Chapter Summaries

Enkō outlined Flame Hidden Village’s government, departments, and Ninja Academy as the village prepared for a wider war. After the clan heads accepted the plan and left to organize their duties, Izuna gave Enkō a scroll connected to his earlier mission.

• Enkō announced that the coming war might involve the entire Shinobi World and proposed dividing the village’s institutions among specialized departments.
• Enkō assigned nine Council Hall seats and gave the Medicine Clan responsibility for the Ninja Hospital and the Artisan Clan responsibility for the armory.
• Enkō assigned the Taketori Clan to guard the borders, the Uzuki Clan to build an intelligence network, the Chinoike Clan to control Daimyo Palace, and the Uchiha Clan to form the Anbu.
• Enkō proposed a Ninja Academy that would admit gifted children from within and outside the village, and he appointed Juri as its principal.
• Madara approved Enkō’s plan, and the clan heads left to arrange their duties before the village’s expansion.
• After the meeting, Izuna gave Enkō a scroll, which Enkō recognized as a great gift from Izuna’s earlier mission.

Enkō visited the Nine-Tails, hoping its life force could help Mad Fang recover, and Mad Fang began draining the beast. The Nine-Tails suddenly opened its eyes with crimson vertical pupils, leaving Enkō frozen.

• Enkō signed the Nine-Tails summoning scroll after Izuna explained how to use it, and Madara warned him that summoning the beast could strain his ocular power.
• Izuna offered to give Madara his eyes, but Madara refused and said that he expected his final battle with Hashirama to end in mutual destruction.
• Enkō told Mad Fang that the Nine-Tails might replenish his life force, and Mad Fang agreed to try absorbing its energy.
• Enkō entered the cave where the Sharingan-controlled Nine-Tails was sealed, and Mad Fang summoned his giant serpent form.
• Mad Fang bit the Nine-Tails and began drawing red chakra from its neck, but the beast's eyes opened with crimson vertical pupils as Enkō froze.

Izuna and Juri discussed their family losses before Izuna rushed to the Nine-Tails’ cave, where Enkō’s experiment had caused the beast to break free of its genjutsu. Enkō subdued it again, and the chapter ended with Flame Hidden Village thriving until several figures arrived at its entrance.

• Izuna asked Juri about her father, and she said learning that he had never forgotten her mother was enough.
• Izuna sensed that the Nine-Tails’ genjutsu had broken and hurried to the cave, with Juri following him.
• The Nine-Tails broke free, but Mad Fang pinned it down and Enkō restored the genjutsu before it could attack.
• Izuna checked that Enkō was unharmed, and Enkō explained that the Nine-Tails had broken free during an experiment.
• Enkō and Mad Fang discussed how little chakra Mad Fang had gained, then Enkō kept visiting the cave as Flame Hidden Village developed.
• Several figures arrived at the entrance to Flame Hidden Village.

Hashirama arrived at Flame Hidden Village to apologize for Tobirama’s actions and exchange hostages, then spent a bittersweet visit with Madara. After skipping stones together, Hashirama left the village and Madara returned inside.

• Uchiha Fu and Uchiha Shu panicked when Hashirama approached Flame Hidden Village, and Fu ran to alert Madara.
• Hashirama told Shu he had come to clean up his younger brother’s mess, then apologized to Madara and Enkō for Tobirama’s actions.
• Madara invited Hashirama inside to discuss business and told Enkō to check the armory for a new ninja sword.
• Hashirama and Madara walked by the river and reminisced about their childhood friendship.
• Madara joined Hashirama in skipping stones across the water, and afterward Hashirama left while Madara returned to the village.

Enkō watched Shentai and the smiths complete a legendary ninja blade after nearly three months of work. When Enkō tested it, the blade cut through his chakra coating, and Shentai named it Demon Blade Cold Edge.

• Enkō visited Shentai's forge in the Flame Hidden Armory and learned that forging special ninja blades required rare materials and could take months.
• Shentai pulled the glowing blade from the furnace, quenched it, and struck it with his hammer to test whether the forging had succeeded.
• The smiths celebrated when the blade rang true, and Shentai presented it to Enkō for inspection.
• Enkō reached for the blade, which sliced through his chakra coating, and Shentai warned that it could cut through most substances, even Susanoo.
• Enkō asked for the blade's name, and Shentai called it Demon Blade Cold Edge.

