Chapter Summaries

Shuji returned to the allied base after confronting Obito and prepared the forces to counter the statue army, while Moryo took over White Zetsu as a temporary body. Shisui and Shion arrived at the front, and Shuji decided to use Shion’s presence to provoke Moryo and begin a counterattack.

• Shuji returned to the base, ordered Baki to reinforce its defenses, and told Kakashi to summon Shisui while explaining Obito’s abilities and the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito gave Moryo White Zetsu’s body as a temporary vessel, and Moryo took it while continuing to seek a priestess.
• Moryo drove the statue army forward, but Shuji and the allied ninja held their line and launched repeated counterattacks.
• Shisui arrived at the front with Shion, the young priestess of the Land of Demons.
• Shuji let Shion remain at the front, hoping her presence would force Moryo to reveal itself, and prepared to start the counterattack.

Moryo’s assault was crushed as Shuji and the allied forces drove the statue army back, while Obito decided the monster had outlived its purpose. The chapter ended with Obito using Kamui to take Moryo away from the shrine.

• Yomi led Land of Demons shinobi into a charge against Sunagakure, but Shuji’s trees overwhelmed them and Yomi was captured alive.
• Shuji advanced with Konoha and Sunagakure forces, and Kitsuchi joined the counterattack as the allied front pushed the statue army back toward the Land of Demons.
• Obito watched the allied forces tighten their defenses and concluded that Moryo’s remaining human forces had been wiped out.
• At the shrine, Moryo insisted that Shion’s arrival would force the shinobi to bring her to him, but Obito argued that the allies could simply destroy Moryo’s borrowed body.
• Moryo attacked Obito with chakra tentacles, but they passed through him, and Obito transported Moryo away with Kamui.

After Moryo and its Undead Army vanished, the allied forces investigated the Land of Demons and arranged to withdraw, while Shion learned she would be taken to Konoha instead of returning home. Shuji then pressed Sunagakure about the tree-seed trials, and Ebizo and Chiyo considered the complications caused by Konoha’s growing influence.

• Shion asked Shisui what had happened, and he told her Moryo and its Undead Army had disappeared and that she would be escorted to Konoha.
• Kakashi reported that no trace of Moryo remained, and Shuji ordered border patrols and warning barriers before the main force withdrew in batches.
• Shuji told Baki that Shion would remain in Konoha, then asked to inspect Sunagakure’s tree-seed plantings on the journey back.
• Baki sent Ebizo a carefully worded request about Shuji’s proposed visit, and Ebizo reviewed it alongside the battle reports.
• Chiyo told Ebizo that Gaara had been keeping to himself, and Ebizo said Baki should return first while they waited to see what happened.

Gaara secretly watched Shuji, the man who had killed his father, and was confused when Shuji greeted him without fear or disgust. After they introduced themselves and briefly shook hands, Gaara left with a new experience of friendly contact.

• Gaara overheard villagers discussing Shuji and slipped away from the Anbu sent to bring him home.
• Shuji advised Ebizo and Sunagakure's cultivation team on caring for their drought-resistant saplings.
• Gaara watched Shuji through a sand eye and exchanged written greetings with him at the window.
• Gaara appeared outside Shuji's window, and Shuji explained how to respond to a friendly handshake.
• Gaara shook Shuji's hand, said goodbye, and looked down at the hand Shuji had held.

Temari and Kankuro worried over Gaara, while Shuji rejected Sunagakure’s grand oasis proposal and reviewed a more practical plan. That night, Gaara confronted Shuji, who restrained him briefly and told him he could sleep peacefully before vanishing.

• Temari asked Gaara to stay close because Granny Chiyo had warned of danger, but Gaara remained silent and withdrew to the window after breakfast.
• Shuji told Chiyo and Ebizo that a large oasis was impractical and urged Sunagakure to protect existing oases with sand-control belts before pursuing new ones.
• Ebizo presented Sunagakure’s second proposal, and Shuji stayed up reviewing it and a list of sand-fixing plants.
• Gaara entered Shuji’s room through the sand and asked whether Shuji hated him and wanted to kill him.
• Shuji used branches to restrain Gaara, then released him and told him to get proper sleep; Gaara was left confused when Shuji disappeared.

Temari discovered Gaara asleep and tucked him into bed, while Shuji accepted the Feudal Lord's commission to escort his brother to the Capital of Fire. Shuji left for the escort mission, warning Ebizo that Konoha and the Feudal Lord shared concerns about Sunagakure's plans for land transformation.

