Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Madara’s clan refused to leave Konoha with him, while he remained convinced that Tobirama Senju would eventually destroy them. At Naka Shrine, Madara confronted Hashirama Senju over the stone tablet and the future of the Uchiha, then revealed that he had tried to lead the clan out of the village.

• The Uchiha elders argued over whether to bargain with Tobirama Senju or gamble on joining Uchiha Makoto, but the private meeting ended without a unified decision.
• As the New Year approached, Uchiha Madara asked his clan once more to leave Konoha, but its members refused and urged him to stay and become Hokage.
• Uchiha Madara warned the clan that it would regret refusing him, and the meeting ended with the Uchiha distressed about his defection and Tobirama Senju’s likely succession.
• Hashirama Senju met Madara at Naka Shrine, where Madara explained his interpretation of the stone tablet and dismissed Hashirama’s hopes that Konoha and Tobirama could change.
• Hashirama said Tobirama had written a Letter of Guarantee and that Madara could become the next Hokage, but Madara concluded Hashirama still expected Tobirama to succeed him.
• Madara told Hashirama that the Uchiha would eventually be wiped out and revealed that he had asked the clan to leave Konoha with him; Hashirama was shocked.

Uchiha Madara told Hashirama Senju he was leaving Konoha because he no longer believed their shared dream could succeed. He then planned to awaken the Rinnegan by obtaining Senju power and decided to seek Uchiha Makoto's help, despite the humiliation of admitting Makoto had been right.

• Hashirama Senju tried to persuade Uchiha Madara that Konoha had fulfilled their childhood dream, but Madara challenged him to choose between the village and his loved ones.
• Uchiha Madara concluded that Hashirama Senju would not stand against Tobirama Senju and announced he was leaving Konoha to pursue a new path.
• Uchiha Madara refused to explain his true dream to Hashirama Senju, who left the Naka Shrine despondent.
• Uchiha Madara studied the Uchiha Clan's ancient texts and theorized that transplanting Hashirama Senju's flesh could help him awaken the Rinnegan.
• Uchiha Madara decided to take the clan's ancient texts to Uchiha Makoto, ask for his help, and entrust the Uchiha Clan to him after admitting Makoto had been right.

Hashirama Senju told Tobirama Senju that Uchiha Madara planned to leave Konoha with the Uchiha Clan after abandoning their shared dream. Tobirama feared the clan’s departure would destabilize Konoha, but when he learned the Uchiha clansmen would stay, he privately saw Madara’s defection as a windfall for his bid to become Second Hokage.

• Hashirama Senju returned to the Senju Clan Grounds troubled after meeting Uchiha Madara at Naka Shrine.
• Tobirama Senju assumed Uchiha Makoto was behind Madara’s plan and worried that the Uchiha Clan might leave Konoha.
• Hashirama Senju explained that Madara had found a new dream and intended to take the clan away, though the clansmen were unwilling to follow him.
• Tobirama Senju questioned whether Madara was using the threat to claim the Hokage position, but Hashirama Senju said Madara had rejected their shared dream and remained resolute.
• Tobirama Senju concluded that Madara had lost his mind and privately celebrated that his departure could clear the way for him to become Second Hokage.

Tobirama Senju persuaded Hashirama Senju to treat the Uchiha Clan’s possible departure with Uchiha Madara as treason and began arranging a secret response. Meanwhile, the Uchiha elders argued over how to handle the village’s surveillance until Uchiha Madara called one final clan meeting to announce his departure date and force members to choose whether to follow him.

• Tobirama Senju urged Hashirama Senju to prepare to suppress the Uchiha Clan if it tried to leave Konoha with Uchiha Madara, and Hashirama agreed to let him handle the arrangements.
• Tobirama Senju avoided summoning Anbu whose identities might have been exposed and instead called up Root ninja.
• Uchiha patrols reported suspicious individuals near the clan compound, prompting the Uchiha elders to debate whether to confront them or approach the Hokage.
• The Uchiha elders split over whether to bargain with Tobirama Senju or resist him, while Uchiha Madara remained determined to leave Konoha.
• Uchiha Madara convened the clan assembly to announce his departure date and told those willing to follow him to prepare to leave, while the rest could stay in Konoha.

