Chapter Summaries

Shiro’s attempt to analyze the Wheel of Restraint strained his Heroic Spirit Card and system, while Konoha and its enemies prepared to act as Kushina’s due date approached. Obito and Black Zetsu finalized their plan to target the Nine-Tails, but Yue rejected a proposed exchange involving Mystic Eyes.

• Shiro briefly analyzed the Wheel of Restraint, gaining filtered data while badly overloading his card and system.
• The Third Hokage approved Minato’s decision to punish Danzo after receiving evidence of Danzo’s betrayals and schemes.
• Obito killed a White Zetsu that interrupted him with news about Konoha, then met Yue and Black Zetsu to discuss the Nine-Tails plan.
• Obito and Black Zetsu decided to proceed with an attack during Kushina’s childbirth, despite Yue warning that the information could be a Konoha trap.
• Black Zetsu offered Yue a special kind of eye in exchange for cooperation, but Yue dismissed the offer and used Magecraft to destroy the White Zetsu.

Nagato secretly sent Akatsuki members toward Konoha, revealing that their true target was Danzo while other forces also moved on the village. As the Shinobi World braced for Konoha’s apparent maneuvering, Konoha’s Nine-Tails Plan officially began.

• Nagato told Konan that White Zetsu had uncovered the Fourth Hokage’s plan to move against Danzo, making Danzo Akatsuki’s true target, and ordered Konan to stay behind.
• Kakuzu and Meichuan reluctantly set out for Konoha, fearing Kakashi and the danger of returning there.
• Groups of Jonin-level ninja from the other great nations defected and headed toward Konoha as powerful Konoha figures appeared to be away on missions.
• The other nations strengthened their borders, suspecting Konoha was preparing a major move.
• Konoha secretly replaced the powerful figures sent on missions, and its Nine-Tails Plan officially began.

As Kushina went into labor, Akatsuki and other attackers launched a planned assault on Konoha, where the village’s prepared forces ambushed them. Tsunade joined the battle against Sasori and White Zetsu, then flew into a rage after learning Sasori’s puppets included her dead lover’s former teammate.

• Kushina entered the delivery room as attackers converged on Konoha, and the Police Force and Anbu engaged them outside the village.
• Akatsuki’s members attacked from five directions while Konoha’s elites moved to their assigned battles.
• The Aburame Clan’s insects initially overwhelmed Sasori and White Zetsu, destroying their forces and disrupting Sasori’s plan to reach Kakashi.
• Tsunade arrived and learned that Konoha’s other elite fighters had been replaced by substitutes, while White Zetsu confirmed the real ones were present.
• Sasori unleashed his Human Puppets, but Tsunade smashed them apart and charged through the battlefield in a fury.
• White Zetsu revealed that one of Sasori’s puppet materials had been a teammate of Tsunade’s dead lover, and Sasori cursed him for not saying so earlier.

Tsunade used Konoha's research to break Sasori's Magnet Release and revealed that his poison had failed. She unleashed the Wrath of the True Buddha against him, leaving Sasori calling for White Zetsu as the attack struck.

• Sasori sent the Third Kazekage Human Puppet's Iron Sand against Tsunade while White Zetsu directed clones to support him.
• Tsunade recalled Konoha's research on Magnet Release and disrupted the puppet's Chakra field, scattering its Iron Sand.
• White Zetsu pulled Sasori out of the way of Tsunade's punch, but Tsunade identified his airborne poison and pointed out that it had not harmed her.
• Tsunade released a huge surge of Chakra, announced that the times had changed, and raised her marked fist.
• Tsunade unleashed the Wrath of the True Buddha, and Sasori shouted for White Zetsu before the giant Chakra fist struck.

Shikaki and the Third Hokage confronted Kakuzu and Meichuan near a Nara clan medicinal herb shop. The Third Hokage fought Kakuzu while Shikaki trapped Meichuan with his Shadow Legion, leaving Shikaki under heavy mental strain as the battle continued.

• Shikaki blocked Kakuzu and Meichuan, and the Third Hokage appeared and took Kakuzu as his opponent.
• The Third Hokage used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning, but Kakuzu and Meichuan emerged from the smoke alive.
• Shikaki used Shadow Flicker to reposition himself, then surrounded Meichuan with his Shadow Legion.
• The Shadow Legion bombarded Meichuan with varied attacks, while Shikaki's preparations exploited Meichuan's reckless fighting style and undying body.
• Shikaki's tactics worsened Meichuan's injuries, but coordinating the Legion rapidly drained Shikaki's brainpower.

