Recaps

Uchiha Itachi feared that the older Uchiha students would punish him for crimes he had not committed, but they chose to protect him instead. After Uchiha Mikoto took him home, an Anbu reported the encounter to Yanbai, who ordered continued observation.

• Uchiha Itachi overheard the older students debate whether his imagined future crimes justified harming him, and several argued that he was only a child.
• Uchiha Itachi cried and clutched Uchiha Mikoto’s food box as she returned from buying daifuku.
• Uchiha Ayumi reassured Uchiha Mikoto that the students had only been watching over Itachi, and the group left without harming him.
• Uchiha Mikoto comforted Itachi and took him toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• An Anbu member reported the encounter to Yanbai, who ordered him to keep observing and intervene if necessary.

Yanbai learned that Junlin had stolen the dagger capable of sealing Black Zetsu, and Tobirama Senju wanted to punish him for it. Yanbai urged Tobirama to consider that Junlin might have been coerced, and the chapter ended with Yanbai promising to share responsibility for his child’s future actions.

• Shikaku Nara left Yanbai’s office wondering what the Hokage was planning after noticing that an Anbu carried the aura of a dead person.
• The Anbu revealed himself as Tobirama Senju and told Yanbai that Junlin had stolen the dagger from the Princess Mausoleum.
• Tobirama accused Junlin of colluding with Black Zetsu to create the Akatsuki and demanded to purge him from the family.
• Yanbai questioned whether Black Zetsu had coerced Junlin into taking the dagger and reminded Tobirama that he had betrayed Yanbai by creating his children without consent.
• Yanbai asked Tobirama to forgive Junlin as Yanbai had forgiven him, and promised to punish Junlin himself if he committed a grave crime.

Junlin followed Muye and Silver Moon after learning they were being targeted by an assassin, and tried to protect them. The brothers continued their playful scheme against the hungry assassin as he pursued Muye through Konoha.

• Izuna advised Junlin to build a life beyond constantly following his brothers, but Junlin left the library to find Muye and Silver Moon.
• Junlin found Muye and Silver Moon secretly watching a wary man at a food stall, and they told him the man had been trying to assassinate them for days.
• Junlin, convinced his brothers were in danger, offered to protect them before Muye acted.
• Muye collected a takeout order and ran, prompting the assassin to abandon his hot meal and chase him.
• The Konoha Military Police Force stopped the assassin from running off with the stall's bowl, delaying him before he resumed the pursuit.

Muye and Silver Moon spent days tormenting an assassin who was trying to kill them, repeatedly ruining his meals and evading him with elaborate tricks. As Junlin followed them, he realized the brothers and their dog had manipulated the assassin for their own amusement, and concluded that Muye and Silver Moon had inherited both their parents’ personalities.

• Silver Moon dragged Junlin along as he and Muye followed an assassin who had been pursuing them for days.
• Silver Moon explained how the brothers repeatedly vanished whenever the hungry assassin came close or tried to eat.
• Muye and Silver Moon had tricked the assassin into boarding a bus, then made him believe their dog had died so he would return to Konoha without catching them.
• Muye and Silver Moon ordered takeout where the assassin could see them, interrupting his meal again as Junlin listened to their story.
• Junlin recognized the orange Shiba Inu as the dog Izuna had complained about and realized the brothers were keeping the assassin around for entertainment.

Muye, Silver Moon, Junlin, and the Shiba Inu watched an assassin return to Konoha with takeout, unaware that they had tricked him into eating in with an expensive box. After the dog finished its dumplings, the group wondered what to do next, but Silver Moon suggested letting the hungry assassin eat.

• Silver Moon led Junlin back to the street near the Konoha Library, where Muye was waiting with pan-fried dumplings for the Shiba Inu.
• The Shiba Inu ate the dumplings while Muye, Silver Moon, and Junlin hid on a bench and watched the assassin approach with takeout.
• Silver Moon explained that Konoha's expensive ceramic takeout boxes made most villagers eat at restaurants, while the assassin warily ate inside with his box.
• The Shiba Inu asked what prank they would try next, but Muye said they could not repeat the same trick and Silver Moon decided to let the starving assassin finish his meal.

Junlin overheard Muye, Silver Moon, and Ajiu discussing an immortal Jashin Cult follower whose talking head they had buried in a toilet. After recognizing the head’s black cloak with red clouds as Akatsuki attire, Junlin grew afraid his brothers knew his secret, and they prepared to take him to see the head.