Uchiha Madara gave the Uchiha Clan until morning to decide whether to leave Konoha with him, then spent the day walking through the prosperous village as Tobirama Senju had him monitored. By morning, Madara waited at Konoha’s main gate, eager to see whether anyone would join him.

• Uchiha Madara announced that he would leave Konoha the next morning and offered his clansmen a final chance to go with him, but the Uchiha Clan argued over whether to submit to the Senju or resist them.
• Uchiha Madara walked through Konoha’s crowded New Year streets, admired the village’s prosperity, and worried that the Uchiha Clan would refuse to leave.
• Shimura Danzō reported that Uchiha Madara had left the compound and detected Root’s surveillance, but Tobirama Senju ordered the monitoring to continue and told Root to prepare an emergency plan if the clan moved.
• Uchiha Madara arrived at Konoha’s main gate the following morning and waited to see who would follow him.

As Uchiha Madara waited alone at Konoha’s gate, the Uchiha elders debated how to protect the clan and decided to seek Uchiha Makoto’s advice while Kagami Uchiha sounded out Tobirama Senju. Tobirama celebrated the clan’s failure to follow Madara, who finally left Konoha and worried about facing Uchiha Makoto in Akatsuki Ninja Village.

• The Uchiha Great Elder confirmed that Madara had left the compound but that no clansmen had followed him, and ordered the clan to maintain its security watch.
• The Uchiha elders agreed to inform Uchiha Makoto about Madara’s departure, while the Great Elder told Kagami Uchiha to test Tobirama Senju’s intentions.
• Shimura Danzō reported that no Uchiha had left Konoha with Madara, and Tobirama celebrated the news before instructing Danzō to keep monitoring the clan.
• Madara waited alone at Konoha’s gate until dusk, then left the village and worried about how he would face Uchiha Makoto in Akatsuki Ninja Village.

Uchiha Makoto spent New Year’s Eve dealing with visitors and reviewing reports on unrest and reforms across the ninja villages before returning home to celebrate with his family and adopted Hyuga children. An urgent message revealed that Uchiha Madara had defected from Konoha, leaving Makoto to anticipate his arrival at Akatsuki Ninja Village.

• Uchiha Makoto learned that Kumogakure’s investment drive was struggling, Kirigakure was nearing civil war, Sunagakure’s grain and arms smuggling was expanding, and Iwagakure’s reforms faced resistance.
• Uchiha Makoto returned home, gave red envelopes to the adopted Hyuga children, and left Two-Tails Matatabi to endure their noisy play.
• Uchiha Makoto rested with Tsubaki Uzumaki until an emergency message from the Uchiha Clan summoned him.
• Uchiha Makoto learned that Uchiha Madara had defected from Konoha and expected him to visit Akatsuki Ninja Village.

Uchiha Makoto weighed how to guide the Uchiha Clan’s response to Tobirama Senju while continuing to pursue his plans for Konoha. On New Year’s Day, Uchiha Madara arrived alone at Akatsuki Ninja Village, where Makoto greeted him with a barrage of pointed questions.

• Uchiha Makoto decided to tell the Uchiha Clan that he would support whatever choice they made, while quietly encouraging them to resist Tobirama Senju.
• Uchiha Makoto sent his reply with a Ninja Cat, then celebrated the New Year with Tsubaki Uzumaki and the children before receiving visitors as the Light Shadow.
• Uchiha Madara entered Akatsuki Ninja Village alone, wandered through its expanding districts, and admired its prosperity and the children’s comfortable lives.
• Uchiha Madara reached Uchiha Makoto’s villa and knocked while Makoto rested after greeting New Year’s visitors.
• Uchiha Makoto welcomed Uchiha Madara with questions about Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and why no clansmen had accompanied him, leaving Madara suspecting that Makoto was mocking him deliberately.

Uchiha Madara visited Uchiha Makoto in Akatsuki Ninja Village after leaving Konoha alone, but delayed explaining his decision as he spent the evening with Makoto’s family and lost at mahjong to the tailed beasts. Over dinner, Madara finally admitted he had severed ties with Konoha, while Makoto pretended to believe the Uchiha Clan would leave with him.

