Chapter Summaries

Kurama Yeqiong sent most of his clan toward the Land of Fire border while he and Kurama Yewu pursued Ueno Kei to rescue Yun'er. Ueno Kei changed course and missed the Third Hokage, then set Yun'er down when she awoke and called out to hidden relatives.

• Kurama Ye Yi warned Kurama Yeqiong that Yuhi Kurenai, Nara Shikaku, and other Konoha reinforcements were approaching.
• Kurama Yeqiong ordered Kurama Ye Yi to lead the clan toward the border while he and Kurama Yewu went after Yun'er.
• Ueno Kei avoided the route back to Konoha and headed northeast, unknowingly passing the Third Hokage going the other way.
• Ueno Kei noticed Yun'er had awakened, lowered her to the ground, and faced her as she called to her uncle and Third Uncle in the shadows.

Ueno Kei tried to escape while Kurama Yakumo confronted her uncles, Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu, over the clan’s failure to avenge her parents. When Yeqiong’s attempt to persuade her to leave failed, Yakumo turned on the two men and attacked.

• Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu appeared behind Ueno Kei, who prepared to fight but quietly edged toward the grass to escape.
• Kurama Yakumo accused Kurama Yewu, the Kurama Clan’s head, of failing to avenge the clan members who had died.
• Kurama Yeqiong urged Yakumo to leave with him, promising her power could eventually bring justice for the clan.
• Kurama Yakumo revealed her bloodlust and threatened to kill her uncle as her eyes turned blood-red.
• Kurama Yeqiong warned Kurama Yewu and retreated, and Kurama Yewu followed him.

Kurama Yakumo's Five Senses Genjutsu trapped Ueno Kei, Yuhi Kurenai, and others in a strange space while Hiruzen Sarutobi learned the Anbu had survived. Yuhi found Ueno Kei and explained that Yakumo could make genjutsu real, while Hiruzen sensed that something dangerous was unfolding.

• Kurama Yakumo's genjutsu pulled Ueno Kei, Yuhi Kurenai, and others into a strange space, while Nara Shikaku investigated the barrier left behind.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that the seven Anbu had survived and suspected the Kurama Clan had shown restraint, but a monstrous roar made him uneasy.
• Ueno Kei recognized that he was caught in a genjutsu and met Yuhi Kurenai inside the unfamiliar space.
• Yuhi Kurenai traced the space to Kurama Yakumo's chakra and headed toward her after finding Ueno Kei.
• Yuhi Kurenai told Ueno Kei that Yakumo could make genjutsu real and that escape required breaking a weak spot or overpowering her chakra.

Ueno Kei joined Yuhi Kurenai as she searched the sealed space for Kurama Yakumo, learning that a monster born from Yakumo’s power lurked within her. Kurenai found a weak point and began breaking the seal, but the space only trembled as she prepared Kei to strike a crack when it appeared.

• Ueno Kei agreed to accompany Yuhi Kurenai to find Kurama Yakumo, and Kurenai explained that a monster born from Yakumo’s power was hidden inside her.
• Ueno Kei told Yuhi Kurenai that Kurama Yakumo had been with two men in black robes, whom Kurenai identified as Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu.
• Yuhi Kurenai found a faint glimmer, carved the character “Ling” into the ground, and attempted to release the space’s weak point.
• When the space trembled and stopped, Yuhi Kurenai realized its strength had increased and warned Kei that Yakumo might have grown stronger.
• Yuhi Kurenai told Ueno Kei to attack the crack with all his chakra when it appeared, then used Five Elements Seal Break on the ground.

Yuhi Kurenai and Ueno Kei broke through the illusion and reached Kurama Yakumo, who accused Kurenai and Konoha of killing her parents. Yakumo began drawing as Ueno Kei sensed a terrifying threat, leaving the result of her sketch unrevealed.

• Yuhi Kurenai used a technique to crack the illusion, and Ueno Kei slashed through the opening with the Lingyu Blade.
• Yuhi Kurenai opened a door at the end of a hallway, where Kurama Yakumo greeted her with delight.
• Ueno Kei saw the wounded Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu and feared Yakumo's power.
• Yuhi Kurenai tried to stop Yakumo and explain, but Yakumo accused her and Konoha of killing her parents.
• Kurama Yakumo waved her hand, produced a pen and drawing board, and began sketching as Ueno Kei watched in horror.

