Chapter Summaries

Mito Uzumaki tried to keep Shinji Uzumaki from drawing the Uzumaki Clan deeper into the conflict between Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village, but Shinji refused to back down. After he cut off contact, Mito softened his demands when reporting them to Tobirama Senju, who realized the Uzumaki Clan was siding with Uchiha Makoto but held back his anger.

• Mito Uzumaki feared Shinji Uzumaki’s support for Uchiha Makoto would provoke Tobirama Senju and endanger the Uzumaki Clan.
• Mito urged Shinji to avoid taking sides, but Shinji declared that the Uzumaki Clan could survive without Konoha and ended the call.
• Mito left the room and found Tobirama waiting in the corridor to ask what Shinji had said.
• Mito told Tobirama that Shinji wanted Konoha to release the people it had arrested before he would discuss withdrawing from the Land of Water with Uchiha Makoto.
• Tobirama recognized that the Uzumaki Clan had chosen Uchiha Makoto’s side, but held back his anger after seeing Mito’s weary expression.

Tobirama Senju ordered Danzō to abandon Konoha’s refugee recruitment operation in the Land of Water after the Uzumaki Clan sided with Akatsuki Ninja Village. Shinji Uzumaki, furious at Tobirama and Mito, vowed to confront Hashirama, while Uchiha Makoto welcomed the growing rift between the clans.

• Tobirama Senju left Mito Uzumaki and contacted Shimura Danzō in the Land of Water.
• Danzō told Tobirama he had arrested Uzumaki clansmen for spreading rumors against Konoha, and Tobirama praised him for acting in Konoha’s interests.
• Tobirama ordered Danzō to withdraw Konoha’s selected recruits and abandon the rest of the refugee operation because the Uzumaki Clan had chosen to oppose Konoha.
• Shinji Uzumaki called Uchiha Makoto and denounced Tobirama and Mito for betraying the Uzumaki Clan.
• Uchiha Makoto encouraged Shinji to recognize who truly shared the Uzumaki Clan’s interests, and Shinji vowed to confront Hashirama Senju in Konoha.

Uchiha Makoto ordered Akatsuki Ninja Village and the Uzumaki Clan to publicly demand the release of their captured clansmen, putting Konoha under pressure. As Shimura Danzō prepared to evacuate the Konoha stronghold, Emei Peak arrived with Akatsuki ninja, Uzumaki clansmen, and refugees, blocking its gates.

• Uchiha Makoto persuaded Shinji Uzumaki to openly confront Konoha and demand the release of the captured Uzumaki clansmen.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered Emei Peak to gather Akatsuki ninja, remaining Uzumaki clansmen, and refugee representatives and make a public demonstration at the Konoha camp.
• Shimura Danzō hurriedly prepared to abandon the stronghold under a secret evacuation order from Tobirama Senju.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi objected to leaving the refugees behind, but Shimura Danzō pressured him to obey the order.
• Emei Peak led Akatsuki ninja, angry Uzumaki clansmen, and hundreds of refugees to the Konoha gates, disrupting the evacuation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō as the Uzumaki Clan, Akatsuki Ninja Village elites, and Land of Water refugees surrounded Konoha’s outpost over the detention of Uzumaki Clan members. Tobirama Senju learned of the crisis and, unable to understand why the Uzumaki Clan had turned against Konoha, wondered whether they could have waited for Konoha’s reforms.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded an explanation from Shimura Danzō as the crowd approached the outpost gates.
• Shimura Danzō ordered Hiruzen to hold the gates, then contacted Tobirama Senju for help.
• Shimura Danzō told Tobirama that Akatsuki Ninja Village had brought the Uzumaki Clan and hundreds of refugees to publicly accuse Konoha of betrayal and kidnapping.
• Tobirama Senju blamed Uchiha Makoto for escalating the dispute and struggled to understand why the Uzumaki Clan had sided with him.
• Tobirama Senju recalled Konoha’s past support for the Uzumaki Clan and hoped they would wait for Konoha’s reforms to succeed.

