Chapter Summaries

Nagato injected the Hashirama Cell Solution and used the Rinnegan to suppress the cells’ rampage, but he told Konan the ordeal had only begun. Meanwhile, White Zetsu found traces of a Nine-Tails chakra outbreak at the Temple of Fire, prompting Obito and Black Zetsu to investigate.

• Konan prepared a seaside cave and injected Nagato with the Hashirama Cell Solution.
• Nagato endured intense pain as the cells began fusing with his body, then activated the Rinnegan to suppress their rampage.
• Konan gave Nagato medicine after the pain subsided, and Nagato said the process had only just begun.
• A White Zetsu reported traces of a Nine-Tails chakra outbreak at the Temple of Fire that did not come from Naruto Uzumaki.
• Obito headed for the Temple of Fire, while Black Zetsu followed to investigate.

Natsuki brought Yahiko to the outskirts of Konoha, recruited him, and welcomed him into his camp after changing his talent and shaving his head. Meanwhile, Obito infiltrated the damaged Temple of Fire and identified a young apprentice monk as the source of the Nine-Tails Chakra he had been tracking.

• Natsuki recruited Yahiko and gained Leader's Charm, then replaced Genjutsu Mastery with Lightning Affinity.
• Yahiko joined Natsuki because he trusted his practical plan and wanted to grow strong enough to avoid past tragedies.
• Natsuki recovered the memories of his Shadow Clone and learned that Nagato's body had been restored and that Nagato had begun fusing with Hashirama Cells.
• Natsuki tricked Yahiko into turning around and shaved his hair into a buzz cut before bringing him toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.
• Obito phased into the Temple of Fire, found signs of a recent attack and Nine-Tails Chakra, and confirmed that a dejected young apprentice monk was the person he sought.

Obito discovered that Sora was an imitation Nine-Tails jinchuriki created by Kazuma, who planned to destroy Konoha with Obito’s help. Obito captured Kazuma and considered using his plan to weaken Konoha.

• Obito found Sora at the Temple of Fire and noticed Kazuma watching him.
• Kazuma secretly tried to apply a sealing jutsu to Sora, but Obito caught and captured him.
• Under Obito’s genjutsu, Kazuma revealed that he had transplanted Nine-Tails chakra into Sora and used seals to suppress it.
• Kazuma explained that he wanted Obito’s help to enter Konoha and activate Earth Style: Creation, Technique of the Dead Soil.
• Obito put Kazuma to sleep and stored him in the Kamui Dimension, then told Black Zetsu they might help Kazuma destroy Konoha.

Obito learned that Uchiha Natsuki was running for Fifth Hokage and prepared an attack on Konoha while Natsuki secured Tsunade’s support and built his own campaign. Obito recruited Kakuzu to attack the Temple of Fire, where Kakuzu launched a devastating strike on the monks’ central hall.

• Black Zetsu told Obito that Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Uchiha Natsuki were candidates for Fifth Hokage, and Obito decided to capture the Imitation Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Natsuki settled Yahiko in the Uchiha Clan Compound, then visited Konoha’s clans to solicit votes.
• Tsunade questioned Natsuki about his candidacy, and he convinced her to help him by pretending to be eager for power.
• Obito brought Kakuzu to the Temple of Fire and promised him access to valuable bounty targets, including Chiriku.
• Kakuzu agreed to work with Obito, then attacked the Temple of Fire’s central hall with a combined Fire and Wind Release technique.

Kakuzu and Obito attacked the Temple of Fire, where Chiriku fought back with Sage Art before Obito killed him and Kakuzu slaughtered the monks. After the temple burned, Black Zetsu killed a returning monk and hid his body in the flames.

• Chiriku rallied the monks and used Sage Art to repel Kakuzu’s lightning attack and drive Kakuzu back with a barrage of Chakra fists.
• Kakuzu combined his Wind and Water Earth Grudge Fears to fire a Wind Water Bomb, which Chiriku blocked with his Guanyin statue.
• Obito used Kamui to punch a hole through Chiriku’s chest while Chiriku was immobilized, killing him and warning Kakuzu to finish quickly.
• Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear attacked the monks as the temple burned, while villagers watched from outside the sealed gates.
• A monk who returned after daybreak found the Temple of Fire’s dead and was killed by Black Zetsu, who threw his body into the fire.

