Chapter Summaries

Shin removed the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal from Yakushi Nonō and told her to prepare records, while she reassured Kabuto that she would not leave the orphanage. Danzo confronted Orochimaru about Shin’s influence in village affairs, but Orochimaru unexpectedly offered him responsibility for expanding the Konoha Police Force.

• Shin removed Nonō’s cursed seal, and she confirmed she could speak about Danzo without being harmed.
• Nonō met the orphanage’s new director and reassured Kabuto that she would not leave him.
• Danzo questioned Orochimaru about sending Shin as an envoy to Sunagakure and letting him handle matters in the Hokage’s Office.
• Orochimaru offered Danzo responsibility for supplementing the Konoha Police Force after the Uchiha Clan suffered casualties.
• Danzo accepted the offer and praised Shin as a promising young man.

Hizashi reported on Akatsuki’s growing influence in the Land of Rain, while Shin reassured him about Ayano and promised him an important post. At the Hokage’s Office, Fugaku failed to persuade Orochimaru to withdraw Root members from the Police Force and asked Shin to help, offering him anything he wanted in return.

• Hizashi gave Shin a report on Akatsuki’s growth and Yahiko’s leadership, and Shin asked him to consider Amegakure’s attitude toward the organization.
• Shin told Hizashi that Ayano was now his servant, promised to arrange an important post for him, and asked about his plans for marriage.
• Fugaku questioned Shin about Root members joining the Police Force, then went to meet Orochimaru and failed to change the order.
• Fugaku returned to Shin and offered to jointly lead Konoha’s Police Force with the Hyuga, but Shin declined on their behalf.
• Fugaku asked Shin to name his terms and said he could have anything Fugaku was able to provide.

Fugaku accepted the Hokage’s decision to bring Root personnel into the Uchiha Police Force and urged his clan to improve its conduct and standing with villagers. Shin arranged training for orphanage children, pushed Hidden Mist to pay more for its ninja swords, and learned that Orochimaru planned to test a White Zetsu and Hashirama-cell arm on Obito.

• Fugaku returned home and told the Uchiha clansmen that they had to accept outsiders in the Police Force, then ordered them to patrol without violence, wear Uchiha armbands, and help villagers.
• Shin met the orphanage children selected for training and reassured Nonō that he would not turn them into Root-like tools; he had also specifically requested Kabuto’s inclusion.
• Shin rejected Hidden Mist Village’s initial offer for the seven ninja swords and instructed Shikaku and Minato to demand a higher price in a second negotiation.
• Orochimaru showed Shin an arm made from White Zetsu and Hashirama cells and said he planned to use Obito as the first human test subject.

Shin continued training with high-frequency Chakra and worked through his strained relationship with Ayano, who tried to please him by cooking. Ayano later urged Ayari to accept Shin’s request, leaving Ayari silent and conflicted about her feelings.

• Shin used Chakra to stimulate his muscles during a painful training session, then noticed that his chest scar had faded and his expression had grown colder.
• Ayano brought Shin a towel and told him dinner was ready, then served him a fish dish she had tried to cook; Shin spat it out and asked for it to be taken away.
• Ayano apologized and resolved to keep serving Shin, while enduring the servants’ contempt and hoping she could eventually regain her former position.
• Ayano and Ayari spoke privately, and Ayari admitted that Shin felt special to her in a way Hizashi did not.
• Ayano seriously told Ayari to agree to Shin’s request, and Ayari fell silent.

After Orochimaru restored Obito’s right arm and gave him secret Wood Release techniques, Obito reunited with Rin and Kakashi, only to learn Kakashi was joining the Anbu. Kakashi began serving in a special Hyuga clan squad assigned to guard Shin and the Hokage, where he was told that following the Hokage would bring the danger he sought.

• Orochimaru restored Obito’s right arm, gave him a potion and secret Wood Release techniques, and told him to make good use of his new strength.
• Obito celebrated his recovery with Rin and Kakashi at Ichiraku Ramen and learned from Rin that the front-line war had ended.
• Kakashi told Obito and Rin he was joining the Anbu to become stronger, then left after arguing with Obito and refusing Rin’s concern.
• Obito reflected on Kakashi’s words and resolved to become stronger so he could protect Rin.
• Kakashi reported to Shin’s office and joined Kamado’s special Anbu squad, made up entirely of Hyuga clan members.
• Kamado explained that the squad guarded Shin and the Hokage between missions and warned Kakashi that assignments with the Hokage would be dangerous.

