Chapter Summaries

Hibari learned that Sarutobi Hiruzen had spent his money on Biwako, who was pregnant, and promised to keep their relationship secret. Meanwhile, the Hokage leadership rewarded the Ino-Shika-Cho clans for supporting the Ninja Academy by bringing them into Konoha’s administration, beginning with Nara Lvxun and Yamanaka Kiyono.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen admitted he had spent his money on gifts for Biwako, and Hibari lent him the last of Little Tsunade’s banknotes to help pay for their meal.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Hibari that Biwako was pregnant and that he planned to arrange their wedding soon, and Hibari promised to keep it secret.
• After the costly grilled-meat feast, Hibari stayed home and studied the scrolls and notes Second Grandpa Tobirama had left him.
• Senju Hashirama and Second Grandpa Tobirama praised the Ino-Shika-Cho clans for supporting the Ninja Academy and invited Nara Lvxun to lead an Advisory Squad under the Hokage.
• Second Grandpa Tobirama appointed Yamanaka Kiyono to lead the village’s Intelligence Department, and she accepted the responsibility.

Tobirama invited Yamanaka Kiyono to examine Hibari and seal away his inability to use Water Release. Before Kiyono arrived, Hibari had an insight into the basic principle behind the Flying Thunder God, but Tobirama postponed discussing it so they could address Hibari’s condition.

• Tobirama assigned Kiyono to help develop his mind-and-soul sealing jutsu and asked Akimichi Kira to provide guards, including Torifu, for the Hokage Building.
• The Ninja Academy opened, while Hibari sent his Shadow Clone Moji to attend in his place and studied Space-Time theory at home.
• Hibari used folded sheets of paper and a Kunai to form a theory about how the Flying Thunder God connected marked points through space.
• When Tobirama returned, Hibari eagerly asked to learn the Flying Thunder God, but Tobirama told him to keep studying and introduced Kiyono as a visitor.
• Tobirama revealed that Kiyono had come to examine Hibari’s hidden inability to use Water Release, and Hibari agreed to be treated.

Tobirama and Yamanaka Kiyono used the Spiral Evolution Seal to contain the strange condition inside Hibari, then confirmed it no longer made him go limp in water. The chapter leaves Hibari struggling to swim in a muddy pool as Hashirama and Tobirama test whether he can develop Water Release and eventually inherit Wood Release.

• Yamanaka Kiyono examined Hibari and agreed that Tobirama's sealing plan seemed safe in theory.
• Tobirama applied the Spiral Evolution Seal to Hibari while Yamanaka Kiyono supplied chakra and Hashirama guarded the room.
• Hashirama tested Hibari with Water Prison Technique, and Hibari stayed energetic inside the water instead of going limp.
• Tobirama made a pool in the courtyard and kicked Hibari into it before he could object.
• Hibari remained afloat despite his clumsy movements, while Hashirama hoped he might learn Water Release and inherit Wood Release.

After Tobirama’s seal allowed Hibari to use Water Release, Hibari mastered the first step in three days and impressed Tobirama. He then asked to learn Tobirama’s supposed ocean summoning, but Tobirama denied the rumor and explained his expertise came from years of practice.

• Hibari thanked Yamanaka Kiyono for helping develop the Spiral Derivation Seal, and Tobirama warned that Hibari’s condition remained dangerous if his body’s Sealing Jutsu was undone.
• Tobirama gave Hibari a scroll explaining the Spiral Derivation Seal and told him to learn it so he could use it himself.
• After three days of training by the river, Hibari performed Water Style: Water Formation Wall, drawing water from the river to strengthen the technique.
• Tobirama praised Hibari’s breakthrough and promised to teach him advanced Water Release after a few more days of practice.
• Hibari asked Tobirama to teach him Summoning Jutsu so he could summon the ocean, but Tobirama denied having an ocean contract and said he had mastered Water Release through years of work.

Hibari and Tobirama sensed Madara’s attack on Konoha when he controlled the Nine-Tails and launched a Tailed Beast Bomb at the village. Hashirama confronted Madara as the two old friends faced the battle over the village they had built.

• Hibari set aside the question of signing a contract with Katsuyu while Tobirama praised Water Release and warned him against Madara’s ideas.
• Madara appeared outside Konoha, summoned and controlled the Nine-Tails, and sent a Tailed Beast Bomb toward the village.
• Tobirama redirected the Tailed Beast Bomb into the wilderness, where it exploded harmlessly away from Konoha.
• Hashirama arrived, ordered Tobirama to organize the village’s evacuation, and restrained the charging Nine-Tails with Wood Release.
• Madara burned away Hashirama’s restraints with Fire Release, and Hashirama confronted him over attacking the village they had built together.

