Recaps

Orochimaru prepared to use human test subjects in his forbidden research as Hiruzen Sarutobi sought his help to save the dying Danzo. Hiruzen left the laboratory conflicted about the dangerous bargain he had made.

• Orochimaru examined Danzo and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he believed life mattered only if death could be controlled.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Orochimaru the test subjects he had requested and reminded him to save Danzo.
• Orochimaru inspected people held in culture dishes and secured to the walls, then promised to honor their agreement.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled how Orochimaru’s grief over Nawaki and Dan Katō had driven him toward research into eternal life.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered that he had shut down Orochimaru’s Hashirama Cells project, but had offered him any price to save Danzo.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left the laboratory, uncertain whether his bargain with Orochimaru would bring disaster to the village.

Koki reassured Obito that he did not regret saving him and urged him to stop blaming himself and become stronger. His speech left everyone in the hospital room stunned, and Koki tried to play it off as casual talk.

• Mikoto arrived at Koki's hospital room and let him go to the bathroom by himself after he argued with Kakashi.
• Mikoto served Koki plain porridge while the others ate richer food, and Koki cheered up when Obito brought him three-color dango.
• Koki told Obito that he did not regret saving him and argued that becoming stronger was the best way to protect the people they cared about.
• Obito and everyone else listened in stunned silence as Koki's words challenged their usual beliefs.
• Koki realized he had persuaded the whole room, not just Obito, and tried to dismiss his speech as something he had said offhand.

Koki resisted getting an injection for his stomach wound until Obito helped Shisui hold him still, then sulked until they promised not to force another shot on him. While Koki listened to the nurse’s hospital gossip, she began telling him rumors about Danzo, leaving Obito and Shisui tense as both sides believed the other did not know Danzo was behind Koki’s injury.

• Shisui tried to give Koki an injection after his medicine stopped helping his wound, but Koki fled across the bed.
• Obito grabbed Koki’s hand and helped Shisui give him the shot, and Koki shouted that he hated them.
• Obito and Shisui apologized and promised not to force Koki to get another shot, and Koki pretended to remain angry while secretly feeling pleased.
• The nurse entertained Koki with hospital gossip and asked if he wanted to hear the biggest news of the past two days.
• The nurse told Koki that rumors accused Danzo of making village ninja and Root recruits disappear, including clan geniuses who were said to have died at his hands.

Koki learned that Danzo had died and suspected Kakashi and Obito were hiding how it happened. As Fugaku and Yashiro headed to a crucial meeting beneath an ominous storm, Koki demanded to visit Uncle Sakumo and made the others promise to take him when he recovered.

• A nurse told Koki that Danzo had died two days earlier, and Koki noticed Obito seemed flustered while Shisui appeared unconcerned.
• Koki confronted Kakashi about Danzo's death, but Kakashi denied being responsible, and Obito stumbled when Koki asked whether they had planned it together.
• Fugaku and Yashiro hurried toward the Hokage building for an important meeting as a violent storm gathered over Konoha.
• Koki cried and demanded to know what had happened to Uncle Sakumo, then nearly fell when he tried to get out of bed.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Shisui swore they would not lie to Koki again and promised to take him to see Uncle Sakumo after he recovered.

Koki recovered in the hospital with Mikoto, Itachi, Obito, and Shisui watching over him. Meanwhile, Fugaku attended a tense meeting of Konoha’s clan heads, where Torifu Akimichi laid out the recent attack on Koki, Danzō’s assassination, and the rumors troubling the village.

• Mikoto stayed with Koki in the hospital as Itachi comforted him, while Obito and Shisui brought him a peeled apple.
• Koki reassured Obito that having the Sharingan meant he should not call himself a failure, and Obito accepted his words.
• Koki fell asleep as Mikoto and Itachi kept watch beside his bed.
• Fugaku entered the Hokage building conference room with Yashiro and sat opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi as clan heads gathered.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the meeting, but Fugaku remained silent with his eyes closed.
• Torifu Akimichi told the clan heads that Koki had been gravely injured in an attack, Danzō had been assassinated at Root’s base, and rumors were circulating in the village.

