Chapter Summaries

Shinji told Hiruzen that a masked man calling himself Madara Uchiha and a Wood Release user had attacked him, prompting Hiruzen to prioritize investigating the Akatsuki and assign Shinji more teammates. Shinji then visited the captured Mei Terumi, whose anger at his fabricated seduction rumor turned into shock when she saw his bandaged eye.

• Shinji described his attackers to Hiruzen, who suspected they were connected to the Akatsuki and ordered an investigation.
• Hiruzen assigned Shinji two additional team members to join Kakashi, while Shinji privately evaded Shisui's questions about his eye.
• Shinji asked Shisui to take him to Mei Terumi, who was being watched by the hostile Uchiha Linghua.
• Mei denied trying to seduce Shinji and began to declare herself a Kirigakure envoy, but she stopped when she saw his injured eye.
• Mei threatened to take Shinji down with her, and Shinji suppressed her chakra and teased her for imitating the Legendary Big Sheep.

Shinji Uchiha offered Mei Terumi a deal: he would help kill Karatachi Yagura and make her Mizukage in exchange for Kirigakure's seven Ninja Blades. Meanwhile, Tsunade rushed back to Konoha with Shizune and a band of creditors in pursuit.

• Shinji revealed that he knew Karatachi Yagura was under Genjutsu and offered to help Mei kill him and take the Mizukage's seat in exchange for Kirigakure's seven Ninja Blades.
• Mei questioned Shinji's knowledge and motives, but he told her to consider the deal and warned her not to escape.
• Shisui left the room after Shinji and Mei argued about their past encounters.
• Tsunade raced through Konoha's gate, and Shizune arrived behind her carrying Tonton and asking the guards to stop the pursuers.
• The One-Eyed Dragon and his bandits stopped outside Konoha and decided to wait for Tsunade to gamble again so she would have to repay her debts.

Tsunade returned to Konoha, where she discovered that Shinji Uchiha had become a celebrated figure and that the village had changed under the Military Police Force. She confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and demanded to know how the Nine-Tails had broken through its seal.

• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki watched as the bandits who had chased Tsunade left, while Shizune hurried after her.
• Tsunade sampled a vendor’s tender chicken and learned that the Fox Demon had appeared, but Shinji had trapped and defeated it using the Four Red Yang Formation.
• Tsunade observed the Military Police Force helping villagers and taking D-rank missions, then asked Shizune about Shinji’s rise to prominence.
• Tsunade entered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office, interrupted his meeting with Kei Uchiha, and sent Kei away to speak with Hiruzen privately.
• Tsunade demanded that Hiruzen explain how the Nine-Tails had broken through its sealing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Tsunade to become Hokage because he feared he could no longer manage Shinji Uchiha’s power, but she rejected his appeal and left the choice open only if he died. Shinji then went to Konoha Hospital to visit the injured Gekko Hayate and encountered nurse Nara Ushimaru.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Tsunade that Shinji Uchiha’s power had made him feel helpless and asked her to become Hokage.
• Tsunade refused to inherit Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Will of Fire and suggested Shinji Uchiha could responsibly become Hokage.
• Tsunade told Hiruzen Sarutobi she might consider becoming Hokage if he died, then left his office.
• Shinji Uchiha reviewed the Kirigakure quests involving Mei Terumi, Karatachi Yagura, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as he walked to Konoha Hospital.
• Shinji told Nara Ushimaru he had come to visit the injured Gekko Hayate, and she recognized Hayate.

Shinji visited the injured Gekko Hayate and urged him and Uzuki Yugao to consider the Konoha Military Police Force after criticizing how the village treated civilian-born ninja. Yugao decided to try out for the force, and Shinji's quest to save Hayate was marked complete.

• Shinji lied to a nurse by claiming he had met Hayate through Uzuki Yugao, prompting Shikaku Nara and Shikamaru Nara to overhear him and react.
• Shinji visited Hayate and Yugao at the hospital, thanked Hayate for saving Sasuke Uchiha, and explained that he had come on behalf of Konoha because Lord Hokage had not visited.
• Shinji suggested that Hayate had been assigned to greet the Kirigakure envoys because the higher-ups considered him expendable, and Yugao challenged Konoha's ideals.
• Shinji encouraged Hayate and Yugao to join the Konoha Military Police Force, then left the hospital.
• Yugao followed Shinji and asked to try out for the force instead of joining ANBU; Shinji told her she would need to defeat a Two Tomoe Uchiha ninja.
• Shinji received the reward for completing the quest to give Uzuki Yugao a happy ending by saving Gekko Hayate.

