Chapter Summaries

Fugaku sent Jiraiya to investigate the Sarutobi Clan’s secret meeting, with Aozora and the Barrier Squad watching from outside. Aozora warned that armed Sarutobi leaving the compound would trigger a declaration of rebellion, while Jiraiya entered to uncover the truth.

• Shisui reported that the Sarutobi Clan planned another large meeting, and Fugaku briefed the elders and Jiraiya about his suspicions concerning Asuma and the clan’s conduct.
• Fugaku assigned Jiraiya to investigate the meeting because of his ties to Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan, while Aozora and the Barrier Squad provided outside support.
• Jiraiya, Aozora, and the Barrier Squad approached the unusually quiet Sarutobi Clan Compound and sensed a large gathering inside.
• Aozora warned Jiraiya that he would declare rebellion and raise the Barrier if more than ten armed Sarutobi ninja left the compound, and threatened to expose Hiruzen’s crimes if the clan rebelled.
• Jiraiya entered the compound to investigate, while Aozora watched him go and reflected that he would not punish women and children along with the chief culprits.

Sarutobi Toda rallied his clan to rebel against Uchiha Fugaku, but Jiraiya discovered Orochimaru was involved and fought him as Sarutobi ninja escaped to attack across Konoha. Aozora raised a barrier and announced a cover story blaming rogue ninja Orochimaru for the attack.

• Sarutobi Toda urged the Sarutobi Clan to reclaim its power by rebelling against Fugaku, and the clan members pledged to follow him.
• Jiraiya confronted Toda, Shinnosuke, and Asuma, then learned they had not told Asuma that Hiruzen had committed suicide.
• Shinnosuke attacked Jiraiya, transformed into Orochimaru, and bit him with a venomous snake before Jiraiya took an antidote.
• Sarutobi ninja escaped the compound and attacked in several directions while Orochimaru kept Jiraiya from stopping them.
• Jiraiya weakened the Sarutobi Clan compound with Underworld Swamp, but most of the ninja escaped onto the rooftops.
• Aozora activated a barrier around the compound and declared that Orochimaru had attacked the Sarutobi Clan, who were fighting to eliminate him.

As Aozora’s actions triggered Konoha’s emergency response, he confronted the Sarutobi Clan and framed Orochimaru as the attacker to turn the clan against him. After surviving an ambush with a Fire Clone, Aozora faced Asuma and the remaining black-robed shinobi as they prepared to continue the fight.

• Fugaku saw the distress signals and ordered Shisui, Kyūdai, and the elders to reinforce the Sarutobi Compound, secure Konoha, and defend the Barrier wall.
• Aozora activated the Barrier after seeing Orochimaru act and announced that Orochimaru had attacked the Sarutobi Clan Compound.
• Aozora challenged the Sarutobi shinobi for targeting Konoha, while Sarutobi Toda accused him of killing the Third Hokage and ordered the clan to attack.
• Four black-robed shinobi pierced Aozora, but his Fire Clone erupted into orange flames and burned them to ashes.
• Asuma and the remaining black-robed shinobi formed a defensive formation, and Asuma insisted that Aozora had to die.

Aozora devastated Asuma’s black-clad force, then watched as Sarutobi Ichiki killed Sarutobi Toda and led the clan against the rebels. Elsewhere, Jiraiya accepted Aozora’s terms and confronted Orochimaru, beginning their battle.

• Aozora’s earth spikes and guided daggers killed most of Asuma’s group, leaving Asuma and three black-clad ninjas alive.
• Aozora warned the Sarutobi Clan not to defect, while Sarutobi Toda prepared to rally them.
• Sarutobi Ichiki stabbed and killed Toda, declared that Orochimaru had deceived the clan and Asuma had defected, then led the Sarutobi ninjas into battle.
• The Sarutobi Clan charged Asuma and his remaining men as Aozora watched cautiously, suspecting another powerful enemy might be among them.
• Jiraiya understood that killing Orochimaru and the rebel leaders could spare the Sarutobi Clan’s women, children, and lower-ranking members, then challenged Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya exchanged taunts and launched Shadow Snake Hands and Lion Combo Technique, beginning their battle.

Konoha came under a coordinated attack by infiltrators inside the village and rebels and bounty hunters at its barrier wall. The Flying Tigers suppressed the attackers in the streets, while Shisui arrived in time to save the wall and defeat the assault there.

• Uchiha Mugen and the Flying Tigers ambushed black-clad infiltrators on Konoha’s rooftops, killed them, and prioritized securing civilians.
• The Konoha Military Police Force warned villagers to stay indoors as it subdued the attackers inside the village.
• Sarutobi Shinobi rebels sabotaged the barrier wall’s seals and coordinated with Bounty Hunter Ninjas, who summoned giant snakes to smash through the defenses.
• Shisui arrived and used Susanoo to block a giant snake’s attack and kill it before the barrier wall fell.
• Shisui created Phantom Clones and killed the charging rogue ninjas, just as the ANBU ninjas arrived.

