Chapter Summaries

Xia Yan arranged a home in Konoha for Pakura and asked Shōma Senju for the Reaper Death Seal so he could study how to undo it. Shōma agreed to search the Senju records, while Xia Yan continued preparing for the approaching Nine-Tails Incident and considered the power he might gain from it.

• Shōma Senju gave Pakura a vacant Senju house near Xia Yan’s home and agreed to have it cleaned.
• Xia Yan told Shōma Senju he wanted to study the Reaper Death Seal and how to undo it, and Shōma agreed to search Lady Mito’s records for the technique.
• Xia Yan recalled forcing Jingu Hiroshi to help test how his unusual body endured a sealing technique’s sacrifice, and Jingu agreed to cooperate in exchange for being allowed to leave afterward.
• Xia Yan asked Shōma Senju for the records on the Spirit Transformation Technique as well, and Shōma agreed to provide them.
• Xia Yan considered the approaching Nine-Tails Incident as a chance to obtain powerful seeds, while noting that the Uchiha had not yet resolved their situation.

Uchiha Shin agreed to pursue the clan leadership and bring the Uchiha closer to Konoha, while Xia Yan advised him to reform the Military Police Force and wait for an opening. Xia Yan then used Flying Thunder God to reach the Uzumaki Clan's former residence and found the mask he was seeking.

• Uchiha Shin decided to meet Xia Yan and discuss Shisui's place in the Anbu and the Uchiha's future.
• Xia Yan met Uchiha Shin and Shisui Uchiha, and Shin pledged to bring the Uchiha back into Konoha.
• Xia Yan urged Uchiha Shin to define his objective, wait for Uchiha Fugaku to make a mistake, and begin reforming the Military Police Force.
• Xia Yan advised giving civilian shinobi positions in an Uchiha division and bringing members of other clans into the Military Police Force.
• Xia Yan used Flying Thunder God to enter the Uzumaki Clan's former residence and found a mask with eerie chakra.

Xia Yan completed his preparations for the Nine-Tails Incident while Obito Uchiha planned to seize the Nine-Tails during Kushina’s childbirth. As Minato Namikaze’s party left Konoha for the delivery, Obito learned they were underway and prepared to attack.

• Xia Yan reviewed the Reaper Death Seal release technique, noted the new intermediate sealing-type seed on his system panel, and planned to investigate the Valley of the End after the crisis.
• Obito Uchiha learned from White Zetsu that Xia Yan, once his classmate Fukami Natsuhiko, had become a powerful shinobi, then reaffirmed his plan to take the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha.
• Minato Namikaze approved a report that blamed a non-Uchiha shinobi for an incident involving the Uchiha Clan, accepting the decision as part of the village’s internal struggle.
• Minato Namikaze assembled the Anbu and coordinated with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Biwako Sarutobi to protect Kushina during childbirth, then left Konoha with her for a remote barrier.
• Obito Uchiha arrived near Konoha and, after White Zetsu reported that the party had departed under strong protection, decided to attack without involving the Rinnegan group from the Land of Rain.

During Kushina’s childbirth, Obito attacked the Anbu guarding the cave and used Naruto as a distraction to seize Kushina. He controlled the Nine-Tails and broke the seal, leaving the beast unleashed as he prepared to destroy Konoha.

• Xia Yan sensed Obito approaching the cave and led the Anbu into battle, but Obito’s intangibility and space-time ninjutsu let him evade their attacks.
• After Naruto was born, Obito entered the cave, took the baby, and forced Minato Namikaze to intervene while he seized Kushina.
• Minato Namikaze escaped an explosive-tag blast with Naruto, then sent Xia Yan to take the baby back to Konoha while he went to find Kushina.
• Obito used his Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails within Kushina and shattered her sealing jutsu.
• Obito extracted the Nine-Tails, which emerged beneath the moon as he declared his intent to destroy Konoha.

Obito Uchiha unleashed the Nine-Tails on Konoha while Minato Namikaze returned Kushina Uzumaki home and prepared to defend the village. As Hiruzen Sarutobi mobilized Konoha's forces, Xia Yan began a secret attack on Owl while pretending to hurry to Anbu Headquarters.

