Chapter Summaries

The Uchiha Clan decided to stage fake parental deaths to provoke children into awakening the Sharingan, while Hoshiryu brought Tsunade to Hokage Rock to show her a firework bearing her smiling face. Tsunade felt comforted by his gesture as the firework lit up the sky above Konoha.

• Uchiha Ang persuaded the Uchiha Clan to select children for a plan to trigger Sharingan awakenings through staged parental deaths.
• Hoshiryu invited Orochimaru to stay the night, and Tsunade pressed him to reveal the surprise he had promised her.
• After noticing Tsunade's hopeful, troubled expression, Hoshiryu agreed to take her outside and apologized to Orochimaru for leaving him behind.
• Hoshiryu carried Tsunade to Hokage Rock using the Body Flicker Technique while Yosuke Senju followed them.
• Hoshiryu launched a firework displaying Tsunade's smiling face, delighting and comforting her.

Hoshiryu Uchiha’s fireworks lifted Tsunade’s spirits, while Mito Uzumaki covered for the spectacle to keep his abilities from being exposed. The chapter ended with Mito recognizing that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s resentment toward her had grown and grieving how power had changed him.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha’s fireworks display ended with a colorful dragon, and Tsunade’s gloom disappeared as she watched.
• Yosuke Senju distracted the ANBU, then sent them away after the fireworks had alarmed sensory ninja throughout Konoha.
• Tsunade asked Hoshiryu Uchiha how he had made the fireworks, but he kept his Mangekyo Brahma Flame ability secret.
• Mito Uzumaki explained to Hiruzen Sarutobi that she had set off the fireworks for Tsunade, preventing information about Hoshiryu Uchiha from spreading.
• Mito Uzumaki apologized to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but she sensed his hostility remained and mourned how power had changed him.

Hoshiryu Uchiha promised Tsunade he would reveal the fireworks’ secret when she graduated and take her to see them every year. After Mito Uzumaki accepted his request to hold an annual fireworks display, Hoshiryu and Tsunade returned to school, where Jiraiya and Orochimaru clashed and Yakushi Nonō remained withdrawn.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha promised Tsunade he would explain the fireworks after her Ninja Academy graduation and take her to see them once a year.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha asked Mito Uzumaki to let him hold a fireworks display every year, and she agreed after warning him to tell her in advance next time.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha and Tsunade arrived at school and kept quiet while their classmates discussed the fireworks.
• Orochimaru threw Jiraiya after Jiraiya put a hand on his shoulder, and Hoshiryu Uchiha mediated until both boys apologized.
• Yakushi Nonō watched the lively classroom from a secluded spot and thought she had nothing left.

Yakushi Nonō recalled how Shimura Danzō had coerced her into joining Root and ordered her to spy on Hoshiryu Uchiha while gradually lowering her grades. After Hoshiryu noticed her distress and offered help, he suspected Danzo was behind it and resolved to protect her from Root.

• Yakushi Nonō remembered that Shimura Danzō had used the Hokage's Order to force her to choose between joining Root and putting her clan members at risk.
• Danzō ordered Nonō to observe Hoshiryu Uchiha for a year, report anything unusual about him, and worsen her grades until she had to drop out.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha and Tsunade noticed Nonō's pale, exhausted appearance, and their classmates crowded around to ask if she was all right.
• Nonō reassured her classmates that she had not slept well, then forced herself to smile and conceal her distress.
• Hoshiryu suspected Danzō had caused Nonō's trouble and told her that her companions would help her, while resolving not to let Root take her.

Hoshiryu Uchiha suspected Danzo’s Root of threatening children and told Mito Uzumaki, who agreed to investigate and take the matter to the Hokage. The chapter ended with Hoshiryu joining Mito to see the Hokage.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha left class after asking Tsunade to request leave, and Nonō broke down in tears as Tsunade comforted her.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha returned to the Senju Compound and told Mito Uzumaki that someone in the village was targeting children.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha explained that a girl in his class appeared to have been threatened, and Mito Uzumaki ordered him to bring her to stay with her.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha offered to help investigate, and Mito Uzumaki agreed to take him to see the Hokage.