Aozora exposed Danzo among the black-clad shinobi and wounded him with a concealed Flying Dagger. He rallied the surviving Sarutobi Clan shinobi to fight Danzo while the clan began evacuating.

• Aozora watched the Sarutobi Clan's battle and spotted the black-clad shinobi whom the others were protecting.
• Aozora sent a swarm of Flying Daggers at the protected shinobi, forcing Danzo to reveal himself and counter with Wind Release.
• Danzo dodged a hidden Flying Dagger but suffered a deep wound, while the other two black-clad shinobi moved to shield him.
• Aozora identified Danzo as a rogue shinobi and ordered the Sarutobi Clan's weaker members to evacuate while the rest fought.
• Sarutobi Ichiki ordered the younger shinobi to evacuate the clan members, then he and the remaining fighters took the clan's Secret Medicine.

A combined Sarutobi Fire Release devastated the battlefield, leaving Danzo and his forces badly damaged and their rebellion near defeat. Jiraiya resolved to use a powerful ninjutsu against Orochimaru while Aozora prepared to hold off the conspirators.

• Asuma and Danzo attacked the Sarutobi ninjas, but their earthen walls blocked the assault before six clan members unleashed a combined Great Fireball Technique.
• The sea of flames destroyed mansions and overwhelmed Danzo, Asuma, and two of Danzo’s subordinates, while the Sarutobi fighters collapsed after using Secret Medicine.
• Danzo admitted the rebellion had failed, and he and Orochimaru decided to break the Barrier before Uchiha Fugaku and the others arrived.
• Aozora urged Jiraiya to capture Danzo and Orochimaru, and Jiraiya resolved to use a powerful ninjutsu that required time to prepare.
• Danzo, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Aozora began using the Summoning Technique.

Fugaku led Konoha’s elite Jōnin and ANBU toward the Sarutobi Clan Compound after enormous beasts appeared there. Inside, Aozora began holding off Orochimaru and Danzo while Jiraiya prepared to enter Sage Mode, and Shisui received a message from Black Feather.

• Fugaku ordered the assembled Jōnin to eliminate the rogue ninjas after three enormous beasts appeared in the Sarutobi Clan Compound.
• Shisui learned that Orochimaru and Danzo were among the attackers, but Shizuoka Shizuoka refused to open the Barrier and Shisui received a message from Black Feather.
• Aozora organized the Sarutobi Clan Members’ escape from the battlefield as Orochimaru, Danzo, and their summoned beasts confronted Jiraiya and Aozora.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamaken and began gathering Nature Energy to enter Sage Mode, while Aozora agreed to hold off the attackers.
• Aozora attacked Orochimaru and Danzo with Fire Release—Great Fire Annihilation to keep them from destroying the Barrier.

Aozora’s Great Fire Annihilation was countered by Orochimaru and Danzo, who then faced his Flying Dagger barrage as they tried to escape. Orochimaru struck Aozora with the Kusanagi Sword, but Aozora grabbed the blade and refused to let go.

• Orochimaru and Danzo combined water, wind, and Baku’s vapor to extinguish Aozora’s Great Fire Annihilation, while the blast shocked Jiraiya with Aozora’s strength.
• Aozora sent countless Flying Daggers into the mist, and one wounded Manda badly enough to send it burrowing underground.
• Danzo rode Baku toward the Barrier as Jiraiya sent Gamaken to intercept him, while Aozora directed more daggers toward Manda underground.
• Manda burst from the ground and lunged at Aozora, who and Taiyi split apart to evade it as Orochimaru attacked with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Orochimaru drove Aozora into the ground and Barrier wall, but Aozora seized the Kusanagi Sword with Chakra-coated hands and vowed to keep it.

Aozora fought Orochimaru, seized the Kusanagi Sword, and sealed it away while Taiyi helped drive back Manda. As Orochimaru began a jutsu that opened a dark purple void, Jiraiya was still facing Danzo’s attack elsewhere in the compound.

• Jiraiya and Gamaken blocked Danzo’s path, but Danzo used Baku to pull them in and attacked them from behind with Wind Release: Vacuum Great Ball.
• Aozora grabbed the Kusanagi Sword and used his Chakra threads to hold himself in place as Orochimaru tried to pull the blade back.
• Aozora attacked Orochimaru with the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger, the Blood Drinking Sword, and Blaze Release, leaving Orochimaru badly wounded.
• Orochimaru abandoned the Kusanagi Sword, produced a new body, and escaped to Manda’s side while Taiyi drove the summon back.
• Aozora sealed the Kusanagi Sword in a scroll as Orochimaru used Water Release to put out the Orange Fire burning Manda, who then vanished.
• Orochimaru formed hand seals despite Aozora and Taiyi’s attacks, and a dark purple void appeared before him.

