Arc 18Chapters 426–450

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Chapters 426–450 Vol. 5 Read

Ch. 426Icha Icha Paradise = Eye exercises

Madara reconsidered how his need to be right had cost him Yanbai’s patience and decided to stay close without pressuring him. After discovering Itachi’s dependent status, Madara kept quiet and began accompanying Yanbai at work, where they discussed Jiraiya’s book.

  • Madara reflected on his past arguments with Yanbai and realized that winning them had not helped him achieve his goal of being together.
  • Madara stopped exploring and discovered Sasuke from a distance, then sensed that Itachi was another of Yanbai’s dependents.
  • Madara chose not to tell Yanbai about Itachi or complain about him.
  • Madara began going to work with Yanbai, quietly bringing him tea and reading nearby.
  • At lunch, Yanbai asked Madara about Jiraiya’s book, and Madara called it an eye-exercise pamphlet because its contents hurt his eyes.

Ch. 427Decoding Icha Icha Paradise

Yanbai explained Icha Icha Paradise as a story about human nature and the pressures shaping ordinary people in the Land of Fire, while Madara struggled to understand its appeal. Madara remained baffled by the series, and Yanbai privately recognized that he had given it to him on purpose.

  • Madara complained to Yanbai that Icha Icha Paradise was incomprehensible despite its popularity.
  • Yanbai described how Jiraiya's bleak first novel, The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, had flopped before he found success writing Icha Icha Paradise.
  • Yanbai interpreted the female lead's choice to stay in the Land of Fire as a practical attempt to escape poverty, war, and limited opportunities in the Land of Earth.
  • Yanbai told Madara that readers related to the characters' lives, though the book's plot mattered less than its erotic content.
  • Madara admitted that Yanbai's explanation made some sense but that the series was not for him, while Yanbai hid his knowing smile.

Ch. 428Yanbai Was a Hokage from the Underworld

Madara Uchiha read Konoha’s archives and learned how Yanbai’s relentless work and unconventional policies had made the Hokage position terrifying to inherit. The chapter ended with Yanbai’s shinobi recruits openly defaulting on illegal lenders’ loans, baiting the loan sharks into breaking the law and facing arrest.

  • Madara Uchiha read the village archives and realized how difficult Yanbai had made the Hokage’s work and how his successors had struggled to carry out his plans.
  • Madara remembered Yanbai’s schemes, including turning criminals’ skills to the Land of Fire’s use and repurposing some prisoners as material for Impure World Reincarnation.
  • Yanbai outlawed unauthorized lenders, established public banks with the Daimyo, and required private lenders to obtain licenses, follow legal interest rates, and pay taxes.
  • Yanbai organized shinobi-class graduates into rural villages that secretly targeted loan sharks who continued lending illegally.
  • The shinobi recruits borrowed from hundreds of illegal lenders, refused repayment openly, and dared collectors to report them, risking arrest by the authorities.

Ch. 429The bizarre domestic affairs of the Land of Fire

Yanbai uncovered hospitals and local residents abusing Tobirama Senju’s social security policies through fraudulent operations and reimbursements. He ordered annual medical-record audits that would expose the fraud, relocate the residents and hospitals, and punish the operators, leaving the Land of Fire with more accurate health statistics.

  • Yanbai discovered elderly villagers discussing repeated circumcisions and learned that a local hospital was arranging fake operations to claim medical reimbursements.
  • Madara Uchiha read Yanbai’s report and was baffled by both the fraud and Yanbai’s account of how he investigated it.
  • Yanbai ordered newly graduated medical shinobi to collect annual surgical records and assess unusual patterns in local communities.
  • Yanbai arranged for suspicious areas to be cleared for industrial development and for the fraudulent hospital operators to be imprisoned.
  • The hospital would reopen with new staff, residents would lose their fraudulent gains to relocation costs, and medical statistics would become more reliable.

Ch. 430A Man Covered in Question Marks

Uchiha Itachi secretly watched Yanbai and used his Vision to investigate the man calling himself Madara Uchiha, whose profile identified him as Yanbai’s familiar but concealed his status with question marks. Madara noticed Itachi’s spying, while he reflected on how Yanbai’s accumulated record and demanding role made finding a successor difficult.

