Chapter Summaries

A masked man and an old Uchiha prepared to attack Konoha as Kushina gave birth to Naruto. The masked man seized the newborn and threatened Minato, while River faced the old man in the courtyard.

• The black-clad masked man met an old man with Sharingan at a gravestone, and the old man agreed to use his name as he carried out the plan.
• As Kushina went into labor, River asked Minato whether he would regret dying to protect the village and leaving his child alone; Minato trusted Konoha to care for the child.
• Kushina gave birth to a boy, and River told Minato to act as Hokage when he saw the old man and masked man appear in the courtyard.
• River recognized the old man and led him away, while the masked man warped into the room and killed Biwako Sarutobi.
• The masked man took Naruto and warned Minato to stay back or he would kill the baby.

Minato rescued Naruto after a masked man abducted Kushina, while River confronted the aged Madara Uchiha in the forest outside Konoha. Madara revealed his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan as the fight escalated.

• The masked man threw Naruto aside, and Minato saved him from the explosive tags as the masked man vanished with Kushina.
• Minato placed Naruto in another house and realized that an unknown group was targeting Kushina and Konoha.
• River faced the aged Madara Uchiha in the forest and identified him by name.
• River and Madara exchanged taijutsu attacks, with River using Tempest Kick and pressing Madara with relentless strikes.
• Madara unleashed Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame, but River countered with Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave and returned fire with his own flames.
• Madara activated the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, warning River that its power was limited but would be enough to defeat him.

River fought Madara, who used the Sharingan to predict and copy his Taijutsu. The fight ended with River revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan and then the Rinnegan, leaving Madara stunned and demanding to know how he obtained them.

• Madara attacked River with his immense strength, and River retaliated with Tempest Kick and Finger Pistol.
• Madara used his Sharingan to predict River’s attacks and copied his Tempest Kick, while River’s Taijutsu failed to land.
• River revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan, shocking Madara, who demanded to know where he had gotten the eyes.
• River claimed he had cracked the secrets of the Sharingan and could replicate its bloodline in anyone.
• River’s eyes transformed into the Rinnegan, leaving Madara in disbelief at how River could possess the same eyes.

River revealed that he had awakened the Rinnegan and used its powers against the aged Madara. Madara summoned a frail Susanoo to defend himself, but River repelled its attack and cracked its bones.

• Madara was shocked to see River wielding the Rinnegan and demanded to know how he had obtained the eyes.
• River explained that he had analyzed the Uchiha and Senju bloodlines, then used Banshō Ten'in to pull Madara toward him and seize him by the neck.
• River taunted Madara about his aged, weakened body, while Madara realized River was far more dangerous than he had expected.
• Madara released a skeletal Susanoo after River let go of him, and River called it weak.
• Madara's Susanoo swung a bony fist at River, who used Shinra Tensei to repel the blow and crack its bones.

River overwhelmed the aged Madara in battle, but Madara revealed that his plan was proceeding as intended. The chapter ended as a masked figure appeared in Konoha and called for the Nine-Tails to come out.

• River crushed Madara's Susanoo with Almighty Shinra Tensei, leaving Madara gravely injured and convinced River was a major threat to Obito's plans.
• Madara used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence in a final battle, and River countered with the same technique.
• Madara told River that every part of his plan had gone smoothly, then directed his attention toward Konoha.
• A masked figure appeared in Konoha's central street and shouted for the Nine-Tails to come out.

The Nine-Tails rampaged through Konoha while Minato fought a masked enemy and tried to protect the village. In the Forest of Konoha, River defeated Madara, who died promising they would meet again.

• The Nine-Tails attacked Konoha, and a masked man noticed the Sharingan in the beast’s eyes before teleporting away.
• Minato confronted the masked man, who taunted him about Sui’s disappearance and the destruction in Konoha.
• Minato struck the masked man with a Rasengan, then returned to face the Nine-Tails and drive it away from the village.
• In the Forest of Konoha, River revealed that he had used the Rasengan and Flying Thunder God against Madara.
• Madara praised River’s strength, said they would meet again, and died.

