Recaps

Kuming returned to camp with a captured Mist Ninja girl and planned to take her back to Kirigakure. Meanwhile, Kisame discovered Suikazan Fuguki had betrayed the mission, killed him, and was approached by Yagura and a man claiming to be Madara Uchiha before an unseen speaker questioned Kisame’s naivety.

• Kuming brought the Mist Ninja girl to camp, told Kakashi he would return her to Kirigakure, and let her rest without demanding her name.
• Kisame survived his fall into the river, concluded Suikazan Fuguki had leaked the mission, and secretly returned to Kirigakure.
• Kisame confronted Suikazan Fuguki in his bedroom and killed him with a trap and a sword through the heart.
• Yagura arrived and offered Kisame Samehada and a place as his subordinate, while a Sharingan-wielding man appeared behind him.
• Kisame recognized that Yagura was being controlled and heard the stranger claim to be Madara Uchiha, then said he was drawn to the promised world without lies.
• An unseen speaker sighed and questioned whether Kisame was really so naive.

Uzumaki Kuming intervened as Kisame was being recruited by the man posing as Madara Uchiha, drove off the impostor and the controlled Yagura, and persuaded Kisame to join him in Konoha with the blonde girl. The group rested on the Land of Water’s coast, while Kuming planned to strengthen his allies before visiting the Land of Rain and returning to Konoha.

• Uzumaki Kuming appeared in the stone chamber and urged Kisame to trust the blonde Mist Ninja girl who admired him.
• The man claiming to be Madara Uchiha tried to control the girl, but Kuming attacked him; the impostor escaped with Yagura using Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Kuming invited Kisame to become his right-hand man in Konoha, and Kisame agreed after the girl asked to go with him.
• Kuming whisked Kisame and the girl away before the Mist Ninja Anbu arrived, leaving Suikazan Fuguki’s corpse behind.
• Kuming, Kisame, the girl, Itachi, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin relaxed by the coast as Kisame learned to fish.
• Kuming planned to send Itachi and the others back to Konoha, then visit the Land of Rain and bring Naruto a gift.

On the journey back to Konoha, Kisame and Uehara Akina grew closer to Jiuming’s group. In Konoha, Minato worried about household expenses, while Naruto’s defiance in class led Iruka to challenge him on the training field.

• During the trip home, Rin gained a Water Style teacher, and Uehara Akina gradually opened up to the others.
• Shikaku told Minato that Suikazan Fuguki had been assassinated and Samehada had gone missing, but Minato set the report aside after reading it.
• Minato revealed that Kushina was expecting a healthy boy and said he had sent the news to Jiuming.
• In class, Naruto could not identify the Water Bullet hand seal and argued that he could dodge the technique, so Iruka sent him into the hallway.
• After class, Iruka challenged Naruto to dodge his Ninjutsu and promised not to tell Kushina about the incident if Naruto succeeded.
• Sasuke dismissed Naruto’s chances, while Karin suggested Kushina had taught him a powerful technique; students gathered to watch, and a Hyuga boy observed from an upstairs window.

Naruto lost a sparring match with Iruka after falling for his teacher’s Substitution Technique, then began taking his studies more seriously. Later, Kushina went into premature labor and gave birth to a boy whose face was covered in bright-red flame-shaped markings.

• Naruto used Shadow Clones to attack Iruka, but Iruka outmaneuvered him with a Substitution Technique and drenched him with a Water Bullet.
• Kushina learned that Naruto had lied about getting wet, sent Hinata inside, and dragged Naruto to his room to reflect on his behavior.
• Naruto studied ninjutsu in his room, determined to defeat Sasuke, and his attitude toward learning improved after the sparring match.
• Kushina went into premature labor, and ANBU escorted her to the hospital while Minato rushed there to wait outside the delivery room.
• Kushina gave birth to a boy, and Minato saw bright-red, flame-shaped markings covering much of the baby’s face.

Minato and Kushina welcomed their younger son, whose flame-shaped birthmarks startled them, and considered naming him Menma. When Uzumaki Jiuming returned and saw the baby, he urged them to name him Yoriichi, while the newborn realized he had been reincarnated and given the same name.

• Kushina worried that her newborn son's facial birthmarks would lead to a difficult childhood, but Minato reassured her that he was healthy and adorable.
• Kushina suggested naming the baby Menma and giving him Minato's surname, and Minato was moved by her consideration.
• Uzumaki Jiuming arrived, saw the baby, and insisted that Minato and Kushina choose the name Yoriichi instead of Menma.
• Jiuming claimed that Menma was an unlucky name and explained that Yoriichi meant the child of the Way.
• The newborn recognized that he had been reincarnated as a baby named Yoriichi and sensed that Jiuming was a monster.

