Chapter Summaries

The Ninja Academy began a team-based exam while students speculated about why Madara had left the village with his students. Hashirama, suffering from Madara-Loss Syndrome, tried to persuade Tobirama to take over as Hokage so he could travel after Madara, then returned to searching for the Eight-Tails capture plan.

• Nao told Naori and Koharu that Madara had left to learn about the state of the Shinobi World and the Tailed Beasts, though Naori knew he was mainly bored.
• The school bell rang, and Koharu followed her teammates to begin the new team-based written exam.
• An Anbu summoned Tobirama to the Hokage's Office, where he found Hashirama sprawled across his desk and diagnosed him with Madara-Loss Syndrome.
• Hashirama complained that Madara was traveling and eating barbecue while he remained Hokage, and proposed that Tobirama take his place.
• Tobirama left in frustration, and Hashirama sighed before searching for the plan to capture the Eight-Tails.

Rikusei and Mao shared roast meat and talked about Konoha while the Hagoromo Clan celebrated. Madara urged Hagoromo Jun to trust Konoha, though Jun remained concerned about whether future generations would uphold Hashirama’s ideals.

• Mao recalled that the Hagoromo Clan’s last grand celebration had marked the end of its conflict with the Senju Clan.
• Rikusei shared his seasoning with Mao and asked her not to attack people or ignore Konoha’s rules when she arrived.
• Mao teased Rikusei about his feelings for a woman, then shared roast meat with him.
• Hagoromo Jun asked whether Konoha would welcome the Hagoromo Clan, and Madara told him to trust Hashirama’s generosity.
• Jun questioned whether Hashirama’s successors would preserve his ideals, and Madara silently looked toward Rikusei.
• Jun demanded to know why Madara had burned the friendly agreement scroll, and Madara replied that it was old.

Kuan uncovered that the Uchiha guards were waiting for supplies and urged the Ketsuryūgan clan to use the opportunity to escape their underground prison. Although the clan leader warned that a failed uprising could destroy them, Kuan told the clan that the leader supported the plan, and the group began plotting in secret.

• Kuan learned that the Uchiha guards had run out of supplies and reported the intelligence to the clan leader.
• The clan leader warned Kuan that escape could bring pursuit from the Land of Lightning and wipe out the clan.
• After the clan leader left, Kuan criticized his past refusal to resist and decided to rally the clan.
• Kuan told a secret gathering that Uchiha Madara was away and claimed the clan leader approved an uprising.
• The gathered clan members grew excited and quietly discussed their escape plans.

Rikusei and Madara reached the Uchiha outpost in the Land of Hot Water, where Madara delivered supplies and family letters as the Blood Pond Clan prepared to rebel. After an explosion at Hell Valley triggered fighting, Madara told Rikusei to join the battle and said he could use any of the three Nine-Tails.

• Rikusei and Madara traveled downriver, where explosive fishing produced a huge catch that they brought to the Uchiha outpost.
• In the Underground World, Tetsuya rallied the Blood Pond Clan against their clan leader and organized a revolt to escape the Land of Lightning's control.
• Madara arrived with Rikusei, handed out Konoha Forehead Protectors and family letters, and impressed the outpost's gathered shinobi.
• An explosion at Hell Valley alerted the Uchiha that the Blood Pond Clan had begun its rebellion, and they armed themselves for battle.
• Madara ordered Rikusei to go to Hell Valley and fight, reminding him that he could use any of the three Nine-Tails.

Tetsuya led the Blood Pond Clan in a desperate attempt to escape their canyon prison, using the Ketsuryūgan to fight the Uchiha. The confrontation ended in a deadly contest of ocular powers, and as Tetsuya collapsed, he thought of Yusuke and hoped he would arrive in time.

• Tetsuya and the Blood Pond Clan emerged from their cave through smoke and defended themselves against the Uchiha’s attacks.
• Kuan and the clan used the Ketsuryūgan to form a blood dragon against the Uchiha’s combined Fire and Wind technique, while the canyon’s burning air caused clan members to collapse.
• Tetsuya ordered the terrain raised, and Third Squad charged up the cliff as he hurled his blade at the Uchiha.
• Uchiha reinforcements surrounded the escaping clan, and Tetsuya provoked them into a contest between the Sharingan and the Ketsuryūgan.
• The dōjutsu contest felled members of both clans, while Rikusei watched and polished his blade; Tetsuya reflected the Uchiha’s illusion but collapsed, thinking of Yusuke.

