Chapter Summaries

Hatake Sakumo challenged Kagami Uchiha and Dan Katō to reconsider their opposition to Aizen, arguing that Aizen was acting within Konoha’s authority. In Konoha, the Third Hokage assigned Minato Namikaze to help Aizen research Space-Time Ninjutsu, and Aizen revealed that he and Minato had known each other for years.

• Hatake Sakumo told Kagami Uchiha and Dan Katō that white dolls had been surveilling Konoha and its bases, and that Aizen wanted them to investigate.
• Hatake Sakumo argued that Aizen was entitled to maintain a secret force as Konoha’s acting advisor, leaving Kagami Uchiha and Dan Katō unable to respond.
• The Third Hokage introduced Minato Namikaze to Aizen and assigned him to assist with research into Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Aizen greeted Minato Namikaze familiarly and explained to the Third Hokage that they had met years earlier in Konoha’s library.

Aizen reflected on Minato Namikaze’s talent and prospects before meeting him for ramen and teasing him about Kushina. He urged Minato to become Hokage so he could protect the happiness he hoped to achieve, and Minato reaffirmed his dream.

• Aizen considered Minato a promising, widely admired candidate who could rise through Konoha’s ranks through his own talent.
• After a meeting with the Third Hokage, Aizen and Minato met at Ichiraku Ramen and reminisced about the years since they had last seen each other.
• Aizen teased Minato about his feelings for Kushina, and Minato insisted he admired her and wanted to stand proudly beside her.
• Aizen warned Minato that happiness depended on having the ability to achieve what he desired, and told him to become Hokage.
• Minato reaffirmed his dream of becoming Hokage and changing the ninja world, then hurriedly ate his soggy ramen under the shopkeeper’s disapproving stare.

Minato Namikaze reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to Sosuke Aizen while helping him organize secrets about Space-Time Ninjutsu. Aizen tested Minato’s judgment, then Kakashi Hatake arrived and the two young men immediately took a dislike to each other.

• Minato Namikaze gave Aizen a scroll of his Space-Time Ninjutsu techniques and insights, trusting him completely despite Aizen’s warnings about betrayal.
• Aizen reorganized Minato’s confusingly named techniques and asked what Minato would do if Aizen turned against Konoha.
• Minato said he would try to capture Aizen and learn what had driven him to betray Konoha, insisting he wanted both Aizen and the village.
• Aizen accepted Minato’s answer as proof that he had passed a test as a Konoha ninja, though it was not the answer Aizen wanted.
• Kakashi Hatake vaulted into Aizen’s courtyard, and he and Minato instantly found each other unpleasant.

As Konoha struggled with border fighting and an increasingly divisive internal investigation, civil war broke out in Sunagakure and Stone Village threatened to exploit it. Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed abandoning the Land of Rain front to draw Stone Village into war with Sunagakure, while Sosuke Aizen quietly recorded the meeting.

• Stone Village and Kumogakure increasingly cooperated against Konoha as Blut Vene complicated border battles, while Konoha’s investigation into the haori-wearing ninja produced no leads.
• The Third Hokage and Danzō continued the disruptive internal investigation, even recalling Minato Namikaze for questioning rather than easing pressure on the village.
• Sunagakure’s younger and conservative factions began a civil war, and Stone Village occupied territory around Sunagakure and the buffer countries.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed abandoning the Land of Rain defense line, recalling the Sannin, and spreading rumors of Konoha’s internal weakness to encourage Stone Village to attack Sunagakure.
• Sosuke Aizen recorded the meeting in the archives while Minato Namikaze stood guard beside him.

The Sannin received Hiruzen Sarutobi’s order to abandon the Land of Rain front and withdraw into the Land of Fire, despite recognizing that the plan rested on a mistaken reading of the Stone Ninja and Sand Ninja. Jiraiya ordered the retreat, Tsunade left in anger, and Orochimaru began considering joining the mysterious people who might help him pursue immortality.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi issued an order for Konoha to abandon the Land of Rain front and return to defend the Land of Fire.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru confirmed that the order was genuine and discussed how retreating could let the Stone Ninja and Sand Ninja unite against Konoha.
• Orochimaru argued that the Stone Ninja had no reason or ability to annex the Sand Ninja, while Tsunade condemned Hiruzen Sarutobi’s judgment.
• Jiraiya ordered the troops to seal their belongings and withdraw, leaving only a few outposts behind in the Land of Rain.
• Tsunade stormed out, while Orochimaru reflected on death and decided it was time to join the mysterious people.

