Chapter Summaries

Hashirama wanted to honor his promise and make Madara the First Hokage, but Tobirama argued that the other clans would never accept Madara and urged Hashirama to lead instead. As the Sky Screen revealed the dispute to the Shinobi World, it showed Tobirama quietly building support for Hashirama among Konoha’s clans.

• Hashirama argued that the Uchiha needed the hope of having Madara become Hokage so they could accept and join the village.
• Tobirama warned Hashirama that the other clans would reject Madara as leader and proposed that an Uchiha could become Second Hokage instead.
• Hashirama left in silence, torn between Tobirama’s reasoning and the promise he had made to Madara.
• People across the Shinobi World reacted to the Sky Screen’s revelations about Madara naming Konoha and inspiring the title Hokage, and debated Hashirama’s broken promise and Tobirama’s distrust.
• Tobirama arranged for Senju members to spread the idea that Konoha needed a universally accepted leader, while the clans increasingly regarded Hashirama as the only leader they trusted.

Hashirama accepted the village’s choice to make him First Hokage after Tobirama promised Madara the future position of Second Hokage. Madara accepted the decision outwardly, but Hashirama’s departure left him disillusioned, and he returned to the Uchiha stone tablet, questioning whether lasting peace was possible.

• The clans and villagers unanimously called for Hashirama to become First Hokage, leaving him torn over his promise to Madara.
• Tobirama urged Hashirama to take the position and claimed Madara could become Second Hokage after the Uchiha integrated into Konoha, though Tobirama privately intended never to let the Uchiha hold power.
• Hashirama told Madara about the village’s decision and Tobirama’s proposal, and Madara calmly accepted Hashirama as First Hokage.
• After Hashirama left, Madara’s calm gave way to loneliness and disappointment, and he went alone to the Uchiha secret chamber.
• Madara used his Sharingan to read the hidden words on the Uchiha stone tablet and concluded that peace was a fleeting illusion sustained by strength.

As Tobirama’s reforms blocked the Uchiha from power, Madara warned Hashirama and his clan that Konoha would eventually destroy them, but no one believed him. He left Konoha alone through its front gate, while people watching the Sky Screen argued over the causes of his defection.

• Hashirama became the First Hokage, while Tobirama took charge of village affairs and enacted reforms, including a system for the Jonin Commander to elect the next Hokage.
• Madara recognized that Tobirama’s policies and Konoha’s power structure would keep the Uchiha from influence and warned Hashirama that the clan would be destroyed.
• Hashirama dismissed Madara’s concerns and insisted that the Uchiha belonged in Konoha, widening the rift between the two friends.
• Madara urged the Uchiha clan to leave Konoha with him, but every clan member stayed, unwilling to abandon their peaceful lives.
• Madara walked alone through Konoha’s front gate, and viewers of the Sky Screen debated Tobirama’s reforms, Hashirama’s decisions, and Madara’s departure.

Madara Uchiha left Konoha and concluded that its peace was only a temporary balance maintained by his and Hashirama Senju’s strength, so he resolved to create absolute peace through his own plan. That night, Hashirama awoke with an urgent need for greater power and vowed to eliminate anyone who threatened Konoha, alarming Mito Uzumaki with how much his mindset had changed.

• Madara Uchiha traveled alone through the Shinobi World and saw border clashes, village militarization, and ambitions that contradicted Konoha’s claims of peace.
• Madara concluded that the current order depended on his and Hashirama Senju’s power and would collapse into a devastating war after their deaths.
• Madara rejected Hashirama’s ideals, resolved to create eternal peace his own way, and acted on his plan after recalling the Uchiha Stone Tablet.
• Hashirama Senju woke in the Senju Clan Compound with a powerful sense that he needed far greater strength to protect everything he had.
• Mito Uzumaki suspected Hashirama sensed a threat from Madara, and Hashirama vowed to eliminate anyone who threatened Konoha.
• Mito noticed a new trace of obsession and bloodthirst in Hashirama, though he believed his intentions were unchanged.

Hashirama left Konoha to pursue greater power while Madara subdued the Nine-Tails and made him his summon. Hashirama returned having mastered Sage Mode and gained a stronger Wood Release, but his unease about Madara remained.

