Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Musashi prepared to return to Konoha with his clan as the Chunin Exams began, while Meruem stole Konoha’s Sealing Scroll amid the invasion. Naruto defeated Shukaku and learned from the Golden Silkworm Gu to become Hokage and reclaim his name, leaving him conflicted over the Third Hokage’s death.

• Uchiha Musashi told his Three Tomoe Sharingan users to prepare for a return to Konoha and kept Impure World Reincarnation coffins ready.
• Meruem entered Konoha during the Chunin Exams invasion, defeated the guards protecting the forbidden techniques, and took the Sealing Scroll.
• Naruto confronted Shukaku in Nine Tails Mode and defeated him, then told Gaara that other Jinchuriki shared their fate.
• Orochimaru fought Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who used the Reaper Death Seal to seal the First and Second Hokage’s souls and Orochimaru’s hands before dying.
• Naruto questioned his feelings about the Third Hokage, and the Golden Silkworm Gu urged him to become Hokage and reclaim everything, including the name Namikaze Naruto.

Itachi and Kisame confronted Konoha’s ninja, and Itachi defeated Kakashi and Sasuke before Naruto and Jiraiya arrived. The Uchiha survivors, led by Uchiha Musashi, then entered Konoha with the elders’ approval and declared that they wanted to return home and rejoin the village.

• Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma recognized Itachi and Kisame at a dango shop, while Sasuke followed after spotting his brother.
• Itachi reflected Kurenai’s genjutsu, Kisame overwhelmed Asuma, and Itachi incapacitated Kakashi with Tsukuyomi.
• Sasuke attacked Itachi but was quickly overpowered, and Itachi prepared to use Tsukuyomi on him.
• Naruto arrived with a Super Rasengan, and Jiraiya and Guy joined the fight, prompting Itachi and Kisame to retreat.
• Uchiha Musashi arrived with nearly twenty Uchiha survivors, showed Jiraiya a document approving their return, and said they wanted to rejoin Konoha.

The Uchiha Clan returned to Konoha under Uchiha Musashi’s leadership, and Musashi challenged Uchiha Itachi to demonstrate his strength. Their fight ended with Musashi absorbing Itachi’s Amaterasu, revealing the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan.

• Konoha’s elders accepted the Uchiha Clan’s return because the village was weakened and needed its fighters, despite Danzo’s opposition.
• Uchiha Musashi identified himself as the Uchiha Clan’s current head, and Itachi attempted to leave with Kisame.
• Musashi challenged Itachi, and the two exchanged powerful Fire Release techniques and an elaborate ninja-tool battle.
• Itachi used Amaterasu, but Musashi absorbed the black flames with his right Mangekyo Sharingan and explained that he could digest and later control absorbed energy.

Uchiha Musashi defeated Itachi in their clash and expelled him from the Uchiha Clan, forcing Itachi and Kisame to leave. After the others departed, Musashi approached Sasuke, who still wanted to hear the truth Musashi had promised him.

• Musashi absorbed Itachi’s Amaterasu and broke free of his Tsukuyomi, leaving Itachi weakened and bleeding from the eyes.
• Musashi mocked Itachi and expelled him from the Uchiha Clan, threatening him if he ever used the Uchiha name again.
• Itachi left with Kisame after recovering enough to walk, while Jiraiya warned Musashi not to threaten Konoha.
• Kurenai objected to letting Itachi and Kisame go, but Musashi challenged her to stop them herself.
• After Kakashi and the others left, Musashi addressed Sasuke, who wanted to know the truth Musashi had mentioned before.

Pitou became the Chimera Ants’ first Queen Ant as Meruem’s rule remained absolute, while the ants continued infiltrating the Land of Water. In Konoha, Tsunade struggled to manage Danzo and the resurgent Uchiha Clan as Naruto and Sasuke grew stronger, and the chapter ended with the Chimera Ants nearing control of the Land of Water’s leadership.

• Meruem approved Pitou as the Chimera Ants’ first Queen Ant, silencing all opposition within the army.
• Tsunade restored Konoha after the Konoha Crush, but she faced growing tensions between Danzo’s Root and the returning Uchiha Clan.
• The Uchiha Clan killed Orochimaru’s Sound Four when they tried to lure Sasuke away, while Uchiha Musashi trained Sasuke and Naruto.
• Jiraiya disappeared after the Great Toad Sage summoned him back to Mount Myōboku.
• Already Snake told Meruem that the Chimera Ants would be ready to take over the Land of Water’s Daimyo’s Palace in a week, as their infiltration of the Mist Ninja Village continued.

