Chapter Summaries

Yanbai told Madara Uchiha that his growing urge to kill Yanbai would bring him a powerful Gift, then persuaded him to remain unmarried while promising to stay by his side. The chapter ended with Yanbai asking Madara for help with a serious matter, and Madara agreeing.

• Yanbai explained that Madara Uchiha's murderous urge was a side effect of an evolving power and warned him not to leave if the seal failed.
• Yanbai entered a dōjutsu space with Madara and said they could not marry because the People of Heaven would discover their relationship and separate them.
• Yanbai convinced Madara to keep their relationship as it was and advised him to appear heartbroken to Yanbai's eldest brother to gain benefits for the Uchiha Clan.
• Madara admitted he felt uneasy about their relationship remaining unofficial, but agreed to Yanbai's wishes as long as Yanbai stayed with him.
• Yanbai said he might soon need Madara's protection and quietly explained what he needed; Madara promised to help.

Yanbai told Madara Uchiha about Zetsu and gave him a tattooed seal to control the emotions caused by Yanbai’s ability. As the Warring States era ended, Yanbai’s methods transformed the new village’s construction, leaving Hashirama Senju apologetic and Madara Uchiha thinking about how to appear pitiful.

• Yanbai told Madara Uchiha that his watcher was Zetsu, who could disguise himself as anyone or anything and could only be sealed, and warned Madara not to trust him.
• Yanbai tattooed roses and thorns on Madara Uchiha’s wrist, explaining that Madara could use the mark to control the seal and the side effects of Yanbai’s gift.
• Yanbai and Madara Uchiha left the Cherry Blossom Grove and parted at the Senju Clan grounds in the rain; Madara went home smiling as he recalled Yanbai’s song.
• Yanbai hired Kaguya Clan shinobi to use Shikotsumyaku to build the grounds and infrastructure for eight clans, reshaping the new village.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha looked over the bone-built village from the future Hokage Rock, and Hashirama apologized for Yanbai.
• Madara Uchiha wondered how to make himself look truly pitiful, then wistfully spoke about their dreams; Hashirama assumed Yanbai had hurt him and felt torn between Madara and his sister.

Hashirama urged Madara to become the village’s first Hokage and suggested naming the village Konoha, which Madara connected to his love for Yanbai. Yanbai later took Madara to eavesdrop on his brothers, then told him to leave leadership to Hashirama and reserve his love for Yanbai alone.

• Hashirama asked Madara to lead the new village as its first Hokage, and Madara proposed the name Konoha Shinobi Village because its flowers reminded him of Yanbai.
• Hashirama described the Hokage’s duties and proposed carving Madara’s likeness into the cliff, but Madara objected that it would look like a severed head.
• Tobirama questioned Hashirama’s decision to recommend Madara and argued that the village leader should be chosen with the daimyo and public opinion in mind.
• Yanbai brought Madara to secretly listen as Tobirama argued that Madara was unfit to lead, partly because Yanbai had supposedly made him mentally unstable.
• Yanbai told Madara that Hashirama should love the whole village while Madara saved his love for Yanbai alone, and Madara agreed.
• Hashirama and Tobirama discovered the Wood Release listening tubes and concluded that Yanbai had brought Madara to eavesdrop.

Yanbai decided to trust Madara Uchiha to protect his body while he feigned death, hoping to keep Tobirama Senju from experimenting on him. Hashirama Senju became Konoha’s First Hokage, and the chapter ended with Tobirama confronting Madara with a shocking accusation.

• Madara Uchiha asked Yanbai why he had left evidence of their eavesdropping, and Yanbai said he wanted Hashirama to know he was on Madara’s side.
• Yanbai gave up trying to obtain Indra’s chakra and planned to feign death, trusting Madara to preserve his remains and protect them from Tobirama.
• Hashirama Senju won the vote for First Hokage, while Madara Uchiha withdrew from consideration and was appointed Hokage Advisor alongside Toshio Hyuga and Rokuhiro Nara.
• After the meeting, Tobirama Senju grabbed Madara’s shoulder and accused him of having slept with Tobirama’s sister.

Tobirama Senju tricked Yanbai into leaving his room while he planted Flying Thunder God formulas around Madara Uchiha’s home and filled it with clothes and animals. Yanbai returned to find his belongings gone and wondered whether Tobirama and Izuna had teamed up to steal his clothes.

