Chapter Summaries

Hiruko was caught secretly developing a forbidden technique that required five Bloodline Ninja, but Danzo judged it worthwhile and assigned him to Orochimaru’s laboratory. After seeing Orochimaru’s grisly experiments, Hiruko realized he was not the real evil scientist, while Danzo ordered Sakumo to capture Bloodline Ninja for his research.

• Hiruko secretly entered his underground laboratory, where Sakumo and the ANBU caught him and confiscated his research.
• Sakumo brought Hiruko’s research to Danzo, who learned the technique required five Bloodline Ninja and asked whether it was powerful.
• Hiruko clarified that the technique needed five people in total, and Danzo approved his admission to Konoha’s laboratory under Orochimaru’s supervision.
• The ANBU took Hiruko to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where he saw Orochimaru conducting bloody experiments on prisoners and reconsidered his own reputation as an evil scientist.
• Danzo praised Hiruko’s technique and ordered Sakumo to capture Bloodline Ninja from other countries for him.

Takahashi Yū met with Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku, who sought his help with their demanding jobs and academy problems. He recommended Might Duy and Yakushi Nonō, then Danzo became interested in adopting Minato Namikaze as his son.

• Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku visited Takahashi Yū's farm and argued over recruiting him to help with their workloads.
• Fugaku asked Takahashi Yū to assist the Uchiha Academy, and Takahashi recommended Might Duy as an instructor.
• Danzo sent Root members to find Might Duy after Takahashi said Duy could seriously wound Sakumo if he fought with his life on the line.
• Takahashi recommended Yakushi Nonō for her espionage and medical talents, and Danzo considered placing her at the hospital.
• Takahashi told Danzo that Minato Namikaze had the makings of a Hokage, and Danzo wondered if Minato would call him Dad.

Takahashi Yū attended a banquet celebrating Danzo’s adoption of Minato and learned that Minato had remarkable talents in sealing and space-time techniques. The gathering ended with Sakumo offering Takahashi Yū a role in Root and describing a strange, resilient prisoner who claimed a connection to the First Hokage.

• Takahashi Yū and Mizuki joined Sakumo and Kakashi on their way to Yakiniku Q, where Konoha’s prominent figures had gathered to celebrate Minato becoming Danzo’s son.
• Minato greeted Takahashi Yū and Sakumo at the entrance, and Sakumo encouraged him to call him Uncle.
• Danzo told Takahashi Yū that Minato had mastered three Wind Release jutsu in one day, and Takahashi Yū revealed Minato’s exceptional sealing and space-time talents.
• Danzo decided to retrieve the Scroll of Seals from Orochimaru so he could train Minato, while Takahashi Yū worried about the workload Danzo had given Orochimaru.
• Sakumo asked Takahashi Yū to help manage Root, but Takahashi Yū refused and heard Sakumo describe a black-threaded prisoner who claimed ties to the First Hokage.

Kakuzu returned to the Underground Black Market with two bounties, complained that someone was removing his targets, and accepted a job to hunt down the people disrupting the market. Meanwhile, Sakumo led ANBU squads out of the Land of Earth with a captured Explosion Release ninja, having nearly completed Danzo’s mission to collect kekkei genkai ninja.

• Kakuzu brought two corpses to the Underground Black Market and demanded payment from the manager.
• Kakuzu learned that a group had been capturing missing-nin and wandering ninja, then offered to deal with them for a fee.
• After collecting his payment and the black market’s intelligence, Kakuzu saw that Kusagakure Leader Mangzhong had an 18 million ryō bounty and hurried toward Kusagakure.
• Sakumo led ANBU squads out of the Land of Earth while ordering them to keep their captured Explosion Release ninja alive.
• Sakumo reflected that Danzo’s mission to gather kekkei genkai ninja was nearly complete and that captives would be examined and potentially kept under Konoha’s control.

Kakuzu attacked Kusagakure and overwhelmed the Grass Flower faction, but Sakumo and his squad arrived and swiftly defeated him. Kakuzu begged Sakumo to spare him after claiming he had known the First Hokage.

• Kakuzu used combined Fire and Wind Release to burn through the Grass Ninja defending Kusagakure.
• Taiseki dragged Mangzhong toward the forest as Mangzhong wondered why the Grass Fruit faction had not sent reinforcements.
• Sakumo and several squads watched Kakuzu from the trees while escorting the Explosion Release ninja toward Konoha.
• Mangzhong mistook Sakumo for Jiraiya and shouted that he was Lord Demon's underling, startling both Sakumo and Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu attacked Sakumo's group with Lightning Release, but Sakumo evaded and cut away Kakuzu's Water, Wind, Fire, and Lightning hearts.
• Sakumo held his blade to Kakuzu's neck, and Kakuzu pleaded for his life, saying he had been acquainted with the First Hokage.

