Chapter Summaries

Konoha's villagers continued reacting to the arcade cheating scandal, while Kakashi's unusual coin-pusher luck raised questions about why the Uchiha Clan leader had cheated. The Uchiha Clan leader explained his decision to Itachi, just as a flustered girl arrived to invite Itachi to the arcade hall.

• Konoha's villagers grew more accepting of the Uchiha Clan but feared Naruto again after learning he had transformed into the Nine-Tails during the Sunagakure competition.
• Asuma doubted that the Third Hokage could have earned the Light of Konoha's votes without cheating, while Kakashi suggested the coin pusher could generate many tickets.
• Kakashi won a flood of game coins and tickets with a lucky coin-pusher play, prompting Asuma to wonder why the Uchiha Clan leader had needed to cheat.
• The Uchiha Clan leader told Itachi he had cheated after misjudging his rivalry with the Hyuga Clan leader and wanted to keep the Uchiha Clan from attracting too much attention.
• A girl arrived and invited Itachi to the arcade hall, then nervously greeted the Uchiha Clan leader, Mikoto, and Sasuke.

Sunagakure identified Orochimaru as the pirate copying Ninja Glory and asked Konoha to help destroy his illegal workshops. Konoha agreed, and a Shinobi World-wide campaign against piracy began in early May of Year 54.

• Rasa told Sunagakure's senior officials that White Zetsu had identified Orochimaru as the pirate.
• Sunagakure formally condemned Orochimaru and demanded an explanation from Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi's advisers argued that Orochimaru's crimes were no longer Konoha's responsibility, but Hiruzen said Konoha was still connected to his defection.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that Jiraiya was buried in debt and had apparently forgotten his mission to capture Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen agreed that Konoha would assist Sunagakure in destroying illegal workshops, launching a campaign against piracy across the Shinobi World.

Hiruzen Sarutobi assembled a large force of Konoha ninjas for a joint operation with Sunagakure to shut down illegal toy workshops, while secretly tasking Mitokado Homura with investigating Orochimaru. Danzo met with Orochimaru, who revealed that the fertilizer Danzo requested was already in production.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the assembled ninjas they would help Sunagakure wipe out illegal processing workshops in the Land of Fire and nearby countries.
• Hiruzen appointed Mitokado Homura to lead Konoha’s side of the operation, with a secret mission to investigate Orochimaru.
• Mitokado Homura ordered the ninjas to gather at the village gates at noon.
• Orochimaru wondered whether Sunagakure had discovered his bootleg operation and asked why Danzo had informed him about the operation.
• Danzo said Orochimaru was useful to him, and Orochimaru reported that the fertilizer Danzo wanted was already being produced.

Ebizo returned and took charge of Sunagakure’s mission to raid Orochimaru’s Illegal Processing Workshops, while Shukaku struggled to lead a losing Ninja Glory team. When Konoha and Sunagakure’s joint purge found the workshops abandoned, Kakashi summoned his dogs and asked whether they should pursue the fleeing producers.

• Ebizo returned with a shaken Sasori and agreed to lead the operation against Orochimaru’s Illegal Processing Workshop, with Kabuto as his deputy.
• Ebizo told Rasa that Sunagakure would protect and financially assist Nadeshiko Village, which would send taijutsu teachers in return.
• Shukaku formed the Strongest Tailed Beast team with Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Shira, but the team lost repeatedly and later recruited Daimaru.
• Konoha and Sunagakure began a joint purge of Illegal Processing Workshops, but found them emptied and their producers gone.
• The allied ninjas suspected a traitor, and Kakashi summoned his dogs and asked whether they should chase the retreating producers.

Kakashi’s anti-counterfeiting mission ended with Konoha handing the captured workers over to Sunagakure, while Orochimaru withdrew his remaining operations and vowed to remember Kakashi. Kakashi prepared to return to Konoha and learned more about Shisui and Danzo’s upcoming roast duck restaurant.

