Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya was nearly killed by Nagato before Tsunade arrived and used a sealed mountain to attack him. Nagato and Konan destroyed the mountain to save Amegakure, while Tsunade withdrew with Jiraiya in accordance with Minato's plan to keep Nagato alive.

• Nagato overpowered Jiraiya after Jiraiya's air-walking technique and Sage Mode failed him, then prepared to kill his former teacher.
• Tsunade arrived on a Bird Puppet and released a massive mountain from a Sealing Scroll above Nagato and Amegakure.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to hold back the mountain, but Tsunade struck it and forced it downward again.
• Konan sent Amegakure's Explosive Tags against the mountain, shattering it and using more tags to divert the falling fragments from the village.
• Tsunade took Jiraiya away instead of killing Nagato, following Minato and the others' plan to preserve Nagato.

Shiro visited the injured Jiraiya in Konoha Hospital, where the group joked and placed bets on Jiraiya’s upcoming spar with Tsunade. After escaping Minato’s attempt to arrange a date for him, Shiro returned to his Workshop and decided he needed to focus his training on developing truly powerful attacks.

• Shiro, Orochimaru, and Tsunade visited Jiraiya, who was wrapped in bandages after being treated by Tsunade.
• Shiro started a betting pool on Jiraiya’s planned spar with Tsunade, and Minato and Kushina joined in.
• Jiraiya tried to get even with Shiro by teasing him about dating, but Shiro fled through a Displacement Space Gate when Minato mentioned an errand from his aunt.
• Shiro returned to his Workshop to continue researching Magic Circuit modification and conversion.
• Shiro reflected on his weaknesses after facing Jashin and concluded that he needed to choose a focus and develop stronger attacks.

After six months of training, Shiro fought Kushina and revealed how far he had mastered Enkidu, while Kushina surprised him by entering perfect Jinchuriki mode. As their battle escalated, Shiro unveiled Heavenly Susanoo and ended the chapter by cutting off his own left arm as part of a final technique.

• Shiro used Enkidu to overpower Kushina's Adamantine Sealing Chains during their training battle.
• Kushina subdued the Nine-Tails in her inner world and transformed into a golden fox in perfect Jinchuriki mode.
• Kushina attacked with a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Shiro survived inside a sphere of Enkidu chains and summoned Heavenly Susanoo.
• Kushina destroyed Heavenly Susanoo with a point-blank tailed beast cannon, but Shiro's scattered chains trapped her shadow clone.
• Kushina's real body fired two Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and Shiro blocked them with an Enkidu barrier.
• Shiro announced his final move, cut off his left arm, and raised it overhead.

Shiro tested whether he could release Enkidu by sacrificing only an arm, but the Noble Phantasm vanished before reaching Kushina. He regenerated his limb and left for a meeting after Kushina and Tiezhu warned him against dangerous research.

• Shiro released Enkidu by sacrificing his arm, and the golden weapon flew toward Kushina as she fired Tailed Beast Bombs to stop it.
• Enkidu vanished before striking the golden fox, and Kushina hurried to Shiro after ending her transformation.
• Shiro regenerated his arm with the Limb Regeneration Technique and restored its soul with a strand of Enkidu.
• Kushina and Tiezhu worried that Shiro had pursued forbidden flesh-modification techniques, but Shiro explained his method and promised to be careful.
• Shiro opened a Space Gate and ushered Kushina and Tiezhu toward the meeting.

Shiro attended a meeting where Minato proposed extending the Puppet Airway and Landway into other countries, despite opposition from Konoha’s clans and elders. Minato defended the plan with the village’s financial figures, then declared that any country that refused could be fought.

• Shiro and Tiezhu arrived at the Hokage Office Building and joined the meeting about expanding the Puppet Airway and Landway abroad.
• Several clan representatives opposed the expansion, arguing that Konoha should focus on recovering from the war and avoid the expense.
• The Third Hokage and Danzo spoke against the plan, with the Third Hokage citing Konoha’s need for stability and Danzo doubting other countries would agree.
• Minato showed the Third Hokage a financial report indicating that Konoha had ample funds and explained that the Daimyo’s side would handle most of the project.
• Minato said Konoha would go to war with any country that disagreed with the plan.

Shiro and Minato pushed the Air-Land Project forward despite the Third Hokage and the advisers warning that it could provoke another war. The meeting approved Minato’s plan to negotiate with the four major nations and establish routes through smaller nations, setting the first step toward Konoha’s expansion.