Takahashi Yū and his companions found Kakuzu reduced to a head, heart, and black threads, then took him to Konoha’s laboratory. There, Danzo showed them the facility and its researchers, whose requests for more experimental subjects and materials left Takahashi Yū uneasy.

• Takahashi Yū, Fugaku, Sakumo, and Danzo discovered Kakuzu’s head and heart in Konoha Prison and learned Sakumo had stripped the black threads from his body.
• Kakuzu woke briefly to shout about his money after Sakumo revealed that he had taken 130 million ryō from Kakuzu’s scroll.
• Takahashi Yū and the others carried Kakuzu to the laboratory, where Hiruko took charge of him.
• Danzo led Takahashi Yū and Fugaku through the laboratory and showed them its brightly lit research departments and human experiments.
• The researchers asked Sakumo and Danzo for more experimental materials and criminals, and Takahashi Yū decided they should let Tobirama Senju speak to Danzo.

Danzo and his companions inspected the researchers’ latest weapons, including a remotely controlled explosive growth and a mobile poisonous-insect weapon. Danzo demanded they rename the latter to avoid attaching the Shimura name to it, but the researchers proposed naming it after Tobirama instead.

• Danzo brought Takahashi Yū, Sakumo, and Fugaku to see the laboratory’s results, and Yamanaka Arashi showed them Shimura No. 1.
• Yamanaka Arashi explained that the growth could control enemies and detonate Explosive Tags, which the researchers had upgraded with Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags from the Scroll of Seals.
• Yamanaka Arashi revealed Shimura No. 1: Kodoku, a mobile variant of the Aburame Clan’s forbidden technique that spread poisonous mist bred from corpses and insects.
• Danzo panicked at the weapon’s destructive potential and ordered Yamanaka Arashi to change its name.
• When a researcher suggested Sarutobi No. 1, the others objected and proposed calling the weapon Tobirama No. 1 instead.

Takahashi Yū considered how to help the Uzumaki Clan regain its strength and rushed off to pursue a plan involving the Rinnegan. At Mount Myōboku, Gamamaru woke from a nightmare and ordered Fukasaku to tell Jiraiya to stay away.

• Takahashi Yū learned that Uzumaki Delia and Uzumaki Chinatsu were five and argued that they should have a say in their future.
• Uzumaki Shui Ling doubted that the Uzumaki Clan could produce anyone truly powerful, prompting Takahashi Yū to consider ways to strengthen them.
• Takahashi Yū imagined incorporating the Rinnegan into the Chimera Plan and offering it to Danzo or Fugaku, then promised Uzumaki Shui Ling he would find someone to restore the clan's glory.
• Uzumaki Shui Ling proposed that Delia and Chinatsu take the Takahashi surname, and Takahashi Yū left for the Hokage Building to pursue his plan.
• Gamamaru woke from a nightmare about Konoha's threats and told Fukasaku to warn Jiraiya not to visit Mount Myōboku.

Takahashi Yū triggered a level-one alert to tell Konoha’s assembled Jonin that Madara Uchiha was still alive. Later, Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku reviewed the Laboratory’s report and grew uneasy over rumors that Takahashi Yū had spoken about aliens before.

• Takahashi Yū rushed to Danzo and demanded that he summon Konoha’s notable Jonin for vital intelligence.
• Danzo sounded the level-one alarm, and ANBU, clan Jonin, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and others gathered in the conference room.
• Takahashi Yū announced that Madara Uchiha was alive, shocking the assembled Jonin.
• Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku later discussed the Laboratory’s report and wondered whether Takahashi Yū had prophetic abilities.
• Fugaku recalled that Shunji had said Takahashi Yū worried aloud about aliens invading, leaving the three men alarmed.

Takahashi Yū told Konoha’s leaders that Madara Uchiha had survived and was gathering a huge White Zetsu army, prompting panic and disbelief. After revealing that White Zetsu could infiltrate Konoha and spy on the meeting, he struggled to explain how they could be detected.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Takahashi Yū’s claim that Madara Uchiha was alive, but Danzo silenced him and defended Takahashi Yū’s intelligence.
• Takahashi Yū explained that Madara had evaded death, awakened the Rinnegan, and could use Perfect Form Susanoo despite his age.
• Takahashi Yū revealed that Madara could command around a hundred thousand White Zetsu, including one capable of Wood Release, and Tsunade urged the Jonin to flee.
• Danzo ordered Tsunade and Nawaki out after Tsunade challenged the high command, but Takahashi Yū warned that White Zetsu could already have learned about the meeting.
• Takahashi Yū described White Zetsu’s ability to hide and travel through substances and use a Spore Technique to listen, then realized he did not know how to detect them.

