Chapter Summaries

Two years after Jiraiya chose to raise the three children, the war had shifted into small-scale battles and sent refugees flooding into Amegakure. At the village gates, Rinto explained to Shikaku how the great nations used war to serve their own purposes.

• Jiraiya reaffirmed his decision to leave the battlefield and raise the three children, and Orochimaru accepted it before returning to Konoha with Tsunade.
• Two years passed as the war among the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, Land of Fire, and Land of Lightning became a prolonged series of small-scale battles that devastated the Small Nations.
• Sakuta Rie's Amegakure welcomed large numbers of war orphans and refugees under its simple rules and direct system of justice.
• At Amegakure's gates, Rinto told Shikaku that Konoha and the other great nations used war to advance political candidates, weaken clans, redirect conflicts, and ease pressure on resources.
• Shikaku wrote down Rinto's explanation and worried that repeating its blunt examples to his father would get him in trouble.

Rinto visited Jiraiya’s home with Shikaku and the others, checked on Jiraiya and his disciples, and confirmed that Nagato still had the Rinnegan. As Rinto prepared to leave, Yahiko challenged him, but Rinto praised Jiraiya as the better teacher and fighter, leaving Yahiko convinced and Jiraiya deeply moved.

• Rinto and his three disciples traveled north to visit Jiraiya before returning to the village, while Rinto resolved not to let Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan enter the Land of Grass.
• Rinto met Jiraiya and his disciples at Jiraiya’s cabin, chatted with him, and observed Nagato’s hidden Rinnegan and the group’s routine.
• Rinto decided to leave after confirming that Nagato still had the Rinnegan and that Jiraiya remained optimistic.
• Yahiko stood up and challenged Rinto, still troubled by Rinto’s refusal to take him as a disciple two years earlier.
• Rinto told Yahiko that Jiraiya was a more patient teacher and stronger than him, moving Jiraiya while persuading Yahiko that Jiraiya was the better choice.

After Nawaki died in an Explosive Tag trap, his death shook Konoha’s leadership and left Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi facing political fallout. Tsunade returned from her mission and learned the truth from Orochimaru, ending the chapter in stunned denial.

• Nawaki died in an Explosive Tag trap during Orochimaru’s mission, provoking anger among the Senju and weakening Hiruzen Sarutobi’s and Orochimaru’s standing in the village.
• At a high-level meeting, Utatane Koharu reported that Lady Mito had collapsed upon hearing of Nawaki’s death, and Hiruzen ordered Kushina Uzumaki recalled and preparations made for the Nine-Tails’ transfer.
• Shimura Danzō argued against recalling Tsunade, fearing Rinto would blame him, and Hiruzen agreed to delay contacting her.
• Half a month later, Tsunade returned to Konoha, where Orochimaru waited at the village gate holding Nawaki’s jade-green necklace.
• Orochimaru told Tsunade that Nawaki had died in the line of duty, and she rejected the news in shocked denial.

After Nawaki’s death, Rinto arrived at Konoha’s gates when Tsunade summoned him and carried her back into the village. Hiruzen worried Rinto would interfere, while Danzo cursed Root for failing to discover how Nawaki died.

• Tsunade summoned Rinto and collapsed into his arms, sobbing that Nawaki was dead.
• Rinto resisted the voice of reason in his consciousness, confronted the tentacled monster there, and chose to take Tsunade with him.
• Rinto picked up Nawaki’s necklace, told Orochimaru and Tsunade’s squad to inform the Third Hokage, and walked into the village with Tsunade over his shoulder.
• Hiruzen watched Rinto leave and worried that he would interfere in Nawaki’s death amid the war.
• Danzo berated Root for failing to determine how Nawaki died and demanded that they find a scapegoat.

After Tsunade learned that Nawaki had died, Rinto and Rie cared for her while she grieved. Rinto considered the many factions that could have benefited from Nawaki’s death, but could not determine whether it was a plot or mere bad luck.

• Rinto cleaned Tsunade up and asked Rie to help her relax with a bath.
• Rie learned Nawaki had died and angrily asked whether Konoha was responsible, but Rinto told her to focus on caring for Tsunade.
• Rie scrubbed Tsunade’s back, and Rinto made her bed before they carried the sleeping Tsunade to her room.
• Rinto considered how Nawaki’s death could benefit Hiruzen Sarutobi, the major clans, Orochimaru, Dan Katō, Black Zetsu, and a certain Uchiha Elder.
• Rinto concluded that there were too many possible suspects to identify a culprit and reflected that Minato Namikaze might be the only one able to navigate Konoha’s hidden dangers.