Kakuzu delivered Chiriku’s corpse to the Bounty Brokerage, where Hikari found a secret message hidden inside it. Meanwhile, the Sound Village strengthened its position as Kabuto Yakushi prepared the Sound Four to serve as powerful representatives.

• Kakuzu brought Chiriku’s corpse to Hikari at the Bounty Brokerage and collected the thirty-million bounty while secretly passing along a message hidden in the body.
• Hikari found and read Kakuzu’s secret letter, then decided to make the trip himself.
• The Sound Village continued growing as Kabuto Yakushi’s Sage Mode became widely known and attracted attention and recruits.
• Kabuto modified the Sound Four with his cells and Natural Energy, granting them Degraded Sage Mode and raising their strength to Elite Jonin level.
• Kabuto made the Sound Four backup reserves of Natural Energy and prepared them to represent the Sound Village.

Nagato discovered a Curse Mark near his heart while enduring the Hashirama Cells’ will, and he planned to wait until his enhancement was complete before seeking a way to remove it. In Konoha, Natsuki recalled Uchiha fighters and announced practical combat instruction, arguing that their children should not be indoctrinated by the Ninja Academy’s “Will of Fire.”

• During an eruption of the Hashirama Cells’ will, Nagato observed his body from within and noticed a Curse Mark near his heart.
• Nagato endured the episode and told Konan he sensed a talisman on his heart, but would wait until the Hashirama Cell enhancement was complete before trying to remove it.
• Konan reassured Nagato that a longer fusion process was acceptable as long as nothing went wrong.
• In Konoha, Natsuki recalled half of the Uchiha Clan members who had been away and announced practical combat instruction on the bulletin board.
• When Uchiha members questioned the instruction, Natsuki pointed out that their children would waste time at the Ninja Academy and be taught the “Will of Fire.”

Natsuki established free combat training to prepare Uchiha clan members to teach children at their planned school, while giving aspiring medical ninjas practical experience. The training drew many Konoha shinobi, who fought Uchiha instructors and received free treatment, including from intern Rina Uchiha.

• Natsuki explained that the Uchiha needed their own school and assigned clan members to practice teaching combat.
• Natsuki pointed to Tsunade and the Uchiha Hospital as support for the training, then announced that lessons would begin the next day.
• Konoha shinobi gathered at the Uchiha training grounds, where Uchiha members fought them and offered combat advice.
• Medical interns treated injured participants for free, and Rina Uchiha took a genin with a swollen foot to practice her skills.

Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee learned that the Uchiha Clan was offering free combat training and went to try it. The crowded training sessions let the Uchiha members discover they enjoyed teaching, while Natsuki watched the program grow.

• Neji asked Shibuki about the crowd at the bulletin board and learned that Uchiha Natsuki had opened free combat training to anyone.
• Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee decided to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound to gain combat experience.
• Natsuki watched as Genin and recent graduates arrived in large numbers for sparring and free medical treatment.
• Uchiha members defeated the visitors, gave them pointers, and received sincere thanks from the injured trainees.
• The Uchiha members found that they enjoyed teaching and considered taking jobs at the clan school once it opened.

Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee visited the Uchiha training ground, where Yōya tested their skills. Neji left with advice about loosening his rigid fighting style, while Rock Lee earned Yōya’s praise and resolved to train harder.

• Neji challenged Yōya, who quickly showed him that posing before a real fight could get him killed.
• Yōya sparred with Neji, exposed flaws in his rigid Gentle Fist techniques, and told him to rethink his movements.
• Rock Lee attacked Yōya with a series of taijutsu techniques, and Yōya praised his solid fundamentals and hard work.
• Rock Lee happily decided to add another hundred laps to his training after receiving Yōya’s recognition.

Tenten faced Uchiha Natsuki in the arena, where he recognized her talent for summoning and storing objects. After the match, Natsuki encouraged her to pursue the Summoning Technique and use her spatial talent to help her teammates, leaving Tenten reconsidering her decision to give up.

