Chapter Summaries

The Ning Organization completed its first preparations in Konoha, while Tranquil Bookstore released Xinsi’s mythological collection Primordial, which quickly captivated the village. Hiruzen Sarutobi finished the first volume and ordered an Anbu to find out when the next one would be released.

• Ningyuan and Yūhi Kurenai left Yakushi Nonō a communication scroll, and Orochimaru kept Hiruzen Sarutobi occupied so he could not use his Crystal Ball to spy on them.
• Ningyuan, Yūhi Kurenai, and Namikaze Minato left Konoha for their next venue, while Yakushi Nonō departed to raise funds and left Yoshida in charge of the orphanage.
• Tranquil Bookstore released Xinsi’s Primordial on October 16, and Konoha readers embraced its unusual language and mythological stories.
• Primordial’s vocabulary and grammar spread through Konoha, affecting students’ essays and the reports submitted to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read the entire book, became eager for another volume, and ordered an Anbu to ask the bookstore when Primordial II would appear.

Tsunade’s bookstore sold out its first printing of Primordial across the ninja world, while Ningyuan delivered the next two volumes. Their plans for Mingchuan Town also advanced with new factories, a school, refugee recruitment, and the founding of Mingchuan Bank, though the town still needed teachers and further development.

• Tsunade received reports that bookstores in several capitals and hidden villages had sold out of Primordial and requested restocks.
• Ningyuan reviewed the sales reports with Tsunade and gave her the manuscripts for Primordial Two and Three.
• Tsunade showed Ningyuan Mingchuan Town’s construction report, which described recruiting refugees through merchants and building several factories.
• Ningyuan learned that the former lord’s manor had been converted into a school, but the town lacked teachers for its planned Chinese-language education.
• Tsunade used loans from merchants seeking penicillin distribution rights to establish Mingchuan Bank, leaving Ningyuan to develop and manage it.

Ningyuan discussed Mingchuan Town’s prospects and manpower needs with Tsunade before he, Minato, and Yūhi Kurenai set out for another performance. Suspecting the Third had sent Sarutobi Hiro to track them, they ambushed him, and Minato knocked him unconscious so they could try to turn him into one of their own.

• Ningyuan explained that Mingchuan Town’s factories, books, and records could bring in money, while the town still desperately needed more people.
• Tsunade said she was energized by watching the city grow, and Ningyuan, Minato, and Yūhi Kurenai hurried to their next performance.
• Ningyuan spotted Sarutobi Hiro, a Sarutobi Clan jonin, following their route and suspected the Third had sent him to uncover their movements.
• Ningyuan decided they should capture Sarutobi Hiro rather than kill him, and Minato agreed to lead the attack with the others supporting him.
• Minato used a lightning attack to incapacitate Sarutobi Hiro after the jonin dodged their initial ambush.

Ningyuan used Personality Remolding to turn Anbu Jonin Sarutobi Hiro into a loyal spy and learned the Anbu’s structure and his assignment to watch Ningyuan. After deciding to infiltrate the Anbu more deeply, Ningyuan and Minato used Sarutobi Hiro to isolate Shimura Yū, whom the Byakugan boy marked with a curse as the next scene ended.

• Ningyuan planted Personality Remolding on Sarutobi Hiro and questioned him about the Anbu’s personnel, leadership, and mission.
• Ningyuan told Minato they should take control of the Anbu, then decided to plant spies around Hiruzen Sarutobi rather than remodel him.
• Sarutobi Hiro submitted an ordinary mission report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then accepted Shimura Yū’s invitation to drink.
• Sarutobi Hiro got Shimura Yū drunk and brought him to Shimura Yū’s home, where he attacked him and drew a trident kunai.
• Minato appeared with the Byakugan boy, who struck Shimura Yū’s chakra points and placed a curse mark on his forehead, changing his wariness into closeness.

