Chapter Summaries

Xuan Zhe learned that Danzo wanted Orochimaru to transplant Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan and use Kushina Uzumaki to control the Nine-Tails, then summoned Orochimaru to Konoha to discuss it. Tsunade became the Fourth Hokage, while Nawaki warned Xuan Zhe that the Shimura Clan still controlled the Intelligence Department.

• Xuan Zhe read Orochimaru's letter about Danzo's plans for Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan and Kushina Uzumaki's Nine-Tails, then destroyed the letter and told Orochimaru to come to Konoha.
• Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Mei Terumi learned that Shisui had been captured and reacted with shock at Konoha's secrets.
• Orochimaru secretly met Xuan Zhe in his courtyard and said he wanted to show Sarutobi a new ninjutsu, Living Corpse Reincarnation, once Asuma became a suitable vessel in about three years.
• Tsunade officially became the Fourth Hokage on August 2, Year 45 of Konoha, and villagers cheered her inauguration.
• Nawaki told Xuan Zhe that the Shimura Clan's control of the Intelligence Department remained a difficult problem, recalling suspicions about the Senju Clan's wartime ambush.

After Tsunade’s inauguration as Fourth Hokage, the clans reconsidered their loyalties while the Uchiha privately weighed their position. Nawaki received a scroll from Xuan Zhe and hurried to the Hokage Building, as the former elders debated how Tsunade might deal with them.

• Xuan Zhe had Rin Nohara give Nawaki a scroll, and Nawaki rushed to the Hokage Building after reading it.
• Konoha’s clans declared support for Tsunade, while the Uchiha quietly discussed their resentment that the Senju had produced three Hokage.
• Uchiha Fugaku rebuked Uchiha Tekka for criticizing Tsunade, then worried that the Uchiha radicals’ dissatisfaction could destabilize the clan.
• An Anbu messenger summoned Fugaku to the Intelligence Department at Senju Nawaki’s request, possibly with the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi defeated Danzo at Chinese chess and argued that Tsunade could strip the former elders of power but would not dare punish them more severely.

Nawaki led Konoha clan members into the Intelligence Department to inspect it, while Danzo desperately tried to stop him. Nawaki found the hidden entrance to a basement passage, leaving Danzo terrified that his secret experiments and Shisui Uchiha would be exposed.

• A Sarutobi Clan Jonin told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Nawaki had gathered ninja, including Uchiha members, at the Intelligence Department.
• Nawaki announced that he was inspecting the department as Hokage Assistant, and Minato Namikaze stopped Danzo from grabbing him.
• Danzo nearly attacked Nawaki, but Hiruzen Sarutobi warned him that doing so could lead to his arrest.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the old Hashirama Cells experiments had ended, unaware that Danzo had secretly resumed them and imprisoned Shisui Uchiha.
• Nawaki found a mechanism in the director's office and opened a concealed passage, alarming Danzo.

Nawaki and the Konoha leaders discovered Danzo’s secret laboratory, where a child’s uncontrolled Wood Release exposed his experiments with Hashirama’s cells. Xuan Zhe and Tsunade rescued Shisui, whose Sharingan had gained a second tomoe, while Nawaki confronted the truth about the village’s research.

• Nawaki led the Elders Council and Konoha ninja into Danzo’s hidden laboratory, where they found researchers and preserved human organs.
• A child’s uncontrolled Wood Release erupted, and Minato Namikaze tried to hold back the vines while preparing to reach him.
• Danzo fled, but Tsunade caught him and brought him back unconscious as Xuan Zhe burned the laboratory’s Wood Release vines to ash.
• Xuan Zhe used Ryūjin Jakka to calm the child, identified him as Shisui, and carried him out after seeing that his Sharingan had awakened a second tomoe.
• Nawaki asked whether Konoha’s leaders had researched Hashirama’s body after Mito’s death.

Nawaki ordered Danzo imprisoned for his secret experiments with Hashirama's cells, while Shisui's unexpected survival exposed the scandal to Konoha. In prison, Danzo revealed his ambitions and blamed Orochimaru for destroying his plan to seize the power of the Senju, Uchiha, and Nine-Tails.

• Nawaki ordered the unconscious Danzo arrested and called for the elders to be punished for researching Hashirama's cells.
• Minato Namikaze and the others discovered Shisui alive, with a face resembling Hashirama's grown on his chest.
• Uchiha Fugaku demanded an explanation from Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Xuan Zhe sent Shisui to Konoha Hospital for Tsunade to treat and ordered Danzo locked up.
• Tsunade and Xuan Zhe allowed news of Shisui and the secret experiments to spread through Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi visited Danzo in prison and accused him of lying about Shisui's death and causing Asuma's abduction.
• Danzo defended his past crimes and revealed that he had planned to combine Hashirama's cells, Shisui's Sharingan, and the Nine-Tails, but blamed Orochimaru for thwarting him.

