Chapter Summaries

Aokiji uncovered the reason for the ambush and killed Kakuzu in a fierce battle. He then rushed to Tsunade’s side, fearing he might be too late.

• Aokiji used Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals to restrain Kakuzu, then tracked down Moroboshi Dan and forced him to reveal information with the Sharingan.
• After learning what had happened, Aokiji killed Moroboshi Dan and turned his fury on Kakuzu.
• Aokiji and Kakuzu entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and fought, with Kakuzu drinking Hero's Water to gain a surge of Chakra.
• Aokiji and Kakuzu unleashed their strongest attacks, but Hero's Water’s side effects and the Seven-Tails’ struggle left Kakuzu vulnerable.
• Aokiji froze Kakuzu with Aurora Goddess's Forgiveness, shattered him with Boil Release: Peerless Super Strength, and hurried toward Tsunade.

Aokiji reached the canyon and warned Tsunade that the alliance meeting was a trap, persuading her to return to Konoha with him. When enemies attacked, Aokiji prepared to fight his way through, but the apparent Tsunade stabbed him in the back, revealing she was an impostor.

• Exhausted after traveling to the canyon, Aokiji found Tsunade and an Anbu member preparing to attend an alliance meeting with Kirigakure and Iwagakure.
• Aokiji warned Tsunade that the meeting was a trap and urged her to return to Konoha with him.
• Tsunade trusted Aokiji and agreed to go back, despite the Anbu member's objections.
• Aokiji shielded the group from an attack, then spotted a large force waiting above the canyon.
• As Aokiji began drawing on the Five-Tails' Chakra to break through, the apparent Tsunade stabbed him with a Kunai.
• Aokiji turned on his attacker and demanded to know where the real Tsunade was.

Aokiji fought off the impostors who had ambushed him, but the enemy captured Tsunade and surrounded him with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and a Four-Tails Jinchuriki. He vowed to rescue Tsunade, then became trapped in the swordsmen’s coordinated attack.

• Aokiji healed his back wound, killed one fake Anbu, and confronted the enemy after they revealed Tsunade as a hostage.
• Aokiji recognized the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, but stayed to save Tsunade despite his injuries.
• Ippon-gatana attacked Aokiji, who dodged his strikes and kicked him away, taking the Decapitating Sword: Kubikiribocho.
• Aokiji blocked Kisame Dōji’s Samehada with Kubikiribocho and evaded attacks from the Lightning Sword and Nuibari.
• The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist bound Aokiji with steel wires as three of them attacked from different directions.

Aokiji fought through the Hidden Mist and Iwagakure forces and rescued Tsunade, but an Explosion Release attack hidden inside her killed her in his arms. As Aokiji screamed in grief, immense dark Chakra gathered in his brain.

• Aokiji used Fire Release to draw out the Hidden Mist ninja’s Water Release, then escaped the canyon on an Ice Dragon and climbed to the cliff where Tsunade was held.
• Facing thousands of enemies, Aokiji entered his Tailed Beast Cloak and fought toward Tsunade while Uchiha Madara watched and judged his dwindling stamina.
• Aokiji used Hiramekarei’s strike to launch himself toward Tsunade, then used a burst of Chakra and the Body Flicker Technique to snatch her from Uchiha Madara.
• Aokiji carried Tsunade toward safety, but a hidden Explosion Release blast tore through her abdomen and fatally wounded her.
• Tsunade apologized to Aokiji, confessed her regret at dying before she could be intimate with him, and died in his arms as immense dark Chakra gathered in Aokiji’s brain.

After Tsunade’s death, Aokiji awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and began cutting through the ninja surrounding him. As a coordinated attack trapped him underground beneath the Hiramekarei user’s descending hammer, Aokiji summoned a Ghost Hand to strike back.

• Uchiha Madara taunted the grieving Aokiji, who erupted into a partial Tailed Beast Transformation and attacked him.
• The Five-Tails tried to retreat with Aokiji, but Aokiji ordered it to stay and controlled it with newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan eyes.
• Aokiji endured the ninja’s attacks, revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan, and dodged their long-range ninjutsu.
• Aokiji trapped a Jonin in a glance-based genjutsu, killed him, and fought through the crowd using his enhanced vision and swordsmanship.
• Aokiji redirected Ipponblade’s attack, killed the Nuibari user with his own weapon, and was dragged underground as the Hiramekarei user raised a hammer.
• Aokiji summoned a Ghost Hand with Spirit Fire and punched toward the descending hammer.