Dan Katō tried to convince Hatake Sakumo that Konoha needed to resist the Third Hokage’s dangerous gamble, but Sakumo argued that Konoha’s prosperity owed little to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Aizen said he had no personal attachment to Konoha and treated advising others as a way to relax, then told Dan that the Sannin were nearly back in the village.

• Dan Katō warned Hatake Sakumo that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gamble was risking Konoha’s hard-won gains and urged him to help correct the situation.
• Hatake Sakumo said he cared only about Kakashi and argued that the First and Second Hokage had built Konoha’s strength while Aizen had improved its present circumstances.
• Hatake Sakumo criticized the Third Hokage’s diplomacy and the Sarutobi Clan’s growing power, leaving Dan Katō unable to answer.
• Aizen told Dan Katō and Hatake Sakumo that he welcomed people finding the courage to choose their own paths, but had no personal feelings for Konoha.
• Aizen said handling Konoha’s problems was relaxing because he could offer suggestions without much thought, then told Dan Katō that the Sannin were almost back in the village.

Dan Katō reunited with Tsunade during Konoha’s welcoming ceremony and proposed that they elope rather than remain entangled in the village’s troubles. Hatake Sakumo appeared and urged Dan to ask Tsunade what she wanted, leaving their choice unresolved.

• Dan Katō watched Tsunade’s unhappy return ceremony and felt responsible for her suffering.
• Tsunade spotted Dan through the crowd, ran from the ceremony, and met him in a foggy space between cracks.
• Dan told Tsunade that he, Kagami Uchiha, and Hatake Sakumo had never been controlled by Aizen.
• Dan embraced Tsunade and asked her to elope with him and go wherever she wanted.
• Hatake Sakumo appeared and reminded Dan to ask Tsunade what she wanted instead of deciding her life for her.

Hatake Sakumo confronted Dan Katō and defeated him in a single strike, then healed him before Tsunade could lose control at the sight of blood. After Dan comforted Tsunade, she insisted on meeting the leader behind Konoha’s occupation, and Hatake Sakumo led them toward him.

• Dan Katō warned Hatake Sakumo to stay away from Tsunade, but Sakumo said he had come to inspect the newcomers.
• When Dan refused to stand down, Hatake Sakumo struck him with Cloud Flash before he could release his Shikai.
• Hatake Sakumo used Mimicry Kidō to heal Dan Katō and help suppress Tsunade’s reaction to the blood.
• Dan comforted Tsunade, who panicked when she saw his wound and remembered his death.
• Tsunade insisted on facing the leader occupying Konoha, and Hatake Sakumo led her and Dan toward the buildings in the mist.

Orochimaru joined Shimura Danzō’s Root, where Danzō explained why he had chosen him over Sosuke Aizen. Meanwhile, Tsunade discovered that Aizen was the person waiting for her, leaving her stunned.

• Orochimaru met Shimura Danzō and offered to join Root because he feared death and wanted to prolong his life.
• Shimura Danzō welcomed Orochimaru and showed him Root’s hidden corridors and research facilities.
• Shimura Danzō told Orochimaru that he had considered recruiting Sosuke Aizen but wanted to keep him away from Root.
• Orochimaru set aside the idea of investigating Aizen and went with Shimura Danzō to Root’s research facilities.
• Tsunade saw Sosuke Aizen emerge from the mist and froze in shock as he greeted her.

Sosuke Aizen told Tsunade that Konoha had always known about his Soul Society and had chosen to ignore it, then invited her to join him. Tsunade became the Fourth Division’s acting captain to remain with the resurrected Dan Katō, while Aizen hinted that familiar faces might soon appear in her division.

• Tsunade confronted Aizen, who insisted that the Soul Society and its activities had been legally documented in Konoha’s archives.
• Aizen said Konoha’s people had sensed something was wrong but lacked the courage to expose him, and offered Tsunade the choice to join or have her memories erased.
• Tsunade chose to join because she could not bear another life without Dan Katō, and Aizen appointed her acting captain of the Fourth Division.
• Tsunade asked whether Aizen feared she would expose him, and he said Konoha could do so if it accepted the consequences.
• Aizen hinted that familiar faces might appear in Tsunade’s division, then left to practice calligraphy.
• Dan Katō and Tsunade embraced, accepting that they would rather pretend the situation did not exist.