• Mito urged Hashirama to leave Konoha without worry, and he set out to seek power beyond his limits.
• Madara approached the Nine-Tails in the mountains, enraged him, and subdued him with his Sharingan.
• Madara forced the Nine-Tails into a Summoning Contract and decided to use his power for his plan.
• Hashirama returned to Konoha and told Tobirama that he had mastered Sage Mode and gained insight into a stronger Wood Release.
• Tobirama rejoiced that Hashirama could stop Madara, but Hashirama remained uneasy.

The Sky Screen showed Madara Uchiha riding the Nine-Tails to attack Konohagakure, prompting Hashirama Senju to lure him away to the Valley of the End. After a devastating battle left both men exhausted, Hashirama tricked Madara with a Wood Release clone and moved behind him for a surprise attack.

• Kurama flew into a rage after the Sky Screen exposed how Madara Uchiha had subdued him, while Naruto Uzumaki tried to calm him and Sasuke Uchiha admired Madara’s power.
• Madara Uchiha rode the Nine-Tails toward Konohagakure, terrifying the village as its people feared they would be destroyed.
• Hashirama Senju confronted Madara, then drew him away from Konoha so their battle would not endanger the villagers.
• At the Valley of the End, Madara used Majestic Attire: Susanoo while Hashirama countered with Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
• After the battle devastated the Valley of the End and exhausted both fighters, Hashirama used a Wood Release clone to trick Madara and slipped behind him for a surprise attack.

Hashirama defeated Madara at the Valley of the End, but Madara’s apparent death was a deception. Madara escaped using Izanagi with a piece of Hashirama’s flesh, leaving Black Zetsu’s plan intact and set to continue.

• Hashirama declared that he would kill even family and friends for Konoha’s peace, and Madara condemned him before appearing to die at the Valley of the End.
• Hashirama collapsed unconscious from his wounds as Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched Konoha’s reinforcements approach and planned to steal Madara’s body.
• Madara opened his eyes in a secluded cave and revealed that he had used Izanagi to fake his death and escape with Hashirama’s flesh.
• Madara left to hide and absorb Hashirama’s power, while Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from hiding and prepared to handle the cleanup.

The Shinobi World watched the battle between Hashirama and Madara and debated its consequences for Konoha and their bond. As Hashirama murmured Madara’s name while unconscious, Mito rebuked Tobirama for failing to understand their friendship.

• Ninjas and villagers praised Hashirama and Madara’s power, accepted Madara’s warnings about Konoha’s future, and realized he had used Izanagi to fake his death and obtain Hashirama’s flesh and blood.
• In Konoha’s Hokage Office, Jiraiya defended Hashirama’s Will of Fire, while Tsunade said her grandfather had been wrong to abandon his ideals and sever his bond with Madara.
• The Sky Screen showed Hashirama unconscious and wounded, repeatedly murmuring Madara’s name.
• Tobirama resented Hashirama’s attachment to Madara and questioned why he could not forget the man who had threatened the village.
• Mito told Tobirama that Hashirama and Madara had been true friends and equals, and that he could not understand their bond because he had never had a friend like that.

Hashirama awoke and learned from Mito Uzumaki that he had truly killed Madara, then struggled with his guilt over choosing Konoha over his friend. Mito warned that putting the village above its people could let future leaders justify cruelty in its name, but Hashirama remained unconvinced.

• Hashirama woke and asked Mito whether killing Madara had only been a dream, while Tobirama tried to reassure him that he had acted to protect Konoha.
• Mito sent Tobirama away, then confirmed to Hashirama that he had killed Madara at the Valley of the End.
• Hashirama blamed himself but insisted he had no choice because he had to protect the village.
• Mito told Hashirama that the village was meant to protect people, not take priority over them.
• Mito warned that Hashirama's example could let future Konoha leaders justify sacrificing innocents and suppressing dissent for the village.
• Hashirama denied that future Hokage would commit such acts, and Mito ended the argument with a weary reply.

After recovering enough to act, Hashirama tried to preserve peace by capturing the Tailed Beasts and distributing them among the Five Great Hidden Villages. The chapter ended with Hashirama believing he had secured lasting peace, while the Shinobi World recognized that his plan would help fuel future wars.

• After the Valley of the End battle, the other four Hidden Villages began provoking Konoha while Hashirama was left gravely weakened.
• Hashirama persuaded Mito Uzumaki to become the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then captured the other Tailed Beasts himself.
• Hashirama convened the first Five Kage Summit and offered the other eight Tailed Beasts to the four villages.
• The four Kage accepted the Tailed Beasts and promised to maintain peace, leaving Hashirama convinced that his plan had worked.
• Shinobi watching the Sky Screen criticized Hashirama's naive balance-of-power plan and predicted that the distributed Tailed Beasts would contribute to future wars.

