Recaps

Madara Uchiha and Guy infiltrated the Land of Lightning's Capital to assassinate Tanaka Qinghai while evading Root pursuers. After Madara revealed he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, they discovered that six Root agents had entered the city, apparently with Kumogakure's cooperation.

• Madara Uchiha and Guy traveled to the Land of Lightning and found its Capital's gates guarded by sensory shinobi who could expose their disguises.
• Madara concluded that Shimura Danzō had leaked their mission and sent Root agents to kill him, but Guy chose to stay and complete the mission with him.
• Madara placed a kunai bearing his technique formula with a group of merchants and later used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Guy into the Capital.
• Madara told Guy that six pursuers had entered the Capital, and Guy realized Root and Kumogakure might be working together against Madara.
• Guy decided that if Root had joined the enemy to target Madara, the Root pursuers had crossed his line and become people he could kill.

Madara and Guy investigated Tanaka Qinghai’s defenses, then launched a frontal assault after Madara learned that Raikō Shōta was protecting him. The attack left the Kumogakure defenders confident behind their Thunder God Shield, while Madara appeared before it with Futsu-no-Mitama in hand.

• Madara and Guy located Tanaka Qinghai’s residence and learned he had stayed inside while the city was under watch.
• Madara captured and interrogated a Kumogakure Chunin, discovering that Raikō Shōta led the estate’s defenses alongside two Jōnin and ten Chunin.
• Madara and Guy decided to attack Tanaka Qinghai’s estate despite learning that Raikō Shōta had shared intelligence for the sake of the Land of Lightning.
• Madara engulfed the estate in Majestic Destroyer Flame, but the Kumogakure ninjas protected Tanaka Qinghai with the Thunder God Shield.
• Guy knocked down Raikō Shōta and Tsukiyo Kage, while Madara’s Dragon Flame Song Technique failed to break the shield.
• Madara appeared before the Thunder God Shield with Futsu-no-Mitama as the fire dragons vanished.

Madara Uchiha used the Flying Thunder God Technique, Susanoo, and genjutsu to break the Thunder God Shield and kill Tanaka Qinghai. He and Might Guy escaped the Capital of the Land of Lightning, leaving Raikō Shōta and Tsukiyo Kage debating how Madara had reached the shield.

• Madara Uchiha teleported to the Thunder God Shield with the Flying Thunder God Technique and resisted its lightning behind Susanoo.
• Madara trapped the Kumogakure ninja in genjutsu, causing them to attack each other, while Tanaka Qinghai's panicked assault shattered the barrier.
• Madara killed Tanaka Qinghai as Might Guy kicked Raikō Shōta through several walls.
• Madara told Might Guy to withdraw, and Guy opened the Gate of Pain before carrying Madara out of the Capital at high speed.
• Tsukiyo Kage and Raikō Shōta concluded that they could not catch the pair, and Raikō Shōta questioned how Madara had reached the shield.

Yamanaka Fū’s Root squad ambushed Madara Uchiha and Might Guy in the mountains, but Madara killed Fū before the squad could trap them. Madara and Guy then began hunting the remaining Root ninja, and Fū reappeared injured as his teammates prepared to confront them.

• Yamanaka Fū detected Madara Uchiha and Might Guy leaving the Capital of the Land of Lightning and ordered his squad to raise a barrier.
• Madara had Guy hurl him toward Fū, then killed Fū before the other Root ninja completed the barrier.
• Madara used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Guy, and they agreed to compete over who could kill more Root ninja.
• Madara located the remaining Root ninja, and he and Guy began hunting them through the darkness.
• A female Root ninja suggested that Akimichi Dingdon look for Fū, but Fū appeared injured and urged them to attack Guy.

Madara Uchiha and Guy worked together to defeat all six Root operatives pursuing them. They escaped before the Kumogakure shinobi arrived, leaving Raikō Shōta and Tsukiyo Kage to inspect the aftermath.

• Akimichi Dingdon and Kana Aburame attacked Madara Uchiha, but Madara used the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill Kana and then killed Dingdon with Susanoo.
• Madara teleported to Guy and found him exhausted beside three defeated Root operatives.
• Guy called their result a draw, since he and Madara had each helped kill three Root operatives.
• Madara teleported away with Guy after learning he could barely move and that Kumogakure's forces might catch up.
• Raikō Shōta and Tsukiyo Kage arrived too late and concluded that the two assassins were stronger than they had expected.