Mito Uzumaki brought Hoshiryu Uchiha to the Hokage Tower to report that someone had harmed Konoha’s children and ask Hiruzen Sarutobi to investigate. Hiruzen agreed to send ANBU, but his reaction and interest in the witness made Mito suspect that something was wrong.

• Mito Uzumaki decided to visit Hiruzen Sarutobi privately with Hoshiryu Uchiha and ask him to investigate the children’s abuse.
• Mito Uzumaki brought Hoshiryu Uchiha into the Hokage Tower, where Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted them.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi that someone had harmed village children and that they had a witness.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to send ANBU to investigate and offered to protect the witness.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha declined, explaining that Mito Uzumaki had already placed the witness under her protection, while Mito sensed Hiruzen’s malice and grew suspicious.

Mito Uzumaki suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi was probing Hoshiryu Uchiha and left to pursue another course if he failed to act. Hiruzen confronted Danzo about Root recruiting children, chose to let Danzo handle the evidence, and the chapter ended with Mito asking Hoshiryu whether he knew something.

• Mito Uzumaki interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi's questions, took Hoshiryu Uchiha away, and warned Hiruzen not to disappoint her.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Danzo and confronted him about Root recruiting children.
• Danzo admitted that Root had targeted children, and Hiruzen kicked him after learning that was the plan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated over the children taken to Root, then told Danzo to handle the matter and chose to abandon them.
• Mito Uzumaki asked Hoshiryu Uchiha whether he knew something.

Hoshiryu Uchiha convinced Mito Uzumaki that Danzo was likely behind the kidnappings, and they enlisted Uchiha Ang to organize surveillance of Danzo and two other senior officials. With the Uchiha taking action, Mito began considering who could become the Fourth Hokage if Hiruzen lost his position.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha told Mito Uzumaki that he suspected Danzo of kidnapping children to replenish Root after its wartime losses.
• Hoshiryu explained that Danzo might destroy evidence once alerted, so Mito decided they needed to watch him and rescue the children.
• Mito took Hoshiryu to Uchiha Ang and asked him to assemble an elite team to monitor Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
• Uchiha Ang agreed to mobilize the Uchiha Clan, seeing the operation as a chance to gain prestige by saving the children.
• After Uchiha Ang left to make arrangements, Mito considered who might become the Fourth Hokage if Hiruzen were removed from office.

Mito Uzumaki realized she could become Hokage to stabilize Konoha and help end the war, though she chose to give Hiruzen Sarutobi one more chance. Hoshiryu Uchiha rushed to protect Nonō from Danzo and took her and Tsunade away from the Ninja Academy.

• Mito Uzumaki considered the danger of replacing Hiruzen Sarutobi during wartime and realized she could use her authority and prestige to become Hokage and convene a Five Kage Summit.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha urged Mito Uzumaki to become Hokage, but she decided to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi for now and prepare for the worst.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha remembered that Danzo knew Nonō was the witness and hurried to the Ninja Academy to reach her before Danzo could act.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha told Chunin Tsukiji to send teachers home with every student, then carried Tsunade and brought Nonō along as he left.

Hoshiryu Uchiha protected Tsunade and Nonō from a Root ambush, then brought them safely back to the Senju Compound. Mito Uzumaki concluded that Hiruzen Sarutobi was involved and called for a Jonin Council to decide Konoha’s next steps.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha sensed Root ninja following him and led Tsunade and Nonō into a secluded stretch of road, where Root surrounded them.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha reflected Root’s genjutsu and used Susanoo and Brahma’s flames to eliminate the attackers.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha checked that Tsunade and Nonō were unharmed, then hurried with them to the Senju Compound.
• Mito Uzumaki heard that they had been attacked and decided Hiruzen Sarutobi was involved.
• Mito Uzumaki ordered Yosuke Senju to summon the clan heads and Jonin for a Jonin Council.

Mito Uzumaki comforted Yakushi Nonō and promised to protect her as she prepared to bring Nonō and Hoshiryu Uchiha before the Jonin Council. On the way to the Hokage Tower, Mito hinted to Tori Kaze that major changes were coming.

