Chapter Summaries

Hyuga Shinichi interrupted Tsunade and Dan Katō embracing, then helped organize the camp while reflecting on his lack of romantic experience. The story shifted back to Konoha, where Uzumaki Kushina was ambushed at a waterfall by three Kumogakure men who identified her as a candidate Nine-Tails jinchuriki.

• Tsunade punched Hyuga Shinichi after he entered her tent and saw her embracing Dan Katō.
• Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro realized what had happened and insisted they had seen nothing.
• Hyuga Shinichi teased Dan Katō, then took Inuzuka Gai, Aburame Tomohiro, and Black Charcoal to help organize the camp.
• Uzumaki Kushina left the Senju clan grounds to train at a waterfall while Hyuga Shinichi was away on a mission.
• Three men ambushed Uzumaki Kushina, and she used the Substitution Technique and Wind Style: Gale Palm to defend herself.
• One attacker dispelled Uzumaki Kushina’s Gale Palm with Lightning Style, then ordered the others to take the candidate Nine-Tails jinchuriki back to Kumogakure.

Uzumaki Kushina tried to escape three Cloud Ninja who planned to take her to Kumogakure, but they captured and bound her. As one of them insulted her family and Konoha, Kushina retaliated by headbutting him.

• Uzumaki Kushina used shuriken and six shadow clones to distract the Cloud Ninja, then fled toward the forest.
• A Cloud Ninja used Lightning Style to destroy Kushina’s clones, and the three men chased her through the forest.
• The Cloud Ninja caught Kushina after she stumbled, pinned her down, and tied her hands behind her back.
• One Cloud Ninja dragged Kushina along by a rope and told her that no one in Konoha knew she had been captured.
• Kushina headbutted the Cloud Ninja in the stomach after he insulted her family.

Uzumaki Kushina was abducted by Cloud Ninja and left strands of her red hair as a trail. Namikaze Minato discovered the clues and ran after her, realizing she had been taken, while recalling Uzumaki Mito’s warning that Kushina often hid her troubles from others.

• Cloud Ninja dragged Uzumaki Kushina away, and she secretly dropped strands of her red hair along the road.
• Namikaze Minato returned from Mount Myoboku, found scorched ground and Kushina’s hair, and suspected she was in danger.
• Namikaze Minato followed the trail into the forest and found signs that adults had chased and abducted Kushina.
• Namikaze Minato followed the red hair farther and recalled Uzumaki Mito telling him that Kushina was fragile beneath her strong exterior and had once been reluctant to seek help.

Uzumaki Mito asked Namikaze Minato to support Kushina after she became the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and he vowed to rescue her from the Cloud Ninja who had captured her. The Cloud Ninja revealed they planned to take Kushina back for jinchūriki research and were fleeing by sea to avoid Konoha's White Fang.

• Uzumaki Mito told Namikaze Minato she hoped he would care for Kushina and explained that love had helped her live happily as a jinchūriki.
• Namikaze Minato recalled Mito's words and hurried to rescue Uzumaki Kushina rather than return to Konoha to report.
• The Cloud Ninja escorting Kushina discussed their orders to abduct an Uzumaki for research into jinchūriki.
• The Cloud Ninja decided to take the sea route because Konoha's White Fang was guarding the border near their secret passage.

Namikaze Minato followed Uzumaki Kushina’s dropped red hair and rescued her from the Cloud Ninja, killing all three. As he reassured her beneath the moonlight, Kushina spotted lightning racing toward his back.

• Uzumaki Kushina dropped strands of her red hair as the Cloud Ninja escorted her toward the sea, while Uzumaki Mito alerted Sarutobi Hiruzen that she had not returned.
• Nawaki found clues near the waterfall and led four Konoha ninja in pursuit along the trail of red hair.
• Namikaze Minato ambushed and killed the three Cloud Ninja while Uzumaki Kushina continued forward, unaware of the fight.
• Namikaze Minato revealed himself to Uzumaki Kushina and told her he had come to save her.
• Uzumaki Kushina saw a bolt of lightning streaking toward Namikaze Minato’s back and warned him.

Namikaze Minato rescued Uzumaki Kushina from a lightning attack and confronted Torei, a Kumogakure Jonin who wanted to capture Kushina and steal the Flying Thunder God Technique. Minato refused to surrender the technique and advanced on Torei, leaving their fight about to begin.

