Chapter Summaries

Muzan visited Hizashi Hyuga and helped him develop his Blood Demon Art, which created and fused multiple Byakugan to see across Konoha. Their testing was interrupted when Hyuga Hiashi arrived and confronted Muzan.

• Hizashi led Muzan through the traditional Hyuga clan grounds, and Muzan criticized the buildings as outdated and unsafe.
• At Hizashi's home, Muzan asked to see Neji and predicted the child would become a pillar of Konoha.
• In the back courtyard, Hizashi revealed his Blood Demon Art, White-Eyed Compound Vision, and created more than twenty eyes.
• At Muzan's suggestion, Hizashi fused the eyes, greatly extending his vision while exhausting himself.
• Hizashi sensed someone spying on them, and Hyuga Hiashi entered the courtyard and asked Muzan why he had come.

Muzan visited Hiashi at the Hyuga residence and clarified that he came in a personal capacity, not as Orochimaru’s representative. On his way back, Root ninjas trapped him in a genjutsu and attacked, and Muzan began fighting back in the Forest of Death.

• Muzan told Hiashi that his visit was personal and that he did not represent Orochimaru.
• Hiashi warned Hizashi not to speak carelessly about the Hokage selection, and Muzan left without taking the offered tour.
• Muzan realized the road had been transformed by a genjutsu and broke free into the Forest of Death.
• Yamanaka Hefeng and Nara Chongdao ambushed Muzan, combining Wind Release with shadow techniques to try to capture him.
• Muzan evaded the shadow attack by cutting through the earth, and Nara Chongdao’s explosive trap failed to stop him.
• Muzan struck at one of the Root ninjas with his Chakra Scalpel.

Muzan fought off Nara Chongdao and Yamanaka Hefeng until Danzo arrived and offered him a secret place to continue his experiments. Muzan agreed to hear Danzo's terms, and Danzo demanded that he join Root and eventually inherit it.

• Nara Chongdao and Yamanaka Hefeng attacked Muzan, but Muzan injured Nara and broke through their shadow-and-smoke trap.
• Muzan nearly killed Yamanaka Hefeng, but Danzo intervened and revealed that he had arranged the meeting.
• Danzo said he knew about Muzan's hospital experiments and offered him a place to work beyond the Third Hokage's surveillance.
• Muzan weighed accepting Danzo's offer against defecting and asked what Danzo wanted in return.
• Danzo demanded that Muzan join Root and become its future leader.

Muzan joined Danzo’s Root and was given authority over its laboratory, where he chose Kabuto as his trainee. He left Kabuto with a chance to shape his own fate and began teaching him, focusing on theoretical knowledge and chakra control.

• Danzo welcomed Muzan into Root and showed him its secret base, training grounds, and laboratory facilities.
• Muzan noticed Kabuto’s skill during a sparring match and asked to keep the boy at his side; Danzo agreed.
• Danzo assigned Kabuto to serve Muzan in the laboratory and mentioned that the Fourth Hokage candidate would soon be announced.
• Muzan tested Kabuto’s resolve, urged him to seize control of his fate, and began training him in theory and chakra control.

Muzan gave Kabuto his cultivation notes and let him study in the laboratory while he investigated sunlight's effects on himself. After testing Kabuto's endurance on the journey back to Konoha, Muzan took him for a meal, and Kabuto began to understand his status in the village.

• Muzan gave Kabuto his training notes and told him to study the laboratory equipment while he handled his work.
• Muzan tested different colors of light, finding that ultraviolet light burned him while the other tested colors had no effect.
• Kabuto called Muzan's attention to the late hour, and Muzan took him back toward Konoha as a test of his chakra control.
• Kabuto followed Muzan through the long journey despite his exhaustion, and Muzan judged his performance decent.
• Muzan stopped near the village outskirts and offered to treat Kabuto to a meal.
• After people greeted Muzan as he entered Konoha, Kabuto realized his identity.

