Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Kei and Namikaze Minato prepared to act on good news while Konoha's forces remained focused on the front lines. At the front, Uchiha Fugaku battled the Fourth Raikage, the Third ordered his unit forward, and Killer B prepared to meet the Third after a surprise attack hit the Kumogakure camp.

• Uchiha Kei reassured Namikaze Minato that their long-planned move would succeed while attention remained fixed on the front lines.
• Uchiha Fugaku watched the Fourth Raikage counter Amaterasu with Lightning Style chakra, then blocked his Liger Bomb with Susanoo as the impact shattered Susanoo's arm and injured the Raikage.
• The Third received confirmation that orders had reached his squad leaders, saw the battle's flames and lightning in the distance, and ordered his forces to move out.
• Killer B noticed fireballs striking the barrier around the Kumogakure camp, fired a signal flare, and went to meet the advancing enemy, eager to fight the Third.

Sarutobi Hiruzen led Konoha shinobi in an attack on the Kumogakure camp, but Killer B and a returning enemy force forced him to order a retreat. Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku unveiled his third-stage Susanoo against the injured Fourth Raikage, leaving him stunned by its power.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen’s unit shattered the Kumogakure camp’s barrier and charged in, where Killer B met them with his swords and red chakra cloak.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen fought Killer B with Ninjutsu, while a Hyuga shinobi warned him that the Kumogakure force attacking Konoha’s flank had returned.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered his unit to retreat as the battle between Uchiha Fugaku and the Fourth Raikage devastated the border battlefield.
• The Fourth Raikage continued attacking Uchiha Fugaku’s Susanoo despite his injuries, and Fugaku said he would use his full power.
• Uchiha Fugaku’s Susanoo transformed into a massive, armored third-stage form, shocking the Fourth Raikage.

Uchiha Fugaku used his Susanoo and black-flame techniques to overpower the injured Fourth Raikage, who withdrew toward the Konoha forces rather than fight him directly. A signal flare prompted the Fourth Raikage to reconsider his retreat, while Killer B pursued the Third Hokage.

• Uchiha Fugaku expanded Amaterasu with Ho-no-mikoto and blocked the Fourth Raikage’s Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop with Susanoo.
• Uchiha Fugaku attacked with a black Scorch Style: Great Fireball Technique and Dragon Fire Technique, forcing the Fourth Raikage to dodge while his chakra dwindled.
• The Fourth Raikage moved toward the Konoha ranks to threaten Fugaku’s allies, but a signal flare interrupted his plans.
• Killer B saw the Konoha Ninja retreating, then set off to pursue them and capture or kill the Third Hokage.
• A Kumogakure guard worried that Killer B and the Fourth Raikage had left their camp without a matching commander and hurried to inform the other commanders.

The Third led Konoha forces in retreat, drawing nearly two thousand pursuing Kumogakure ninja—including the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—toward a dam where Nara Lukang’s force waited. Lukang’s troops destroyed the dam and unleashed a flood on the pursuers, then prepared to sweep the battlefield.

• The Third confirmed through a Hyuga scout that nearly two thousand Kumogakure ninja, including the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, were following him and ordered his captains to prepare for the ambush.
• Nara Lukang waited with more than a thousand Konoha ninja near the dam, and a Hyuga scout warned him that the Third and the pursuers were less than a minute away.
• Yamanaka Heiji used his clan’s technique to link up with the Konoha ninja, and Lukang ordered them to attack the dam’s base as the Third approached.
• Konoha’s attack cracked the dam, and Lukang’s force escaped just before it collapsed and sent a flood surging toward the Kumogakure ninja.
• Lukang asked Heiji to gather the troops and keep them ready to sweep the battlefield.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s dam-collapse plan devastated the pursuing Kumogakure forces, but Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails and forced Hiruzen into a desperate fight. As Hiruzen was injured and the Eight-Tails prepared a Tailed Beast Bomb, Nara Lucheng organized the scattered Konoha troops and ordered surviving Kumogakure ninja captured before they went to support Hiruzen.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered the Konoha ninja to scatter as floodwaters burst through the dam, sweeping away most of the pursuing Kumogakure forces.
• A surge of chakra revealed Killer B’s complete Eight-Tails transformation, and Hiruzen sent nearby Konoha ninja to gather reinforcements.
• Killer B attacked Hiruzen with the Eight-Tails’ tentacles, while Hiruzen dodged and countered until a strike knocked him down and left him coughing blood.
• The Eight-Tails began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb as Nara Lucheng gathered over six hundred Konoha ninja and assessed the survivors.
• Nara Lucheng ordered the First and Second Squads to capture surviving Kumogakure ninja alive within five minutes, then planned to lead the others to support Hiruzen.

