Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya stopped Kakashi from rushing off to find Obito, and Sasuke recounted Obito’s actions and beliefs. Kakashi concluded that Obito might still care about Konoha and resolved to stay in the village until he could persuade him to return.

• Jiraiya restrained Kakashi and urged him to hear Sasuke’s information before making plans to find Obito.
• Sasuke explained that Obito had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, used the Kamui Dimension, and captured him during the mission in Kirigakure.
• Sasuke revealed that he had told Obito Konoha came to kill him, and Jiraiya explained how Uchiha Itachi’s actions had influenced Obito’s decision to release Sasuke.
• Kakashi speculated that Obito had sought revenge for Rin, then released Sasuke as a gesture of goodwill toward Konoha.
• Sasuke described Obito’s ambition to create a world of peace, love, and victors, and Kakashi vowed to remain in Konoha and persuade him to return.

Sasuke struggled with whether to meet Uchiha Itachi, confided his fears to Kimimaro, and decided to take control of the situation himself. The next day he arrived at the Uchiha Clan stronghold, where Itachi watched him approach with growing unease.

• Kakashi asked Sasuke to arrange a meeting with Obito, and Tobi offered to do so if Sasuke agreed to meet Uchiha Itachi.
• Sasuke visited Kimimaro, who urged him to prepare early and keep the initiative in his own hands.
• Unable to sleep, Sasuke reviewed suggestions from experienced online users about how to handle Uchiha Itachi.
• Sasuke walked through the spring rain to the Uchiha Clan stronghold, where Uchiha Itachi waited for him.
• Sasuke entered the hall and slowly climbed toward Uchiha Itachi, whose confidence gave way to unease.

Sasuke confronted Uchiha Itachi in the hall, resisted his genjutsu and rejected the story Itachi used to provoke him into a final fight. Sasuke began revealing what Obito Uchiha had told him about the Uchiha Clan massacre, leaving Itachi to face the truth behind Sasuke's knowledge.

• Sasuke approached Uchiha Itachi, resisted his attempt to take his eye, and used genjutsu to counter Itachi's attack.
• Uchiha Itachi tried to provoke Sasuke by recounting Uchiha Madara's history and the Mangekyō Sharingan's cost, but Sasuke mocked his performance.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched the brothers and debated whether Itachi or Sasuke was concealing the truth.
• Sasuke identified Obito Uchiha as the masked man with a space-time ability and described his past and actions in Kirigakure.
• Sasuke told Uchiha Itachi that Obito had revealed the truth about the Uchiha Clan massacre and events surrounding the Night of the Blood Moon.

Sasuke forced Itachi to face the truth about the Uchiha massacre and rejected his attempts to justify or resume their relationship. After Itachi left the Akatsuki, Sasuke returned to Naruto and found comfort in their shared home and the quiet peace after the rain.

• Sasuke exposed Itachi’s betrayal by Obito and condemned his massacre of the Uchiha, driving Itachi into despair and fury.
• Sasuke’s prepared crow used Heavenly Eye of God to break through Itachi’s resolve, and Itachi collapsed in grief before trying to follow Sasuke.
• Sasuke told Itachi to stay away and left the compound, while Itachi stood in the rain remembering how his beliefs about life and death had shaped his choices.
• Itachi told Kisame their partnership was over, removed his Akatsuki robe, and walked away, warning they might be enemies next time.
• Sasuke returned to the Hokage Residence, apologized to Naruto for tracking mud inside, and felt relieved that Itachi would no longer hurt him.
• Naruto and Sasuke watched a rainbow after the rain, then Sasuke reminded Naruto it was his turn to cook.

After meeting Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke told Jiraiya and Naruto the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Massacre and explained that Itachi would no longer harm him. Jiraiya resolved to weaken Shimura Danzō’s influence through a new organization called Branch, while Sasuke urged him to proceed cautiously.

