Chapter Summaries

Sasori attended the final day of Sōsuke’s Unlimited Lecture while Nagato kept him on a regular routine, and Hanzo decided against challenging Sōsuke to a Water Release battle. After the classes ended, Nagato offered to take Rōshi to meet Sōsuke that evening.

• Nagato accompanied Sasori to breakfast and insisted that he was helping him avoid loneliness rather than supervising him.
• Sasori attended Sōsuke’s lectures and worked on Puppet Prostheses in the laboratory, while Nagato reminded him to stop and sleep.
• Mu Yue arrived early on the final day of the lecture event and gave more ninja time to ask questions.
• Hanzo considered challenging Sōsuke to a Water Release battle but decided not to risk his reputation.
• Sōsuke concluded the eight classes, and Hanzo left with the Rain ninja without speaking to him.
• Nagato approached Rōshi and offered to take him to meet Teacher Sōsuke that evening.

Rōshi met Sōsuke and discussed Ninshu’s goal of ending war and discrimination before revealing that he was the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and had left Iwagakure. After realizing Sōsuke might know more about his situation than he admitted, Rōshi decided to stay in the Land of Rain and ask him more; elsewhere, Hanzo refused to meet Shimura Danzō’s envoy immediately.

• Mu Yue asked Rōshi which part of the book had affected him most, and Rōshi described the vision of a world without discrimination or war.
• Mu Yue argued that the distant goal could become possible as the world developed, persuading Rōshi to take Ninshu’s ideals seriously.
• Rōshi revealed his true appearance and identity as Iwagakure’s Four-Tails Jinchuriki, then said he was no longer an Iwagakure ninja.
• Mu Yue admitted he had known Rōshi’s identity but did not know why he had left Iwagakure, and he invited Rōshi to return with questions about Ninshu.
• At the inn, Rōshi suspected Sōsuke might have inferred his situation and decided to ask him more instead of leaving for the Land of Birds.
• Hanzo learned that Shimura Danzō’s envoy wanted to see him and ordered that the envoy be told he was resting.

Hanzo rejected Danzō’s attempt to recruit Amegakure into an attack on Sōsuke and Ninshu, deciding any conflict belonged to the Land of Rain and should wait. At Ninshu, Rōshi revealed his identity to Kakuzu, who shared how Takigakure had betrayed him and asked Rōshi to consider how much Iwagakure depended on him.

• A Root ninja urged Hanzo to join Konoha in destroying Ninshu and killing Sōsuke, but Hanzo intimidated him and refused.
• Hanzo reflected that Amegakure and Ninshu might eventually clash, but he would not let Konoha dictate when that happened.
• Rōshi visited Ninshu, where Mu Yue and Kakuzu discussed opening an academy using ordinary teachers and planning ordinary schools.
• Rōshi disclosed to Kakuzu that he was the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and a former Iwagakure ninja who had left the village.
• Kakuzu recounted how Takigakure sent him to assassinate Hashirama Senju, then imprisoned him after he survived and failed.
• Kakuzu told Rōshi that Iwagakure considered him important and asked how he had been treated after returning to the village.

Shimura Danzō pressured Hanzo to help Konoha kill Sōsuke, claiming Ninshu threatened Amegakure and that Konoha would otherwise bring war to the Land of Rain. Hanzo neither accepted nor refused, then secretly left Amegakure that night.

• Hanzo received Shimura Danzō and heard him argue that Ninshu was undermining Amegakure and had become entangled with Iwagakure.
• Shimura Danzō threatened that Konoha would destroy Ninshu and offered to spare its members if Amegakure helped kill Sōsuke and Nagato.
• Hanzo erupted in anger when Shimura Danzō warned that the Land of Rain could become a battlefield, then questioned why Amegakure should join Konoha's conflict with Ninshu.
• Shimura Danzō invoked Hanzo's defeat and promised that killing Sōsuke could preserve peace, but Hanzo asked for several days to consider the proposal.
• Shimura Danzō warned that opposition within Konoha might act if Hanzo delayed, then left Hanzo's office.
• Hanzo held a meeting without mentioning Sōsuke and secretly left Amegakure in disguise that night.

