Chapter Summaries

Natsuki explained how the Uchiha Clan could keep operating Snack Street in Konoha while becoming independent. He revealed that he had bought islands in the Land of Water and planned to found a country there, leaving Third Elder Takuya to prepare for the clan’s relocation.

• Fourth Elder Yohei asked what would happen to Snack Street if the Uchiha Clan became independent, and Natsuki said they could continue running it as outside merchants.
• Natsuki showed the clan a map and revealed that he had bought four islands west of Mist Village, where he planned to join them through land reclamation.
• Natsuki announced that he intended to found a country, and he named Third Elder Takuya to lead the first group and arrange the settlement.
• Natsuki instructed Takuya to gather money, supplies, and Storage Scrolls while planning for the eventual relocation of the clan’s more than two thousand members.

After the Uchiha Clan decided to become independent, Natsuki arranged for some members to remain in Konoha and prepared to check on Deidara in the Land of Earth. He updated Yahiko on Nagato’s progress, then told Minato and Naruto about the clan’s plans, reassuring Naruto that he and Sasuke would stay in Konoha for now.

• After the Uchiha Clan meeting, Natsuki assigned clan members to spread the news and organize who would remain in Konoha.
• Natsuki contacted Nagato and learned that he was steadily fusing with Hashirama’s Cell Solution and had discovered the Curse Mark on his heart; Natsuki gave Nagato and Konan more advice and introduced them to Minato.
• Natsuki told Yahiko that Nagato was doing well and that he had prepared a backup plan for him.
• Natsuki secretly visited Naruto’s House and found Minato openly cooking for Naruto, then told Minato that the Uchiha Clan was preparing to become independent.
• Naruto worried that Natsuki and Sasuke would leave, but Natsuki reassured him that he and Sasuke would stay in Konoha for now and promised they would meet again.

Natsuki left Konoha for Iwagakure while preparing Minato to help Nagato return safely. In Konoha, Sasuke learned that the Uchiha Clan would leave and that he would stay behind for now.

• Natsuki gave Minato the contact ring and other items, reviewed his plans for Nagato, and warned him to conserve the Flying Thunder God technique.
• Itachi told Sasuke that the Uchiha Clan would become independent and that Sasuke would remain in Konoha with younger clan members for more than a year.
• Sasuke worried about being separated from Itachi and Naruto, but Itachi reassured him that the separation would be temporary.
• Natsuki used Super Beast Imitation Drawing: Eagle to fly toward the Land of Earth while training in Dream Space.
• After roughly two days of travel, Natsuki arrived near Iwagakure.

Hinata trained with new determination, prompting Hiashi to reconsider his judgment of her, while Hanabi resented the First Elder for separating her from her sister. The First Elder then visited Kaito, whose welcoming sparring sessions concealed his plan to use the Spore Technique on clan members.

• Hiashi watched Hinata train for hours and learned from a servant that she had been practicing more since graduating from the Academy.
• Hanabi remembered her affection for Hinata and wanted to apologize, but the First Elder insisted Hinata could not become the heir and urged Hanabi to train for the clan.
• Hanabi hid her anger from the First Elder and blamed him for making Hinata unhappy.
• The First Elder visited Kaito, who defended sparring with both main and branch family members as a way to strengthen the clan.
• Kaito agreed to the First Elder's visit while secretly considering how to use the Spore Technique on the people he trained.

Natsuki reached Iwagakure and met Ōnoki after defeating Deidara with Sharingan genjutsu. Ōnoki led him into the village to discuss the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique, while Natsuki began considering another way to influence Deidara’s future.

• Natsuki climbed the mountains surrounding Iwagakure, was detected by its Investigation Barrier, and asked the guards to take him to Ōnoki.
• Deidara confronted Natsuki, resisted his first genjutsu, then lost consciousness when Natsuki used his Sharingan without holding back.
• Kurotsuchi rushed to support Deidara, but Ōnoki said Deidara needed the lesson and let her take him away.
• Natsuki asked to speak elsewhere about the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique, and Ōnoki led him through Iwagakure.
• Natsuki noticed Kurotsuchi’s attachment to Deidara and considered another approach, while Ōnoki’s lack of ambition contrasted with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Natsuki secured the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique scroll and an alliance agreement from Ōnoki while advising him to encourage a romance between Deidara and Kurotsuchi through their shared interest in art. After Natsuki left, Ōnoki sent an ANBU to find Kurotsuchi.

