Chapter Summaries

After Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru reported seeing Madara Uchiha on the battlefield, Konoha's leaders disputed whether he was truly alive. Hiruzen Sarutobi began revealing what their teacher had told him about his escape from the battlefield, leaving the truth unfinished.

• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru reported that Madara Uchiha had defeated Hanzo with a perfect Susanoo, but Hiruzen Sarutobi's advisors doubted their account.
• Shimura Danzō blamed the Uchiha Clan and demanded that it be punished, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu agreed that Madara Uchiha was dead.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the Sannin to rest, then told Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu that Madara Uchiha might really be alive.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi began explaining that their teacher had privately told him the truth about how he escaped the battlefield.

Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that Uchiha Izuna had saved Tobirama and killed Kinkaku and Ginkaku, prompting the Konoha elders to consider that Madara Uchiha might truly have returned. In the Mountain Graveyard, the real Madara learned that someone was impersonating him and ordered Black Zetsu to investigate.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the elders that Uchiha Izuna had saved Tobirama and defeated Kinkaku and Ginkaku before disappearing with the Six Paths Tools.
• Danzo rejected the account, but Hiruzen Sarutobi challenged him, then concluded that Madara Uchiha might have returned.
• Mitokado Homura asked who the masked man Tobi was, and Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed out that Tobi had only one Sharingan.
• Black Zetsu woke Madara Uchiha and told him that an impostor had used his name to summon a Perfect Susanoo and defeat Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to investigate the man claiming to be him.

Kumogakure's leaders debated the return of Madara Uchiha and decided to strengthen their village by developing tailed-beast power. Meanwhile, Tetsuya returned to the Capital City of the Land of Fire with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, who marveled at the city and learned that Tetsuya owned its food shops.

• The Third Raikage gathered Kumogakure's senior officials to discuss Madara Uchiha's reappearance, and Dodai questioned whether Konoha had staged it.
• Kumogakure's officials argued over Madara's identity until the Third Raikage ordered them to focus on the village's future.
• Dodai urged Kumogakure to strengthen its top fighters and put tailed-beast power to military use, and the Third Raikage asked Blue B to contribute.
• Shinobi villages and organizations across the world began seeking ways to increase their strength.
• Tetsuya returned to the Capital City of the Land of Fire with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, who admired the city and its food.
• Kakuzu told the children that every food shop on the street belonged to Tetsuya, leaving them astonished.

At the Chiba Estate, Izuna began training Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan and discovered Nagato’s Rinnegan were weakening him because he could not deactivate them. Tetsuya suggested sealing their power, and Izuna agreed to help him try.

• Izuna tested Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan’s chakra natures and began teaching them ninja fundamentals.
• Tetsuya told Izuna that Nagato’s foreign Rinnegan drained his chakra and life energy, leaving him unusually weak.
• Tetsuya suggested replacing Nagato’s eyes, but Izuna considered giving Nagato his own eyes despite the risk to their evolution.
• Tetsuya proposed sealing the Rinnegan’s power, and Izuna agreed to assist him.

Izuna and Tetsuya sealed the power of Nagato’s Rinnegan to protect his health, while Tetsuya assigned Yahiko and Konan homework after their training. Tetsuya then considered killing Hanzo of the Salamander to prevent a future clash when the three returned to the Land of Rain.

• Tetsuya explained that Nagato’s Rinnegan was draining his strength, and Nagato agreed to let him and Izuna seal its power temporarily.
• Izuna channeled chakra into Nagato as Tetsuya performed a sealing jutsu, leaving a special mark on Nagato’s forehead and putting him to sleep.
• Yahiko and Konan checked on Nagato, and Tetsuya gave them workbooks after Yahiko said he had finished his training.
• Yahiko pretended to be injured to avoid the homework, but Tetsuya threatened him with an electric shock, so Yahiko and Konan ran off to study.
• Tetsuya reflected that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan would eventually return to the Land of Rain and considered killing Hanzo of the Salamander.

Tetsuya and Izuna devised a plan for Yahiko and the others to gain control of Amegakure through Hanzo, while Nagato recovered from the sealing and learned about Tetsuya’s experimental ninjutsu. The chapter ended with Tetsuya promising to teach Nagato the technique once it was complete.