The chapter recounted the First Shinobi World War, Tobirama Senju's death, and his appointment of Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage. Hiruzen returned to a divided Konoha, where Mito Uzumaki stabilized his rule and he began empowering Danzō and others.

• Hashirama Senju's death left the Shinobi World without a deterrent, and the First Shinobi World War erupted under Tobirama Senju's leadership.
• Kinkaku and Ginkaku assassinated the Second Raikage during alliance talks, forcing Tobirama Senju and his six disciples to flee from Kumogakure's forces.
• When Tobirama Senju called for someone to cover their retreat, Hiruzen Sarutobi volunteered while Shimura Danzō hesitated, so Tobirama named Hiruzen the Third Hokage before dying in battle.
• Hiruzen and the surviving disciples returned to Konoha, where the Uchiha Clan and other major clans resisted his succession as tensions threatened the village with internal strife.
• Mito Uzumaki used her standing to secure Hiruzen's position, and Hiruzen appointed Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu to important roles to strengthen his control.

Madara Uchiha awakened the Rinnegan and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but realized his age left him unable to carry out his plan himself. He arranged for Nagato to inherit the eyes and ordered White Zetsu to find an Uchiha successor for the Eye of the Moon Plan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Danzo's resentment after losing the chance to become Hokage, while Tsunade condemned Danzo's selfish nature and Jiraiya urged them to let the past rest.
• Madara Uchiha awakened the Rinnegan after years of merging with Hashirama cells, while Black Zetsu celebrated and planned to move forward with his scheme.
• Madara summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and resolved to gather the nine tailed beasts, restore the Ten-Tails, and create peace.
• Recognizing he was too old to enact his plan himself, Madara decided to use pawns and ordered White Zetsu to find a suitable vessel for the Rinnegan.
• White Zetsu brought young Nagato to Madara, who implanted his Rinnegan in him and instructed White Zetsu to seek an Uchiha heir willing to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Nagato and Jiraiya learned that Madara and Black Zetsu had manipulated Nagato’s life, while the Sky Screen showed Black Zetsu selecting young Obito as a future pawn. Black Zetsu identified Rin as the light whose loss could drive Obito into darkness, as Obito, Rin, and Kakashi shared peaceful days before the coming tragedy.

• In Amegakure, Nagato broke down over the suffering caused by Madara and Black Zetsu’s schemes, and Konan tried to comfort him.
• In Konoha, Jiraiya regretted believing Nagato was the Child of Prophecy after realizing Madara and Black Zetsu had scripted his life.
• The Sky Screen showed young Obito helping an elderly woman, and Black Zetsu chose him as a pawn because his loving nature could fuel future hatred.
• Black Zetsu identified Rin as the light in Obito’s heart and ordered White Zetsu to watch her.
• Obito, Rin, and Kakashi spent cheerful days together, while viewers recognized that Rin’s death would become a tragedy orchestrated by Madara and Black Zetsu.

Kakashi and Obito learned that Madara and Black Zetsu had manipulated their lives and Rin’s death, while Madara prepared to exploit the Third Shinobi World War to plunge Obito into darkness. Team Minato went to the battlefield, where Obito saved Kakashi from a collapsing boulder but was pinned beneath it.

• Kakashi grieved as he realized that Obito and Rin’s lives had been shaped by Madara and Black Zetsu’s schemes.
• Obito blamed Madara and Black Zetsu for Rin’s death and was overwhelmed by regret and rage.
• Madara ordered White Zetsu to watch Obito and use the war to drive him into darkness.
• Team Minato deployed to the battlefield, and Kakashi, Obito, and Rin grew closer through dangerous missions.
• After Rin was captured, Obito set out to rescue her, and Kakashi followed despite their argument.
• When a collapse sent a massive boulder crashing down, Obito pushed Kakashi clear and was pinned beneath it.

After witnessing Rin's death, Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, embraced Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan, and became the Masked Man. He later approached Nagato in Amegakure to denounce the Akatsuki's peaceful ideals, predicting that Nagato would eventually lose hope.

