Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Shennong to the Grass Ninja Village and found a surviving Uzumaki woman and her daughter, Karin, being exploited for their healing abilities. After telling the woman that Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze had died and that Kushina’s son needed her, he persuaded her to leave with him.

• Anko, Kabuto, Itachi, and Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled to the Grass Ninja Village with the captured Shennong after the Sky Ninja fled.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent two Konoha ANBU to guard the Sky Ninja fortress and settled his group in Konoha’s quarters in the chaotic Grass Ninja Village.
• A Grass Ninja Village ninja offered Hiruzen Sarutobi a chance to heal Shennong by biting a captive Uzumaki woman for a fee.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi immobilized the Grass Ninja Village ninja and asked the Uzumaki woman to return to Konoha, but she initially refused.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the woman that Kushina Uzumaki’s son needed her and that Kushina and Minato Namikaze had died, so she took Karin and agreed to leave with him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Yukino Uzumaki and her daughter Karin back to Konoha, where Itachi arranged for them to stay with the Uchiha and meet Naruto. The chapter ended with Mikoto welcoming the newcomers while wondering how much larger their household would become.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Anko, Kabuto, and Itachi that Yukino Uzumaki and Karin were Uzumaki Clan survivors, and Itachi eagerly agreed to bring them to the Uchiha.
• Yukino agreed to leave Kusagakure with Hiruzen, hoping to protect Karin from being used as a source of healing blood.
• Hiruzen brought the mother and daughter to Konoha and sent them to Orochimaru, along with the unconscious Shennong.
• Itachi reported the mission to Orochimaru, who told him to take Yukino and Karin to the Uchiha Grounds to help care for Naruto.
• Itachi introduced Yukino and Karin to Mikoto, who welcomed them and wondered whether their household would keep growing.

Orochimaru brought Kimimaro to the Hokage’s office and revealed to Hiashi the Ōtsutsuki origins of Kimimaro’s Byakugan. As Black Zetsu panicked at the prospect of Orochimaru creating an Ōtsutsuki, Orochimaru prepared to discuss releasing the Hyuga Clan’s Caged Bird seal.

• Konoha secretly purged nobles who opposed the daimyo and gained control of the Land of Fire and its funding.
• Orochimaru gave Kimimaro an adjusted Ōtsutsuki gene injection, then summoned Hiashi to the Hokage’s office.
• Black Zetsu saw Kimimaro’s horn and Byakugan and feared Orochimaru had created an Ōtsutsuki Clan member.
• Orochimaru introduced Kimimaro to Hiashi and explained the history of the Ōtsutsuki Bloodline.
• Hiashi learned of the bloodline connections, and Orochimaru revealed that he wanted to release the Caged Bird.

Orochimaru pressured Hyuga Hiashi to abolish the Hyuga Clan’s main and branch family system, and Hiashi agreed despite the elders’ opposition. The clan abolished the system, and Hizashi held Neji after the Caged Bird Seal was removed from his forehead.

• Orochimaru told Hiashi to end the main and branch family divisions, and Kimimaro used his Byakugan to pressure Hiashi into agreeing.
• Hiashi informed the Hyuga elders that Konoha wanted the Caged Bird system abolished, and they initially resisted.
• Hiashi and the elders debated the issue, while Hizashi and branch family Jonin joined the discussion without fear of the Caged Bird Seal.
• The Hyuga Clan agreed to abolish the main and branch family system and let branch family members receive help from the village to remove their seals.
• Hizashi held Neji and looked at the mark left on his forehead after the Curse Mark was removed.

Orochimaru obtained Shennong’s forbidden medical technique while using the Sky Ninja’s technology to help build Hiruzen Sarutobi’s ship. Hiruzen brought Zisu out of Shikkotsu Forest to Konoha, where she began guiding Tsunade and Miki Xiaoai.