  • Uchiha Itachi climbed to a rooftop and watched Yanbai drink tea with the silver-haired Madara Uchiha, feeling regret that he was no longer the one sitting opposite Yanbai.
  • Uchiha Itachi used his Vision to inspect Madara Uchiha and saw that his profile named him as Yanbai’s familiar while listing his status and other details as question marks.
  • Uchiha Itachi realized he could not eliminate Madara because Madara was classified as a familiar, then quietly left his vantage point.
  • Madara Uchiha glanced toward the place where Itachi had been hiding and continued reading Yanbai’s extensive dossier.
  • Madara Uchiha reflected that Yanbai’s record of bold policies and the demands of the Hokage position made it difficult to find a suitable successor.

Ch. 431If I'd known being with you could make me so happy...

Madara Uchiha turned down Uchiha Fugaku’s apology so he could spend the afternoon with Yanbai, then confessed how deeply he had suffered while Yanbai tried to leave and how much their time together meant to him. He feared he would eventually lose Yanbai, leaving their quiet afternoon weighted with his uncertainty.

  • Madara Uchiha reviewed Yanbai’s case files and unexpectedly suggested that Junlin inherit the Hokage position.
  • Shikaku Nara told Madara Uchiha that Uchiha Fugaku had come to apologize for Mikoto turning Madara away from their home, but Madara refused to see Fugaku and ordered him to leave the gifts.
  • Madara Uchiha called the afternoon his date time with Yanbai and said sitting together to drink tea made him happy.
  • Madara Uchiha told Yanbai that he had considered taking his own life in Sumeru after learning his efforts were meant to fulfill Yanbai’s wish to die, but Muye and Silver Moon had helped him keep living.
  • Madara Uchiha admitted that he feared he could not keep Yanbai and wished he were stronger.

Ch. 432So, you came for Uchiha Itachi after all?

Yanbai brought Madara Uchiha to Shimura Danzō for a private counseling session, claiming Madara’s unusual behavior had become troublesome. Danzō suspected the behavior was a pretext for Madara to obtain intelligence, and asked whether he had come seeking information about the Dōjutsu World used on Obito Uchiha’s graduating class.

  • Yanbai told Shimura Danzō that Madara Uchiha had been reading unfamiliar books, studying relationships, behaving strangely, and climbing into Yanbai’s bath and bed.
  • Yanbai left Madara alone with Shimura Danzō for a private counseling session and asked Danzō to report his findings afterward.
  • Shimura Danzō inferred that Madara had deliberately acted strangely to gain a legitimate reason to meet him and access Konoha’s intelligence.
  • Shimura Danzō recalled his recent contact with Uchiha Itachi’s group and Yanbai’s special treatment of Itachi.
  • Shimura Danzō asked Madara whether he had come for information about the Dōjutsu World that Lord Hokage used on Obito Uchiha’s graduating class.

Ch. 433Not as good-looking as you

Madara Uchiha accompanied Yanbai to the Konoha Military Police Force, where Shimura Danzō tried to explain Uchiha Itachi's history and insulted Yanbai. Madara used a technique to witness Danzō's past, then left with Yanbai and told him what he had seen.

  • Madara Uchiha ignored Shimura Danzō's speculation about Uchiha Itachi and silently listened as Danzō called Yanbai neurotically cautious.
  • Madara Uchiha abruptly confronted Shimura Danzō after he described everything surrounding Yanbai as a vessel of desire.
  • Madara Uchiha left the office smiling and led Yanbai away, telling him he felt better and asking him not to see Danzō again.
  • Madara Uchiha told Yanbai that he had used a technique to view Shimura Danzō's past and had witnessed Danzō rape and murder women while interrogating foreign shinobi.
  • Madara Uchiha told Yanbai that none of the women were as good-looking as him.

Ch. 434Want to Change Your Genes? I Can Help You

After Madara Uchiha returned, Junlin feared losing his place in Yanbai’s family and wandered near the Senju Clan grounds. Uchiha Itachi confronted him with an offer to alter his genes and reveal the truth of his parentage, leaving Junlin furious and afraid that their secret would be exposed.