Ningyuan and his allies brought Anbu Second Division under the Ning Organization’s control by exhausting its members in sparring before applying curse marks. With the division secured, Ningyuan considered his next target and let Minato devise a plan to approach the Anbu guarding Kushina.

• Sarutobi Hiro and Shimura Yū used sparring sessions to exhaust the members and captains of Anbu Second Division, allowing Ningyuan and Minato to place curse marks on them.
• Shimura Yū challenged division commander Sarutobi Shin, who was outnumbered and exhausted before Ningyuan and Minato marked him as well.
• Sarutobi Shin recommended targeting Sarutobi Rei, but Ningyuan rejected the plan because Hiruzen Sarutobi might witness the challenge.
• Sarutobi Shin explained that Kambara Kamiichi might refuse a challenge and that Hiruzen Sarutobi could also come to watch, so Ningyuan considered repeating the method used against Second Division.
• Minato proposed beginning with the Anbu assigned to guard Kushina, and Ningyuan asked him to formulate the battle plan.

Minato and Ningyuan used Kushina’s staged kidnapping to capture an Anbu observer and learn his identity. They used Shiraishi Hikaru to spread Curse Marks through Anbu First Division, leaving Sarutobi Rei as the last holdout before marking him too.

• Kushina brought Minato a Wind Release scroll, and he told her that the organization had an operation planned for that night.
• Kushina left Minato’s home and was carried out of the village by people posing as kidnappers while an Anbu observer followed them.
• Ningyuan and Minato ambushed the observer, and Ningyuan used a Curse Mark to make him reveal that he was Shiraishi Hikaru, leader of a squad in Anbu First Division.
• Ningyuan ordered Shiraishi Hikaru to bring his squad members to receive Curse Marks and recruit others in the division.
• By Tuesday, all three squads of Anbu First Division and its commander, Sarutobi Rei, had received Curse Marks.

Hiruzen Sarutobi considered how to use the Daimyo’s proposed Guardian Twelve Shinobi to benefit Konoha, while Sarutobi Rei secretly helped Ningyuan capture Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Ningyuan marked and healed Shinnosuke, then ordered him and Rei to begin their spar.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Primordial II and decided that Konoha should support Civilian Ninja while suppressing other Ninja Clans.
• Sarutobi Rei told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Daimyo planned to recruit twelve Jonin as the Guardian Twelve Shinobi, and Hiruzen chose to send two Sarutobi Clan Chunin to join them.
• Sarutobi Rei lured Sarutobi Shinnosuke to the Death Forest and attacked him with a kunai, then cut his hand and ankle tendons.
• Ningyuan and Minato emerged from the forest, and Ningyuan considered improving the Ning Organization’s curse marks to prevent betrayal.
• Ningyuan planted a curse mark on Sarutobi Shinnosuke, healed his injuries, and told him and Sarutobi Rei to spar.

Ningyuan expanded the Ning Organization’s control across Konoha by placing cursed seals on Anbu members and officials, while Minato accepted the seal as a way to help the village. At the New Year, Sarutobi Biwako returned home convinced that the Will of Fire applied to every useful profession, and Hiruzen learned that a student’s essay had changed her mind.

• Minato said he was amazed that Ningyuan’s cursed seal could remove hatred, and he agreed to receive one after it was improved.
• By mid-November, Ningyuan had brought all sixty-six members of the five Anbu divisions into the Ning Organization, then sealed confidential Hokage Office staff and Sarutobi Biwako by the end of December.
• On New Year’s Day, Hiruzen noticed that Konoha’s workers were staying late and working through the holiday, while Biwako returned home at two in the morning.
• Biwako told Hiruzen she believed doctors, teachers, farmers, and others fulfilled the Will of Fire by serving the village, and said she wanted to live by it rather than spend her life scheming for the Sarutobi Clan.
• Biwako explained that an essay from the Ninja Academy’s medical class had influenced her, then handed it to Hiruzen, who began reading its prompt and opening line.

