Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Chen and his companions met the Daimyo as the Land of Fire reorganized its Guardian Ninja, and Chen challenged objections to his team’s inclusion. Himeji defeated Sato, leaving the assembled delegates stunned.

• Uchiha Chen presented the Third Hokage’s gift to the Daimyo, who welcomed him warmly and discussed his reputation as Konoha Lightning.
• The Daimyo announced that the Guardian Ninja would be reorganized and told the gathered representatives to decide who would fill the twelve positions.
• Sato challenged the presence of Mikoto and Himeji, and Chen asked Himeji to face him.
• Himeji returned from the fight with blood on her, and the hall fell silent as Chen quipped, “Warm Tea Beheading Sato?”

After the Daimyo favored Chen and invited him and the Konoha ninja to dine, he asked his children to show them the capital, where Chen learned that Odaichi had trained under the legendary White Fang. The group arrived at a festival, and Mitsuide repeatedly described ordinary activities as Daimyo family traditions.

• The Daimyo dismissed the gathered ninja, then kept Chen and the Konoha group behind and invited them to a meal.
• At dinner, the Daimyo introduced his children, Mitsuide and Tamako, praised Chen, and hinted at marrying him to Tamako; Chen politely declined because he was too young.
• The Daimyo sent Mitsuide and Tamako to show the Konoha ninja around the capital, and Mitsuide suggested visiting a festival.
• Chen asked about Odaichi, and Mitsuide said she had claimed to learn swordsmanship from the legendary White Fang.
• Tamako led the group to a shumai stall, where Mitsuide again called their visit and his friendship with ninja Daimyo family traditions.

Uchiha Chen joined the Anbu squad led by Shinnosuke and investigated the disappearance of Konoha’s spies in Hidden Mist Village. After finding signs of a battle near the coast, Chen suspected that something had happened to the Third Mizukage before he returned home and ordered the investigation suspended, fearing he might be the target.

• Uchiha Chen met Shinnosuke and three other Anbu ninja in a forest, then learned Shinnosuke was leading his squad.
• Shinnosuke showed Chen the squad’s underground base, and they discussed Shinnosuke’s long absence from Konoha and Chen’s assignment as a Guardian Ninja.
• Shinnosuke told Chen that Konoha had lost contact with its Hidden Mist spies and that the ninja sent after them had disappeared since the Third Mizukage left the village.
• Chen suspected Madara might have acted against the Third Mizukage and asked Shinnosuke about unusual events before the Mizukage left the Land of Fire.
• Shinnosuke took Chen to a coastal site marked by craters and traces of Water Release, where Chen ordered the Hidden Mist investigation suspended and wondered if the attack had been aimed at him.

After months in hiding, the Third Mizukage appeared before Kirigakure and announced reforms following an attack and an alleged coup attempt. He declared that the village would become the Bloody Mist Village, leaving its ninja unsettled as they misread what the coming bloodshed would mean.

• Kirigakure ninja gathered outside the Mizukage Building amid rumors that the Third Mizukage had been injured and that clan leaders had been detained.
• The Third Mizukage appeared in good health and reassured the crowd after four months of absence.
• He revealed that ninja had attacked him and accused members of the Elder Council, clans, and ordinary ninja of plotting a coup and betraying Kirigakure.
• The Third Mizukage announced reforms across the village's institutions and ninja training.
• He said he wanted other villages to call Kirigakure the Bloody Mist Village, then left the crowd to speculate about his words.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha’s elders debated Danzo’s plans for Root and the crisis in Hidden Mist Village. The meeting ended with Konoha suspending investigations there, while Uchiha Fugaku continued an S-rank mission toward the distant Land of Rainbows.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen challenged Danzo over Root’s unfinished missions, then agreed to expand Root on the condition that Danzo recruit civilian orphans rather than ninjas from major clans.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Danzo to recall Root’s operatives from Hidden Mist Village after sharing evidence that the Third Mizukage might have been attacked.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen suspended investigations and missions to the Land of Water until Hidden Mist Village resumed contact with the outside world.
• Danzo revealed that Uchiha Yama had arranged an S-rank mission to the Land of Rainbows for Uchiha Fugaku, who had already departed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided not to recall Fugaku, then discussed Biwako’s imminent delivery and wondered where Jiraiya and Tsunade had gone.

