Chapter Summaries

Shuji and the Konoha leaders concluded that Yakushi Nonō and Sara were probably near the old site of Rōran, where Danzo could use the Ley Line. Shuji chose to lead an operation there with Kabuto, while Kakashi and Shikaku stayed to defend the front line, and Shuji left Nonō’s fate partly in Kabuto’s hands.

• Shikaku explained that Danzo had used supplies to relocate the Rōran tribe, while Nonō had taken Sara and her daughter away and Kabuto had monitored the relocation.
• Kakashi recalled a past mission involving the Ley Line, and Shikaku reasoned that it was likely supporting Rasa’s decision to break Sunagakure’s alliance with Konoha.
• Kakashi deduced that Nonō and Sara were likely near the old site of Rōran, and volunteered to investigate the dangerous Ley Line.
• Shuji refused Kakashi’s offer and said he would go with Kabuto, while Kakashi stayed to help Shikaku defend the front line.
• Shuji told Kabuto the village would not pursue his past mission and let him choose whether to return to the orphanage or remain a Konoha ninja, but said Nonō’s fate was partly in his hands.

Rasa put Sunagakure’s Dragon Vein Puppets into defensive service and ordered Chiyo to prioritize Sky Ninja equipment as the war with Konoha continued. At Rōran, Shuji confronted Orochimaru and claimed Yakushi Nonō’s group as part of his operation, but Nonō did not recognize Yakushi Kabuto.

• Chiyo showed Rasa the preliminary Dragon Vein Puppets, and he assigned their mass production and optimization to others while asking her to improve Sky Ninja equipment.
• Rasa learned Gaara had recently harmed a villager, then spent several days arranging Sunagakure’s affairs before ordering a move to Rōran.
• Orochimaru approached Yakushi Nonō, Sara, and her daughter in a ruined stone chamber and said he had been concealing their whereabouts.
• Shuji and a companion arrived, and Shuji told Nonō he was a Konoha jonin requiring her cooperation with his operation.
• Orochimaru left after Shuji called the matter an internal Konoha affair, and Yakushi Kabuto revealed himself to Nonō.
• Nonō looked at Yakushi Kabuto in confusion and asked who he was.

Shuji reunited Yakushi Nonō with Yakushi Kabuto, learned that Sunagakure had repaired Rōran’s Ley Line pipelines, and led the group to the Ley Line’s core. There he began drawing on its power as Rasa arrived, leaving Shuji poised to confront the Kazekage over Sunagakure’s fate.

• Shuji introduced Yakushi Kabuto to Yakushi Nonō and explained that Konoha had found Rōran’s people and would still help settle them in the Land of Fire.
• Yakushi Nonō revealed that Earth Nine was hidden nearby, and Kabuto retrieved him unconscious after disabling his hands and feet.
• Yakushi Nonō and Sara told Shuji that Sunagakure had repaired the Ley Line’s pipelines and partially unsealed its passage, so Shuji led them through an abandoned route to the core.
• Rasa rushed to the Ley Line’s core after an energy surge and found the Sealing Squad defeated, Shuji beside Minato Namikaze’s seal, and Sara and her daughter alive.
• Yakushi Kabuto cut the energy threads pulling Dragon Vein Puppets back together while Shuji drew on the Ley Line and addressed Rasa about Sunagakure’s fate.

Shuji killed Rasa after overwhelming him with Wood Release and pollen, then promised that Sunagakure could use his resilient plants to help create an oasis. He reinforced the Ley Line seal with a second space-time lockdown and prepared to return to deal with Sunagakure.

• Rasa sent the Ley Line puppets to attack Shuji, who unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom and covered the Rōran Ruins in vines and pollen.
• Rasa inhaled the pollen, lost control of his Gold Dust, and was pierced by a vine as Shuji explained why he had hesitated to kill him.
• Rasa asked what would happen to Sunagakure, and Shuji promised that his resilient plants could help its people create an oasis and that peace would follow.
• Rasa died, and Shuji explained to Sara that the plants could not survive in the desert without the chakra that had created them.
• Shuji studied Minato Namikaze's Ley Line seal, stored the released energy in a Wood Release clone, and added a second seal with a Flying Thunder God formula.
• Shuji finished reinforcing the Ley Line seal and decided to return to deal with Sunagakure.

After Rōran was destroyed and the Kazekage went missing, Sunagakure learned that Shuji had killed Rasa and accepted its peace overture. The chapter ended with Kumogakure reacting in shock to the news and reconsidering its plans toward Konoha.

