Chapter Summaries

Sakura described how an Uchiha clan head could have diverted Konoha’s crisis into a war, then confronted Uchiha Itachi over the massacre and made him admit he had acted to protect Sasuke, not pursue peace. Itachi revealed Uchiha Obito’s role in the massacre and the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, along with Akatsuki leader Pain’s Rinnegan; Jiraiya identified Pain as his former disciple Nagato.

• Tobirama Senju asked Sakura how she would handle the Uchiha crisis, and she proposed provoking other villages’ Tailed Beasts and starting a war to unite Konoha and preserve the clan.
• Jiraiya brought Uchiha Itachi to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Sakura argued that Itachi had chosen to spare Sasuke while killing the rest of the Uchiha rather than seeking another solution.
• Sakura asked Itachi whether his supposed peace had been for Sasuke or Konoha, and Itachi admitted he had acted for Sasuke.
• Sakura ordered Itachi to atone by sharing what he knew, and Itachi identified Uchiha Obito as his accomplice in the massacre and the culprit behind the Nine-Tails’ Rampage that killed Namikaze Minato.
• Itachi said Akatsuki leader Pain possessed the Rinnegan, and Jiraiya revealed that Pain was Nagato, one of the disciples he had trained in the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Jiraiya for not bringing Nagato to Konoha, and Jiraiya said he had believed Nagato was the disciple destined to save the Shinobi World.

Tobirama Senju confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and his former disciples over Konoha’s failures, then interrogated Shimura Danzō about Hatake Sakumo’s death and the Uchiha Clan Downfall. He summoned Utatane Koharu for answers as Sakura watched the chaos unfold.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Jiraiya for failing to stop Nagato and blamed him for the Akatsuki Organization’s damage to Konoha.
• After Sakura told Tobirama Senju about Danzo’s actions, Tobirama ordered Uchiha Itachi to provide Akatsuki information and leave Konoha with Sasori of the Red Sands; Itachi reported that Sakura had captured the Two-Tails.
• Tobirama Senju demanded that Hiruzen bring Danzo to him, while Tsunade arrived and angrily confronted Sakura for using Impure World Reincarnation on her great-granduncle.
• Tobirama Senju questioned Shimura Danzō about Hatake Sakumo, his inaction during the Hokage’s danger, and the Uchiha Clan Downfall; Danzo blamed the decision on Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu, and Homura.
• Tobirama Senju summoned Utatane Koharu, who entered the meeting room believing her teacher had come to take her away.

Tobirama Senju confronted Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi over Konoha’s corruption, while Danzo accused Sakura of plotting rebellion. After Danzo left stripped of power, Sakura trained in Yang Release and rejected developing Wood Release, choosing to pursue strength through taijutsu instead.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that Homura had opposed wiping out the Uchiha, Danzo and Koharu had supported it, and he had abstained, prompting Tobirama Senju to condemn his indecision.
• Danzo presented Sakura’s old graduation exam as evidence of her ambition, but Tobirama Senju called her plan simplistic, and Sakura tore up the paper.
• Danzo accused Sakura of seeking the Hokage position and plotting rebellion, but Hiruzen Sarutobi defended his disciple and Tobirama Senju ordered Danzo to retire.
• Danzo left recognizing that he could not legally bring down Sakura within Konoha, while Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that Root would need to be dismantled after the war.
• Sakura trained in Yang Release with Tobirama Senju, who suggested she could develop Wood Release, but she refused and declared that she would rely on her fists to defeat the Ōtsutsuki.

After returning to Amegakure, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito fought over their long-standing grudge, with Itachi exposing the time limit of Obito’s Kamui. Pain stopped the battle and forced Obito to yield, leaving Itachi with a plan to use Obito’s secrets against him.

• Sasori of the Red Sands blamed Uchiha Itachi for the losses on their mission, while Itachi realized Sasuke’s Mangekyō had cursed him with misfortune.
• Uchiha Obito provoked Uchiha Itachi about the Uchiha Clan massacre, and Itachi challenged him to fight outside in the rain.
• Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito exchanged fire techniques, feints, and attacks until Itachi used a shadow clone explosion and revealed that Obito’s phasing had a five-minute limit.
• Uchiha Itachi explained that a genjutsu had made Obito misjudge the elapsed time, and both men charged at each other again.
• Pain intervened, knocked Uchiha Obito back with Banshō Ten'in, and forced him to submit when he tried to attack Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi decided to find a chance to reveal Izanagi to Pain, hoping to turn Obito’s secret against him.