Kurama Yakumo summoned a vast horde of monsters and confronted her former teacher, Yuhi Kurenai, while Ueno Kei prepared to fight beside her. As the monsters charged, Kurenai apologized for putting Kei in danger, and he told her he did not blame her.

• Kurama Yakumo bound the Kurama Yeqiong brothers with chains and summoned more than a thousand monsters around Yuhi Kurenai and Ueno Kei.
• Yakumo declared that she would avenge her parents by starting with Yuhi Kurenai, then unleashed chains that Kurenai shattered with a space-warping technique.
• The monsters charged, and Ueno Kei braced himself to fight alongside Kurenai rather than flee.
• Yuhi Kurenai apologized to Ueno Kei for failing to send him out of the space before the danger escalated.
• Ueno Kei told Kurenai he would not hold her responsible, easing her guilt as the monsters closed in.

Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai struggled against Kurama Yakumo’s monsters inside an unknown space, while the Third Hokage and Nara Shikaku found themselves unable to reach them beyond a barrier. The Hokage chose to secure the area rather than risk breaking through and harming those trapped inside.

• Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai killed the Double-Horned Monsters, but faster creatures and attacking birds began to overwhelm them.
• A Double-Horned Monster nearly struck Ueno Kei down, but he escaped with the Substitution Technique as several birds targeted him.
• Kurama Yakumo watched Kurenai struggle and urged the monsters to kill her.
• The Third Hokage met Nara Shikaku outside the gray barrier and learned that Kurenai and others had been trapped inside.
• The Third Hokage judged the barrier fragile but feared breaking it could endanger those within, so he ordered the Anbu to guard the area.

Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade’s barrier and a painful chakra-condensing method to survive the wraiths and reach Kurama Yakumo. As the monsters vanished and Yakumo screamed, Kei struck her with Starfall, splitting her body in two.

• Ueno Kei realized his fear of death had nearly cost him his life and prepared to make a final attack.
• Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade to form a barrier against the wraiths while he rapidly condensed chakra at the cost of his vital essence.
• Kurama Yakumo reacted in shock when she met Ueno Kei’s gaze, and the monsters began to vanish.
• Ueno Kei rushed to the platform, hesitated at the sight of Yakumo, then attacked with the Wind Wing Sword Technique, First Form: Starfall.
• Ueno Kei’s blade split Kurama Yakumo’s body in two as Yuhi Kurenai called out to stop him.

Kurama Yakumo succumbed to the murderous persona within her, while Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai fought to survive. Ueno Kei killed Yakumo, leaving him shaken and Yuhi Kurenai grieving her former student.

• Kurama Yakumo struggled against a black-clad version of herself that urged her to kill Yuhi Kurenai and seek revenge.
• Yakumo resisted the urge to attack her teacher, but the black-clad girl pierced her chest and absorbed her consciousness.
• The black-clad girl emerged as a monstrous figure and prepared to continue her rampage.
• Ueno Kei reflected on killing for the first time after the battle ended, concluding that he had acted to survive.
• Yuhi Kurenai mourned Kurama Yakumo, and Ueno Kei felt a faint guilt toward her despite believing he had made the necessary choice.

After killing Kurama Yakumo, Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai prepared to return to the village, but Ueno realized the illusion space remained active and Yakumo’s body had changed. He was ambushed and left gravely wounded.

• Yuhi Kurenai told Ueno Kei that he had done nothing wrong, though she mourned Kurama Yakumo and admitted through her hesitation that she felt guilty toward her former student.
• Yuhi Kurenai decided to check on the unconscious Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu before taking them back to the village, and found that their injuries were serious but not fatal.
• Ueno Kei sensed that something was wrong because the gray illusion space had not collapsed after Yakumo’s death.
• Ueno Kei saw that the body in Yakumo’s clothes had a face he did not recognize and shouted a warning to Yuhi Kurenai.
• An unknown tentacle slashed Ueno Kei across the back, leaving him gravely wounded and close to death.