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled with the consequences of recalling Konoha's forces and clashed with Shimura Danzō over abandoning the Land of Rain defense line. Danzō left to secure Hanzō's cooperation and secretly cultivate Jiraiya's three Rain disciples, while Aizen returned to calm Hiruzen.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that his decision to recall Konoha's forces had left the Land of Rain defense line exposed.
• Shimura Danzō announced that he would take Root to persuade Hanzō to keep the Land of Rain from siding with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, but Hiruzen initially refused to let him act independently.
• After Danzō stormed out, Aizen followed and told him that Hiruzen had ultimately granted him authority to do whatever was necessary.
• Danzō decided to offer Hanzō support, including the possibility of independence, and to secretly support Jiraiya's three disciples as another means of influencing the Land of Rain.
• Aizen promised to cooperate with Danzō's plans and returned to the Hokage's Office to calm Hiruzen.

Jiraiya reflected on his fate and accepted that he would keep bearing his mission, while Tsunade and Orochimaru debated life and death. As the three Sannin celebrated returning to Konoha, a messenger summoned them to witness and test Blut Arterie.

• Tsunade gave Jiraiya medicine for his hangover and joined him, wearing a white haori reminiscent of Dan Katō's.
• Orochimaru discussed whether a person remained alive if their memories and will continued in another body, and Tsunade offered her view.
• Jiraiya accepted that he would follow his fate and help the world, even if it meant sacrificing a happier life for himself.
• Jiraiya raised a cup to celebrate with Tsunade and Orochimaru, who bickered with him as they reunited.
• A black-clad Ninja delivered the Third Hokage's request for the Sannin to witness and test Blut Arterie, developed by Kakashi Hatake and Sosuke Aizen.

Kakashi Hatake overcame his fear of demonstrating Blut Arterie and activated the Perfect Sage Body before a crowd of Konoha Ninja. His powerful strike nearly overwhelmed Jiraiya’s Blut Vene, prompting Jiraiya to declare that Kakashi had created a brand-new Sage Art.

• Sosuke Aizen encouraged Kakashi Hatake to face the audience and demonstrate Blut Arterie instead of fleeing.
• Kakashi recalled how he had developed the Perfect Sage Body, which siphoned external energy to greatly strengthen his body but could break under a powerful injury.
• Kakashi left the preparation room and poured Aizen’s reagent over his head as Jiraiya prepared to spar with him.
• Kakashi activated Blut Arterie: Perfect Sage Body and struck Jiraiya with a blow that nearly overwhelmed his Blut Vene.
• Jiraiya recognized Kakashi’s ability as a brand-new Sage Art.

Kakashi Hatake revealed an artificial Sage Mode during his test and fought Jiraiya using Blut Vene and Blut Arterie. He defeated Jiraiya with a devastating fire technique, leaving the arena melted and the gathered ninja stunned.

• Kakashi asked the Third Hokage whether to continue after activating Sage Mode, and the Third Hokage ordered Jiraiya to finish the test.
• Jiraiya activated Blut Vene at full power, but Kakashi moved faster and struck him with a powerful kick.
• Kakashi battered Jiraiya with Blut Arterie-enhanced rapid strikes and drove him into the ground.
• Kakashi used Blut Arterie Enhancement: Great Fireball Technique, melting much of the arena while Jiraiya endured the attack with Blut Vene.
• Jiraiya survived with bruises and scorch marks, praised Kakashi's talent, and called Blut Arterie incredible.

Jiraiya challenged the safety of Blut Arterie, but Aizen explained its research and safeguards to the Hokage and the Sannin. The discussion ended with news that the library records had been stolen, the Anbu center attacked, and at least thirteen ninjas had defected while Danzō was away.

• Jiraiya asked the Third Hokage to seal Blut Arterie, warning that its use of Nature Energy could endanger its users, especially children like Kakashi Hatake.
• Aizen explained that Blut Arterie used a controlled internal Chakra cycle to draw in and convert Nature Energy, and said it would deactivate safely if the balance was disrupted.
• Aizen described Blut Arterie as less powerful than Sage Mode under normal conditions but capable of a dangerous fusion-burst state if its restrictions were removed.
• A Ninja reported that all copied records of Aizen's research had gone missing, the Anbu center had been attacked, and at least thirteen Ninja had defected.
• The Third Hokage learned that Shimura Danzō and Root had left for the Land of Rain, leaving Konoha's research records exposed and its technological advantage stolen.