Fugaku challenged the claim that Danzo was dead and accused Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha’s High Command of negligence or complicity in Root’s crimes. The chapter ended with Fugaku and Hiruzen Sarutobi facing off as the meeting room braced for a confrontation.

• Fugaku demanded proof of Danzo’s death, but Hiruzen Sarutobi cited intelligence and Torifu Akimichi said he had examined and identified Danzo’s remains.
• Fugaku accused the leaders at the head of the meeting of failing to hold Danzo accountable and demanded an explanation for the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku described Root’s secret laboratory, experiments on Konoha ninja, and assassination attempt on an innocent child, then questioned whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had known or covered up the crimes.
• Fugaku warned that Root still existed and might continue harming villagers, while accusing the High Command of enabling its abuses.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rose in anger and confronted Fugaku, who remained composed as their opposing auras filled the meeting room with tension.

Uchiha Fugaku confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and accused Konoha’s leadership of wrongdoing involving the Anbu and Root. He revealed evidence in the conference room, leaving the clan representatives alarmed by the discovery of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.

• Utatane Koharu defended Hiruzen Sarutobi’s record, but Uchiha Yashiro argued that the front-line ninja deserved recognition and demanded that the Anbu and Root’s actions be investigated.
• Hyuga Hiashi asked Uchiha Fugaku whether he had evidence, citing missing ninja from his clan.
• Uchiha Fugaku confirmed he had evidence, and Uchiha Yashiro summoned five corpses into the conference room.
• Uchiha Yashiro showed the assembled clan leaders the Cursed Seal on the exposed corpse’s tongue.
• Uchiha Fugaku identified it as the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and explained how it prevented its victims from revealing information about its caster.

Fugaku accused Danzo of placing Cursed Seals on Root members and suggested Danzo was still alive, turning the meeting against Hiruzen Sarutobi. After Fugaku revealed bodies and evidence of Danzo’s crimes, Hiruzen called for an investigation but did not answer whether he had known about them.

• Fugaku demanded that Root and Anbu members be examined for Danzo’s Cursed Seal, prompting anger and suspicion toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Torifu Akimichi questioned Hiruzen, who avoided answering and remained silent under the meeting’s scrutiny.
• Fugaku uncovered four more bodies, and Tsume Inuzuka recognized Yumi and demanded to know why she had been reported dead on a mission.
• Hyuga Hiashi recognized a dead Branch Family member and questioned Hiruzen alongside the other attendees.
• Fugaku and Yashiro distributed folders detailing Danzo’s secret laboratories, research, and information about the victims’ families.
• Hiruzen condemned Shimura Danzō’s crimes and called for an immediate investigation, justice for the victims, and a thorough review of the matter.

Fugaku challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over his handling of Danzo’s crimes and called for the Anbu to be disbanded. As Hiruzen and Fugaku faced off, Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan, shocking everyone in the conference hall.

• Akimichi Chōza demanded an investigation into Root and proposed disbanding it, explaining that Danzo had recruited his niece and she had disappeared.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to disband Root after Danzo’s death, presenting the decision as unavoidable.
• Fugaku proposed disbanding the Anbu, provoking an uproar and a tense confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Fugaku resolved to stand firm for Koki and the Uchiha Clan as Hiruzen’s anger toward him grew.
• Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan before the assembled leaders, leaving them stunned and making Hiruzen wary.

Koki woke during a thunderstorm and worried that the injured Hatake Sakumo had suffered for his sake, then broke down crying as Sakumo and Kakashi tried to comfort him. Mikoto, Itachi, Shisui, Obito, Kakashi, and Sakumo gathered around Koki for a warm meal in his hospital room.

• Thunder startled Koki awake, and Hatake Sakumo soothed him and told him to go back to sleep.
• Koki realized Sakumo was injured and worried about him, then burst into tears despite Sakumo and Kakashi's attempts to comfort him.
• Koki hid his face in Kakashi's embrace when Mikoto entered, while Sakumo and Kakashi kept quiet about his crying.
• Itachi brought Koki watermelon juice, while Shisui and Obito carried a table into the room.
• Mikoto's family and friends shared a meal with Koki, as Obito, Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi carefully helped feed him.

