Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Kei met Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto at the Konoha Orphanage and recruited them to provide information, while arranging for their apparent return to Root to conceal their allegiance. Nonō reported that Kumogakure was preparing to send a group to Konoha and might plan a visit on a Hyuga clan member’s birthday.

• Uchiha Kei and Hyuga Aya discussed his agreement with Orochimaru and reached the orphanage, where Aya spotted Iori and the returning Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto.
• Uchiha Kei questioned Nonō about her loyalty, and she admitted she favored Orochimaru but agreed to work for Kei in exchange for the orphanage’s protection.
• Yakushi Nonō explained that Orochimaru had devised a way to weaken the Curse Mark on her tongue so she could pass information to Kei.
• Nonō said she would appear to return to Root after a communication hawk delivered a report claiming she had obtained classified information in Iwagakure and withdrawn after being discovered.
• Nonō reported that Kumogakure had selected people without administrative experience to send to Konoha, and that they might visit on a Hyuga clan member’s birthday.

Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta discussed Hyuga Aya’s uncertainty about how to respond to the Cloud’s interest in the Hyuga Clan and the choices she might face if she broke the Caged Bird seal. Kei then told Kenta to build a closer relationship with Kakashi, who was expected to become Anbu Captain.

• Yakushi Nonō’s message confirmed Kei’s suspicion that the Hyuga birthday in question belonged to Hyuga Hinata.
• Aya lost focus while injecting Kenta with serum, and Kei explained that she was weighing whether to stay out of the Cloud’s plans or prepare for the future.
• Kei and Kenta discussed Aya’s options if she broke the Caged Bird seal: leave the Hyuga Clan or stay and help their Three Giants plan.
• Kenta teased Kei about his relationship with Aya, and Kei stopped him by catching a Kunai thrown at him.
• Kei told Kenta to get to know Kakashi and strengthen their alliance as Kakashi neared becoming Anbu Captain.

In Kumogakure, Atsubi accepted a suicide mission devised by the Fourth Raikage and the Elders to provoke conflict with Konoha and increase Kumogakure’s influence. He proposed leaving early to approach the Third Hokage and exploit tensions between him and the Uchiha, and the Fourth Raikage approved the plan.

• The Fourth Raikage admitted that personal dislike had influenced Atsubi’s assignment but offered him the chance to refuse; Atsubi chose to proceed for Kumogakure.
• Atsubi gave the Fourth Raikage a team list made up of ordinary ninjas loyal to the Raikage, and the Raikage approved the choices despite suspecting they were deliberate.
• Atsubi said he planned to leave within months to approach people secretly and use the Hyuga Clan’s tensions with Konoha to create a pretext for Kumogakure to act.
• Atsubi proposed visiting the Third Hokage and exploiting his hostility toward the Uchiha, including the fallout from Uchiha Kei killing Shimura Danzō.
• The Fourth Raikage recognized that Atsubi intended to provoke both the Third Hokage and the Uchiha, then ordered him to follow the plan and called him a hero of Kumogakure.

Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku met in a secluded valley to test their strength, while their friends and Uchiha Itachi watched. Fugaku proved superior in ninjutsu, and Kei recognized his own weakness as he prepared to end the exchange.

• Uchiha Fugaku gathered Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sou, Hyuga Aya, and Imai Kenta to watch him spar with Uchiha Kei.
• Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku traveled to the secluded valley where Kei had once destroyed a Giant Buddha.
• Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku opened their fight with fast exchanges of kunai, sword strikes, and substitution tactics.
• Uchiha Fugaku used Water and Fire Style techniques, while Uchiha Kei countered with swordsmanship and ninjutsu.
• Uchiha Kei's Water Severing Wave was overpowered by Fugaku's identical technique, making Kei recognize his weakness in ninjutsu.
• Uchiha Kei decided to stop dragging out the fight as Fugaku's fireballs rushed toward him and black chakra appeared around him.

Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku escalated their sparring match by revealing their Susanoo, with Kei unveiling a hundred-meter-tall complete form. Their attacks engulfed the valley in destruction and black flames, while Hyuga Aya detected someone approaching.

• Uchiha Fugaku used several Ninjutsu against Kei, who blocked the attacks with Susanoo and sent Amaterasu flames surging toward him.
• Fugaku controlled Kei's Amaterasu flames with his Mangekyo Sharingan, then revealed his own armored, four-armed Susanoo.
• Kei awakened his Mangekyo and formed a complete, hundred-meter-tall Susanoo, astonishing Fugaku and the watching Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sou.
• Kei's Susanoo struck Fugaku with a sword wreathed in Amaterasu, and Fugaku raised a massive earthen wall to block it.
• Fugaku counterattacked with Majestic Destroyer Flame, but the fire fed Kei's black flames and turned the valley into an inferno.
• Hyuga Aya sensed someone approaching the battle site.