  • Yanbai told the children that Madara Uchiha had returned and asked Kushina Uzumaki to wait until after Naruto’s birth before visiting him.
  • Junlin wandered the forest, unsettled by Madara Uchiha’s presence and anxious that he might lose his home with Yanbai.
  • Near the Senju Clan grounds, Junlin met Uchiha Itachi, who said he could help make Junlin Yanbai’s real child.
  • Uchiha Itachi offered to replace the genes Junlin inherited from Tobirama Senju with Yanbai’s genes.
  • When Uchiha Itachi began mentioning Orochimaru, Tobirama Senju, and Uchiha Izuna, Junlin shouted at him to stop, fearing their secret would be overheard.

Ch. 435Stop staring at my chest

Junlin confronted Uchiha Itachi, who revealed that he knew Junlin’s hidden ability and offered to help him in exchange for assistance. At the Princess Mausoleum, Yanbai teased Madara about staring at his chest, then asked what he wanted for dinner.

  • Junlin feared killing Itachi because he believed Yanbai could see everything through the trees.
  • Uchiha Itachi explained that Junlin’s Sharingan reflected his wish to become Yanbai’s child and let him steal bloodlines, though the ability had restrictions.
  • Uchiha Itachi showed Junlin a system panel containing detailed information about his identity, abilities, and life, then offered to help him if Junlin helped him.
  • At the Princess Mausoleum, Sasori hurried inside while Yanbai wondered why he had been acting so afraid since Madara returned.
  • Yanbai accused Madara of staring at his chest, teased him by welcoming him back into his arms, and then pulled away.
  • Yanbai asked Madara what he wanted for dinner, and Madara requested food filled with love made by Yanbai.

Ch. 436Not Sweet at All

Yanbai prepared an elaborate dinner for Madara Uchiha and packed a meal for Sasori, prompting Madara to insist he disliked sweet egg rolls while privately resenting Yanbai’s attention to Sasori. After Yanbai left, Muye and Silver Moon teased Madara about his relationship with Yanbai, leaving him speechless.

  • Yanbai served Madara Uchiha a lavish dinner and packed food for Sasori, who was working in his workshop.
  • Madara praised the meal but complained that Yanbai had added sugar to the egg rolls, while privately thinking Yanbai cared too much about Sasori.
  • Yanbai carried Sasori’s meal to the workshop and reminded him to clean up if he spilled anything.
  • Muye and Silver Moon complained that Yanbai rarely cooked for them, then teased Madara about being covered in injuries after spending time with Yanbai.
  • Muye and Silver Moon asked whether Yanbai gave Madara any perks after beating him up, leaving Madara speechless.

Ch. 437Jiraiya: I don't think my writing is tacky enough yet

Madara Uchiha endured Muye and Silver Moon’s teasing before Yanbai pressed him for useful feedback on dinner. As autumn arrived, Yanbai grew anxious about Kushina’s approaching delivery, while Madara confronted Jiraiya about the tacky plots in Icha Icha Paradise and learned Jiraiya intended to make them even tackier.

  • Madara Uchiha told Muye and Silver Moon to leave after they teased him about Yanbai, and Yanbai returned to find them all awkwardly silent.
  • Yanbai asked Madara Uchiha for detailed feedback on dinner, while Muye complained that his parents were flaunting their affection in front of him.
  • Yanbai visited the hospital repeatedly as Kushina neared childbirth and arranged for Minato Namikaze to stay by her side on parental leave.
  • Madara Uchiha sought out Jiraiya to criticize the implausible, tacky plot devices in Icha Icha Paradise.
  • Jiraiya defended his writing and told Madara Uchiha he wanted to make it even tackier.

Ch. 438Madara Had Already Found His Own Sense of Reality

After beating Jiraiya, Madara Uchiha was attacked near the Memorial Stone by a mysterious opponent, later identified as Itachi. Madara summoned Yanbai, who arrived and told Itachi to stop.