Tobirama Senju ordered Konoha to release the Uzumaki clansmen and evacuate the Land of Water, while Shimura Danzō publicly blamed their kidnapping on low-level personnel. Emei Peak used the scandal to undermine Konoha’s refugee recruitment and promote Akatsuki Ninja Village, leaving the refugees newly drawn to its offer.

• Tobirama Senju rejected Shimura Danzō’s plan to fight and ordered him to release the Uzumaki clansmen, blame the incident on a misunderstanding, and evacuate with selected refugees and intelligence materials.
• Shimura Danzō released the unharmed Uzumaki clansmen, who mocked him as they left Konoha’s base.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to reassure the refugees, but their trust in Konoha weakened as they watched the Uzumaki clansmen emerge from the base.
• Shimura Danzō publicly apologized and blamed low-level intelligence personnel, but the Uzumaki clansmen denounced his account and further damaged Konoha’s reputation.
• Emei Peak accepted Konoha’s explanation provisionally while demanding a joint investigation, then presented Akatsuki Ninja Village’s recruitment flyers to the refugees.
• Emei Peak promised the refugees safety, fair laws, food, and homes, and invited them to join Akatsuki Ninja Village.

After Konoha’s kidnapping of Uzumaki Clan members drove refugees toward Akatsuki Ninja Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Shimura Danzō while Danzō defended his actions as being for Konoha. The next day, Akatsuki Ninja Village began processing the refugees, whose first impressions of its orderly visa tent and careful hospitality left them convinced they had reached a civilized place.

• Emei Peak led the Uzumaki Clan members and Land of Water refugees away from Konoha’s outpost and toward Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed Shimura Danzō for Konoha’s ruined reputation and the loss of the refugees, while Danzō insisted he had acted for Konoha.
• The next morning, Akatsuki Ninja Village received thousands of refugees and served them breakfast before beginning expedited visa reviews.
• The refugees entered the visa tent and were stunned by its orderly rows of waiting stools and precisely arranged mineral water.
• The wealthy merchants and other refugees admired Akatsuki Ninja Village’s discipline and hospitality and felt they had found civilization.

Emei Peak oversaw Akatsuki Ninja Village’s strict visa screenings, offering refugees and wandering ninja safety and work in exchange for labor contracts and security measures. He initially rejected a wealthy shipowner, then approved his family’s relocation after the merchant accepted steep fees and surrendered control of his fleet.

• Emei Peak granted the blacksmith Yuci a technical-talent visa and a five-year labor contract with guaranteed food, housing, and wages.
• Emei Peak required wandering ninja to surrender their ninjutsu scrolls, register their chakra, and undergo a three-year probation before entering the village.
• A wealthy shipowner applied to relocate his family and entourage, but Emei Peak denied him for contributing little to the village and consuming public resources.
• Emei Peak offered the shipowner an investment immigration route requiring a fee, discounted transfer of his fleet and shipping rights, and a security deposit.
• The shipowner accepted the conditions, received visas for his family, and left the tent boasting to other merchants about Akatsuki Ninja Village’s demanding rules.

Akatsuki Ninja Village profited from the Land of Water refugee crisis while Kumogakure filled its quotas by accepting dangerous and unsuitable refugees. After returning home, Uchiha Makoto enjoyed time with his family until Uchiha Madara unexpectedly arrived, raising fears that he planned to return to Konoha as an avenger.

• Akatsuki Ninja Village's propaganda drew skilled refugees to its outpost, while Konoha withdrew and Kumogakure accepted increasingly unsuitable refugees to meet its recruitment quotas.
• Kumogakure's lax screening attracted gangs, criminals, and other troublesome refugees, who were shipped to the Land of Lightning and earned the outpost commander's praise from the Second Raikage.
• The Land of Water's nobles pressured Kirigakure's rival factions into a ceasefire, and the factions joined forces to suppress uprisings as Akatsuki Ninja Village withdrew with its recruits.
• Uchiha Makoto reviewed Akatsuki Ninja Village's gains, then left work early and returned to his home, where Tsubaki Uzumaki prepared dinner and little Taiichi played with Two-Tails Matatabi.
• Uchiha Madara arrived unexpectedly at Uchiha Makoto's door, and Uchiha Makoto feared that Madara intended to return to Konoha as an avenger.