• Temari found Gaara asleep, carried him to bed, and quietly wished him a good rest.
• Ebizo told Shuji that the Feudal Lord's envoy had arrived and would take them to the Capital of Wind.
• The Feudal Lord asked Shuji to escort his younger brother to the Capital of Fire, and Shuji accepted the commission.
• Ebizo questioned Shuji about accepting, and Shuji explained that Konoha had little interest in long-term missions in the Land of Wind.
• Shuji warned Ebizo that Sunagakure's interests might not serve the Land of Wind and noted Konoha's shared concerns with the Feudal Lord over land transformation.
• Shuji told Ebizo to send any follow-up matters to Konoha, then left the Capital of Wind.

Shuji escorted the Feudal Lord of the Land of Wind's younger brother to the Capital of Fire, where he was delayed by the Daimyo before returning to Konoha on the eve of the Joint Martial Arts Tournament. Tsunade assigned him to receive envoys from Kumogakure and Kirigakure, while mocking his popularity as Konoha’s featured attraction.

• Shuji declined the Feudal Lord of the Land of Wind's younger brother's proposal for Konoha to take over caravan escorts, but promised that Konoha would ease restrictions on caravans entering the Land of Rivers after inspection.
• Shuji reached the Capital of Fire near the end of June, where the Daimyo invited him to accompany him to Konoha by luxury carriage.
• Shuji returned to Konoha the day before the Martial Exhibition began, and Tsunade scolded him for delaying his return while she struggled with preparations and security concerns.
• Tsunade demanded a new gift from Shuji and threw scrolls at him when he tried to defend the old perfume bottle.
• Tsunade told Shuji to meet the Kumogakure envoy and Kirigakure delegation separately, then called him Konoha's popular featured attraction.

Mei Terumi sought Shuji’s advice on what shinobi were and where Kirigakure should go, but he told her to look to the people who chose to follow her. Later, Samui proposed a Five Kage Summit to discuss reforming the Joint Martial Arts Tournament, leaving Shuji to consider Konoha’s response.

• Mei Terumi met Shuji privately and asked what shinobi meant to him.
• Shuji said Kirigakure’s shinobi had shown their answer by choosing to follow Mei Terumi toward the future she promised.
• Mei Terumi stayed behind in the tea room to reflect on Shuji’s words.
• Samui met Shuji over ice cream and explained that Kumogakure wanted to reform the tournament format to unlock greater commercial potential.
• Samui proposed a Five Kage Summit and said the Raikage hoped to reach an understanding with Konoha beforehand.

Shuji and Tsunade discussed Kumogakure’s proposal to reform the Joint Martial Arts Tournament and the need for a Five Kage Summit. At a Konoha meeting, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure agreed to the summit, while Iwagakure’s representative left to seek the Tsuchikage’s instructions.

• Shuji explained to Tsunade how rotating tournament hosts could bring jobs and steady income to the villages, and proposed a permanent organization with regional divisions and a final championship.
• Shuji told Tsunade that Mei Terumi had asked him what a shinobi was, and Tsunade said they already knew their purpose: to continue the work left unfinished by those before them.
• Konoha presented the Joint Martial Arts Tournament’s interim proceeds and proposed a distribution plan, which the village representatives accepted without objection.
• Shuji proposed holding a Five Kage Summit next month to discuss tournament reforms, and Samui, Baki, and Mei Terumi announced their villages’ agreement.
• Banga said Iwagakure needed to consult the Tsuchikage, then hurried away to report the proposal.

Iruka took Naruto to watch the Martial Exhibition tournament after Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the visit. Later, Naruto met Shuji and Mei Terumi, whose teasing comment about Shuji’s diplomatic ties with Kumogakure left Iruka flustered.

• Naruto found Iruka preparing for a mission to maintain order at the arena and begged to go with him.
• Iruka asked Ebisu for permission to take Naruto to the tournament, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved after instructing him to inform Hiashi.
• Iruka took Naruto to the arena, where Naruto watched the tournament and later told Shuji how exciting the fights had been.
• Naruto noticed that Shuji had been with a different woman on a previous occasion, prompting Mei Terumi to tease him about his diplomatic methods with Kumogakure.

Shuji discussed the fragile trust between villages with Mei Terumi, then finalized Konoha’s plans with Iwagakure for a Five Kage Summit after the Joint Martial Arts Tournament. The summit venue was set outside Konoha, and Shuji left Yamato responsible for helping build it.