Muzan gave the orphanage money and left Kabuto in Nonō Yakushi’s care before Konoha announced Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage. At the inauguration, Muzan encountered Orochimaru, who had come to judge whether Minato could protect the village.

• Muzan reassured Nonō Yakushi that Kabuto would be safe with him, then sent Kabuto back to the orphanage and delivered the promised funds.
• Konoha announced Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage, surprising those who expected Orochimaru to win.
• Muzan noticed Orochimaru returning to Konoha with the scent of blood after conducting human experiments.
• Muzan and Orochimaru went to the inauguration ceremony, where Orochimaru said he wanted to see whether Minato could protect Konoha.

Muzan clashed with Uchiha Lei and two other Uchiha after they knocked Anko aside at a crowded barbecue restaurant. He countered their attacks and their fight continued as the Uchiha spotted him moving through the mist.

• Anko nearly fell onto the grill after the Uchiha bumped into her, and Muzan pulled her to safety.
• Anko kicked the grill away, and Muzan broke Uchiha Lei's leg when Lei attacked him.
• The two Uchiha drew Kunai and began forming hand seals, so Muzan hurled Lei into Uchiha Yun and attacked with his flaming blade.
• Muzan used Water Dragon Bullet Technique, forcing the Uchiha to retreat to a roof with Lei.
• The Uchiha launched Fire Release techniques, and Muzan shielded himself with Water Wall while keeping Anko and Mari back.
• As mist spread around the restaurant, the Uchiha spotted Muzan moving through it.

Hatake Muzan fought three Uchiha after a confrontation in Konoha, badly injuring them and setting nearby homes on fire. Fugaku Uchiha stopped the resulting standoff, but the Uchiha demanded that Muzan treat the injured men.

• Uchiha Yun and two companions attacked Muzan, who crippled all three in a fierce fight that nearly leveled the area.
• Anko and Mari organized people to extinguish the fire as Konoha's police force and masked Anbu arrived.
• The Uchiha police demanded that Muzan answer for the injuries, while the Anbu insisted he report to the Hokage.
• Anko defended Muzan, and Muzan threatened to kill the surrounding Uchiha, pushing both sides to the brink of a fight.
• Fugaku Uchiha ordered his clansmen to stand down and agreed to restrain them, then demanded that Muzan treat their injuries.

After Minato confined Muzan for a month following his clash with the Uchiha, Muzan warned Shisui that the village and clan were enemies whose conflict would only be settled by strength. Shisui left with the Uchiha’s future weighing on him, while Muzan continued planning to weaken Konoha and pursue his own goals.

• Minato Namikaze confined Muzan to his home for a month, while the Third Hokage warned that the Uchiha Clan could spark a village crisis.
• Danzo praised Muzan for confronting the Uchiha and planned to replace the ninja monitoring him with Root ninja.
• Shisui Uchiha visited Muzan to apologize for the Uchiha’s actions, troubled by the worsening conflict between his clan and the village.
• Muzan told Shisui that the Uchiha’s powerful emotions fueled their conflict and advised him to grow stronger rather than trust the Hokage.
• Muzan intended to use the Uchiha to weaken Konoha and create room for his own plans.

Shisui Uchiha sought power to solve the Uchiha’s problems, but Muzan urged him to grow stronger patiently. Muzan then visited Orochimaru’s hidden laboratory and warned his teacher against relying on a human’s dormant state to manage the conflict between Man-Eating Demon cells and human cells.

• Shisui Uchiha’s desire for power stirred a painful force in his mind, and Muzan realized he might be awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Muzan drenched Shisui with Water Release and advised him to become stronger gradually, reminding him of the blood he had given him.
• Minato Namikaze learned that Shisui had visited the Hatake Household and left soaked but apparently unangered.
• Muzan went to Orochimaru’s secret laboratory beneath a stream in the Forest of Death and saw the suffering of Orochimaru’s test subjects.
• Orochimaru showed Muzan a man whose Man-Eating Demon cells had put him into a cold-induced dormant state, hoping the method could extend life.
• Muzan recognized that the dormancy only temporarily eased the conflict between the cells and stopped Orochimaru from sealing the man away again.

