Chapter Summaries

After the Third Hokage was badly wounded fighting Orochimaru, Shuichi learned that Danzo had died after encountering an attacker with the Rinnegan and took charge of Konoha’s affairs. He then began dealing with Root’s future, ordering its operatives back to the village and hearing Aburame Ryoma ask what would become of the squad.

• Shuichi questioned Elephant about the Third Hokage’s injuries and learned Orochimaru had overwhelmed him with a powerful reincarnated body.
• Shuichi told the Third Hokage that Danzo had escaped Orochimaru but died after encountering an attacker with the Rinnegan.
• Shuichi managed Konoha’s affairs as Orochimaru was declared a Missing-nin and the village prepared for the possibility of Impure World Reincarnation.
• Shuichi went to the Root Base and ordered Aburame Ryoma to recall Root ninja serving on outside missions.
• Aburame Ryoma explained that Root members would abandon their missions now that Danzo’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seals had vanished, then asked what arrangements the village would make for Root.

Shuichi helped the village investigate the Rinnegan threat and agreed to succeed Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage. After marrying Kurenai, he was formally appointed the Fifth Hokage and celebrated by Konoha.

• Shuichi explained that Root would be reorganized under his command and that its special division would continue handling difficult missions.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha, and Shuichi presented evidence that the Rinnegan attackers were controlled corpses, leading the village to suspect Nagato and plan a diplomatic visit to Amegakure.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Shuichi he would be appointed the Fifth Hokage, while Shuichi arranged his wedding to the pregnant Kurenai.
• Shuichi and Kurenai held a large wedding ceremony, which also gave Shuichi a chance to meet ninja families and build support for his succession.
• The Land of Fire Daimyo appointed Takeda Shuichi the Fifth Hokage, and Sarutobi Hiruzen handed him the Hokage Hat before the cheering villagers.

Shuichi settled into life as Hokage, learned the village’s operations, and received Jiraiya’s intelligence about Hanzo, Nagato, and Danzo. As he reviewed Academy students, he focused on Naruto’s poor performance and discovered that Haruno Sakura had grown into a remarkably diligent and promising student.

• Shuichi moved into the Hokage residence and began reviewing Konoha’s secrets, systems, and Anbu operations with the Third Hokage’s guidance.
• Morino Ibiki decrypted Jiraiya’s report, which revealed that Hanzo had described his past conflict and cooperation involving Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
• Jiraiya left Amegakure troubled that Nagato had turned against Konoha, while Shuichi reassured the Third Hokage and agreed to keep gathering intelligence and watch Orochimaru’s side.
• Shuichi reviewed the Ninja Academy rosters and noticed Naruto’s consistently poor grades, prompting the Third Hokage to ask him to help train Naruto.
• The Third Hokage praised Haruno Sakura’s intelligence and discipline, and Shuichi learned that her father had died during the Nine-Tails’ Rampage and that she had grown up in hardship with her mother.

Shuichi agreed to observe Haruno Sakura as a possible disciple and considered how ninja could help reshape society through production rather than violence alone. Meanwhile, Konoha celebrated his rise as Hokage, and Iruka taught students about his achievements before heading to Ichiraku Ramen for lunch.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Shuichi to patiently keep an eye on Haruno Sakura, and Shuichi said he might take her as a disciple if she impressed him.
• Shuichi reflected that scientific talent and involving ninja in production could matter more than gathering powerful fighters.
• News of Shuichi becoming Hokage spread across the Shinobi World, while Konoha repaired Hokage Rock.
• Iruka taught his students about the Hokage, but they insisted on hearing about the Fifth Hokage first.
• Iruka praised Shuichi's record and strength, then went to Ichiraku Ramen and ordered a large bowl of Pork Bone Chashu Ramen.

Shuichi praised Iruka’s skill as a teacher and promoted him to teach Class 3-1, asking him to look after a troublesome student. Later, Shuichi helped Kurenai deliver their son, Takuma, and celebrated their new family.

• Shuichi met Iruka at a ramen shop, praised his patience and responsibility as a teacher, and appointed him to teach Class 3-1 next semester.
• Shuichi asked Iruka to pay special attention to a troublesome student in his new class.
• At Konoha Hospital, Shuichi assisted Kurenai as she gave birth to their son.
• Shuichi and Kurenai welcomed their baby, Takuma, and admired his resemblance to both of them.

The Fifth Hokage’s illustrated textbooks made Ninja Academy lessons more engaging and improved students’ learning, even helping Naruto understand the material. Iruka reported the results to Shuichi, who approved of the textbooks’ success.