Uzumaki Kuming took over as principal of the Ninja Academy and met his student Shisui Uchiha while heading into Konoha with Kisame Hoshigaki. He invited Shisui to help establish an organization to monitor Akatsuki, and Shisui agreed.

• Kuming became principal of the Ninja Academy as news of his appointment spread through Konoha.
• Kisame attacked a figure in the woods on Kuming's order, but Shisui used a Clone Technique to get behind him and subdue him.
• Shisui greeted Kuming, who praised his progress and introduced Kisame as a trusted Konoha ninja.
• Kuming told Shisui about Akatsuki and his plan to create an organization to monitor it and gather information.
• Shisui accepted Kuming's invitation to help with the new organization.

In Konoha, Uzumaki Kuming led Kun’s efforts to monitor Akatsuki while teaching his four-year-old nephew, Yoriichi Namikaze. Yoriichi asked to learn ninjutsu so he could understand why he perceived the world differently, and Kuming identified the ability as a Kekkei Genkai.

• Uzumaki Kuming reviewed intelligence from Kun, whose members were monitoring Akatsuki from three neighboring countries rather than entering the Land of Rain.
• Yoriichi Namikaze came to Kuming’s office and asked what he could learn that day.
• Yoriichi told Kuming that he wanted to understand Chakra and why he saw the world differently from other people.
• Uzumaki Kuming told Yoriichi that he had probably awakened a Kekkei Genkai.

Uzumaki Kuming told Yoriichi Namikaze his account of the Shinobi World’s origins, the Sage of Six Paths, and the absence of ghosts, then spent the evening studying Fuinjutsu scrolls. At night, a messenger summoned Kuming to the Hokage Building for an urgent meeting with the Fifth Hokage and other village leaders.

• Kuming explained to Yoriichi how Princess Kaguya gained Chakra, was sealed by her sons, and how Chakra and ninjutsu led to the Warring States Period.
• Yoriichi asked whether ghosts existed, and Kuming told him there were no ghosts like those he described, though souls went to the Underworld and a Death God existed.
• Naruto came to Kuming’s office after school, and Yoriichi bowed to Kuming before leaving with him.
• After the boys left, Kuming studied Fuinjutsu scrolls in his office.
• A young ninja told Kuming that the Fifth Hokage had urgently called him to the Hokage Building, where the Third, the advisors, and other Jonin had already been summoned.

Nara Shikaku revealed that an organized group of seemingly supernatural creatures had been behind murders across the Land of Fire. Minato and the others tested one of the creatures, and Uzumaki Kuming discovered that Lightning Style could destroy it.

• Nara Shikaku told the gathered ninja that a Chunin squad had found a ghost responsible for brutal murders and that similar incidents had been reported for years.
• Shikaku revealed that the investigation pointed to a large organization of ghosts and displayed a sealed creature to the assembled ninja.
• Minato transported the group outside the village and released the ghost so Hyuga Hiashi could test its strength.
• The ghost fled from Hiashi, but Hiashi caught it and defeated it with the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Uzumaki Kuming struck the weakened ghost with Lightning Style, causing it to disintegrate and vanish.

After the ghost vanished, Uzumaki Kuming and Konoha's leaders planned an investigation of the Daimyo Mansion despite the village's lack of funds. That night, Asuma Sarutobi and Chiriku confronted the transformed Heijian there and attacked the palanquin carrying Lord Tongu.

• Uzumaki Kuming identified the vanished creature as a ghost, said ghosts feared sunlight, and urged an investigation into the Daimyo Mansion as the likely source.
• Nara Shikaku warned that Konoha lacked the personnel and money for a large-scale search, so Mitokado Homura proposed sending elite shinobi led by Hatake Sakumo alongside Kuming's unit.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a secret letter to his son Asuma Sarutobi after the leaders agreed to investigate the Daimyo Mansion.
• Heijian offered Chiriku and Asuma power and eternal life, but Asuma rejected him and Chiriku prepared to fight while Asuma targeted Lord Tongu's palanquin.
• Chiriku's golden Buddha overwhelmed Heijian, and Asuma used Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning to engulf the palanquin and its porters in smoke.

Asuma and Chiriku attacked Tongu and Heijian in Wufang City, but their ninjutsu failed to harm Tongu, forcing them to retreat. Tongu punished Heijian for failing to find the survivors’ hiding place and warned him not to disappoint her or a mysterious gentleman.