After Muzan’s blood destroyed an experimental subject, he steered Orochimaru toward developing Living Corpse Reincarnation instead of studying demon cells. Their partnership survived a brief clash, and Muzan advised Orochimaru on a soul-based resurrection method while warning that repeated reincarnations would contaminate his soul.

• Muzan and Orochimaru watched an experimental subject mutate and dissolve after exposure to Man-Eating Demon blood.
• Muzan urged Orochimaru to focus on Living Corpse Reincarnation and suggested the Uchiha as potential vessels.
• Orochimaru briefly considered attacking Muzan, but Muzan stopped his snake-like strike and the two withdrew without fighting further.
• Orochimaru shifted his experiments away from Muzan’s blood and asked how to prepare a backup plan for resurrection.
• Muzan suggested sealing part of Orochimaru’s soul inside another person and warned that repeated reincarnations would cause growing incompatibility and soul contamination.

Muzan returned to Konoha for Kushina’s delivery, joining the preparations to protect her and the Nine-Tails’ seal. As Kakashi arranged security, he challenged Muzan to a spar, and their fight began with Kakashi’s shadow clones surrounding him.

• Muzan speculated that a pure, memoryless body could reduce the impurities of reincarnation, while he and Orochimaru continued their separate experiments.
• Muzan saw many Konoha ninja returning and learned from Kakashi that they were guarding Kushina’s upcoming delivery, when the Nine-Tails’ seal would be weakest.
• Muzan joined Kakashi’s Anbu team as a medical ninja, while Biwako and Minato prepared to assist Kushina during the birth.
• Kakashi challenged Muzan to test his strength, and Muzan accepted their spar.
• Kakashi used the Shadow Clone Technique to surround Muzan with three clones and began their fight.

Muzan sparred with Kakashi and overwhelmed him with the Hatake Sword Technique and a large-scale Great Waterfall Technique. He left Kakashi unconscious after the fight, while Minato Namikaze and the Anbu dealt with the flooding.

• Muzan evaluated Kakashi's skills and cut through his Fireball Jutsu with the Hatake Sword Technique before knocking out one of his shadow clones.
• Kakashi coordinated his real body and shadow clones to trap Muzan, combining Wind Release and Fire Release in an attack from behind.
• Muzan identified Kakashi's real body and used the Great Waterfall Technique to extinguish the attack and disperse the shadow clones.
• Muzan crossed the flooded area, disrupted Kakashi's chakra, and knocked him unconscious as the Anbu worked to clear the damage.
• Minato Namikaze arrived, questioned Muzan's rough treatment of Kakashi, and watched Muzan silence Kakashi when he woke and complained.

Muzan guarded Konoha as Kushina’s due date approached, preparing for attacks and watching the Nine-Tails’ weakening seal. When Kushina went into severe pain, Muzan was called in to calm the dangerous chakra emerging from her.

• Muzan beat Kakashi unconscious, then woke him with Water Release after Minato asked him not to bully his children.
• Muzan noticed that bounty ninjas and Obito were among those planning attacks around Kushina’s delivery, while the bounty ninjas were caught and caged.
• Kakashi told Muzan that Kushina’s due date was that day or the next and organized the guard deployment.
• A doctor summoned Muzan because Kushina was in severe pain and Tsunade was away.
• Muzan entered the room and saw ominous red chakra emerging from the half-conscious Kushina.

Obito Uchiha attacked during Kushina’s childbirth, took her, and summoned the Nine-Tails into Konoha. As the village’s ninjas fought to contain the beast, Muzan treated the wounded and tried to keep Kakashi away from the front, but Kakashi rushed into battle.