Hanzo warned Sōsuke about Shimura Danzō’s plan to attack Ninshu, then insisted that he and Sōsuke settle the conflict in a duel. He later agreed to help Konoha lure Sōsuke and Nagato to Amegakure, while Shimura Danzō’s plan advanced and a black-and-white figure appeared behind him.

• Hanzo secretly traveled to Six Paths City and warned Sōsuke that Shimura Danzō wanted him dead.
• Hanzo declared that he would help Konoha and proposed a battle between himself and Sōsuke to settle the conflict between Amegakure and Ninshu.
• Sōsuke accepted the challenge and realized Hanzo was prepared to die, though he believed Hanzo could not defeat him.
• Hanzo reflected on his impulsive decision, then delayed giving Shimura Danzō an answer while he arranged matters in Amegakure.
• Five days later, Hanzo agreed to help Konoha lure Sōsuke and Nagato to Amegakure, and Shimura Danzō explained his plan.
• As Shimura Danzō thought about obtaining Hashirama Cells, a black-and-white figure silently appeared behind him.

Shimura Danzō received Hashirama Cells and Tobi’s tissue from Black Zetsu, gaining Wood Release and stronger Chakra as part of a plan to help him kill Sōsuke. Mu Yue confirmed Danzō was behind the plot, stayed in Konoha to investigate, and grew suspicious when Danzō returned with stronger Chakra.

• Tobi told Shimura Danzō that the surgery had granted him Wood Release and increased Chakra, while refusing to explain the operation or the planned forces against Sōsuke.
• Shimura Danzō agreed to continue the alliance, planned to return to Konoha, and suspected that Uchiha Madara had hidden motives.
• Black Zetsu explained that he had used Tobi’s tissue to strengthen Shimura Danzō so he could perish alongside Sōsuke and trigger other plans against Konoha.
• Mu Yue returned to Konoha, confirmed Danzō was absent and Root’s ranks were reduced, and concluded that Hanzo’s account of Danzō’s scheme was credible.
• Mu Yue searched for details of the plot but found little, then noticed Danzō had returned with markedly stronger Chakra and examined him from a distance with his Byakugan.

Mu Yue recognized that Shimura Danzō’s sudden gains pointed to Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu giving him Hashirama Cells, and chose to watch Danzō’s plans. Danzō secretly trained his new Wood Release, pretended to seek more resources from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and decided to summon Mu Yue as a potential ally in his bid for power.

• Mu Yue assessed Shimura Danzō’s increased Chakra, Wood Release, and potential, concluded Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were behind the transplant, and decided to observe Danzō.
• Shimura Danzō practiced Wood Release outside Konoha, failed to create a large forest, and trained several other techniques using Hashirama Senju’s scroll.
• Shimura Danzō proposed expanding Root and the Anbu to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who rejected the request after criticizing the proposal and Danzō’s habit of entering without knocking.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Konoha’s promising roster, while Shimura Danzō privately concealed his confidence and resolved to become the Fourth Hokage through Wood Release.
• Shimura Danzō returned to Root and ordered a ninja to bring Mu Yue to him, hoping to secure a trump card and possibly compete for the Rinnegan.

Mu Yue learned that Shimura Danzō planned a mission in the Land of Rain and considered how to stop him without exposing his identity. He then trained his disciples, helping Kakashi improve Musou no Hitotachi and guiding Obito and Shisui with Blue Flare before the day's training ended.

• Mu Yue met Shimura Danzō at the Root Base, where Shimura Danzō assigned him a future mission in the Land of Rain and told him to keep teaching as usual.
• Mu Yue concluded that Shimura Danzō was acting alone against Ninshu, with Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu secretly stirring up trouble, and wrote down his concerns at home.
• Mu Yue watched Kakashi unleash a full-power Musou no Hitotachi and advised him that the slash needed more speed.
• Mu Yue guided Obito in compressing Chakra for Blue Flare and helped Shisui practice Blue Flare and Armament Haki.
• Might Guy told Mu Yue he was developing claw-based taijutsu, and Mu Yue encouraged him while continuing to train him in Golden Horizon Line.
• Mu Yue finished teaching Yamato and Nohara Rin as the sun set.

