Chapter Summaries

Rinto sent Shikaku, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka on a difficult infiltration mission to Kirigakure, while he returned there himself in disguise. Meanwhile, the Third Kazekage and Sunagakure’s leaders debated their planned attack on Konoha, with the transformed terrain of the Land of Rain complicating their strategy.

• Rinto assigned Shikaku, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka a mission to infiltrate Kirigakure within a week, with failure requiring them to return and try again.
• Rinto gave the three children clones of Lady Katsuyu as a safeguard and sent them off, then watched them depart to develop their teamwork.
• Rinto used the appearance of Suikazan Fuguki and returned to his Intelligence Division office in Kirigakure.
• Ebizo reported that Ōnoki had agreed to cooperate with Sunagakure and planned to attack through the Land of Grass.
• Chiyo argued against attacking through the Land of Grass because of the distance and supply-line risks, while another masked adviser opposed using the Land of Rain because its terrain disadvantaged both armies.
• The Third Kazekage considered reports that most of the Land of Rain had become a vast lake, leaving Amegakure isolated and making the region unsuitable for a large-scale war.

Chiyo persuaded Sunagakure’s leaders to attack through the Land of Rain, with Iwagakure expected to join them. Meanwhile, Madara Uchiha endured Rinto’s harassment at his base and deduced that Rinto was disguised as Suikaton, planning to confront him.

• Chiyo argued that Sunagakure should prioritize its wartime needs and attack toward the Land of Rain, and the village’s higher-ups agreed to her plan.
• Madara Uchiha found a mocking note at the Graveyard of Mountains and realized Rinto had left it.
• Rinto used Flying Thunder God Technique formulas to keep sending Shadow Clones into Madara’s base, where they marked the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and other places.
• Madara decided to contain Rinto’s intrusion by removing the formulas, moving to another base, and hiding the statue.
• Madara connected Rinto’s earlier appearances and the reports about Suikaton, concluded that Suikaton was Rinto’s disguise, and vowed to confront him.

Rinto prepared to contest Madara Uchiha’s control of Kirigakure by hiding in the shadows, moving allies and decoys into place, and keeping his own identity concealed. After two days, he brought Nekomata back to Kirigakure, where the beast watched the village from the mist.

• Rinto told Hozuki Gengetsu that a powerful guest was coming to Kirigakure and urged him not to drive the guest away.
• Rinto explained how he had shifted his conflict with Madara Uchiha to Kirigakure and planned to exploit Madara’s pride while guarding his own bonds and identity.
• Rinto sent Shadow Clones to search the Land of Grass for Nagato and his mother, intending to draw Black Zetsu away from Madara.
• Rinto sent Hozuki Gengetsu and Suikazan Fuguki to Amegakure to divert Madara’s attention while he stayed in Kirigakure to oppose the Third Mizukage.
• After two days of searching, Rinto traveled to the Land of Lightning and brought Nekomata back to Kirigakure.
• Nekomata watched Kirigakure from a dark cloud drifting high above the village.

Rinto reunited with Nekomata and began studying how to summon Samehada as a Summoned Beast. In Konoha, the Third Hokage assigned Jonin to prepare for war as Sunagakure and Iwagakure mobilized, while Tsunade’s proposal to add Medical Ninja to reconnaissance squads was rejected.

• Rinto spoke with Nekomata in his spiritual world while Samehada eagerly absorbed her Chakra.
• Rinto opened a scroll and began working out how to make Samehada a Summoned Beast.
• Utatane Koharu announced Konoha’s assignments, sending Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kagami Uchiha, and Dan Katō toward the Fire Rain Border and giving other Jonin defensive and reconnaissance duties.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Hatake Sakumo to lead a mobile unit responsible for reinforcing the Land of Fire and Land of Rivers border.
• Tsunade suggested assigning a Medical Ninja to every reconnaissance squad, but Hiruzen rejected the proposal and dismissed the meeting.

Tsunade politely turned down Dan Katō’s offer to walk her home while thinking about Rinto and her own growing resilience. Jiraiya saw them together, then drowned his jealousy in sake with Hatake Sakumo and drunkenly complained about Dan.