Takahashi Yū and the Konoha leaders summoned Ichikishimahime to use her senjutsu chakra to search for White Zetsu and Madara Uchiha. After Takahashi Yū and Fugaku overpowered her, Ichikishimahime agreed to help and recognized Takahashi Yū as the outsider foretold by the White Snake Sage.

• Takahashi Yū asked Orochimaru for snakeskin and agreed with Danzo that they should summon a snake from Ryūchi Cave.
• Orochimaru summoned Ichikishimahime, who demanded a price and insulted Danzo instead of agreeing to help.
• Ichikishimahime began draining the chakra of the gathered ninja, but Takahashi Yū seized her and resisted her attacks.
• Fugaku used his Mangekyō Sharingan to stop Ichikishimahime from reverse summoning herself, while Takahashi Yū's [Dan-Ability] disrupted her sage techniques.
• Orochimaru told Takahashi Yū that Ichikishimahime had agreed to help, and she recognized him as the outsider the White Snake Sage had described.

Konoha’s leaders uncovered White Zetsu infiltrators throughout the Hokage Building and planned an operation against Madara Uchiha. Takahashi Yū revealed that Madara had given his Rinnegan to a child in the Land of Rain, prompting Danzo to order the child brought back to Konoha.

• Ichikishimahime’s natural energy exposed White Zetsu hidden inside the Jonin, and Konoha’s fighters killed them while Orochimaru pleaded to keep specimens alive.
• Tsunade destroyed the White Zetsu emerging from Nawaki and took him back to their seats, fearing Madara would target him as a jinchūriki.
• Danzo ordered the Jonin to receive Cursed Tongue Eradication Seals and turned the alert meeting into preparations for confronting Madara at the Mountain Graveyard.
• Takahashi Yū told Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku that Madara had implanted his Rinnegan in a child, Jiraiya’s student in the Land of Rain.
• Danzo ordered the group to bring Jiraiya’s student back to Konoha, declaring that they must retrieve at least part of him if necessary.

Takahashi Yū and Danzo led Root to the Land of Rain to seize Nagato and the Rinnegan, ambushing Jiraiya and his students. Danzo forced Nagato to choose between killing himself and letting his friends and teacher go, leaving Nagato facing the kunai as the storm intensified.

• Takahashi Yū questioned Danzo’s decision to leave Konoha, but Danzo insisted on leading the mission to the Land of Rain and revealed a plan to use Nagato’s attachment to his friends.
• Jiraiya went to fetch water, where Takahashi Yū and the disguised Root ninja ambushed and restrained him.
• Root captured Yahiko and Konan, while Danzo called Nagato out from the house.
• Danzo threatened to kill Yahiko, Konan, and Jiraiya unless Nagato came out, and Nagato stepped forward to plead for them.
• Danzo threw a kunai toward Nagato and demanded that he kill himself in exchange for their freedom.

Nagato’s Rinnegan awakened when Danzo threatened Konan, and Danzo’s Root forces shielded the children as White Zetsu began emerging from Nagato. Danzo exposed Jiraiya’s failure to notice that Nagato had been manipulated, while Takahashi Yū watched for further threats.

• Nagato tried to stab himself but found that his body would not obey him.
• Danzo threatened Konan with a sword, prompting Nagato to unleash a repulsive force that knocked away the kunai and sent him into the air.
• Root caught Nagato, protected the children and Danzo, and gave the three children senjutsu chakra capsules.
• Danzo pulled Jiraiya to his feet and blamed him for failing to notice the restrictions and manipulation surrounding Nagato.
• White Zetsu spores began emerging from Nagato, and Root prepared to fight as Takahashi Yū searched for more enemies.

Takahashi Yū and Danzo defeated the White Zetsu, then Danzo explained that Madara had manipulated Nagato’s parents and arranged their deaths to awaken the Rinnegan. Danzo offered Nagato protection and promised to teach Yahiko how to change the Land of Rain.

• Black Zetsu watched Takahashi Yū defeat the White Zetsu, feared his power, and fled underground toward the Mountain Graveyard.
• Takahashi Yū and the Root ninja finished defeating the White Zetsu, while Danzo handed out Senjutsu Chakra Capsules.
• In a cave, Danzo told Jiraiya and the children that Madara had manipulated Nagato’s parents and caused their deaths to awaken Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• Danzo comforted Nagato, promised that he would no longer let anyone control his life, and told him he was not alone.
• Danzo recognized Yahiko’s dream of changing the Land of Rain and offered to teach him how to achieve it.

Danzo persuaded Yahiko to learn from him, arguing that peace required addressing unequal resources rather than relying on mutual understanding alone. After recovering, the group hurried toward Konoha while Sakumo and Fugaku advanced toward the Mountain Graveyard, where Orochimaru and Hiruko waited at the village entrance.

