Recaps

Tetsuya explained his plan to unite the shinobi world and recruited the resurrected Tobirama to help establish a ninja academy in the Land of Grass. The chapter left Tobirama working under Tetsuya, with Izuna and Shinada assigned to assist him.

• Tetsuya proposed a unified nation to reduce conflicts caused by the shinobi world's fragmented countries, and Tobirama considered the idea.
• Tetsuya marked Tobirama with a Flying Thunder God Mark and used his Mangekyō ability to bring Tobirama and Izuna from the Eternal Divine Kingdom to the Land of Grass.
• Tobirama learned that Tetsuya had become the Daimyo of the Land of Grass and was surprised that he had taken over the position.
• Tetsuya told Tobirama he planned to abolish the shinobi village system and asked him to establish a ninja academy whose graduates would serve under Tetsuya.
• Tetsuya assigned Izuna to help Tobirama and introduced him to Shinada, who promised to assist him.

The Four Great Shinobi Villages attacked Konoha, and Minato Namikaze helped defend the village at the Battle of Kikyo Pass. Tetsuya watched with Tobirama and Izuna, then began plotting a surprise for Obito as the masked Uchiha watched Minato.

• The Four Great Shinobi Villages invaded the Land of Fire and fought Konoha at Kikyo Pass.
• Obito and Black Zetsu watched the battle, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha's clans committed their forces to the defense.
• Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to strike the allied forces and evade powerful opponents.
• Tetsuya watched Minato with Tobirama and Izuna, and Tobirama praised Minato's talent and predicted he could become Hokage.
• Tetsuya recognized Obito and began plotting a surprise for him, while Izuna guessed Obito would be the target of Tetsuya's scheme.

After the Fourth Great Shinobi Villages' attack was repelled, Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage while Danzo continued his Hashirama cell experiments. Tetsuya told Rin about the war and an Uchiha who had defected, then revealed that he had found a way for her to return to the shinobi world briefly.

• The Third accepted responsibility for the attack reaching Konoha, resigned, and passed the Hokage position to Minato Namikaze.
• Danzo raged over Minato's appointment and the order to stop Hashirama cell experiments, then learned that Orochimaru had resumed his work at relocated laboratories.
• Tetsuya developed the Land of Grass and helped Sunagakure and Amegakure begin a project to channel water into the Land of Wind.
• Tetsuya told Rin that Minato had become Hokage and that a rogue Uchiha with an intangibility ability had defected after losing the girl he loved.
• Tetsuya told Rin he had found a way for her to return to the shinobi world temporarily, and Rin eagerly welcomed the news.

Tetsuya brought Rin back to see Konoha, inspiring her to commit to living and training until she could return to the shinobi world. Meanwhile, Obito joined the new Akatsuki as an intern, and Tetsuya arrived in Konoha as the Daimyo of the Land of Grass.

• Tetsuya gave Rin a robe, a mask, and a Flying Thunder God Mark, then took her to Kikyo Mountain to see Konoha.
• After seeing Konoha, Rin told Tetsuya she wanted to live and return to the shinobi world, and he urged her to train until she could control her power and partner with Isobu.
• Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan recognized that the masked applicant Tobi was Obito and accepted him into the Akatsuki as an intern so they could monitor him.
• Tetsuya developed the Land of Grass and strengthened its ties with the Land of Rain before announcing his plan to visit and invest in Konoha.
• Minato, Konoha's leaders, and the clan heads welcomed Tetsuya's procession at Konoha's gate, where Tetsuya greeted them as an old acquaintance.

Tetsuya visited Konoha, where he secured approval to build a shopping street and establish a Chiba Commerce Association branch. He told Kakuzu that his investment was meant to gain more than money, leaving his other aims unexplained.

• Tetsuya warmly greeted Minato and introduced his disguised Shadow Clone as his grandson, Chiba Satoru.
• Tetsuya toured Konoha, visited his former home and Ichiraku Ramen Shop, and then met with the village leaders.
• Tetsuya proposed funding a shopping street and establishing a Chiba Commerce Association branch in Konoha.
• Tetsuya secured approval by offering relocation compensation and money for the Hokage Building, and Konoha began clearing the site.
• Minato and the elders tried to draw Tetsuya and Satoru closer to Konoha, but Tetsuya refused their offers.
• Kakuzu questioned the slow returns on the investment, and Tetsuya said he had other things to gain in Konoha besides money.

