Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya and the Great Elder rescued Ueno Kei, Tsunade, and Zang, then Konoha’s team brought them back to the village for treatment. When Kakashi returned to a village shaken by battle, Jiraiya and the advisors told him they wanted him to take over as Hokage.

• The Great Elder and the sages treated Ueno Kei, Tsunade, and Zang, and Jiraiya arranged for Konoha’s rescue team to take them back to the village.
• The Great Elder asked Jiraiya to tell Ueno Kei to visit him after waking, while Sage Fukasaku hinted at an old history between him and the Great Elder.
• Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and the others returned to Konoha and learned from Izumo and Kotetsu that Jiraiya had summoned Kakashi to the Hokage’s office.
• Sai left the group to return to Root, while Naruto and Sakura hurried to the hospital after Jiraiya said Tsunade and Ueno Kei were recovering there.
• Jiraiya and the advisors told Kakashi they wanted him to take over as Hokage, then Jiraiya said they would go to Kyoto together.

Ueno Kei confronted his past and present selves in a dark void, where the black-haired youth challenged him to stop giving up and find his true self. The youth granted him an unknown power, and Ueno Kei regained consciousness in the hospital, stronger than before.

• Ueno Kei met a black-haired youth who identified himself as both Xiao Tao from Ueno Kei's previous life and Ueno Kei in this life.
• The youth accused Ueno Kei of repeatedly giving up and prompted him to question whether his convictions and choices were truly his own.
• The youth promised to meet Ueno Kei again and gave him an unknown power before disappearing.
• A powerful force surged through Ueno Kei, restoring him to full health and making him stronger than before.
• In the hospital, Naruto, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others watched a purple aura surround Ueno Kei but could not approach him.
• The aura vanished, and Ueno Kei opened his eyes and asked why everyone was gathered around him.

After recovering, Ueno Kei apologized to Tsunade and Naruto and realized he had been living by excuses rather than his own convictions. He embraced a new understanding of the Will of Fire, then asked Jiraiya to explain what had happened.

• Naruto rushed to Ueno Kei, who reassured him and checked on Tsunade's condition.
• Ueno Kei apologized to Tsunade and Naruto, admitting that he had been arrogant and mistaken.
• Ueno Kei reflected that he had acted to ease his conscience and resolved to live according to his own will, spreading the Will of Fire wherever there was light.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya recognized Ueno Kei's resolve as a sign that he had matured, while Naruto remained confused.
• Ueno Kei sent Naruto and Sakura away to rest, then asked Jiraiya what had happened.

After Danzo’s death, Ueno Kei recovered from his injuries and learned that Iwagakure and the Land of Earth had intervened in the crisis in Kyoto. The chapter ended with Kei reacting angrily to Ōnoki’s involvement.

• Jiraiya confirmed that Danzo was dead and explained that his body had been given to Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura for disposal.
• Tsunade examined Ueno Kei and found no physical or mental abnormalities, then told him about the strange transformation that occurred while he was unconscious.
• Ueno Kei asked what had happened in Kyoto and learned from Jiraiya that Iwagakure and the Land of Earth had intervened.
• Ueno Kei questioned whether Ōnoki and Iwagakure had lost their minds by provoking Konoha.

Ueno Kei and Jiraiya discussed the Land of Earth's interference in the Land of Fire's political crisis and the daimyō's failed plan. Tsunade's health remained unstable, so Jiraiya said Kakashi's succession as Hokage had to be moved up.

• Ueno Kei reacted angrily to Iwagakure's involvement, but Jiraiya clarified that the Land of Earth's daimyō had acted independently of the village.
• Jiraiya explained that Root ambushed the Land of Earth's daimyō's forces at the border, disrupting their planned march to Kyoto.
• Ueno Kei and Tsunade discussed the daimyō's power and agreed that he owed Konoha an explanation, though he had not yet crossed the line.
• Tsunade suffered a sudden bout of pain and said her body had not fully recovered.
• Jiraiya concluded that Kakashi's succession as Hokage had to be moved up.