• Chiyo learned that Rōran had been flattened, the Kazekage was missing, and the Ley Line had been sealed again.
• Baki met with Shuji, who demanded that Sunagakure stop accepting commissions from the Land of Rivers and compensate Konoha.
• Shuji told Baki that Rasa was dead and returned his body to Sunagakure.
• Baki accepted the body and said Sunagakure would discuss Konoha’s terms internally before responding.
• Fourth Raikage A decided Kumogakure should negotiate with Konoha, but new intelligence revealed that Shuji had killed Rasa and Konoha had accepted Sunagakure’s peace offer.
• Kumogakure learned that Sunagakure would still send a team to this year’s Chunin Exams.

Shuji returned to Konoha after Sunagakure’s defeat and received approval to carry out Danzo’s sentence. Danzo faked his suicide and attacked Shuji, but Shuji and Itachi exposed the deception and captured him.

• Shuji discussed Sunagakure’s financial future with Tsunade and confirmed that Sara and her daughter would settle near Konoha.
• Tsunade and the advisers verified Yakushi Nonō’s testimony against Danzo and ordered Shuji to carry out his sentence.
• Shuji told Danzo that Sunagakure had been defeated and Rasa was dead, then left him alone to take his own life.
• Danzo staged his death and attacked Shuji, but Itachi revealed himself and severed Danzo’s right arm while Shuji’s wood bindings restrained him.

Shuji had Shimura Danzō executed after rejecting his claims of service to Konoha, then uncovered three Sharingan embedded in Danzō’s severed arm. Itachi burned Danzō’s body, and Shuji decided to keep the eyes as experimental material.

• Shuji led the bound Danzo into a courtyard and ordered the Anbu to search the Shimura Estate for classified documents.
• Danzo demanded to know whether Hiruzen had arranged his execution, but Shuji told him he had already been given a chance.
• Shuji ordered Itachi to reveal Danzo’s severed arm, and they found three three-tomoe Sharingan embedded in it.
• Danzo attempted to resist, but wooden spears pierced his body and killed him.
• Itachi burned Danzo’s remains with Fireball Jutsu, while Shuji decided to keep the Sharingan for experiments.

Yakushi Nonō reunited with Kabuto and welcomed him back to the orphanage, while Kabuto chose to remain a Konoha ninja so he could support its future. Shuji and Tsunade began dealing with the aftermath of Shimura Danzō’s death, and the chapter ended with Kabuto asking Shuji to let him continue serving the village.

• Yakushi Nonō returned to the orphanage, apologized to Kabuto for failing to recognize him, and told him the children and Urushi were waiting for him.
• Shuji brought three Sharingan recovered from the Shimura Estate to Tsunade, who assigned him research and discussed the cleanup and eventual dissolution of Root.
• Shuji advised Tsunade to assess Root members individually and offer leniency to those willing to cooperate.
• Yakushi Kabuto met with Shuji and withdrew his retirement application, explaining that he wanted the strength and resources to help the orphanage develop.
• Kabuto bowed to Shuji and asked to continue serving him and Konoha.

Shuji met with Kumogakure jonin Samui, who proposed expanding Konoha and Kumogakure’s exchange activities to include Sunagakure. At school, Karin heard of Shuji’s victory and decided to become an excellent medical ninja so she could one day work with him.

• Shuji arranged for Kabuto to continue his ninja training after placing him at Konoha Hospital.
• Samui met Shuji and relayed the Raikage’s proposal to include Sunagakure in future exchange activities.
• Shuji agreed that bringing Sunagakure into the exchange framework could benefit both villages and said they could discuss details when its representatives arrived.
• Ino told Karin that Shuji had returned to Konoha, while news of his victory over Sunagakure changed how the students viewed him.
• Karin asked whether Shuji might become Hokage, then resolved to become an excellent medical ninja.

Sunagakure chose Chiyo as its temporary Kazekage while it faced financial strain and uncertainty over Gaara. After returning to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi visited the Shimura residence, then asked Shuji to help keep Tsunade from abandoning the Hokage position; Shuji agreed and tried to seek Hiruzen’s advice, but Hiruzen declined.

• Chiyo and Ebizo discussed Sunagakure’s lack of a suitable Kazekage, its financial prospects, and Gaara, and Chiyo resolved to guide him while serving temporarily as Kazekage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha after Iwagakure reduced its forces along the Land of Grass border and paused at the scorched Shimura clan residence to reflect on Danzo.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi met Shuji at the Hokage Building and asked whether he had considered becoming Hokage, but Shuji firmly refused.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shuji that he would need to ensure Tsunade stayed in office, and Shuji agreed.
• Shuji asked Hiruzen Sarutobi for advice, but Hiruzen declined and chose to visit Naruto and Konohamaru instead.

