Chapter Summaries

After Isshiki’s defeat, Naruto and Tobirama removed the Black Rods from the others and returned the Ten-Tails to containment. Madara refused to return to Konoha and declared that he would live for revenge.

• Minato inspected Isshiki’s remains and found that they turned to ash, while Tobirama removed the Fire Eye used to broadcast the battle.
• Naruto broke down the Black Rods embedded in Hashirama and Madara, allowing their immortal bodies to regenerate as Tobirama collected the rods for research.
• Naruto left with the Ten-Tails after Minato agreed to settle the villagers, and Tobirama marveled at Naruto’s Flying Thunder God.
• Madara rejected Hashirama’s invitation to return to Konoha, then admitted that the truth about the Infinite Tsukuyomi had shattered his ideal.
• Madara announced that he would live for revenge, and Tobirama and Hashirama reacted with alarm.

After the Konoha Meeting, the leaders prepared to learn Konoha’s technologies and face the coming Ōtsutsuki threat. Menma revealed that the God of Ōtsutsuki had an equal who caused his death, and Minato ended the discussion by asking whether Menma remembered his previous life.

• The meeting’s attendees left to make arrangements, prioritizing Konoha’s shared technologies and the coming Shinobi War, where they could form spirit pacts with tailed beasts.
• Minato explained that Konoha had shown Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha fighting Ōtsutsuki Isshiki before Naruto defeated him, to warn the shinobi world without driving it to despair.
• Menma told Konoha that the God of Ōtsutsuki commanded Divine Arts and had only reawakened in this spacetime, then revealed that another god had caused his previous death.
• Little Nine-Tails insisted that Naruto and he would defeat the God of Ōtsutsuki themselves, while Menma said the other god was no longer in this spacetime.
• Minato stepped between Naruto and Menma and asked whether Menma had memories of his previous life.

Menma revealed that Naruto had the potential to become a god because of the Six Paths Samsara Jutsu, and offered the Reshape Organization’s help while reaffirming its goal of recreating the world. Naruto rejected using coercion or war to reach godhood, so Konoha planned to gather allies around him through the Konoha Meeting, Tailed Beast Spirit Pacts, and a Shinobi War.

• Menma told Minato and the Hokages that Naruto’s Six Paths Samsara Jutsu had touched the realm of gods and given him the potential to become one.
• Menma offered his and the Reshape Organization’s assistance but said their main goal remained recreating the world to bring back the other god.
• Minato and the other Hokages considered uniting the Shinobi World by force to help Naruto become a god, but Naruto refused to pursue godhood through oppression and war.
• Hashirama supported Naruto, and the Hokages agreed to respect his wishes while continuing with the Konoha Meeting.
• The Hokages decided to form a powerful team around Naruto by using Tailed Beast Spirit Pacts and selecting candidates through a Shinobi War.

As Konoha prepared for the Shinobi War, Konohamaru learned about the competition to partner with a tailed beast and went looking for his grandfather, the Third Hokage. He stole a letter addressed to him from Asuma and discovered it was his grandfather’s last will and testament.

• Konohamaru learned that the Shinobi War competition would let its winner fight alongside a tailed beast, so he abandoned his Corps’ challenge against Hanabi’s group.
• Ise Udon fainted when the Konohamaru Corps expected him to lead the fight against Hanabi, and the boys panicked over who would face her.
• Konohamaru went to the Ninja Academy and then the Sarutobi Clan residence, but could not find the Third Hokage.
• Konohamaru caught Asuma hiding a paper in his room and tried to take it, but Asuma tossed him outside and shut the door.
• Konohamaru used the Transformation Technique and the Flying Thunder God Technique to steal the paper from Asuma, revealing that it was his last will and testament, addressed to Konohamaru.

Konohamaru realized that Hiruzen was still alive after reading his grandfather’s will and hurried toward the Uzumaki residence. Above Kage Rock, Hiruzen told Tobirama he intended to sacrifice his remaining life for the village’s future, and Tobirama agreed to help him use Sunagakure’s Life Reincarnation technique.

• Konohamaru read Hiruzen’s will and concluded that his grandfather could not have died while life at home remained normal.
• Konohamaru hurried toward the Uzumaki residence after realizing Hiruzen was alive.
• Hiruzen told Tobirama that Danzo’s curse and his own past wrongs had left him determined to atone by aiding the next generation.
• Hiruzen explained that he planned to use Sunagakure’s Life Reincarnation technique, which he had secured through an agreement with Chiyo.
• Tobirama accepted Hiruzen’s decision and asked how he intended to proceed.

