Chapter Summaries

River reunited with Naruto and revealed that he was the boy’s uncle, offering him the family and support he had longed for. Their reunion alerted Konoha’s clans and Danzo that Namikaze Sui had returned, while Teuchi recognized him at Ichiraku Ramen.

• River told Naruto that he was his uncle, and Naruto joyfully embraced him, believing he had finally found family.
• River told Naruto that his parents were dead and comforted him as he shared how the villagers shunned him and called him a demon fox.
• Naruto and River headed out for ramen, with River insisting that he would pay for the meal.
• A hidden watcher recognized River as Namikaze Sui and reported his return, prompting prominent clans and Danzo to take notice.
• Uchiha Fugaku remarked that River had been causing a stir in the Land of Fire.
• Naruto introduced River to Teuchi as his uncle, and Teuchi froze when he recognized River.

River took Naruto to Ichiraku for ramen and told him he would soon return to teaching at the Ninja Academy. When a ninja confronted Naruto over his pranks, he recognized River as Lord Sui and introduced himself as Gekko Hayate.

• River and Naruto ate ramen at Ichiraku, where Teuchi and Ayame welcomed River back and recalled his past visits.
• River told Naruto that he would resume teaching at the Ninja Academy and offered to help him with his studies.
• Naruto learned that River was a Konoha jōnin and excitedly asked him for extra lessons.
• River offered to take responsibility for Naruto's pranks when a ninja confronted them.
• The ninja recognized River as Lord Sui, introduced himself as Gekko Hayate, and said he had always wanted to visit him.

River returned to Konoha with Naruto, settled into the rebuilt Namikaze Clan compound, and welcomed a visit from Uchiha Fugaku. Fugaku warned that Suimei had caused a serious disaster, leaving River asking what had happened and where Suimei was.

• Gekko Hayate asked River for guidance on his kekkei genkai, and River invited him to visit the next morning while Hayate promised to handle Naruto's pranks.
• River told Naruto to draw attention by becoming stronger, then took him home to the lavishly renovated Namikaze Clan compound.
• River explained to Naruto that Namikaze was his father's surname and Uzumaki was his mother's, and promised to tell him about his parents.
• Uchiha Fugaku arrived with Itachi and sarcastically greeted River before warning that the Uchiha Clan's situation had worsened and that Suimei had caused a major disaster.
• River said he had returned to help the Uchiha and asked Fugaku what Suimei had done and why he was not in Konoha.

River urged Uchiha Fugaku to stage a coup and join him in taking control of Konoha. Fugaku agreed to gather the Uchiha Clan and make preparations, leaving Itachi to notice his father’s grave expression as he departed.

• Uchiha Fugaku told River that tensions between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha had become impossible to contain.
• Fugaku revealed that Namikaze Suimei had killed the Daimyō and gained control over the Land of Fire’s political system.
• River argued that Konoha’s leadership was corrupt and told Fugaku to stage a coup.
• River proposed that the Uchiha Clan take control of Konoha with his help, and Fugaku agreed to support him.
• River asked whether Fugaku wanted to become Hokage, and Fugaku said he would try.
• Fugaku clasped River’s hand and said he would return to the clan to gather everyone and make arrangements.

After discussing a possible coup with River, Uchiha Fugaku gathered the clan and recalled Shisui, while Itachi suspected his father had made a major decision. River rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attempt to send him away from Konoha, began teaching at the Ninja Academy, and met Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto there.

• Uchiha Fugaku considered using River’s forces and the Namikaze Clan to support a coup, then told Itachi to summon Shisui and said he would speak to the Third Hokage about Itachi’s ANBU duties.
• Itachi noticed his father’s changed mood and learned that Uchiha Fugaku was calling a clan meeting, leaving him worried about Konoha’s future.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to remove River from his administrative post and suggested he lead an outside mission team, but River insisted on teaching.
• River left the Hokage’s Office determined to make plans and bring change to Konoha as thunder and rain swept over the village.
• River started work at the Ninja Academy and met Itachi and Sasuke at the entrance, where Naruto proudly introduced him as his uncle.

