Chapter Summaries

Kakashi joined the Anbu and was sent to guard a mysterious grove, where repeated inspections left him unsure what his mission was. Meanwhile, Konoha and the Cloud Shinobi ended their conflict with an alliance, and Fuyu turned his attention to showing Killer B his dance hall.

• Kakashi received the codename Three-Tails and passed a series of Anbu inspections while being sent deeper into a guarded forest.
• An Anbu senior warned Kakashi that the mission was important and that the grove’s security could not fail, but did not explain his duties.
• The Cloud Shinobi accused Konoha of killing their companion, and the Third Hokage rejected their demands while Konoha’s leaders stood united.
• The Cloud Shinobi backed down, and both sides signed an alliance agreement that ended the third ninja world war.
• Fuyu reflected that the Third Hokage’s loyalty to Danzo had thwarted his plan, then showed Killer B his dance hall.

Fugaku secured permission to expand his business into the Land of Lightning and considered the shifting fortunes of Konoha and Kirigakure. Danzo, feeling unsafe and blaming money for Konoha’s decay, decided that he and Hiruzen could enter business together.

• Fugaku negotiated permission to open shops in designated locations in the Land of Lightning and noted that his Land of Water shops would soon open.
• Fugaku heard that Juzo Biwa and another swordsman had defected after Suikazan Fuguki’s promotion caused turmoil in Kirigakure.
• Fugaku wondered whether Minato would still become Fourth Hokage and whether Madara remained alive, then chose to focus on making money.
• Danzo suspected a traitor among Root after recalling the ambush near its base, and he grew wary of his subordinates.
• A Root Shinobi told Danzo that Orochimaru and the main force would return to the village the next day.
• Danzo rallied Root by declaring that only he and his followers could save Konoha, then decided to bring Hiruzen into a business venture.

As peace returned to Konoha, Fuyu discussed a reader event and Jiraiya’s next novel while helping at his shop. Jiraiya planned to leave the village soon, and an excited young visitor arrived to see him.

• Fuyu noticed that daily sales had risen, especially at shops near the borders, and continued helping at the milk tea shop while Suzune oversaw construction.
• Jiraiya visited the shop, and Fuyu teased him about gathering material at dance halls before asking about his availability.
• Fuyu proposed a reader event for Jiraiya’s popular Icha Icha Tactics, and Jiraiya agreed to sign books before leaving the village.
• Jiraiya pitched a new transmigration novel called Ninja Continent, and Fuyu agreed to promote it despite finding the premise familiar.
• A young visitor arrived and excitedly recognized Jiraiya.

Fuyou watched Shisui meet Jiraiya, who invited him along to gather material, while Fugaku secretly checked on Itachi's training. The chapter ended with Fugaku leaving two free meal coupons for Itachi and Izumi, which made Itachi freeze at the sight of them.

• Shisui confessed that he liked Traveling Toad-sensei, then clarified that he admired Jiraiya's books and asked him to review his own writing.
• Jiraiya criticized Shisui's story, signed his notebook, and invited him to gather material that night, telling him to bring plenty of money.
• Mikoto worried that Itachi was training too hard to lose weight, while Fugaku claimed he was going to the police force.
• Fugaku secretly visited the training ground, watched Itachi and Izumi train, and left two free meal coupons for them.
• Izumi found the coupons and called out to Itachi, who froze and drooled when he heard they were for Fuyou Grill.

Orochimaru discovered that the supposed Hashirama Cells Danzo wanted him to study were barbecue sauce, and Danzo asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to help launch a barbecue business. A month later, their Root Grill chain opened more than a hundred restaurants across the Land of Fire.

• Orochimaru arrived at a secret Root laboratory, expecting Danzo to ask him to recreate Wood Release using Hashirama Cells.
• Root Shinobi opened a sealed box, and Orochimaru tasted its viscous contents and recognized Fuyou Grill's barbecue sauce.
• A Root Shinobi told Orochimaru that Danzo wanted him to crack and perfectly replicate the barbecue sauce recipe.
• Danzo persuaded Hiruzen Sarutobi to invest in a barbecue venture, and they agreed to pool their funds and open more than a hundred shops.
• One month later, more than a hundred Root Grill restaurants opened across the Land of Fire.