• Orochimaru ordered his subordinates to abandon or sell workshops in and near the Land of Fire after Kakashi’s crackdown destroyed many of his factories.
• Shisui told Kakashi that the captured workers had already been interrogated and knew nothing about Orochimaru’s higher-ups.
• Shisui gave Kakashi three free roast duck vouchers for the restaurant he was opening with Danzo, and Kakashi accepted them.
• Kakashi watched Mitokado Homura and Ebizo complete the handover and remarked that the boy beside Ebizo was a genius.
• Mitokado Homura and Ebizo praised Konoha’s help in Sunagakure’s anti-counterfeiting operation.

After the anti-counterfeiting operation ended, Konoha and Sunagakure celebrated their success while their leaders discussed new plans. Sunagakure returned with Orochimaru’s advanced counterfeit production equipment and prepared to copy it.

• Ebizo praised Kabuto for spreading word about Konoha’s anti-counterfeiting campaign and suggested he gain experience in the Land of Rain.
• Kakashi learned that Sunagakure planned to release a limited Anti-Counterfeiting Vanguard skin bearing his name, while Asuma proposed forming a team with him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Danzo whether Root had found Orochimaru or detected anything unusual among the Uchiha, and Danzo reported no discoveries.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo agreed to invite Mitokado Homura for ranked matches in Ninja Glory.
• Ebizo told Rasa that Orochimaru’s counterfeit production line was highly advanced and easy for ordinary workers to operate.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure’s research institute to study and reproduce the production line and assigned the recovered workers to a new production room.

Asuma formed the Protect Konoha's Future Team and recruited Yamato, then introduced him to Ninja Glory and assigned him the First Generation Lord. The team prepared to play at the Arcade Hall after dinner, with Yamato sent ahead to reserve machines.

• Yamato returned from his work for Director Danzo and joined Asuma's Protect Konoha's Future Team alongside Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi.
• Asuma asked Yamato about Ninja Glory, and Yamato said he knew of Madara Uchiha and would play whichever hero Asuma chose.
• Asuma explained the First Generation Lord's abilities and recommended the Second Generation Lord as another hero to buy.
• Yamato considered his generous pay and Danzo's bonus, along with the Uchiha Roast Duck vouchers he had received.
• Asuma planned dinner at Ichiraku Ramen before the team went to the Arcade Hall, and told Yamato to reserve five machines in one row.

Yamato tried to reserve five Ninja Glory machines with clones, but the arcade’s anti-hogging rule and a one-player-per-ring limit thwarted him. He joined a team game as the First Hokage, while Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy finished ramen and prepared to meet him.

• Yamato used clones to occupy five machines, but only his true body could log in with his Black Ring.
• The other ninjas exposed and dispelled Yamato’s clones, then took the open machines after pointing out Director Danzo’s ban on hogging spots.
• Yamato gave up reserving machines for Asuma, Kurenai, and Might Guy and joined three players in a team game as the First Hokage.
• Kakashi met Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy at Ichiraku and learned that Yamato had gone ahead to reserve machines.
• After they finished eating, Asuma and Kurenai headed to the arcade, while Kakashi said he would follow after his ramen.

Yamato was dragged away from the Arcade Hall before his promotion match, then agreed to treat his teammates to food at the Great Sail. In Sunagakure, Rasa examined the newly developed home console and struggled to find a safe power source for connecting players across the Shinobi World.

• Kakashi and the others pulled Yamato away from the Arcade Hall after watching him play all night, and Asuma promised to help him climb ranks the next day.
• Asuma told Yamato that the Konoha Guardians Team had reached Gold rank and praised their teamwork.
• Yamato tried to head home, but his teammates pressured him into taking them to the Great Sail for a late-night meal.
• Rasa reviewed Sunagakure’s completed home console and recognized that its Chakra-based design could not connect players across the Shinobi World.
• Rasa considered using electricity instead, but realized that doing so would require redesigning the console, including the Player Black Ring.

Rasa considered how Sunagakure could power its Chakra technology and visited Sasori, who was imprisoned in the village, asking whether he wanted freedom. Obito learned where Sasori was while discussing Kakuzu’s arcade business, leaving Sasori’s fate unresolved.