• Uchiha Makoto welcomed Uchiha Madara into his villa and teased him about being alone, while Madara hid how painful the clan’s rejection had been.
• Uchiha Madara met little Taiichi, warned Makoto about keeping the child safe around tailed beasts, and agreed to guide him as a disciple when he grew older.
• Uchiha Madara played mahjong with Two-Tails Matatabi and Seven-Tails Chomei, who repeatedly beat him and left him frustrated.
• Uchiha Makoto speculated that Madara had come to discuss the Rinnegan, Hashirama Cells, or the Uchiha Clan, and considered how he could benefit from Madara’s knowledge.
• After drinking, Uchiha Madara told Uchiha Makoto he had completely cut ties with Konoha, citing the village’s conflicts and the Uchiha Clan’s situation.
• Uchiha Makoto claimed the clan would surely leave Konoha with Madara and offered help, leaving Madara silent and unhappy.

Uchiha Makoto comforted Uchiha Madara after learning that Madara had left Konoha alone, then heard his reasons for visiting the Akatsuki Ninja Village. Madara asked Makoto to protect the Uchiha in Konoha and revealed his plan to awaken the Rinnegan, leaving open the possibility of attacking Konoha to obtain Hashirama Senju’s flesh and blood.

• Uchiha Madara told Uchiha Makoto that he had left Konoha alone because the Uchiha Clan refused to follow him.
• Uchiha Makoto urged Madara to reflect on his own role, but Madara blamed Tobirama Senju for the clan’s situation.
• Madara asked Makoto to protect the Uchiha in Konoha and to watch out for Tobirama Senju, and Makoto agreed.
• Madara shared his theory that combining Uchiha Yin power with Senju Yang power could awaken the Rinnegan.
• Madara refused to ask Hashirama Senju for flesh and blood and said he might return to Konoha and attack if that was the only way to obtain it.

Uchiha Makoto invited Konoha’s ninja clans to accompany Hashirama Senju on a visit to Akatsuki Ninja Village, hoping to strengthen ties while Hashirama sought Uchiha Madara. Tobirama Senju learned of the plan and argued against bringing Madara back, but Hashirama insisted on going.

• Uchiha Madara refused to meet Hashirama Senju and told Akatsuki Ninja Village’s messenger to claim he had left.
• Uchiha Makoto invited Konoha’s ninja clans to accompany Hashirama Senju to Akatsuki Ninja Village and deepen their cooperation.
• The Uchiha Clan’s hawks and doves set aside their arguments after hearing that Makoto would continue supporting them.
• The Hyuga Clan and other Konoha clans accepted Makoto’s invitation and gathered at the Senju Clan compound to join Hashirama.
• Tobirama Senju confronted Hashirama for planning to find Madara without telling him, but Hashirama declared he would bring Madara back to Konoha.

Hashirama Senju led Tobirama Senju and Konoha’s clan leaders to Akatsuki Ninja Village, where they saw how far its economy and technology had advanced. Tobirama recognized that Konoha could not catch up without major reforms and resolved that he had to become Hokage.

• Hashirama Senju rejected Tobirama Senju’s objections and agreed to let Konoha’s clan leaders accompany him to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• The next day, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and a large Konoha delegation traveled to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• The Konoha clan leaders marveled at the village’s growth, and Hyuga Morikyo regretted not joining it years earlier.
• Tobirama Senju saw Akatsuki Ninja Village’s three-wheeled vehicles and other new developments, realizing that its technological lead came from years of investment and research.
• Tobirama Senju concluded that Konoha’s opposition and limited resources made it difficult to copy Akatsuki Ninja Village, and he resolved to become Hokage.

Uchiha Makoto welcomed Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Konoha’s clan leaders to Akatsuki Ninja Village, where they discovered how deeply the Uzumaki clansmen had integrated into village life. As the Konoha clans weighed the village’s generous opportunities, Tobirama feared Makoto would draw them into the same arrangement, while Makoto resolved to intervene in the Uzumaki Clan’s affairs.