Aokiji unleashed his Mangekyō Dojutsu, Soul Fire, and used it to kill an enemy ninja as Uchiha Madara recognized that the power was unlike Susanoo. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki rallied the surrounding ninjas to attack Aokiji together, but a huge silhouette appeared through the smoke after their assault.

• Aokiji overwhelmed the Hiramekarei wielder and blasted away the enemies charging at him.
• Aokiji summoned Soul Fire and ordered it to devour a ninja, killing him in front of the assembled fighters.
• The Four-Tails Jinchuriki mistook Aokiji’s Dojutsu for Susanoo, but Uchiha Madara rejected the guess and wondered what power Aokiji possessed.
• The chapter explained that Soul Fire was Aokiji’s Mangekyō Dojutsu, born from his longing for Spirit of Fire and his desire to destroy his enemies’ souls.
• The Four-Tails Jinchuriki rallied the ninjas to wear Aokiji down with repeated attacks, but a massive silhouette emerged from the smoke after the explosion.

Aokiji used Soul Fire to freeze and kill the surrounding ninja, then devoured the souls left behind. After absorbing enough souls, Soul Fire grew larger, gained legs with wheels for heels, and Aokiji declared that his pain was far greater than theirs.

• Aokiji used Soul Fire to freeze the Four-Tails Jinchuriki’s magma fists and turn nearby ninja into ice sculptures.
• Soul Fire shattered the frozen ninja, gathered their lingering souls, and swallowed them while the survivors watched in horror.
• Danzo, disguised among the crowd, hoped the fighting would weaken the Hidden Rock and Hidden Mist villages and eliminate Aokiji.
• A ninja charged Aokiji in grief, but Soul Fire pierced his heart, and Aokiji coldly taunted the woman mourning him.
• After consuming the souls, Soul Fire grew larger and gained wheeled legs, and Aokiji shouted that his pain was far greater before smashing the ground with its fist.

Aokiji used Soul Fire to slaughter the ninjas, growing stronger by consuming their souls, until the Four-Tails Jinchuriki transformed and attacked him. After Aokiji survived a devastating Lava Release assault, Uchiha Madara recognized the black bones shielding him as Susanoo.

• Aokiji drove Soul Fire to cut down the ninjas and ordered it to burn everything, while the Four-Tails Jinchuriki warned the others that their souls would feed Aokiji.
• The Four-Tails Jinchuriki swallowed a secret medicine, transformed into the Four-Tails, and charged Soul Fire with Lava Release Chakra Mode.
• The Four-Tails Jinchuriki struck Soul Fire with Lava Release: Great Eruption and Lava Release: Undersea Needle, then engulfed Aokiji in Lava Release: Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Soul Fire emerged through the lava and seized the Four-Tails gorilla by the throat, while black bones and blue flames protected Aokiji.
• Uchiha Madara recognized the black bones around Aokiji as Susanoo and stared in shock.

Aokiji pushed his newly awakened Susanoo and Soul Fire to their limits, but the strain left him nearly blind and exhausted. Surrounded and close to defeat, he invoked Sage Art: Nirvana, unleashing a final surge of Chakra as his enemies recoiled.

• Aokiji used Susanoo to strengthen Soul Fire, which froze the surrounding ninjas and battered the Four-Tails into its original form.
• Soul Fire picked up the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and tried to devour him, but Aokiji's Dojutsu Power gave out and both techniques collapsed.
• The ninjas attacked the wounded Aokiji, who was nearly blind and had almost no Chakra left.
• Aokiji defied his attackers, entered Sage Mode 2, and activated Sage Art: Nirvana as his body turned black and ice crystals emerged from his skin.
• The surrounding ninjas sensed Aokiji's remaining Chakra and instinctively retreated.

Aokiji sacrificed himself with a massive Ice Release, freezing the battlefield and leaving Uchiha Madara and Danzo to react to his death. Later, Kazahana Sōsetsu and Sandayu discovered an unusual Ice Egg buried in the frozen field, and Sōsetsu decided to take it with them.

• Aokiji unleashed a huge icy explosion that froze the surrounding battlefield and killed himself, leaving Uchiha Madara grieving over the loss of his plan.
• Danzo confirmed Aokiji’s death, regretted that the Mangekyō Sharingan had been destroyed, and considered the losses suffered by Hidden Mist and Iwagakure alongside Konoha’s acquisition of the Six-Tails.
• Kazahana Sōsetsu and Sandayu found the frozen battlefield and discussed whether powerful true Ice Release had created the ice sculptures.
• Sandayu nearly tripped over an object buried in the ground, and Kazahana Sōsetsu asked him to help dig it out.
• Kazahana Sōsetsu and Sandayu uncovered a white-and-blue Ice Egg, and Sōsetsu decided to take it with him because he sensed power inside it.

