Chapter Summaries

Soji agreed to use his Byakugan to help Tsunade win money at a casino, and the next day he guided her through a string of deliberate losses. The gamblers learned to bet against Tsunade, and the chapter ended as she staked her remaining nine million on big while the crowd piled their money on small.

• Tsunade persuaded Shizune to support her plan to have Soji help her gamble, promising to cure his Soul Frostbite with the winnings.
• Soji accompanied Tsunade to the gambling hall, where she borrowed ten million and relied on his Byakugan to guide her bets.
• Soji instructed Tsunade to bet one hundred thousand at a time, and she lost ten consecutive rounds as the other gamblers won.
• The gamblers stopped following Tsunade and began betting against her, causing the casino owner to lose heavily.
• Soji told Tsunade to stake her remaining nine million on big, and the crowd answered by betting at least forty to fifty million on small.

Soji guided Tsunade through a series of casino bets, helping her win ninety-eight million while keeping the casino from turning against them. After leaving, he explained why he had let Tsunade lose a final ten million and why they had stopped gambling.

• Tsunade won a round that let the casino owner recover his losses, while Soji explained how he used the casino owner's and gamblers' expectations to his advantage.
• Tsunade followed Soji's advice and won ten rounds in a row, accumulating more than a hundred million in cash as nearby gamblers followed her bets.
• Tsunade lost ten million on the next round, and Soji told her they had won enough and should leave the casino.
• Soji and Tsunade repaid her ten-million loan and returned to the inn, where Tsunade and Shizune counted their ninety-eight million in winnings.
• Soji explained that the final loss kept other gamblers from turning against Tsunade and that they left before the gambling became a contest between her and the casino.

After helping Tsunade win three hundred million at casinos, Soji asked her to heal his Soul Frostbite. Tsunade treated him for more than six hours, and his ability to regulate his body temperature returned as the treatment ended.

• Soji used his Byakugan to help Tsunade win a hundred million each day for three days, while Shizune gathered the herbs Tsunade needed.
• Tsunade promised to begin treating Soji the next morning, and he returned to his room after reminding her about his Soul Frostbite.
• Tsunade arrived early and started the treatment after Shizune prepared the herbal juice and Soji removed his upper-body clothes.
• Tsunade repeatedly applied the herbal juice over Soji's chest, and the coldness from his soul gradually receded.
• After more than six hours, the herbal juice was nearly gone, Soji's treatment ended, and his ability to regulate his body temperature returned.

After Tsunade finished healing Soji’s Soul Frostbite, he asked her about how Hashirama developed Wood Release, hoping to solve the instability in his own Yin-infused Ice Release. Tsunade’s account of her grandfather’s advice gave Soji a sudden insight into his mistake, though he kept the details of his jutsu to himself.

• Tsunade completed Soji’s soul treatment, and Soji thanked her before she warned him that experimenting with dangerous jutsu could shatter his soul.
• Soji realized Tsunade might know something about Hashirama’s Wood Release and asked her how her grandfather had developed it.
• Soji admitted that his soul injury came from developing a jutsu somewhat like Wood Release, and Tsunade shared Hashirama’s advice about combining Water and Earth chakra in perfect proportions and starting with the basics.
• Hashirama’s words gave Soji an insight into why his Ice Release had gone out of control, and he thanked Tsunade for helping him identify the problem.

After recovering from Soul Frostbite, Soji figured out how to begin integrating Yin Release into Ice Release and practiced the technique while traveling. He reached the Land of Waves and headed toward a powerful clash, leaving his meeting with Minato for later.

• Soji realized he needed to separate Ice Release into Wind and Water Chakra before balancing it with Yin Release, then bid farewell to Tsunade and Shizune.
• Tsunade went back to gambling after Soji left, while Soji fought off rogue ninjas and changed into Mizuki Ember's attire.
• Soji tested his revised Ice Release on a pack of wolves, producing uneven Ice Spikes, and improved his control over the following days of travel.
• Soji arrived in the Land of Waves on the fifth day and sensed two powerful attacks erupting more than ten kilometers away.
• Soji summoned Little Gold and flew toward the mysterious clash to investigate.

Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu were sent to guard the Land of Waves, unaware that Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen were approaching. When the swordsmen cornered them, Might Duy arrived after opening Five Gates and kicked Kushimaru Kuriarare away.

