Chapter Summaries

Tang Ping confronted Sarutobi Shinnosuke and learned that Shikaku would lead reinforcements away from the Southwest Shinobi Army, confirming his suspicion that Konoha was moving against his authority. He sent Hinata Cang Yue to watch the Sunagakure camp, where she spotted someone approaching with an enormous chakra signature.

• Tang Ping berated Sarutobi Shinnosuke for his pride and questioned whether he was strong enough to lead shinobi against Pakura and Rasa.
• Shikaku revealed that he would lead people from the Southwest Shinobi Army as reinforcements, and Tang Ping agreed while deciding to retaliate against Konoha's maneuver.
• Hinata Cang Yue offered to assassinate Shinnosuke, but Tang Ping refused and said a kindhearted person would soon intervene.
• Tang Ping explained that he had tested Shinnosuke and found him unimpressive, then ordered Hinata Cang Yue to monitor the Sunagakure camp.
• Hinata Cang Yue saw a familiar figure with an enormous chakra signature approach the camp along the marked route and noticed their strange attire.

Uchiha Tang Ping, disguised as Zhurong of the Shell Organization, and Hinata Cang Yue infiltrated Sunagakure’s camp to offer Granny Chiyo information about Konoha’s ninja army. He demanded Sunagakure’s Puppet Technique and one billion ryo, but Granny Chiyo refused to trade the technique, leaving the real terms unresolved.

• Tang Ping gave himself the codename Zhurong and outfitted Hinata Cang Yue as Roushou in disguises modified with Sealing Technique.
• Hinata Cang Yue guided Tang Ping past Sunagakure patrols and traps to the camp’s main tent, where Sunagakure and Iwagakure representatives were negotiating reinforcements.
• Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue entered the tent, and Tang Ping introduced the Shell Organization and offered information about Konoha’s ninja army.
• Tang Ping demanded Sunagakure’s Puppet Technique and one billion ryo in resources, but Granny Chiyo immediately refused to trade the technique.

Tang Ping traded intelligence about Konoha’s forces to Granny Chiyo for introductory Puppet Technique materials and supplies, then used the deal to obtain laboratory equipment. After he and Hinata Cang Yue left Sunagakure’s camp unharmed, Ebizo resolved to investigate the Shell Organization, while Sunagakure prepared a counterattack.

• Tang Ping set introductory Puppet Technique knowledge and resources worth two hundred million ryo as his price for intelligence, and Granny Chiyo accepted.
• Tang Ping revealed that the Southwest Shinobi Army Commander would not act and that a kage-level expert was hidden in Konoha’s new force.
• Granny Chiyo handed over Puppet Technique materials, and Tang Ping named centrifuges and other equipment for Sunagakure to take from specified locations.
• Tang Ping explained his plans to use Puppet Technique for labor-saving tools and to establish United Fruit Trading Company before departing with Hinata Cang Yue.
• Ebizo ordered the surrounding Sunagakure ninja to let Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue pass, then decided to investigate the Shell Organization.
• Sunagakure’s ninja spent the night planning an immediate counterattack.

Tang Ping learned that Konoha was under attack from all sides and that the village had launched a full assault on the Sunagakure army. He secretly left Kikyo Mountain and joined Hinata Cang Yue at a concealed vantage point to watch the battle as it began.

• Hinata Cang Yue asked what Sunagakure would do with the intelligence, and Tang Ping expected them to act quickly.
• Tang Ping received word that Kumogakure and Kirigakure had launched offensives, leaving Konoha surrounded on all sides.
• Tang Ping learned that Konoha had no plans to mobilize the Southwest Shinobi Army and continued studying at Kikyo Mountain while Hinata Cang Yue monitored the battlefield.
• After Hinata Cang Yue signaled that the battle was beginning, Tang Ping had Yamaa Koji impersonate him and secretly left camp.
• Tang Ping summoned Taiyi, flew to the battlefield, and met Hinata Cang Yue at her concealed lookout as the Konoha and Sunagakure armies began fighting.

