Chapter Summaries

After returning to Konoha, Chiyue agreed to arrange a meeting between Nawaki and Hyuga Rinne, while the Third Mizukage’s recovered state became known in Kirigakure. The chapter ended with Nawaki arriving at Chiyue’s home early the next morning and learning Minato had gone to submit their mission report.

• Hatake Sakumo left after asking Minato and Nawaki to help train Kakashi if they saw him at the village training grounds, but the two were too distracted by his Hokage-style robe to notice.
• The Third Mizukage told Yagura he had recovered, then became preoccupied with trying to use the toilet and asked about Kirigakure’s recent situation.
• News of the Third Mizukage’s recovery spread among Kirigakure’s leaders, and he attended their high-level meeting the next day.
• Back in Konoha, Chiyue kicked Nawaki away when he came looking for help and promised to arrange a meeting with Hyuga Rinne.
• The Third Hokage waited in vain for Chiyue Squad to report their mission, then learned the three had gone home and gone about their own business.
• Nawaki came to Chiyue’s home early the next morning, and Chiyue told him that Minato had gone to submit the mission report.

Chiyue arranged for Nawaki to meet Hyuga Rinne by claiming he needed Taijutsu advice, then kept Rinne occupied while Nawaki approached her attendant. Nawaki introduced himself to Hyuga Miko, who mistook him for a guest from Kumogakure and dismissed him.

• Chiyue visited the Hyuga Clan compound and asked Hyuga Rinne to help him with Taijutsu training.
• Chiyue persuaded Hyuga Rinne to leave Hyuga Miko waiting outside the training ground, where Nawaki was hiding nearby.
• Chiyue asked Hyuga Rinne about her Jonin qualification and listened as she reminded him of his promise to take their team on a mission.
• Chiyue spent over an hour telling Hyuga Rinne about his mission while Hyuga Miko waited outside and grew suspicious.
• Nawaki nervously approached Hyuga Miko and introduced himself, but she mistook him for a Kumogakure guest and told him to find another guide.

Nawaki tried to approach Hyuga Miko, but she rejected him because she was engaged to marry someone else next year. Meanwhile, Hyuga Rinne mistook Chiyue’s question about Hyuga marriage customs as a confession of interest and fled, leaving Chiyue confused.

• Minato secretly watched as Nawaki introduced himself to Hyuga Miko, who remembered him as silly-looking.
• Nawaki invited Hyuga Miko to a meal, and she realized he liked her and told him she had a fiancé and would marry next year.
• Chiyue asked Hyuga Rinne how an outsider could marry a Hyuga girl, intending to help Nawaki, but Rinne blushed and ran away after misunderstanding his question.
• Chiyue realized Rinne had misunderstood him and left the training ground, while Minato comforted the devastated Nawaki.
• Nawaki eventually came to his senses and asked whether his rejection counted as being dumped.

After Nawaki was rejected by Hyuga Miko, Chiyue and Minato tried to deal with his drunken despair until Tsunade arrived to drink with him. Nawaki passed out, and Minato prepared to take him home.

• Nawaki announced that he had been rejected by Hyuga Miko and ordered extra-spicy hotpot and liquor.
• Chiyue explained that Hyuga Miko already had a fiancé and had no intention of dating outside her clan, while Minato tried to comfort Nawaki upstairs.
• Chiyue told Nawaki that he could pursue Hyuga Miko despite her fiancé and suggested fighting the Hyuga Clan if they opposed the match.
• Tsunade arrived, scolded Chiyue, and forced Nawaki to drink with her until he passed out.
• Tsunade said Nawaki would be fine after sleeping, and Minato offered to take him home.

Tsunade complained to Chiyue about Kato Dan’s unwanted pursuit while, in Kirigakure, Yagura grew suspicious of the Third Mizukage’s strange behavior and improving health. Hatake Sakumo infiltrated the Mizukage’s bathroom and attacked him, setting off an explosion that alarmed the village.

• Minato took Nawaki home, leaving Tsunade and Chiyue to talk about Kato Dan’s persistent attempts to court her.
• Yagura guarded the Third Mizukage, who spent hours in the bathroom and whose unusual recovery made Yagura suspicious.
• Hatake Sakumo learned that the Third Mizukage had recovered and infiltrated the Mizukage Office Building to investigate.
• Sakumo encountered the Third Mizukage on the toilet and attacked him with his White Fang short sword.
• The Third Mizukage tried to flee, and their clash blasted apart the second-floor restroom and threw Kirigakure into an uproar.