• Madara Uchiha denied Tobirama Senju’s suspicion, and Tobirama marked Madara’s shoulder before leaving.
• Tobirama Senju sent Yanbai to find Itama Senju in the eastern mountains, claiming Itama needed help setting up the Hokage appointment ceremony.
• Yanbai found Itama Senju alone in a tree, realized Tobirama had tricked him into leaving, and took a leisurely walk around the new Shinobi Village.
• Madara Uchiha returned home and discovered a heap of women’s clothing inside, animals in his courtyard, and Flying Thunder God formulas throughout the house.
• Yanbai returned home to find his belongings and clothes missing and wondered whether Tobirama and Izuna had stolen them together.

Yanbai summoned and beat Tobirama Senju after learning he had sent Yanbai’s belongings to Madara Uchiha to avoid a marriage alliance with the daimyo. At Hashirama Senju’s inauguration, the daimyo instead arranged for his daughter to marry Hashirama’s son, while Yanbai resolved to keep Konoha from becoming dependent on the daimyo.

• Yanbai used Tobirama Senju’s saved hair to summon him, then beat him for sending Yanbai’s belongings to Madara Uchiha, who had burned Yanbai’s clothes.
• Tobirama explained that the daimyo wanted a marriage alliance with the Senju Clan and feared Yanbai would be chosen as a spouse.
• Yanbai healed Tobirama between blows as he dragged him through the village, and ordered him to find Spider Ninja Beasts or silkworms to make new clothes.
• At Hashirama Senju’s inauguration, the daimyo arrived with his young daughter and arranged for her to marry Hashirama’s eldest son when they were older.
• Yanbai decided he could not die soon and resolved to find ways to make money so Konoha would not be constrained by the daimyo.

As Konoha began operating, its leaders used profitable businesses to fund the village and debated how to manage its growing population and internal tensions. Madara Uchiha proposed a shared police force, and the Council established the Konoha Military Police Force.

• Hashirama Senju and Yanbai turned Konoha's hot spring resort into a major source of income, and the daimyo and nobles paid for memberships after enjoying its food, baths, and massages.
• Madara Uchiha realized Yanbai was angry with him and missed him while village duties kept them apart.
• Hashirama Senju proposed making each clan's ninjutsu public, and Madara Uchiha agreed without objection.
• Rokuhiro Nara called for an organization to maintain order within Konoha, citing lingering clan grudges and recent clashes.
• Toshio Hyuga said the Hyuga Clan could not spare patrol members for internal affairs, but Madara Uchiha proposed that every clan contribute and supervise one another.
• The leaders agreed to establish the Konoha Military Police Force to maintain order inside the village.

Yanbai met Madara Uchiha after avoiding him for half a month and learned that Hashirama Senju had sent him to capture the Nine-Tails. Their conversation revealed that Madara knew Yanbai used Dōjutsu on him, though he mistook the illusions for a way to soften Yanbai’s hard body.

• Yanbai avoided Madara Uchiha for half a month, but Madara came to visit him at night with a new tea set as an apology.
• Madara told Yanbai that Hashirama Senju had assigned him to capture the Nine-Tails and was investigating the other tailed beasts as well.
• Madara asked Yanbai why he had refused to meet him, and Yanbai admitted he enjoyed using Dōjutsu on him.
• Madara said he had already realized Yanbai used Dōjutsu, believing the illusions made Yanbai feel softer to embrace.
• Yanbai realized Madara had knowingly gone along with the illusions, while misunderstanding why Yanbai used them.

Yanbai brutally trained Madara Uchiha in his Dōjutsu space, then taught him about human meridians and pressure points. The next morning, Hashirama Senju tried to recruit Yanbai to steal the One-Tail after claiming it had been spotted near the Land of Fire border.

• Yanbai repeatedly killed Madara Uchiha during their illusion training, pushing him to fight harder despite the pain and deaths.
• Yanbai told Madara Uchiha that he had memorized the body's pressure points and drew him a Human Meridian Chart.
• Madara Uchiha left eager to capture the Nine-Tails so he could return and see Yanbai.
• Hashirama Senju complained that caring for his young son was exhausting, and Yanbai suggested tiring the child out with sit-ups.
• Hashirama Senju claimed shinobi from the Land of Wind had spotted the One-Tail, but Yanbai saw through his lie and accused him of wanting the beast stolen.

Yanbai agreed to travel alone to the Land of Wind and capture Shukaku before the First Kazekage could demand it at a future summit. Before the journey, Tobirama arranged for Yanbai to treat injured shinobi, and Yanbai accidentally removed Shigenobu Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal while healing him.