After leaving the hospital, Shinji ran into Tsunade, who noticed his unusual strength and took him to the Senju compound for an examination. There, Shinji revealed that his eye was unharmed and told Tsunade and Shizune he had fought the masked Uchiha he believed had unleashed the Nine-Tails.

• After a challenge to win Uzuki Yugao's heart appeared, Shinji dismissed it and continued on his way.
• Tsunade grabbed Shinji from behind, but he reacted with a series of attacks and sent her flying before recognizing her.
• Tsunade questioned Shinji about his Yang Release and dragged him to her home to examine him.
• At the Senju compound, Tsunade and Shizune noticed Shinji's bandaged eye, and Shinji revealed that it was not injured.
• Shinji used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to block White Zetsu's surveillance, then told Tsunade and Shizune he had fought a masked Uchiha and let him believe he had blinded Shinji.

Shinji searched the Senju archives for information about the Uchiha Ultimate Weapon, then challenged Tsunade to a spar to test his strength and learn from her. Their fight began in Tsunade’s courtyard and continued as she warned him that he would die if he failed to block her punch.

• Tsunade led Shinji and Shizune to a dusty warehouse containing the Senju Clan’s records, and Shinji began searching for references to the Uchiha.
• Shinji summoned over a thousand Shadow Clones to sort through the archives and find the records he needed.
• Tsunade offered to teach Shinji an application of Yang Release, but Shinji suggested they spar instead.
• Shinji provoked Tsunade by claiming Shimura Danzō was no match for him, and Tsunade attacked with a powerful kick.
• Shinji blocked Tsunade’s kick, caught her next strike, and hurled her away before she landed and charged again with a punch.

Shinji defeated Tsunade in a test of strength, then learned a new technique and searched her records for information about the Uchiha. Tsunade remained wary of his intentions, while Shizune wondered why he seemed so pressed for time.

• Shinji fought Tsunade at full strength and sent her crashing through the roof, proving he was stronger than her in her normal state.
• Tsunade warned Shinji that she would intervene if he did anything excessive, and Shinji suggested she become the Fifth Hokage; she refused.
• Shinji completed his challenge mission and learned a Yang Release technique that amplified strength at the point of impact.
• Shinji reviewed 178 records about the Uchiha, discovering that Madara Uchiha appeared nearly a hundred times.
• Tsunade told Shizune she suspected Shinji could engineer the Nine-Tails' attack and seize the Hokage position, while Shizune speculated that he was worried about finding a partner and continuing his family line.

Shinji forced Mei Terumi to accept his plan to return to Kirigakure and await his instructions, while Shisui clarified that she had already agreed. Later, the Third summoned Mitaraishi Anko, Uzuki Yugao, and Kakashi Hatake, and Anko told Yugao to go into the office.

• Shinji discovered what he had been seeking, returned to the Konoha Military Police Force, and found Mei Terumi asleep at her desk.
• Shinji attacked Mei Terumi when she failed to give him an answer, but Shisui revealed that she had already agreed to his proposal.
• Shinji ordered Mei Terumi to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi the next morning, return to Kirigakure, and wait for his word if war broke out.
• A messenger summoned Uzuki Yugao to the Hokage Building, where she found Mitaraishi Anko and Kakashi Hatake waiting outside the Third's office.
• After the Third called Mitaraishi Anko inside and spoke with her, Anko came out and told Uzuki Yugao that he wanted to see her.

Uzumaki Yugao accepted a mission with Kakashi and Mitarashi Anko, led by Shinji Uchiha, in exchange for a chance to join ANBU. Meanwhile, Tobi arrived as a trainee in the Akatsuki, where Uchiha Itachi warned that he was dangerous.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recruited Uzumaki Yugao for Shinji Uchiha's mission and promised special approval for ANBU if she returned with a complete account.
• Yugao accepted the mission, and Kakashi told her and Anko to meet at the village gate the next morning.
• Shinji Uchiha set out with Yehuo, Kakashi, Anko, and Yugao, teasing Anko when he saw her waiting at the gate.
• Konan introduced Tobi as the Akatsuki's new trainee, and Tobi acted frightened while meeting the organization's members.
• Itachi warned Kisame not to underestimate Tobi, saying that Tobi seemed dangerous.

