Chapter Summaries

Itachi and Kisame withdrew from Konoha after encountering Guy, Jiraiya, and Akira Kurama, while Jiraiya took Naruto out of the village to protect him. Neji invited Ming Jing and their friends to a barbecue to help Hinata and the others recover from the recent battle.

• Kisame attacked Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai, but Guy arrived and drove him back before taking the unconscious Kakashi to Kurenai.
• Itachi called off the fight, and he and Kisame withdrew after recognizing that Jiraiya and Akira Kurama made the mission too dangerous.
• Itachi and Kisame rested in the forest outside Konoha, where Itachi noted that Akira Kurama had been present and Kisame admitted he had not noticed him.
• Jiraiya took Naruto out of Konoha, deciding the village could not risk another attack after its recent battle.
• Neji told Ming Jing that he had arranged a barbecue at Taoran Pavilion to comfort Hinata and their friends, and Ming Jing agreed to attend.

Ming Jing explained that Uchiha Itachi had used the Mind Induction Technique to influence Neji and warned him to become stronger by defeating Itachi. Meanwhile, Itachi and Kisame confronted Naruto at the inn and ordered him to come with them.

• Jiraiya abandoned Naruto at a hot spring inn while he went sightseeing with a woman, leaving Naruto to train alone.
• Ming Jing explained the Mind Induction Technique and its six psychological principles to Neji, then identified Itachi as the person who had influenced him.
• Ming Jing told Neji that Itachi had used other people to spread suggestions around him and challenged him to defeat Itachi before trying to surpass Ming Jing.
• Itachi and Kisame arrived at Naruto's room, recognized the Nine-Tails inside him, and ordered him to come with them.
• Kisame suggested cutting off Naruto's leg to stop him from running away.

Sasuke confronted Itachi in the corridor but was easily overwhelmed, while Kisame tried to capture Naruto. Jiraiya, Ming Jing, and Neji arrived to protect Naruto, and Sasuke still insisted on killing Itachi himself.

• Itachi recognized Sasuke as his younger brother, and Sasuke attacked him with Chidori but was stopped and pinned against the wall.
• Naruto tried to summon help, but Kisame used Samehada to drain his Chakra and interrupted him.
• A toad blocked Samehada, and Jiraiya appeared with the woman whose Genjutsu had been undone.
• Ming Jing arrived with Neji, identified Itachi and Kisame, and said he would not let them take Naruto unless Naruto chose to go.
• Itachi confirmed that Akatsuki had ordered him and Kisame to take Naruto, while Sasuke demanded that the others stay out of his fight.

Itachi dismissed Sasuke’s challenge as he and Kisame confronted Jiraiya, Naruto, Neji, and Ming Jing. After Itachi escaped Jiraiya’s Toad Mouth Binding Technique with Kisame, the two fled Konoha, and Itachi warned Kisame against fighting Akira Kurama.

• Sasuke charged Itachi twice, but Neji caught him each time and warned him that he could not keep doing so.
• Itachi accepted Sasuke’s challenge, overpowered him, and used Tsukuyomi to make him relive the Uchiha massacre until he passed out.
• Naruto broke through Kisame’s blockade, and Jiraiya trapped Naruto, Kisame, and Itachi inside the Great Toad’s esophagus with the Toad Mouth Binding Technique.
• Itachi used black flames to break through the fleshy wall and escaped with Kisame while Jiraiya and Ming Jing stayed behind.
• As they fled Konoha, Itachi told Kisame that Akira Kurama was too powerful to challenge and that Naruto was not in danger for now.

After Sasuke was rescued from Itachi’s attack, Jiraiya arranged for him to receive medical care and planned to seek Tsunade’s help. That evening, Ming Jing and Neji joined their friends for a barbecue, where Neji’s teammates were recovering from their injuries.

• Ming Jing and Neji pulled Sasuke from the fleshy wall while Jiraiya sealed away Amaterasu’s flames, and Jiraiya identified Sasuke’s injuries and Tsukuyomi trauma.
• Might Guy rushed in and accidentally kicked Jiraiya into a wall before apologizing and learning Sasuke’s condition.
• Ming Jing explained that Sasuke had been struck by the same Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu as Kakashi, and Jiraiya said they would seek Tsunade’s help.
• Ming Jing warned Neji to keep his distance from the Legendary Sannin, and Neji appeared humbled by the powerful people they had encountered.
• Ming Jing and Neji went to Taoran Pavilion, where their friends were grilling food and Lee and Shino were recovering in wheelchairs.
• Ming Jing checked on Lee and helped Hinata with the vegetables, and Hinata shyly greeted him.