• Tenten entered the arena, and Natsuki replaced Yōya as her opponent, telling Yōya to rest.
• Tenten threw a huge number of ninja tools at Natsuki, but he dodged them easily and ended the match.
• Natsuki returned Tenten’s gathered ninja tools to her and brought her to sit with Neji and Rock Lee.
• When Tenten asked whether she had done badly, Natsuki asked about her dream of becoming like Tsunade and challenged her to keep seeking a summoned beast.
• Natsuki explained that Tenten’s ability to summon objects showed rare spatial talent that could eventually let her summon people and rescue teammates.
• Tenten reconsidered giving up on finding a summoned beast as Natsuki encouraged her to prepare for her teammates’ needs during missions.

Natsuki encouraged Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji at the Uchiha training grounds, then later met a bounty broker who offered him intelligence about Obito. The chapter ended as Natsuki prepared to hear what the broker knew.

• Natsuki demonstrated a precise shuriken technique and invited Tenten to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound, where she could also see Tsunade.
• Natsuki encouraged Rock Lee to pursue taijutsu and advised Neji to be flexible when using the Gentle Fist.
• Rock Lee left to run extra laps, Tenten went home, and Uchiha trainee Medical Ninjas dragged Neji away for treatment.
• Tenten began visiting the Uchiha Compound regularly, where clan members gave her pointers.
• A bald bounty broker approached Natsuki and offered intelligence about Obito.

Natsuki paid a Bounty Brokerage employee for Kakuzu’s intelligence and learned that Obito had recruited Kōdo, prompting him to plan how to use the threat against the Sarutobi Clan. Orochimaru received Natsuki’s warning and recognized the Sarutobi Clan as the greatest obstacle to taking power from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Natsuki gave the bald Bounty Brokerage employee ten million for Kakuzu’s intelligence and arranged to receive future information directly.
• The bald man told Natsuki that Obito had recruited an organization led by Kōdo, whom Natsuki recognized as Kazuma, the former Guardian of the Twelve Ninja.
• Natsuki considered the danger Kazuma and Obito posed to Konoha and decided to use the crisis to expose the Sarutobi Clan and strengthen Orochimaru’s future position.
• Natsuki sent his written intelligence to Orochimaru through a snake because the Third Hokage’s Anbu were watching him.
• Orochimaru reviewed Natsuki’s warning and concluded that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sarutobi Clan were the main obstacles to reclaiming authority.

Fugaku regained his sight and awakened his Sharingan, while Itachi completed the fusion that gave him an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Natsuki then brought Yōya to the Uchiha laboratory as the test subject for a new experiment.

• Orochimaru transplanted cloned, unawakened eyes into Fugaku, who regained his sight and soon awakened his Sharingan again.
• Shisui removed Itachi’s bandages, revealing his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and Fugaku celebrated the successful fusion.
• The Third Hokage heard that Fugaku and Itachi had regained their sight but believed the Uchiha’s combat power would be reduced because their new eyes were ordinary.
• Natsuki learned that Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu had grown stronger after the fusion.
• Natsuki brought Yōya to the Uchiha underground laboratory, where he told him he would be the test subject for an experiment.

Yōya experienced a flawed Genjutsu in which the Uchiha Clan was massacred, then learned Itachi had created the dream to test his mental limits. Natsuki judged the attempt ineffective and began preparing another dream for Yōya.

• Yōya dreamed that the Third Hokage and Orochimaru attacked the Uchiha Clan as Natsuki pursued the Hokage position.
• Obito appeared in a massive Susanoo, killed Uchiha members, and sent Natsuki into a Spacetime Vortex.
• Yōya watched Keimei die before enemies overwhelmed him, then woke from Itachi's Genjutsu.
• Natsuki explained that Itachi's flawed story had failed to push Yōya past the Three Tomoe threshold, and Yōya recounted the dream.
• Natsuki told Keimei to get ready and instructed Itachi to create the next dream.

Yōya and Shisui trained against powerful enemies in Itachi’s Tsukuyomi, while Natsuki prepared the Uchiha Clan for the Hokage contest. Obito searched for Nagato and monitored Konoha as the Fifth Hokage decision approached.