Ningyuan laid out a plan for the Ning Organization to control the Daimyo and unify the Land of Fire while expanding from the capital and Mingchuan City. The group accepted its assignments and set out to take control of the country, build its institutions, and eliminate hunger within three years.

• Ningyuan explained that controlling the Daimyo could give the Ning Organization legitimacy to unite the Land of Fire, and Yakushi Nonō reported recruiting thousands of bandits and ruffians.
• Ningyuan proposed taking the ten Guardian Twelve Shinobi positions not assigned to Konoha and using them to control the Daimyo and expand from the capital.
• Ningyuan announced a three-year plan to take every city, build industry, schools, and roads, eliminate bandits and local tyrants, and end hunger.
• Ningyuan assigned Yakushi Nonō to expand the organization and build a nationwide intelligence network, while Tsunade would expand from Mingchuan Town and control city lords.
• Orochimaru agreed to work in the capital, Minato was tasked with becoming Konoha’s next Hokage, and Ningyuan and Yūhi Kurenai planned to make money and recruit members across the country.

Kakashi’s rapid rise to Chunin intensified Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo’s resolve to undermine Hatake Sakumo’s chance at becoming Hokage. Meanwhile, Ningyuan’s organization secretly controlled Konoha’s information and ninja forces, keeping Hiruzen inside an artificial world of reports and staged missions.

• Kakashi graduated as a Genin at five and became a Chunin at six, making him Konoha’s new benchmark for genius.
• Danzo confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi about Kakashi’s promotion and urged him to suppress the Hatake family, but Hiruzen said Sakumo would face a trial.
• Danzo volunteered to handle Sakumo, while Hiruzen expected him to prevent Sakumo from becoming Hokage.
• An Automatic Scribe Machine in Konoha’s Intelligence Department recorded Hiruzen and Danzo’s conversation for the Ning Organization.
• Ningyuan used Hiruzen’s archives to predict his reactions and staged missions while the Ning Organization recruited or marked Konoha’s mission-capable ninja.
• Hiruzen remained unaware of the organization’s control because he rarely left the village and saw only information it wanted him to receive.

Ningyuan visited Hatake Sakumo at the Hatake Clan home, where Sakumo recognized his hidden strength and learned he was Hyuga Yuuki’s son. Kakashi joined them, confused about why his classmate had come specifically to see his father.

• Ningyuan decided it was time to make a move on Hatake Sakumo, and Yūhi Kurenai offered to help.
• A week later, Ningyuan visited the Hatake Clan home alone and exchanged greetings with Kakashi, who had recently become a Chunin.
• Ningyuan declined Kakashi’s invitation to demonstrate his swordsmanship and entered the house to meet Hatake Sakumo.
• Hatake Sakumo sensed Ningyuan’s impressive strength, and Ningyuan introduced himself as Hyuga Ningyuan, the son of Hyuga Yuuki.
• Kakashi realized Ningyuan was speaking with his father, then sat beside Ningyuan to hear what he had come to discuss.

Ningyuan revealed the Ning Organization’s influence over the Land of Fire and invited Hatake Sakumo to join, then warned him that Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to trap him with a mission. Sakumo agreed to study the organization’s materials while considering its offer and the plan to fake his death.

• Ningyuan told Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi that Orochimaru and Tsunade belonged to the Ning Organization and that it had transformed the Land of Fire.
• Ningyuan admitted the organization had used curse marks to control about thirty thousand people, and Sakumo acknowledged that the country had improved under its influence.
• Ningyuan invited Sakumo to join and gave him books about the organization, while Sakumo noticed Ningyuan’s space-time ninjutsu.
• Ningyuan warned Sakumo that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had arranged an escort mission designed to force him to choose between his teammates and vital intelligence.
• Ningyuan proposed that Sakumo enter the trap and fake his death so he could become an inspector for the Ning Organization.
• Sakumo chose to read the organization’s book before deciding whether to join, while Kakashi promised to support him.

