Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Uchiha Itachi about the Uchiha Clan’s tensions with Konoha, and Itachi argued that Uchiha Fugaku still favored peace. Hiruzen agreed to trust Fugaku and asked Itachi to serve as a communication bridge between them, hoping to resolve the conflict and strengthen his position against Danzo.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Uchiha Itachi about the Uchiha Clan’s situation and his father’s position.
• Uchiha Itachi described the clan’s resentment, its Hardliners, and Fugaku’s efforts to maintain peace.
• Uchiha Itachi urged Hiruzen to trust Fugaku and warned that continued suspicion could drive the clan toward rebellion.
• Hiruzen agreed to trust Fugaku and asked Uchiha Itachi to carry messages between them.
• Hiruzen prepared to write Fugaku a letter proposing that they resolve their problems peacefully.

Madara Uchiha persuaded the Third Hokage to open talks with Uchiha Fugaku, then explained to his father why direct contact with Hiruzen Sarutobi could prevent the Uchiha Clan from being pushed toward rebellion. Fugaku agreed to consider the approach, but argued that the clan could seize control of Konoha with a decapitation strike.

• Madara Uchiha declined the Third Hokage’s offer to join ANBU, explaining that remaining an ordinary ninja would help him influence the Uchiha Clan’s Hardliners.
• The Third Hokage praised Madara’s plan for peacefully bringing the Hardliners back into the village and offered to help with his training.
• Madara returned home and gave Uchiha Fugaku the Third Hokage’s confidential letter, angering Fugaku because it revealed that Madara had shared the clan’s internal information.
• Madara told Fugaku that he stood with the Uchiha Clan and argued that direct communication with Hiruzen Sarutobi was necessary to counter Shimura Danzō and Root’s influence.
• Fugaku agreed that Root should not mediate between the clan and Konoha, then claimed the Uchiha could take control through a sudden decapitation strike.

Madara Uchiha convinced Uchiha Fugaku that rebellion or abandoning Konoha would doom the clan, and helped him write a peaceful reply to the Third Hokage. After the Hokage read the letter and grew suspicious of Danzo, Madara faced a challenge from the Hardliners.

• Madara questioned whether the Uchiha could win a rebellion, govern afterward, or survive without Konoha's protection, leaving Fugaku speechless.
• Fugaku abandoned his rebellious intentions and, with Madara's guidance, wrote the Third Hokage a letter offering peaceful cooperation as an equal.
• The Third Hokage read Fugaku's letter, suspected Danzo had falsely accused him, and worried that Root had grown too powerful to control.
• The Hardliners sent Uchiha Kaede, their strongest chunin, to challenge Madara and test whether he supported peace or war.
• Madara accepted Kaede's challenge and led him to the Training Ground where he had arranged to meet Shisui.

Madara Uchiha overwhelmed Uchiha Kaede in a sparring match while Shisui Uchiha helped establish Madara’s reputation among the clan’s hardliners. More than a year later, Team One returned to Konoha and learned that a delegation from Kumogakure, including Raikō Tarō, was coming for a friendly exchange.

• Madara Uchiha tested Shisui Uchiha with Majestic Destroyer Flame, and Shisui and Uchiha Kaede barely countered it together.
• Uchiha Kaede surrendered, and Madara Uchiha invited the Uchiha Clan to challenge him while Shisui declared himself weaker than Madara.
• Shisui Uchiha told Madara Uchiha he was on his side, helping raise Madara’s standing within the clan.
• More than a year later, Team One returned from a mission and found Konoha decorated to welcome visitors from Kumogakure.
• A gate guard told Kazuhiko Sarutobi that the Kumogakure delegation included the respected Raikō Tarō, and Hayato Hyuga asked Madara Uchiha to spar with him.

Madara trained Sasuke alongside Hayato and agreed to help him confront Kumogakure in the future. The chapter revealed that Kumogakure’s leader had tried to abduct Hinata, and Sasuke worried about Hayato as the village faced the visitors’ threats.

• Madara trained Sasuke while Hayato practiced nearby and complained about Kumogakure’s arrogance in Konoha.
• Madara agreed with Hayato’s plan to challenge Kumogakure someday, angered by the village’s humiliation.
• Fugaku returned home and told his family that Raikō Tarō had tried to abduct Hinata but was killed by Hiashi.
• Fugaku explained that Kumogakure demanded Hiashi’s body and threatened to end the alliance and start a war.
• Sasuke asked whether Hayato would be all right.

After the Hyuga Clan sacrificed Hizashi Hyuga to protect Hiashi from Kumogakure, Hayato Hyuga lost faith in the Main Family. Madara Uchiha offered to free Hayato from their control by taking control of his Caged Bird Seal himself.

