Chapter Summaries

Danzo fled Konoha but was cornered by Hyuga Hiashi and the Hyuga Clan’s reinforcements. After Neji Hyuga broke free from Danzo’s hostage attempt, Naoki Senju arrived, leaving Danzo with no Root ninja to help him escape.

• Danzo left Konoha, rejected the idea of seeking shelter with Orochimaru, and tried to cover his tracks while deciding where to go.
• Hyuga Hiashi confronted Danzo on behalf of Konoha’s Intelligence Division, and reinforcements from the Hyuga Clan arrived.
• Danzo and Hiashi fought as more Hyuga ninja surrounded Danzo, who spotted Neji Hyuga and seized him as a hostage.
• Neji Hyuga used Rotation to injure Danzo and escape his grasp.
• Naoki Senju arrived atop a Wood Dragon, and Danzo retreated as no Root ninja came to his aid.

Naoki Senju fought Danzo, who repeatedly used Izanagi to recover from fatal injuries and restore his chakra. Naoki trapped Danzo in Deep Forest Emergence and tore him apart again, but Danzo revived once more as the trees closed in.

• Naoki Senju struck Danzo with Water Dragon Jutsu, and the water dragon’s tail smashed Danzo into the ground.
• Danzo unleashed Wind Release attacks for nearly ten minutes until his chakra ran out, then used Izanagi to heal his injuries and replenish his chakra.
• Danzo resumed his attacks, keeping the Hyuga Clan ninja at a distance, until Naoki Senju used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
• Deep Forest Emergence bound Danzo and tore off his limbs before Naoki pulled him apart, scattering his body across the ground.
• Danzo revived again, and Naoki counted the remaining Izanagi uses as the sea of trees continued crushing toward him.

Naoki Senju defeated Danzo, exposed his betrayal of Konoha, and used Futsunomitama to destroy Danzo’s soul before taking Shisui Uchiha’s Sharingan. After the battle, Naoki ordered generous support for the fallen Anbu’s families and called for the Ninja Academy to expand.

• Naoki Senju told Danzo that Hiruzen Sarutobi had signed Root’s disbandment order and revealed that Anbu had intercepted Danzo’s agents contacting Kirigakure.
• Danzo accused Naoki Senju of being ruthless and tried to rely on his remaining Sharingan and Izanagi to survive.
• Naoki Senju used Futsunomitama to reopen Danzo’s old soul wounds, leaving him unable to recover through Izanagi.
• Naoki Senju removed Shisui Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan as Danzo’s soul disintegrated.
• Kakashi reported that the Anbu had subdued Root, with thirteen Root ninja and five Anbu dead and four Anbu wounded.
• Naoki Senju ordered triple death benefits for the fallen Anbu and expanded Ninja Academy enrollment to include their eligible relatives.

After Danzo’s death, Kakashi absorbed Root’s assets while Naoki prepared to draw out the hidden Kirigakure ninja. A Nine-Tails rampage began in Konoha on the same night that Kirigakure’s main force signaled its attack.

• Naoki ordered Danzo’s remaining Sharingan sealed and his body displayed at Konoha’s gate for three days as punishment for betraying the village.
• Kakashi took charge of absorbing Root’s personnel, intelligence, wealth, and facilities for Konoha.
• Naoki prepared Nine-Tails chakra for Sora and told Tsunade he would use it to locate the Kirigakure ninja hiding nearby.
• Tsunade warned Naoki that Konoha’s fighting against Kumogakure was going poorly and urged him to draw out Kirigakure’s forces.
• As snow fell, a savage Nine-Tails chakra surged through Konoha, while Kirigakure’s main force launched its attack after a signal flare rose outside the village.

Mei Terumi weighed whether Kirigakure could attack Konoha while Kumogakure remained a threat, then urged Ao to fight for the village’s future. In Kumogakure’s camp, Fourth Raikage A disciplined Killer B and reviewed reports, confident that Iwagakure posed no serious danger as the village prepared for war.

• Ao told Mei Terumi that Naoki Senju was sealing the Nine-Tails and asked whether Kirigakure should attack Konoha as planned.
• Mei Terumi asked whether Kirigakure could spare forces to intercept Kumogakure, and Ao admitted that the village had no troops to spare.
• Mei Terumi told Ao that Kirigakure could not afford to lose the war, and Ao pledged his loyalty.
• Killer B urged Fourth Raikage A to let him lead an assault on Konoha, and A slammed him into the ground for his taunts.
• A questioned Kumogakure Anbu about reports from Konoha, heard that Tsunade had become Fifth Hokage, and sent them away.
• A read the intelligence reports and dismissed Iwagakure’s incursion as a threat, while deciding that the Land of Lightning’s Daimyo needed a lesson for cutting Kumogakure’s funding.