The Oishi family visited Root's BBQ after the Third Hokage's endorsement drew a huge crowd, while Danzo anxiously awaited the restaurant's opening and earnings. Their first meal began with a bizarre ninja grilling technique that left them wondering if they could cancel their order.

• Mr. Oishi and his family joined the crowd outside Root's BBQ, believing the Third Hokage's endorsement promised delicious barbecue and a bargain.
• Danzo learned that the restaurant was packed before opening and told a Root Shinobi to inform Hiruzen and report the first hour's revenue.
• The Oishi family entered with the first batch of customers and admired the restaurant's shinobi decorations and Will of Fire inscription.
• Mr. Oishi ordered a Jonin Set Meal for his family.
• A Root Shinobi prepared their grill by spitting a tiny spark onto the charcoal with the Fire Style Root Grill Carbon Secret Technique, leaving the customers speechless.

Fuyou dismissed concerns about Root's BBQ opening, while Danzo and Hiruzen expected their new restaurant to succeed. Danzo learned that customers had canceled most of their orders, and Hiruzen was still celebrating before someone knocked at his door.

• Fuyou rejected the grill bar manager's suggestion to compete with Root's BBQ through discounts and studied the rival's flyer.
• Danzo imagined how he would spend the profits from Root's BBQ, including improving Root and funding ninja research.
• A Root Shinobi reported that most customers had canceled their orders shortly after Root's BBQ opened.
• Hiruzen relaxed after hearing that business was supposedly booming and began planning a celebration at Root's BBQ.
• Someone knocked rapidly at Hiruzen's door as he wondered who it was.

After Root's BBQ lost customers over its Fire and Water Release cooking methods, Danzo persuaded Hiruzen to keep the business running with an apology and free premium beef platters. The restaurant drew customers back, but Oi suspected its sauce tasted like a rival's as Danzo celebrated the renewed business and went to see Hiruzen.

• Hiruzen suggested cutting their losses, but Danzo insisted they could still succeed if they apologized and gave every table a premium beef platter.
• Hiruzen agreed to trust Danzo, and Root's BBQ announced the apology and free beef platters alongside its discounts.
• Oi brought his family back to Root's BBQ, where staff used a lit stove instead of Fire and Water Release to prepare the meal.
• Oi tasted the barbecue and suspected its sauce was similar to Fuyou Grill's.
• Danzo heard that business had picked up, told his subordinate to bring him the day's revenue, and went to see Hiruzen.

Danzo and Hiruzen celebrated Root's BBQ's crowded opening, confident that its early losses would turn into profits after three days. Once the promotion ended, customers vanished, and Danzo hurried to tell Hiruzen the bad news as Fuyou predicted they would lose over ten million.

• Hiruzen praised Danzo and toasted him at Root's BBQ, while Fuyou and Suzune tried the restaurant and complained that it copied Fuyou Grill's barbecue sauce.
• Root's BBQ drew crowds on its first three days but operated at a loss, and Danzo reassured Hiruzen that the promotion would lead to profits.
• After the promotion ended, Danzo saw that customers had disappeared and ordered someone to take him to Hiruzen.
• Hiruzen wondered how Root's BBQ was doing and heard urgent knocking at his door, while Fuyou examined a report and predicted losses of over ten million.

Hiruzen and Danzo decided to abandon Root’s failing barbecue business and launch a milk tea shop modeled on Fuyou Milk Tea. Orochimaru returned to Root’s facility expecting Hashirama Cells, only to find Fuyou Milk Tea cups, while Root’s Milk Tea opened a month later with Hiruzen as its advertisement.

• Hiruzen urged Danzo to sell the failing barbecue shops, but Danzo persuaded him that their losses were an accident and they should try again after investigating their competitor.
• Danzo recalled how he and Hiruzen had joined forces in the past, and Hiruzen agreed to trust him again.
• Danzo announced they would copy the Uchiha brat’s business outright rather than continue their half-baked barbecue venture.
• Orochimaru followed Root Shinobi to the secret facility, expecting Hashirama Cells, but found cups labeled Fuyou Milk Tea in the box.
• A month later, the renovated Root’s Milk Tea opened with decor and a menu modeled on Fuyou Milk Tea and an advertisement featuring the Third Hokage.

