Chapter Summaries

Yukimura Shigure accepted Senju Chen’s offer and pledged to serve him in exchange for a chance to avenge the Yuki Clan. Meanwhile, Hozuki Getsuga returned to Kirigakure injured and humiliated after his failed mission, and Hozuki Anyue warned him that the Hozuki Clan had no use for dead weight.

• Senju Chen convinced Yukimura Shigure that he could not achieve revenge alone and offered him resources and a chance to confront Karatachi Yagura.
• Yukimura Shigure knelt and pledged to serve Senju Chen, who ordered Aying to have his wounds treated with the best medicine.
• Hozuki Getsuga returned to the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad base, spat blood, and realized that Senju Chen and his allies had carefully trapped him.
• Hozuki Anyue mocked Hozuki Getsuga for losing his squad and ordered him to seek medical treatment and submit a detailed report.
• After Hozuki Anyue left, Hozuki Getsuga vowed to repay the humiliation and clenched the cracked mask while thinking of Food Is Heaven.

Senju Chen arranged for Yukimura Shigure and Aying to turn Food Is Heaven into an intelligence hub and refuge for opponents of Karatachi Yagura, then returned to the Land of Fire. On the voyage home, he received Xing’s report about Konoha, including the end of Root’s surveillance of the Uchiha and Kushina’s impending childbirth.

• Senju Chen showed Yukimura Shigure intelligence about opposition to Karatachi Yagura and ordered him to build an intelligence network through Food Is Heaven.
• Senju Chen assigned Aying to help Shigure, arranged for rescued children and Yuki Clan survivors to be sheltered, and warned them about Hozuki Getsuga.
• Senju Chen left the Land of Water by merchant ship and returned to his original appearance once it entered the Land of Fire’s waters.
• Xing reported that the Hokage had ordered Root to stop surveilling and investigating the Uchiha Clan, whose standing in the village had improved.
• Xing told Senju Chen that Kushina was about to give birth while he watched Xing dote on Mitaraishi Anko.

Senju Chen learned that Hanzo was hunting the Akatsuki and that Kushina’s due date was near, forcing him to divide his attention between the crisis in the Land of Rain and Konoha. Unable to go to the Land of Rain himself, he sent Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu to reinforce the Akatsuki while he prepared to return to Konoha.

• Senju Chen received Konan’s letter reporting that Hanzo had branded the Akatsuki outlaws and was encircling them, while their casualties and supply shortages mounted.
• Senju Chen decided the Akatsuki could not be destroyed, but he needed to return to Konoha before the Nine-Tails attack.
• Senju Chen chose Hatake Sakumo to lead the rescue effort and Kakuzu to provide additional strength in the Land of Rain.
• Senju Chen sent Sakumo orders to prioritize saving lives and told Kakuzu to head to the Land of Rain and contact “Fang.”

Senju Chen realized Shizune’s emergency kunai had been destroyed and feared Tsunade was in danger, but suspected the incident was a trap meant to draw him away from Konoha. He sent Xing to impersonate him and investigate while his original body continued toward the village.

• Senju Chen felt the destruction of the Flying Thunder God Kunai he had given Shizune and concluded that she and Tsunade might be in danger.
• Senju Chen suspected Obito Uchiha, Black Zetsu, or Shimura Danzō had arranged the crisis to lure him away from Konoha before Kushina’s delivery.
• Senju Chen decided his original body would stay on its route to Konoha while Xing went to find Tsunade and Shizune.
• Senju Chen contacted Xing at the Senju residence and ordered him to leave the village conspicuously while impersonating an anxious, furious Senju Chen.
• Xing agreed to protect Tsunade and Shizune at any cost and to confront or delay any enemies he found.

Senju Chen used Xing to stage a furious departure from Konoha by claiming Tsunade was in danger, drawing the village's attention away while the real Chen slipped back unnoticed. Minato called off the pursuit, but a hidden white figure watched the staged escape and disappeared into a tree.

• Xing left Anko asleep in the Senju compound, erupted with chakra, and claimed he had to rush to help his sister.
• The real Senju Chen watched from the woods and headed back toward Konoha unnoticed, hoping to uncover who was manipulating events.
• Konoha's sensors detected Xing's chakra, and he forced his way past the village defenses using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Minato arrived at the gate, heard Anko's account, and ordered the alert called off while asking for Jiraiya to be contacted about Tsunade.
• Minato increased patrols inside Konoha, while a white figure emerged from a tree, observed Xing's departure, and sank back into the trunk.