Shisui Uchiha woke in Konoha Hospital after Xuan Zhe and Tsunade suppressed his Wood Release rampage, while the village’s leaders considered Danzo’s fate. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other former elders sought Xuan Zhe’s help to save Danzo, but he revealed that he wanted to deal with all four of them.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded answers from Danzo about Orochimaru and Asuma, but Minato Namikaze ordered him to leave the prison.
• Shisui Uchiha woke in the hospital, learned that his Wood Release rampage had been suppressed, and later saw Uchiha Fugaku, Mikoto, and their child.
• Nawaki told the clan leaders that Xuan Zhe had suggested killing Danzo in prison and claiming he died of illness.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to save Danzo, warning that Danzo’s public execution could expose their own crimes and endanger the Sarutobi Clan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to seek Xuan Zhe’s help, and Xuan Zhe bluntly told the three former elders that he wanted Danzo and them dead.

Xuan Zhe dismissed the Elders Council’s threat as too trivial to bother with, while Nawaki revealed his plan to expose Shimura Danzō and imprison the other elders. At Konoha Prison, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Danzō to take the blame to protect their clans, but Danzō recognized his old friend’s motives and resisted.

• Xuan Zhe told Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders that killing them would be easy but uninteresting, and they left after Nawaki entered and voiced his contempt for them.
• Nawaki told Xuan Zhe that Danzō would face a public trial where an Uchiha would use the Sharingan to expose the elders’ crimes, potentially sending all four to prison.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi persuaded Minato Namikaze to let him visit Danzō in prison, claiming he wanted a final talk with his old friend.
• Danzō accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of visiting to prevent him from exposing their past deeds, and Hiruzen warned that the trial could ruin both their clans.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi urged Danzō to take the blame in exchange for his support of the Shimura Clan, but Danzō accused him of once again asking him to take the fall.

Hiruzen Sarutobi urged Danzo to kill himself and protect the elders’ secrets, but Danzo rejected the demand and repeatedly insisted on seeing Hatake Xuanzhe. Minato Namikaze finally sent a Shadow Clone to report the request, and Xuan Zhe agreed to visit Danzo before his trial.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Danzo that a quick death would let him be remembered as a hero and keep the secrets buried.
• Minato Namikaze sensed that Danzo seemed changed after Hiruzen Sarutobi left, but found his vital signs normal.
• Danzo recalled how Hiruzen Sarutobi had relied on him and then asked him to take the blame once more, and he refused to accept it.
• Danzo repeatedly demanded to see Hatake Xuanzhe, wearing Minato Namikaze down over the next thirty hours.
• Minato Namikaze sent a Shadow Clone to tell Xuan Zhe about Danzo’s persistent request.
• Xuan Zhe agreed to visit Danzo, then called for a towel as the Wall-Side Trio arrived with supplies.

Xuan Zhe freed Danzo after learning that Hiruzen expected him to die and take the blame for their secrets. As Danzo prepared to confront Hiruzen, the Third and his allies waited for news of his death, unaware that their plans were unraveling.

• Danzo told Xuan Zhe that Hiruzen was forcing him to kill himself to bury their dirty secrets, and he refused to accept the blame.
• Xuan Zhe cut open Danzo’s cell, left Minato to watch him, and warned the Konoha clans not to panic that night.
• Xuan Zhe explained to the three girls that Danzo’s hatred of Hiruzen had finally been provoked by the elders’ betrayal.
• Shikaku told Tsunade and Nawaki that Xuan Zhe had warned the clans, leaving them wondering what trouble he was planning.
• Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura stayed up waiting for news that Danzo had died, while Hiruzen insisted Danzo had no choice.

Danzo attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi at his home, killing Biwako Sarutobi and unleashing Baku against him and the elders. Danzo then slaughtered Sarutobi clanspeople, determined to drag Hiruzen down with him, as the fight continued.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi called for Biwako, but Danzo appeared holding her severed head.
• Nawaki, Tsunade, and Xuan Zhe watched from nearby as Hiruzen confronted Danzo over Biwako's death.
• Danzo summoned Baku and attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, saying they all shared responsibility for the past thirty years.
• Danzo revealed that Hatake Xuanzhe had let him out of the prison and said he had accepted being used to bring Hiruzen down.
• Danzo and Baku unleashed a powerful Wind Release attack on the Sarutobi Clan Compound, killing many clanspeople and destroying half the compound.