Flame Hidden Village opened its school to outsiders and tested civilian children for ninja aptitude and loyalty. As the village began to develop during a brief peace, four years passed and the Warring States Era arc ended.

• Parents brought their children to Flame Hidden Village for enrollment, where examiners tested their chakra sense, age, and family backgrounds with genjutsu.
• Might Yuan passed the tests and was accepted into the school.
• Uchiha Juri asked Enkō why he was recruiting civilians, and Enkō said talented students could strengthen the village.
• Juri worried that war would return, while Enkō said he hoped their struggles would secure lasting peace and expressed faith in the Uchiha Clan's future.
• Flame Hidden School began operating, the village developed rapidly, and four years passed during a brief period of peace.

Enkō and Izuna sparred against their eldest brother, Uchiha Madara, and coordinated their attacks to finally land a hit. The brothers celebrated as Madara staggered back and they surfaced from the river.

• Enkō and Izuna prepared to spar with Uchiha Madara and resolved to give him their full effort.
• Izuna attacked Madara head-on while Enkō tried to strike from above, but Madara threw both brothers into the river.
• Madara intercepted Enkō as he emerged from the water, but Izuna used the momentum to send Enkō charging back at him with his sword.
• Izuna attacked while Madara caught Enkō’s blade, but Madara disarmed and kicked Izuna away.
• Enkō released his sword and struck Madara with a palm, forcing Madara to block with his elbow and stagger back.
• Enkō and Izuna surfaced from the river, embraced, and celebrated landing a hit on Madara.

Madara, Izuna, and Enkō celebrated their improved sparring before discussing tensions at the borders and Konoha’s invitation to a Six Kage Summit. Madara decided to attend with Enkō as his guard, while Enkō wondered whether a particular person would be there.

• Izuna and Enkō celebrated making Madara retreat during their spar, but Madara threatened them with extra training before admitting they had done well.
• Izuna reported that the borders remained mostly peaceful, though the Land of Earth had clashed with the Water Country.
• Madara showed Izuna and Enkō Konoha’s invitation to a summit where Hashirama planned to distribute seven Tailed Beasts and sign a peace accord.
• Enkō advised attending the summit to gain a Tailed Beast rather than risk provoking the other villages with a surprise attack.
• Madara chose to attend the summit with Enkō as his guard, and Enkō wondered whether a certain person would also be there.

The leaders of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure considered Naruto’s invitation to the Six Kage Summit in Konoha and decided to attend. The First Raikage also intended to confront the Uchiha Clan of the Flame Hidden Village over Olui’s death.

• Reto accepted Konoha’s invitation after Shamon warned him to be cautious.
• Ishikawa prepared to travel to Konoha with Mu, hoping to gain control of the Tailed Beasts’ power.
• Byakuren ordered Kirigakure to avoid major conflicts while he was away, and Shuiwu wondered whether Uchiha Enkō would attend the summit.
• Kumogakure’s leaders debated whether the invitation was a trap, and the First Raikage decided they should go to Konoha.
• The First Raikage said he wanted to confront the Uchiha Clan over their suspected killing of Olui.

Enkō and Madara arrived in Konoha for the village talks, where Madara intimidated two gate guards before Enkō took him to Ichiraku Ramen. As they ate, both sensed killing intent nearby.

• Enkō and Madara reached Konoha and declined the guards’ offer to escort them to the conference hall.
• A Konoha guard warned them against wandering, and Madara’s killing intent terrified him before Madara entered the village with Enkō.
• Madara and Enkō walked through Konoha as residents watched them from a distance.
• Enkō recognized the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, and the owner welcomed him and Madara with bowls of noodles.
• Madara and Enkō sensed a faint trace of killing intent as they ate.