• Mito Uzumaki assured Yakushi Nonō that she would protect her, and Nonō broke down in tears before Mito comforted her.
• Mito told Hoshiryu Uchiha to bring Nonō and attend the Jonin Council as a witness to the attack.
• Mito considered preparing Hoshiryu Uchiha to become the next Hokage while Hoshiryu helped Nonō clean up.
• Mito, Hoshiryu, and Nonō headed for the Hokage Tower through unusually quiet streets as jonin gathered for the council.
• Tori Kaze asked Mito why the Jonin Council had been called, and Mito replied that the winds might be changing.

Mito Uzumaki called a Jonin Council to expose a high-ranking official’s attacks on village children and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s likely involvement. Hoshiryu Uchiha and Nonō testified, and as Hiruzen prepared to defend himself, Uchiha Ang burst into the meeting room, injured and disheveled.

• Torifu Akimichi assured Mito Uzumaki that Konoha’s defenses were ready, then learned a high-ranking official and possibly Hiruzen Sarutobi had targeted children.
• Mito Uzumaki brought Hoshiryu Uchiha and Nonō to the Jonin Council, where Danzo and the Uchiha Clan Head were absent.
• Mito Uzumaki announced that a village official had targeted children, prompting the jonin to curse the culprit.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha and Nonō recounted how they sought the Hokage’s help and were attacked afterward, implicating Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The Hyuga Clan Head and other clan heads demanded an explanation from Hiruzen Sarutobi, who considered how to defend himself.
• Uchiha Ang entered the meeting room with disheveled clothes and wounds.

Uchiha Ang brought the captured, genjutsu-controlled Danzō before Mito Uzumaki, who sealed his Chakra and questioned him. Danzō confessed to targeting orphans and revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had helped him, leaving the Jonin Council stunned.

• Uchiha Ang reported that the children were safe, while the Uchiha Clan Head had been severely injured and several Uchiha had died fighting Root.
• Mito Uzumaki’s anger unleashed her immense Chakra, but Hoshiryu Uchiha calmed her before she sealed Danzō’s Chakra.
• Uchiha Ang used his Sharingan to hypnotize Danzō as Mito questioned him, and Danzō admitted he had targeted orphans for his plans.
• The Jonin Council erupted in calls to execute Danzō, but Mito silenced the room to continue questioning him.
• Danzō revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had supplied a written order to help him take the children and had warned him when the plan was exposed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted judgment, then tried to kill Hoshiryu Uchiha with the Reaper Death Seal and was killed by Hoshiryu’s Mangekyo technique. Mito Uzumaki concealed Hoshiryu’s awakening and announced Hiruzen’s death as the village faced the aftermath.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi removed his Hokage hat, joined Danzo at the judgment stand, and accepted that he had failed the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly formed hand seals and unleashed the Reaper Death Seal, intending to take Hoshiryu Uchiha down with him.
• Mito Uzumaki bound Hiruzen with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, while Hoshiryu Uchiha used a spatial rift to kill him.
• Mito Uzumaki sensed Hiruzen’s death and decided to hide Hoshiryu Uchiha’s Mangekyo from the others.
• Mito Uzumaki laid Hiruzen Sarutobi’s corpse flat and announced that he was dead.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died while trying to attack Hoshiryu Uchiha, Mito Uzumaki oversaw Danzō’s unanimous execution vote and became Konoha’s acting Hokage. She left the meeting with Shikaku Nara tasked to notify the Daimyo and ordered the village to keep Hiruzen’s death secret for now.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu took Hiruzen Sarutobi’s body away after Mito Uzumaki agreed to let them handle it.
• Mito Uzumaki called a vote on Shimura Danzō’s punishment, and the attendees unanimously approved his execution.
• Uchiha Ang led Danzō out of the meeting room to carry out the sentence.
• Mito Uzumaki nominated herself as Hokage, and no one else stepped forward to compete for the position.
• Mito Uzumaki asked Shikaku Nara to notify the Daimyo that she would temporarily assume the Hokage role.
• Mito Uzumaki ordered the attendees to say Hiruzen Sarutobi had died of illness until Konoha settled matters with the Daimyo.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death, Mito Uzumaki steadied Konoha and was approved as the Fourth Hokage. Madara Uchiha learned of Hiruzen’s death but remained focused on awakening the Rinnegan, while Hoshiryu Uchiha was relieved that Chika had taken over the Hokage paperwork.