• Tsunade encountered Dan Katō, who praised her proposal to assign Medical Ninja to every team.
• Tsunade refused Dan Katō’s offer to walk her home and headed off, while privately wishing she could go gambling.
• Jiraiya watched Tsunade and Dan Katō leave, then met Hatake Sakumo beneath the tree.
• Jiraiya dragged Hatake Sakumo to an izakaya and ordered sake, drinking until he became drunk.
• Jiraiya complained to Hatake Sakumo that Tsunade had let Dan Katō walk her home and recalled how Rinto’s Hokage pervert theory had silenced men who claimed they wanted to become Naruto.

At an izakaya, Jiraiya confided in Hatake Sakumo about his feelings for Tsunade and the burden of the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, while Sakumo explained why he had left the Anbu. Meanwhile, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Shikaku Nara returned to Konoha battered after another failed attempt, then set out again.

• Hatake Sakumo teased Jiraiya about pursuing Tsunade, and Jiraiya drunkenly complained that she saw him as a brother.
• Jiraiya recalled the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy about his future disciple and admitted that he believed he could not give Tsunade a future.
• Hatake Sakumo told Jiraiya that he had left the Anbu because he was tired of wearing a mask and had few friends.
• Jiraiya asked Hatake Sakumo for his copy of Forbidden Love, claiming he wanted to study it for a book he planned to write.
• Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Shikaku Nara returned to Konoha battered after their fifth failed attempt, then headed out again as the gate guard recorded another reset.

Rie received Rinto’s gift in Amegakure and discovered it was the chakra-absorbing Great Sword Samehada. After learning its abilities, she summoned and claimed it, then noticed a book Samehada had spat out.

• Rie watched over the rebuilt Amegakure with Meiko, reflecting on how she had helped turn the ruined village into a thriving commercial center.
• A scroll arrived by Heavenly Transfer Technique, and Rie eagerly opened it to reveal the Great Sword Samehada.
• Samehada spat out a scroll and a book, and Meiko found that the scroll explained the sword’s chakra-absorbing ability and listed Rinto as its contractor.
• Rie signed the Summoning Scroll, claimed Samehada, and proudly asked Meiko whether she looked cool.
• Rie noticed the book on the desk, whose cover showed a laughing girl.

Rie prepared to defend Amegakure against forces gathering from the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Fire, then summoned Hanzo of the Salamander 2.0 to make him protect the village. A note from Rinto revealed ways to pressure Hanzo into cooperating when he rejected her offer of limited freedom.

• Rie discovered the math exercise book sent by Bastard Brother and became furious while Meiko watched.
• A scout reported that forces from the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Fire were gathering near Amegakure’s borders.
• Rie ordered the Guard Unit to block Chimarumaru Bridge and blow up Totsuka Bridge if necessary.
• Rie summoned Hanzo of the Salamander 2.0, but Hanzo resisted her demand to cooperate.
• Meiko found Hanzo’s user manual, which suggested embarrassing him with a dance or skirt or sending him to the Third Raikage.

Rinto presented the Third Mizukage with research results that could grant him Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku, fueling his ambition to modify himself with powerful Kekkei Genkai. Madara watched from a hidden room and revealed that the Third Mizukage was helpless under his genjutsu and could be discarded at any time.

• Rinto observed White Zetsu growing bone buds in the research laboratory and considered using the Third Mizukage as a test subject.
• Genji urged the Third Mizukage to exploit the coming war among the Land of Wind, Earth, and Fire by attacking Konoha, but the Mizukage refused.
• Rinto brought the Third Mizukage cultivation containers and a scroll describing flesh grafts that could grant Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku.
• The Third Mizukage concealed his excitement and dismissed Rinto and Genji, while privately pursuing his ambition to acquire multiple Kekkei Genkai.
• Madara watched from a hidden room and declared that the Third Mizukage was trapped by his genjutsu and could be discarded whenever he wished.

Rinto trained on the ocean floor to strengthen his body, while Madara Uchiha learned about Rinto’s abilities and pieced together what he believed was his plan. After three days of brutal underwater training, Rinto emerged stronger, but his Hell Stab barely left a mark on his palm.

• Rinto left Kirigakure and trained against the crushing pressure on the ocean floor, using his immortal body and Lightning Style Chakra Mode to survive.
• Black Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Nagato was hidden and reported that Rinto’s clones continued to attack the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Black Zetsu revealed Rinto’s origins and listed the many techniques he had mastered, prompting Madara Uchiha to reassess the threat he posed.
• White Zetsu reported that Rinto was training at the bottom of the sea, and Madara Uchiha inferred that he planned to become the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki and strengthen his body.
• After three more days, Rinto surfaced from the sea with bruises and bleeding, pleased that his physique had grown stronger.
• Rinto tested Hell Stab: One-Finger Stab against his palm, but it left only a white mark that quickly disappeared.