• Ōnoki gave Natsuki the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique scroll, and Natsuki told him the Uchiha Clan planned to become independent soon.
• Natsuki praised Deidara’s talent and suggested that Ōnoki pair him with Kurotsuchi, using Itachi’s engagement as an example of a genius youth being guided through romance.
• Natsuki advised Ōnoki to help Kurotsuchi develop an artistic interest so she and Deidara would have more in common.
• Natsuki completed the Iwagakure Legacy mission and chose a Wind Release affinity increase as his reward.
• Ōnoki handed Natsuki the prepared alliance agreement, and Natsuki left for the Uchiha Clan’s relocation preparations.
• Ōnoki summoned an ANBU and ordered them to find Kurotsuchi.

Nagato used a Wood Clone to remove Obito’s curse mark while Konan fought to keep Obito away. After the talisman was torn from his heart and he began healing, Nagato had finally broken free of Obito’s control.

• Nagato and Konan prepared to remove the remaining black rods, and Nagato created a Wood Clone to extract the curse mark.
• Obito sensed Nagato’s attempt from the Graveyard of Mountains and hurried toward the Land of Whirlpools with Black Zetsu.
• Obito emerged inside Nagato’s cave, where Konan’s Explosive Tags and collapsing ground trapped and attacked him.
• Nagato’s Wood Clone pulled the glowing talisman from Nagato’s heart, severely injuring him as Obito tried to activate the curse mark.
• Nagato awakened, absorbed Chakra from his Wood Clone, and began healing his chest and heart.

Minato brought Jiraiya to the Land of Whirlpools, where Obito's battle against Nagato and Konan escalated after he summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Black Zetsu activated a hidden Rinnegan backup plan that blinded Nagato and drained his Chakra, leaving Jiraiya to confront the threat as Minato recovered.

• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Jiraiya in the Land of Rain and asked him to enter Sage Mode before taking him to Konan and Nagato.
• Nagato broke free of Obito's control, and he and Konan fought Obito with Explosive Tags until Obito used Izanagi to escape and lost a Sharingan.
• Obito summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Black Zetsu secretly activated the Rinnegan's backup plan and stripped Nagato of his sight and control of the eyes.
• The Demonic Statue drained Nagato's Chakra and sent Chakra Rods toward him, but Konan could not stop them.
• Minato brought Jiraiya and the two toad sages to the Land of Whirlpools, where Jiraiya promised Konan and Nagato he would not leave them again.

Nagato dug out his Rinnegan to stop Obito from controlling the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but the eyes unleashed Shinra Tensei and Black Zetsu escaped with them. As Nagato began healing, Jiraiya prepared to protect him and Konan from Obito, while Minato recovered enough chakra to evacuate them.

• Jiraiya shattered the Chakra Rods with a Sage Art Rasengan, but Nagato dug out his Rinnegan to sever his connection to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• The Rinnegan unleashed Shinra Tensei, blasting Nagato, Konan, and Minato away before Black Zetsu caught the eyes and escaped.
• Nagato healed his injuries, and Jiraiya promised to get him and Konan out safely after finding his book, [Tale of Strong Perseverance Ninja].
• Konan told Jiraiya about Obito's Sharingan ability as Obito decided to fight Jiraiya and kill Nagato and Konan.
• Nagato began seeing Chakra figures after losing his eyes, while Konan and Minato recovered chakra and Minato prepared to evacuate the group.

Konan and Jiraiya fought Obito, whose Kamui made him nearly impossible to hit. Konan unleashed her prepared Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag attack on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, leaving Obito laughing as the explosions continued.

• Obito targeted Nagato with Kamui, but Fukasaku pulled Nagato out of the attack while Jiraiya struck at Obito with Hair Needle Senbon.
• Jiraiya and the Two Sages used their frog-song genjutsu to trap Obito, but his Intangible State let Jiraiya's Flame Bullet pass through him.
• Konan flew to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, covered it with Explosive Tags, and activated the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag technique.
• As the Explosive Tags detonated across the statue and surrounding sea, Obito broke free of the genjutsu and laughed, while Konan reappeared beside Jiraiya and warned him to wait.

Konan’s one trillion Explosive Tags overwhelmed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, whose shell began breaking apart under the endless blasts and heat. Obito rushed away to find Black Zetsu, while Konan’s Paper Clone continued the attack as the Statue howled and lost a third of its body.