• Rasa weighed replacing Chakra with electricity or converting electricity into Chakra, rejected using the Divine Tree, and ordered research into energy conversion.
• Obito confronted Kakuzu about building an arcade hall, but Kakuzu persuaded him that it could earn money for their plans.
• Kakuzu told Obito that Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage, defected, and was later imprisoned in Sunagakure by the Fourth Kazekage.
• Obito disappeared after learning Sasori’s whereabouts, and Kakuzu wondered whether he had really been Uchiha Madara.
• Kakuzu planned to pursue business in Kirigakure despite the village’s Bloody Rule and its persecution of Kekkei Genkai clans.
• Rasa found Sasori sitting in the rear mountains and asked him whether he wanted freedom.

Ayame revived Ichiraku’s confidence and persuaded him to close the shop and travel with her in search of ingredients for better ramen. Naruto and Choji found Ichiraku Ramen closed and headed for the Uchiha Roast Duck Restaurant, while Kakashi refused to share his roast duck with Shiranui Genma.

• Ayame encouraged Ichiraku to pursue his dream of making Konoha’s best ramen instead of giving up to the Great Sail.
• Ichiraku and Ayame closed Ichiraku Ramen to begin a journey in search of legendary ingredients.
• Naruto and Choji found the shop closed, and Choji hurried off to buy half-price Uchiha roast duck.
• Kakashi told Shiranui Genma that Shisui had given him roast duck exchange vouchers.
• Shiranui Genma tried to get Kakashi to share the duck, but Kakashi told him to get lost.

Uchiha roast duck opened to huge demand, and Danzo managed sales by limiting supply to preserve quality. Fugaku Uchiha saw the success as a chance for the clan to regain recognition, though the Uchiha remained only Danzo’s employees.

• Customers flocked to the Uchiha roast duck shops, and the Konoha shop sold more than three hundred ducks in two hours.
• Danzo ordered the shops to keep ingredients up to standard and limit sales until the next batch of ducks matured.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the long line and praised Danzo’s business sense, recalling how delicious the roast duck was.
• Kakashi tried the roast duck, finished an entire duck, and planned to make time for Genin training after resting.
• Fugaku Uchiha learned of the strong sales and told the clansmen to make the ducks properly so the clan would not lose face.

Rasa reflected on Sunagakure’s economic challenges and the undercover agents he had placed around Obito, then considered how to help Sasori recover from his psychological collapse. He left Sasori with a new purpose by asking him to go out, meet people, and take on research projects.

• Rasa compared Sunagakure’s lack of visitors and commercial income with Konoha’s flourishing businesses and reputation.
• Rasa noted that Kakuzu and Sasori were undercover agents near Obito, while Black Zetsu remained the only member of the group he could not control.
• Rasa learned that Sasori had withdrawn from others after returning to Sunagakure, especially after hearing that a woman from Nadeshiko Village was pregnant.
• Chiyo asked Rasa to give Sasori an explanation for the Third Kazekage’s death rather than let him waste away in isolation.
• Rasa decided to send Sasori out to meet people and work on research projects, and Sasori eventually agreed.

Kabuto visited Rasa and discussed Sasori’s wooden bus and Kabuto’s research into Sasori’s forbidden technique. Kabuto revealed that Kana’s birthday was coming up, and Rasa agreed to help celebrate it before asking Kabuto what else he had to say.

• Kabuto told Rasa that Sasori had helped complete a mostly wooden bus that could travel through the desert, though it required some puppetry skill to operate.
• Rasa warned Kabuto against using Sasori’s forbidden technique to turn people into puppets, and Kabuto said he wanted to adapt its knowledge to help injured ninjas.
• Kabuto told Rasa that Kana’s birthday was approaching and explained that she had made the day he was adopted his birthday.
• Rasa agreed to speak with Karura about celebrating Kana’s birthday, then prepared to rest.
• Kabuto offered Rasa a secret recipe to fill a man’s emptiness, and Rasa sat back down and asked him to explain what he had left out.

Kana finished a late shift and went home, where Kabuto and their friends surprised her with a birthday celebration. The chapter ended with Kana embarrassed but happy as everyone urged her to blow out the candles.

