Chapter Summaries

Kakuzu and Hidan finished capturing their targets, while Orochimaru and Juzo Biwa fought Kirigakure shinobi during a mission. Uchiha Nagasawa investigated reports of foreign squads being wiped out, and Uchiha Kazama arrived at Tsunade’s gambling table in the Land of Rivers.

• Kakuzu bound the ten corpses, sent his black monsters to carry them, and left to collect the bounty while Hidan got up and followed.
• Orochimaru and Juzo Biwa confronted Kirigakure shinobi in the former Land of Whirlpools and defeated them using the Hidden Mist Technique against them.
• Orochimaru dissected three surviving Kirigakure shinobi, then escaped with them inside a snake, while Juzo Biwa dug pits for the scattered corpses.
• Uchiha Nagasawa learned that a strange force had wiped out foreign shinobi squads in the Land of Fire and decided not to contact the Patriarch.
• Tsunade continued gambling in the Land of Rivers, and Uchiha Kazama joined her table and asked whether Jiraiya had sent him as a lobbyist.

Uchiha Kazama tried to persuade Tsunade to return to Konoha by revealing the village’s plans for her and bringing Senju clansmen to invite her home. Tsunade’s hemophobia eased as Kazama held her hand, leaving her facing his appeal and the village’s need for her.

• Uchiha Kazama impressed Tsunade and Shizune at the casino, then joined Tsunade for a meal and explained how Konoha’s affairs were being managed.
• Tsunade questioned whether Kazama had been stripped of authority, but he dismissed her concern and turned the conversation to their meal.
• Uchiha Kazama opened the private-room door to reveal Senju clansmen asking Tsunade to return as their patriarch and Konoha’s Medical Department Director.
• Tsunade objected that her hemophobia prevented her from serving, but Kazama and the Senju clansmen cut their palms and urged her to help protect lives in Konoha.
• Uchiha Kazama took Tsunade’s hand and appealed to her as an advisor, and her trembling stopped as she met his gaze.

Uchiha Kazama persuaded Tsunade to return to Konoha, and she agreed to reorganize the Senju Clan and take up the Hokage role. After sending her and Shizune toward the village, he met Orochimaru, who attacked him with a mass of snakes.

• Uchiha Kazama and Tsunade spent the night together, and he asked her to return to Konoha the next morning.
• Tsunade accepted the Senju Clan cloak from Senju Togashi and led the clan members toward the Land of Fire.
• Uchiha Kazama placed the Hokage's Hat on Tsunade and sent her back to Konoha with Shizune while he stayed behind.
• Uchiha Kazama met Orochimaru on a cliff, where Orochimaru emerged from a snake and confronted him.
• Orochimaru turned his arm into numerous snakes and coiled them around Uchiha Kazama.

Uchiha Kazama used genjutsu and pain to persuade Orochimaru to return to Konoha and lead its Research Department. He then sealed and destroyed Black Zetsu's clone, before catching up with Tsunade, where Orochimaru was enduring her punches.

• Uchiha Kazama trapped Orochimaru in a genjutsu and offered to clear his missing-nin status if he returned to Konoha and stopped experimenting on innocent people.
• Orochimaru agreed, and Uchiha Kazama appointed him to lead the Research Department and directed him to submit requests to Shikaku Nara.
• Uchiha Kazama revealed Black Zetsu hiding nearby, sealed his consciousness, and burned the clone to ashes.
• Uchiha Kazama considered seeking Kaguya and Otsutsuki Toneri, then caught up with Tsunade and found Orochimaru taking her punches without crying out.

Uchiha Kazama brought Orochimaru back to Konoha and appointed him head of the new Research Department, while Tsunade returned to lead the Senju Clan and Medical Department. After the village leaders accepted the appointments, Kazama asked Hyuga Hiashi to remain behind, leaving Hiashi worried about what would happen next.

• Uchiha Kazama stopped Tsunade from beating Orochimaru, gave Orochimaru White Zetsu to study, and approved his return to Konoha.
• Konan witnessed Orochimaru’s return and decided to investigate inside Konoha.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru arrived at the Hokage’s Office, where Jiraiya was stunned to see them both back.
• Uchiha Kazama announced Tsunade as Senju Clan Head and Medical Department Director, and Orochimaru as Research Department Director with his charges revoked.
• The department heads accepted Kazama’s decisions, and he asked Hyuga Hiashi to stay behind after the meeting.