• Uchiha Fugaku left to organize security as Kumogakure demanded an answer from Konoha.
• Konoha and the Hyuga Clan handed Kumogakure a body identified as Hyuga Hiashi's, but Madara suspected it was actually Hizashi Hyuga's.
• Sasuke gave Madara candy to share with Hayato, who arrived at the Training Ground grieving.
• Hayato told Madara that the Hyuga Main Family had sacrificed Hizashi and said he saw no reason to keep training for them.
• Madara asked Hayato to put his life on the line for him and offered to transfer control of Hayato's Caged Bird Seal from the Main Family to himself.

Madara Uchiha offered Hayato Hyuga justice for Hizashi's death and promised to abolish the Hyuga Main Family's Caged Bird Seal if he became Hokage. Hayato pledged himself to Madara, who replaced the seal in Hayato's brain, and Hayato asked him to help Neji Hyuga as well.

• Madara Uchiha promised to pursue justice for Hizashi Hyuga and free the Hyuga Branch Family from the Caged Bird Seal if Hayato Hyuga served him.
• Hayato Hyuga knelt before Madara, revealed his Caged Bird Seal, and agreed to serve him.
• Madara replaced the seal in Hayato's brain with his own, removing its restrictions on Hayato's Byakugan while warning him not to betray their secret.
• Hayato tested his Byakugan and found that his vision and perception had improved without the seal's restrictions.
• Hayato asked to bring Neji Hyuga to train with him and Sasuke, and requested that Madara help Neji remove his Caged Bird Seal in the future.

Madara Uchiha resolved to unite the Shinobi World by gathering followers and building a lasting path for future generations. At the Uchiha Clan's Training Ground, Neji Hyuga met Sasuke Uchiha, lost to him repeatedly in shuriken practice, and prepared to test his taijutsu.

• Madara Uchiha reflected on his past failure and decided to pursue peace by uniting the world and inspiring successors to follow his path.
• Hayato Hyuga brought Neji Hyuga, who had recently lost his father, to train at the Uchiha Clan's Training Ground.
• Sasuke Uchiha welcomed Neji with candy, but Neji said he had come to get stronger rather than play.
• Hayato Hyuga arranged a shuriken match, and Sasuke repeatedly hit Neji despite Neji's attempts to close the distance.
• After eight defeats, Neji acknowledged Sasuke's skill, and Hayato suggested they compete in taijutsu.

After Sasuke defeated Neji in a spar, Madara judged Neji talented enough to enter the Training Ground. Team One then received an A-rank mission to escort Shinhiko Kōzuki, while Danzo secretly ordered Sōsuke Aburame to kill Shinhiko and his teammate Uchiha Itachi if he got the chance.

• Sasuke defeated Neji in a spar, and Hayato encouraged Neji while explaining Sasuke’s talent and advantages.
• Madara assessed Neji as better than Hayato and accepted him into the Training Ground.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi briefed Team One on its A-rank mission to escort Shinhiko Kōzuki from the capital to his fief.
• Hayato questioned the mission’s political risks, and Kazuhiko explained that Shinhiko trusted his samurai and might want Konoha shinobi to deter assassins.
• Danzo ordered Sōsuke Aburame to kill Shinhiko and Uchiha Itachi if the opportunity arose, and Sōsuke agreed.

Madara Uchiha met with Hiruzen Sarutobi before departing to protect Shinhiko Kōzuki, explaining why the mission and preventing war mattered. Hiruzen revealed that he hoped Madara might someday reconcile the Uchiha Clan with Konoha, and urged Kazuhiko Sarutobi to keep him safe.

• Madara Uchiha told his family he would be away for half a month, packed, and left with Kazuhiko Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Madara about Shinhiko Kōzuki and the mission, and Madara argued that war was unwise and that Konoha had to protect its client.
• Madara explained that Shinhiko’s death could provoke the Land of Fire’s Hardliners and bring another war, so he must survive the journey.
• Hiruzen praised Madara after he left, then told Kazuhiko that he hoped Madara could one day become Hokage and reconcile the Uchiha with Konoha.
• Hiruzen warned Kazuhiko that the mission was dangerous and asked him to protect Madara, as Danzo was secretly making plans.