Meruem met with Mei Terumi and her companions after the Chimera Ant army seized control of most of the Mist Ninja Village, offering them submission or death. Ao sensed Meruem’s overwhelming power and collapsed in terror, leaving Mei Terumi’s group facing the choice.

• The Chimera Ant army took Daimyo's Palace and brought most of the Mist Ninja Village under its control, while Mei Terumi, Ao, and Chojuro remained among the holdouts.
• Mei Terumi’s group requested a meeting with the outsiders’ leader after discovering they were trapped and could not defeat the enemy’s powerful fighters.
• Meruem agreed to meet them, hoping Mei Terumi could tell him where the Three-Tails was, and introduced himself as the King of the Chimera Ant race.
• Mei Terumi tried to flirt with Meruem while secretly considering whether Ao could scout his strength with the Byakugan.
• Meruem declared that Mei Terumi and her companions must submit or die, then released his malicious Nen toward Ao.
• Ao was overwhelmed by Meruem’s power and could not speak, while Meruem asked the group whether they had made their decision.

Meruem defeated the Mist resistance and brought the Land of Water under Chimera Ant control, then went to confront the Three Tails Isobu. After Youpi overpowered Isobu, Meruem demanded that he submit or die.

• Meruem defeated Chojuro and Mei Terumi, and the surviving resistance fighters surrendered or were killed.
• The Chimera Ant army took control of the Mist Ninja Village and the Land of Water.
• White Zetsu told Obito that unknown powerful monsters had appeared in the Land of Water and detected his spore clones.
• Obito recalled that Uchiha Musashi had defeated him and vowed to erase the Uchiha name within two years.
• Meruem went with Mei Terumi to find Isobu, the Three Tails, and considered him as a possible summoning beast for Uchiha Musashi.
• Youpi beat Isobu, lifted him by a tail, and slammed him into the ground before Meruem demanded his submission.

Shimura Danzo learned that the Uchiha Clan was building ties with minor families and vowed to stop them, while the clan met in secret to discuss its return to Konoha. Uchiha Sasuke asked Uchiha Musashi to train him so he could prove his traitorous brother wrong.

• A Root ninja reported to Shimura Danzo that the Uchiha Clan had gained the support of the Kurama Clan and another minor family.
• Shimura Danzo accused the Uchiha Clan of plotting against Konoha and said he would take action to claim their Sharingan.
• Uchiha Musashi gathered the clan and Uchiha Sasuke behind a barrier after meeting with two minor-family heads.
• Musashi reassured a worried clansman that Konoha's leaders would not act against them yet and said he meant to expose the people who opposed their return.
• Musashi told Sasuke he had learned the truth about the Uchiha Clan annihilation and could make his own decision.
• Sasuke asked Musashi to teach him to become stronger so he could show his brother that he was wrong.

Uchiha Musashi’s account of the massacre and Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan drove Sasuke further away from Itachi and closer to the Uchiha clan. The chapter then outlined the balance of power among the Naruto world’s villages and organizations.

• Sasuke learned that Itachi possessed Shisui’s eye and planned to use its ability to change Sasuke’s will if he turned against Konoha.
• Sasuke lost the last of his sympathy for Itachi, though he had not decided to kill him or destroy Konoha.
• Musashi expected Sasuke to grow closer to him and the clan over the next three years, giving Musashi influence over Sasuke.
• The chapter ranked the Chimera Ants as the Naruto world’s strongest power and compared the strength of the major ninja villages and Akatsuki.
• The chapter described the Land of Demons and the Land of Iron as surviving centers of older traditions, with Mifune possessing top Kage-level strength.

Jiraiya learned that the Great Toad Sage had been injured after foreseeing that the heavens would change, leaving him anxious about what was coming. Meanwhile, the Uchiha Clan spread detailed accusations against Danzo throughout Konoha, provoking public outrage and leaving Tsunade and the village clans questioning his silence.

• Jiraiya asked Fukasaku what the Great Toad Sage had seen, and Fukasaku explained that the Sage had summoned Jiraiya before collapsing without revealing more.
• Jiraiya worried that the Great Toad Sage's warning might concern Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, the Child of Prophecy.
• The Uchiha Clan circulated claims that Danzo had conspired against the Hokages, enabled the Uchiha massacre, and sought power by manipulating Konoha and its public.
• The accusations spread through Konoha, and villagers learned that the alleged conspirator was Shimura Danzo.
• Tsunade grew furious and questioned whether the detailed allegations about Danzo's crimes and experiments were true, while Danzo stayed silent.
• The Uchiha Clan used Sharingan-based psychological suggestions to spread the rumors while making it difficult for the Yamanaka Clan to identify their source.