• Iruka announced that the semester’s workload had increased, then handed out colorful comic-style textbooks that captivated the students.
• Shikamaru studied the new books at home, and Shikaku recognized that they could rapidly spread knowledge and reshape ninja training.
• A week later, parents and ninja praised the students’ newfound enthusiasm for studying and the Fifth Hokage’s textbooks.
• Iruka visited the Hokage’s Office to report that test results had improved, noting that even Naruto understood the lessons.
• Shuichi agreed that Naruto’s progress showed the new textbooks were working well.

Shuichi welcomed his son Takuma, then later led the village in mourning the death of the Third Hokage. With Konoha entering the Fifth Hokage era under Shuichi, he prepared to pursue reforms focused on improving its ninjas.

• Kurenai gave birth to Takuma, and Shuichi's friends and relatives gathered at the hospital to celebrate and meet the child.
• Shuichi and the Third Hokage discussed Konoha's search for Nagato and his group, then focused on monitoring Orochimaru and strengthening the village.
• Nearly two years after his injury, the Third Hokage died, and Shuichi brought Takuma to pay respects at his grave alongside Asuma and Konohamaru.
• Shuichi told Konohamaru about the Third Hokage's legacy and the will to protect the village and its people.
• After succeeding the Third Hokage in village affairs, Shuichi began planning reforms to improve the quality of Konoha's mid-level ninjas.

Shuichi introduced rewards for students who excelled in different ways and continued streamlining Konoha’s administration. He then left the Hokage’s Office to oversee a recording task involving newly prepared batteries at the Ancient Books Repository.

• Shuichi confirmed that the new textbooks improved students’ learning and told Iruka that he would personally guide more than ten students each semester as a reward for outstanding performance and effort.
• Iruka accepted the plan and left to share the news with the students and teachers.
• Shuichi’s Wood Clone complained about his workload, so Shuichi absorbed it and continued delegating routine village administration and D-rank missions.
• A staff member reported that the new Batteries were ready, and Shuichi went with him to the Ancient Books Repository to complete the week’s recording task.
• Shuichi and the staff member arrived at a training ground where several ninjas had gathered around a camera-like machine connected to an [electricity] Solution Bottle.

Shuichi expanded Konoha’s ninjutsu library and began the Hokage’s promised individual instruction for Sasuke. Sasuke arrived eager to prove himself against Itachi, while Shuichi saw the lesson as a chance to obtain Indra’s Chakra.

• Shuichi recorded and organized instructional videos for elemental-release techniques, dividing C-rank ninjutsu into five difficulty levels and making the library available in exchange for military achievements.
• Iruka announced that the Hokage would personally guide Academy students, and Sasuke became determined to excel in every category and earn Shuichi’s recognition.
• Sasuke trained harder, while Itachi showed him more techniques during their sparring and Fugaku approved of his effort.
• At the end of the semester, Iruka told Sasuke that Shuichi had chosen him for half a day of individual instruction because of his performance.
• Sasuke met Shuichi at Training Ground 3 and asked him to judge whether he or Itachi had been more outstanding at the same age.
• Shuichi agreed to test Sasuke’s abilities and privately anticipated obtaining Indra’s Chakra.

Shuichi sparred with Sasuke, praised his potential in Lightning Release, and taught him training techniques before placing a new Cursed Seal on him. The seal contained part of Shuichi’s soul and Sage Chakra, which he planned to use to draw out and absorb a portion of Indra’s soul.

• Sasuke attacked Shuichi with Fire Release, shuriken, taijutsu, and other tricks, but Shuichi evaded or countered everything until Sasuke was exhausted.
• Shuichi told Sasuke his Lightning Release potential could rival Itachi’s and demonstrated Lightning Spear Technique and Lightning Flash Set for him to learn.
• Sasuke trained Lightning Release Nature Transformation for two hours while Shuichi monitored him and read about Fuinjutsu.
• Shuichi offered Sasuke a secret technique to improve his stamina, then placed a Cursed Seal containing some of his soul and Sage Chakra at the back of Sasuke’s neck.
• Sasuke felt his fatigue fade after the seal was applied and said he could continue training.

Shuichi rewarded promising Ninja Academy students with guidance and expanded village support, while Sakura used his training to defeat Ino decisively at the start of the new term. Seeing Sakura’s improvement, Naruto realized he needed to work harder or fall further behind Sasuke and his classmates.

