Chapter Summaries

At the memorial funeral, Shimura Danzō stirred public anger against Hiruzen Sarutobi, demanding that he take responsibility for Konoha’s wartime losses and step down. The confrontation ended with a Jonin Commander meeting set for the next morning, while Jiraiya gathered allies at a tavern to discuss how to support Hiruzen.

• Shimura Danzō and members of the Shimura Clan accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of sending children to war and failing to lead Konoha, drawing many funeral attendees into the denunciation.
• Jiraiya challenged the accusers, but a Shimura Clan member blamed Hiruzen for sending his ungraduated younger brother to the battlefield and claimed other leaders had contributed more to victory.
• Mitokado Homura quieted the crowd, announced that the Jonin Commander would meet in the Hokage Building the next morning, and sent the funeral attendees home.
• Clan heads and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s supporters left to consider their positions as news of the confrontation spread through Konoha and stirred anger among bereaved families.
• Tsunade stopped Hiruzen’s sons from following him, while Jiraiya brought Kuming, Tsunade, Nawaki, Orochimaru, Minato, and Kushina to a tavern to discuss helping Hiruzen at the meeting.

At a dinner gathering, Uzumaki Jiuming reassured Jiraiya that Shimura Danzo’s efforts to undermine Hiruzen Sarutobi would not succeed. Later, Hiruzen asked Jiuming to become the next Hokage, but Jiuming refused.

• Jiraiya questioned Orochimaru about whether he had known Danzo would turn against Hiruzen, and Orochimaru denied it.
• Jiraiya asked Jiuming if he wanted to be Hokage and teased him about Minato and Kushina, but Jiuming explained that Konoha’s major clans supported Hiruzen.
• After the gathering, Jiuming left Konoha alone and met Hiruzen waiting beneath a tree outside the village.
• Hiruzen walked with Jiuming toward his home and asked him to become the next Hokage.
• Jiuming remembered Naruto’s prediction that he would become the Fourth Hokage and told Hiruzen he did not want the position.

Uzumaki Kuming refused Hiruzen Sarutobi’s offer to become Hokage, saying the duties would hinder his growth and leave him unprepared for stronger enemies. At the Jonin meeting the next morning, Hiruzen announced his resignation, and the debate over his successor began with nominations for Orochimaru and Kuming.

• Uzumaki Kuming told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to become Hokage eventually, but the position’s daily responsibilities would hold back his training.
• Kuming invited Hiruzen to his home, and they spent the night talking over tea.
• Hiruzen told the Jonin that he was stepping down as Hokage because of his age and the losses Konoha had suffered in the war.
• Shimura Danzō nominated Orochimaru as the next Hokage, prompting debate among the Jonin.
• Uchiha Fugaku nominated Uzumaki Kuming, and the meeting erupted into discussion over the candidates.

At the Jonin meeting, Uzumaki Kuming won a majority of votes to succeed Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage despite Shimura Danzo’s objections. Konoha began preparing for Kuming’s succession ceremony, while he started the handover with Hiruzen.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi held a vote among the nominated candidates, and Orochimaru received support from about a third of those present.
• Minato Namikaze and Dan Katō received relatively few votes before the meeting voted on Uzumaki Kuming.
• The Uchiha and Hyuga clans, along with many of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s supporters, backed Uzumaki Kuming, giving him more than half the votes.
• Shimura Danzo objected to Kuming’s age and status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but Nara Lukin and Utatane Koharu defended him, and Hiruzen declared him the Fourth Hokage.
• Uzumaki Kuming thanked the meeting and urged everyone to work together, while Shimura Danzo left in anger.
• Konoha informed the Daimyo and began preparing the succession ceremony; that night, Kuming met with Hiruzen Sarutobi to begin the handover.

Uzumaki Kuming became the Fourth Hokage and began reorganizing Konoha, while Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru plotted against him. During a visit to the orphanage with his disciple Uchiha Itachi, Kuming recognized Yakushi Nonō as the Wandering Miko, prompting her to attack him.

• Uzumaki Kuming succeeded Hiruzen Sarutobi as Fourth Hokage, then restructured Konoha's police, Anbu, and mission systems.
• Shimura Danzō recruited Orochimaru to help assassinate Kuming during his planned orphanage visit, and Orochimaru agreed.
• Kuming confronted Orochimaru, appointed him director of the new Konoha Research Institute, and ordered him to stop human experiments; Orochimaru destroyed his laboratory afterward.
• Kuming went to inspect the orphanage with Uchiha Itachi and explained how war and human desires caused suffering and created orphans.
• Yakushi Nonō reacted with alarm when Kuming identified her as the Wandering Miko, drew a Kunai, and charged at him.

