Chapter Summaries

Wako Hushang Shu learned that Tazuna and other supporters were pushing for a bridge to connect the Land of Waves to the mainland, threatening Wako Company's shipping monopoly. Though the bridge could benefit the country, Wako viewed the campaign as a challenge to his company and to the authority of the mysterious lord who ruled behind the scenes.

• Wako Hushang Shu's aide told him that Tazuna had submitted another proposal to build a bridge, and Wako angrily dismissed it.
• Wako recalled that the Land of Waves' prosperity had followed the mysterious lord's orders, and that he himself ruled only as the lord's chosen representative.
• Wako reflected on how his shipping company controlled trade while the people enjoyed jobs, rising incomes, and a growing commercial economy.
• Would-be competitors, unable to challenge Wako Company directly, promoted a bridge as a way to break its monopoly and accelerate national development.
• Wako recognized that public opinion had turned against the company, despite its past contributions, and warned himself that the people had not stripped the tiger of its claws.

Shimiya Aoba relaxed at his palace while Karin doted on him, until Hushang Shu arrived with news of renewed unrest in the Land of Waves. Aoba ordered him to suppress the trouble and halt all transportation for ten days, leaving Hushang Shu ready to enforce his authority.

• Karin served Shimiya Aoba juice and grapes by the pool, and Aoba teased her about her swimsuit before reminding her to train.
• Ranmaru arrived in his Tiger tank to announce that Hushang Shu was waiting to see Aoba.
• Hushang Shu told Aoba that the people who had challenged his authority were acting up again and preparing to rebel.
• Aoba ordered Hushang Shu to deal with them cleanly and stop all transportation for ten days as a warning.
• Hushang Shu left, pleased that the transportation shutdown would cause severe losses for merchants.

Inari warned Kaiza and Tazuna that Wako Company had executed the bridge project’s backers and might arrest those involved. Tazuna’s supporters panicked when Wako Company banned maritime travel and announced it was selling its ships, leaving the bridge project facing a severe crisis.

• Inari told Kaiza that Wako Company had executed people who agreed to fund Tazuna’s bridge and warned that Tazuna might be arrested.
• Tazuna explained why he had agreed to build a bridge despite knowing it would challenge Wako Company’s control of the Land of Waves.
• Several of Tazuna’s associates reported that Wako Company had banned everyone from going out to sea and feared they would be arrested.
• Tazuna demanded to know Wako Company’s reason for closing the sea, and his associates said it had called itself a parasite obstructing the country’s development.
• Wako Company announced it had sold all its ships and would never conduct maritime transport again, shocking Tazuna and the bridge project’s backers.

Tazuna realized that Wako Company’s maritime monopoly left the Land of Waves unable to withstand a blockade, but he blamed the company and resolved to seek outside help to overthrow it. He slipped out to sea in an old boat, convinced he would return as a revolutionary hero and build the cross-sea bridge.

• Tazuna realized that a maritime blockade would cut off the Land of Waves’ imports and collapse its prosperous economy.
• Tazuna learned that only one boat remained because Wako Company had bought up the others and banned private boatbuilding.
• Tazuna decided to overthrow Wako Company, believing the people of the Land of Waves would be better off without its control.
• Tazuna borrowed his old companion’s antique boat and secretly set out to sea alone that night.
• Tazuna imagined returning after Wako Company’s downfall to build a bridge and be celebrated as a hero.

After Tazuna left, Wako Company’s maritime embargo plunged the Land of Waves into a food crisis, turning public opinion against the bridge supporters. Hushang Shu lifted the embargo after the crowd forced the captured opponents to surrender their assets, and the unrest ended with Wako Company’s authority strengthened; Aoba then considered expanding entertainment to prevent future trouble.

• Three days after Tazuna left, the people of the Land of Waves ran short of food during Wako Company’s maritime embargo and blamed the bridge supporters.
• The enraged populace captured the bridge supporters, dragged them to Wako Company’s gates, and petitioned against building the cross-sea bridge.
• On the fifth day, Hushang Shu accepted the captured people’s assets, bought back ships, lifted the embargo, and brought in food and other goods.
• Wako Company restored trade, suppressed unrest, and regained public support across the Land of Waves.
• Hushang Shu reported the outcome to Aoba, who considered creating more domestic entertainment, possibly an idol girl group.

Team 7 arrived in the Land of Waves to investigate Tazuna’s claims about Wako Company and found a thriving, cheerful country. A migrant worker told Kakashi that life was prosperous there, but outsiders still envied citizens because they received benefits and immigration quotas were scarce.

• Sakura and Kakashi were surprised by the Land of Waves’ prosperous streets, while Tazuna insisted that public executions and hardship lay behind appearances.
• Naruto explained that Team 7 had come ahead to investigate Wako Company before Konoha officially accepted Tazuna’s assassination mission.
• Kakashi watched the lively residents and noticed laborers glancing enviously at others, prompting him to question a local man.
• The man told Kakashi that he had escaped poverty, found love, and started a family after moving to the Land of Waves.
• The man explained that he still envied citizens because outsiders lacked their benefits and had to compete for limited immigration quotas.

