Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura concluded that a mole was feeding Konoha's movements to the Stone Ninja as fresh attacks confirmed the suspicions. Zhen visited the wounded Hizashi, drew Taikei's interest, and left worried that Orochimaru's scheme would make him a target of Konoha's leaders.

• Sarutobi received word that Stone Ninja had ambushed Inuzuka Ago's supply mission and attacked the wounded soldiers' camp while Minato was away, reinforcing Nara Shikaku's warning about a mole.
• Mitokado Homura told Sarutobi that a mole was responsible for the enemy's knowledge and urged him to eliminate the traitor without hesitation.
• Zhen visited Hizashi in the hospital, where he met Taikei and Ayano and witnessed Hizashi and Taikei arguing.
• Zhen asked about Kamado's safety, and Taikei invited him to visit his book collection.
• Zhen noticed the villagers' low spirits and worried that Orochimaru's actions would lead the Third Hokage to suspect him.

Harucha urged Natsu to spend more time with Shin, and Natsu agreed after realizing her sister had a reason for asking. Meanwhile, Konoha faced defeat after Iwagakure broke through another camp, leaving Sarutobi and Jiraiya to confront the village’s desperate position and the mistakes that had helped bring it there.

• Harucha asked Natsu whether she liked Iroha or Kamado, then urged her to spend more time with Shin.
• Natsu realized Harucha’s request was serious and agreed to get closer to Shin, while insisting she did not have to date him.
• Sarutobi told the wounded Jiraiya that half the force had withdrawn after Onoki’s Stone Ninja overwhelmed their camp, and that fewer than four thousand Konoha forces remained.
• Sarutobi explained that the daimyo had raised surrender to Iwagakure as an option, but he believed Ōnoki would refuse peace while victory seemed possible.
• Jiraiya reflected that he and Sarutobi had kept Orochimaru away from the front to make room for Minato, and wondered whether that decision had helped lead Konoha to disaster.

Shinichi discovered that the Hyuga Clan planned to evacuate five members from Konoha and confronted Hizashi about the secret plan. Hizashi revealed that he had accepted Taikei’s promise of freedom from the Caged Bird Seal and a place in the Main Branch, leaving Shinichi disillusioned.

• Iroha, Tokuma, and Tetsu visited Shinichi before leaving for the front lines, while Shinichi noticed the Hyuga Clan had not ordered him to go.
• Shinichi visited Hizashi at the hospital, where Hizashi asked whether Shinichi considered himself fortunate or unfortunate.
• Ayari told Shinichi that Taikei had made an evacuation list of herself, her sister, Hizashi, Shinichi, and Natsu, while Hiashi and others were left behind.
• Shinichi returned to the hospital and told Hizashi they could not leave Konoha because doing so would make them deserters.
• Hizashi argued that the five were meant to preserve Konoha after its destruction, and admitted Taikei had promised him removal of the Caged Bird Seal and Main Branch status.

Shin told Hizashi that Orochimaru was arranging a coalition of villages to help Konoha win the war, then challenged him to choose whether to stay or leave. Hizashi questioned Shin about Jinyuu’s death and asked whether he wanted freedom, leaving their different visions unresolved.

• Shin told Hizashi that Orochimaru had approached Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Amegakure, and Grass Village to unite against Iwagakure.
• Shin revealed that Rasa had become the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Raikage’s son had become the Fourth Raikage.
• Hizashi weighed the risks of leaving Konoha against remaining bound to the Hyuga Clan and the village.
• Hizashi suspected Shin and Orochimaru were involved in Jinyuu’s death, but Shin denied knowing who had killed him.
• Hizashi asked whether Shin wanted freedom, and Shin said he wanted to be a bird before asking if Hizashi wanted to be a wild dog.

Kitsuchi led a Stone Ninja force through the forest to attack Konoha from behind, but a giant iron-staff-wielding figure and a rolling wheel ambushed them. On the front lines, Konoha prepared for another assault as Kakashi and Rin rested and spoke about staying together in the coming battle.

• Kitsuchi led a thousand Stone Ninja through the forest, intending to attack Konoha from the rear.
• A towering figure struck the Stone Ninja with an iron staff, then a giant wheel charged through their formation and caused chaos.
• Sarutobi assigned Minato to strike the enemy from the side and ordered Shikaku to coordinate with Inoichi and the Sensor Division.
• Kakashi and Rin rested after helping clear the battlefield, while Rin continued treating wounded despite Kakashi's doubts about their survival.
• Rin fell asleep beside Kakashi, then told him they should stay apart during the next battle because she did not want to see him die.

