Chapter Summaries

Taiichi secured the Moon Otsutsuki Clan’s surrender, sealed the Giant Tenseigan, and offered the wounded treatment in Konoha. Meanwhile, Shizune grew alarmed by Tsunade’s uncharacteristic discipline and discovered that Tsunade was keeping everyone at a distance; the chapter ended with Tsunade scolding Shizune for idling.

• Taiichi made Otsutsuki Katsuya surrender the clan’s scrolls and research, then sealed the Giant Tenseigan to prevent unauthorized access while helping it recover energy.
• Taiichi ordered Katsuya and three clansmen to return to Konoha with him, and offered medical treatment there for the clan’s gravely wounded.
• Katsuya accepted Taiichi’s offer and resolved to atone for his failures, while Taiichi explained to the Nine-Tails that treating the wounded through Konoha would earn the clan’s gratitude.
• Mizuki told Shizune that Tsunade had spent several nights silently watching the moon and had become unusually calm and work-focused.
• Shizune visited Tsunade at the hospital and confirmed that she refused help and kept working, then stayed close to her the following day to investigate.
• Tsunade criticized Shizune for neglecting missions and her Medical Ninjutsu training.

Shizune grew alarmed by Tsunade’s sudden change in behavior, and Orochimaru suspected she was restraining herself from drinking. Meanwhile, Taiichi returned to Konoha with the Moon Otsutsuki Clan, whose arrival forced the village leaders to confront the question of their settlement and Hyuga Hiashi’s role.

• Shizune reported Tsunade’s drastic personality change to Minato, and Hiruzen asked Orochimaru to investigate.
• Orochimaru watched Tsunade refuse to drink wine and later told Hiruzen she was probably quitting drinking and reflecting on herself.
• Taiichi led the wounded Moon Otsutsuki Clan toward Konoha, where Minato’s emergency permit allowed them to enter after lengthy procedures began.
• Minato welcomed Otsutsuki Katsuya and promised Konoha would treat the wounded and restore missing limbs.
• After Katsuya left the Hokage’s Office, the leaders turned their attention to Hyuga Hiashi.

Hiashi hesitated to change the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird seal after the Ōtsutsuki Clan arrived with the same Kekkei Genkai, while Taiichi urged him to make the seal protective rather than lethal. Minato sent Taiichi to investigate Tsunade's strange behavior, and Taiichi found her treating injured Ōtsutsuki with an unnervingly gentle smile.

• Hiashi told Minato he needed to consult the Hyuga elders before deciding how to respond to the Ōtsutsuki Clan's Byakugan.
• Taiichi suggested removing the Caged Bird seal's power over life and death, and Hiashi promised to bring the proposal to his clan.
• Minato and Hiruzen told Taiichi that Tsunade had become unusually quiet and proper, so Taiichi agreed to visit her at Konoha Hospital.
• Nine-Tails admitted he had drunk Tsunade's liquor, and Taiichi suspected the fox was responsible for her change in behavior.
• Taiichi learned that Tsunade was treating severely injured Ōtsutsuki patients and saw her smiling gently at Katsuya, prompting him to suspect she was seriously ill.

Taiichi and Tsunade treated the wounded Moon Otsutsuki Clan members while Taiichi watched Tsunade’s unusual restraint with concern. Meanwhile, Hyuga Hiashi’s clan voted to change the Caged Bird Seal and welcome the Ōtsutsuki Clan, then asked Minato for help modifying it.

• Tsunade welcomed Taiichi and the Nine-Tails at Konoha Hospital, then joined Taiichi in performing five surgeries as the Nine-Tails fled.
• Taiichi noticed Tsunade avoiding her usual gambling den and liquor, and later found her meditating in the courtyard.
• Hyuga Hiashi and the elders debated how to handle the Moon Otsutsuki Clan, and the Great Elder, Third Elder, and Hiashi voted to modify the Caged Bird Seal and admit the clan.
• Hiashi told Minato that the Hyuga Clan had lost the expertise and records needed to modify the seal.
• Minato promised that he, Orochimaru, and Taichi Matsushita would provide technical help while leaving the Hyuga Clan in charge of the research.