Naoki Senju kept the fake Nine-Tails contained outside Konoha while waiting for Kirigakure to arrive. Mei Terumi’s forces slipped past the village’s Byakugan scouts and split up to attack Konoha and interfere with Naoki.

• Naoki Senju used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to restrain the rampaging Sora, allowing the fake Nine-Tails to break free repeatedly while keeping it from reaching Konoha.
• Mei Terumi ordered two Kirigakure Anbu to eliminate the Hyuga Clan scouts around Konoha’s perimeter.
• The Kirigakure Anbu killed three nearby Hyuga ninja and signaled their force that it could advance.
• Mei Terumi and her jonin headed toward Naoki Senju to disrupt the sealing and pursue her revenge, while the rest of the Kirigakure ninja moved into Konoha to capture the Fifth Hokage.

Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure ninja attacked Naoki Senju, but his Water Release overwhelmed them and freed the fake Nine-Tails. As Mei prepared to fight him alone, Naoki entered Sage Mode and summoned the Gate of the Great God.

• Mei Terumi led Kirigakure ninja in a coordinated Water Release assault on Naoki Senju.
• Naoki used Three-Tails Isobu’s chakra to create a massive water tornado that swallowed the attacks and scattered the Kirigakure ninja.
• The tornado destroyed Deep Forest Emergence, freeing the fake Nine-Tails, which roared and thrashed in fury.
• Mei challenged Naoki and declared she would not lose again, while he insisted he was not low on chakra.
• Naoki drew in natural energy, entered Sage Mode, and cast Sage Art: Gate of the Great God.

Naoki Senju suppressed the fake Nine-Tails and fought Mei Terumi while battles erupted inside Konoha. He defeated and captured her, leaving Kirigakure’s assault unresolved as he turned to deal with the pain from her acid mist.

• Naoki Senju suppressed the fake Nine-Tails beneath the Gate of the Great God and offered Mei Terumi a chance to surrender.
• Mei Terumi refused, and a surge of chakra inside Konoha signaled that another battle was beginning.
• Naoki Senju attacked the scattered Kirigakure Jonin instead of returning to Konoha, until Mei Terumi intervened with Lava Release.
• Mei Terumi used Boil Release to create acid mist, but Naoki Senju charged through it and fought her at close range.
• Naoki Senju knocked Mei Terumi unconscious, carried her out of the mist, and spanked her as he complained about the pain.

Naoki Senju captured Mei Terumi and returned to Konoha, while Kirigakure forces tried to seize the Nine-Tails. As the battle turned against Kirigakure, Ao sacrificed himself to help Chōjūrō reach Mei and attempt a rescue.

• Naoki Senju captured Mei Terumi and flew toward Konoha, leaving his wood clone to deal with Kirigakure ninja approaching the suppressed Nine-Tails.
• Naoki Senju's wood clone lured the Kirigakure squad into a forest and killed them before dispelling.
• Naoki Senju saw Guren battling above Konoha and announced that the Fourth Mizukage had been captured.
• Ao and Chōjūrō fought Hyuga Clan ninja, and Ao asked Chōjūrō whether he would die for Mei Terumi and Kirigakure.
• Ao sent Chōjūrō toward the Hokage Building to rescue Mei Terumi while he stayed behind to face the Hyuga ninja.
• Chōjūrō entered the Hokage Building, determined to rescue Mei Terumi.

Naoki Senju proposed using Mei Terumi and a cursed seal to control Kirigakure and expand Konoha’s influence. Chōjūrō attacked to rescue Mei, but Naoki subdued him and Tsunade asked how they would make Mei accept the seal.

• Naoki Senju told Tsunade that controlling Mei Terumi could let Konoha absorb Kirigakure, and he proposed using a Root Cursed Seal to control her.
• Chōjūrō overheard their plan, smashed through the wall, and attacked Naoki Senju and Tsunade with Hiramekarei: Full Release.
• Naoki Senju caught Hiramekarei, overpowered Chōjūrō, and struck his nape while taking the weapon from him.
• Tsunade warned that forcibly applying the cursed seal could fail, and Naoki Senju said he would train Mei Terumi until she accepted it willingly.

Naoki Senju broke Kirigakure’s resistance in Konoha by announcing Mei Terumi’s capture, and most of the enemy forces surrendered. After surveying the damage and discussing the other battlefronts, Naoki urged Tsunade to prepare a Cursed Seal to control Mei, but she warned that a seal powerful enough would take years to develop.