Uzumaki Kuming thwarted Nonō’s assassination attempt and discovered she was a Root-trained spy bound by powerful Cursed Seals. After placing her in custody and securing the orphanage, he pursued the Chakra signatures that had fled Konoha and reached a barren area where they stopped.

• Nonō attacked Uzumaki Kuming, but he stopped her with a golden chain, subdued her with the Evil Sealing Method, and found that she bore Cursed Seals.
• Kabuto rushed to Nonō, and Kuming explained that she was a Root-trained spy before ordering Adai to take her to Fugaku for custody.
• Nonō woke and asked Kuming to spare the orphanage children; he ordered her to work for him and warned her not to kill herself.
• Kuming sent a Shadow Clone behind, while Adai’s Anbu took Nonō into custody and Uchiha Itachi went with Fugaku.
• Aburame Shikuroo surrounded the orphanage and arranged supplies as the Anbu began investigating its children and staff.
• Kuming pursued the fleeing Chakra signatures beyond Konoha, and they stopped in a barren stretch of land.

Uzumaki Kuming confronted Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru outside Konoha after Danzō’s assassination plot failed. Kuming broke through Root’s genjutsu barrier and called for the Root shinobi to surrender, but they remained loyal to Danzō.

• Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru waited outside the village, and Danzō launched an ambush when Uzumaki Kuming arrived.
• Kuming survived the explosive attack unharmed, while Danzō summoned Baku and the Root shinobi surrounded him.
• Danzō’s forces trapped Kuming in a swamp and a genjutsu barrier that created a hailstorm, but Kuming identified the barrier’s support and attacked through it.
• Kuming killed a Root shinobi with One-Finger Nukite, then urged the others to surrender and promised to spare those who did.
• When the Root shinobi refused to respond, Kuming told Danzō that Root should be disbanded.

Uzumaki Kuming broke free of Kurama Tadashi’s barrier and confronted Shimura Danzō, whose assassination plot failed. Orochimaru turned on Danzō, while Kuming slaughtered the Root shinobi, leaving Danzō dead and Root’s assault crushed.

• Kurama Tadashi and the Root Jonin trapped Uzumaki Kuming in a powerful genjutsu barrier, but Kurama Tadashi realized their combined Chakra could not directly affect him.
• Uzumaki Kuming escaped the swamp and barrier, appeared behind Shimura Danzō, and stabbed him through the chest.
• Shimura Danzō attacked with Baku and Wind Style, but Uzumaki Kuming pierced the summon with a lightning blade.
• Orochimaru refused to protect Danzō and attacked him with his Kusanagi Sword as the Root shinobi surrounded Uzumaki Kuming.
• Uzumaki Kuming killed every Root shinobi present, while Orochimaru killed Danzō, whose corpse was left kneeling with the sword in his chest.

Uzumaki Kuming concealed the truth about Shimura Danzō’s death while managing the aftermath and facing Konoha’s elders. He later told Minato Namikaze that Orochimaru had killed Danzō during an attempt to assassinate him.

• Kuming noticed that Danzō’s right arm and Sharingan were gone, warned Orochimaru that Konoha would reclaim Uchiha eyes, and ordered that Sharingan be destroyed when their owners died.
• Kuming told his Anbu to report that Danzō and his subordinates had been killed by an unknown enemy, and his confidants secretly disposed of the bodies and concealed evidence.
• Kuming returned to his office and worked with Minato Namikaze and Nara Shikaku until Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to question him about Danzō’s death.
• Kuming claimed that he had only just learned of Danzō’s death and promised to investigate, prompting the elders to leave after confirming the report.
• Minato raised a barrier and asked Kuming if he knew the truth, and Kuming admitted that Orochimaru had killed Danzō when Danzō tried to assassinate him.

Uzumaki Kuming told Minato Namikaze and Nara Shikaku that Orochimaru had killed Danzo, while the investigation revealed Danzo’s stolen arm and eye and pointed toward Orochimaru. Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to arrest his former student and left increasingly resolved to shield him.

• Uzumaki Kuming told Minato Namikaze and Nara Shikaku that Orochimaru had killed Danzo and said he did not care if the elders learned the truth.
• Uchiha Fugaku reported that Danzo had been poisoned and killed by a sword wound, that his right arm and eye were missing, and that Root’s Cursed Seals prevented memory extraction.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized the white cells on Danzo’s arm and suspected that Danzo’s eye had been taken for its ocular technique.
• Mitokado Homura accused Orochimaru of killing Danzo and demanded an arrest, but Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected the claim as unsupported and said he trusted Kuming to find the culprit.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled that Orochimaru and Uzumaki Kuming had arrived after Danzo was already dead, then left determined to protect his two favored students.