Ueno Kei survived a surprise attack by Kurama Yakumo, but Yuhi Kurenai realized that the girl before them was actually Ido. Ido revealed that she had survived their earlier attempt to destroy her and turned her attention toward the wounded Ueno Kei.

• Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade to force his attacker back, and Yuhi Kurenai rushed to protect him.
• Ueno Kei swallowed a pill and used Hand Seals to stop the bleeding from his back wound.
• The girl claiming to be Kurama Yakumo taunted Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai, while Ueno Kei sensed that she was a monster.
• Yuhi Kurenai attacked the girl with vines and a Kunai, then broke free after recognizing the exchange as a genjutsu.
• Yuhi Kurenai identified the girl as Ido, who admitted she had survived their earlier attempt to destroy her and declared that they could not defeat her now.

Ueno Kei and Kurenai fought the monster controlling Yakumo, and Kurenai managed to wound and restrain it. The monster remained bound as it weakened.

• Kurenai and Ueno Kei attacked the monster wearing Yakumo's body from opposite sides.
• The monster dodged Ueno Kei's blade, transformed her arm into a horn, and sent creatures to attack Kurenai.
• Ueno Kei blocked the horn strike with the Lingyu Blade but began to collapse from exhaustion.
• Kurenai stabbed the monster in the chest with a Kunai, weakening it and disrupting its control of Yakumo's body.
• Kurenai summoned rune-marked chains from the Kunai and bound the monster.

Yuhi Kurenai’s ambush failed when Ido broke free of the Illusion Seal Chain and transformed into a monster. Ido impaled Ueno Kei and Kurenai before a blast erased the space, while Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned his ape to force a way through the barrier.

• Yuhi Kurenai immobilized Ido with a drug-coated kunai and the Illusion Seal Chain after Ueno Kei drew its attention.
• Ido transformed into a monstrous form and broke the seal chain, then sent Kurenai flying and left her unable to rise.
• Ueno Kei and Kurenai were impaled by Ido’s tentacles as Ueno Kei thought of his family and Naruto.
• A burst of black light from Ido caused a deafening explosion that flattened the space within the barrier.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to break the barrier by force and summoned his ape while Nara Shikaku stepped back.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku broke through the barrier and entered its black vortex. Ueno Kei woke unharmed in a strange expanse and encountered Kurama Yakumo, who spoke to him playfully despite their recent fight.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma as the Adamantine Staff and smashed through the barrier with Nara Shikaku.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku entered the black vortex and disappeared.
• Ueno Kei woke in a pale, unfamiliar place, checked himself for injuries, and found his belongings and chakra intact.
• Ueno Kei recognized the barefoot girl as Kurama Yakumo, his recent enemy, but felt no hostility from her.
• Kurama Yakumo teased Ueno Kei about his surprise and laughed at his awkward response.
• Ueno Kei began to ask why Kurama Yakumo was treating him like a friend, but trailed off.

Kurama Yakumo tried to ease Ueno Kei’s suspicion, but her sudden illness and sorrowful confession revealed her pain and left him uncertain about their relationship. As she asked what people lived for, Kei silently felt himself draw closer to her.

• Kurama Yakumo told Ueno Kei that their near-fatal injuries had been illusions and claimed they were even, but Kei remained wary.
• Kurama Yakumo suffered a painful episode, collapsed to her knees, and slowly recovered with a sickly pallor.
• Kurama Yakumo asked Kei to call her by name and said she had never wanted to kill him or Teacher Kurenai.
• Kurama Yakumo spoke of fate and of her family and Teacher Kurenai before asking Kei what people lived for.
• Ueno Kei could not answer, but felt his heart draw a little closer to Kurama Yakumo.

Ueno Kei killed Kurama Yakumo at her request, ending the threat within her as the collapsing space forced Yuhi Kurenai to be rescued. Kei later woke in Konoha Hospital and vowed to survive.