Itachi trapped Orochimaru in a genjutsu, cut off his arm, and urged him to seek Shinji Uchiha in Konoha if he wanted eternal life. Shinji received Itachi’s message through Chimaru, then got a separate note from Shisui that said “Root” and wondered about Danzo’s preparations.

• Orochimaru pursued Itachi and tried to capture him, but Itachi trapped him in a genjutsu and severed one of his arms.
• Itachi spared Orochimaru on the condition that he seek Shinji in Konoha, and warned that he would kill Orochimaru if he stayed in Akatsuki.
• Chimaru brought Itachi’s message to Shinji, who paid the cat with a gold coin before reading the note.
• Shinji burned Itachi’s message, then received a kunai-delivered note from Shisui bearing the word “Root.”
• Shinji wondered whether Danzo had completed his preparations before closing his eyes, then returned to camp.

Shinji and his companions were ambushed at camp, but the attackers turned out to be Root ninja asking him to take command. After learning Danzo’s plans and seeing Ryoma’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, Shinji removed it and asked the group to explain what had happened in the village.

• Shinji checked his system panel while he and his companions ate at the campfire.
• An explosion alerted the group to an attack, and Kakashi, Anko, and Nobihi rushed to investigate.
• Root ninja surrounded Shinji, but stopped when they recognized him and asked him to take command of Root.
• Shinji suspected the Root members had been sent by their clans and asked them to explain the situation in the village.
• Ryoma told Shinji that their leader and Orochimaru had conducted experiments on ninja, and Shinji identified Ryoma’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
• Shinji used Yin-Yang Release to remove Ryoma’s seal, then asked the Root members to continue explaining.

Aburame Ryoma and fifteen other Root ninja asked Shinji Uchiha to help them escape Danzō's legacy, and Shinji persuaded them to form an independent organization. After they left for the Land of Grass, Shinji returned to camp, where Kakashi began asking him a question.

• Aburame Ryoma described Root's human experiments and pleaded with Shinji Uchiha to help the Root ninja leave their lives of guilt behind.
• Shinji suggested that the Root members become Missing-nin and create an independent organization to help the Shinobi World without harming Konoha.
• After Rokuyuki asked about the organization's plans, Shinji removed his Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and directed the group to live in the Land of Grass until he found them a base.
• Ryoma agreed to follow Shinji, who gave the sixteen Root ninja blank masks and money before they quietly departed.
• Kakashi returned to camp empty-handed, Shinji urged Uzuki Yugao to eat, and Kakashi began asking Shinji something.

Kakashi questioned Shinji about the Masked Man and Root, while Shinji dismissed the possibility that the man was Obito. At Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage gave Jiraiya a new prophecy about a gentle boy with Red Eyes, leaving its meaning unknown.

• Kakashi asked Shinji about his father’s death and the Masked Man, then wondered whether the man could be Obito.
• Shinji told Kakashi that Root had asked him to return to the village and lead the organization.
• Jiraiya visited Mount Myōboku to ask whether the Great Toad Sage had dreamed a prophecy.
• The Great Toad Sage prophesied that a gentle boy with Red Eyes would bring something to the Shinobi World, then fell asleep before finishing.
• Jiraiya rejected the idea that Shinji would bring calamity, and the toads agreed to wait for the Great Sage to wake.

Tsunade investigated Shimura Danzō’s inexplicable condition and suspected Shinji’s Dōjutsu was involved, while Hiruzen learned Root members had left to target Shinji. Later, Jiraiya told Tsunade about a prophecy involving a gentle red-eyed boy and asked to make Shinji his disciple, prompting her to leave in disbelief.

• Tsunade questioned Hiruzen and the hospital staff about Danzō’s condition, concluding that Shinji had likely used Dōjutsu to affect him.
• Hiruzen learned from Yamato that Root members had left the village to harm Shinji.
• Tsunade recognized Jiraiya, punched him, and joined him and Shizune for a meal.
• Jiraiya shared the Great Sage’s incomplete prophecy about a gentle boy with red eyes and asked Tsunade what she thought of Shinji.
• Jiraiya asked whether Shinji would accept him as a disciple, and Tsunade stormed off, calling him a lunatic.