Sakura persuaded Mei Terumi to fight for Konoha in the Land of Rivers, where she would later serve as a liaison to Kirigakure. As Sakura’s unit arrived at the front, she and the commanders confirmed that Sunagakure had learned of her movements, while Chiyo and Kakuzu prepared to kill her.

• Sakura convinced Mei Terumi to join the campaign by arguing that Konoha’s help would come with constraints and that Mei could become Kirigakure’s liaison afterward.
• Sakura and Tobirama Senju discussed the newly developed Yang Release Nintaijutsu, and Sakura gave the technique its plain name.
• Sakura, Karin, Kakashi, and Mei Terumi set out for the Land of Rivers with the logistics forces, while Karin studied the Water Release techniques she had received.
• At the Sand Ninja command tent, Chiyo hired Kakuzu for 150 million ryo and planned to attack Sakura with the Kazekage and a Jinchuriki.
• Sakura’s unit reached the Konoha front, where Mitokado Homura and Shikaku Nara concluded that Sunagakure had learned of Sakura’s movements but had avoided attacking the convoy.

Sakura revealed her Yang Release-powered strength and persuaded Konoha's leaders to launch a full assault on the Sand Ninja, using herself as bait to draw out Kakuzu. As the battle began, she overwhelmed Sand Ninja with her new suppressive technique and confronted Rasa, telling him that his strength ranked near the bottom among all the Kage.

• Sakura proposed ending the war against the Sand Ninja in three days by making herself their target, and she demonstrated her materialized Yang Release Chakra to explain her confidence.
• Mitokado Homura approved Sakura's plan and launched a full-scale offensive against the Sand Ninja in the Land of Rivers the following day.
• Sakura traded accusations with Chiyo across the battlefield, rousing Konoha's anger before Chiyo ordered the Sand Ninja to attack.
• Sakura charged into battle with Kakashi and Mei Terumi, then used her Yang Release and Yin Release to overwhelm nearby Sand Ninja without giving them a chance to react.
• Sakura spared Maki, but Rasa arrived and grabbed her wrist; she warned him of the danger, made him retreat, and declared that his strength ranked near the bottom among all the Kage.

Mei Terumi and Kakashi fought Kakuzu while Sakura faced Rasa and Gaara, who transformed into the One-Tail. Sakura overwhelmed them with her strength and multiple summons, then prepared her strongest attack as the battle continued.

• Mei Terumi used her acidic mist and Lava Release against Kakuzu, while Kakashi joined her and Sakura briefly struck Kakuzu with a kunai.
• Kakashi and Mei Terumi combined their Lightning and Water techniques, then Kakashi used Shadow Clones and all five Chakra natures to counter Kakuzu’s attacks.
• Rasa ordered Gaara to use the One-Tail’s power, and Gaara transformed into a gigantic sand raccoon dog before they attacked Sakura with gold dust and sand.
• Sakura blocked their attack by punching up a section of earth, then summoned Rashomon and kicked it into the One-Tail, forcing Gaara and Rasa to stop it.
• Sakura summoned Katsuyu and Enma, using Katsuyu’s weight and Enma’s staff to smash the One-Tail’s Sand Armor and send it flying.
• Sakura caught up to the One-Tail and gathered blue, pink, and golden Chakra around her fist as she prepared Yang Release: Mountain Lord.

Sakura killed Rasa and apparently Gaara, then drove Kakuzu to flee after destroying the mask carrying Aburame Torune’s heart. At Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged to send Sakura to the Land of Whirlpools, planning a coordinated strike to kill the Fourth Mizukage.

