Chapter Summaries

Madara reflected on how his father’s death and clan responsibilities had changed his closeness with Koki, then brought Izuna to train. At the training hall, Koki urged Izuna to work harder, and Izuna fell silent under his stern gaze.

• Madara worried that his closeness to Koki might expose Koki to the clan elders’ suspicions about his origins.
• Madara asked Izuna to train with him, and Koki joined them after Izuna said he had planned to spend the day with him.
• Madara knocked Izuna to the floor during their training, and Koki helped him up.
• Madara promised to teach Izuna a technique if he practiced diligently.
• Koki told Izuna he needed to work twice as hard, and Izuna stopped protesting when Koki fixed him with a sharp gaze.

Koki found a badly wounded, unconscious Tobirama Senju during a solo patrol and realized he could prevent the future death of Izuna by killing him now. The chapter ended as Koki reached toward Tobirama’s neck, unsure whether to act.

• Izuna trained diligently while Koki stayed by his side, determined to change Izuna’s fate.
• An urgent summons sent Izuna and Madara Uchiha to the clan elders’ council, leaving Koki to patrol alone.
• Koki followed the river farther than usual and spotted blood in the water.
• Koki found an unconscious boy with a severe shoulder wound and discovered he was Tobirama Senju.
• Koki recalled Tobirama’s future role in Izuna’s death and raised his hand toward Tobirama’s neck.

Koki treated Tobirama Senju’s shoulder wound and waited by the river until Tobirama awoke. When Tobirama’s pursuers arrived, he stepped in front of Koki and urged him to escape.

• Koki bandaged Tobirama Senju’s injured shoulder and moved him to dry grass beside the river.
• While Tobirama slept, Koki remembered learning to skip stones with Madara and tried throwing stones across the river.
• Tobirama awoke, saw that Koki had treated him, and warned him to leave because the area was dangerous.
• Koki pointed out Tobirama’s approaching pursuers, who stopped nearby and eyed the two warily.
• Tobirama moved in front of Koki and told him to escape while he held off the pursuers.

Wounded and unarmed after falling into a river, Tobirama was cornered by four enemies and struggled to survive their attacks. He was struck down and left unable to rise, refusing to accept that he would die there.

• Four enemies surrounded Tobirama while Koki watched calmly by the river.
• Tobirama recalled how a failed mission, an enemy ambush, and a fall from a cliff had left him injured and without weapons.
• Tobirama dodged the enemies’ blades, but they quickly surrounded him again and threw Kunai.
• A Kunai cut Tobirama’s face, and a Shuriken pierced his lower leg.
• Tobirama fell into the dirt, unable to rise, and refused to accept his apparent defeat.

Koki ended his hesitation by killing a Sarutobi ninja who was about to strike Tobirama. The surviving Sarutobi ninjas confronted Koki, and one wondered whether he belonged to the Uchiha Clan.

• Koki caught a Shuriken thrown at him by a Sarutobi ninja and recognized the clan mark on its hilt.
• As a gaunt ninja charged at the wounded Tobirama, Koki threw a short blade through the attacker’s heart.
• Tobirama and the surviving ninjas stared in shock at Koki’s skill, and Tobirama became momentarily captivated by his face.
• Koki questioned the Sarutobi ninjas for attacking on чуж territory and warned them against challenging his side.
• One Sarutobi ninja stopped his companion and asked whether Koki might be from the Uchiha Clan.

Koki killed three ninja who demanded his name, overwhelming them with his speed and skill. Tobirama watched the fight, deeply affected by Koki's performance.

• One of the ninja demanded Koki's name, and Koki struck him down with a Shuriken.
• Koki kicked the other two ninja away as they recovered and attacked him with Earth Release: Rock Formation Wall.
• Koki dodged the boulders, vanished from the ninja's sight, and killed them with blades through their hearts.
• Koki left without revealing his name, while Tobirama stood stunned by what he had witnessed.

Tobirama returned to the Senju Clan injured after parting from Koki, whom he could not bring himself to ask for his name. He told Hashirama he had perhaps not met anyone suspicious, while Koki returned to the Uchiha Clan and reunited with Izuna and Madara.