Orochimaru summoned Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen with the Impure World Reincarnation and unleashed them against Aozora and Taiyi. As the Hokage began powering up with unlimited Chakra, Jiraiya arrived with Danzo and took over the fight.

• Orochimaru summoned Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen, then used talismans to erase their wills and control them.
• Aozora and Taiyi fought the reanimated Hokage, and Aozora repeatedly destroyed Tobirama Senju's body to delay his regeneration.
• Orochimaru attacked Aozora with a massive wave while Tobirama Senju reformed, and Taiyi retreated after trading blows with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen began gathering vast amounts of Chakra for coordinated Water Release and Lightning Release attacks.
• Jiraiya arrived, dropped the unconscious Danzo, and told Aozora that it was his turn to enter the fight.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru resumed their fight as Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to bring back Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen. Outside the Sarutobi Clan Compound, Fugaku rejected calls to keep the battle contained and ordered the Barrier opened to let the trapped Sarutobi Clan Members escape.

• Aozora checked Danzo's corpse, confirmed his Sharingan was lost, and sealed the body in a scroll before leaving to study Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation.
• Jiraiya, supported by Fukasaku and Shima, fought Orochimaru, Tobirama Senju, and Sarutobi Hiruzen as the battle damaged the compound and a storm gathered overhead.
• Aozora and Taiyi watched from outside the storm while discussing Orochimaru's sealing script and how to counter the reincarnated fighters.
• Fugaku arrived with elite Jōnin, and Hiashi used his Byakugan to report on the combatants and the Sarutobi Clan Members trapped at the Barrier.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura warned Fugaku that opening the Barrier could endanger Konoha, but Fugaku ordered Shizuoka Shizuoka to open it.

Jiraiya, aided by Shima and Fukasaku, countered the combined Water and Lightning ninjutsu of Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen, then struck Orochimaru with a Sage Jutsu Rasengan. Orochimaru regenerated from the attack, and the battle continued amid the devastation of the Sarutobi Clan Compound.

• Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen combined their Water and Lightning Release techniques in a massive attack on Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya, Shima, and Fukasaku used Sage Jutsu—Gama-Gō to collide a sea of fire with the descending lightning, unleashing a powerful blast and shockwaves.
• Fugaku ordered the ninja at the compound’s edge to defend against the shockwaves, evacuate the Sarutobi Clan Members, and pursue the rogue ninja.
• Tobirama Senju sensed Jiraiya moving through the mist, but Jiraiya pounced on Orochimaru and struck him with Sage Jutsu—Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
• Orochimaru’s severed halves joined together through venomous snakes and reformed his body.

Orochimaru escaped the Sarutobi Clan Compound with Tobirama Senju using the Flying Thunder God Technique, thwarting Jiraiya’s attempt to capture him. Afterward, Fugaku and the others helped Jiraiya subdue and seal Sarutobi Hiruzen.

• Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru, but Tobirama Senju used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport them away from the Sarutobi Clan Compound.
• Tobirama Senju’s five-clone Five Releases—Great Barrage Technique forced Jiraiya to stop his pursuit and defend himself with a Sage Art—Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
• Aozora and Taiyi realized Orochimaru had used Water Release to spread Flying Thunder God formulas around the compound, making his escape possible.
• Aozora told Fugaku and the others that Orochimaru had escaped with the Second Hokage’s Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Fugaku ordered everyone to help Jiraiya, and they subdued and sealed Sarutobi Hiruzen.

After Konoha's crisis ended, Aozora gave the leaders a cover story that blamed Danzo and Orochimaru for the Sarutobi Clan rebellion, preserving the clan's survivors and Hiruzen's reputation. Fugaku ordered evidence of the rebellion destroyed, then faced questions about Asuma and the Daimyo's possible involvement.

• Konoha's elite Jōnin helped search the Sarutobi Clan Compound for survivors, and Fugaku assigned forces to hunt remaining rogues and repair the damaged Barrier.
• Jiraiya offered a weak explanation for the attack, but Aozora told the leaders that Orochimaru, Danzo, Asuma, and others had manipulated the Sarutobi Clan into rebelling.
• Aozora used genjutsu to show edited scenes portraying Sarutobi ninja fighting the conspirators, and the leaders accepted the account without challenging its alterations.
• Fugaku declared that Danzo and Orochimaru had attacked the clan and awarded Jiraiya and Aozora three S-Rank missions each.
• Fugaku sent ANBU to destroy evidence of the rebellion, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura asked how he would deal with Asuma and the Daimyo.