Namikaze Sui returned to the Ninja Academy as a teacher and reunited with Iruka, while Fukada Rumi nervously invited him out. He entered Naruto Uzumaki’s class and introduced himself as their new teacher.

• Namikaze Sui settled into the shared teachers’ office, where Iruka greeted him with respect and welcomed him as a colleague.
• Fukada Rumi met Namikaze Sui and nervously invited him out that evening, but he declined.
• Iruka told Namikaze Sui that Naruto Uzumaki struggled with chakra cultivation, and Sui agreed to keep an eye on him.
• Namikaze Sui entered the classroom, told Naruto to address him as Teacher, and introduced himself to the students as their new teacher.

River taught his first class at the Ninja Academy, encouraging Naruto and winning over the students. In the Land of Fire’s capital, Donquixote Doflamingo ordered Yakuro to tell Konoha to replace Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage.

• River introduced himself as the students’ new teacher and asked each child to share their name and dream.
• After Naruto was called the class’s dead last, River encouraged him and the other students to keep working without losing heart.
• River taught an engaging lesson, and the students discussed his background as head of the Namikaze Clan and his reputation as a powerful jōnin.
• Sasuke approached Naruto about their clans’ alliance, but Naruto rejected his offer of friendship; Hinata thanked Naruto for protecting her.
• Donquixote Doflamingo questioned Yakuro about Konoha’s Hokage and ordered him to demand that Hiruzen Sarutobi be replaced by a younger, stronger leader.

Donquixote Doflamingo encouraged a coup against Konoha by proposing that its leaders replace Hiruzen, while Shisui Uchiha and the Kaguya Clan prepared to return to Konoha. River told Naruto the truth about his parents and the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, then brought Naruto into his inner world to face the fox.

• Donquixote Doflamingo proposed replacing Hiruzen and left, expecting Konoha's people to use his suggestion as a pretext for a coup.
• Shisui Uchiha learned that the Kaguya Clan had been asked to send people to Konoha, and he set off with Kaguya Shugo and the clan members.
• Naruto asked River whether he was really his uncle and why Naruto struggled to learn chakra and Ninjutsu.
• River revealed that Naruto's parents were Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and Kushina Uzumaki, and explained how Minato sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.
• River used his Sharingan to take Naruto into his inner world, where Naruto saw the Nine-Tails and learned that the fox was inside his body.

River freed Kurama from Naruto’s seal and encouraged Naruto to befriend him, then Naruto reunited with Minato. Half a month later, the Land of Fire’s delegation arrived in Konoha and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Daimyō wanted him to retire as Hokage.

• River revealed his Rinnegan to Kurama, then proposed that Naruto become friends with the tailed beast instead of controlling him.
• River removed the seal, and Kurama stayed calm as Naruto spoke with Minato, who apologized for not being there for his son.
• Naruto asked River whether his parents would return, and River promised to bring them back to life.
• Over the next half month, Naruto’s progress surged until he could hold his own against Sasuke.
• The Daimyō’s delegation arrived in Konoha, and its official announced that Hiruzen Sarutobi should retire and give up the Hokage position; Hiruzen challenged the demand.

The Fire Country ambassador pressured Hiruzen to prepare for a new Hokage, while Konoha’s factions and the Uchiha Clan made moves amid rising tension. At the Ninja Academy, Sasuke asked River whether Fugaku could become Hokage, and River feared the Uchiha would soon face the Third Hokage’s faction.

• The ambassador urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to hand the Hokage position to a younger successor, and Hiruzen agreed that the role would eventually pass to the next generation.
• Hiruzen suspected the new Daimyō had a hidden motive and prepared for a possible coup, while his faction recalled its ninja and the Uchiha Clan gathered its members.
• Danzo learned of the growing rumors and resolved to identify the forces threatening Konoha.
• After the ambassador departed, rumors about choosing the Fifth Hokage spread through the village.
• Sasuke asked River whether Fugaku could become Hokage, and River said Fugaku had a chance; Naruto and other students then voiced support for River.
• River left the academy fearing the Third Hokage’s faction would soon strike against the Uchiha Clan.