Jiraiya won back a fortune by betting against Tsunade, but she secretly borrowed millions from loan sharks and fled, leaving him to face the creditors. The chapter ended with Jiraiya realizing he had been left responsible for seven million ryo in debt.

• Jiraiya secretly transformed, bet his last savings on seven, and won a pile of chips while Tsunade continued losing.
• Tsunade lost Jiraiya's money and borrowed two million ryo, then told him she planned to take Kana and Nonō and run.
• Jiraiya hid his winnings in a Scroll inside a toad and decided he should leave before Tsunade's creditors arrived.
• A woman Tsunade had hired entered Jiraiya's room, claiming he had requested lessons in foreign languages, as loan sharks arrived outside.
• The creditors told Jiraiya that Tsunade had borrowed five million ryo and disappeared, leaving him facing seven million in total debt.

Uchiha Chen tried to avoid getting involved in Odaichi’s arranged marriage, but she arrived asking for help escaping to Konoha. He agreed to transform into her and stall her family, while Odaichi resolved to seek a life of her own even if Sakumo rejected her.

• Uchiha Chen found Odaichi’s note asking him to save her, but threw it away rather than get involved in her planned marriage to Azai Hisamasa.
• Odaichi visited Uchiha Chen in a kimono and announced that her wedding was set for the following month.
• When a staged fire alarm drew away her four attendants, Odaichi asked Uchiha Chen to help her escape to Konoha.
• Odaichi proposed that Uchiha Chen transform into her and delay her family’s search for a few days.
• Odaichi said she would live alone in Konoha if Sakumo did not accept her.

Uchiha Chen met Fugaku in the Daimyo’s Capital, where they discussed Odaichi’s flight and Fugaku’s upcoming year-long solo mission to the Land of Rainbows. Before parting, they promised to share a proper drink when they both returned to Konoha.

• Odaichi escaped toward Konoha under Mikoto and Himeji’s protection, while the search parties sent by Oda Nobuhide failed to find her.
• Uchiha Chen met Fugaku after Fugaku visited the Daimyo, and they talked about Chen’s work as a Guardian Ninja and Odaichi’s disappearance.
• Fugaku worried that Odaichi’s situation could affect Konoha’s relationship with the Daimyo, while Chen said the Hatake Clan could marry into the Oda Clan instead.
• Fugaku told Chen he had accepted a mission to the Land of Rainbows that would keep him away for over a year, and explained that he wanted to prove himself without relying on clan protection.
• Chen asked Fugaku whether the village or the clan mattered more, and Fugaku answered that both did.
• Fugaku promised to bury jars of wine for them to drink together after they returned to Konoha, and Chen agreed.

Uchiha Fugaku infiltrated the Mist Mountain mining camp in the Land of Rainbows to assassinate Imu. After befriending a poor young miner and hearing about his family, Fugaku set off to attack Imu’s residence while explosions drew the guards away.

• Uchiha Fugaku arrived in the Land of Rainbows after a perilous six-month sea journey to carry out his mission to assassinate Imu.
• Fugaku disguised himself as a worker and spent three days investigating Imu’s schedule and residence.
• A young miner told Fugaku he hoped to leave the country and earn enough to support his two younger sisters.
• Fugaku resolved to take the youth to the Land of Fire if his mission went smoothly.
• Fugaku caused explosions in the northern mine shafts, then used Body Flicker to charge into Imu’s residence as the guards rushed to help.

Fugaku assassinated Imu, a merchant secretly backed by the Hidden Mist Village, but Yamaki summoned a Falcon to track him as soldiers sealed the forest. Fugaku triggered explosions to create an opening and prepared to confront the pursuing Jonin.

• Fugaku fought through the samurai guarding Imu's compound and killed Imu in his bedroom.
• Yamaki emerged from the smoke, revealed Imu's connection to the Hidden Mist Village, and ordered the gates sealed.
• Yamaki summoned a Mist Bird to search for Fugaku and killed the woman who had witnessed the assassination.
• Fugaku found the forest sealed by soldiers and spotted the Falcon tracking him from above.
• Fugaku detonated his planted Explosive Tags to draw the samurai and Genin away, then charged out to face Yamaki.