As Konoha mobilized after Uchiha Madara controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked, Hibari joined the village’s defenses and suspected that clues to Madara’s plans remained inside. He persuaded Sarutobi Hiruzen to search with him for a chance to support Senju Hashirama in the battle outside the village.

• Hibari armed himself, told Senju Toka he would serve as a Konoha ninja, and went with her to the assembly point.
• Tobirama organized Konoha’s defenses, revealed that Uchiha Madara controlled the Nine-Tails, and warned his commanders to watch for infiltrators.
• Tobirama assigned Hibari to patrol the village and chose to keep the village’s forces in place rather than send a team to support Hashirama.
• Hibari told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Madara was behind the attack and that the Uchiha were being watched, then asked Hiruzen to search the village with him.
• Hibari and Hiruzen considered using their experience fighting Tailed Beasts to help Hashirama if they found the right opportunity.

Hibari and Sarutobi Hiruzen waited for a chance to join the battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara as the two fought far from Konoha. Hashirama unleashed True Several Thousand Hands against Madara’s Susanoo-armored Nine-Tails, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Hibari told Sarutobi Hiruzen to wait for the right moment to intervene, and they discussed using a combination jutsu.
• Senju Hashirama drew Uchiha Madara away from Konoha, but Madara rejected his plea to talk and attacked with the Nine-Tails.
• Hashirama used Wood Release to withstand Madara’s Tailed Beast Bomb, while Uzumaki Mito emerged from the Senju Clan residence and watched the distant battle.
• Madara covered the Nine-Tails in Susanoo armor and continued fighting Hashirama, who redirected a combined Tailed Beast Bomb and greatsword toward a deserted island.
• Hashirama tried to persuade Madara to abandon the fight, but Madara refused and charged again.
• Hashirama entered Sage Mode and summoned True Several Thousand Hands, then attacked Madara and the Nine-Tails with Top Transformed Buddha.

Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara continued their battle, with Hashirama trying to protect the village while Madara refused to stop. The chapter ended as Hashirama unleashed True Several Thousand Hands and its countless arms rained down on Madara and the Nine-Tails.

• Senju Hashirama exhausted Top Transformed Buddha, then used Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands to restrain the Nine-Tails Fox.
• Hibari, Uzumaki Mito, and Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, but Hibari worried that Hashirama might be gravely injured if the fight continued.
• Hashirama and Madara resumed fighting, and Hashirama drew Madara toward the shore to keep their battle from destroying the surrounding area.
• Madara launched a Bladed Tailed Beast Bomb, and Hashirama used Quintuple Rashomon to deflect it into the sea, where it destroyed a distant island.
• Hashirama urged Madara to stop fighting, but Madara rejected him and charged again with the Nine-Tails.
• Hashirama entered Sage Mode and summoned True Several Thousand Hands, then unleashed Top Transformed Buddha against Madara and the Nine-Tails.

Hashirama subdued the Nine-Tails but continued fighting Madara, while Hibari secretly tried to create an opening to help him. Hibari struck Madara with a Rasengan, allowing Hashirama to flash behind Madara, and the chapter ended with all three frozen after a soft impact and blood splattered on Hibari's face.

• Hashirama broke Madara's Susanoo armor and restrained the Nine-Tails with Wood Release, then fought Madara on the ground.
• Uzumaki Mito decided to seal the Nine-Tails inside herself, while Hibari slipped away and Sarutobi Hiruzen went to look for him.
• Hashirama and Madara wounded each other, and Hibari realized Madara wanted Hashirama's cells to awaken the Rinnegan.
• Hibari ambushed Madara, but Madara quickly disarmed and pinned him, then used him as a bargaining chip against Hashirama.
• Hibari secretly struck Madara with a one-handed Rasengan and signaled Hashirama, who flashed behind Madara as blood splattered across Hibari's face.

Senju Hashirama killed Uchiha Madara after Hibari helped defeat him, and the group buried Madara in the Valley of the End. Uzumaki Mito sealed the Nine-Tails inside herself with the Eight Trigrams Seal, and they hurried back to Konoha to treat Hashirama.

• Hibari revealed that he had created the Rasengan as Madara died from Senju Hashirama's sword, and Madara warned that peace would eventually be swallowed by darkness.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, supported the badly weakened Senju Hashirama, and agreed to keep Madara's death quiet.
• Senju Hashirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Hibari buried Uchiha Madara in the Valley of the End, while Hibari suppressed a strange urge to take Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The three returned to Uzumaki Mito, who sealed the Nine-Tails inside herself with the Eight Trigrams Seal despite the fox's threats.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen carried Senju Hashirama toward the Hidden Leaf Village so his injuries could be treated.

