Chapter Summaries

Retsuo used Minato Namikaze’s Chakra and a Yin Yang Orb to collect Natural Energy, but Minato accidentally turned it into Sage Chakra on the first try. After Retsuo stopped Jūgo from killing Jiapan near Ryūchi Cave, Jiapan asked to travel with him, and they stayed in the valley for another night.

• Jiapan reported that masked ninjas in Konoha had started wearing goggles, while Retsuo finished making a Yin Yang Orb for Minato Namikaze.
• Retsuo summoned Minato into the Yin Release Barrier and explained the recent events, including Aburame Ryūma’s death, before asking Minato to use the orb to store Natural Energy.
• Retsuo discovered Jiapan fighting Jūgo near Ryūchi Cave and knocked Jūgo unconscious with his Sharingan.
• Retsuo told Jiapan that Jūgo was undergoing Sage Transformation from leaking Natural Energy, and Jiapan asked to travel with him instead of returning to the Land of Cats.
• Minato combined the Natural Energy into Sage Chakra, surprising Retsuo and forcing them to remain in the valley for another night.

After Retsuo returned to Angkor Fortress, Minato Namikaze helped him experience Sage Jutsu, and Retsuo sensed an unseen presence inside the fortress. The presence spoke through a Wood Puppet, detected the Seven-Tails and Little Black, then abruptly collapsed, leaving its identity unknown.

• Retsuo inspected the empty energy storage room and discussed with Minato Namikaze the challenge of finding a renewable power source for Angkor Fortress.
• Minato Namikaze urged Retsuo to use the Sage Chakra he had produced, and Retsuo entered the state and gained greatly enhanced perception.
• Retsuo sensed someone watching him and noticed a Wood Puppet move, then released Jiapan and prepared for a visitor.
• A consciousness speaking through the Wood Puppet accused Retsuo of destroying its servant's work, and Minato Namikaze recognized the technique as Soul Descent.
• The visitor detected the Seven-Tails and Little Black, made a cryptic remark about imagination, and the Wood Puppet collapsed into rotten wood.

Retsuo prepared to separate Little Black from the Dark Chakra seal, while Orochimaru joined the Akatsuki Organization and soon clashed with Kakuzu in Amegakure. The chapter ended with Konan taking to the air as a tower collapsed around them.

• Retsuo asked Minato to seal the area against spying, and Minato used his remaining Chakra to cover it with Fuinjutsu before his clone vanished.
• Retsuo and Seven-Tails Chōmei prepared to wash Little Black out of its seal using Natural Energy, while Jiapan went to catch fish and search nearby.
• Orochimaru joined the Akatsuki Organization, delighting Konan with his rare expertise in life sciences despite his high costs.
• Explosions shook Amegakure as Kakuzu and Orochimaru fought, and Konan flew into the air to see a tower collapse.

Orochimaru joined Akatsuki and asked Pain to trade the organization’s resources for his Cursed Seal technique. The chapter ended just as Orochimaru was about to reveal what he wanted in exchange.

• Konan stopped Orochimaru and Kakuzu’s argument by threatening them with Explosive Tags, then let Kakuzu take both their shares to exchange for money.
• Orochimaru requested a meeting with Pain, who met him in Amegakure Tower alongside Konan, Uchiha Madara, and Zetsu.
• Pain introduced the masked man as Uchiha Madara, while Orochimaru suspected he was the Masked Man behind the Nine-Tails’ Rampage.
• Orochimaru proposed exchanging his Cursed Seal technique, which allowed Sage Transformation, for the organization’s resources.
• Uchiha Madara worried that Orochimaru might offer Hashirama Cells, but Orochimaru had not yet named what he wanted in return.

Orochimaru sought the Akatsuki’s Wood Release research, unsettling Obito and prompting Pain to discuss Orochimaru’s ties to Konoha. Meanwhile, Retsuo’s effort to extract Little Black remained stalled after half a year, and he learned Shinnō had been killed by Orochimaru; the chapter left Retsuo considering training during the ongoing struggle.