Hashirama finished rebuilding Konoha’s houses and reflected on how Senju abilities could emerge in villagers without the Senju name. In Tobirama’s laboratory, Toneri revealed that Madara Uchiha’s tissue matched five mutants’ composition, identifying both as activated natural energy.

• Hashirama completed the final house renovation and told the craftsmen he would not be around to help anymore.
• Hashirama recalled Moegi’s Wood Release and suggested Senju abilities could awaken in descendants who no longer carried the Senju surname.
• Tobirama returned to his laboratory, where Toneri gave him analysis results concerning Madara Uchiha.
• Toneri reported that Madara Uchiha’s tissue had nearly the same underlying composition as the five mutants Naruto brought back from the Fire Temple.
• Tobirama learned that Madara’s tissue and the mutants were composed of pure, activated natural energy, like Urashiki Otsutsuki.

Tobirama discovered that Madara’s tissue samples resembled those of Urashiki and the monsters made from living people, then returned to Kage Rock to take the First and Third Hokage away. Minato and Kushina brought Konohamaru to see the Third Hokage, and Tobirama let grandfather and grandson say goodbye.

• Tobirama found that Madara’s tissue samples showed similarities to Urashiki’s remains and the monsters, and ordered Toneri to suspend research on Urashiki until his return.
• Tobirama returned to Kage Rock, where the First and Third Hokage reflected on their past failures while waiting for him.
• Minato arrived with Kushina and Konohamaru just as Tobirama prepared to take the two Hokage away.
• Konohamaru rushed to his grandfather, and Minato asked Tobirama to let them talk face-to-face.
• Tobirama agreed to let the Third Hokage and Konohamaru say goodbye.

The Third Hokage explained to Konohamaru why he had chosen to return to battle despite his age and past failures. He asked Konohamaru to let him die on a battlefield of his own choosing.

• Konohamaru clung to the Third Hokage, relieved to find him alive, while the Third apologized to Minato and his wife.
• The Third told Konohamaru he had avoided speaking to him because he feared seeing him would make him abandon his decision.
• The Third reflected on neglecting Konohamaru and on his duties and failures as Hokage, while telling him he had come to see hope in his growth.
• The Third explained that he could not accept waiting at home to die while the village and shinobi world faced a crisis.
• The Third walked past Konohamaru and asked him to let him die on a battlefield he had chosen.

The Third said farewell to Konohamaru, and Minato returned home troubled by Naruto’s absence and his own suspicions. In Otogakure, Menma showed Orochimaru Uzumaki masks from the Land of Whirlpools, and they prepared to summon the Shinigami while Madara watched.

• The Third assured Konohamaru they would meet again, then Hashirama hugged him so hard that Tobirama had to stop him from hurting the Third.
• Minato and Kushina took Konohamaru back to the village, where Kushina left to resume her duties and Minato wondered where Naruto had gone.
• Minato sat alone at home, troubled that he had deceived Kushina based on an unfounded suspicion.
• In Otogakure, Menma told Orochimaru that the masks came from the Uzumaki shrine in the Land of Whirlpools and that he had retrieved them before Konoha did.
• Orochimaru identified the masks as tied to pacts with otherworldly gods and asked to investigate the Shinigami; Menma agreed to summon and capture him if he was not a true god.

Orochimaru summoned the Shinigami to break the Reaper Death Seal, but the Shinigami attacked Menma and tried to take his soul. Menma resisted and Orochimaru turned the pact’s backlash against the Shinigami, capturing its soul and leaving Menma wary of Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru summoned the Shinigami, who attacked Menma with a blade that targeted souls.
• Menma caught the Shinigami’s blade by coating his arm in chakra, then hurled it into the Shinigami.
• The Shinigami used Orochimaru’s body and black runes to try to escape, but Orochimaru regained control and restrained him.
• Orochimaru explained that the Shinigami had learned his plan, taken control of him, and tried to seize Menma’s soul.
• Orochimaru used the Shinigami’s violation of their pact to capture its soul, and Menma said he had underestimated Orochimaru.