Shimura Danzō and Root attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sarutobi Clan, while Xuan Zhe ensured Konoha’s other clans stayed out of the fight. Hiruzen hesitated when Danzo raised the question of what Orochimaru had done to Asuma Sarutobi, and the battle continued as Mitokado Homura pleaded with Danzo.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Sarutobi Clan that Shimura Danzō had escaped prison and ordered them to seize him, then summoned Enma to fight beside him.
• Danzo brought nearly thirty Root members into the battle and ordered them to attack the Sarutobi Clan; Hiruzen fought back with Enma and a Fire Release technique.
• Danzo taunted Hiruzen about the secrets they shared, then asked what Orochimaru had done to Asuma Sarutobi, causing Hiruzen to falter and give Danzo an opening to attack.
• Root members targeted elderly people and children, leaving the Sarutobi Ninja struggling to protect them while the battle stalled.
• Scouts reported the clash to the other Konoha clans, but Shikaku Nara and Uchiha Fugaku each ordered their people to stay uninvolved, recalling Xuan Zhe’s warning.
• Mitokado Homura fell with his old injury flaring up and pleaded with Danzo about their shared training under Tobirama and their vow to inherit the Will of Fire.

Danzo killed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura before Hiruzen Sarutobi struck him down. Danzo revealed that he had lied about knowing where Asuma was, leaving Hiruzen with his wife dead and no lead on his son.

• Danzo pinned Utatane Koharu with a Wind Release kunai, then seized her and killed her and Mitokado Homura with a strike through their hearts.
• Nawaki taunted the wounded advisers as they begged Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi to save them, then provoked them into arguing over who should be treated first.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked Danzo with the Ruyi Jingu Bang and demanded to know what Danzo knew about Orochimaru and Asuma.
• Danzo admitted he had invented a claim about knowing Asuma’s whereabouts to stop Hiruzen from fighting at full strength.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi killed Danzo with a punch, then collapsed to his knees, grieving his dead wife and the vanished lead on his son.

Nawaki finished killing the elders responsible for his parents’ deaths, while Tsunade’s new Konoha began rebuilding and bringing Shisui into its service. The chapter ended with Madara plotting to keep Obito injured so he could manipulate him through Rin.

• Nawaki left Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to die after taunting them, while Minato Namikaze prepared to clean up the Sarutobi Clan Compound.
• Konoha announced that Shimura Danzō had escaped with Root members, killed the senior advisors, and been dealt with by the Third Hokage, though the village’s ninja doubted the official account.
• Shisui Uchiha used Wood Release to rebuild the Sarutobi compound, and Xuan Zhe questioned him about his feelings toward Konoha.
• Shisui said he wanted to protect Tsunade’s Konoha, and Tsunade appointed him to the Anbu; Nawaki warned her to watch the Uchiha.
• Madara Uchiha secretly delayed Obito’s recovery so he could keep him from reaching Rin and steer him toward darkness.

Madara considered White Zetsu’s plan to use Rin to manipulate Obito while Obito continued recovering. At Minato and Kushina’s wedding, tensions over the next Hokage surfaced, and Rin’s bouquet left her jealous of Xuan Zhe’s attention to Mei Terumi.

• White Zetsu suggested exploiting Obito’s feelings for Rin instead of kidnapping her, and Madara considered the idea.
• Obito asked when he would recover enough to leave, and White Zetsu estimated he needed at least two more years.
• At Minato and Kushina’s wedding, Uchiha men challenged Shizune after she called Minato a leading candidate for the next Hokage, then left when they learned she was connected to Xuan Zhe.
• Shisui reported the Uchiha’s dissatisfaction to Xuan Zhe, who joked about their ambitions before heading to the wedding.
• Rin caught Kushina’s bouquet and sulked when Xuan Zhe paid more attention to Mei Terumi at the banquet.

After the Third Shinobi World War ended, Xuan Zhe defeated Hatake Sakumo in a swordsmanship match and learned that Mikoto planned to name her unborn son Saizō. He suggested Sasuke instead, then lounged with Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Mei Terumi until Tsunade came home and joined him.

• Iwagakure withdrew from the Land of Wind after Roshi left the village and Rasa drove Kitsuchi back, bringing the Third Shinobi World War to an end.
• Xuan Zhe visited the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen and later watched Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Mei Terumi grow into young women.
• Xuan Zhe defeated Hatake Sakumo in their swordsmanship game, knocking White Fang's sword away without releasing Ryūjin Jakka.
• Shisui reported that Mikoto was pregnant and planned to name her child Saizō, so Xuan Zhe told him to suggest Sasuke instead.
• Xuan Zhe relaxed while Rin, Kurenai, and Mei attended to him, and Tsunade returned home furious before he pulled her into his arms and fed her a grape.

