Chapter Summaries

Mito reassured Hashirama that Kushina would be welcomed in Konoha, while Tobirama left to escape their affection. The next morning, Torifu welcomed Minato into the Yunzhong Clan Grounds and gave him a fine white robe.

• Mito recalled how she and Hashirama had fallen in love and Hashirama promised Kushina would be safe and cherished in Konoha.
• Tobirama returned to his room, tired of watching Hashirama and Mito act lovey-dovey, while Hashirama said he wanted a niece or nephew.
• Torifu woke early and found Abai in the courtyard, then Minato came out to greet him.
• Torifu told Minato he could relax in his new home and took him to the clan warehouse to find better clothes.
• Torifu chose a white robe for Minato, who loved it and went to try it on.

Torifu helped Minato settle in by giving him new clothes and taking him to breakfast in Konoha's morning market. There, he introduced Minato to Dan Katō and learned that Dan wanted to meet Tsunade, leaving Torifu eager to arrange their meeting.

• Torifu gave Minato new clothes, and Minato tried them on before joining Torifu for breakfast.
• Torifu took Minato through Konoha's morning market, where they ate and Minato felt more at home in the village.
• Dan Katō joined them, met Torifu's new student Minato Namikaze, and learned that Torifu had another apprentice away on a mission.
• Torifu asked Dan whether he knew Tsunade, and Dan admitted that he wanted to meet her.
• Torifu offered to arrange a meeting, but Dan doubted Tsunade would want to see him, so Torifu challenged his assumption.

Torifu took Minato outside Konoha and found Kushina under attack near the village. After killing the would-be assassins, he invited her to come home with them.

• Torifu assured Dan he would help him meet Tsunade, then shared a meal with Dan and Minato.
• Torifu told Minato he would attend the Ninja Academy and took him for a walk outside Konoha.
• Minato spotted a pink flower, and Torifu explained that he had once used a maze like it to protect Konoha.
• Torifu and Minato found Kushina surrounded by ninja who were trying to stop her from reaching Konoha.
• Torifu formed Cloud Swords and killed the attackers, then invited Kushina to go home with them.

Torifu rescued Kushina from the rogue shinobi who had attacked her and escorted her and Minato into Konoha. Kushina entered the village hoping to find a peaceful new life with her great-aunt Mito, while Torifu wondered why she had been targeted.

• Torifu reassured Kushina, healed her guard, and set off toward Konoha with Kushina and Minato.
• Kushina told Torifu that her uncles were fighting over the Daimyo's position and that she hoped to live peacefully in Konoha.
• Torifu brought Kushina and Minato through Konoha's gate after identifying Kushina as a relative of Lady Mito.
• Kushina marveled at Konoha, and the villagers turned to watch her red hair as Torifu led the children down the main street.

Torifu brought Kushina and Minato to the Senju Compound, where Mito welcomed Kushina and agreed to let her stay. After learning that ninjas had attacked Kushina on the way to Konoha, Mito and Hashirama discussed an investigation, while Kushina went inside to bathe.

• Torifu used his Breath Concealment Technique to bring Kushina and Minato to the Senju Compound unseen by the villagers.
• Hashirama greeted Torifu, Kushina, and Minato, and Mito came out to welcome Kushina.
• Mito invited Kushina to stay at the compound, and Kushina said she would study ninjutsu hard.
• Torifu told Mito that he had killed ninjas who had surrounded Kushina, and Mito said she would have Tobirama investigate.
• Mito took Kushina inside for a bath while Hashirama praised Minato and argued with Torifu about Nawaki's talent.

Torifu encouraged Minato to see himself as an equal in Konoha and brought him home, where Minato met Amado. Minato began settling into his new family as Torifu’s disciple and Amado’s younger brother.

• Torifu dismissed Hashirama’s claims about Nawaki’s talent and left with Minato, telling Hashirama and his wife to look after Kushina.
• Torifu encouraged Minato to treat the Land of Whirlpools princess as an ordinary friend and build confidence by training hard.
• Torifu brought Minato home, where Amado explained that Abai had pecked him after he joked with her.
• Torifu introduced Minato as his new disciple, and Amado welcomed him as his Second Brother.

Torifu took Amado and Minato out for barbecue, encouraging Amado about his phone research and trying to help Minato feel included. At the restaurant, Torifu treated everyone to lunch, leaving the diners celebrating his generosity.

• Amado told Torifu that the phone was nearly complete, though the Chip still needed more work, and Torifu offered to make screens for him.
• Minato watched Torifu and Amado talk and resolved to work hard until they trusted him as much as they trusted each other.
• Torifu invited Amado and Minato to the Barbecue Restaurant and promised Minato he could order whatever he wanted.
• The owner welcomed them, declared everything half-price, and joked with Torifu about their friendship.
• Torifu announced that lunch was on him, prompting the diners to cheer and order freely.

Torifu treated Amado and Minato to barbecue, then planned training for his disciples while waiting for Abai’s Crane Babies to hatch. The chapter ended with Abai leaving after Torifu offered it money to go eat by itself.

