Chapter Summaries

After the Third Hokage’s funeral, Sasuke and Neji discussed what it would take to become Hokage. Neji explained the importance of strength and succession through a teacher-student lineage, then revealed he had identified six candidates for Fifth Hokage.

• Gaara returned with Naruto but never got to see the Third Hokage, who had died before the funeral.
• Sasuke checked the system’s recovery countdown and rested while Konoha struggled with postwar duties and losses.
• Neji joined Sasuke on a rooftop and said that becoming Hokage required planning early, pointing to how small differences had shaped his own life.
• Neji explained that strength and recognition through the Hokage’s lineage were key to succeeding to the position.
• Neji told Sasuke he had reviewed records and identified six people qualified to become the Fifth Hokage.

Neji explained the possible candidates for Fifth Hokage and how their appointments might affect Konoha and Sasuke. He argued that Sasuke and Naruto should have handed Gaara to Kakashi, since the captured jinchūriki could have strengthened Kakashi’s bid for the position.

• Neji listed Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, Shimura Danzō, Hyuga Hiashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade as possible candidates, noting that Jiraiya and Tsunade were major unknowns.
• Neji ranked Shimura Danzō first, followed by Kakashi, Hyuga Hiashi, Sarutobi Asuma, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, and said he could not influence the election but wanted to understand its consequences.
• Neji said Hyuga Hiashi becoming Hokage would be the worst outcome for him, while Kakashi becoming Hokage would be the best.
• Neji criticized Sasuke for letting Naruto return Gaara and hand him directly to the higher-ups, arguing that Gaara’s capture could have helped Kakashi gain support if they had entrusted him to Kakashi.

Neji urged Sasuke to seek a Chunin promotion and persuade Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage, then learned that Jiraiya had already taken Sasuke and Naruto as disciples. That night, Sasuke asked the online users for advice, and one replied that convincing Jiraiya was difficult in one way but simple in another.

• Neji urged Sasuke to use his victory over Gaara to pursue Chunin rank and build a path toward becoming Hokage, but Sasuke refused to ask for a promotion.
• Sasuke revealed that Jiraiya had taught him ninjutsu and had also taken Naruto as a disciple, leaving Neji astonished and delighted.
• Neji set aside the Chunin issue and asked Sasuke to persuade Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage.
• After the system recovered, Sasuke asked the online users how to persuade Jiraiya and explained his agreement with Neji.
• The online users joked about Sasuke's post and complained that he had been away, while Sasuke waited for serious advice.
• One online user finally replied that persuading Jiraiya to become Hokage was difficult in one sense but simple in another.

Sasuke received online advice on persuading Jiraiya to become Fifth Hokage and claimed a reward for reporting intelligence, which turned out to be one million ryo. Three days earlier, Konoha’s leaders reviewed the invasion’s casualties and rewards, including Neji Hyuga’s recognition as a combat hero.

• Poor Feng advised Sasuke to tell Jiraiya honestly that he needed him to become Fifth Hokage and help pave the way for Sasuke’s future plans.
• Other forum users suggested using a Prophetic Dream to persuade Jiraiya, and Sasuke blushed at their teasing advice.
• Sasuke accepted a system prompt and received a D-Rank Scroll reward for reporting intelligence to Konoha officials, which contained one million ryo.
• Mitokado Homura presented Konoha’s post-battle casualty figures, reconstruction costs, and war-orphan expenses to the council.
• Mitokado Homura announced postwar rewards for Konoha’s fighters and clans.
• Mitokado Homura said Neji Hyuga would receive 300,000 ryo and be recognized as a combat hero with priority consideration for future promotions.

Konoha’s leaders settled punishments for Team 7 and Kurenai Yuhi, negotiated Sunagakure’s surrender and the return of Gaara, and began considering Danzo for Fifth Hokage. After the meeting, Kakashi encountered two mysterious customers at the Dango Shop while planning to visit Obito Uchiha’s grave.

• Mitokado Homura announced that Team 7 would not be punished for disobeying orders and causing civilian casualties because they had helped subdue Gaara, while Kurenai Yuhi lost her stipend and privileges for two years.
• Mitokado Homura declared that Sunagakure would receive Gaara back in exchange for unconditional surrender and 800 million ryo in reparations, with Temari staying in Konoha as an ambassador and hostage.
• Inuzuka Tsume protested the agreement, while Nara Shikaku and Mitokado Homura explained that Konoha could not risk another fight with Gaara or instability amid threats from other villages.
• Aburame Shibi and Yamanaka Inoichi supported Danzo as the candidate for Fifth Hokage, and Mitokado Homura said the advisors would provide an answer soon.
• Kakashi went to the Dango Shop to buy offerings for Obito Uchiha and noticed two customers wearing black robes embroidered with red clouds.