Madara Uchiha carried the badly injured Guy back to Konoha after they killed Tanaka Qinghai, where Guy endorsed Madara for Jōnin promotion. Madara then reported that Root had targeted him during the mission, leaving the Third Hokage and the Senior Advisors to confront the possibility that Root had coordinated with Kumogakure.

• Madara carried Guy away from the Land of Lightning and used counter-tracking tactics to evade any Kumogakure pursuit while Guy recovered.
• Madara and Guy returned secretly to Konoha, and Madara brought Guy to the Third Hokage's office.
• Utatane Koharu praised Madara's completion of four consecutive S-rank missions and noted that Shinhiko Kōzuki's subordinates had doubled Konoha's supplies.
• Guy vouched for Madara's strength and abilities, saying he deserved promotion to Jōnin.
• Madara reported that six Root members had followed them, entered the Land of Lightning's capital, and ambushed them after Tanaka Qinghai's death; he said they had killed all six.
• Utatane Koharu asked whether Root had coordinated with Kumogakure's ninja to kill Madara, shocking the Third Hokage and Mitokado Homura.

Madara Uchiha advised the Third Hokage to disband Root and bring Danzo into the open, then revealed that he and Guy had killed Root’s Five-Man Squad. The Third Hokage moved to confront Danzo at Root’s base, while Danzo planned to use Shisui Uchiha’s Kotoamatsukami against Madara and the Uchiha Clan.

• Madara Uchiha recommended disbanding Root, transferring its members to ANBU, and making Danzo a senior advisor.
• Guy told the Third Hokage that he and Madara had killed Root’s Five-Man Squad, including Yamanaka Fū.
• The Third Hokage gathered Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Guy, Kakashi, Uchiha Fugaku, and ANBU to move against Root.
• Danzo wondered whether his missing operatives had been killed and grew suspicious of Madara’s rise.
• Danzo planned to seize Shisui Uchiha’s eyes and use Kotoamatsukami to make Madara slaughter the Uchiha Clan.

The Third Hokage led a force into Root Base, defeated Danzo’s attempt to seize power, and stripped him of his authority. He placed Root under Uchiha Itachi and the Uchiha Clan’s supervision, leaving Madara impressed by his political skill.

• The Third Hokage opened Root’s Sensory Barrier, and his forces swept through the base while he headed for the command center with Madara and the senior advisors.
• The Third Hokage confronted Danzo, who realized his political ambitions were over and admitted that his assassins had failed to kill Madara.
• Uchiha Fugaku accused Danzo of plotting against his son, and the Third Hokage restricted Danzo from using ninjutsu and ordered him to surrender Root.
• Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan demanded that Danzo face harsher consequences, so the Third Hokage placed Root and its duties under Uchiha Itachi and the clan’s supervision.
• Madara recognized that the Third Hokage had maneuvered Danzo out of power while appearing lenient, and reflected that Hiruzen Sarutobi was no simple man.

Madara Uchiha presented the Third Hokage with a plan to dismantle Root’s brutal system and protect its child recruits, which Hiruzen approved. Madara then asked to open the Uchiha Police Force to recruits from other villagers, leaving the Third Hokage smiling at the clan’s request.

• Three days after the Third Hokage stripped Danzo of his power, Madara Uchiha and the Uchiha Clan completed their takeover of Root.
• On his tenth birthday, Madara submitted reforms to abolish Root’s training methods and Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and bring its orphans into Konoha’s shinobi system.
• The Third Hokage questioned whether Madara had consulted Fugaku, and Madara said he had persuaded his father to approve the plan.
• Madara argued that Konoha’s children should grow up safely instead of being turned into tools, and the Third Hokage approved abolishing Root.
• Madara asked the Third Hokage to relax the Police Force’s recruitment requirements so the Uchiha Clan could recruit other villagers.

Madara Uchiha secured the Third Hokage’s approval for the Uchiha Clan to recruit outsiders into the Police Force and earned promotion to jōShinobi. Years later, he accompanied Sasuke and Naruto to their Ninja Academy enrollment, where their friends stood by Naruto despite the villagers’ whispers.

