Recaps

Senju Chen persuaded Tsunade to let the Konoha Military Police Force conduct missions outside the village, with strict approval controlled by the Fifth Hokage. The chapter left him privately confident that the arrangement would draw the Uchiha closer to him and expand his influence through the Public Security Department.

• Tsunade rejected Senju Chen's request to let the Konoha Military Police Force operate outside the village, warning that it could unleash the Uchiha's power.
• Senju Chen explained that the Police Force had identified missing-nin behind vanished merchants but could not investigate before the suspects escaped.
• Tsunade reconsidered and agreed to allow the Police Force to leave the village under conditions.
• Tsunade required every operation to receive her written approval and declared that the Public Security Department could neither command nor interfere with the Force.
• Senju Chen praised Tsunade's system of checks and balances, then privately planned to use cooperation between the Police Force and his department to increase his influence.

Senju Chen visited the Strategic Intelligence Division and, on Tsunade’s orders, proposed sharing foreign intelligence with the Public Security Department. Shikaku Nara recognized the proposal as a covert move to absorb the division’s resources into a single intelligence empire under Chen’s control.

• Senju Chen entered Strategic Command with Kabuto Yakushi and eased the staff’s awe by greeting them warmly and asking about their work.
• Senju Chen met Shikaku Nara in his office and said Tsunade had ordered comprehensive foreign-intelligence sharing between the Strategic Intelligence Division and the Public Security Department.
• Shikaku Nara considered the proposal and concluded that the Public Security Department was covertly annexing the Strategic Intelligence Division’s intelligence network.

Shikaku Nara recognized Senju Chen’s ambition and accepted the Hokage’s orders to coordinate with him, while Senju Chen left Kabuto Yakushi behind to manage the details. After Chen departed, Shikaku asked Kabuto what it was like to follow him, and Kabuto said Chen could see a future no one else could.

• Shikaku Nara judged Senju Chen to be more dangerous and ambitious than Orochimaru, though he saw that Chen’s plans currently served Konoha.
• Shikaku agreed to comply with the Hokage’s orders and assigned his subordinates to handle the coordination.
• Senju Chen introduced Kabuto Yakushi as his deputy and said Kabuto would coordinate with the Intelligence Division.
• Shikaku probed Chen about Orochimaru and the legacy of Root, but Chen answered that his teacher had taught him to serve Konoha.
• Senju Chen left the office, and Shikaku asked Kabuto what it was like to follow Chen.
• Kabuto said Chen could see a future that none of them could, leaving Shikaku to wonder what the future would bring.

Senju Chen visited the Uchiha Clan Compound and showed Uchiha Fugaku the approved plan for Uchiha members to cross-train with the Public Security Department. He told Fugaku that the plan was only the first part of the gift, leaving him eager to hear what came next.

• Senju Chen entered the Uchiha Clan Compound, where the clansmen bowed and made way for him.
• Uchiha Fugaku welcomed Senju Chen and showed him Uchiha Itachi with Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
• Senju Chen quietly vowed to give Naruto a happier childhood and a loving older-brother figure.
• Senju Chen told Uchiha Fugaku that the Fifth Hokage had approved cross-training between the Public Security Department and the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Uchiha Fugaku celebrated the opportunity for Uchiha members to earn merit, but Senju Chen said the approval was only the appetizer.

Senju Chen told Uchiha Fugaku that the Konoha Military Police Force would be allowed to conduct approved operations outside the village, thrilling Fugaku with the prospect of restoring the Uchiha's standing. Fugaku then became torn over how to divide the clan's fighters between the Police Force and Chen's Public Security Department, and Chen began suggesting a different approach.

• Senju Chen told Uchiha Fugaku that the Konoha Military Police Force could conduct operations outside the village with the Hokage's approval.
• Fugaku was overwhelmed with gratitude and believed Chen had secured the opportunity for the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku worried that sending the clan's strongest fighters to the Public Security Department would weaken the Police Force, while sending inexperienced members would offend Chen and the Hokage.
• Chen recognized Fugaku's dilemma, and Fugaku admitted that he did not know how to divide the personnel.
• Chen suggested that they change their approach.

Senju Chen persuaded Uchiha Fugaku to send Uchiha members under eighteen to the Public Security Department for training, presenting the plan as a way to strengthen the clan and Konoha. Fugaku left grateful and devoted, unaware Chen intended to shape the youths’ loyalties and turn the Uchiha into the department’s reserve force.