Pakura overwhelmed Sarutobi Shinnosuke and several Konoha Jonin until Granny Chiyo ambushed them, but Orochimaru turned the trap against Sunagakure with a poisoned snake. Orochimaru revealed he had been lurking and sabotaging Sunagakure’s water, then noticed that Chiyo’s allies were missing and her behavior was suspicious.

• Pakura charged through Konoha’s forces, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke intercepted her with support from several Jonin.
• Pakura forced the Konoha group back with Scorch Release, but Shinnosuke raised an Earth Flow Wall to shield his allies from her attack.
• Granny Chiyo launched a surprise attack on Shinnosuke with her centipede puppet as Pakura’s Scorch Release exploded against the wall.
• Orochimaru’s venomous snakes emerged from underground, biting Chiyo and forcing Pakura to evade.
• Orochimaru appeared and told Chiyo he had improved his snake venom and tampered with Sunagakure’s water supply.
• Orochimaru noticed that Rasa and Ebizo were absent and questioned why Chiyo and Pakura had not retreated.

Orochimaru and the Konoha forces were caught in a Sunagakure ambush after their poison plot was uncovered and neutralized. As Sunagakure’s planned attack struck Konoha’s rear, Orochimaru ordered a retreat and summoned Manda to break through, but a new threat appeared just as escape seemed possible.

• Granny Chiyo revealed that the poisoned body Orochimaru had found was a puppet, while she, Pakura, and Rasa surrounded him.
• Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and other Konoha shinobi arrived, and the powerful fighters on both sides engaged one another.
• Orochimaru and Rasa fought while Orochimaru recognized that Sunagakure was stalling for time; fireworks then signaled a Sunagakure unit attacking Konoha’s rear.
• Orochimaru ordered Konoha to retreat, and Rasa used Gold Dust Burial and Gold Sand Surging Wave to try to stop them.
• Orochimaru blocked Rasa’s gold dust with Triple Rashomon, summoned Manda, and promised him sacrifices in exchange for helping the Konoha forces break through.
• Manda charged into the Sunagakure forces, but someone appeared just as Konoha seemed close to escaping.

Sunagakure’s trap captured Sarutobi Shinnosuke and forced Orochimaru’s Konoha force to retreat with heavy losses. Tang Ping watched the battle end and wondered how Konoha F4 would react.

• Kitsuchi immobilized Manda as Granny Chiyo’s hidden drug caused Sarutobi Shinnosuke to collapse, and her centipede puppet swallowed him.
• Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Orochimaru coordinated an assault to rescue Shinnosuke, but the puppet’s recovered captive proved to be a decoy.
• Orochimaru ordered the Konoha ninja to retreat after realizing Chiyo had secretly transferred Shinnosuke away.
• Orochimaru made Sarutobi Sachiko send a hundred ninja to cover the rear, and their desperate stand let the main force break through Kitsuchi’s interception.
• Orochimaru’s force escaped with about eight hundred of its original twelve hundred ninja, while Tang Ping watched from afar and prepared to leave.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s advisers struggled to respond to Sunagakure capturing Sarutobi Shinnosuke and trapping Orochimaru’s forces, so they turned to Uchiha Tang Ping for help. Tang Ping agreed to lead his army after Utatane Koharu offered him ten bottles of Nutrient Solution, then headed toward Orochimaru while planning to deal with a noble who had targeted the Honda Trading Company.

• Danzo urged the Southwest Shinobi Army to attack Sunagakure, but Utatane Koharu and Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to risk drawing the enemy toward Konoha.
• Mitokado Homura proposed sending a support force to Kikyo Mountain and having Uchiha Tang Ping reinforce Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the plan.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu found Tang Ping fishing at Kikyo Mountain with messengers and Message Hawks bound, and Koharu offered him ten bottles of Nutrient Solution to secure his help.
• Tang Ping accepted the offer and led the eight hundred remaining Southwest Shinobi Army shinobi toward Orochimaru, leaving the five hundred new shinobi and the two elders to hold Kikyo Mountain.
• Tang Ping urged his troops to hurry, intending to rescue Orochimaru and use the march to confront a noble who had made trouble for the Honda Trading Company.