Orochimaru ambushed Shinji’s team and abducted Anko, then lured them after him. Shinji went to pursue Orochimaru while Kakashi stayed behind to protect Yugao.

• Orochimaru watched the team from the jungle after confirming Anko’s Cursed Seal remained intact.
• Shinji warned the squad to stay alert as they approached the Border of the Three Countries, while Yugao worried about Hayate and Anko asked about the mission.
• Orochimaru attacked with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, and Nobihi chased after the fleeing figure despite Shinji recognizing it as bait.
• Anko recognized Orochimaru, who appeared beside her and took her hostage as Kakashi attacked with Lightning Blade.
• Orochimaru escaped with Anko and called for the others to follow; Shinji told Kakashi to protect Yugao and pursued him.

Shinji Uchiha lured Orochimaru into a clearing and overwhelmed him with his speed and strength, revealing that he knew the Flying Thunder God Technique. Orochimaru summoned Manda for help, convinced that Shinji and Itachi had set a trap for him.

• Orochimaru led Shinji through the forest, then attacked him with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands after Shinji identified him.
• Shinji dodged Orochimaru's attempts to seize his eye and struck back with a Rasengan, but Orochimaru escaped by shedding his skin.
• Shinji blocked Orochimaru's Wind Cutter Technique with an Earth-Style Wall, then defeated him in close combat and appeared beside him using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Orochimaru escaped by shedding his body and summoned Manda, warning the serpent to take Shinji seriously.
• Orochimaru suspected that Shinji and Itachi had worked together to lure him into a trap, while Manda threatened to swallow Shinji.

Shinji defeated Manda and forced Orochimaru to surrender, then offered to let Orochimaru study him in exchange for cooperation on Hashirama Cells. The two agreed to work together, though Shinji kept secret what he would have done if Orochimaru had refused.

• Shinji punched Manda, then burned him with Fire Release until Orochimaru sealed the flames and escaped.
• Manda attacked Shinji from underground, but Shinji used Wind Release: Rasenshuriken from inside Manda's mouth and escaped behind Susanoo as Manda vanished.
• Orochimaru attacked Shinji with Wind Release, but Shinji overpowered it with Majestic Destroyer Flame, making Orochimaru surrender.
• Shinji received rewards for defeating Orochimaru and Manda, including Triple Rashomon and a B-rank Natural Energy Affinity.
• Shinji offered to let Orochimaru study him and revealed that Tora, now known as Tenzo, had survived the Hashirama Cell experiments.
• Orochimaru accepted Shinji's proposal, then asked what Shinji would have done if he had refused; Shinji called the answer a secret.

Shinji and Orochimaru infiltrated Root to obtain documents and Hashirama Cell samples for their experiments. After Orochimaru gathered what he needed, they prepared to leave the chamber.

• Shinji and Orochimaru discussed Hashirama Cells and White Zetsu before heading to Root.
• Shinji used his Sharingan to incapacitate the Root guards, and the pair entered the base.
• Tenzo tried to destroy the documents, but Shinji stopped him, took the papers, and knocked him unconscious.
• Orochimaru examined the documents and led Shinji to Root’s storage chamber, where he selected experimental samples.
• Orochimaru finished gathering the samples, and Shinji agreed to leave with him.

Shinji returned to the Land of Rain, attacked Akatsuki members, and brought Orochimaru back before leaving him with blood and research questions. After Shinji rejoined the exhausted team, Anko learned Orochimaru had escaped, and Yugao asked Shinji for special training.

• Shinji used his sensory technique to find three targets in the Land of Rain, then left Orochimaru behind and went after them.
• Shinji returned after an explosion with scrolls, told Orochimaru that Deidara had tried to blow himself up, and gave Orochimaru blood and a Flying Thunder God kunai.
• Shinji asked Orochimaru to study his cells alongside Hashirama Senju's and investigate how people could integrate Hashirama Cells without side effects.
• Shisui watched Orochimaru after Shinji departed and wondered why Shinji had sought his help.
• Shinji rejoined Kakashi, Nobihi, Anko, and Yugao, and told them Orochimaru had escaped and the mission was too dangerous for them in their current condition.
• Yugao stood and asked Shinji to put her through special training.