the arrangement.

The tailed beasts chose ninja as combat partners, while Takigakure struggled to regain a relationship with Seven-Tails. Shemu offered Kakuzu the village’s future mission earnings for help, but Kakuzu remained focused on collecting the Leaf Village’s debt.

• Six-Tails chose Mei Terumi as his partner, and the Mist Village prepared a Summoning Scroll for their contract.
• Seven-Tails rejected Takigakure and chose Shisui, while the Uchiha Clan prepared their Summoning Scroll.
• Tobirama told Shemu that Takigakure could arrange a contract with Seven-Tails, but warned its ninja lacked enough chakra to summon him.
• Shemu and Takigakure’s ninja begged Kakuzu for help and promised him their lives and future mission commissions.
• Kakuzu ignored them and demanded that the Leaf Village pay its outstanding fifty million silver taels.

Tobirama refused to pay Kakuzu the rest of his fee and marked him with Flying Thunder God, forcing him to accept leadership of Takigakure. Shemu offered Kakuzu a chance to form a Summoning Contract with Chongming, but Kakuzu said he would rather sell the opportunity for money.

• A Leaf Ninja told Tobirama that the Land of Fire had suspended Konoha's funding and demanded an explanation for the Ninja Sect's establishment, so Tobirama agreed to speak with the daimyo himself rather than send Kushina.
• Kakuzu demanded the remaining 50 million ryo from Tobirama, who said the Ninja Sect would restrain rogue ninja and would not pay him as a member.
• Kakuzu threw away his forehead protector and tried to leave, but Tobirama placed a Flying Thunder God Mark on his neck and offered him the choice of becoming Takigakure's Leader.
• Shemu accepted Kakuzu as Takigakure's Leader and asked Tobirama to let Kakuzu form a Summoning Contract with Chongming.
• Shemu explained that Kakuzu could use the opportunity to help Takigakure reclaim its sacred tree, but Kakuzu told him to sell the slot and give him the money.

Kakuzu sold the chance to contract with the Seven-Tails to the Aburame Clan, while Tobirama worked to organize the Ninja Sect and secure Mount Myōboku's recovery. The chapter ended with the Uchiha angered that the Aburame Clan had also earned the Seven-Tails' favor.

• Kakuzu pressured Shemu to sell the Seven-Tails contract slot, and the Aburame Clan bought it with its fortune and borrowed money.
• Shemu asked Kakuzu to help reclaim his village's Sacred Tree, and Tobirama promised to return it if they defeated Liao Wu.
• Fire Fly asked Tobirama to help rescue his wife, and representatives of other small villages sought better missions through the Ninja Sect.
• Tobirama rejected Mount Myōboku as the Ninja Sect's headquarters and proposed establishing it in Leaf Village through a new agreement with the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
• Tobirama promised to have the Ninja Alliance help restore Mount Myōboku, while Sage Fukasaku declined to join the Ninja Sect.
• Tobirama felt reassured that the Seven-Tails favored Shisui and the Aburame Clan, and the Uchiha grew furious that the Aburame had competed for its favor.

Tobirama took Izuna aside and argued that the Uchiha Clan had survived by joining the Leaf Village, while Izuna insisted he would never trust the Senju. The conversation ended with Tobirama pointing out the Uchiha's contribution to the war, especially Obito's role in sealing Madara.

• Tobirama secretly sided with the Aburame Clan during a dispute with the Uchiha, until Izuna called him a hypocrite.
• Tobirama led the sealed, blind Izuna away from the crowd and argued that the Uchiha had joined the Senju after losing the war.
• Izuna rejected Tobirama's claims about peace and accused him of remaining wary of the Uchiha, while Tobirama defended his restrictions on the clan.
• Tobirama argued that the Senju would have destroyed the Uchiha if they had not joined the Leaf, and Izuna reluctantly recognized how dire their position had been.
• Izuna questioned whether the Moon Eye Plan was the Uchiha's only hope, and Tobirama blamed Black Zetsu for altering the Uchiha Stone Tablet.
• Tobirama said the Uchiha had contributed greatly to the war and credited Uchiha Obito's space-time dojutsu with helping Monkey seal Madara.

Tobirama explained to Izuna that Hashirama had revived him and asked him to join the Leaf Village, then introduced him to Itachi. After discovering Itachi’s exceptional resolve and early Sharingan awakening, Tobirama considered supporting him to keep the Uchiha in check and began to question him.

• Tobirama told Izuna that Hashirama had revived him and asked him to live in the Leaf Village, while Izuna remained hostile toward the Senju and Madara’s enemies.
• Tobirama argued that many Uchiha wanted peaceful lives, then called over Itachi, who had secretly followed them to see Madara’s younger brother.
• Izuna learned that Itachi’s uncle was Liao Wu and angrily condemned him as a traitor to Madara.
• Tobirama tested Itachi’s Will of Fire and was shocked by how much the child already thought like a Hokage.
• Fugaku revealed that Itachi had awakened a Double Tomoe Sharingan at a young age, prompting Tobirama to consider supporting him as a counterweight within the Uchiha Clan.
• Tobirama asked Itachi a question, and Itachi eagerly invited him to continue.