• Orochimaru interrogated Shennong, had Seimei verify his testimony, and took Shennong’s forbidden medical technique.
• Orochimaru studied the ship with Shennong and considered using Shennong and the Zero-Tails as its power source.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi collected spiritual herbs from the Summoning World and invited Zisu to join him in capturing the Four-Tails.
• Hiruzen returned to Konoha with Zisu and told her to guide Tsunade and Miki Xiaoai while he refined pills.
• Zisu began answering Tsunade and Miki Xiaoai’s questions about cultivation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finished refining cultivation pills, brought Zisu through Konoha, and visited Orochimaru’s laboratory. There, Orochimaru prepared to help Shisui and Fugaku awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and restore their deteriorating eyesight.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi completed enough cultivation pills for six months and gave portions to Tsunade and Miki Xiaoai.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Zisu toward the Hokage's office, and they stopped at a dessert shop where Itachi recommended sweets.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi teased Itachi and Izumi Uchiha by calling their outing a date, making Itachi blush.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Orochimaru was in the laboratory beneath Konoha Hospital.
• Orochimaru began an experiment to help Shisui and Fugaku awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan using perfected Ōtsutsuki Bloodline modifications and transplanted Sharingan.

Orochimaru successfully gave Shisui and Fugaku Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan by replacing their eyes with cloned Sharingan. Hiruzen Sarutobi then arranged for them to capture the Four-Tails at Flower Fruit Mountain, with the group set to depart in three days.

• Orochimaru replaced Shisui’s eyes with cloned Sharingan, and Shisui awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan with restored vision and greater power.
• Orochimaru replaced Fugaku’s eyes as well and preserved the Mangekyo Sharingan removed from both men.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Orochimaru, Fugaku, Shisui, and Zisu that he planned to reclaim Flower Fruit Mountain from the Four-Tails for the Monkey Demon Clan.
• Orochimaru urged Fugaku and Shisui to capture the Four-Tails for his research and said Konoha would handle the Hidden Rock Village and the Land of Earth.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the group to prepare and leave in three days.

Might Guy, Kakashi, and Shisui met at the training ground, where Shisui and Might Guy tested their abilities in a spar. The fight ended after Guy opened the seventh gate and Shisui expanded Susanoo, leaving both of them unharmed and the training ground intact.

• Might Guy invited Kakashi to train, and Kakashi agreed to join him at the training ground.
• Shisui challenged Kakashi and Might Guy to a real fight, and Might Guy accepted a barbecue wager.
• Might Guy and Shisui began sparring, with Shisui using skeletal Susanoo to withstand Guy's taijutsu.
• Might Guy opened the seventh gate, and Shisui strengthened Susanoo into a half-bodied form and summoned a Spiral Sword.
• Might Guy and Shisui ended the spar before Guy used Daytime Tiger or the training ground was destroyed.

Might Guy and Shisui ended their destructive spar, while Itachi took Sasuke and Naruto back to the Uchiha compound and warned Sasuke away from the Mangekyo Sharingan. At a separate family gathering, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Zisu reflected on ordinary life and the bonds that cultivators eventually leave behind.

• Might Guy and Shisui stopped sparring after wrecking the training ground, while Kakashi went to practice swordsmanship and Might Guy went to the hospital.
• Itachi led Sasuke, Naruto, Shisui, and Izumi toward the Uchiha compound, and he told Sasuke he hoped he would never awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Sasuke argued with Naruto after Naruto joked that Sasuke could not awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Itachi stopped their bickering.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi hosted Shinnosuke, Hinako, Konohamaru, Asuma, Miki Xiaoai, Tsunade, and Orochimaru for a meal, while Jiraiya remained in the Hidden Mist Village.
• Zisu wondered whether this was ordinary human life, and Hiruzen reflected that cultivators eventually forgot most bonds as time passed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fugaku, Shisui, and Zisu traveled toward the Land of Earth to capture another Tailed Beast while Black Zetsu went to Konoha to investigate Kimimaro. Black Zetsu tried to recruit Kimimaro, but Kimimaro and Haku attacked him, forcing him to retreat.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fugaku, Shisui, and Zisu departed Konoha with a merchant caravan bound for the Land of Earth.
• Black Zetsu learned that Hiruzen had left Konoha and traveled there to investigate Kimimaro and gather intelligence.
• Kimimaro sensed Black Zetsu in his room and attacked him with the Byakugan and Eight Trigrams Air Palm.
• Black Zetsu tried to persuade Kimimaro to help revive the progenitor of the Otsutsuki Clan, but Kimimaro and Haku attacked him.
• Black Zetsu sensed powerful chakra signatures approaching, sank into the ground, and promised Kimimaro they would meet again.

Kimimaro thwarted Black Zetsu’s attempt to kidnap him, while Orochimaru learned an enemy had infiltrated the village and escaped underground. Hiruzen Sarutobi’s caravan crossed the Land of Rain and entered the Land of Earth, where its members continued toward their target, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi.