Namikaze Minato arrived as Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku tested their new abilities in a devastating Susanoo battle. Kei overwhelmed Fugaku, leaving his golden Susanoo shattered and its arms and head severed.

• Namikaze Minato appeared behind Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta, and they explained that Kei and Fugaku were testing their abilities in preparation for possible conflict with the Land of Lightning.
• Kei and Fugaku emerged unharmed from the black flames of Amaterasu, and Kei prepared to attack Fugaku again.
• Kei charged Fugaku, whose golden Susanoo raised a massive stone mountain with Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart; Kei's sword cleaved through it.
• Fugaku unleashed Scorch Style: Amaterasu: Great Fire Annihilation and used Ho-no-mikoto to intensify the flames around Kei's Susanoo.
• Kei's Susanoo emerged unscathed and struck Fugaku's golden Susanoo repeatedly, cutting off its four arms and enormous head.

After a devastating battle between Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku, Konoha shinobi investigated the wrecked gorge while Kei and Namikaze Minato planned how to conceal Kei’s power and clear his name. The chapter left Nara Shikaku suspecting Kei was involved and fearing the incident concealed a much more serious situation.

• The Third Hokage arrived at the burning gorge, where Nara Shikaku and Hyuga Hiashi identified an enormous trench as the mark of a blade.
• Yamanaka Masato sensed traces of two immensely powerful combatants and told the assembled shinobi that they seemed to be enormous, nonhuman beings.
• Uchiha Kei and Namikaze Minato discussed the political risks of Kei’s power becoming known and planned for Kei to act under the guise of the Mysterious Organization if a Tailed Beast appeared.
• Namikaze Minato left the late-night gathering, and Uchiha Kei stayed with the Military Police Force members.
• Yamanaka Masato refused to tell Nara Shikaku more about the incident, prompting Shikaku to suspect Uchiha Kei was involved and that a greater danger was at hand.

After witnessing Uchiha Kei defeat Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi resolved to earn Kei’s approval and asked to leave the Ninja Academy early. Fugaku rejected the idea and urged Itachi to think more broadly, leaving him to reconsider how best to earn Kei’s recognition.

• Uchiha Itachi checked on Uchiha Fugaku after seeing Kei severely damage Fugaku’s Susanoo, and Fugaku reassured him that he was fine.
• Fugaku explained that Kei’s Susanoo had reached its fourth stage and was stronger than his own.
• Fugaku described how he was teaching Itachi politics and perspective so he would not become a tool for others, and Itachi vowed to protect both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
• Itachi admitted that he wanted to take the graduation exam early because he had learned little more at the Ninja Academy and wanted to follow Kei and Shisui’s example.
• Fugaku called Itachi’s plan childish, explained that Kei and Shisui had grown through circumstances Itachi had not faced, and told him to reconsider his goal from a broader perspective or ask Kei for advice.

Uchiha Kei advised Uchiha Itachi against graduating early, urging him to value his Academy classmates and build Bonds, while Uchiha Fugaku asked Kei to guide his son. Kei and Fugaku then prepared for a limited conflict with Kumogakure that would create an opportunity for Konoha’s reforms, as Atsubi arrived outside Konoha seeking a meeting with the Third.

• Uchiha Fugaku asked Uchiha Kei to answer Uchiha Itachi’s question about graduating early and again raised the possibility of Kei becoming Itachi’s teacher.
• Uchiha Kei explained that early graduation would bring Itachi only basic missions and challenged him to recognize the value of his classmates and the Bonds he could build at the Academy.
• Uchiha Kei told Uchiha Fugaku that the coming Kumogakure conflict could be kept within bounds and used as cover to advance Konoha’s reforms, and Fugaku agreed to prepare for his role.
• Uchiha Kei asked Uchiha Fugaku to let outsiders hear that Susanoo’s colors might match, hinting that it could serve as a fallback during the conflict.
• Atsubi arrived alone outside Konoha, used the seal given to him by the Raikage, and was approached by several black-clad Ninja before he could inspect the village.

Atsubi secretly met Sarutobi Hiruzen and proposed that they work together against Namikaze Minato, warning that Kumogakure would soon pressure Konoha by intercepting its missions. He left Hiruzen to decide whether to reclaim his former power before the threat of war returned.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen questioned Atsubi about his secret arrival and his knowledge of the Hokage contact seal.
• Atsubi provoked Hiruzen, who chose not to detain him because he feared giving Kumogakure an excuse for war.
• Atsubi suggested Hiruzen join forces with Kumogakure to oppose the younger leaders and the man who killed Hiruzen’s best friend.
• Atsubi revealed that Kumogakure would intercept Konoha’s missions for months before he led a delegation to meet the Fourth Hokage.
• Atsubi urged Hiruzen to stand against Namikaze Minato and reclaim what he had lost before war broke out.

