Chapter Summaries

Tang Ping and his allies raided Hidden Sky Village’s secret manufacturing base in the Land of Tea, using stealth and genjutsu to capture it with minimal damage. After finding the base’s maps and records, Tang Ping realized its scale was far greater than he expected.

• Tang Ping, Uchiha Mei, Hinata Cang Yue, and Uchiha Shizuka infiltrated the cliffside base and prepared to secure it intact.
• Hozuki Mangetsu used the Water Transformation Technique to enter through cracks, assassinated more than a dozen Hidden Sky ninja, and opened the massive harbor entrance.
• The raiding force stormed the harbor, and the Uchiha used their Sharingan and genjutsu to control the workers and Hidden Sky ninja.
• Tang Ping’s group seized the command center and captured the Hidden Sky command staff, whose strongest members were only jonin.
• Tang Ping examined the base’s maps and data and reacted with astonishment and delight at its true scale.

Tang Ping took control of the Hidden Sky manufacturing base and prepared to seize the Hidden Sky Village and its flying fortress. After reinforcements arrived, he led the force toward the village before it could learn the base had fallen.

• Tang Ping assessed the base's vast workforce, steel reserves, and production capacity, and decided its resources could transform his territory.
• Tang Ping ordered Uchiha Shizuka to secure the base and bring its people under control, using force against anyone who resisted.
• Uchiha Shizuka and Nonō began sorting prisoners and workers for imprisonment or recruitment as Tang Ping planned to absorb the base.
• The next day, a force from White Fish Port arrived to take over the base, with Yamaa Koji left behind to guard it.
• Tang Ping led his troops toward the Hidden Sky Village Ruins, aiming to clear the lookouts and confront the Zero-Tails before the village learned of the takeover.

Tang Ping and his team infiltrated the Hidden Sky Village ruins to seize its technology and documents while preserving the Sky Fortress. Tang Ping reached the Zero-Tails power center and began sealing it as disturbances broke out elsewhere in the fortress.

• Hinata Cang Yue used her Tenseigan to guide Chubingmaru in silently eliminating the sentries around the ruins.
• Hinata Cang Yue cut a tunnel into the underground fortress while Tang Ping bypassed its warning barrier.
• The team entered the Sky Fortress and split up: Tang Ping targeted the Zero-Tails, Uchiha Mei sought documents and ninjutsu, and Hinata Cang Yue and Uchiha Shizuka pursued the higher-ups.
• Tang Ping fought through the guards to reach the Zero-Tails chamber and began sealing the beast before it could be damaged.
• Disturbances erupted elsewhere in the fortress as Tang Ping worked on the seal.

Uchiha Mei, Hinata Cang Yue, and their allies overran the Sky Ninja fortress while Tang Ping subdued Zero-Tails and discovered its potential as a source of vast Chakra. He left the sealed creature behind and returned to help secure the Land of Tea.

• Uchiha Mei cut through Sky Ninja forces with her blade and Lightning Release techniques while Hinata Cang Yue and Uchiha Shizuka eliminated targets across the fortress.
• Uchiha Sho and Yamaa Koji led Tenshukaku reinforcements into the fortress, where they crushed resistance and suppressed sabotage.
• Tang Ping avoided Zero-Tails' instinctive tentacle attacks, pinned it down with Earth Release, and sealed it with several techniques.
• Tang Ping realized Zero-Tails could convert dark emotions into stored Chakra, making it more valuable to him than a tailed beast for powering his faction's production.
• Tang Ping left the sealed Zero-Tails and went to attend to the remaining work of taking control of the Land of Tea.

Tang Ping returned to White Fish Port with his forces and forced the Land of Tea Daimyo to accept Tenshukaku’s intervention against Mandala Flower Tea. After killing a minister and the Daimyo’s Yugakure guards, Tang Ping left orders for the Daimyo to be controlled, placing the Land of Tea under his influence.

• The Land of Tea Daimyo grew furious and uneasy as Tenshukaku searched noble estates for Mandala Flower Tea, while his Yugakure guards refused to oppose its forces.
• Tang Ping entered the Daimyo’s residence with most of his army and killed a minister who challenged him.
• Tang Ping demanded that the Daimyo hire Tenshukaku to purge Mandala Flower Tea, but the Daimyo refused.
• Uchiha fighters killed the three Yugakure guards, and the frightened Daimyo praised Tang Ping to avoid further violence.
• Tang Ping left orders for the Daimyo to be handled gently and controlled, intending to keep him available for public appearances.

