Chapter Summaries

Hoshi reunited with Tsunade and the others, met Tsunade’s younger brother Nawaki, and celebrated with them and Shinku’s girlfriend at Fried Chicken. Meanwhile, Danzo learned that Hoshi had returned and began planning to recruit him.

• Shinku told Hoshi and the others that he had a girlfriend, and Jiraiya persuaded him to bring her to their reunion dinner.
• Tsunade explained that Hoshi’s earlier advice had led her to reach her mother in time to save Nawaki during a difficult birth.
• Hoshi, Tsunade, and the others picked up Nawaki and met Shinku’s girlfriend at Fried Chicken.
• A subordinate told Danzo that Hoshi had returned to Konoha and was celebrating with Tsunade and the others.
• Danzo decided that Hoshi’s return gave him a new opportunity to win Hoshi over.

After dinner, Hoshi walked Tsunade and Nawaki home, but he avoided acting on Tsunade’s feelings and fled when she caught Nawaki’s teasing. The author’s note said the story would move ahead to the coming arc about the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.

• Hoshi walked Tsunade and the sleeping Nawaki home, then let Robb carry Nawaki on his back.
• Hoshi and Tsunade walked in silence as both waited for the other to speak, and Tsunade stormed ahead in frustration.
• At the Senju Clan Compound, Nawaki revealed he had been pretending to sleep and urged Hoshi to pursue Tsunade so she would stop watching over him.
• Tsunade caught Nawaki after he tried to sneak inside, while Hoshi used Transparency Release and Shunpo to escape her anger.
• The author announced a time skip toward the arc about the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.

Hoshi continued developing his swordsmanship and training with Konoha’s strongest ninja before confronting Danzo, who had followed him. The chapter ended with Hoshi asking Danzo what he wanted.

• Hoshi trained with Shadow Clones and steadily improved his swordsmanship through practice and sparring with Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Sakumo.
• Hoshi developed True Swordsmanship Ultimate: Dance of the Crescent Moon by combining Attribute Conversion with Shadow Clone attacks and a finishing combo.
• Jiraiya complained that Hoshi had surpassed him in battle, then invited him to visit a hot spring; Hoshi declined, and Jiraiya went alone.
• Hoshi sensed someone following him on his way home and called them out.
• Danzo emerged and praised Hoshi’s awareness, and Hoshi asked Senior Danzo what he needed.

Danzo tried to recruit Hoshi by exploiting his supposed frustration over falling behind his peers, but Hoshi resisted the Genjutsu and rejected him. The encounter ended with Danzo injured and Hoshi openly challenging his worthiness.

• Danzo invited Hoshi to dinner, but Hoshi refused and addressed him as Senior Danzo.
• Danzo used his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to cast Genjutsu and tried to convince Hoshi that he had been abandoned and left behind by his friends.
• Hoshi pretended to be affected and let Danzo believe his recruitment pitch was working.
• Hoshi revealed that he had recognized the Genjutsu and shattered it with his Chakra, causing Danzo's eye to hurt and blood to seep from his mouth.
• Hoshi mocked Danzo and asked what made him worthy of Hoshi's service.

After Danzo failed to recruit Hoshi and left with a threat, Hoshi returned home, confident he would outgrow Danzo. Underground, Madara struggled to find a vessel for his eyes until Black Zetsu proposed exploiting the threat against the Land of Whirlpools.

• Danzo abandoned his attempt to recruit Hoshi, threatened him, and left without a fight.
• Hoshi returned home and dismissed Danzo’s future retaliation as no threat to his growth.
• White Zetsu reported to Madara that he could not find a suitable Senju vessel for Madara’s eyes.
• Black Zetsu suggested that an attack on the Land of Whirlpools could create an opportunity to obtain an Uzumaki vessel.
• Madara paused White Zetsu’s mission while he considered how to infiltrate the Land of Whirlpools and Black Zetsu’s proposal to exploit its destruction.

Madara arranged for the Four Great Ninja Villages to unite against Uzushio Village, and nearly a hundred Jonin gathered to attack when the sea whirlpools weakened. As the invasion began, a Mist Jonin killed the lookout, and the allied forces raced toward the village.

• The Kage of the Four Great Ninja Villages agreed to attack Uzushio Village and secretly assembled their forces.
• Nearly a hundred Jonin gathered at Kirigakure's docks and waited for the sea whirlpools to weaken.
• White Zetsu reported the alliance to Madara, who ordered him to watch for children suitable as vessels rather than warn Konoha.
• Three nights later, four ships sailed toward the Land of Whirlpools with an impostor hidden aboard one of them.
• A Mist Jonin killed the young Uzumaki lookout before he could raise the alarm, and more than a hundred attackers raced toward Uzushio Village.