• Yanbai realized Hashirama wanted him to capture the One-Tail because Tobirama and Kawarama could not leave their duties in Konoha.
• Yanbai agreed to go to the Land of Wind and take Shukaku before the First Kazekage could claim him.
• Tobirama gathered injured shinobi for Yanbai to treat before his first long journey, despite few people showing up.
• Yanbai healed Shigenobu Hyuga’s internal injuries by touching his hands and using the Restoration Technique.
• Shigenobu heard a song about the bird inside a cage and discovered that Yanbai had healed away his Caged Bird Seal.

Yanbai healed Konoha shinobi, then traveled to the Land of Wind and stole Shukaku and his sealed urn. He planned to use the theft to win the Land of Wind’s favor at the first Five Kage Summit.

• Yanbai healed Shigenobu Hyuga, who discovered that his Caged Bird Seal had disappeared.
• Yanbai treated injured and disabled shinobi in Konoha before leaving for the Land of Wind.
• Yanbai befriended desert animals, who guided him to Shukaku’s location and explained how the monks repeatedly released and recaptured him for donations.
• Yanbai sent birds to distract the monks, then had animals steal Shukaku and the sealed Ash Urn.
• Yanbai carried Shukaku back toward the Land of Fire, imagining Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha using the capture to gain Reto’s goodwill at the Five Kage Summit.

Yanbai subdued Shukaku and spent several days teaching him to curb his destructive impulses, building a close bond as they traveled through the wilderness. While Yanbai bathed, Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha found him and overheard him getting along with the tailed beast.

• Yanbai repeatedly knocked Shukaku unconscious with Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands until Shukaku stopped trying to cause trouble.
• Yanbai explained to Shukaku how he had rescued him and why the Land of Wind might suffer, and they began traveling together.
• Yanbai reframed Shukaku's childish outbursts and mistakes as normal behavior, and Shukaku gradually grew comfortable with him.
• Yanbai bathed in a lake while Shukaku waited nearby and repeatedly asked when he would be finished.
• Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha followed Tobirama's Flying Thunder God mark to Yanbai's clothes and overheard his conversation with Shukaku.

Yanbai returned to Konoha with Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama after reassuring Madara and rescuing Shukaku from his grasp. Shukaku celebrated seeing the other tailed beasts imprisoned, and Madara ended up carrying him to the meeting.

• Yanbai gently reassured Madara and explained that he had stayed away to talk with Shukaku, while Hashirama and Tobirama gave them privacy.
• Madara caught Shukaku in his raccoon form, but Yanbai reclaimed him and prompted him to call Madara "father," easing the tension.
• Tobirama transported Hashirama and Madara to Konoha, and Yanbai followed using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Shukaku rushed to the main square and mocked the seven unconscious tailed beasts restrained in Wood Release cages.
• Hashirama invited Yanbai to join the meeting, and Madara scooped up Shukaku, saying he was too heavy for Yanbai to carry.

Tobirama Senju reported that the four other great nations were establishing shinobi villages and claiming them as the Five Great Shinobi Villages alongside Konoha. Hashirama Senju proposed preparing for a Five Kage Summit once the other villages appointed their Kage.

• Tobirama Senju reported plans for Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure, along with smaller shinobi villages.
• Madara Uchiha and Rokuhiro Nara objected to the other villages being grouped with Konoha and warned that the new alliances could lead to conflict.
• Hashirama Senju argued that the other nations were following Konoha’s example, while Yanbai joked that clan feuds had become village-wide brawls.
• Hashirama Senju proposed preparing for a Five Kage Summit, and Tobirama Senju agreed to contact the other villages once their Kage were appointed.

Konoha Shinobi Village grew into a bustling center with its departments and public services organized under Yanbai’s guidance. At the gambling tables, Hashirama Senju lost heavily to Yanbai, leaving Madara Uchiha to watch his closest friend sink into debt.

• Yanbai helped Konoha expand its services and economy, while Shukaku and Kurama mingled with villagers in animal forms.
• Konoha finalized its leadership and department roles, and Yanbai urged the village to train successors for specialized work.
• Hashirama Senju used Shadow Clones to handle his duties while he gambled, and Yanbai followed him to the tables and won his money.
• Hashirama borrowed from Madara Uchiha to keep gambling, but Yanbai won so much from him that Hashirama ended up in debt.
• Yanbai returned his winnings to Madara, while Madara watched Hashirama sob over the money he had lost.

Hashirama Senju proposed holding a Five Kage Summit to discuss the Tailed Beasts, but Yanbai opposed giving them to other nations. The meeting ended with Yanbai urging Konoha to find a way to keep the other nations dependent on it and maintain lasting leverage.