  • Madara Uchiha beat Jiraiya after Jiraiya described his novels as a way to profit from readers' desires.
  • On his way to the Memorial Stone, Madara Uchiha heard wolves warn of danger and was attacked by someone using a strange power that dissolved everything.
  • Madara Uchiha realized he had no desire to prolong the fight because only Yanbai gave him a sense of reality without battle.
  • Madara Uchiha cut his hand and used Tobirama Senju's Summoning Technique: Princess's Casket to summon Yanbai.
  • Yanbai appeared amid white roses as the attacker used the strange power again, and Yanbai told Itachi to stop.

Ch. 439He wanted to become you

Yanbai confronted Uchiha Itachi after Itachi used Yanbai’s bestowed ability on Madara Uchiha, and Itachi claimed he would try to help Yanbai despite the Old Woman’s orders. Yanbai left open the possibility of an alliance and explained that Itachi had intended to analyze and reconstruct Madara, becoming him.

  • Yanbai appeared when Uchiha Itachi summoned him, and Itachi knelt to apologize for being unable to help him through the usual means.
  • Madara Uchiha accused Itachi of lying, but Yanbai quieted Madara and accepted Itachi’s offer to try to help.
  • Yanbai recalled how the Old Woman had trapped his mother in a Virtual World and forced her into marriage, recognizing similarities with his own predicament.
  • Back at the Princess Mausoleum, Madara questioned why Yanbai had been lenient with Itachi, and Yanbai said Itachi might still become an ally.
  • Yanbai revealed that Itachi had used his ability to observe, understand, analyze, and reconstruct Madara in order to become him.

Ch. 440The origin of the "Gift"

Yanbai explained that the Gift was a curse born from a mortal’s undying love, powerful enough to kill a god, and revealed how its rule had shaped his past with Madara Uchiha and his sister. He left Madara wondering whether the rule had been restricted in the Shinobi World, which might explain why Itachi had a Gift and Madara did not.

  • Madara asked why Itachi had received Yanbai’s Gift while he had not, and Yanbai said it arose from praise and was also a curse.
  • Yanbai told Madara that he treated the world as an MMORPG, logging in and out before replaying it from its factory settings.
  • Yanbai recounted arriving in the Uchiha Clan Grounds with his younger sister, later Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and said a past version of Madara had proposed to her.
  • Yanbai recalled attacking that Madara in anger and feeling betrayed when his sister intervened, before later allowing him to pursue becoming a god.
  • Yanbai explained that Kaguya revived the past Madara and imposed a rule against gods becoming too close to mortals, with the Gift emerging from undying love and carrying the power to kill them.
  • Yanbai speculated that the rule might have been restricted in the Shinobi World, accounting for Madara’s lack of a Gift.

Ch. 441Naruto Is Born

Yanbai helped Kushina through a quick and quiet delivery at Konoha Hospital, where she gave birth to Naruto. After Kushina was moved to a ward to recover, Yanbai left with Madara Uchiha.

  • Yanbai and Madara Uchiha discussed the possibility of Madara merging with another version of himself before Minato Namikaze arrived to report that Kushina was about to give birth.
  • Yanbai used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Madara and Minato to Konoha Hospital, then entered the delivery room with Minato.
  • Yanbai reassured Kushina and instructed her to push through contractions while Tsunade assisted with the delivery.
  • Kushina gave birth to a boy, and Minato slapped the newborn’s feet until Naruto began crying.
  • Kushina ate porridge and was moved to a ward after the midwives confirmed she was not hemorrhaging, while Minato took Naruto to be bathed.
  • Madara teased Yanbai outside the delivery room, and Yanbai turned away and walked toward the inpatient wards.

Ch. 442What Exactly Is Your Relationship with Itachi?

After Kushina gave birth safely, Yanbai returned to the Princess Mausoleum with Madara Uchiha, who wrestled with his feelings and tried to understand their strained relationship. Madara asked about Itachi, and Yanbai revealed that he had been his follower in another version of the Shinobi World, leaving Madara wondering what had happened between them.

  • Tsunade arranged Kushina's postpartum care, Minato stayed with his wife and son, and the Tailed Beasts returned home.
  • Yanbai brought Madara Uchiha back to the Princess Mausoleum, heard from the cats that Sasori remained in his workshop, and asked Shikaku Nara to bring official documents later.
  • As they lay down, Madara reflected on Yanbai's refusal to marry and realized they had understood their bond and the risk of losing each other differently.
  • Madara asked whether Yanbai had become bound to this world because of him, but Yanbai told him not to take on unnecessary responsibility.
  • Madara asked why Uchiha Itachi wanted to become him, and Yanbai said Itachi had been his follower in another version of the Shinobi World.
  • Madara wondered whether Itachi had gone through the same experiences with Yanbai, but could not finish his question.