Senju Chen returned to Konoha in secret after using a clone to make others believe he had left, then visited Uchiha Fugaku to warn him that Kushina’s approaching delivery could give someone a chance to attack Konoha and target the Nine-Tails. The warning began a covert discussion about how to protect the village and the Uchiha Clan.

• Senju Chen trusted that Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu could help stabilize the situation around the brat trio while his clone hurried to check on Kushina and Shizune.
• A week later, Senju Chen slipped into Konoha through a gap in the sensory barrier and avoided the village’s heightened patrols.
• Senju Chen returned to the Senju residence and decided to speak privately with Uchiha Fugaku about the coming crisis.
• Senju Chen infiltrated Fugaku’s home, explained that his earlier departure from the village had been deliberate, and entered the study.
• Senju Chen warned Fugaku that someone might exploit Kushina’s imminent delivery to attack Konoha and target the Nine-Tails.

Senju Chen told Uchiha Fugaku that someone planned to target Kushina Uzumaki during her childbirth and asked the Uchiha Clan to defy its assigned post if the Nine-Tails rampaged. Fugaku agreed to help, weighing the danger against the chance to restore the Uchiha Clan’s standing in Konoha.

• Senju Chen told Fugaku that an attempt to lure him from Konoha had concealed a plan to target Kushina Uzumaki and the Nine-Tails inside her.
• Chen explained that the Uchiha Clan could either reinforce the village during a crisis and help capture the mastermind or risk being blamed for remaining at the outskirts.
• Fugaku worried that acting against the Hokage’s orders could doom the Uchiha Clan, but Chen argued that success could clear the clan’s name and earn the village’s trust.
• Chen admitted he could not guarantee his suspicions, but said he would not gamble with Tsunade’s or Kushina’s lives and had no reason to deceive Fugaku.
• Fugaku agreed to Chen’s request, recognizing the opportunity to improve the Uchiha Clan’s future in Konoha.

Fugaku agreed to follow Senju Chen’s plan, and Chen stayed at the Uchiha residence while awaiting the Night of the Nine-Tails. After sensing Xing’s memories, Chen learned that Tsunade and Shizune were trapped in ancient ruins in the Land of Waterfalls, where Shizune had been gravely wounded.

• Fugaku accepted Chen’s request to have the Uchiha Clan act as he instructed and let Chen stay at his residence.
• Chen received Xing’s memories and learned that Xing was moving through dangerous ruins in the Land of Waterfalls toward Tsunade and Shizune.
• A month earlier, Tsunade investigated reports of a suspected Wood Release power in the Land of Waterfalls, believing the ruins might hold a clue connected to her grandfather.
• Tsunade and Shizune entered the ruins, where traps sealed the passages and separated them before they reunited and became trapped by white humanoid creatures.
• Tsunade and Shizune struggled against the creatures as their supplies and chakra dwindled, until Shizune was impaled while protecting Tsunade.
• Tsunade drove back the attackers and rushed to treat Shizune in the secret chamber.

“Xing” followed Shizune’s distress signal into the ruins and rescued her and Tsunade from the White Zetsu. He began fighting through the remaining attackers while Senju Chen recognized the White Zetsu and vowed revenge on those behind the attack.

• As her injuries worsened, Shizune activated the Flying Thunder God Kunai Senju Chen had given her to call for help.
• “Xing” followed the kunai’s mark through the ruins, fought past White Zetsu, and found Tsunade and Shizune trapped in a stone chamber.
• “Xing” gave Shizune emergency medical treatment and handed Tsunade soldier pills and water.
• “Xing” told Tsunade to carry Shizune while he cleared their escape route, then attacked the remaining White Zetsu with ninjutsu.
• Senju Chen watched the battle through “Xing” and suspected Black Zetsu and Obito Uchiha were behind the events, promising to make them pay.

Senju Chen and Fugaku planned defenses for Kushina’s childbirth, but Fugaku revealed that Root had been unusually active near one of Chen’s predicted escape routes. They concluded that Danzō might be preparing to eliminate Minato, leaving Chen to reassess the threat to Konoha.