Ming Jing proposed combining the Temple of Fire’s Welcome-Thousand-Armed Kill with the Hyuga Style Gentle Fist, bringing Hizashi, Neji, Hinata, Hanabi, Qing Yan, and Yami together to explore the idea. After demonstrating the technique and explaining its strengths and limits, he gave Hizashi three scriptures to study as a starting point.

• Ming Jing told Hizashi that he wanted to combine Welcome-Thousand-Armed Kill with Gentle Fist to develop a technique for the Hyuga children.
• Hizashi agreed to bring Neji and Hinata to the Kurama Clan compound, and arrived the next morning with Hanabi as well.
• Ming Jing gathered the group and demonstrated Welcome-Thousand-Armed Kill, using golden fists to smash the artificial mountain rocks.
• Neji asked about controlling the technique, Hanabi questioned its vulnerability, Yami noted its mismatch with the Eight Inner Gates, and Hinata asked whether it could harm innocents.
• Ming Jing explained the technique’s limits and gave Hizashi three Buddhist scriptures to read for insight, clarifying that no one needed to adopt a religion.

At a Konoha leadership meeting, Danzo tried to secure the position of Fifth Hokage, but the representatives rejected a proposal that would give him a chance to replace Tsunade. The meeting left Tsunade’s appointment looking all but certain.

• Danzo objected to the provisional choice of Fifth Hokage and declared that he should take the position.
• Genma Shiranui said the village should wait for Tsunade to return, and Mori Ibiki argued that Danzo had no advantage over her.
• Danzo claimed Tsunade would face difficulties as a woman and argued that he surpassed her in strength and strategy.
• Ming Jing countered Danzo’s argument by citing the capable Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
• Mitokado Homura proposed that Tsunade serve a six-month trial before Danzo could take over, but Koji Kurama, Hyuga Hiashi, Genma Shiranui, Mori Ibiki, and Shikaku Nara opposed it.

Tsunade returned to Konoha and met Ming Jing, who approved her appointment as the Fifth Hokage and left her village paperwork. As Tsunade began taking up her duties, Naruto reminded her to treat Kakashi, Sasuke, and Rock Lee, while Shikamaru learned her true age.

• Danzo left a meeting frustrated after the others blocked his final gamble.
• Jiraiya and Naruto brought Tsunade back to Konoha, where Taichi Odagiri escorted her to the Hokage Office.
• Ming Jing teased Tsunade, then formally approved her as the Fifth Hokage and left her a stack of unfinished paperwork.
• Tsunade met with the advisors, and Utatane Koharu ordered Genma and Aoba to announce her appointment throughout the village.
• Ming Jing invited Jiraiya to have drinks that evening, while Jiraiya waited for Tsunade outside the Hokage Building.
• Naruto urged Tsunade to treat Kakashi, Sasuke, and Rock Lee; afterward, Shikamaru was astonished to learn she was around fifty.

Tsunade treated Sasuke and Kakashi, then examined Rock Lee and discovered that tiny bone fragments threatened his ability to return to ninja missions. She offered Lee a risky operation with a fifty percent chance of success, and Mirai volunteered to assist.

• Tsunade examined Sasuke and found that he only needed to wake from a deep sleep, and Sasuke soon opened his eyes.
• Tsunade treated Kakashi, who woke in a dazed state after suffering more severe effects from the genjutsu.
• Naruto and Might Guy led Tsunade to Rock Lee, whom Mirai had previously treated for severe injuries.
• Tsunade found that unseen bone fragments had damaged areas around Lee's nervous system and warned that he might never carry out ninja missions again.
• Tsunade explained that an operation carried a fifty percent chance of success, and Mirai offered to assist before Tsunade asked Lee whether he would agree.

Ming Jing hosted Tsunade and Jiraiya at his China Cuisine Restaurant, where they discussed Rock Lee, Sasuke, and Kakashi over beer and food. The next morning, Tsunade found Konohamaru sealed inside the Hokage Office, left Naruto to deal with him, and slipped away from Shizune.