River accompanied Itachi to meet Fugaku as the Uchiha faced growing pressure from Danzo and the Hokage's faction. River promised the Namikaze Clan would fight alongside the Uchiha, and Danzo learned of their alliance.

• Itachi told River that a masked Mysterious Man had invited him to join an organization, and River warned him to avoid it.
• Itachi said Shisui had returned and helped strengthen his confidence in the Uchiha Clan.
• Shisui told River that Shugo and the others had entered the village and were staying with the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku told River that Danzo might move against the Uchiha and that the Hokage's faction was meeting to discuss them; River pledged the Namikaze Clan's support.
• Danzo learned that Namikaze Sui had visited the Uchiha compound and that the Namikaze Clan had joined forces with the Uchiha, shocking Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo decided to move against the Uchiha, while the village’s prominent clans prepared for trouble. River spotted the attackers approaching the Uchiha compound, and the assault began.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Danzo to act against the Uchiha and leave no traces.
• Sasuke told Naruto that Teacher Sui had arranged an extended leave and sent him to the Uchiha Clan compound.
• Hinata learned she would stay home, while the gates of the Hyuga and other prominent clans were closed.
• River took position on a utility pole near the Uchiha compound and spotted the approaching enemies.
• Uchiha Fugaku ordered Sasuke to find Naruto and stay out of the fighting as Shisui warned Itachi that the enemy was coming.
• An attacker threw an explosive-tagged kunai at River, and masked figures charged toward the Uchiha compound.

Shisui Uchiha and Namikaze Sui helped the Uchiha Clan repel Danzo’s Root forces, turning the planned assassination into a rout. Danzo then secured help from a masked outsider and ordered another attack to wipe out the Uchiha Clan before dawn.

• Shisui Uchiha emerged from the compound and froze Root ninja with his gaze as the Uchiha Clan charged into battle.
• Namikaze Sui used the Flying Thunder God Technique to cut through Root, forcing the attackers to retreat toward Konoha.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that they might use a forbidden technique to summon past Hokage, but Hiruzen insisted it remain a last resort.
• Danzo met a man in a spiral-patterned mask, agreed to pay him and cover his tracks, and ordered him to join the Konoha ninja in another attack before dawn.

River and the Uchiha Clan advanced to confront Danzo and the Third Hokage, but Akatsuki members hired by Danzo blocked their path. The Akatsuki members recognized River as King, and he urged them to join his side and help take Konoha.

• Uchiha Fugaku found that the slain attackers were all from Root, and River told him the fighting was only beginning and that they had to defeat Danzo and the Third Hokage that night.
• River led the Uchiha forward, and Fugaku revealed that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• River and Fugaku encountered Akatsuki members hired by Danzo, including Sasori, Kakuzu, and Tobi.
• Tobi, Sasori, and Kakuzu recognized River as King, and River said he was allied with Fugaku and invited them to help take Konoha.

River confronted the masked Tobi during the Uchiha Clan massacre and revealed that he knew Tobi was Obito Uchiha. After River challenged Obito’s beliefs and hinted at the truth behind Rin’s death, their fight began, and River shattered Obito’s mask while revealing his Shikotsumyaku.

• Tobi recognized River as Namikaze Sui, the man who had killed the elderly Madara Uchiha, and challenged him instead of leaving.
• Kakuzu and Sasori declined to attack River, while Uchiha Fugaku offered to face Tobi and River sent Fugaku to deal with Danzo and the Third Hokage.
• River identified the masked man as Obito Uchiha and told him that Rin’s death had been arranged so Obito would witness it.
• Obito rejected River’s words, declared that the world was wrong, and attacked him with a black kunai.
• River and Obito exchanged blows using matching eyes and abilities until River struck Obito’s mask with a Bone Whip, revealing that River possessed Shikotsumyaku.