After the Land of Tea fell under Tenshukaku’s control, Tang Ping agreed to return to Konoha with Nara Shikaku, while leaving allies behind to consolidate their gains. Before departing, he tasked Yashiro with organizing a Gliding Wing Competition and prepared for his return to the village and the approaching Nine Tails Night.

• The Daimyos condemned Tenshukaku’s takeover of the Land of Tea, but Tang Ping remained determined to keep control of the country.
• Tang Ping left the Land of Tea with Squad 404 and Uchiha Mei, while Uchiha Sho, Uchiha Shizuka, and Yakushi Nonō stayed behind to oversee the purge and consolidation.
• Nara Shikaku invited Tang Ping back to Konoha, and Tang Ping accepted, mindful of Kushina Uzumaki’s pregnancy and the approaching Nine Tails Night.
• Tang Ping ordered Uchiha Yashiro to organize a Gliding Wing Competition in Tenshukaku and the Land of Rivers, promising him a potion as a reward.
• Tang Ping put away his materials, checked his experiments, gathered supplies, and set off for Konoha with Nara Shikaku.

Tang Ping returned to Konoha with his group and met Kushina, Minato, and Kakashi before attending a private meeting at the Hokage Building. The meeting began with Danzo accusing Tang Ping of invading the Land of Tea, setting the stage for tense negotiations.

• Tang Ping and his group stayed at the Yamaa Clan compound, while Hinata Cang Yue returned home.
• Kushina Uzumaki visited Tang Ping with Minato Namikaze and Kakashi, and they shared a hot pot meal while Minato indirectly urged the group to return to Konoha.
• Uchiha Mei criticized Uchiha Fugaku’s leadership, and Tang Ping warned her that Fugaku was not as simple as he seemed.
• Tang Ping, Uchiha Mei, Hinata Cang Yue, and their companion attended a private meeting at the Hokage Building with Minato, Konoha F4, Nara Shikaku, and Uchiha Fugaku.
• Danzo opened the meeting by accusing Tang Ping of invading the Land of Tea and burdening Konoha with political pressure.

Tang Ping rejected Konoha’s attempt to take control of Tenshukaku in exchange for making him Anbu Captain, openly criticizing the village’s leadership. Minato Namikaze interrupted the escalating confrontation to raise another matter.

• Tang Ping provoked Danzo by asking when he had become Hokage, then accused him of acting above the Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered Tang Ping the Anbu Captain position if he returned to Konoha and let the village manage Tenshukaku, but Tang Ping refused.
• Tang Ping called Konoha rotten, drawing angry protests from the gathered leaders.
• Danzo insisted Tenshukaku must be managed by the village because Tang Ping was a Konoha ninja, and Tang Ping answered that it was his territory.
• Minato Namikaze stopped the argument and introduced another matter for discussion.

Uchiha Mei rejected Uchiha Fugaku’s plea for the Elder House Lineage to return and humiliated Danzo after he proposed putting them under Root. The tense meeting ended without a fight, leaving the village’s attempt to reclaim Tenshukaku unresolved.

• Uchiha Fugaku sincerely asked Uchiha Mei to bring the Elder House Lineage back to the Uchiha, but she sarcastically reminded him that the village had abandoned them.
• Danzo proposed that the Elder House Lineage join Root, and Uchiha Mei challenged him to prove he deserved to lead it.
• Uchiha Mei caught Danzo in a Sharingan genjutsu while Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji blocked Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi from intervening.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi released Danzo from the genjutsu, and Uchiha Mei continued to insult him without starting another attack.
• Nara Shikaku and Minato Namikaze used Danzo’s need for a medical check as an excuse to end the meeting, and Tang Ping was pleased that the dispute had been delayed.

Kushina took Tang Ping shopping, where he examined the infant Sasuke and confirmed Kushina was carrying twins. Later, Tang Ping told Kakashi that Nohara Rin was alive and asked him to become a covert piece for Tenshukaku, leaving Kakashi hopeful and willing to pay anything.

• Kushina brought Kakashi and Tang Ping shopping, where they met Uchiha Mikoto, Itachi, and the infant Sasuke.
• Itachi asked Tang Ping about the Uchiha’s relationship with the village, and Tang Ping advised him to judge actions rather than words.
• Tang Ping secretly examined Sasuke and confirmed Kushina was carrying twins, while leaving tracking powder on her.
• At the river, Tang Ping asked Kakashi what he would sacrifice for a chance to atone for killing Nohara Rin.
• Tang Ping told Kakashi that Rin was alive and asked him to serve as a covert piece for Tenshukaku; Kakashi agreed to pay everything and accepted that Tang Ping would seal away their conversation.