With Tsunade unable to resume her duties, Jiraiya refused the Hokage position and pushed Kakashi forward, whom the advisers chose as the Sixth Hokage. Kakashi prepared to meet the Daimyo in Kyoto while Ueno Kei took responsibility for reorganizing Anbu and Root and addressing the Originless Realm incident.

• Ueno Kei considered Kakashi qualified to become Hokage but suspected Jiraiya had redirected the advisers’ pressure onto him.
• Jiraiya explained that the advisers had tried to make him Hokage after Tsunade’s injuries left her unable to work, and he had insisted that Kakashi take the position instead.
• The advisers agreed that Kakashi could become the Sixth Hokage, though Kakashi’s own objections had been ignored.
• Jiraiya told Kakashi to travel to Kyoto with the advisers and Shikaku to meet the Daimyo, while he planned to visit the border.
• Ueno Kei agreed to manage the village, reorganize Anbu and Root, and investigate the Originless Realm incident.

Pain directed Akatsuki’s next moves as the organization captured more tailed beasts and sent teams toward new targets. Meanwhile, the chapter revealed the Land of Fire Daimyo’s plan to seize Konoha’s outposts, which Danzo had already uncovered.

• Konan reported Akatsuki’s captures and intelligence to Pain, who ordered Itachi’s team to investigate Ueno Kei and assigned himself the Six-Tails.
• Pain sent Kakuzu toward Konoha but warned him to control Hidan and leave the Nine-Tails to Itachi’s team.
• Hidan and Kakuzu headed for the Fire Temple in the Land of Fire.
• Itachi told Kisame that events were about to change, and Tobi and Zetsu appeared after they departed.
• The chapter revealed that the Land of Fire Daimyo had planned to seize Konoha’s outposts, while Danzo had seen through the plan.

The Land of Fire's daimyo faced Konoha's demands after his scheme collapsed and his forces were destroyed. Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hatake Kakashi, and Nara Shikaku informed him that Kakashi would become the Sixth Hokage, and the daimyo yielded to Konoha's control.

• Danzo's deployment of Root helped foil the Land of Fire's daimyo's scheme, but the daimyo's forces were devastated and the Land of Earth's daimyo vowed revenge.
• Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hatake Kakashi, and Nara Shikaku met the Land of Fire's daimyo in Kyoto, where Kakashi wore the Sixth Hokage's cloak.
• Utatane Koharu told the daimyo that Konoha had unanimously chosen Hatake Kakashi as Hokage and said Konoha expected his full support.
• Mitokado Homura demanded that the daimyo leave the Land of Fire's affairs to Konoha, while Hatake Kakashi assured him Konoha would protect the country.
• The Land of Fire's daimyo reluctantly agreed to follow the advisers' demands.

Priestess Shion warned that Moryo’s undead army had begun advancing toward the Land of Swamps, where his body was sealed, and requested help from the ninja villages. Kakashi accepted Konoha’s mission to protect Shion and reseal Moryo, while Tsunade suggested several candidates for the assignment.

• Priestess Shion ordered Taruho to send requests for aid to the nations, especially Konoha, as the aberration began.
• Taruho dispatched guards to deliver Shion’s orders to the Five Great Nations.
• Kakashi received an urgent letter from the Land of Demons and learned that an undead army was advancing toward the Land of Swamps.
• Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shikaku concluded that remnants from the previous Moryo incident were behind the threat, rather than Akatsuki.
• Kakashi explained that Konoha had been asked to intercept the undead army and protect Shion as she traveled to reseal Moryo.
• Tsunade suggested several suitable candidates for the mission, and Kakashi and Shikaku recognized whom she meant.

Kakashi assigned Neji’s team an S-rank mission to protect Shion and escort her to the Land of Swamps, while Ueno Kei was ordered to join them later. Meanwhile, four attackers sent by Yomi stormed Shion’s palace, and Taruho prepared to evacuate her as the guards fought back.

• Kakashi appointed Neji team captain and Shikamaru vice-captain for the mission to protect Shion, and Naruto’s group set out for the Land of Demons.
• Shikaku worried about the young team, and Kakashi said Ueno Kei would assist them once he was free.
• Four white-robed attackers reached Shion’s palace and killed guards who tried to stop them.
• The palace general ordered archers to fire despite their men being among the attackers, but the attackers’ wind technique killed the archers.
• Taruho agreed to take Shion away while the remaining guards stayed to hold off the attackers.

