Recaps

The Masked Man abducted Kushina and released the Nine-Tails, while Minato rescued Tsunade but could not stop the attack. As the Nine-Tails rampaged, Orochimaru escaped Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces, and Minato carried the dying Kushina away to seek Tsunade’s help.

• The Masked Man used Kamui to abduct Kushina, escaping Minato after Minato pulled Tsunade out of his attack.
• Obito released the Nine-Tails from Kushina’s seal, and the beast emerged and attacked her.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces cornered Orochimaru, but Orochimaru used a shadow clone and escaped underground as the Nine-Tails went berserk.
• The Nine-Tails tried to crush Kushina, but Minato arrived and rescued her from its claw.
• Minato used Flying Thunder God to take Kushina to Lady Tsunade for treatment.

The Nine-Tails rampaged through Konoha under Sharingan control, leaving the village’s ninja shocked and Uchiha Fugaku fearful of the consequences for his clan. As Hatake Sakumo’s forces struggled to stop the beast, Xuan Zhe finally looked toward the destruction after a private encounter with two exhausted kunoichi.

• Minato handed the critically injured Kushina and Naruto to Tsunade after the Nine-Tails was extracted, while the beast broke into Konoha.
• Hatake Sakumo split the ninja into groups, and Shisui briefly restrained the Nine-Tails with Wood Release before Sakumo saved him from its claw.
• Konoha’s arriving clan leaders recognized the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails’ eyes and suspected Uchiha control, then Fugaku joined the fight and was wounded.
• Sakumo repeatedly slashed the Nine-Tails but could not overcome its rapid regeneration, and he angrily waited for Xuan Zhe to help.
• At his home, Xuan Zhe finished fastening his belt after the two exhausted kunoichi fell asleep, then saw the Nine-Tails rampaging and blamed Madara Uchiha’s scheme.

Xuan Zhe arrived to confront the genjutsu-controlled Nine-Tails while Minato fought Obito, who claimed to be Madara Uchiha and planned to take the beast. Xuan Zhe’s flames drove the Nine-Tails back, and he used Ryūjin Jakka Taimatsu to disperse its Tailed Beast Bomb before it could fire.

• Xuan Zhe created a Shadow Clone and carried two women toward Tsunade’s house.
• Obito fought Minato with his space-time abilities, identified himself as Madara Uchiha, and declared he would take the Nine-Tails.
• Minato prepared an unfinished Wind Release Rasengan as he and Obito’s killing intent rose, but a vast wall of fire suddenly blazed around Konoha.
• Xuan Zhe confronted the Nine-Tails, whose fear of his flames forced it to retreat from the village’s central district.
• The Nine-Tails charged a Tailed Beast Bomb at close range, and Xuan Zhe drew his sword and unleashed Ryūjin Jakka Taimatsu, dispersing the attack before it could fire.

Xuan Zhe defeated the controlled Nine-Tails, while Minato and the others worked to save Kushina after the beast was extracted. The Nine-Tails was split between Kushina and newborn Naruto, and Konoha began dealing with the attack’s aftermath as Tsunade confronted Xuan Zhe.

• Xuan Zhe withdrew his flames after the Nine-Tails’ tomoe faded and the beast collapsed, then asked whether Kushina was still alive.
• Obito abandoned his attempt to take the Nine-Tails and escaped before Minato could stop him.
• Tsunade confronted Xuan Zhe when Hatake Sakumo returned with her and Kushina, while Xuan Zhe confirmed that Kushina was still breathing.
• Minato said Kushina could not survive having the whole Nine-Tails sealed inside her, and Xuan Zhe suggested sealing the other half into Naruto instead of Nawaki.
• Minato agreed to begin the ritual, and the Nine-Tails’ yin half was sealed into Kushina while its yang half was sealed into Naruto Uzumaki.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha to keep its two Nine-Tails jinchūriki secret, Nawaki was left to handle the aftermath, and Tsunade confronted Xuan Zhe at home.

Tsunade confronted Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi about what happened after they drank milk, then left to discuss rebuilding Konoha after the Nine-Tails’ attack. At the meeting, she assigned Shisui, whose Anbu codename was Crow, to restore the village, but clan leaders suspected him of causing deaths with Wood Release.

