Chapter Summaries

Hexia and the Holy Light Clerics helped Fugaku investigate the disappearances, traced a missing villager’s aura to Orochimaru’s underground laboratory, and fought him there. Orochimaru escaped after triggering explosives that buried the group beneath the collapsing cavern.

• Fugaku asked Hexia’s team to help investigate the disappearances, and Qianzi used a Tracking Technique to follow Zheshu’s aura into the woods.
• Xiao Wu’s detector found a cavern entrance, and Hexia’s group entered the underground laboratory, where they discovered human experiments.
• Fugaku recognized Orochimaru, who admitted to experimenting on villagers in pursuit of immortality.
• Hexia attacked Orochimaru, and the Holy Light Clerics used their abilities and machinery to wound him as he tried to reach Qianzi.
• Orochimaru revealed Explosive Tags, escaped through a hole in the ground, and triggered an explosion that collapsed the cavern around Hexia, Fugaku, and the others.

After Fugaku uncovered Orochimaru’s human experiments, Minato and Hiruzen disagreed over whether to reveal the truth to Konoha, while Danzo learned that the destroyed laboratory had cost him his chance to control events. Orochimaru’s whereabouts remained unknown, and Danzo ordered Root to find him and recover his research materials.

• Fugaku thanked Hexia for protecting his team, then reported to Minato that Orochimaru had experimented on missing villagers in a cavern near Konoha.
• An ANBU member informed Hiruzen that Orochimaru might have defected, and Hiruzen went with Minato to inspect the ruined laboratory.
• Minato proposed disclosing the case’s full details, but Hiruzen urged him to blame a death row prisoner and issue an S-rank wanted notice for Orochimaru.
• Minato accepted Hiruzen’s plan, while Hiruzen blamed himself for failing to guide Orochimaru.
• Danzo learned that Fugaku and the Embassy had destroyed the laboratory and ordered Root to locate Orochimaru and recover his research materials.

After defecting from Konoha, Orochimaru joined the Akatsuki after Nagato demonstrated the Deva Path’s power. In Konoha, officials used his defection to bury doubts about a missing-persons case, while Hexia’s group decided to care for the old woman whose son had died.

• Orochimaru left the Land of Fire and traveled toward the Land of Water, then continued through the Land of Waves toward the Land of Tea.
• Obito sent Nagato and Black Zetsu to recruit Orochimaru, and Nagato’s Deva Path defeated Orochimaru with Shinra Tensei.
• Orochimaru agreed to join the Akatsuki, and Black Zetsu told Obito that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was pregnant.
• Konoha announced Orochimaru’s defection and blamed a condemned prisoner for the missing-persons case, prompting Hexia to identify the announcement as the Third Hokage’s political maneuver.
• Hexia’s group decided to keep the old woman’s file at the Embassy, and Xiao Yu agreed to pose as her son and become her godson.

As Kushina gave birth, Obito abducted Naruto and released the Nine-Tails, which began destroying Konoha. Hexia and his squad shielded villagers and fought the beast until Meizi summoned the Light Spirits, who sealed the Nine-Tails in a crystal sphere and ended the rampage.

• The Third Generation warned Minato to watch the Uchiha Clan, then agreed with Danzo to have ANBU surveil them while Root Ninja guarded Kushina.
• Kushina gave birth to Naruto, but Obito appeared, seized the infant, and used him to stop Minato from attacking before throwing him back with explosive tags attached.
• Minato rescued Naruto from the blast, while Obito took Kushina away and released the Nine-Tails, which rampaged through Konoha.
• Hexia led the Ninth Mixed Squad to treat civilians, support the Ninja, and defend them from the Nine-Tails with a shield and Holy Light Cannons.
• As the Nine-Tails prepared a Tailed Beast Bomb, Meizi opened the gates to the Divine Kingdom and summoned the Light Spirits, who healed the wounded and sealed the beast in a crystal sphere.

After the Holy Church stopped Obito’s attack, Minato received the Nine-Tails and a sealing technique that could save Kushina. Danzo persuaded the Third Generation to let Root replace the seal, while the villagers began rebuilding and Hexia’s squad helped them.

• Meizi reluctantly gave Minato the Nine-Tails in its crystal sphere so he could save Kushina, and Hexia explained how to use the Holy Light’s Star-Dipper Sealing Technique.
• Obito withdrew with Black Zetsu, vowing to make the Holy Church pay for disrupting his plan.
• Danzo convinced the Third Generation to let Root put a new seal on Kushina, intending to gain control of the Nine-Tails.
• Minato reunited with Kushina and their newborn son, and Kushina promised to cook a meal for Hexia and the others once she recovered.
• Hexia’s squad helped villagers rebuild, and Qianzi encouraged Xiao Yu as he worked to clear rubble.

