Chapter Summaries

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.

Madara Uchiha saved Shinhiko Kōzuki and the samurai from Sōsuke Aburame’s insect swarm by using his remaining chakra to create a ring of fire. After the scattered samurai reunited, Madara decided they would stay and wait for their missing companions.

• Sōsuke Aburame surrounded Madara Uchiha, Shinhiko Kōzuki, and the samurai with a swarm of insects.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki urged the samurai to sit close, and Madara asked whether they had ever seen fireworks.
• Madara dropped the Overhead Steel Wire Net and used Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique to burn away the approaching insects.
• Shinhiko and the samurai applauded Madara’s display as the Dual-Blade Samurai returned with news that Sōsuke was missing, Hayato Hyuga was exhausted, and Kazuhiko Sarutobi had gone after the enemy.
• Madara told the group to rest where they were and wait for the others to return.

Sōsuke Aburame died after Kazuhiko Sarutobi found him gravely wounded, and Kazuhiko told the others that Sōsuke had fallen in battle. Later, Kazuhiko revealed to Hayato Hyuga that Sōsuke had been a Root spy and had attacked Uchiha Itachi before Kazuhiko killed him.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi found Sōsuke Aburame being eaten by his insects and killed him, agreeing to report that he had died protecting Shinhiko Kōzuki.
• Hayato Hyuga and the survivors regrouped with Shinhiko Kōzuki while the remaining Iwagakure ninja waited for Sunagakure's team, then withdrew when it never appeared.
• Kazuhiko told Hayato that Sōsuke was dead, and Hayato grieved for his childhood friend.
• Madara Uchiha rebuked Hayato for doubting himself and walked away from the campfire.
• Kazuhiko told Hayato that Sōsuke had been sent by Root to watch Uchiha Itachi, had attacked Itachi with a Forbidden Technique, and had been finished off by Kazuhiko.

Madara and Hayato reconciled before Shinhiko Kōzuki learned that Madara had secretly killed the Sunagakure attackers. After reaching his fief safely, Shinhiko rewarded Madara by giving him the Futsu-no-Mitama sword.

• Hayato apologized to Madara for saying he would die before they fulfilled their dream, and Madara kicked him back into his tent.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki learned that all three Root members and four Sunagakure ninja had died, while four Iwagakure ninja had escaped.
• Shinhiko realized Madara had likely killed the Sunagakure ninja and ordered his men to claim the kills themselves if asked.
• Madara and his companions escorted Shinhiko safely to his fief, where hundreds of armored samurai welcomed him.
• Shinhiko gave Madara the Futsu-no-Mitama sword, calling it a Precious Blade fit for a hero.

Madara Uchiha accepted Shinhiko Kōzuki’s sword and became his trusted retainer, while each man quietly pursued his own agenda. In Konoha, the Third Hokage challenged Shimura Danzō’s accusations against the Uchiha Clan and began questioning the village’s response to the Nine-Tails’ Attack.

• Shinhiko Kōzuki gave Madara Uchiha his treasured sword before his soldiers, marking him as a close retainer.
• Madara Uchiha and Shinhiko Kōzuki privately considered their own plans for their new relationship.
• Shimura Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu reviewed Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s mission report, including the deaths and the Uchiha Clan’s role in the mission.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu worried that Madara Uchiha’s favor with Shinhiko Kōzuki could strengthen the Uchiha Clan.
• Shimura Danzō accused the Uchiha Clan of threatening rebellion and implied they were behind the Nine-Tails’ Attack.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded evidence from Shimura Danzō, silenced his argument, and questioned whether Konoha had mishandled the Nine-Tails’ Attack aftermath.

The Third Hokage admitted that Konoha’s leaders had driven the Uchiha Clan into resentment and resolved to treat them fairly, including rewarding Uchiha Itachi. After returning from his mission, Madara Uchiha met Naruto Uzumaki at home and wondered whether the Third Hokage had sent him there to earn his trust; Madara then left again to handle something.

• The Third Hokage told Danzo and the other leaders that their suspicion and ostracism of the Uchiha Clan had been wrong, and said they should treat the clan fairly and reward Uchiha Itachi.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi, Hayato Hyuga, and Madara Uchiha returned to Konoha after their long mission, and Hayato rushed home.
• Madara arrived at his home and found Sasuke Uchiha playing with Naruto Uzumaki, whom Mikoto had invited over.
• Madara recognized Naruto and wondered whether the Third Hokage had deliberately placed him with the Uchiha family, while the Nine-Tailed Fox inside Naruto felt uneasy around Madara.
• Madara put down his luggage, told Sasuke to keep playing with Naruto, and left to take care of something.