The Four Great Ninja Villages attacked the Land of Whirlpools, and Uzumaki Ashina ordered Uzushio Village to activate its defenses while sending Masahiko and Kushina to seek Konoha’s aid. Masahiko fled through the forest with Kushina and a precious sealing scroll, but enemy Jonin discovered them before they reached the coast.

• The Four Great Ninja Villages’ forces invaded the Land of Whirlpools, killing many people in their opening attack.
• Uzumaki Ashina ordered the Grand Sealing Array activated, the Outer Scripture Pavilion released, and Masahiko to take Kushina and seek reinforcements.
• Ashina gave Masahiko the Uzumaki Clan’s secret sealing scroll and instructed him to protect Kushina and deliver the scroll to Lady Mito if necessary.
• Masahiko carried Kushina toward the coast through the forest while a cousin used a transformed decoy to mislead the enemy.
• Three to five Jonin discovered Masahiko and his cousins, and Masahiko ordered them to defeat the pursuers quickly before they could summon more ninja.

Hoshi returned from the Land of Iron and accepted Mito’s request to escort Kushina from the Land of Whirlpools to Konoha. Worried that the Land of Whirlpools might soon be attacked, he arranged for Tsunade, Sakumo, and their friends to accompany him, leaving the group poised to depart for Uzushio Village.

• Hoshi escorted Fiona back to the Land of Iron after Tsunade cured her illness and showed Shouyan his completed Wind-Breaking Slash.
• Mito asked Hoshi to bring Kushina from the Land of Whirlpools to Konoha, and Hoshi realized the journey might coincide with an invasion.
• Hoshi decided that bringing his friends would give Konoha a reason to send reinforcements if the Land of Whirlpools came under attack.
• Mito approved Hoshi’s plan, and he gathered Tsunade, Sakumo, and the others to prepare for the trip to Uzushio Village.

Hoshi led Tsunade and the others toward the Land of Whirlpools to retrieve Kushina, but they found the country under attack. Hoshi rescued Kushina from Uzumaki Masahiko’s pursuers, leaving one Mist Jonin disarmed and the battle unresolved.

• Tsunade joined Hoshi, Sakumo, Shinku, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru as they left Konoha for the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hoshi warned the group that he had a bad feeling, and they hurried to the Land of Fire’s coastline, where they saw fire and violent waves near the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hoshi sent Jiraiya to fetch an engine-powered boat while he and the others rushed across the sea to help those in danger.
• Uzumaki Masahiko, wounded and out of defensive Scrolls, set Kushina down and told her to swim to Konoha while he held off the two Mist Jonin.
• Hoshi appeared with Kushina in his arm and struck one Mist Jonin with Sword Qi, severing the man’s arm.

Hoshi defeated two Mist Jonin who had attacked Uzumaki Masahiko and Kushina, then rejoined Tsunade and the others as Masahiko explained the danger facing the Land of Whirlpools. The group considered seeking reinforcements, but Hoshi asked whether the Mist forces were trapped by the sea whirlpools without a local guide.

• One Mist Jonin charged Hoshi while his one-armed teammate dove underwater, and Uzumaki Masahiko carried Kushina away and protected them with ninjutsu.
• Hoshi used Shunpo and Mikazuki Munechika to wound the charging Mist Jonin and kill the underwater attacker.
• The wounded Mist Jonin tried to flee underwater, but Hoshi sensed him and killed him with Sword Qi.
• Tsunade and the others arrived and treated Uzumaki Masahiko as he described the situation in the Land of Whirlpools.
• As the group discussed returning for reinforcements, Hoshi asked whether the Mist forces could escape the whirlpool-filled waters without a guide from the Land of Whirlpools.

Hoshi and his allies planned a delayed assault on the Four Great Ninja Villages’ forces in the Land of Whirlpools, while Hoshi’s Shadow Clone brought Kushina to Konoha to request reinforcements. At Konoha’s high-level meeting, Danzo’s allies argued against intervention, leaving the village’s response undecided.