• Tsunade scolded Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi, who explained that their bodies had begun acting strangely after they drank milk.
• An Anbu summoned Tsunade to a meeting about rebuilding Konoha, and she left after warning Rin and Mei she would deal with them later.
• Tsunade and Shisui surveyed the Nine-Tails’ destruction as Shisui said villagers suspected him of using Wood Release to harm more than twenty people.
• Tsunade assigned Shisui, the Anbu called Crow, to rebuild the damaged parts of Konoha with Wood Release.
• The Hayate Clan Leader reported twenty-six deaths from Wood Release and said Shisui could not be trusted.

After the Nine-Tails attack, village leaders debated the Uchiha’s possible involvement, while Xuan Zhe told Tsunade and the others that the masked man was likely Obito. Tsunade relayed the revelation to Minato, who struggled to accept that his former student had attacked Kushina and Naruto.

• Tsunade stopped the Hayate Clan Leader from accusing the Uchiha without evidence, and Shisui watched the other leaders distance themselves from Fugaku.
• Xuan Zhe claimed that he had sacrificed himself to save Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi after they were drugged, but Tsunade and the others doubted his story.
• Tsunade wondered whether Madara Uchiha had drugged the women, and Xuan Zhe said the masked man from the attack had almost certainly been Obito.
• Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi struggled to believe that Obito could be the masked attacker, while Rin feared what he might have witnessed.
• News of the Nine-Tails attack spread, but other forces backed away after learning that Konoha still had several powerful fighters.
• Tsunade told Minato Namikaze that Xuan Zhe believed the masked man was Obito, and Minato left the Hokage’s office shaken by the thought that Obito had targeted Kushina and Naruto.

Minato left to consider whether Obito was still himself, while Tsunade grew furious with her Hokage duties and the women around Xuan Zhe. Xuan Zhe intervened when villagers bullied Uchiha Itachi, then learned Tsunade wanted to step down and discussed the political consequences with Nawaki.

• Minato bowed and left to think about whether Obito was still Obito.
• Tsunade erupted over her paperwork and her jealousy of Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi, then reviewed the Ninja Academy enrollment list and noticed Uchiha Itachi's name.
• Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Mei Terumi arrived to help Tsunade, who suspected Xuan Zhe had sent them to appease her.
• Xuan Zhe stopped children from throwing stones at Uchiha Itachi, and Itachi explained that villagers blamed the Uchiha Clan for the Nine-Tails incident.
• Nawaki told Xuan Zhe that Tsunade wanted to resign as Hokage, and they discussed the likely candidates and the Uchiha Clan's exclusion from the position.
• Xuan Zhe said he would discuss Tsunade's decision with her later.

Tsunade decided to remain Hokage for now because her resignation could provoke the Uchiha, while the clan remained blamed for the Nine-Tails’ attack. Meanwhile, Obito helped Nagato take control of Amegakure and prepared to pursue the Eye of the Moon plan.

• Xuan Zhe asked Tsunade if she wanted to quit, but she chose to stay after realizing the Uchiha might turn hostile if someone else became Hokage.
• Rin Nohara suggested finding a Hokage acceptable to both Konoha and the Uchiha, but Tsunade concluded the Uchiha would have to wait for a younger clan member to become eligible.
• Tsunade decided against revealing that the masked attacker was Obito because her evidence was uncertain and the villagers might see it as an attempt to protect the Uchiha.
• Obito watched Nagato and Konan defeat Hanzō and take control of Amegakure, while the outside world continued to believe Hanzō was its leader.
• Obito dismissed the Uchiha clan’s troubles and asked White Zetsu when they would begin capturing the Tailed Beasts.

Obito agreed to recruit Akatsuki members before targeting the tailed beasts, while Shisui and Itachi discussed how to prevent conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha. Xuan Zhe took Shisui to Amegakure after learning Orochimaru planned to join Akatsuki, intending to destroy Nagato's Rinnegan.

• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu persuaded Obito to recruit ten core Akatsuki members before attempting to capture the tailed beasts, and named Kakuzu, Sasori, and Orochimaru as targets.
• Shisui warned Itachi that the Uchiha might rebel if none of them became Hokage, and asked him to join the Military Police Force to curb the clan's warmongers.
• Itachi agreed to join the Military Police Force, while Shisui committed to working in the Anbu to prevent conflict.
• Shisui told Xuan Zhe about his plan, and Xuan Zhe said he would intervene if the Uchiha chose rebellion.
• After receiving Orochimaru's letter that he intended to join Akatsuki, Xuan Zhe brought Shisui to Amegakure to destroy Nagato's Rinnegan.
• Shisui noticed the rain began as they arrived, and Xuan Zhe identified it as the Rain Tiger at Will Technique.

Xuan Zhe and Shisui infiltrated Amegakure, where Xuan Zhe pursued Nagato and Shisui confronted the masked man he believed had framed the Uchiha. The tower was split apart, and Obito admitted he did not care what happened to the Uchiha or the shinobi world.

• Xuan Zhe rushed toward the tower while Shisui followed, believing they could expose the culprit behind the Nine-Tails attack and clear the Uchiha Clan.
• Deva Path Pain identified Xuan Zhe and Shisui as the intruders, but Obito warned Pain not to fight Xuan Zhe.
• Xuan Zhe cut the tower in two, then pursued Konan toward Nagato as Shisui climbed the tower and Obito escaped through the trees.
• Shisui used Wood Release to ensnare the tower and demanded to know why Obito had framed the Uchiha.
• Obito dismissed the Uchiha, Konoha, and the entire shinobi world as equally worthless.

Shisui fought Obito while Xuan Zhe battled Pain and pursued Konan through the burning iron tower. Black Zetsu and White Zetsu escaped with Nagato, and Xuan Zhe marked Konan before leaving her behind, unsure whether her allies had abandoned her.

• Obito tried to kill Shisui with Kamui, but Shisui escaped using Wood Release Substitution and set the iron tower ablaze with Fire Release and Wind Release.
• Shisui trapped Obito with the Uchiha Style's Shadow Shuriken Technique and revealed that Obito became solid when he grabbed someone.
• Xuan Zhe wounded Deva Path Pain, but Black Zetsu and White Zetsu took Nagato's unconscious body and chakra apparatus underground.
• Xuan Zhe placed a soul mark on Konan and left, telling her that her allies might have abandoned her.
• Konan stood stunned and wondered whether she had truly been abandoned.

Shisui and Xuan Zhe failed to capture Obito, who escaped after fighting Shisui. Obito kept Nagato from retrieving Konan and began plotting to eliminate Nagato and the Uchiha, while Shisui told Itachi what he had learned and Rin Nohara confronted Xuan Zhe about Obito.

• Shisui returned to Xuan Zhe after Obito escaped, and Xuan Zhe took him back to Konoha.
• Nagato woke in Kirigakure and learned from Zetsu that Xuan Zhe had left Konan in Amegakure.
• Obito persuaded Nagato to leave Konan out of the Akatsuki's dangerous work, then privately considered killing Nagato after using him and putting the Uchiha on his elimination list.
• Shisui told Itachi that Obito had released the Nine-Tails and framed the Uchiha, and Itachi warned that a report alone would not clear the clan's name.
• Rin Nohara asked Xuan Zhe whether Obito had nearly killed Kushina, then blurted out that she had been willing before she realized what she had admitted.

At age three, Naruto ran away after angering Kushina and defended Sasuke from children taunting him, leading to a brawl and punishments for both boys. As Sasuke ate the food Itachi secretly brought him, he asked why the village targeted the Uchiha.

• Naruto failed to gather chakra during practice, and Kushina chased him after he farted, prompting him to flee through a window.
• Naruto found children bullying Sasuke and stood up for him, then Sasuke punched their ringleader when Naruto was knocked down.
• Naruto and Sasuke joined the ensuing brawl, while Xuan Zhe watched with Hinata and noted that their roles resembled those in the original story.
• Tsunade ruled that whoever struck first was responsible, and Naruto was spanked while Sasuke was denied dinner and grounded by Fugaku.
• Itachi secretly left Sasuke tomato rice, and Sasuke asked why everyone in the village targeted the Uchiha.