• Koki told Tobirama to care for his injuries, and Tobirama thanked him before watching him leave.
• Tobirama returned to the Senju Clan, bandaged his wounds, and told Hashirama that the mission had gone poorly.
• Hashirama asked whether Tobirama had encountered anyone suspicious, and Tobirama answered, "Perhaps not."
• Tobirama went into his room and remembered Koki.
• Koki arrived at the Uchiha Clan, where Izuna hurried to check on him and Madara watched with concern.

Koki found Madara standing alone in the courtyard at night and asked him to stay and talk because he could not sleep. Madara turned to face him, and Koki agreed to keep him company.

• Koki woke to the night wind and went outside, where he saw Madara standing silently in the moonlight.
• Madara sensed Koki approaching but struggled with how to face him alone.
• Koki walked across the courtyard and called Madara by name.
• Madara turned toward Koki, who asked him to keep him company and talk for a while.
• Koki immediately agreed.

Madara remembered the night his father ordered him to distance himself from Koki, and how he had once pulled away from Koki’s comforting embrace. Now he held Koki close, but tears escaped before he could hide them.

• Koki embraced Madara and asked whether he was sad.
• Madara recalled his father warning him to shoulder the Uchiha Clan’s responsibility and threatening to banish Koki if Madara did not keep his distance.
• Madara remembered how Koki had found and comforted him when he was younger, and how he had then pulled away out of fear for Koki and the clan.
• Madara chose to embrace Koki this time, believing he was now strong enough to protect him.
• Koki felt a tear on his neck and asked Madara why he was crying.
• Madara denied crying, turned away, and roughly wiped his tears as Koki accepted his answer.

Madara asked Koki for advice about reconciling with the Senju Clan, worried that Koki might one day disagree with his choice. Koki reassured him, and Madara took his hand before Izuna entered and joined them.

• Madara stopped Koki from going to bed and asked to speak with him in his room.
• Madara explained his struggle over reconciling with the Senju Clan and his concern that Koki might think his decision was wrong.
• Koki told Madara he would support him whichever path he chose and took his hand.
• Madara clasped Koki's hand and said he would handle things with Izuna.
• Izuna entered, clasped Koki's hand as usual, and Madara turned his face away.

Izuna asked to sleep beside Koki, then confessed that he wanted to be with him forever. Koki accepted his declaration affectionately while holding a scroll about Uchiha secrets and the Senju Clan conflict.

• Koki told Izuna to rest, but Izuna held onto his hand and asked to sleep beside him.
• Izuna admitted he missed Koki and wanted more time with him, and Koki agreed to share the bed.
• Izuna climbed under the blanket and reflected on his lifelong desire to stay with Koki forever.
• Izuna suddenly threw himself into Koki's arms, startling him and knocking a scroll about the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan off the bed.
• Izuna told Koki he wanted to be with him forever, and Koki smiled and stroked his head.

Madara joined Koki and Izuna in bed, then secretly listened as Izuna kissed Koki near the mouth and confessed his love. Izuna grew jealous of Madara’s time with Koki, and after the room fell silent, Madara opened his eyes, still unable to sleep.

• Madara blurted out that he wanted to sleep with Koki and Izuna, then lay down with his back to them.
• Izuna kissed Koki’s cheek and then cautiously brushed the corner of Koki’s mouth with his lips.
• Koki was startled by the kiss but told himself Izuna’s affection was innocent and urged him to sleep.
• Izuna asked what Koki and Madara had discussed and complained that Koki had spent more time with Madara than with him.
• Koki stroked Izuna’s hair and told him to sleep without waking Madara; after they fell quiet, Madara opened his eyes, unable to sleep.

Koki spent a quiet day by the river while the Uchiha and Senju prepared to make peace, and Hashirama joined him. After teasing Koki, Hashirama watched him leave and whispered that he would see him tomorrow.

• Koki tried and failed to skip stones across the river until Hashirama demonstrated the trick.
• Hashirama thanked Koki for helping persuade Izuna and the Uchiha elders to accept the peace agreement.
• Koki recalled spending three days persuading Izuna, then tried skipping stones again without reaching the opposite bank.
• Hashirama teased Koki by pretending to be frightened, and Koki told him to stop acting before leaving.
• Hashirama watched Koki disappear and whispered, "See you tomorrow."

As the Senju and Uchiha Clans formed an alliance, Koki explained to Izuna why peace required putting old hatred aside, though Izuna remained conflicted. At the ceremony, Tobirama recognized the young Uchiha who had stayed in his thoughts and wondered about his connection to Hashirama.

