Chapter Summaries

Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Orochimaru’s summoned undead as the battles across the battlefield intensified. Hiruzen used Turtle’s Longevity to regain his youth and discovered that lightning was especially effective against Orochimaru’s ghosts, while Orochimaru watched to see which fight would turn first.

• Tsunade struck Orochimaru’s Bone Dragon and cracked its skull, but she could not defeat it quickly.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Turtle’s Longevity to return his body to its youthful prime before battling Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru attacked Hiruzen with bone spikes and ghostly Souls of the Skeleton, which passed through Hiruzen’s earthen defenses.
• Hiruzen used Shadow Clones and Five Elements: Great Bullet Dance to test the ghosts and found lightning worked best, while fire and wind also had some effect.
• Orochimaru assessed the other battles, noting Rasa held back Kakashi’s group, Naruto fought Jiraiya and others, and Tsunade remained occupied with the Bone Dragon.

Orochimaru trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi and began draining his life, but Jiraiya and the Ino-Shika-Cho formation rescued him. Meanwhile, Naruto stopped the Nine-Tails’ rampage and encountered his father, Minato Namikaze, inside his consciousness.

• Orochimaru explained that his disillusionment with the Will of Fire and the deaths caused by war had driven him to seek the truth of life and the world.
• Orochimaru used Corpse Cage to restrain Hiruzen Sarutobi, then sent Soul of the Skeleton into him to drain his life force.
• Jiraiya and the Ino-Shika-Cho formation broke the corpses’ hold and pulled Hiruzen Sarutobi free.
• Shikaku Nara told Orochimaru that Naruto had stopped the Nine-Tails through his own will.
• Naruto remained in Eight-Tails Mode while, inside his consciousness, he stared at Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.

Naruto met Minato Namikaze inside his consciousness and learned that the Fourth Hokage was his father. After Minato’s Chakra restored the seal and vanished, Naruto resolved to revive both his parents.

• Minato Namikaze revealed that Naruto was his son, and Naruto broke down as he told his father how lonely and mistreated he had been.
• Minato embraced Naruto and listened as Naruto described the support he had received from Iruka-sensei, Uncle Teuchi, and the uncle who sells jars.
• Minato asked Naruto about Shen Mo and learned that Naruto found him kind despite his dealings with Konoha’s enemies.
• Minato’s Chakra began to fade, so he restored Naruto’s seal and asked him to take care of himself.
• Naruto reached for Minato as he disappeared, then vowed to revive his father and mother.
• Shen Mo watched the conversation from high in the sky while gently scratching Hikari’s belly.

Naruto returned to normal after Minato’s Chakra repaired his Seal, and his friends and the villagers welcomed him back into the fight. As Tsunade protected the group from Orochimaru’s explosive retreat, Jiraiya foresaw danger and charged toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Naruto returned to his original appearance, and Iruka led the villagers in cheering for him.
• Sasuke, Neji Hyuga, and Haku joined Naruto, while Gaara watched their bonds and was deeply moved.
• Tsunade and the others pressed Orochimaru as his undead forces weakened, and Orochimaru decided to retreat.
• Orochimaru unleashed Death Nova and Corpse Explosion, while Tsunade shielded the group with Sacred Protection.
• Jiraiya used Prophecy, saw what would happen five seconds later, and rushed out of the shield toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Jiraiya stopped Orochimaru from taking Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Badge, though Hiruzen remained gravely afflicted by an evil force. As the Destiny Stage ended and Orochimaru and Rasa escaped, Tsunade warned that war was about to begin, and Shen Mo announced special rewards for those recognized by Senior Members.

• Orochimaru attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi with Hellfire, but Jiraiya used a Substitute Doll to survive the flames and prevent Hiruzen’s Badge from being taken.
• Orochimaru escaped in black smoke after noticing Jiraiya’s unusual ability, while Jiraiya realized he had changed the future in which Hiruzen was killed.
• Tsunade examined Hiruzen Sarutobi and found that an evil force was draining his life and affecting his soul, though her healing could only ease it temporarily.
• The Destiny Stage ended, and Tsunade ordered Konoha’s ninjas not to pursue Orochimaru or Rasa as their forces retreated.
• Tsunade warned Konoha that war was about to begin, and Shen Mo explained that the Destiny Stage let people fight while limiting harm to the world.
• Shen Mo announced that some participants had earned the qualification to purchase advanced Jars through recognition from Senior Members.