• Madara Uchiha explained that the Uchiha Clan needed more people to absorb Root, care for its orphans, and patrol its former territory, making it the right time to open the Police Force to outsiders.
• The Third Hokage approved the Uchiha Clan’s recruitment plans, arranged follow-up for Root’s orphans, and confirmed Madara Uchiha’s promotion to jōShinobi.
• Madara Uchiha watched Sasuke and Naruto grow up safely and later joined Fugaku and Mikoto in taking them to their Ninja Academy enrollment ceremony.
• Naruto complained about having to attend the Academy, and Sasuke asked Madara Uchiha to become their jōShinobi instructor after they graduated.
• At the Academy entrance, the families of Ino-Shika-Cho met Sasuke and Naruto, while villagers whispered about Naruto as the Nine-Tailed Fox.
• Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji Akimichi, and Ino stood beside Naruto when the whispers upset him.

Nearly a year after becoming a Jōnin, Madara Uchiha sensed Obito’s return to Konoha and went to meet him. Obito tried to recruit Madara, unaware that the boy was the real Madara, and the chapter ended with Madara silently watching him.

• Nearly a year passed as Madara built his standing in Konoha and raised Naruto and Sasuke.
• Madara sensed Obito had entered Konoha and told Sasuke to stay home while he went to meet him.
• Obito planned to exploit outdated intelligence about conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, not knowing Root had ceased to exist and the village and clan were on good terms.
• Madara waited in the woods and posed as Uchiha Itachi, questioning Obito about his presence in the village.
• Obito claimed to be Madara Uchiha and urged Madara to join him, promising to lead the Uchiha Clan back to glory.

Madara Uchiha confronted Obito Uchiha when he infiltrated Konoha, repelled him, and persuaded him that the village had detected his presence. Obito withdrew to avoid exposing his abilities, while Madara returned to training Neji Hyuga.

• Madara Uchiha rejected Obito's offer and fought him, testing his Kamui with attacks that Obito phased through.
• Madara used genjutsu to make Obito strike a fiery illusion, then revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and warned him that Konoha had been alerted.
• Obito escaped Konoha and, fearing his identity and abilities would be exposed, decided it was too early to attack openly.
• Madara gathered his Flying Thunder God Technique kunai and reported an outside Uchiha possibly responsible for the Nine-Tails' Attack to Uchiha Fugaku and the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage and Uchiha Fugaku increased the Police Force's patrols, prompting Obito to withdraw from the area.
• Madara confirmed Obito had gone far away and resumed correcting Neji Hyuga's palm-strike posture.

Kazuhiko Sarutobi told Madara Uchiha that he suspected Madara had ambitions beyond becoming Hokage, then pledged loyalty to him in exchange for a future free from being used by others. After Kazuhiko left to serve as one of the Daimyo's Guardian Ninja, Madara resolved more firmly to end the system that made shinobi tools of the great nations.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi told Madara Uchiha he was leaving Konoha to become one of the Daimyo's Guardian Ninja and asked whether Madara had anything to say.
• Kazuhiko explained that Madara's prolonged missions abroad seemed intended to gather intelligence, and said he longed for a peaceful life away from shinobi service.
• Kazuhiko pledged loyalty to Madara, explaining that the Third Hokage treated him as a tool and had sent him away to bring Asuma Sarutobi back to Konoha.
• Kazuhiko voluntarily accepted a Cursed Seal from Madara so he could not reveal Madara's secrets, and agreed to gather intelligence in the Land of Fire's capital.
• Kazuhiko departed, and Madara reflected on how shinobi were used by the great nations, strengthening his resolve to abolish the shinobi system.

Madara began Team 7’s genin graduation assessment, explaining that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had to take three bells from him before six in the evening. The test started with the three students launching into their attack on Madara.

• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno arrived at the classroom and learned that Madara would be their jōnin instructor.
• Madara told Team 7 that the survival exercise was their graduation assessment and that anyone who failed would return to the Ninja Academy.
• Madara led Team 7 to the Training Ground and set the task of taking three bells from him before six in the evening.
• Naruto and Sasuke eagerly prepared to fight Madara, while Sakura worried about attacking their teacher with real weapons.
• Madara called the start of the assessment, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura immediately disappeared from his sight.

Sasuke and Naruto tested their teamwork against Madara Uchiha, while Sakura watched and confronted how far behind them she was. After Madara used genjutsu to frighten her, Sakura broke free and joined the fight.