• Sasuke told Jiraiya and Naruto that he had met Uchiha Itachi and that Itachi would not bother him again.
• Sasuke revealed what Obito Uchiha had told him about the Uchiha Clan Massacre and recounted his meeting with Itachi, while keeping the Heavenly Eye of God secret.
• Jiraiya grew furious at Shimura Danzō’s role in the massacre and described Danzo’s power and control of Root.
• Jiraiya proposed using Sasuke and the new organization Branch to weaken Danzo’s influence, and Sasuke recognized the plan.
• Sasuke advised Jiraiya to move slowly, and Jiraiya told him to report dangerous plans in advance.

Sasuke received the Mangekyō Sharingan eye technique Shunka but chose not to test it, wary of the blindness caused by using the Mangekyō. The next morning, Jiraiya began training Naruto and Sasuke in chakra nature and shape transformation, then demonstrated his own Fire Release Rasengan.

• Sasuke opened his B-Rank Scroll and gained Shunka, a growth-type Mangekyō Sharingan technique linked to his desire to control his fate.
• Sasuke considered testing Shunka but held back because he feared the Mangekyō Sharingan's eventual blindness.
• Naruto woke Sasuke and Jiraiya early, and Jiraiya took both disciples to the training ground to teach them about creating their own techniques.
• Jiraiya explained that Naruto and Sasuke had mastered chakra shape transformation, and Sasuke demonstrated Chidori as an example of combining shape and nature transformation.
• Jiraiya began Naruto's Wind Release training by having him use chakra to split a leaf.
• Jiraiya demonstrated a Fire Release Rasengan and named it the Gallant Rasengan.

Jiraiya trained Naruto and Sasuke in advanced nature transformation while Konoha’s advisers debated Sasuke’s future. Sasuke was appointed a Jonin and transferred to the Anbu, as Uchiha Itachi watched the Hokage Building from outside.

• Jiraiya demonstrated Fire Release: Gallant Rasengan to Naruto, then took Sasuke to a lake and instructed him to evaporate all its water through instant Fire-nature transformations.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu agreed to send Sasuke into the Anbu rather than make him an Appointed Jonin, and warned Jiraiya to keep his proposed Branch organization secret.
• Jiraiya accepted the advisers’ decision and announced Sasuke’s promotion and Anbu transfer before Konoha’s elite Jonin and clan heads.
• Sasuke received the village’s congratulations but felt that his path toward becoming Hokage had only begun.
• Uchiha Itachi stood outside the Hokage Building and looked up at its Fire plaque.

Uchiha Itachi asked Jiraiya to let him return to Konoha, prompting Sasuke to object and demand that Itachi stay out of his life. Jiraiya arranged for Itachi to rejoin the Anbu under the alias Locust, with Sasuke and Itachi agreeing to avoid each other.

• Uchiha Itachi entered the Hokage Building openly and asked Jiraiya to let him return to Konoha in exchange for Akatsuki intelligence.
• Itachi explained that he wanted to protect both Konoha and Sasuke, but Sasuke burst in and angrily opposed his return.
• Jiraiya proposed rules requiring Itachi to avoid Sasuke, but Sasuke rejected the arrangement because Itachi's return could complicate the Uchiha Clan's reputation.
• Jiraiya offered to bring Itachi back into the Anbu under the alias Locust, and Itachi accepted the Rat Head Mask.
• Sasuke remained displeased, while Jiraiya said they could arrange their Anbu missions so the brothers would not cross paths.

Nara Shikaku invited Sasuke to dinner to thank him and ease Shikamaru’s guilt over the Land of Water mission, while warning his son to treat Sasuke cautiously as the Uchiha Clan might regain influence. Shikamaru revealed he had secretly kept Tanaka Ryuta’s head and planned to deliver it to the boatman’s family; afterward, Kakashi came to Sasuke’s home to ask about Obito.