Twelve-year-old Sarutobi Hiruzen encountered Enkō, the Uchiha who had killed his father, and attacked him in a rage. Enkō subdued Hiruzen with his Sharingan and left with Madara, while Danzo secretly reflected on the Sharingan’s power.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen trained on his birthday until Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura came to take him to Ichiraku Ramen.
• At the ramen shop, Hiruzen recognized Enkō as his father’s killer and attacked him with a Fire Dragon Bullet.
• Madara casually swatted the fire attack aside, and Enkō confronted Hiruzen as his companions apologized.
• Enkō used his Sharingan to knock Hiruzen unconscious, then left with Madara after assuring the others that Hiruzen would recover.
• Koharu and Mitokado Homura carried Hiruzen toward the hospital with Danzo, who privately marveled at the Sharingan’s power.

Enkō and Madara attended the First Six Kage Summit, where the Kage discussed Hashirama’s peace accord and the sale of Tailed Beasts. The First Raikage confronted Madara over the deaths of his clansmen in Hell Valley, and Madara openly admitted killing them and challenged him to act.

• Madara and Enkō arrived at the Hokage Building and joined Hashirama and Tobirama on their way to the summit.
• Hashirama welcomed the other Kage, then bowed tearfully to them before Tobirama took charge of the meeting.
• Ishikawa, Byakuren, and Reto insisted that Konoha’s peace accord and distribution of Tailed Beasts required a transaction, and Tobirama said the villages would have to pay.
• A raised the deaths of four Yotsuki Clan members in Hell Valley and demanded that Madara explain why the Chinoike Clan was now in the Flame Hidden Village.
• Madara told A that he had killed the clansmen and asked what A could do about it.

At the Six Kage Summit, Uchiha Madara’s contemptuous response to the Raikage’s accusation triggered a devastating chakra clash that Hashirama had to stop. The Kage agreed to continue talks elsewhere, leaving Madara and the Raikage wary of each other.

• The Raikage demanded an explanation from Uchiha Madara, who said he had killed them and challenged the Raikage to act.
• The Raikage unleashed his chakra, and Madara calmly overwhelmed him with an even greater surge.
• The Raikage activated his Lightning Armor as the younger A and Enkō prepared to join the fight.
• Hashirama intervened with his own chakra and begged Madara to stop, ending the clash when Madara lowered his fingers.
• Hashirama apologized and urged the Kage to work together, and Byakuren, Ishikawa, and Reto agreed to continue the talks in another conference room.

The Kage argued over how to distribute the Tailed Beasts and the resources exchanged for them, while Enkō proposed that the Land of Flame trade its claim for rare minerals and medicinal herbs. The Raikage proposed a tournament to decide allocation priorities, ending with a challenge for each village to send three shinobi into matches where life and death would not matter.

• Reto demanded fertile land from the Land of Fire and twenty percent of the other nations’ payments in exchange for Sunagakure’s claim to a Tailed Beast.
• Enkō said the Land of Flame would also give up its claim in exchange for rare minerals and medicinal herbs.
• The Raikage, Byakuren, and Ishikawa each demanded at least two Tailed Beasts, while Ishikawa’s attempt to trade with the Land of Flame was rejected by Madara.
• Hashirama struggled to keep the meeting together as Tobirama warned that the demands would deplete Konoha’s resources, and Madara prepared to leave.
• The Raikage proposed a tournament to determine resource allocation priorities, with three shinobi from each village competing and the Kage excluded.
• The Raikage challenged the others to accept matches in which life and death would be of no consequence.

The Six Kage agreed to hold a team-based scroll competition in the Land of Wind to determine the ranking for distributing Tailed Beasts and resources. After the other Kage departed, Enkō toured Konoha with Madara and left a hidden memento behind before they left.

• The Raikage proposed a competition without regard for life or death, but Hashirama suggested that teams must stop when an opponent admitted defeat, and the Kage agreed.
• The Raikage outlined a three-person team competition in which teams would collect matching numbered scrolls and submit them before the deadline.
• Reto proposed holding the contest in the Land of Wind, and A said the rankings would determine each village’s share and influence over the Tailed Beasts and resources.
• The Kage agreed to hold the competition in one month, then the other four Kage left Konoha while Madara and Enkō stayed for Hashirama’s tour.
• After Madara asked what Enkō was planning, Enkō said he had left a memento in Konoha, where obscure runes remained hidden in several corners.