• Xia Yan brought Naruto to Hiruzen Sarutobi, reported that an Uchiha had abducted Kushina, and relayed Minato Namikaze's plan to rescue her.
• Obito Uchiha used the Nine-Tails to attack Kushina, but Minato rescued her and took her home before setting out to protect Konoha.
• Obito summoned the Nine-Tails into Konoha, and the beast began destroying the village as terrified residents fled.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered civilians evacuated and ninja mobilized, while Kakashi and Might Guy were told to report to an assembly point instead of joining the battle.
• Xia Yan and Owl headed toward Anbu Headquarters with Hiruzen's deployment order, and Xia Yan attacked Owl, locking his hand and flooding his body with chakra.

Xia Yan sabotaged Owl’s attempt to deliver a mobilization order, then used the Nine-Tails’ attack to kill him and advance his plans against the Anbu Director. As the Uchiha defied Shimura Danzō’s blockade to fight for Konoha, Xia Yan faced Murashima Takumi’s refusal to mobilize the Anbu and answered, “As you wish.”

• Xia Yan paralyzed Owl to stop him delivering the mobilization order, then left him beneath the Nine-Tails, which crushed him.
• Uchiha Fugaku accepted Shimura Danzō’s order to keep the Uchiha from deploying, but Uchiha Shin challenged Danzō and led the clan toward the Nine-Tails.
• Xia Yan confirmed Owl’s death and went to Anbu Headquarters, where he claimed Owl had been carrying the lost mobilization order.
• Murashima Takumi refused to mobilize the Anbu without an order from the Third Hokage, even after Xia Yan urged him to act.
• Xia Yan accepted Murashima Takumi’s refusal with the words “As you wish.”

Xia Yan killed Anbu director Murashima Takumi, took command of the Anbu, and sent its units to aid Konoha during the Nine-Tails attack. After Minato Namikaze diverted the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb and confronted Obito, Xia Yan arrived on Lizard Maru and began fighting the Nine-Tails to drive him out of the village.

• Xia Yan ambushed and killed Murashima Takumi, then persuaded the Anbu to follow his orders and dispatched them to evacuate civilians, rescue the wounded, guard prisoners, and fight the Nine-Tails.
• Minato Namikaze surveyed the destruction from Hokage Rock, transported the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb to a distant forest, and escaped Obito’s attempt to pull him into the Kamui Dimension.
• Xia Yan brought Jingu Hiroshi to the Uzumaki Clan’s former grounds and threatened him into preparing to break a Sealing Jutsu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rallied Konoha’s ninja against the Nine-Tails while noticing that Murashima Takumi and Owl were absent.
• Xia Yan summoned Lizard Maru and entered Sage Mode as they charged the Nine-Tails, striking him with a Sage Art Water Dragon Bullet before Lizard Maru rammed him.

Xia Yan and Lizard Maru blocked the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb, while Minato Namikaze fought Obito Uchiha and broke his control over the beast. Xia Yan then used senjutsu-enhanced Wood Release to bind and injure the Nine-Tails, revealing his Senju identity and alarming Konoha’s leaders as another figure appeared atop Lizard Maru.

• Xia Yan and Lizard Maru raised enormous Earth-Style Walls that survived the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb, astonishing the Konoha ninja watching.
• Minato Namikaze deduced that the masked attacker might be Madara Uchiha, fought Obito Uchiha, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique and a Contract Seal to sever his control over the Nine-Tails before Obito escaped.
• Xia Yan decided to reveal his strength and used Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence and Cutting Sprigs to bind and wound the Nine-Tails.
• Konoha’s ninja recognized Xia Yan’s Wood Release, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Inoichi Yamanaka worried about his power and Uchiha Shin realized Xia Yan belonged to the Senju Clan.
• As the Nine-Tails struggled against Xia Yan’s Wood Release, another figure suddenly appeared atop Lizard Maru’s head.

Minato Namikaze returned to Konoha and found Xia Yan restraining the Nine-Tails with Wood Release, then transported the beast outside the village to seal it. Xia Yan admitted killing Murashima Takumi, and as Hiruzen Sarutobi focused on the village’s survival, Xia Yan fought the Nine-Tails again with a Wood Dragon as Obito returned to watch.