After Uchiha Madara escaped his supposed death, Hibari learned that Grandpa Hashirama had survived but might never fight as a shinobi again. The village settled after officials announced Madara’s defeat, and the chapter ended with Grandpa Hashirama waking while Tobirama and Hiruzen abandoned Hibari mid-treatment.

• Uchiha Madara crawled out of his grave, swallowed the flesh he had taken from Senju Hashirama, and vanished while the world believed him dead.
• Senju Tobirama told Hibari and Sarutobi Hiruzen that Grandpa Hashirama’s life was safe, but his injuries might prevent him from being a shinobi again.
• Senju Tobirama went to calm the village, while officials announced that Grandpa Hashirama had defeated Uchiha Madara and was recovering from injuries.
• Senju Tobirama removed bone fragments from Hibari’s wrist as Hibari recounted how he had helped Grandpa Hashirama defeat Madara, then stopped when he felt conflicted about Madara.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that Lord Hokage had awakened, and Senju Tobirama and Hiruzen rushed away after Tobirama accidentally ruptured a blood vessel in Hibari’s wrist.

After Hashirama recovered enough to speak, he confirmed Hibari had helped defeat Madara and announced he wanted to step down as Hokage. The chapter ended with Hibari reversing his support for Hashirama’s retirement when he remembered the money Hashirama owed him, then suggesting an adviser position as a compromise.

• Hibari rushed to Hashirama’s room, where Hashirama confirmed that Hibari had made a major contribution against Madara.
• Tobirama reported that Hashirama’s condition had stabilized, and Sarutobi Sasuke announced that Byakuren, the First Mizukage, had died.
• Hashirama ordered Konoha to send a letter of condolence, while Sasuke reported that Hozuki Gengetsu was expected to become the Second Mizukage.
• Hashirama said he wanted to retire as Hokage and urged Tobirama to succeed him.
• Hibari first supported Hashirama’s retirement, then changed his mind after remembering Hashirama owed him 1.5 million ryo and proposed making him an adviser instead.
• Tobirama said the adviser position might be worth considering.

Hibari proposed policies and institutions to strengthen Konoha, prompting Tobirama to appoint Sarutobi Hiruzen to lead a Hokage-controlled special unit. Later, Hibari faced a huge book bill for Orochimaru and began planning to earn money by publishing stories.

• Hibari argued that Konoha should provide for retired and disabled ninja, build a defensive barrier, and create a department to maintain it; Tobirama agreed the village needed to consider such measures.
• Hibari proposed a special unit directly under the Hokage, and Sarutobi Sasuke supported it as a way to handle urgent and secret missions.
• Tobirama appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen to form and lead the new unit, while Hibari’s attempt to recommend himself went ignored.
• Hibari met the Ju Na Bookstore owner and learned that Orochimaru’s books had brought the bill to eight hundred thousand ryo, which he promised to pay later.
• Hibari asked the bookstore owner about publishing and decided to turn stories from his previous life into a source of income.

Hibari joined Sarutobi Hiruzen to prepare Anbu uniforms and masks as Senju Hashirama prepared to retire and pass the Hokage position to Senju Tobirama. Hashirama addressed the gathered villagers, reflecting on Madara and concluding that his choice to build Konoha had been right.

• Hibari left Orochimaru to return to his books and went with little Tsunade to the Hokage Building, where Torifu Akimichi sent him upstairs to meet Hiruzen.
• Hibari confirmed that Hashirama would announce his retirement and Tobirama’s succession that day, then teased Hashirama about owing him eight hundred thousand ryo.
• Hiruzen took Hibari to select the masks and uniforms Hibari had designed for their new Anbu squad.
• Hibari and Hiruzen appeared in Anbu gear before Hashirama and Tobirama, and Tsunade explained that Hibari wanted the unit to look impressive enough to attract important recruits.
• Sarutobi Sasuke announced that preparations were complete, and Hashirama stepped onto the speaking platform as the villagers welcomed him.
• Hashirama addressed the crowd and privately reflected that Konoha’s prosperity proved Madara had been wrong.

Senju Hashirama announced that he was stepping down as Hokage, and Tobirama succeeded him three days later. Hibari then visited the brothers and freed a skylark Hashirama had caught.

• Hibari reflected on why he could not change Madara’s mind as the crowd eyed him and Sarutobi Hiruzen beside Hashirama.
• Uchiha Eisen urged Kagami Uchiha to join the Hokage’s rumored direct unit and help rebuild trust between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage Building.
• Hashirama addressed the village, spoke candidly about his limits, and announced his resignation as First Hokage.
• Three days later, Tobirama had taken over as Hokage, while Hashirama enjoyed his retirement.
• Hibari found Hashirama and Tobirama joking about raising him like a skylark, then opened the cage and let the bird fly away.