Jiraiya watched Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza display sharp instincts and teamwork, then encouraged them to spar with Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. Shikaku agreed to fight all three at once, and Inoichi claimed that he and Choza were useless while all their team’s strength rested in Shikaku.

• Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza reacted instantly to a faint noise and used discreet signals to confirm that no enemies were nearby, impressing Jiraiya with their coordination.
• At dawn, Jiraiya trained Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan while Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza watched and fished by the lake.
• Yahiko challenged the three Konoha ninja to a friendly spar, but Shikaku and the others initially refused because they feared they would not hold back.
• Jiraiya urged Shikaku to spar, and Shikaku agreed to face the three Rain orphans together.
• Inoichi told Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan that Choza and he were dead weight and that Shikaku held all their team’s strength.

Shikaku tested Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan in a spar and used his Shadow Binding Technique to capture Konan, forcing the others to stop. He apologized without knowing what he had done wrong, leaving Yahiko and Nagato bewildered and Konan still blushing.

• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan attacked Shikaku together with water, wind, and paper techniques, but Shikaku and his Shadow Clone dodged and tested them with Shuriken.
• Shikaku launched a faster volley, and the three coordinated their defense while Nagato used Gale Palm to control Konan's Paper Shuriken.
• Shikaku used the spray from Nagato's gale to conceal a second attack with explosive-tagged Kunai, prompting the three to scatter when Nagato spotted the tags.
• Shikaku used the Kunai's smoke and the alignment of his shadows to catch Konan with the Shadow Binding Technique, so Yahiko stopped the spar rather than risk her as a hostage.
• Shikaku released Konan and apologized to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan despite not understanding what he had done wrong, leaving Yahiko and Nagato confused and Konan blushing.

After sharing a meal with Jiraiya’s team, Shikaku warned Jiraiya that Rinto’s brutal training could make his disciples resent him, then analyzed the danger facing Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. Shikaku wanted to return because he feared Yahiko’s idealism would leave the team vulnerable to tragedy.

• Shikaku seasoned a huge roast wild boar with the Akimichi Clan’s secret spices, and both teams ate together.
• Jiraiya asked Shikaku about Rinto’s missions and training, and Shikaku joked that he and Choza would take out their frustrations by beating up their fathers.
• That night, Shikaku told Inoichi he wanted to leave because he feared Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan would face a tragedy.
• Shikaku explained that Nagato seemed far more capable than Yahiko, but Yahiko led the team and might struggle to protect his teammates.
• Inoichi suggested an enemy could force Yahiko to kill Nagato, but Shikaku insisted Yahiko would sooner sacrifice himself than kill a teammate.

Inoichi and Shikaku decided not to interfere in Tsunade’s grief, while Rinto stopped Fugaku and Teuchi from pursuing revenge before he uncovered the culprit. Rinto sent Fugaku to retrieve his junior brothers from the Land of Grass, and Fugaku and Teuchi secretly arranged to follow him.

• Inoichi asked Shikaku whether they should tell Jiraiya what they had realized, but Shikaku argued that they should leave the matter alone.
• Fugaku and Teuchi urged Rinto to let them attack Danzō, but Rinto said he had confirmed Danzō was not responsible and forbade them from interfering in Tsunade’s matter.
• Rinto considered the possible roles of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Madara Uchiha, and Black Zetsu, and planned to earn Madara’s trust before setting another trap for him.
• Fugaku asked to join Rinto’s search for the mastermind, but Rinto told him to go to the Land of Grass and bring back his three junior brothers.
• Fugaku and Teuchi agreed to wait until Rinto found the murderer, then revealed that each had secretly placed a Heavenly Transfer Technique formula on Rinto so they could follow him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Uchiha Fugaku had left the village and sent Danzo to question Sakuta Rinto about Nawaki’s death, but Danzo refused. At Rinto’s home, Tsunade woke and grieved for Nawaki as Rinto suspected foul play and resolved to treat everyone as a potential criminal.