Akatsuki learned that Konoha had taken in the Moon Otsutsuki Clan and decided to use the news to stir hostility among the great shinobi villages while speeding up its Tailed Beast plan. In Konoha, Katsuya agreed to merge his clan into the Hyuga under protective terms, and Minato and Hiruzen then asked Taiichi to summon Tsunade so they could confront her about her strange behavior.

• Zetsu told Pain and Obito that Konoha had taken in Hamura Otsutsuki's Byakugan-wielding descendants, and Obito proposed portraying the move as forced annexation.
• Pain ordered Zetsu to spread and exaggerate the story among the four great shinobi villages, then told Obito to accelerate recruitment for the Tailed Beast collection plan.
• Minato proposed merging the Moon Otsutsuki Clan into the Hyuga, and Katsuya accepted after Minato promised changes to the Caged Bird seal and positions for his clansmen.
• Minato and Hiruzen questioned Taiichi about Tsunade's unusually diligent and stable behavior, and Taiichi suggested speaking with her directly.
• Minato and Hiruzen agreed and asked Taiichi to bring Tsunade to the Hokage's Office.

Taiichi and Minato sent Tsunade out on a field mission to keep her from burying herself in work, while Hiruzen realized they had helped her escape for a break. As Konoha's team began taking a larger role in improving the Hyuga Caged Bird, news of the Otsutsuki clan from the moon reached Kumogakure, prompting Raikage A to call for diplomatic pressure on Konoha and an investigation into the leak.

• Tsunade insisted she had reformed, so Taiichi and Minato arranged an intelligence-gathering mission that she eagerly accepted and left the village to perform.
• After a week of receiving formal mission reports but no sign of Tsunade, Hiruzen realized Taiichi and Minato had helped her get away and complained about being tricked.
• Minato, Taiichi, Orochimaru, and Otsutsuki Katsuya took a deeper role in improving the Caged Bird after the Hyuga clan discovered that most of its research materials were missing.
• Fourth Raikage A learned that Konoha had brought an Otsutsuki clan from the moon into the village and ordered Mabui to seek a joint diplomatic protest and trace the intelligence's source.

As rumors that Konoha planned to use the Tenseigan to conquer the Ninja World spread, Konoha’s leaders learned the truth about the Giant Tenseigan and debated how to respond. Taiichi identified Akatsuki as the likely source and urged Konoha to redirect the other villages’ fear toward Akatsuki and its Rinnegan, leaving Minato to order a campaign to expose the organization.

• Zetsu spread a rumor that Konoha could evolve the Byakugan into the Tenseigan and use it to unite the Ninja World, prompting the other villages to fall silent.
• Katsuya Otsutsuki told Konoha’s leaders that his experience with the Giant Tenseigan and Pseudo-Tenseigan Mode showed its power far exceeded ordinary Kage Level.
• Taiichi explained that the Moon Otsutsuki Clan had never produced a true Tenseigan and that the Giant Tenseigan was an immobile weapon tied to the Moon Core World.
• Minato ordered Katsuya and Hiashi to keep information about the Giant Tenseigan secret, while Homura reported that the other villages had grown suspiciously quiet.
• Taiichi identified Akatsuki as the likely source of the rumor and argued that the organization’s real Rinnegan and plans to collect Tailed Beasts posed a greater threat.
• Minato ordered Homura to work with the Intelligence Department to spread everything Konoha knew about Akatsuki to the other villages and underground powers.

Konoha’s disclosure of Akatsuki’s Rinnegan and Tailed Beast plans alarmed the Ninja World and prompted Ōnoki to order intelligence gathering. At Akatsuki’s base, Konan introduced Konoha defector Hiruko as a potential recruit, but Hiruko mistook the group’s absence for rejection and angrily confronted her.

• Ōnoki read Konoha’s report about Akatsuki and ordered Rock Ninja on outside missions to gather intelligence, especially about Pain and the Rinnegan.
• Obito berated Zetsu for revealing details about the Tenseigan, while Pain remained silent as Akatsuki’s exposure drew attention from the villages.
• Konan told Pain she had found a new recruit, Hiruko, and Pain assigned him to team up with Kakuzu without asking for more details.
• Obito questioned Hiruko’s strength, so Konan offered to let the others assess him and went to bring him from a nearby forest.
• Hiruko waited with Kakuzu, then grew furious when Konan returned alone and accused Akatsuki of dismissing him without a chance to prove himself.
• Konan calmly asked Hiruko whether he truly had not noticed at all.