Fuyou worried over declining milk tea sales but expected the discounts from Root's Milk Tea to end eventually. Hiruzen and Danzo celebrated their apparent success until Danzo revealed they were running out of money and hinted at using funds from the Feudal Lord's Mansion.

• White Zetsu argued over buying Root's Milk Tea, then realized they still had Madara's mission to complete.
• Fuyou mistook Suzune's concern about his business for the reason he was worried and lamented the rival shops' enormous losses.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu praised their discount strategy, and Hiruzen called them his Sleeping Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that their business funds were nearly gone, but refused to end the campaign while Fuyou Milk Tea still had customers.
• Danzo asked Hiruzen about money recently transferred from the Feudal Lord's Mansion, leaving Hiruzen shaken.

Uchiha Fuyou prepared to open his Movie Theater while considering expansion into Kirigakure and Kumogakure. When Fugaku summoned him to the Uchiha compound, Fugaku told him that the Third Hokage was retiring over embezzling public funds.

• Fuyou learned that his Movie Theater was finished and that Kirigakure was ready to begin operating.
• At the Feudal Lord's Mansion, Kazuma accused Konoha's Hokage of embezzling funds, then left despite the others' objections.
• Fuyou visited the Uchiha compound, gave Itachi snacks, and handed Fugaku movie tickets for the Theater's opening.
• Fugaku told Fuyou that the Third Hokage was retiring, then explained that the reason was embezzling public funds.

Fuyu delivered tickets to the Great Elder, who warned him to stay out of trouble, while rumors that Hiruzen Sarutobi had misused public funds unsettled Madara and Konoha’s elders. Hiruzen decided it was time to retire, but urgent knocking interrupted him before he could write his retirement letter.

• Fuyu gave the Great Elder two tickets and received a warning to avoid running around with dangerous things inside him.
• Madara heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi had misused public funds, dismissed it as a smear, then learned Hiruzen had borrowed money and made it up afterward.
• Madara questioned White Zetsu about their own use of war funds, and they insisted they had only borrowed the money.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed the rumors with Hiruzen, who admitted fault over Root's BBQ and Root's Milk Tea.
• Hiruzen announced that he was too old to keep up and would leave opportunities to the young, then prepared to write a retirement letter before urgent knocking interrupted him.

Hiruzen rejected Danzo’s demands, while Danzo turned away Obito and Guy when they asked to join the Anbu. Obito remained determined to follow Kakashi into the Anbu, unaware that Kakashi regretted joining, and the chapter ended as Orochimaru entered the milk tea shop.

• Hiruzen firmly sent Danzo away, and Danzo vowed he would never speak to Hiruzen again.
• Obito asked Danzo to let him join the Anbu, but Danzo rejected him as too recognizable.
• Guy also asked to join the Anbu, then left when he learned Obito had been rejected.
• Obito vowed to join the Anbu and catch up with Kakashi, who admitted to Asuma that he wanted to resign.
• Guy joined Kakashi and the others at the milk tea shop, where someone announced that Orochimaru had arrived.

Orochimaru visited the Fuyou Milk Tea Shop, where he discovered that its irresistible flavor came from Fuyou’s supposed love and learned about Fuyou’s new movie venture. The chapter left Jiraiya with movie tickets and a request to promote Fuyou’s businesses during his travels.

• Orochimaru entered the Fuyou Milk Tea Shop and ordered a Strawberry Sundae, drawing attention from the ninjas there.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya discussed the rumor that the Third Hokage had misappropriated public funds and Fuyou’s upcoming movies.
• Orochimaru enjoyed his sundae and asked Fuyou how he had made it so irresistible despite Orochimaru cracking most of the recipe.
• Fuyou declared that love gave his food its flavor, and the shop’s customers applauded his speech.
• Fuyou gave Jiraiya two special movie tickets and asked him to promote the milk tea and barbecue shops during his travels.

As Konoha prepared to confirm its Fourth Hokage, Danzo struggled with his failing businesses and planned to use Orochimaru’s ambition, while Hiruzen considered a successor he could trust. The chapter ended with two familiar figures meeting at a milk tea shop in the Land of Fire and agreeing to cooperate.