• Tetsuya rejected killing Hanzo outright and proposed controlling him to help Yahiko and the others eventually take leadership of Amegakure.
• Tetsuya explained the plan to Izuna, and they discussed how to shape the Land of Rain’s future.
• Nagato woke after sleeping for a day, and Tetsuya examined his recovery after the Rinnegan sealing.
• Tetsuya demonstrated a technique that added fire effects to Wind Release, impressing Nagato.
• Nagato asked to learn the technique, and Tetsuya agreed to teach him after he finished developing it.

Black Zetsu searched for the missing Nagato and mistakenly suspected the major shinobi villages had abducted him, while Nagato settled into life at the Chiba Estate. A Kumogakure spy reported that the Cloud Village planned to abduct Kushina Uzumaki to learn how to control the Eight-Tails.

• Black Zetsu discovered Nagato had vanished and sent White Zetsu to investigate the shinobi villages, suspecting one of them had taken him.
• Black Zetsu learned that the major villages were secretly preparing for something and ordered further investigation.
• Nagato and the other children followed a steady training and study routine under Tetsuya and Izuna at the Chiba Estate.
• A Kumogakure undercover ninja arrived at the Chiba Estate and gave Tetsuya an important report in person.
• The spy explained that Kumogakure had suffered repeated Eight-Tails rampages and planned to abduct Kushina Uzumaki to study her chakra and gain control over tailed beasts.

Tetsuya joined a Kumogakure mission to infiltrate Konoha and abduct Kushina Uzumaki, disguising himself as a Lightning Country native. When a Jonin accused him of being a spy, Tetsuya killed him with a Black Mamba Elbow Strike and silenced the others with Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

• Yeruka explained that he and Yurubi, both Special Jōnin with years of experience in the Land of Fire, would lead the mission to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki.
• Tetsuya asked to join, learned Kumogakure already had operatives inside Konoha, and left with Yeruka for the gathering.
• Tetsuya transformed his appearance to resemble a Kumogakure ninja and told Yeruka to call him Mamba.
• At the gathering outside the Capital City, a Jonin questioned Tetsuya's presence and accused Yurubi of helping a Konoha spy.
• Tetsuya activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, killed the accusing Jonin with a Black Mamba Elbow Strike, and asked if anyone else objected.

Tetsuya led two Kumogakure Chunin into Konoha, then abandoned their plan to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki in favor of stealing Tobirama Senju’s Scroll of Seals. After the three infiltrated the Hokage Building and split up to search, Tetsuya transformed into Jiraiya.

• Tetsuya led the first group through a gap in Konoha’s barrier and guided them toward the training grounds where Kushina might appear.
• After finding Konoha’s defenses weakened by the recent war, Tetsuya persuaded the two Chunin to help steal the Scroll of Seals instead of waiting for Kushina.
• Tetsuya led the Chunin toward the Hokage Building, and they evaded Konoha patrols and hidden sentries along the way.
• The three entered the Hokage Building and split up to search for the scroll.
• Tetsuya transformed into Jiraiya and swaggered through the building.

Disguised as Jiraiya, Tetsuya found Konoha’s Scroll of Seals and memorized several techniques before the real Jiraiya caught him. Tetsuya fled with the scroll, and their fight across the village drew Konoha’s ninjas as they traded attacks.

• Tetsuya searched the Hokage Building for the Scroll of Seals, then followed a ninja to the room where it was kept.
• Tetsuya bypassed the room’s barriers, found the Scroll of Seals, and memorized the Eight Gates Formation and other techniques.
• The real Jiraiya caught Tetsuya reading the scroll, but Tetsuya grabbed it and escaped through a window.
• Jiraiya ordered a ninja to alert the village, then chased Tetsuya across Konoha’s rooftops as they exchanged fire techniques.
• Tetsuya attacked Jiraiya from behind with Thousand Years of Death, but Jiraiya countered with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.

Tetsuya fought Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade while Orochimaru retrieved the Scroll of Seals. As the Sannin and their summons pressed the attack, Tetsuya summoned the Yellow Immortal.