Hozuki Gengetsu arrived in Amegakure to help Rinto protect the village, but after a disturbing encounter with Hanzo in a puffy skirt, he learned how Rie ran the village chief's office. He left stunned by Amegakure's unusual division of responsibilities.

• Hozuki Gengetsu explored Amegakure, spotted Hanzo of the Salamander in a puffy skirt, and mutilated his own eyes in disgust before they regenerated.
• Rie teased Hanzo about the skirt's advantages for taijutsu, while Hanzo demanded to take it off before going to battle.
• Hozuki Gengetsu headed to the central building to meet Rinto as part of their agreement to drive Madara Uchiha out and protect Amegakure until the war ended.
• A white-bearded old man stopped Hozuki Gengetsu at the entrance and explained that the village chief held public office hours on weekdays.
• The old man told Hozuki Gengetsu that Rie represented the law and military force, while higher-ups handled routine matters.

Rie assigned Hozuki Gengetsu to defend Amegakure while allowing Hanzo of the Salamander to launch attacks against the forces fighting in the Land of Rain. Hanzo's interference and the village's terrain disrupted the war, driving Sunagakure and Iwagakure to shift their campaigns elsewhere.

• Rie restrained Hanzo of the Salamander and Hozuki Gengetsu before they could fight, then asked them to keep enemy forces from invading Amegakure.
• Hozuki Gengetsu agreed to guard the village, while Hanzo proposed declaring war and leading an offensive against the Five Great Nations, which Rie approved.
• News spread that Hanzo had declared war, but Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha continued fighting around Amegakure.
• Hanzo attacked Sunagakure and Iwagakure with underwater ambushes and Ibuse's poison, while Chiyo's antidotes helped the Sand shinobi survive.
• Ōnoki withdrew Iwagakure's forces from the Land of Rain and redirected them toward the Land of Fire through the Land of Grass, prompting Chiyo to follow.
• Sunagakure and Iwagakure avoided attacking Amegakure after seeing red-haired Uzumaki shinobi on its walls, and the Land of Rain's terrain continued to frustrate them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha squads to harass Sunagakure and Iwagakure, giving Danzo an opening to target Kagami. While Kagami’s squad rested on the western border, disguised attackers ambushed them after poison from their rations weakened the team, and a massive boulder descended upon them.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered more squads to harass the enemy forces and drag them into a war of attrition, while Danzo saw a chance to act against Kagami.
• Kagami Uchiha led his reconnaissance squad through the forest to scout Sunagakure and harass its supplies.
• A disguised Byakugan user led Iwagakure-dressed ninja toward Kagami’s resting squad.
• An attacker’s Kunai revealed the ambush, and Kagami discovered that poison in the squad’s rations had left his team weakened.
• A hidden ninja used Earth Style: Rock Lodging Collapse to send a massive boulder down toward Kagami’s squad.

Kagami Uchiha and his team were ambushed by Shimura Danzō, who revealed his intent to kill Kagami and take his Sharingan. As Danzō reached for Kagami, an unseen ally pulled Kagami underground just before an Explosive Tag detonated.

• A boulder crushed two of Kagami Uchiha’s teammates, while Kagami used the Body Flicker Technique to escape with another teammate.
• Shimura Danzō appeared, denounced the Uchiha, and ordered his subordinates to kill Kagami.
• Kagami awakened Susanoo and hurled his surviving teammate toward the border, but an Earth Flow Wall killed him.
• Kagami fought the surrounding Iwagakure ninja until his Chakra ran out and he collapsed; Danzō approached to take his Sharingan.
• An Explosive Tag fell near Danzō, but someone used the Headhunter Technique to pull Kagami underground before the tag exploded.

Shimura Danzō escaped the explosions, while Kagami confronted the pain of his rejection by both Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha clan. After Rinto restored Kagami’s eyes and offered him a place in Amegakure, Kagami asked Rinto to go with him to Konoha and confront Shimura Danzō.

• Shimura Danzō ordered his disguised Root Organization ninja to clean up and withdraw after an attacker ambushed them with repeated explosions.
• Kagami recalled how he had been sidelined by Hiruzen Sarutobi and rejected by the villagers and the Uchiha clan.
• Overwhelmed by anger and resentment, Kagami dug out his eyes, but Rinto picked them up and restored them with white flesh.
• Rinto told Kagami that his poison only suppressed Chakra and asked what he planned to do after breaking with Shimura Danzō.
• Rinto invited Kagami to bring his family to Amegakure, but Kagami asked him to come to Konoha and help him confront Shimura Danzō.