Tang Ping killed Lord Kamakura's steward after the man attacked Honda Katsu, then led the Southwest Shinobi Army toward the surrounded Konoha troops. He secretly cleared Sunagakure scouts and rushed ahead as Orochimaru and the exhausted survivors faced imminent defeat.

• Tang Ping arrived in Xihe Town and saw Xiao Li beating Honda Katsu over a shipment of supplies.
• Tang Ping killed Xiao Li with his new Flame Finger technique and led the army onward, while Hinata Cang Yue offered to target the steward's family later.
• Tang Ping used Hinata Cang Yue's vision to direct squads against hidden Sunagakure scouts and guide the army toward the battlefield.
• Tang Ping left Nara Tabito in command and raced ahead in his Flame Garment as Orochimaru and Manda fought Rasa, Pakura, and Chiyo.
• Nara Shikaku ran out of Chakra and could not dodge an incoming kunai when a voice rang beside his ear.

Tang Ping arrived in Sage Mode and stopped the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure by persuading Chiyo to retreat after revealing that eight hundred reinforcements had arrived. Afterward, Orochimaru became intensely interested in studying Tang Ping, who left to handle the aftermath.

• Tang Ping rescued Nara Shikaku from a flying kunai and then rushed to support Orochimaru.
• Tang Ping entered Sage Mode, attacked Rasa, and forced the Sunagakure fighters to turn their attention toward him.
• Tang Ping stepped between Pakura, Chiyo, and Orochimaru and asked Chiyo to end the battle, then revealed that eight hundred reinforcements had arrived.
• Chiyo accepted the ceasefire and led the Sunagakure shinobi away, while both sides left Sarutobi Shinnosuke's situation unaddressed.
• Orochimaru fixated on Tang Ping's Sage Mode, and Tang Ping avoided him by leaving to handle the aftermath.

Tang Ping took control of the battered Konoha force and used the killing of a noble to draw a joint investigation team to Kikyo Mountain. The chapter ended as Tang Ping challenged Minister Qing Yan over questioning Honda Katsu in his office.

• Tang Ping learned from Nara Shikaku that the Konoha army had suffered severe losses and arranged for the Southwest Shinobi Army to lead the remaining troops.
• News spread that the Kamakura Castle Lord and his clan had been killed in Xihe Town, prompting nobles from the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind to demand an investigation.
• A joint investigation team arrived at Kikyo Mountain, where Konoha guards barred most of the Guardian Ninja from entering the commander's office.
• Minister Qing Yan sought to question Honda Katsu about the Xihe Town incident, but Tang Ping insisted the questioning take place in his office and challenged Qing Yan's hesitation.

Minister Qing Yan questioned Honda Katsu about the Kamakura Family massacre, but Tang Ping intervened and the investigation shifted blame to rogue ninja. Tang Ping refused to hand over captured Sunagakure prisoners until he received his promised reward, then departed for Starting Point Orphanage with Hinata Cang Yue and a caravan carrying supplies, orphans, and Gold Certificates.

• Minister Qing Yan questioned Honda Katsu about his alleged argument with Xiao Li Linxia and the Kamakura Family massacre, but Tang Ping stopped him from pressuring Honda Katsu.
• Minister Qing Yan left after questioning Honda Katsu, and Tang Ping ordered him to prepare a caravan for Starting Point Orphanage.
• Tang Ping refused the village's order to send nearly a hundred Sunagakure prisoners to Konoha Prison until Utatane Koharu delivered his reward.
• Hinata Cang Yue showed Tang Ping boxes of Gold Certificates taken from the Kamakura Family treasury, and Tang Ping decided to take them along with the caravan.
• Tang Ping, Hinata Cang Yue, Squad 404, and a messenger ninja departed Kikyo Mountain with goods and dozens of children, reaching Starting Point Orphanage after just over a week.