Uchiha Fugaku drove the Fourth Raikage into retreat after a devastating battle, while Sarutobi Hiruzen discovered that the Cloud Ninja had a Perfect Jinchuriki. Nara Lukang tried to stop Killer B from attacking by appealing to his judgment, and the chapter ended as the Eight-Tails fired its Tailed Beast Bomb away from the Konoha forces.

• The Fourth Raikage admitted defeat and ordered the Cloud Ninjas to retreat, while Uchiha Fugaku declined to pursue them because he had exhausted his chakra.
• Uchiha Fugaku withdrew with Hyuga Saitou, Uchiha Kawa, and Uchiha Ryuei to assess the casualties and wondered where the Cloud Ninja flank force had gone.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen realized the Eight-Tails was being controlled by a Perfect Jinchuriki and urged the Konoha Ninja to retreat with the information.
• The Eight-Tails prepared another Tailed Beast Bomb, but Nara Lukang called out to Killer B and appealed to his responsibility toward his own men.
• The Eight-Tails fired the Tailed Beast Bomb after turning its head away from the Konoha forces.

Uchiha Fugaku reviewed the battle’s losses while recovering, and learned that the Third’s force had attacked Kumogakure’s support troops but left the Third gravely wounded. Nara Lucheng agreed to send the Third back to Konoha and placed Sarutobi Masao in charge of escorting him, while Lucheng remained with the force behind enemy lines.

• Nara Kyohei reported that Konoha had lost 342 people, suffered 1,250 injuries, and had 30 missing after its battle with Kumogakure.
• Uchiha Fugaku asked about the Third but learned that his force had sent no messages, then ordered Kyohei to submit the casualty report and watch Kumogakure.
• The Fourth Raikage learned that the Third had used a broken dam to devastate Kumogakure’s support force, and Killer B admitted he had stopped pursuing the Third when Konoha used surviving Kumogakure Ninjas as hostages.
• The Fourth Raikage questioned Killer B about the Third’s condition and learned that the Third was unlikely to fight again.
• Nara Lucheng learned from Sarutobi Masao that the Third had entrusted him with command and that Masao wanted help sending the wounded Hokage back to Konoha.
• Nara Lucheng agreed to send the Third back, tasked Sarutobi Masao with carrying his report, and allowed him to choose three squads to escort the Third.

Uchiha Kei and Hyuga Aya discussed the war, his intelligence about Killer B, and their progress in genetic fusion. The conversation ended with Aya angrily rejecting Kei’s request to demonstrate her Sage Mode.

• Uchiha Kei asked when the Third would return as reports described Konoha’s losses, the destruction of Kumogakure’s force at the dam, and the Third’s defeat by Killer B.
• Hyuga Aya questioned how Uchiha Kei had identified Killer B as a Perfect Jinchuriki, and Kei explained that he had inferred it from the Eight-Tails-like tentacles described by Namikaze Minato.
• Hyuga Aya told Uchiha Kei that his fusion rate was nearly ninety percent, and he reflected on the unknown changes that might come when it reached one hundred percent.
• Uchiha Kei asked Hyuga Aya about her progress, and she said she had three groups of genes left to unlock and felt stronger than Hyuga Hiashi.
• Uchiha Kei asked how long Hyuga Aya could maintain Sage Mode and requested a demonstration, so she told him to go to hell.

Uchiha Kei considered how Senjutsu Chakra might help him finish fusing his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and wondered whether awakening the Rinnegan required a near-death experience. He arrived at a major meeting called by the Fourth Hokage, where the gathered Konoha leaders and Jonin awaited an announcement whose purpose only Kei, Uchiha Fugaku, and the Hokage knew.

• Uchiha Kei reflected on using Hyuga Aya's Senjutsu Chakra to complete his Sharingan fusion and worried that awakening the Rinnegan might require him to face death.
• Uchiha Kei reached the Hokage Building with Hyuga Aya and met a group of Uchiha Jonin who had been left behind while their clanmates went to the battlefield.
• Uchiha Kei told the Uchiha Jonin that he, Uchiha Fugaku, and the Fourth Hokage had planned the meeting together, but did not reveal what would happen.
• Uchiha Kei joined Kakashi and Imai Kenta in the crowded meeting room as Nara Shikaku prepared to begin, while the other attendees remained puzzled about the gathering.

Namikaze Minato convened Konoha’s leaders and Jonin to announce reforms after promoting Kakashi and Imai Kenta to department head positions. He proposed improving Jonin benefits with a substantial monthly allowance, beginning a reform whose full scope remained unrevealed.

• Namikaze Minato announced that Kakashi and Imai Kenta would fill the retiring heads’ positions in the Anbu and Mission Department, and everyone supported their appointments.
• Namikaze Minato introduced his plan to reform Konoha’s Jonin system, building on the earlier changes to Genin and Chunin ranks.
• Namikaze Minato proposed giving every Konoha Jonin a substantial monthly allowance in addition to mission earnings.
• The Jonin without official positions showed enthusiasm as Namikaze Minato began outlining the benefits reform.