• Namikaze Minato dodged Torei's lightning strike, caught the exhausted Uzumaki Kushina, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape another attack with her.
• Namikaze Minato untied Uzumaki Kushina and stood between her and the forest, where he challenged the hidden attacker to reveal himself.
• Torei emerged and revealed himself as a Kumogakure Jonin who had come looking for the delayed Cloud Ninja and spotted Minato and Kushina in the borderlands.
• Torei recognized Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique and demanded that he hand it over, offering to let him leave afterward.
• Namikaze Minato refused to surrender the technique, drew two kunai, and walked toward Torei.

Namikaze Minato fought Torei to protect Uzumaki Kushina, using the Flying Thunder God technique and a powerful combined fire-and-wind attack against Torei’s Lightning Chakra Mode. The blast knocked Torei down, but he stood back up, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God technique to evade Torei’s attacks and strike with a wind-coated kunai, but Torei’s lightning defense stopped it.
• Uzumaki Kushina urged Namikaze Minato to flee, but he told her he would not run or back down.
• Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God technique to reposition and make Torei focus on two kunai before launching Flame Wind Bow and Arrow.
• Torei blocked the combined attack with his Lightning Chakra Mode until the clash exploded and blasted him to the ground.
• Namikaze Minato stayed on guard as Torei got back to his feet.

Namikaze Minato continued fighting Torei with the Flying Thunder God technique, but Torei’s Lightning Chakra Mode blocked his attacks. With his options running out, Minato devised a risky plan and repositioned himself among his marked kunai, leaving the chapter’s outcome unresolved.

• Torei recovered from the Flame Wind Bow and Arrow and attacked Minato with intensified lightning.
• Minato used his marked kunai to teleport around Torei and strike at him, but Torei’s lightning armor repelled his attacks and shattered one kunai.
• Torei smashed the ground with a powerful punch, but Minato escaped by teleporting to another kunai as Kushina watched in alarm.
• Minato counted his remaining usable Flying Thunder God kunai and realized he needed a new way to bypass Torei’s lightning armor.
• Minato threw a kunai to the ground, teleported to the kunai at the Flame Wind Bow and Arrow site, and picked it up as the thrown kunai embedded itself in the earth.

Namikaze Minato fought Torei while attempting to fuse three chakra natures, then awakened Light Release at the decisive moment. His new power cut through Torei’s lightning defense and split open his fist.

• Namikaze Minato used two Flying Thunder God kunai while secretly trying to fuse wind, fire, and lightning chakra as he fought Torei.
• Torei grew impatient and charged toward Uzumaki Kushina, forcing Namikaze Minato to intercept him beside a planted kunai.
• Namikaze Minato met Torei’s lightning-wreathed punch with his chakra-coated kunai and fused all three natures in the clash.
• Namikaze Minato’s new Light Release sliced through Torei’s lightning defense and cut his right fist in half.

Namikaze Minato defeated Torei with help from Uzumaki Kushina, then carried her away and told her he did not want to lose her. Kushina accepted that she belonged in Konoha and realized she had fallen for Minato.

• Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God kunai by the tree to escape Torei’s punch and attack his unguarded back.
• Uzumaki Kushina stopped Torei from turning with Wind Style: Gale Palm, allowing Minato to deliver a fatal Light Style slash.
• Minato caught Kushina when she nearly fell, then carried her through the moonlight as she noticed her red hair in his jacket.
• Minato told Kushina that he had treasured her hair and believed she was strong, but that he did not want to lose her in the village dispute.
• Minato reassured Kushina that she was Konoha’s companion and had family there, and Kushina began to like her red hair and realized she liked Minato.

Namikaze Minato reunited Uzumaki Kushina with the Konoha ninja and stunned them by revealing that he had killed the Cloud Jonin Torei and fused a Kekkei Genkai. The group prepared to return to Konoha with Kushina and the Cloud Ninja bodies, while an unknown observer watched Minato closely.

• Nawaki and the Konoha ninja found Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, and Minato explained that he had rescued her from the Cloud Ninja.
• Minato led the group to the Cloud Ninja corpses, where they recognized Torei and learned that Minato had killed the feared Jonin.
• Minato demonstrated a kunai glowing with yellow light and confirmed to Nawaki that he had fused a Kekkei Genkai.
• The Konoha ninja congratulated Minato and began seeking his favor, but Nawaki reminded them to complete their mission and return Kushina and the bodies to Konoha.
• An unidentified person at the edge of the crowd silently watched Minato draw everyone's attention.