Tetsuya left Konoha after overseeing the shopping street construction and wondered whether changes involving Kakashi and Sakumo would keep Obito from learning that Kushina was due to give birth. Minato later learned Kushina was pregnant, while Fugaku hoped their children would help strengthen ties between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage’s faction.

• Tetsuya said farewell to Minato and left Konoha with his convoy, warning Minato not to overwork himself.
• Tetsuya wondered whether Sakumo’s return had stopped Kakashi from revealing Kushina’s due date and disrupted Obito’s plans.
• Sakumo, using the name Sakumo Saiki, scolded Kakashi at the Hatake home and urged him to find a wife and carry on the Hatake bloodline.
• Minato learned that Kushina was pregnant and celebrated the news.
• Fugaku, whose wife was also pregnant, hoped their children would become close and help the Uchiha Clan integrate into Konoha.

Obito learned that Kushina’s pregnancy would weaken the Nine-Tails’ seal and planned to summon the beast when she gave birth. Tetsuya told Rin about Obito’s plan and agreed to send her back to protect Kushina when Obito made his move.

• Obito questioned White Zetsu about Isobu, and White Zetsu reported that Kushina was pregnant.
• Black Zetsu explained that the weakened seal during Kushina’s childbirth would let Obito use the Summoning Technique to summon the Nine-Tails.
• Rin trained with a weasel at the Weasel Burial Mound, improving her water-release ninjutsu and her cooperation with Isobu.
• Tetsuya told Rin that Minato Namikaze would become a father and warned her that Obito planned to target the Nine-Tails when Kushina gave birth.
• Rin asked to return and protect Kushina, and Tetsuya agreed to send her back when Obito was ready to act.

Tetsuya sensed White Zetsu watching Konoha as Kushina went into labor and Naruto was born. Obito attacked, released the Nine-Tails, and took control of it, but an unknown masked figure appeared to stop him before he could lead it against Konoha.

• Tetsuya sensed White Zetsu infiltrating Konoha and expected trouble as Kushina's delivery approached.
• Kushina gave birth to a boy named Naruto, but Obito killed Biwako Sarutobi and Taji and seized the newborn.
• Minato rescued Naruto from Obito's explosive trap, while Obito abducted Kushina and extracted the Nine-Tails.
• Obito placed the Nine-Tails under his control and ordered it to destroy Konoha, but Minato rescued Kushina from its attack.
• As Obito led the Nine-Tails toward Konoha, a masked figure appeared and declared that he would stop him.

Rin confronted Obito and used Tetsuya’s techniques to injure him, but he escaped after Minato returned to the battlefield. Obito then summoned the Nine-Tails into Konoha, beginning its attack on the village.

• Rin attacked Obito with Water Release and used a spinning Protective Water Formation Wall to shred his arm when he tried to strike her.
• Obito replaced his injured arm with a White Zetsu limb, then used a fireball to stop Rin from revealing his Mangekyō ability to Minato.
• Obito escaped through the mist, and Rin vanished before Minato could learn who she was.
• The Nine-Tails reached Konoha, while Hiruzen learned that Biwako had been killed and that the village was under attack.
• Obito summoned the Nine-Tails inside Konoha, and it began destroying buildings as the village’s ninja rushed to fight it.

Minato redirected the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb and fought Obito, whom Rin exposed as a rogue Uchiha rather than Madara Uchiha. As Rin faced Obito alone and Minato returned to confront the Nine-Tails, Tetsuya noticed Obito had released his control of the beast, apparently hoping it would destroy Konoha on its own.

• Minato used Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder to send the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb to an uninhabited area outside Konoha.
• Obito tried to pull Minato into the Kamui Dimension, but Minato escaped and identified Obito as Madara Uchiha.
• Rin revealed that Obito was a rogue Uchiha and explained how his intangibility and Nine-Tails control worked.
• Rin stayed to fight Obito while Minato used Flying Thunder God to return to the village and stop the Nine-Tails.
• Tetsuya saw that the Sharingan markings had vanished from the Nine-Tails' eyes and suspected Obito had abandoned his control so the beast would attack Konoha.

Minato and Kushina prepared to seal the Nine-Tails at the cost of their lives while Rin fought Obito. Just as Minato began the sealing, Tetsuya appeared and revealed his identity.