• Minato Namikaze discovered Xia Yan’s Wood Release and asked him to restrain the Nine-Tails while Minato prepared to seal it.
• Minato transported the Nine-Tails out of Konoha, while Xia Yan sent Lizard Maru and the little lizards to help rescue residents buried in rubble.
• Xia Yan told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Murashima Takumi had refused to deploy the Anbu and that Xia Yan had killed him; Hiruzen accepted the explanation and led Konoha’s forces after the Nine-Tails.
• Obito learned from Black Zetsu that Xia Yan was Senju Natsuhiko and headed back to see his Wood Release.
• Xia Yan reached the Nine-Tails and summoned a Sage Art Wood Dragon, which struck and coiled around the beast as Hiruzen and Obito arrived; the Nine-Tails gathered chakra at his mouth again.

Xia Yan distracted Obito while Minato Namikaze used the Reaper Death Seal to extract the Nine-Tails’ Yin chakra, leaving Kushina to help contain the beast. As the Nine-Tails weakened and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces approached, Xia Yan prepared to end his fight with Obito quickly.

• Xia Yan protected himself from the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb and helped Minato Namikaze restrain the beast with Wood Release.
• Obito attacked Xia Yan, forcing Minato Namikaze and Kushina to proceed without him as the Nine-Tails began escaping his restraints.
• Minato Namikaze used the Reaper Death Seal to take the Nine-Tails’ Yin chakra into himself and began preparing an Eight Trigrams Seal for the remaining half.
• Xia Yan drew Obito away, dodged his attacks with Flying Thunder God, and severed his right hand with a ninja blade.
• Xia Yan blocked Obito’s fire technique, raised a forest to keep Hiruzen Sarutobi’s approaching troops at bay, and learned that Minato Namikaze had extracted half the Nine-Tails.
• Xia Yan vanished toward Obito, declaring that he could finish the fight quickly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces rushed to help contain the Nine-Tails, only to be driven back by the enormous techniques Xia Yan used against Obito. Meanwhile, Jingu Hiroshi released Minato Namikaze’s soul from the Reaper Death Seal at the cost of his own life, and Xia Yan discovered the soul returning to Minato as he tried to save him.

• Hyuga Hiashi used his Byakugan to report that Xia Yan had restrained the Nine-Tails with Wood Release, then warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that an outsider with Space-Time Ninjutsu was fighting Xia Yan nearby.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi led the Konoha ninjas toward the battle, but Xia Yan’s Water Release and Advent of a World of Trees overwhelmed their defenses and forced them to retreat.
• Obito escaped to a cave with a chest wound, and Black Zetsu warned him that Xia Yan had senjutsu chakra and had learned about Obito’s abilities; Obito resolved to become Madara Uchiha and oppose Xia Yan.
• Xia Yan’s shadow clone told Jingu Hiroshi to undo the Reaper Death Seal, and Jingu complied despite realizing the act would cost him his life.
• Jingu Hiroshi died after releasing Minato Namikaze’s soul, while Xia Yan’s shadow clone sensed that the Shinigami had severed the curse-like mark on Jingu’s body.
• Xia Yan found Minato Namikaze’s nearly extinguished life force, and the released blue soul entered Minato’s body as Xia Yan smiled.

Xia Yan used Yang Release and extracted life force to revive Minato Namikaze after the Reaper Death Seal, then helped him awaken by pounding on his chest. Minato woke in the hospital beside Kushina and Naruto and asked to meet Xia Yan, while Xia Yan reflected on his growing political position before entering Minato's room.

• Xia Yan surrounded himself and Minato Namikaze with a Wood Locking Wall, then used Yang Release and life force to restore Minato's vitality.
• When Minato's breathing and heartbeat failed to return, Xia Yan repeatedly punched his chest until Minato revived, briefly awakened, and then collapsed from exhaustion.
• Minato regained consciousness in the hospital, reunited with Kushina and Naruto, and asked an Anbu to let Nightingale enter alone.
• Xia Yan recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi's suspicion after the rescue and considered how saving Minato had strengthened his position in Konoha.
• Xia Yan arrived at Minato's hospital room and opened the door to meet him.