• Torifu promised Minato he could come to the Barbecue Restaurant whenever he wanted, and the three of them shared a meal.
• Torifu paid the owner three hundred thousand ryo and said the rest of the bill should be sent to the Yunzhong Clan Grounds.
• Torifu took Amado and Minato home, where Minato went to nap and Torifu worked on training plans for his disciples.
• Abai told Torifu that the Crane Babies would probably hatch within a few days, and Torifu planned to choose one for Minato to contract with.
• Torifu offered Abai a hundred ryo to go out and eat by itself, so Abai called him foolish and left.

A week after Minato began training with Lord Torifu, Minato started at the Ninja Academy and met Kushina. Lord Torifu encouraged Minato to choose his own dream, but a masked ninja arrived with a summons from the Hokage.

• Qingyun and Liufeng's four Crane Babies hatched healthy, and Lord Torifu planned to help them evolve when they were older.
• Minato learned to extract Chakra quickly and trained with Lord Torifu until he was ready for the Ninja Academy.
• Minato told Lord Torifu that Kushina had announced her dream of becoming the strongest ninja, and Minato had believed in her.
• Lord Torifu told Minato he could choose his own path and promised to support him, moving Minato to tears.
• After Minato left for school, a ninja in a fox mask summoned Lord Torifu to meet the Hokage.

Torifu learned that Uzumaki Ashina had gone missing and that his nine sons were fighting over leadership of the Land of Whirlpools. Tobirama assigned Torifu to intervene, leaving him furious at losing another chance for peace.

• An Anbu Ninja summoned Torifu to meet Tobirama at the Hokage Building.
• Tobirama showed Torifu a letter reporting Ashina's disappearance, a succession conflict among his sons, and the death of one prince.
• Tobirama told Torifu that all nine sons had requested Konoha's help and each accused his brothers of rebellion.
• Torifu warned that the princes' claims might be untrustworthy, while Tobirama said Konoha had to send help because the Land of Whirlpools was a close ally and Chirori's homeland.
• Tobirama assigned Torifu to handle the crisis as training for his future role as Third Hokage, and Torifu angrily joked about blowing up Konoha.

Torifu agreed to lead a mission to the Land of Whirlpools with Hiruzen, the others, and Chirori, accepting that it would be his last mission as an Elite Jonin before becoming Hokage. He met Chirori and her returning team at Konoha’s gate, healed her, and gave healing necklaces to Fugaku and the other children.

• Tobirama convinced Torifu to join the Land of Whirlpools mission, noting that Chirori would be going and that Torifu’s presence would reassure the people there.
• Torifu accepted the mission, which the System identified as “Nine Distress Letters” with an unknown rank, and agreed to leave in two days.
• Torifu waited at Konoha’s gate for Chirori and greeted her when she returned with three children.
• Torifu healed Chirori’s fatigue and told her about his disciples, including Minato Namikaze.
• Chirori introduced Fugaku Uchiha to Torifu, who praised him and gave healing necklaces to Fugaku and the other children.

Torifu and Chirori brought their three young ninja back to Konoha, where Torifu gave the children healing necklaces and heard that the Hyuga Clan was thriving under Hyuga Kizane’s reforms. After talking about the rookies’ first taste of combat, Torifu sensed that the Shinobi World might soon be shaken, but Chirori comforted him with a head pat.

• Torifu gave Fugaku and the other two children healing necklaces, then asked Hyuga Hanashi about the Hyuga Clan and heard that Hyuga Kizane and his family were well.
• Torifu recalled helping Hyuga Kizane abolish the Main and Branch Families and end the use of the Caged Bird Seal.
• Torifu and Chirori took the children into Konoha, turned in their mission, and let them go home to rest.
• Torifu and Chirori discussed how the children had been frightened by their first fight against bandits and joked about Torifu killing a Kumogakure spy.
• Torifu said the Shinobi World felt too quiet and feared that a major event might happen, so Chirori patted his head and reassured him that Konoha was strong.

Torifu told Chirori about Konoha’s mission to the Land of Whirlpools, where nine princes sought military support amid a succession crisis and Uzumaki Ashina had disappeared. After discussing their suspicions and meeting Minato, Torifu took Chirori home and planned to visit his master for more information.

• Torifu explained the Land of Whirlpools mission to Chirori, including the princes’ requests for troops, one prince’s death, and Uzumaki Ashina’s disappearance.
• Torifu told Chirori that Tobirama had instructed him to choose which prince to support, and they agreed to plan after learning more.
• Torifu introduced Chirori to Minato at the Yunzhong Clan Grounds, and Chirori warmly welcomed him as family.
• Torifu and Chirori discussed possible hidden motives behind the crisis but found no proof, so Torifu decided to visit his master for information.
• Torifu insisted on taking Chirori home before visiting his master, and they planned to discuss the mission strategy the next morning.

Qufeng said goodbye to Yuri after encouraging her about their upcoming missions, then went to the Senju Clan Grounds for dinner. He told Nawaki that he would soon leave and expected him to look after two new disciples.