• Minato teleported the Nine-Tails out of Konoha, but Obito brought the beast back and ordered it to destroy the village.
• Kushina restrained the Nine-Tails with her chains and told Minato she planned to seal it inside herself and die.
• Minato resolved to seal Kushina's remaining chakra inside Naruto and use the Reaper Death Seal on the Nine-Tails, while Rin fought Obito.
• Obito released his control of the Nine-Tails, which broke free and pierced Minato and Kushina with a claw.
• Kushina gave Naruto her final advice as Minato began the Eight Trigrams Seal and summoned the Shinigami.
• Tetsuya arrived, and Minato recognized him as Chiba Satoru before Tetsuya corrected him and gave his name as Chiba Tetsuya.

Tetsuya arranged for Kushina’s soul to be sealed inside Naruto so she could witness him grow up, while Minato sealed half of the Nine-Tails into Naruto and the other half into the Shinigami. After Obito escaped, Tetsuya entrusted the sleeping Naruto to Rin and told her to return after handing him over to Konoha.

• Tetsuya silenced and controlled the Nine-Tails, then promised Kushina she could watch Naruto grow up if she accepted a condition to be discussed later.
• Minato used the Reaper Death Seal to seal half of the Nine-Tails inside the Shinigami, and Tetsuya extracted Kushina’s soul with the Soul-Seizing Technique.
• Tetsuya sealed Kushina’s soul and the remaining half of the Nine-Tails inside Naruto, creating a sealed space where Kushina slept beside the fox’s cage.
• Obito retreated through Kamui after the Nine-Tails disappeared, and Rin angrily struck the ground before running to find Minato.
• Rin found Tetsuya holding the sleeping Naruto, and Tetsuya placed the child in her arms and told her to hand him over to Konoha before returning.

Rin delivered Naruto to Hiruzen Sarutobi after learning that Minato and Kushina had died, then returned to Tetsuya grieving and determined to avenge them. Tetsuya comforted her, supported her resolve, and gave her scrolls for the Flying Thunder God and Rasengan as she prepared to train.

• Rin placed Naruto in Hiruzen Sarutobi's arms and told him that Minato and Kushina had given their lives, then vanished before he could learn her identity.
• Kushina's soul watched Hiruzen Sarutobi from within Naruto's sealing space and asked him to care for her son.
• Rin returned to the Weasel Burial Mound and broke down in Tetsuya's arms over the deaths of Obito, Minato, and Kushina.
• Tetsuya explained that hatred and war fed each other, reassured Rin that he would not leave her, and supported her determination to avenge Minato and Kushina.
• Tetsuya gave Rin scrolls containing the Flying Thunder God and Rasengan, and Rin vowed to train until she mastered them.

After the Fourth Hokage died defending Konoha from the Nine-Tails' Attack, Danzo sought Orochimaru's support in becoming Fifth Hokage and promised to provide people for Orochimaru's experiments. Danzo then proposed that Konoha immediately choose a new leader, leaving the village's leadership undecided.

• Danzo celebrated the Fourth Hokage's death and decided to pursue the Hokage position.
• Danzo visited Orochimaru's laboratory and told him that the Fourth Hokage and his wife had died during the Nine-Tails' Attack.
• Danzo asked Orochimaru to support him as Hokage, and Orochimaru requested living subjects for his research.
• Danzo agreed to Orochimaru's request, and the two formed a partnership.
• Danzo addressed Konoha's leaders and clan representatives, proposing that they immediately choose a new leader.

After the Fourth Hokage and his wife died in the Nine-Tails’ attack, Hiruzen Sarutobi reclaimed the Hokage’s seat, defeating Danzo’s bid for power. At the Land of Grass Daimyo’s Mansion, Tetsuya’s report prompted Tobirama and Izuna to argue over Konoha’s losses and Hiruzen’s return.

• Danzo nominated himself as the next Hokage and received support from Orochimaru and several others.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the conference room in the Third’s Kage Robe, resumed the Hokage’s duties, and won the support of most of Konoha’s leadership.
• Danzo angrily accepted defeat, while Orochimaru sat down without objecting.
• At the Daimyo’s Mansion in the Land of Grass, Tobirama learned from Tetsuya that the Masked Man had released the Nine-Tails and caused the deaths of Minato and his wife.
• Tobirama and Izuna argued over whether Tobirama could defeat the Masked Man, before Tetsuya urged them to focus on Konoha’s recovery.
• After reading a report that Hiruzen had returned to power, Izuna mocked Tobirama, who defended Hiruzen but recognized that his return could look self-serving.