• Senju Chen explained that the Military Police Force needed experienced fighters, while the Public Security Department needed adaptable young people for intelligence and infiltration work.
• Senju Chen proposed that the Uchiha send members no older than eighteen to train in the Public Security Department before returning to the Military Police Force.
• Uchiha Fugaku misunderstood the plan as generous training for future Uchiha leaders and felt ashamed that he had been calculating his clan’s immediate advantage.
• Senju Chen assured Uchiha Fugaku that the arrangement served Konoha, and Fugaku resolved to follow him loyally.
• After Uchiha Fugaku turned away, Senju Chen privately considered how training the young Uchiha would shape their loyalties and bring the clan under his influence.

Senju Chen secured an agreement with Uchiha Fugaku to recruit Uchiha youths into the Public Security Department, while Kabuto Yakushi recognized the plan’s influence on the clan’s future. At an elders’ meeting, Fugaku announced that the Konoha Military Police Force had gained authority to leave the village for investigations and arrests, prompting the elders to celebrate the Uchiha’s renewed prospects.

• Senju Chen visited the Public Security Department and learned from Kabuto Yakushi that Shikaku Nara had granted the department access to the Intelligence Division’s archives.
• Senju Chen told Kabuto Yakushi that Uchiha Fugaku had agreed to a personnel exchange limited to recruits under eighteen.
• Kabuto Yakushi interpreted the exchange as a way for Senju Chen to shape the Uchiha youths’ loyalties and began planning a New Recruit Training Department focused on ideological education.
• Uchiha Fugaku convened the clan elders and announced that Tsunade had approved the Konoha Military Police Force’s authority to leave the village to investigate and arrest targets.
• The Uchiha elders reacted with disbelief and then celebrated the decision as a chance for their clan to regain standing and glory.

Uchiha Fugaku persuaded the clan elders to accept Senju Chen’s proposal for exchanging personnel with the Public Security Department, despite their anger at the age limit. He ordered the clan to choose its best young candidates and prepare for missions outside the village.

• Uchiha Fugaku told the elders that Senju Chen wanted exchanged personnel to be no older than eighteen.
• Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Yashiro protested that the age limit insulted the clan and endangered its young people.
• Uchiha Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan, silenced the elders, and argued that training in the Public Security Department would strengthen the Uchiha Clan.
• Uchiha Fugaku declared the exchange settled and ordered a list of the best eligible youngsters within three days.
• Uchiha Fugaku told the elders to prepare candidates for missions outside the village, and they agreed.

Senju Chen’s clone oversaw the evacuation of Kaguya Clan orphans from the Land of Water and urged Yukimura Shigure to keep supporting Food Is Heaven. After Shigure left, Chen transformed into Gonbei, whose past political role in Kirigakure had been undermined by the disappearance of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and their blades.

• Senju Chen’s clone watched a fishing boat carry rescued Kekkei Genkai orphans away from the Land of Water.
• Yukimura Shigure identified the Kaguya Clan children and pledged that the rescued children and the Yuki Clan would serve Senju Chen.
• Senju Chen told Yukimura Shigure to return to Food Is Heaven and avoid drawing the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad’s attention.
• Senju Chen transformed into Gonbei using his White Zetsu Clone’s Mayfly Transformation.
• Senju Chen recalled how his original body’s actions during the Third Shinobi World War fractured the Iwagakure-Kirigakure alliance and led to Genji being blamed for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s disappearance.

Senju Chen killed Gonbei in Kirigakure and absorbed his memories and body so he could assume the disgraced aide’s identity. The chapter ended with Chen confident he could infiltrate the village by replacing him.

• After Genji fell from favor, Gonbei lost his authority and ninja tools but continued guarding Genji’s residence and teaching village children.
• Senju Chen used the Mayfly Technique to follow Gonbei through a rain-soaked alley and trap him with Wood Release vines.
• Gonbei recognized the Wood Release and tried to defend himself, but the vines poisoned and immobilized him.
• Senju Chen pressed his hand to Gonbei’s head, killed him, and absorbed his memories, including his connection to Chōjūrō.
• Senju Chen’s White Zetsu Clone devoured Gonbei, and Chen decided to take his identity.