• Kana wondered about Kaguya’s secrets and noticed that the Sacred Tree BBQ had closed for the night.
• Kana reminisced about how the Kazekage had rescued her from her former life and given her a new one in Sunagakure.
• Kana arrived home, mistook the birthday guests for intruders, and attacked when the lights went out.
• Kabuto and the others revealed a cake and wished Kana a happy birthday, then invited her to blow out the candles.

Kana celebrated her first birthday in years with the people of Sunagakure and thanked Rasa for bringing her there. By July, Sunagakure was preparing the Ninja Glory Competition, while Konoha players began discussing who would form a team.

• After the birthday gathering, Kana thanked everyone and separately thanked Rasa for bringing her to Sunagakure.
• Kana and Kabuto went inside for the night after watching Rasa and his family leave.
• Sunagakure finished paving its village roads and began preparing a road toward the Land of Rain's border.
• In July, Sunagakure prepared for the Ninja Glory Competition, which would have separate divisions for ordinary people and ninjas.
• The owner of Konoha's Arcade Hall announced team registration, and Kakashi and Asuma discussed the competition while playing a game.

Asuma pushed his team to practice for Sunagakure’s upcoming competition, hoping to win the championship with Kurenai. After their teammates left the arcade, Asuma told Kakashi he planned to propose to Kurenai in front of everyone if they won.

• Ninja villages began ranking their teams for Sunagakure’s team-based competition, and Asuma struggled to get Kakashi, Yamato, Kurenai, and Might Guy to cooperate in their games.
• Yamato left for a mission, while Kurenai and Might Guy also departed, leaving Asuma and Kakashi to stop playing and head out for ramen.
• Kakashi noticed Asuma seemed unusually driven and asked what was on his mind.
• Asuma privately told Kakashi he wanted to win the championship with Kurenai so he could propose to her in front of everyone, and asked him to keep it secret.

Danzo reviewed his businesses while Kakuzu and Obito discussed Kirigakure and the Ninja Glory competition. In Sunagakure, Kaguya told Rasa she was tired of staying there and wanted to go out, leaving him alarmed.

• Danzo heard that the Uchiha Roast Duck Restaurant was profitable and the Arcade Hall was crowded, then asked about Orochimaru's research on Sakura.
• Kakuzu posted Sunagakure's Ninja Glory event notice at his struggling Kirigakure arcade and complained that the village's poverty kept customers away.
• Obito played an arcade game while Kakuzu asked whether he would form a Kirigakure team, but Obito refused and said he was glad the village might be destroyed.
• Obito told Kakuzu that a rogue ninja had escaped from Sunagakure and that he planned to recruit him personally in a few days.
• Kaguya told Rasa she was tired of staying in Sunagakure and wanted to go out for a walk.

Rasa tried to keep Kaguya from leaving Sunagakure, fearing her presence would disrupt the shinobi world, but Danzo's letter changed his mind. He agreed to take her outside on the condition that she obey his arrangements and cause no trouble.

• Rasa refused Kaguya's request to go outside and warned that he would keep her confined if she disobeyed.
• Kaguya quietly insisted that she was bored and wanted to see the world again, even after Rasa offered to teach her ninjutsu.
• A sand ninja arrived at Rasa's home with a letter from Konoha Director Danzo.
• After reading the letter, Rasa agreed to take Kaguya outside if she promised to follow his arrangements and avoid causing trouble.

Danzo reflected on how cooperation with Rasa had transformed him into a powerful commercial leader, then drafted an invitation for representatives from every ninja village to discuss trade in Konoha. Rasa decided Sunagakure would attend and prepare to secure an equal position at the upcoming summit.

• Danzo recalled how his meeting with the Fourth Kazekage had changed his outlook and brought him into the sunlight of Konoha’s prosperity.
• Danzo decided that the Shinobi World’s growing trade needed shared rules and a stable commercial system.
• Danzo wrote an invitation calling commercial representatives from every ninja village to Konoha for a trade conference tentatively scheduled for early August.
• Rasa read Danzo’s invitation, admired his ambition, and resolved to attend on Sunagakure’s behalf.
• Rasa made a simple agreement with Kaguya, then left to prepare Sunagakure for the conference.