Hiruko realized that Namikaze Minato’s ability to fuse a Kekkei Genkai might offer him a path to greater strength, and he eagerly anticipated returning to Konoha to begin researching it. After the group returned, Uzumaki Kushina reunited with Uzumaki Mito while Sarutobi Hiruzen considered Minato’s future as a potential Hokage.

• Hiruko reflected on his limited abilities and concluded that researching and fusing a Kekkei Genkai might let him surpass his peers.
• Namikaze Minato carried the exhausted Uzumaki Kushina back to Konoha, and Nawaki suspected she had fallen for Minato.
• Nawaki brought Minato and Kushina to the Hokage Office, where Kushina ran into Uzumaki Mito’s arms and cried.
• Nawaki reported the mission, and Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Minato for fusing a Kekkei Genkai and considered grooming him as the next Hokage.
• Uzumaki Mito trusted that Minato would protect Kushina and help ensure she would be happy in the future.

After learning that Cloud Ninja had kidnapped Uzumaki Kushina, Sarutobi Hiruzen questioned whether his ideals suited him to be Hokage. When Hyuga Shinichi returned to the Senju compound, he learned Minato had rescued Kushina and realized his past actions had prompted Kumogakure to target the Uzumaki Clan.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen left the Hokage Office after reflecting on the recent crisis and his suitability for the Hokage position.
• The exhausted Eye-Nose-Ear Team returned Dan Katō to Konoha, while Dan went to report on the border and request more people to help retrieve the wounded.
• Hyuga Shinichi returned to the Senju compound and learned from Nawaki that Cloud Ninja had kidnapped Kushina the previous night.
• Kushina explained what the Cloud Ninja had said, and Shinichi realized Kumogakure had targeted her because his actions had disrupted its jinchuriki research.
• Shinichi thanked Minato for rescuing Kushina, then awkwardly warned him to take responsibility and not rush into intimacy.
• Kushina blushed and fled to her room, while Mito teased Shinichi for lecturing Minato despite having no girlfriend himself.

Uzumaki Mito urged Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki to marry, while Shinichi felt his place in the family slipping as Namikaze Minato gained her attention. Minato then revealed that he had fused three chakra natures into a Kekkei Tōta, which he named Light Release.

• Uzumaki Mito pressed Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki to think about marriage, and Nawaki said marrying Michiko was still too early.
• Hyuga Shinichi avoided Mito's matchmaking by pointing out that his older clan cousins, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, were unmarried.
• Namikaze Minato called Hyuga Shinichi outside and showed him a kunai covered in a glowing yellow chakra.
• Namikaze Minato explained that he had fused three chakra natures, and Hyuga Shinichi identified the result as a Kekkei Tōta.
• Namikaze Minato named his new technique Light Release, and Hyuga Shinichi said the name suited it.

At Konoha’s memorial for those killed in the war, Nawaki decided to become a doctor and asked Tsunade to teach him medical ninjutsu. Later, Hyuga Shinichi met the grieving Shirakumo Hayama and offered to teach him swordsmanship.

• Hyuga Shinichi helped Namikaze Minato develop Light Release techniques, and Minato engraved the Flying Thunder God formula on his new three-pronged kunai.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and the senior advisors held a memorial service, where Mitokado Homura announced the war’s casualties.
• Nawaki asked Tsunade to teach him medical ninjutsu so he could become a doctor and save lives.
• Hyuga Shinichi wandered through Konoha and found Shirakumo Hayama grieving his parents and swinging a wooden sword.
• Shirakumo Hayama said he wanted to grow stronger and avenge his parents, and Hyuga Shinichi offered to teach him swordsmanship.

Hyuga Shinichi recognized Shirakumo Hayama as the son of a teammate who had once cared for him and accepted him as a disciple, beginning to teach him the Wind-Riding Sword Technique. Meanwhile, Uchiha Fun awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after blaming Hyuga Shinichi for his parents’ deaths, while Uchiha Zuho awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and collapsed before its transformation could continue.