Senju Chen, disguised as Gonbei, returned to Kirigakure and brought medicine to the disgraced Genji. As Genji lamented the disappearance of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and their blades, Senju Chen realized he had caused the events that ruined Genji’s standing and struggled to hide his amusement.

• Senju Chen returned to Kirigakure after recalling the rainy night when he took Gonbei’s appearance.
• Two Kirigakure Anbu mocked Gonbei and accused Genji of causing the village’s wartime losses and the disappearance of the Seven Ninja Blades.
• Senju Chen went to Genji’s residence and brought medicine to the coughing former leader.
• Genji told Gonbei that he had spent two years searching for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and complained that villagers blamed him for their betrayal and the missing blades.
• Senju Chen realized that he had killed the seven men and was responsible for Genji’s downfall, then tried to suppress his laughter.

Senju Chen maintained his disguise as Gonbei while caring for Genji and secretly investigating Kirigakure. He recognized Chōjūrō’s potential and learned that Yukimura Shigure, Aying, and the others were disrupting the village.

• Senju Chen comforted Genji by affirming his importance to Kirigakure, then left amused by the old man's renewed hope.
• Senju Chen continued caring for Genji, teaching civilian children, and using his Mayfly Technique to search Kirigakure at night.
• Senju Chen noticed that Chōjūrō was among the children he taught and considered taking the talented boy away from Kirigakure.
• Senju Chen recalled the brutal training at Kirigakure's ninja school after witnessing children fight with lethal weapons.
• Two members of the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad stopped and mocked Senju Chen as he returned to Genji's residence.
• Senju Chen learned from the masked men that remnants of the Kaguya and Yuki clans were active, and inferred that Yukimura Shigure, Aying, and their allies were causing trouble he had arranged.

Senju Chen learned that Genji had entrusted him with protecting and training a hidden girl with two Kekkei Genkai, then found Mei Terumi in an underground refuge. Mei challenged him to prove himself before she would accept him as her teacher.

• An old servant told Senju Chen that the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad had arrested Haneda's family for allegedly colluding with Kekkei Genkai rebels.
• Genji, gravely ill and fearing his own arrest, gave Senju Chen a key and map and ordered him to find, protect, and teach a hidden girl with two Kekkei Genkai.
• Senju Chen followed the map to an abandoned sulfur mine on Hot Spring Mountain and opened a sealed door to an underground refuge.
• Senju Chen recognized the girl as Mei Terumi, and she learned that Genji had sent him to be her guardian and teacher.
• Mei Terumi mocked Senju Chen and demanded that he defeat her, while he accepted her challenge.

Senju Chen tested Mei Terumi in a cave, effortlessly countering her taijutsu and Boil Release while explaining her weaknesses. Mei then attacked with Lava Release, and Senju Chen used the fight to teach her not to reveal her limits against an unknown opponent.

• Mei Terumi attacked Senju Chen with a knife-hand strike and a whipping kick, but he deflected and evaded both while criticizing her emotional control.
• Mei Terumi used Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique, but Senju Chen blocked the corrosive mist with a powerful Water Formation Wall.
• Senju Chen explained that his superior Water Release could overwhelm her Boil Release, angering Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi launched a barrage of magma balls with Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique, filling the cave with steam as the attacks struck Senju Chen's water wall.
• Senju Chen told Mei Terumi that she should hold something back when she did not understand her opponent.

Senju Chen defeated Mei Terumi in their training fight and criticized her reckless use of her kekkei genkai, then left after telling her that Haneda had been captured. Mei was left worried about Genji’s fate and determined to face the danger ahead.

• Mei Terumi melted through Senju Chen’s Water Formation Wall but found that he had vanished in the steam.
• Senju Chen used the Mayfly Technique to appear behind Mei and held a kunai to her neck while teaching her to keep track of her opponent.
• Senju Chen withdrew the kunai, identified himself as Mei’s new teacher, and criticized her overreliance on kekkei genkai, crude chakra use, and visible emotions.
• Senju Chen told Mei that he would train her every day, then revealed that Haneda had been captured.
• Mei worried that Genji was in danger and clenched her fists as she stared at the cavern entrance.

Senju Chen planned to recruit his new students, Mei Terumi and Chōjūrō, while Tsunade's forceful leadership strengthened Konoha's position. After learning Orochimaru had made progress on fusing Kekkei Genkai, Chen set out for the Land of Waterfalls and arranged for Rin Nohara to join him there.