After Danzo admitted to killing Aokiji and Tsunade, Sarutobi Hiruzen reclaimed the Hokage position while the Uchiha Clan mourned their dead. Years later, Uchiha Madara chose to monitor Uchiha Obito as a potential successor, determined not to repeat his failure with Aokiji.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Danzo, who defended killing Aokiji and blamed Hiruzen’s hesitation and the Uchiha Clan’s ambitions.
• Danzo agreed to give up the Hokage position, and Sarutobi Hiruzen left to take control again.
• The Uchiha Clan learned that Aokiji and Tsunade had died, and Fugaku grieved as the clan prepared him to become its next leader.
• Orochimaru attended Aokiji and Tsunade’s funeral and left increasingly consumed by darkness.
• Years later, White Zetsu reported Uchiha Obito to Uchiha Madara, who ordered continued surveillance rather than an immediate approach.

After Shisui revealed that Danzo had stolen his right eye and poisoned him, Itachi recalled his childhood memories of hearing his father’s subordinates discuss Uchiha Aokiji and the clan’s grievances. The chapter ended with Itachi asking his pregnant mother, Mikoto, who Aokiji was.

• Shisui told Itachi that Danzo had taken his right eye and that he was dying from poison after his attempt to stop the Uchiha coup failed.
• Shisui suggested that Aokiji might have died at the hands of Konoha’s higher-ups, prompting Itachi to remember overhearing his father’s subordinates discuss the clan’s treatment.
• Yashiro and Inabi accused Konoha’s higher-ups of sidelining Fugaku and forcing the Uchiha Clan away from power, while Fugaku ordered them to stop.
• After Itachi left, Fugaku reconsidered his moderate stance and vowed to resolve the injustice suffered by the Uchiha Clan in his generation.
• Itachi went to Mikoto and asked her who Aokiji was.

Itachi learned about Aokiji’s legacy and watched Shisui sacrifice himself to protect his eye and entrust the Uchiha Clan to him. Unable to kill Shisui, Itachi saw him leap from a cliff and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Mikoto told Itachi that Aokiji had been like an older brother to his parents, and Itachi began investigating Aokiji’s past.
• Itachi learned that Aokiji had possessed three Kekkei Genkai, become history’s first Perfect Jinchuriki, and been Tsunade’s lover.
• Shisui warned Itachi about Danzo, revealed that Danzo had taken his right eye, and gave his remaining eye to Itachi for safekeeping in a crow.
• Shisui told Itachi about a childhood friend whose death had left him with lasting guilt, then asked Itachi to kill him to gain the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Itachi could not bring himself to kill Shisui, who tapped his forehead, entrusted the Uchiha Clan to him, and leaped from a cliff.
• Itachi watched Shisui disappear into the abyss and awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Kazahana Dōtō and Nadare Rōga learned that Skasa’s Egg was hatching, and the creature emerged as a rampaging Ice Dragon. After Dōtō ordered the Snow Ninja to bind it, the dragon suddenly shrank into a young man who said he felt as if he had slept for a long time.

• Nadare Rōga reported that Skasa’s Egg had stopped growing and its Chakra had stabilized, while Kazahana Dōtō prepared for the possibility that it would hatch.
• A researcher alerted Kazahana Dōtō to a problem, and the egg cracked open at the research institute.
• An Ice Dragon emerged from the egg, and Kazahana Dōtō ordered a barrier raised around it.
• The Ice Dragon attacked the crowd, so Kazahana Dōtō ordered the Snow Ninja to bind it with Ice Chains and force it to submit.
• The Ice Dragon stopped struggling and rapidly transformed into a young man, who said he felt as if he had slept for a long time.

Uchiha Aokiji broke free from the Snow Ninja’s barrier, killed Kazahana Dōtō, and forced the remaining Snow Ninja to submit. After learning that the Uchiha Clan still existed, he planned to return to the village, but his Sage Art power began changing his body uncontrollably.

• Aokiji introduced himself to Kazahana Dōtō and demanded that he submit, then used Soul Fire to tear through the barrier.
• Aokiji defeated Kazahana Dōtō’s Twin Dragon Blizzard, froze him, and had Soul Fire devour his soul.
• Nadare Rōga and the Snow Ninja surrendered to Aokiji, while Fubuki Kakuyoku told him the current era and his location.
• Aokiji learned that the Uchiha Clan still existed and decided to return to the village to confront those who had persecuted him.
• Aokiji’s body began manifesting dragon-like traits and ice formations, forcing him to suppress his Sage Art power.

