Chapter Summaries

Sōkyū Hatake reached an agreement with Hagoromo Otsutsuki to keep him from acting within Rōran, while promising not to harm Black Zetsu. After Hagoromo withdrew, Sōkyū and Sara prepared to appoint Kakuzu as Rōran’s finance minister.

• Sōkyū Hatake used his Conqueror’s Haki to pressure Hagoromo Otsutsuki into agreeing not to act within Rōran.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki agreed on the condition that Sōkyū Hatake leave Black Zetsu alone, and Sōkyū accepted.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki withdrew his power from Rōran, which the God's-eye View marked as Sōkyū Hatake’s territory.
• Sōkyū Hatake reasoned that Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s plan depended on Black Zetsu succeeding in his effort to rescue his mother.
• Sara told Sōkyū Hatake that she had prepared Kakuzu’s appointment as Rōran’s finance minister, and Sōkyū asked her to announce it in person.

Sōkyū Hatake reassured Kakuzu by presenting documents that cleared his rogue status and appointed him Rōran’s Finance Minister, and the palace welcomed him at a banquet. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze became Konoha’s Fourth Hokage and moved to end the ongoing war as the nations paused their fighting to develop technology and guard against Rōran.

• Sōkyū Hatake gave Kakuzu documents clearing his status with Takigakure, canceling his bounty, confirming his departure from Akatsuki, and appointing him Finance Minister of Rōran.
• Kakuzu accepted the appointment, thanked Sōkyū Hatake, and pledged to help Rōran prosper at the welcoming banquet.
• Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage after Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down and Orochimaru disappeared, while Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi became Hokage Advisors.
• Minato Namikaze called for Shikaku Nara to help end the war and plan Konoha’s future.
• The factions across the Shinobi World halted their fighting and began pursuing military technology after seeing Rōran’s War Machines, while treating Rōran as a threat.

Over the year, Minato Namikaze consolidated his authority while Rōran expanded Tailwind Express and its weapons industry across the Shinobi World. As Naruto Uzumaki's birth approached, Sōkyū Hatake decided to return to Konoha with his companions, leaving just as Sara arranged to handle her duties remotely.

• Minato Namikaze consolidated former Root and strengthened his control as Hokage, while Rōran rapidly expanded Tailwind Express and weapons production.
• Sōkyū Hatake worried that something might happen around Kushina's impending birth and learned that Obito Uchiha was away on an Akatsuki job.
• Sōkyū Hatake announced that he, Kakashi Hatake, Mitaraishi Anko, and Ayame would head to Konoha, where Minato had rebuilt the Hatake residence.
• Sara asked to join the trip, and Pakura offered to accompany her as Rōran's Anbu chief.
• Sara used Mayuri Kurotsuchi's notebook system to handle her remaining duties, and Sōkyū Hatake asked Kakashi Hatake to bring Rin Nohara along.

Sōkyū Hatake brought Sara, Pakura, Ayame, and others to Konoha, where their arrival drew the attention of Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi. The group reunited with old friends and planned to stay for over a month as Kushina approached childbirth.

• Sara, Ayame, and Pakura explored Konoha while Kakashi Hatake went to the Memorial Stone and Mitaraishi Anko headed for Orochimaru's laboratory.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi approached Sōkyū Hatake, Sara, and Pakura, and Minato Namikaze soon joined them.
• Sōkyū Hatake and his friends traded jokes and blows, and Minato asked why he had brought so many people to Konoha openly.
• Sōkyū Hatake said they had come for a visit, and Minato welcomed them to stay for over a month because Kushina was close to giving birth.
• Sara asked whether Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi were truly so close in private, and Sōkyū Hatake joked that they got wild together.

Sōkyū Hatake warned Minato Namikaze that someone might target Kushina during her delivery, prompting Konoha to raise its defenses. As night fell, Kushina remained in the secluded cave awaiting the birth, with Minato and the village on alert.