• Junlin listened as Muye, Silver Moon, and Ajiu joked about the immortal head they had buried in a remote toilet.
• Muye and Silver Moon decided to retrieve the head and bring it home, while Junlin asked what the man had been wearing.
• Muye told Junlin the man wore a black cloak with red clouds, leading Junlin to suspect the head belonged to an Akatsuki member.
• Junlin tried to conceal his fear and suggested they take the head to Orochimaru instead.
• Silver Moon invited Junlin to go see the head with them and promised they would protect him, while Junlin noticed the nearby Assassin had disappeared.

A disguised man visited the sealed Juzo Biwa in the forest, fed him, and concealed him again. Meanwhile, Silver Moon and Muye tricked Junlin into coming to a public toilet so he could use clones and Water Release to clean its septic tank.

• A man disguised as Juzo Biwa revealed the captured Juzo in a hidden forest hollow and read through his file.
• Juzo recognized the man’s rose scent and realized he was likely one of Hokage Yanbai’s sons.
• The disguised man fed Juzo warm noodles, resealed the hiding place, and headed back toward Konoha with the empty bowl.
• Silver Moon and Muye led Junlin to a public toilet where he heard eerie voices but saw no one.
• Silver Moon and Muye asked Junlin to send clones to open the septic tank and wash the head hanging beneath its lid.

Junlin endured his family’s coerced midnight errand to deliver a captured head to Orochimaru, who explained that loyalty to Yanbai would earn forgiveness for almost anything. After learning that Izuna had left Konoha, Junlin secretly retrieved the dagger that had disappeared from the Princess Mausoleum.

• Silver Moon and Muye pressured Junlin into digging up and cleaning a talking head, which he wrapped and carried to the Konoha Research Institute.
• Orochimaru woke Junlin from his stunned state, accepted the head as a gift, and heard Junlin recount the ordeal.
• Junlin asked whether he was a good child and how a good child could decide when to do bad things, and Orochimaru told him that Yanbai's loyalty mattered above all.
• Junlin returned to his home, found Izuna's letter saying he had left to search for the Passage to the Moon, and secured the house.
• Junlin activated layered barriers in the bathroom, summoned a Storage Scroll from his bleeding palm, and revealed the dagger missing from the Princess Mausoleum.

Yanbai learned that the Akatsuki’s bounty hunters had been targeting his sons and went to comfort Junlin after discovering he had stolen a dagger. The chapter ended with Yanbai asking Junlin to look into his eyes and reveal his purpose.

• Yanbai learned that Black Zetsu had assembled an Akatsuki that could not control its members, and that Juzo Biwa had taken a bounty to kill the Hokage’s Son.
• Yanbai’s Wood Clone intercepted Juzo Biwa, then disguised itself as him and played hunter and prey with Yanbai’s sons.
• A long-tailed tit reported that someone used a Sealing Jutsu barrier whenever he bathed, prompting Yanbai to suspect something was wrong.
• Yanbai told Sasori he was going to comfort Junlin, whose brother had tricked him into shoveling excrement.
• Yanbai asked Junlin if he had stolen a dagger, and Junlin confessed.
• Yanbai asked Junlin to look into his eyes and tell him his purpose.

In a private illusion, Junlin offered to help Yanbai escape by investigating the Ōtsutsuki Clan and bringing about the Eye of the Moon plan. Yanbai tested Junlin’s devotion with a blade, but Junlin explained that protecting Yanbai gave his life meaning; Yanbai refused his life, and Junlin insisted his desire to protect him was real.

• Yanbai used a Dōjutsu to bring Junlin into a private white space, where Junlin said he had researched the Ōtsutsuki Clan and Black Zetsu to help fulfill Yanbai’s wish.
• Junlin proposed bringing about the Eye of the Moon plan, summoning their ancestor, and sealing her away so Yanbai could be free.
• Junlin told Yanbai that Madara and others kept him close for what he provided, and offered to help find a way out alongside Madara.
• Yanbai threw Junlin down, held a Bone Blade to his throat, and asked whether Junlin would die to please him.
• Junlin explained that he had been created at Yanbai’s behest, that his life had lost purpose after escaping Tobirama, and that dying for Yanbai would give it meaning.
• Yanbai told Junlin to live for himself and said he did not want his life, but Junlin affirmed that protecting Yanbai was the only truth in his false self.