Neji, Naruto, and Sakura reached the Land of Demons as white-robed attackers slaughtered the palace guards, but the priestess had already fled. After driving the attackers off, the Konoha ninja set out to meet the priestess, whom Shikamaru and Lee were searching for.

• The white-robed attackers killed most of the guards defending the priestess's palace, while the survivors fought on to protect her.
• The attackers prepared to pursue the priestess, but Neji, Naruto, and Sakura arrived and struck them with an Eight Trigrams: Air Palm.
• Neji told the remaining guards to withdraw, and they left the fight to the Konoha ninja.
• The white-robed leader noted that the priestess was gone and their chakra was running low, so the four attackers retreated.
• Neji stopped Naruto from chasing them and led the team to find the priestess, expecting Shikamaru to have located her.

Shion met the Konoha team and prophesied that Naruto would die, insisting that fate could not be changed. When she tried to foresee Ueno Kei’s fate, she saw a future that kept changing and left without explaining what she had seen.

• Shikamaru found Shion along her evacuation route and brought her back to the palace after Neji fired a signal flare.
• Shion told Naruto that she had foreseen his death, and Taruho confirmed that her prophecies had never failed.
• Ueno Kei arrived, challenged Shion’s belief in fate, and introduced himself to her and the Konoha team.
• Shion looked into Ueno Kei’s future, saw it changing endlessly, and left the palace to rest.

Shion’s group set out for the Land of Swamps, while Shion tried to make Taruho return to protect him from the danger ahead. Ueno Kei noticed a snake spying on them and anticipated that Shion’s plan to leave Taruho behind would soon be tested.

• Shion’s prophecy filled with confusing visions, leaving her uncertain about Naruto’s fate and a purple figure confronting golden radiance.
• Shion ordered Taruho to return to the Land of Demons, but Taruho refused to abandon his duty and follow her.
• Sakura carried Shion as Ueno Kei’s group headed toward the Land of Swamps, and Ueno Kei spotted a purple-black snake watching them.
• The snake vanished in black smoke, while Kusuna and the other three followers of Yomi confirmed the group’s route and set off after them.
• Ueno Kei realized Shion had spoken harshly to protect Taruho and expected her to be surprised later that night.

Naruto learned why the people of the Land of Demons feared Shion and why Taruho was determined to protect her. Ueno Kei challenged Taruho’s willingness to die, but Taruho insisted his sacrifice would have meaning.

• Ueno Kei left his post after noticing Taruho’s arrival at Naruto’s watch post around midnight.
• Taruho explained to Naruto that Shion’s death predictions caused people to respect and fear her, and described her lonely childhood.
• Naruto recognized similarities between Shion’s experience and his own childhood, as well as Gaara’s.
• Taruho declared that he would risk his life to protect Shion because she and Miroku had protected the Land of Demons and the world.
• Ueno Kei told Taruho that throwing away his life would be meaningless, but Taruho firmly disagreed.

Ueno Kei tried to dissuade Taruho from risking his life in the battle, promising to protect Shion, while arguing that prophecy described a likely future rather than fixed fate. Taruho remained determined to fulfill his mission, and Naruto accepted that the choice was his.

• Ueno Kei told Taruho that he would be of little help in the battle and promised to keep Shion safe.
• Taruho entrusted Shion's safety to Ueno Kei but insisted that protecting her was his sworn mission.
• Naruto tried to persuade Taruho that an ordinary person had no place in a shinobi battle.
• Taruho explained that he believed his death was the likely outcome of Shion's prophecy and that he had to face it with conviction.
• Naruto vowed to help Shion complete the sealing and return safely, but Taruho reaffirmed his choice.

Ueno Kei sent Shion’s party ahead after sensing Yomi’s subordinates approaching, then stayed behind to confront them. His recent recovery had greatly improved his ability to sense natural energy, though he still struggled to control Sage Mode.