After the rebellion ended, Aozora counted the Golden Droplets he had gained and used them to complete four Daoist arts and Divine Abilities. He discovered new ways to pursue clan techniques and ended the night asleep after absorbing their inheritances.

• Fugaku postponed deciding how to handle the Daimyo, and Konoha suppressed the rebellion before midnight with few losses beyond the Sarutobi Clan’s devastation.
• Aozora counted ninety-two Golden Droplets, regretted that Jiraiya had killed Danzō instead of him, and spent fifty-eight drops upgrading Beast Taming, Earth Release, Tōyū, and Draw Ground as Prison.
• After learning Beast Taming’s spirit-beast cultivation method, Aozora considered trading or sharing techniques to gain access to clans’ secret jutsu.
• Aozora learned that Earth Release could lead to Earth Elemental Body Transformation and that Tōyū could open a path to the Netherworld, but he decided not to attempt either yet.
• Aozora learned to refine Breathing Soil to strengthen Draw Ground as Prison, then went to sleep after accepting all four inheritances.

After the attack by Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō, Fugaku received reports on the casualties and asked Aozora how to handle Asuma and the Daimyo. Their discussion turned to the heavy burdens of leadership, and Fugaku hinted that Aozora should take on more political work.

• Konoha’s villagers learned from an announcement that Shimura Danzō had been killed and Orochimaru driven away, then resumed their daily routines.
• The Deputy Director of Medical Department reported that four Jonin and three Chunin had died and that Asuma had passed the critical stage; Fugaku ordered Asuma handed over to ANBU after emergency treatment.
• Aozora struggled to give Breathing Soil spiritual nature with Earth Release Chakra and concluded that he needed to learn Yang Release.
• Fugaku asked Aozora how to deal with Asuma, and Aozora proposed sending Asuma’s corpse to the Daimyo while demanding compensation and reconstruction funds.
• Aozora compared the tension between the Daimyo and Konoha to the old conflict between Hiruzen and the Uchiha, then joked that Fugaku should become Daimyo.
• Fugaku described the exhaustion of being Hokage and told Aozora that he had strong political abilities.

Aozora advised Fugaku to delegate Konoha’s routine administration and govern through institutions, then urged him to consider replacing the Land of Fire’s Daimyo. Fugaku began to see that the idea might be possible, while Aozora continued helping him and summoned Tsunade to examine a corpse.

• Aozora stopped Fugaku from making him a desk worker and proposed delegating routine work to the four elders and establishing institutional systems.
• Aozora argued that fair competition would benefit the Uchiha more than special treatment, and Fugaku and Kyūdai accepted his reasoning.
• Aozora urged Fugaku to become Daimyo and suggested cultivating talent, improving public opinion, and possibly changing the name for ninjas, but Fugaku dismissed the renaming idea.
• Over the following days, Aozora played with mud in the Hokage’s Office and occasionally advised Fugaku.
• Aozora used Konoha’s intelligence network to summon the traveling Tsunade to examine a corpse.

Tsunade returned to Konoha with Shizune and helped the Intelligence Department break the seals on Danzo’s preserved corpse. Inoichi confirmed Danzo was truly dead and recovered most of his memories, but his findings left him furious that Danzo had died so easily.

• Tsunade and Shizune met Aozora in Konoha, and he escorted them to the Intelligence Department to examine Danzo’s corpse.
• Inoichi explained that the corpse was heavily sealed and that the department had been unable to confirm whether it was really Danzo.
• Tsunade discovered a Reverse Four Symbols Seal inside Danzo and warned that breaking it carelessly could destroy the Intelligence Department.
• Tsunade dismantled the seal, confirmed Danzo was dead, and Aozora secretly learned two moves while watching her work.
• Inoichi read Danzo’s memories and confirmed the corpse was genuine, but he angrily said Danzo had died too easily.

Fugaku reviewed Danzo’s recovered memories and ordered Inoichi to keep the information secret while investigating Root’s spies. Meanwhile, Aozora learned more about the Art of Restoration from Tsunade, who agreed to remain in Konoha until she helped him complete it.

• Inoichi reported that he had uncovered Danzo’s crimes and secrets, and Fugaku classified the intelligence as S-Rank and ordered him to identify Root’s spies.
• Fugaku considered who could take over Danzo’s covert operations and concluded that Aozora was the best choice, though he doubted Aozora would accept.
• Aozora invited Tsunade and Shizune to lunch, where Tsunade explained the Art of Restoration and advised him that repairing his right eye would require rare materials and substantial resources.
• Aozora asked Tsunade to stay in Konoha, but fell silent when she asked why.
• Tsunade later told Aozora she would stay until she helped him complete the Art of Restoration.