• White Zetsu rescued the dying Obito from beneath the rubble, and Obito later rushed to the battlefield to find Kakashi had killed Rin.
• Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan in grief and rage, slaughtered everyone on the battlefield, and vowed to create a perfect world where Rin existed.
• Obito returned to Madara, accepted the Eye of the Moon Plan, and became the Masked Man, unaware that Black Zetsu had replaced Madara's will.
• Obito went to Amegakure and told Nagato that the Akatsuki's efforts to establish peace were futile, but Nagato refused to trust him.
• Obito left Nagato with a prediction that he would fall into despair, as the Akatsuki's ideals faced the schemes of powerful people in the Shinobi World.

After Yahiko’s death and the destruction of the original Akatsuki, Nagato agreed to help Obito gather the tailed beasts but rejected the Eye of the Moon plan. He set out to use the beasts’ power to make the Shinobi World experience pain, while Obito departed to handle personal business.

• The Shinobi World discussed how Obito’s actions, Danzo’s alliance with Hanzō, and Yahiko’s death led to the original Akatsuki’s destruction.
• Obito met Nagato and Konan at the Akatsuki base and explained the plan to gather the nine tailed beasts and activate the Eye of the Moon.
• Nagato agreed to collect the tailed beasts but said he would create an ultimate weapon to make the Shinobi World feel pain and fear war.
• Konan chose to remain by Nagato’s side, whatever path he followed.
• Black Zetsu warned Obito that Nagato had strayed from the plan, but Obito said Nagato’s motives did not matter as long as he collected the tailed beasts.
• Obito told Black Zetsu and White Zetsu he had personal business, then vanished as space twisted around him.

Obito infiltrated Kirigakure and used genjutsu to control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, driving the village into purges and chaos as revenge for Rin’s death. As Obito continued tormenting Kirigakure, Black Zetsu appeared beside him.

• Black Zetsu revealed that he had planted a Cursed Seal inside Obito and ordered White Zetsu to track the tailed beasts and seek powerful rogue ninja.
• Obito entered Kirigakure and blamed the village for Rin’s death.
• Obito used his Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura.
• Under Obito’s control, Yagura persecuted kekkei genkai clans, plunging Kirigakure into mass purges and earning it the name Bloody Mist Village.
• Obito reveled in Kirigakure’s collapse until Black Zetsu appeared beside him.

Black Zetsu told Obito that Minato Namikaze had become the Fourth Hokage and that Kushina Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Obito reacted with shock and resentment as Black Zetsu warned that the couple’s growing strength could threaten their plan to collect the tailed beasts.

• Black Zetsu criticized Obito for wasting time tormenting Kirigakure, but Obito stayed silent because he wanted revenge for Rin.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Minato Namikaze had become Konoha’s Fourth Hokage, leaving Obito stunned and bitter.
• Black Zetsu described Konoha’s succession as a transfer of power controlled by its leaders, while people watching the Sky Screen agreed.
• Obito claimed Minato did not deserve the Hokage position and renewed his contempt for the world.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Kushina Uzumaki was the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, shocking Obito.
• Black Zetsu warned that Minato and Kushina’s growing strength could make Konoha a major obstacle to their plan.

Obito cast aside his remaining affection for Kushina and agreed to Black Zetsu’s plan to attack her during childbirth and extract the Nine-Tails. The conspiracy enraged the Shinobi World, while Hiruzen Sarutobi lamented that Minato had died at the hands of his former student.

• Black Zetsu reminded Obito that Kushina had once treated him with kindness, and Obito suppressed his conflicted feelings, insisting that nothing could stop his plan for a New World.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Kushina’s seal would be unstable during childbirth and proposed attacking her then to extract the Nine-Tails and cripple Konoha.
• Black Zetsu said White Zetsu had infiltrated Konoha and was monitoring Kushina, and Obito ordered him to notify him when the time came, promising no mercy.
• Shinobi across the world condemned Obito for plotting against Kushina and Minato despite their kindness and innocence.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the conspiracy and regretted that Minato had died at the hands of a student he had taught.

The Sky Screen’s revelations about Minato and Kushina’s deaths left Konoha grieving and Naruto furious at Obito. In the Kamui Dimension, Obito feared Rin would reject him, while Black Zetsu despaired that the Sky Screen had exposed his plan to revive Kaguya.

• Jiraiya mourned Minato, and Tsunade softly remembered Kushina after they learned how the couple died.
• Naruto raged at Obito in the Academy classroom, then argued and wrestled with Sasuke.
• Obito saw the Sky Screen inside the Kamui Dimension and panicked that Rin in the Pure Land had witnessed his crimes.
• Black Zetsu admitted to White Zetsu that he wanted to give up because the Sky Screen had exposed his plans and derailed Kaguya’s revival.