Namikaze Minato proposed reforms to increase Jonin resources and replace clan-based meeting attendance with representatives elected by ninja rank, provoking strong opposition from clan leaders. After the opponents voted against the plan and civilian Jonin remained silent, Uchiha Kei stood to support it on behalf of the Guard Division and the Uchiha Clan.

• Namikaze Minato proposed higher pay and expanded access to Konoha's Ninjutsu collection for Jonin, drawing objections from Sarutobi Kento and the Shimura Clan Head.
• Uchiha Kei silenced the arguing clan representatives and warned them not to disrupt the meeting, allowing Namikaze Minato to continue.
• Namikaze Minato proposed replacing clan-based meeting attendance with elected representatives, allocating fifty seats to Genin, thirty to Chunin, and twenty to Jonin.
• The Mitokado, Utatane, Sarutobi, Shimura, and allied clans stood to vote against the proposal, while no one initially spoke in support.
• After Namikaze Minato asked twice for supporters and the hall remained silent, Uchiha Kei stood and declared his support for the proposal on behalf of the Guard Division and the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Kei’s speech encouraged small clans and commoner Jonin to support Namikaze Minato’s proposal, shifting the meeting in the Hokage’s favor. As Hyuga Aya prepared to speak, Kei stopped her until Hyuga Hiashi had spoken first and told her she was different.

• Uchiha Kei declared that Uchiha Fugaku had entrusted him with deciding the Uchiha Clan’s direction in his absence.
• Uchiha Kei questioned whether village Ninja served their clans or everyone in the village, then signaled the small clans aligned with the Uchiha Clan.
• Kurama Murakumo chose to support Namikaze Minato’s proposal, and other neutral clan heads followed.
• Kakashi, Imai Kenta, and commoner Jonin voiced their support for Namikaze Minato.
• Hyuga Aya moved to support the proposal, but Uchiha Kei told her to wait for Hyuga Hiashi and said she was different.

Namikaze Minato’s proposal to reform Konoha’s ninja ranks passed by a narrow vote after the Ino-Shika-Cho clans supported it and Hyuga Hiashi let Hyuga Jonin vote independently. Uchiha Kei challenged the Shimura Clan Head to follow through with the reform, including contributing Ninjutsu.

• Namikaze Minato relaxed as the assembled ninja voted, while Uchiha Kei and Hyuga Aya discussed whether she should publicly support him.
• The Ino-Shika-Cho clans, led by Nara Shikaku, declared their support for Minato’s proposal.
• Hyuga Hiashi rejected the proposal on behalf of himself but allowed all Hyuga Jonin to cast their own votes.
• Uchiha Kei prepared to use Genjutsu on the vote counter, but the counter announced that the proposal had passed, 134 votes to 132.
• The Shimura Clan Head asked to see the tally, and Uchiha Kei challenged him to state how many Ninjutsu his clan would contribute to the Jonin reform.

Uchiha Kei and Namikaze Minato reviewed the aftermath of the Jonin Reform, which had won support from Commoner Ninjas and stabilized Konoha despite opposition from several clans. With the reforms underway, Minato sent Kei to the battlefield to negotiate with Kumogakure.

• Uchiha Kei reviewed front-line reports and learned that Nara Lukang had removed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s strongest loyal supporters from the unit behind enemy lines.
• Uchiha Kei reflected that the reform had weakened barriers between clan and Commoner Ninjas, while Uchiha Fugaku pledged to follow his arrangements.
• Uchiha Kei, Hyuga Aya, and Imai Kenta went undercover in Konoha and heard Commoner Ninjas expressing hope about their new chances for advancement.
• Namikaze Minato and Nara Shikaku reported that most clans had submitted their Ninjutsu materials, while the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans held back.
• Namikaze Minato ordered Uchiha Kei to go to the battlefield and make Kumogakure stand down, allowing a full withdrawal only if necessary.

Uchiha Kei explained to Nara Shikaku that he had pursued reform because the Uchiha had been isolated and he saw no hope for their future in Konoha. After Kei admitted to past killings and political schemes, Shikaku acknowledged the change Kei had brought and agreed to support a proposal for a Hokage veto and a representative meeting.

• Nara Shikaku invited Uchiha Kei to a tavern to discuss the reforms and asked about Kei’s plans for Lucheng.
• Shikaku questioned Kei about his ambitions, and Kei said he had acted because he had lost hope and security for the Uchiha and the village.
• Kei admitted he had helped Namikaze Minato become Hokage and had killed Uchiha Isamu, Uchiha Shuu, Uchiha Shin, and the Elders who followed Shin.
• Shikaku recognized the hopeful mood among the ninja in the tavern, praised Kei’s effect on Konoha, and apologized for his earlier actions.
• Kei proposed that the Hokage establish a meeting with Genin, Chunin, and Jonin representatives and seek the right to veto decisions; Shikaku agreed to act accordingly.