Mu Yue returned to Ninshu, arranged for Rōshi to leave the Land of Rain to avoid becoming a target, and chose Kakuzu to lead Ninshu’s first effort to spread its ideals abroad. Kakuzu departed for the Land of Birds with several Ninshu ninjas and a disguised Rōshi, while Mu Yue returned to Konoha.

• Mu Yue reviewed his Shadow Clone’s memories and concluded that Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were focused on Shimura Danzō and Hanzo.
• Mu Yue decided to move Rōshi out of Six Paths City so his presence would not draw Iwagakure into the conflict.
• Mu Yue proposed that Ninshu begin spreading its ideals in nearby countries without Ninja Villages, and Kakuzu agreed that the timing was right.
• Mu Yue selected Kakuzu to lead Ninshu’s first mission abroad, assuring him that his experience and understanding made him suitable.
• Kakuzu led several Ninshu ninjas and a disguised Rōshi to the Land of Birds, while Mu Yue left a Shadow Clone in Ninshu and returned to Konoha.

Shimura Danzō prepared for the planned assassination of Sōsuke, strengthening himself with a second Sharingan and coordinating with Hanzo in Amegakure. The operation remained scheduled, though Danzō grew angry when Hanyu Muyue arrived later than planned.

• Shimura Danzō trained his Wood Release, sent Root ninjas to the Land of Rain, and invited Hiruzen Sarutobi to share drinks at his home.
• Shimura Danzō transplanted a second Sharingan after receiving Hashirama Cells, then covered both eyes and led Root forces to Amegakure.
• Shimura Danzō and Hanzo confirmed that Sōsuke had accepted an invitation to watch the Chunin Exams and planned to act when he arrived in five days.
• Shimura Danzō continued researching Wood Release and refining the assassination plan as the date approached.
• Shimura Danzō learned that Hanyu Muyue had delayed his departure from Konoha until eight in the evening after Hiruzen Sarutobi invited him to dinner.
• Shimura Danzō fumed over Muyue's delay but concluded that he should still reach Amegakure before or shortly after the battle began.

Mu Yue and Nagato traveled to Amegakure for its Chunin Exams, where Shimura Danzō prepared to assassinate Mu Yue. As Hanzo led them to a remote building, Shimura Danzō struck at Mu Yue from behind.

• Yahiko discussed his wish to question Hanzo about peace in the Land of Rain, but Nagato warned him not to join the dangerous trip.
• Mu Yue and Nagato arrived at Amegakure, where Hanzo greeted them and Shimura Danzō secretly assessed the pair.
• Amegakure ninja called Mu Yue “Sōsuke-sensei,” and Hanzo stopped an official from silencing them.
• Hanzo led Mu Yue, Nagato, and Shimura Danzō to a remote building, while Mu Yue monitored their surroundings with his Byakugan and Transparent World.
• Shimura Danzō crept behind Mu Yue and thrust a hidden kunai toward his heart.

Mu Yue thwarted Shimura Danzō’s ambush and overwhelmed his Wood Release with a massive Fire and Wind compound technique. Shimura Danzō survived by using Izanagi, leaving Mu Yue to face him with only two Sharingan remaining.

• Shimura Danzō and disguised Root shinobi attacked Mu Yue and Nagato, but Mu Yue broke Danzō’s kunai, punched him away, and quickly defeated the charging Root shinobi.
• Hanzo refused to join either side, while Shimura Danzō revealed his Wood Release and unleashed Deep Forest Emergence against Mu Yue and Nagato.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to repel the branches, and Mu Yue warned Hanzo’s Amegakure shinobi to withdraw before preparing a large-scale attack.
• Mu Yue and his Shadow Clone combined Fire Dragon Dance with Vacuum Hurricane Dragon, turning Danzō’s forest into an enormous sea of flames that trapped and struck him.
• Hanzo tried to save Danzō, but Danzō survived the attack with Izanagi; Amegakure Anbu then blocked other shinobi from approaching the battlefield.
• Mu Yue saw that Danzō had lost one Sharingan to Izanagi and had only two left.