Kazuhiko Sarutobi and Team One reached the capital of the Land of Fire to escort Shinhiko Kōzuki home after he was expelled from Kyoto. Shinhiko questioned the young team's ability, then recognized Madara Uchiha as a descendant of his family's longtime Uchiha allies.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi arrived late, then led Hayato Hyuga, Sōsuke Aburame, and Madara Uchiha to the capital in a day and a half.
• Kazuhiko presented the mission documents at Shinhiko Kōzuki's estate, where samurai inspected the team and made them surrender their ninja tools.
• Hayato complained about the gatekeeper's arrogance, and Kazuhiko explained the samurai's higher status in the Land of Fire.
• The team saw the lavish estate and met Shinhiko, who mocked Konoha for sending children to protect him.
• Kazuhiko introduced his team and explained that Madara was an eight-year-old Uchiha Chunin, prompting Shinhiko to recall his family's longstanding partnership with the Uchiha Clan.

Madara Uchiha and his companions were kept in a luxurious courtyard before setting out with Shinhiko Kōzuki, who revealed that Konoha alone had accepted his protection mission. On the road, a Samurai threatened Madara and Hayato Hyuga, prompting Madara to strike back and Kazuhiko Sarutobi to warn the guards to treat the ninja with respect.

• Madara Uchiha and the others waited under restriction in Shinhiko Kōzuki's estate and were later escorted to the rear gate.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki departed Kyoto in a lavish procession and told Madara Uchiha's group that only Konoha had accepted his protection mission.
• Hayato Hyuga used his Byakugan to scout the road as the procession traveled beyond Kyoto.
• A Samurai ordered Madara Uchiha to entertain Shinhiko Kōzuki and threatened to behead him if he displeased the lord.
• Hayato Hyuga tried to take Madara's place, but the Samurai swung at him and Madara caught the blow and kicked the man back.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned the Samurai that the ninja could kill them if their conduct interfered with the mission.

Madara Uchiha clashed with Shinhiko Kōzuki’s samurai before Shinhiko stopped the confrontation and spoke privately with Madara. Shinhiko explained how he had inferred the Uchiha Clan’s growing ties to the Hokage, leaving Madara reconsidering his understanding of power and governance while believing he still had time to start over.

• Madara Uchiha struck a samurai, and Kazuhiko Sarutobi used his killing intent to make the samurai take the ninjas seriously.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki stopped the confrontation, ordered the group to rest for half a day, and invited Madara into his palanquin.
• Shinhiko told Madara that the Third Hokage had favored the Uchiha Clan with easy, high-paying missions, revealing that he had inferred their secret alliance from Konoha’s records.
• Madara asked how Shinhiko knew about the alliance and why he still advocated war, and Shinhiko explained that actions and mission assignments exposed the Hokage’s trust.
• Madara recalled Hashirama’s warning that killing the Daimyo would not equip them to govern the Land of Fire, then set aside his pride and considered Shinhiko’s advice as he resolved that he still had time to start over.

Shinhiko Kōzuki discussed the responsibilities of leadership with Madara Uchiha, whose reflection on his past changed how he viewed his clan’s refusal to follow him. Madara declined to become Shinhiko’s Samurai guard or move the Uchiha Clan, but agreed to serve as his subordinate while planning for the Hokage position.

• Shinhiko Kōzuki used a parable about a weak man with great wealth to explain why the Land of Fire needed to project strength, and Madara Uchiha correctly inferred his political motives.
• Shinhiko told Madara that he could not abandon his pro-war followers by suddenly advocating peace, prompting Madara to realize that he had betrayed his clan by trying to lead them out of Konoha for selfish reasons.
• Madara regretted defecting from Konoha and thanked Shinhiko for his guidance.
• Shinhiko offered Madara a position as his Samurai guard and proposed giving the Uchiha Clan a fief, but Madara declined both offers.
• Madara agreed to become Shinhiko’s trusted subordinate and said he would make plans to become Hokage, satisfying Shinhiko.

Shinhiko Kōzuki’s escort entered an ambush set by Iwagakure ANBU, who aimed to kill him over his call for war against the Land of Earth. Shinhiko’s palanquin and escort withstood the opening attacks, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi led a pursuit of the attackers.

• Shinhiko Kōzuki let Madara Uchiha stay by his side, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi took command of the escort.
• Six Iwagakure ANBU prepared traps and a coordinated attack, intending to assassinate Shinhiko on his return home.
• The ANBU triggered a barrage of mechanical crossbow bolts, opened concealed trenches, and sent two masked ninja toward Shinhiko’s palanquin.
• Shinhiko raised protective panels around the palanquin, and the Samurai knocked down the two attackers who charged it.
• Hayato Hyuga detected the other attackers, and Kazuhiko led Hayato, Sōsuke Aburame, and four Samurai in pursuit.