River defeated Madara and drove off the masked man, then joined forces with Uchiha Fugaku to support Minato. He arrived as Minato prepared to sacrifice himself to seal the Nine-Tails, leaving everyone hoping he could save his brother.

• River detected the masked man and Zetsu, and the masked man escaped with Madara’s corpse.
• River met Uchiha Fugaku in Konoha and agreed to help Minato fight the Nine-Tails.
• Fugaku pledged the Uchiha Clan’s support, and River used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Minato.
• Minato prepared to use the Reaper Death Seal to seal the Nine-Tails and entrusted Naruto’s care to the others.
• River arrived at the sealing site, and Hiruzen, Minato, Kakashi, Guy, and Kabuto recognized him.

River used the Rinnegan’s Human Path to wrest Minato and Kushina’s souls from the Death God during the Nine-Tails’ sealing. He saved their souls for a possible future revival, but collapsed from exhaustion as the Death God’s projection faded and Naruto cried.

• River confronted Minato and criticized his plan to make Naruto the next jinchūriki.
• River silenced the Nine-Tails with his Rinnegan as Minato sealed the fox’s chakra into the Death God and Naruto.
• River used Human Path to seize Minato and Kushina’s souls, splitting them between himself and the Death God.
• River struggled against the Death God’s pull while Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the others to retreat from the freezing aura.
• River finally pulled Minato’s soul and the Nine-Tails’ yin chakra from the Death God, then collapsed as the Death God faded away.

After Minato and Kushina died stopping the Nine-Tails, River took in the newborn Naruto and prepared to leave Konoha with Shisui after the funeral. At Minato and Kushina’s burial, River honored his brother and dismissed Orochimaru’s talk of escaping death.

• After Minato and Kushina died, River took Naruto in his arms, and the baby stopped crying; Hiruzen promised to arrange the couple’s burial.
• Fugaku sent Shisui to stay with River, who told him they would leave Konoha after Minato’s funeral.
• Konoha residents and ninja mourned Minato and Kushina, while some blamed Naruto for the Nine-Tails’ destruction.
• At the funeral, River praised Minato for sacrificing himself to protect Konoha, bowed at his grave, and laid down flowers with Guy, Kabuto, Kakashi, and the others.
• Orochimaru asked River about his lack of visible grief and suggested that life could continue in another form, but River refused to discuss it.

After Minato’s funeral, River spoke with Jiraiya about the Nine-Tails’ rampage and decided to leave Konoha, then returned to the pirate world. Two months had passed there, the Empire had conquered the Four Blues and begun advancing into the Grand Line, and River had regained his full power.

• Jiraiya arrived at Minato’s funeral, grieved for his former student, and met River, Minato’s younger brother.
• River told Jiraiya about the mysterious old man and the powerful opponent who might have been Madara, and Jiraiya learned that Minato had sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.
• River told Jiraiya he planned to leave Konoha and rely on the Third Hokage and friends to care for Naruto.
• After the rain stopped, River opened a dark vortex and returned to the pirate world, where Freya told him two months had passed and the Empire had taken the Four Blues.
• Freya told River that Mary Geoise had revealed Lord Imu’s existence above the Five Elders, and River said no individual could stand against the era’s tide.

River brought Donquixote Doflamingo from the pirate world to the Naruto World and assigned him to establish their first force there. Doflamingo arrived in the Namikaze Clan's courtyard with his abilities largely intact, while River prepared to leave him to work in secret.

• River chose Doflamingo to help establish a foothold in the Naruto World and summoned him to prepare for the journey.
• River opened a black vortex and took Doflamingo through it, startling Freya as they disappeared.
• River and Doflamingo arrived in the Namikaze Clan's courtyard, where Doflamingo realized he was in a different world.
• Doflamingo tested his abilities and found that he could still use his threads and Haki with only subtle changes.
• River told Doflamingo to renovate the courtyard and secretly establish their first force before River left.