Fugaku and the Konoha forces struggled to hold back a vastly larger Stone Ninja army as Shikaku directed the battle from the rear. After Fugaku unleashed a devastating Mangekyo technique and Sarutobi arrived to reinforce him, the exhausted defenders still faced an advancing enemy and prepared to fight to the death.

• Shikaku used the Yamanaka Clan's sensing technique to direct Konoha's forces as Stone Ninja attacked from the front, flanks, and underground.
• Fugaku and his clan fought off successive Stone Ninja assaults, but Shikaku warned that a force of more than two thousand enemies was closing in.
• Fugaku ordered a retreat, but the Stone Ninja pressed the attack, and Yashiro pulled him out of the path of rising rock spikes.
• Fugaku's Uchiha allies covered the area with hot ash, and Fugaku unleashed a black Chakra blade and explosive tomoe that killed more than a hundred Stone Ninja.
• Sarutobi returned and attacked the enemy ranks, while Hyuga Hiashi and Choza Akimichi brought reinforcements to Fugaku's position.
• Fugaku asked his remaining comrades if they were ready to die, and they vowed to fight to the death.

Minato fought Ōnoki and rescued Shikaku and Inoichi after the Stone Ninja destroyed their communications equipment. As Konoha’s defenses collapsed, signal flares and a message from Yamanaka Fu revealed that Kaede and Orochimaru had arrived with reinforcements.

• Ōnoki blocked Minato’s Rasengan with Earth Release: Hardening Technique and withdrew rather than risk a prolonged fight.
• Minato reached Shikaku and Inoichi, defeated the Stone Ninja surrounding them, and found their communications equipment destroyed.
• Shikaku and Inoichi struggled amid the slaughter, while Minato watched Konoha ninja—including a young child—die on the battlefield.
• Red fireworks appeared over the forest, and Shikaku recognized them as Konoha’s signal for mission complete.
• Yamanaka Fu contacted Inoichi and announced that Kaede and Orochimaru had returned with reinforcements.
• Inoichi shouted across the battlefield that Kaede and Orochimaru had come back.

Konoha and the Sand Ninja defeated Ōnoki’s Stone Ninja after Orochimaru’s reinforcements turned the battle, though thousands of Konoha ninja died. As the survivors traveled home, they hailed Orochimaru as their savior while he watched with quiet satisfaction.

• Orochimaru arrived with Sand Ninja reinforcements, and Hiruzen Sarutobi regained hope as they attacked the exhausted Stone Ninja.
• Ōnoki raised rock giants to cover his army’s retreat, while Shikaku warned Konoha’s forces not to pursue too far.
• Rasa and Hiruzen discussed their alliance, and Ōnoki learned that Kumogakure had attacked Iwagakure’s eastern border, forcing him to withdraw.
• Kusagakure drove the retreating Stone Ninja from the Land of Grass, and Konoha received supplies before loading thousands of fallen comrades onto carts.
• The Konoha survivors began their journey home, shouting praise for Orochimaru as he rode near the front of the convoy.

Shin witnessed Konoha welcome home its war survivors and mourn the many dead, then withdrew alone as the village celebrated its victory. After meeting Kakashi and Rin at a quiet bench, he left Rin there to sit with memories of a friend.

• Shin watched the returning procession arrive with carriages carrying the fallen, and three Academy children laid flowers on one of the bodies.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that Konoha had won, while Shin noticed that only a few dozen Hyuga members had returned and Natsu asked whether he had seen Iroha.
• Shin slipped away from the crowd and sat alone on a bench as the villagers gathered to hear the Hokage speak.
• Kakashi joined Shin on the bench, rested briefly, and left without saying goodbye.
• Rin arrived and told Shin that a friend of hers used to like sitting there, so Shin left her alone on the bench.

The Hyuga Clan attended Konoha’s memorial ceremony for the fallen, where Shin warned Orochimaru that the unresolved spy could derail his rise to Hokage. Shin urged Orochimaru to eliminate the spy decisively and win the daimyō’s support, leaving Orochimaru weighing the danger and the plan.

• Hiashi led the Hyuga Clan to the Memorial Stone and spoke with Ayano about the clan’s return and the captured rogue ninja.
• Shin joined the crowd at the memorial ceremony, saw Konoha’s leaders and surviving clan members, and searched unsuccessfully for Iroha’s name.
• After the ceremony, Shin found Orochimaru among the graves and challenged his confidence about becoming Hokage.
• Shin warned Orochimaru that the unresolved spy would threaten Konoha’s peace and his political future.
• Shin advised Orochimaru to kill the spy in a way that prevented controversy and then report the deed to the daimyō.