Xuan Zhe brought Hinata to Tsunade for training, then visited Konan in Amegakure and learned Nagato had not contacted her. As Sasuke and the other children prepared to enter the Ninja Academy, Fugaku told Itachi he planned to recommend him for the Anbu.

• Sasuke asked Itachi a long-standing question, but Itachi gave him only a vague reassurance.
• Xuan Zhe introduced Hinata to Tsunade as her apprentice, and Tsunade learned Hinata could not yet mold chakra.
• Xuan Zhe told Konan that Nagato had likely been abandoned by the organization and advised her to focus on ruling Amegakure; Konan removed her Akatsuki cloak after he left.
• Shisui asked Xuan Zhe again about finding the masked man, and Xuan Zhe promised to deal only with Uchiha who took part if the clan turned against itself.
• Itachi recalled that a masked man had defeated his mission team and that he had failed to stop the likely culprit behind the Nine-Tails attack.
• Fugaku told Itachi he intended to recommend him for the Anbu, explaining that the unit could benefit the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Fugaku brought Sasuke to the Ninja Academy while asking for Itachi to join the Anbu as a supposed bridge between the clan and village. Xuan Zhe approved Itachi’s transfer to Shisui’s squad and learned that Mei Terumi wanted help investigating the Bloody Mist Village, but he refused to go himself.

• Uchiha Fugaku brought Sasuke to the Academy entrance ceremony, where Sasuke and Naruto Uzumaki argued and nearly fought before their fathers intervened.
• Tsunade arrived to give the new students her annual address, while Hinata searched the crowd and looked disappointed when she did not find someone.
• Xuan Zhe reviewed Itachi’s Anbu transfer application, recognized Fugaku’s attempt to place his son near the Hokage, and assigned Itachi to Shisui’s squad.
• Mei Terumi told Xuan Zhe that Karatachi Yagura’s Kirigakure had become the Bloody Mist Village and asked him to investigate the change.
• Xuan Zhe realized Obito was likely controlling Yagura through genjutsu, but declined to accompany Mei because his presence might scare the culprit away.

A team led by Minato, Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi, and Mei set out for Kirigakure to investigate Obito and the Mizukage’s suspected control, with Konan assigned to protect Rin. As they neared the village, they found the Land of Water ravaged by killings and learned that Nagato was in Kirigakure, sensing their arrival through his rain technique.

• Xuan Zhe told Shisui and Itachi that confronting Obito might be their last chance, while Rin said she felt responsible for what he had become and Xuan Zhe reassured her.
• Two days later, Minato, Kakashi, Rin, Shisui, Itachi, and Mei gathered at Konoha’s gates; Konan arrived to protect Rin, and the team departed for the Land of Water.
• A week later, the team encountered bodies of ninja and civilians throughout the Land of Water, leaving Mei shaken by the state of her homeland.
• As the team approached Kirigakure, dark clouds formed and rain poured down; Konan recognized Nagato’s Rain Tiger at Will Technique and explained that he could sense unfamiliar chakra in the rain.
• Itachi tightened his grip on the weapon at his waist after realizing Nagato was in the village, and Kakashi urged him to stay calm.

Minato Namikaze led the Konoha squad into Kirigakure using Flying Thunder God and confronted the masked man controlling Karatachi Yagura. After identifying him as Obito, Minato saved Itachi from his attack and ordered the others to retreat as Obito used Kamui.

• Minato Namikaze proposed using an already familiar chakra signature to bypass Konan's Rain Tiger at Will Technique detection.
• A Sharingan-controlled Hozuki Lengyue entered Kirigakure and threw Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai toward the Mizukage's Office, allowing Minato and the others to teleport into the village.
• Shisui sealed the Mizukage Building with Wood Release while Konan confronted Deva Path Pain outside and questioned Nagato about his alliance with Madara.
• Minato recognized the masked man emerging beside Karatachi Yagura as Obito, and Mei Terumi confirmed that the Mizukage was under genjutsu.
• Itachi charged Obito, but Rin Nohara's cry briefly slowed him, giving Minato time to pull Itachi away and confirm Obito's identity.
• Obito tried to drag Kakashi into the Kamui Dimension, but Minato rescued him and ordered the others to retreat.