• Sōkyū Hatake warned Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi of his premonition that someone might cause trouble during Kushina's delivery.
• Uchiha Fugaku put the Anbu on level-one alert, while Hyuga Hiashi mobilized his clan to watch the delivery site with their Byakugan.
• Sōkyū Hatake left with Pakura and Sara, promising to stay on alert without being followed.
• Minato Namikaze returned to Kushina and told her Sōkyū Hatake had come back, but kept the warning from her.
• Kushina told Minato Namikaze that Biwako Sarutobi was preparing supplies in the next room and reassured him that she and the baby would be safe.
• Night fell as Konoha's ninja gathered outside the cave to guard Kushina's delivery under level-one alert.

Black Zetsu and a shadowy collaborator planned to free the Nine-Tails during Kushina Uzumaki’s childbirth, despite the threat posed by Sōkyū Hatake. As Konoha’s guards watched the Cave, an intruder’s team killed an Anbu squad while Black Zetsu approached unseen.

• Black Zetsu told his collaborator to release the Nine-Tails when Kushina Uzumaki’s seal weakened during childbirth and insisted she must die; they agreed to avoid confronting Sōkyū Hatake directly.
• The shadowy figure demanded that Black Zetsu honor his promise after the operation, and Black Zetsu persuaded him with the trial version of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
• After Black Zetsu vanished into the earth, an aged figure appeared and said he had covered the operation’s traces, calling Black Zetsu his foolish little brother.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi checked the defenses around the Cave while Sōkyū Hatake watched from a table atop Minato Namikaze’s Hokage Rock statue.
• An intruder killed Hyūga Kaze and the other Anbu guards, then used the earth to conceal their bodies as two companions followed.
• Black Zetsu emerged above the Cave, relying on his concealment to remain undetected.

Shadows infiltrated Konoha to release the Nine-Tails, but Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi discovered them and raised the alarm. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu arrived, and Fugaku realized they were connected to the attack as they refused to leave Kushina’s guard post.

• The infiltrators killed Anbu sentries and exploited a blind spot in the Hyuga Clan’s field of vision while advancing toward their target.
• Hyuga Hiashi used his Byakugan to detect suspicious chakra signatures among the guards, and Uchiha Fugaku ordered maximum alert across Konoha.
• Fugaku and Hiashi confronted three Kage-level figures near the cave, while Fugaku ordered someone to bring Lord Orochimaru from the laboratory.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu appeared and claimed they had come to help guard Kushina.
• Fugaku told the three former leaders to leave, but Hiruzen refused as the objects summoned by the infiltrators appeared behind them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hanzo of the Salamander with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to oppose Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi. The resurrected leaders emerged, and Hanzo immediately challenged Hashirama to a fight.

• Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi after realizing he was preparing a forbidden jutsu.
• Minato Namikaze arrived, and Hiruzen said he rejected Minato's Konoha and wanted to create a world with Shimura Danzō in it.
• Uchiha Fugaku accused Hiruzen of betraying the village, while Hiruzen condemned Minato and his allies for their actions.
• Hiruzen performed the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and opened three coffins containing Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Hashirama and Tobirama realized they had been resurrected, and Hanzo challenged Hashirama to prove who was the God of the Shinobi World.

Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then accused Minato Namikaze and the Hyuga and Uchiha clan heads of conspiring to kill Shimura Danzō. Minato revealed that Sōkyū Hatake had killed Danzō and challenged Hiruzen to explain the Hatake Clan’s departure from Konoha.

• Hanzo of the Salamander challenged Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju rushed to defend his brother before Hiruzen Sarutobi silenced Hanzo.
• Tobirama Senju recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi and learned he had been summoned with Hashirama Senju to help Konoha.
• Tobirama Senju suspected the Uchiha Clan of rebelling, but Minato Namikaze identified himself as the Fourth Hokage and Hyuga Hiashi vouched for him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accused Minato Namikaze and the Hyuga and Uchiha clan heads of joining with people from the Country of Roran to kill Shimura Danzō.
• Minato Namikaze said Sōkyū Hatake had killed Danzō and challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi to explain why the Hatake Clan had come under suspicion and left Konoha.
• Tobirama Senju demanded that Hiruzen Sarutobi explain what had happened to the Hatake Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura used the Impure World Reincarnation to control Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hanzo of the Salamander, then left while the three fought Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi. Near the cave where Kushina Uzumaki was giving birth, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his companions discovered the area had been cleared and came face to face with Sōkyū Hatake and Pakura.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura placed control talismans in Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hanzo of the Salamander, forcing them to fight.
• Minato Namikaze engaged Hashirama Senju, Uchiha Fugaku fought Tobirama Senju, and Hyuga Hiashi attacked Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu left the battle and headed toward the cave where Biwako Sarutobi was assisting Kushina Uzumaki's delivery.
• Utatane Koharu sensed that the area around the cave had gone unnaturally quiet, and Hiruzen Sarutobi realized someone had cleared it out.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Pakura appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, shocking Hiruzen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Sōkyū Hatake after preparing a way to counter him, summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and drawing in the Ten-Tails’ chakra to transform himself. He revealed that Black Zetsu had promised him a world where Shimura Danzō could exist, leaving Hiruzen resolved to pursue that goal.