Fugaku fought Yamaki in an abandoned mine and killed him by turning Yamaki’s Genjutsu against him with his Sharingan. Fugaku left with Yamaki’s head, believing he could now return to Konoha, unaware that seven sword-wielding pursuers were approaching.

• Yamaki chased Fugaku into an abandoned mine, eager for a fight after learning Imu was dead.
• Fugaku and Yamaki fought fiercely with weapons and Ninjutsu, leaving both injured.
• Yamaki feigned greater injuries, pierced Fugaku with a Genjutsu, and attacked him in the illusion.
• Fugaku revealed his Sharingan and used Genjutsu to make Yamaki see the illusion break, then stabbed him through the heart.
• Fugaku took Yamaki’s head in a Scroll and left for Konoha, unaware that seven people carrying large swords were approaching from the west.

Fugaku tried to leave the Land of Rainbows with a youth, but the Seven Ninja Swordsmen tracked him to a restaurant and attacked. The restaurant was destroyed in an explosion, and Fugaku scrambled through the smoke as the Swordsmen pursued him under orders to kill him and take his Sharingan.

• Fugaku took a youth with him while preparing to leave the Land of Rainbows.
• Fugaku recognized the Seven Ninja Swordsmen outside the restaurant and realized they had tracked him with a Ninja Rat.
• The youth tried to escape through a window, but a masked ninja killed him with Nuibari.
• An Explosive Tag detonated, filling the restaurant with smoke and giving Fugaku a chance to move.
• Fugaku threw more Explosive Tags into the smoke as the restaurant and surrounding streets were reduced to ruins.
• Juzo revealed that the Third Mizukage had ordered the Swordsmen to kill Fugaku, remove his Sharingan, and sell his body for 8.5 million ryo.

Uchiha Fugaku was hunted down by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, who tore off his arm and drained his Chakra. With no way to escape, he jumped from a waterfall and died in its whirlpool.

• Fugaku fled through the forest, but the Ninja Rat repeatedly revealed his location to the pursuing Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
• The swordsman wielding Nuibari wounded Fugaku’s right shoulder as the pursuers caught up with him.
• Suikazan Fuguki’s Samehada tore off Fugaku’s right arm and drained the rest of his Chakra.
• As Juzo and the others closed in, Fugaku leaped from the waterfall into the river’s whirlpool.
• Fugaku was battered by the current and rocks, then drowned after recalling Konoha, his father, his clan, and Chen.

Juzo and Kushimaru discussed their fear of the increasingly ruthless Third Mizukage as they withdrew from the waterfall where Fugaku had vanished. In Konoha, Uchiha Yama learned that Fugaku was almost certainly dead, and his grief and rage awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

• Juzo ordered the Mist ninjas to withdraw after they failed to find Fugaku, while Suikazan Fuguki and Kushimaru Kuriarare argued over the search.
• Juzo privately told Kushimaru that he feared the Third Mizukage and wondered whether they might have to leave the village.
• Uchiha Yama received a report saying Fugaku had killed Imu and Yamaki before the Seven Ninja Swordsmen pursued him, and that Fugaku had never reappeared.
• Uchiha Yama grieved for Fugaku and blamed both Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village, deciding that both should be destroyed in revenge.
• After sitting awake through the night, Uchiha Yama opened his eyes to find that the Mangekyo Sharingan had awakened in them.

Uchiha Yama confronted Danzo over his son Fugaku’s death and demanded that the village act against the Hidden Mist Village. After persuading Danzo to help lure Uchiha Chen out of the Daimyo’s Capital, Yama revealed that he planned to take Chen’s Sharingan to pursue the Eternal Mangekyo.

• Uchiha Yama mourned Fugaku at his cenotaph, and Danzo arrived to discuss the village’s response to Fugaku’s death.
• Danzo offered the Uchiha Clan access to the Anbu and a seat on the Elder Council, but Yama demanded Kagami’s right eye.
• Yama accused Danzo of concealing Kagami’s eye and argued that Uchiha Chen was their shared enemy; Danzo denied being involved in Kagami’s death.
• Yama proposed luring Chen out of the Daimyo’s Capital so he could kill him, and threatened to expose his dealings with Danzo if Danzo refused.
• Danzo agreed to help, while Yama revealed that both his eyes were Mangekyo Sharingan and resolved to take Chen’s Sharingan to seek the Eternal Mangekyo.