• Senju Chen showed Fugaku a detailed map of Konoha and assigned Uchiha members to secretly watch two likely infiltration routes.
• Fugaku asked whether the attackers might come from more than one direction and reported Root’s increased patrol activity and communication signs near an escape passage.
• Senju Chen connected Root’s activity to Danzō’s absence during the Nine-Tails disaster and questioned what Root intended to clear from the area.
• Fugaku said Danzō wanted the Hokage position or the power to choose the next Hokage, and identified Minato as a major obstacle he might seek to eliminate.

Senju Chen anticipated that Shimura Danzō would exploit the Nine-Tails attack to eliminate rivals, so he made new arrangements with Uchiha Fugaku and gave him a Flying Thunder God Mark. Meanwhile, Danzo ordered Root to follow a list and leave no survivors during the chaos.

• Senju Chen reasoned that Danzo might use the Nine-Tails’ rampage to assassinate dissenters and strengthen his claim to the Hokage position.
• Senju Chen and Fugaku reviewed their plans for the night, and Chen gave Fugaku a wooden Flying Thunder God Mark so he could summon him if events went wrong.
• A Root ninja reported to Danzo that Kushina Uzumaki’s childbirth arrangements and the village’s defenses had been confirmed.
• Danzo ordered the Root ninja to follow a list and leave no survivors.
• Danzo rubbed a stone fragment from Hokage Rock and reaffirmed his belief that he was the one suited to lead Konoha.

Madara Uchiha decided to let Obito attack Konoha, believing the destruction and betrayal would leave him too ashamed and isolated to abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan. In Konoha, Senju Chen waited for Kushina Uzumaki to give birth as Fugaku’s hidden forces and Danzō’s Root prepared to act.

• Madara Uchiha learned that Obito was ready to set out for Konoha and judged the plan reckless.
• Madara Uchiha decided Obito’s attack would make him a hated traitor and bind him more firmly to the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to follow Obito and let him cause as much havoc as possible.
• Senju Chen waited in the Uchiha residence while Kushina Uzumaki prepared to give birth that night.
• Senju Chen kept Fugaku’s hidden clan members in position and anticipated that Shimura Danzō’s Root would move amid the coming chaos.

Obito Uchiha attacked Kushina Uzumaki during childbirth, stole newborn Naruto, and extracted the Nine-Tails from her. Senju Chen rescued Kushina from the cavern, leaving Obito to discover she was gone as he controlled Kurama.

• Obito Uchiha waited for Naruto’s birth, then killed Biwako Sarutobi and Taji and kidnapped the newborn.
• Minato Namikaze pursued Obito, who used Naruto to draw him away before returning to Kushina Uzumaki.
• Obito used genjutsu and the Tailed Beast Unsealing Jutsu to extract the Nine-Tails from Kushina and control Kurama.
• Senju Chen received a warning signal and teleported to the cavern, where he found Kushina near death and Kurama under Obito’s control.
• Senju Chen used Minato’s Flying Thunder God Mark to take Kushina away, and Obito noticed she had vanished.

Senju Chen saved Kushina and reunited her with Naruto while Minato rushed to confront the Nine-Tails rampaging in Konoha. Uchiha forces arrived with uncanny speed to organize evacuations and contain the beast as Hiruzen Sarutobi joined the fight.

• Senju Chen kept Kushina alive, and Minato returned with Naruto and brought the baby to her.
• Minato left Kushina and Naruto in Senju Chen’s care and hurried toward the battlefield.
• The Nine-Tails rampaged through Konoha, destroying buildings and threatening civilians.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Jonin to contain the beast and prepare to summon Enma.
• Uchiha Fugaku led coordinated Uchiha squads in evacuating civilians, reinforcing shelters, and restricting the Nine-Tails with Fire Release.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and rushed toward the Nine-Tails.

Senju Chen kept Kushina alive temporarily while the Nine-Tails rampage unfolded and the Uchiha carried out their rescue plan. Minato defeated Obito and broke his control over the Nine-Tails, while Danzo began a covert attack that was interrupted by an unseen assailant.

• Senju Chen used chakra and the Spirit Transformation Technique to keep Kushina alive and her soul anchored after the Nine-Tails was extracted.
• Senju Chen assessed the Uchiha Clan’s response as they rescued civilians, fought fires, and maintained order during the Nine-Tails’ attack.
• Minato Namikaze struck Obito with a Rasengan and used the Contract Seal to sever Obito’s summoning contract with the Nine-Tails.
• Obito escaped through his space-time technique, and the freed Nine-Tails roared with renewed destructive fury.
• Danzo ordered Root to act according to plan, and Root ninja entered a house to kill a couple supporting the Third Hokage’s faction.
• An unknown attacker stabbed the leading Root ninja through the chest before he could strike.