• The Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura objected to Shiro’s proposal, warning that Konoha could not afford to start another war.
• Shiro argued that Konoha had enough power to force the plan through and reminded the leaders that he controlled Konoha Mobility’s decision-making authority.
• The Third Hokage accepted that Shiro could proceed and asked Minato how he planned to negotiate with the four nations.
• Minato proposed sending Shiro, Teacher Jiraiya, Senior Orochimaru, and Uchiha Taichi to negotiate, with their strength serving as a deterrent.
• Minato explained that Konoha would also build air and land routes through small nations, using resulting conflicts as grounds for war if negotiations failed.
• Tiezhu supported the proposal, and the meeting approved the plan.

Shiro and Minato’s plan to build routes between nations moved into action, with teams dispatched to negotiate construction. Before leaving for the Land of Earth, Shiro visited Kakashi and promised to give him the final piece of his training when he returned.

• Shiro assigned jonin to negotiate routes in the small countries and divided the four great nations among himself, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Uchiha Taichi.
• Shiro visited Chosuke and Seiyu’s graves and told them that his plan with Minato had taken its first step.
• Shiro encountered Kakashi at the Memorial Stone and warned him to prepare for dangerous training after Shiro returned.
• Shiro departed aboard a Bird Puppet as teams headed toward the other nations and Minato coordinated Konoha’s operations.
• Danzo’s Root suppressed opposition in Konoha, and Danzo decided to let Minato test his plan.

Shiro brought Konoha’s Air-Land Project to Iwagakure and forced Ōnoki to accept cooperation by displaying overwhelming Dust Release. Rasa also agreed to the plan after securing control over Elder Chiyo and the others’ Impure World Reincarnation, while Kirigakure’s leaders confronted the Third Mizukage over missing funds before an unexpected visitor arrived.

• Shiro presented Konoha’s cooperation plan to Ōnoki, then overwhelmed him and Kitsuchi with countless Dust Release cubes until Ōnoki agreed to the plan.
• Back in his office, Ōnoki told Kitsuchi that Iwagakure could not catch up to Konoha and that he hoped they would not become enemies.
• Rasa signed Orochimaru’s cooperation scroll, then demanded authority over Elder Chiyo and the others’ Impure World Reincarnation, which Orochimaru granted.
• The Kaguya and Yuki Clan Heads and other Kirigakure clans challenged the Third Mizukage over excessive spending that he and Obito had diverted to their research.
• An unidentified visitor interrupted the Kirigakure meeting with a casual greeting.

Jiraiya infiltrated Kirigakure and pressured the Third Mizukage into accepting Konoha’s cooperation plan. In Kumogakure, Taichi waited through official negotiations and was summoned to meet the Raikage.

• Jiraiya revealed himself in Kirigakure’s conference room, subdued an Anbu, and mocked the Third Mizukage and the elders.
• Jiraiya presented Konoha’s plan, and the elders refused to take responsibility for a decision, leaving the Third Mizukage to agree despite fearing the daimyo’s reaction.
• Jiraiya departed after warning the Third Mizukage that he knew about his embezzlement of public funds.
• Taichi waited outside the Raikage Building while a Kumogakure ninja objected to Konoha’s proposed agreement and urged the Raikage to fight instead.
• A woman emerged from the Raikage Building and escorted Taichi inside to meet the Raikage.

Taichi’s attempt to secure Cloud Village’s cooperation failed after the Raikage rejected Konoha’s plan and A attacked him, but Taichi subdued A and used a false Mangekyo projection to persuade the Raikage to let him leave. Six months later, the Air-Land Project had spread across the surrounding small countries and into three great countries, prompting Konoha to convene another major meeting.

• Taichi presented the Hokage’s plan to the Third Raikage, who demanded changes, but Taichi said he lacked authority to alter it.
• A attacked Taichi, who trapped him by exploiting a weakness in his Lightning Release Armor with Sharingan genjutsu.
• The Raikage refused cooperation and declared that Cloud Village would fight, while Anbu blocked Taichi’s exit.
• Taichi revealed a false Mangekyo Sharingan projection, and the Raikage ordered the Anbu to let him leave.
• Taichi returned to Konoha, and over the next six months the Air-Land Project expanded through nearby small countries and into parts of three great countries.
• Konoha convened another large-scale meeting after the project’s profits improved life in the participating small countries.

Minato and the Konoha leaders finalized the Land of Fire’s core ideology, rejecting the Third Hokage’s Will of Fire as too focused on the village. Minato then revealed his goal of removing ninja from public life and returning authority to ordinary people.