• Sōkyū Hatake met Hiruzen Sarutobi, who said he had expected him and prepared something to deal with him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma and sent Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to surround Pakura while he faced Sōkyū alone.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, creating a barrier that seemed to prevent escape.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi connected the statue’s tubes to his back and absorbed its chakra, regaining his strength and surpassing his prime.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked how Hiruzen had obtained the statue and suspected he had met Black Zetsu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Black Zetsu’s promise of a world where Shimura Danzō could exist and became more determined to cooperate.

Hiruzen Sarutobi activated the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and its aura alarmed Kurama inside the pregnant Kushina Uzumaki. As Biwako Sarutobi entered the delivery room, Kurama recognized that she was an impostor, leaving Kushina trapped in a dangerous confrontation.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi infused the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with five kinds of chakra, opening five of its eyes.
• Kushina Uzumaki sensed the statue's aura, and Kurama identified it as the Ten-Tails' husk.
• Kushina Uzumaki tried to protect Kurama by preparing a Sealing Barrier, but Biwako Sarutobi entered before she could begin.
• Biwako Sarutobi helped Kushina lie down and spoke strangely about the timing of the birth.
• Kurama warned Kushina that the woman was not the original Biwako Sarutobi, and the impostor revealed a black substance covering half her face.
• Kurama urged Kushina to let him out so he could fight the impostor.

Black Zetsu possessed Biwako Sarutobi and tried to take the Nine-Tails from Kushina Uzumaki, explaining how he had manipulated Hiruzen Sarutobi into carrying out his plan. Minato Namikaze appeared in the delivery room, leaving Black Zetsu baffled and wrongly convinced Minato had abandoned Konoha’s defenders.

• Kushina Uzumaki refused to let Kurama leave her body, knowing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was the immediate danger.
• Black Zetsu revealed he had possessed Biwako Sarutobi and explained how he had recruited Hiruzen Sarutobi to help carry out his plan.
• Black Zetsu sent White Zetsu through the barrier and moved to take the Nine-Tails, while Kurama asked Kushina to let him out.
• Kushina reached for the Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Black Zetsu mocked her belief that Minato Namikaze could arrive.
• Minato Namikaze appeared in the delivery room, and Black Zetsu mistakenly concluded that Minato had abandoned the guards outside to protect Kushina.

Sōkyū Hatake revealed himself to Black Zetsu and trapped him with sealing formulas and lightning, while Minato Namikaze reunited with Kushina Uzumaki. The chapter ended with Black Zetsu imprisoned and shocked senseless.

• Sōkyū Hatake appeared beside Black Zetsu, who froze in despair, while Minato Namikaze helped Kushina Uzumaki to her feet.
• Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze reunited, and Minato admitted to himself how far Sōkyū Hatake surpassed him.
• Sōkyū Hatake confronted Black Zetsu, who blamed him for repeatedly ruining his plans.
• Black Zetsu used the Mayfly Technique to escape through the ground, but Sōkyū Hatake's sealing formulas and lightning blocked him.
• Sōkyū Hatake sealed Black Zetsu inside a lightning cage and identified him to Minato Namikaze as the mastermind behind the incidents.

Sōkyū Hatake captured Black Zetsu and stored him away for later study, while Kushina Uzumaki went into labor. Sōkyū then met Hagoromo Otsutsuki at Hokage Rock, where the Sage demanded that he return Black Zetsu.