Xia Yan told Minato Namikaze that he had killed Anbu Director Murashima Takumi after the Director refused to deploy during the Nine-Tails attack, then openly explained his ambitions and reasons for saving Minato. Minato appointed Xia Yan as the new Anbu Director, and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to find Minato drafting the appointment and reluctantly defending it.

• Xia Yan briefed Minato Namikaze and Kushina on Konoha's heavy civilian and ninja casualties from the Nine-Tails attack.
• Xia Yan admitted he had killed Murashima Takumi after the Anbu Director refused to deploy without a written order, and explained that he wanted Minato alive to check Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Minato reflected on his struggles as Hokage and learned from Xia Yan that he would need several years to recover.
• Minato appointed Senju Natsuhiko as Anbu Director and warned him that he would hold him accountable for his actions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned Minato was drafting Xia Yan's appointment and questioned it, but Minato defended Xia Yan's contribution to Konoha.

Reports of Xia Yan’s role in stopping the Nine-Tails and his Senju Wood Release reached the major shinobi villages, alarming their leaders and reminding Ōnoki of Konoha’s past. Meanwhile, Xia Yan arrived at Anbu Headquarters to take command and introduced himself as Senju Natsuhiko.

• Rasa read that Konoha Nightingale had used Wood Release against the Nine-Tails, recognized him as the same figure who had troubled Sunagakure, and asked Chiyo to investigate further.
• The Fourth Raikage learned that Nightingale was a Senju who had mastered Wood Release and Flying Thunder God, then resolved to keep him in mind as a worthy opponent.
• Ōnoki reflected on the cycles of war and the return of a figure resembling the legendary Senju, while Kitsuchi mistakenly celebrated Konoha’s destruction as a setback of decades.
• Xia Yan changed into his Anbu uniform, received his appointment, and hurried to Anbu Headquarters to secure control before Hiruzen Sarutobi could respond.
• Xia Yan gathered the Anbu, walked to the front of the assembly, removed his mask, and introduced himself as Xia Yan, Senju Natsuhiko.

Senju Natsuhiko took control of the Anbu as its new Director, killing Zhu Wu and expelling the Second Division members who resisted him. Afterward, he searched the Nine-Tails’ destruction sites for seeds and found a sealing-type seed, then received a notification about a Beginner Nine-Tails Chakra Seed.

• Senju Natsuhiko revealed his identity as Anbu Director and presented the Fourth Hokage’s appointment letter through Kakashi.
• Zhu Wu rejected the appointment for lacking the Third Hokage’s approval, so Senju Natsuhiko expelled him and killed him when he resisted.
• Senju Natsuhiko secured the Anbu members’ obedience, confirmed Antelope’s support, and ordered Kakashi to rebuild the Second Division after dismissing its members.
• Senju Natsuhiko searched the ruins and found Fire Release and Lightning Release seeds, then traveled to the Nine-Tails’ sealing site.
• Senju Natsuhiko extracted an intermediate sealing-type seed and received a notification for a Beginner Nine-Tails Chakra Seed.

After the Nine-Tails attack, Xia Yan told Shōma Senju how he had secured the Anbu Director position and asked him to help rally the clans, then agreed to receive the Senju Clan’s records. Alone, Xia Yan planted a Nine-Tails chakra seed, and its rapid growth produced a startling result.

• Shōma Senju learned that Xia Yan had killed the Anbu Director, saved Minato Namikaze, and reorganized the Anbu’s Second Division.
• Xia Yan asked Shōma Senju to contact the clans and explain his plans, and Shōma agreed to give him the Senju Clan’s records.
• Xia Yan considered how to approach the Uchiha and examined the chakra seeds he had collected, including the Nine-Tails seed.
• Xia Yan planted the Nine-Tails seed near his heart, and the process drained his chakra reserves.
• Xia Yan’s Unique Mission progress rose from eighteen to thirty percent, accelerating the seed’s growth; he ate the resulting fruit and discovered it had truly become a Nine-Tails.