Baki met Shuji in Konoha, where they agreed Sunagakure would join the proposed three-village event. Shuji then urged Sunagakure to consider transforming the Land of Wind with seeds and Konoha’s technical support, leaving Baki to weigh the offer against his village’s limited resources.

• Sunagakure brought an enlarged team to trade goods in the Land of Rivers under the pretext of participating in Konoha’s event.
• Baki met Shuji, who told him Kumogakure had proposed including Sunagakure in Konoha and Kumogakure’s joint event.
• Baki agreed that Sunagakure would participate in the expanded event.
• Shuji asked whether Sunagakure would transform land in the Land of Wind, but Baki said his village lacked the resources for such a project.
• Shuji offered personally cultivated plant seeds and Konoha’s technical support, arguing that improved oases could benefit Sunagakure and encourage the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord to fund the effort.

Shuji returned to Konoha and arranged paperwork for the upcoming tournament before visiting the Ninja Academy to set up early ninjutsu training for promising students. At a throwing lesson, Karin unexpectedly matched Sasuke’s accuracy, and Sasuke was struck by a punch from the red-haired girl he called Second Pillar.

• Baki left Konoha carrying Shuji’s proposal for Sunagakure to consider.
• Tsunade returned to the Hokage Office and complained about the documents Shuji had left for her to approve.
• Shuji gave Ebisu basic techniques for all five chakra natures and instructions to recommend qualified students for village rewards.
• Ebisu named Kamano, Kuimeng, and Yadou as students with strong abilities, and Shuji learned that Iruka’s class was practicing ninja tool throwing.
• Karin hit the bullseye with every set of kunai, prompting Sasuke to demonstrate his own skill again.
• A red-haired girl rushed Sasuke and punched him as he turned to evade, while he recognized her as Second Pillar.

Shuji, Anko, and Itachi shared hotpot and discussed Sasuke, Anbu work, and the Chunin Exam venue. Later, Tsunade told Shuji that Iwagakure wanted to discuss the exams and exchange activities.

• Shuji, Anko, and Itachi ate hotpot while Anko teased Itachi about their former team and Shuji's spicy food.
• Shuji told Itachi that Karin had hit Sasuke again at the Ninja Academy, and Anko joined in discussing the incident.
• Anko said Anbu was hunting down Root members hidden by Shimura Danzō and mentioned three skilled members who had been taken to the Interrogation Department.
• Anko told Shuji and Itachi that bettors had been losing money on Chunin Exam matches and that some people were cooperating with bookmakers.
• Shuji returned to the Hokage Building, where Tsunade told him Iwagakure wanted to talk about the Chunin Exams and exchange activities.

Ōnoki requested talks with Konoha after judging that Iwagakure’s isolation and military pressure were becoming untenable. Shuji persuaded Konoha’s leadership to accept, and Tsunade wondered what the changing Shinobi World would bring next.

• Ōnoki concluded that Iwagakure should pursue talks rather than risk further isolation and ordered a request sent to Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura discussed whether to accept Iwagakure’s request.
• Shuji argued that accepting talks would preserve Konoha’s strategic initiative and encourage Sunagakure to pursue reform instead of foreign military ventures.
• Tsunade decided that Konoha would agree to talks with Iwagakure.
• Tsunade noted that Kirigakure had been unusually quiet, and Shuji suggested it was likely dealing with internal problems.

Mei Terumi considered Kirigakure’s reforms, Zabuza’s bid for Mizukage, and the village’s future prospects as Genji discussed Shuji’s influence on her. In Konoha, Shuji asked Ebisu to plan and teach the new Genin Training Class, then promised to support his promotion; Ebisu urged Iruka to improve his teaching.

• Mei Terumi learned that Zabuza had left Kirigakure again to build support through missions and achievements.
• Mei Terumi worried that ending the Blood Mist would increase Kirigakure’s ninja population without solving the village’s limited economic prospects.
• Genji asked Mei Terumi about Shuji, and she described him as an impressive person whose ability and composure inspired others.
• Shuji asked Ebisu to draft an implementation plan for the Genin Training Class and prepare a targeted outline for its ninjutsu instruction.
• Shuji told Ebisu that his teaching ability and service warranted promotion to Special Jonin next year.
• Ebisu warned Iruka to devote more effort to his promising students and not disappoint Shuji.