• Orochimaru asked the Akatsuki to exchange research on Wood Release, and Obito worried that his weak abilities would expose his Uchiha Madara persona.
• Pain questioned Orochimaru about his contact with Danzo, then warned him against betraying the organization; Orochimaru guessed that Pain had learned his manner of speaking from Uchiha Retsuo.
• Retsuo and Seven-Tails Chōmei continued the prolonged tug-of-war to pull Little Black from the Dark Chakra pond, while Retsuo endured boredom in Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Jiapan told Retsuo that Shinnō had been found and killed by Orochimaru, and that villagers were debating whether to declare Retsuo a rogue ninja.
• After Jiapan left and did not return, Retsuo considered training while continuing to struggle to extract Little Black.

Retsuo trained his Bloodline Limits while waiting for Little Black to emerge from the glowing pond, and Jiapan found the underground cavern he had described. As years passed and conflict spread across the Shinobi world, Little Black finally came out of the water, leaving Retsuo stunned.

• Retsuo learned that he could not become a Perfect Jinchuriki until the juvenile Seven-Tails Chōmei grew up, so he focused on developing his Bloodline Limits.
• Jiapan found the glowing pond in an underground cavern, released the Kikaichū as markers, and swam into the pond, unaware that a Genjutsu array awaited her.
• Tenma and Shinji became Chūnin during the exams, while Sarutobi Hiruzen faced worsening tensions with Amegakure and the ongoing war with Kirigakure.
• Shisui earned the name Body Flicker Shisui on the battlefield, while Uchiha Obito ordered Karatachi Yagura to intensify the Bloody Mist Plan and destroy Kirigakure's Bloodline Limit clans.
• By Year 52 of Konoha, Retsuo had spent more than two years developing his Yin-and-Earth and Yin-and-Fire Bloodline Limits, and Little Black finally emerged from the water.

Retsuo created Nightmare Release and Mountain Release, then rescued Jiapan from a genjutsu that had kept her asleep for at least two years. They traveled through a space-time passage to the moon, where they encountered hostile Ōtsutsuki puppets.

• Retsuo named the Yin-and-Fire fusion Nightmare Release and the Yin-and-Earth fusion Mountain Release, using the latter to develop new offensive techniques.
• Seven-Tails Chōmei sensed that Jiapan was in danger, but Retsuo’s Reverse Summoning failed, so he flew toward her with Chōmei’s guidance.
• Retsuo found Jiapan asleep in a glowing pool and dispelled the genjutsu; Chōmei told her she had slept for at least two years.
• Retsuo and Jiapan continued through the passage and emerged on the moon, where three enormous puppets confronted them.
• Retsuo used Mountain Release—Ox-Head and Horse-Face Technique to destroy the giant centipede puppet with Netherworld Soil.

Retsuo used his Nightmare Release and Mountain Release to fend off the Moon’s puppet defenses while the Ōtsutsuki debated who he was and how dangerous his negative-energy technique could be. He and Jiapan passed through the blockade and reached the artificial landscape around the Ōtsutsuki castle, where Retsuo prepared to glide toward shore.

• Retsuo formed a Five Pillar Stone Life barrier and unleashed a Flowing Fire River, stopping the Giant Mantis’s projectile barrage and threatening the giant puppets.
• Retsuo’s Nightmare Release affected an Ōtsutsuki puppet through a Mental Link, causing Hayato to experience an assault of negative emotions.
• Ōtsutsuki Hayato and Ōtsutsuki Gamo discussed the intruder’s power, and their Grandmother, Ōtsutsuki Hisamatsu, decided to meet him herself.
• Retsuo told Jiapan that his invasion was a strategic move to make the Ōtsutsuki recognize the threat he posed.
• Retsuo and Jiapan passed the puppets’ blockade and entered a tunnel leading to an artificial island surrounded by water beneath the artificial sun.
• Retsuo stopped the Seven-Tails from supplying Chakra, strapped on the Sky Ninja’s Winged Glider, and leaped toward the opposite shore.