• Hoshi and the others agreed to begin their operation on the third day, giving Konoha time to send reinforcements, despite Masahiko’s fear that more Uzumaki Clan members would die while they waited.
• Hoshi’s Shadow Clone brought Kushina to Mito, then reported the attack on the Land of Whirlpools to Hiruzen.
• Hiruzen summoned Konoha’s high-ranking officials to a meeting to decide whether to assist the Uzumaki Clan.
• The leaders debated intervention, with some warning that aiding the Uzumaki Clan could provoke war with the Four Great Ninja Villages.
• Hoshi noticed that the Jonin who argued against sending reinforcements had directed a bow toward Danzo, who answered with a subtle finger movement.

Hoshi watched Lady Mito quietly record the names of those opposing aid to the Land of Whirlpools, then helped reveal that Tsunade and the others were trapped there. The meeting’s opposition collapsed, and Konoha’s leaders approved sending reinforcements.

• Hoshi began to speak in support of aiding the Land of Whirlpools, but an older man interrupted him, and Lady Mito signaled him to stay quiet.
• Feibai argued that Konoha should honor its alliance and strike back against the Four Great Ninja Villages, prompting a chaotic debate over whether to send troops.
• Hoshi discovered that Lady Mito was using her Adamantine Chains to record the names of those who opposed providing aid.
• After most attendees had spoken, Hoshi pretended to wake Lady Mito, and she revealed that Tsunade and the others were trapped in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hoshi explained that his main body had sent him back as a Shadow Clone, and the meeting’s participants shifted toward supporting aid.
• Konoha’s leaders passed the motion to send reinforcements almost unanimously.

Hoshi’s Shadow Clone promised Mito that he would stand by Tsunade and learned her plans for the Uzumaki Clan and Tsunade’s future. After Konoha’s reinforcements set out, the Shadow Clone returned its memories to Hoshi, who announced that the operation would begin at dawn.

• Mito asked Hoshi’s Shadow Clone what he thought of Tsunade and demanded a promise of unwavering support before sharing her plans.
• Hoshi promised on behalf of his main body to support Tsunade, and Mito explained her plans for the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan.
• Mito hoped the attack would convince the Uzumaki Clan to relocate near Konoha, strengthening Tsunade and Nawaki’s prospects and advancing her plan to revive the Senju.
• Hiruzen organized Konoha’s reinforcements and chose Torifu Akimichi to lead them instead of Danzo.
• Hoshi’s Shadow Clone traveled with the reinforcements, then dispelled itself after confirming the unit was ready.
• Hoshi absorbed the Shadow Clone’s memories and told Tsunade, Masahiko, and the others that the operation would begin at dawn.

Hoshi and his allies began their plan to reach Uzushio Village and prepare it for Konoha's reinforcements. As Hoshi planted explosive tags on the Joint Forces' ships, Masahiko was ambushed and poisoned by a mysterious old man and his puppet.

• Hoshi confirmed that Torikaze would arrive with nearly two hundred jonin and Special Jonin around noon, then reviewed the plan to rescue Uzushio Village at dawn.
• At one in the morning, Hoshi and Masahiko headed toward the Joint Forces' ships while Jiraiya and the others traveled to the coast near the route Masahiko and Kushina had used to escape.
• Jiraiya's group landed at three o'clock and defeated the six jonin guarding the coast, with Sakumo, Orochimaru, and Shinku helping neutralize them.
• Torikaze rested with the Ninja Forces on the Land of Fire's coastline before preparing to sail toward Uzushio Village.
• At four-thirty, Hoshi and Masahiko began attaching explosive tags to the Joint Forces' ships, but an old man struck Masahiko with a poisoned Chain Blade and sent his puppet's blades toward Masahiko's head.

Hoshi rescued Masahiko from Monzaemon’s Chain Blades and fought the elderly Puppet Master, who revealed Chikamatsu’s Ten Puppets. The two prepared to clash after Hoshi dramatically declared Mikazuki Munechika’s name.

• Hoshi noticed Masahiko fall into the water and cut apart the Chain Blades that threatened him.
• Hoshi attacked Monzaemon, dodged the Ox-Head Puppet’s flying claw, and damaged its connecting rope with his swords.
• Monzaemon revealed himself as the founder of Sunagakure’s puppet arts and demanded that Hoshi surrender an arm.
• Monzaemon summoned his White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu’s Ten Puppets.
• Hoshi covered Mikazuki Munechika in ghostly blue Chakra flames and challenged Monzaemon.

Hoshi fought Monzaemon and his Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, relying on speed to evade their attacks. Monzaemon threatened that poisoned Uzumaki Masahiko had less than five minutes to live, forcing Hoshi to charge into the puppet swarm, while Monzaemon secretly prepared a finishing technique.