As rumors about the Nine-Tails' seal spread, Root took Kushina away on the Third's orders, leaving Minato unable to secure support from the village leadership or Fugaku. Minato asked Hexia to bring Konoha under the Holy Church's protection, and she agreed to contact its headquarters.

• Minato ordered the ANBU to investigate the rumors, but Root surrounded his home and took Kushina away under written orders from the Third.
• Kakashi told Minato what had happened, and Minato confronted the Third, who claimed the village had made the decision for its own good.
• Minato asked Fugaku for the Uchiha Clan's support, but Fugaku said he needed to consult the clan elders.
• Minato went to Hexia and asked whether Konoha could become a subordinate organization of the Holy Church, like Sunagakure.
• Hexia assured Minato that Kushina's seal protected her and said the Holy Church would accept a peaceful Konoha; Minato agreed to pursue that path.

Minato authorized the Holy Church to enter Konoha and help maintain order while Kushina remained in Danzo’s custody. The Holy Light Clerics arrived in force and began organizing the village, as the villagers watched in curiosity.

• Danzo failed to place sealing techniques or the Tongue Root Curse on Kushina, while Kushina warned that she would not let him harm Minato.
• Minato left the Hokage Building with a sealed document, and the Third Generation learned that he had issued an order without knowing its contents.
• Minato gave Hexia an entry permit and promised he could rescue Kushina using a Flying Thunder God mark; Hexia agreed to manage the political situation and protect Konoha’s villagers.
• Ria ordered the Second Military District to send the War Bear, Golden, and Windbreaker Legions to Konoha, and Rich dispatched them aboard the Sky Carrier fleet.
• The War Bear Legion’s commander showed Izumo the Fourth’s written order, and Izumo allowed the Holy Light Clerics to enter Konoha.
• The Holy Light Clerics marched into the village, formed human walls, and guided the curious villagers to either side of the road.

Minato and the Holy Light Clerics took control of Konoha’s defenses under his written orders, while Minato rescued Kushina from Root. Minato and Kushina left Root headquarters together, and he vowed to make those who imprisoned her pay.

• The Holy Light Clerics arrived at Konoha, and Xiong Zhan led the First Legion to the Hokage Building to take over its defenses.
• Minato welcomed Xiong Zhan, asked the Holy Church to restrain armed forces across the village, and issued written orders for the clerics to distribute.
• Holy Light Clerics surrounded the Uchiha Military Police Force, and Fugaku accepted Minato’s orders and led his clan upstairs.
• The Third Generation and most Root ninja left Root headquarters after learning Root had been surrounded.
• Minato used a Space-Time Vortex to reach Kushina, knocked out the Root guards, and freed her.
• Minato took Kushina toward Root’s main entrance and said he wanted those responsible to pay for what they had done.

Minato had Danzo arrested and exposed Root’s crimes to Konoha’s leaders, then removed Hiruzen and the other elders from their positions. The chapter ended with the three elders being escorted out as the village confronted the evidence against them.

• Jia'er restrained Danzo and his Root operatives, while the Holy Light Clerics sealed their power and arrested them.
• Minato reunited with Kushina and told Jia'er that Danzo’s case would be handled after evidence was gathered.
• Minato entered a meeting of Konoha’s leaders and challenged Hiruzen over Kushina’s detention.
• Minato presented documents detailing Root’s crimes, including human experiments, curse seals on clan children, Wood Release research, and White Fang’s death.
• Minato relieved Sarutobi Muzan, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura of their elder positions, and Holy Light Clerics escorted them out.

Minato dissolved the ANBU, opened village positions to all clans, and established the Holy Church's Judgment Hall. After Danzo was publicly executed for his crimes, Jiraiya confronted Minato, and the former closeness between master and student was left strained.

• Minato dissolved the ANBU and announced that all clans could compete for village positions, while the Uchiha Military Police Force would open its ranks and transfer its judicial authority to the Judgment Hall.
• Minato ordered members of the four elders' clans holding government positions to retake examinations, and he announced that the elders' accomplices would face a public trial.
• At the public hearing, Danzo defended his actions as necessary for Konoha, but the judge ordered his execution, and he burned to ash before the crowd.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and told Minato he had gone too far by involving the Holy Church, while Minato explained that he had acted to protect Kushina and fulfill his duty as Hokage.
• Jiraiya accepted that the Third Generation should be allowed to rest, but he and Minato sat in silence with their former closeness gone.