Ch. 443You're Different from Him

Madara Uchiha pressed Yanbai to explain what he meant by treating him differently from Itachi, and Yanbai revealed that Itachi was jealous of Madara’s place at his side. The conversation ended with Yanbai asking whether Madara had brought him anything from his mother, leaving Madara feeling bitter despite their closeness.

  • Yanbai told Madara Uchiha that he regarded Itachi like a son, unlike Madara, whom he saw as someone of his own generation.
  • Madara asked what he meant by being different, and Yanbai explained that Itachi was jealous of him.
  • Yanbai said Itachi had likely changed his plan to rescue him after realizing Yanbai was a woman living beside Madara.
  • Madara concluded that Itachi wanted to be married to Yanbai and envied the peaceful family life Madara seemed to share with him.
  • Yanbai stopped discussing Itachi and asked Madara whether his mother had asked him to bring anything, making Madara feel bitter.

Ch. 444I Won't Use It on You

Yanbai left Madara Uchiha after Madara admitted he could not bring over the gift Yanbai's mother had given him, though Madara urged Yanbai to consider Junlin as a successor. Junlin confessed that Uchiha Itachi had offered to make him Yanbai's biological child in exchange for helping free Yanbai from the god imprisoning him, and Yanbai was shocked to hear it.

  • Madara Uchiha admitted he could not bring over the gift Yanbai's mother had given him, then suggested Junlin might be a suitable successor for Yanbai.
  • Yanbai left Madara and used Flying Thunder God to reach the Living Room, where Junlin was waiting for him.
  • Junlin told Yanbai that he had long wanted to become his true child and had awakened a Mangekyō Sharingan ability related to bloodlines, but had never used it without permission.
  • Junlin explained that he valued his bond with Yanbai more than becoming his biological child and said he had refused Uchiha Itachi's invitation.
  • Junlin revealed that Uchiha Itachi had offered to make him Yanbai's true child if he helped eliminate the god imprisoning Yanbai in this world.

Ch. 445Kushina's Childbirth Really Was Plagued by Disaster

Yanbai and Junlin discussed Junlin’s choice to help him despite Uchiha Itachi’s proposal, while Tobirama Senju’s warning about Yanbai’s curse of immortality weighed on Junlin. Yanbai then learned that Kushina’s childbirth had brought a different kind of disaster: sudden troubles caused by Orochimaru’s guns and the Land of Fire’s turbulent history.

  • Junlin told Yanbai that he had rejected Uchiha Itachi’s proposal but still wanted to help him, and Yanbai encouraged him to act honestly.
  • Junlin recalled Tobirama Senju’s claim that Yanbai wanted to escape the shinobi world and that immortality was a curse to him.
  • Yanbai made breakfast for Junlin, who ate, said goodbye, and left for the day.
  • Shikaku Nara brought Yanbai urgent intelligence and a large collection of reports about sudden incidents tied to Orochimaru’s guns.
  • The chapter recounted how the Land of Fire’s education and development, its citizens’ self-defense, and hostility from other nations contributed to the Second Shinobi World War.
  • Kirigakure and Kumogakure’s amphibious shinobi suffered heavy losses when ordinary fishermen along the Land of Fire’s coast captured and killed them.

Ch. 446Family Feuds May Fade in Three Generations, but National Grievances Must Never Be Forgotten

Shikaku Nara warned Yanbai that armed disputes between villages and rising crime were threatening the Land of Fire, with possible foreign involvement. Yanbai gave him detailed measures for a gun ban and urged vigilance against the Four Great Nations.