• Minato transported himself, Konan, Nagato, and Jiraiya back to Orochimaru’s laboratory after the two sages were dismissed.
• Obito discovered that the Explosive Tags kept multiplying and that the rising heat was damaging the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Obito failed to pull the Statue into the Kamui Dimension, learned from White Zetsu that he needed the Rinnegan to control it, and left to confront Black Zetsu.
• Konan’s Paper Clone directed the Explosive Tags to attach themselves to the Statue, intensifying the blasts.
• The Statue’s flesh began peeling and carbonizing, and roughly one-third of its body broke apart as it let out a piercing howl.

On the moon, the First Elder used the Giant Tenseigan to locate the stolen Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Its immense Chakra swept across the ninja world, alarming Natsuki, Uchiha Itachi, and the Hyuga Clan before it locked onto the statue.

• A Humanoid Puppet detected a disturbance in the Giant Tenseigan and alerted the First Elder.
• The First Elder and Second Elder watched Toneri being taught, while the First Elder resolved to use Earth’s remaining pure Byakugan bloodline to awaken Toneri’s Tenseigan.
• After learning the Giant Tenseigan was responding to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the First Elder activated it to find the statue.
• The Giant Tenseigan sent a vast wave of Chakra across the ninja world, which Natsuki, Uchiha Itachi, Hiashi, Hizashi, and the Hyuga First Elder sensed.
• The Hyuga First Elder headed to the archive tower as the Chakra finally locked onto the wailing Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Black Zetsu returned with the Rinnegan and urged Obito to transplant it, warning that another force had targeted the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. After Obito installed the eye and returned, Tobi entered Konoha to investigate and seek a contact who knew everything.

• Black Zetsu returned to the Graveyard of Mountains, found Danzo White Zetsu missing, and panicked when a powerful Chakra scan swept the sky.
• Obito emerged from the Kamui Dimension, and Black Zetsu rushed him to transplant the left Rinnegan and retrieve the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Obito replaced his left Kamui eye with the Rinnegan inside the Kamui Dimension, then returned to the Graveyard of Mountains.
• Black Zetsu urged Obito to summon back the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Obito prepared to use his weakened ocular power.
• Tobi entered Konoha's mission hall, discovered Hyuga Branch Family members had replaced the Utatane Clan and Mitokado Clan members, and learned about the changes.
• Tobi left the hall, transformed into a villager, and headed toward the residential district to meet someone who knew everything.

The First Elder used the Giant Tenseigan to summon the battered Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to the Moon and seal it, then moved the drained Tenseigan to the barrier’s center to recover. Obito discovered the statue was gone and learned from Black Zetsu that the Descendants of Hamura on the Moon had taken it, leaving him to master the Rinnegan before trying to retrieve it.

• The First Elder unsealed the Giant Tenseigan and used it to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from the Land of Whirlpools, causing Konan's Paper Clone to disperse.
• The Second Elder joined the First Elder, and together they used Stone Sealing and Spirit Sealing to secure the statue.
• The First Elder moved the drained Giant Tenseigan to the center of the barrier so it could recover, noting that Toneri would need to be cautious.
• Obito failed to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path at the Graveyard of Mountains, then found only the damage left behind at the Land of Whirlpools.
• Black Zetsu told Obito that the Descendants of Hamura had summoned the statue to the Moon and advised him to master the Rinnegan before retrieving it.

Konan, Nagato, Jiraiya, and Minato arrived at Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Karin took Nagato to be treated. Jiraiya confirmed that Minato’s Chakra was reacting as if he were alive, but Minato had left without acknowledging him, and Orochimaru refused to explain who Number One was.

• Minato took the injured Nagato and Konan to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Karin brought Nagato into the treatment room and barred everyone but Konan from following.
• Minato left using the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Jiraiya alone in the laboratory.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamatora, who sensed Minato’s Chakra and confirmed that it seemed to belong to someone living.
• Jiraiya told Gamatora that he had found someone who resembled Minato and used the Flying Thunder God Technique, but neither could explain how Minato might have returned from the dead.
• Orochimaru returned with Anko, refused to tell Jiraiya whether Number One was Minato, and left to continue his work.
• Jiraiya turned his attention to the treatment room to check on Nagato.

Karin helped Nagato recover after his fight with Obito, and Nagato and Konan reunited with Jiraiya. Nagato kept the truth about his plans and their friend secret, leaving Jiraiya frustrated by how much people were hiding from him.

