Chapter Summaries

Illusion Erosion trapped Shuji in a sealing array and attacked him with shuriken and force-field techniques, but Shuji escaped and countered with Wind Release. Illusion Erosion then unleashed Wild Dog's Dream, leaving the Wood Clone overwhelmed by an emptiness and destructive hunger.

• Illusion Erosion claimed he could guarantee Shuji's safe departure, then activated a sealing array and sent energy chains toward him.
• Shuji escaped through a window and landed in the locked-down street, where he dodged Illusion Erosion's shuriken and force-field traps.
• Shuji used Wind Release: Thousand-Leaf Cutter to shred the shuriken and Wind Release: Turbulent Flow Arrows to attack Illusion Erosion, but the force fields absorbed the arrows.
• Illusion Erosion spat out the copper coin he had used to restrain himself and activated Wild Dog's Dream through the Devour bell.
• Wild Dog's Dream struck the Wood Clone Shuji, filling his senses and thoughts with emptiness and a violent urge to destroy and devour.

Shuji endured the backlash from Illusion Erosion’s Wild Dog’s Dream through their sensory link, then used his Wood Clone to counterattack and kill Illusion Erosion. As the clone began to fail, Shuji realized he could not rely on it to support the Wasabi Family.

• Illusion Erosion’s Wild Dog’s Dream rebounded through the mental link, driving him to attack Shuji’s Wood Clone.
• Shuji’s true body was struck by the clone’s sensations and fell into the sea, but he reversed the link and resumed racing toward Chujie Port.
• Illusion Erosion stabbed the motionless Wood Clone, and Shuji revealed its wooden nature and explained how he had taken control through their two-way link.
• Shuji’s Wood Clone pierced Illusion Erosion’s chest with a wooden arm and fibers, killing him after revealing that First Erosion was dead.
• The Wood Clone began cracking apart, and Shuji concluded that he could not rely on it to support the Wasabi Family.

Tsunade arrived at the Wasabi Family watchtower but refused to join the fight, instead giving Itachi Slugs that could supply chakra. As Anko and Shizune entered the courtyard battle, Beast Soldier Guard turned his attack toward them and the wounded guards.

• Itachi watched Beast Soldier Guard and his two companions devastate the Wasabi Family guards and concluded that protecting Wasabi Jirocho should take priority.
• Tsunade disarmed Itachi when he attacked her, identified herself as Shizune's teacher, and said she would not intervene.
• Tsunade gave Itachi four Slugs to distribute among his allies, and Itachi attached one to himself to receive her chakra.
• Anko attacked Beast Soldier Guard with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands while Shizune treated wounded guards.
• Beast Soldier Guard cut through Anko's snakes and redirected his sword toward Anko and Shizune.

Anko, Shizune, and the Wasabi Family guards struggled against Beast Soldier Guard and his allies until Itachi intervened. The guards and Wasabi Jirocho retreated toward the inner residence, leaving Anko and Shizune to face the attackers.

• Anko struggled to block the enemy’s heavy katana while the Wasabi Family guards hindered her and Shizune.
• Water Erosion unleashed corrosive black water, injuring a guard and forcing Anko to dodge.
• Itachi arrived and used a Great Fireball Jutsu to destroy much of the black wave, then fired flaming shuriken to suppress the attackers.
• Jirocho ordered the survivors to retreat, while Corpse Erosion launched a bone blade at the fleeing crowd.
• Itachi detonated Explosive Tags to divert the bone blade, gave Anko, Shizune, and Jirocho small Slugs, and urged Jirocho to escape.
• Jirocho joined the retreating guards, while Anko recovered with the Slug’s help and faced Beast Soldier Guard again.

Wasabi Jirocho organized an evacuation while choosing to stay behind and protect the retreat. As Shizune and Anko faced Beast Soldier Guard and Itachi intercepted Corpse Erosion, Water Erosion secretly vanished amid the chaos.

• Jirocho ordered the wounded, women, and children to evacuate through a secret passage, then prepared to cover their retreat with volunteers and explosive tags.
• Tsunade identified the black water as tiny venomous insects and gave Jirocho medicine and instructions for treating the wounds.
• Shizune took over fighting Beast Soldier Guard and told Anko to be careful of Water Erosion's strange technique.
• Beast Soldier Guard ordered Corpse Erosion to pursue and kill the retreating guards, but Itachi attacked Corpse Erosion to stop him.
• Water Erosion released a thin stream of black liquid into cracks in the courtyard and disappeared without sound or noticeable chakra fluctuations.