• Naoki Senju incapacitated Kirigakure ninja with Wood Release and repeatedly announced that Mei Terumi had been captured, urging them to surrender.
• Guren killed a Kirigakure ninja who called the surrendering chunin a traitor, and Kirigakure’s forces laid down their weapons.
• Konoha ninja disarmed and detained the prisoners, while Tsunade assessed the village’s damage and Naoki warned that fighting continued on other fronts.
• Tsunade said Jiraiya had taken troops to reinforce the Kumogakure front after the Iwagakure forces withdrew.
• Naoki reminded Tsunade that they needed to place a Cursed Seal on Mei Terumi to control Kirigakure, and Tsunade explained that a powerful seal would take at least a decade or two to develop.

Naoki Senju asked Tsunade how to shorten the process of placing a controlling cursed seal on Mei Terumi, then went to wake her after learning the seal required her near-total submission and willing acceptance. The chapter ended with Mei Terumi waking in the Hokage Building to Naoki greeting her as his maid.

• Naoki Senju pressed Tsunade about speeding up the cursed seal process, and she said changing Mei Terumi's decisions could take about three years.
• Tsunade explained that the seal could be applied sooner only if Mei Terumi submitted almost completely and willingly accepted it, likely after mental torment and real-world coercion.
• Naoki Senju volunteered to make Mei Terumi accept the seal, and Tsunade warned him not to push her too far because she still had strength.
• Tsunade told Naoki Senju that Mei Terumi was being held on the second floor of the Hokage Building and warned him to keep her away from the Kirigakure prisoners.
• Naoki Senju gave Mei Terumi the antidote, and she woke to see him smiling and calling her his maid.

Mei Terumi woke as a powerless prisoner in Konoha and learned Naoki Senju would trade the release of Kirigakure prisoners for her cooperation. Naoki gave her a maid-dress task in exchange for possibly sending Chōjūrō or Ao home.

• Mei Terumi found that an anesthetic and a special drug had left her unable to use most of her chakra, while Naoki Senju warned her she could not escape the Hokage Building.
• Mei Terumi offered to die for her defeat, but Naoki Senju proposed letting Kirigakure’s survivors return if she cooperated.
• Naoki Senju demanded Kirigakure hand over the Six-Tails and its jinchūriki, and required Mei Terumi to stay in Konoha.
• Naoki Senju promised to release one Kirigakure ninja for each task Mei Terumi completed and gave her medicine to restore her strength.
• Naoki Senju offered her first task, telling Mei Terumi that Chōjūrō or Ao could return home if she completed it, then revealed a maid dress.
• Mei Terumi asked what the dress was for, and Naoki Senju told her to wear it as Mei Terumi the maid.

Naoki Senju forced Mei Terumi to wear a maid outfit and offered to release Kirigakure prisoners in exchange for her service. Mei accepted the first task under pressure, and the chapter ended with Naoki asking her to massage his shoulders.

• Mei Terumi refused to wear the maid outfit, but Naoki threatened to keep Ao and Chōjūrō in Konoha until she agreed to his terms.
• Mei agreed to let Ao make decisions in Kirigakure, and Naoki offered to send Chōjūrō back as well.
• Mei ordered Naoki out while she changed, then let him back in nearly half an hour later.
• Naoki praised Mei in the maid outfit and offered to release Kirigakure ninja for each day she served him.
• Mei hesitated at Naoki's offer, and he increased it to thirty ninja before asking her to massage his shoulders.

Mei Terumi questioned why Naoki Senju was keeping her in Konoha, and he explained that Konoha needed compensation for Kirigakure’s invasion as well as a broader change to the shinobi world. Mei accepted his terms to serve as a maid until Kirigakure’s captured shinobi were released, just as Tsunade arrived and ordered her to give a massage.

• Mei Terumi massaged Naoki Senju while asking him to let her return to Kirigakure in exchange for other kunoichi.
• Naoki Senju rejected her offer and questioned whether she would go further with him, prompting Mei Terumi to ask about his true objective.
• Naoki Senju pointed out Konoha’s history of wars and limited expansion, and Mei Terumi suspected he wanted an alliance with Kirigakure.
• Naoki Senju said Kirigakure had to make amends for its invasion and reminded Mei Terumi that each day she served as a maid would release thirty Kirigakure Ninja.
• Mei Terumi accepted the terms, and Tsunade arrived and ordered her to massage her shoulders.