Uchiha Madara visited Uchiha Makoto, discussed his plans to seek the Sage of Six Paths' ruins and confront Hashirama Senju, then quietly left the Akatsuki Ninja Village. Makoto believed Madara was heading toward a likely fatal battle at the Valley of the End.

• Uchiha Madara arrived at Uchiha Makoto's home, where little Taiichi toddled over to him and Matatabi and Chomei cowered.
• Uchiha Makoto told Madara about Hashirama Senju's gambling and Konoha's involvement in the Land of Water unrest, including Tobirama Senju's seizure of Uzumaki Clan members.
• Uchiha Makoto said Shinji Uzumaki had gone to Konoha to demand answers from Hashirama, which amused Madara.
• Uchiha Madara told Uchiha Makoto that his research had yielded no clear way to awaken the Rinnegan and that he planned to search ancient ruins.
• Uchiha Madara said he would obtain Hashirama Senju's flesh if the ruins offered no answers, and vowed to return to Konoha to prove his path to peace was right.
• Uchiha Madara dismissed Uchiha Makoto's doubts about his chances and left the Akatsuki Ninja Village without revealing his entire plan.

After Root abducted Uzumaki clansmen in the Land of Water, Shinji Uzumaki arrived in Konoha demanding that Hashirama Senju answer for it. Tobirama Senju admitted fault under pressure, but privately resolved that he would make the same choice again if it served Konoha’s future.

• Tobirama Senju faced criticism from Konoha’s clans over the failed Land of Water operation and tried to dismiss the abduction as a subordinate’s mistake.
• An Anbu ninja told Tobirama Senju that Shinji Uzumaki had arrived at Konoha’s gates with several Uzumaki clansmen.
• Mito Uzumaki met Shinji and led his group to the Hokage’s Office, where Shinji refused Tobirama’s apologies and demanded to see Hashirama Senju.
• Tobirama Senju summoned Hashirama Senju, and Shinji accused Konoha of abducting Uzumaki clansmen in the Land of Water.
• Hashirama Senju’s expression darkened as Shinji recounted the incident, while Tobirama admitted that Root had made a serious error.
• Tobirama Senju privately resolved that he would order the operation again for Konoha’s future, but would cover his tracks better.

Shinji Uzumaki accepted Tobirama Senju’s apology and compensation after Konoha’s Root kidnapped Uzumaki clansmen, but the incident became a political weapon that the Uchiha Clan used to challenge Tobirama’s standing. After Tobirama regained control of Konoha, the Uchiha Great Elder secretly summoned Kagami Uchiha to fish at the Naka River.

• Hashirama Senju persuaded Shinji Uzumaki to treat Tobirama Senju’s attack on the Uzumaki clansmen as a misunderstanding, and Tobirama paid compensation and discussed trade cooperation.
• The Uchiha Clan and Akatsuki Ninja Village spread rumors about the Land of Water incident, damaging Tobirama Senju’s reputation despite a joint public statement from Konoha and the Uzumaki Clan.
• The Uchiha Great Elder used Uchiha Makoto’s reputation and charitable public appearances to build support for the Uchiha Clan and challenge Tobirama Senju’s political influence.
• A month later, Tobirama Senju restored his control of Konoha, while the Uchiha Great Elder recognized his own political disadvantage and secretly invited Kagami Uchiha to fish at the Naka River.
• Kagami Uchiha reacted with surprise when he learned that the Uchiha Great Elder had invited him to fish.

Tobirama Senju met with the Uchiha Great Elder to discuss the Uchiha Clan’s demand for the Second Hokage position, while tensions over Uchiha Madara’s departure and Konoha’s political future intensified. The Great Elder proposed a Dual Hokage system and invoked the threat of civil war, leaving Tobirama furious and eyeing the stones by the river.