Yanbai overheard Kagami Uchiha, Shimura Danzō, and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussing Hokage succession and the danger of losing the Three Noble Clans’ bloodlines before a coming battle with a deity. He returned to the Hokage Office, determined to outlive the people who worried he might die and make them work after their deaths.

• Yanbai left Junlin’s home after Junlin fell asleep, allowing him to study the dagger and no longer caring about his ties to Black Zetsu.
• Yanbai watched graduates from the Uchiha Clan keeping an eye on Uchiha Itachi, then wandered Konoha instead of returning to the Hokage Office.
• Yanbai overheard Kagami Uchiha, Shimura Danzō, and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussing Hokage succession and their fear that no suitable successor remained.
• Kagami Uchiha explained that the Three Noble Clans’ divine bloodlines were necessary to face a future battle with the Rabbit Goddess, while Danzō objected to the bloodline doctrine.
• Yanbai returned to the Hokage Office and resolved to outlive the men who feared his death, then resurrect them to work and dance on their graves.

Yanbai revised the Land of Fire’s history textbooks to unite people against the Ōtsutsuki and keep ambitious leaders focused on shared responsibilities. The chapter ended with Kushina telling him that Minato wanted to hold a belated wedding.

• Yanbai decided to keep Shimura Danzō and others “poor” by reminding them of the dangers and responsibilities facing the Shinobi World.
• Yanbai expanded the history textbooks with details about Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, Isshiki, the God Tree, and the alien threat, and distributed the materials throughout the Land of Fire and beyond.
• Yanbai used the new lessons to urge people and nations to cooperate against the Ōtsutsuki rather than compete for wealth and status.
• Kushina told Yanbai that Minato wanted to hold a belated wedding, despite the couple having registered their marriage years earlier.

Yanbai gave Kushina an enormous antique dowry and helped oversee her grand wedding to Minato Namikaze. After joking through his wedding speech, he watched the newlyweds celebrate and felt the ache of a father seeing his daughter marry.

• Yanbai sent Kushina trunks of lavish clothes and jewelry, making her dowry a fortune.
• Minato Namikaze's parents visited Yanbai, and Kushina worried about her father-in-law wanting to see a grandchild.
• Uchiha Mikoto helped design the wedding, and guests gathered at the Konoha Grand Hall for the ceremony.
• Yanbai gave a speech advising Kushina to drink cooling tea and Minato Namikaze to hug his wife often so he would not mistake her for someone else.
• Yanbai watched Kushina and Minato Namikaze celebrate and felt both a father's pride and reluctance to let her go.

Yanbai visited Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Mikoto as their families prepared for new babies, teasing them about names and learning what they had chosen. He left Itachi with the Uchiha children teaching him ethics and patriotism, while Minato settled on ordinary, affectionate names for his child.

• Minato Namikaze asked Yanbai to suggest a name for his unborn baby, and Yanbai teased him with grandiose names before Minato decided to discuss it with Kushina.
• Yanbai visited Uchiha Mikoto and learned that she and Fugaku planned to name their son Sasuke.
• Mikoto asked whether Yanbai was thinking of an old acquaintance, and Yanbai joked that her unborn child was Madara's reincarnation before reassuring her.
• Yanbai found four-and-a-half-year-old Itachi being taught ethics, law, and patriotism by Uchiha children, then left without interrupting the lessons.
• Minato Namikaze chose Naruto Uzumaki for a boy and Menma Namikaze for a girl, saying he wanted his child to grow up safely and happily.

After Sasuke’s birth, Yanbai avoided Madara until he finally met him in the dreamlike realm. Madara refused to be resurrected, convinced that doing so would make him lose Yanbai forever, and pressed Yanbai about his hidden identity.

• Yanbai visited newborn Sasuke at Konoha Hospital and gave Mikoto a Wood Release protective charm for the child.
• Yanbai returned to the Princess Mausoleum and used his eyes to enter the strange realm where Madara waited.
• Madara reproached Yanbai for staying away, then said he did not want Yanbai to resurrect him.
• Madara explained that his research and a meeting with Yanbai’s mother and siblings made him suspect resurrection would separate them forever.
• Madara said he believed Yanbai was not Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, accused others of hiding the truth, and contrasted Yanbai’s nature with hers while Yanbai remained silent.