Obito released the Three-Tails from Karatachi Yagura during the confrontation in Kirigakure, creating chaos as the Konoha ninja tried to stop him. Shisui and Itachi pursued Obito while Kakashi and Rin stayed behind to face the approaching Kirigakure forces.

• Pain and Obito appeared in the Mizukage Building, and Minato sent the others after Obito while he fought the Six Paths of Pain.
• Rin tried to persuade Obito to return to Konoha, but Kakashi identified him and reminded him that Xuan Zhe had sensed his chakra years earlier.
• Obito struck Karatachi Yagura and used the Eight Trigrams Unsealing to release the Three-Tails.
• Shisui and Itachi pursued Obito as Kirigakure ninja approached, while Kakashi and Rin remained to hold them off.
• Kirigakure ninja surrounded Kakashi and Rin and demanded to know why Konoha had come.

Mei Terumi found Karatachi Yagura dead after the Three-Tails was extracted and vowed revenge on Akatsuki. Shisui and Itachi cornered Obito, but after Shisui exhausted himself using Wood Release, an unknown fighter’s flames forced Obito to flee and left Shisui stunned.

• The Three-Tails went berserk, and Mei Terumi dragged Karatachi Yagura from the collapsed house, only to find that he had died when the beast was extracted.
• Mei Terumi swore that she would not spare any members of Akatsuki for treating Kirigakure like a toy and defiling the Mizukage’s name.
• Shisui and Itachi confronted Obito Uchiha and identified the limits of his Space-Time Ninjutsu, but Obito summoned Susanoo and knocked Itachi unconscious.
• Shisui used Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees to bind Obito’s Susanoo, but Obito cut through the vines by transporting them to another dimension.
• Obito prepared to kill the exhausted Shisui, but an enormous fire tornado burned the Wood Release and Susanoo, forcing Obito to flee as Shisui watched in shock.

Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure ninja subdued the rampaging Three-Tails after Karatachi Yagura's death, while Xuan Zhe led his group out of the village and sent Minato Namikaze to kill Genji. Kirigakure turned its attention to Mei and the Konoha intruders as the chapter ended.

• Mei Terumi revealed Karatachi Yagura's death and rallied Kirigakure to stop the Three-Tails.
• Xuan Zhe rescued Konan and left Kirigakure with Kakashi and Rin Nohara, who worried about Mei Terumi.
• Minato Namikaze reported that the Rinnegan user had withdrawn, and Xuan Zhe explained that Obito had escaped using Kamui.
• Xuan Zhe ordered Minato Namikaze to kill Genji, whom he identified as Mei Terumi's main obstacle to becoming Fifth Mizukage.
• Kirigakure's ninja brought down the Three-Tails, and Hozuki Mangetsu ordered a search for the Konoha ninja while demanding an explanation from Mei Terumi.

Mei Terumi exposed that Akatsuki had controlled Yagura and, with Xuan Zhe’s backing, became the Fifth Mizukage as Konoha and Kirigakure formed an alliance. After Tsunade approved the pact, Mei traveled to Konoha with Xuan Zhe and the others, where the alliance was welcomed by a huge crowd.

• Mei Terumi told Kirigakure’s ninja that Akatsuki had controlled Yagura, and Xuan Zhe arrived to support her claim and demand that she become the Fifth Mizukage.
• Xuan Zhe announced a formal alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, then silenced objections by claiming Genji had been killed by the Three-Tails.
• Minato Namikaze took Kakashi back to Konoha, while Shisui, Itachi, Rin Nohara, Konan, and Xuan Zhe remained in Kirigakure to investigate or look around.
• Tsunade approved the alliance, and Xuan Zhe and the others escorted Mei Terumi to Konoha to sign the agreement.
• On the journey, Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi lamented their parting, while Hozuki Mangetsu spoke with Xuan Zhe about fighting stronger opponents.
• Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure delegation arrived in Konoha to a huge celebration as villagers welcomed the alliance.

