Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Retsuo confirmed that the masked man was Obito by exposing his reaction to the Adamantine Sealing Chains, then sowed distrust between Obito and Black Zetsu. As the battle began, Black Zetsu unleashed a swarm of small Nue after Retsuo's technique failed, leaving Chōmei to counter them.

• Obito recognized Retsuo's Adamantine Sealing Chains and demanded to know who he really was, allowing Retsuo to confirm that Obito was not Uchiha Madara.
• Retsuo pointed out Black Zetsu's connection to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, making Obito suspect that Black Zetsu had been manipulating him and driving the two apart.
• Konan attacked Obito while Kushina withdrew her chains, and Retsuo challenged Black Zetsu to surrender his Kekkei Mōra power.
• Black Zetsu refused and attacked with Nue, while Retsuo's Candle Release technique failed because Obito's Kamui space lacked fire.
• Black Zetsu released a cloud of small Nue, and Retsuo called on Seven-Tails Chōmei to stop them.

Uchiha Retsuo and Konan battled Obito and Black Zetsu in Kamui Space, where Retsuo’s attacks overwhelmed Black Zetsu’s Nue. Obito unleashed a destructive shuriken attack that fused Wood Release into the space’s walls, prompting Retsuo to panic about Kamui Space being destroyed.

• Retsuo used a Tailed Beast Bomb and Chakra Machine Gun to destroy Black Zetsu’s Nues, leaving Black Zetsu barely alive.
• Obito created eight Wood Clones and used flying Wood Dragons to fight Konan while she prepared her Invisible Explosive Tags.
• Retsuo summoned two hundred Shadow Clones, and they countered Obito’s All-Binding Sack Technique with Nightmare Release.
• Obito opened the Vortex Gate, threw in a Wood Release-infused Fuma Shuriken, and reversed its direction to blast fragments into Kamui Space’s walls.
• Retsuo shielded himself and Konan from the shrapnel as Hamura warned that Obito was destroying the space, and Retsuo shouted for him to stop.

Retsuo and his allies fought Obito inside Kamui Space until the dimension began to collapse, forcing them to escape. They confirmed that Obito was Retsuo’s biological older brother and ended with Kushina stopping Retsuo from using the Shinigami Mask before they studied it.

• Retsuo’s Shadow Clones overwhelmed Obito’s Wood Clones, while Hamura and Minato realized Kamui Space was being destroyed.
• Minato and Hamura warned Retsuo that pursuing Obito through the damaged space could kill them, so Retsuo took Konan and escaped with the Flying Thunder God.
• Minato revealed to Konan that the man using the name Madara was his former student, Uchiha Obito, and Retsuo’s biological older brother.
• Retsuo said he had suspected Obito and wanted to free Minato’s soul from the Death God’s stomach using the Shinigami Mask.
• Kushina stopped Retsuo from putting on the mask and suggested studying it first.

Retsuo proposed using the Reaper Death Seal and the Shinigami Mask to lure the Death God, but Minato and Kushina warned him about the danger. Konan offered to sacrifice herself instead, while Retsuo insisted that his Yin Release chakra made him better suited to face the Death God and revealed more about Obito’s Ten-Tails plan.

• Kushina challenged Retsuo’s plan to lure the Death God, and Minato warned that the Death God was powerful and governed by its own rules.
• Konan offered to use the Reaper Death Seal as the sacrifice, but Retsuo refused to let her risk her life.
• Retsuo explained that Obito planned to combine the Tailed Beasts into the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchuriki using a Rinnegan technique.
• Retsuo argued that his Yin Release chakra made him more suited than Konan to confront the Death God.
• Hamura agreed with Retsuo’s plan and said that he and Retsuo’s elder brother could also contribute their Yin Release chakra.

Kushina taught Retsuo the Reaper Death Seal while Black Zetsu explained his history and plans to Obito. After realizing Retsuo was seeking the Death God, Obito insisted on continuing the Moon Eye Plan, and Black Zetsu told him to find an ally first.

• Kushina explained the Reaper Death Seal’s hand signs, chakra circulation, sacrifice, and how to draw on the Death God’s power to Retsuo.
• Obito confronted Black Zetsu, who revealed that Madara had placed a Cursed Seal on Obito’s heart and described how he had used Madara and Obito to pursue Kaguya’s revival.
• Black Zetsu explained that the Ōtsutsuki Clan might capture or kill Kaguya because she had betrayed them, and he wondered why Retsuo had come to the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Hall.
• Black Zetsu recognized that Retsuo was likely seeking the Death God behind the Reaper Death Seal, and Obito realized Retsuo had not obtained the Yin Nine-Tails or Minato Namikaze’s soul.
• Obito demanded that they continue the Moon Eye Plan by killing Nagato and reclaiming the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the Rinnegan, but Black Zetsu said they first needed an ally.