Hatake Sakumo’s intelligence mission in Kirigakure turned into an apparent assassination attempt on the Third Mizukage, prompting a massive manhunt and a threat of war against Konoha. Hatake Sakumo escaped and returned to Konoha, where the Third Hokage confronted Danzo over the incident.

• Hatake Sakumo encountered the Third Mizukage in the Mizukage’s Office building, struck once with White Fang, and fled as Kirigakure’s Anbu arrived.
• Yagura learned Hatake Sakumo had attacked the Third Mizukage and ordered Kirigakure’s forces to capture him.
• Thousands of Kirigakure ninja pursued Hatake Sakumo, but he escaped through the Land of Lightning and returned to Konoha in disguise.
• The Third Mizukage demanded an explanation from Konoha and threatened war if Kirigakure was not satisfied.
• The Third Hokage suspected Danzo of involvement, but Danzo denied contacting Hatake Sakumo or encouraging the assassination attempt.

The Third Hokage and the village leadership debated Kirigakure’s threat of war after Hatake Sakumo’s failed attempt on the Third Mizukage. They decided to wait for Hatake Sakumo’s return while preparing Konoha for a possible conflict, and Tsunade arranged for Jiraiya to come back.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura defended Danzo, and the Third Hokage called Tsunade to discuss Kirigakure’s demand for an explanation.
• Tsunade argued that Konoha should not be intimidated by Kirigakure’s threat and should wait until Hatake Sakumo returned before deciding what to do.
• Danzo agreed with Tsunade that Konoha should accept war if Kirigakure intended to start one, and the Third Hokage ordered reinforcements for the coastal outposts.
• Tsunade told the Third Hokage that Hatake Sakumo likely acted after being exposed while gathering intelligence, then declared that Konoha should fight if Kirigakure went to war.
• The Third Hokage ordered Jiraiya to return to the village, and Tsunade contacted the Intelligence Department to relay the order.

Tsunade told Chiyue that Kirigakure had threatened war after accusing Konoha of sending Hatake Sakumo to assassinate the Third Mizukage. Hatake escaped and returned to Konoha, while Yagura returned to Kirigakure empty-handed and was rebuked by the Third Mizukage.

• Tsunade told Chiyue that the Third Hokage had resisted the Elder Council after Kirigakure threatened war over Hatake Sakumo’s mission.
• Chiyue suspected Hatake Sakumo had encountered the Third Mizukage by chance, and Tsunade said Konoha would wait for Sakumo to return before responding.
• Hatake Sakumo fled toward the Land of Lightning, treated his injuries, rested for two days, and returned to Konoha.
• The Third Mizukage harshly rebuked Yagura for failing to capture Hatake Sakumo.
• Genji helped Yagura analyze Sakumo’s escape route and praised Konoha’s White Fang, while Yagura remained silent and humiliated.

Hatake Sakumo returned safely to Konoha and reported that the Third Mizukage was unstable and Kirigakure might soon go to war. At the Hokage’s Office, he began explaining how his intelligence mission had led to an accidental confrontation with the Mizukage.

• Yagura admitted to Genji that the Third Mizukage still intended to start a war with Konoha, while Genji hoped negotiations could prevent it.
• Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha and went directly to the Hokage’s Office, where the Third Hokage gave him time to rest before questioning him.
• The Third Hokage summoned Tsunade, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and others to hear Hatake Sakumo’s report.
• Utatane Koharu questioned Hatake Sakumo about Kirigakure’s accusation that he had assassinated the Third Mizukage, and Tsunade demanded that he be allowed to finish his account first.
• Hatake Sakumo said he had gathered intelligence about the Third Mizukage’s poor mental state, then explained that he had infiltrated the Mizukage’s Office Building after learning the Mizukage had recovered.

Hatake Sakumo reported that he had gathered intelligence in Kirigakure and accidentally encountered the Third Mizukage, who fled while pulling up his pants. Konoha rejected Kirigakure’s assassination accusation as a misunderstanding, but Kirigakure was not satisfied with the reply.

• Hatake Sakumo told the Third Hokage and the others that he had infiltrated the Mizukage’s office, encountered the Third Mizukage in the restroom, and escaped after the Mizukage ran away while pulling up his pants.
• Hatake Sakumo handed over his intelligence scrolls and explained that he had entered the Land of Lightning before returning to Konoha.
• Tsunade argued that Konoha should deny any assassination attempt, and Danzo and the Elder Council agreed not to concede to Kirigakure.
• The Third Hokage decided to tell Kirigakure that the incident was a misunderstanding, while Tsunade urged Hatake Sakumo to rest and visit Kakashi.
• Hatake Sakumo left to see Kakashi and wondered whether to find him a teacher.
• Kirigakure rejected Konoha’s reply that Hatake Sakumo had only gathered intelligence and had not attempted an assassination.