Rinto brought the recovered Kagami back to Konoha, where Kagami confronted Danzo over his betrayal and asked whether the Uchiha and the village could coexist. Kagami left convinced they could not, while Rinto returned to Kirigakure and Madara considered Amegakure a possible refuge.

• Rinto and the recovered Kagami returned to Konoha, and Kagami confronted Danzo at the Root Organization's base.
• Danzo tried to accuse Kagami of deserting the front lines, but Kagami asked whether the Uchiha and the village could still coexist.
• Danzo refused to answer directly, and Kagami left with Rinto after realizing the answer was no.
• Rinto returned to Kirigakure after sending Kagami back to Amegakure, while Black Zetsu informed Madara that Rinto had saved Kagami and Kagami seemed to have joined Amegakure.
• Madara judged Amegakure a suitable alternative if Kirigakure was destroyed.

Rinto disguised himself as Inadagami and removed the Third Mizukage’s bandages, revealing a Byakugan and a Three Tomoe Sharingan. The Third Mizukage tested the Byakugan to secretly observe the presence in the next room, while Rinto rewarded the research team with dinner, a week off, and overtime pay.

• Rinto disguised as Inadagami entered the Mizukage Office with an Anbu and a mirror to remove the Third Mizukage’s bandages.
• The Third Mizukage saw that he had a Byakugan and a Three Tomoe Sharingan, and briefly glimpsed crimson pinwheel eyes in the mirror.
• The Third Mizukage tested the Byakugan by looking through the building and secretly observing the presence in the room next door.
• Rinto went to the underground laboratory and told the researchers the Third Mizukage was satisfied with their work.
• Rinto promised the researchers dinner, a week off, and overtime pay, prompting them to cheer.

At a Kirigakure celebration, Rinto’s former teammate Minghuo asked him to obtain a civilian identity for the Iwagakure woman he had brought home and fallen in love with. Rinto agreed, then asked Minghuo to destroy his corpse when he was about to die.

• Rinto celebrated with his research team in Kirigakure when Minghuo joined him for a drink.
• Rinto noticed Minghuo was troubled and pressed him to explain what was wrong.
• Minghuo revealed that he had brought an adult woman from Iwagakure into Kirigakure two years earlier and had fallen in love with her.
• Minghuo asked Rinto to help the woman obtain an ordinary civilian identity, and Rinto agreed after forming a plan.
• Rinto asked Minghuo to destroy his corpse when he was about to die.

Minghuo struggled to understand Inadagami’s warning while Rinto went to the sea to train and personally handle Minghuo’s request. In Kirigakure, Madara learned Genji’s account of the plot and began suspecting that Rinto knew far more about his plans than he should, leaving him questioning whether Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were also targets of Rinto’s suspicion.

• Minghuo walked home troubled by Inadagami’s instruction to destroy his corpse if he was about to die.
• Rinto decided not to entrust Minghuo’s request to Genji, then went out over the sea to train his body underwater.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu brought Genji to Madara Uchiha, who awakened him and confirmed his identity by questioning him about Kirigakure’s finances.
• Under Madara’s genjutsu, Genji explained the plot involving the Third Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, Obito, and the plan to obtain the mastermind’s eyes.
• Madara pieced together Rinto’s past actions and wondered whether Rinto had deliberately influenced the war and anticipated his plans for Nagato.
• Madara scrutinized Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, suspecting that Rinto was wary of something beyond Madara himself.

Rinto used Kagami to disrupt the genjutsu controlling the Third Mizukage and provoke his greed for Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan. Madara attacked the Mizukage Building, and Rinto prepared to intervene as the Third Mizukage fought back.

• Rinto brought Kagami to the Iron Sand cloud and had him release the genjutsu affecting the Third Mizukage.
• The Third Mizukage’s desire for the Rinnegan overwhelmed him, and he resolved to capture Madara and conquer the other villages.
• Madara sensed that the Third Mizukage had resisted his control and attacked him with Shinra Tensei, destroying the Mizukage Building.
• The Third Mizukage emerged from the ruins and attacked Madara with Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu, but Madara countered with Great Fire Annihilation.
• Rinto covered his eyes with a Black Eye Mask and prepared to act, fearing Madara would target Rie.