Retsuo explored the abandoned Moon Village in search of the Otsutsuki Main Family cemetery but realized he lacked the strength and manpower to search it safely. When Ōtsutsuki Hisamatsu arrived with puppet soldiers, Retsuo and Jiapan fought her lightsaber puppet before Retsuo discovered he could not rely on Little Black and chose to retreat.

• Retsuo explored the ruined mountain village and concluded he needed skilled allies to search for the cemetery and face the puppet army.
• Ōtsutsuki Hisamatsu arrived aboard a flying puppet ship and sent her lightsaber puppet to attack Retsuo.
• Retsuo used Mountain Release—Sun Spear Life Technique to armor Jiapan, who fought the puppet swordsman to a standstill.
• Ōtsutsuki Hisamatsu questioned Retsuo about how he had learned of the Sky Ninja Fortress and Moon Passage, while Retsuo realized Little Black had run out of negative emotions to refine.
• Ōtsutsuki Hisamatsu prepared a green-light technique to drain Retsuo's Chakra, but Retsuo called for Jiapan to flee and admitted he needed to train his Taijutsu.

After escaping the moon, Retsuo returned to the Shinobi World, learned that it was November of Konoha Year 52, and encountered Tsunade and Konan while disguised as Baibian Huashan. The chapter ended with Konan agreeing to share a meal with him.

• Retsuo and the Seven-Tails returned to the Shinobi World after fleeing the Otsutsuki, and Retsuo resolved to investigate the moon and its connection to negative emotions and the Sky Ninja.
• Retsuo disguised himself as a young nobleman, reached a border city, and learned that more than three and a half years had passed since he entered Angkor Fortress.
• Tsunade confronted Konan after Konan offered Explosive Tags and money to hire her for medical treatment.
• Retsuo appeared behind Konan as Baibian Huashan and teased her by claiming she might have fallen in love with him.
• Kato Shizune hurried Tsunade away, and Konan accepted Retsuo’s invitation to eat together.

Retsuo questioned Konan about Akatsuki’s search for Tsunade and learned how Konoha had resolved the Hyuga incident. He pretended to know nothing of recent events, then claimed he had been to the moon and bet Konan he could take her there, wagering the two techniques she wanted.

• Retsuo asked Konan why Akatsuki wanted Tsunade, and she said Jūzō Biwa needed treatment after being grazed by one of Kakuzu’s techniques.
• Konan explained that Kumogakure had demanded Hiashi Hyuga after he killed an envoy who tried to abduct Hyuuga Hinata, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had sacrificed Hizashi Hyuga to avert war.
• Retsuo praised Konoha’s handling of the crisis as a display of strength, leaving Konan baffled by his reasoning.
• Retsuo claimed he had ignored events in the Shinobi World since Konoha’s forty-ninth year, then said he had gone to the moon.
• Retsuo bet Konan that he could take her to the moon and offered to teach her the two techniques if he lost, then asked how much money she would wager.

Baibian Huashan took Konan and three Kirigakure missing-nin to the moon, where Konan discovered the sealed world’s true nature. After blasting open its shell to glimpse space and the Shinobi World, Konan realized she had lost the bet and accused Baibian Huashan of a conspiracy.

• Konan agreed to bet two hundred million Ryo against Baibian Huashan’s two jutsu, then rescued Jūzō Biwa for forty million Ryo and insisted on bringing Hozuki Mangetsu, Ryū, and Jūzō Biwa along.
• Baibian Huashan led Konan and the three missing-nin through the glowing pool to the moon’s hidden world, where Hozuki Mangetsu discovered they could breathe underwater.
• Konan recognized that the strange sky belonged to another world, flew up to the moon’s shell, and blasted a hole in it with Explosive Tags.
• Konan saw the cosmic sky and the blue planet beyond the shell, while the seal repaired itself and the others realized they were on the moon.
• Baibian Huashan reminded Konan that she had lost the bet, and Konan accused him of plotting against her.