Shen Mo awarded Naruto the right to purchase a Level 4 Chest, explaining that his father had recognized him because he regretted failing to protect his child. Naruto learned that his purchase would be restricted to the mysterious Bonds Series.

• Shen Mo announced that Naruto had earned the right to purchase a Level 4 Chest, provoking envy from Sasuke and the others.
• Shen Mo explained that Senior Members could grant purchase opportunities to people who had moved them, and said Naruto’s father had taken notice of him.
• Naruto admitted that his father had helped him recover after becoming the Nine-Tails, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya reacted to the revelation.
• Shen Mo told Naruto that his father could not forgive himself for failing to protect his child, and Naruto realized his father had also suffered over their separation.
• Shen Mo revealed that Naruto could choose only from the Bonds Series.

Shen Mo offered Naruto a time-limited chance to open Level 4 Chests that could revive Minato Namikaze. Jiraiya promised to pay and revealed Naruto’s parentage to the gathered villagers, leaving Konoha stunned and ashamed.

• Shen Mo explained that Level 4 Chests could revive bonded people and decided to offer Naruto a chance to bring back Minato Namikaze.
• Naruto celebrated the possibility of seeing his father again, then despaired when he realized he lacked the points and the opportunity was time-limited.
• Iruka offered his savings, but Naruto pointed out they would not cover even a fraction of the cost, so Jiraiya offered to pay.
• Jiraiya announced that Naruto was the son of his proudest disciple, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
• The gathered ninjas and villagers reacted with shock and regret, while Shen Mo watched and anticipated what Minato’s revival would change.

Naruto opened five Level 4 Bonds Jars in hopes of reviving his father and received a Three Tomoe Sharingan linked to his bond with Sasuke. Shen Mo explained how the Bonds Series worked, while Kakashi asked whether jars could contain abilities from their own world.

• Shen Mo silenced the crowd and asked Naruto whether he wanted to open the jars Jiraiya had paid for, and Naruto eagerly agreed.
• Jiraiya paid from his savings, and Naruto opened a jar after Shen Mo warned that the outcome was not guaranteed.
• Naruto received the Sharingan skill, activated its Three Tomoe, and stunned Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha, and the gathered crowd.
• Shen Mo explained that the Sharingan appeared because of Naruto's bond with Sasuke, though it was related rather than copied from him.
• Kakashi asked about jars containing abilities from their world, and Shen Mo described how the Merchant Guild created items from recorded laws while saying the Bonds Series was special.

Naruto continued opening Level 4 Chests as the Konoha leaders cleared the arena and discussed the importance of keeping the prizes secret. He drew a Hulk power Card and Beginner Sage Mode, then prepared to open his final chest while Hiruzen waited to see if Naruto could revive Minato.

• Itachi Uchiha realized Shen Mo came from outside their world and worried about Sasuke, while Naruto resumed opening chests to revive his father.
• Naruto drew a one-time power Seal Card depicting Hulk, and Shen Mo explained that the Card granted part of a hero’s power temporarily.
• Kakashi and Tsunade dispersed the crowd, assigning Hyuga Hiashi to check for spies and Asuma Sarutobi to take Hiruzen to the medical center.
• Hiruzen asked to stay and see whether he could meet Minato again, while Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki left to report what they had learned.
• Naruto opened his third chest and obtained Beginner Sage Mode, which Shen Mo told him to ask Jiraiya about.

Naruto drew Sage Mode and a pair of Dawn Star Engravings from the Level 4 Chests, but neither could resurrect his father. Shen Mo explained that the Engravings created soul-based weapons whose full power depended on a deep bond between two people, leaving Naruto and Sasuke to consider becoming a Bonded Duo as Naruto faced one chest remaining.

• Naruto drew Sage Mode, and Jiraiya praised its power while warning that it was difficult and dangerous to learn.
• Naruto opened the next chest and received two Dawn Star Engravings, which Shen Mo identified as equipment rather than a resurrection method.
• Shen Mo explained that the Engravings manifested a user's soul as a growing weapon and that two people could unlock their full potential together.
• Sasuke volunteered to partner with Naruto, and Shen Mo described the demanding Bonded Duo contract required to reach Absolute Duo.
• Naruto balked at the idea and mentioned Sakura, while Sasuke remained interested in the equipment; one chest was still unopened.