• Uchiha Makoto greeted the Konoha delegation and deflected Hashirama Senju’s questions about Uchiha Madara’s whereabouts.
• Makoto led the visitors through a lavish welcome and hosted them at a banquet alongside Akatsuki Ninja Village’s clan leaders.
• Tobirama Senju discovered that Uzumaki clansmen had settled in Akatsuki Ninja Village, earning high salaries and raising families there.
• Hashirama Senju saw the Uzumaki Clan’s close ties with Akatsuki Ninja Village as a hopeful example, while Konoha’s clan leaders envied the benefits and considered applying for Blue Cards.
• Tobirama realized Makoto might use the same approach to attract Konoha’s clans, but their interest made it difficult for him to stop them without harming Konoha’s development.
• Makoto smiled and decided that he would have to micromanage Shinji Uzumaki’s handling of the Uzumaki Clan.

Tobirama Senju decided to restrict Konoha clans’ cooperation with Akatsuki Ninja Village and began trying to recruit an Uzumaki clansman, convinced that the Senju-Uzumaki bond would overcome Akatsuki’s appeal. The Uzumaki clansman hesitated to refuse him, while Tobirama pressed his offer.

• Tobirama Senju decided to oppose Uchiha Makoto’s influence and planned rules requiring Konoha ninja to register Akatsuki visas and cards and placing limits and taxes on cooperation.
• At the banquet, the Kaguya Clan Leader praised Akatsuki Ninja Village’s profitable businesses to Hyuga Morikyo and regretted that the Hyuga Clan had not joined earlier.
• Uchiha Makoto kept Hashirama Senju close as he entertained Konoha’s clan leaders, making it harder for Tobirama Senju to undermine their partnerships in secret.
• Tobirama Senju approached an Uzumaki clansman and urged him to move to Konoha, claiming Konoha needed his sealing skills and that the Senju and Uzumaki Clans were close.
• The Uzumaki clansman said the proposal was inappropriate and showed reluctance, but Tobirama Senju confidently insisted that he would be better off in Konoha.

Tobirama Senju tried and failed to recruit Uzumaki clan members from Akatsuki Ninja Village, then clashed with Uchiha Makoto at the banquet. After the Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village delegates celebrated their cooperation, Uchiha Makoto led Hashirama Senju to a prepared room, where Uchiha Madara watched from a hidden chamber.

• An Uzumaki clan member rejected Tobirama Senju's recruitment offer because Konoha could not match his salary and benefits.
• Tobirama Senju tried to recruit several more Uzumaki clan members, but they all refused to leave Uchiha Makoto and Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Uchiha Makoto confronted Tobirama Senju about his failed poaching attempt, and Tobirama Senju left rather than continue the argument.
• Uchiha Makoto toasted the cooperation between Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village, and the banquet crowd began chanting, "Long live Lord Shadow!"
• After the banquet, Uchiha Makoto led Hashirama Senju to a prepared room while Uchiha Madara watched from a concealed secret chamber.

Uchiha Makoto told Hashirama Senju that Uchiha Madara was not in Akatsuki Ninja Village, while Tobirama Senju condemned Madara and the Uchiha Clan for his defection. Hashirama still vowed to find and bring Madara back, leaving Madara hidden nearby, stung by Tobirama’s words but resolved to stay concealed.

• Uchiha Makoto denied that Uchiha Madara was in Akatsuki Ninja Village, extinguishing Hashirama Senju’s hope of finding him there.
• Tobirama Senju told Uchiha Makoto that Madara had defected from Konoha and accused the Uchiha Clan of being a threat.
• Hashirama Senju defended the Uchiha Clan and insisted that Madara must have had his reasons for leaving Konoha.
• Hashirama asked Uchiha Makoto to help locate Madara, and Tobirama argued that Madara had been abandoned and would not return.
• Uchiha Madara listened from the secret room next door, was hurt by Tobirama’s remarks, and chose to remain hidden.

Uchiha Makoto defended Uchiha Madara against Tobirama Senju’s accusations of defection, while Hashirama Senju chose to forgive Madara and seek his return. Makoto suggested naming Madara the next Hokage, leaving Tobirama furious at the prospect.