• Genma Shiranui led Might Guy and Ebisu toward their assigned post, while Guy and Ebisu bickered about their ambitions and hobbies.
• Minato learned that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were heading toward the area and sent Might Duy to rescue the three young ninja.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen confronted Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu.
• Genma Shiranui offered to cover the others’ escape, but Guy and Ebisu chose to stand and fight alongside him.
• As Kushimaru Kuriarare attacked Guy, Might Duy arrived with Five Gates open and drove him back with a Leaf Whirlwind.

Might Duy opened the Eight Inner Gates to defend Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. After unleashing the Gate of Death, he killed three of the swordsmen and caught up with a fourth, whose counterattack ended in a violent explosion.

• Might Duy arrived to rescue Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu, then kicked Kushimaru Kuriarare away when he attacked.
• Might Duy opened the seventh gate as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen prepared to attack him together.
• Might Duy opened the Gate of Death and urged Might Guy to run before charging the swordsmen.
• Might Duy killed Kushimaru Kuriarare, Jinin Akebino, and Munashi Jinpachi as the remaining swordsmen fled.
• Might Duy caught up with the wielder of the Twin Swords Hiramekarei, who launched a blue Chakra sphere; Might Duy punched into it, causing an explosion.

Might Duy killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen with the Eighth Gate, but died from its backlash after Soji arrived. Soji preserved his body and returned to Kirigakure’s camp, where he announced the swordsmen’s defeat and waited for the survivors to return.

• The three surviving Seven Ninja Swordsmen fled after Might Duy killed the wielder of the Twin Swords Hiramekarei, and Might Duy collapsed as the Eighth Gate’s backlash took effect.
• Soji arrived beside the dying Might Duy, who recognized him and said he wanted to fight him again before he died.
• Soji froze Might Duy’s body for burial, collected the four ninja blades left on the battlefield, and flew to Kirigakure’s camp.
• Soji told Black Scale and the Kirigakure ninjas that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been defeated and suffered heavy casualties.
• Black Scale arranged a tent for Soji and waited anxiously for the surviving swordsmen to return while Soji stayed to gather intelligence.

After the Seven Ninja Swordsmen suffered heavy losses, Soji was appointed Kirigakure’s commander and prepared a thousand-ninja attack on Konoha. Minato met Soji on the battlefield, and their forces clashed while both commanders concealed their alliance.

• The Third Mizukage stripped Black Scale of command and appointed Mizuki Ember, secretly Soji, as temporary commander after the Seven Ninja Swordsmen returned with only three survivors.
• Soji gathered intelligence on Kirigakure’s Land of Waves deployment and secured the Lucky Three Treasures’ obedience.
• At a meeting, Soji announced a probing attack on Konoha and chose Biwa Juzo, Suikazan Fuguki, and Raiga Kurosuki to join him with a thousand ninja.
• Soji led the force toward Konoha, while Minato learned of his arrival and assigned Shikaku Nara to prepare the defense.
• Minato and Soji met on a plain, pretended to be enemies, and began the battle by throwing kunai at each other as their forces charged.

Soji proposed a plan to lure the Third Mizukage into a trap, using his position in Kirigakure and Minato’s cooperation. Minato worried that helping Karatachi Yagura would create a greater threat to Konoha, but Soji remained confident in the plan.

• Soji and Minato staged a fight away from the armies, then Soji froze the surrounding forest to keep others from interrupting them.
• Soji gave Minato intelligence on Kirigakure and returned Might Duy’s preserved corpse for burial in Konoha.
• Soji told Minato he wanted to hunt the Third Mizukage and explained a scheme to exploit the ambitions of Karatachi Yagura and the Third Mizukage.
• Minato considered the plan and warned that helping Karatachi Yagura seize power could make Kirigakure a greater threat to Konoha.
• Soji dismissed Minato’s concern because he knew Karatachi Yagura’s future reforms would be ruined by Obito Uchiha.

Soji and Minato maintained a controlled stalemate between Konoha and Kirigakure while Soji prepared to make the Third Mizukage take the blame for Kirigakure’s defeat. Karatachi Yagura secretly visited Soji to find a way off the Land of Waves front, and Soji proposed luring the Third Mizukage there to lose the war.