The Third Hokage outmaneuvered Kakuzu and destroyed his escape attempt, while Shikaki incapacitated Meichuan with a carefully prepared combination of miniature ninja soldiers, Rasengan, and sealing runes. After the battle, Shikaki learned that his External Brain experiment had succeeded and was ordered to rest as the Third Hokage reflected on Konoha’s growing strength.

• Kakuzu used the Third Hokage’s apparent opening to stage an escape, but the Third Hokage anticipated his trick and had Enma smash the mask Kakuzu used to flee.
• Shikaki used eight ninja soldiers and miniature scrolls to strike Meichuan with Rasengan, then bound him with Shadow Land and activated sealing runes placed in advance.
• The White Zetsu clone recognized Shikaki’s foresight and quietly withdrew, while the Third Hokage decided Shikaki’s battle was nearly over and did not intervene.
• Shikaki learned that the External Brain had handled eighty percent of his computational load, though the test had damaged many of its brain cells.
• The Third Hokage told Shikaki to stop working and rest, then looked toward Hokage Rock and considered how Konoha was growing stronger.

Orochimaru and Might Duy arrived as Jiying and Hiruko fought Konoha’s Police Force, and Orochimaru challenged Hiruko’s Dark Release. After defeating Hiruko and explaining the flaws in his approach to Kekkei Genkai, Orochimaru left him pondering new possibilities and considered him a potential helper.

• Jiying and Hiruko overwhelmed Konoha’s Police Force, while Hiruko absorbed and manipulated a Lightning Release attack.
• Orochimaru and Might Duy emerged, with Orochimaru asking Duy to resume his unfinished battle against a Steel Release ninja.
• Hiruko attacked Orochimaru with blue flames, but Orochimaru dodged and tested Hiruko’s ability to absorb different chakra natures.
• Orochimaru explained that Hiruko could not absorb ninjutsu when its user’s chakra control surpassed his, and criticized him for collecting Kekkei Genkai without studying their principles.
• Hiruko became absorbed in Orochimaru’s ideas about combining chakra natures, while Orochimaru wondered whether he could become a useful helper.

Jiraiya let Nagato escape after their confrontation, while Nagato found and attacked Danzō, who tried to flee but was pulled back by Banshō Ten'in. As Kushina began giving birth, Shiro started fighting, and Duy and Jiying remained locked in close combat.

• Hiruko taunted Orochimaru about his poison, but began to feel its effects as their fight neared its end.
• Jiraiya recognized Pain as Nagato, asked to speak with his former student, and watched Pain reverse-summon away.
• Jiraiya stayed in place because Konoha's Research Department had accounted for the enemy's actions in its plan.
• Nagato confronted Danzō, absorbed his Wind Release attack, and pursued him when he tried to escape.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in to pull Danzō back as Kushina began giving birth and Shiro started fighting.
• Duy and Jiying continued trading blows in close combat.

Shiro negotiated with the blue halo, agreeing to an assistant and monitor in exchange for ending his interference, then removed the dangerous anti-world formula from his hand. As the Nine-Tails attack began, Kakashi confronted Obito while Minato went to support the others.

• Shiro revealed the anti-world formula in his left hand and persuaded the blue halo to make a deal rather than fight him.
• The blue halo agreed to provide Shiro with an assistant who would also monitor him, and Shiro erased the formula from his hand after They disappeared.
• Naruto was born safely while Minato brought Kushina and the baby home, then left to face the attacker.
• Obito rebuked White Zetsu for criticizing his decision to save Kushina and prepared to confront Minato.
• Kakashi arrived and identified the masked attacker as Obito, so Minato left to support the others.
• Obito tried to escape from Kakashi, but Kakashi appeared in front of him and struck with Space-Time Chidori.

Kakashi fought Obito using a space-time Chidori and a strange mask, but Obito escaped after Kakashi’s Mirror Image persona intervened. Kakashi regained control, frustrated that he had failed to defeat Obito.

• Kakashi trapped Obito inside a lightning prison with his Space-Time Chidori and attacked him with the mask’s power.
• Kakashi confronted Obito over attacking Kushina, but Obito summoned Susanoo and struck him down.
• Kakashi’s Mirror Image persona emerged, cut off Obito’s left hand, and forced him to use Izanagi to restore it.
• Obito used Susanoo to repel Mirror Image and escaped through Kamui while Mirror Image briefly summoned Susanoo of his own.
• Mirror Image returned control to Kakashi, who punched the ground and cursed his failure to defeat Obito.