Hiruko demonstrated his Steel Release to Akatsuki, but Kakuzu defeated him; Pain accepted Hiruko for his Chimera Technique research and assigned him to Kakuzu’s team. On the way back to base, Nagato told Konan that Zetsu’s actions had made Akatsuki a target, so they might need to lie low until the danger passed.

• Konan revealed Pain, Obito, and Zetsu, and Pain ordered Kakuzu to test Hiruko’s strength.
• Hiruko used Steel Release to withstand Kakuzu’s firestorm, but Kakuzu wore down his defenses and defeated him with Lightning Style: False Darkness.
• Pain asked Hiruko to explain his research, and Hiruko described how the Chimera Technique could fuse stolen Kekkei Genkai.
• Pain recognized Hiruko’s research, gave him the Kuuchin ring, and assigned him to partner with Kakuzu, whose codename was Hokuto.
• Kakuzu welcomed Hiruko as his new partner, while Pain and Konan returned to base and discussed Zetsu’s actions and Akatsuki’s need to lie low.

Taiichi successfully removed Hizashi Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal and replaced it with a protective mark, prompting the Hyuga Clan to abolish the old seal and begin reforms. The Uchiha elders debated matching the Hyuga’s changes, and Fugaku persuaded them to accelerate reform by warning them of Taiichi’s immense strength.

• Taiichi removed Hizashi’s Caged Bird Seal and applied the new protective mark, which left his Byakugan unaffected.
• Hiashi announced that the Hyuga Clan would abolish the Caged Bird Seal, and Taiichi began removing old seals from ten members a day.
• The Hyuga Clan celebrated as Main Family and Branch Family members received the new mark together.
• Fugaku and the Uchiha elders discussed the Hyuga reforms, and Fugaku argued that the Uchiha should speed up their own changes.
• Fugaku told the elders that Taiichi’s strength was approaching Madara Uchiha’s and described his use of Shadow Clones, prompting the Second and Third Elders to accept faster reform.

Fugaku learned that Itachi had completed his Natural Energy sensing training, and Taiichi began teaching Itachi, Yami, and Jiangtai how to cultivate Senjutsu Chakra. Their first attempt ended in exhaustion after they lost control of the Natural Energy, and Taiichi revived them with his bitter Special Military Ration Pills.

• Fugaku praised Itachi for completing his Senjutsu training assignment and sent him to find Taiichi.
• Itachi joined Yami and Jiangtai at Taiichi's home, where all three demonstrated that they could sense the new milky-white Natural Energy.
• Taiichi taught them his safer method of combining Natural Energy with Chakra, while binding Jiangtai with an Adamantine Sealing Chain for interrupting him.
• The three children attempted to absorb Natural Energy, lost control, and collapsed from exhaustion, with Jiangtai lasting the longest.
• Taiichi warned them about the dangers of Senjutsu, then gave each a Special Military Ration Pill that restored their strength despite its terrible bitterness.

Taichi supervised Yami, Itachi, and Jiangtai through their first formal Senjutsu training and encouraged them to persist despite their difficulties. Meanwhile, Hyuga Yuto received his new Curse Mark, erupted in hatred toward Konoha and Taichi, and drew Black Zetsu’s attention.

• Taichi watched over Yami, Itachi, and Jiangtai as they practiced absorbing Natural Energy, disrupting their Senjutsu Chakra whenever they neared losing control.
• Taichi explained that the three could experiment with different training methods, then encouraged them by describing how rare Sage Mode was and how Jiraiya had needed twelve years to master it.
• The three continued practicing until late at night, and Taichi warned them not to train alone before sending them home to rest.
• Hyuga Yuto watched Taichi remove a Caged Bird Curse Mark from a branch-family ninja, then trembled when he recognized Taichi during his own Curse Mark ritual.
• Yuto fled to an abandoned training ground and cursed Hyuga, Konoha, Minato Namikaze, and Taichi, vowing revenge without noticing Black Zetsu hidden beneath the ground.
• Black Zetsu overheard Yuto’s outburst and recognized him as a remnant of the Lunar Otsutsuki clan.