Enkō returned to the Flame Hidden Village and proposed a way to use Blood Release to help the Uchiha brothers obtain the Eternal Eye. Madara agreed to help capture the Blood Release user after the Six-Village competition, while Enkō went to find Juri.

• Enkō told Izuna and Madara he planned for the three brothers and Juri to compete in the Six-Village Melee, where Izuna hoped to fight Tobirama again.
• Enkō explained his theory that Mangekyō Sharingan went blind when their ocular power could not sustain their techniques, and that transplanting related eyes could raise its limit.
• Madara confirmed that the Uchiha clan had several pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan in reserve, while Izuna noted that past transplants had not produced the Eternal Eye.
• Enkō revealed that he had taken Blood Release from a man at the Six Kage Summit and said its ability to assimilate bloodlines might let the stored eyes fuse with their bloodline.
• Madara agreed to help capture the Blood Release user and his companions after the competition, and Enkō left to tell Juri about the event.

Enkō visited Uchiha Juri and recruited her for the Six-Village Melee. Juri then assigned him three graduating students to train as their guiding teacher, and Enkō left after coming up with an idea for their first meeting.

• After the dismissal bell, Enkō visited Uchiha Juri in the Ninja Academy principal's office.
• Enkō explained the Six-Village Melee, and Juri agreed to participate while warning that Kumogakure and Konoha could cause trouble.
• Juri asked Enkō to become a guiding teacher for a three-person squad of new graduates, and he reluctantly agreed.
• Juri gave Enkō the profiles of his three students, including a junior from the Uchiha Clan, and arranged their first meeting for the next morning.
• Enkō thought of a way to train the students and hurried off, leaving Juri amused.

Uchiha Enkō met his new students—Might Yuan, Kagami Uchiha, and Uzuki Akane—and challenged them to a dangerous bell test. The students agreed to cooperate and launched their attempt to take the bells from him.

• Enkō introduced himself as the team’s instructor and said he wanted to change the future of the Shinobi World.
• Might Yuan, Kagami Uchiha, and Uzuki Akane shared their names and reasons for becoming shinobi.
• Enkō warned that he might drop students who failed his test, then took them to the training ground.
• Enkō gave the three students until noon to take two bells from him and said at least one of them would be eliminated.
• Kagami proposed that they cooperate, and Uzuki Akane planned a two-one formation with the boys drawing Enkō’s attention.
• The three students began their attack on Enkō.

Might Yuan, Kagami Uchiha, and Uzuki Akane fought Enkō in a bell test, combining their abilities but failing to take the bells. Enkō passed them anyway and said they would travel to the border after two days of recovery.

• Might Yuan, Kagami Uchiha, and Uzuki Akane attacked Enkō together, but he countered each of them and criticized their fighting.
• Might Yuan opened the Fourth Gate of Pain, Kagami Uchiha activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, and Uzuki Akane drew her second sword.
• Might Yuan pinned Enkō in place while Uzuki Akane launched a barrage of sword strikes, giving Kagami Uchiha an opening to reach for the bells.
• Enkō released a burst of chakra that shattered the sword lights and sent all three students flying, leaving the bells untouched.
• Enkō declared that the trio had passed because they forced him to use chakra, then told them to recover for two days before traveling to the border.

Enkō and his companions encountered Jashin Cult members attacking a merchant caravan near the border and killed them, then set out to find the cult’s headquarters. Merchant Kafu offered increasingly large payments for their protection, and Enkō abruptly asked where the caravan was headed.

• Kafu suspected the Land of Flame was preparing for something after noticing its increased purchases of medicinal herbs and grain.
• Three Jashin Cult members attacked Kafu’s caravan, defeated its guards, and prepared to sacrifice the survivors.
• Uzuki Akane killed all three cultists before Enkō could question one, and the group discussed the spread of the Jashin Cult and headed to seek its headquarters.
• Kafu thanked Enkō, Uzuki Akane, Might Yuan, and their companion for saving the caravan and offered to pay for protection.
• After Kafu raised his offer to three million ryo, Enkō interrupted Might Yuan and asked where the caravan was going.