• Mito Uzumaki returned to the Senju Compound with Hoshiryu Uchiha and Nonō, who admired Mito and secretly blushed while watching Hoshiryu.
• White Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Hiruzen Sarutobi was dead, but it could not explain who had killed him or how.
• Madara Uchiha learned that White Zetsu had only seen Hiruzen’s body and returned to focusing on the Rinnegan and the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Nearly a month after Hiruzen’s death, Mito Uzumaki kept Konoha steady as the other Four Nations signaled for peace.
• With the Daimyo’s approval, Mito Uzumaki announced that she would serve as the Fourth Hokage, while Hoshiryu Uchiha thanked Chika for handling the Hokage’s paperwork and sparing him the work.

Hoshiryu Uchiha reviewed the skills and abilities he had developed over the past month, along with the AFK System’s new functions and his rise to Super Kage level. His thoughts were interrupted when Tsunade asked him to repeat what she had just said.

• Hoshiryu Uchiha checked his system panel and noted his new skills, combat power, and the AFK System’s expanded functions.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha reflected on how mastering Sealing Techniques had raised his combat power to Super Kage level and unlocked Scroll Crafting.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha considered how his Medical Ability Mastery could make medical techniques easier for others to learn and use.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha thought about learning Flying Thunder God and realized he had needed to master Sealing Techniques first.
• Tsunade tugged Hoshiryu Uchiha out of his thoughts and asked him to repeat what she had just said.

Hoshiryu Uchiha gave Mito Uzumaki medical talismans that could heal injuries, and she brought him and Tsunade to meet the Daimyo. Mito asked the Daimyo to pay Konoha the reimbursement promised in an agreement as the Great Shinobi War neared its end.

• Mito Uzumaki told Hoshiryu Uchiha that Uchiha Ang had asked him to return to the Uchiha Clan, but offered to refuse on his behalf.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha gave Mito Uzumaki talismans containing the Mystical Palm Technique, which could be activated with Chakra to treat injuries.
• Mito Uzumaki asked Chika to summon the Konoha Hospital director and the Sealing Department head, then took Hoshiryu Uchiha and Tsunade to the Hokage Tower.
• Mito Uzumaki introduced Tsunade and Hoshiryu Uchiha to the Daimyo and presented their reason for visiting.
• Mito Uzumaki reminded the Daimyo of his father's agreement with Hashirama and asked when he would reimburse Konoha for its wartime losses.

Mito Uzumaki forced the Daimyo to promise compensation for Konoha’s war losses and honor a contract granting a noble title to Hashirama and Mito’s descendants. After the Daimyo left, Tsunade accepted the title, while Hoshiryu Uchiha declined it.

• Mito Uzumaki reminded the Daimyo of the contract requiring him to cover Konoha’s war expenses and threatened that Konoha could leave the Land of Fire.
• The Daimyo agreed to pay compensation and tried to leave, but Mito Uzumaki presented another contract promising a noble title to Hashirama and her descendants.
• Mito Uzumaki explained that the demands would signal the Land of Fire’s support for Konoha and reassure others that the village could keep fighting.
• The Daimyo left after agreeing to let Mito Uzumaki decide who would receive the title.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha declined the title and suggested it go to Tsunade, who initially refused before accepting it after Mito Uzumaki and Hoshiryu Uchiha watched her.

Hoshiryu Uchiha visited the Uchiha Clan, where Clan Head Uchiha Ang confirmed that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Stunned by the revelation, Uchiha Ang abruptly asked whether Hoshiryu wanted a wife.

• Mito Uzumaki told Hoshiryu Uchiha to visit the Uchiha Clan, and he went to meet its new Clan Head, Uchiha Ang.
• Uchiha Ang and Uchiha Sen welcomed Hoshiryu Uchiha and asked whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hoshiryu Uchiha sealed the reception room and revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to the two Uchiha.
• Uchiha Ang, overwhelmed by the confirmation, asked Hoshiryu Uchiha if he wanted a wife.