• Rasa sacrificed himself to shield Gaara from Sakura’s attack, and Gaara was pierced by Sakura’s kunai before Gold Dust carried his body away.
• Sakura sealed Rasa’s corpse and left, while Kakuzu revived and prepared to fight her alongside Mei Terumi and Kakashi.
• Sakura chased Kakuzu after he fled, destroyed the mask carrying Aburame Torune’s heart with a barrage of shuriken, and left the Nano Poison Insects for Mei Terumi to help clear.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Namiashi Raidō, Tatami Iwashi, and Shiranui Genma to the Land of Rivers and sent Flying Thunder God coordinates to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to teleport Sakura to the Land of Whirlpools so she could help kill Karatachi Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage.

Sakura arrived at the Land of Whirlpools with Kakashi and Mei Terumi and single-handedly shattered Kirigakure’s assault. As the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, tried to escape, Sakura caught up and struck through his Tailed Beast-enhanced defense.

• Sakura, Kakashi, and Mei Terumi traveled from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Whirlpools, where they learned Tsunade’s outnumbered forces were fighting Kirigakure.
• Mei Terumi joined Tsunade against Karatachi Yagura and revealed that Kirigakure had committed its entire force of roughly five thousand ninja to the invasion.
• Sakura ordered Konoha’s ninja to fall back, then fought through Kirigakure’s army with overwhelming physical strength and Yang Release techniques.
• Sakura’s assault killed hundreds of Kirigakure ninja and broke their formation, while Tsunade and Mei Terumi kept Karatachi Yagura occupied.
• Karatachi Yagura fled as his forces collapsed, but Sakura pursued him, hurled a giant Rashomon at him, and broke through his Tailed Beast-enhanced shell with a powerful punch.

Sakura killed Karatachi Yagura, and Tsunade took charge of the aftermath while Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged negotiations and summoned Sakura back to Konoha for a mission in the Land of Snow. As Sakura returned to the village and met with Hiruzen, Black Zetsu introduced a new companion to Uchiha Obito.

• Karatachi Yagura regained his consciousness before dying, thanked Sakura for freeing him, and named Mei Terumi the next Mizukage; Sakura sealed his corpse in a scroll.
• Sakura ordered a cleanup of Kirigakure's forces and surrender negotiations, while Mei Terumi accepted that she could not return to the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi celebrated Sakura's victories, dispatched support and Utatane Koharu to negotiate, then ordered Sakura to return for a Land of Snow mission.
• Black Zetsu challenged Uchiha Obito to recover his resolve and introduced a short, white-haired, red-eyed new companion.
• Sakura returned to Konoha, was mobbed by admirers, reunited briefly with Ino, and climbed through a window into Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.

Sakura returned home to find Haruno Meiko six months pregnant, then led a Konoha team to the Land of Snow to protect a film crew and retrieve Kazahana Koyuki. After an uneventful voyage punctuated by Sakura hauling an orca from the sea, the group reached an iceberg marked with Chakra and went ashore to guard the crew.

• Sakura reunited with Haruno Yashiro and learned that Haruno Meiko was expecting another child because raising Sakura had felt too easy.
• Sakura arrived at the film set with Karin, Sasuke, Shino, and Uchiha Hikari, then sent Sasuke to retrieve the runaway lead actress, Kazahana Koyuki.
• Sasuke returned with Kazahana Koyuki unconscious after using genjutsu, and the team set off by ship for the Land of Snow.
• Sakura caught an orca with her fishing rod, dragged it onto the ship, and then released it after it pushed her safely back from the water.
• The crew discovered an iceberg bearing traces of Chakra, and Sakura ordered the team to go ashore and protect the film crew while Uchiha Hikari stayed aboard.

Sakura and the Konoha and Iwagakure teams defeated Nadare Rōga and agreed to support Kazahana Koyuki as Daimyo of the Land of Snow while garrisoning the country. When Han and the other shinobi knelt before Koyuki, Sakura remained standing and ordered Sasuke to rise.

• Karin detected an approaching Iwagakure team led by Han, who presented a mission scroll to protect Kazahana Koyuki until she became Daimyo.
• Sasuke kicked Nadare Rōga from the mountain, and Shino's insects overwhelmed a disguised brute while Kurotsuchi captured a pink-haired woman with her Lava Release.
• Nadare Rōga attacked with an enormous Ice Release whale, which Han shattered with Boiling Release, before Sakura broke Nadare's Chakra Armor with one finger and Sasuke bound him.
• Sakura and Han agreed that Konoha and Iwagakure would jointly support Koyuki's rise to Daimyo and station forces in the Land of Snow.
• Han, Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, Karin, Shino, and Sasuke began kneeling before Koyuki, but Sakura stayed standing and told Sasuke to stand up.