Rikusei stopped Yusuke and the Chinoike Clan from carrying out their explosive last stand by summoning and controlling the Nine-Tails. He armored the three-headed fox with Susanoo and left the Uchiha and Chinoike facing his overwhelming power.

• Yusuke arrived with the Chinoike Clan and declared that Chudo could not die for nothing, while the Uchiha captain refused to yield.
• Yusuke revealed that the Chinoike had prepared to sacrifice themselves, channeling chakra into the bodies on the ground as they began to swell.
• Rikusei stepped forward, invoked Uchiha Madara’s name, and opened a scroll containing three sealed cauldrons.
• Rikusei released the Nine-Tails and used the Transcription Seal in his eyes to place Madara’s Sharingan imprint on the beast.
• Rikusei wrapped the three-headed Nine-Tails in Susanoo armor, calling the technique Majestic Attire: Susanoo-Kurama, while Yusuke’s plan faltered.

Rikusei used the Nine-Tails clad in Susanoo to crush Yusuke’s uprising, and the Chinoike Clan surrendered as Yusuke’s life faded. Uchiha forces took the clan into custody while Uchiha Kai seized control of the Barrier Squad, leaving Rikusei free to pursue his plans for the Shinobi World and find Otsutsuki Chenxiang.

• Rikusei stood atop the Susanoo-armored Nine-Tails and confronted Yusuke as the Uchiha Clan prepared to take control of the uprising’s aftermath.
• Yusuke transformed into a massive black-purple Eye of Vengeance, but Rikusei countered by having the Nine-Tails form three Tailed Beast Bombs.
• Yusuke admitted that the Chinoike Clan had failed, and his remaining chakra vanished as he lay beside his sleeping younger brother.
• Chikaku led Uchiha forces in taking the Chinoike Clan into custody, separating ordinary people from Ketsuryūgan users and eliminating those who harbored hatred toward the Uchiha Clan.
• Rikusei rested on the Nine-Tails and decided to find Otsutsuki Chenxiang, whom he could not detect even with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Uchiha Kai reached the Barrier Squad’s building, used his Sharingan to incapacitate the shinobi, and told the leader that they should talk.

Rikusei sealed the Nine-Tails into three teapots after his trial run, and his Sharingan evolved. As Madara moved to bring the Uchiha’s work for the Land of Lightning under Konoha’s authority, Chikaku learned that the village had changed in ways he did not understand.

• Uchiha Kai and Chudo discussed the Nine-Tails’ capture and Chudo’s connection to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.
• Rikusei sealed the Nine-Tails into three teapots after Madara’s ocular power faded, then discovered his left eye had a Double Tomoe and his right had a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Chikaku reported that the Ketsuryūgan-wielding members of the Chinoike Clan had been confined for questioning about the uprising.
• Madara decided that commissions from the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning would go through Konoha, ending the Uchiha Clan’s independent dealings with him.
• Rikusei hinted that people in the village had changed their names, and Chikaku hurried after him to ask what had happened.

Rikusei and Chikaku discussed the Senju Clan’s dissolution over hot pot before Rikusei persuaded Chikaku to let him question Kuan. Kuan awakened and agreed to cooperate in exchange for a lavish meal for his clan.

• Chikaku confirmed that former Senju Clan members had been placed throughout the village departments, then left to bring hot pot to his hungry clan members.
• Madara shed his robe as the hot pot heated him, and Rikusei fled outside when Madara challenged him to fight.
• Rikusei visited Chikaku, who was guarding the Chinoike prisoners, and offered him a seasoning packet in return for bringing out the man who had stood behind Yusuke.
• Chikaku revealed that the Chinoike Clan members were unconscious under an Illusion Technique, then woke Kuan with chakra.
• Chikaku offered the Chinoike Clan a lavish meal if Kuan cooperated, and Kuan agreed without hesitation.

Uchiha Rikusei negotiated the Chinoike Clan’s freedom from surveillance in exchange for a 35 Million Ryo ransom, leaving Kuan indebted to the Uchiha Clan. After Chikaku began preparing a contract, Rikusei returned to the hot pot and tried to placate his teacher, Madara.

• Rikusei used his Sharingan to bring Kuan into an Illusion Space and offered him a way to free the Chinoike Clan.
• Kuan rejected assassinating the Daimyo as too dangerous and agreed to pay 35 Million Ryo in installments without interest.
• Rikusei warned Kuan not to reveal his Ketsuryūgan and told him that the Uchiha Clan would end its surveillance once the ransom was paid.
• Rikusei told Chikaku that Kuan owed the clan 35 Million Ryo, and Chikaku began drafting a contract with him.
• Rikusei returned to the house, caught Madara’s thrown object, and offered him fish while suggesting they start the second Hot Pot War.