• Kurama Yakumo asked Ueno Kei to end her suffering, and he reluctantly plunged the Lingyu Blade into her heart.
• The Lingyu Blade released black smoke from Yakumo, and she died in Kei's arms after saying goodbye and urging him to live.
• The space began to collapse, and Nara Shikaku caught Yuhi Kurenai as she staggered; Sarutobi Hiruzen promised to handle the remaining rescue.
• Yuhi Kurenai lost consciousness after asking Sarutobi Hiruzen to save Yakumo, the Kurama Clan head, and the other Konoha ninja.
• Ueno Kei woke in Konoha Hospital and vowed that he would survive.

Ueno Kei recovered in Konoha Hospital after his battle, and Naruto visited him, worried about his injuries. The Third Hokage came to see them and sent Naruto back to class, while Ueno Kei remained curious about Naruto’s unusual standing in the village.

• Naruto rushed to the hospital after learning Ueno Kei had been injured, and Ueno Kei reassured him that he would recover after resting.
• Ueno Kei kept the real cause of his injuries from Naruto and scolded him for joking about the accident.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, and Ueno Kei wondered whether his visit concerned the recent events involving Kurama Yakumo or something else.
• Ueno Kei reprimanded Naruto for addressing the Third Hokage casually, but Sarutobi Hiruzen said he did not mind Naruto’s manner.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Naruto to stop skipping class, and Naruto left after promising to visit Ueno Kei again after school.

Ueno Kei spoke with the Third Hokage in his hospital room after the Kurama Clan incident. When the Hokage asked what he thought about what had happened, Kei chose to speak openly, leaving the Hokage curious about his reasons.

• After Naruto left, Ueno Kei offered to report what had happened with the Kurama Clan, but the Third Hokage changed the subject and asked about his recovery.
• Ueno Kei said he was nearly recovered and thanked the Hokage, who assured him that school had been informed and he should focus on resting.
• The Third Hokage asked Ueno Kei what he thought about the incident, and Kei wondered whether the question concerned the clan, Kurama Yakumo, or Konoha's response.
• The Third Hokage recalled what Yuhi Kurenai had told him and sought to learn why Ueno Kei had appeared beside Kurama Yakumo before killing her.
• Ueno Kei decided he could not hide what he knew and said that some things might be better discussed openly.
• The Third Hokage asked why Kei felt that way.

Ueno Kei told the Third Hokage how silence and misunderstanding had led to the tragedy involving Kurama Yakumo, while revealing his own guilt and uncertainty about life beyond revenge. The Third Hokage, reminded of a boy he had once failed to help, urged Kei to believe in trust and the Will of Fire.

• Ueno Kei explained that Ido and the Kurama Clan Head's actions had grown from unspoken fears and misunderstandings.
• Ueno Kei recounted his history with Kurama Yakumo, including her remorse and his own hesitation.
• The Third Hokage remembered a talented boy in white who had gone astray and resolved not to let Ueno Kei follow the same path.
• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei that understanding and trust could overcome hostility between people.
• Ueno Kei reflected that revenge was his only purpose and that he had few connections in Konoha beyond Naruto.
• The Third Hokage explained the Will of Fire as the belief that people could eventually overcome barriers and learn to understand and trust one another.

The Third Hokage tried to guide Ueno Kei toward finding meaning beyond revenge, but Kei remained focused on avenging his parents. In the Hokage’s office, Shimura Danzō confronted him over protecting the Kurama Clan and demanded that they be destroyed.

• The Third Hokage spoke to Ueno Kei about the Will of Fire, and Kei reflected that he had little to protect beyond his desire for revenge.
• The Third Hokage comforted Kei, who thanked him and began to feel more hopeful about finding his own answer someday.
• Shimura Danzō appeared in the Hokage’s office and challenged the Third Hokage for concealing the Kurama Clan’s situation and letting its members go.
• The Third Hokage explained that he had treated the Kurama Clan’s actions as a misunderstanding and had arranged for the injured Kurama Yeqiong and his sibling to be taken to the hospital.
• Kurama Yeqiong secretly ordered the clan to return to its former base in the Land of Fire after speaking with the Third Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō called the Kurama Clan traitors and demanded their extermination, while the Third Hokage rejected his bloody methods.