• Sōkyū Hatake endured Black Zetsu’s screams as he shrank the Lightning Cage and stored him in his system space.
• Kushina Uzumaki’s water broke, and Sōkyū summoned Mitaraishi Anko and Ayame to help deliver the baby.
• Sōkyū left the delivery room to meet the spiritual power trying to break through the barrier.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki manifested above Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Statue and accused Sōkyū of targeting Black Zetsu.
• Hagoromo demanded that Sōkyū hand Black Zetsu over, while Sōkyū denied the accusation.

Sōkyū Hatake confronted Hagoromo Otsutsuki over Black Zetsu, and the two prepared to fight. They moved their duel away from Konoha and appeared above the open sea.

• Hagoromo Otsutsuki demanded that Sōkyū Hatake hand over Black Zetsu, but Sōkyū refused and challenged him to a fight.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s auras collided over Konoha, alarming the villagers.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Minato Namikaze sensed the clash outside the delivery room, then joked about arranging a marriage between their children.
• Sōkyū Hatake suggested they move somewhere else to avoid damaging Konoha and vanished.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki followed Sōkyū Hatake’s aura, and they appeared above the open sea.

Sōkyū Hatake and Hagoromo Otsutsuki began their fight, and their first clash ended in a draw. Hagoromo then summoned the three sages of the Great Sage Lands to help him kill Sōkyū.

• Hagoromo Otsutsuki praised Sōkyū Hatake before sending a massive yang-release dragon at him.
• Sōkyū Hatake countered with a lightning dragon infused with Armament Haki, and both dragons dissolved after their clash.
• Sōkyū Hatake recognized that Hagoromo’s spirit body was consuming unrecoverable soul power, while Hagoromo admitted he wanted to eliminate Sōkyū and free Black Zetsu.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki used the Summoning Technique to call the White Snake Sage, the Katsuyu Sage, and the Great Toad Sage to the sea.
• The three sages appeared before Sōkyū Hatake, and Hagoromo intended to use them to kill him.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki summoned the three sages to help oppose Sōkyū Hatake, but the Great Toad Sage refused to take part and departed. As Hagoromo began a ritual and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Sōkyū Hatake fought the White Snake Sage and Katsuyu Sage, whose healing kept their forces in a stalemate.

• The Great Toad Sage recognized Sōkyū Hatake and, choosing to avoid the conflict, left Hagoromo Otsutsuki and the others.
• The White Snake Sage and Katsuyu Sage agreed to fight Sōkyū Hatake while Hagoromo began a ritual on the sea.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from one of the formation's circles.
• The White Snake Sage attacked with Myriad Snakes Pouring Down, while Katsuyu Sage's clones healed the snakes.
• Sōkyū Hatake used Senjutsu, Ryūmyaku, and Mamaragan to strike the snakes and slugs with lightning, but Katsuyu Sage's healing restored them and the battle stalled.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki began draining Shukaku into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, revealing his betrayal of the Tailed Beast. As Shukaku struggled, Bunpuku spent his life force to weaken the chain and give him a chance to escape.

• Sōkyū Hatake failed to break through the barrier held by the White Snake Sage and Sage Katsuyu, while Hagoromo Otsutsuki maintained the formation.
• Bunpuku appeared near death, and Shukaku emerged from his body still connected to him.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki sent a chain from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to bind Shukaku and drain his chakra.
• Bunpuku used his life force to strengthen his chakra and corrode the chain, urging Shukaku to seize his chance to escape.

Bunpuku sacrificed his life to free Shukaku from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but Hagoromo Otsutsuki recaptured Shukaku before he could escape. Shukaku lost sight of Bunpuku's corpse as Hagoromo revealed he had sealed the entire area.

• Bunpuku told Shukaku to live as an individual and gave his name before collapsing, severing the chain restraining Shukaku.
• Shukaku broke free, shielded himself with sand, and took Bunpuku's corpse into his body as he tried to flee through the sea.
• Hagoromo Otsutsuki stripped away Shukaku's sand, but found Shukaku had hidden inside his own power and was swimming away with Bunpuku's corpse.
• Shukaku swam nearly a thousand meters before hitting Hagoromo Otsutsuki's invisible barrier, allowing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chains to seize and drain him.
• Bunpuku's corpse slipped out of Shukaku's grasp and disappeared beneath the seawater as Hagoromo Otsutsuki said he had sealed off the area.