Danzo launched a Root assault on the Uchiha Clan, determined to exterminate it again, while Musashi’s plan had already turned Konoha’s leaders against Root. Uchiha Anmie fought Danzo’s force but was badly wounded, and the chapter ended as the unseen Uchiha Clan Head appeared.

• Rumors about Danzo and Root spread throughout Konoha, drawing suspicion from its leaders while the village remained weakened and short on personnel.
• Danzo ordered Root to carry out the extermination plan that night, believing the Uchiha Clan could not resist his forces.
• Root infiltrated the Uchiha grounds, and Danzo entered through the main gate with his elite guards.
• Uchiha Anmie confronted Danzo and taunted him, but Root’s disciplined fighters did not take the bait.
• Danzo’s force defeated Anmie at great cost, leaving him gravely wounded and missing an arm.
• An unseen figure addressed Danzo and told him to remove his foot from Anmie; Anmie recognized the speaker as the Clan Head.

Uchiha Musashi arrived after killing the Root ninja on the left and attacked Danzo to save Uchiha Anmie. Musashi overwhelmed Danzo, pierced him with Demon Sword Muramasa, and forced him to reveal the Sharingan implanted in his arm and eye.

• Danzo realized that Musashi had arrived and suspected he had slaughtered the elite Root forces on the left.
• Musashi confronted Danzo for keeping his foot on Uchiha Anmie and struck him with a genjutsu-assisted sword attack.
• A Root ninja took Musashi’s fatal blow while protecting Danzo, and Musashi pulled Anmie out of danger.
• Musashi fought Danzo with his swordsmanship and gained the upper hand, despite Danzo’s attempts to use Shisui’s Sharingan genjutsu.
• Musashi pierced Danzo with Demon Sword Muramasa and warned that Izanagi could not save him if his body and soul were destroyed.
• Danzo admitted he was outmatched and removed his bandages, revealing five remaining Sharingan in his arm and one in his right eye.

Uchiha Musashi overwhelmed Danzo, destroying his attacks while Danzo exhausted the Sharingan implanted in his arm. After Uchiha Xi reported that Root’s forces had been annihilated, Danzo tried to use the Inner Four Symbols Seal, but Muramasa’s demonic power turned the tables as the chapter ended.

• Danzo summoned Baku and attacked Musashi with Wind Release, but Musashi absorbed the wind blades and burned Baku with Amaterasu.
• Musashi split Danzo’s Vacuum Great Spheres with Muramasa and struck him repeatedly, causing more Sharingan to close as Danzo used Izanagi.
• A wounded Root Anbu Guard charged Musashi and was beheaded, while Danzo failed to stop Musashi with Fire Release or his imitation Wood Release.
• Uchiha Xi arrived with the surviving Uchiha and reported that the Root ninja on the right had been annihilated.
• Danzo revealed the runes for the Inner Four Symbols Seal, but Muramasa’s demonic power took effect as the world spun and Danzo closed his eyes.

After Danzo and Root were destroyed, Konoha’s clans and leaders reconsidered the Uchiha Clan’s power, while Meruem planned for Musashi’s future influence. Meruem then sent Cheetu, Naru, and other Chimera Ants to the Hot Spring Ninja Village to capture Hidan for his unusual ability.

• The Uchiha Clan claimed Danzo and Root had attacked first, and Konoha’s clans grew wary of the Uchiha while smaller clans sought its favor.
• Tsunade kept the destruction of Root secret from civilians and refrained from confronting the Uchiha Clan because Konoha could not afford another conflict.
• Kisame reflected that Akatsuki still had nearly three years to grow stronger now that Root could no longer target the Uchiha Clan.
• Meruem discussed helping Musashi build influence in Konoha and noted that his strength had recovered to nearly eighty percent.
• Cheetu and Naru led a Chimera Ant force toward the Hot Spring Ninja Village to find Hidan, whose strange ability Meruem wanted to obtain.

Hidan massacred Hot Spring Ninja Village and joined the Akatsuki, where he was sent to meet his new partner. Cheetu and Hidan fought, but Cheetu easily dodged his attacks as Naru grew impatient.

• Meruem wanted to learn Hidan's ability to transfer damage, seeing it as a potential new weapon.
• Hidan slaughtered the ninja of Hot Spring Ninja Village and told their leader he was offering them to the Evil God.
• White Zetsu appeared and told Hidan to go to Rain Ninja Village, where he would meet a companion from the organization.
• Cheetu, Naru, and the Chimera Ant group arrived, and Hidan mistook them for the people sent to pick him up.
• Hidan attacked Cheetu, who easily dodged and taunted him while Naru complained about the two of them.