The Hagoromo Clan arrived in Konoha, where Hagoromo Jun observed the village’s bustle and discussed its leadership with Setsuna. Mao and Hagoromo Yuzuru explored the lively streets, while Yuzuru considered how Konoha might shape the clan’s future amid the possibility of another war.

• Hagoromo Jun, Mao, and the Hagoromo Clan convoy waited in Konoha’s crowded entrance and were inspected by Uchiha Ku and a Hyuga ninja.
• Setsuna recognized the convoy, escorted the Hagoromo Clan into the village, and explained that Nara Shikahira handled daily affairs while the Hokage and Tobirama were away.
• Mao said she had lost to Rikusei despite using wind and lightning chakra, then explored Konoha’s food street with Yuzuru.
• Mao urged Yuzuru to consider joining Konoha, and the siblings stopped to eat sweets and watch the street.
• Yuzuru reflected that the Hagoromo Clan had come to assess Konoha’s prospects and feared a future shinobi-village war could bring even greater casualties than the old clan wars.

Hagoromo Mao visited Konoha with Yuzuru and eagerly sought out the strong Uchiha girl Naori, who was away on a mission. Mao enrolled at the Ninja Academy while Kaku left to join a meeting about the Hagoromo Clan, where Shikahira presented a draft prepared at Clan Head Jun's request.

• Mao arrived at Konoha's Ninja Academy with Yuzuru and met Kaku, who invited them into his office.
• Mao asked Kaku about the powerful Uchiha girl, learned that Naori had gone with the Hokage to capture a Tailed Beast, and asked how she could join them.
• Kaku told Mao she needed to become an Academy student and handed her a registration form, which she began filling out.
• Setsuna arrived to summon Kaku to a small meeting about the Hagoromo Clan, and Kaku left Mao's enrollment in his care.
• Kaku joined Hagoromo Jun, Sarutobi Sasuke, Toka, and others at the meeting, where Shikahira presented a draft based on Uzushio Village's standards.

Senju Toka and the others negotiated the Hagoromo Clan’s agreement with Konoha, postponing detailed terms until Hashirama returned. At the Ninja Academy, Mao provoked Setsuna into agreeing to spar with her after class.

• Toka and Kaku argued that the Uzumaki Clan’s contributions and organization should shape the Hagoromo Clan’s terms, while Shikahira and Jun played along with their negotiation.
• Toka reminded Jun that the Hagoromo Clan’s old agreement with the Uchiha would become void once the Hagoromo allied with Konoha, and Jun agreed to discuss the terms further.
• Mao asked Setsuna to arrange a sparring match between the Hagoromo and Uchiha youths, while Yuzuru confirmed that the Uchiha students had won their academy tournament.
• Mao suggested the Uchiha had lost their former pride, prompting Setsuna to challenge her to meet him on the school field after class.

Hagoromo Mao faced Uchiha Rai and Uchiha Baru in a public sword match, drawing a crowd of students and shinobi. After demonstrating superior swordsmanship, she charged her blade with crackling violet lightning as the Uchiha prepared for her next attack.

• Students rushed to the sports field after hearing that someone from the Hagoromo Clan would fight the Uchiha.
• Rin and Nara Lukang arrived to watch, while Uchiha Rai and Uchiha Baru prepared to face Hagoromo Mao.
• Mao insisted on fighting both Uchiha at once, and Setsuna banned Explosive Tags from the match.
• Mao blocked Rai and Baru's opening strikes and redirected them, showing that her swordsmanship surpassed theirs.
• Mao channeled lightning chakra into her blade, startling the crowd and making Rai and Baru realize she would not go easy on them.

Mao fought Rai and Baru in a sword match, using techniques she had learned from Rikusei to defeat them. When the Uchiha pair switched to Fire Release, she drew a wind blade and split their combined flames, though Water Style had to extinguish the fire around her.

• Mao and Rai and Baru clashed with their clan blades, and Mao redirected their coordinated attacks while gaining the upper hand.
• Mao struck Baru in the stomach with her scabbard and disarmed Rai by hitting his wrist.
• Rai and Baru told Teacher Setsuna they would use ninjutsu, and he allowed them to proceed.
• Rai and Baru combined their Fire Release attacks into a massive wave of flames aimed at Mao.
• Mao drew a wind blade and split the sea of fire, then checked her singed hair after Water Style extinguished the surrounding flames.