Anko and Shizune fought Beast Soldier Guard, whose unnatural resistance to poison let him badly injure Shizune and nearly kill her. A mysterious young man appeared just in time to pin Beast Soldier Guard’s blade beneath his foot, then apologized for arriving late.

• Anko grabbed a spear and swung it at Beast Soldier Guard, but he knocked it aside.
• Shizune fired Poison Senbon into Beast Soldier Guard, but he ignored the poison and struck her right arm with his blade.
• Anko restrained Beast Soldier Guard with Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands while Shizune used Mystical Palm Technique, supported by Katsuyu, to heal her arm.
• Beast Soldier Guard tore away Anko’s snakes and raised his blade to kill Shizune.
• A young man appeared between Shizune and Beast Soldier Guard and pinned the samurai’s katana beneath his foot.

Itachi defeated Corpse Erosion but was infected by the bone blade’s corrosive poison and collapsed. At the Wasabi Family’s rear corridor, Wasabi Jirocho and the guards used explosive arrows to hold back Water Erosion’s black water.

• Itachi used Sharingan genjutsu to overwhelm Corpse Erosion with memories of torture, then stabbed him in the throat with a kunai.
• Corpse Erosion counterattacked before dying, cutting Itachi’s uniform and leaving a scratch that spread a chilling poison through his body.
• Itachi collapsed to one knee as the poison impaired his chakra pathways and vision, and he looked toward the main battlefield where Shizune had fallen.
• Water Erosion sent corrosive black water toward the Wasabi Family’s inner residence, but an explosive arrow from the watchtower blasted it apart.
• Wasabi Jirocho and the guards fired repeated explosive arrows, suppressing Water Erosion and preventing the black water from advancing.

Beast Soldier Guard revealed himself as Nether Erosion and used Ghost Lantern Extinguishment to prepare for a final fight with Shuji. Anko learned that Orochimaru had once meddled with the Black Erosion Corps, then left to help in the rear courtyard as Shuji faced Nether Erosion alone.

• Beast Soldier Guard learned that Corpse Erosion, Illusion Erosion, and First Erosion were dead and identified himself to Shuji as Nether Erosion, leader of the Black Erosion Corps.
• Nether Erosion activated Ghost Lantern Extinguishment, causing his body and energy to transform.
• Shuji asked Shizune to tend to Itachi and sent Anko to support Jirocho in the rear courtyard.
• Nether Erosion recognized Anko's connection to Orochimaru and said Orochimaru had once meddled with the Black Erosion Corps.
• Anko controlled her anger, vowed to kill Orochimaru herself, and rushed toward the rear courtyard, leaving Shuji alone to face Nether Erosion.

Shuji fought the Black Erosion Corps leader, Beast Soldier Guard, while realizing that his earlier choices could have cost Shizune, Itachi, and Anko their lives. By the chapter’s end, he had deduced that Beast Soldier Guard’s battered body functioned as living armor and identified where its operator was likely hidden.

• Shuji suppressed his distress over the danger to Shizune, Itachi, and Anko and used Earth Release: Mire Abyss to trap Beast Soldier Guard.
• Shuji struck the mud with Lightning Release: Firefly Electric Net, but Beast Soldier Guard blasted free with a powerful shockwave.
• Shuji recognized that Beast Soldier Guard’s scars and apparent resistance to damage concealed a secret behind his continued movement.
• Shuji attacked Beast Soldier Guard’s joints and structural weak points, provoking instinctive movements that revealed what the man was protecting.
• Shuji concluded that Beast Soldier Guard’s body was living armor and that its operator was likely inside it.

Shuji killed Nether Erosion after finding the weakness beneath his ribs, while Shizune treated the injured Itachi. In the rear courtyard, Anko and Jirocho used fire and an Explosive Tag to defeat Water Erosion, leaving the battle apparently over.

• Shuji struck Nether Erosion beneath his right ribs with a concealed kunai, killing the leader of the Black Erosion Corps.
• Shizune told Shuji that Itachi had been corroded by foreign energy and could not move, but she and Katsuyu could keep him stable.
• Water Erosion sent insect pythons after Jirocho and the guards, killing one guard and badly injuring another.
• Anko discovered that fire disrupted the insect swarms and attacked Water Erosion with Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique.
• Jirocho detonated his final Explosive Tag beneath Water Erosion, and Anko followed with another Dragon Flame Technique that engulfed him.