Orochimaru broke the Reaper Death Seal while trying to recover a soul, but a powerful chakra burst unleashed a hidden fighter who battled Menma. Menma identified the fighter as Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, who emerged from hiding and demanded to know who Menma was.

• Orochimaru summoned a body marked with the character for “one” and made the Shinigami release the souls sealed inside it.
• Orochimaru discovered that none of the released souls was the one Menma sought, and the Shinigami exploded in a surge of powerful chakra.
• Menma charged to protect Orochimaru and fought an unseen opponent as the battle devastated the underground laboratory and burst into the sky.
• Madara watched the fight with excitement until it abruptly ended, and Menma said the opponent was trapped within his barrier.
• Menma revealed that the hidden fighter was Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, who stepped out of the woods and asked Menma to identify himself.

Menma discovered that the powerful intruder was Minato Namikaze and persuaded him to join the Reshape Organization. Minato adopted the name Jet Black Dancing Wheel, leaving the organization’s members baffled.

• Menma realized Minato and the Nine-Tails had likely reconciled, while Minato attacked Otogakure’s barrier with a powerful Rasengan.
• Menma intercepted Minato using the Flying Thunder God Technique and revealed he had learned it from Naruto Uzumaki.
• Minato appeared in Baryon Mode and nearly struck Menma with a Rasengan, but stopped when Menma made a fist gesture that the Nine-Tails recognized.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto, Izumi, and the others arrived after the fighting had ended, and Menma introduced Minato as the organization’s new member.
• Minato denied being the Fourth Hokage, put on a mask, and took the name Jet Black Dancing Wheel.

One year later, a fleet of the Land of Lightning arrived at the Land of Whirlpools to fight the Ninja. A Samurai officer told the soldiers that the Ninja had betrayed their lords and urged them to crush the enemy.

• Ships from the Land of Lightning gathered in the foggy, turbulent sea near the Land of Whirlpools.
• A young soldier told a veteran he had been recruited only a month earlier as a laborer and had not expected to be sent to war.
• A Samurai ordered the soldiers to stand ready as the fleet prepared to land.
• The Samurai claimed the Ninja had started the war and shifted their duties onto ordinary people, stirring the soldiers to anger.
• The Samurai drew his katana and urged the soldiers to kill the Ninja.

The Land of Lightning’s soldiers celebrated the Five Great Nations’ alliance until a gigantic moving mountain emerged beside their fleet. Samui revealed it was Kumogakure’s Island Turtle and said the Raikage had sent her to welcome them, but Kitain treated her as a traitor and surrounded her with Samurai.

• A Samurai announced that the Five Great Nations had formed an alliance and promised honors to soldiers who fought against the Ninja.
• A lookout spotted rising waves, and the soldiers saw a vast mountain surfacing beside their fleet.
• Figures on a giant boulder greeted the fleet as Kumogakure, and a Samurai recognized the mountain as a turtle.
• Samui appeared behind the Samurai and identified the creature as the Island Turtle, summoned by Kumogakure Ninja.
• Samui said the Raikage had sent her to welcome the Land of Lightning fleet because a storm might delay it.
• Kitain accused Samui of betraying the Land of Lightning and ordered several Samurai to surround her, and Samui called them stupid.

Samui and the Kumogakure ninja lured most of the Land of Lightning’s troops onto the Island Turtle to get them away from the approaching battle. As the turtle fled, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju’s giants fought across the sea, and Madara destroyed a ship before declaring the battlefield belonged to them alone.

• Samui knocked down Kitain, carried him onto the Island Turtle, and helped trick many of the Land of Lightning’s troops into boarding it.
• The troops gathered on the Island Turtle and grew alarmed as it submerged and moved away from the fleet.
• Samui recognized the approaching sounds as the storm Lord Raikage had warned about and ordered the Island Turtle to flee at full speed.
• The soldiers saw Madara Uchiha’s Susanoo fighting Hashirama Senju’s giant Buddha and Wood Dragons, while the Island Turtle escaped their battlefield.
• Miyamoto Shichibei prepared to confront Madara, but Madara hurled a Wood Dragon into his ship and destroyed it.
• Madara broke free of Hashirama’s grasp and declared that the battlefield belonged to him and Hashirama alone.

Madara and Hashirama met as boys and shared a dream of peace, but their clans’ war pulled them apart and Izuna died in battle. After gaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara challenged Hashirama and lost, realizing Hashirama had always been able to counter him.