Sakura rejected the idea that shinobi should kneel before daimyo and told Sasuke she would become Hokage to overthrow the nobles’ class system. After Sasuke agreed to join her Shadow Guard, the group arrived in the Land of Snow, where Sakura focused on protecting the film crew while Iwagakure handled its own mission.

• Sakura refused to kneel before Kazahana Koyuki, and Sasuke rose to stand beside her before the group left for the ship.
• Sakura questioned why shinobi should kneel before daimyo, then clashed with Uchiha Hikari until Sasuke stepped between them.
• Uchiha Hikari said her legs were tougher than her blade when Sakura asked what she would do in Han’s situation.
• Sakura told Sasuke she would become Hokage and asked him to join her Shadow Guard; Sasuke agreed and accepted her teasing promise of twenty wives.
• At the Land of Snow Harbor, Sakura told Karin their mission was to protect the film crew while Iwagakure dealt with Kazahana Dōtō.
• Karin followed Sakura to the film crew, while Sasuke and Hikari went after them, with Hikari eager to see the filmmaking.

Sakura’s team defeated Kazahana Dōtō’s forces and captured him, while Sakura spared him to take his Chakra Armor and knowledge back to Konoha. Kazahana Koyuki accepted the throne of the Land of Snow, grieving that Sandayu’s loyalty had placed her country’s sovereignty in Konoha’s hands.

• Sasuke discovered railway tracks beneath the snow, and a train arrived carrying Kazahana Dōtō’s forces to confront Kazahana Koyuki.
• Han raised an Earth Wall to protect the film crew from a barrage of kunai, then attacked the train as Sasuke destroyed the soldiers’ shells and joined the assault.
• Sakura stopped Han from killing Kazahana Dōtō, defeated Dōtō’s Black Dragon Blizzard, and ordered Sasuke to bind him as her prisoner.
• Sandayu urged Kazahana Koyuki to become daimyo, and she accepted while privately lamenting that her retainers had surrendered the Land of Snow’s sovereignty.

Sakura returned to Konoha with Kazahana Dōtō as a prisoner, and Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to negotiate with the Fire Daimyo about using Dōtō’s Chakra Armor research for Konoha. After Hiruzen left the village, Sakura was made to learn Hokage administration and discovered how many everyday problems required the Hokage’s attention.

• Sakura brought Kazahana Dōtō back to Konoha, where Hiruzen decided to explain his value to the Fire Daimyo and seek Chakra Armor research funding.
• Sakura ate at the Sarutobi Residence with Hiruzen, Asuma, and Konohamaru, and Hiruzen and Asuma settled on Mirai as a name for Sakura’s unborn sibling.
• Hiruzen left Konoha and assigned village administration to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who required Sakura to study the Hokage’s work.
• Sakura reviewed reports about street vendors, waste, stolen student meal subsidies, damaged roads, and polluted water, proposing solutions and criticizing the responsible departments.
• Sakura recognized that Konoha needed capable administrators and oversight, but decided to wait for war reparations before pursuing broader reconstruction plans.

Sasuke sparred with Hikari and was approached by Shimura Danzō, who claimed Hiruzen Sarutobi had helped massacre the Uchiha and accused Sakura of using Sasuke and Naruto for political ambition. Sasuke rejected Danzō’s attempt to turn him against Sakura and planned to seek answers, though Hikari urged him to think for himself.

• Sasuke fought Hikari with Lightning Release, and she agreed to teach him after he called her “Grandmother.”
• Shimura Danzō interrupted them and told Sasuke that Itachi had massacred the Uchiha to protect his younger brother.
• Sasuke said he still intended to kill Itachi, but Danzō claimed Hiruzen Sarutobi had also been a murderer and wanted to become Hokage himself.
• Danzō accused Sakura of forming her team with Sasuke and Naruto to secure her own path to the Hokage position and preserve the Sarutobi lineage.
• Sasuke threatened Danzō when he continued disparaging Sakura, and Danzō abandoned his attempt to recruit him.
• Hikari revealed she had overheard the conversation and criticized Sasuke for relying on Sakura, prompting him to consider asking Kakashi for answers first.