Retsuo brought Naruto and the Uchiha Wood Release Squad to study the God Tree’s root, believing Naruto could awaken Wood Release through his Asura chakra. After leaving Naruto with Kumata to study, Retsuo said he would return soon while the Hokage remained at the Five Kage Summit.

• Retsuo showed the Uchiha Wood Release Squad the God Tree root, but Kumata felt no effect from it.
• Naruto revealed that he had sneaked away from his village guards, and Retsuo invited him to join the squad’s Wood Release training.
• Retsuo and Hamura explained that Asura’s chakra had reincarnated in Naruto and could give him Wood Release potential.
• Retsuo predicted that Naruto might eventually combine Wood Release and Sage Jutsu with the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Retsuo asked Kumata to tell Naruto’s village guards where he was and have Naruto study Wood Release without training yet, then said he would return soon.

Retsuo returned to the Five Kage Summit after fighting the Masked Man, then proposed training Kimimaro to simulate an Ōtsutsuki opponent. The Kage approved his proposal and asked him to share the information he had been keeping to himself, and Retsuo produced the Shinigami Mask.

• Retsuo arrived in the Land of Iron and told Might Guy he had smashed the Masked Man’s alternate dimension, preventing him from tracking Retsuo there.
• The Five Kage agreed to organize a Ninja Alliance, and Retsuo suggested training Kaguya Kimimaro to play the role of an Ōtsutsuki opponent in simulated battles.
• Minato proposed teaching Kimimaro Super-Time-Space Storm Flash Spiral Barrage, Second Form, as preparation to fight the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Retsuo worried that Kimimaro’s indifference to death could make him a poor fit for the role, while Hamura defended Kimimaro’s resolve.
• Jiraiya asked Retsuo to share the secrets and information he had been handling alone, and Retsuo took out the Shinigami Mask.

Retsuo used the Shinigami Mask and Reaper Death Seal to summon the Death God, intending to free Minato Namikaze’s soul. He trapped the Death God inside the Yin Release Barrier and attacked it with Little Black, but its influence slowed his Chakra as he prepared to make it cut open its stomach.

• Retsuo put on the Shinigami Mask and began the Reaper Death Seal despite Jiraiya’s warning.
• Minato Namikaze prepared a staff-shaped body for his soul while Kushina discussed the Death God and the seal with Retsuo.
• The Death God appeared and began reaching for the phantom bound to the cross as black marks spread across its arm.
• Retsuo expanded the Yin Release Barrier to trap the Death God, and Seven-Tails Chōmei stuck Little Black to its stomach.
• The Death God’s presence slowed the Chakra flowing through the barrier, but Retsuo made it slap Little Black and unleash its Dark Chakra against the Death God.

Uchiha Retsuo tricked the Death God into releasing Minato and sent it away with the Yin Release Barrier. Minato reunited with Kushina, shared his memories, and returned to the staff while Retsuo called for medical help.

• Retsuo distracted the Death God with Little Black, stabbed himself, and let Minato absorb the gray mist carrying his spirit.
• Retsuo used the Yin Release Barrier and negative emotions to force the Death God to leave, then reassured Konan that he would grow strong enough to face it.
• Minato reunited with Kushina and told Retsuo that he and Kurama were on good terms.
• Chōmei and Kurama bickered before Retsuo asked Minato about Jiraiya and the Summit of the Five Kage.
• Minato returned to the staff, and Retsuo called for someone to bandage his bleeding wound.

Kakashi returned from Mount Myōboku able to use Sage Transformation and Lightning Cutter, while the two Danzōs reconsidered their plans against Uchiha Retsuo. Jiraiya admitted to Tsunade that he had broken his promise to the other Four Kage by withholding most of what Minato told him about Retsuo.

• The two Danzōs discussed targeting Uchiha Retsuo, but news of his victories over Nagato Uzumaki and the Masked Man made them doubt their plan.
• Kakashi returned to Root, demonstrated Sage Transformation, and said he could use Lightning Cutter again.
• Kakashi explained that Uchiha Retsuo had taught the group to use Shadow Clones to gather Sage Chakra, and he asked to be called Sage Kakashi.
• Kakashi said Retsuo had defeated Nagato Uzumaki with Genjutsu without entering Sage Mode, prompting the two Danzōs to avoid confronting him for now.
• Tsunade questioned Jiraiya about his troubled expression, and he confessed that he had shared less than twenty percent of Minato Namikaze's revelations about Retsuo with the other Four Kage.

Minato confronted Kakashi over concealing that Obito’s eye had awakened the Mangekyo and opposing Retsuo’s decision to remove it. Kakashi learned that Retsuo had uncovered the Masked Man’s identity long ago, leaving him to face his own mistakes and Minato’s warning about putting the village above personal feelings.

