Chapter Summaries

Fugaku led a Konoha Military Police Force meeting that introduced open recruitment, performance evaluations, and a new Flying Tigers selection. Outside Konoha, Aozora tested a refugee relief effort and sent Black Feather to find Shisui and report on his surroundings.

• Jintai arrived late to the Konoha Military Police Force meeting, and Fugaku began the final meeting of Year 49 of Konoha.
• The Konoha Military Police Force announced recruitment for Uchiha and non-Uchiha, future evaluations with possible dismissals, and a new Flying Tigers selection after the new year.
• In Yokohama City, Aozora opened the Charity House and organized an orderly porridge distribution for refugees.
• Aozora entrusted relief funds to the subdued second-in-command and left him in charge of continuing the charity effort.
• Aozora summoned Black Feather, asked about Shisui, and sent the crow with a letter and instructions to check Shisui's surroundings.

Shisui received a letter from Aozora and resolved to finish his mission in Tenbara City before the New Year. Meanwhile, Aozora took bounty missions near Kyoto City and was ambushed by two Kirigakure shinobi, whom he caught with an Earth Release technique.

• Black Feather delivered Aozora's letter to Shisui, who decided to complete the mission and return home before the New Year.
• Aozora delivered several corpses to the Black Market and selected missions targeting local thugs and unscrupulous wealthy merchants near Kyoto City.
• Two attackers ambushed Aozora with a rain of senbon, but their victim turned out to be his Shadow Clone.
• Aozora used the Earth Release—Double Suicide Decapitation Technique to drag the attackers underground and discovered they wore Kirigakure forehead protectors.

Aozora interrogated and killed two Kirigakure rogue ninja, then traveled to Tenbara City to keep watch over Shisui. After learning the city was peaceful, he disguised himself as the Gambling God and went to a gambling den to pursue a bounty target.

• Aozora used genjutsu to learn that Ishimoto Genichiro and his partner had attacked him for a Black Market bounty and because they considered him weak.
• Aozora reflected on Kirigakure’s turmoil and its possible consequences for the Uchiha, then burned the two rogue ninja and gained six Golden Droplets.
• Black Feather told Aozora that Shisui was staying at an inn in southern Tenbara City, and Aozora set out to follow him.
• Aozora arrived in Tenbara City, confirmed it was peaceful, rested at an inn, and later transformed his appearance.
• Aozora went to a gambling den in disguise to pursue a bounty on the criminal merchant Hirano Shiei.

Aozora visited Hirano Gambling House to investigate its owner, Hirano Shiei, and used his hearing to identify dice rolls, winning more than fifty million yuan. Hirano Shiei learned that a winning gambler and a losing “fat sheep” had appeared and ordered both brought upstairs, while his negotiation with a brown-haired man over Konoha intelligence stalled.

• Aozora entered Hirano Gambling House, exchanged his banknotes for chips, and began betting at a big-or-small table.
• Aozora initially lost small bets, then used the dice sounds to predict the results and won increasingly large sums as other gamblers followed him.
• A separate fat sheep lost every round, allowing veteran gamblers to bet against him and causing the gambling den heavy losses.
• A samurai reported the Gambling God and fat sheep to Hirano Shiei, who ordered both brought to a private room so Master Hisanobu could examine them.
• Hirano Shiei demanded Konoha secrets from the brown-haired man, but the man said Lord Danzo would never agree, leaving the negotiation at an impasse.

Aozora followed a suspicious nobleman upstairs at Hirano Gambling House and confirmed that the unlucky gambler was Tsunade in disguise. As Tsunade lost nearly all her money to him, a crash from the west drew the attention of Aozora, Tsunade, and a powerful monk.

• A samurai escorted Aozora to a private room after his winnings exceeded ten million ryo, where he encountered a nobleman accompanied by Shizune and a pink pig.
• Aozora suspected the nobleman was Tsunade and challenged his masculinity, then followed him to a blackjack table to test his hunch.
• While playing, Aozora noticed a monk whose presence suggested considerable strength, and the monk also took notice of him.
• Aozora confirmed the nobleman was Tsunade after he lost a hand, smashed the table, and reacted with disdain to the dealer.
• Tsunade continued gambling and lost most of his chips to Aozora, while Shizune urged him to stop before they ran out of lodging money.
• A crash sounded from the west, and Aozora, Tsunade, and the monk all turned toward it.

Aozora realized the chaos at Hirano Gambling House was part of the Shadow Guard’s operation to capture Danzo, while Tsunade confronted him and warned him to stay out of her way. The chapter left Aozora following Tsunade to watch the fight unfold.

