Chapter Summaries

Soji returned to Kirigakure as Mizuki Ember, unaware that the village had prepared to make him the Fifth Mizukage. After he insisted he would leave once Mei Terumi’s inauguration ceremony ended, Karatachi Yagura and Genji resolved to keep the succession plan secret from him.

• Mei Terumi and Ringo Ameyuri concealed Kirigakure’s plans as they escorted Soji from the Land of Snow to the village.
• Soji arrived at Kirigakure, where guards and residents welcomed him after his rogue-ninja status had been revoked and his return announced.
• Ringo Ameyuri told Soji that he was expected to participate in the Fifth Mizukage inauguration ceremony, leaving him surprised by the villagers’ excitement.
• Mei Terumi pulled Karatachi Yagura and Genji aside before they could explain the succession plan to Soji.
• Soji told Karatachi Yagura and Genji he would attend Mei Terumi’s ceremony and then leave Kirigakure, so they decided to hide that he was to become the Fifth Mizukage.

Karatachi Yagura, Genji, and Mei Terumi secretly agreed to trick Mizuki Ember into becoming the Fifth Mizukage, while Soji mistook their friendliness for an attempt to bring him back to Kirigakure. At the inauguration, Soji realized he was the intended successor and tried to flee, but Mei Terumi, Ringo Ameyuri, and the other higher-ups pushed him toward the platform.

• Mei Terumi persuaded Karatachi Yagura and Genji to keep the succession plan secret from Mizuki Ember and make him Fifth Mizukage.
• Soji rejected Karatachi Yagura's invitations to stay in Kirigakure and left the Mizukage's Office for his old home.
• Karatachi Yagura, Genji, and Mei Terumi agreed to present Mizuki Ember as the Fifth Mizukage at the inauguration without telling him beforehand.
• Five days later, Soji attended the inauguration as a specially invited guest, believing Mei Terumi would become Mizukage.
• When Karatachi Yagura began announcing the successor, Soji realized he was the candidate and tried to run, but Mei Terumi, Ringo Ameyuri, and the other higher-ups held and pushed him forward.

Soji was forcibly installed as Kirigakure’s Fifth Mizukage and reluctantly decided not to flee, despite being overwhelmed by the work and training materials awaiting him. When Ringo Ameyuri visited, he confronted her for helping conceal the succession plan, leaving her nervously facing his anger and the mountain of documents.

• At the succession ceremony, Mei Terumi and Ringo Ameyuri helped Kirigakure’s leaders force Soji to accept the Mizukage’s hat as Karatachi Yagura’s successor.
• Soji considered running away but stayed because Kirigakure had placed its hopes and reputation on him, and he did not want to weaken the village.
• Soji sat down to study eight towering stacks of Mizukage materials, complaining that he had become the village leader after years of undercover work and slacking off.
• Ringo Ameyuri entered the office, and Soji confronted her for bringing him back without revealing that he would become Mizukage.
• Soji pointed to the documents and demanded to know whether Ringo Ameyuri would read them for him, while she grew more guilty and feared his anger.

After being tricked into becoming the Fifth Mizukage, Soji endured days of studying Mizukage materials and convened Kirigakure’s first senior meeting under his rule. He proposed recalling and pardoning ninjas who had left the village while Madara Uchiha controlled the Fourth Mizukage, leaving the officials to decide whether to approve his first decree.

• Ringo Ameyuri explained that Mei Terumi had urged her to keep Kirigakure’s plans from Soji, and Soji realized she had also wanted him to become Mizukage so she could stay by his side.
• Ringo Ameyuri told Soji that Mei Terumi would send the remaining Mizukage materials, and Soji discovered that he had only received half of them.
• Soji spent seven or eight days studying the materials while Karatachi Yagura and Mei Terumi handled documents requiring the Mizukage’s approval.
• Soji held a meeting with Kirigakure’s senior officials, asserted that he intended to keep real authority, and received their praise and assurances of support.
• Soji proposed recalling ninjas who had left Kirigakure while Madara Uchiha controlled the Fourth Mizukage, declaring them innocent, and putting them to important use.

Soji persuaded Kirigakure’s leaders to publicly recall all rogue ninja, arguing that the village needed to take risks to recover its strength. The decree passed and shocked the other Great Shinobi Villages, while Soji dismissed their protests and Kirigakure reassured its Feudal Lord.

• Kirigakure’s higher-ups objected that Soji’s public recall decree was too risky, but Soji argued the village was already gambling by making him Fifth Mizukage and could not afford to fall further behind.
• Mei Terumi, Ringo Ameyuri, and Kagura Yagura supported Soji’s proposal, and most of the gathered leaders ultimately backed it.
• Kirigakure announced the decree, prompting the other four Great Shinobi Villages to send letters of inquiry and angering leaders who feared the precedent.
• Kirigakure reassured the Feudal Lord of the Land of Water, while Soji froze the inquiry letters and said no one would start a war first.