• Yuri and Qufeng joked about escorting her home, then left the Yunzhong Clan Grounds together and reminisced about their first mission.
• Qufeng escorted Yuri to the Uchiha Clan Grounds, said goodbye, and later headed to the Senju Clan Grounds to mooch a meal.
• Qufeng found Nawaki back from a mission, scolded him for failing to report in, and healed his ear after pinching it.
• At dinner, Qufeng told Nawaki he would leave in a couple of days and instructed him to look after his two new junior disciples.
• Nawaki eagerly promised to care for the new disciples, unaware of how they would be treated.

Torifu learned that Uzumaki Ashina had disappeared amid a crisis in the Land of Whirlpools, and Kushina described the last moments she witnessed. Torifu planned to travel there with Hiruzen and the others to find Ashina and rescue him.

• Torifu explained the crisis in the Land of Whirlpools to Hashirama, Mito, and Kushina.
• Kushina told them that Ashina had sent her away by boat before her Second Uncle pursued them, and that Ashina vanished in a flash of light.
• Torifu questioned Kushina about her family and considered whether Ashina had trusted her Seventh Prince father, but decided not to trust anyone without evidence.
• Mito suggested that Ashina might have used a life-saving secret technique and urged Torifu to find him first.
• Torifu promised Mito that he and Hiruzen's group would rescue Ashina, then returned home to prepare for their departure.

Torifu spent a quiet evening with Minato before warning him that he would leave on a long mission the day after tomorrow. The next morning, Torifu and Minato shared breakfast before Minato went to school, while Torifu prepared for the others to arrive.

• Torifu returned home and found Minato waiting for him, worried because he had stayed out late.
• Torifu quizzed Minato on his schoolwork and told him he would leave on a long trip the day after tomorrow, advising him to ask Grandmaster for help.
• Torifu reassured Minato that he would be safe and try to return quickly, and Minato cheered up after thinking Torifu would become Hokage.
• Torifu and Minato enjoyed a peaceful morning together, and Torifu told Minato he did not need to wake early every day.
• Torifu and Minato bought breakfast at the Morning Market, but Amado did not appear to join them.
• Minato left for school, and Torifu tidied the breakfast leftovers before the others arrived.

Torifu gathered Hiruzen, Kagami, Uchiha Chirori, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo to plan their mission to the Land of Whirlpools. They agreed to investigate the princes, the Eighth Prince’s killer, and the disappearance of Uzumaki Ashina before setting out early the next morning.

• Torifu welcomed Hiruzen, Kagami, and Uchiha Chirori to his home, then greeted Koharu, Homura, and Danzo.
• Torifu explained that he would watch the First and Second Princes while the others each investigated another prince.
• Torifu listed their goals as identifying the rebelling prince, finding the Eighth Prince’s killer, and locating Uzumaki Ashina.
• Torifu said he suspected the First and Second Princes were connected to Ashina’s disappearance because Ashina had met with them before vanishing.
• The group discussed how they would observe the princes while publicly helping them, then agreed to set out for the Land of Whirlpools early the next day.

Torifu prepared to leave on a mission to the Land of Whirlpools and said goodbye to Amado and Minato. At the village gate, he treasured the Military Ration Pills Minato had made for him as his teammates gathered.

• Torifu bought travel supplies, then told Amado he was going on a mission and left him to watch the house and care for Minato.
• Torifu said he expected Lord Tobirama to wait until his return before stepping down as Hokage, and Amado suggested using a clone or Puppet to handle the work.
• Minato gave Torifu a box of Military Ration Pills and wished him a safe journey, then watched him depart as three Cloud Cranes.
• Torifu reached the main gate early and tried one of Minato's pills while waiting for his teammates.
• Uchiha Chirori and Hiruzen questioned Torifu about eating the pills, but Torifu refused to share more and told Hiruzen to have his son make some.

Torifu and the others traveled to Yuhai Village to arrange passage to the Land of Whirlpools. They learned that the Land of Whirlpools had closed its borders, but Torifu hired a boatman to take them near the shore and planned to depart that evening.

• Torifu, Hiruzen, and their companions joked on the way to Yuhai Village, where they planned to rent a boat to the Land of Whirlpools.
• The group entered Yuhai Village and headed to the docks, where Uchiha Chirori admired the seaside for the first time.
• Torifu asked a boatman about traveling to the Land of Whirlpools and learned that its borders were closed to boats.
• Torifu persuaded the boatman to take them near the shore and offered double payment for an evening departure.
• Torifu returned to his companions, and they decided to find a restaurant before setting off.

Torifu and his companions ate a seafood feast in Yuhai Village before preparing to travel by boat toward the Land of Whirlpools. Torifu paid the restaurant owner and told him to treat future ninja like ordinary customers, invoking an order from the Third Hokage and leaving the owner confused about who he was.

• Torifu told the group that the boatman could take them only to shore near the Land of Whirlpools because it was closed to outsiders.
• Uchiha Chirori suggested keeping watch during the boat trip, and Torifu volunteered for the first shift.
• The group enjoyed the village's seafood specialties, and Torifu offered to use Ice Release to keep food fresh for their families.
• Torifu paid the owner thirteen thousand ryo and told him to treat ninja like ordinary customers, saying that it was an order from the Third Hokage.
• The owner wondered whether the Second Hokage was stepping down and Torifu was the new Third Hokage.