Naru used God Worship to strike Hidan with lightning, leaving him paralyzed for capture, while Cheetu urged the group to abandon their mission and relax. As Naru and Cheetu headed to deliver Hidan to Meruem, Kakuzu appeared and demanded that they hand over his new companion.

• Cheetu fled when Naru began using God Worship, but the lightning Naru summoned struck Hidan and paralyzed him despite his immortal body.
• Cheetu and Naru handed Hidan to Chimera Ant soldiers, and Naru refused Cheetu's suggestion to go enjoy the local hot springs before completing Meruem's assignment.
• Naru warned Cheetu that the human world held powerful enemies and reminded him that Meruem would only let him travel freely after he survived three of the King's moves.
• Cheetu sensed a human nearby, and Kakuzu appeared to demand that Naru and Cheetu hand over Hidan, whom he called his new companion.
• Naru realized his God Worship misfortune had caught up with them and worried that he could not use the ability again without risking disaster.

Naru and Cheetu fought Kakuzu and Hidan while carrying out the King’s mission, and Nagato learned that Kakuzu had nearly been killed. Two years later, Akatsuki began its Tailed Beast Capture Plan by sending Deidara and Sasori to capture Gaara, prompting the Sand Ninja Village to request help from Konoha.

• Kakuzu demanded that Naru hand over Hidan, but Naru refused and the Chimera Ants attacked Kakuzu and his masked monsters.
• Cheetu and Naru returned to the Land of Water badly injured, with Cheetu eager to fight Kakuzu again and Naru chastened by the battle.
• Meruem examined a newly acquired damage-transfer power beside the ashes of another fallen powerhouse.
• Nagato sensed that something had changed, then learned through Akatsuki’s rings that Kakuzu had nearly been killed.
• Two years later, Deidara and Sasori infiltrated the Sand Ninja Village and captured Gaara, leading the village to send a distress signal to Konoha.
• Konoha dispatched Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke to assist the Sand Ninja Village.

Meruem summoned the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation so Taotie could seize their powers and the First Hokage’s Ōtsutsuki bloodline. He gave a Chimera Ant soldier a counterfeit Rinnegan and ordered him to use Rinne Rebirth, leaving the Hokage’s revival underway.

• Meruem explained that Taotie could now fully absorb an opponent’s abilities and soul if he defeated them fairly or they willingly submitted.
• Meruem concluded that the First Hokage was his only available target for obtaining Ōtsutsuki bloodline power, and decided to absorb the other Hokage as well.
• Meruem summoned Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Minato Namikaze with Impure World Reincarnation.
• The four Hokage emerged and questioned one another about their revival while ignoring Meruem.
• Meruem placed a counterfeit Rinnegan in a Chimera Ant soldier’s eye and ordered him to use Outer Path: Rinne Rebirth.

Meruem challenged the four revived Hokage, overwhelming them with his speed and durability as they fought together. The battle continued with Hiruzen launching an enormous shuriken attack while Minato rescued the injured Tobirama.

• Meruem introduced himself as the Chimera Ant King and told the four Hokage he had revived them so he could kill them again.
• Tobirama attacked Meruem, who pierced him before Tobirama escaped with space-time ninjutsu.
• Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato attacked together, but Meruem evaded their strikes and emerged unharmed from Hashirama's Wood Release and Tobirama's water attack.
• Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Killing Technique failed to pierce Meruem, who struck and seriously injured him.
• Minato rescued Tobirama with Flying Thunder God while Hiruzen covered them with multiplied, enlarged shuriken.

Meruem survived Hiruzen Sarutobi’s explosive trap and fought Hashirama Senju, matching the First Hokage’s strongest techniques. As Meruem revealed his full power and Sage Mode, the remaining Hokage joined forces to face him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi detonated a formation of giant shuriken fitted with Exploding Tags, but Meruem emerged nearly unharmed.
• Hashirama Senju fought Meruem with Wood Release and Sage Art techniques, and their strongest attacks clashed without either gaining the upper hand.
• Meruem acknowledged Hashirama’s strength, then declared the fight was over and revealed his complete power and unstable Sage Mode.
• Minato Namikaze entered Sage Mode, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma, and Tobirama Senju cast the Dark Travel Technique over the island.
• Meruem challenged the Hokage to fight together, and the four prepared to face him.