Tsunade and Naoki Senju forced Mei Terumi to help massage Tsunade, but an urgent report that Kumogakure’s defensive line had fallen ended their teasing. Tsunade summoned Konoha’s leaders and ordered them to obey her as Hokage while the Fourth Raikage and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki entered the war.

• Tsunade taunted Mei Terumi and demanded that she give her a massage, while Mei retaliated by insulting Tsunade’s age and marital status.
• Naoki Senju sided with Tsunade, then massaged her himself; Mei eventually joined him and helped massage Tsunade.
• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki received a report from arriving Konoha ninja that the Fourth Raikage and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki had appeared and Kumogakure’s defensive line had fallen.
• Tsunade called an emergency meeting with Konoha’s clan heads and key officials, then announced that the front line had fallen and the fate of its ninja was unknown.
• Tsunade ordered the gathered leaders to carry out her wartime commands as Hokage.

Tsunade assigned Naoki Senju to command Konoha’s reinforcements and compelled the clan heads to send forces to the front. She told Naoki that Jiraiya had surrounded Kumogakure’s army, though he might not be able to stop it from retreating.

• Hyuga Hiashi and the other clan heads declared their support for Konoha’s war effort after Hiashi spoke first.
• Tsunade named Naoki Senju supreme commander, and his chakra intimidated the clan heads into accepting her choice.
• Shikaku Nara distributed Tsunade’s rosters, requiring each clan to send people to the front lines.
• The clan heads agreed to gather their people quickly, and Naoki Senju withdrew his chakra after they left.
• Tsunade told Naoki Senju that Jiraiya had established a second defensive line and surrounded Kumogakure’s forces, but might not prevent their retreat.

Tsunade sent Naoki Senju and Konoha reinforcements to the front while the Fourth Raikage prepared to break through Jiraiya’s defenses after Kumogakure’s supply lines were cut. As Jiraiya and Killer B clashed on the battlefield, an unfamiliar chakra-amplified voice challenged the combatants, leaving the identity of the newcomer unknown.

• Shikaku Nara assembled Konoha’s reinforcements and logistics units, and Tsunade and Naoki Senju exchanged a quiet farewell before the force departed.
• The Fourth Raikage learned that Konoha had cut Kumogakure’s supply lines and ordered his forces to rest before attacking Jiraiya’s defensive line.
• Jiraiya, despite his injuries, left the hospital to confront the renewed Kumogakure attack led by the Fourth Raikage and Killer B.
• Jiraiya summoned a giant toad, and Killer B caught it with his Eight-Tails chakra tentacles.
• An unfamiliar chakra-amplified voice called out, asking what would happen if the newcomer joined the fight.

Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to hold off Killer B and the fully transformed Eight-Tails, then used the toad sages to begin entering Sage Mode. Naoki Senju arrived on a Wood Dragon, and the Fourth Raikage launched a Lariat at him to seize or kill Konoha’s Wood Release user.

• Killer B fully transformed into the Eight-Tails, forcing Gamabunta and Jiraiya to face the tailed beast.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku, who began filtering natural energy into him as he prepared to use senjutsu.
• Gamabunta cut off four of the Eight-Tails’ tentacles with a sword-drawing slash and briefly gained the advantage in their fight.
• The Fourth Raikage recognized Naoki Senju as Konoha’s Wood Release user and decided to capture him or kill him to recoup Kumogakure’s losses.
• Naoki arrived on a Wood Dragon, and the Fourth Raikage leaped toward him with Lightning Release: Lariat.

Naoki Senju defeated the Fourth Raikage’s first attacks with Monster Strength Fist and a Tailed Beast Cloak, prompting the Raikage to suspect a Konoha–Kirigakure trap and order a retreat. As Killer B restrained Gamabunta, Jiraiya and the two great sages began a rescue with Frog Song.

• The Fourth Raikage cut apart Naoki Senju’s Wood Dragon and charged at him, intending to take an arm and preserve his Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.
• Naoki struck the Fourth Raikage’s chest with Monster Strength Fist, shattering his Lightning Release Armor and driving him into a crater.
• The Fourth Raikage recovered and attacked Naoki’s neck, but Naoki blocked the blow with a Tailed Beast Cloak, making the Raikage suspect Kirigakure and Konoha had set a trap.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Killer B to finish off Gamabunta and lead the Kumogakure troops in retreat, while he stayed behind to cover them.
• Killer B wrapped Gamabunta in the Eight-Tails’ tentacles, and Jiraiya and the two great sages opened their eyes and used Senjutsu: Frog Song to rescue him.