  • Shikaku Nara explained how the Land of Fire’s armed population and growing conflicts between villages had created a serious law-enforcement problem.
  • Shikaku Nara suspected the Four Great Shinobi Villages were involved in some sudden clashes, but said the fighters were Land of Fire civilians.
  • Yanbai gave Shikaku Nara a dossier for the Seven-Tails to deliver to the Daimyo, containing procedures for a ban on firearms and other dangerous weapons.
  • Yanbai ordered Shikaku Nara to oversee the ban’s rollout, prepare for its adverse effects, and assign capable people to supervise enforcement.
  • Yanbai warned that the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth would seek a chance to return, and said the Land of Fire must teach future generations never to forget national grievances.

Ch. 447I'm Willing to Live Forever in Your Memories

Yanbai managed his Hokage duties and delegated work to the ghosts and animals of the Mountain Wilderness. Madara Uchiha asked to return to the Genshin World, then told Yanbai he would rather part while they were happy and live on in Yanbai’s memories; Yanbai slowly opened his eyes.

  • Yanbai and his clones quickly sorted the files, while Shikaku Nara finished compiling the incident report and left to implement Yanbai’s decrees.
  • Yanbai assigned the ghosts to maintain the Princess Mausoleum and the animals to gather intelligence across the shinobi world.
  • Yanbai returned to his room to rest and found Madara Uchiha waiting on the bed.
  • Madara Uchiha asked Yanbai to send him back to the Genshin World so he could retrieve what Yanbai’s mother had given him or follow their original plan.
  • Madara Uchiha said he wanted to part from Yanbai while they were happy and live forever in Yanbai’s memories, and Yanbai slowly opened his eyes.

Ch. 448Why the system couldn't be fixed

Yanbai wondered why Old Grandmother had trapped him in this world and why his system could not be repaired, while Sasori prepared for his contract to end. The chapter ended with Sasori secretly embracing a purple-haired Humanoid Puppet and telling it that Yanbai would not agree to something.

  • Yanbai used his uncanny eyes to make Madara Uchiha fall asleep, then pondered Old Grandmother’s motives and the broken system.
  • Sasori told Yanbai that his contract was nearly over and described the thirty-six new puppet designs he had drawn.
  • Sasori asked whether Madara Uchiha had said anything about Yanbai sending him off with all his longing, but Yanbai did not understand the question.
  • Sasori asked Yanbai to arrange his return to Sunagakure when his work was finished, then went to his private workshop.
  • Inside the sealed workshop, Sasori embraced a purple-haired Humanoid Puppet and murmured that Yanbai would not agree because he was a good person.

Ch. 449Madara's lies?

Madara revealed that he had pretended to return willingly in order to lure Black Zetsu into a trap, and imprisoned him in an illusory world. Meanwhile, Yanbai grew suspicious of what had happened in Sasori’s workshop and considered secretly breaching its barrier to investigate.

  • Black Zetsu entered Madara’s room, spoke to him, and found that Yanbai’s bone walls had trapped him inside.
  • Madara rose from the bed and used a desert-like illusion to restrain Black Zetsu, who realized Madara’s story to Yanbai had been a lie.
  • Madara transported Black Zetsu into his own world and welcomed him there before returning to bed.
  • Yanbai ate alone, packed food, and pondered Sasori’s cryptic remarks and time spent with lifelike puppets.
  • Yanbai stopped outside Sasori’s workshop and decided to quietly tear open part of its barrier to peek inside.

Ch. 450Madara: Let me in

Madara Uchiha used a technique on Black Zetsu to uncover the truth behind Yanbai's plans, then escaped the sealed space when Yanbai returned. He demanded entry to Yanbai's dōjutsu illusion and, once inside, challenged Yanbai to get the information from him.

  • Madara Uchiha used his past-seeing technique on Black Zetsu and learned that Yanbai had sent him to another world.
  • Black Zetsu's filial piety ability failed to affect Madara Uchiha, who had reincarnated as Cyno and sealed Black Zetsu inside his body.
  • A pitch-black sphere spread across the sealed space, and Madara Uchiha vanished as darkness swallowed Black Zetsu.
  • Yanbai woke Madara Uchiha by calling his name, and Madara seized him and demanded to be let into his dōjutsu illusion.
  • Madara Uchiha surveyed Yanbai's flower-filled illusion and said he had learned Old Grandmother's intentions from Black Zetsu.
  • Madara Uchiha asked Yanbai how he planned to get the information out of him.
Arc 18 of 20