Uzumaki Kuming turned Danzō’s death into a pretext to invade the Land of Grass, then consolidated Konoha’s power and expanded its settlements. Hatake Sakumo returned to report the victory and revealed that his forces had brought back medical ninja, including a woman with an unusual healing ability.

• Uzumaki Kuming publicized Danzō’s death, blamed a Grass ninja, and ordered Konoha to invade the Land of Grass under Hatake Sakumo.
• Konoha rapidly conquered the Land of Grass, while its people fled to the Land of Fire and Konoha began expanding settlements and infrastructure.
• Uzumaki Kuming dissolved Root, brought talented former Root members into the Anbu, and reformed the orphanage to teach children the Will of Fire.
• Kakashi informed Uzumaki Kuming that Hatake Sakumo had returned and that Yamato had come to report on construction progress.
• Hatake Sakumo reported that his forces had wiped out the Grass ninja forces, spared the medical ninja, and captured a woman with a remarkable healing ability.

Uzumaki Kuming learned that Hatake Sakumo had rescued a red-haired woman from the Grass Ninja who was almost certainly an Uzumaki with a rare healing ability. He asked Kushina to examine her and hoped she could settle in Konoha, then waited for her arrival.

• Hatake Sakumo told Uzumaki Kuming that Konoha had captured a red-haired woman with a powerful healing ability and hundreds of bite wounds.
• Kuming ordered Nara Shikaku to manage refugees, Minato Namikaze to oversee village expansion, and Sakumo to take the woman to Konoha Hospital for Kushina Uzumaki to examine.
• Kuming visited Kushina's office and reflected on his promise to protect the Uzumaki Clan while looking at an old photograph of his family.
• Kuming told Kushina that the rescued woman was from the Uzumaki Clan and could heal people who bit her, asking Kushina to examine her personally.
• Kuming said he hoped the woman could settle in Konoha and live in Uzumaki Mito's old house, and Kushina went to make arrangements.

Xiangxiangli arrived in Konoha under guard and met Kushina Uzumaki, who recognized her as a member of the Uzumaki Clan. Senju Nawaki caused a commotion trying to reach Xiangxiangli, but Kuming stopped him and told him to wait until Kushina finished examining her.

• Xiangxiangli marveled at Konoha's prosperity as Yugao explained that Fourth Hokage Uzumaki Kuming had led the village's recovery.
• Kushina sensed Xiangxiangli's Uzumaki Chakra and waited with a medical team to examine her at Konoha Hospital.
• Xiangxiangli gave Kushina her first name but concealed her surname, and Kushina offered to help her find a place to live and work as a medic.
• Kuming came to the examination room, where the accompanying ninjas reported that they had encountered no trouble.
• Senju Nawaki rushed into the hospital shouting for Xiangxiangli and tried to enter the examination room.
• Kuming immobilized Nawaki with a Cursed Seal and told him to wait until Kushina had finished examining Xiangxiangli.

Uzumaki Kuming arranged medical and security checks for Xiangxiangli after Senju Nawaki rescued her, while Nawaki’s devotion to her made Kuming suspicious. By evening, Uchiha Fugaku reported that Xiangxiangli had been cleared, and Kuming invited Minato to dinner.

• Kuming questioned Nawaki about how he met Xiangxiangli and asked a guard to have the Yamanaka Clan investigate further.
• Kushina examined Xiangxiangli and found malnutrition and signs of chakra depletion but no curse technique or genjutsu.
• Kushina pleaded for Xiangxiangli to be taken in, while Kuming summoned Yamanaka Inoichi and Ibiki Morino to verify her safety and reliability.
• Inoichi and Ibiki took Xiangxiangli for questioning, and Nawaki reluctantly let her go after promising she would be safe.
• Kuming suggested that Xiangxiangli stay at the old house if she passed the checks, and Nawaki eagerly agreed.
• Fugaku reported that Xiangxiangli was clear, and Kuming invited Minato to dinner.

After Karin Uzumaki left her interrogation, Senju Nawaki brought her to the Senju Old Residence, where Tsunade offered her a place to stay. That night, Uzumaki Jiuming sensed Karin’s Chakra weakening and rushed to find Black Zetsu draining it, only to be attacked by a pale hand.

• Senju Nawaki picked up Karin Uzumaki after her interrogation and took her to the Senju Old Residence.
• Tsunade introduced Karin to Uzumaki Jiuming, Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze, then arranged for Karin to stay with her.
• Uzumaki Jiuming remained uneasy about Karin despite the checks, while Minato Namikaze and Nara Shikaku tried to reassure him.
• Black Zetsu emerged inside the Senju Old Residence and drained Karin’s Chakra as she slept.
• Uzumaki Jiuming sensed Karin’s Chakra weakening, arrived to attack Black Zetsu, and had his blade blocked by a Gunbai as a pale hand struck at his throat.