Yanbai admitted that he planned to leave the Shinobi World and the Genshin World by sacrificing himself, while Madara Uchiha refused to accept being forgotten or handed over to someone else. As the dream world crumbled, Madara revealed that he had made a deal with Yanbai’s mother and clung to Yanbai.

• Yanbai told Madara Uchiha he hoped to bring everyone back to life within twenty years, but Madara rejected a resurrection that would end with Yanbai dying.
• Madara explained that he understood Yanbai saw the worlds as games and accused him of planning to leave behind painful memories through a tragic sacrifice.
• Yanbai apologized, recognizing that Madara had correctly guessed his plans to sacrifice himself in both the Shinobi World and the Genshin World.
• Madara said he would not let Yanbai resurrect him in a way that made Yanbai disappear and leave him with the Dendro Archon.
• The dream’s path and Shrine began collapsing as a storm swept through, and Madara fell to one knee and coughed blood.
• Yanbai noticed Madara had a physical body, and Madara revealed he had made a deal with Yanbai’s mother before gripping Yanbai’s arm.

Madara begged Yanbai to let him return to the Shinobi World, confessing his pain and admitting he could not send Yanbai away. Yanbai granted his wish, the dreamscape collapsed, and Madara returned to the Shinobi World before collapsing unconscious against him.

• Madara clung to Yanbai and begged him to say he could return to the Shinobi World, confessing that he wanted to live and keep looking at Yanbai.
• Yanbai reached out and told Madara that pain was something he could share with people who cared about him.
• Madara admitted he could not send Yanbai away and apologized as his breathing stopped and the dreamscape shattered.
• Madara saw the Shinobi World again and smiled, while Yanbai warned him not to laugh with his mouth open around birds.
• Yanbai asked whether Madara had obtained permission from his mother and whether he had brought something for him.
• Madara collapsed unconscious against Yanbai, who muttered that he was a bastard.

Shikaku Nara watched Yanbai work from home while beating Madara Uchiha, and reflected on how Yanbai’s supposed “corrections” were really an excuse to beat people up. The chapter ended with Madara arguing that Yanbai should spend the weekend with the children, and Yanbai asking whether Madara meant the children or himself.

• Shikaku Nara stood in the Study of the Princess Mausoleum while Yanbai’s shadow clones handled his work and Yanbai beat Madara Uchiha in the next room.
• Shikaku Nara recalled how Yanbai had brought back Madara Uchiha’s reincarnation, named him “Cyno,” and beaten him when he insisted on being called Madara Uchiha.
• Shikaku Nara concluded that Yanbai used “corrections” as an excuse to beat people and that Madara Uchiha stayed by his side because he could take a beating.
• Yanbai left the Preparation Room, and Madara Uchiha protested that Yanbai could not beat him and simply leave.
• Madara Uchiha pointed out that it was the weekend and argued that Yanbai should spend a day with the children, while Yanbai asked whether he meant the children or Madara himself.

Junlin met Madara Uchiha at the Princess Mausoleum and asked him to keep the truth about his origins secret from Izuna. Madara learned Junlin was an artificial human made from Izuna and Tobirama’s genes, and agreed to conceal the secret.

• Junlin arrived at the Princess Mausoleum and met Madara Uchiha, who asked why Junlin had never been brought to see him.
• Silver Moon and Muye explained that Junlin was an artificial human created from Izuna and Tobirama’s genes and had been adopted by Yanbai.
• Junlin asked Madara to keep his secret, explaining that he had lied to Izuna and claimed to be Izuna and Yanbai’s child.
• Silver Moon and Muye urged Madara to conceal the truth because Izuna might kill Junlin if he learned the truth.
• Madara listened to their request to pretend he did not know Junlin’s secret.

Madara Uchiha explained why he would not hide Junlin’s crimes, even while recognizing his miserable childhood, and Yanbai accepted his stance. Madara also refused to give Yanbai what his mother had given him, revealed that he had quit as the Akademiya’s Matra, and chose to remain with Yanbai rather than risk returning to his world.