Mei Terumi proposed a marriage alliance with Hatake Xuanzhe to strengthen ties between Kirigakure and Konoha, provoking Tsunade and Kurenai Yuhi. Nawaki suggested Tsunade marry Xuan Zhe first and Mei become his secondary wife, and Mei agreed while Tsunade tacitly accepted.

• Shisui and Itachi heard villagers praise the Uchiha for helping secure the alliance, and they hoped their clan could reconcile with Konoha.
• Mei Terumi met Tsunade and Konoha’s officials, formally marking the alliance between Kirigakure and Konoha before proposing a marriage alliance with Xuan Zhe.
• Tsunade rejected the proposal during a leaders’ meeting, while Kurenai Yuhi grew angry at Mei Terumi’s attempt to marry Xuan Zhe.
• Nawaki proposed that Tsunade marry Xuan Zhe first and Mei Terumi join the family later as his secondary wife.
• Mei Terumi accepted Nawaki’s arrangement, and Tsunade’s refusal to object was taken as tacit agreement; Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi began considering what the arrangement might mean for them.

Hatake Xuanzhe married Tsunade and then Mei Terumi, strengthening ties between Konoha and Kirigakure. After Mei returned to Kirigakure to prepare Haku as her successor, Kurenai Yuhi urged Rin Nohara to press Tsunade for their own marriages, while a White Zetsu Clone passed the news to Obito.

• Hatake Xuanzhe and Tsunade held a lavish wedding at the end of Konoha Year 54.
• Mei Terumi married Hatake Xuanzhe on her twenty-second birthday, and she said she would train Haku to become a Mizukage candidate before leaving Kirigakure leadership.
• Mei Terumi returned to Kirigakure a week after the wedding, prompting Kurenai Yuhi to urge Rin Nohara to help persuade Tsunade to accept their marriages to Xuan Zhe.
• A White Zetsu Clone overheard Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara's conversation and reported it to Obito, who left using Kamui.
• Tsunade returned home to find Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara eagerly waiting on her, and Xuan Zhe's humming sounded from the courtyard.

Tsunade decided to step down as Hokage, with Minato Namikaze expected to succeed her. As Shisui and Itachi worried about rising tensions between the Uchiha and the village, Itachi discovered Fugaku meeting a masked stranger who urged him to act before Minato took office.

• Tsunade announced that she was quitting as Hokage and named Minato Namikaze as her expected successor.
• Shisui reassured Itachi that their efforts could ease tensions between the Uchiha and the village, though Itachi feared fighting might break out.
• Fugaku left the family dinner, and Itachi followed him after noticing his father had been acting strangely.
• Itachi found that Fugaku had not gone to the Konoha Military Police Force and realized he was elsewhere.
• Fugaku met a masked figure beside the Uchiha stone tablet, and the stranger urged him to act before Minato became Hokage.

Obito manipulated Uchiha Fugaku into conspiring with Kumogakure against Minato Namikaze, while Konoha investigated Fugaku’s suspicious behavior. The plot was set to unfold on Minato’s inauguration day, when the Third Raikage planned to enter Konoha using the Heavenly Transfer Technique.

• Obito told Fugaku that the village would never trust the Uchiha and showed him Hatake Xuanzhe’s billion-ryō bounty, posted by the Third Raikage.
• Itachi reported Fugaku’s suspicious behavior to Tsunade, and Konoha’s leaders discussed the risk of the Uchiha rebelling and the difficulty of clearing their name while Obito remained uncaught.
• Tsunade warned Itachi not to watch Fugaku too closely, and Itachi later found that his father’s daily routine appeared completely normal.
• Obito revealed that Fugaku had used a shadow clone to evade Itachi’s surveillance and said the Third Raikage was willing to cooperate against Konoha.
• Fugaku said he wanted to kill Minato rather than attack Konoha, and Obito arranged for the Third Raikage to cause chaos during Minato’s inauguration with support from the Uchiha.
• Obito explained that the Third Raikage could use Kumogakure’s Heavenly Transfer Technique to enter Konoha despite its barrier.