• Soji and Minato agreed to keep Karatachi Yagura from becoming a threat and staged a battle that ended in a draw.
• Soji and Minato arranged small, carefully controlled clashes for more than three months, keeping both armies’ casualties low.
• Karatachi Yagura grew frustrated that Mizuki Ember had stopped Kirigakure’s retreat and remained in command of the Land of Waves front.
• Karatachi Yagura secretly left Kirigakure and entered Soji’s tent at midnight to discuss transferring Mizuki Ember away from the front.
• Soji proposed that the Third Mizukage take command in the Land of Waves and lose the war, leaving Karatachi Yagura to arrange the Mizukage’s arrival.

Soji manipulated Karatachi Yagura into persuading the Third Mizukage to personally reinforce the Land of Waves battlefield, while Yagura prepared to seize power in Kirigakure. The Third Mizukage departed for the front, and Yagura sent Mizuki Ember a warning before arranging to take control after the Mizukage’s expected defeat.

• Soji told Karatachi Yagura that the Third Hokage planned to attack the Land of Waves battlefield and urged him to make the Third Mizukage go there himself.
• Soji and Minato Namikaze staged their usual battlefield clash, then Soji explained Yagura’s response and Minato agreed to coordinate with the Third Hokage.
• After Kirigakure spies reported that the Third Hokage was preparing an assault, Yagura volunteered to go to the front, prompting the Third Mizukage to decide to lead the reinforcements himself.
• The Third Mizukage ordered Yagura to protect Kirigakure and find potential Three-Tails and Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and Yagura began considering becoming a Jinchuriki himself.
• As the Third Mizukage left with two Anbu squads, Yagura sent Mizuki Ember a letter about his arrival and began organizing support to force him from power after his defeat.

Soji persuaded the Third Mizukage to let him intercept the Third Hokage, then secretly left the Land of Waves to help Minato arrange Kirigakure’s defeat. After harassing Konoha from the air for a month, Soji left the Third Hokage convinced that he was disrupting Konoha’s reinforcements, while the plan to kill the Third Mizukage was set to begin.

• Soji welcomed the Third Mizukage to the Land of Waves front and proposed intercepting the Third Hokage inside the Land of Fire to keep the battle away from ordinary ninja.
• The Third Mizukage accepted Soji’s plan, and Soji swore he would stop the Third Hokage before leaving on his Golden Eagle.
• Soji entered the Land of Fire and planned to spend a month harassing Konoha before joining Minato in a surprise attack on Kirigakure and the Third Mizukage.
• Soji repeatedly attacked Konoha from the sky, avoiding capture and inflicting no serious casualties as he blocked the village’s gates for a month.
• On his final day, Soji told the Third Hokage he meant to prevent him from reinforcing the Land of Waves, and the Third Hokage decided to confront him whenever he appeared.

Soji left an Ice Clone and the Golden Eagle to maintain his cover, then returned to the Land of Waves and hid until Minato launched a surprise attack on Kirigakure. As Minato fought the Third Mizukage, Soji blended into Konoha’s forces and waited for a chance to kill the Mizukage.

• Soji used Ice Storm to force the Third Hokage and Konoha’s ninja to defend themselves, then escaped toward the Land of Waves while an Ice Clone and the Golden Eagle stayed behind.
• Soji hid in the Land of Waves overnight, preparing to join Minato’s attack and kill the Third Mizukage.
• Minato led Konoha’s ninja in a surprise assault on Kirigakure, using Soji’s intelligence to bypass the sentries and overwhelm the camp.
• The Third Mizukage confronted Minato and accepted his challenge to fight, while Kirigakure’s remaining ninja battled Konoha’s forces.
• Soji disguised himself as a Konoha ninja and watched Minato and the Third Mizukage, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Minato and Soji joined forces to kill the Third Mizukage during a battle on the coast. The Third Mizukage died, while Soji concealed his role so the killing appeared to be Minato’s alone.

• Minato lured the Third Mizukage to the sea and exchanged attacks with him, wounding him while evading his Water Release techniques.
• The Third Mizukage used Hidden Mist Technique to obscure the battlefield and attacked Minato with water-based ninjutsu.
• Soji entered the mist, used his Byakugan to locate the Third Mizukage, and struck him from behind with Void Strike.
• Minato followed Soji’s attack with a Rasengan, killing the Third Mizukage.
• Soji ensured Minato’s finishing blow would make it appear that Minato had killed the Third Mizukage alone.

Soji secretly helped Minato kill the Third Mizukage, then returned to Konoha after keeping Hiruzen occupied as Mizuki Ember. Minato’s victory brought him unprecedented prestige, while Kirigakure quickly named Karatachi Yagura its Fourth Mizukage.