Jiraiya taught Sasuke the Summoning Technique, and Sasuke successfully summoned Iron Arm Toad. Naruto, jealous that Sasuke had received another powerful technique, ran off to find Kakashi.

• Jiraiya asked Naruto why he had not seen Sasuke lately, and Naruto struggled to explain.
• Sasuke arrived and asked to speak with Jiraiya alone, but Jiraiya refused and urged him to stay and train.
• Jiraiya gave Sasuke the toad contract, and Sasuke signed it after Naruto's name.
• Sasuke used the Summoning Technique and called forth Iron Arm Toad, but the effort exhausted his Chakra.
• Naruto ran off to find Kakashi after seeing Sasuke summon a toad.

Jiraiya taught Naruto and Sasuke the principle of “Seeing Others,” urging them to understand each other’s goals and consider what they could do for one another. Naruto began to imagine Sasuke’s pain, while Sasuke remained burdened by guilt and revenge and resisted making room for other people’s feelings.

• Jiraiya gathered Naruto and Sasuke beneath a tree and reminded them of their earlier training and the goals they had shared with him.
• Jiraiya explained that Seeing Others meant recognizing, understanding, and accepting other people’s differences and goals.
• Jiraiya asked Naruto what he could do for Sasuke, prompting Naruto to imagine the devastation Sasuke would feel if everyone close to him were killed.
• Jiraiya asked Sasuke what he could do for Naruto, and Sasuke realized he had never taken Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage seriously.
• Sasuke reflected that guilt over his dead clan and his pursuit of revenge left him unwilling to spend time or strength on emotional bonds.

Sasuke urged Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage by claiming a prophecy promised him a future with Tsunade, and Jiraiya believed him. Jiraiya took Sasuke to Naruto’s home, where two visitors in Black Coat Red Cloud waited outside.

• Naruto reflected on Jiraiya’s teachings and recognized that pain did not excuse Gaara’s harm to others.
• Sasuke told Jiraiya that a dream had named Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage and Sasuke the Sixth, destined to bring peace.
• Sasuke claimed the prophecy promised Jiraiya would marry a powerful, young, beautiful woman with huge breasts, convincing Jiraiya it meant Tsunade.
• Jiraiya invited Sasuke to stay at Naruto’s home, and Sasuke agreed to follow him there.
• Naruto opened his door and found two visitors wearing Black Coat Red Cloud.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Naruto after finding him alone, but Jiraiya and the Iron Arm Toad intervened. Facing Itachi, Sasuke controlled his intense emotions with the Will of Steel and decided to assess his brother without letting Jiraiya take his revenge from him.

• Uchiha Itachi used his crows to track Naruto and seized the chance to approach Naruto's home with Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Kisame Hoshigaki drained Naruto's Chakra with Samehada and raised his sword to attack him.
• Jiraiya arrived with the Iron Arm Toad, which blocked Kisame Hoshigaki's strike.
• Uchiha Itachi greeted Sasuke, and Sasuke resisted the urge to charge at his brother by relying on the Will of Steel.
• Sasuke judged that he could not defeat Uchiha Itachi yet, but resolved to study him and prevent Jiraiya from killing him.

Sasuke confronted Uchiha Itachi to protect Naruto and challenged his brother in battle, but Itachi overwhelmed him with Tsukuyomi. Sasuke endured the illusion and, though left collapsed, insisted that Itachi could not break him.

• Sasuke stepped forward to face Uchiha Itachi and asked Jiraiya not to interfere, while Jiraiya watched over Naruto.
• Sasuke attacked Itachi with taijutsu and fire techniques, but Itachi dodged his moves and countered him with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Uchiha Itachi trapped Sasuke in Tsukuyomi and made him relive the massacre while criticizing his weakness and lack of hatred.
• Sasuke found a way to observe the real world through the illusion and returned to reality after enduring twenty-four hours of torment.
• Sasuke collapsed but told Itachi that he could knock him down repeatedly without breaking him.

Jiraiya trapped Uchiha Itachi and Kisame inside the Toad Mouth Bind Technique while recognizing that Itachi was trying to influence Sasuke rather than kill him. Sasuke attacked Itachi as the pair tried to escape, and Itachi used Amaterasu to break through the barrier.