• Asuma struck Tongu’s palanquin with Ash Pile Burning, but Tongu emerged unharmed while Heijian’s Wind Release forced Chiriku back.
• Asuma recalled that Tongu, the Daimyo’s daughter, had turned people into Ghosts, taken control of Wufang City, and trapped its surviving residents inside.
• Asuma and Chiriku threw Smoke Bombs and fled after their attacks failed to hurt Tongu.
• Tongu emerged from the flames and demanded that Heijian find Asuma and Chiriku’s hiding place.
• Tongu severed Heijian’s right arm as punishment, warned him not to disappoint her or a mysterious gentleman, and spat out a bite of the arm in disgust.

Asuma and Chiriku returned to the hidden underground refuge in Wufang City after failing to defeat the Ghosts, leaving the Daimyo and the survivors with little hope. Enma, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s summoning partner, appeared before Asuma, giving him hope that Konoha could help.

• Asuma and Chiriku told the Daimyo that their attacks had failed and that they needed help from Konoha.
• The Daimyo left for his quarters while a young guard questioned Asuma and Chiriku about the battle.
• Asuma said his Fire Release had failed to hurt Tongu, and Chiriku reported that Heijian had grown stronger and could control wind.
• Asuma denied having a way to contact his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Enma appeared in a cloud of smoke, and Asuma recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi’s summoning partner.

Uzumaki Kuming and Minato learned that Wufang City was controlled by immortal Ghosts and that Asuma was trapped there, while Hiruzen insisted on leading a rescue mission. Outside the city, Orochimaru and Guren watched Konoha’s preparations and planned to let its shinobi scout ahead as Orochimaru pursued the secret of eternal life.

• Minato summoned Uzumaki Kuming to discuss Hiruzen’s request to lead the mission into Wufang City, and Kuming tried to dissuade him because of his age and the danger.
• Hiruzen revealed that Tongu controlled the Daimyo Mansion, Wufang City was sealed against departures, and Asuma’s team could not kill the Ghosts threatening them.
• Kuming offered to go to Wufang City himself, but Hiruzen refused and accepted a scroll that could summon one of Kuming’s shadow clones.
• Minato began assembling a team to accompany Hiruzen, while Kuming left the office.
• Orochimaru and Guren watched Wufang City with a chained Upper Moon Six Ghost, and Orochimaru decided to let Konoha’s shinobi scout ahead.

Minato Namikaze reviewed Konoha’s growing intelligence on Ghosts while Uzumaki Kuming faced an attack at home. Kuming killed Upper Moon Three and sealed the Ghost King, leaving Yoriichi Namikaze stunned by his power.

• Minato Namikaze read reports describing Ghost ranks, abilities, and their weakness to sunlight as Konoha’s forces advanced toward Wufang City.
• Uzumaki Kuming waited in his courtyard as Upper Moon Three and a suited young man broke into his home, while Yoriichi Namikaze and Uehara Akina watched from the hallway.
• Kuming killed Upper Moon Three with a lightning strike from the sky after the Ghost tried to leave.
• Kuming stabbed the suited young man, revealed the Heavenly Feather Blade, and used its sealing power against him.
• The suited young man, revealed to be the Ghost King, split into balls of flesh to escape, but Kuming stopped and sealed them while Yoriichi Namikaze watched in disbelief.

Yoriichi worried that Uzumaki Kuming would be tempted by the Ghost King's immortality, but Kuming reassured him that he only wanted to investigate its secret. Meanwhile, Orochimaru entered Wufang City as Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared a daytime assault, only for Konoha's forces to discover the city was shrouded in darkness.

• Yoriichi asked Uzumaki Kuming why he had sealed the Ghost instead of killing it and warned him about the cost of eternal life.
• Uzumaki Kuming reassured Yoriichi that he would not succumb to temptation and said he planned to uncover the secret of the Ghost King's immortality.
• Orochimaru, Guren, and an Upper Moon Six Ghost entered Wufang City, where Orochimaru noticed a funeral goods shop with a long queue.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged a barrier around Wufang City and planned a daytime attack with Hyuga and Aburame shinobi to locate the Ghosts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi led his forces into Wufang City at daybreak, but they found the city covered in darkness and smelling of blood.