Minato and Shikaku returned to Konoha with the victorious ninja, and Orochimaru welcomed them as Hokage before hosting a village-wide victory banquet. Shin attended the celebration and stayed alone above Hokage Rock after it ended, watching the quiet village under the moon.

• Minato and Shikaku returned with several hundred ninja and Kirigakure's war reparations, and Orochimaru welcomed them and rewarded them at the Hokage's Office.
• Minato learned that Obito had received a reattached arm and that Kakashi had joined the Anbu, then went home with Rin, Obito, and Kushina.
• Shin arrived at the victory banquet and joined Orochimaru, Shikaku, Fugaku, Minato, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and other village leaders.
• Shin declined Obito's invitation to sit with the younger ninja, and Kakashi identified him as the Hyuga Clan head and Hokage's assistant.
• The banquet continued late into the night, and Shin stayed alone on Orochimaru's stone monument after the villagers went home.

Shin assigned Might Duy a B-rank mission with Maruboshi Kosuke and rejected Might Guy’s request to join the Anbu unless he could defeat Kakashi. After Guy lost their duel, Kakashi praised his perseverance, and Shin said he would consider him.

• Shin paired Might Duy with Maruboshi Kosuke for an intelligence-gathering mission after Duy failed to find teammates.
• Might Guy asked Shin to let him join the Anbu because Kakashi had joined, but Shin told him to defeat Kakashi first.
• Kakashi and Guy left the office to duel, stopping to eat before their match.
• Kakashi returned that evening and told Shin that Guy had won, but admitted he had actually beaten him repeatedly and praised Guy’s character.
• Shin said he would consider Guy for the Anbu, and Kakashi wondered whether Shin had stayed late waiting for him.

Shin visited Ayari at night, then handled Root’s conflict with the Uchiha Clan by letting Fugaku settle it. Kakashi introduced Might Guy to his Anbu squad, and Guy joined his first mission guarding the Hokage.

• Shin visited Ayari, chatted with her, and left after teasing her about a goodbye kiss.
• Shin learned that Root and the Uchiha Clan had fought, but continued his official work after sensing that Fugaku had arrived.
• Fugaku apologized to Aburame Ryoma and told the Uchiha clansmen to avoid conflicts with Root.
• Kakashi brought Might Guy to meet Hyuga Kamado and Hyuga Kiyomi, who were surprised by Guy’s green jumpsuit and eccentric greeting.
• Guy put on his Anbu uniform over his jumpsuit and left with Kakashi to guard the Hokage.

Shin joined Anko and the younger generation for a barbecue, where the group learned he was Kakashi and Guy’s superior and Orochimaru’s assistant. After returning to the Hokage’s office, Shin learned Kakashi had been meeting with Uchiha Clan members and decided to visit Orochimaru about the possibility they would seek to reclaim Kakashi’s Sharingan.

• Shin ran into Anko at Yakiniku Q, and she invited him and Kamado to join a gathering with Kakashi, Guy, Obito, Rin, Asuma, Kurenai, Shizune, and others.
• The group discussed Guy’s Anbu work, and Shin defended him while Obito talked about his Hokage ambitions and secret training.
• After Shin and Kamado left, Anko told the others that Shin was Orochimaru’s assistant and handled village affairs, surprising them and making Obito reconsider joining the Anbu.
• Shin received a report that Kakashi had recently been in close contact with Uchiha Clan members.
• Shin suspected the Uchiha Clan might want Kakashi to return his Sharingan and decided to visit Orochimaru.

Shin learned that Orochimaru planned to begin human experiments using Hashirama Cells and White Zetsu cells, and accepted responsibility for finding child subjects. He also intervened in the Uchiha Clan’s effort to reclaim Kakashi’s Sharingan, then returned home thinking about Ayari.

• Orochimaru explained that White Zetsu cells could suppress Hashirama Cells and told Shin he planned to experiment on human bodies.
• Orochimaru suggested using children from the village orphanage, and Shin accepted the task after warning him about his position.
• Shin asked Kakashi about the Uchiha Clan’s request to reclaim his Sharingan and offered to make the clan abandon it.
• Kakashi agreed he would not resist if the Uchiha Clan insisted on taking the Sharingan, and Shin dismissed him.
• Shin checked on the children at Yakushi Nonō’s care, then went home, where Ayano hinted that Ayari cared for him.