• An explosion set the Gambling Den’s money warehouse ablaze, and Hirano Gambling House staff guarded it as panicked gamblers demanded their money back.
• Hirano Shiei ordered his guards to attack two samurai who had rushed into his room, but they escaped and combined Fire Release and Wind Release techniques to unleash a firestorm.
• Aozora recognized that ninja had attacked and deduced that Tsunade was present to support the operation against Danzo.
• Tsunade struck Aozora, but he calmly blocked her punch and claimed he was a bounty hunter named Runfa who had come after Hirano Shiei.
• Tsunade warned Aozora not to interfere, then left with Shizune to inspect the battle; Aozora followed, content to watch.

Orochimaru invited Danzo to join Akatsuki, but Danzo refused after realizing that its leader Pain wielded the Rinnegan and recalling his role in destroying Akatsuki’s former leadership. Meanwhile, two masked Shadow Guard members attacked Aozora and Tsunade at Hirano Gambling House, and Tsunade recognized their strength.

• Orochimaru invited Danzo to join Akatsuki and described its powerful rogue ninja and leader, Pain, who possessed the Rinnegan.
• Danzo refused the invitation because he had helped Hanzō destroy Akatsuki’s original members and believed the former leader had died because of him.
• Danzo and Orochimaru sensed approaching Chakra, and Danzo left to confront the pursuers.
• At Hirano Gambling House, two masked Shadow Guard members unleashed a fiery attack on Aozora, Tsunade, and their companions.
• A guard used Water Release to divert the flames while the Cat-Faced Ninja and Hawk-Faced Ninja attacked through the smoke with Kunai and shuriken.
• Aozora praised the attackers’ killing techniques, and Tsunade acknowledged that the two Shadow Guard members were stronger than she had expected.

Shisui and Black Eagle fought to capture Kurama Murakumo, but Monk Kyushin helped Hirano Shiei escape while the remaining rogue shinobi trapped the Shadow Guard in a deadly genjutsu. Kurama Murakumo challenged the village’s role in the Kurama Clan’s decline as the fight continued.

• Shisui and Black Eagle entered the burning room, defeated two samurai, and tried to stop Hirano Shiei from escaping.
• Monk Kyushin used his Temple of Fire manifestations to block Shisui’s attack and cover Hirano Shiei’s retreat.
• Aozora watched the fight with Tsunade and Shizune, then refused to pursue Hirano Shiei because he feared Kyushin’s counterattack.
• Two rogue shinobi trapped Shisui and Black Eagle in a painful fire genjutsu, leaving them struggling to hold their ground.
• Kurama Murakumo argued that Konoha had failed to protect the frail Kurama Clan and had sent its children to war, leaving Shisui and Black Eagle momentarily silent.

Tsunade explained the Kurama Clan’s reality-inflicting genjutsu as Shisui and Black Eagle fought Kurama Murakumo’s team. Shisui overcame Murakumo’s illusions by revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan and demanded to know where Danzo was.

• Tsunade told Shizune that Kurama Clan genjutsu could inflict real harm and that pain or Chakra circulation could not dispel it.
• Shisui and Black Eagle used ninjutsu to distract Kurama Murakumo and his two ANBU Jonin, then Shisui’s Phantom Clones drew the enemies’ attention.
• Black Eagle trapped a Shadow Clone in a Wind Net, but Murakumo’s genjutsu ensnared him in burning vines while Shisui killed the two ANBU Jonin.
• Shisui surrounded Murakumo and asked where Danzo was, but Murakumo turned the room into a blazing illusion.
• Shisui dispelled the flames and revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan, leaving Murakumo stunned.

Shisui interrogated Kurama Murakumo about Danzo, but Murakumo used his clan’s genjutsu to burn himself to death after learning that his family and clan were safe. Aozora escaped the gambling den, and Tsunade began healing Black Eagle just as a powerful chakra approached.

• Shisui praised the Mangekyō Sharingan and questioned Kurama Murakumo about Danzo’s hiding place.
• Kurama Murakumo resisted Shisui’s illusion and set himself on fire using his clan’s genjutsu.
• Shisui told Kurama Murakumo that his wife, daughter, and clan were safe, and Murakumo died with his final worries eased.
• Aozora used Earth Release to escape, and Tsunade crushed the gambling den floor while trying to catch him.
• Tsunade healed Black Eagle as Shisui apologized for failing to learn Danzo’s location, then sensed a powerful chakra approaching.