Shin and Ayari discussed her impending arranged marriage to Hizashi as they shopped and walked home, while Shin admitted he did not want her to marry. Later, Hizashi visited Shin, confessed his resentment toward the Hyuga family system, and offered to help Shin and Orochimaru in exchange for freedom from his shackles; Shin asked him to prove his loyalty.

• Shin and Ayari shopped for dinner, and Shin used a Chakra control technique to stop a soda can from hitting him.
• Ayari told Shin that her marriage to Hizashi had been arranged and that she intended to marry before Hiashi and Ayano so her child could protect the Main Branch.
• Shin told Ayari he did not want her to marry, and Ayari urged him to pursue Natsu instead.
• Hizashi visited Shin and explained that his marriage to Ayari was beyond his control, then questioned Shin about the Hyuga system.
• Hizashi confessed that he hated his father and brother, not the system itself, and offered to help Shin and Orochimaru in exchange for freedom from his shackles.
• Shin remained unmoved by Hizashi's offer and asked him to provide a token of loyalty.

Sarutobi received new information about Jinyu Hyuga’s death while Konoha prepared for renewed conflict with the Hidden Mist Village. Hiashi learned that Jinyuu’s death and the stolen Byakugan might be connected to the mole, leaving the investigation unresolved.

• The Land of Fire sent gifts to the Land of Wind and funded ninja factions to help Konoha face the Hidden Mist Village.
• A ninja gave Sarutobi a report on Jinyu Hyuga’s death, and Sarutobi set aside his paperwork to study it.
• Danzo urged Sarutobi to appoint Orochimaru as commander against the Hidden Mist and asked about the mole, but Sarutobi said the investigation had found nothing.
• Ayano tried to speak with Hiashi, who dismissed her, and she later advised Hizashi to be patient with Ayari before he entered Hiashi’s study.
• Hizashi told Hiashi that Jinyuu’s death might be linked to the mole and that the mole may have stolen the Byakugan.

Shin showed Ayari how he used Chakra vibrations to control objects and move the air, then explained their connection to Natural Energy. Ayari asked him to teach her, but gave up when he told her to read the books she had found for him first.

• Ayari served Shin instant noodles and salted eggs, then left him to wash the dishes while she played with Sibi.
• Shin demonstrated how he stopped, moved, and pulled a can using Chakra vibrations.
• Shin showed Ayari how Chakra vibrations could create frictional heat and explained that the Byakugan could not see Natural Energy outside the body.
• Shin explained how he could use Chakra to move Natural Energy and control the wind, leaving Ayari somewhat convinced.
• Ayari asked Shin to teach her, but refused when he told her to read the books first.

Ayari discussed her impending marriage to Hizashi with Ayano, admitting that the clan’s decision would stand regardless of her wishes. Elsewhere, Danzo and Orochimaru planned to pin the Stone Ninja leak on a scapegoat, while Orochimaru suggested Danzo might become Hokage.

• Ayano visited Ayari and found Makoto leaving after spending time with her.
• Ayano urged Ayari to consider her position as Hizashi’s future wife, but Ayari said she did not care about the wedding arrangements and asked to see dress designs.
• Ayari wondered whether her wishes mattered when the clan had already decided she would marry Hizashi.
• Danzo confronted Orochimaru about Sarutobi investigating who had tipped off the Stone Ninja, and Orochimaru denied having reason to fear exposure.
• Danzo proposed finding a scapegoat and said he would expose the person at the right time, while urging Orochimaru to act against the Hidden Mist Village.
• Orochimaru said he might not be suited to become Hokage and asked whether Danzo would do better, but Danzo insisted the position had to be Orochimaru’s.

Konoha’s leaders debated who should command the campaign against the Mist Ninjas, and Orochimaru unexpectedly endorsed Minato for the role. After Minato accepted, Shikaku suspected Orochimaru might be planning to sabotage him, but Minato insisted they needed evidence and committed to winning.

• Sarutobi asked the assembled leaders to choose a commander against the Mist Ninjas, and Shikaku nominated Minato based on his battlefield record.
• Several leaders supported Minato, while others argued that Orochimaru deserved command for helping Konoha against the Stone Ninja.
• Orochimaru surprised the gathering by endorsing Minato, and Sarutobi appointed Minato to lead the campaign.
• After the meeting, Shikaku warned Minato that Orochimaru might be plotting to undermine him and later claim credit for saving the village.
• Minato rejected treating the suspicion as fact without evidence and vowed to do his best to defeat the Mist Ninjas.