Shuji signed a summoning contract with Katsuyu and transferred his chakra to Tsunade, restoring her strength so she could treat Itachi. Tsunade went to check on Itachi, while Shuji prepared to handle other matters.

• Shuji offered to replenish Tsunade's chakra so she could remove the foreign energy from Itachi's body.
• Tsunade sent out the Shikkotsu Forest summoning scroll and allowed Shuji to sign it as payment for saving Shizune.
• Shuji summoned Katsuyu and asked it to transfer his chakra to Tsunade.
• Katsuyu stabilized Tsunade's condition by channeling Shuji's chakra to her.
• Tsunade headed to examine Itachi, and Shuji dismissed Katsuyu before turning to his other tasks.

Shuji wrapped up the aftermath of the Black Erosion Corps raid and listened as Anko revealed painful memories of Orochimaru and her imprisonment in Konoha. The chapter ended with Itachi recovering under Tsunade’s care at the Wasabi Family estate.

• Shuji disposed of Illusion Erosion’s corpse and sealed the other captured enemies and Beast Soldier Guard’s life core for the return to the village.
• Shuji gathered testimony from captured Tea Mountain Gang members, but Anko learned they knew little about Beast Soldier Guard or Orochimaru.
• Anko told Shuji she remembered choosing to stay in Konoha, then described being imprisoned and repeatedly interrogated by Anbu.
• Anko broke down crying, and Shuji comforted her by resting a hand on her head.
• Shuji and Anko visited the recovering Itachi, and Tsunade explained that the foreign chakra and natural energy had been removed from his chakra pathways.

After Itachi recovered, Shuji reflected on his mission and discussed the Uchiha clan’s worsening position with Tsunade, who said Hashirama’s dream had failed. Shuji then met with Wasabi Jirocho, learned the Feudal Lord had commissioned Konoha to deal with the remaining Black Erosion Corps, and received the agreed reward as his squad prepared to return.

• Tsunade assured Shuji that Itachi’s condition had been thoroughly treated and would not relapse.
• Shuji admitted that his optimistic assessment of the Wasabi Family stronghold had put the mission at risk and discussed the Uchiha clan’s situation with Tsunade.
• Tsunade recalled her dead relatives and Dan Katō and said Hashirama’s dream had already failed.
• A Feudal Lord’s retainer told Shuji that Wasuke Yuma had been ordered to take his own life and Wasuke Kuro would lead the Wasuke Clan.
• The retainer asked Konoha to eliminate the Black Erosion Corps’ remaining recruits on Naqi Island, while Shuji said his squad was returning and the village would handle the commission.
• Jirocho thanked Shuji for restoring order at Chujie Port and handed him the reward agreed upon with Konoha.

Shuji sought Katsuyu’s advice on Sage Art after repeatedly failing to form Sage Art chakra. Katsuyu explained Shikkotsu Forest’s risky method and advised that Shuji’s caution was preventing him from succeeding, then judged he could endure natural energy long enough for her to help.

• Tsunade explained to Shuji how Konoha’s steady supply of D-rank missions supported genin and came from agreements with the Land of Fire’s households and Daimyo Palace.
• Shuji asked Jirocho for a secluded place and summoned Katsuyu to ask about Sage Art.
• Katsuyu described how Shikkotsu Forest practitioners used small slugs to help absorb natural energy, but warned that early practitioners had failed and later success depended on surviving the initial erosion.
• Shuji told Katsuyu that he had used a Wood Release clone to attempt Sage Art cultivation while his main body monitored it.
• Katsuyu said Shuji’s divided attention broke the rule of total concentration and that his excessive caution was obstructing his progress.
• Katsuyu estimated Shuji could withstand natural energy for more than two minutes and offered to draw away excess energy, giving him a high chance of success.

After leaving Tsunade and setting out for Konoha, Shuji’s team stopped to camp for the night. Four masked ninja appeared and demanded Chujie Port’s account books from Shuji.

• Shuji told Itachi that he had performed to the utmost in battle, while Anko reminded him of his promise to treat her to a feast.
• Shuji thanked Tsunade and Shizune for their help, then challenged Tsunade’s belief that Hashirama’s ideals had amounted to nothing by pointing out that shinobi in the Land of Fire were no longer killing one another without restraint.
• Tsunade fell silent as Shuji left, and Shizune asked him to forgive Tsunade’s unpleasant manner.
• Jirocho saw Team Five off, and Shuji stopped the group overnight rather than pressing on to Konoha.
• Four masked ninja confronted Shuji at the campsite and demanded that he hand over Chujie Port’s account books.