After learning that Uchiha Fugaku had died, Chen considered the consequences for the Uchiha clan and Orochimaru’s request that he return to compete for Young Clan Head. Chen and his companions continued toward their rendezvous, joking about their futures and teasing one another along the way.

• Chen read Orochimaru’s letter reporting that Fugaku was dead and wondered whether Fugaku had truly died and what the news meant for the Uchiha clan.
• Himeji returned with the defeated enemies’ heads, and Chen told her and Mikoto that Fugaku had died.
• Chen explained that Orochimaru wanted him to return and compete for Young Clan Head, but argued that taking the position before Uchiha Yama lost power would be premature.
• Chen, Mikoto, and Himeji decided to meet Jikū and then spend the night at the Fire Temple.
• Mikoto said she missed Kushina and hoped to become a Jonin, while Himeji told her the Guardian Ninja assignment would bring an automatic promotion.
• Mikoto and Himeji playfully wrestled as Chen watched and joked to himself about being cuckolded.

Uchiha Chen and his companions found Fire Temple devastated and learned that a rogue ninja had attacked while seeking Jikū. The attacker, Kakuzu, recognized Chen as Konoha Lightning and charged at him, hoping to claim the bounty on his head.

• Jikū led Uchiha Chen, Mikoto, and Himeji into Fire Temple, where they found its gate destroyed and corpses scattered throughout the grounds.
• Jikū found the wounded monk Jihai, who told him that a ninja had attacked the temple specifically looking for him.
• Kakuzu emerged from the shadows and revealed that he had waited nearby for Jikū to return.
• Uchiha Chen mocked Kakuzu's claim that he had fought Senju Hashirama, and Kakuzu identified Chen as Konoha Lightning.
• Kakuzu announced that Chen's two-hundred-million-ryo bounty was an unexpected windfall and charged at him.

Uchiha Chen fought Kakuzu at the Fire Temple, destroyed two of his hearts, but failed to stop him from escaping. After the battle, Chen learned that the Anbu had found Fugaku’s trail.

• Uchiha Chen fought off Kakuzu’s threads and combined attacks while Mikoto and the others stayed back.
• Uchiha Chen countered Kakuzu’s ambush with a Super Great Ball Rasengan and destroyed two of his hearts.
• Kakuzu repaired his body and fled toward Jikū when Chen prepared to finish him.
• Jikū thanked Uchiha Chen for saving his life despite the damage to the Fire Temple.
• A Ninja Hawk brought Uchiha Chen a message that the Anbu had found Fugaku’s trail.

Fugaku woke badly injured in a cave after falling from a waterfall and learned that an aged man with a Sharingan had rescued him. The man revealed himself as Uchiha Madara and claimed fate had chosen Fugaku to help him create a world of peace, leaving Fugaku trapped and desperate to escape.

• Fugaku remembered falling from a waterfall and realized he was wrapped in bandages in a dark cave.
• Fugaku questioned the old man about his Sharingan and learned that he had not returned to Konoha since Hashirama died.
• The old man told Fugaku he was in the Crevice of Reincarnation, where his next actions would determine whether he returned to life or died.
• The old man claimed fate had chosen Fugaku to help sever cause and effect and create a world of peace.
• The old man identified himself as Uchiha Madara and warned Fugaku that he would take his Sharingan if he chose to die.
• Fugaku offered to bring Uchiha Chen instead, but Madara dismissed the offer and fell asleep.

Fugaku learned his reattached arm had been restored with Hashirama Cells and escaped Madara's cave with Spiral Zetsu's help. He rushed to save his father, Uchiha Yama, who was fighting Chen, and suspected the Third Hokage had arranged the confrontation.

• Spiral Zetsu told Fugaku that Hashirama Cells had restored his arm and increased his Chakra.
• White Zetsu reported that Uchiha Yama was fighting Chen after refusing to surrender his Sharingan.
• Fugaku tried to break through the cave wall, but his injured arm failed, so Spiral Zetsu lent him power from the Demonic Statue.
• Fugaku smashed through the wall, left Madara's base, and asked Spiral Zetsu to guide him to Uchiha Yama and Chen.
• Spiral Zetsu told Fugaku that Anbu had brought Uchiha Yama to the remote fight, and Fugaku blamed the Third Hokage.