Shiro and the Uchiha stopped Pain’s attempt to exploit the Nine-Tails’ release, while Shiro learned that Obito had saved Kushina with Izanagi. Shiro then turned to ending the invasion, striking enemy forces across Konoha with projected weapons.

• Fugaku, Shisui, and Taichi confronted Pain’s five bodies as Ayue’s Mystic Eyes isolated them, and the three Uchiha destroyed them with Susanoo.
• Shiro checked on the weakened Kushina and explained that Obito had used Izanagi to rewrite her life system, sacrificing the light of one Sharingan.
• Shiro promised Kushina he would give Obito a chance, told her Naruto was safe, and left through a Space Gate to end the fighting.
• From atop Hokage Rock, Shiro used Clairvoyance and a projected bow to rain arrows on the enemy forces, demolishing their combat zone without killing any Konoha ninja.
• Shiro strengthened his Clairvoyance and projected four modified Hrunting arrows to pursue targets across the battlefield.

Shiro freed the Nine-Tails from the Contract Seal and subdued it with Enkidu after it attacked him. The battle was not over, but Tiezhu was relieved that Naruto and Kushina were safe.

• Tiezhu restrained the struggling Nine-Tails with Adamantine Sealing Chains, while nearby Chunin admitted they could not perform the Contract Seal.
• Shiro arrived through a Space Gate and told Tiezhu that Naruto and Kushina were safe.
• Tiezhu withdrew his chains, and Shiro released the Contract Seal, freeing the Nine-Tails from the Sharingan's control.
• The Nine-Tails attacked Shiro, who blocked its tail, stomped it into the ground, and bound it with Enkidu.
• Shiro checked on Tiezhu and greeted Yamada, thanking his former teacher for helping him survive the battlefield.

Nagato fought Danzo and overwhelmed him with the Rinnegan, but Minato intervened before Nagato could kill him. Nagato crippled Danzo and escaped, and the Nine-Tails Plan ended as the fighting in the village subsided.

• Nagato countered Danzo’s attacks, stole Baku, and forced Danzo out of hiding with a miniature Chibaku Tensei.
• Danzo tried to trap Nagato with Wind Release Shuriken and Shadow Clones, but Nagato seized him and began pulling out his soul.
• Minato appeared and absorbed Nagato’s attack, so Nagato tore away the souls of Danzo’s arms instead of killing him.
• Nagato escaped by breaking Minato’s barrier and having Animal Path Pain summon him away.
• The village’s chaos subsided, and Jiying was summoned away from his fight with Duy, ending the Nine-Tails Plan.

Minato and Kushina went to seal the Nine-Tails into Naruto, and Minato apologized and shared his true feelings with the fox. The Nine-Tails accepted his sincerity and allowed the sealing, while Shiro reflected on the Holy Grail deal.

• Kushina woke as Minato tried to take Naruto and insisted on joining the effort to seal the Nine-Tails.
• Shiro and Minato told Kushina that Nagato had crushed the souls in Danzo’s hands, ending Danzo’s path as a ninja.
• The Nine-Tails tried to form a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Shiro dispersed it with Rule Breaker.
• Minato apologized for the Hokages’ treatment of the Nine-Tails and shared his heart through Chakra after explaining the Sage of Six Paths’ original purpose for Chakra.
• The Nine-Tails accepted Minato’s sincerity and let him seal it into Naruto without resisting.
• Shiro teased Shukaku about becoming a Jinchuriki, then remembered his deal involving the Holy Grail.

Minato removed Danzō from his adviser post and took control of Root after Shiro presented evidence of Danzō’s failures and betrayal. The meeting rejected transferring the Nine-Tails out of Naruto, leaving Minato and Shiro responsible for Naruto’s training and safety.

• Minato proposed removing Danzō as adviser and transferring Root, and Danzō challenged the decision before Shiro revealed evidence that he had leaked the Jinchuriki’s due date and criticized Root’s performance.
• Minato removed Danzō from his post, placed Root under his temporary control, and announced that it would gradually be integrated into the Anbu.
• The meeting discussed reconstruction, the Air-Land Project, research, and compensation for fallen ninja before debating whether the Nine-Tails should be transferred from Naruto.
• Minato opposed transferring the Nine-Tails because he believed he could reach it and resolve its hatred, and the proposal was abandoned after he and Shiro insisted.
• Minato and Shiro took responsibility for Naruto’s training and required him to remain accompanied by one of them whenever he left the village until he mastered the Nine-Tails’ power.