• Senju Chen celebrated making Mei Terumi and Chōjūrō his students and planned how to win their loyalty and bring them onto his pirate ship.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha's border forces to strike back against the Land of Grass after its shinobi crossed the border.
• Senju Chen reassured Tsunade that Konoha's enemies were retreating after her aggressive response, then asked permission to visit the Land of Waterfalls.
• Tsunade approved Chen's trip after he explained that Orochimaru had made progress on fusing Kekkei Genkai.
• Senju Chen learned that Rin Nohara had bonded with Isobu and could use a perfect Tailed Beast Transformation, then sent Xing to bring her to the Land of Waterfalls.

Rin Nohara mastered perfect Three-Tails transformation, but Senju Chen told her she could not return to Konoha yet and planned to take her away for combat training. A week later, Chen visited Orochimaru and Amado’s laboratory, where they showed him White Zetsu experiments implanted with kekkei genkai and other abilities.

• Rin Nohara demonstrated her controlled Three-Tails Chakra Cloak to Senju Chen and thanked Isobu for helping her master his power.
• Senju Chen told Rin she could not return to Konoha without exposing that she was alive, and promised to tell her how Kakashi was doing.
• Rin blushed when Senju Chen mentioned Kakashi and ran off to pack for their departure the next day.
• A week later, Senju Chen visited Orochimaru, Amado, and Sasori at their hidden laboratory in the Land of Waterfalls.
• Amado showed Senju Chen three modified White Zetsu: one with Ice Release, one with the Hydrification Technique, and one with the Kaguya Clan’s Shikotsumyaku.

Senju Chen showed Orochimaru, Amado, and Sasori the Uzumaki Clan’s masks and urged them to study the gods they could contact. Later, Rin Nohara arrived at the underground facility and was shocked to see two Senju Chens.

• Sasori fitted mechanical armor onto the kekkei genkai White Zetsu, while Amado warned that their low intelligence made them vulnerable in complex battles.
• Senju Chen presented Orochimaru, Amado, and Sasori with twenty-seven masks from the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Storage Temple, including one that could contact the Death God.
• Orochimaru, Amado, and Sasori studied the masks and proposed ways to investigate their powers, including using them to control or channel gods.
• Senju Chen left the masks with the three researchers and urged them to find ways to counter, enslave, or devour the gods.
• On the third day, Xing led Rin Nohara to the underground facility, where she saw two Senju Chens and wondered if one was his twin.

Senju Chen brought Rin Nohara to Orochimaru’s laboratory and revealed that she could perfectly control the Three-Tails, then arranged for Orochimaru to train her. He next planned to upgrade his clone, Xing, by using White Zetsu cells to improve its chakra circulation and regeneration.

• Senju Chen introduced Rin Nohara to Orochimaru and asked him to train her alongside the children from the Land of Water.
• Rin Nohara revealed her controlled Three-Tails chakra, astonishing Orochimaru, Amado, and Sasori.
• Senju Chen warned Orochimaru and the others not to conduct harmful experiments on Rin, then told her to study ninjutsu and combat techniques under Orochimaru.
• Senju Chen proposed using White Zetsu cells to replace or support Xing’s five hearts and improve the clone’s energy circulation and regeneration.
• Orochimaru and Amado judged the upgrade feasible, and Senju Chen decided to begin the modifications without adding Sasori’s proposed extra equipment.

After a month of brutal training for Rin Nohara, Senju Chen and his allies completed Xing’s upgrade with White Zetsu Cells, greatly enhancing his abilities. Senju Chen rejected mass-producing more clones for himself, explaining that splitting and controlling multiple souls placed a severe strain on mental energy.

• Rin Nohara endured daily combat training with the Land of Water orphans and Orochimaru’s experiments to draw out the Three-Tails’ power.
• Senju Chen watched as Xing emerged from the cultivation tank after his upgrade, with his implanted hearts’ seams healed and his chakra and vitality greatly increased.
• Xing demonstrated powerful Wood Release and Fire Release without hand seals, impressing Senju Chen and Amado.
• Sasori and Orochimaru proposed mass-producing more White Zetsu-enhanced clones, but Senju Chen said he could not handle another one because he already maintained three soul-bearing clones.
• Senju Chen explained the mental burden of controlling independent clones, and Orochimaru considered how the explanation related to his own Spirit Transformation Technique practice.