Tang Ping convinced Kakashi that Nohara Rin was alive and recruited him to gather intelligence, then left Konoha with his companions as Kushina approached childbirth. On their return to the Tenshukaku, Tang Ping learned that Kakuzu was coming after the bounty on the Land of Tea Daimyo and was asked to spare him for Akatsuki to recruit.

• Tang Ping told Kakashi that Nohara Rin was alive, and Kakashi agreed to gather intelligence for him without betraying Konoha for now.
• Tang Ping asked Kakashi to use the Shadow Mirror Body Transfer Technique on a woman someday, sealed Kakashi's memories of their meeting, and left him instructions.
• A few days later, Konoha approved Tang Ping and his companions' departure because Kushina was about to give birth and they were considered dangerous.
• Tang Ping and the others returned to the Tenshukaku as the Daimyos increased their condemnation and bounties against the Land of Tea.
• Tang Ping received intelligence that Kakuzu was coming to claim a 50-million-ryo bounty and a request to spare him so Akatsuki could recruit him.

Tang Ping sent Uchiha Mei and Hinata Cang Yue to confront Kakuzu, then visited Nohara Rin at the hospital. When Mei saw Tang Ping and Rin together, she awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan, leaving Cang Yue determined to pursue the Tenseigan.

• Tang Ping assigned Uchiha Mei to confront Kakuzu, ordered Hinata Cang Yue to support her, and left Yamaa Koji to inspect the Tenshukaku and the Land of Rivers.
• Tang Ping visited Nohara Rin at the hospital and told her about Kakashi's condition; Rin admitted she resented Tang Ping for avoiding her since they had spent the night together.
• Uchiha Mei and Hinata Cang Yue watched Tang Ping and Rin from the hospital rooftop, and Mei awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hinata Cang Yue recognized Mei's new power and resolved to find a way to obtain the Tenseigan as Mei headed toward the Land of Tea to test her strength against Kakuzu.

Kakuzu infiltrated the palace at White Fish Port to claim the bounty for rescuing the Land of Tea Daimyo, but Uchiha Mei intercepted him and revealed her newly awakened Mangekyo strength. Their battle began with a clash of powerful Fire Release techniques.

• Kakuzu approached the palace underground and joined other bounty hunters moving in to rescue the Daimyo.
• Uchiha Mei confronted Kakuzu in the plaza and cut off his left arm with her lightning-wreathed short sword.
• Kakuzu restored his arm with black tendrils and identified Mei as an Uchiha.
• Mei reflected on how awakening the Mangekyo had greatly increased her eye power, chakra, and combat abilities.
• Kakuzu attacked with Fire Release: Head Hunter, and Mei countered with Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.

Uchiha Mei fought Kakuzu in White Fish Port, using their battle to sharpen her Kage-level combat skills before unleashing Kirin. The attack destroyed the square and drove Kakuzu away, ending the bounty threat against the Land of Tea Daimyo.

• Uchiha Mei overpowered Kakuzu in a clash of Fire Release and then used Lightning Release techniques to fight him at close range.
• Uchiha Mei honed her combat skills against Kakuzu without using her Sharingan, while Kakuzu used his experience to land occasional attacks.
• Uchiha Mei formed storm clouds over the square and summoned Kirin as Kakuzu prepared his Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot.
• Uchiha Mei's Kirin collided with Kakuzu's Final Shot, destroying the square and dispersing the storm clouds.
• Uchiha Mei and Hinata Cang Yue let Kakuzu escape with a mask so he could be recruited by the Akatsuki, and the bounty disappeared.

After Uchiha Mei awakened her Mangekyo Sharingan, Tang Ping prepared to bring her on the upcoming operation, which he expected to coincide with Nine Tails Night. He was especially confident because her Ama-no-Iwato ability could seal an area and block vision, making it an effective counter to the Byakugan Wolf.