• Nara Shikaku thanked Sasuke for his actions in the Land of Water and invited him to dinner because Shikamaru was still distressed about the mission.
• Shikaku told Shikamaru that Sasuke’s awakened Supreme Eye Technique and Anbu promotion could signal the Uchiha Clan’s return, and urged him to avoid making Sasuke an enemy.
• At dinner, Sasuke learned that Kirigakure had written him into textbooks and that Ao had once offered to help Konoha’s diplomatic goals in exchange for becoming Mizukage.
• Shikamaru told Sasuke he had brought Tanaka Ryuta’s head back to his family and paid them, prompting Sasuke to leave to repay the money.
• After Sasuke left, Shikamaru admitted to Shikaku that he had actually buried the head in their backyard and intended to travel to the Land of Waves to deliver it.
• Kakashi visited Sasuke at home and, once they were alone, asked whether there had been any news from Obito.

Sasuke told Kakashi that Obito had not appeared, while Obito debated meeting Kakashi and devised a new plan. Shizune warned Tsunade about her disturbing dream and missing medical supplies, prompting Tsunade to seek an Anbu investigation; meanwhile, Second Pillar prepared to join the Anbu.

• Sasuke told Kakashi that he had not seen Obito again, though White Spiral Weirdo had promised to arrange a meeting if Sasuke visited Uchiha Itachi.
• Obito reviewed footage of Sasuke's fight with Uchiha Itachi, argued with White Zetsu Tobi about the promise to Kakashi, and chose to have Nagato contact Kakuzu for funds.
• Shizune described her dream of a child turning into a huge snake with Orochimaru's face and confessed her fears about the Healing Resuscitation Technique.
• Shizune warned Tsunade that missing medicines and Medical Scrolls were linked to cellular recovery and spiritual research, and suspected Orochimaru was involved.
• Tsunade agreed to have the Anbu investigate the missing supplies and went to find the Hokage.
• Second Pillar changed into the standard Anbu uniform and faced Sasuke with a red-and-blue Anbu mask in hand.

Sasuke joined the Anbu’s Third Division, met his teammates, and received his first mission: investigating stolen scrolls and medicine at Konoha Hospital. There, Shizune revealed that she suspected Orochimaru was connected to the theft.

• Uzuki Yugao introduced herself as Sasuke’s superior and brought him to meet the Third Division’s members, including Haru and Rinkaku.
• Zou arrived, enthusiastically welcomed Sasuke, and assigned the 11th Squad to investigate missing Medical Scrolls and medicine from Konoha Hospital.
• Uzuki Yugao led Sasuke, Haru, and Rinkaku to the hospital and explained that Root had supplied many Anbu members, including their commander, Tenzou.
• At the hospital, Shizune recognized Sasuke and said she had been trying to convince the Anbu that the theft was connected to Orochimaru.

Uzuki Yugao’s Anbu team investigated Konoha Hospital’s missing medicines and uncovered records showing Morikawa Tatsuya had supplied materials for Orochimaru’s research. Under interrogation, Morikawa admitted to an earlier theft but denied involvement in the latest one, leaving the team uncertain about his connection to Orochimaru.

• Shizune argued that the stolen medicines were connected to Orochimaru’s injured arms, and Uzuki Yugao began investigating the theory despite the lack of direct evidence.
• Morikawa Tatsuya obstructed the team’s inspection of the medicine warehouse, but Shizune persuaded him to let them investigate.
• Uzuki Yugao suspected an inside job and had Shizune gather records about everyone with access to warehouse keys.
• Rinkaku found records showing Morikawa had repeatedly procured medical research supplies for Orochimaru between Years 40 and 42.
• Uzuki Yugao confronted Morikawa with his absences around the thefts, and he admitted to stealing medicines once to teach the hospital staff a lesson.
• Morikawa denied involvement in the theft eight days earlier and appeared confused when Rinkaku accused him of delivering medicines to Orochimaru.

Sasuke’s first Anbu case uncovered a hospital employee’s theft but left a second theft unexplained, so Uzuki Yugao used a confidential medical handbook as bait for whoever was behind it. On the fourth night of surveillance, Sasuke browsed the forum, unaware whether the trap would draw anyone out.