• Sasuke and Naruto launched a coordinated shuriken attack and followed it with clones, taijutsu, and ninjutsu against Madara.
• Madara escaped their shuriken barrage and countered their attacks, while praising their coordination as they kept him occupied.
• Sakura watched from the shadows and doubted her place on the team after seeing how strong Sasuke and Naruto were.
• Madara appeared beside Sakura and trapped her in a genjutsu that made her see Sasuke and Naruto lying dead.
• Sasuke and Naruto warned Sakura that the scene was genjutsu and explained that they were all using the Shadow Clone Technique.
• Sakura broke free, found the courage to fight alongside Sasuke and Naruto, and charged at Madara.

Madara Uchiha passed Team 7’s test after they attacked him together, then supported their request for harder missions outside the village. The Third Hokage assigned them a C-rank protection mission, and they met their drunken client, who doubted they were capable of guarding him.

• Madara Uchiha declared Team 7 had passed after Sakura joined Naruto and Sasuke in attacking him.
• Sakura asked Madara to teach her, but he told her to learn the basics from Naruto.
• Naruto asked the Third Hokage for more difficult missions, and Madara supported sending Team 7 on C-rank missions outside the village.
• The Third Hokage assigned Team 7 a C-rank bodyguard mission after Naruto pressed for a harder assignment.
• Team 7 met a drunk, graying man with glasses and a liquor bottle, who insulted them and questioned their ability as ninjas.

Madara defended Naruto from Tazuna’s insults and recalled how he had once protected Naruto from a Uchiha clansman who bullied him. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Madara, and Tazuna then left Konoha to begin the escort mission.

• Naruto reacted angrily when Tazuna insulted him, but Madara stopped him and demanded that Tazuna respect his subordinates.
• Madara remembered punishing a Uchiha clansman who had injured Naruto and making him apologize; Naruto forgave the man.
• Madara told Naruto that he was family and one of his people, and the clan members stopped physically bullying him.
• The Third Hokage warned Tazuna not to belittle Madara’s subordinates and said Madara would keep him safe.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Madara, and Tazuna left Konoha, with Naruto chatting excitedly as they traveled.

Madara Uchiha’s team discovered that their mission to protect Tazuna involved Kirigakure ninja hired by Gato, and Tazuna confessed why he was being hunted. Madara became interested in meeting the missing-nin Zabuza Momochi and considered how Gato’s influence might benefit him.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto defeated two Kirigakure chunin who ambushed Madara Uchiha’s group, while Madara questioned Tazuna about the real target.
• Madara used genjutsu to learn that the chunin had deserted the Bloody Mist Village and were hired by Gato to kill Tazuna alongside Zabuza Momochi.
• Madara killed the two chunin, caught up with Sasuke and the others, and continued with them toward the Land of Waves.
• Tazuna confessed that Gato wanted to control the Land of Waves’ maritime trade and had hired ninja to stop the bridge from being completed.
• Tazuna pleaded with the team to continue protecting him, unaware that Madara was more dangerous than Gato and was considering controlling Gato for his money.

Madara agreed to protect Tazuna and confronted Zabuza on the road to Tazuna’s home in the Land of Waves. After exposing Zabuza’s Water Clones with his Sharingan, Madara faced the real Zabuza’s charge with a pale golden blade.

• Madara agreed to protect Tazuna, and Naruto teased Sakura that Teacher Itachi was kindhearted.
• On the way to Tazuna’s house, Madara sensed Zabuza approaching and caught the Kubikiribōchō he hurled at the group.
• Madara returned the Greatsword and challenged Zabuza, who answered by using the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Madara’s chakra cleared the mist, and he struck down Zabuza’s Water Clones while revealing his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Zabuza charged Madara with his Greatsword, and Madara drew a pale golden blade and slashed back.

Madara defeated Zabuza and stopped Haku from killing him, then sent Sasuke and Naruto to fight the masked intruder while Sakura protected Tazuna. Sasuke awakened his Sharingan during Haku’s ice-mirror attack and turned the fight around, leaving Haku on the defensive.