Soji sought a female secretary to ease his workload and keep Mei Terumi at bay, then ordered Pakura and ninja from the Yuki and Kaguya clans to join him in Kirigakure. As the other villages and Soji’s allies reacted to his becoming the Fifth Mizukage, Soji prepared to return to the Land of Snow and then Konoha once his reinforcements arrived.

• Soji decided he needed a female secretary, rejected Mei Terumi, Ao, and Ringo Ameyuri as candidates, and chose to recruit someone from the Land of Snow.
• Soji sent a summons carrying orders for Pakura to become his secretary and for Yuki and Kaguya clan ninja to reinforce Kirigakure.
• Soji planned to leave his disguise in Kirigakure after Pakura arrived, then return to the Land of Snow and take his three students back to Konoha before Neji’s graduation trial deadline.
• Konoha’s leaders discussed Mizuki Ember’s rise to Mizukage and chose not to act, while the other great villages voiced concern and considered their own responses.
• Mizuki Fuukaze celebrated the Yuki Clan’s new standing, Kaguya Sora and Kaguya Mei considered returning clansmen to Kirigakure, and Kazahana Sōsetsu, Kazahana Koyuki, Pakura, and Soji’s three students reacted with worry or disbelief.

Pain used Mizuki Ember’s recall decree as grounds to execute Akatsuki members planning to return to Kirigakure and reinforce his authority over the organization. He spared Biwa Juzo and another Kirigakure rogue ninja, while Obito recognized the meeting as a challenge to his influence.

• Deidara pointed out how many Akatsuki members were former Kirigakure ninja, unsettling those who secretly wanted to return.
• Pain declared that traitors would be judged and killed four Kirigakure provisional members with Shinra Tensei.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Hozuki Mangetsu displayed their loyalty, while Biwa Juzo and another Kirigakure rogue ninja swore they would not betray Akatsuki.
• Pain spared Biwa Juzo and the other rogue ninja after warning them to serve the organization faithfully.
• Pain provoked Obito with a glance, and Nagato smiled as the two leaders’ struggle for control continued.

Pain executed four Kirigakure rogue ninjas who had tried to leave the Akatsuki, further straining Obito’s influence over the organization. After quelling a quarrel between Deidara and Hidan, Pain ordered the Akatsuki to prepare for a Tailed Beast capture plan in one year, and Obito challenged the accelerated schedule.

• Pain killed four Kirigakure rogue ninjas who wanted to leave the Akatsuki, while Obito suppressed his anger at Nagato’s decision.
• Kakuzu tried to collect the dead ninjas’ bodies for the Black Market, and Hidan offered to handle future executions.
• Deidara and Hidan nearly fought over their preferred ways of punishing traitors, but Pain stopped them and sent the members out on missions.
• Sasori carried Deidara away in Hiruko while Kakuzu dragged Hidan away with his Earth Grudge Fear threads.
• Shisui and Kisame left together, while Hozuki Mangetsu departed with Biwa Juzo, leaving Pain, Konan, Obito, and Zetsu at the base.
• Obito questioned Pain’s plan to begin capturing Tailed Beasts in one year, and Pain insisted the Akatsuki was already strong enough.

Nagato claimed he could eliminate Mizuki Ember, while Soji’s recall order drew Kirigakure’s rogue ninja back to the village, where he recruited many into his Anbu. In the Land of Waves, Zabuza rejected Gato’s orders and killed him.

• Nagato told Obito, Konan, and Zetsu that he would deal with Mizuki Ember completely, though he kept his method secret.
• Kirigakure rogue ninja began returning after Soji promised to pardon them and offer important positions, and Soji personally welcomed them and assigned many to the Anbu.
• Zabuza read news of the recall order while Gato ordered him to kill people building a bridge in the Land of Waves.
• Zabuza struck Gato, declared himself Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, and killed Gato as his samurai guards froze in fear.

After Soji's decree recalled Kirigakure's missing-nin, Zabuza returned to the village, while Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru also set out for Kirigakure. In a fighting arena, Chiyo and Jinin Akebino prepared to lead a group of children back to their homeland.