Uchiha Kei considered changes to the Military Police Force and instructed Uchiha Kawa and Uchiha Ryuei to prepare for a possible war and spread his words discreetly. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen reflected on his life and told Namikaze Minato that he would never betray Konoha.

• Kei weighed whether to transfer Uchiha Jun or promote someone else, but decided to leave her in place while he considered the complications surrounding the Third Division.
• Kei met with Uchiha Kawa and Uchiha Ryuei, checked on the sensitive materials they were gathering, and approved their plan to keep captured criminals from exposing their work.
• Kei told Kawa and Ryuei to get the Military Police Force ready for war and asked them to spread several statements without making the effort look deliberate.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled his friendships, rise to Hokage, and years of political struggles, while affirming that his desire to serve Konoha had never changed.
• Namikaze Minato approached Hiruzen, who declared that he would always be the Third and would never betray Konoha.

Imai Kenta tested his newly mastered Flying Thunder God Technique and Wood Style against Uchiha Kei, using marked sprouts to launch rapid attacks. Kei defeated him with his Mangekyo-enhanced speed, but Kenta’s potential left Kei uneasy when a figure suddenly appeared beside them.

• Imai Kenta surprised Uchiha Kei with a Flying Thunder God Slash, which Kei avoided with a water clone.
• Imai Kenta used Wood Style and Flying Thunder God marks to attack Kei, but Kei blocked his ambush with Susanoo.
• Imai Kenta activated marked sprouts and Wood Style: Impaling Technique, prompting Kei to use his Mangekyo and overwhelm him with speed.
• Imai Kenta admitted he had not fully mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Kei praised his inventive use of Wood Style as the fight ended in Kei’s victory.
• A figure suddenly appeared beside Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta.

Uchiha Kei, Imai Kenta, and Kakashi were summoned to a sudden meeting of Konoha’s department heads and major clan leaders, where Namikaze Minato revealed that the Third would explain a serious matter. The attendees suspected it involved the looming possibility of war with Kumogakure.

• Kakashi interrupted Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta’s sparring to summon them to a meeting, and explained that they had been invited as representatives of the Mission Department and Anbu.
• Imai Kenta used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take himself, Uchiha Kei, and Kakashi toward the Hokage Building, while Kakashi arranged for Anbu to put out the training-ground fire.
• Uchiha Kei, Imai Kenta, and Kakashi joined the department heads and clan leaders in the Hokage’s Office, where Uchiha Fugaku told Kei he knew nothing about the sudden meeting.
• Namikaze Minato apologized for the short notice and said the matter was important enough that he had considered calling the meeting the previous night.
• The attendees suspected the issue concerned war with Kumogakure, and Namikaze Minato said the Third was best qualified to explain it.

Uchiha Kei considered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s decision to reject Kumogakure’s coercion and commit to defending Konoha, as the village began preparing for war. Hiruzen proposed using the Military Police Force in the fighting, and Kei resisted by pointing out its duties alongside Anbu.

• Uchiha Kei reflected on how Hiruzen Sarutobi chose Konoha’s interests over his own chance to regain power and rejected Kumogakure’s pressure.
• Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta agreed that war was imminent and that the village’s leaders were being called to begin mobilizing their forces.
• Namikaze Minato asked Uchiha Kei and Kakashi to monitor Konoha, and Kei understood that they would also target Kumogakure spies.
• Nara Shikaku proposed recalling shinobi from missions, but Hiruzen Sarutobi argued that Konoha should test Kumogakure’s strength instead.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested sending the Military Police Force to gain battlefield experience, and Uchiha Kei objected because the force also had to work with Anbu.

Uchiha Kei arranged for the Military Police Force to discreetly prepare for a dangerous mission against Kumogakure, while Hyuga Aya decided to pursue greater influence within her clan. The chapter ended with Kei discovering that Aya had partially mastered Senjutsu Chakra.

• Uchiha Kei accepted Sarutobi Hiruzen's proposal and planned to have his four division commanders select reliable clan Ninja for the dangerous mission.
• Hyuga Aya told Uchiha Kei she had decided to follow his example and make use of her clan's power.
• Uchiha Kei briefed the four division commanders, and Uchiha Kawa and Uchiha Ryuei volunteered to join the mission.
• Uchiha Kei sensed powerful Natural Chakra in his underground laboratory and learned from Uchiha Sou that Hyuga Aya was responsible.
• Uchiha Kei found Hyuga Aya with purple markings around her eyes and waited as she stabilized after partially mastering Senjutsu Chakra.

Hyuga Aya succeeded in entering Sage Mode, and Uchiha Kei questioned her about the transformation and its effects. The mode weakened her Caged Bird Seal and helped her gather Kaguya Clan chakra, but she could maintain it only briefly in battle.