The First Military District returned to the New Rain Capital, and the Holy Church announced that the Land of Rain would become the Land of Light and hold a founding military parade. As the Kage gathered for the ceremony, Obito decided to confront the Holy Church, while Raikage A considered bringing Kumogakure into its fold.

• Konoha continued to prosper under the Holy Church, and Axel returned to the New Rain Capital, where Ria welcomed him with a hug.
• Ria announced that the Land of Rain would be renamed the Land of Light and that the Holy Church would crown a pope and hold a military parade.
• Obito and Black Zetsu agreed that Akatsuki had to challenge the Holy Church, and Obito said Nagato was ready to act.
• The Kage of the Four Great Nations arrived for the parade, and Raikage A saw how the Holy Church's prosperity was drawing people away from Kumogakure.
• Raikage A told Killer B that Kumogakure had to adapt to the new era, and Killer B agreed to support him.

Ōnoki attended Ria’s coronation and saw how the Holy Church’s influence and modern city had changed the Land of Rain, leading him to accept that Iwagakure might join the Church. As Ria was crowned Archbishop before the gathered Kage and people, Li Ming gave her the Book of Great Prophecy, and the ceremony ended with her embracing it in tears.

• Ōnoki learned that the Holy Church would not tolerate nobles oppressing commoners, saw Konoha’s declaration of allegiance, and agreed to attend Ria’s coronation.
• Ōnoki toured the transformed Land of Rain with Kurotsuchi, who vowed to make their village look the same, and he considered joining the Holy Church to preserve Iwagakure’s legacy.
• At the reception, Kushina suggested sending Naruto to the Holy Church School, and Minato agreed while Ōnoki and Raikage A wondered whether ninja were destined to disappear.
• Axel led the Holy Light Clerics and the crowd in a call honoring the Holy Church before Ria arrived to be crowned Archbishop.
• Li Ming crowned Ria and presented her with the Book of Great Prophecy, which she accepted while crying.

During the Holy Church’s military parade, Deva Path attacked the New Rain Capital, but the defenders defeated the Six Paths bodies and Ria used her Great Prophecy Book to nullify his powers and restore Nagato’s memories. As Nagato realized Yahiko and Konan were alive, Obito gouged out his eyes and fled with Black Zetsu, leaving him alone in the cave.

• Ria began the military parade, where the Holy Light Clerics, Holy Mecha, and Sky Carriers won the crowd’s admiration, and Chiyo proudly watched Sasori march.
• Deva Path ignored Deidara’s warning and led the Six Paths into the New Rain Capital, where Holy Church forces destroyed several bodies.
• Ria nullified Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in with oaths from the Great Prophecy Book, then used Mind Correction to reveal the truth about Yahiko and Konan’s deaths.
• Nagato recognized Yahiko and Konan at the parade and realized they were alive, but Obito gouged out his eyes and escaped with Black Zetsu.

Ria rescued Nagato, restored his sight, and reunited him with Yahiko and Konan, while learning that the enemy had implanted Nagato’s original Rinnegan. Sasori reunited with Chiyo but stayed with his legion, promising to visit when it was stationed in the Land of Wind.

• Ria healed Nagato and brought him back to the viewing seats, where Yahiko and Konan embraced him and wept.
• Ria explained that Nagato’s Rinnegan had been implanted and asked the three to visit her at the Holy Church after Nagato recovered.
• Chiyo asked Ria to arrange a meeting with Sasori, and Shishu confirmed that Sasori served as a Holy Mecha pilot in the Fifth Army Group.
• Ertai gave Sasori a clean dress uniform before he went to meet Chiyo and Ye Cang outside the base.
• Sasori reassured Chiyo that he no longer blamed her, gave her an album of photos with his companions, and declined to leave the legion with her.

As the Holy Church’s influence spread, Kirigakure’s dissidents sent Hozuki Mangetsu to investigate the changing world and seek answers in Konoha. He encountered Tsunade, who was returning to the village with Shizune, and followed them despite her suspicion.

• Mei Terumi and Genji decided Kirigakure needed intelligence from outside, and Hozuki Mangetsu agreed to leave the village and investigate.
• Obito learned of Mangetsu’s defection and ordered Black Zetsu to find and kill him in case he brought the Holy Church into Kirigakure.
• Mangetsu entered the Land of Fire and noticed its people seemed safer and better off than those in the Land of Water.
• At a bar, Tsunade complained about the Holy Church’s gambling crackdown, then decided to return to Konoha with Shizune.
• Tsunade caught Mangetsu following them and refused to let him travel close, so he continued behind them at a distance.