Tobirama asked Itachi how to unite the Ninja Sect, and Itachi suggested inventing a common enemy by spreading frightening stories about Liao Wu. Fugaku then secured Itachi a place at Tobirama’s side as his disciple and honorary grandson, leaving Itachi bewildered by his new ties to Tobirama.

• Tobirama asked Itachi how he would unite the Ninja Sect against the Five Great Shinobi Villages and Five Great Nations, and Itachi proposed using fear of an invincible enemy.
• Itachi named his uncle, Liao Wu, as the enemy, and Tobirama agreed to fabricate rumors that would make him seem dangerous.
• Fugaku volunteered the Uchiha Police Force to spread the rumors about Liao Wu, and Tobirama assigned them the task.
• Fugaku asked Tobirama to mentor Itachi, and Tobirama accepted Itachi as his disciple and gave him a Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• Fugaku suggested that Itachi become Tobirama’s grandson, and Tobirama welcomed the idea while Itachi accepted his new role in confusion.

Tobirama identified Mikoto’s unborn child as Indra’s Reincarnator and nearly killed him, but Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima stopped him. Tobirama left the child alive and moved to contain knowledge of the reincarnation cycle, while Orochimaru learned about it from Hiruko.

• Tobirama concluded that Mikoto’s unborn child was Indra’s Reincarnator and raised his kunai to kill him.
• Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima warned Tobirama that killing the child would not break fate and could endanger Tobirama himself.
• Tobirama lowered his kunai, watched Fugaku’s family leave, and decided to teach Kushina’s child to suppress the Uchiha’s Child of Destiny.
• Tobirama hurried to gather the Five Kage and seal away the secret of Asura and Indra’s reincarnations.
• Orochimaru questioned Hiruko about Hashirama’s revelation and learned that Asura’s Chakra would reincarnate in Kushina’s child.

Orochimaru reconsidered how Asura and Indra’s reincarnations related to the Rinnegan as Kushina emerged from her transplant with Madara’s eye, only to reveal she was joking about attacking everyone. At Hozuki Castle, Satoru reported Madara’s defeat and the Third Hokage’s sacrifice, leaving Tsunade grieving for her grandfather.

• Orochimaru realized that Asura and Indra’s reincarnations might explain why Madara awakened the Rinnegan while Ryobu and Obito did not.
• Senju Yoshie removed Kushina’s bandages and revealed her successfully transplanted Rinnegan.
• Kushina made everyone flee by pretending to use Shinra Tensei, then laughed and admitted it was a prank.
• Tsunade, Konan, and Nagato learned that their spores could no longer contact Liao Wu and feared he had died.
• Satoru arrived at Hozuki Castle, and Tsunade asked him for news from the front lines.
• Satoru told the gathered crowd that Madara had been sealed by the Third Hokage after Liao Wu betrayed Madara and took his Rinnegan; Tsunade wept for her grandfather’s sacrifice.

After Ryobu was sealed, Satoru betrayed him and attacked the people in Hozuki Castle. The Takigakure Ancient Tree drove Satoru away, and Fish Ball took temporary control of the castle.

• Tsunade and Konan learned that Hashirama Senju had sealed Ryobu's chakra after he escaped by sacrificing one Rinnegan.
• As Ryobu's followers argued over the Ninja Alliance's coming attack, Satoru announced that they would become its food and feed it negative emotions.
• Satoru devoured the Spore inside itself and attacked Tsunade, Konan, and the others, while Nagato tried to restrain it with Adamantine Sealing.
• The Takigakure Ancient Tree attacked Satoru across Hozuki Castle and forced it to flee toward the mainland.
• After Satoru left, Fish Ball temporarily took over Hozuki Castle and ordered all female cats to groom its fur.

Fish Ball took control of Hozuki Castle and ordered Konan and Nagato to investigate Liao Wu and the Ninja Sect while Tsunade was held as a hostage. Snake Aunt chose to remain at the castle, then told Jiraiya and Dan that Madara had been sealed at the cost of the Third Hokage’s life and began recounting the front-line events.

• Cai Lai challenged Fish Ball for control of the Ninja Cats, but Fish Ball defeated him and received authority over Hozuki Castle from the Takigakure Ancient Tree.
• Natsuhiboshi tried to fly away, but the Takigakure Ancient Tree caught her, while Fish Ball ordered Tsunade restrained and sent Konan and Nagato to gather news about Liao Wu and the Ninja Sect.
• Snake Aunt rejected Anko’s suggestion that they return to the Leaf Village and stayed in Hozuki Castle with her.
• Snake Aunt and Anko evaded the Ninja Cats, went to the underground prison, and told Jiraiya and Dan that the Third Hokage had sealed Madara but died in the process.
• Snake Aunt began giving Jiraiya and Dan a full account of the changes on the front lines.