Uchiha Kazama left Kurenai Yuhi with Tsunade, reassured Hyuga Hiashi about the Hyuga Clan, and returned to find Tsunade and Shizune managing village affairs. Meanwhile, Konan explored Konoha, then used a paper doll to spy on the Hokage’s Office and witnessed a shocking scene involving three people.

• Tsunade summoned Kurenai Yuhi, and Uchiha Kazama reassured her before she left with Tsunade.
• Uchiha Kazama told Hyuga Hiashi that the elder who attacked him at the Daimyo Palace was dead, and Hiashi promised to manage his clan.
• Tsunade told Uchiha Kazama to rest while she and Shizune handled village affairs.
• Konan ate ramen at Teuchi’s shop, then wondered how Konoha remained so peaceful after its political upheaval.
• Konan sent a paper doll to the Hokage’s Office and, after hearing gasps, discovered a shocking scene involving three people.

Uchiha Kazama focused on preparing for future threats while spending the evening with Kurenai Yuhi and Tsunade, unaware that Konan was watching. After confronting Konan, he returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound, where four clan members appeared before him.

• Uchiha Kazama considered the threats posed by Obito Uchiha, Black Zetsu, Akatsuki, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Kurenai Yuhi joined Uchiha Kazama in the bath, and Tsunade later joined them in his room while Konan watched through a Paper Person.
• Afterward, Uchiha Kazama sensed Konan outside the window and offered her the choice to leave the village or come with him.
• Konan transformed into sheets of paper and vanished, and Uchiha Kazama used the Body Flicker Technique to return to the Uchiha Clan Compound.
• Four Uchiha appeared at Uchiha Kazama's residence, followed him into the courtyard, and addressed him as their Patriarch.

Uchiha Kazama offered four personal guards a method to awaken their Mangekyō Sharingan, despite Uchiha Fugaku’s objections. He drew Konan into his Tenshō illusion by accident, discovered her reconnaissance, and brought her back to exchange information.

• Uchiha Kazama asked Uchiha Ryunen, Rimoku Uchiha, Uchiha Roy, and Uchiha Natsume if they would accept the risks of his method for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, and all four agreed.
• Uchiha Fugaku interrupted and warned Uchiha Kazama that the Mangekyō’s secret should not be shared, but Kazama dismissed him.
• Uchiha Kazama activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and sent the four guards into an illusion with five moons.
• Uchiha Kazama discovered that Konan had also entered the illusion and found her reconnaissance had brought him into an unexpected scene in the Hokage’s Office.
• Uchiha Kazama dispelled the illusion, returned Konan to the courtyard, and asked what information she wanted to exchange.

Uchiha Kazama offered Konan a deal and confidently dismissed the threat of the other villages, while his illusion pushed Uchiha Ryunen toward awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan. As the Fourth Raikage advanced on Konoha, Obito Uchiha decided to begin the Eye of the Moon Plan ahead of schedule.

• Uchiha Kazama told Konan he knew about Nagato and the Akatsuki’s plans, offered to meet their true leader, and warned her not to take the tailed beasts.
• Konan questioned how Kazama could help the Akatsuki while Konoha faced attacks, and Kazama described how he planned to deal with the other villages.
• Inside Kazama’s illusion, Uchiha Ryunen saw Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi kill his clansmen, and his pupillary power began to rise.
• Killer B told the Fourth Raikage that the shinobi sent into the Land of Fire had been killed, and the Raikage ordered an attack on Konoha.
• Obito Uchiha ordered Zetsu to spread the news and set out to launch the Eye of the Moon Plan ahead of schedule.

Uchiha Kazama watched Uchiha Ryunen awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan and reveal its abilities, then warned Konan that Akatsuki’s plans and the other villages’ preparations threatened Konoha. He left a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade and headed toward Kumogakure with Konan as Kumogakure’s shinobi advanced on Konoha.

• Konan woke to find Uchiha Kazama maintaining his Mangekyō Sharingan, and her thoughts restored some of his pupillary power.
• Uchiha Ryunen awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained that his eyes could trap and cut down enemies with Genjutsu and enhance his ninjutsu or Taijutsu.
• Uchiha Kazama told Uchiha Ryunen to rest, then invited Konan to settle in Konoha after she returned with ramen.
• Konan said she needed to report to Nagato, but Uchiha Kazama warned that Madara Uchiha might be in Kumogakure or Iwagakure and that Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast capture plan could begin soon.
• Uchiha Kazama left a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade and departed for Kumogakure with Konan as Kumogakure’s shinobi approached Konoha.