Tsunade returned to Konoha, learned that Jiraiya was imprisoned, and visited the disgraced Third Hokage. After Hozuki Mangetsu questioned Minato about the Holy Church, Tsunade left the Third urging him to keep living and witness Konoha’s future.

• Tsunade and Shizune returned to Konoha, where Minato welcomed them and revealed that Jiraiya was imprisoned for peeping.
• Hozuki Mangetsu asked Minato why Konoha had joined the Holy Church, and Minato explained its oversight and praised its influence.
• Mangetsu left for Kirigakure to report what he had learned about the Holy Church.
• Tsunade visited the Third at the Sarutobi Clan Compound and asked whether he regretted his choices.
• Tsunade told the Third to live and see what became of Konoha, leaving him to ponder her words.

Obito killed Hozuki Mangetsu before he could bring intelligence back to Kirigakure, while Akatsuki exploited the besieged Land of Water and funded Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation experiments. Ten years later, the Holy Church expanded toward the Land of Water, and Akatsuki’s losses forced its remaining members to cooperate more closely.

• Obito and Black Zetsu ambushed Hozuki Mangetsu as he headed back to Kirigakure, and Obito killed him after evading his attacks.
• Obito told Black Zetsu to watch Akatsuki’s remaining refuge and prevent the Holy Church from interfering.
• Kirigakure’s dispatched groups vanished without returning intelligence, leaving the village isolated and its people increasingly desperate.
• Orochimaru showed Obito his Impure World Reincarnation plan, and Obito assigned Kakuzu to secure funds by controlling the Daimyo and exploiting the common people.
• Over the next ten years, the Holy Church expanded across the great nations, while Akatsuki lost Hidan and Juzo Biwa in clashes with Holy Church forces.
• Kakuzu survived the same encounter because of his five hearts, and the remaining Akatsuki members began setting aside their prejudices and cooperating more closely.

Sasuke and Boruto arrived in a parallel Konoha twenty years in the past, where the Holy Church had transformed the village. Black Zetsu told Obito about their time-traveling turtle, while Boruto’s unexpected reunion with a young Naruto left Minato and the others stunned.

• Obito and Black Zetsu lamented that the Holy Church’s stability had left them no opening to act.
• Sasuke and Boruto explored a futuristic Konoha and learned from the turtle that they had landed twenty years in the past in a different parallel universe.
• A Black Zetsu clone followed Sasuke and Boruto, discovered their time-traveling turtle, and reported it to Obito.
• Obito ordered Black Zetsu to steal the turtle so they could travel to an era without the Holy Church and pursue the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Sasuke and Boruto encountered young Naruto, Minato, Kushina, Fugaku, and the others during a family portrait gathering.
• Boruto called Naruto his dad and grabbed his hand, shocking Minato, Kushina, Fugaku, and everyone present.

Adult Sasuke and Boruto revealed that they came from a future without the Holy Church, and Minato explained how the Church had changed their world. After Boruto exposed the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Sasuke told his family what had happened in his universe, leaving Itachi comforted by Fugaku and Mikoto.

• Adult Sasuke asked Minato for a private place to explain, then revealed that he and Boruto came from twenty years in the future.
• Naruto and young Sasuke argued about Sasuke's future, while Kushina scolded Naruto for reading Jiraiya's books.
• Adult Sasuke recounted his world's history and Minato described how the Holy Church had helped bring peace and unity to their world.
• Boruto lamented that his world lacked the Holy Church and revealed that Sasuke had lost his family, prompting Fugaku and Itachi to demand an explanation.
• Adult Sasuke described the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and Fugaku and Mikoto reassured Itachi that they understood and loved him.

Boruto stayed with Kushina and told her about his mother, Hinata, while the family welcomed the adult Sasuke into their home. That night, Black Zetsu and Obito captured the time-traveling turtle, and Obito prepared to travel to the past.

• Kushina invited Boruto to stay overnight, and Mikoto welcomed the adult Sasuke home.
• Boruto told Kushina about Naruto and Hinata, and the two agreed that Kushina would help bring them together.
• Naruto and Boruto played games, talked about school and homework, and fell asleep after Kushina sent them to bed.
• Black Zetsu entered Naruto's room, found the turtle in Boruto's spatial storage, and took it to Obito.
• Obito used his Mangekyō to control the turtle and decided to travel to the past with Black Zetsu alone.