• Kakuzu fled after losing several hearts to Uchiha Mei, and Konan confronted him and recruited him into Akatsuki while he was weakened.
• Tang Ping planned to obtain Sunagakure's Reanimation Jutsu so he could use White Zetsu as sacrifices to resurrect Yahiko.
• Tang Ping researched Hidden Sky Village's technology and prepared for Nine Tails Night, while a Gliding Wing competition drew participants with a paddy-field reward despite many fatal crashes.
• Uchiha Mei revealed that her Mangekyo Sharingan had awakened and that one of its abilities was Ama-no-Iwato, which sealed an area and prevented enemies from seeing.
• Tang Ping decided to bring Uchiha Mei with him on the upcoming operation, trusting her ability to prevent the Byakugan Wolf from disrupting their plans.

As Kushina Uzumaki went into labor at a guarded cave, Tang Ping and his companions tracked her there, aware that the Nine-Tails Attack was imminent. The delivery began as a masked enemy with spatial abilities prepared to strike.

• Kakashi visited Rin's grave, then a masked figure kicked away his flowers and vowed revenge against Kakashi and Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured Minato Namikaze about Kushina Uzumaki's delivery, and they settled on a guarded cave outside the village.
• Tang Ping, Hinata Cang Yue, and Uchiha Mei tracked Kushina using Tang Ping's scent mark and discovered White Zetsu lying in ambush.
• At dusk, the three reached the cave and disguised themselves as members of Kara.
• Kushina Uzumaki began giving birth while Minato Namikaze tried to suppress the Nine-Tails and Biwako Sarutobi conducted the delivery.

Obito abducted Kushina Uzumaki and released the Nine-Tails while Minato Namikaze was forced to flee with his newborn son. Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue tracked them down and witnessed the Nine-Tails emerge under Sharingan control.

• A masked intruder killed Biwako and her assistant, then forced Minato Namikaze to choose between saving his newborn son and staying with Kushina Uzumaki.
• Minato Namikaze escaped with his son and an Exploding Tag, while the intruder abducted Kushina Uzumaki.
• Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue searched for the missing pair, with Hinata locating the Nine-Tails' growing chakra nearby.
• Tang Ping and Hinata reached a pool where Obito was performing the Release Tail Sealing Jutsu on Kushina Uzumaki.
• The Nine-Tails burst from Kushina Uzumaki and roared its hatred before its eyes revealed the Sharingan's three tomoe.

Obito released the Nine-Tails, which attacked Kushina before rampaging through Konoha. Tang Ping and Uchiha Mei arrived too late to stop the destruction, while Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to confront the beast as it fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Hokage Rock.

• Obito ordered the Nine-Tails to attack the dying Kushina, but Minato Namikaze rescued her and carried her away.
• Tang Ping stopped Uchiha Mei from attacking and hurried toward Konoha, intending to wait until Minato Namikaze was gone before acting.
• The Nine-Tails devastated Konoha during the harvest celebration, killing civilians as shinobi began evacuations and rescues.
• Yuhi ShinKurenai blocked Yuhi Kurenai and other young shinobi from approaching the Nine-Tails, while Kakashi restrained Guy from charging into battle.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma and transformed him into the Adamantine Staff as the Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball toward Hokage Rock.

Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi kept the Nine-Tails from destroying Konoha, but the beast regained its intelligence and renewed its attack. As the Nine-Tails prepared to detonate a Tailed Beast Ball, Minato teleported it away.

• Minato Namikaze used a spacetime barrier to send the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Ball far from Konoha, then retreated after the Byakugan Wolf targeted him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Enma as an extending staff to knock the Nine-Tails outside the village, exhausting himself in the process.
• The Nine-Tails broke free of its control, blamed Konoha and the Uchiha, and devastated the ninja trying to stop it.
• Minato Namikaze arrived with Gamabunta and prepared to transfer the Nine-Tails as it began forming a Tailed Beast Ball for a self-detonation.
• Minato Namikaze teleported the Nine-Tails away just before its Tailed Beast Ball could explode.

Tang Ping arrived as Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki prepared to seal the Nine-Tails, then revealed that Kushina was carrying another child. Minato asked what Tang Ping wanted in exchange for saving the unborn child.

• Tang Ping reached the forest and saw Kushina Uzumaki restraining the Nine-Tails with Adamantine Sealing Chains while Minato Namikaze prepared to seal it.
• Hinata Cang Yue sensed a White Zetsu with immense Chakra, and Tang Ping sent Uchiha Mei to confront it and Hinata Cang Yue to intercept Konoha reinforcements.
• Tang Ping used Sealing Techniques to pass through Minato Namikaze's barrier without damaging it.
• Tang Ping told Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki that Kushina was carrying another child, and Kushina confirmed it.
• Minato Namikaze asked Tang Ping what it would take for him to save the unborn child.