River exposed Obito’s face, challenged his beliefs about Rin’s death, and proposed helping the Uchiha Clan take the Hokage’s seat. As the Uchiha coup reached its peak, Fugaku confronted Hiruzen, and the Nine-Tails was summoned into the battle.

• River broke Obito’s mask and questioned whether Kakashi had truly killed Rin without cause, prompting Obito to stop fighting and demand answers.
• River said the Uchiha Clan should claim the Hokage’s seat and alluded to Madara Uchiha’s role in saving Obito beneath Kannabi Bridge.
• River sent Sasori and Kakuzu to support the Uchiha Clan, then Obito followed them into the battle.
• Fugaku confronted Hiruzen and revealed that the Kaguya Clan had allied with the Uchiha, while displaying his awakened Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Someone summoned the Nine-Tails into Konoha, and Hiruzen looked up in shock as it roared above the battlefield.

Namikaze Sui controlled the Nine-Tails during the Uchiha Clan’s confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, revealing that Naruto was safe. After Kurama devastated Konoha with Tailed Beast Bombs, Fugaku confronted Hiruzen and demanded that he step down and leave the village.

• The Nine-Tails appeared over Konoha, and Hiruzen accused Fugaku of controlling the beast as he had six years earlier.
• Fugaku denied knowing who had controlled the Nine-Tails before and identified Namikaze Sui as its current controller.
• Sui revealed himself on the Nine-Tails’ forehead, confirmed that Hiruzen was the target, and said Naruto was safe at home.
• Sui ordered Kurama to attack, and the Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Bomb that destroyed streets and buildings and swallowed Root members.
• Hiruzen and Danzo tried to rally Konoha’s clans, but another Tailed Beast Bomb forced them to flee.
• Sui demanded that Hiruzen resign and leave Konoha, while Fugaku attacked him with a Great Fireball Technique.

River, riding the Nine-Tails, fought Hiruzen Sarutobi while accusing him of betraying Minato and vowing to take back what should have been Minato’s. As Uchiha Fugaku pursued Danzo through Konoha, Hiruzen faced the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb and summoned Enma.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked River with multiple ninjutsu, but River absorbed or repelled them.
• River rejected Hiruzen’s appeal to Minato’s legacy and ordered Kurama to kill him.
• Kurama smashed through Hiruzen’s Earth-Style Wall and sent him flying, leaving him bloodied.
• Danzo fled into an alley while Uchiha Fugaku pursued him, and Fugaku used Amaterasu to burn Danzo’s squad.
• Kurama formed a Tailed Beast Bomb, and Hiruzen summoned Enma to face the attack.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fought River and the controlled Nine-Tails to protect Konoha, using Enma and a powerful five-element Ninjutsu. After trapping the Nine-Tails in an Adamantine cage, Hiruzen faced River’s sudden attack and a figure arriving with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Hiruzen and Enma stopped the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb with the Adamantine Staff and hurled it into the Forest of Konoha, where it exploded.
• River seized the Adamantine Staff and swung Hiruzen through houses while the Nine-Tails attacked him with its tails.
• Hiruzen and four Shadow Clones used the Five Release: Great Combo Technique against River, but River vanished from the explosion with an eye technique.
• Hiruzen and Enma trapped the Nine-Tails inside an Adamantine Prison Wall cage.
• River appeared behind Hiruzen and threw a Kunai, and another figure appeared along its path using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

River overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi with Flying Thunder God, the Rinnegan, and Wood Release. Hiruzen fled the forest attack, and River emerged as the victor while Konoha watched in shock.

• River used Flying Thunder God to nearly kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Enma blocked the strike with the Adamantine Staff.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked with shuriken and Earth Release, while River countered with a Big Ball Rasengan that injured Enma.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized River's Rinnegan as River unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
• Enma urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to flee, and River pursued him through the forest with Wood Release: Hotei Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi burst from the forest bloodied and escaped, while River emerged above the trees as Konoha's shinobi and clans watched in astonishment.