Chu Tiankuo talked Tsunade out of quitting as Hokage while Xuan Zhe encountered the growing number of pregnant women in Konoha and met the young Itachi. Minato Namikaze then asked Xuan Zhe to help protect Kushina Uzumaki during childbirth, leaving Xuan Zhe to consider whether the original threat from Obito still applied.

• Tsunade complained about serving as Hokage, and Chu Tiankuo objected to her quitting after only two years in office.
• Xuan Zhe noticed that many prominent Konoha families had pregnant wives and wondered whether their children would share a Ninja Academy class.
• Xuan Zhe and Rin Nohara greeted Uchiha Mikoto and her young son Itachi, who spoke about wanting to understand why shinobi fought wars.
• Minato Namikaze told Xuan Zhe that he and Kushina Uzumaki had chosen the name Naruto for their unborn child.
• Minato Namikaze asked Xuan Zhe to help guard Kushina Uzumaki because a jinchūriki's seal could become unstable during childbirth.

Xuan Zhe used his power to stop the Nine-Tails from breaking through Kushina’s seal and arranged for Tsunade and his older brother to help guard her during childbirth. He also agreed to watch as Orochimaru used that day to attack the Sarutobi and Shimura families, while Madara independently prepared to exploit the same opportunity.

• When Kushina’s Nine-Tails chakra began to emerge, Xuan Zhe intervened in her mindscape and made the Nine-Tails’ chakra vanish.
• Xuan Zhe told Minato that Tsunade and his older brother would help guard Kushina while he was busy elsewhere.
• After Kushina described seeing Xuan Zhe’s eyes inside the seal, Minato wondered how much stronger Xuan Zhe had become.
• At the graveyard, Orochimaru retrieved Danzo’s body and revealed that his cursed seal had made Asuma’s body compatible with him.
• Xuan Zhe agreed to watch as Orochimaru exploited Kushina’s childbirth to attack the Sarutobi and Shimura families.
• Madara, nearing death, told White Zetsu to act on the opportunity presented by Kushina’s childbirth.

Obito recovered and left Madara’s hideout for Konoha, where White Zetsu warned him about Kushina’s impending childbirth and taught him techniques to control the Nine-Tails. As Kushina went into labor at Xuan Zhe’s old house, a White Zetsu Clone secretly drugged food and drinks across the village, while Orochimaru arrived at the Sarutobi compound to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Obito broke through the boulder blocking his exit and raced toward Konoha after White Zetsu told him the village had changed and Kushina was about to give birth.
• White Zetsu taught Obito techniques for sealing, unsealing, and summoning the Nine-Tails, while Obito looked forward to seeing Kakashi and Rin again.
• Tsunade chose Xuan Zhe’s old house as the delivery room and began attending Kushina with Shizune and Kurenai, while Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi, and Shisui guarded outside.
• A White Zetsu Clone secretly mixed a substance into food and drinks throughout the village before escaping underground.
• As Kushina labored, Orochimaru entered the Sarutobi compound, where Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered two dead guards and recognized his former student.

Orochimaru returned to Konoha and revealed that he had taken Asuma Sarutobi’s body through Living Corpse Reincarnation, enraging Hiruzen Sarutobi and provoking a battle with the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Orochimaru signaled someone with a fireball, and Xuan Zhe set out with Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi.

• Orochimaru confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Sarutobi Clan compound as Sarutobi and Shimura ninja gathered around them.
• Orochimaru revealed Asuma’s face and explained that he had used Living Corpse Reincarnation to take over and modify Asuma’s body.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked Orochimaru, and Enma and the Sarutobi and Shimura ninja joined the fight.
• Orochimaru used a Great Fireball Technique to send a signal into the sky while threatening Hiruzen Sarutobi and his clan.
• Xuan Zhe saw the signal and called for Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi to leave with him.

Xuan Zhe found Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi drugged, while Obito entered Konoha and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan after seeing Rin kiss Xuan Zhe. Obito attacked the village and reached Kushina’s delivery room, where Minato rescued newborn Naruto from his kunai.

• Xuan Zhe found Rin Nohara and Mei Terumi behaving strangely with his dirty clothes, then summoned Squirtle to clear the drug from their systems.
• Obito entered Konoha, learned Rin Nohara lived at the Senju Clan Compound, and saw her kissing Xuan Zhe, causing his Sharingan to evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito fled after Xuan Zhe spotted him, then killed people in the streets with wooden spikes as White Zetsu warned him to stay away from Kushina’s delivery room.
• Tsunade told Minato Namikaze to reinforce the seal after Kushina gave birth to Naruto.
• A white-shelled man appeared in the delivery room and tried to stab Naruto, but Minato rushed in and carried the baby to safety.