• The Senju and Uchiha Clans celebrated their alliance as other clans watched in astonishment.
• Koki found Izuna training, tended his wounds, and brought him inside before the ceremony.
• Izuna kissed Koki and asked why the Senju had to be the clan they allied with.
• Koki told Izuna that reconciliation was the only way to end the cycle of killing, and Izuna questioned whether their clans could truly abandon their hatred.
• Madara and Hashirama appeared at the ceremony, while Tobirama recognized a young Uchiha emerging from the shadows and wondered how he knew Hashirama.

Hashirama, Madara, and Koki remembered the conversation that inspired them to build a village where children could be safe. Madara agreed to the idea and vowed to protect the people he held dear.

• Hashirama, Madara, and Koki clasped hands, awakening memories of their time together on a cliff.
• Madara admitted that he blamed himself for his younger brother’s death, and Koki reassured him that it was not his fault.
• Madara said he would protect his one remaining brother, and Hashirama promised to do the same for his own loved ones.
• Koki proposed building a village in the forest, and Hashirama enthusiastically supported a place where children could be safe.
• Madara agreed that building the village was not a bad idea and vowed to protect the people he held dear.

Hashirama nominated Madara Uchiha for Hokage, and Tobirama accepted the decision without protest. Later, on a day off, Izuna took Koki by the hand and led him to the village market, leaving Koki troubled by Izuna’s growing attachment.

• Hashirama declared Madara Uchiha the only choice for Hokage, and Tobirama responded, “Wait and see,” rather than objecting.
• Uchiha Izuna privately asked Koki why Tobirama had not opposed Madara’s appointment.
• Izuna invited Koki to visit the village market during their shared day off, and Koki agreed.
• Izuna took Koki’s hand and intertwined their fingers as they set out for the market.
• Koki reflected that Izuna seemed increasingly dependent on him as Izuna led him into the crowd.

Izuna and Koki walked through bustling Konoha before escaping to a quieter market, while Hashirama noticed Tobirama slipping away from work and secretly followed him. The chapter left Tobirama heading after Koki, with Hashirama trailing behind.

• Izuna grew jealous when young men greeted Koki shyly and angrily sent them away.
• Koki calmed Izuna when the crowded streets upset him, and they vanished to a secluded area to browse its stalls.
• Tobirama finished arranging his paperwork and left the office despite Hashirama asking whether he would skip lunch.
• Hashirama recalled seeing Tobirama secretly follow Koki and recognized his brother's unusual distraction.
• Hashirama followed Tobirama without telling him.

Koki wanted to buy lighter clothes to escape the heat, and Izuna offered to make them himself. The chapter ended with Izuna buying all the fabric and planning how to make Koki’s clothes.

• Koki told Izuna he wanted to buy clothes because the Uchiha robes were unbearable in the heat.
• Izuna led Koki to a stall selling fabric and asked the old woman to show them everything.
• Koki pointed out that neither of them knew how to tailor clothes, but Izuna said he could make them.
• Izuna announced that he would handle such matters from then on and bought all the fabric.
• Izuna sorted the fabric and muttered about how to cut it and what styles to make.

Izuna and Koki grew closer during an outing, while Tobirama and Hashirama watched them with jealousy and unrest. Madara, Tobirama, and Hashirama each spent the night unable to sleep, troubled by thoughts of Koki and Izuna.

• Izuna took Koki to a sugar-figure stall and nervously offered him a sweet while they shared an intimate moment.
• Tobirama watched Izuna and Koki clasp hands, clenched his fists, and disappeared into the crowd.
• Koki sensed movement in the treetops, while Hashirama hid above and watched him with Izuna.
• Madara found Izuna learning handicrafts with Koki, then left them alone after watching from the doorway.
• Madara, Tobirama, and Hashirama each lay awake through the night, unable to stop thinking about Koki and Izuna.

Koki dreamed of Obito confronting him in a blood-soaked forest, Kakashi reliving his painful memories, and Itachi finding his brother dead. Koki woke at dawn in a sweat, shaken by the recurring dream.

• Obito entered a rain-soaked battlefield and asked Koki why he had abandoned him.
• Kakashi recalled his younger days with Koki and brooded over how his hopes and convictions had collapsed.
• Itachi lost control of his Sharingan and saw his brother lying dead in a pool of blood.
• Koki jolted awake from the dream, drenched in sweat and still terrified.