Naruto became distracted by Sasuke’s strange behavior, then got into a fight with him and was chased through the school by angry girls. Shuji stopped the chase, and Naruto asked Iruka whether heroes were more respected than the Hokage.

• Naruto kept looking back at Sasuke during class, so Iruka sent him to stand in the hallway.
• Sasuke tripped Naruto during their confrontation but stopped his punch before it hit, and Shikamaru and Choji restrained Naruto from fighting back.
• Naruto ran from the girls chasing him and collided with Iruka, while the crowd pursued him down the corridor.
• Shuji and Ebisu stopped the chase, and Iruka took Naruto and the students back toward class.
• Naruto asked Iruka whether becoming a hero earned respect, and Iruka explained that Hokage were heroes respected for more than their title.

Sasuke saw Hyuga Hiashi propose a Police Force duty station near the Stadium District, then Shuji confirmed to Uchiha Fugaku that the village supported it. Shuji argued that the Uchiha had already gained significant access to village institutions and urged Fugaku to accept the outpost, leaving Fugaku to weigh the clan’s likely opposition.

• Sasuke noticed non-Uchiha serving in the Police Force and overheard Hyuga Hiashi propose a permanent duty station near the Stadium District to Uchiha Fugaku.
• Fugaku postponed his decision and went home with Sasuke, remaining troubled through dinner.
• Itachi returned home with Shuji, and Sasuke left the living room at Mikoto’s request.
• Shuji confirmed that establishing the Stadium District duty station was the village’s decision and asked Fugaku whether the concessions already made to the Uchiha were still not enough.
• Shuji pointed to Uchiha positions in village institutions and the death of Shimura Danzō, then argued that the small outpost would leave headquarters under Fugaku’s command.
• Fugaku warned that the clan would oppose the plan, while Shuji urged him to accept it as a functional outpost rather than a transfer of headquarters personnel.

Shuji and Tsunade discussed the upcoming meeting with Iwagakure while sharing reheated chicken and drinks in Tsunade’s office. Their conversation turned to Karin’s ambitions and Shuji’s Wood Release, and Tsunade assigned him to handle the Iwagakure talks.

• Shuji told Tsunade that the other party had agreed, and she said the Iwagakure meeting was scheduled for the end of next month in the Land of Grass.
• Tsunade reheated cold chicken skewers over a brazier, and she and Shuji traded remarks about their work and the three years since he brought her back to become Hokage.
• Tsunade told Shuji that Karin wanted to become a medical ninja and had beaten Uchiha Fugaku’s youngest son twice, and Shuji confirmed he had seen both fights.
• Tsunade asked how Shuji planned to pass down Wood Release, but he stayed silent and teased her about her age.
• Tsunade punched the sofa beside Shuji and ordered him to handle the talks with Iwagakure, and Shuji silently accepted.

Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure agreed to a neutral name for their joint martial arts tournament as Shuji and Samui discussed Sunagakure’s aerial combat unit. Shikaku then warned Tsunade that Konoha needed a new early-warning defense system against aerial threats, requiring additional funding from the Feudal Lord.

• Representatives of Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure signed a letter of intent for the Rising Stars Joint Martial Arts Tournament.
• Samui told Shuji that Sunagakure had been using its aerial combat unit successfully for maritime escort missions, and Shuji noted its limits and potential threat.
• Shuji returned to the Hokage Office, where Shikaku reported that analyzing and reproducing the captured equipment could take at least six quarters.
• Shikaku warned Tsunade that Sunagakure’s aerial combat unit could threaten Konoha’s fixed facilities, supply routes, and troop assembly areas.
• Shikaku proposed high-altitude chakra sensing and warning stations across the Land of Fire and said Konoha would need additional funding from the Feudal Lord.

Shuji prepared to negotiate with Iwagakure over the new defense system, while Ōnoki arrived in person and tried to conceal his presence. The talks began with Shuji mocking Ōnoki’s height before calmly sitting down to speak with him.

• Tsunade sent Shuji to assess the situation before negotiations, warning him that Ōnoki was more dangerous than Rasa.
• Ōnoki arrived at Iwagakure’s camp with Deidara and ordered Kitsuchi to keep his presence secret from Konoha.
• Deidara offered to blow up the negotiation platforms, but Ōnoki forbade him from acting without orders.
• Shuji recognized Ōnoki when he appeared at the talks and mocked his height, prompting Deidara to reach for his ninja tool pouch.
• Shuji sat cross-legged across from Ōnoki, who asked whether his surname was Senju; Shuji replied that he was simply Shuji.