• Obito Uchiha appeared beside Muzan and the others, struck Biwako, and escaped Muzan’s attack with his space-time ninjutsu.
• Obito seized Kushina and used the Summoning Technique to bring the Nine-Tails into Konoha.
• Muzan stayed behind to treat the wounded and stopped Kakashi from joining the fight, ordering him to help carry injured people to safety.
• The Third Hokage and other ninjas struggled to hold back the Nine-Tails as its attacks battered the battlefield.
• Minato Namikaze drew Obito and the Nine-Tails toward the Forest of Death, while Muzan realized Kakashi had gone to the front despite his warning.

Muzan joined the Third Hokage on the front line against the Nine-Tails, determined to keep the beast from reaching Konoha’s residential district. The two charged toward it together, and Muzan opened with his Great Fire Dragon Technique.

• Muzan ordered the medical ninja to evacuate the wounded and told the Chunin and Genin to clear the area.
• The Third Hokage held the front line against the Nine-Tails as the battle took a heavy toll on Konoha’s ninja.
• Muzan arrived beside the Third Hokage, who urged him to support the fight from the rear.
• Muzan insisted he could fight and formed hand seals at remarkable speed.
• The Third Hokage and Muzan charged the Nine-Tails together as Muzan used the Great Fire Dragon Technique.

Muzan, the Third Hokage, and Minato suppressed the Nine-Tails while Minato drove off Obito. With Kushina near death, Muzan urged Minato to seal the beast inside the newborn Naruto.

• The Third Hokage repeatedly buried the Nine-Tails with Earth Release to prevent it from forming a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Muzan attacked the Nine-Tails with falling trees and chakra-covered strikes, while the Third Hokage joined the fight.
• Minato stripped Obito of his Nine-Tails contract and marked him with Flying Raijin, forcing him to withdraw.
• Kushina approached the Nine-Tails and used the Eight Trigrams Seal as Muzan and the Third Hokage restrained it.
• Muzan urged Minato to choose Naruto as the Nine-Tails' new vessel while the beast was weakened.

After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Minato grieved Kushina and vowed to make the attacker pay, while Muzan treated the wounded and reprimanded Kakashi for rushing into the fighting. By dawn, Konoha’s survivors were demanding answers from the Uchiha Clan over the attacker’s identity.

• Minato suspected the Uchiha might have been involved in the attack and resolved to demand an explanation while protecting Naruto.
• Muzan organized medical care among the wounded and found Kakashi searching near the front lines.
• Muzan knocked Kakashi down and scolded him for ignoring orders to treat the wounded.
• At dawn, Konoha mourned its dead, and villagers accused the Uchiha Clan of betrayal and demanded an investigation.

After treating the many wounded from the Nine-Tails battle, Muzan advised Shisui on how to prevent the Uchiha from being destroyed. Shisui left with a painful but actionable plan to unite the clan and cooperate with the village.

• Muzan worked for days in the overcrowded hospital, treating wounded ninja until the latest group had been cared for.
• Shisui waited for Muzan and revealed that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan but still did not know how to resolve the Uchiha conflict.
• Muzan warned Shisui that the clan remained divided and could be destroyed if the conflict with the village continued unchecked.
• Muzan told Shisui to eliminate the Hawk Faction, demonstrate enough strength to deter the village, and work with the clan head against the man calling himself Madara Uchiha.
• Shisui thanked Muzan and accepted that uniting the Uchiha and cooperating with the village was the only way forward.

Shisui and Fugaku Uchiha agreed to purge the Uchiha Clan’s Hawk Faction, while Muzan learned that he had been assigned to help collect Sharingan during the operation. As night fell, ninja teams assembled around the Uchiha Clan and waited for the purge to begin.

• Shisui met with Fugaku Uchiha after leaving the hospital, and they discovered they shared a plan to protect the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku told Shisui that he had contacted Minato Namikaze and that they would need his agreement before purging the Hawk Faction.
• Muzan noticed Anbu leaving the hospital and learned that his mission was to help collect the Uchiha Clan’s eyes.
• Muzan realized that Shisui and the others, rather than the Anbu, would carry out the purge that night.
• Ninja teams moved across the village and waited outside the Uchiha Clan’s territory under the Hokage’s orders.