Hibari proposed recruiting Kagami Uchiha into the Anbu to ease tensions between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage, then challenged Kagami in the hills. Their fight escalated as Kagami revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan and Hibari unleashed Strength of a Hundred, but Hibari’s powerful charge missed.

• Hibari suggested recruiting Kagami Uchiha into the Anbu, and Tobirama approved the plan.
• Hibari left the Hokage’s residence while Sarutobi Hiruzen visited the Hyuga Clan.
• Hibari ambushed Kagami Uchiha during shuriken practice, and Kagami recognized him as Senju Hibari.
• Hibari and Kagami exchanged attacks and ninjutsu, filling the area with steam before continuing their fight at close range.
• Kagami awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan and tracked Hibari’s attacks, while Hibari activated Strength of a Hundred and charged at him.
• Kagami dodged Hibari’s powerful punch, and Hibari realized he needed a more suitable taijutsu technique.

Hibari fought Kagami Uchiha in the woods to test his abilities and persuade him to join the Anbu. After defeating him, Hibari explained the unit’s purpose, and Kagami agreed to report to the Hokage Building the next morning.

• Hibari used a Shadow Clone and the Headhunter Technique to escape Kagami’s counterattack, then revealed his identity and challenged him to fight.
• Hibari surrounded Kagami with dozens of Shadow Clones, and the two battled with ninjutsu and weapons until Hibari pinned him down.
• Hibari accused Kagami of suspected ties to Uchiha Madara, then revealed that he had come to invite him into the Anbu.
• Kagami realized Hibari had fought him to test his skills and establish the Anbu’s authority, then agreed to join.
• Hibari told Kagami to report to the Hokage Building the next morning for his Anbu gear, and Kagami asked how many people the unit had recruited.

Hibari helped Tobirama establish the Uchiha-led Konoha Military Police Force and build the Anbu, then investigated suspected Kumogakure spies and took interest in the Jashin Cult. Tobirama summoned him to read a letter from the Land of Fire's daimyo's office, whose unexpected arrival left Hibari puzzled.

• Hibari reported that Kagami Uchiha would join the Anbu, and Tobirama prepared to establish a security force.
• Tobirama assigned the Uchiha Clan to organize Konoha's police and military police, and the clan funded its headquarters and took charge of village security.
• Hibari and Sarutobi Hiruzen built the Anbu into four elite squads, with Kagami Uchiha and a Hyuga prodigy leading two of them.
• An Anbu member reported suspected Kumogakure intelligence-gathering in the village and described the Jashin Cult, which Hibari ordered monitored.
• Tobirama summoned Hibari, took his expensive fur hat, and gave him a letter from the Land of Fire's daimyo's office.
• Hibari wondered whether the letter had been sent to the wrong person instead of Hashirama, Tobirama, or Tsunade.

Hibari learned that the Daimyo's Court had invited him to join the Twelve Guardian Ninja as part of its effort to build ties with the powerful Senju Clan. He declined, choosing to remain in Konoha, then briefed Granduncle Tobirama on the new Raikage and suspected foreign spies.

• The Daimyo's Court invited Hibari to fill a vacancy among the Twelve Guardian Ninja, but he called the position boring and turned it down.
• Granduncle Tobirama explained that the Senju Clan was shifting away from raising every child as a ninja and seeking influence among the Land of Fire's ruling elite.
• Hibari understood the clan's strategy but rejected the opportunity, and Granduncle Tobirama agreed to recommend someone else.
• Sarutobi Sasuke joked that he would have accepted such an opportunity for the Sarutobi Clan, and Hibari predicted that his clan might receive one someday.
• Granduncle Tobirama asked about the investigation, and Hibari reported that the Second Raikage had taken office and that Kumogakure spies appeared to be the most numerous foreign agents in the Land of Fire.

Tobirama concluded that the other villages were probing Konoha because they suspected Hashirama was gravely ill, and he ordered preparations for a possible war. Hibari briefed the Anbu on its independent mission to investigate whether Kumogakure was preparing to attack and how far those preparations had advanced.

• Hibari and Sarutobi Sasuke told Tobirama that the villages were likely testing Konoha because Hashirama had withdrawn from public life after his battle with Madara.
• Tobirama decided Konoha could not rely on other nations' patience and ordered preparations for conflict, identifying Kumogakure as the likeliest first attacker.
• Tobirama ordered Hibari to investigate Kumogakure with the Intelligence Department and told Sarutobi Sasuke to prepare the village, guide the major clans, and tighten inspections.
• Hibari went to the Anbu office, where Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered the available core members, including Kagami Uchiha and Hyuga Hiten.
• Hibari told the Anbu that they would independently investigate Kumogakure to determine whether it planned to start a war and how advanced its preparations were.