• Shuji and Mei Terumi reflected on the uncertainty of alliances and agreed to meet again over tea and food.
• Ōnoki accepted Konoha’s proposal, and Banga learned the summit would be held outside Konoha after the tournament, with Iwagakure allowed to plan an inspection.
• Shuji told Banga that the summit would discuss the tournament format and that hosting rights would rotate among the villages.
• Shuji asked Yamato to help build the summit venue within a month, leaving him to plan the work while Shuji and Kakashi returned to the village.
• Kakashi accused Shuji of workplace bullying, and Shuji pointed out that Kakashi had helped bring Yamato there.

Izumi visited the Uchiha home, where Itachi took her away to train, while Sasuke followed a visitor named Shuji into a secret conversation with Fugaku about the Five Kage Summit and the possibility of an Uchiha becoming Hokage. Shuji left Fugaku with a challenge to resolve the clan’s tensions with the Police Force branch before pursuing that ambition.

• Fugaku and Mikoto welcomed Izumi and praised her tournament performance as she discussed her plans to join the Police Force.
• Itachi returned late and took Izumi away, while Mikoto sent Sasuke to train; Sasuke left angrily and then followed Shuji to the family home.
• Shuji told Fugaku that both Police Force headquarters and the branch would mobilize for next month’s Five Kage Summit.
• Shuji raised the possibility of an Uchiha becoming Hokage after the Fifth Hokage stepped down, but said Kakashi was the village’s first choice for now.
• Fugaku objected to Kakashi as Hokage, and Shuji told him not to compete for the position because he was unsuitable.
• Shuji urged Fugaku to settle the relationship with the Police Force branch before the Uchiha pursued a Hokage candidate.

Fugaku and Sasuke struggled to understand Shuji’s tense conversation with Fugaku, while Itachi explained that Shuji meant more to him than a captain. Later, Shuji watched Izumi compete in the Joint Martial Arts Tournament and considered changes to ninja ranks before telling Itachi to prepare for a Special Jonin promotion.

• Fugaku remained troubled after Shuji left, and Sasuke saw his father’s distress before returning to training.
• Sasuke questioned Itachi about Shuji’s attitude toward Fugaku, and Itachi said Shuji was more than a captain to him.
• Shuji, Itachi, and Anko watched Izumi fight an Iwagakure genin at the Joint Martial Arts Tournament.
• Shuji considered revising the Chunin Exams and creating additional chunin ranks.
• Shuji learned Itachi had not taken a jonin promotion assessment and told him to prepare for promotion to Special Jonin.

Hyuga Hiashi balanced Stadium District security duties with watching Hinata and Hanabi train, then received Uchiha Fugaku at the branch. Meanwhile, Shuji intervened when the Uchiha visitors criticized the branch’s patrol deployment, ordering them to cover its gaps.

• Hiashi issued security instructions for the Stadium District and watched Hinata and Hanabi spar, praising Hanabi’s stamina while offering Hinata no guidance.
• Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the branch with Yashiro, Tekka, and Inabi, then took Hiashi upstairs to talk.
• Shuji left his gathering with Anko, Itachi, and Izumi after an Anbu delivered a message about Fugaku’s visit.
• Inabi criticized the branch’s patrol gaps while Tekka and Yashiro watched the branch personnel.
• Shuji told Yashiro to take people and fill the patrol gaps, and Yashiro agreed despite hesitation about Fugaku.

Fugaku and Hiashi discussed coordinating the main and branch divisions for the Five Kage Summit’s security, while Fugaku observed tensions between them. Hiashi then sought Shuji’s attention by offering to introduce his children, prompting Fugaku to leave.

• Fugaku visited the branch division and told Hiashi that the main division would also participate in security for the Five Kage Summit.
• Hiashi offered to have the branch division follow the main division’s directives, while Inabi Uchiha’s dispute downstairs went unresolved.
• Fugaku heard Hinata training nearby and briefly discussed Hiashi’s daughter and his own sons with him.
• Shuji explained that the Police Force would handle the summit’s outer security layers and asked Fugaku and Hiashi to submit a joint plan within a week.
• Hiashi offered to introduce his children to Shuji, and Fugaku left after telling him the main division would draft its patrol plan.

Shuji oversaw preparations for the Five Kage Summit venue and confirmed strict patrol rules as Konoha prepared to host the other Kage. Ōnoki decided to bring Deidara to the summit, but Deidara’s enthusiasm and Ōnoki’s apparent back injury left him doubting the choice.