Shuji confronted an Anbu squad that demanded the mission item without showing authorization, knocking out their captain and forcing the others to prove their identities. After they withdrew, Shuji ordered Anko and Itachi to return to the village overnight so he could explain the incident to the Third Hokage.

• Anko asked Itachi about Shuji's changed demeanor, then she and Itachi rushed toward the forest after sensing trouble.
• Shuji demanded proof of the squad's identity and authorization, then knocked Wolf Mask unconscious with one punch.
• Anko arrived and prepared to fight alongside Shuji as the remaining masked ninja found themselves surrounded.
• White Cat Mask used the Anbu identity hand sign, but could not provide the Hokage's written order or seal Shuji demanded.
• Shuji let the squad leave with Wolf Mask and said he would explain the incident to the Third Hokage.
• Shuji told Anko and Itachi to pack up and return to the village overnight.

Shuji explained Root’s motives and defended his decision to confront its members, then reported Team Five’s completed missions to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen rewarded the team and, during a walk with Shuji, admitted his reliance on Danzo while promising to reprimand him over the incident.

• Shuji explained that Danzo’s Root had likely targeted the Wasabi Clan’s reward and said he had fought back to keep the confrontation controlled.
• Team Five returned to Konoha and reported the Black Erosion Corps mission and the Wasabi Clan account books to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen raised the Black Erosion Corps mission to S-rank and offered Shuji a chance to study a forbidden ninjutsu, while Anko and Itachi could choose other rewards.
• Hiruzen asked Shuji to stay, then walked with him and reflected on his failures, the Fourth Hokage, and his reliance on Danzo.
• Hiruzen told Shuji that the village still needed Danzo and promised to reprimand him and make him control his subordinates.

Shuji returned to Konoha and considered the limits of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s promise to restrain Root before treating Team Five to dinner and arranging repairs for their gear. After Anko left them alone, Itachi asked Shuji how he viewed the Uchiha clan.

• Shuji reflected that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s support would depend on whether he could handle Danzo himself, and that the Hokage’s intervention would mainly keep the village’s conventional forces from obstructing him.
• After sleeping at the Old Residence, Shuji left a note for Grandma Toka and headed out to meet Anko and Itachi, planning to pay for dinner and seek reimbursement for the team’s damaged gear.
• At Anko’s apartment, Shuji told Anko that the Third Hokage had said he would reprimand Root, reassuring her.
• Team Five visited the Aoki Ninja Tools Store, where Anko replaced her coat and Shuji had adjustments made to his armor.
• After dinner, Anko left Shuji and Itachi alone, and Itachi asked Shuji how he viewed the Uchiha clan.

Shuji explained to Itachi how the Uchiha’s exclusive control of the Police Force had isolated the clan and dimmed its standing in Konoha. He said the Uchiha still had a chance to change their future, but they had to choose their own path, leaving Itachi to consider what his clan should do.

• Shuji reflected on his growing role as a representative of the Senju and asked Itachi what he thought was wrong with the Uchiha.
• Itachi blamed the Uchiha’s arrogance, but Shuji argued that their isolation stemmed from the political structure surrounding the Police Force.
• Shuji explained that the Police Force had once symbolized Uchiha status but kept its members away from the battlefield and made them responsible for enforcing village rules.
• Itachi asked whether the Uchiha had any way to avoid destruction, and Shuji said their own clan had to decide how to transform its position and survive.
• Shuji told Itachi he had no opinion on the Uchiha and that the decision belonged to the clan itself.

Shuji told Senju Toka that he could not stand aside while there was still a chance to act, and she asked him to meet Kachi and Hayami when they returned. At the Uchiha compound, Itachi told Shisui he could see no hope, and Shisui brought him to Fugaku so he could relay Shuji’s response.

• Shuji found Senju Toka waiting beneath a tree and admitted that he could not do nothing while there was still a chance to help.
• Senju Toka told Shuji to meet Kachi and Hayami when they returned the next day.
• Itachi stood outside the Uchiha compound with Shisui and revealed that he could see no hope after hearing Shuji’s view of the situation.
• Shisui took Itachi to Fugaku’s residence, where Sasuke and Mikoto saw them arrive.
• Itachi faced Fugaku and began delivering Shuji’s response.