Kakashi studied Ningyuan’s writings and decided to join the Ning Organization with Hatake Sakumo. Ningyuan explained Sakumo’s new role after faking his death and revealed that Kakashi would train under Namikaze Minato, who was also in the organization.

• Hatake Sakumo gave Kakashi Ningyuan’s writings and taught him to consider how people’s interests shaped their actions.
• After reading the Selected Works of Ningyuan, Kakashi said he wanted to join the Ning Organization.
• Ningyuan and Yūhi Kurenai visited the Hatake residence, where Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi formally joined the organization.
• Ningyuan told Hatake Sakumo to fake his death, go to the capital, and establish a disciplinary department and its school.
• Ningyuan said Kakashi would have an opportunity to become Hokage and would train under Namikaze Minato’s student line.
• Ningyuan revealed that Namikaze Minato was a member of the Ning Organization, surprising Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo.

Ningyuan exposed how Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo engineered Hatake Sakumo’s disgrace, while Kakashi learned the truth and lost what little faith he had left in Konoha. Ningyuan recruited Kakashi into the Ning Organization, taught him cultivation techniques, and left him determined to support Ningyuan from the shadows.

• Ningyuan’s plan led Hatake Sakumo to abandon a mission to save a teammate, after which Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo spread rumors and arranged for the teammate to denounce him.
• Hatake Sakumo committed suicide, but Kakashi condemned his father’s choice, and Hiruzen Sarutobi promised to secure his place on the Memorial Stone.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Kakashi that Sakumo would not be honored and sent him on a mission without compensation, turning Kakashi’s remaining goodwill toward him into hatred.
• Ningyuan met Kakashi during the mission, explained his concerns about Konoha’s treatment of ninja families, and encouraged Kakashi to study while pretending to become obsessed with novels.
• Kakashi challenged Ningyuan, whose Qi-powered branch stopped Kakashi’s blade; Ningyuan then passed him cultivation, Chakra-circulation, footwork, and swordsmanship techniques.
• After Ningyuan disappeared, Kakashi resolved to follow him and secretly clear obstacles from his path.

The chapter recounted how Hanzō’s reforms and military buildup made the Land of Rain a power before his defeat left it fractured among rival ninja organizations. In the present, Ningyuan, Yūhi Kurenai, and Yakushi Nonō entered one group’s territory, and its young leader prepared to meet them with Nagato and Konan.

• Hanzō seized control of the Land of Rain, built up its military, and launched wars against neighboring countries before losing to three young ninjas and retreating from public life.
• After Hanzō disappeared, his followers split into nearly a thousand organizations that fought over territory and left local people at the mercy of their leaders.
• Ningyuan, Yūhi Kurenai, and Yakushi Nonō walked through a rain-soaked town, where Nonō explained the civil war and Kurenai condemned the rival groups.
• A ninja reported the three outsiders to his young orange-haired leader, who decided to meet them and bring Nagato along.
• The leader gathered Nagato and several ninjas, including a blue-haired girl with a paper flower, and set out to meet the newcomers.

Ningyuan tested Yahiko’s ideals by pretending to negotiate a merger between their organizations, then revealed that his own group had transformed the Land of Fire. Yahiko agreed to visit and see the results for himself, while Ningyuan secretly kept their conversation from being overheard.

• Yahiko introduced himself, Nagato, Konan, and the Akatsuki Organization, and explained their goal of bringing peace to the Land of Rain.
• Ningyuan challenged Yahiko’s negotiation skills by asking for wages, housing, and a leadership position, and Yahiko struggled to answer.
• Yahiko agreed to surrender the Akatsuki leadership if the Yuan Organization truly pursued peace, impressing Ningyuan and his companions.
• Ningyuan revealed his identity as Hyuga Ningyuan and claimed that the Ning Organization had developed a vast network and taken control of the Land of Fire.
• Yahiko insisted on seeing the Land of Fire, and Nagato and Konan agreed to accompany him after Nagato warned Ningyuan not to harm Yahiko.
• Ningyuan assured Yahiko that their meeting would remain secret, while secretly using Genjutsu to prevent the attendants from hearing them.