• An Anbu reported that Uchiha Fugaku had left the village while Teuchi had returned to Ichiraku Ramen, and Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Hatake Sakumo to sound out Rinto and retrieve the clan children.
• When Hiruzen learned Hatake Sakumo was away, he ordered Danzo to ask Rinto what he thought about Nawaki’s death, but Danzo refused while nursing his swollen eyes.
• Rie told Rinto that Tsunade had awakened and seemed unwell, so Rinto went to her bedroom and found her pale and staring blankly.
• Tsunade cried and asked Rinto whether Nawaki’s death had been normal, and Rinto said he suspected someone had interfered because Nawaki’s internal organs were missing from the scene.
• Rinto considered the possibility of personal grudges, internal politics, or another village’s provocation, and decided to treat everyone as a suspect rather than guess who was responsible.

Rinto took Tsunade out drinking after she asked whether he would investigate her brother’s death, and he chose not to. As Tsunade drank bottle after bottle, Rinto worried about what she might do while drunk.

• Tsunade asked Rinto whether he planned to investigate, and he denied it before agreeing to take her out for a drink.
• Rie demanded payment for missing work, and Rinto gave her fifty thousand ryō before she left grumbling.
• Rinto and Tsunade went to an izakaya, where Tsunade grabbed a bottle and began drinking heavily.
• Rinto ordered twenty more bottles and tried to get Tsunade to eat, but she urged him to drink with her.
• As the empty bottles piled up, Rinto realized Tsunade was drunk but still going strong and worried she might kiss him and give him her necklace.

After Nawaki’s death, Rinto brought drunken Tsunade home, where she reconciled with her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki. Mito then asked Rinto to look after Tsunade after her death, relying on the Nine-Tails’ claim that Rinto would not die.

• Rinto carried a grieving, drunken Tsunade through the rain to the Senju ancestral home.
• Tsunade sobered up and wept with Mito Uzumaki, while Rinto waited outside their room.
• Mito told Rinto that the Senju house would be demolished after her death and that the clan should move on as part of Konoha.
• Mito thanked Rinto for helping the Uzumaki Clan and asked him to take responsibility for Tsunade when she was gone.
• Mito revealed that the Nine-Tails had told her Rinto would not die before being planted in the ground.

Uchiha Fugaku arrived at Jiraiya’s base and shared news of Nawaki’s death, prompting Jiraiya to worry about Tsunade and consider returning to the village. After Fugaku recognized Nagato’s Rinnegan, he warned Jiraiya that the eyes could drain their owner’s strength.

• Fugaku reached Jiraiya’s base, told him he had come to bring the younger disciples home, and agreed to leave the next morning.
• Fugaku reported that Nawaki had died and that Tsunade had fainted from grief, making Jiraiya want to return to the village.
• Jiraiya stayed with Yahiko and the other children, while Shikaku asked Fugaku about working in the Konoha Military Police Force and following him there.
• Fugaku glimpsed Nagato’s Rinnegan and privately warned Jiraiya that the eyes could drain their owner, adding that Rie had one too.

Fugaku returned to Konoha, while Choza, Shikaku, and Inoichi reunited with their families after years of training under Sakuta Rinto. Their families reacted to the boys’ changed appearances and abilities, and the three clan heads discussed the benefits of Rinto’s teaching.

• Fugaku bid farewell to Jiraiya and returned to Konoha with Shikaku and the others.
• Choza came home and complained to his mother that his father had sent him away on dangerous missions, prompting her to throw his father and Torifu Akimichi out.
• Choza ate barbecue while his mother fretted over his weight, and Shikaku’s mother reacted angrily to the scars on her son’s face.
• At Yakiniku Q, Choza’s father hid his black eye and reflected on Choza’s mastery of Lightning Style and Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
• Shikajiro Nara considered Rinto’s training a success, believing it gave the three boys both practical skills and protection from being bullied.

Rinto stole an Akimichi secret-technique scroll and fantasized about becoming a giant hero, but his plans were interrupted when a Flying Thunder God formula in Kirigakure was destroyed. There, Anbu confronted Minghuo and his family, revealing that they had been waiting for both him and his wife.

• Choza hesitated over what gift to give Rinto, unwilling to part with the Akimichi clan’s recipes or secret techniques.
• Rinto secretly used Expansion Jutsu to steal an Akimichi scroll and imagined combining Super Expansion Jutsu with Lightning Style Chakra Mode to become a giant hero.
• Rinto wondered how to learn a powerful beam technique and considered investigating Ōnoki and Iwagakure.
• Rinto sensed that the Flying Thunder God Technique formula he had left with Minghuo had been destroyed.
• Minghuo returned home to find his wife distressed, but Anbu broke into the house and confronted the family.
• The Bird-head Anbu told Minghuo that he and his wife were the people they had been waiting for.