• Uzuki Yugao explained how she pressured Morikawa Tatsuya into confessing, and Sasuke returned to the Anbu Base after his first day on the job.
• Jiraiya told Sasuke that Root-trained Anbu fell into three groups based on their loyalty and asked him to keep watch for Danzō’s operatives.
• Morikawa Tatsuya confessed to the first medicine theft, but Rinkaku verified that the medicines had gone to Cat Granny and found no confirmed link to Orochimaru.
• Uzuki Yugao told Shizune that the excess medicines and Morikawa’s denial of the second theft suggested another group was involved.
• Tsunade prepared a confidential handbook about reactivating cellular activity and placed it in her office as bait, while the Anbu watched the office for several nights.
• On the fourth night, Sasuke grew bored during surveillance and opened the system to browse his forum replies and messages.

During Anbu night watch, Sasuke asked the forum how to avoid blindness from his Mangekyō Sharingan and learned about Hashirama Cells, possible sources, and the risks of transplantation. After learning a future Fourth Shinobi World War was coming, he summoned Deceitful Monkey Kitsu to help with the stalled case involving Tsunade, Shizune, and Orochimaru.

• Sasuke reviewed forum replies and posted to ask how he could avoid going blind from his Mangekyō Sharingan without taking Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
• Yun Lan advised Sasuke to transplant Uchiha Itachi's eyes, while other users debated whether blood relation or Indra's bloodline caused the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• momo suggested Sasuke obtain Hashirama Cells, and users discussed their sources, the danger of transplantation, and building a relationship with Tsunade to pursue research in Konoha.
• Sasuke learned that a Fourth Shinobi World War would occur and decided to ask Deceitful Monkey Kitsu about the stalled case.
• Sasuke summoned Deceitful Monkey Kitsu and explained the situation; Kitsu told him to take him to the highest-ranking person responsible and keep others from seeing him.

Sasuke and Uzuki Yugao used a staged break in their hospital stakeout to draw out the thief targeting the handbook. They identified the intruder’s technique as an Aburame Clan secret, and Sasuke took the evidence to handle the sensitive discovery as Plan B began.

• Deceitful Monkey Kitsu analyzed the thief’s refusal to act and concluded that the culprit was likely a Konoha insider who feared exposing their identity.
• Sasuke feigned anger and quit the Anbu while Yugao declared the case closed, allowing them to secretly wait together inside the hospital director’s office.
• A figure formed from black froth entered the office and reached for the handbook, but Sasuke and Yugao attacked it.
• The intruder vanished as a mass of Kikaichū, leading Sasuke and Yugao to identify the technique as the Aburame Clan’s Secret Technique: Insect Clone.
• Sasuke took the bottle containing the dead Kikaichū from Yugao and said it was time to begin Plan B.

Jiraiya pressured Aburame Shibi into naming Ryoma Aburame as the Konoha medicine thief and secured the clan head’s cooperation. Meanwhile, Sasuke and his allies used a forged medical manual and a staged fire to draw out the thief, and the birds reported that they had seen what happened.

• Jiraiya confronted Aburame Shibi with a Kikaichū found at the hospital and accused the thief of helping Orochimaru, prompting Shibi to name Ryoma Aburame and pledge the clan’s loyalty.
• Captain Zou berated Uzuki Yugao in public while secretly helping Sasuke stage a plan to recover a forged medical manual and expose the thief.
• Sasuke and Zou planted Tsunade’s counterfeit manual, then Sasuke set part of the Anbu building on fire to create a distraction and draw the Anbu outside.
• An unknown thief stole the manual from Zou’s office during the chaos, and Sasuke met Uzuki Yugao at the agreed spot before Naruto, Kiba, Akamaru, and Neji joined them.
• A skylark landed on Sasuke’s shoulder and reported that the birds had witnessed the thief’s actions.

Sasuke led Naruto, Neji, Kiba, and Yugao to capture Haru and Root member Terai after they stole the Medical Manual. In the Hokage’s office, Jiraiya confirmed both captives bore Root’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, and Danzo arrived to deny knowing about the theft before asking to deal with his subordinates himself.