Shin practiced manipulating objects and people with an unseen force, then noticed that Fugaku’s stricter Police Force recruits seemed to be making an impression. In the Land of Rain, Akatsuki received a Konoha proposal that left Yahiko weighing whether to accept help despite Nagato’s distrust.

• Shin lifted the study’s contents and Ayano with his power, then restored everything and wondered about safely using Natural Energy.
• Shin ate, spoke briefly with Ayari, and left home.
• Shin saw Police Force members arresting two drunkards and learned that the strict officers were new recruits, suggesting Fugaku’s methods were working.
• Yahiko rejected Iwagakure’s requests for military expansion and reaffirmed Akatsuki’s principles to Konan.
• Hyuga Homura delivered the Hokage’s proposal to Yahiko, who said he would consider it despite Nagato’s objections and Konan’s concern about Hanzo.

Hanzo agreed to cooperate with Danzō against the Akatsuki while Black Zetsu secretly urged him to pursue the Rinnegan. In Konoha, Shin refused Fugaku’s request to rein in Root but hinted that Fugaku should seek someone capable of checking Danzō.

• Hanzo accepted the black-robed figure’s advice to work with Danzō against the Akatsuki, while White Zetsu and Black Zetsu discussed Hanzo’s ambitions after he left.
• Danzō proposed taking property from the Uchiha clan grounds, and Orochimaru refused to decide the matter himself, directing Danzō to work with Shin.
• Fugaku told Shin that Root’s conduct in the Police Force was provoking growing opposition within the Uchiha Clan.
• Shin declined to promise action against Root and suggested that the Uchiha withdraw from the Police Force, which Fugaku knew his clan would not accept.
• Shin advised Fugaku to seek someone who could keep Danzō in check, and Fugaku bowed before leaving.

Fugaku visited Sarutobi to ask him to intervene against Root members joining the Police Force, arguing that their methods were damaging the Uchiha Clan's standing and dishonoring its wartime dead. Sarutobi agreed to act to protect the innocent and urged Fugaku to keep leading the Police Force.

• Fugaku told Sarutobi that Orochimaru had added Danzo's Root personnel to the Police Force and asked him to challenge the decision.
• Sarutobi suspected Orochimaru was using the dispute to weaken Danzo and centralize power, but hesitated to interfere in village affairs.
• Fugaku threatened that the Uchiha Clan would leave the Police Force and he would resign if the situation did not change.
• Fugaku reminded Sarutobi that more than two hundred Uchiha had gone to fight Iwagakure and only thirty-six had returned, then asked how they could face their fallen comrades if their families were hated.
• Sarutobi told Fugaku that the village would remember the Uchiha Clan's sacrifices, asked him to continue leading the Police Force, and promised not to let innocent people suffer injustice.

Danzo challenged Hiruzen over his commitment to Konoha and urged him to pursue a stronger vision than keeping the village stable. After Danzo left, Hiruzen reconsidered giving up influence and decided he could not yet relinquish power.

• Hiruzen hosted Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi for shogi, dinner, and drinks.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that they were different, describing Hiruzen as the village’s admired light and himself as its shunned darkness.
• Danzo questioned whether Hiruzen had forgotten the ninja’s true purpose and criticized him for accepting humiliation and focusing on stability.
• After the guests departed, Hiruzen pretended to be asleep until Biwako called him out.
• Hiruzen asked Asuma to fetch an invitation from the Land of Fire’s royal nobility, then decided he should not give up power yet.

Shinichi prepared for the upcoming Chunin Exam while arranging support for Akatsuki and coordinating security with Fugaku and Danzo. Danzo raised the matter of the Uchiha Clan's estate and properties, which Shinichi postponed until after the exam as he contemplated whether trouble would erupt during it.

• Shinichi read Akatsuki's letter, then sent Yahiko a reply and blue toxin-sealing vials through Kamado.
• Anko told her friends that she and two classmates would take part in the large Chunin Exam planned for about a week later.
• Shinichi met with Fugaku and assured him that Root would cooperate with the Police Force on exam security.
• Danzo agreed to let Root assist with security, then brought up the Uchiha Clan's estate and properties; Shinichi asked to discuss it after the exam.
• After Danzo left, Shinichi looked at the letter on his desk and wondered whether something would happen during the Chunin Exam.