• Kimimaro told the arriving shinobi that an enemy had infiltrated the village and escaped using advanced Earth Release, and Orochimaru ordered the barrier reinforced before taking Haku and Kimimaro to question them.
• Konan spotted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s merchant caravan in the Land of Rain and sensed Shisui and Fugaku’s powerful chakra, but she chose not to investigate.
• Shisui remarked that the Land of Rain seemed to be managed by an organization, while Fugaku dismissed it as too small and unimportant to the great nations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered Akatsuki a future threat but decided it would be better to capture Obito and Black Zetsu together rather than attack immediately.
• The caravan entered the Land of Earth and continued toward Rōshi, the wandering Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, who often operated near Flower Fruit Mountain.

Konoha’s convoy traveled to Flower Fruit Mountain to capture Rōshi, the Four-Tails’ Jinchūriki, while Hidden Rock Village sent a squad to protect him. The chapter ended as Shisui confronted Rōshi and ordered him to come with Konoha.

• Fugaku explained to Shisui that Tailed Beasts had intelligence comparable to humans and that the Four-Tails called himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Kitsuchi and Akatsuchi learned that a Konoha caravan was approaching Flower Fruit Mountain and hurried there with Hidden Rock Village’s squad.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that Flower Fruit Mountain resembled the Monkey Demon Clan’s territory in the Summoning World.
• Rōshi sensed the approaching visitors and came out of Water-Curtain Cave, where Son Goku recognized the Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan and warned him they were enemies.
• Shisui faced Rōshi with a Flying Thunder God Kunai and ordered him to come with Konoha.

Shisui and Fugaku confronted Rōshi and the Four-Tails, with Shisui forcing Rōshi into battle and Fugaku unveiling Susanoo. The chapter ended with Fugaku challenging Rōshi to face his armored Susanoo.

• The Four-Tails urged Rōshi to agree to fight and stall for Iwagakure reinforcements, so Rōshi followed the Uchiha out of the valley.
• Rōshi and the Four-Tails recognized Enma and Hiruzen Sarutobi among the Konoha group, while the Four-Tails warned Rōshi of the danger.
• Shisui demanded that Rōshi enter Tailed Beast Transformation, then wounded him with a Flying Thunder God strike that forced him to draw on the Four-Tails' chakra.
• Rōshi healed, entered Lava Release Chakra Mode, and charged Shisui, but Shisui returned to Fugaku's side with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Fugaku activated Susanoo and withstood Rōshi's lava fireballs, then called on Rōshi to attack his armored form.

Fugaku defeated Rōshi and the Four-Tails with his complete-body Susanoo, allowing Konoha’s ninja to capture and seal them. When Iwagakure reinforcements arrived, Kitsuchi accused the Uchiha of rebellion for taking their village’s Tailed Beast.

• Rōshi transformed into the Four-Tails, Son Goku, to fight Fugaku’s Susanoo.
• Fugaku’s Susanoo grew into its complete-body form, rose above the Four-Tails, and countered its lava attacks and Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Fugaku cut down the Four-Tails until its injuries forced it back into Rōshi, leaving the Jinchūriki near death.
• Konoha’s ninja treated Rōshi, sealed him with the Four-Tails, and prepared to take them back for study.
• Hiruzen sent Shisui to confront the approaching Iwagakure ninja while he, Zisu, and Enma went to inspect Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Kitsuchi recognized Fugaku and Shisui and accused the Uchiha of rebelling by capturing Iwagakure’s Four-Tails.

Fugaku’s convoy took Rōshi from Flower Fruit Mountain while Shisui and Kitsuchi’s group reached a tense standoff. Ōnoki rushed to confront the Konoha force, but doubted his elite ninja could defeat Shisui and feared the consequences of war.

• Fugaku dismissed Kitsuchi’s protest and prepared the convoy to leave with Rōshi, while Shisui warned the Rock Ninja to give up.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma inspected Flower Fruit Mountain, and Enma summoned monkeys to restore the Monkey Demon Clan’s shrine.
• Shisui accused Iwagakure of attacking Konoha’s orphanage, and Kitsuchi denied knowing anything about it.
• Fugaku ordered Shisui to capture Kitsuchi, Akatsuchi, and Bunya, and Shisui subdued all three with genjutsu.
• Ōnoki learned that the Konoha force had used Susanoo to capture the Four-Tails, and he worried that his elites could not overcome Shisui.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group prepared to leave the Shikkotsu Forest as Ōnoki arrived with Iwagakure forces and attacked them. Shisui and Fugaku overwhelmed the Rock Ninja, forcing Ōnoki to surrender and agree to talk in his village.