• Monzaemon attacked Hoshi with three puppets, but Hoshi dodged their weapons and severed the chain linking two of them.
• Monzaemon sent all ten puppets against Hoshi, whose Sword Qi could not penetrate the defenses of the two large puppets protecting him.
• Hoshi retreated and harried the puppet formation, using his speed to avoid its coordinated attacks.
• Monzaemon claimed that poisoned Uzumaki Masahiko would die within five minutes unless Hoshi stopped delaying and fought the puppets head-on.
• Hoshi saw Masahiko's worsening condition and charged the puppet swarm, while Monzaemon privately revealed that he had been bluffing and planned to use Three Treasures Suction Destruction.

Hoshi broke through Monzaemon’s Three Treasures Suction Destruction with a flaming iai slash, then used Moon Shadow Flash to cut down Monzaemon and his final defensive puppets. Uzumaki Masahiko watched as Monzaemon’s headless body fell.

• Monzaemon trapped Hoshi in the suction of Three Treasures Suction Destruction and strengthened the technique, believing Hoshi had no escape.
• Hoshi opened the Fourth Gate, converted his chakra to Fire Release, and used Blazing Iai Slash to sever the hurricane and destroy the three attacking puppets.
• Hoshi charged Monzaemon with Moon Shadow Flash, combining his swords, the Gate of Pain, Wind Release, and Shunpo.
• Uzumaki Masahiko watched Hoshi appear behind Monzaemon and sheath both blades after a silver X-shaped flash.
• Monzaemon realized too late that Hoshi had cut through his two remaining defensive puppets and beheaded him.

Hoshi found the antidote for Uzumaki Masahiko, then detonated the allied villages’ ships at 5:10. At the ancestral hall, Uzumaki Ashina’s clan learned that reinforcements had arrived, while Tsunade and the others entered and explained what had happened.

• Hoshi found the antidote in Monzaemon’s clothes and gave it to Uzumaki Masahiko, who recovered enough to move.
• At 5:10, Hoshi detonated the Explosive Tags beneath the four ships and swam with Masahiko toward the ancestral hall.
• Uzumaki Ashina heard approaching sounds and told the Uzumaki Clan members that reinforcements were coming, lifting their spirits.
• The Kirigakure elder sent shinobi to check the ships, and they returned to report that Konoha’s people had sunk them all.
• Tsunade and the others entered the ancestral hall and explained the events to Uzumaki Ashina.

The Uzumaki Clan struggled to hold the Ancestral Hall against a renewed assault while waiting for Konoha reinforcements. Hoshi opened the Sixth Gate and unleashed a devastating slash to intimidate the enemy forces, leaving their next move uncertain.

• Orochimaru told Uzumaki Ashina that only six people had arrived so far and the main reinforcements would not come until noon, while the surviving Uzumaki rallied and prepared for the renewed attack.
• The Joint Forces of the Four Great Ninja Villages launched a desperate assault, and Jiraiya summoned Gamaken to brace the weakening Earth Flow Rampart.
• Hoshi and Uzumaki Masahiko arrived, and Hoshi learned from Ashina that ships were stored in the Ancestral Hall and proposed using two to mislead the enemy.
• Hoshi opened the Sixth Gate, converted his Chakra to Wind Nature Chakra, and unleashed the Sky-Rending Iai Slash, carving a huge ravine before the enemy forces.
• Hoshi warned the Joint Forces that anyone who crossed the line would die.

Hoshi intimidated the four villages’ Joint Forces by killing Momochi Kizan with a single Sword Qi strike, while Uzumaki Ashina prepared to negotiate. The enemy forces had begun to lose their will to fight as Ashina held two ships aloft to strengthen his position.

• Hoshi’s display impressed Tsunade, the Uzumaki Clan Members, and the young women of the Land of Whirlpools, while Jiraiya regretted missing his chance to show off.
• The Joint Forces reacted to Hoshi’s arrival with fear, uncertainty, and anger, and Momochi Kizan charged at him using the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Hoshi’s Sword Qi cut through the Kubikiribōchō and killed Momochi Kizan, making the other ninja fear provoking Konoha’s reinforcements.
• Hoshi privately credited his victory to his swordsmanship and Wind Release Chakra, and felt relieved that the kill had helped intimidate the enemy.
• Uzumaki Ashina used his Adamantine Chains to lift two ships onto the wall and addressed the Joint Forces as he prepared to negotiate.