Shimura Danzō accepted Orochimaru’s demand for access to Root prisoners and went to seek compensation from Hiruzen Sarutobi. In the Hokage Office, Danzō demanded that Hiruzen hand over Naruto to Root, but Hiruzen refused and Danzō left in anger.

• Orochimaru reminded Shimura Danzō that he had fulfilled his part of their agreement and demanded access to prisoners and resources for his experiments.
• Shimura Danzō allowed Orochimaru to use prisoners in the Root Prison and headed to the Hokage Building to demand compensation from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Danzō burst into the Hokage Office and startled Naruto, whom Hiruzen was holding.
• Danzō recognized Naruto as Minato’s son and the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then demanded that Root train him as a weapon.
• Hiruzen refused to hand Naruto over, insisting that he was a member of the village, and Danzō stormed out.

As missing people vanished across Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected Danzo and Orochimaru were continuing their forbidden research, but neither gave him answers. Meanwhile, Tetsuya showed the Daimyos of the Land of Birds and the Land of Rivers the Land of Grass’s prosperity, and they asked to cooperate with him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi received missing-person reports from across Konoha and ordered an investigation and increased patrols.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Danzo about the disappearances, but Danzo denied knowing anything and insisted he acted for Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi visited Orochimaru and sensed distance between himself and his student.
• Yahiko expanded cooperation between the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, while the Land of Birds and the Land of Rivers grew envious of their prosperity.
• Tetsuya toured the Daimyos of the Land of Birds and the Land of Rivers around the Land of Grass’s capital and hosted them at his mansion.
• The two Daimyos asked Tetsuya to cooperate with their nations so they could achieve development like the Land of Rain.

Tetsuya persuaded the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Birds to join a commerce-focused alliance with the Land of Grass, and they offered to invite the Land of Bears. He sent the Chiba Commerce Association to begin preparations, then visited Kakuzu at the finance office to discuss funding requests.

• Tetsuya showed the two Daimyo his agreement with Hanzo of the Salamander, and they were shocked by its terms.
• Tetsuya proposed a Commercial Alliance among the small countries, and the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Birds agreed to join.
• The two Daimyo offered to invite the Land of Bears, and Tetsuya accepted the suggestion.
• Tetsuya sent members of the Chiba Commerce Association to begin preparations in the Land of Rivers and the Land of Birds.
• Tetsuya visited Kakuzu, who defended rejecting or cutting funding requests as unreasonable.

Tetsuya asked Kakuzu whether he wanted to return to Takigakure and help bring the Land of Waterfalls under Tetsuya’s control. Kakuzu agreed, and Tetsuya planned to have the Daimyo clear his rogue ninja status before they visited the village.

• Tetsuya learned that Kakuzu counted the treasury every day because he loved money itself.
• Kakuzu recalled how Takigakure’s leaders blamed him after his failed mission to assassinate Hashirama Senju, leading him to kill them and become a rogue ninja.
• Kakuzu described Takigakure as isolated and out of touch, and Tetsuya asked him to take over the village and help control the Land of Waterfalls.
• Tetsuya explained his plan to consolidate the Small Nations before challenging the major countries, and Kakuzu agreed to return to Takigakure.
• Tetsuya offered to have the Land of Waterfalls’ Daimyo clear Kakuzu’s rogue ninja status, and Kakuzu thanked him.

Tetsuya visited the Land of Waterfalls with Kakuzu while Konoha uncovered Orochimaru’s human experiments and his defection. After Kakuzu returned to Takigakure, Tetsuya brought the news back to the Daimyo’s Mansion, where Izuna demanded permission to hunt Orochimaru.

• Tetsuya explained to Kakuzu that their visit to the Land of Waterfalls was being presented as a formal exchange between neighboring countries, with Kakuzu’s missing-nin status only a secondary concern.
• Kakuzu promised to take control of Takigakure after returning, and Tetsuya cautioned him not to rush.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed evidence of Orochimaru’s underground human experiments, and Orochimaru defected from Konoha.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha after hearing of Orochimaru’s defection and set out to bring him back to face justice.
• Tetsuya returned from the Land of Waterfalls with news of Orochimaru’s defection and said he had sent Kakuzu back to Takigakure.
• Izuna asked Tetsuya for permission to hunt down Orochimaru, while Tobirama Senju tried to stop him.

Tobirama Senju and Izuna argued over whether the Uchiha Clan belonged to them, while Tetsuya asked why the clan was headed for destruction. Tobirama explained that the aging, weakened Konoha could no longer contain the Uchiha’s ambitions, making rebellion and the clan’s destruction inevitable.