Kazuhiko Sarutobi and his companions were trapped by Iwagakure ninja while Madara Uchiha saved Shinhiko Kōzuki from assassins. After sensing a powerful chakra, Madara carried Shinhiko into the woods as a tremendous gale devastated the Samurai and their palanquin.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi realized the fleeing Iwagakure ninja were splitting the group, but Sōsuke Aburame’s hesitation gave them time to trap the pursuers in an Earth Prison Cage.
• Hayato Hyuga and the dual-sword samurai tried to break the cage as the Iwagakure ninja attacked, but Sōsuke Aburame escaped the stone pillars with an Insect Clone.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi urged his companions to fight without holding back, and the Samurai charged the four Iwagakure ninja.
• Madara Uchiha used his Sharingan to stop two Iwagakure ninja from detonating their explosive tags, then beheaded them.
• Madara Uchiha sensed powerful chakra, took Shinhiko Kōzuki from the palanquin, and ran into the woods as a tremendous gale hurled Samurai away and wrecked the palanquin.

Madara Uchiha chose to fight alongside Shinhiko Kōzuki after Sunagakure and Iwagakure ambushed them, and he rushed to attack the enemy forces. As Sunagakure’s team approached Shinhiko, a massive Fire Release came at them from the side.

• Madara Uchiha recovered from the Wind Release attack and recognized that Sunagakure ninja were involved.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki drew Futsu-no-Mitama, revealed his battle-ready resolve, and asked Madara Uchiha to fight beside him.
• Madara Uchiha rejected Shinhiko Kōzuki’s offer of a letter for his family and vowed that Shinhiko would not die.
• Madara Uchiha activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, located the attackers, and vanished into the woods.
• The chapter revealed that four Sunagakure ninja and six Iwagakure ninja had coordinated an assassination attempt on Shinhiko Kōzuki.
• Arakawa Kiba led the Sunagakure team toward Shinhiko Kōzuki, but an enormous Fire Release attack swept toward them.

Madara Uchiha used the Majestic Destroyer Flame as a feint to split the Sunagakure team, then killed two pursuers and pressed toward the Tengu Mask ninja. Arakawa Kiba’s Vacuum Blade struck Madara’s deep-blue Susanoo and propelled him forward without harming him.

• Arakawa Kiba ordered his teammates to regroup, but Madara Uchiha’s follow-up attacks blocked their paths and exposed the flames as a diversion.
• Kazeya Fūya hid behind a boulder and used Wind Release: Cyclone to disperse the flames, but Madara Uchiha emerged from them and beheaded him.
• Madara Uchiha killed a fleeing female Sunagakure ninja by throwing a short sword through her heart.
• Arakawa Kiba and the Tengu Mask ninja attacked Madara Uchiha, but Madara dodged the Wind Blades and pursued the masked ninja.
• Arakawa Kiba’s Vacuum Blade hit Madara Uchiha’s deep-blue Susanoo, which remained unharmed and propelled Madara forward.

Madara Uchiha killed Arakawa Kiba and the rest of the Sunagakure team through a series of clones, surprise attacks, and Tsukuyomi. He hurried back to Shinhiko Kōzuki, who listened to the distant battle and thought Madara reminded him of his younger self.

• Madara Uchiha used a Shadow Clone and a subordinate’s corpse to evade Arakawa Kiba’s strike, then attacked him with shuriken and ninjutsu.
• Madara Uchiha impaled Arakawa Kiba’s Sand Clone and unleashed Dragon Fire Technique, forcing the real Arakawa Kiba into hiding.
• Arakawa Kiba attacked Madara Uchiha with Vacuum Wind Blade, but it passed through a decoy created with Clone Technique.
• Madara Uchiha emerged from the flames with a skeletal Susanoo, used Tsukuyomi, and killed Arakawa Kiba, wiping out the four-man Sunagakure team.
• Madara Uchiha rushed back toward Shinhiko Kōzuki, who heard the distant battle and compared Madara to his younger self.

Madara Uchiha and Shinhiko Kōzuki faced a third wave of assassins together, with Madara engaging the Bear Mask ninja while Shinhiko fought the Fox Mask and Demon Mask ninjas. Shinhiko’s famed Futsu-no-Mitama broke the Demon Mask ninja’s sword and wounded him, while the other fights continued.

• Madara Uchiha returned after killing four enemies and knocked away weapons aimed at Shinhiko Kōzuki.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki and Madara Uchiha stood back to back as three masked assassins confronted them.
• Madara Uchiha charged the Bear Mask ninja, whose Greatsword stopped his attack and sent him flying into the trees.
• Madara Uchiha used the trees to launch repeated attacks, keeping the Bear Mask ninja occupied as the man blocked them all.
• The Fox Mask ninja attacked Shinhiko Kōzuki with Shuriken and hidden threads while the Demon Mask ninja charged him.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki used Futsu-no-Mitama to cut apart the Fox Mask ninja’s weapons, then broke the Demon Mask ninja’s sword and slashed his armor.