• Orochimaru stole the Scroll of Seals from Tetsuya and sent it underground inside a snake.
• Tsunade joined Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and the three Sannin attacked Tetsuya with fire, lightning, and snake techniques.
• Tsunade struck a wooden substitute, then Tetsuya hit her and Jiraiya protected her from a fire dragon with Needle Jizo.
• Orochimaru's snakes sank into Tetsuya's Swamp of the Underworld, and Tsunade healed Jiraiya's burns.
• Tetsuya tried to leave, but Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to block him and attacked with a toad-oil fireball.
• Orochimaru summoned a large snake, and Tetsuya answered by summoning the Yellow Immortal.

Tetsuya and Huang Bai fought Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade in Konoha until Hiruzen Sarutobi drove them outside the village. Tetsuya then revealed a Sharingan, leaving Hiruzen shocked as he demanded to know who Tetsuya was.

• Huang Bai subdued Orochimaru's giant snake, and Gamabunta identified him as a member of the predatory Yellow Weasel Clan from the Weasel Burial Mound.
• Jiraiya and Gamabunta attacked Huang Bai with a flaming blade, but Huang Bai knocked it aside and sent sparks raining down in flames.
• Tsunade summoned Katsuyu, and Huang Bai recognized the slug as a creature from Shikkotsu Forest before preparing another fiery attack.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with Enma and struck Huang Bai and Tetsuya beyond Konoha's walls to move the battle away from the village.
• Tetsuya denied trying to destroy Konoha, then revealed his Sharingan to Hiruzen, who reacted with shock.

Tetsuya, posing as Tobi, fought Konoha and convinced Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was the supposedly dead Kagami Uchiha. As Konoha regrouped after Tobi escaped, a Kumogakure squad kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki.

• Tetsuya warned Tsunade to withdraw Konoha's remaining troops from the Land of Rain and clashed verbally with Hiruzen Sarutobi over his Sharingan and Uchiha identity.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded that Tobi was Kagami Uchiha, and Tetsuya claimed Kagami had died because Hiruzen had chosen that fate before declaring himself Tobi.
• Tetsuya attacked with the Lightning Release: Wild Lightning Jutsu, then escaped while Jiraiya protected the others.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi led the Konoha ninja back to the village, ordered repairs and increased patrols, and called an emergency meeting with his old comrades.
• A Kumogakure squad took advantage of the chaos to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki and carry her out of Konoha.

Minato rescued Kushina from the Kumogakure kidnappers, while Tetsuya killed the unconscious captors and continued his plan. In Konoha, Hiruzen identified the masked attacker as Kagami Uchiha, prompting Danzo’s disbelief as the others considered the evidence.

• Minato ambushed the three Kumogakure ninja, rescued Kushina, and carried her back toward the village.
• Tetsuya arrived after Minato left, killed the unconscious captors, and headed to the rendezvous point to wait for surviving Kumogakure ninja.
• Danzo accused Hiruzen of failing to protect Konoha, but Hiruzen announced that Kagami Uchiha had attacked the village.
• Danzo denied that Kagami could be alive, and Hiruzen explained why he believed the masked man was Kagami.
• Jiraiya and the others supported Hiruzen’s account, noting that the masked man knew Konoha well and had avoided killing them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others concluded that Kagami had returned through a flawed resurrection technique and had come to steal the Scroll of Seals to study Impure World Reincarnation. Meanwhile, Tetsuya arranged for two surviving Kumogakure ninja to become his informants, then returned to the Chiba Estate to check on Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko.

• Danzo rejected the theory that Tobi was Kagami and left the meeting, while Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Mitokado Homura from pursuing him.
• Orochimaru proposed that Kagami had been resurrected by a flawed technique and sought Impure World Reincarnation to improve it, and Tsunade suggested his mask concealed physical flaws.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled that the resurrected Uchiha Izuna had seemed to possess an immortal body, reinforcing the group's theory that someone was resurrecting powerful dead ninja.
• Tetsuya gave Yeruka and Yurubi scrolls containing Konoha ninjutsu and ordered them to rise through Kumogakure's ranks and serve as his informants.
• Tetsuya returned to the Chiba Estate, praised Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko's shuriken practice, and promised to check their homework after they ate his snacks.

At the Chiba Estate, Tetsuya showed Izuna three forbidden techniques he had copied from Konoha and planned how to teach them to Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko. The chapter ended with Tetsuya considering the Eight Gates for Yahiko and worrying about its side effects.

