Chapter Summaries

Kanae slaughtered Kusagakure after rejecting its leader’s claim that she belonged to the Uzumaki Clan. Survivors carried news of the massacre to the neighboring borders, and the shinobi world soon learned that one red-haired girl had destroyed an entire village.

• Kanae tore off Kusagakure’s leader’s right arm, denied any connection to the Uzumaki Clan, then ripped off his head and kicked it into the night sky.
• The terrified villagers and ninja fled in every direction, but Kanae hunted them through Kusagakure and slaughtered nearly everyone.
• A few survivors reached the borders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth at dawn, where border patrol ninja detained them and sent reconnaissance squads to investigate.
• The reconnaissance squads found Kusagakure reduced to a bloodied ruin and reported the massacre to the two nations’ leaders.
• Within days, news that an eight- or nine-year-old red-haired girl had wiped out Kusagakure spread across the shinobi world.

The destruction of Kusagakure by Kanae sparked worldwide fear of the Veil Organization and speculation about its ties to the Uzumaki Clan. In Konoha, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed the threat and questioned whether Kanae had once attacked Konoha.

• Shinobi across the world debated why Kanae had destroyed Kusagakure and whether the Veil Organization was divided over revenge for the Uzumaki Clan.
• The Five Great Nations agreed to lock down their territories in response to the threat posed by Kanae and the Veil Organization.
• Tsunade allowed Hiruzen Sarutobi to advise Konoha’s leadership, but denied him decision-making and command authority.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade reviewed reports of Kusagakure’s destruction and recognized the Veil Organization’s power as far greater than they had thought.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that Kanae might be a Veil Organization member who had attacked Konoha in the past.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Jiraiya discussed the Veil Organization’s leader and the threat posed by its destruction of Kusagakure. They agreed to avoid provoking the organization while prioritizing reconciliation with Nagato and the Land of Rain, whose response to Konoha’s letter remained uncertain.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that the Veil Organization may have deliberately made its attack on Kusagakure public to intimidate the Shinobi World.
• Tsunade argued that Konoha could not afford to remain passive, while Hiruzen Sarutobi urged caution to avoid provoking the Veil Organization.
• Jiraiya proposed watching other factions’ moves without recklessly investigating the organization and making peace with the Land of Rain a priority.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade agreed to prepare aid supplies and demonstrate Konoha’s goodwill once the Land of Rain responded to Jiraiya’s letter.
• Jiraiya hoped Nagato had misunderstood Konoha’s intentions and wished he could speak with his former student directly.

Nagato and Konan agreed to accept Konoha’s aid in rebuilding the Land of Rain and to focus on protecting their people. After the Masked Man urged Nagato to contact the Veil Organization and accelerate their plan, Nagato and Konan chose to keep their own pace and wait for more information.

• Nagato and Konan decided to accept Konoha’s goodwill and assign negotiators to handle its merchant caravans.
• Konan warned that Kanae’s massacre of Kusagakure showed the Veil Organization had no concern for the Shinobi World’s stability, but Nagato said they would ignore it unless it obstructed them.
• The Masked Man appeared and urged Nagato to contact the Veil Organization because the Sky Screen might reveal their plan and their old approach might no longer work.
• Konan rejected the Masked Man’s advice, arguing that they should maintain their plan and gather more information before changing course.
• After the Masked Man vanished, Nagato resolved to accept Konoha’s aid and focus on stabilizing the Land of Rain, and Konan agreed to prepare for the caravans.

Uchiha Itachi revealed himself in Konoha to confront Uchiha Sen, whose hidden surveillance had been detected. Sen escaped after warning Itachi that he would make sure Sarada was born.

• Kakashi and the dango shop owner discussed Nagato's cooperation with Konoha, the Veil Organization, and Karin's capture by Orochimaru.
• Kakashi sensed a deadly threat and leapt away as Uchiha Itachi revealed himself and summoned his red Susanoo.
• Uchiha Itachi called out Uchiha Sen, and villagers recognized Itachi as the dango shop owner and panicked.
• Konoha's shinobi and Anbu surrounded the area as Uchiha Sen's voice echoed from an unknown location.
• Uchiha Sen admitted he had been spying with his Mangekyo ability, promised to return, and said he would make sure Sarada was born before escaping.
• Uchiha Itachi regretted that Sen had slipped away after Itachi detected his chakra.