Shinichi tightened training at the orphanage and urged Nonō to prepare its children for the Ninja Academy. After spending the evening with Ayari, he teased her about her feelings before returning home to Ayano, while Ayari lay awake savoring his scent on her blanket.

• Shinichi reviewed the orphanage children's progress and told Nonō to make their training stricter and encourage them to attend the Ninja Academy.
• Shinichi had dinner with Ayari, fell asleep on her sofa, and admitted that he liked her when she spoke as if he were asleep.
• Shinichi teased Ayari by asking for a goodbye kiss, and she shut him out while keeping his coat inside until the next day.
• Shinichi returned home and found Ayano waiting in his bed to warm it for him.
• Ayari replayed the evening in her mind, then breathed in Shinichi's lingering scent on her blanket.

As Konoha prepared to host the Chunin Exams, Shin sent Maruboshi Kosuke and Might Duy to assist Akatsuki against Hanzo the Salamander. Yahiko doubted the two genin at first, while Kosuke prepared Duy for the dangerous mission.

• Shin received the visiting Chunin Exams delegations with Minato and welcomed Pakura, the Sand Ninja leader.
• Yahiko received Hanzo the Salamander's invitation and, remembering Konoha's warning, suspected it was a trap.
• Maruboshi Kosuke and Might Duy arrived at Akatsuki's base, where Yahiko was surprised that Konoha had sent two genin.
• Yahiko accepted the pair's help, and Kosuke explained that they would support Akatsuki's operation against Hanzo the Salamander.
• Kosuke gave Duy one of Shin's antidotes, and Duy wondered how Guy would react to his mission.

Hanzo uncovered a letter implicating Konoha in a plot against Amegakure and ordered his forces to kill the arriving Konoha ninja. In Konoha, Hiruzen received evidence of Danzo’s crimes and rushed back to the village, while Shin reviewed a list of Hiruzen’s close associates.

• Hanzo captured a man carrying a Konoha forehead protector and a letter addressed to Yahiko that bore Orochimaru’s name.
• Suspecting Shimura Danzō’s scheme, Hanzo ordered Autumn Ghost to kill every Konoha ninja who arrived.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi found a letter detailing Danzo’s crimes, realized his own complicity could be exposed, and burned the evidence.
• Hiruzen ordered his personal guard to return with him to Konoha that night.
• Shin received a booklet listing people who had visited Hiruzen after his return and studied the names before dismissing Kakashi and Guy.

During the Chunin Exams, Shin offered Sunagakure support while Danzo dismissed Hiruzen’s warning and sent another squad to investigate Amegakure. After receiving an anonymous accusation against Danzo, Hiruzen visited Shin and discovered records that revealed what Shin wanted from him.

• Shin asked Pakura about Sunagakure’s conflict with the Hidden Mist Village and offered Konoha’s help.
• Anko asked Orochimaru and Shin how she had performed in the second exam, and Shin’s perfunctory praise annoyed her.
• Danzo dismissed Hiruzen’s warning, wondered why his agent in Amegakure had not returned, and sent another squad to the Land of Rain.
• Hiruzen found a note accusing Danzo of colluding with Amegakure and intending to rebel, then went to seek Orochimaru and was directed to Shin.
• Hiruzen visited the Hyuga Clan Compound and found files on Hyuga and Sarutobi clan members, along with a detailed record of his and Danzo’s past crimes.

Shin received forged letters implicating Danzo in treason and used them to secure the Sarutobi Clan’s resignations and compel Uchiha Fugaku to act against an elite force. Fugaku agreed to follow Shin’s orders, while Shin promised the Uchiha Clan would still be treated fairly once matters were settled.

• Shin received Yahiko’s sealed box from Maruboshi Kosuke and heard that Hanzo’s death had left Amegakure in chaos.
• Shin ordered Might Duy to take the Chunin exam within a month or retire if he failed its theoretical portion.
• Shin opened the box of forged letters claiming Hanzo had agreed to attack Konoha and help Danzo become Hokage.
• Sarutobi Ryoji delivered resignation letters from the Sarutobi Clan’s village officials, acting under Hiruzen Sarutobi’s orders.
• Shin showed Fugaku the letters and asked him to help eliminate the elite force that might resist; Fugaku agreed to await Shin’s orders.