• Shuichi guided Sasuke in Lightning Release training, then later gave Neji Chakra-control and close-combat advice and trained Sakura in Chakra control, Water Release, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
• Shuichi and the advisers increased Medical Department research funding for artificial transplant organs made with First Hokage Cells, while the village expanded ninja pensions and scholarships.
• Shuichi delivered Sakura’s scholarship to Haruno Mebuki and explained that the village would distribute the scholarships every six months.
• At the new term’s sparring assessment, Sasuke defeated Takanashi Chiba in under two seconds, then Sakura used her improved combat skills to pin Ino and win.
• Sasuke recognized Sakura as a formidable future rival, while Naruto resolved to work harder after seeing how far she had advanced.

Shuichi watched Naruto lose badly to Kiba and saw the Academy students improve after receiving Hokage guidance. After nearly half a year, he extracted Sasuke’s Cursed Seal and returned to his underground chamber to begin the next stage of his plan.

• Naruto fought Kiba, endured a one-sided beating, and lost after Kiba pinned him down.
• The Academy students became more diligent after seeing the results of the Hokage’s personal guidance, and nearly half a year passed.
• Shuichi told Sasuke to rest after months of training and monthly checks on his Cursed Seal.
• Shuichi used Sage Chakra to draw the Curse Mark Technique out of Sasuke and gather it into a twin-sword pattern on his palm.
• After Sasuke left to recover, Shuichi used Flying Thunder God to return to his protected underground chamber, where two Shadow Clones and elaborate techniques awaited.

Shuichi fused Indra’s and Asura’s power, awakened the Sharingan, and arranged for Naruto to earn a special opportunity through his Transformation Technique talent. While assigning new Genin to Might Guy, Shuichi sensed an emergency and teleported away.

• Shuichi merged Indra’s and Asura’s Chakra, awakened three-tomoe Sharingan, and sensed that further fusion might eventually awaken the Mangekyo.
• Iruka told Naruto that he had earned a chance to study with the Hokage after excelling in the Transformation Technique exam.
• Shuichi reviewed the graduate Ninja List and prepared to assign instructors to the new Genin.
• Might Guy submitted his mission report while doing high knees and learned that Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji Hyuga would be assigned to him.
• Shuichi ordered a clone to alert the Medical Unit and coordinate with the Anbu if necessary, then vanished using the Reverse Summoning Technique.

Itachi and Haku pursued a fleeing man into a canyon, where they fought Sasori’s Sunagakure accomplices. After the ambush injured Haku with poison, Itachi used Flying Thunder God to escape the strike, and Sasori sensed a sudden change in Itachi’s Chakra.

• Itachi and Haku chased Chizo through a canyon and discovered that he was leading them toward Sasori and several Sunagakure Ninja.
• Itachi attacked Razo’s group, and he and Haku defeated several enemies with coordinated ninjutsu, swordsmanship, and genjutsu.
• A hidden attacker struck Haku with a poisoned scorpion tail, severing his right forearm, but Itachi used Flying Thunder God to move them out of danger.
• Haku stopped the bleeding and warned Itachi about the poison as Sasori approached them.
• Sasori sensed a sudden change in Itachi’s Chakra and saw the Sharingan’s black pinwheels turning in his eyes.

Itachi and Haku fought Sasori, using Kotaro’s ability to sever Chakra threads to destroy Hiruko and pressure the puppeteer. Sasori blocked Itachi’s fireball with Iron Sand, but two waves of sticky liquid seeped into it and disrupted his control, leaving his strongest techniques unusable.

• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage puppet and attacked Itachi and Haku with Hiruko and Iron Sand.
• Haku summoned Kotaro, whose beak severed Sasori’s Chakra threads and left Hiruko vulnerable to Itachi’s blade.
• Sasori reinforced his control of the Third Kazekage puppet and prepared to attack with Iron Sand.
• Itachi fired a Great Fireball Technique, forcing Sasori to defend himself with an Iron Sand wall.
• Two waves of viscous liquid coated the Iron Sand and seeped into it, disrupting Sasori’s control and preventing him from using his strongest techniques.

Shuichi’s disciples Itachi and Haku countered Sasori’s Iron Sand and destroyed his Third Kazekage puppet, but Sasori answered with fire and his Hundred Puppets Performance. As the puppets attacked, Itachi analyzed Sasori’s tactics and prepared a countermeasure with Haku.