Uchiha Kei and Namikaze Minato secured support for Konoha’s reforms and Kei’s appointment as commander of the Second Division. Kei then joined the front line and proposed secretly attacking the Kumogakure camp, planning to blame the mysterious organization targeting the Tailed Beasts.

• Uchiha Kei used his meeting with Nara Shikaku to arrange political support, and Shikaku later backed Minato’s amendment with the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.
• Namikaze Minato set the reform plan to begin in two months and appointed Uchiha Kei commander of the Konoha Second Division.
• Uchiha Kei chose Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta to accompany him, and the three secretly traveled with Minato to Uchiha Fugaku’s camp.
• Uchiha Fugaku described the threat posed by the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and Kei proposed attacking the Kumogakure camp at dawn.
• Uchiha Kei suggested blaming the mysterious organization that had targeted Konoha and Kirigakure and sought the Tailed Beasts.

The Fourth Raikage prepared to attack Konoha Camp with Killer B, but Uchiha Kei and his companions confronted him while seeking the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Kei defeated the Raikage’s opening attack and sent his teammates to find Killer B as he stayed behind to fight.

• The Fourth Raikage trained while worrying about Kumogakure’s losses, Killer B’s state of mind, and the stalled war against Konoha.
• He decided that once reinforcements arrived, he and Killer B would lead an assault on Konoha Camp.
• Three men wearing black robes and Spiral Masks appeared and demanded that the Fourth Raikage hand over the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
• The Fourth Raikage attacked the masked men, but Uchiha Kei used Time Rewind to slow him and kicked him through the forest.
• Uchiha Kei revealed that he was with Imai Kenta and Hyuga Aya, then ordered them to find the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki while he fought the Fourth Raikage.

Uchiha Kei fought the Fourth Raikage while Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta reached Kumogakure Camp to draw out the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. The Raikage’s battle grew explosive, and Imai began cutting down the camp’s defenders as the story left the Eight-Tails’ whereabouts unresolved.

• Uchiha Kei used his time-manipulating Mangekyō against the Fourth Raikage, dodging his attacks and piercing his chest before the Raikage broke his Ninja Sword.
• Hyuga Aya questioned the quiet fight as she and Imai Kenta headed toward Kumogakure Camp, where Imai explained that Kei had defeated him despite his Flying Thunder God and Wood Style.
• Imai Kenta and Hyuga Aya reached the camp, and a huge rumble and smoke rose from the forest where Kei and the Fourth Raikage were fighting.
• Imai Kenta killed a Kumogakure Jonin in an instant, then used Flying Thunder God to attack the assembled shinobi.
• Imai Kenta stood atop the bloodied bodies at the camp entrance as the remaining Kumogakure shinobi watched in fear.

Uchiha Kei battled the Fourth Raikage, using Susanoo and threatening to kill him after the Raikage refused to surrender the Eight-Tails. Meanwhile, Imai Kenta slaughtered Cloud ninja until the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki arrived and challenged him.

• Uchiha Kei dodged the Fourth Raikage's attack and struck him with Susanoo, injuring him but deciding not to kill him yet.
• The Fourth Raikage refused to hand over the Eight-Tails, so Uchiha Kei formed a massive Susanoo and swung its sword at him.
• Imai Kenta killed Cloud ninja with his sword and Flying Thunder God, using Wood Style shoots marked with seals to move among them.
• The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki arrived and shielded the remaining Cloud ninja with Chakra Cloaks.
• Imai Kenta identified the newcomer as the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and asked him to come along, but the Jinchuriki refused and threatened to kill him.

Uchiha Kei defeated the Fourth Raikage by copying Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite, while Imai Kenta battled Killer B using space-time ninjutsu. The Eight-Tails found Kenta’s marked locations and urged Killer B to clear the Kumogakure troops away so it could emerge.

• Uchiha Kei watched the Fourth Raikage’s Lightning Clone and dodged his Four-Finger Nukite with Time Rewind.
• Uchiha Kei copied Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite and struck the Fourth Raikage in the chest, then said he would let him live.
• Imai Kenta fought Killer B, using space-time ninjutsu to evade his seven-sword attacks and wound him repeatedly.
• Killer B relied on his senses and the Eight-Tails’ Chakra to begin anticipating and blocking Imai Kenta’s strikes.
• The Eight-Tails located Imai Kenta’s marked positions, and Killer B ordered the Kumogakure Ninja to retreat so it could emerge.