Shinhiko Kōzuki fought Root, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure assassins while condemning Danzo for plotting against him. Elsewhere, Hayato Hyuga prepared to risk everything to break through Iwagakure’s defenses and reach Shinhiko and the others.

• Shinhiko Kōzuki accused Danzo of pursuing selfish schemes, but a Root ninja defended Danzo and attacked with a Water Dragon Bullet.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki split the water dragon with Futsu-no-Mitama, then cleaved the Fox Mask ninja’s Shadow Windmill Shuriken in two.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s Earth Dragon Bullet clashed with the Demon Mask ninja’s matching technique, while Iwagakure ninja trapped Hayato Hyuga and four twin-blade ninja behind earthen walls and Rock Pillar attacks.
• Hayato Hyuga told Kazuhiko Sarutobi he would use his strongest technique to break through, and Kazuhiko ordered him to proceed despite the danger.

Hayato Hyuga used his unfinished Moving Rotation to break through Iwagakure’s defenses, combining his attack with Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s Earth Dragon Flame Flow to blast four enemies out of the arena. Though badly spent and thrown through the air, Hayato urged the samurai to help Lord Shinhiko and Uchiha Itachi escape before the enemies returned.

• Hayato Hyuga activated his chakra-intensive Moving Rotation and tore through Iwagakure’s layered Earth-Style Walls.
• The Iwagakure ninja raised a reinforced Earth Prison while Kazuhiko Sarutobi launched Earth Dragon Flame Flow at them and Hayato.
• Hayato converted all his chakra into a final thrust, and his attack combined with Kazuhiko’s technique to blast the earth prison out of the arena.
• The dual-sword samurai caught Hayato as he flew toward them and recognized his courage and strength.
• Hayato told the samurai to help Lord Shinhiko and Uchiha Itachi escape before the four Iwagakure ninja returned.

Kazuhiko Sarutobi and the Dual-Blade Samurai turned back to rescue Shinhiko Kōzuki while the Iwagakure team chose to follow at a distance. On the battlefield, Madara Uchiha switched Shinhiko’s opponent and used the Root ninja’s own trap against them, leaving the Gray-Haired Ninja bound by silver threads.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi led three Dual-Blade Samurai back toward Shinhiko Kōzuki while another Samurai carried the immobilized Hayato to safety.
• The Iwagakure captain decided to trail the others and wait for Sunagakure and Root to clash before choosing whether to attack or retreat.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki fought off Root’s Ponytailed Ninja and Gray-Haired Ninja while Madara Uchiha faced the ninja in the Bear Mask.
• Madara Uchiha pulled Shinhiko Kōzuki into a clash with the Bear Mask ninja, then drew the Root ninja’s prepared trap toward himself.
• Madara Uchiha’s shuriken disrupted the trap, and silver threads bound the Gray-Haired Ninja as the Fox Mask ninja screamed.

Madara Uchiha helped Shinhiko Kōzuki defeat the Root ninja, then admitted he had prolonged Shinhiko’s duel to recover chakra. When a black mist swallowed a signal flare and frightened the arriving samurai, Shinhiko stood firm and called on Madara to face the danger with him.

• Madara Uchiha turned the two Root ninja’s wire trap against them, killing them with their own setup.
• Madara tugged a wire to stop the Bear Mask ninja from escaping, and Shinhiko Kōzuki beheaded him.
• Shinhiko thanked Madara for letting him enjoy the fight, but Madara said he had only been recovering chakra.
• Shinhiko’s samurai arrived, and he ordered them to fire a signal flare and gather everyone.
• A black mist swallowed the flare and terrified nearby samurai, so Shinhiko rallied his subordinates and called on Itachi to stand with him.

Madara Uchiha protected Shinhiko Kōzuki and his samurai from waves of deadly insects deployed by the Aburame Clan. As Sōsuke Aburame summoned even more dangerous insects, the battle remained unresolved.

• Madara Uchiha pinned a Bloodsucking Worm to a tree and recognized the Aburame Clan’s insect attack.
• Bloodsucking Worms rained down on Shinhiko Kōzuki and his samurai, but Madara Uchiha cut them apart with a net of steel wire.
• Bloodsucking Mosquitoes and chakra-absorbing kikaichū surrounded the group, frightening Shinhiko Kōzuki and his samurai.
• Sōsuke Aburame, weakened from controlling the swarm, pierced his palm and used his blood to summon Poison Scorpions and flesh-burrowing beetles.