• Zabuza killed Gato and his guards, then massacred Gato's other followers before leaving the Land of Waves for Kirigakure.
• The people of the Land of Waves discovered Gato's forces had been wiped out and regarded their unknown killer as a hero.
• Raiga Kurosuki told Ranmaru about Mizuki Ember's recall decree, and they agreed to return to Kirigakure together.
• Chiyo and Jinin Akebino planned to cause a disturbance at Oyakiro Homura's fighting arena so the Kirigakure children held there could escape.
• Chiyo and Jinin Akebino revealed that they possessed the Ketsuryūgan and Daijutsu, respectively.

Chiyo and Jinin Akebino led their companions in an escape from Oyakiro Homura’s arena, using a typhoon and Chiyo’s Ketsuryūgan to create a diversion. Oyakiro revealed that he had secretly orchestrated their escape and that Chiyo was his daughter, leaving his reasons for sending her away unclear.

• Chiyo and Jinin Akebino organized their fellow arena fighters into the Thunderlight Group and planned to flee to Kirigakure.
• Jinin Akebino created a typhoon to drive the arena’s wealthy spectators away while Chiyo used her Ketsuryūgan to make Oyakiro Homura appear controlled.
• Chiyo, Jinin Akebino, and their companions escaped the arena and set off for Kirigakure, believing they had won their freedom.
• Oyakiro watched the group leave without pursuing them and revealed that he had arranged for the children to learn about Kirigakure’s recall order.
• Oyakiro revealed that Chiyo was his biological daughter, that he was a Ketsuryūgan wielder, and that he had pretended to be under her genjutsu.

Soji recruited returning rogue ninja Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki into Kirigakure’s Anbu, while arranging treatment for Ranmaru. As he struggled to choose the last Anbu squad captain, seven young people claiming to be Kirigakure children sold away in the past arrived and asked to meet him.

• Soji welcomed Momochi Zabuza back and assigned him to the Anbu.
• Raiga Kurosuki returned with Ranmaru and asked Soji to help treat the boy’s frail body.
• Soji sent Ranmaru to the Medical Department and ordered Raiga to report to the Anbu afterward.
• Soji decided Zabuza and Raiga would be Anbu squad captains and considered Ringo Ameyuri for another captaincy.
• An Anbu member reported that five young men and two young women claiming Kirigakure origins had arrived and wanted to meet Soji.

Soji mistook Jinin Akebino, Chiyo, and their companions for enemy spies and ordered the Anbu to test them, only to recognize them from their records and realize he had sent them into an ambush. He raced to stop the attack as the group noticed the Anbu leading them into the wilderness and quietly gathered together.

• Soji ordered the Anbu to kill the returning youths if they proved to be enemy spies, and an Anbu led them toward a prepared ambush.
• Jinin Akebino and Chiyo arrived in Kirigakure with their companions, expecting to meet the Fifth Mizukage.
• Soji recognized Jinin Akebino in the registration records and connected Chiyo to the Ketsuryūgan, realizing the youths were not spies.
• Soji rushed out through the office window and used his Byakugan to locate the ambush site.
• Chiyo warned Jinin Akebino that their route seemed suspicious, and he silently signaled the group to draw closer together.

Jinin Akebino and the Thunderlight Group returned to Kirigakure but were lured into an Anbu ambush and forced to fight their way out. Soji stopped the battle and revealed that their ordeal had been a test, then appointed Jinin an Anbu squad leader with his companions under his command.

• A Mist Village Anbu led Jinin Akebino, Chiyo, and the other returnees toward an interrogation room, claiming Mizuki Ember suspected them of being spies.
• Jinin Akebino and his companions rejected the Anbu’s demand to surrender and decided to break out of Kirigakure together.
• Chiyo used her Ketsuryūgan to incapacitate the lead Anbu, and Jinin Akebino launched Daijutsu—Great Fierce Break as the group fought the surrounding Anbu squads.
• The Anbu’s traps and reinforcements gradually restricted the group’s movements, leaving Jinin and Chiyo unable to attack freely without endangering their companions.
• Soji arrived, froze the battlefield without harming anyone, and ordered the Anbu to withdraw.
• Soji told Jinin that the group had passed the test and appointed him one of the four Mist Village Anbu squad leaders, placing his companions under his command.

Soji turned the Anbu’s attack on the returning young ninja into a supposed test, then recruited them and made Jinin Akebino a squad captain. He built a new Anbu under Mei Terumi and consolidated support through balanced appointments and policies benefiting civilian ninja, leaving Kirigakure firmly under his control.

• Soji told Jinin Akebino and the other young ninja that the Anbu attack had been a test, and promised to recruit them with Jinin as a squad captain.
• Soji arranged housing for the young ninja, investigated their family records, and completed preparations for his own Anbu.
• Soji appointed Mei Terumi Head of Anbu and named Ringo Ameyuri, Momochi Zabuza, Raiga Kurosuki, and Jinin Akebino as squad captains.
• Soji balanced Anbu recruitment among returning rogue ninja, former Anbu, and Kirigakure's original residents.
• Soji courted Kirigakure's upper ranks and introduced benefits for civilian ninja, securing control of the village within a month of becoming Fifth Mizukage.