• Tobirama Senju arrived at the Naka River and found the Uchiha Great Elder fishing with Kagami Uchiha, who carried a helmet on Uchiha Makoto’s advice.
• Tobirama Senju and the Uchiha Great Elder recalled their clans’ bloody history, and Tobirama pointedly brought up Izuna Uchiha’s death.
• The Uchiha Great Elder argued that the Uchiha Clan should receive the Second Hokage position to restore balance and demonstrate Konoha’s equality.
• Tobirama Senju accused Uchiha Madara of defecting, but the Great Elder insisted Madara had only left to travel and warned that the accusation was slander.
• The Uchiha Great Elder proposed a Dual Hokage system and threatened that denying the Uchiha Clan could plunge Konoha into civil war.
• Tobirama Senju nearly reached for a weapon, realized he had brought none, and fixed his gaze on the river stones beneath his feet.

The Uchiha Great Elder threatened to obstruct Tobirama Senju’s reforms unless the Uchiha received greater political influence, then withdrew the demand for Dual Hokage and asked him to groom Kagami Uchiha as the Third. Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara, unable to find another reliable way to awaken the Rinnegan, turned his attention toward Konoha.

• Kagami Uchiha watched Tobirama Senju nearly lose his temper but calm himself before using a river pebble against the Uchiha Great Elder.
• Tobirama Senju rejected the Great Elder’s threats, arguing that Hashirama Senju could suppress the Uchiha if they tried to start a civil war.
• The Uchiha Great Elder explained that the clan would obstruct Tobirama’s policies through meetings, business, and the Military Police Force, then could relocate to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Tobirama Senju refused the Dual Hokage proposal, and he and the Great Elder argued over whether the Uchiha could lawfully disrupt Konoha without provoking Hashirama.
• The Great Elder withdrew the Dual Hokage demand and instead asked Tobirama to train Kagami Uchiha as the next Hokage and recommend him as the Third.
• Uchiha Madara, having found no reliable way to awaken the Rinnegan beyond using Hashirama Senju’s flesh and blood, turned his gaze toward Konoha.

Tobirama Senju agreed to train Kagami Uchiha as a future Hokage and swore to support his succession, while the Uchiha Clan promised not to obstruct Tobirama’s reforms. As Tobirama planned to make Hashirama Senju step down, Uchiha Madara returned to Konoha’s outskirts and vowed to defeat him.

• Tobirama Senju agreed to train Kagami Uchiha and swore to support him becoming Third if he upheld the Will of Fire.
• Tobirama Senju warned the Uchiha Great Elder that Uchiha Makoto had secretly helped suppress the Uchiha, but the Great Elder and Kagami Uchiha rejected his accusation.
• The Uchiha Great Elder left with Kagami Uchiha after warning Tobirama Senju to keep his promise.
• A week later, Tobirama Senju saw that the Uchiha Clan was cooperating with his decrees and prepared to advance his reforms and discipline other ninja clans.
• Tobirama Senju decided he needed a legitimate way to make Hashirama Senju step down.
• Uchiha Madara returned to the outskirts of Konoha and vowed to defeat Hashirama Senju.

Uchiha Madara summoned the Nine-Tails outside Konoha and controlled it with his Sharingan, intending to challenge Hashirama Senju. Tobirama Senju mistook the attack for an Uchiha coup, while Hashirama went to confront the beast and ordered Tobirama to surround the Uchiha without attacking them; the Uchiha Great Elder feared the clan would be blamed.

• Uchiha Madara summoned the Nine-Tails outside Konoha and controlled it with his enormous Sharingan.
• Tobirama Senju activated Konoha's emergency response as the Nine-Tails' chakra and roar threw the village into alarm.
• Tobirama Senju saw the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes and concluded that the Uchiha Clan had launched a coup.
• Hashirama Senju arrived, heard Tobirama's accusation, and ordered him to surround the Uchiha Clan but not attack until the truth was known.
• The Uchiha Great Elder realized Konoha would blame the clan for controlling the Nine-Tails and wondered who had acted behind their backs.

The Uchiha Great Elder told Uchiha Makoto that Tobirama Senju had surrounded the clan after the Nine-Tails appeared with Sharingan in its eyes. Makoto urged the Uchiha to stay inside and avoid giving Tobirama grounds to accuse them of rebellion, but the clan’s hardliners rejected his advice.