• Zisu told Hiruzen Sarutobi she would return to Konoha with him before going back to the Shikkotsu Forest.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to leave after Enma reported that the group was ready, expecting Ōnoki to arrive.
• Ōnoki confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and demanded to know whether Konoha intended to declare war on Iwagakure.
• Ōnoki attacked with Dust Release: Boundary Stripping Technique, but Shisui teleported Konoha's shinobi away and fought back with Susanoo.
• Shisui and Fugaku summoned their Susanoo, overwhelming Iwagakure's forces and leaving Ōnoki with no choice but to surrender.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed continuing their discussion in Ōnoki's village, and Ōnoki agreed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took Rōshi from Hidden Rock and warned Onoki to leave Flower Fruit Mountain to the Monkey Demon Clan, then returned to Konoha to resume his cultivation. In the Land of Rain, Akatsuki discussed Konoha’s growing threat, and Black Zetsu proposed unsealing Uchiha Nanashi.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Onoki that Flower Fruit Mountain belonged to the Monkey Demon Clan and left Hidden Rock with Rōshi, Fugaku, and Shisui.
• Onoki suppressed unrest in Hidden Rock and concluded that his village would have to wait for a chance to challenge Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha and began secluded cultivation to reach Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.
• Nagato and Konan discussed defeating Konoha, while Obito and Black Zetsu worried that Akatsuki lacked time to grow.
• Black Zetsu proposed unsealing Uchiha Nanashi, and he asked Obito to come with him to find Nagato.

Nagato sent Pain, Obito, and Black Zetsu to unseal Uchiha Hikari and recruit her into the Akatsuki. After learning about the modern Shinobi World, Hikari joined them, driven by hatred for the world and especially Konoha and the Uchiha.

• Nagato agreed to recruit Uchiha Hikari, Kakuzu, and Zabuza, and sent Pain, Obito, and Black Zetsu to release Hikari from her seal.
• Pain lifted Hikari’s seal, and she awakened and reacted to Obito as a potential threat.
• Konan invited Hikari to join the Akatsuki and explained the organization’s goal and the current state of the Shinobi World.
• Hikari agreed to return to Amegakure with the Akatsuki to learn more about the era.
• Kakuzu joined the Akatsuki, and Zabuza defected from Kirigakure and joined with the Kubikiribōchō.
• As Hikari learned more about the Shinobi World, she grew more determined to make it suffer, especially Konoha and the current Uchiha.

Hinata was bullied by village children, but Naruto, a red-haired girl, and a black-haired boy stepped in to defend her. Neji watched nearby, and the chapter ended with the three children facing down the bullies.

• Konoha prospered while its arms trade fueled conflict beyond the Land of Fire, and Orochimaru's research into the Ōtsutsuki Bloodline stalled.
• Naruto's changed fate led the Uchiha to accept him as one of their own, while the Hyuga Clan abolished the Caged Bird and the division between its main and branch families.
• Hinata tried to join a group of children playing ninja, but they mocked her and threw a stone at her.
• Neji watched Hinata being bullied and prepared to intervene, believing her behavior brought shame on the Hyuga Clan.
• Naruto rushed to Hinata's defense, a red-haired girl joined him, and a black-haired boy stood beside them as they confronted the bullies.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin defended Hinata from a group of children, and Itachi stopped Naruto from confronting Neji. Hinata chose to go with them to the dessert shop, leaving Natsu Hyuga to accompany her.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin drove off the children who had insulted and bullied Hinata.
• Naruto checked on Hinata, while Karin condemned the bullies and Hinata shyly said she was fine.
• Neji criticized Hinata and declared that he would prove himself worthy of becoming Hyuga clan head, but Itachi stopped Naruto from attacking him and warned Neji not to overlook what mattered.
• Naruto invited Hinata to the dessert shop, and Natsu Hyuga tried to stop her because the clan had matters to attend to.
• Hinata gathered her courage and chose to visit the dessert shop with Naruto and the others, and Natsu agreed to accompany her.