Senju Chen’s covert counter-assassinations struck Root while Konoha fought the rampaging Nine-Tails. Minato Namikaze arrived in time to divert the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb, then transported the beast away from the village.

• Senju Chen’s plan turned Root ninja targeting Uchiha locations into prey for silent counter-assassinations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma tried to push the Nine-Tails out of Konoha with the Adamantine Staff as Uchiha ninja rescued civilians.
• The Nine-Tails formed a massive Tailed Beast Bomb, and Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the ninja to prepare for impact.
• Minato Namikaze arrived and used Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder to transport the Tailed Beast Bomb far from Konoha.
• Minato Namikaze appeared atop the Nine-Tails and transported the beast away from the village.

Senju Chen discovered that Minato Namikaze had teleported both Kushina Uzumaki and newborn Naruto to the battlefield with the Nine-Tails, leaving him baffled by Minato’s apparent decision to risk their lives. Fearing Minato and Kushina would die sealing the beast, Chen teleported to the battlefield to intervene.

• Senju Chen felt his chakra recovering after using energy to prolong Kushina’s life.
• Kushina Uzumaki vanished from Minato Namikaze’s home through Flying Thunder God, and Chen assumed Minato had summoned her to help suppress the Nine-Tails.
• Chen saw that newborn Naruto Uzumaki had also vanished from his crib and realized Minato had brought him to the battlefield too.
• Chen questioned why Minato had taken Naruto and considered whether Minato intended to make him the new Jinchūriki, but rejected the idea as senseless.
• Chen decided that Minato and Kushina would not die that night and used the Flying Thunder God Formula to teleport to the battlefield.

Senju Chen arrived near the battlefield after Minato Namikaze deliberately severed Kushina’s Flying Thunder God mark, and he realized Minato planned to use the Reaper Death Seal to die alongside her. Chen charged toward the Four Red Yang Formation to stop him as Minato began explaining his plan to Kushina.

• Senju Chen’s teleportation link to Kushina snapped, leaving him hundreds of meters from the battlefield.
• Senju Chen saw Kushina restraining the Nine-Tails inside the Four Red Yang Formation and concluded Minato had intentionally blocked his arrival.
• Senju Chen recognized Minato’s hand seals as the Reaper Death Seal and understood that Minato intended to sacrifice himself with Kushina.
• Senju Chen cursed Minato and charged toward the barrier to intervene.
• Minato told Kushina he planned to seal the Nine-Tails’ remaining chakra with the Reaper Death Seal, while Kushina weakly questioned his choice.

Senju Chen tried to stop Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki from sacrificing themselves, but arrived too late to prevent Minato from beginning the Reaper Death Seal. He shattered Minato’s barrier and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear between the sealing ritual and Naruto, leaving everyone frozen in shock.

• Minato Namikaze told Kushina Uzumaki he would sacrifice himself to protect Konoha and asked her to pass his words on to Naruto.
• Kushina gave the newborn Naruto her final advice and told him she loved him as Senju Chen heard her farewell from outside the barrier.
• Senju Chen berated Minato for choosing death and attacked the Four Red Yang Formation with Wood Release.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with several Anbu and tried to pull Senju Chen away from the barrier.
• Senju Chen told Hiruzen to get out of the way, shattered the barrier, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear beside Minato, Kushina, and Naruto as the Death God's hand paused.

Senju Chen interrupted Minato Namikaze’s attempt to sacrifice himself with the Reaper and insisted he could save Kushina. As Kushina doubted him, Chen summoned rune-covered wooden dragons beneath the Nine-Tails, leaving his rescue attempt underway.

• Senju Chen shattered the Four Red Yang Formation and berated Minato Namikaze for preparing to die with Kushina and their unborn child.
• Senju Chen declared that he had a way to save Kushina, and Minato believed him as the Reaper’s hand neared his soul.
• Minato told Kushina that she would have to raise Naruto without him, while Kushina pleaded with Chen not to give Minato false hope.
• Senju Chen dismissed their objections and used Wood Release: Adamantine Summoning Wood, causing rune-covered wooden dragons to erupt beneath the Nine-Tails.