• Tetsuya told Tobirama Senju that Jiraiya had gone to deal with Orochimaru, and Tobirama agreed to leave the matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s students.
• Izuna told Tobirama that the present Uchiha Clan had nothing to do with him because Tobirama’s actions had forced Madara Uchiha out of Konoha.
• Tetsuya said the Uchiha Clan was heading toward destruction, and Tobirama agreed that he had realized this after being resurrected.
• Tobirama called the Uchiha Clan a cursed blade that Konoha could barely control, prompting Izuna to challenge his view of the clan and Konoha’s supposed big family.
• Tobirama explained that the Uchiha Clan wanted the Hokage position but lacked Konoha’s recognition, while the weakened village and aging Monkey could no longer restrain its ambitions.

Tobirama and Izuna argued over the Uchiha Clan’s strength and future while Tetsuya recalled Orochimaru’s expected path after leaving Konoha. Orochimaru instead entered the Land of Grass, and Tetsuya prepared to see what he would do.

• Tobirama challenged Izuna to choose whether to take the Uchiha Clan from Konoha or help it overthrow the village, and vowed to defend Konoha.
• Izuna argued with Tobirama about the Uchiha and Senju Clans, while Tetsuya noted that young Sasuke Uchiha fit Izuna’s ideal of an Uchiha.
• Tetsuya recalled that Orochimaru was expected to join the Akatsuki, seek the Rinnegan, establish Otogakure, and later attack Konoha.
• Orochimaru blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi for protecting Danzo and condemned Konoha before leaving the Land of Fire for the Land of Grass.
• Huang Bai told Tetsuya that Orochimaru had entered the Land of Grass, and Tetsuya welcomed the unexpected change to Orochimaru’s path.

Orochimaru disguised himself as a merchant and visited the Land of Grass capital, where he ate at a ramen shop tied to Chiba Tetsuya’s past. The cook revealed himself to be Chiba Tetsuya, leaving Orochimaru to confront his old acquaintance.

• Orochimaru arrived in the Land of Grass capital disguised as the merchant Daromaru and reflected on Chiba Tetsuya’s rise to daimyo.
• Saburo Oda befriended Orochimaru and led him to a ramen shop, where they ordered their meals.
• Orochimaru recognized dishes from Chiba’s old ramen shop and reassured himself that Chiba had shared the recipes.
• After tasting the Flame-Fried Noodles, Orochimaru recognized the familiar flavor, and Chiba Tetsuya asked whether his cooking had worsened.

Chiba Tetsuya met Orochimaru, who realized Tetsuya had used several identities and questioned him about his true appearance and apparent immortality. Tetsuya revealed his immense chakra and explained that he had reached the Six Paths realm through accumulated power, leaving Orochimaru stunned and unable to move.

• Orochimaru recognized Chiba Tetsuya, Chiba Ryo, and Chiba Satoru as connected identities, and Tetsuya clarified that Satoru was his real grandson.
• Tetsuya and Orochimaru ate together while Orochimaru asked who Tetsuya was and whether his appearance was genuine.
• Tetsuya said he was Chiba Tetsuya and that his current appearance was his true one, exciting Orochimaru with the prospect of immortality.
• Tetsuya released his Chakra Seal and confined his overwhelming chakra within the shop, leaving Orochimaru frightened and immobile.
• Tetsuya explained that he had reached the Six Paths realm by accumulating and transforming vast quantities of chakra, and Orochimaru declared it impossible.

Tetsuya questioned Orochimaru about why he had come to the Land of Grass and what he planned to do there. After learning Orochimaru intended to establish a shinobi village and eventually return to destroy Konoha, Tetsuya hinted that someone connected to Orochimaru wanted him dead, leaving Orochimaru guessing who it was.

• Orochimaru praised Tetsuya’s existence for confirming that his research was on the right path, and Tetsuya offered to erase Orochimaru’s memories of him.
• Tetsuya asked why Orochimaru had come to the Land of Grass, and Orochimaru said he needed money and resources and expected his ties to Tetsuya to deter attackers.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had planned to establish a shinobi village in the Land of Grass, build his strength, and eventually return to destroy Konoha.
• Tetsuya told Orochimaru that someone in the Land of Grass wanted to kill him and offered clues about the person’s connection to him.
• Orochimaru considered the clues and began to guess the person’s identity.