As Konoha prepared for the war against the Hidden Mist, Shin kept Rin from returning to the battlefield, while Danzo realized Orochimaru had slipped beyond his control. Shin visited the ailing Hyuga Taikei, then faced Hiashi’s suspicion, leaving his promised new Byakugan—and his safety within the clan—uncertain.

• Shin persuaded Orochimaru to leave Rin behind, and Rin agreed to help at Konoha Hospital after Kakashi and the hospital staff urged her to stay.
• Danzo realized Orochimaru was pursuing his own plans and that his effort to use Orochimaru as a puppet had failed.
• Hyuga Taikei invited Shin to his residence, asked how he viewed the clan and village, and assured him that Hiashi would give him new Byakugan.
• Shin told Hiashi about his visit and Taikei’s questions, and Hiashi ordered him not to visit Taikei again.
• After Shin left, Hiashi watched him coldly and questioned whether someone he considered mediocre and potentially disloyal deserved to live.

Lord Gen, the Land of Fire Daimyo, visited Konoha and pressed Sarutobi to resolve the traitor case while reaffirming his support for the war. He agreed to fund Minato’s border camp and stayed in the village as Sarutobi struggled to identify the traitor.

• Lord Gen arrived in Konoha, sent most of his entourage to a nearby town, and asked Sarutobi to show him the village.
• At the Memorial Stone, Lord Gen questioned Sarutobi about Konoha’s defeats and the traitor, and Sarutobi accepted responsibility before Lord Gen urged him to keep leading the village and find the culprit.
• Lord Gen announced that he would stay in Konoha for several days and warned Sarutobi to resolve the traitor case quickly.
• Minato reported that his forces had defeated a small Mist Ninja unit but could not force a decisive battle, and he requested support for a temporary border camp.
• Lord Gen arranged for ministers to prepare supplies for Minato, while he remained in Konoha and occasionally summoned entertainers.

Hiashi prepared for a mission transporting supplies to the front lines and brought Makoto along with Hizashi and Kamado. Meanwhile, Orochimaru warned Danzo that Sarutobi suspected their past crimes and urged him to eliminate loose ends, while secretly doubting Danzo’s plan to offer up a scapegoat.

• Hiashi told Ayano that he was leaving on an important supply mission and summoned Makoto to join him.
• Makoto changed into his ninja combat uniform, then joined Hiashi, Hizashi, and Kamado as they departed.
• Orochimaru returned from meeting the daimyo and found Danzo waiting in his home.
• Orochimaru told Danzo that Sarutobi had begun to suspect their past actions and advised them to resolve the internal traitor problem before he went to the front lines.
• Danzo agreed to put forward a scapegoat, while Orochimaru privately doubted that a conveniently revealed traitor would fool Sarutobi.

Shikaku’s group captured a Konoha mole and sent Hiashi to escort him back to the village, but a Mist Ninja unit attacked them during the return journey. As the Konoha group prepared to fight in thickening mist, Hizashi vanished with the prisoner while Zhen stayed calm beside the others.

• Shikaku captured a Konoha ninja carrying a secret letter about the camp and decided to send him to the Hokage without interrogating him.
• Hiashi led the group, including the bound mole, back toward the village while Shikaku and Inoichi wondered who was behind the betrayal.
• Kamado spotted twenty-four Mist Ninjas pursuing the group, and Hiashi ordered everyone to retreat.
• The Mist Ninjas caught up and attacked through a sudden bank of mist, while Hiashi destroyed their water dragon jutsu with an Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Hizashi carried the mole into the thick mist as Zhen remained composed amid the incoming shuriken.

Shin and the Konoha team defeated twenty-four Mist Ninjas, but the traitor they were escorting died during the battle. Hiashi accepted responsibility for the failed mission and ordered the team to return to the village with Renji’s body.

• Shin used his sensing skills and invisible barriers to locate and kill a Mist Ninja in the fog.
• Hiashi and Hizashi defeated the Mist Ninjas, while the fighting left many Konoha ninjas injured and one dead.
• After the mist cleared, the team found that all twenty-four Mist Ninjas had been killed.
• Hizashi reported that the bound traitor had died, and Hiashi learned that numerous kunai had pierced his body.
• Hiashi told Hizashi to get up, accepted responsibility for the mission’s failure, and ordered the team to collect Renji’s body and return to the village.