Retsuo led Konan and the Kirigakure rogues to the moon’s hidden village, intending to draw the Akatsuki Organization and the Otsutsuki into conflict. After Konan arranged their return, she grew suspicious of Baibian Huashan and began investigating his true identity.

• Retsuo hid a Flying Thunder God Kunai on the moon so he could return and observe the Akatsuki Organization and the Otsutsuki.
• Konan accepted the two-hundred-million-Ryo wager and reaffirmed her invitation for Baibian Huashan to join the Akatsuki Organization, but he refused.
• Konan ordered Jūzō Biwa and Hozuki Mangetsu to guard the routes while she and Ryū escorted Baibian Huashan back to the Shinobi World.
• Konan challenged Baibian Huashan to another fight, wagering that he would surrender two techniques if he lost, but he declined and entered the tunnel.
• Jūzō Biwa and Ryū noticed battle traces near the landing site, and Konan decided to investigate them.
• Konan revealed that Sasori of the Red Sands had been killed after pursuing Uchiha Retsuo, leading the group to suspect Baibian Huashan’s identity was false.

Konan and Pain gathered the Akatsuki Organization to investigate the passage to the moon after Konan had damaged its surface. The group entered the passage and fell into an illusion that revealed Obito’s imagined past and a strange battle between Zetsu and Minato Namikaze.

• Aoi Rokushō told Konan that a hole had appeared in the moon, and Deva Path Pain arrived and asked whether she had caused it.
• Konan explained how she had encountered the fake Baibian Huashan, and Pain summoned the Akatsuki Organization’s members to discuss the moon.
• Eight Akatsuki members gathered in the Land of Fire and entered the glowing passage toward the moon, while Jūzō Biwa guarded the exit.
• The group fell into an illusion, and Obito saw a vision of his family, Rin, and a battle between Zetsu and Minato Namikaze.
• Obito saw Zetsu use Six Paths—Planetary Devastation and coldly asked whether it was the ability Zetsu had hidden.

Obito and the Akatsuki members woke from Baibian Huashan’s genjutsu, revealing embarrassing dreams and giving Retsuo a steady stream of negative emotions to collect. Retsuo then released an Ōtsutsuki puppet to provoke the group, which Pain swiftly destroyed before they continued onward.

• Obito questioned Zetsu about the technique he had dreamed of, then broke the genjutsu and woke up as Konan cursed Baibian Huashan.
• Pain asked Konan about her dream, and she said she had dreamed of that period of time.
• Shinnō woke and accidentally revealed that he had dreamed of Orochimaru giving Danzo an arm, while Orochimaru woke shortly afterward searching for Shinnō.
• Retsuo, hidden near the waterway’s exit, recognized Shinnō among the Akatsuki and considered whether to attack Pain before deciding to let the Ōtsutsuki encounter them.
• Retsuo summoned an Ōtsutsuki puppet, and Pain used Shinra Tensei to smash it against the cavern wall.
• Obito inspected the puppet’s craftsmanship, and Retsuo returned to the Shinobi World after the Akatsuki group moved on.

Retsuo learned that Fugaku planned to hand the Uchiha clan leadership to Shisui amid growing resentment over Eastern Front casualties and Shisui’s Mangekyō. At the clan assembly, Fugaku announced the transfer, shocking many attendees while Shisui stood ready to accept the responsibility.

• Jiapan told Retsuo that Fugaku might step down as clan leader and that Ukyo had lost his right hand but awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
• Jiapan explained that Uchiha casualties on the Eastern Front and the spread of news about Shisui’s Mangekyō had intensified the clan’s anger.
• At Naka Shrine, Ukyo and Uchiha Inabi discussed Fugaku’s plan, and Inabi demanded that Retsuo return to Konoha.
• Fugaku opened the clan assembly and announced that he intended to hand the clan leader position to Uchiha Shisui.
• The clan members erupted in surprise, while Shisui showed resolve to take on the responsibility.