• Uchiha clansmen reported that masked Root ninjas were monitoring the clan territory, and the Uchiha Great Elder ordered the agitated hardliners to quiet down.
• The Great Elder contacted Uchiha Makoto and explained that the Nine-Tails had appeared near Konoha while Tobirama Senju’s forces surrounded the clan.
• Uchiha Makoto told the clan to remain in its territory and not attempt to fight or rescue Konoha’s civilians, warning that any move could be used as proof of a coup.
• Uchiha hardliners argued that the clan would be purged regardless and called for joining the Nine-Tails to rebel, angering Makoto.

Uchiha Makoto kept the Uchiha Clan confined to its compound during the Nine-Tails attack and planned to use the aftermath to shield them from Tobirama Senju. Tobirama ordered Root to provoke the clan, while Hashirama Senju confronted Uchiha Madara, who declared he would defeat Hashirama and destroy Konoha.

• Uchiha Makoto warned the Great Elder that the clan must not leave the compound, and the Great Elder agreed to keep everyone inside.
• Uchiha Makoto explained that the clan could survive the attack by avoiding casualties, relying on its alliances, and turning public suspicion toward Tobirama Senju.
• Tobirama Senju learned that no Uchiha had left the compound and ordered Root to provoke them until they fought back.
• Hashirama Senju arrived before the Nine-Tails, and Uchiha Madara welcomed him with a challenge.
• Hashirama Senju greeted Madara warmly, but Madara rejected his friendliness and vowed to defeat him and destroy Konoha.

Hashirama Senju fought Uchiha Madara and the Susanoo-Clad Nine-Tails, trying to draw them away from Konoha and stop Madara from destroying the village. Hashirama redirected Madara’s devastating Tailed Beast Bomb across the sea, where it detonated in a colossal blast that triggered a massive tsunami.

• Uchiha Madara covered the Nine-Tails with Susanoo and declared his intention to destroy Konoha, rejecting Hashirama Senju’s plea to stop.
• Hashirama used Wood Release techniques to catch Madara’s Susanoo sword and restrain the Nine-Tails, but Madara spun free and shredded the wooden constructs.
• Hashirama fled toward the coast to move the fight away from Konoha, and Madara pursued him across the Land of Fire.
• Madara launched a Susanoo-enhanced Tailed Beast Bomb at Hashirama, who summoned Fivefold Rashomon to divert it away from the coastline.
• The redirected bomb struck land across the sea, erupting into a colossal explosion and sending a towering tsunami racing toward the coast.

Hashirama Senju defeated Uchiha Madara after a day-and-night battle, stabbing him through the heart with a sword while Madara thought he had won. Madara died warning Hashirama that his choice to protect Konoha would someday become the village’s darkness.

• Madara controlled the Susanoo-Clad Nine-Tails and charged Hashirama, who answered with Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
• Hashirama’s wooden statue battered the Susanoo-Clad Nine-Tails, broke its Susanoo, and subdued the beast before the battle between Hashirama and Madara continued for a day and a night.
• Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Makoto watched the battle from opposing forces stationed far from the battlefield.
• Exhausted and believing he had won, Madara taunted the kneeling Hashirama, but the apparent victor was a wood clone and the real Hashirama stabbed Madara through the chest from behind.
• Hashirama declared that he would protect Konoha without mercy, and Madara bit his shoulder before dying in the river.

Uchiha Makoto and Tobirama Senju clashed over Uchiha Madara’s body after Madara died fighting Hashirama Senju. They traded competing accounts of Madara’s attack on Konoha, and Tobirama insisted the village’s official version would define history.

• Tobirama Senju found Hashirama Senju collapsed beside Uchiha Madara’s corpse and sent Medical Ninjas to treat his brother.
• Tobirama Senju approached Madara’s body, but Uchiha Makoto and Akatsuki Ninja Village elites arrived and blocked him.
• Uchiha Makoto confirmed Madara was dead and ordered his men to seal the corpse for transport to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Tobirama Senju demanded that Konoha take Madara’s body, while Uchiha Makoto accused him of driving Madara out of the village.
• Tobirama Senju claimed Madara had launched an armed coup to seize the Hokage position and declared that Konoha’s official account would frame history.