• Minato presented the Daimyo’s materials for assimilating the nations, and Shiro stopped the Third Hokage from adding the Will of Fire.
• Minato agreed that the Will of Fire was unsuitable for a national ideology, and the Third Hokage accepted the decision.
• The meeting refined the plan and officially established the Fire Ideology.
• Mitokado Homura asked Minato why he distinguished the village from the nation, and Minato explained that children were still being used as tools of war.
• Minato declared that he would unite the Shinobi World, supervise all ninja, and remove them from the world stage.

The night before a meeting, Shiro and Minato struggled to revise their plan to use Danzo and Root to expose the Nine-Tails attack, since Danzo had unexpectedly begun helping Minato. At the meeting, Minato proposed abolishing the ninja system, provoking widespread opposition until Shiro silenced the room with his overwhelming Chakra.

• Shiro and Minato discussed how Danzo’s cooperation threatened their plan to leak Kushina’s delivery information and dismantle Root.
• Shiro suggested provoking Danzo by signaling support for Uchiha political influence, and Minato proposed a marriage alliance involving Shiro.
• Shiro rejected the idea, explaining that he would not give up on the matter he believed was real and that Minato would understand when Naruto was born.
• Minato declared that mortals should return to ordinary life and the extraordinary to their own path, proposing an end to the ninja system.
• The Third Hokage and other attendees objected, and Shiro erupted with Chakra to quiet the meeting room and remind them that Minato was still Hokage.

Minato proposed changing how ninja families passed on their traditions, prompting the village elders to consider how the current system harmed children. Danzo interpreted the proposal as a threat to Konoha, while Shiro and Minato planned around his expected reaction; Tiezhu then asked Shiro to show Danzo mercy.

• Minato asked the elders to help develop a new model for ninja inheritance so children could grow up more safely, and the meeting ended without a decision.
• Danzo erupted in anger, believing Minato intended to destroy Konoha, then summoned a Root member after deciding Minato was unfit to be Hokage.
• At Minato's home, Shiro predicted Danzo would try to remove Minato from office, and Minato agreed that Danzo would see the proposal as an attack on Konoha.
• Kushina teased Shiro and Minato as they joked about blaming Danzo, and Tiezhu arrived and joined their conversation.
• Tiezhu praised Shiro's Chakra but warned him against scheming against Danzo, asking him to give the changed Danzo a better ending; Shiro agreed.

Shiro returned to Konoha to prepare for the Nine-Tails plan and warned Fugaku that someone might target pregnant Mikoto, giving him a scroll to prepare her eyes. He left Fugaku with assurances about the Uchiha’s future and proposed an unexpected name for his unborn son.

• Shiro returned to Konoha because the Nine-Tails plan took priority, but Naruto’s needs meant he could not be ready to rush to Kushina’s aid, so he considered additional backup plans.
• Shiro visited Fugaku and gave him a special scroll to help nourish his eyes, warning that someone was likely to make a move against pregnant Mikoto.
• Shiro told Fugaku that the child might develop along a different path but would still be his son, and Fugaku promised not to blame the child if he could not prevent the change.
• Shiro said Minato would take one Uchiha as a disciple but warned Fugaku that an Uchiha could not become Hokage, while promising the clan an important future role in Konoha.
• Fugaku asked whether Konoha would still exist in the future, and Shiro assured him that it would before suggesting the name Uchiha Yang Guo for Fugaku’s unborn son.

Shiro visited Kakashi’s training ground and saw how much Kakashi had improved through training with Mirror Image. Sakumo reassured Shiro that Kakashi had chosen the dangerous path himself, while Shiro remained worried Mirror Image might consume him.

• Fugaku rejected Shiro’s suggestion and named his child Sasuke, and Shiro left after their conversation.
• Kakashi and Mirror Image fought fiercely, demonstrating Kakashi’s refined combat style and improved Chidori.
• Kakashi and Mirror Image used Magnetic Lightning Body Flicker after building up electric charge during their earlier attacks.
• Shiro arrived and asked Sakumo how Kakashi had learned the technique so quickly, and Sakumo credited Shiro’s Projection Magecraft.
• Shiro warned that Mirror Image could devour Kakashi, but Sakumo urged him to stop blaming himself and trust Kakashi.

After Kakashi lost to Mirror Image, Shiro explained that instinct was a combat skill and revealed his own ability, Mind's Eye. He challenged Kakashi and Rin to ring his bell, leaving Kakashi battered but beginning to grasp something about Shiro's fighting style.