Hatake Sakumo sought advice from Tsunade about finding a suitable teacher for Kakashi, then took her to dinner at the Akimichi Clan Barbecue Restaurant. There they encountered Chiyue, who was waiting for Nawaki and Minato.

• Hatake Sakumo found Kakashi training and suggested finding him a teacher, but Kakashi refused.
• Hatake Sakumo took Kakashi to the Logistics Department and asked Tsunade for advice about a teacher; she recommended someone skilled in swordsmanship or Blade Techniques and ruled out Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
• Hatake Sakumo invited Tsunade to dinner, and they went to the Akimichi Clan Barbecue Restaurant with Kakashi.
• Tsunade put Chiyue in a chokehold after finding him at the barbecue restaurant, where he explained that he had refused dinner at her place because she never washed the dishes.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Chiyue whether he minded sharing their table.

Chiyue shared a meal with Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi, and Sakumo praised Chiyue’s strength and discussed swordsmanship with him. After they parted, Chiyue and Tsunade found Minato and Nawaki drunk at home, while Kakashi asked his father whether Chiyue was really strong.

• Chiyue invited Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi to eat with him and greeted Kakashi as his senior.
• Chiyue and Hatake Sakumo discussed their strength and agreed to spar with their swordsmanship when they had a chance.
• After the meal, Hatake Sakumo left with Kakashi, and Chiyue and Tsunade returned home to find Minato and Nawaki drunk among broken bottles.
• Chiyue carried Minato to rest, while Tsunade planned to speak with Nawaki after he sobered up.
• On the way home, Kakashi asked Hatake Sakumo about Chiyue’s strength, and Sakumo said Chiyue was very strong.

Konoha faced Kirigakure’s threat of war after Hatake Sakumo attacked the Third Mizukage, while Konoha’s shinobi gathered to discuss the crisis. The chapter ended as Chiyue sent the late-arriving Jiraiya to his seat at the front of the meeting room.

• Hatake Sakumo told Kakashi that Chiyue had earned military accomplishments in the Second Shinobi World War and explained that his Uchiha heritage had kept him obscure.
• Konoha called Hatake Sakumo’s attack on the Third Mizukage an intelligence-gathering operation, but Kirigakure rejected the explanation and demanded that Konoha hand him over or face war.
• The Third Mizukage inflamed Kirigakure’s anger, and even clans that opposed him joined the calls for war, leaving Genji unable to calm the village.
• Konoha convened a large meeting of its available jonin, including Chiyue, Minato, Nawaki, and Tsunade.
• Jiraiya arrived late and sat beside Chiyue, who told him to take his seat at the front.

At a jonin meeting, Konoha prepared for a likely war with Kirigakure and debated who should command its coastal defense force. Hatake Sakumo volunteered, but Danzo and the Third Hokage kept him in the village, fearing his battlefield success would make him the leading Fourth Hokage candidate.

• Tsunade sent the smelly Jiraiya to sit beside Hatake Sakumo, and Jiraiya resolved to bathe after the meeting.
• The Third Hokage presented intelligence about Kirigakure's war preparations and announced plans to send an elite shinobi force to guard the coastline.
• Hatake Sakumo volunteered to fight on the border because the conflict had begun over him.
• Danzo opposed Sakumo's deployment and proposed Orochimaru as commander, arguing Sakumo would provoke Kirigakure.
• The Third Hokage backed Danzo and told Sakumo to remain in the village, while Chiyue recognized that they feared Sakumo becoming the next Hokage candidate.

The Third Hokage assigned Orochimaru to prepare an elite border force, while Tsunade stayed in Konoha after Chiyue warned her that Danzo might exploit her absence. Orochimaru selected shinobi from the clans and civilian ranks, but Chiyue Squad was left out.

• The Third Hokage sent Orochimaru to organize a border force, appointed Nara Shikaku to assist him, and assigned Jiraiya instead of Tsunade.
• Chiyue, Minato, and Nawaki speculated about whether their squad would be sent to the front, and Minato guessed Orochimaru might not select them.
• Chiyue met Tsunade at a Hot Pot restaurant and warned that Danzo might cause trouble if she left the village.
• Tsunade said she would watch the Logistics Department and prevent anyone from taking supplies improperly.
• Orochimaru selected elites from the clans and civilian ranks, but he did not choose Chiyue Squad.