• Madara met Hashirama by the river, and the boys bonded while skipping stones and imagining a village where children would not have to fight.
• When their fathers and brothers ambushed them at the river, Madara and Hashirama protected each other’s younger brothers and revealed their clan names.
• Years later, Tobirama killed Izuna with the Flying Thunder God Slash, leaving Madara devastated and prompting Hashirama to question why the clans had to fight.
• Madara gained the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan after Izuna’s death, then challenged Hashirama to a final battle and suffered defeat.
• As he lay by the river, Madara realized Hashirama had been able to counter his power all along and had never regarded him as a true enemy.

After Hashirama defeated Madara, Madara chose to trust him and help build Konoha, but soon concluded that the village could not overcome human nature and that he himself was seen as its future threat. He pursued a different path to create a perfect New World, and in the present, a Reshape Organization opponent told the resurrected Madara that he had been manipulated his whole life.

• After Hashirama offered to kill himself to earn Madara’s trust, Madara stopped him and decided to live to protect his dream.
• As Konoha grew, Madara saw its peace as superficial and believed that old clan conflicts would eventually return.
• Madara overheard Tobirama argue that he could not become Hokage because the Uchiha were dangerous, and realized others viewed him as Konoha’s crisis.
• At the Uchiha Clan’s shrine, Madara told Hashirama that Konoha would repeat the Warring States Period and declared he would pursue another path to a perfect New World.
• In the present, a Reshape Organization opponent told the resurrected Madara that he had been manipulated, and Madara angrily threatened to kill him.

Menma told the enraged Madara that Black Zetsu had manipulated his plans and promised to take him to fight an Ōtsutsuki alongside Hashirama. During their battle, Madara and Hashirama reflected on Madara’s resurrection and their final fight, leaving Hashirama to explain why he had killed his friend.

• Menma sealed Madara inside the cultivation tank and offered to take him to Konoha to fight an Ōtsutsuki with Hashirama.
• Madara and Hashirama fought across the sea until Hashirama stopped his Wooden Buddha and discussed Madara’s greater strength and apparent resurrection.
• Hashirama asked whether a Divine Art had revived Madara, but Madara said he no longer cared about the shinobi world’s schemes after fighting Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Madara recalled his lifelong frustration at never defeating Hashirama and asked whether using Izanagi during their battle might have changed the outcome.
• Hashirama said he had killed Madara because he feared he would not be able to stop him if they fought again.

Hashirama revealed a new Rinnegan-powered technique and fought Madara in a clash of colossal summons. Meanwhile, Konoha began the Shinobi War in the Land of Whirlpools, where the Land of Lightning had already surrendered in the first round.

• Hashirama urged Madara to reconsider, but Madara declared he would destroy everything and challenged him to fight.
• Hashirama revealed a Rinnegan and summoned several manifestations of True Several Thousand Hands with his Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
• Madara used Limbo: Border Jail to summon four additional Perfect Susanoo, and five Susanoo clashed with five of Hashirama's giant manifestations.
• Konoha announced the Shinobi War in the Land of Whirlpools, with Naruto Uzumaki and the other Four Sages serving as arbiters and the tailed beasts explaining the rules.
• Madara chose the surrounding sea as the battlefield, and he and Hashirama met blade to blade as their giants fought.
• The Five Great Nations Alliance learned that the Land of Lightning had entered the first round and already surrendered.

The Five Nations Alliance learned that the Land of Lightning's army had been destroyed after entering the First Shinobi War and debated how to proceed. The generals decided to recruit the Land of Iron and exploit Lightning's losses, while Kakashi watched from the camp and judged his assignment easy.

• The Five Nations Alliance generals received reports that the Land of Lightning's fleet had been wiped out and Kumogakure had rescued the survivors.
• The generals reviewed their intelligence on Naruto Uzumaki, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha and reaffirmed their plan to avoid the strongest ninja and commit troops to other wars.
• The generals ordered a soldier to contact Mifune and ask the Land of Iron to join their alliance or stay out of the war they entered.
• The generals convinced one another that the Land of Lightning's defeat had removed two troublesome ninja and restored their confidence.
• Kakashi read a dirty book atop the main camp tent and concluded that the group he was responsible for would be easy to handle.