• Mirror Image defeated Kakashi and explained that instinct meant reacting to openings in battle before conscious thought.
• Shiro scolded Kakashi for dismissing instinct and explained his Mind's Eye, which helped him identify and exploit combat openings.
• Shiro challenged Kakashi and Rin to make the bell at his waist ring while he fought within a marked circle, promising a reward for victory and setting training demands if they lost.
• Kakashi initially refused, but Shiro threatened him with a sex-changing byproduct, so Kakashi and Rin attacked him.
• After the fight, Kakashi lay on the ground replaying Shiro's sword movements and felt he had almost understood something.

Yue tested her growing magecraft power in the Kamui dimension and completed Obito’s research task on Wood Release Cells. In Konoha, Shiro assigned Kakashi to protect Minato’s pregnant wife and leak the news to lure the cemetery, while hinting that Kakashi would learn more after mastering Instinct.

• Yue tested a black-ball spell outside the Kamui dimension and blasted a huge crater, surprising Obito with her rapid progress.
• Yue gave Obito her findings on Wood Release Cells and told him to study basic knowledge before requesting more research.
• Yue returned to her magecraft studies, unaware that a red mark briefly appeared on the back of her hand.
• Shiro told Kakashi to protect Big Sis alongside Minato’s Anbu and deliberately let the cemetery learn of her pregnancy.
• Shiro gave Kakashi a scroll containing a Noble Phantasm that could save Big Sis from fatal injury, and Kakashi thought of Obito.

Sasuke was born amid unseen forces converging on the Uchiha, while Shiro prepared for a possible confrontation and revised the Nine-Tails Plan. The chapter ended with Shiro demanding a fight with Minato and proposing to launch the Homunculus Project if he won.

• Shiro and Minato shelved their failed pseudo-Eight-Tails Jinchuriki plan and disagreed over whether Homunculus should provide Minato with Chakra.
• Fugaku, Shisui, and Taichi guarded Mikoto during Sasuke's birth, but they detected no suspicious presence.
• Orochimaru, Black Zetsu, Yue, and Shiro sensed a strange power converge on the Uchiha as Sasuke was born.
• After Sasuke's birth, Shiro gave Taichi a scroll containing Mangekyo Sharingan research, Sage Art, and Impure World Reincarnation instructions for a worst-case scenario.
• Shiro challenged Minato to a fight and said he would launch the Homunculus Project if he won.

Shiro refused to let Minato risk sacrificing himself and revealed that a hidden war was underway over the Shinobi World. He left Minato and Tiezhu with the warning that the world and the Sage of Six Paths were both at a disadvantage against Them.

• Shiro demanded to begin the Homunculus plan, but Minato refused, and Tiezhu ended the argument by insisting they use the proper method for Ninjutsu Sect Mode.
• Shiro promised to sacrifice himself rather than let Minato die, then used Unlimited Blade Works to bring Minato and Tiezhu into his Reality Marble.
• Shiro explained that a Reality Marble eroded the real world and that the world’s will had prevented Minato from using his imitation technique while influencing his growth.
• Shiro told Minato that his dream was his inner landscape and that it had led him to discover a higher-dimensional invasion war against the Shinobi World.
• Shiro identified the Sage of Six Paths, the Shinobi World’s will and its allies, and Them as the war’s three sides, warning that the first two were at an absolute disadvantage against Them.

Shiro explained that powerful beings from the Nasuverse would threaten Naruto’s birth and that he alone could risk dying because he might ascend to the Throne of Heroes. He sent Minato and Tiezhu out of his Reality Marble, then began analyzing the Wheel of Restraint as he prepared for the Nine-Tails Plan.

• Shiro told Minato and Tiezhu that the beings behind him vastly surpassed the shinobi world and might interfere when Naruto was born.
• Shiro explained that he could ascend to the Throne of Heroes if he died, but wanted to avoid being trapped there and hoped to use it to travel between worlds.
• Shiro said he was rushing the Homunculus Plan because he distrusted Orochimaru and feared Ayue’s talent would leave her vulnerable to the demonic path.
• Minato promised never to start the Homunculus Plan, and Shiro revealed that the Wheel of Restraint had recorded their conversation.
• Shiro expelled Minato and Tiezhu from the Reality Marble, asked them to look after his loved ones if he did not return, and began analyzing the Wheel of Restraint with his Heroic Spirit Card.