Black Zetsu decided to target Hyuga Yuto as a potential tool, while Taiichi trained his disciples and agreed to help Minato improve the Flying Thunder God. Minato then assigned Taiichi to investigate two missing teams in the Land of Bears, and Taiichi proposed bringing his three young disciples along.

• Black Zetsu judged Hyuga Yuto’s hatred and knowledge of the moon made him useful to a backup plan, and chose to report to Akatsuki before approaching him.
• Taiichi ended Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami’s Sage Mode training when Itachi lost control, then explained to Kakashi that he hoped to make human senjutsu inheritable beyond the Three Great Sage Regions.
• Minato showed Taiichi a sealing-based design for a multi-person version of the Flying Thunder God, and Taiichi agreed to help refine it.
• Minato told Taiichi that two Konoha teams had disappeared in the same town in the Land of Bears while returning from the Land of Snow, and Taiichi accepted the investigation.
• Taiichi asked Minato for permission to bring Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami along to gain experience.

Taiichi took Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi toward the Land of Bears for training, allowing the Nine-Tails to join under strict rules. Meanwhile, Hoshigakure learned that two Konoha squads had vanished, while Akahoshi discovered that passing Akatsuki’s test did not guarantee him membership.

• Minato reluctantly allowed Taiichi to take his three students out of the village, and Taiichi left before Minato could change his mind.
• Jiangtai sensed they were being followed, and the students attacked the Nine-Tails when it sprang from the bushes.
• The Nine-Tails persuaded Taiichi to take it along, agreeing to obey his orders, protect the students, and avoid causing trouble.
• Hotarubi told the Third Hoshikage that two Konoha squads had gone missing, so the Hoshikage sent him to cooperate with Konoha while avoiding conflict.
• Akahoshi confronted Kakuzu and Hiruko after completing their test, but Kakuzu told him that only Pain could approve his formal membership in Akatsuki.

Akahoshi hired Kakuzu and Hiruko to help him steal Hoshigakure's treasured star after they refused to assist him as comrades. Meanwhile, Taiichi's team investigated the vanished Konoha squads and uncovered clues pointing toward Hoshigakure's secret technique, leaving Fire Fly struggling to explain what he knew.

• Akahoshi agreed to pay Kakuzu and Hiruko to help seize Hoshigakure's star, with half the fee due after the mission.
• Taiichi, Itachi, Jiangtai, Yami, and the Nine-Tails reached the Land of Bears while searching for the missing Konoha squads.
• Fire Fly guided Taiichi's group from a nearby town to a forest clearing where the squads had apparently fought their attacker.
• Taiichi analyzed the footprints and damage for his students, deducing that one powerful opponent had used an unusual long-range physical attack.
• Fire Fly recognized similarities between the attack and Hoshigakure's Mysterious Peacock Method, then admitted that the secret technique might be involved.

Taiichi and his team crossed Death Canyon after discovering that Hoshigakure was under attack, arriving to find Akahoshi, Kakuzu, and Hiruko besieging the village’s survivors. As Hokuto turned on the wounded Third Hoshikage Yotaka, Taiichi’s group was still approaching the battlefield.

• Hotarubi agreed to lead Taiichi and the others toward Hoshigakure, but Taiichi sensed intense fighting there and warned him that the village was under attack.
• Hotarubi flew over Death Canyon, and Taiichi overtook him with the others before carrying him toward Hoshigakure as they spotted smoke and sensed death nearby.
• At Hoshigakure’s forbidden tower, Natsuhi and the wounded Third Hoshikage Yotaka faced Akahoshi, Kakuzu, and Hiruko after most of the village had been killed.
• Akahoshi blamed Yotaka for denying him the star and urged the surviving villagers to surrender and accept him as their leader.
• Hokuto, afraid to die, rushed toward Yotaka and stabbed at his heart while Natsuhi shouted for him to stop.