Aokiji took control of the Snow Ninja after awakening, concealed the full extent of his intentions, and left Nadare Rōga to maintain order in the country. Alone, he considered the fusion of Ice Release and Boil Release and summoned a White Fox.

• Fubuki Kakuyoku explained how the Snow Ninja absorbed Aokiji's Chakra and awakened true Ice Release, and Nadare Rōga told Aokiji about Kazahana Koyuki and the Hexagonal Crystal.
• Aokiji ordered Nadare Rōga to replace Kazahana Dōtō and maintain order, then used his Mangekyō Sharingan to erase the memories of most onlookers and promised the Snow Ninja greater power.
• After Aokiji left with Fubuki Kakuyoku, Nadare Rōga and Fuyu Kuma Tōu discussed his terrifying eyes and concluded that he was building his own forces for a larger plan.
• Aokiji dismissed Fubuki Kakuyoku, reflected on how Ice Release and Boil Release had fused and might evolve toward dragonification, then summoned a White Fox.

Aokiji visited the summoning grounds and asked Ice Phoenix to suppress the unstable power that kept turning him into an Ice Dragon. She sealed it for three to five years, leaving him in a child-sized body, and Aokiji set off for the Land of Fire with Fubuki Kakuyoku.

• Aokiji reunited with the White Fox, who returned to the summoning grounds so she could summon him there.
• Aokiji met Penguin Mani in the snowy summoning grounds and asked to see Ice Phoenix because he feared he would remain an Ice Dragon permanently.
• Ice Phoenix sealed Aokiji's restless power, shrinking him to an eleven- or twelve-year-old while stabilizing his strength, and suggested he learn and merge another Sage Art before the seal wore off.
• Aokiji borrowed a gray cape from Penguin Mani and returned to the Castle, where Nadare Rōga and the others recognized him despite his changed appearance.
• Aokiji appointed Fubuki Kakuyoku as his information liaison, instructed Nadare Rōga to carry out his tasks, and boarded the ship for the Land of Fire.

Danzo pressured Itachi to agree to kill the Uchiha Clan, take the blame, and infiltrate Akatsuki, using Sasuke’s safety as leverage. At the lakeshore, Itachi met Izumi and was interrupted by Sasuke, who grew suspicious of their meeting and learned that Itachi liked Three-Color Dango.

• Danzo told Itachi that a coup would lead to the Uchiha Clan’s annihilation, including Sasuke.
• Danzo asked Itachi to eliminate the Uchiha Clan, bear the blame, and join Akatsuki to spy on Orochimaru, promising to protect Sasuke.
• Itachi left Danzo’s base and sat by the lake, reflecting on the prospect of turning his father’s teachings against his clan.
• Izumi joined Itachi, offered him Three-Color Dango, and tried to comfort him, but he could not share his troubles.
• Sasuke arrived and accused Itachi of going on a date with Izumi, then refused her dango and realized that Itachi liked sweets.

Itachi trained Sasuke in shuriken throwing while Izumi joined them and helped Sasuke improve. As Sasuke proudly looked up to his brother, Itachi struggled with the pain of what he believed he would soon do and named Uchiha Clan Aokiji as a more talented ninja.

• Sasuke persuaded Itachi to train with him, and Itachi agreed despite denying that he had been on a date.
• Itachi demonstrated a difficult shuriken throw and patiently explained the technique to Sasuke, whose attempts initially missed.
• Izumi demonstrated the same technique and coached Sasuke, helping him make quick progress.
• Itachi told Sasuke that Izumi had awakened her Sharingan before he had, surprising Sasuke and prompting him to hope he would awaken his own soon.
• Sasuke asked whether anyone had been more talented than Itachi at school, and Itachi named Uchiha Clan Aokiji.

Itachi discovered that Uchiha Madara was secretly inciting the Uchiha Clan toward a coup and confronted him. Itachi agreed to help Madara take revenge on the clan only if Madara spared Konoha and Sasuke, and the chapter ended with Itachi threatening to make him an enemy if he refused.

• Sasuke learned from Izumi that Aokiji, a Uchiha genius with three Kekkei Genkai, had died, while Itachi steered him away from the subject.
• Itachi secretly watched Naka Shrine and saw Uchiha Yashiro leave furtively.
• Itachi entered the shrine’s underground chamber and encountered the masked man who had killed his companions years earlier.
• Itachi identified the masked man as Uchiha Madara and accused him of inciting the Uchiha Clan.
• Itachi offered to help Madara take revenge on the clan if he promised not to harm Konoha or Sasuke.
• Itachi threatened to oppose Madara if he refused, and the tomoe in Itachi’s eyes transformed into a shuriken-shaped pattern.