After Uchiha Itachi exposed Uchiha Sen spying on Konoha, Tsunade ordered an extensive search, but Sen escaped through the village gate. Hiruzen recognized Itachi’s return and offered him a concealed teaching position at the Ninja Academy.

• Kakashi realized that Uchiha Sen had been hiding in Konoha and understood why Itachi had activated Susanoo to expose him.
• Kakashi explained Sen’s surveillance to Tsunade, who ordered Jiraiya to mobilize sensory ninja and Anbu to search the village.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Itachi rushed to the gate after Sen injured two guards and escaped into the forest.
• Tsunade ordered round-the-clock patrols and screenings at the gate after the searchers concluded Sen had escaped beyond their reach.
• Hiruzen spoke with Itachi, and Kakashi quietly concealed his earlier decision not to report Itachi’s return.
• Hiruzen offered to arrange a concealed teaching position for Itachi at the Ninja Academy.

Uchiha Itachi revealed that an inexplicable thought about Sarada had alerted him to Uchiha Sen’s hidden Mangekyō influence, prompting Konoha’s leaders to warn one another about the ability. The village leaders then worried that Itachi’s presence in Konoha would reach Sasuke, while Tsunade blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s generation for the problems they were left to manage.

• Tsunade asked Uchiha Itachi how he had detected Uchiha Sen, and Itachi explained that he had suddenly wished Sarada could come to their world.
• Jiraiya concluded that Uchiha Sen’s Mangekyō ability had planted the thought in Itachi’s mind, and Tsunade ordered the leaders to watch for signs of mental interference.
• Tsunade warned that the red Susanoo had exposed Itachi’s presence in Konoha, and Jiraiya predicted Sasuke would be furious when he found out.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi insisted Itachi would never attack Konoha, while Tsunade blamed his generation’s decisions for the village’s current troubles and walked away.

After learning that Uchiha Itachi had been living in Konoha and running a dango shop, Sasuke rushed to find him, only to find the shop empty. Convinced the village’s leaders were hiding the truth from him, Sasuke stormed into the Hokage Office to demand answers.

• Little Blackie told the Academy students that Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sen had appeared in Konoha, and Sasuke learned that Itachi had been running a dango shop in the village.
• Sasuke rushed to the dango shop, where he found the door shut and no sign of Itachi.
• Sasuke vowed to find Itachi and ask him why he had stayed away.
• Sasuke decided Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the Third knew about Itachi’s return and headed to the Hokage Office.
• Sasuke kicked open the Hokage Office door, silencing everyone inside.

Sasuke confronted Konoha’s leaders about Itachi, then resolved to grow strong enough to find him. Andy worried that Itachi’s new hiding place across from his store could expose him, and he made a move by placing himself at a busy snack shop near the Ninja Academy.

• Sasuke barged into the Hokage Office demanding to know where Itachi was, and Tsunade punched him and threw him into the hallway.
• Jiraiya told Sasuke that Itachi had revealed himself only after noticing Uchiha Sen, and that no one could find him if he chose to hide.
• Sasuke accepted Jiraiya’s advice and vowed to become stronger than Itachi and find him himself.
• Andy realized Itachi had rented a place across the street from his general store and worried that Itachi’s caution could expose him.
• The next morning, Andy appeared as a gentle, ordinary-faced clerk at a busy snack shop near the Ninja Academy.

The Uzumaki elders learned that Konoha had attacked the team sent to request aid, leaving Uzushio Village without hope of rescue. Their clan leader revealed that Konoha was waiting for Mito to die so it could begin raising the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Uzumaki elders discussed Konoha's failure to answer their requests for help as Uzushio Village faced destruction.
• Two clan members brought the gravely wounded Hoshina back to the hall.
• Hoshina said Konoha ninja had attacked her aid-seeking team and confirmed she recognized their chakra.
• The clan leader told the elders that Mito's life force was nearly exhausted and Konoha was waiting for her death to raise the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The Shinobi World suspected Konoha had helped destroy Uzushio Village to secure Uzumaki bloodlines and a successor to Mito as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Tsunade challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over Konoha’s betrayal, while Uzushio’s clan leader revealed that Konoha feared a second Uzumaki Jinchūriki could give Uzushio influence over the village.