Danzo attacked Hirano Gambling House and confronted Tsunade and Shisui, who challenged him over his theft of Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release and his defection from Konoha. The battle left both Shisui and Danzo wounded, and Danzo realized he had been careless as he looked back toward the route he had taken.

• Danzo sensed Kurama Murakumo’s Chakra disappear, then blasted through the wall of Hirano Gambling House with Wind Release.
• Danzo found Tsunade, Shisui, Shizune, and the injured Black Eagle inside, and Tsunade accused him of using her grandfather’s Wood Release.
• Danzo defended his actions and his defection, prompting Shisui to draw his sword and Tsunade to attack him.
• Shisui charged Danzo through the dust with Phantom Clones, and Danzo countered with Wind Release and a Wind-coated Kunai.
• Shisui and Danzo exchanged blows, leaving Shisui with multiple wounds and Danzo with a deep sword wound across his back.
• Danzo looked toward the path he had come from and realized he had been careless.

Black Eagle’s team confronted Danzo and Orochimaru inside the Gambling Den, but Tsunade’s group fell into danger when Orochimaru used her weakness to keep her from fighting. Aozora arrived and offered Tsunade a discounted bounty mission to hold off a Jonin.

• Black Eagle’s team trapped Danzo inside the Gambling Den with a barrier, and Tsunade’s group prepared to fight Danzo and his three Root Jonin.
• Danzo summoned Orochimaru, who agreed to hold Tsunade back in exchange for part of Hiruko’s Chimera Technique research.
• Danzo and his Root Jonin gained the upper hand, while Orochimaru’s threat about Tsunade’s weakness stopped her from intervening.
• A Root Jonin kicked Shizune into the air, but Aozora’s kunai forced two attackers to abandon their strike.
• Aozora emerged from the shadows and offered Tsunade a twenty percent discount to hold off one Jonin for eight million ryo.

Aozora returned to the Gambling Den and bargained with Tsunade for a fee to help fight Danzo’s Jonin. As the battles began, Shisui decided he had to defeat Danzo himself, while the others prepared to risk their lives.

• Aozora secretly returned after sensing Danzo’s Chakra and offered Tsunade a discounted eight-million-ryo deal to hold off one Jonin.
• Orochimaru pointed out the money in the Gambling Den’s warehouse, but Aozora insisted he preferred earning his own living and claimed he had taken a fancy to Tsunade’s beauty.
• Danzo ordered his three Jonin to finish their opponents, and Shimura Hideki attacked Aozora with Wind Release techniques.
• Shizune fought Nagatomo Chiharu with medical weapons and poison, while Black Eagle prepared a risky final strike against Hirahara Harunobu.
• Shisui realized his companions could not help him defeat Danzo, activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, and prepared to use his full strength.

Aozora broke Shimura Hideki’s Shuriken assault and risked a lethal exchange by using genjutsu to make them both attack each other. Meanwhile, Shisui overwhelmed Danzo with phantoms and struck from behind, leaving Danzo to counter at close range.

• Shimura Hideki unleashed a Shuriken net, but Aozora used his Sharingan and four Shuriken to tear it open and rush through.
• Aozora deflected Hideki’s follow-up Shuriken and advanced without using his famous Flying Dagger.
• Aozora and Hideki threw Kunai at each other as Aozora used genjutsu to control them both, with each Kunai aimed at the other’s heart.
• Shisui created blade-wielding phantoms and charged Danzo, who used Wind Release and Wood Release to try to expose or stop him.
• Shisui’s phantoms drew Danzo’s attention while Shisui appeared behind him and brought down his blade; Danzo raised his right hand and punched toward Shisui’s heart.

Aozora survived Shimura Hideki’s attack and killed him, while Shisui and Danzo continued their battle. Shisui trapped Danzo in a dark illusion after revealing that his Phantom Clones served another purpose beyond enabling his Body Flicker Technique.

• Shimura Hideki awoke from Shisui’s Dōjutsu illusion with Kunai wounds in his chest, and Aozora pulled out the Kunai embedded in his own chest and mocked him before Hideki collapsed and died.
• Tsunade trembled at the sight of blood but looked toward Aozora, who reassured her by striking his chest and showing that his wounds were not serious.
• Orochimaru watched Shisui’s improved Phantom Clones and judged them dangerous in close combat as Aozora bandaged his wounds.
• Shisui severed Danzo’s right hand and struck his neck, but Danzo used Izanagi to reappear unharmed beside the tree created by Wood Release, losing two Sharingan in the process.
• Shisui accused Danzo of murdering his Clan Members and stealing Izanagi, then continued attacking as Danzo used Bōjutsuju to keep him at a distance.
• Shisui surrounded Danzo with darkness and floating Three Tomoe Sharingan, revealing that his Phantom Clones were not merely markers for the Body Flicker Technique.