Tang Ping established the Starting Point Orphanage and underground laboratory on Jiangxin Island, then unveiled a wooden ox that could greatly improve farming. Honda Katsu agreed to pursue mass production through Sunagakure, and Tang Ping prepared to return to Kikyo Mountain.

• Honda Katsu arrived on Jiangxin Island with a heavily loaded caravan of supplies for the orphanage.
• Tang Ping inspected the underground laboratory with Hinata Cang Yue and praised her work, while Guren continued caring for the plants.
• Tang Ping revealed the wooden ox he had hand-built using basic Puppet Technique to enhance its wooden components.
• Tang Ping demonstrated the wooden ox pulling a plow as two people pedaled it, impressing Honda Katsu and the trading company stewards.
• Tang Ping told Honda Katsu the wooden ox could be mass-produced from separately processed components for no more than five hundred thousand ryo each.
• Tang Ping prepared to return to Kikyo Mountain after repeated calls to come back.

Tang Ping led a secret mission to escort a Hokage Faction delegation and Sunagakure prisoners to negotiations, while suspecting White Zetsu was watching the convoy. The journey was interrupted when Sarutobi Sachiko confronted a determined young man who insisted on joining them.

• Nara Tabito summoned Tang Ping back to Kikyo Mountain, where Mitokado Homura gave him an official order to escort a delegation to negotiate with Sunagakure.
• Tang Ping inferred that the delegation planned to secretly exchange the captured Sarutobi Shinnosuke for the Sunagakure prisoners, and confirmed that the goods promised to him had arrived.
• Tang Ping distributed diluted Healing Potion to wounded ninja, then set out with over a hundred sealed Sunagakure prisoners and a hundred Southwest Shinobi Army clan ninja.
• Tang Ping sensed that someone might be watching and suspected that White Zetsu was nearby, but decided not to act while Madara was still alive.
• Tang Ping heard a young man arguing with Sarutobi Sachiko about joining the mission, recognized him as the Hokage's son, and went to see what was happening.

Tang Ping confronted Sarutobi Asuma for joining Team 9 on its mission without orders and slapped him, then ordered him sent back to Konoha. Sarutobi Sachiko prepared to escort Asuma back while masked Anbu watched nearby.

• Tang Ping arrived and asked Sarutobi Sachiko why Asuma, Ebisu, and Yuhi Kurenai were with her team.
• Asuma challenged Tang Ping, and Ebisu and Yuhi Kurenai moved to protect their teammate.
• Tang Ping slapped Asuma and warned that he could kill a genin who disobeyed orders.
• Tang Ping told Sarutobi Sachiko to send Asuma back to Konoha and left to rejoin the convoy.
• Sarutobi Sachiko ordered Asuma to return to the village as two masked Anbu observed from behind a tree.

Tang Ping accompanied Konoha’s delegation to negotiate a prisoner exchange with Sunagakure, where he gave Rasa and Pakura cryptic warnings about their futures. After the exchange, he noticed Sarutobi Shinnosuke among the returned prisoners, and a sudden, hair-raising sensation struck as the group traveled home.

• Ōnoki received intelligence about Tang Ping’s strength and resolved to eliminate the young Uchiha before his potential became an even greater threat to Iwagakure.
• Mitokado Homura brought Tang Ping, Nara Shikaku, and Sarutobi Sachiko to the negotiation site, where Rasa and Pakura awaited with Sunagakure forces.
• Tang Ping warned Rasa to beware of snakes and Pakura to beware a righteous backstab, while secretly testing whether his advice could alter their fates.
• The negotiations ended poorly for Konoha, and the sides exchanged their captured shinobi before the Konoha group departed with its prisoners.
• Tang Ping spotted Sarutobi Shinnosuke among the returned captives, then felt a sudden, alarming sensation about half a day into the journey.