• Hyuga Shinichi recognized Shirakumo Hayama from a photograph his father had shown him and confirmed their connection with another photograph.
• Hyuga Shinichi offered to teach Shirakumo Hayama the Wind-Riding Sword Technique, and Shirakumo Hayama accepted him as his master.
• Hyuga Shinichi helped Shirakumo Hayama avoid a formal bow and began teaching him the technique’s foundational move, Windflow Coating.
• Uchiha Setsuna told Uchiha Fun and Uchiha Zuho that their parents had died in battle, and Uchiha Fun blamed Hyuga Shinichi for their deaths.
• Uchiha Fun awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, delighting Uchiha Setsuna, while Uchiha Zuho awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and fainted before it could change further.

Sarutobi Hiruzen tasked Orochimaru with researching Wood Style using Hashirama’s cells, while Hyuga Shinichi led his newly formed squad to the Land of Iron to investigate the Evil-Slaying Blade. The team met the Land of Iron’s Old Leader, who warmly thanked Shinichi for saving Mifune.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen promoted Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro to Jonin, then formed two new Eye-Nose-Ear Teams and approved Hyuga Shinichi as leader of a squad with Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and Shirakumo Hayama.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled the leaders’ decision to research Hashirama’s cells and asked Orochimaru to lead the Wood Style experiments using bodies collected from the battlefield.
• Hyuga Shinichi and his squad traveled to the Land of Iron to investigate reports of the Evil-Slaying Blade, and Shinichi explained the rumors to his companions.
• Hyuga Shinichi’s team met the Land of Iron’s Old Leader and discovered that Mifune served as his personal guard.
• Mifune told the Old Leader that Shinichi and his companions had saved his life, prompting the Old Leader to thank Shinichi as a benefactor of the nation.

Hyuga Shinichi and his team met a second group seeking the Land of Iron’s A-rank mission: Sunagakure ninja led by Pakura. Shinichi’s staring made Pakura suspicious, and the Old Leader smoothed over the awkward encounter by inviting everyone to dinner before discussing the mission.

• The Old Leader learned that Shinichi did not want a reward and praised his tact and bearing.
• A guard reported that another ninja team had arrived to take the mission, and the Old Leader welcomed them into the hall.
• Shinichi recognized the newcomers as Sunagakure ninja and was startled to see their leader, Pakura.
• Pakura introduced herself and her three teammates, then frowned at Shinichi for staring at her.
• Shinichi apologized and explained that he had recognized Pakura, but she remained wary and turned away.
• The Old Leader sent Mifune to arrange dinner and invited the Sunagakure team to sit with the others.

Hyuga Shinichi and the Konoha and Sunagakure teams learned that the Land of Iron’s mission concerned real, mysterious killings linked to the Evil-Slaying Blade. The Old Leader described the baffling attacks, but the culprit and method remained unknown.

• Mifune urged the Old Leader to take precautions against troublemakers, but the Old Leader insisted the Land of Iron would not descend into chaos and told Mifune to sit and eat.
• The Old Leader explained that both shinobi teams could work on the mission and revealed that the Evil-Slaying Blade was real.
• Hyuga Shinichi connected the Land of Iron’s unrest to the rumors and asked the Old Leader to explain what had happened.
• The Old Leader said victims had been killed by identical deep sword wounds despite witnesses seeing no attacker, and that further killings had baffled the samurai.
• Hyuga Shinichi suggested an invisibility jutsu, while a Sunagakure ninja proposed a hidden extendable weapon, but the Old Leader said investigators had found no evidence for either explanation.

The Old Leader recounted the killings that inspired the Evil-Slaying Blade legend, while Hyuga Shinichi suspected a human killer rather than supernatural judgment. The killer escaped after samurai witnessed a masked figure and a victim burning, and rumors transformed the weapon into a divine instrument of punishment.

• The Old Leader explained that victims were abusive ruffians, and rumors arose that ghosts and gods had killed them.
• Hyuga Shinichi considered the Death God and concluded that the blade wounds suggested a human-made method was responsible.
• A month later, samurai on patrol witnessed a drunk man die from a blade wound as a figure caught fire and revealed a skull-masked person with a short blade.
• The skull-masked figure escaped after the samurai searched the nearby street, and residents identified the victim as a bully who had extorted them.
• The Old Leader said the story spread through the Land of Iron, where people imagined the Evil-Slaying Blade as a divine weapon wielded by a demon that judged and tortured evildoers.