• Tsunade enjoyed Ming Jing’s beer and food while she, Jiraiya, and Ming Jing discussed Rock Lee’s surgery and Ming Jing’s reasons for helping Sasuke.
• Tsunade got drunk at the restaurant, so Jiraiya carried her home under Ming Jing’s suggestive gaze.
• The next morning, Tsunade found Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane unable to open the Hokage Office because Konohamaru was inside.
• Naruto arrived and asked Tsunade not to rough up Konohamaru, then offered to find a way to call him out.
• Tsunade gave Naruto until the end of the day to get Konohamaru out, then hurried away from Shizune to go drinking and nap.

Ming Jing confronted ninja who mocked Tsunade before announcing her inauguration as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage. Tsunade pledged to unite, protect, and nurture the village as she took office.

• Koji Kurama and Ming Jing arrived at the Hokage Building with the Kurama Clan, where Koji and Hyuga Hiashi exchanged greetings while Yakumo reunited with Hinata.
• Ming Jing reprimanded ninja for ridiculing Tsunade and demoted Mito Komon and the others who had joined in.
• Tsunade put on the Hokage Robe and headed to the rooftop with Ming Jing and Jiraiya for her inauguration.
• Ming Jing announced Tsunade Senju as the Fifth Hokage before the gathered ninja and villagers.
• Tsunade declared that she would devote herself to Konoha and pledged to unite, protect, and nurture the village.

Tsunade promoted Neji to chunin, and he went to visit Rock Lee with Tenten before following Naruto and Sasuke to the hospital rooftop. Naruto and Sasuke fought with taijutsu, and Naruto escalated the duel by using Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

• Tsunade promoted Neji to chunin and gave him a flak jacket after hearing that others had praised his interrupted exam match.
• Neji and Tenten headed to the hospital to visit Rock Lee before his upcoming surgery.
• Neji spotted Naruto and Sasuke and followed them to the rooftop as their tense exchange turned into a challenge to fight.
• Naruto and Sasuke exchanged taijutsu blows, with Sasuke gaining a slight advantage.
• Naruto formed a hand seal and used Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Naruto and Sasuke’s fight on the hospital roof escalated until Kakashi and Neji intervened, and the damage exposed how dangerous their rivalry had become. Ming Jing challenged Kakashi over neglecting Sasuke’s training before leaving to check on Lee.

• Naruto overwhelmed Sasuke with clones, then attacked with the Rasengan as Sasuke countered with Chidori, while Sakura rushed between them.
• Neji pulled Sakura to safety, and Kakashi stopped Naruto and Sasuke before throwing them toward separate water towers.
• Kakashi rebuked Sasuke for using Chidori against a comrade, and Sasuke discovered Naruto’s Rasengan had nearly pierced through a water tower.
• Kakashi explained to Jiraiya that Naruto craved Sasuke’s recognition while Sasuke felt threatened by Naruto’s growth and was driven by revenge against Itachi.
• Ming Jing blamed Kakashi for failing to teach Sasuke beyond Chidori and compared Sasuke’s progress unfavorably with Naruto’s and Neji’s.
• Ming Jing left to check on Lee, whom he called Yami’s junior disciple.

Kakashi tried to dissuade Sasuke from pursuing revenge, but the Sound Four arrived and tempted him to leave Konoha for Orochimaru’s power. Just as they tried to depart, Akira Kurama trapped them and challenged them.

• Kakashi bound Sasuke to a tree and urged him to let go of revenge, reminding him that Chidori should protect important companions rather than harm them.
• Sasuke struggled between his attachment to Izumi, Naruto, and Sakura and his hatred of Itachi.
• The Sound Four confronted Sasuke, fought him, and offered him power from Orochimaru if he left Konoha.
• Sakon and Tayuya used Sasuke’s desire for revenge to persuade him to abandon his companions and follow them.
• Akira Kurama appeared, stopped the Sound Four from leaving, and challenged them after they insulted Konoha.

Ming Jing overwhelmed the Sound Four, controlled their Cursed Seals, and left them unconscious after pushing their bodies toward collapse. He wondered what choice Sasuke would make now that Izumi cared about him, while the next morning Kotetsu Hagane found someone asleep on a stone bench.

• Sakon and the others attacked Ming Jing, but he used strange powers to restrain them and cut off one of Sakon's thighs.
• Ming Jing trapped the Sound Four, examined their Cursed Seals, and forced them through their first and second stages.
• Ming Jing tried to push the Sound Four into Curse Mark Stage Three, but their bodies began to collapse and they lost consciousness.
• Ming Jing wondered what Sasuke would choose now that Izumi cared about him.
• At five in the morning, Kotetsu Hagane spotted someone sleeping on a stone bench and tried to wake them.