Three years later, Shiro had finished preparing for the plan with The Entities and spent his days studying the world while helping Naruto grow up. He took Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, where they ran into Itachi and Sasuke, and the chapter ended with Naruto and Sasuke bickering as Shiro invited them to eat.

• Over three years, Kakashi mastered Mirror Image's "Instinct" and developed Space-Time Chidori into a technique that let him travel through space.
• Shisui, Ayue, and Soji advanced along different paths, while Uzumaki Kazuki married and gave birth to Karin.
• Shiro completed the conversion of his Chakra pathways into Magic Circuits, raised his magical energy to A-rank, and finished preparing for the plan with The Entities.
• Naruto finished his punches and persuaded Shiro to take him to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Naruto spotted Itachi carrying Sasuke, and Shiro introduced the boys, who immediately traded insults.
• Shiro invited Itachi and Sasuke to join him and Naruto for ramen, and Itachi accepted.

At a ramen shop, Itachi confided to Shiro that he feared the Uchiha elders would act recklessly over the Fifth Hokage issue. Shiro argued that the clan’s Sharingan-related personality changes were the real obstacle to an Uchiha becoming Hokage and urged Itachi to help find a way to remove that influence.

• Naruto and Sasuke traded insults at the ramen shop, and Naruto left Sasuke flustered before they ate.
• Shiro noticed Itachi’s unease, raised a barrier around them, and asked what was troubling him.
• Itachi explained that the Uchiha elders were making plans around the Fifth Hokage and that he feared they would do something irrational.
• Shiro reassured Itachi that the Uchiha would not turn against Konoha and said the clan’s Sharingan-related temperament could be addressed.
• Itachi questioned whether the Sharingan’s influence could be removed, and Shiro told him they would have to try rather than resort to slaughtering the clan.
• Itachi thanked Shiro for his guidance and bowed to him.

Shiro encouraged Naruto and Sasuke to train for their own goals, prompting Itachi to agree to train Sasuke. Meanwhile, Taichi confronted Danzo on Minato’s orders and exposed a White Zetsu spying in Danzo’s house, leaving Danzo furious and humiliated.

• Shiro refused Naruto a second bowl of ramen because Naruto had failed the second stage of the Illusion Trial, then reminded him not to live under his father’s reputation.
• Itachi explained the Illusion Trial to Sasuke, who asked his brother to train him so he could surpass Naruto.
• Itachi agreed to teach Sasuke shuriken, and the brothers left the ramen shop together.
• Taichi entered Danzo’s home on Minato’s orders and warned him to stop information about Naruto and the Nine-Tails from spreading.
• Taichi used Susanoo to smash through a wall and capture a White Zetsu, then left Danzo to rage in his damaged home.

Naruto learned that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him and that someone had exposed the truth to undermine Shiro’s side. Shiro brought him into his mental world to meet the beast, where Naruto introduced himself but received no response.

• Naruto asked Shiro why villagers called him a demon fox, and Shiro explained that someone had deliberately revealed the secret but would not cause trouble again.
• Shiro took Naruto into his mental world and explained the Tailed Beasts, Jinchuriki, and Naruto’s responsibility as the Hokage’s son.
• Naruto and Shiro reached the Nine-Tails’ cage, but the beast roared at them and frightened Naruto.
• Naruto gathered his courage, approached the Nine-Tails, introduced himself as Naruto Uzumaki, and asked its name, but the beast ignored him.

Naruto decided to visit the Nine-Tails daily and tell it stories in hopes of easing its loneliness. Shiro received information on Magic from the being in the sky, while Naruto began his first storytelling visit to the Nine-Tails.

• Naruto left the Nine-Tails after it ignored his attempt to reach out, then told Shiro he wanted to learn its name directly from it.
• Shiro gave Naruto a scroll that let him enter his mental world and brought a book containing stories from Shiro and the Shinobi World.
• The being in the sky offered Shiro information on Magic in exchange for spreading Magecraft, and Shiro accepted the deal.
• Naruto entered his mental world with the scroll and told the Nine-Tails he would visit every day to share stories.
• Naruto mentioned a story featuring Chakra Horse Transformation, angering the Nine-Tails, then happily switched to another story when it reacted.