• Yamato used Wood Release to help build the summit venue while Shuji reviewed construction plans and security procedures with the village leaders.
• Shuji said Konoha would clear the grounds after the Joint Martial Arts Tournament and welcome the Kage to the completed venue.
• Ōnoki considered how to protect Iwagakure’s interests at the summit and decided to attend before making further plans.
• Ōnoki told Deidara that they would leave for Konoha in five days and warned him not to speak carelessly or use his clay.
• Ōnoki slammed his desk and appeared to injure his waist, while Deidara stared and Ōnoki wondered whether he could handle the boy at the summit.

Yagura accepted Kirigakure’s decision to attend the Five Kage Summit and challenged Zabuza’s plans to reform the village. Meanwhile, Tsunade and A began negotiations over Konoha and Kumogakure’s cooperation, ending with Shuji presenting Konoha’s proposal for the Joint Martial Arts Tournament.

• Yagura put his Mizukage hat back on and left Kirigakure with Genji, Zabuza, and an Anbu squad to attend the Five Kage Summit.
• Zabuza told Yagura that he wanted to reform Kirigakure, and Yagura accused him of resembling the person he had once fought.
• A arrived in Konoha with Shi and Darui, where Shuji guided Kumogakure’s delegation to meet Tsunade.
• A asked how Konoha would safeguard Kumogakure’s interests, and Tsunade offered to support Kumogakure’s proposals at the Five Kage Summit.
• Shuji presented Konoha’s plans to help Kumogakure with the tournament venue and ninja competitiveness through support and exchanges.

Konoha proposed exchanging low-rank ninjutsu with Kumogakure, and the Raikage accepted the plan. Samui confronted Shuji for not warning her beforehand, then asked him to prepare a return gift as an apology.

• Shuji explained Konoha's proposal to exchange limited low-rank ninjutsu, and A accepted it, leaving Dodai, Samui, and Darui to settle the details.
• A left the Hokage Building with Shuji and said he would stay with Kumogakure's people in the Stadium District.
• A picked up two leftover beams to use as training weights and headed into the Stadium District.
• Shuji asked Samui about A's usual training weights, and she led him somewhere private to confront him for keeping the exchange proposal from her.
• Shuji admitted he had overlooked the risks to Konoha and Kumogakure's friendship, and Samui asked him to prepare a return gift as an apology.

Ōnoki and Deidara arrived in Konoha for the Five Kage Summit and settled into Iwagakure’s quarters. Deidara tried to sneak into the stadium and plant a clay spider, but Itachi trapped him in a genjutsu and stopped him before he had left the alley.

• Konoha’s signals and shinobi tracked Ōnoki and Deidara as they flew into the Land of Fire, and Shuji escorted them to Iwagakure’s quarters.
• Ōnoki asked Banga what the other Kage had done since arriving; Banga reported that the Raikage had visited Konoha, while the Mizukage and Kazekage had stayed in their quarters or gone fishing.
• Deidara slipped out of Iwagakure’s quarters and imagined exploring the stadium while an Anbu in a White Cat Mask watched him.
• Deidara formed a clay spider and prepared to use it against the Anbu, but Itachi appeared behind him and dispelled the genjutsu.
• Itachi told Deidara that the Stadium District was not fully open during the summit and instructed him to report before leaving.

Shuji proposed a permanent joint institution to coordinate the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ martial arts tournament, and the Five Kage approved its creation. The chapter left the villages united behind the proposal, with the institution’s authority limited to tournament matters outside village territories and host-village decisions taking precedence within them.

• Shuji monitored the Iwagakure compound and reviewed the Five Kage Summit schedules and security plans while Tsunade borrowed money from him, gambled it, and argued over the debt.
• The Five Kage met in the new conference hall, where Ōnoki and Chiyo traded barbs while Karatachi Yagura quietly reviewed Konoha’s reform plan with Mei Terumi and Zabuza.
• Shuji argued that routine joint tournaments required a standing institution to coordinate schedules, revenue, security, emergencies, and disputes.
• The Raikage and Chiyo questioned the proposed institution’s authority, and Shuji clarified that it would act on tournament matters outside village territories while host villages retained precedence within their own lands.
• The Raikage, Chiyo, Karatachi Yagura, and Ōnoki each declared that their village agreed to Konoha’s proposal.