• Madara overpowered Zabuza with his sword and ninjutsu, then pinned him down with kunai.
• Haku appeared and tried to kill Zabuza, but Madara deflected his senbon and ordered Sasuke and Naruto to fight him while Sakura guarded Tazuna.
• Haku trapped Sasuke and Naruto in Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and targeted Naruto with a barrage of senbon.
• Sasuke awakened his Sharingan, tracked Haku between the mirrors, and struck him with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Sasuke stopped Haku from retreating into the mirrors and forced him into close combat.

Sasuke and Naruto defeated Haku, allowing Madara to make Zabuza submit and leave them tied up. Madara’s personal guards then confronted Zabuza, and their leader easily defeated him before Madara returned.

• Sasuke and Naruto teamed up to subdue Haku and dispel his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
• Madara told Naruto and the others that he had reached an agreement with Zabuza, then had them tie Zabuza and Haku to trees before leaving.
• Three masked ANBU appeared and freed Zabuza, while their leader challenged him to a fight.
• Zabuza attacked Madara’s guard leader with his great sword, but the guard defeated him despite Zabuza’s injuries.
• Madara returned to find Zabuza beaten, and his guards knelt before him as Zabuza reconsidered the possibility of killing the Mizukage.

Madara Uchiha spared Zabuza and sent him to deal with Gato, then used the captured tycoon’s information to arrange a takeover of his company. The chapter ended with Zabuza questioning Madara’s decision to divide his forces when they were already short-handed.

• Zabuza led Madara, Ajin, and the others to Gato’s villa in the Land of Waves.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique to attack Gato’s villa and killed the guards before bringing Gato to Madara.
• Madara used his Sharingan to extract information about Gato’s business and ordered his men to have Chinatsu take over the company.
• Madara gave a subordinate Gato’s records and seal, and assigned him and Uchiha Itsuki to guard Chinatsu.
• Zabuza complained that Madara was splitting up his forces instead of taking them to kill the Fourth Mizukage.

Madara, Ajin, and Zabuza entered Kirigakure to assess how to overthrow the Fourth Mizukage without worsening the village’s suffering. Zabuza identified Master Kūkai as the only person he might still trust, and the group arrived at a deserted temple.

• Madara explained that killing the Fourth Mizukage with only their group could leave Kirigakure vulnerable to a struggle for power and war, while Ajin scolded Zabuza for acting alone and told him to follow Itachi as his master.
• Madara left Haku and Kaito hidden outside Kirigakure, while Zabuza led Madara and Ajin through the village’s Sensory Barrier.
• Zabuza described how the Bloody Mist Village’s policies had destroyed trust between its shinobi and left its streets nearly deserted.
• Zabuza said Master Kūkai was probably the only person in Kirigakure he could trust, and led Madara and Ajin to an empty temple.

Madara Uchiha entered a temple to offer help to Kirigakure, where he and his companions confronted Kūkai, Mei Terumi, and Ao. Kūkai sensed that Madara was dangerously powerful and warned himself not to provoke him.

• Madara met Kūkai in the temple and said he had come to help Kirigakure escape its sea of suffering.
• Madara's chakra clashed with a powerful force from behind a guardian statue, and Mei Terumi and Ao emerged alongside Ajin and Zabuza.
• Mei challenged Zabuza, while Madara introduced himself as Uchiha Itachi of Konoha and said he had come to make a deal.
• Zabuza identified Mei as a powerful Kirigakure ninja and Ao as a village leader with a Byakugan taken from the Hyuga Clan's Main Family.
• Ao prepared to attack Madara's group, but Kūkai stopped him and sensed that he must not anger Madara.

Madara Uchiha secured Kirigakure’s agreement to an alliance and then set out with Zabuza and Ajin to confront the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Mei Terumi and Ao followed, and the chapter ended as Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique against Yagura’s guards.

• Madara offered to help Mei Terumi, Ao, and Master Kūkai kill Yagura in exchange for an alliance and Kirigakure’s support once in the future.
• Madara added that Kirigakure should withdraw Zabuza’s wanted notice and allow him and his followers to return openly, and Master Kūkai accepted the conditions.
• Ao began outlining how they would work together, but Madara left with Zabuza and Ajin to attack Yagura immediately.
• Master Kūkai told Mei Terumi and Ao to follow Madara and protect themselves, and they went after the group.
• Ajin led Zabuza and Madara to Yagura on a lake, where Yagura’s guards emerged from the woods.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique to confront Yagura’s guards while Madara faced Yagura.