Xia Yan discovered that his system-created Nine-Tails had an independent personality, relied on him, and could supply chakra to cultivate his seeds. Meanwhile, Xia Yan consolidated his authority as Anbu Director and confronted Antelope, leaving him with a warning about the ruthless struggle for power.

• Xia Yan spoke with the juvenile Nine-Tails, who chose to stay with him and explained that he could provide chakra but needed more chakra to grow.
• Xia Yan used the Nine-Tails' chakra to cultivate his Fire Release and Sealing Jutsu seeds, while reassuring him that he would not seal him.
• Xia Yan considered using the Nine-Tails' chakra in combat and learned that they could eventually enter Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, though the little fox was currently too weak for sustained synchronization.
• Xia Yan reflected on Konoha's rebuilding plans, rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi's proposal to relocate the Senju Clan, and supported Minato Namikaze while he recuperated at Mount Myōboku.
• Antelope visited Xia Yan's office, and Xia Yan warned him that people seeking power had to become hunters rather than prey.

Xia Yan recruited Antelope and ordered plans to expand both the Anbu’s administrative staff and combat divisions, appointing Kakashi and Trout to lead the rebuilding. Danzo, enraged by his losses and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s refusal to restore his authority, vowed to seize the Hokage’s position.

• Xia Yan persuaded Antelope to cooperate with his planned Anbu reforms by offering him a chance to gain greater authority as the organization expanded.
• Xia Yan summoned Kakashi and Trout, assigned Kakashi to rebuild the Second Division, and appointed Trout acting captain of the Third Battalion.
• Xia Yan explained that he intended to expand the Anbu’s clerical staff and combat personnel, breaking with the organization’s traditional size.
• Danzo smashed objects in Root headquarters as he recalled his failed plans during the Nine-Tails Incident and blamed Senju Natsuhiko, Minato Namikaze, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Danzo vowed to betray Hiruzen Sarutobi, become Hokage, and show what it meant to overstep his bounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Xia Yan’s proposed changes to the Anbu while Danzo plotted to seize the Hokage’s position by assassinating Hiruzen and undermining Shikaku Nara. At Mount Myōboku, Minato and Kushina learned more about Xia Yan’s role in saving Minato and focused on recovering together, while Xia Yan began considering a trip to the Land of Fire Capital to investigate the Nine-Tails chakra.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Xia Yan’s Anbu reforms and approved them, while suspecting Minato Namikaze had devised the plan to expand his influence through the Anbu.
• Danzo plotted to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, damage the Yamanaka Clan with evidence, and pressure Shikaku Nara to withdraw from the Hokage succession.
• Sage Fukasaku told Minato Namikaze and Kushina that Xia Yan had likely used a life-sacrificing method to undo the Reaper Death Seal and saved Minato through extraordinary Yang Release.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina decided to focus on recovering together at Mount Myōboku, while Minato planned to improve his Senjutsu and learn to use the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Xia Yan received approval to expand the Anbu and considered using a visit to the Land of Fire Capital to deal with the Nine-Tails chakra collected by the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

Xia Yan negotiated with Hiruzen Sarutobi to accompany him to the Land of Fire's Capital, using his knowledge of Hiruzen's plans and Danzo's vulnerability to secure cooperation and funding for the Anbu. Meanwhile, Danzo prepared an ambush for Hiruzen and assigned A to test his Wood Release against the Third Hokage.

• Xia Yan reviewed intelligence about Hiruzen Sarutobi's planned meeting with the Daimyō and decided to seek cooperation over the trip and its funding.
• Xia Yan met Hiruzen Sarutobi, explained his Anbu expansion plans, and correctly guessed how Hiruzen intended to use money from the Daimyō.
• Xia Yan invoked Danzo's situation as leverage, and Hiruzen agreed to let him accompany the trip as a guard while keeping the arrangement confidential.
• Xia Yan left, pleased that his agreement could increase pressure on Hiruzen and eventually draw Shimura Danzō into expanding Root.
• Danzo received intelligence that Hiruzen would depart soon with only a few Anbu, then ordered his men to prepare an ambush and summon A.
• Danzo told A to carry out the mission against Hiruzen and urged him to demonstrate his Wood Release.