• Uchiha Makoto reflected that Tobirama Senju had grown old under the pressure of Konoha’s affairs and that he planned to revive Tobirama after his death with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Tobirama Senju accused Uchiha Madara of trying to lead the Uchiha Clan out of Konoha, but Uchiha Makoto argued that there was no proof Madara had defected.
• Hashirama Senju said he would forgive Madara if he returned, prompting Uchiha Makoto to accuse Tobirama Senju of always distrusting and suppressing the Uchiha Clan.
• Hashirama Senju asked Uchiha Makoto how they could find Madara and bring him back to Konoha.
• Uchiha Makoto proposed announcing that Madara would become the next Hokage, and Tobirama Senju grew enraged as Hashirama considered the idea.

Hashirama Senju rejected Uchiha Makoto’s proposal to make Uchiha Madara Hokage, insisting that Madara follow Konoha’s procedures. After Madara declared that Konoha could no longer carry his dreams, Makoto met with the Uchiha leaders to discuss the clan’s future and hinted that he could become Hokage himself.

• Tobirama Senju argued that Uchiha Madara, as a defector, could not be considered for Hokage, and Hashirama Senju agreed that the village’s established process had to be followed.
• Uchiha Makoto threatened Tobirama Senju with the possibility of Madara seeking revenge, and Hashirama Senju intervened to calm their argument.
• Hashirama Senju asked Makoto to contact him if he heard from Madara, then left with Tobirama Senju.
• Uchiha Madara emerged from the secret chamber, vowed to settle accounts with Tobirama Senju, and decided to focus on awakening the Rinnegan rather than returning to Konoha.
• The Uchiha Great Elder, Setsuna Uchiha, and Kagami Uchiha discussed the clan’s prospects with Makoto, expressing different views on opposing Tobirama Senju.
• Uchiha Makoto suggested that the clan’s troubles would end if he could become Hokage.

Uchiha Makoto assessed the Uchiha Clan’s weakened position after Uchiha Madara’s defection and gave its leaders a plan to contest Tobirama Senju’s rise while preserving the clan’s influence. He left Kagami Uchiha responsible for building ties with Konoha and securing a future path to the Hokage position.

• The Uchiha Great Elder, Setsuna Uchiha, and Kagami Uchiha lamented that the clan lacked a strong contender against Tobirama Senju after Uchiha Madara’s defection.
• Uchiha Makoto considered the political difficulties of uniting Akatsuki Ninja Village with Konoha and decided to wait until their interests were more deeply integrated.
• Uchiha Makoto gave Setsuna Uchiha an action plan to support the Great Elder in competing with Tobirama Senju for the position of Second.
• Uchiha Makoto told Kagami Uchiha to present the appearance of an internal Uchiha split, negotiate for Tobirama Senju’s support in becoming Third, and encourage cooperation between Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Uchiha Makoto warned Kagami Uchiha to monitor Tobirama Senju’s new force, and the Uchiha leaders organized the clan’s hawks and doves around his plan.

Uchiha Makoto told Kagami Uchiha that the Uchiha Clan could pursue the Hokage position if Tobirama Senju tried to keep the Senju Clan in power, then began negotiating cooperation between Akatsuki Ninja Village and Konoha. Konoha’s clans accepted Akatsuki’s proposed terms, leaving Tobirama Senju worried that they were being drawn into Uchiha Makoto’s influence.

• Uchiha Makoto reassured Kagami Uchiha that the Uchiha Clan could support him as a future Hokage if the Senju Clan claimed the Third position, and Kagami agreed.
• Uchiha Makoto warned the Uchiha Great Elder not to contact the Land of Fire about internal clan and Konoha affairs.
• Uchiha Makoto convened Akatsuki Ninja Village’s leaders and Konoha’s delegation to negotiate cooperation while Tobirama Senju expected Konoha to gain from the partnership.
• Konoha’s small and mid-sized ninja clans eagerly pursued Akatsuki’s cooperation agreements, and Tobirama Senju accepted that Akatsuki would take seventy percent of the profits.
• When Tobirama Senju tried to bargain for a larger share, Konoha’s clan representatives quickly reaffirmed that they would accept the seventy-thirty split, prompting Tobirama to suspect Akatsuki was winning them over.