River left Konoha with Shisui and traveled toward the Land of Water, while Doflamingo stayed behind under the name Namikaze Suimei to look after Naruto. Along the journey, River shared his ideas about peace and power with Shisui, who agreed to help him save the world.

• River named Doflamingo Namikaze Suimei and assigned him to care for Naruto while River traveled with Shisui.
• Hiruzen and Danzo discussed River's departure, Suimei's arrival, and who should become the next Hokage.
• River told Shisui they were heading to the Land of Water to find promising people and save them from the world's turmoil.
• River and Shisui traveled through small countries, enjoying local life as they discussed the future and River's ideas about peace and rule.
• Shisui agreed to help River save the world from its endless wars and strife.

At sea, River told Shisui that the Uchiha could escape conflict with Konoha by leaving the village, and they traveled toward the Land of Water to find a new home for the clan. In Konoha, Donquixote Doflamingo considered taking Naruto to the Land of Fire's capital, subdued Guy, and noticed Uchiha Fugaku arriving.

• Shisui told River he might choose the Uchiha Clan if it came into conflict with Konoha.
• River suggested that the Uchiha leave Konoha and said Space-Time Ninjutsu could help relocate them.
• River explained that their journey toward the Land of Water was meant to find a place where the Uchiha could settle.
• Donquixote Doflamingo said he might visit the Land of Fire's capital and take Naruto with him.
• Guy attacked Donquixote Doflamingo with Tempest Kick, but Doflamingo stopped him and controlled his body.
• Donquixote Doflamingo announced visitors had arrived as Uchiha Fugaku entered with a young child.

Doflamingo tested Uchiha Fugaku’s strength, then tried to recruit the Uchiha Clan into his plans. He proposed taking control of the Land of Fire by moving against its Daimyo, leaving Fugaku confronted with the risks of cooperation and inaction.

• Doflamingo used threads to seize control of Itachi and make him attack Fugaku, who restrained his son.
• Fugaku activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and cast Tsukuyomi, but Doflamingo broke the genjutsu with Conqueror’s Haki.
• Doflamingo invited Fugaku inside and said the Uchiha Clan could help carry out the plans Sui had assigned him.
• Fugaku challenged the Namikaze Clan’s authority, and Doflamingo threatened to destroy the Uchiha Clan if it refused to cooperate.
• Doflamingo offered to give Fugaku what he wanted if the Uchiha helped him move against the Land of Fire’s Daimyo.
• Fugaku questioned the plan, and Doflamingo warned that waiting would leave the Uchiha Clan facing annihilation.

Uchiha Fugaku listened as Donquixote Doflamingo urged him to cooperate with the Namikaze Clan to save the Uchiha. Meanwhile, River and Shisui entered Kirigakure, where they met the starving child Shiro, and River offered him a home.

• Donquixote Doflamingo warned Uchiha Fugaku that the Uchiha faced destruction and urged him to abandon his old ways and consider cooperating with the Namikaze Clan.
• River and Shisui entered Kirigakure disguised as displaced civilians and witnessed a ninja kill another man in the street.
• River and Shisui found the Kaguya Clan compound watched by Kirigakure ninja, but River chose to wait before making contact.
• River noticed a pale, cold child begging for food at a restaurant and asked Shisui to invite him to eat.
• Shiro told River and Shisui his name, and River offered to let him live with them like family.

River welcomed Shiro into his group after learning he was a Yuki Clan descendant with Ice Release, then built a mansion in the woods for them to use as a home and training ground. Shisui began Shiro’s ninja training while River looked toward the Kaguya Clan.