• Yahiko asked Danzo to teach him how to end war and bring peace to the Land of Rain.
• Danzo criticized Jiraiya’s belief in mutual understanding, arguing that peace required more equal distribution of resources, and invited Yahiko to learn from him.
• Konan and Nagato listened as Danzo appealed to Yahiko’s ideals, while Jiraiya protested Danzo’s insults.
• After resting, Danzo and his group carried the Three Little Ones toward Konoha as Sakumo and Fugaku led the Jonin toward the Mountain Graveyard.
• Danzo urged the exhausted group to keep moving because their comrades at the Mountain Graveyard were in danger.
• Orochimaru waited at Konoha’s entrance with Hiruko, slapped himself for thinking about more research, and reflected that he survived because he was harder to kill.

Danzo assembled Konoha’s forces beneath Naka Shrine to prepare a surprise assault on Madara Uchiha, while Orochimaru was left to oversee the village. The chapter ended with Danzo questioning Fugaku about the abilities of his Mangekyo Sharingan.

• Orochimaru met the returning Danzo, activated a scroll to inform Sakumo that things had gone smoothly, and learned that a child’s body and eyes were covered in restrictions.
• Danzo decided Orochimaru should stay behind and try running the village while Danzo led the mission against Madara Uchiha.
• Danzo and Root followed tracking insects to a concealed entrance beneath a grassy slope and entered the underground command post.
• Sakumo and Fugaku told Danzo they had found three passages but could not identify the entrance, and Jiraiya emerged from a toad with Takahashi Yū.
• Danzo prepared the team roster and asked Fugaku what he meant by describing his left-eye ability as “Stubborn-mouth genjutsu.”

Fugaku demonstrated his Mangekyō Sharingan’s left-eye genjutsu, which made its targets act with exaggerated confidence, and Danzo suspected it had caused his Eastern Front subordinates to become power-hungry. Danzo attacked Fugaku while Sakumo tried to stop him.

• Fugaku explained that his right eye could silence people and block their chakra, while his left eye induced a strange genjutsu.
• Takahashi Yū called Shunji over to test the left-eye ability, and Fugaku’s genjutsu made Shunji boastfully demand Takahashi Yū’s seat.
• Fugaku explained that the genjutsu drew out a target’s potential and could make people obsessed with power and extreme methods.
• Danzo realized Fugaku’s ability might explain his former Eastern Front subordinates’ behavior and accused Fugaku of using it on them.
• Danzo knocked Fugaku down and punched him as Fugaku insisted he had only just awakened the ability, while Sakumo tried to intervene.

Danzo organized Konoha’s forces to surround Madara Uchiha, while Takahashi Yū reassured him that Madara’s defenses could be overcome. As the shinobi waited for the Aburame to locate the entrance, Eastern Front and Uchiha Jonin traded teasing boasts about their academies.

• Danzo ordered an Aburame Jonin to search for the passage and summoned Jiraiya, assigning him to help hold back the White Zetsu alongside Tsunade and Sarutobi.
• Danzo directed the forces to prepare for battle, keep sensory specialists out of the frontal assault, and prevent anyone from escaping or entering the encirclement.
• Takahashi Yū told Danzo that Madara should not pose a major problem, though repeated uses of Izanagi could make the fight difficult.
• Danzo joked that Madara could not possibly have enough Sharingan to use Izanagi a dozen times, and promised to stab his Susanoo with a kunai if he did.
• An Eastern Front Jonin and a Uchiha Jonin bantered about their academies and their rivalry while awaiting the Aburame’s search.

Danzo prepared the Konoha forces to attack Madara Uchiha while Takahashi Yū warned that the Stone Tablet had been altered and greater threats awaited. At the Shimura Compound, Minato finished studying the clan’s Wind Release techniques and opened Danzo’s birthday gift, revealing a trove of powerful jutsu and a summoning scroll.

• An Aburame Jonin reported that the underground routes in the Graveyard led to a passage, and Danzo ordered the other outposts to prepare for an early-hours attack.
• Danzo reassured the Uchiha Jonin that Madara’s defection did not undermine their loyalty to Konoha, and they agreed to prove themselves to the village.
• Fugaku raised his concerns about the Uchiha Stone Tablet, but Takahashi Yū told him it had been tampered with and that Madara had been deceived by it.
• Takahashi Yū warned Danzo, Sakumo, and Fugaku that Madara was only the beginning and that he lacked confidence about the threats to come.
• Minato completed his studies of the Shimura Clan’s Wind Release techniques and opened Danzo’s birthday gift, which contained several jutsu scrolls and the Baku Clan Summoning Scroll.