Akahoshi betrayed Hoshigakure and led a massacre with Kakuzu and Hiruko, who fled after sensing Taichi Matsushita approaching. As Taichi raced toward the village, Hotarubi formally commissioned Konoha to intervene, and Taichi accepted the S-rank mission.

• Hokuto and three Chunin betrayed Yotaka and joined Akahoshi, who ordered Kakuzu, Hiruko, and his Chakra beasts to kill the remaining Star Ninja.
• Kakuzu and Hiruko sensed Taichi Matsushita approaching, left clones behind, and fled toward the Land of Demons, abandoning Akahoshi.
• Pain told Kakuzu and Hiruko to forget Akahoshi and hurry to the Land of Demons to support Zetsu and Blood Crow.
• Taichi sensed the slaughter in Hoshigakure and told Hotarubi that he would not intervene without an official mission.
• Hotarubi offered Hoshigakure's savings and a commitment to follow Konoha's lead in exchange for aid, and Taichi accepted the S-rank mission.

Akatsuki decided to pursue Moryo in the Land of Demons while Miroku woke from a forgotten, frightening prophetic dream. At Hoshigakure, Taiichi killed Akahoshi and destroyed Hiruko’s Shadow Clone, then let Kakuzu’s remaining clones become a training challenge for his disciples.

• Black Zetsu told Pain, Konan, and Obito that Moryo was sealed in the Land of Demons and proposed recruiting it, so Pain sent Zetsu and Blood Crow to investigate.
• Miroku woke in fear after forgetting a dream that she believed had foretold a future event, then worried about what it meant for her daughter, Shion.
• Taiichi arrived at the Hoshigakure battlefield and killed Akahoshi after Akahoshi admitted to killing two Konoha squads.
• Hiruko attacked Taiichi with Storm Release: Laser Circus, but Taiichi countered with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and destroyed Hiruko’s Shadow Clone.
• Kakuzu sent four elemental clones toward the Hoshigakure fighters and Taiichi’s group, and Taiichi assigned one clone each to himself, Hotarubi, the Nine-Tails, and the three little ones.

Taiichi defeated the remaining enemies with his team, awakened Itachi’s Sharingan through combat, and saved the Third Hoshikage, Yotaka. After Minato authorized him to negotiate, Yotaka confirmed Hoshigakure’s willingness to ally with Konoha and accept its leadership.

• Taiichi and the Nine-Tails finished off the enemy clones while Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami defeated the Fire Style Mask Clone, and the children helped Hotarubi overcome his opponent.
• Itachi awakened his Sharingan during the battle, and Taiichi explained that steady training created a healthier foundation than emotional shortcuts.
• Taiichi treated Yotaka’s grave injuries, then sent Konoha a report about Akahoshi, Akatsuki, and Hoshigakure’s rebellion.
• Minato authorized Taiichi to negotiate with Hoshigakure, and Yotaka later woke and agreed that an alliance with Konoha might be necessary.
• Yotaka affirmed Hotarubi’s offer and told Taiichi that Hoshigakure was willing to ally with Konoha, accept its leadership, and follow its orders.

Taiichi finalized an alliance between Konoha and Hoshigakure, then received orders to investigate Moryo’s escape from the Land of Demons. Before setting out with his students, he discovered Jiangtai’s fear of ghosts and decided to train him to overcome it.

• Taiichi offered Yotaka and Hoshigakure’s leaders an alliance with Konoha involving defense, aid, training, intelligence sharing, and access to the Mysterious Peacock Method; Yotaka accepted the terms.
• Taiichi trained Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi for a week while they sparred with the Nine-Tails, until a Konoha Communication Hawk brought news that Moryo had escaped.
• Taiichi told Hotarubi, Natsuhiboshi, and Yotaka that he had to leave for the Land of Demons, and they wished him success as they awaited Konoha’s handover team.
• The Nine-Tails frightened Jiangtai with stories about Moryo and ghosts, revealing that Jiangtai was afraid of them.
• Taiichi used the Spirit Transformation Technique to show Jiangtai a ghostlike soul, then promised special training to help him overcome his fear before they reached the Land of Demons.