• Tetsuya finished copying the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Eight Gates, then told Izuna he had memorized them from Konoha’s Scroll of Seals.
• Izuna explained how the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique could overwhelm its user with returned memories and recognized that Tetsuya could withstand the Eight Gates’ deadly consequences.
• Tetsuya showed Izuna Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags and proposed teaching it to Konan, whose Paper Release could make the technique especially dangerous.
• Tetsuya proposed teaching Nagato the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique because of his Uzumaki chakra reserves and Rinnegan.
• Tetsuya considered teaching Yahiko the Eight Gates because of his drive, but hesitated over the technique’s side effects.

Tetsuya withheld the Gate of Death from the Eight Gates Formation scroll, while Yeruka and Yurubi returned to Kumogakure with stolen Konoha techniques and were appointed to lead a new special operations squad. After leaving the Raikage’s office, the two sent intelligence from Kumogakure to Tetsuya.

• Tetsuya removed the Gate of Death from the scroll before deciding Nagato and the others were not ready for the technique.
• Yeruka and Yurubi returned to Kumogakure and told the Third Raikage their mission to abduct the Uzumaki Descendant had failed, but they had brought back two Konoha ninjutsu scrolls.
• The Third Raikage accepted the scrolls as a contribution, counted the mission as completed, and appointed Yeruka and Yurubi to lead a special operations squad focused on the Land of Fire.
• Dodai assured the Third Raikage that Yeruka and Yurubi’s records and intelligence were trustworthy, and the Raikage approved putting them to work.
• Yeruka and Yurubi returned home and sent Kumogakure’s intelligence to Tetsuya through the Yellow Weasel Clan’s Messenger.

Orochimaru began researching the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu with Danzo’s support, while Kakuzu later approached Hanzo of the Salamander with a business proposal. The chapter ended with Hanzo asking what kind of partnership Kakuzu wanted.

• Orochimaru studied the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and vowed to perfect it and resurrect the Second.
• Orochimaru met with Danzo, who had gathered infants for experiments with Hashirama cells and spoke of eliminating the Uchiha.
• Danzo suggested Orochimaru could become the next Hokage with his and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s support.
• Kakuzu met Hanzo of the Salamander and claimed he had quit being a ninja to become a businessman.
• Kakuzu proposed a lucrative partnership with Amegakure, and Hanzo asked what kind of partnership he wanted.

Tetsuya tested Nagato and the other two by giving them money to earn a profit in the Capital City, while he and Izuna discussed a plan to undermine Hanzo of the Salamander’s reputation. After Hanzo agreed to do business with them, Tetsuya proposed feeding his greed and exposing his embezzlement so Yahiko and the others could rise as Amegakure’s heroes.

• Tetsuya gave Nagato and the other two starting capital and seven days to earn a profit of one-third of their investment.
• Izuna asked whether the three would be safe in the Capital City, and Tetsuya explained that Chiba Commerce Association merchants could keep watch over them.
• Itachi delivered Kakuzu’s letter, and Tetsuya learned that Hanzo of the Salamander had agreed to do business while demanding seventy percent of the profits and the initial construction costs.
• Tetsuya proposed indulging Hanzo’s greed, encouraging him to embezzle funds, and making sure Amegakure’s people learned of his excesses.
• Izuna agreed that destroying Hanzo’s reputation would help Yahiko and the others gain support and put their plans into action.

Tetsuya explained his plan to corrupt Hanzo of the Salamander with money and luxury, then have Yahiko and Nagato take power in the Land of Rain while he and his allies control its commerce and finances. He gave Kakuzu a scroll containing gifts for Hanzo, including a custom Rain Shadow Hat, and ordered him to build toward an introduction.

• Kakuzu objected to paying Hanzo of the Salamander, but Tetsuya revealed that the payments were part of a plan to corrupt him.
• Tetsuya said Yahiko and Nagato would eventually lead a campaign against Hanzo and take control of Amegakure, while Tetsuya's group controlled the country's economy.
• Kakuzu eagerly accepted Tetsuya's instructions to gradually give Hanzo money and arrange an introduction.
• Tetsuya handed Kakuzu a Sealing Scroll with a gold statue of Hanzo and a custom purple Rain Shadow Hat inside.