• Jiraiya left Konoha, while news spread that Hiruzen would step down and discuss his successor with the Feudal Lord.
• Danzo wondered why his businesses kept failing, then welcomed Orochimaru and resolved to take the Hokage position for himself.
• Hiruzen regretted losing eighty million with Danzo, worried Orochimaru was being drawn toward Danzo, and searched for another successor.
• Konoha’s representatives arrived in the capital for the Fourth Hokage confirmation meeting as the ninja world stirred over the village’s billion.
• A figure carrying a large sword met another person at a milk tea shop in the Land of Fire, and they agreed to cooperate.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Orochimaru as Hokage and insisted that Minato Namikaze succeed him, sparking a heated argument with Shimura Danzō. Just as the daimyo called for someone else to decide between the candidates, a mysterious handsome figure entered the meeting room.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Orochimaru, saying he would not favor his own disciple, and nominated Minato Namikaze instead.
• Shimura Danzō argued that Orochimaru was the more qualified candidate, while Hiruzen defended Minato and dismissed Danzō’s objections.
• Hiruzen and Danzō argued over Minato’s character and his disciple Uchiha Obito, leaving Minato wishing he could avoid becoming Hokage and return home.
• Mitokado Homura praised both candidates after Danzō hinted at a compromising painting, refusing to choose between them.
• The daimyo announced that someone else would decide between Minato and Orochimaru, and a handsome figure entered the meeting room with a greeting.

Uchiha Fuyou joined the Konoha group as Minato became the Fourth Hokage, while Hiruzen warned him to refuse Danzo’s future loan requests. Danzo was ambushed on the road, and Hiruzen arrived—but instead of rescuing him by force, he declared that he would take Danzo away and dared anyone to stop him.

• Uchiha Fuyou congratulated Minato on becoming the Fourth Hokage and agreed to return to the village with Hiruzen’s group.
• Hiruzen privately told Minato to refuse Danzo if he asked to borrow money, leaving Minato confused about Konoha’s hidden troubles.
• Danzo left with Root Shinobi, vowing to make money and prove Hiruzen wrong, but a group of foreign and rogue ninjas ambushed him.
• Juzo Biwa and Kakuzu joined the attackers, who targeted Danzo over the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and his supposed debt.
• Hiruzen arrived to protect Danzo, then put an arm around him and challenged the attackers to stop him from taking Danzo away.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha ninja stopped an attempt to capture Shimura Danzō, and Fuyou’s display of wealth helped force Sunagakure’s retreat. After the battle, Hiruzen urged Danzō to abandon his plans, but Danzō refused.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought alongside Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzō until Minato arrived with reinforcements and turned the battle against the attackers.
• Kakuzu ordered Juzo Biwa to seize Danzō and escape, but Konoha’s defenders blocked them.
• Fuyou stepped forward and brandished stacks of Explosive Tags, convincing the Sand ninja that Konoha’s wealth made the mission hopeless.
• Minato stopped a Konoha ninja from pursuing the retreating Sunagakure forces and ordered everyone to protect Danzō.
• Danzō thanked Hiruzen, who asked him to stop pursuing his plans, but Danzō insisted he would succeed.

Fuyou opened the Movie Theater and welcomed the clan heads and other guests, including Nonō and Kabuto Yakushi. After inviting them to watch with him and Suzune, Fuyou was caught off guard when Suzune called him “Dad,” while Kushina secretly brought Minato to the theater to watch from behind them.

• Fuyou welcomed the clan heads to the Movie Theater opening, where the Great Elder and Second Elder praised him while pretending not to be impressed.
• Nonō arrived with Kabuto Yakushi, and Fuyou jokingly offered to adopt Kabuto as his son before inviting them to watch the movie with him and Suzune.
• Nonō said she was already planning to adopt Kabuto, then accepted Fuyou’s tickets after Suzune invited them to join.
• Suzune asked whether Fuyou liked children and then shyly called him “Dad,” prompting him to flick her on the head.
• Kushina stopped Minato from approaching Fuyou, then told him to buy tickets for seats behind Fuyou and the others so they could watch a good show.