Retsuo rescued Naruto from a crowd at Ichiraku Ramen, where Root researcher Shigaraki mistook Retsuo’s purple-black aura for an out-of-control Nue and fainted. Retsuo told Naruto that his parents had named him Uzumaki Naruto after his love of Narutomaki, then revealed that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was his father.

• Shigaraki spotted Naruto near Ichiraku Ramen and stirred the crowd into throwing stones at him.
• Retsuo caught the stones, brought Naruto into the ramen shop, and caused Shigaraki’s chakra detector to register overwhelming negative emotions and Dark Chakra.
• Shigaraki fainted after mistaking Retsuo’s purple-black aura for a berserk Nue, while Retsuo ordered ramen for himself and Naruto.
• Naruto wondered why his parents had named him Menma, and Retsuo told him they had chosen Naruto because he loved Narutomaki.
• Mimura Hamaki and other village ninjas entered the shop, and Retsuo revealed that Naruto was Minato Namikaze’s son and his name was Uzumaki Naruto.

Retsuo revealed Naruto’s true name and parentage to him, then confronted Konoha villagers over the burden placed on Minato and Kushina’s son. He headed to the Uchiha clan’s shrine, where Fugaku was proposing Shisui as the next clan head and Shisui began discussing Retsuo’s role in the clan’s fortunes.

• Retsuo told Naruto that Minato was his father, Kushina was his mother, and Naruto was named after the hero of Jiraiya’s novel.
• Naruto asked Retsuo to visit again, and Retsuo promised to return after settling some scores and to let Naruto meet his father.
• Retsuo told the villagers that Minato had sealed the Tailed Beast in his newborn son and condemned them for mistreating Naruto before leaving for the Uchiha shrine with ANBU following him.
• Fugaku announced that he would step down and urged the Uchiha clan to support Shisui as their next head, citing Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan and ties to Konoha’s leadership.
• Uchiha Kanzan and Elder Jianshan challenged Fugaku’s decision, and Shisui began addressing Jianshan’s claim that Retsuo had turned the clan’s situation around by suppressing Root.

Uchiha Retsuo returned during a clan meeting and challenged Shisui’s succession by questioning Itachi about his ANBU work. He revealed that the village’s surveillance of the Uchiha Clan relied on costly crystal balls, leaving Shisui and Itachi visibly alarmed.

• Shisui argued that Retsuo’s actions had harmed the clan, while Ukyo defended Retsuo and blamed Root and Shimura Danzō.
• Fugaku asked whether anyone still doubted Shisui’s succession, and Shisui knocked Uchiha Inabi unconscious with his Mangekyō Sharingan’s Dojutsu Power.
• Retsuo arrived and declared that he disagreed with everything, then questioned Itachi about his ANBU assignments and whether they concerned the clan.
• Itachi refused to answer Retsuo’s questions about his work and Shisui’s succession.
• Retsuo explained that the Crystal Ball Technique required expensive tools whose production totals could reveal the village’s surveillance of the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Retsuo confronted Shisui and Fugaku over the clan’s dealings with Konoha, then revealed his achievements and demanded to expose the truth behind the Nine-Tails’ Rampage. The chapter ended with Retsuo declaring he would become clan head and Shisui drawing his blade.

• Uchiha Yashiro questioned whether the village had been surveilling the clan, and Shisui promised to manage relations with Konoha while withdrawing Uchiha forces from the Eastern Front.
• Retsuo challenged Fugaku and Shisui over their plans, accusing Shisui of risking the clan’s survival and prompting Shisui and Itachi to prepare to stop him.
• Retsuo claimed he had mastered a ninjutsu Kekkei Genkai, diverted threats from Konoha, and uncovered the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails’ Rampage.
• Retsuo said he intended to report the truth about the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, while Itachi urged him to let Fugaku negotiate with the village.
• Retsuo declared that Fugaku was ready to yield his position and that he would become clan head, prompting Shisui to draw his ninja blade.