Ōnoki ambushed Tang Ping’s convoy with Dust Release, but Tang Ping escaped the first strike and faced the Third Tsuchikage himself. After rejecting Ōnoki’s offer to join Iwagakure, Tang Ping evaded his attacks and began preparing Sage Mode, leaving his next move unclear.

• Ōnoki used Dust Release to erase the carriage, but Tang Ping escaped by accelerating away with Flame Garment.
• Mitokado Homura and the convoy reacted to Ōnoki’s attack, while Tang Ping realized the Tsuchikage’s power made him a formidable threat.
• Ōnoki offered to make Tang Ping his disciple and eventual successor, but Tang Ping rejected the offer.
• Tang Ping glanced at Nara Shikaku and fled to draw Ōnoki away from the convoy, hoping Shikaku would alert Jiraiya.
• Ōnoki pursued Tang Ping with Dust Release and Earth Release: Rock Arm Technique, but Tang Ping evaded both attacks with Flame Garment.
• Tang Ping performed a Summoning Technique, then took out a tube of Hot Spring as he prepared to use Sage Mode.

Tang Ping entered Sage Mode and fought Ōnoki, who summoned a Stone Giant and proved formidable in close combat. Tang Ping caught Ōnoki with Kotozuki Yang, but realized he had only grabbed an Earth Clone just as Ōnoki began a dangerous ninjutsu.

• Tang Ping activated Sage Mode while Ōnoki watched and assessed him.
• Ōnoki summoned a colossal Stone Giant, and Tang Ping charged up its arm toward him.
• Tang Ping and Ōnoki exchanged powerful punches, and Tang Ping wounded Ōnoki with Flame Finger.
• Ōnoki attacked Tang Ping at close range, but Tang Ping seized him with Kotozuki Yang.
• Tang Ping recognized that Ōnoki was an Earth Clone as he heard the name of a threatening ninjutsu.

Tang Ping fought Ōnoki with Sage Mode, then used a hidden escape technique to survive the Third Tsuchikage’s Dust Release. Ōnoki searched the area, while Tang Ping escaped inside Chubingmaru after injuring him.

• Ōnoki struck Tang Ping with Dust Release, but Tang Ping survived and counterattacked with Flame Finger.
• Tang Ping suppressed Ōnoki in close combat until Ōnoki used Earth Release to increase gravity and force a shift to Ninjutsu.
• Tang Ping and Ōnoki exchanged powerful attacks, with Tang Ping using Sage Art Chakra to make Ōnoki spend far more Chakra defending.
• Tang Ping unleashed Sage Art: Great Serpent Mower as cover while Ōnoki answered with Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.
• Tang Ping escaped inside the invisible Chubingmaru, and Ōnoki searched the surrounding area before realizing his opponent had fled.

Ōnoki publicized Tang Ping’s strength and failed pursuit, prompting Danzo to urge Hiruzen to arrest him while quietly preparing a Root operation. Tang Ping visited Hot Spring Valley, advanced his agricultural experiments, and returned to Kikyo Mountain to find that Shimura Setsuna had been appointed his deputy commander.

• Ōnoki revealed that Tang Ping had wounded him during the failed pursuit, hoping to make Konoha’s leaders distrust Tang Ping.
• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen arrest Tang Ping, but Hiruzen refused; Danzo left to arrange a Root operation without authorization.
• Tang Ping visited Hot Spring Valley and collected a bucket of Hot Spring for experiments aimed at developing hybrid rice.
• Tang Ping secretly delivered the Hot Spring to the Starting Point Orphanage and had Guren supervise its use before returning to Kikyo Mountain.
• Konoha’s leaders allowed the Southwest Shinobi Army to absorb clan shinobi on the condition that Shimura Setsuna become Tang Ping’s deputy commander.