• Jiraiya returned to the village shaken by Minato’s account of Retsuo’s abilities and felt ashamed of what the village had done to Naruto.
• Jiraiya gave Minato’s living staff to Kakashi, and Minato began their conversation by explaining that Kushina had asked him to scold his former student.
• Minato challenged Kakashi for hiding the Mangekyo awakening in Obito’s eye and opposing Retsuo over it.
• Minato revealed that Retsuo had identified the Masked Man as Obito soon after learning the truth about the eye, and had confirmed it when he defeated him.
• Kakashi was stunned to learn the Masked Man was Obito, while Minato warned him not to let personal grudges and self-interest obstruct his duty to Konoha.

Jiraiya told Tsunade about Retsuo’s battle with Nagato and worried that the village failed to appreciate Retsuo’s sacrifices. When Jiraiya visited the Uchiha Compound, he found the clan busy earning Adventure Points for White Cloth People, then learned Retsuo intended to keep Minato’s Staff as his own weapon.

• Minato handled an envoy from the Land of Fire while Jiraiya reflected on how naturally Minato managed diplomacy.
• Tsunade confronted Jiraiya, who told her that Retsuo had gone to the moon to avenge Konoha’s dead and fought Nagato in a battle involving meteors and giant statues.
• Jiraiya lamented that the village still disliked Retsuo despite his sacrifices, and Tsunade said she respected him even though she did not like him.
• Jiraiya visited the Uchiha Compound and learned from Uchiha Teishō that the clan was working hard to earn Adventure Points and obtain White Cloth People.
• Retsuo told Jiraiya that Minato’s Staff belonged to him, and he considered its abilities and the supplies it needed to function.

Retsuo began helping Naruto cultivate Wood Release without Hashirama’s cells, using a risky method that could leave him needing rescue. The Yang Nine-Tails learned about the Ōtsutsuki threat and urged Retsuo to release it so it could awaken Asura Chakra, but Retsuo refused for now.

• Retsuo told Jiraiya that Naruto was cultivating Wood Release, and Jiraiya panicked at the thought that Naruto had received Hashirama’s cells.
• Retsuo explained that Naruto could cultivate Wood Release through his own Chakra, though losing control could be fatal.
• Naruto trained in water-walking, tree-climbing, and Water and Earth nature transformations to prepare for Wood Release.
• The Yang Nine-Tails learned from Minato’s shared memories that the Ōtsutsuki Clan intended to capture it and demanded that Retsuo open its seal to awaken Asura Chakra.
• Retsuo ignored the Yang Nine-Tails’ plea and prepared to contain Naruto’s rampaging Wood Release with Sage Chakra, relying on Konan to help suppress petrification.

Retsuo entered Naruto’s seal to investigate the unusually stable Nine-Tails seal and encountered a spirit from the Ōtsutsuki Clan. The spirit appeared to be Asura Ōtsutsuki, leaving Retsuo face-to-face with a powerful figure inside Naruto.

• Retsuo reflected on the difficulty of developing his Candle Release and combining it with Sage Jutsu while Naruto struggled to find the right formula for Wood Release.
• Jiraiya visited, and Naruto used Shadow Clone Jutsu to approach both him and Retsuo at once.
• Retsuo asked Naruto to let him inspect the seal, but entered it alone after asking Jiraiya to move away.
• While Konan watched over Retsuo’s body, she and Jiraiya teased each other about his feelings for Tsunade.
• Inside the seal, Retsuo found the Yang Nine-Tails outside its bars and recognized the nearby spirit as a member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, likely Asura Ōtsutsuki.

Uchiha Retsuo entered Naruto’s sealing space and told Ōtsutsuki Asura about the coming Ōtsutsuki Main Family and the need for the Shinobi World to unite. Asura agreed that the world needed a powerful defender, and Retsuo declared that he would shoulder that responsibility.

• Asura realized Retsuo was an Uchiha descendant of Indra, while he and the Nine-Tails argued over who belonged in Naruto’s sealing space.
• Retsuo explained that Ōtsutsuki Hamura was advising him and suggested that Indra’s current reincarnation might be Uchiha Fugaku.
• Retsuo and the Nine-Tails told Asura that powerful Ōtsutsuki Main Family members were coming to the Shinobi World.
• Retsuo argued that the shinobi could unite against the invaders but needed a powerful fighter to withstand their pressure.
• Asura asked whether he or five-year-old Naruto was meant to fill that role, and Retsuo claimed he was the Shinobi World’s strongest person.

Retsuo met Asura Ōtsutsuki inside the Nine-Tails’ seal and learned that Asura could not grant him Six Paths Power, though he gave Retsuo a token for summoning the Sage of Six Paths. Retsuo returned to Jiraiya and Naruto, then realized the Great Toad Sage might help him meet the Sage and awaken Indra’s Chakra.