Sasuke visited Kakashi, learned not to trust Danzo, and lost a sword match to his teacher. Meanwhile, Akatsuki planned to pursue Orochimaru and prepare for the Tailed Beast campaign, while Hiruzen returned to Konoha with funding and Danzo schemed to keep Sakura from becoming Hokage.

• Sasuke told Kakashi about his encounter with Danzo, and Kakashi warned him that Danzo had been corrupted by darkness.
• Kakashi defeated Sasuke in a sword match and asked him to help repair the broken White Fang blade.
• Pain assigned Hiruko, Deidara, and Kisame to find Orochimaru, then said the Tailed Beast capture plan would wait for the Three-Tails to revive in about three years.
• Hiruko told Uchiha Obito that his Chimera Technique was ready, and Zetsu recommended Storm Release instead of Dark Release for Obito.
• Hiruzen returned to Konoha with billions in funding, while Sakura complained about administrative work and left to continue her mission.
• Shimura Danzō sent a Root member to approach the Daimyo and began plotting to prevent Sakura from becoming Hokage.

Three years after the war, Sakura returned to Konoha and prepared to take over as Fifth Hokage while Naruto remained unable to master Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. As Sakura faced the village’s administrative burdens and cared for her younger sister Mirai, she offered Tobirama Senju the chance to live again, leaving him quietly reconsidering his refusal.

• Sakura scolded Naruto for spending three years stuck at the same training hurdle, then returned to Konoha while Jiraiya told Naruto she would become the Fifth Hokage.
• Sakura reviewed the village’s paperwork, sent Hiruzen Sarutobi home to rest, and ordered officials to investigate and clean the polluted Naka River tributary.
• Sakura asked Tobirama Senju whether he wanted to live again, but he refused before privately wondering whether he could truly turn down the chance.
• Sakura went home, reunited with her three-year-old sister Haruno Mirai, and learned that Kazahana Koyuki would support her nomination for Hokage.

Sakura investigated Konoha’s government, reunited with her returned classmates, and discussed the coming Hokage transition and Danzo with Tobirama Senju. Tobirama urged her to eliminate enemies decisively, while Sakura hinted she had plans for Danzo and tested Tobirama about the daimyo.

• Sakura inspected the restored Naka River, questioned Shimura Mie about her failures, and decided to review Konoha’s personnel for other ineffective officials.
• Sakura reunited with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, then welcomed Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Jiraiya back to Konoha; Naruto showed off his Perfect Sage Mode before the classmates planned a hot-springs gathering.
• Sakura warned Jiraiya to stay away from the gathering and returned to the Hokage’s Office, where she told Tobirama Senju about Shimura Mie and her plans to replace useless officials.
• Tobirama Senju advised Sakura to deal with Danzo without mercy, and Sakura replied that simply removing him would be too boring.
• Sakura asked Tobirama Senju what he thought about the daimyo, but they traded evasive questions until Sakura threatened to punch him.

Sakura and Uchiha Hikari turned a hot-spring outing into a destructive ping-pong match, while Naruto learned that Sakura did not return his feelings. Four days later, Sakura learned the Fire Daimyo had rejected her nomination for Hokage and set out to take what she believed was hers.

• Sakura, Ino, Karin, Tenten, Hinata, and Uchiha Hikari relaxed at the Konoha Hot Springs, where Sakura and Hikari teased each other.
• Sakura challenged Uchiha Hikari to ping-pong, and their chakra-powered shots escalated until Sakura destroyed the ball and Shikamaru stopped the match.
• Sakura dragged Hikari away with her after the group left, while Sasuke urged Naruto to walk Hinata home.
• Naruto told Hinata that Sakura had rejected him, and Hinata explained that Sakura’s extraordinary achievements inspired admiration rather than ordinary envy.
• Mitokado Homura told Sakura that the Fire Daimyo had rejected her Hokage nomination and rebuked Kazahana Koyuki for supporting her.
• Sakura said she would take what belonged to her and left the Hokage’s Office, alarming Mitokado Homura.