• Karin offered Nagato her arm to heal him, and Nagato recovered enough to explain that he and Karin were both members of the Uzumaki Clan.
• Karin told Nagato and Konan to meet Lord Natsuki instead of seeking Orochimaru, then left to get food.
• Nagato and Konan agreed not to tell Jiraiya more until Natsuki allowed it, and they went out to meet their former teacher.
• Nagato told Jiraiya that Danzo had killed Yahiko, that he had turned Yahiko's corpse into a puppet, and that the Rinnegan in the puppet's eyes were projections.
• Nagato declined Jiraiya's offer to stay in Konoha, saying he and Konan needed to see a friend first, but he refused to identify the friend.
• Jiraiya felt that Minato, Nagato, and Konan were all keeping things from him.

Nagato and Konan reunited with Yahiko and formally joined Natsuki’s faction after escaping Konoha. Nagato revealed a powerful chakra-sensing ability and reported many White Zetsu in the village, prompting Natsuki to consider moving the Uchiha Clan and alerting Orochimaru.

• Nagato used his newly awakened ability to sense chakra and guide Konan out of Konoha while avoiding patrols and detecting many White Zetsu.
• Natsuki brought Nagato and Konan to Yahiko, who embraced them and welcomed them back.
• Nagato and Konan agreed to join Natsuki’s faction, and Natsuki received the Uzumaki Clan Physique and a talent replacement choice.
• Konan recounted how the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path disappeared after her battle, and Natsuki suspected it had been summoned to the moon.
• Nagato told Natsuki about the White Zetsu in Konoha, and Natsuki considered warning Orochimaru and moving the Uchiha Clan.

Tobi met with Hyuga Kaito, whose body had been taken over by a rare White Zetsu, and gathered intelligence for Danzo. After learning that Hiruzen had controlled the Fifth Hokage selection, Danzo’s hatred intensified, while Tobi’s influence over his thoughts grew.

• Tobi brought Danzo to meet Hyuga Kaito, a White Zetsu puppet who retained Kaito’s memories and could use the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
• Kaito shared intelligence gathered through the Spore Technique, including details about the Fifth Hokage selection and the Hyuga Clan.
• Danzo learned that Hiruzen had placed Sarutobi Clan members in Anbu and controlled the Hokage selection, deepening Danzo’s resentment.
• Danzo decided to use Obito and Zetsu to kill Hiruzen, while Tobi quietly amplified Danzo’s hatred and eroded his consciousness.
• Tobi ate mala tang on Uchiha Food Street, then Danzo vowed to take revenge on Hiruzen as he looked toward Hokage Rock.

Uchiha Natsuki called a Konoha High Council Meeting and announced that the Uchiha Clan would leave Konoha and stand independently. He blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi for years of persecution and election interference, leaving the council stunned as the dispute became a public break.

• Jiraiya learned details of the Hokage Election and attended the meeting after Natsuki invoked his authority to convene it.
• Torifu Akimichi died, and the Akimichi Clan held a small funeral without inviting his three former teammates.
• Natsuki arrived at the meeting with classified diplomatic scrolls and announced that the Uchiha Clan would leave Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accused the Uchiha Clan of betraying the village and argued that no clan had ever left to establish itself independently.
• Natsuki accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of suppressing the Uchiha, protecting Shimura Danzō, and manipulating the Hokage election.

Uchiha Natsuki announced that the Uchiha Clan would leave Konoha, and he used alliance agreements with three other shinobi villages to deter Konoha from opposing them. Konoha approved the departure, while Natsuki and the Third Hokage disputed whether the Uchiha Clan’s businesses would owe Konoha taxes.

• Natsuki rejected the Third Hokage’s warning and confirmed to Orochimaru that he intended to lead the Uchiha Clan out of Konoha.
• Natsuki gave Orochimaru alliance agreements signed by Rasa, Onoki, and A, prompting the leaders to recognize the danger of confronting the Uchiha Clan.
• Orochimaru called a vote, and everyone except Natsuki and the Third Hokage raised a hand to approve the Uchiha Clan’s departure.
• Natsuki said the clan would leave in two waves, taking its newly graduated children with the second group, and planned to keep operating Snack Street as outside merchants.
• Orochimaru demanded a twenty-percent tax on the Uchiha businesses, but Natsuki argued that the shops stood on Uchiha territory, and the Third Hokage challenged his refusal to pay.