• Tobirama Senju interrupted Hashirama Senju’s night at the gambling house to summon him to an emergency meeting with Rokuhiro Nara and Toshio Hyuga.
• Rokuhiro Nara reported that the other four nations had established shinobi villages and appointed their Kage, so Hashirama Senju proposed arranging a Five Kage Summit.
• Hashirama Senju said he wanted to address the Tailed Beasts and suggested selling them, but Yanbai insisted they were his friends and asked to win them over instead.
• Toshio Hyuga supported Yanbai, while Rokuhiro Nara argued that distributing the Tailed Beasts could balance power and reduce the risk of internal conflict.
• Madara Uchiha warned that empowering other nations could make them arrogant, and Rokuhiro Nara explained the dangers of both overwhelming power and an unstable balance.
• Yanbai argued that political promises could be broken and urged Hashirama Senju to devise a lasting plan that made the other nations depend on Konoha instead of giving them the Tailed Beasts.

Yanbai stopped Hashirama Senju from giving away the tailed beasts and laid out a ten-year plan for expanding Konoha’s influence. He left the others stunned as he described schemes to gain control of the Land of Fire and weaken rival countries through political, economic, and covert means.

• Yanbai showed Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and the others documents detailing the clans, daimyo, and nobles of several countries.
• Yanbai explained that Konoha would first need to gain control of the Land of Fire and use Yoru Senju’s planned marriage to the daimyo’s princess as one route into the daimyo’s household.
• Yanbai described training Konoha shinobi as attractive service workers so they could build relationships with nobles visiting the hot springs.
• Tobirama Senju recorded Yanbai’s plans while the others listened uneasily.
• Yanbai proposed disguising shinobi as bandits to rob wealthy merchants, sell captured bandits, and draw civilians to Konoha for safety.
• Yanbai outlined plans to influence foreign nobles through luxury goods and covert operations, while using their financial power to constrain rival shinobi villages.

Yanbai’s meeting laid out plans to weaken other nations through economic control, while Tobirama noticed a strange exchange between Yanbai and Madara. Madara then recalled how Yanbai had warned him about the Uchiha stone tablet’s message as Izuna asked him to decipher it.

• Yanbai proposed controlling other nations’ financial backers and buying valuable resources cheaply, and the meeting continued until dawn.
• Tobirama saw Yanbai use a dōjutsu on Madara and resolved to submit to it himself so he could learn what was happening between them.
• Madara returned to the Uchiha grounds and found Izuna waiting to ask about the Uchiha Generational Stone Tablet.
• Madara recalled how he and Yanbai had deciphered the tablet, and how Yanbai had described its message as a plan to achieve Infinite Tsukuyomi.
• Madara remembered Yanbai frightening him with the prospect of being the only person awake in a world of dreams, and said he had put the tablet out of his mind.

Madara warned Izuna about Zetsu and defended his happiness with Yanbai. Meanwhile, Shukaku stole a warm egg from a hen, then Kurama approached him with news of a suspicious masked man outside the village.

• Madara rejected the stone tablet's plan for universal unity and told Izuna that no one else could decide what made people happy.
• Izuna accused Yanbai of mistreating Madara, so Madara took him to an empty square and used a Sharingan illusion to reveal what he knew.
• Madara warned Izuna to watch for Zetsu, whose body would bear a seal resembling Madara's rose tattoo, and told him to flee if they met.
• Shukaku offered rice to Miss Tamago, took her egg, and left the chicken coop with it.
• Kurama told Shukaku that a black-masked man was lurking outside the village and suggested they go bother him together.

Kakuzu's attempt to sneak into Konoha ended in a disastrous encounter with Kurama and Shukaku, and a Tailed Beast Bomb exposed his attack to the village. Madara assigned Kurama to keep Izuna company, leaving Izuna carrying both the dog and Shukaku as Madara watched.

• Kakuzu, suffering painful blisters after touching giant hogweed, tried to sneak into Konoha and throw explosive tags before fleeing underground.
• Kurama and Shukaku blocked Kakuzu, and Kurama launched a Tailed Beast Bomb after him, devastating the surrounding area and alerting Konoha's ninja.
• Kurama told Madara that Kakuzu had tried to enter the village, while Shukaku held back from mentioning Yanbai.
• Madara ordered Shukaku to visit Yanbai at noon and told Kurama to stay with Izuna and keep him company.
• Izuna picked up Shukaku, then carried Kurama on his back when the jealous Nine-Tails refused to move, and Madara watched with satisfaction.