Hiruzen Sarutobi investigated the empty, blood-soaked Wufang City and fought the Upper Moon Five ghost guarding the Daimyo Mansion. As an underground Progenitor Demon swallowed the ghost and attacked, Orochimaru appeared, but the creature consumed Hiruzen’s Shadow Clone before he could question his former disciple.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Shadow Clones into Wufang City after the Hyuga shinobi found it empty and Aburame Shibi reported that the Kikaichū inside had been killed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Shadow Clone found ghosts guarding the Daimyo Mansion and used Earth Style and Fire Style to overwhelm them, while the Upper Moon Five ghost escaped.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought the Upper Moon Five ghost, disarmed him, and cut off his head, then prepared to seal his regenerating body.
• An enormous creature erupted from underground, swallowed the Upper Moon Five ghost, and attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi with regenerating fleshy claws.
• Orochimaru appeared and identified the creature as the Progenitor Demon, but it swallowed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Shadow Clone before he could question him.

Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to help fight the Progenitor Demon beneath Wufang City, while Hiruzen Sarutobi joined the battle. After the worm transformed into a young woman whose power incapacitated Guren, Hiruzen summoned a red-haired ally whose identity was revealed at the end.

• Orochimaru and Guren trapped the Progenitor Demon in a Crystal Release barrier, and Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Hashirama Senju restrained the giant worm with Wood Release and Sage Art, but it absorbed Chakra and broke free; Hashirama protected Orochimaru and Guren from the flying debris.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived and explained that demons had appeared in the Shinobi World, while the worm shrank into a metallic-looking cocoon.
• Tobirama Senju bombed the cocoon, but it survived and opened to release a young woman whose voice caused Guren to collapse in pain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used a summoning scroll, and a red-haired ally appeared, greeting Orochimaru, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju.

Kuming joined Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Orochimaru in fighting the strange Colored-hair Girl, whose hidden attacks and rapid healing made her difficult to defeat. Hashirama struck at the barrier over the battlefield as Kuming summoned his real body, and the chapter ended with the girl facing a transformed, sword-wielding Kuming.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi's Reverse Summoning brought Kuming's Shadow Clone to the battlefield, where Tobirama Senju warned him that the Colored-hair Girl could absorb Chakra.
• The girl struck Kuming with an unseen attack, but he recovered and pierced her chest before Tobirama cut off his arm to free him.
• Hiruzen and Tobirama fought the girl's rapidly healing body while Orochimaru summoned a giant python to carry the unconscious Guren away.
• Kuming detected a barrier masking the night sky and attacked it with Senjutsu-powered lightning, causing the girl to falter without breaking the barrier.
• Hashirama summoned True Several Thousand Hands and punched the barrier as Kuming used Reverse Summoning to bring his real body to the battlefield.
• The girl unleashed wind attacks that wounded Hiruzen, but a golden-cloaked Kuming appeared with a sword and cut her in two.

Uzumaki Kuming attacked the canopy over Wufang City, causing it to break and sunlight to destroy the Flesh Cocoon. The enemy vanished, Orochimaru was missing, and Tobirama Senju returned to the Pure Land after encouraging Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Uzumaki Kuming recognized the girl's attacks, transformed with Kurama, and launched a powerful Tailed Beast Bomb at a cracked point in the canopy.
• The girl turned into a Flesh Cocoon as the blast struck the canopy, causing a devastating shock wave across Wufang City and nearly hitting Shikaichi Nara's group.
• Uzumaki Kuming's Chakra shield protected Shikaichi Nara and the others, while sunlight through the broken canopy dissolved the Flesh Cocoon into black sludge.
• Uzumaki Kuming searched for the vanished enemy and Orochimaru, then suspected Orochimaru had taken her before undoing Impure World Reincarnation.
• Tobirama Senju praised Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils and vanished, while Hiruzen vowed to bring Orochimaru back to the village.

After Wufang City was destroyed, Minato negotiated the Daimyo’s support for Konoha in exchange for eradicating every Ghost in the Land of Fire. Meanwhile, Uzumaki Kuming discovered that Yoriichi struggled to control Chakra through most Hand Seals, but the chapter ended with Yoriichi showing remarkable skill and enthusiasm while practicing Taijutsu with a wooden sword.

• Minato told the Daimyo that Konoha would help rebuild his capital but needed financial support, and the Daimyo agreed to fund the village if it wiped out every Ghost in the Land of Fire.
• Uzumaki Kuming taught Yoriichi to sense and gather Chakra, then found that Yoriichi could not use most Hand Seals to guide it.
• Uzumaki Kuming reassured Yoriichi that poor jutsu aptitude did not rule out becoming a shinobi and took him to the dojo to train in Taijutsu.
• Minato, Kushina, and Naruto arrived for their weekly dinner and found Yoriichi enthusiastically sparring with Uzumaki Kuming, displaying impressive swordsmanship.