Koki enjoyed being cared for in the hospital while Mikoto concealed her worry about Fugaku. In a conference room, Fugaku demanded that Konoha disband the Anbu, and Hyuga Hiashi and Inoichi Yamanaka backed him as Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other attendees reacted with alarm.

• Mikoto abruptly set down her chopsticks when she felt the others were fussing excessively over Koki, then said nothing was wrong.
• Koki asked Mikoto where Fugaku was, and she claimed he was away at a meeting while Shisui noticed her unease.
• Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and repeated his demand to disband the Anbu, leaving the conference room silent.
• Hyuga Hiashi supported Fugaku, angry that an innocent Hyuga clan member had been killed.
• Inoichi Yamanaka also backed the proposal because the Anbu's control over intelligence had obstructed his work.

Hiruzen Sarutobi faced broad opposition from Konoha’s clans as they demanded the Anbu’s disbandment. Utatane Koharu questioned how the village would handle the Anbu’s duties, and Fugaku argued that existing guards, departments, and capable ninja could take them on.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked whether anyone else opposed the proposal, but the conference room erupted with support for disbanding the Anbu.
• The clans voiced their long-standing anger over the Anbu’s surveillance, expanding influence, and interference in their plans.
• Uchiha, Hyuga, and Ino-Shika-Cho no longer stood firmly behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving him shaken as opposition mounted.
• Utatane Koharu asked who would protect the Hokage, and Fugaku replied that the guard squad would do so.
• Utatane Koharu asked who would handle intelligence work, and Fugaku pointed to Inoichi Yamanaka and the Intelligence Department.
• Utatane Koharu raised concerns about special missions, and Fugaku said Konoha’s other ninja could carry them out.

Fugaku forced Hiruzen Sarutobi’s apparent agreement to disband the Anbu, then called for abolishing Konoha’s advisory council. The chapter ended as Fugaku challenged Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to answer for what they had accomplished on the council.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura worried as Fugaku stood firm against them and the council’s authority.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said “Fine” in anger, and Fugaku announced that he had agreed to disband the Anbu.
• The gathered leaders celebrated the supposed decision, and Hiruzen Sarutobi fainted from rage.
• Uchiha Yashiro checked on Hiruzen Sarutobi and helped him regain consciousness.
• Fugaku proposed abolishing Konoha’s advisory council, prompting Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to protest.
• Fugaku defended sweeping away the advisory system and challenged Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura over their record on the council.

Fugaku and Tsunade challenged the Konoha Advisory Council, prompting a heated debate over whether it should be abolished. The chapter ended with Tsunade proposing that each major clan nominate a candidate and that advisors be chosen by public vote.

• Fugaku criticized Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura for their lack of practical contributions and called for the council to be abolished.
• Tsunade arrived at the meeting and joined Fugaku in proposing the council's abolition.
• The clan heads debated the risks of disbanding the council, including the concentration of power in the Hokage's hands.
• Fugaku invoked Danzo's history to rebuke Mitokado Homura, who reacted angrily and then fell silent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he would consider Tsunade's proposal, but Tsunade suggested keeping the advisor positions and filling them through clan nominations and a public vote.

Tsunade's proposal to preserve the adviser positions while giving each clan a chance to participate in an election eased the meeting's tensions, and Fugaku withdrew from the race. Afterward, Fugaku walked into the rain, but Hyuga Hiashi called out to him.

• Tsunade proposed holding an election for Konoha's advisers while keeping the adviser positions, and the representatives and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved.
• Fugaku announced that the Uchiha Clan was withdrawing from the election.
• Tsunade called for preparations to begin, and the meeting moved on to discussing election details before ending.
• Fugaku left the conference room feeling relieved, though he remained dissatisfied that Hiruzen Sarutobi had not revealed Danzo's location.
• Fugaku stepped into the rain despite Yashiro's warning, and Yashiro followed with an umbrella.
• Hyuga Hiashi called out to Fugaku through the rain.