• Hyuga Aya sensed Uchiha Kei's dark aura while facing him in Sage Mode, and he accepted her assessment without protest.
• Hyuga Aya saw that the Caged Bird Seal on her forehead had faded, and Uchiha Kei suggested Sage Mode was suppressing it.
• Hyuga Aya thanked Uchiha Kei for treating her with respect and said his advice had helped her gather the Kaguya Clan's special chakra.
• Hyuga Aya told Uchiha Kei she could maintain Sage Mode for a long time without fighting but probably less than a minute in combat.
• Uchiha Kei complimented Hyuga Aya's appearance and said she was becoming his type, prompting her to tell him to shut up.

Uchiha Kei considered whether to use Hyuga Aya’s Senjutsu Chakra to complete his transformation and wondered why her Sage Mode affected him so strongly. He met Hyuga Hiashi at the Hyuga compound, where Hiashi revealed his suspicions that Kei was connected to the masked man and the powerful Susanoo chakra.

• Uchiha Kei decided to let Hyuga Aya continue training her Sage Mode and save the idea of absorbing her Senjutsu Chakra for a future bottleneck.
• Uchiha Kawa, Uchiha Ryuei, and Uchiha Jun submitted their candidate lists for missions to intercept the enemy and protect Konoha.
• Hyuga Aya escorted Uchiha Kei to meet Hyuga Hiashi, who mentioned that the two seemed close before moving to the real subject of their meeting.
• Hyuga Hiashi explained that a masked man in black had defeated him and Hizashi, then said Kei’s fighting style and Susanoo chakra reminded him of that man and the chakra at the Nine-Tails battle.
• Uchiha Kei remained expressionless as Hyuga Hiashi finished his accusation, then silently looked at him and suddenly smiled.

Uchiha Kei reassured Hyuga Hiashi during a tense meeting, then organized a major Military Police Force mission against Kumogakure with Hyuga support. As preparations continued, Yakushi Nonō sent Kei intelligence about the Third Hokage and her return to Root with Yakushi Kabuto, leaving Kei poised to exploit the Third’s growing suspicions.

• Uchiha Kei warned Hiashi not to speculate about the secrets surrounding the attacks, and Hiashi decided to support the Fourth Hokage’s side and cooperate with Kei’s operation.
• Hiashi authorized Hyuga members of the Military Police Force to join the mission, and Hizashi delivered a roster that included nearly every Hyuga member but not Hyuga Aya.
• Uchiha Kei directed the squad leaders to build teams with strong offensive and reconnaissance abilities, while Konoha quietly postponed other missions to support the deployment.
• Uchiha Kei met the selected shinobi after their preparations and explained the mission’s dangers and requirements.
• Yakushi Nonō sent Uchiha Kei information about her and Yakushi Kabuto returning to Root and earning the Third’s temporary trust, while they remained under scrutiny.
• Uchiha Kei burned Nonō’s report and reflected that she and Kabuto had become new sources of pressure on the Third, whom he awaited to make his move.

As Konoha and Kumogakure’s clashes continued, Uchiha Kei spent Hyuga Aya’s seventeenth birthday with her and gave her research materials about her eyes. Their awkward meal at Ichiraku was interrupted by Namikaze Minato and young Naruto, who discussed the conflict and Konoha’s preparations.

• Konoha and Kumogakure fought for months, with Konoha gaining a slight advantage as reinforcements countered Kumogakure’s ambushes.
• Hyuga Aya visited Uchiha Kei on July 7 after Hyuga Hiashi and her family urged her to spend her birthday with him.
• Uchiha Kei took Hyuga Aya to Ichiraku Ramen, gave her a scroll of eye research, and made a remark that left her flustered.
• Namikaze Minato arrived with Naruto, thanked Uchiha Kei for the Military Police Force’s help, and said Kushina was training because she feared Kumogakure might use a Jinchuriki.

Uchiha Ryuei fought Kumogakure’s Magnet Release ninja Toroi and outmaneuvered him with his Sharingan, clones, and genjutsu. With Toroi restrained, Ryuei prepared to kill him, following Uchiha Kei’s orders to show no mercy.

• Namikaze Minato learned that Uchiha Ryuei had volunteered for the battlefield and chose not to discuss work further while they were on break.
• Hyuga Saitou warned Ryuei that six Cloud Ninja were approaching a mission team, and Ryuei led Saitou and Senju Xun to intercept them.
• Ryuei engaged Toroi, discarded his metal gear, and figured out that Toroi used Magnet Release to track him through chakra on his clothing.
• Ryuei used a Shadow Clone, an underground attack, and his Sharingan genjutsu to immobilize Toroi.
• Ryuei told Toroi that Uchiha Kei had ordered his team to wipe out their enemies completely and began forming hand seals to kill him.