• Soji assured Minato that the Third Mizukage had never identified his attacker, then left the battlefield while Minato took the corpse back to the fighting.
• Soji returned to Konoha, dismissed his exhausted Ice Clone, and escaped with the Golden Eagle after telling Hiruzen and the other shinobi that he was ending their two-day battle.
• After fulfilling his promise to the Golden Eagle, Soji shed his Mizuki Ember disguise and returned home, determined to rest and continue working on combining Yin Release with Ice Release.
• News arrived that Minato had led Konoha to a crushing victory in the Land of Waves and killed the Third Mizukage, causing his prestige to soar across Konoha and the shinobi world.
• Kirigakure swiftly installed Karatachi Yagura as Fourth Mizukage, with Genji and most of the village supporting him and the Third Mizukage’s remaining forces joining his side.

After becoming the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura faced rumors that he had killed the Third Mizukage, then learned that his rivals planned to bring Mizuki Ember back to claim the title. He recognized that Mizuki Ember's strength and wartime reputation made him a formidable challenger, while Mizuki Ember remained away from Kirigakure.

• Karatachi Yagura ordered the Anbu to find the mastermind behind rumors accusing him of killing the Third Mizukage, but not to punish everyone spreading them.
• The Anbu identified members of the Third Mizukage's old interest groups as the people behind the rumors and reported that they planned to welcome Mizuki Ember back as Mizukage.
• Karatachi Yagura recalled Mizuki Ember's strength and celebrated exploits in the Third Ninja World War, including holding off Minato Namikaze and blockading Konoha's gates.
• Karatachi Yagura reflected that Mizuki Ember could rival him for the Mizukage position, then dismissed the Anbu and studied intelligence about the blockade.

Soji returned to Konoha after Karatachi Yagura canceled his original mission and sent him to gather intelligence indefinitely, which effectively kept him from returning to Kirigakure. At dinner, Minato and Kushina announced they were living together, while Soji briefly wondered whether he might someday fall for someone.

• Karatachi Yagura replaced Soji’s mission with an open-ended intelligence assignment, and Soji suspected he had been exiled from Kirigakure.
• Soji returned to Konoha and learned that Minato had kept the four ninja swords from Kirigakure’s negotiations, leaving them listed as missing.
• Minato invited Soji and Uchiha Homura to dinner with Kushina and announced that he and Kushina were living together.
• Kushina said Minato had promised to be with her if he defeated Kirigakure, though Minato’s friends suspected she was hiding the real story.
• Kushina asked Soji and Uchiha Homura whether they liked anyone, and Soji dismissed a fleeting thought about a small figure before the friends parted ways.

In April of Konoha Year 45, Soji left Konoha to take his Golden Eagle for a walk and ran into Sato Taro, who mistook him for a Snow Ninja assassin because he used Ice Release. After knocking Sato Taro unconscious, Soji flew off with him and the wild boar to meet the Golden Eagle.

• Soji accepted a bandit-suppression mission and left Konoha, intending to take his Golden Eagle out rather than hunt bandits.
• Soji encountered Sato Taro, who accused him of being an assassin sent by Kazahana Dōtō and attacked him.
• Sato Taro refused to believe Soji was not a Snow Ninja, and Soji easily countered his sword strikes and Chakra slash.
• Soji knocked Sato Taro unconscious instead of killing him, then remembered his Golden Eagle was waiting.
• Soji carried Sato Taro and the boar into the sky and headed to his meeting place with the Golden Eagle.

Soji fed the starving Sato Taro, who had mistaken him for a Snow Ninja, and heard how the former minister had uncovered Kazahana Dōtō’s conspiracy. Sato Taro prepared to explain his situation as Soji listened.

• Soji returned to the Golden Eagle with two wild boars and the unconscious Sato Taro, then roasted the meat for them.
• Sato Taro woke, mistook Soji for a Snow Ninja, and was startled by the talking Golden Eagle.
• Soji sealed Sato Taro’s mouth with Ice Release until he agreed to listen, then gave him roasted boar to eat.
• Sato Taro apologized for attacking Soji and offered his katana, but Soji refused it.
• Soji asked Sato Taro who he was and why Snow Ninja were pursuing him, and Sato Taro revealed he had been a minister who discovered Kazahana Dōtō’s conspiracy.