Fugaku declined Hyuga Hiashi’s invitation so he could return to the hospital and reunite with Mikoto and Koki. As Koki enjoyed a cheerful evening with his friends and family, they promised to stay with him, while Konoha’s clans considered the changes ahead.

• Hyuga Hiashi congratulated Fugaku on regaining control of the Military Police Force and invited him to his home, but Fugaku declined to visit his hospitalized child.
• Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka wondered what the Uchiha-Hyuga interaction and Tsunade’s reforms meant for Konoha, while Akimichi Chōza urged them not to worry.
• Fugaku and Yashiro returned to the hospital, where Fugaku embraced Mikoto and found Koki playing cards with their friends.
• Koki kept winning because the others were deliberately letting him, and Fugaku chose not to spoil his happiness.
• When night fell, Koki told everyone to go home, but they promised to stay with him, and he asked them to stay forever.

Three years after the turning-point meeting, Koki, Shisui, and Itachi returned to the Uchiha compound as the clan’s standing and relations with Konoha had improved. The chapter ended with the author outlining possible future story arcs in a note.

• Koki, Shisui, and Itachi walked through snowy Konoha, and Shisui encouraged Itachi to rest instead of picking Koki up after school every day.
• Koki, Shisui, and Itachi returned to the Uchiha compound, where clansmen greeted them warmly.
• Shisui remarked that the Uchiha Clan had changed greatly over the past three years.
• The reforms following the meeting reduced hostility toward the Uchiha Clan, improved Konoha’s administration, and opened the Military Police Force to shinobi from other clans and civilian backgrounds.
• The author described possible future arcs involving the Ninja Academy, the Third Shinobi World War, the Warring States period, the Fourth Shinobi World War, and other characters and locations.

Koki returned home with Itachi and Shisui and enjoyed a winter hot pot dinner with his family. As Mikoto asked about Kakashi and Obito’s mission, Koki remembered how Obito had transformed through years of hard training after seeing Koki’s injury.

• Koki, Itachi, and Shisui arrived home, where Mikoto welcomed them and Shisui helped her prepare dinner.
• Koki relaxed under the kotatsu before joining Mikoto, Shisui, and Itachi for hot pot.
• Mikoto worried that the family’s constant pampering might make Koki less able to face hardship, but Koki offered her food and eased her concern.
• Mikoto asked whether Kakashi and Obito were away on another mission, and Koki said they had gone to the Land of Hot Water.
• Koki recalled Obito’s promise to become strong to protect what mattered, followed by his intense training, excellent Academy results, and promotion to Chunin.

Koki complained about the Ninja Academy’s workload during dinner, then learned that his birthday was coming up on December fifth. He saw the gifts and food his clanspeople had already brought and felt touched by their care, while expecting Kakashi and Obito to return in time to celebrate.

• Koki announced he would wake early to train, but Itachi and Shisui teased him about repeatedly making the same promise and offered to help with his homework.
• Koki thought about how much he missed Kakashi and Obito, and Shisui reassured him that they would return that week.
• Mikoto and Itachi reminded Koki that December fifth was his birthday.
• Mikoto showed Koki the vegetables, fruit, and wrapped gifts that people had brought to the house for his birthday.
• Koki felt embarrassed and grateful as he realized how many people remembered and cared about his birthday.

Three-year-old Koki refused to cut his long hair and enjoyed teasing Shisui into doing his homework while his business empire transformed the Uchiha Clan. The chapter ended when Itachi brought Koki a book titled "Icha Icha Paradise," leaving him shocked.

• Mikoto offered to take Koki for a haircut, but Koki insisted on keeping his hair long, sharing a knowing smile with Itachi.
• Koki handed his homework to Shisui and relaxed with Itachi while Shisui jokingly threatened to charge him for the help.
• Koki’s business empire expanded across the Five Great Nations, and his wealth won support from the Uchiha elders, Fugaku, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Koki and Shisui established a nursing home and kindergarten for the Uchiha Clan, while Koki increased clan compensation and improved living conditions.
• Itachi asked Koki to read a book with him, and Koki recoiled when he saw the title "Icha Icha Paradise."