The Hyuga elders discussed how to counter the Uchiha Clan’s growing influence and decided to seek help from the Kaguya Clan, now allied with Kirigakure. They settled on asking the ice drink shop owner, a Yuki Clan member, to approach the Kaguya, and left Harumasa to invite her to the clan.

• Ryudo and Genqing worried that the Uchiha Clan’s strength and the Hagoromo Clan’s arrival would threaten Hyuga influence and funding.
• Harumasa suggested that the Hyuga seek outside allies, leading Ryudo and Genqing to consider the Kaguya Clan.
• Suzaku proposed poaching the Kaguya, but Ryudo and Genqing rejected sending a Hyuga to the Land of Water for fear of damaging the clan’s reputation.
• Harumasa recommended the ice drink shop owner, a thoroughly vetted Yuki Clan member familiar with the Land of Water.
• Genqing questioned how to persuade the shop owner, and Ryudo ordered Harumasa to invite her to the clan, threatening to ground him for a year if he failed.

Hagoromo Mao began classes at the Ninja Academy, met her sleepy classmate Nara Karin, and visited Uchiha Chiri, where she learned Rikusei had invented the Landlord card game. Meanwhile, Kaku visited Genqing to discuss the Hyuga clan commissioning the Yuki clan in Konoha.

• Kaku gave Mao authentic Ninja Academy textbooks and sent her to join Class A, where she met Nara Karin.
• Mao stopped classmates from disturbing Karin and learned from Kaku that Karin was capable despite appearing sleepy.
• Mao visited the Ice Snow Drink Shop, then met Uchiha Chiri and discovered Chiri was Rikusei's grandmother.
• Mao told Chiri about her past contest with Rikusei and his habit of dodging her attempts to feed him.
• Kaku visited Genqing with Hyuga Ye and raised the Hyuga clan's plan to commission the Yuki clan in Konoha.

Kaku confronted Qingxuan over the Hyuga Clan’s attempt to seek information about the Yuki Clan and used classified meeting minutes to pressure him into concessions. After Kaku left, Harumasa learned of his departure but withheld his concerns from Ryudo, who reflected that the Hyuga Clan could not have two suns.

• Kaku told Qingxuan that the person the Hyuga Clan had approached was registered as a civilian, then confronted him with meeting minutes about their plans.
• Qingxuan admitted they had sought information about the Kaguya Clan and asked what the village wanted, but Kaku kept the Hagoromo Clan’s situation classified.
• Kaku steered their discussion toward Kyu and Koto, and Qingxuan assured him that the clan’s rumors about them would soon die down.
• Kaku used his Sharingan on Qingxuan, secured the outcome he wanted, and left with tea leaves.
• After Kaku departed, Harumasa went to Ryudo but held back what he had wanted to say, while Ryudo decided one of the Hyuga Clan’s two suns had to fade into obscurity.

Lord Hokage’s column traveled toward the Eight-Tails when Kakuzu appeared and announced that he intended to assassinate Hashirama. Kakuzu attacked, but Hashirama effortlessly destroyed his Earth Style technique and challenged him to a Taijutsu contest.

• Tobirama led the group on horseback and in carriages, telling Danzo and Hiruzen they would look after the horses.
• The column stopped when Kakuzu blocked the road, and the shinobi searched the area for traps before Hashirama approached him.
• Kakuzu said he had changed his plan after encountering Uchiha Madara and then told Hashirama he wanted him to give his all.
• Kakuzu formed an Earth Style stone dragon, but Hashirama shattered it with a single punch.
• Kakuzu hardened his body with Earth Style and threw a Kunai, but Hashirama caught it and invited him to fight with Taijutsu.

Hashirama defeated Kakuzu in a taijutsu fight but spared him and invited him to visit Konoha. After the convoy departed, Kakuzu accepted the Military Ration Pills Hashirama left behind and considered the invitation.

• Tobirama prepared to end the fight with a Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Hiruzen and Danzo persuaded him to let the match continue as a Taijutsu Class.
• Hashirama and Kakuzu exchanged powerful blows, and Hashirama ultimately defeated Kakuzu, leaving his right arm limp.
• Kakuzu offered Hashirama a Kunai and admitted defeat, but Hashirama spared him and urged him to stop taking assassination jobs and visit Konoha.
• Hashirama rejoined the convoy, leaving Kakuzu a bundle of Military Ration Pills.
• Kakuzu ate a pill as the convoy disappeared and murmured, “Konoha, huh?”