• People across the Shinobi World accused Konoha of abandoning Uzushio Village so it could take control of surviving Uzumaki orphans and choose a new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Tsunade confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi, who denied plotting against Uzushio and said he had only failed to send aid in time.
• Tsunade argued that the Uzumaki survivors’ lasting hatred of Konoha could not be explained by a mere delay in sending reinforcements.
• Jiraiya suggested someone might have kept Hiruzen in the dark, and Hiruzen wondered whether Danzo had orchestrated the betrayal.
• Uzushio’s elders protested that their village would have willingly provided a clan member to inherit the Nine-Tails’ seal if Konoha had asked.
• Uzushio’s clan leader explained that Konoha may have feared an Uzumaki Jinchūriki would give Uzushio power over Konoha’s lifeline.

The Uzumaki clan leader ordered Uzushio Village to prepare for evacuation and offer its sealing arts to its enemies in exchange for peace and neutrality. As the Sky Screen revealed his desperate plan, people across the shinobi world blamed Konoha for abandoning Uzushio, while the other village leaders watched in disbelief.

• The Uzumaki clan leader told the elders to prepare escape routes and divide their clansmen and secret scrolls among separate teams.
• He ordered a delegation to offer Uzushio Village’s secret sealing arts to its enemies and proposed neutral alliances with the great nations.
• The elders accepted the clan leader’s plan, and he wrote confidential letters seeking peace and neutral alliances before sending a team to deliver them.
• Viewers across the shinobi world concluded that Konoha had distrusted the Uzumaki Clan and let Uzushio Village be surrounded, despite its pleas for help.
• Leaders of the four great hidden villages watched the Sky Screen in stunned disbelief.

The Sky Screen revealed that Konoha intercepted the Uzumaki Clan’s peace mission, killed its messengers, destroyed their letter, and stole their sealing scrolls while framing the clan as traitors. The shinobi world condemned Konoha as the truth shattered its reputation.

• Konoha’s betrayal stirred unrest in the village, and Naruto Uzumaki felt distressed watching the Uzumaki Clan’s plight.
• Masked Konoha shinobi ambushed and killed the Uzumaki messengers, then recovered their peace letter and secret sealing scrolls.
• The masked leader called the Uzumaki traitors, tore up the peace letter, and ordered Konoha’s forces to threaten the besieging armies under the guise of protecting Uzushio Village.
• The leader kept the stolen scrolls and declared that Uzumaki blood and techniques would benefit Konoha before withdrawing.
• Viewers across the shinobi world cursed Konoha, while an elderly veteran shinobi said the truth would have stayed hidden if not for the Sky Screen.

After the Sky Screen exposed Konoha’s betrayal of the Uzumaki Clan, Tsunade and Jiraiya confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over his complicity, while furious villagers surrounded Shimura Danzō’s compound. Konoha’s reputation collapsed as the footage continued to show Danzō watching Uzushio Village burn.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya condemned Hiruzen Sarutobi for looking the other way, and Jiraiya accused him of tacitly allowing Danzo’s crimes.
• Hiruzen admitted to himself that he might have let Danzo’s actions stand because they benefited Konoha and strengthened his rule.
• Shimura Danzō watched the footage and suspected that his memories of the events at Uzushio Village had been altered.
• Angry Konoha villagers gathered outside the Shimura Clan compound, cursing Danzō and throwing rotten food and stones.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade recognized that Konoha’s reputation and its standing with the Uzumaki survivors had been irreparably damaged.
• The Sky Screen continued showing Danzō observing the massacre and fires at Uzushio Village.

The Uzumaki Third Elder and the clan’s young survivors were saved from Konoha Anbu by a mysterious, overwhelmingly powerful figure. Seeking protection for the last of the Uzumaki, the Third Elder offered their sealing techniques and revealed a hidden weapon from the Warring States era, prompting the figure to ask what it was.

• Konoha Anbu surrounded the Third Elder and the Uzumaki children, then ordered the clan remnants killed.
• An unseen attacker silently killed every Anbu, saving the Uzumaki survivors.
• The Third Elder told the mysterious voice how Uzushio Village had been destroyed and asked for protection.
• The Third Elder offered the Uzumaki Clan’s sealing techniques and inheritance texts in exchange for shelter.
• The Third Elder revealed he knew the location of a powerful Warring States-era weapon, and the mysterious figure asked him to identify it.