Orochimaru exploited Tsunade’s hemophobia to stop her from helping Shizune, while Danzo broke free of Shisui’s genjutsu and trapped him with a curse mark. The chapter ended with Danzo reaching for Shisui’s Sharingan.

• Hirahara Harunobu tried to catch Black Eagle off guard with a Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, but Black Eagle escaped with a Substitution Technique.
• Nagatomo Chiharu poisoned and struck Shizune, while Orochimaru used Shimura Hideki’s bloodied wound to trigger Tsunade’s hemophobia.
• Aozora approached Shizune, but Orochimaru warned him not to interfere; Shizune then avoided a fatal kunai strike but lost the ability to fight.
• Shisui rushed Danzo with his blade, but Danzo broke the genjutsu, immobilized him with a curse mark, and revealed his desire to take Shisui’s Sharingan.

Aozora intervened when Danzo trapped Shisui with a curse seal, killing Danzo with a Flying Dagger after Shisui briefly distracted him. Danzo’s body vanished as another Sharingan on his arm closed, and Orochimaru realized Danzo had died and been reborn again.

• Aozora saw Danzo’s curse seal immobilize Shisui and rushed to his aid, throwing a Flying Dagger toward Danzo.
• Shisui struggled to break the seal and used a genjutsu to distract Danzo as he reached for Shisui’s eyes.
• Aozora changed the Flying Dagger’s trajectory, and it pierced Danzo’s head, killing him while Shisui watched.
• Orochimaru saw Danzo’s corpse vanish and one Sharingan on Danzo’s right arm close permanently, then wondered about the Sharingan.

Aozora fought Danzo while buying time for Shisui to break free, protecting his immobilized brother from Danzo’s Wood and Wind Release attacks. Danzo’s shuriken shattered Aozora’s Kunai, leaving him facing another volley.

• Orochimaru told Tsunade that Shizune was still alive, provoking Tsunade to punch him.
• Aozora identified himself to Danzo as the bounty hunter ninja Runfa and learned that Shisui needed at least a minute to move again.
• Aozora taunted Danzo and peppered him with Kunai to stall him and protect Shisui.
• Danzo used Wood Release to block the Kunai, then attacked Aozora with Vacuum Serial Waves.
• Aozora endured the wind blades while shielding Shisui, but Danzo’s Wind Release shuriken broke Aozora’s Kunai and sent another volley at him.

As Aozora fought Danzo, Tsunade overcame her fear of blood to save Shizune, while Shisui broke through his seal and awakened a powerful Susanoo to protect Aozora. The sudden display stunned everyone at the Gambling Den and left Black Eagle and Hirahara Harunobu unwilling to join the fight.

• Tsunade remembered how Shizune had cared for her and, despite her fear of blood, used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Shizune's chest wound.
• Aozora deflected Danzo's Wind Release shuriken with a bleeding finger, then countered Danzo's Vacuum Great Ball with Great Fire Destruction.
• Aozora shielded Shisui from the scattered wind blades and flames, accepting that he would be badly injured rather than risk Shisui's life.
• Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan spun as he broke free of the curse mark's restraints and manifested a massive emerald Susanoo arm and shield.
• Danzo, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Black Eagle, and Hirahara Harunobu reacted to Shisui's Susanoo, while Black Eagle and Hirahara Harunobu decided not to fight.

Shisui and Aozora fought Danzo in the Gambling Den, with Shisui risking his life to unleash Susanoo and Aozora combining fire with Shisui’s wind attack. Their assault devastated half the den, leaving Orochimaru scorched behind a badly damaged Triple Rashomon.

• Shisui ignored Aozora’s warning and summoned Susanoo, then killed Danzo three times with its Spiral Sword, consuming Danzo’s Sharingan each time.
• Danzo used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to fill the Gambling Den with trees and bind Shisui’s Susanoo.
• Aozora burned Danzo’s forest with Great Fire Annihilation, while Shisui hurled his Spiral Sword to create Wind Blades that intensified the flames.
• The combined flame storm swept through the Gambling Den, forcing Black Eagle and Hirahara Harunobu to flee while Tsunade pulled Shizune to safety.
• Orochimaru blocked the flames with Triple Rashomon and a Water Wall, but only one cracked gate remained and his clothing and hair were scorched.