Naruto received his Flame-Tooth, a gauntlet with an attached shield, and finally opened the last jar while declaring that he would resurrect his father. The jar formed a blue magical array and a red token-shaped Rune on the back of Naruto’s hand, leaving the resurrection method unknown.

• Sasuke urged Naruto to focus on strengthening their bond as companions, while Naruto considered whether the Dawn Star Engraving could also work through his bond with his father.
• Shen Mo injected the Dawn Star Engraving into Naruto, and a red gauntlet with an attached shield formed on his right arm as his Flame-Tooth.
• Naruto tested the weapon and learned from Shen Mo that its power would grow as it advanced through four levels.
• Shen Mo gave Naruto the remaining injector and encouraged him to open the last jar.
• Naruto declared that he would bring his father back to life and opened the jar, which produced a blue formation and a red token-shaped Rune on his left hand.

Naruto summoned his father, Minato Namikaze, as a Heroic Spirit using Jiraiya’s Flying Thunder God Kunai as a medium. Minato returned to the living world and reunited with Naruto, while learning about his new existence.

• Shen Mo explained that Naruto’s father would return as a Heroic Spirit, a being with a Class and Noble Phantasms rather than a living human or undead spirit.
• Kakashi suggested the Hokage’s robe as a summoning medium, but Jiraiya offered Minato’s Flying Thunder God Kunai instead.
• Naruto placed the Kunai into the jar, and a magic circle summoned Minato Namikaze.
• Naruto punched Minato in the stomach, then hugged him and cried as he welcomed his father back.
• Minato told Shen Mo that he had received the memories of the Chakra clone and understood that he had returned as a Heroic Spirit.

Minato Namikaze reunited with Naruto and his former comrades, then explored the Assassin abilities and Noble Phantasm he gained as a Heroic Spirit. He learned he could trade with Shen Mo’s Merchant Guild and discovered his Flying Thunder God Kunai could unleash a powerful burst of attacks.

• Minato Namikaze reunited with Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Naruto, who eagerly complained about Kakashi before Minato gently corrected him.
• Kakashi told Minato that Rin had also been resurrected, and Minato thanked Shen Mo for restoring his student and giving him the chance to protect Naruto.
• Shen Mo identified Minato’s Class as Assassin, and Minato demonstrated that his smaller Ninjutsu, including the Rasengan, had gained power while his large-scale techniques were weakened.
• Minato learned that self-aware Heroic Spirits could trade with the Merchant Guild and showed Shen Mo his Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• Shen Mo identified the Kunai’s Noble Phantasm as Twirling Hurricane Whirlwind Third Form, which enabled several hundred rapid attacks against one enemy.

After Minato Namikaze was revived, he accepted his duty as Hokage and received Konoha’s welcome. Shen Mo then helped Ikaros consider a new reason to fight, and she chose protecting her Master.

• Shen Mo praised Minato Namikaze’s abilities, then left with Ikaros after telling the others to contact him if they needed jars.
• Minato Namikaze promised Hiruzen Sarutobi he would protect Konoha and inherit the Will of Fire, and Hiruzen nodded in recognition of the transfer of power.
• Minato Namikaze took Naruto outside, where Konoha’s ninjas and residents cheered at the Fourth Hokage’s return.
• Watching from above, Shen Mo asked Ikaros what she had learned from the battles, and she said people fought for different reasons.
• Ikaros explained that orders had been her reason to fight, then asked whether protecting her Master could be a new reason, and Shen Mo agreed.

Shen Mo confronted Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki after they reported Konoha’s destruction and restoration to Nagato. He stopped time around them, severed their communication, and told Nagato to come meet him personally.

• Kisame Hoshigaki told Pain that a mysterious man had destroyed and restored Konoha, and Nagato asked Itachi Uchiha whether they might be under genjutsu.
• Shen Mo interrupted the Akatsuki’s secret mental communication and appeared before Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki with Hikari.
• Kisame Hoshigaki reported Shen Mo’s presence to Nagato, who sent the Six Paths of Pain and Konan toward them.
• Shen Mo revealed that he knew Nagato’s identity and urged him to come personally, then snapped his fingers and cut off Nagato’s connection to the two ninja.
• Shen Mo stopped the surroundings in time, leaving Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki staring at the frozen scene as he appeared before them.

Shen Mo offered Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki the chance to gain power and fulfill wishes, then revealed his knowledge of their inner lives. He identified Kisame’s conflict over betraying comrades and proposed moving somewhere with a broader view.