Koki discovered that Jiraiya had given Itachi an inappropriate book and told Shisui to pass it to Kakashi, then spent a tender evening with Itachi before struggling to wake up for breakfast the next morning.

• Shisui caught the book Koki threw, and Itachi explained that Jiraiya had brought it to sell at the bookstore.
• Koki forbade Itachi from reading the book or going near Jiraiya, then told Shisui to give it to Kakashi because Kakashi liked reading it.
• Itachi warmed Koki's bed, dried his hair, and talked with him about wanting to grow up quickly so he could protect his brother.
• Mikoto tried to wake Koki for breakfast, but Shisui and Itachi gave him more time before Itachi finally woke him and brought him clothes.

Koki rushed to the Ninja Academy with Shisui and Itachi, then arrived just before class after staying up late reading Jiraiya’s novels. His classmates teased him about his habit, and Gekko Hayate threatened to tell Shisui unless Koki stopped.

• Shisui, Koki, and Itachi raced to school, where Koki and Itachi reluctantly parted after a quick kiss and farewell.
• Koki burst into class just before the lesson began and admitted to Koto Inuzuka that he had overslept after reading late into the night.
• Koto warned Koki that he would lose the chance to play with Xiaobai, but the puppy cuddled closer to him.
• Gekko Hayate suggested that Koto threaten to tell Shisui, which made Koki panic and plead with him not to do it.
• Gekko Hayate and Koto laughed at Koki’s reaction while he silently resented their teasing.

Koki remembered how he first met Gekko Hayate and Koto Inuzuka at the Ninja Academy, then endured a sleepy morning of lessons with their help. At lunchtime, a pink-haired girl confessed to Koki and gave him chocolate, sparking outrage among his classmates.

• Koki recalled arriving at the Ninja Academy and sitting beside Gekko Hayate and Koto Inuzuka after fleeing a crowd of girls.
• Gekko Hayate coughed, and Koki encouraged him to keep hoping for a cure while noting that the medicine had helped.
• During theory class, Koki fell asleep behind his textbook as Gekko Hayate and the other students helped hide him.
• At lunchtime, a pink-haired girl stopped Koki and confessed her feelings while offering him chocolate.
• Koki accepted the chocolate and awkwardly wished the girl luck finding someone meant for her.

Koki meets Shisui for lunch, hears an implausible explanation for a girl crying, and shares his chocolate with him, unaware of Shisui’s anger. They complain that the Ninja Academy classes are too easy and recall how Mikoto and Fugaku refused Koki’s request for early graduation.

• Koki saw a girl approach Shisui, then run away crying after Shisui responded to her.
• Koki teased Shisui about making the girl cry, and Shisui claimed she had only asked him to teach her Ninjutsu.
• Koki ate most of the lunch and offered Shisui some chocolate; Shisui took it and secretly crushed it in his hand.
• Koki and Shisui complained that the Academy lessons were repetitive and agreed that missions would help them improve.
• Koki recalled that Mikoto and Fugaku had opposed his request for early graduation, leaving him frustrated.

Shisui comforted Koki with a secret idea for helping him graduate, while Koki headed to practical class and expected to forfeit as usual. His plans changed when Teacher Higashikawa paired him with Hyuga Haruka, whose gaze made him uneasy.

• Shisui whispered an idea to Koki about helping him graduate, and Koki listened eagerly.
• Shisui woke Koki for his afternoon practical class, and Koki went to the training ground.
• Koki joined Koto and Xiaobai at the training ground while the students waited for their frequently late teacher, Higashikawa Haruto.
• Higashikawa Haruto arrived, explained the practical-class rules, and announced Koki's match against Hyuga Haruka.
• Koki's confidence in forfeiting faded as he saw Haruka's Caged Bird Seal and felt pressure from the boy's Byakugan gaze.