Konoha reeled after the Four Great Shinobi Villages joined forces to raid its library and steal military technology, undermining the Third Hokage’s standing. Sosuke Aizen told Tsunade he had not intervened because he expected others to act for themselves, leaving her shaken by his view of Konoha’s dependence on him.

• The Four Great Shinobi Villages exploited Konoha’s demonstration of Blut Arterie to attack the library and divert ANBU, stealing military technology while suffering heavy casualties.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi faced public criticism and an Uchiha Clan offer to provide jonin as Konoha’s spy networks were dismantled.
• Sosuke Aizen predicted that Hiruzen would hold on as Hokage because of his love for Konoha and the Sarutobi Clan.
• After Aizen released Tsunade from a one-hour immobilization, she demanded to know why he had let the other villages steal his technology.
• Aizen said he wanted others to progress and challenged Tsunade’s assumption that he should protect Konoha from every threat, asking whether its people were parasites if he had to do everything for them.

Aizen explained to Tsunade why he had allowed the Four Great Shinobi Villages to unite against Konoha, arguing that their crisis could spur people to change. He left Tsunade with his ideals and plans for a neutral organization, then disappeared before teaching Kakashi.

• Aizen described how the Four Great Shinobi Villages combined their intelligence networks to strike at Konoha after learning about Blut Arterie.
• Aizen compared the villages’ conflict to ants driven to fight by a threat or shortage, leaving Tsunade chilled by his lack of attachment to Konoha.
• Aizen argued that Konoha’s leaders, not him, were responsible for failing to protect the village and manage the information about his techniques.
• Aizen told Tsunade he wanted people across the world to face hardship with courage and said he might establish a neutral organization to rescue abandoned, wounded Ninja.
• Aizen invited Tsunade to attend his lesson with Kakashi, then vanished after she declined; Hatake Sakumo fed breadcrumbs to the fish and remarked that knowing more brought more pain.

Kakashi argued with Jiraiya over Sage Mode and the universal applicability of Blut Arterie, while Aizen explained Kakashi’s achievements to the Sannin. Aizen then began a discussion about Chakra’s possible uses, inviting Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Minato to contribute.

• Jiraiya prostrated himself and apologized to Kakashi, then tried to tempt him with Sage Mode and unpublished writing.
• Kakashi explained that Mount Myōboku’s Sage Mode was too dependent on individual talent and unsafe to apply universally, and called Jiraiya “Uncle.”
• Kakashi and Jiraiya argued until Aizen entered and explained that Kakashi had reverse-engineered Instant Step from materials supplied by the Sannin.
• Jiraiya agreed to listen as Aizen discussed development and teaching with Kakashi.
• Aizen solidified Chakra in the air and invited Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Minato to discuss the possibilities and methods of using Chakra.

Sosuke Aizen taught Jiraiya, Minato, and Kakashi about chakra’s nature and how understanding it could improve their use of jutsu. Jiraiya came to accept Aizen’s apparent kindness and decided to trust that he would not harm Konoha.

• Aizen explained chakra’s origins, properties, and potential higher-authority signal, then began teaching chakra transformation.
• Jiraiya admitted that he could not follow the theory, and Aizen patiently explained why understanding chakra mattered.
• Minato and Kakashi listened closely and tested Aizen’s explanations while Jiraiya asked detailed questions.
• Aizen told Jiraiya he would teach any child who genuinely wanted to improve, regardless of their rank in class.
• Jiraiya reflected on his suspicions and resolved to gamble on Aizen’s kindness, trusting that he would not harm Konoha.

Konoha’s investigation into the stolen sealing scroll intensified tensions between the village and the Uchiha while Sosuke Aizen stayed in seclusion. Over dinner, Orochimaru explained the political conflict to Tsunade and revealed that he knew she had found leads about Dan.

• The Third Hokage launched a sweeping investigation, reassigned Sosuke Aizen away from the reviews, and sent Jiraiya to guard him.
• The investigation further antagonized the Uchiha and stirred conflict among Konoha’s clans as the search for the enemy made no progress.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru discussed how competing interests and the need for a scapegoat had made the Uchiha a target within the village.
• Orochimaru argued that a clan’s continuation mattered to its members and compared its disappearance to being killed.
• Orochimaru told Tsunade that others had likely noticed she found leads regarding Dan, leaving her stunned.