• Shen Mo told Itachi Uchiha that Orochimaru, Rasa, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Itachi’s younger brother were his customers who had obtained power and a chance to fulfill wishes.
• Itachi Uchiha asked whether he and Kisame Hoshigaki could also obtain power, and Shen Mo said they were qualified and described a greater world beyond their own.
• Kisame Hoshigaki asked what the true world was like, and Shen Mo connected his beliefs to the Moon Eye plan.
• Shen Mo told Kisame Hoshigaki that he valued comrades but had been forced by his village to betray them, leaving Kisame shaken.
• Shen Mo said they should become his customers first and suggested changing to a location with a broader view.

Shen Mo took Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha into outer space, where Kisame reconsidered his place in the world and chose the Contract Series to gain power. He then reminded Itachi that Sasuke would still need his support, leaving Itachi to confront his brother’s difficult future.

• Shen Mo stopped time briefly, then carried Kisame Hoshigaki, Itachi Uchiha, and Ikaros into the sky as Pain and Konan watched them disappear.
• Shen Mo brought Kisame and Itachi to the edge of outer space, where they saw how small their world was.
• Kisame reflected on how the world had bound him and said he wanted power so he would not betray any more comrades.
• Shen Mo recommended the Contract Series, and Kisame chose it, offering his savings and confidence in selling Chakra to pay for a Fate-type Item.
• Shen Mo told Itachi that Sasuke would still need him because Sasuke had fewer comrades and might fall behind them.
• Itachi tightened his fists as he considered Sasuke’s future and his own failure to support his brother.

Itachi Uchiha chose the Ghost Path Series to seek a way to leave power to Sasuke, while Kisame Hoshigaki continued opening Contract Series Chests. Kisame received protective skills and other Items, then opened his final Level 3 Chest and revealed a Job Change Item tied to sixteen Ghost Gods.

• Itachi Uchiha worried that Sasuke would fall behind and chose the Ghost Path Series after Shen Mo explained its soul-focused techniques and possible Fate-type Items.
• Itachi remembered he still controlled resources from Gato's Merchant Guild and used part of them to buy Chests from Shen Mo.
• Kisame Hoshigaki opened his Level 2 and Level 3 Contract Series Chests alongside Itachi, gaining a Damage Sharing Chain Lock skill and several other Items.
• Kisame opened his final Level 3 Chest, releasing a dark aura that surprised Itachi and Shen Mo.
• Shen Mo explained that Kisame's Job Change Item would randomly grant one power from sixteen sealed Ghost Gods.

Kisame Hoshigaki accepted the Ghost God Kazan and endured the painful process of becoming a Ghost Swordsman. After Shen Mo warned that Kazan could devour him if he lost control, Kisame turned his attention to the power Itachi Uchiha might obtain.

• Shen Mo explained that the jar contained Kazan, a dangerous Ghost God betrayed and branded a traitor, and warned Kisame that contracting with him could be fatal.
• Kisame chose to accept Kazan, reasoning that his own history of betrayal made them a fitting match, while Itachi showed concern for him.
• Kisame thrust his arm into the jar and silently endured Kazan's hatred and curse as his limb transformed into a Ghost Hand.
• Chains bound Kazan within Kisame's arm, and Shen Mo confirmed Kisame had become a Ghost Swordsman but warned that losing control could let Kazan devour him.
• Kisame declined to buy more jars and said he was more interested in seeing what power Itachi would obtain.

Itachi Uchiha opened his final Level 3 Chest and received a Witch’s Soul that could change him into a weapon. He accepted the possibility of becoming Sasuke’s weapon, seeing it as a way to remain by his brother’s side and support him.

• Itachi Uchiha opened his remaining Level 2 Chests, which contained items and powers related to souls but no Fate-type Items.
• Itachi Uchiha opened Level 3 Chests and found a cultivation technique, a Kidō inheritance, and skill orbs, including Kidō No. 12: Fune.
• Itachi Uchiha opened the final jar and found a pitch-black crystal containing a Witch’s Soul.
• Shen Mo explained that the Witch’s Soul could change Itachi Uchiha’s soul and species, allowing him to become a weapon while retaining a human form.
• Itachi Uchiha realized he could become Sasuke’s weapon and asked Shen Mo how to use the Witch’s Soul.