• Shion woke to find Taruho guarding her and warned him that he would die protecting her, but Taruho reaffirmed his devotion.
• Neji and Nara Shikamaru reported the approaching threat, and Ueno Kei ordered them to escort Shion away while he stayed behind.
• Naruto slowed down to keep near Taruho as Sakura carried Shion away with the group.
• Ueno Kei reflected on how the previous battle had strengthened his natural-energy perception and left him cautiously developing control over Sage Mode.
• Kusuna, Gitai, Shizuku, and Setsuna arrived, and Shizuku and the others mocked Ueno Kei as he faced them calmly.

Ueno Kei fought the four Moryo-powered shinobi while Naruto and the others continued on ahead. He killed Shizuku, Gitai, and Setsuna, then struck down their leader Kusuna.

• Ueno Kei warned that the four shinobi were dangerous because they wielded Moryo's power and chose to fight them himself.
• Kusuna sensed Ueno Kei's attack and told the others to scatter, narrowly avoiding a strike that cratered the ground.
• Shizuku, Gitai, and Setsuna launched a coordinated combination ninjutsu, but Ueno Kei blocked it with an Earth Wall and countered with Lightning Release.
• Ueno Kei wounded Kusuna with the Lingyu Blade and killed Gitai and Setsuna with his Shadow Kill technique.
• Ueno Kei appeared before Shizuku and killed her.

Ueno Kei destroyed the Four Sound Ninja and hurried to help Naruto’s group, who were fighting through an endless army of stone statues near the sealing altar. Before he could reach them, Uchiha Itachi trapped him in Tsukuyomi to discuss Sasuke and ask for a promise, but Kei pressed him to reveal whether he still put Konoha first.

• A mysterious figure in a volcano watched the Four Sound Ninja’s defeat and declared that everything was still proceeding according to plan.
• Ueno Kei destroyed the purple snake-scorpions emerging from the Four Sound Ninja’s corpses, burned the bodies, and set off after Naruto’s group.
• Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Sakura, Shion, Taruho, and Lee struggled to advance through a vast army of stone statues on the way to the sealing altar.
• Neji and Shikamaru realized that Ueno Kei’s backup measure could no longer connect them to him.
• Uchiha Itachi drew Ueno Kei into Tsukuyomi, explained that he wanted Sasuke to return to Konoha after achieving his goal, and asked Kei for a promise.
• Ueno Kei rejected Itachi’s focus on Sasuke’s future and demanded to know whether Itachi still prioritized Konoha’s interests.

Darui led a Kumogakure squad into the Land of Swamps to find and assist Konoha’s team protecting Shion. Shikamaru ordered a faster advance, and Naruto and Neji cleared a path through the stone statues before a black-purple streak struck someone protecting Shion.

• Karui complained about supporting Konoha, but Darui reminded the Cloud Ninja that the Raikage had personally assigned their mission.
• Darui’s squad entered the Land of Swamps, identified the area where Konoha’s team might be, and scattered to search for them.
• Shikamaru decided the team could no longer afford to advance cautiously and told Neji they had to take a risk.
• Neji called on Naruto, who used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and powerful techniques to clear the stone statues as Shikamaru and Sakura escorted Shion through.
• A black-purple streak flashed toward Shion, and another figure stepped in front of her as blood sprayed across her face.

Itachi and Kisame left after discussing their understanding with Ueno Kei, while Naruto’s team struggled against the creatures guarding Shion. Taruho was gravely wounded, but his spreading corruption receded before an unknown attacker destroyed the stone statues and appeared before Sakura and Shion.

• Ueno Kei reflected on his conversation with Itachi, who told Kisame that the Akatsuki leader would not learn of their meeting and said Kei could see farther than he could.
• Naruto and Neji fought on as Shion headed toward the sealing altar, and Naruto rushed toward Taruho’s cry after borrowing the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
• Taruho was wounded while protecting Shion from giant scorpions, and Sakura’s medical ninjutsu could not stop the black corruption spreading through him.
• A purple light from Taruho’s left chest caused the black markings to recede, allowing Sakura to stabilize his injuries.
• An attacker used Storm Release—Laser Beam to destroy the stone statues, then appeared before Sakura and Shion and asked whether they were all right.