• Shuichi’s Water Sticky Syrup left Sasori’s Iron Sand sluggish and weakened, so Sasori sent the Third Kazekage puppet after Itachi and Haku with poisonous tentacles.
• Haku used Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals to evade the poison mist while Itachi dodged the puppet’s blades and shattered it with a Great Ball Rasengan.
• Sasori revealed his puppet body and attacked with tracking flames, which Haku held back with Ice Rock Dome until Sasori’s scroll ran out.
• Sasori unleashed his Hundred Puppets Performance, and Itachi and Haku used Great Breakthrough to disrupt the first wave of puppets.
• Itachi told Haku through a mental technique that Sasori’s puppets were either special Human Puppets or numerous ordinary ones, then prepared a countermeasure with him.

Itachi and Haku defeated Sasori after Itachi used his newly awakened Amaterasu to expose Sasori’s true body. Shuichi arrived to treat Haku and noticed Itachi’s awakened eyes, leaving their discussion for after they returned to the village.

• Itachi and Haku drove back Sasori’s puppet army and created an opening by attacking with Haku’s Ice Dragon Bullet.
• Itachi used a carefully timed pair of Kunai to reach Sasori, but Sasori severed the arm of Itachi’s Shadow Clone.
• Itachi used Amaterasu to burn Sasori’s exposed core, then killed him with Wind Release: Vacuum Shuriken.
• Itachi asked Kotaro to summon Shuichi while Haku rested and the two checked the battlefield for danger.
• Shuichi arrived, treated Haku, and examined his severed arm while recognizing Itachi’s awakened eyes.

Shuichi captured five White Zetsu after Itachi and Haku defeated Sasori, while the Akatsuki learned of Sasori’s death and discussed its next moves. Back in Konoha, Haku began working as Shuichi’s assistant, and Shuichi assigned Kakashi to escort a resource shipment from Kirigakure.

• Shuichi treated Itachi and Haku, agreed to keep Itachi’s Mangekyo secret, and arranged for Haku to become his assistant while Itachi received a new squad.
• Shuichi trapped and captured five White Zetsu at the battlefield, collected Sasori’s ring, and thoroughly cleared away the evidence.
• Pain summoned the Akatsuki and learned that Sasori had been killed by Itachi and Haku; he assigned Deidara to partner with Orochimaru and planned to use Sasori’s contacts to test Konoha.
• Nagato told Konan he would deal with Orochimaru if he failed to cooperate with the organization’s plans.
• Haku settled into his assistant role in the Hokage’s office, where Kakashi submitted another failed student assessment.
• Shuichi assigned Kakashi to travel to Kirigakure, return Samehada, and escort a shipment of resources back to Konoha.

Naruto defeated Kiba with the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and tried to use clones to study, but they escaped to play. At the hospital, Shuichi and Kurenai learned they were expecting twins, while Shuichi left Takuma to escort Kurenai home and returned to work.

• Shuichi went to the hospital after an Anbu reported that Kurenai's health needed attention, leaving Haku to handle the office documents.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to beat Kiba, finishing the match with Thousand Years of Death and earning Sakura's praise.
• Naruto tried to make shadow clones study his textbooks, but they tricked him and ran off to play before he caught one and dispelled it.
• A Hyuga medic told Shuichi and Kurenai that they were expecting twins, likely a boy and a girl.
• Shuichi asked Takuma to escort Kurenai home while he returned to work, and Kurenai teased him about using clones to slack off.

Shuichi practiced powerful Wood and Ice Release techniques, prepared a store of Ice Blocks for future battles, and created a Yin Seal. Five years later, as Konoha’s Hokage, he assigned Shisui and Yamato new duties and arranged Guiding Jonin for the graduating Genin teams.

• Shuichi used Sage Mode to test True Several Thousand Hands, Flower Tree World Descent, and techniques for suppressing Nine-Tails Chakra, finding that his Ice Release worked especially well.
• Shuichi made a Yin Seal to store Yang Release Chakra and planned to build a Freezing Room stocked with Ice Blocks for battle.
• In spring of Konoha Year 62, Shuichi removed Shisui from the Anbu and assigned him to guide Genin, while Yamato took over as Squad Captain.
• Shuichi held a Jonin Meeting to discuss village affairs, including diplomacy, trade routes, and the upcoming Genin teams.
• Shuichi assigned Hatake Kakashi to Team 7 with Second Pillar, Naruto Uzumaki, and Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Shisui to Team 8 with Aburame Shino, Hyuga Hinata, and Kiba Inuzuka.
• Shuichi assigned Sarutobi Asuma to guide Team 10, consisting of Nara Shikamaru, Choji Akimichi, and Yamanaka Ino.