Ningyuan explained to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan that Mount Takiyama and competing winds caused the Land of Rain’s constant rainfall, and said changing the climate would require cooperation from other countries. He brought them to a border town in the Land of Fire, presenting it as an example of the Ning Organization’s reach.

• Ningyuan summoned a paper kite, flew Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan through the rain behind a barrier, and asked them about Mount Takiyama.
• Ningyuan explained that scientific laws and ocean evaporation, Mount Takiyama, and cold winds from the Land of Snow combined to create the Land of Rain’s endless rain.
• Yahiko asked whether the environment could be changed, and Ningyuan said it required other countries’ cooperation, which might be difficult because they could fear the Land of Rain’s strength.
• Ningyuan joked about the Ning Organization’s supposed armies and weapons to show why other countries might distrust Yahiko’s promises of peace.
• Ningyuan brought the group to a town in the Land of Fire and said the Ning Organization’s ability to manage even a remote town demonstrated its strength.

Ningyuan explained how the Ning Organization used confiscated noble wealth, road-building, education, and industry to strengthen the Land of Fire, then argued that unifying the ninja world could bring lasting peace. Yahiko accepted Ningyuan’s case and agreed to join the Ning Organization with the Akatsuki Organization.

• Yakushi Nonō described how the Ning Organization funded roads by confiscating nobles’ property and hiring ordinary people, while Ningyuan explained how work relief, schools, and factories could strengthen the Land of Fire.
• Ningyuan challenged Yahiko’s belief that mutual understanding could bring peace, and Yahiko discovered that Nagato had never fully believed in his approach.
• Ningyuan outlined three approaches to peace and advocated grand unification, citing the Rabbit Goddess, Nagato’s Uzumaki heritage, and the peace between the Senju and Uchiha clans in one village.
• Ningyuan proposed making the Land of Fire powerful and attacking the other four great nations simultaneously, while Yahiko worried that the war would cost many lives.
• Ningyuan suggested testing unification by bringing peace to the Land of Rain, and Yahiko agreed that the Akatsuki Organization would join the Ning Organization for world peace.

After seeing Yahiko’s group off, Ningyuan met Black Zetsu underground and pitched a plan to promote worship of the Rabbit Goddess. Black Zetsu left intrigued by the idea of preparing people for Kaguya’s return and resolved to investigate Ningyuan.

• Ningyuan sensed Black Zetsu moving beneath the earth, and Black Zetsu surfaced to meet him and Yūhi Kurenai.
• Ningyuan told Black Zetsu that he wanted to unify the world and follow the Rabbit Goddess, whom he claimed was his ancestor.
• Ningyuan proposed abolishing other religions, imprisoning their priests, and making worship of the Rabbit Goddess official.
• Ningyuan suggested spreading a prophecy that believers would see the Rabbit Goddess descend from the moon, and Black Zetsu recognized the idea could help prepare for her return.
• Black Zetsu encouraged Ningyuan, sank back underground, and decided to investigate him after realizing he had heard the name Ningyuan before.

Ningyuan tracked Black Zetsu to Madara’s hidden base in the Land of Rice and met the elderly Uchiha, who questioned how the young Hyuga had found him. Madara became interested in Ningyuan’s strength and proposed testing him with a clone.

• Ningyuan sent Yūhi Kurenai home, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique and chakra elementalization to infiltrate Madara’s base in the Land of Rice.
• Ningyuan discovered a cache of Chakra Metal and was confronted by several White Zetsu, but he evaded their attacks and reached Madara’s chamber.
• Ningyuan told Madara and Black Zetsu that his awakening Byakugan had revealed inherited memories and could track Black Zetsu’s traces.
• Madara considered taking Ningyuan as a disciple and asked whether he could defeat a Jonin.
• Ningyuan claimed Jonin seemed easy to crush, so Madara formed a clone to test his strength, and Ningyuan agreed.