Madara Uchiha attacked Karin in Konoha to restore his failing body, but Uzumaki Kuming and Minato Namikaze stopped him. Kuming shielded Karin and prepared to face Madara as Minato went to establish a barrier.

• Uzumaki Kuming arrived at Karin's room and was kicked into the courtyard by the ancient attacker, Madara Uchiha.
• Uzumaki Kuming used Adamantine Sealing Chains to rescue Karin, and Minato Namikaze joined the fight with Flying Thunder God.
• Uzumaki Kuming warned Minato not to look at Madara's eyes, while Minato deployed the Heavenly Cover Formation.
• Tsunade recognized the attacker as Madara Uchiha, and Black Zetsu entered Madara's sleeve, making him visibly younger.
• Uzumaki Kuming ordered Minato to take Kushina Uzumaki and Tsunade outside and establish a barrier while he guarded Karin and prepared to fight Madara.

Uzumaki Kuming fought Madara Uchiha after Madara arrived in Konoha, but Madara summoned Susanoo and threatened the village. Minato Namikaze teleported Madara and Kuming away from the residential area, leaving Kuming to face Madara alone.

• Kuming attacked Madara with Heavenly Feather Blade as Minato and the others completed a barrier around the compound.
• Madara countered Kuming's strike and fire jutsu, then absorbed Chakra from five White Zetsu to strengthen himself.
• Madara awakened Susanoo, which broke through the barrier and grew to more than twenty meters tall.
• Kuming released Heavenly Feather Blade's seal and clashed with Susanoo's sword, while the shockwaves damaged buildings across Konoha.
• Kuming called to Minato to move them somewhere open, and Minato teleported both fighters away before collapsing from exhaustion.

Uzumaki Kuming moved his battle with Madara Uchiha away from Konoha and used his Golden Chains to form a giant that overwhelmed Susanoo. Madara escaped after the Totsuka Blade began sealing Susanoo, leaving Kuming victorious on the barren plain.

• Tsunade directed shinobi and Anbu to search Konoha and help people injured by the battle.
• Uzumaki Kuming moved Madara Uchiha fifty kilometers outside Konoha and formed a Golden Giant around himself and Xiangxiangli.
• Madara Uchiha summoned Susanoo with two Chakra Blades and clashed with the Golden Giant.
• The Golden Giant struck Susanoo back and pierced its chest with the Totsuka Blade, leaving Madara badly injured.
• Madara Uchiha used his left eye to sink into the ground and escape as the Totsuka Blade began absorbing Susanoo's Chakra.

Uzumaki Kuming protected Xiangxiangli from Madara Uchiha, then learned that Uchiha Seishin had died and suspected Madara had taken his eyes. Years later, Minato and Kushina and Senju Nawaki and Xiangxiangli held a double wedding, after which Kuming left Konoha for Mount Myoboku with Itachi and Shisui.

• After Madara Uchiha escaped, Uzumaki Kuming placed a Cursed Seal in the unconscious Xiangxiangli and carried her back to Konoha.
• Two days later, Kuming told Uchiha Shisui that his father, Uchiha Seishin, had died on a mission; Shisui awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and Uchiha Fugaku took him and Itachi away.
• Kuming examined Seishin's autopsy report, noticed his eyes were missing, and concluded that Madara Uchiha had taken them.
• In Konoha's forty-seventh year, Minato Namikaze married Kushina Uzumaki, while Senju Nawaki married Xiangxiangli in a double wedding.
• After the weddings, Kuming handed Hokage affairs to Minato and Nara Shikaku, then traveled to Mount Myoboku with Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.

At Mount Myoboku, Uzumaki Kuming struggled to control Senjutsu because his body absorbed Natural Energy too quickly, transforming him into a toad. Sage Fukasaku theorized that Kuming needed more Chakra to balance the energy, and Kuming entered perfect Sage Mode by releasing the Yin Seal.

• Uzumaki Kuming brought Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha to Mount Myoboku while he investigated his Senjutsu problem and trained his students.
• Kuming repeatedly gathered Senjutsu Chakra, but excess Natural Energy transformed his arm until Sage Fukasaku knocked the energy out of him with a Black Receiver.
• Sage Fukasaku advised Kuming to abandon Senjutsu, but Kuming insisted he needed it to face powerful future enemies.
• Fukasaku theorized that Kuming's matured body had an unusually strong affinity for Natural Energy and that his Chakra needed to be powerful enough to balance it.
• Kuming released the Yin Seal and gathered Senjutsu Chakra, allowing his Chakra reserves to balance the Natural Energy without transforming him.
• Fukasaku saw Kuming's golden pupils and recognized that he had achieved perfect Sage Mode.