• Keimei protected Yōya’s mind while Itachi trapped him in a Tsukuyomi lasting three months, where Yōya fought countless enemies.
• Natsuki arranged further Tsukuyomi training for Yōya and Shisui, who each lost over a hundred lives fighting the Fourth Raikage and Obito.
• Natsuki planned to use Tsukuyomi to train future Uchiha near the Three Tomoe threshold and raise their chances of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Natsuki continued campaigning for the Hokage position as Orochimaru gained support by using Cloning Technology to save jōnin, while the Hyuga Clan waited to see who would become Fifth Hokage.
• Obito learned from Black Zetsu that Nagato and Konan remained hidden, while Kazuma and Kakuzu collected Corpse Soil in the Land of Rivers.
• Obito ordered Black Zetsu to keep watching Konoha, where White Zetsu agents were embedded throughout the village as the Hokage decision neared.

Konoha gathered to choose the Fifth Hokage, with Uchiha Natsuki, Tsunade, and Orochimaru arriving as candidates. Orochimaru recalled his earlier defeat to Minato and believed the outcome this time was under control, while the Third Hokage expected Naruto’s presence near Tsunade to secure his own plans.

• Uchiha Natsuki arrived with the Uchiha Clan and Sasuke, while Tsunade brought Shizune, Medical Ninjas, and Naruto to the election plaza.
• Orochimaru arrived last with Karin, Jugo, Shin, Sai, and Kakashi, as Anko watched from the spectator seats in disguise.
• Anko stayed away from Orochimaru because she felt ashamed of her weight gain, despite reconsidering her view of Orochimaru and his cloning technology.
• Ceremonial cannons and cheering crowds greeted Orochimaru, who recognized Anko and recalled losing the Fourth Hokage election to Minato.
• The Third Hokage looked over the candidates and believed Naruto’s presence with Tsunade kept the election under his control.
• The Third Hokage stepped forward to begin the proceedings.

The Fifth Hokage trust vote began in Konoha, and Natsuki received several system rewards for changing others’ fates and recruiting Sai. As the ballots were counted, Tsunade gained a run of votes from medical ninja, while Mitokado Homura believed Hiruzen had ensured Natsuki would lose.

• The Third Hokage announced the start of the Fifth Hokage trust vote, and Konoha’s eligible voters cast their ballots.
• Natsuki received system rewards tied to Asuma, Kurenai, Anko, and Sai, then exchanged several rewards for Great Fire Annihilation, a complete Curse Mark, and Genjutsu Mastery.
• The candidates assigned Shisui, Number One, and Shizune to oversee the count as the Third Hokage’s Sarutobi jonin read the ballots aloud.
• Naruto watched the election, hoping it would end so Natsuki could arrange for him to meet his father.
• The ballot reader announced a series of votes for Tsunade from medical ninja, leaving Mitokado Homura worried that his nomination had backfired.

Uchiha Natsuki withdrew from the Fifth Hokage election as Orochimaru took a commanding lead, then interrupted the result announcement to accuse someone of cheating and demand a recount. The Third Hokage agreed to recount the ballots on the spot, leaving the election outcome in doubt.

• As Orochimaru surged ahead in the vote count, Natsuki announced that he was withdrawing from the election, leaving Orochimaru and Tsunade as the remaining candidates.
• The counters finished counting, giving Orochimaru 376 votes, Tsunade 113, and Natsuki 197.
• Just as the Third Hokage began announcing the result, Natsuki stopped him, accused someone of cheating, and demanded an immediate recount.
• The Third Hokage angrily agreed to recount the ballots, while Minato suspected the Third Hokage had manipulated Minato's past election and Anko grew furious at Natsuki.

Uchiha Natsuki had Tsunade and others inspect Orochimaru’s ballots and read the voters’ names aloud, exposing a large number of Sarutobi Clan votes. The count revealed that 129 of Orochimaru’s 376 votes came from the clan, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to explain the apparent concentration of Sarutobi jonin.

• Natsuki invited Tsunade to inspect the ballots in public, and she agreed.
• Tsunade began reading Orochimaru’s ballots, then read the voters’ names after Natsuki asked her to.
• Natsuki called Number One, Shisui, and Shizune to help read the ballots, while they focused on ballots cast by Sarutobi Clan members.
• Asuma left the crowd to smoke, recognizing that Hiruzen had miscalculated.
• The inspection revealed that Sarutobi Clan members had cast 129 of Orochimaru’s 376 votes, drawing attention to the clan’s unusually large number of jonin.