• Itachi taunted Sasuke and raised a kunai, but Naruto bit his hand and urged Sasuke to run.
• Jiraiya arrived and concluded that his clash with Itachi was a struggle to guide Sasuke's future, then targeted Kisame as well.
• Jiraiya used the Toad Mouth Bind Technique to trap Itachi and Kisame inside the Rock Lodging Toad's flesh walls.
• Itachi and Kisame tried to escape, with Kisame holding back the advancing walls as Itachi reached the edge.
• Sasuke attacked Itachi with Chidori, but Itachi redirected the strike into the flesh wall and then used Amaterasu.

After Itachi and Kisame escaped Jiraiya’s flesh wall, Jiraiya sealed Amaterasu and brought Naruto and Sasuke home. Sasuke asked the System how to kill Itachi, and a user urged him to defect to Orochimaru, leaving him tempted by the promise of power.

• Itachi escaped through a hole in Jiraiya’s flesh wall, and Kisame followed him with a Water Shark Bullet Technique.
• Jiraiya sealed the black flames with the Fire Sealing Method, freed Sasuke, and took him and Naruto home.
• Unable to sleep, Sasuke posted on the System asking how he could kill Itachi.
• Yao YAO advised Sasuke to defect from Konoha, join Orochimaru, and kill Itachi after three years; the System offered him a C-Rank Scroll for completing the suggestion.
• Sasuke recalled Orochimaru’s words and considered whether he could become strong enough to surpass Itachi in three years.

Jiraiya agreed to become Hokage after negotiating his work schedule and conditions with Konoha’s advisors. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Naruto left the hospital distressed over Kakashi’s condition and their own need to become stronger.

• Sasuke considered whether to stay Jiraiya’s student or seek strength elsewhere, then fell asleep while browsing the system.
• Jiraiya told Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu he would accept the Hokage position only with generous limits on his work and freedom to travel.
• Mitokado Homura negotiated revised terms with Jiraiya, who accepted them.
• Utatane Koharu outlined the nomination, Jonin vote, and Land of Fire Daimyo approval required for Jiraiya to become Hokage.
• Sasuke and Naruto left Konoha Hospital after learning Kakashi remained unconscious, and Naruto lamented that he might have to live in fear of Itachi.

Jiraiya began teaching Sasuke and Naruto the Rasengan, explaining its chakra-rotation principle and having them practice by bursting water balloons. Sasuke mastered the first stage quickly while Naruto struggled, and Jiraiya left Naruto to train as he turned to Sasuke for an answer about his Fire Style demonstration.

• Sasuke posted three threads about growing stronger, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, and seeking promotion to Chunin before Jiraiya arrived and offered to teach him and Naruto powerful techniques.
• Jiraiya lured a wild boar with roasted nuts and used the Rasengan to knock it unconscious, then explained that the technique relied on chakra rotation.
• Jiraiya had Sasuke and Naruto practice chakra control with water balloons, and Sasuke burst his first balloon by closely copying Jiraiya's movements.
• Jiraiya explained that the Rasengan was a Rank A technique that had taken the Fourth Hokage three years to master, while Sasuke burst another balloon and Naruto continued struggling.
• Jiraiya used Fire Style: Flame Bullet to roast the boar, then sent Naruto to keep practicing and turned to Sasuke for his observations.

Jiraiya taught Sasuke how Flame Bullet used oil refined from Chakra, then revealed he was becoming the Fifth Hokage. Sasuke checked his system and found a flood of replies to his posts, but the chapter left the B-Rank Scroll reward unconfirmed.

• Jiraiya explained the difference between Chakra nature transformation and material transformation, using Flame Bullet as an example of refining oil from Chakra.
• Jiraiya roasted wild boar meat with Flame Bullet while Sasuke tried and failed to refine oil himself.
• Jiraiya showed Sasuke pure fire element and assigned training to him and Naruto before leaving to prepare for the Fifth Hokage's inauguration.
• Jiraiya told Naruto and Sasuke not to call him Perverted Sage in public because he was now the Fifth Hokage.
• Sasuke opened his system to check for his B-Rank Scroll reward and found 99+ replies, including complaints about Gaara, accusations that Sasuke used cheats, and advice about awakening the Mangekyo.