Minghuo's wife revealed herself as an Iwagakure spy and sacrificed herself with Explosive Tags to help him and their daughter escape. Minghuo fled toward the village's drainage system, carrying their daughter and his wife's final wish.

• Minghuo's wife threatened the Anbu with the Explosive Tags hidden beneath her robe and forced them to keep their distance.
• The Bird-head Anbu ordered his subordinates to stand their ground, and the Anbu exchanged attacks with Minghuo's family.
• Minghuo's wife claimed she had only married him to infiltrate Amegakure, then shoved him and their daughter through the window.
• Minghuo's wife ignited her Explosive Tags and urged Minghuo to take their daughter and escape.
• Minghuo ran toward the village outskirts and headed for a dark alley leading to the underground drainage system.

Rinto rescued Minghuo’s daughter, Mei Terumi, after killing the Anbu who attacked them, and took her with him. A week later, Ōnoki learned that an Amegakure spy had stolen Iwagakure secrets, while a shadow moved through the darkness.

• Bird-head Anbu stabbed Minghuo and tried to kill his daughter as Minghuo attempted to use Lava Release.
• Rinto struck Bird-head Anbu with Giant’s Spear, then found Minghuo dying in the alley.
• Minghuo entrusted Mei Terumi to Rinto before he died, and Rinto decided to raise her.
• A week later, Ōnoki learned that a thief had stolen Iwagakure’s classified documents and sold them through the Bounty Exchange.
• An Anbu told Ōnoki the dead thief was likely an Amegakure Dark Child, and Ōnoki blamed Shimaru Dandan, also known as Sakuta Rinto.
• As Ōnoki raged in his office, a shadow flashed past in a dark corner.

Tsunade visited Rinto before leaving for the front lines and mistook the little girl in his care for his child. Rinto took Mei Terumi to Amegakure, where he reassured her and introduced her to Rie.

• Tsunade sneaked into Rinto's home and found him comforting a crying little girl named Kome.
• Tsunade angrily dragged Rinto aside and demanded to know whose child she was, and Rinto explained that he was caring for a friend's daughter.
• Rinto took Mei Terumi to Amegakure after calling Tsunade an idiot, and Mei timidly asked him to take her home.
• Rinto promised Mei he would send her home when her parents returned and carried her to the Hidden Rain Building.
• Rie asked Rinto about the child, and he jokingly claimed Mei Terumi was his daughter.
• Rie teased Rinto about checking his closet and bed, then hurriedly apologized when he threatened her with a textbook.

Rinto refused Rie's request to help raise Mei Terumi, then took Mei away from Amegakure after finding her reading a suggestive book. At his home in Konoha, Hatake Sakumo asked Rinto to look after his young son Kakashi while he went to the northern front.

• Rie refused to help Rinto raise Mei Terumi, then eagerly welcomed the prospect of a threat to Amegakure.
• Rinto discovered Mei Terumi reading a BL novel, took her to Konoha, and gave her a Baby Encyclopedia instead.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived at Rinto's home with his young son Kakashi and explained that he had to return to the war.
• Rinto realized Sakumo wanted him to care for Kakashi and considered how his growing list of children to raise was turning him into a stay-at-home dad.

Rinto brought Kakashi and Mei Terumi to the Konoha Love Baby Mom Mutual Aid Society to learn about childcare and insisted on joining as a “Male Mom.” Biwako Sarutobi welcomed him, and he introduced Kakashi and Mei Terumi to the mothers at the gathering.

• Rinto learned that Kakashi spent weekdays at the society, stayed with Aunt Nohara at night, and mooched meals from her on weekends.
• Rinto told Kakashi and Mei Terumi that they could rely on him, then announced that he had come to join the society rather than leave the children in its care.
• Rinto intimidated the society’s attendant into taking his request to Biwako Sarutobi, while Shimura Danzō laughed at his claim to be a Male Mom until a book titled “Root Behind Root” hit him.
• Biwako Sarutobi agreed to let Rinto join and led him into the society’s lively gathering and children’s play area.
• Rinto introduced himself to the mothers and presented Kakashi as his eldest son and Mei Terumi as his second daughter.