• River reassured Shiro and asked whether he was willing to follow him despite the dangers, and Shiro firmly agreed.
• River revealed that Shiro was a Yuki Clan descendant with Ice Release, and Shisui agreed to train him.
• River assigned Shisui to gather information about the Kaguya Clan while the group left the shop.
• River used Wood Release to build a mansion and courtyard in a clearing outside the village.
• River told Shiro that they were ninja from Konoha and made Shisui responsible for his training.
• Shisui began teaching Shiro chakra control as River considered the time Shiro and Kimimaro would need to grow.

River secretly monitored the Kaguya Clan as its leader decided to wage war against Kirigakure, then revealed himself and offered a way to save the clan. The Kaguya leader learned River could use the Flying Thunder God Technique and asked what he wanted in return.

• Shisui trained Shiro while River gathered intelligence on the Kaguya Clan with Wood Release.
• The Kaguya clan leader ordered Kaguya Shugo to prepare the clan for a fight to the death against Kirigakure.
• River appeared from a tree and warned the Kaguya clan leader that the clan would be wiped out if it fought Kirigakure.
• River identified himself as Minato Namikaze's younger brother and offered to relocate the Kaguya Clan using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• The Kaguya clan leader asked River what terms he demanded for saving the clan.

River negotiated with the Kaguya Clan Leader to take Kimimaro as his disciple in exchange for helping the clan relocate, promising to seek a cure for Kimimaro’s disease. After finding Kimimaro imprisoned, River freed him and began leading him away, saying they were going home.

• River asked the Kaguya Clan Leader to give him Kimimaro and revealed that Kimimaro had a life-threatening kekkei genkai disease.
• The Kaguya Clan Leader agreed to hand over Kimimaro after River promised to take him as a disciple, seek a cure, and help the clan relocate.
• Kaguya Shugo explained that the clan had imprisoned Kimimaro because he could not control Shikotsumyaku and planned to use him as a weapon against Kirigakure.
• River met Kimimaro in the prison, called himself his teacher, and promised him a home where he would have enough to eat and would not suffer.
• River took Kimimaro by the hand and stepped forward, telling him they were going home despite the Kirigakure ANBU outside.

River brought Kimimaro from the Kaguya Clan to train with Shisui and Shiro, after arranging to help the clan leave the Land of Water. During training, Kimimaro suddenly lost control of his Shikotsumyaku and attacked Shiro, prompting Shisui to intervene.

• River used plants to tell the Kaguya Clan Leader and Kaguya Shugo to contact him through the courtyard’s flowers and trees, then agreed to help the clan leave the Land of Water.
• River brought Kimimaro to the forest near Kirigakure, where Shisui and Shiro were training, and told him to train alongside them.
• River said he planned to establish a ninja village for the Kaguya Clan in the Land of Waves, which would also serve as a secret base outside the Land of Fire.
• Over the next few days, Kimimaro and Shiro grew close while Shisui trained them.
• On the third day, Kimimaro lost control of his Shikotsumyaku, grew bone spikes, and charged at Shiro, so Shisui stepped in and suspected a Kekkei Genkai Disease.

Shisui brought Kimimaro back under control as River considered how to guide the young shinobi and his allies. Meanwhile, River’s Wood Clone prepared a teleportation route through the Land of Water to the Land of Waves, while Doflamingo and Fugaku headed to confront the Fire Daimyō, confident Namikaze Sui would approve.

• Shisui used his Sharingan to stop Kimimaro from losing control of his Shikotsumyaku, then reprimanded him for failing to master it.
• River watched the two and planned to give Shisui, Guy, Kabuto, Shiro, Kimimaro, and the others a shared sense of home and purpose.
• River’s Wood Clone traveled through the Land of Water, placing a Teleportation Grand Array to help them escape Kirigakure’s pursuit.
• After reaching the Land of Waves, the Wood Clone killed the merchant who controlled the country, took over his organization, and set up another Teleportation Array.
• Doflamingo and Uchiha Fugaku approached a city in the Land of Fire to make a move against the Daimyō, and Doflamingo insisted Namikaze Sui would approve.