Sasuke read suggestions about improving his strength, decided to focus on training rather than immediately seeking a weapon, and practiced alongside Naruto. He attended Jiraiya’s inauguration as the Fifth Hokage and received a B-Rank Scroll for persuading Jiraiya to take the office through a prophetic dream.

• Sasuke read suggestions to pursue Chunin promotion, train in a ninjutsu-and-Taijutsu style, and seek the Thunder God Sword, but chose to prioritize training.
• Sasuke saw Naruto struggle with water-balloon training and practiced refining Fire Chakra by the stream.
• Jiraiya took office as the Fifth Hokage at a ceremony in Konoha Plaza, attended by Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and their classmates.
• Temari presented Jiraiya with a bouquet on behalf of Sunagakure and the Wind Country.
• Sasuke received a B-Rank Scroll after completing the suggestion to persuade Jiraiya to become Hokage using a prophetic dream.

Sasuke obtained a one-use Mangekyō Sharingan technique, Heavenly Eye of God, from a B-Rank Scroll before encountering the badly wounded Shizune at Konoha’s gate. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and the advisors began planning how to clear Konoha’s mission backlog under the new administration.

• Sasuke opened a B-Rank Scroll and received the one-use Heavenly Eye of God technique, which could secretly alter a target’s will.
• At Konoha’s gate, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane found a bloodied woman who identified herself as needing to see the Hokage, and Izumo recognized her as Shizune.
• Kotetsu Hagane fetched Chunin reinforcements, and Izumo carried the unconscious Shizune toward Konoha Hospital while Sasuke followed with her Pink Pig.
• Jiraiya and the two advisors reviewed Konoha’s backlog of missions and agreed that the village needed to resume work quickly.
• Jiraiya told the advisors to bring Kurenai Yuhi back to her former position, dismissing their hesitation over old disputes with Shimura Danzō.

Sasuke reflected on the Heavenly Eye of God and helped Naruto complete the first stage of chakra training before they began practicing with tougher rubber balls. After Sasuke mentioned he would soon leave the village, Jiraiya asked where he was going.

• Sasuke considered using the Heavenly Eye of God to make Uchiha Itachi confess and atone, but questioned how easily revenge might be achieved.
• Sasuke found Naruto training with water balloons and explained how uneven chakra rotation could burst one.
• Naruto used both hands to rotate the water inside a balloon in several directions and burst it.
• Jiraiya arrived and introduced a second training stage, challenging Sasuke and Naruto to burst rubber balls with chakra.
• Sasuke made a small hole in a rubber ball, and Naruto complained when Sasuke and Jiraiya both seemed about to leave.
• Jiraiya asked Sasuke where he was going after Naruto revealed that Sasuke would leave the village soon.

Sasuke asked to take missions so he could leave the village openly, and Jiraiya taught him and Naruto to focus their chakra during training. Jiraiya brought them to the Hokage Residence and invited them to live with him, leaving Sasuke and Naruto with a sense of home.

• Sasuke told Jiraiya he wanted to start taking missions, and Jiraiya praised his motivation.
• Jiraiya drew a comma on Sasuke’s palm and explained how to focus chakra; Sasuke used the technique to make the rubber ball explode and was thrown backward.
• Naruto made a hole in his rubber ball after repeated attempts, while Jiraiya encouraged him to keep practicing.
• Jiraiya took Sasuke and Naruto to the Hokage Residence, where Shiranui Genma and Namiashi Raidō greeted them.
• Jiraiya offered Sasuke and Naruto rooms in the residence and gave them pajamas, making them feel as if they had found a home.

Sasuke and Naruto went to the Hokage Building to accept a mission, but Shizune’s report about Orochimaru led Jiraiya to bring them to Konoha Hospital. Shizune revealed that Orochimaru had tempted Tsunade with the promise of reviving Dan Katō and Nawaki, and pleaded with Jiraiya to stop her.

• Sasuke ate breakfast prepared by Saitō, then found Naruto training the Rasengan in the garden.
• Sasuke and Naruto went to Jiraiya’s office to request a mission and overheard Utatane Koharu reject Jiraiya’s proposals.
• Jiraiya selected a guard-duty mission at the Fire Temple, but Izumo Kamizuki arrived to report that Shizune had awakened and wanted to speak about Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya took Sasuke and Naruto to Konoha Hospital, where Shizune explained that Orochimaru had asked Tsunade to heal his hands.
• Shizune told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had offered to revive Dan Katō and Nawaki with Impure World Reincarnation, and begged him to stop Tsunade.