The Uzumaki Third Elder revealed that his clan’s secret Ancient Weapon was said to be powerful enough to destroy the world, and the mysterious powerhouse agreed to protect the surviving Uzumaki. Following the map, the Third Elder uncovered an enormous sealed stone coffin, leaving the Shinobi World speculating about what lay inside.

• The Third Elder told the mysterious powerhouse that the Uzumaki had passed down a map and an oral warning that unsealing the Ancient Weapon could destroy the world.
• The mysterious powerhouse dismissed the warning as an exaggeration but agreed to accompany the Uzumaki and protect them.
• The surviving Uzumaki mourned their destroyed home and clanspeople, then left to follow the map and survive so they could one day avenge themselves on Konoha.
• The footage jumped to a hidden cave, where the Third Elder performed intricate seals and opened the ground.
• A huge ancient stone coffin covered in sealing runes emerged, and viewers across the Shinobi World debated what it contained.

The Uzumaki Third Elder opened an ancient coffin that held Uchiha Hikari, a girl with the Mangekyō Sharingan sealed away since the Warring States era. The Mysterious Man recognized her as the Uzumaki clan’s living weapon, while Hikari emerged consumed by murderous rage.

• The Mysterious Man ordered the Uzumaki Third Elder to remove the coffin’s seals and open it.
• The Mysterious Man told the Third Elder to step back just before Uchiha Hikari kicked the coffin lid off from inside.
• Uchiha Hikari emerged with Mangekyō Sharingan and screamed that she would kill everyone.
• Observers watching the Sky Screen recognized Hikari as the same girl shown in the future and realized she had been sealed for at least a century.
• The terrified Third Elder understood that Hikari was the living weapon the Uzumaki clan had guarded.
• The Mysterious Man remarked that Hikari was an interesting sealed Mangekyō wielder.

Uchiha Hikari attacked the Uzumaki Third Elder after escaping her seal, but the Mysterious Man secretly prevented her Amaterasu from killing him. She then knocked the elder unconscious with Tsukuyomi and challenged the hidden Mysterious Man, who questioned the extent of her true power.

• Uchiha Hikari spotted the Uzumaki Third Elder and attacked him with Amaterasu, but the Mysterious Man made the flames vanish and saved him.
• Uchiha Hikari used Amaterasu again, but the flames disappeared before they could harm the Third Elder.
• Uchiha Hikari cast Tsukuyomi on the Third Elder, leaving him unconscious, then celebrated the Uzumaki Clan's near-destruction.
• The Mysterious Man analyzed Uchiha Hikari's unusual Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi abilities, making her wary of him.
• The Mysterious Man asked about Uchiha Hikari's true power, but she challenged him to discover it himself.

Uchiha Hikari demonstrated her Mangekyō’s marks, which let her control people and even alter their memories, and declared that she would destroy the world and the Uchiha Clan. The Mysterious Man’s sympathy eased some of her hostility, but when he asked her name, she fell silent, unwilling to face her past.

• Uchiha Hikari marked the unconscious Uzumaki Third Elder and forced him to rise as a puppet, drawing out and controlling his chakra.
• Uchiha Hikari explained that her marks could control bodies, absorb chakra, suppress ninjutsu, rewrite memories, and turn people against their loved ones.
• Uchiha Hikari declared that she would mark all living beings, destroy the world, and wipe out the Uchiha Clan.
• The Mysterious Man agreed that the Uchiha Clan deserved to die if its members had caused Uchiha Hikari such suffering.
• Uchiha Itachi watched the Sky Screen and recognized that Uchiha Hikari’s Mangekyō abilities surpassed his own.
• The Mysterious Man asked Uchiha Hikari her name, and she fell silent as painful memories surfaced.

The Mysterious Man offered Uchiha Hikari a chance to leave her painful past behind and begin a new life with the Veil Organization. She accepted, took the name Uchiha Hikari, and followed him out of the cave as the Shinobi World watched his first appearance.

• The Mysterious Man invited Uchiha Hikari to join him and start a new life, but she questioned whether she could trust him.
• The Mysterious Man appeared in a soothing white glow and offered Uchiha Hikari his hand.
• Uchiha Hikari accepted his hand, declared her name, and agreed to join the Veil Organization.
• The Mysterious Man led Uchiha Hikari out of the cave, while the unconscious Uzumaki Third Elder followed under an invisible force.
• People across the Five Nations reacted to the Mysterious Man's appearance and speculated about Uchiha Hikari and the Veil Organization.