Yoriichi Namikaze completed an intense training session with Uzumaki Kuming and then defeated his older brother Naruto in a spar, revealing his extraordinary battle instincts and Transparent World. Naruto celebrated Yoriichi’s talent and asked him to become his right-hand man, while Kuming anticipated Guy’s arrival in Konoha within days.

• Kuming stopped Yoriichi’s sparring with him, and Kushina scolded Kuming for pushing her four-year-old son too hard.
• Kuming arranged for Naruto to spar with Yoriichi, and Minato encouraged Yoriichi to fight freely.
• Yoriichi entered the Transparent World, predicted Naruto’s movements, swept him to the floor, and held a wooden sword at his throat.
• Naruto praised Yoriichi as a genius and asked him to be his right-hand man when he became Hokage; Yoriichi agreed.
• Minato asked how long Yoriichi had trained, and Kuming said it was Yoriichi’s first formal fight before noting Guy was likely to arrive in Konoha soon.

Shisui Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki reported that Akatsuki was backing popular rebel groups across several small countries, prompting Uzumaki Kuming to recognize a far-reaching plan to overthrow governments and build Akatsuki’s power. After sending them to rest, Kuming reflected on how he had once vowed to change the Shinobi World but had settled for protecting Konoha and his family.

• Shisui Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki returned from their investigation and told Uzumaki Kuming that Akatsuki supported growing Righteous Armies in the Land of Rivers, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Grass.
• Shisui warned that the Righteous Armies had popular support, had sparked civil wars, and had begun appearing in the Land of Fire.
• When Kuming asked how Konoha should respond, Shisui favored persuading the Righteous Armies to surrender because he believed their cause was just.
• Kuming argued that the groups likely aimed to overthrow the small countries’ governments and that Akatsuki intended to use them to expand its power.
• Kuming sent Shisui and Kisame to rest, then pondered his past promise to change the Shinobi World and his present contentment with protecting Konoha and his family.

Uzumaki Jiuming reaffirmed his goals, then helped Yoriichi Namikaze pursue sword training and arranged for Might Guy to teach him Taijutsu. The story left off in Konoha Year 60, as Naruto Uzumaki faced his Ninja Academy graduation exam.

• Uzumaki Jiuming returned home after a night by the waterfall, spoke with Kisame, and went to watch Shisui Uchiha and the children at the dojo.
• Yoriichi Namikaze’s wooden sword broke during his spar with Uchiha Itachi, and Itachi caught the flying fragment before it could hit Yoriichi.
• Uzumaki Jiuming approved Yoriichi’s request for a katana and Wakizashi, then bought Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga katanas as gifts.
• Uzumaki Jiuming later asked Might Guy to become Yoriichi’s Taijutsu teacher, and the two formed an unlikely but successful master-student pair.
• Time passed until Konoha Year 60, when Naruto Uzumaki turned twelve and faced his Ninja Academy graduation exam.

Uzumaki Jiuming revised the Ninja Academy graduation exam system and refined its practical test to make rankings fairer. At the academy, Yoriichi Namikaze accepted Konohamaru’s challenge and effortlessly blocked his opening punch.

• Uzumaki Jiuming reviewed Iruka’s graduation exam plan and replaced student-drawn fights with judged matches, rankings, and a single opportunity to challenge someone ranked higher.
• Yoriichi Namikaze heard classmates admire Naruto and felt envious of his older brother’s popularity.
• Konohamaru accused Yoriichi of entering the advanced class through family connections and challenged him to prove his ability.
• Yoriichi accepted the challenge to stop rumors from spreading, and Konohamaru attacked him in the classroom.
• Yoriichi casually blocked Konohamaru’s punch and told him he was no match for him.

Yoriichi defeated Konohamaru in a classroom spar, while Sasuke watched and Naruto confronted him. Iruka announced new graduation exams, and Mizuki began plotting to obtain the Scroll of Sealing as Yakumo asked him for help passing.

• Yoriichi used a feint and a shoulder throw to subdue Konohamaru, cushioning his landing so he was not hurt.
• Sasuke watched Yoriichi, Naruto stepped between them, and Sasuke left for the field with Naruto following.
• Iruka announced that October's graduation exams would include written and practical tests, with students needing to pass either one and place in the top 80 percent to become Genin.
• Parents, teachers, and students began intensifying their preparation for the exams.
• Mizuki, jealous of Iruka and frustrated by his lack of access to powerful techniques, resolved to steal the Scroll of Sealing.
• Yakumo asked Mizuki to help her pass the exams, and he suggested that he had a way.