Amado proposed that the gods behind the masks might be ancient humans who cultivated their souls into higher life-forms, and Orochimaru enthusiastically supported the hypothesis. Senju Chen embraced the idea and decided to direct the group's research toward understanding and becoming gods.

• Orochimaru reflected on the different dimensions of soul power and resolved to study the soul further.
• Amado suggested that ancient cultivators focused on cultivating the soul and that the masked gods might have once been humans.
• Amado presented evidence that souls served as universal offerings and that stronger or more numerous souls allowed the gods to display greater power.
• Sasori objected to the idea that gods could be humans, while Orochimaru argued that powerful humans such as Hashirama Senju could become gods in later generations' eyes.
• Senju Chen accepted that Amado's hypothesis might be true and decided the group should study, enslave, and ultimately become gods.

Senju Chen continued training Chōjūrō and secretly caring for the dying Genji while reporting Mei Terumi’s progress. Genji warned him that Karatachi Yagura was eliminating his supporters and ordered him to take Mei somewhere safe before he died.

• Senju Chen trained Chōjūrō and concealed his excitement about Amado’s theories while resolving to secure the future Mizukage candidates.
• Senju Chen visited Genji and reported that Mei Terumi was improving her combat skills and control of her two Kekkei Genkai.
• Senju Chen told Genji that Karatachi Yagura’s purge had led to arrests, deaths, and defections among Genji’s supporters.
• Genji said he had only days left and ordered Senju Chen to protect Mei Terumi, teach her, and take her somewhere safe.
• Genji warned Senju Chen not to visit again after that day, fearing Karatachi Yagura would search for him once Genji died.

Senju Chen used Genji’s supposed final order to persuade Mei Terumi to flee Kirigakure with him as the purge closed in. They headed for the Land of Water’s capital, while Obito Uchiha prepared to seize control of the village.

• Senju Chen left Genji’s residence and decided to abduct Mei Terumi under the cover of Genji’s order.
• At the Hot Spring Mountain mine, Senju Chen told Mei that Genji was dying and ordered her to leave before Yagura’s men found her.
• Mei Terumi tried to return to Genji, but Senju Chen stopped her and convinced her to escape so she could survive and fight Karatachi Yagura later.
• Mei changed into stealth clothes and followed Senju Chen through the woods, avoiding Anbu patrols as they traveled toward the Land of Water’s capital.
• Obito Uchiha watched Genji’s residence from the Mizukage Building and expected to take control of Kirigakure after Genji died.

Senju Chen convinced Mei Terumi to flee to the Capital of Water and hide at Food Is Heaven, a restaurant protected by ties to the daimyo’s estate. Two days later, they arrived in disguise, with Senju Chen posing as a wealthy young man and Mei Terumi as his maid.

• Mei Terumi confronted Senju Chen about their destination, and he told her they were heading to the Capital of Water.
• Senju Chen explained that Food Is Heaven was a safe haven because Lord Kiryu had a stake in it and the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad had previously been barred from the restaurant.
• Senju Chen claimed Lord Genji had arranged their refuge with Food Is Heaven, easing Mei Terumi’s doubts.
• Two days later, Senju Chen and Mei Terumi reached the Capital of Water in disguises.
• Mei Terumi hissed at Senju Chen after he put his hand somewhere she objected to.

Senju Chen brought Mei Terumi to Food Is Heaven under the pretense that it was a refuge arranged by Genji, then met with Aying and Yukimura Shigure. He revealed Mei’s identity and ordered them to maintain the deception while she stayed there.

• Senju Chen and Mei Terumi posed as lovers to evade Kirigakure spies and entered Food Is Heaven.
• Senju Chen left Mei Terumi in a room and went to meet his contacts upstairs.
• Aying reported that Food Is Heaven’s branches were profitable and that their operations had distracted Kirigakure and rescued seven children with Kekkei Genkai.
• Yukimura Shigure told Senju Chen that the children were doing well and had chosen to stay.
• Senju Chen revealed that Mei Terumi possessed Boil Release and Lava Release and believed he was Genji’s trusted aide.
• Senju Chen ordered Aying and Yukimura Shigure to treat Mei Terumi as a refugee and preserve the cover story.