Nawaki asked Orochimaru why the Chiyue Squad had not been sent to the border, and Orochimaru claimed the squad would deploy when the war fully erupted. After Danzo confronted Orochimaru, Orochimaru rejected Danzo’s plans and began considering a bid for Fourth Hokage to secure resources for his experiments.

• Nawaki asked Orochimaru why the Chiyue Squad had been excluded, and Orochimaru said they would go to the front lines once war fully broke out.
• After Nawaki left, Danzo emerged from the shadows and accused Orochimaru of lying to his disciple.
• Orochimaru warned Danzo that Yagami Chiyue was dangerous and refused to help Danzo undermine Hatake Sakumo.
• Danzo stormed off, while Orochimaru reflected that Tsunade’s control of the Logistics Department and the Third Hokage’s audits had left his research short of resources.
• Orochimaru decided to prepare to compete for Fourth Hokage, seeing Danzo as his main rival and the office as a way to fund his experiments.

Kirigakure declared war on Konoha, drawing the other great villages’ attention and leaving Konoha scrambling to prepare a battlefield beyond the Land of Fire. Tsunade, the Third Hokage, and Danzo clashed over how to meet the daimyo’s demands despite Konoha’s lack of warships.

• Danzo decided to help Orochimaru become Fourth Hokage so he could use him, while planning to smear Hatake Sakumo and eventually eliminate Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya led Konoha’s advance force to the Land of Eddies, and the Third Mizukage declared war on Konoha.
• Uchiha Madara allowed Tobi’s escalation to continue, while the Third Kazekage, Ōnoki, and the Third Raikage and his son waited for Konoha to weaken.
• Konoha’s villagers worried about another war as prices rose and business slowed, while Tsunade struggled with the village’s shortage of warships.
• The Third Hokage explained the daimyo’s demand to keep the fighting outside the Land of Fire, Danzo rejected the demand, and Tsunade questioned how Konoha could do so.

Konoha’s leaders struggled to counter Kirigakure’s harassment at sea and chose to wait for the enemy to act. As wartime prices rose, Chiyue met Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi at Ichiraku, where Sakumo said he would join the war with a later group.

• The Third Hokage, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura failed to find a way to overcome Kirigakure’s naval advantage and decided to remain still until Kirigakure made its next move.
• Chiyue noticed that war had raised prices in Konoha and driven away visitors and merchants.
• Chiyue ordered ramen from Teuchi, who explained that he had installed a refrigerator with drinks after Chiyue’s suggestions.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived at Ichiraku with Kakashi, greeted Chiyue, and ordered ramen for himself and his son.
• Hatake Sakumo told Chiyue that he would join the war with the next group because the situation was still unclear.

Chiyue discussed Kirigakure’s tactics with Hatake Sakumo, then discovered Kakashi had followed him and asked to become his disciple. Chiyue refused and told Kakashi that his father was the teacher best suited for him.

• Chiyue told Hatake Sakumo that Kirigakure was harassing Konoha’s forces and might soon send Sakumo to the front lines.
• Chiyue reflected on how the Hokage half-sleeve had made Sakumo a target of suspicion among Konoha’s leaders.
• Chiyue caught Kakashi following him through the park and asked why he had come.
• Kakashi asked Chiyue to accept him as a disciple, citing Sakumo’s praise of Chiyue’s abilities.
• Chiyue tapped Kakashi on the head, refused to take him as a disciple, and disappeared.

Hatake Sakumo asked Chiyue to take Kakashi as his disciple, offering the Hatake Clan’s alliance, but Chiyue refused because he had no interest in becoming Hokage. After Sakumo left, Tsunade suggested gathering Kushina and Minato to play mahjong.

• Chiyue pointed out that Hatake Sakumo had left footprints on his freshly repainted balcony, and Sakumo promised to use the front door next time.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that he wanted Chiyue to teach Kakashi so the boy would not become as withdrawn as his father.
• Hatake Sakumo offered the Hatake Clan’s support if Chiyue accepted Kakashi as his disciple.
• Chiyue refused Sakumo’s offer because he did not want disciples and had no use for political supporters.
• Tsunade arrived after Sakumo left and asked Chiyue to call Kushina and Minato over to play mahjong.