Mu Yue and Nagato overwhelmed Shimura Danzō, but Mu Yue’s Shadow Clone rescued him before he could die in the flames. After giving Mu Yue his final orders and warnings, Shimura Danzō died, while Mu Yue’s main body faced Hanzo.

• Nagato and Mu Yue attacked Shimura Danzō, who survived their techniques with Izanagi but lost both Sharingan and was left badly wounded.
• Mu Yue trapped Shimura Danzō in a sea of fire, and Shimura Danzō recalled his rivalry and friendship with Hiruzen Sarutobi as he prepared to die.
• Mu Yue’s Shadow Clone arrived and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Shimura Danzō away, while Hanzo confronted Mu Yue’s main body.
• Mu Yue secretly left Shimura Danzō with a lingering Blue Flare wound, and his Medical Ninjutsu could not save him.
• Shimura Danzō gave Mu Yue instructions about his body, Root, Orochimaru, and threats to Konoha, then died; Mu Yue sealed his body in a scroll.

Mu Yue defeated Hanzo in a final battle, and Hanzo named him Amegakure’s new leader before dying. Hanzo then awoke among his fallen subordinates and told them Amegakure was in good hands with a successor stronger than himself.

• Hanzo ordered the Amegakure shinobi to stand down, then challenged Mu Yue to settle their conflict in battle.
• Mu Yue countered Hanzo’s swordsmanship, Water Release, Ibuse’s poison, and chained scythe, while Hanzo’s attacks left him barely injured.
• Hanzo declared that Mu Yue would lead Amegakure after his death, refused Mu Yue’s offer of a life-saving secret medicine, and continued fighting.
• Mu Yue defeated Hanzo with Fire Dragon Dance and a transparent force that pierced his heart, then caught his falling body.
• An Amegakure shinobi accepted Mu Yue as leader, while several higher-ups killed themselves rather than serve Hanzo’s killer.
• Hanzo awoke in a dark wasteland among Amegakure shinobi who had died in the Second Ninja World War and told them Mu Yue had surpassed him and would lead the village well.

After Hanzo died and named Sōsuke his successor, Mu Yue took control of Amegakure and read Hanzo’s final instructions. He left the village with a plan to honor Hanzo’s funeral, conceal his own leadership from rival villages, and strengthen cooperation with Ninshu.

• Mu Yue healed Hanzo’s body, ordered the Amegakure ninja to prepare it, and called the village’s jonin to a meeting.
• Nagato told Mu Yue that Yahiko had wanted to visit Hanzo, so Mu Yue sent for Yahiko and read Hanzo’s scroll.
• Hanzo’s scroll advised Mu Yue to keep Amegakure separate from Ninshu and conceal Hanzo’s death to give the Land of Rain time to develop.
• At the meeting, Guangjun supported concealing Hanzo’s death, while Zhuzhu argued that Hanzo deserved to be honored publicly.
• Mu Yue decided to hold Hanzo’s funeral according to the usual standards, keep his own leadership secret, appoint a public leader, and maintain Amegakure’s relationship with Ninshu while expanding exchanges between them.
• Mu Yue checked the system and saw that Shimura Danzō’s death had changed Obito’s and Shisui’s Life Missions, with Shisui passing a settlement threshold.

Mu Yue received Shisui’s mission rewards while Yahiko learned that Sōsuke had taken over Amegakure and joined him to strengthen ties with Ninshu. In Konoha, Mu Yue told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Shimura Danzō had died in the Land of Rain, and Hiruzen went to see his old friend’s body at the Root Base.

• Mu Yue collected Shisui’s settlement rewards and checked Obito’s Life Mission progress.
• Nagato told Yahiko that Hanzo was dead and Sōsuke had become Amegakure’s leader, then explained how Shimura Danzō’s conspiracy had unfolded.
• Yahiko accepted Hanzo’s final choices and signed up with Sōsuke to work in Amegakure and deepen exchanges with Ninshu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sudden palpitation and reflected on his age and hopes of eventually retiring as Hokage.
• Mu Yue visited Hiruzen at night and reported that Shimura Danzō and nearly all of Root had died in the Land of Rain.
• Mu Yue said Sōsuke had killed Danzō and described his failed attempt to save him, then Hiruzen went with him to the Root Base and saw Danzō’s body.