• Madara Uchiha told Yanbai that he would not cover up Junlin’s lies or crimes, though he would not bring the matter up to Izuna unless asked.
• Yanbai teased Madara Uchiha about enjoying their fights, and Madara admitted he had waited years for Yanbai to beat him again.
• Madara Uchiha refused to hand over what Yanbai’s mother had given him, saying Yanbai would leave if he got it.
• Madara Uchiha explained that returning to his world could badly injure him, and said he had quit as the Akademiya’s Matra.
• Madara Uchiha condemned the Great Sages for making themselves exempt from their own laws and said he would leave them to face judgment from the god they had abandoned.

Yanbai and Madara Uchiha argued over their daily shared baths, while Madara explained why he no longer expected Yanbai to return his feelings. Madara revealed he knew Yanbai had used dreams to deceive him and asked him to stop, saying that simply staying close and watching Yanbai was enough.

• Yanbai asked Madara Uchiha why he bathed with him every day, and Madara insisted that there was nothing shameful about two men bathing together.
• Yanbai and Madara traded familiar arguments about Yanbai's gender, then gave up trying to convince each other.
• Madara explained that Yanbai lacked any reason to value him for his strength or other qualities, and that Madara now understood why Yanbai would not choose him.
• Madara admitted that bathing with Yanbai was a small wish he pursued despite knowing it might annoy him.
• Madara revealed that he knew Yanbai had used dreams to deceive him, asked him not to force himself to please Madara with illusions, and said he only wanted to remain near and watch him.

Madara Uchiha wandered through the rain to reflect on Yanbai, the work that had shaped the Land of Fire, and the home he found wherever Yanbai was. When he entered the Uchiha Clan Grounds, its shinobi gathered warily to face the unfamiliar-looking visitor.

• Madara Uchiha ignored Yanbai’s call to wait and walked in the rain until Yanbai left for Konoha with Sasori.
• Madara Uchiha made his way toward Konoha, recalling how Yanbai had helped develop the land and realizing that Yanbai’s presence made a place feel like home.
• Madara Uchiha entered Konoha and walked its streets as villagers watched him with fear and kept their distance.
• Madara Uchiha reached the Uchiha Clan Grounds, where Uchiha shinobi assembled in silence and stood ready to defend those behind them.

Madara Uchiha returned to the Uchiha Clan Grounds and met his descendants, whose fear eased after Uchiha Sumi verified his identification. Sumi led him to find Fugaku.

• Madara Uchiha startled the Uchiha clansmen, and Uchiha Sumi approached him despite his fear.
• Uchiha Sumi recognized Madara's Yan Weave and suspected he was one of Yanbai's descendants.
• Madara handed Sumi his identification papers, which confirmed his identity as the legendary Madara Uchiha.
• Madara asked where Fugaku lived, and Sumi agreed to lead him there.
• After Madara and Sumi left, the gathered clansmen recovered from their fear and speculated about Madara's identity.

Madara Uchiha visited Fugaku’s home to see his children and introduced himself to Mikoto as a reincarnated Madara whose power her child had inherited. When young Itachi appeared, he and Madara recognized something unsettling in each other, and Madara told him, “Itachi, we’re the same kind.”

• Madara Uchiha told Uchiha Sumi he was visiting Fugaku’s children on Yanbai’s behalf, and Sumi accompanied him to the house.
• Mikoto opened the gate with her baby and grew wary when Madara said he was reincarnated and that her child had inherited his power.
• Mikoto hesitated to invite Madara inside until Itachi came to the gate and stared at him.
• Itachi sensed a deadly aura from Madara, and Madara spoke to him in Chinese, saying they were the same kind.

Madara Uchiha visited Fugaku’s home, where young Uchiha Itachi shielded his family and later followed Madara into the rain to confront him. That evening, Madara returned to drink with Yanbai and asked when Yanbai was taking a bath.

• Uchiha Itachi protected his mother and younger brother when Madara Uchiha visited, then claimed his father was away.
• Madara Uchiha left the Uchiha Clan grounds and told Uchiha Sumi to return without following him.
• Uchiha Itachi caught up with Madara in an alley and asked to speak, but Madara accused him of failing to help and walked away.
• Madara Uchiha trapped Uchiha Itachi in an apparent genjutsu, leaving Itachi alone in the rain-soaked alley.
• Madara Uchiha and Yanbai drank beneath the eaves that evening, where Madara remarked on his visit to Fugaku’s home and asked when Yanbai would bathe.