After stabilizing Kirigakure as Fifth Mizukage, Soji planned to return to Konoha before Neji’s graduation and arranged to leave Otsutsuki Genji behind to govern the village. With Pakura keeping Mei Terumi occupied, Soji quietly returned to the Land of Snow.

• Soji reflected on Kirigakure’s recovery and decided he needed to leave before his prolonged absence from Konoha aroused suspicion.
• Pakura arrived with members of the Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan and became Soji’s secretary, while Kirigakure’s leaders accepted their presence as Snow Ninja protecting the Mizukage.
• Pakura confronted Soji for neglecting his paperwork and resented that he had brought her to keep Mei Terumi away from him.
• Mei Terumi arrived, and she and Pakura regarded each other as rivals for Soji’s attention.
• While Pakura kept Mei Terumi occupied, Soji left Otsutsuki Genji in Kirigakure to oversee the village and secretly returned to the Land of Snow.

After returning to Konoha, Soji learned how Neji had excelled in his Graduation Trial Mission and praised his heir’s talent. Neji chose to forgo graduating as a Chunin, and Soji supported his decision, leaving Neji to discuss it with academy principal Itachi Uchiha.

• Soji returned to Konoha with the three kids and learned that Neji had protected the Land of Birds’ daimyo and children, exposed the rogue ninja plot, and killed Mōsō.
• Soji praised Neji’s skill and told him he had sent people to watch over his Graduation Trial Mission.
• Neji told Soji he did not want to graduate as a Chunin, and Soji encouraged him to follow his own judgment.
• Neji thanked Soji and left to speak with Itachi Uchiha, the academy principal, about his choice.
• Soji watched Neji leave and looked forward to seeing the results of Neji’s first Byakugan evolution.

Neji refused to become a chunin so he could advance alongside Tenten and Rock Lee, and Soji honored his choice while rewarding his Graduation Trial Mission as a B-rank mission. After graduation, Soji showed Neji the Byakugan’s hidden combat power, leaving him shocked by what the dojutsu could achieve.

• Neji chose to remain a genin so he could advance alongside Tenten and Rock Lee, whom he valued as friends.
• At the graduation ceremony, Itachi announced that Neji had completed the Graduation Trial Mission but refused chunin graduation, and the mission was counted as B-rank.
• Soji told Neji he would give him the gift he had once given Neji’s father and the Hyuga Clan Head, then asked how he viewed the Byakugan compared with the Sharingan.
• Neji said the Byakugan served strategy while the Sharingan enhanced individual strength, and Soji showed him the Byakugan’s power through an illusion using Void Mirror, Dovanten, and Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
• Soji demonstrated Absorbing Palm on a distant pond, and Neji questioned whether the Byakugan could truly reach the level he had witnessed.

Soji used a Blood Crystal in surgery to awaken Neji’s first Byakugan evolution. After enduring the operation, Neji discovered that he had gained powerful new abilities and Wind Release Chakra.

• Soji showed Neji the power of an evolved Byakugan and revealed that he planned to help Neji awaken his own.
• Soji brought Neji to his underground laboratory and explained that the procedure required Neji to stay conscious and absorb the Blood Crystal’s power.
• Neji endured the painful surgery and successfully absorbed the Blood Crystal.
• Soji sparred with Neji and observed his evolved Byakugan abilities, including Pressure, all three forms of Void Strike, and Wind Release Chakra.
• Neji thanked Soji for the gift, and Soji praised Neji’s talent.

Neji began training under Might Guy while Soji assessed the extraordinary abilities of Kimimaro, Haku, and Yota and managed his duties as Fifth Mizukage. After Kirigakure recovered under his rule, Soji met Utakata and resolved to prevent the Six-Tails Jinchuriki from defecting.

• Neji joined Might Guy's team with Rock Lee and Tenten, and Soji told him to master his evolved Byakugan while learning Hard Fist.
• Soji observed that Kimimaro's eyes could activate as Byakugan and that his enhanced Shikotsumyaku could cause spreading tissue necrosis.
• Soji assessed Haku's powerful Sage Mode and ice techniques, and Yota's weather-control abilities strengthened by Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Soji continued governing Kirigakure as its Fifth Mizukage, and the village gradually recovered its prosperity and strength.
• Soji met Kirigakure's Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, and decided to prevent him from killing Harusame and defecting as he had in the original story.