• Asura offered to protect the Shinobi World, but Retsuo explained how Wood Release and Susanoo had become widespread and showed Asura his battle with Nagato Uzumaki.
• Asura acknowledged Retsuo’s strength and gave him a white headband token, explaining that Retsuo needed Indra’s Chakra and the Nine-Tails’ presence to summon the Sage of Six Paths.
• Retsuo left the sewer wondering how to awaken Indra, and Jiraiya asked why he had been gone so long.
• Retsuo told Jiraiya that Asura had undone the Nine-Tails’ seal, then reassured him that Asura would keep the Nine-Tails from escaping.
• Naruto mistook Asura’s token on Retsuo’s head for a lump of poop, and Retsuo explained what it was for.
• Jiraiya reminded Retsuo that the Great Toad Sage could summon the Sage of Six Paths, and Retsuo recalled the story of the Great Toad Sage driving Obito away from Mount Myōboku.

The White Snake Sage revived in Tagorihime’s body and planned to avenge herself by helping the Ōtsutsuki Clan reach the Shinobi World. She learned from Ōtsutsuki Urashiki that Ryūshiki and Mūshiki had already arrived, leaving her offer useless.

• Ichikishimahime worried that the White Snake Sage’s weakened state would put Ryūchi Cave in danger.
• The White Snake Sage explained that reviving through Tagorihime had restored her, but she regretted losing the chance to recover the complete Sage Tooth.
• The White Snake Sage rejected making peace with Uchiha Retsuo and decided to contact the Ōtsutsuki Main Family for revenge and a way to travel between stars.
• The White Snake Sage struck the Space Rift with Sage Jutsu, and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki answered her call.
• Urashiki revealed that Ryūshiki and Mūshiki had already reached the Shinobi World through a surviving upper-ranking Ōtsutsuki, then dismissed the White Snake Sage’s offer of intelligence.

Retsuo’s research into Little Black was interrupted when the Great Toad Sage returned to Konoha gravely injured. He revealed that Hagoromo needed help against two Ōtsutsuki who had invaded the Pure Land, leaving Jiraiya and Retsuo facing an urgent threat.

• Retsuo discussed developing Little Black’s Dark Chakra abilities with Chōmei, who said its strength depended on breaking down opponents’ emotions.
• Jiraiya arrived at the Uchiha Compound to report that the Great Toad Sage had vanished, and Retsuo suspected he had been summoned away.
• A spatial disturbance brought the Great Toad Sage crashing onto Hokage Rock, where Yamato caught and supported him with Wood Release.
• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya and Retsuo that Hagoromo needed help because two Ōtsutsuki had entered the Pure Land.
• The Great Toad Sage identified the invaders as Otsutsuki Ryūshiki, a blue-haired fighter with a long staff, and the elderly Mūshiki.

Retsuo rushed to the Hokage Building after the Great Toad Sage warned that Ryūshiki had overwhelmed Hagoromo, then entered the battlefield as Hagoromo and Ryūshiki paused their clash. Hagoromo asked to borrow Hamura's body, but Retsuo refused, and Asura arrived to help his father.

• Retsuo retrieved Minato's Staff from the Hyuga Clan and brought Naruto to the Hokage Building in under two seconds.
• The Great Toad Sage opened a rift to notify Hagoromo, while Retsuo summoned Asura and forced his Yin Release Barrier preparations to finish early.
• Retsuo reached the battlefield and saw Hagoromo's Complete Body Susanoo fighting the gigantic Ryūshiki as Mū watched nearby.
• Mū questioned how Hagoromo had managed to seal Kaguya, and Hagoromo and Ryūshiki withdrew from their clash.
• Hagoromo asked Retsuo to lend Hamura his body so the brothers could fight together, but Retsuo refused.
• Asura arrived and told Hagoromo that he could still contribute strength.

Retsuo rejected Hagoromo’s suggestion that Asura and Hamura take control of his body and instead demanded Hagoromo transfer his Yin Power to him. As Hagoromo hesitated over the risks, Mūshiki and Ryūshiki arrived and declared that they had claimed the planet.

• Retsuo asked whether Asura and Hamura’s combined strength could defeat Ryūshiki, and Hagoromo doubted they could win against the paired Ōtsutsuki.
• Asura praised Retsuo, while Hamura said modern shinobi and Retsuo surpassed the Ōtsutsuki in battle wisdom.
• Retsuo revealed that he had come intending to obtain Hagoromo’s power, and Hagoromo considered passing on his Yin Power despite concerns about Retsuo’s eyes.
• Mūshiki and Ryūshiki approached, and Ryūshiki announced that Mūshiki had claimed the planet to obtain the God Tree Fruit and regain his youth.