Tsunade sent Neji and Shikamaru to lead a team in pursuit of Sasuke after he left for Otogakure. The team departed with Shikamaru’s formation plan, while Ming Jing told Taichi to join them with Kanon after lunch.

• Tsunade learned that Sasuke had left the village for Otogakure after receiving an invitation from Orochimaru.
• Tsunade assigned Neji to lead a mission to bring Sasuke back, with Shikamaru assisting.
• Neji recruited Shikouin, while Shikamaru gathered Naruto, Choji, and Kiba.
• Shikamaru arranged the six-person team into a single-file formation, with Kiba scouting and Neji guarding the rear.
• Taichi told Ming Jing that Shikouin had joined the mission, and Ming Jing instructed him to support the team after lunch with Kanon.

Taichi Odagiri and Kanon Kurama encountered an injured Konoha team before continuing their mission, while Shikamaru's pursuit squad engaged the Sound Four. The battle escalated as Tayuya broke Shikamaru's restraint and Kidomaru blocked Neji's attack.

• Taichi Odagiri and Kanon Kurama found Genma Shiranui and three injured companions, exchanged warnings about the Sound Four, and continued on their mission.
• Shikamaru and Neji watched the Sound Four, but Neji returned Sakon's explosive kunai and the blast forced the enemy to move away from Sasuke's barrel.
• Shikouin attacked the Sound Four with lightning techniques, and Jirobo activated his Cursed Seal State after blocking her charge.
• Kidomaru pulled Naruto, Choji, and Kiba from hiding, but Shikamaru immobilized him with Shadow Binding while Shikouin and Neji launched attacks.
• Tayuya activated Curse Mark Stage Two and broke free of Shikamaru's Shadow Binding, while Kidomaru raised six arms to withstand Neji's Vacuum Palm.

Tayuya and the Sound Four used their abilities to trap Shikouin’s group while Kidomaru carried Sasuke away. The group escaped Jirobo’s earth prison with Choji’s Human Bullet Tank and faced him outside.

• Tayuya, Shikouin, and Jirobo fought as Kidomaru ensnared Shikamaru’s group in a chakra-reinforced spiderweb and trapped them in an earth dome.
• Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Sakon left with Sasuke while Neji used his chakra to cut the spiderweb from his companions.
• Neji identified the earth dome’s weakness and directed Choji to attack it, while Shikamaru explained why Choji was their best chance.
• Choji used his Human Bullet Tank to smash through Jirobo’s barrier, freeing the group.
• Jirobo watched the group escape and mocked them as they faced him outside.

Gama-X brought Ming Jing to Mount Myōboku at the Great Toad Sage’s invitation, where the Sage revealed that Ming Jing had disrupted his prophetic visions. The Great Toad Sage left Ming Jing with an ominous description as a miracle and destruction.

• Gama-X arrived in Ming Jing’s courtyard and invited him to Mount Myōboku on behalf of the Great Toad Sage.
• Ming Jing traveled to Mount Myōboku with Sage Fukasaku, who led him to the Great Toad Sage’s cave.
• Ming Jing met the Great Toad Sage, who repeatedly fell asleep until Sage Fukasaku shouted to wake him.
• The Great Toad Sage said his dreams had vanished and the world’s threads had gone beyond his sight, then called Ming Jing a miracle and destruction.

Ming Jing considered whether the Naruto World had shifted from determinism to randomness after the Great Toad Sage lost his ability to foresee the future. Meanwhile, Choji stayed behind to fight Jirobo so Neji's group could continue pursuing Sasuke, and he prepared to use the Three-Colored Pills and Human Bullet Needle Tank.

• Ming Jing left Mount Myoboku with Sage Fukasaku after the Great Toad Sage went back to sleep.
• Neji suggested splitting the group so some could hold off Jirobo while the others pursued Sasuke.
• Jirobo burst from underground, grabbed Shikamaru, and threw him toward a boulder, but Choji caught him with Human Bullet Tank.
• Choji insisted on facing Jirobo alone, gave Shikamaru the Military Ration Pills, and swallowed a blue Three-Colored Pill.
• Neji led the others after Sasuke while Choji shoved Jirobo back, threw him into a tree, and prepared Human Bullet Needle Tank.