• Sasuke briefed the team on capturing the suspects alive, and they surrounded Haru and Terai near Training Ground Zero as Haru handed over the Medical Manual.
• Terai tried to escape with Earth Release techniques, but Neji located him underground, Yugao blocked his path, and Kiba used his tracking ability to prevent flight.
• Sasuke’s team escorted the captives to Jiraiya’s office, where Jiraiya checked their tongues and found Root’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on both.
• Danzo arrived and denied knowing about the theft, while Haru tearfully called out to him and Jiraiya accused Root of colluding with Orochimaru.
• Danzo accepted blame for failing to govern his subordinates and asked Jiraiya to let him clean house.

Danzo killed Terai and Haru in Jiraiya’s office, then was forced by Sasuke to kneel and apologize before leaving. At home, Jiraiya explained Danzo’s political gamble and the danger of their standoff, while Sasuke offered to investigate the Sound Ninja Village and Jiraiya refused to let him go.

• Danzo killed Terai and Haru in the Hokage Office, and Sasuke blocked him from leaving until he admitted he had acted outside proper procedure and apologized to Jiraiya.
• Danzo knelt and kowtowed before Jiraiya in front of gathered staff, then left the Hokage Building as Jiraiya ordered the room cleaned.
• Jiraiya explained to Sasuke that Danzo had killed the witnesses to prevent their conflict from escalating and had counted on Jiraiya not fighting him publicly.
• Jiraiya told Sasuke that their standoff with Danzo left only overwhelming force or assassination as ways to defeat him, both of which carried serious costs.
• Jiraiya and Sasuke discussed the stolen hospital medicines and Danzo’s suspected connection to Orochimaru, and Sasuke offered to visit the Sound Ninja Village.
• Jiraiya refused to let Sasuke go, recalling his guilt after Sasuke and the others had been in danger in the Land of Water.

After solving the Konoha Hospital case, Sasuke arranged to train from home while taking the title of Team Ten captain, then learned Naruto’s Shadow Clone training method. At dinner, Jiraiya explained the deadly history of Hashirama Cell experiments and Orochimaru’s crimes, leaving Sasuke to abruptly ask how to get along with Tsunade.

• Captain Zou praised Team Eleven for solving the Konoha Hospital case, and Sasuke asked for leave to focus on training.
• Zou approved Sasuke’s work-from-home arrangement and offered him the vacant Team Ten captaincy, which Sasuke accepted while leaving the team’s other positions open.
• Sasuke found Naruto training with a Shadow Clone and realized clones could multiply the experience gained from training.
• Jiraiya told Sasuke and Naruto that Hashirama Cells could grant healing and Wood Release, but their aggressive growth had killed experimental subjects.
• Jiraiya revealed that Orochimaru secretly experimented on sixty infants, with only Tenzou surviving, and that the scandal led to Orochimaru’s defection.
• Sasuke asked Jiraiya for advice on getting along with Tsunade, startling both Jiraiya and Naruto.

Sasuke sought Jiraiya’s advice on fire-nature Chakra and used Jiraiya’s tips about Tsunade’s love of sake to visit her at the hospital. After drinking with Tsunade, Sasuke became drunk and unleashed a massive Great Fireball Technique when Shizune entered.

• Sasuke distracted Naruto and Jiraiya’s suspicions by saying he wanted Tsunade to look after Kimimaro during his surgery.
• Jiraiya gave Naruto wind-nature training notes and explained that fire-nature Chakra required charging forward without restraint, like rushing toward someone one loved.
• Sasuke failed to grasp Jiraiya’s advice during a day of fire-nature training, then bought premium sake to bring to Tsunade.
• Tsunade welcomed Sasuke, shared sake with him, and discussed Kimimaro, Sakura, and Jiraiya as their conversation became more relaxed.
• Sasuke drunkenly told Tsunade that Jiraiya was devoted to her and repeated Jiraiya’s advice about love and fire.
• Shizune burst into Tsunade’s office, and Sasuke mistook her for an assassin before firing an enormous Great Fireball Technique.