After Shimura Danzō died, Mu Yue reported his final wishes to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who folded Root into the Anbu Training Squad and began investigating Danzō’s warning about Uchiha Madara. Hiruzen found few clues, while news of Danzō’s death spread rapidly across the ninja world.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi mourned Shimura Danzō and listened as Mu Yue recounted Danzō’s dying instructions to protect Konoha and take over Root.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to merge Root with Mu Yue’s Anbu Training Squad, and Mu Yue accepted responsibility for it.
• Mu Yue told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Danzō had warned him to beware of Uchiha Madara, prompting Hiruzen to consider a possible threat or successor.
• Mu Yue described Sōsuke as powerful but said they had not fought directly, then left the Root Base.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Root’s sole remaining ninja and ordered the Anbu to search Root’s base and files, but found little useful information.
• News of Shimura Danzō’s death spread quickly among the ninja villages despite efforts to conceal it.

Ōnoki, the Third Mizukage, Rasa, and the Third Raikage weighed how Shimura Danzō’s death and Konoha’s conflict with Ninshu could benefit their villages. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi received new intelligence about secret chambers connected to Danzō’s death.

• Ōnoki welcomed the growing conflict between Ninshu and Konoha and ordered Iwagakure’s resources to help spread news of Danzō’s death.
• The Third Mizukage’s leaders debated war with Konoha, then agreed to send ninja to the Land of Waves while waiting for a better opportunity.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to strengthen its spy network in the Land of Fire and monitor Konoha for chances to exploit its troubles.
• The Third Raikage approved an attack plan entering the Land of Fire through the Land of Fields and ordered Fourth Raikage A to lead the force with Killer B.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi woke from a dream about Senju Tobirama and Shimura Danzō, then continued investigating Danzō’s death through the Anbu.
• An Anbu told Hiruzen that investigators had made new discoveries in several secret chambers.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned from Shimura Danzō's hidden scroll that Danzō had suspected Uchiha Madara and warned him to protect Konoha, then shared limited intelligence with Mu Yue and the village advisors. As news of Danzō's death spread and Kumogakure and spies stirred, Hiruzen prepared to strengthen Konoha and place greater responsibility on Mu Yue's Training Squad.

• An Anbu ninja delivered Shimura Danzō's recovered scrolls to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who uncovered a hidden message warning that Uchiha Madara might threaten Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi showed the scroll to Mu Yue, who confirmed that Sōsuke alone had fought and killed Shimura Danzō.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested that Shisui join Mu Yue's Training Squad, and Mu Yue agreed that Shisui had the talent for Anbu work.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi expanded the investigation to the Land of Rain, but reports arrived that Danzō's death had leaked, Kumogakure was moving in the Land of Hot Water, and spies had increased in the Land of Fire.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi briefed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura on Danzō's death while concealing Uchiha Madara's existence, then ordered preparations to counter Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided that he needed to place a heavier burden on Mu Yue as Konoha's situation worsened.

After Shimura Danzō's death, Konoha felt uneasy as rumors of Kumogakure's movements spread, and Mu Yue kept his disciples close while helping Yamato consider a future beyond Root. Meanwhile, Orochimaru worried that his cooperation with Danzō would be exposed, leaving him distracted as Kumogakure began its operation in the Land of Fields.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi officially announced Shimura Danzō's death, while conflicting reports and news of Kumogakure's movements unsettled Konoha.
• Mu Yue told his disciples to avoid missions, and Shisui agreed to join the Training Squad after considering what the position could offer him.
• Mu Yue visited Yamato, encouraged him to attend the Ninja Academy, and heard Yamato vow to become strong enough to protect others.
• Orochimaru worried that his past experiments with Shimura Danzō might be exposed and tried to contact his subordinates in Konoha.
• Kumogakure's forces quietly arrived by ship in the Land of Fields and began their operation.