Kakashi and the others heard an outsider describe the Land of Waves’ generous benefits and immigration system, which contradicted Tazuna’s account of Wako Company’s rule. Confronted by Kakashi, Tazuna admitted the man had told the truth.

• An expectant father explained that citizens received extensive benefits and could buy property or open businesses, while outsiders competed for citizenship through good conduct and public service.
• The man said he had no desire to leave the Land of Waves because he lived comfortably and expected to qualify for citizenship within a year or two.
• Kakashi questioned whether Wako Company was controlling or deceiving the residents, since their accounts differed from Tazuna’s claims.
• After the group moved to an uninhabited area, Kakashi demanded an honest conversation with Tazuna.
• Tazuna admitted that everything the man had said was true.

After learning the truth about Wako Company and the Land of Waves, Kakashi and his team continued investigating while leaving the mission's final decision to Konoha. Kakashi was ambushed in the forest by Zabuza, wounded, and left wondering whether Kirigakure was connected to Wako Company.

• Tazuna explained Wako Company's history and the circumstances behind the bridge project to Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi.
• Kakashi told Tazuna that the team would keep investigating, but Konoha would decide whether to accept the mission, and warned him not to provide false information.
• Naruto and the others gathered information around the Land of Waves while Kakashi infiltrated Wako Company to look for evidence.
• Kakashi followed a target into the forest at night and was attacked with needles before a thick mist engulfed the area.
• Kakashi summoned his ninja hounds, but Zabuza struck him from behind and wounded his back before slipping away.
• Kakashi suspected the enemy was a Kirigakure jonin and began preparing to escape with Pakkun's help.

Kakashi fought Zabuza and Haku after discovering they had been sent to stop his investigation of Wako Company. The pair withdrew on orders from That Lord, while Kakashi decided to investigate Hushang Shu’s palace, and Haku worried that he and Zabuza would leave their stable life when their ten-year agreement ended.

• Kakashi tracked Zabuza through the mist with his ninja hounds and charged him with Chidori.
• Haku shielded Zabuza with Ice Release, and Zabuza counterattacked Kakashi with water senbon before Haku persuaded him to retreat.
• Pakkun confirmed that Zabuza and Haku had fled, and Kakashi concluded that Hushang Shu had a powerful ally behind him.
• Kakashi remembered that Hushang Shu did not live in his lavish palace and resolved to investigate who lived there.
• Haku told Zabuza that That Lord had ordered them to avoid fighting anyone with the Sharingan and report it.
• Zabuza wondered whether Haku would choose him or That Lord, while Haku hoped they could remain in their stable home after their agreement ended.

Aoba learned that Kakashi had arrived in the Land of Waves and went out in disguise to investigate his purpose. After dealing with Karin’s attempts to sneak into his bed, he encountered flyers for Hushang Shu’s idol-group auditions.

• Haku reported that a masked man with one Sharingan, ninja hounds, and a powerful Lightning Release technique had appeared, and Aoba identified him as Kakashi.
• Aoba told Haku and Zabuza to avoid a confrontation and investigate where Kakashi was staying and who had come with him.
• Karin hid under Aoba’s blankets, but Aoba rolled her into a blanket, tied her up, and tossed her into the corridor.
• Aoba found Karin asleep outside his door the next morning, carried her into his room, and locked her inside while he went to breakfast.
• Aoba left the palace in disguise to look for Kakashi, but soon received flyers for the idol-girl auditions Hushang Shu had organized.

While gathering intelligence in town, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura found flyers for an idol audition and suspected Wako Company planned to exploit the contestants. They decided Sakura should infiltrate the audition, then Naruto proposed a plan involving Sasuke’s past cross-dressing, which Sakura eagerly accepted.

• Sakura asked whether everyone at Wako Company was evil, and Sasuke told her to focus on gathering reliable intelligence rather than speculation.
• The team found flyers for an idol audition, and Sasuke suspected Wako Company intended to exploit the girls who entered.
• Naruto argued that they should gather evidence before acting and suggested exposing the company’s crimes or asking Kakashi-sensei for help once they had proof.
• Naruto and Sasuke proposed that Sakura enter the audition to investigate, but she worried that going alone would be dangerous.
• Naruto recalled an idea involving Sasuke, who angrily objected, and Sakura enthusiastically agreed after Naruto explained the cross-dressing plan.

Naruto blackmailed Sasuke into joining the undercover audition plan by threatening to reveal an old photograph of him in girls’ clothes. The disguised trio reached the audition site, where Sasuke’s beauty stunned the other contestants and left Sakura despairing that he was prettier than her.

• Sasuke refused to dress as a girl until Naruto showed him an embarrassing photograph and threatened to reveal another copy.
• Naruto promised to return both photographs after the mission, and Sasuke reluctantly agreed to join the plan.
• Sakura bought three sets of girls’ clothing, wigs, and makeup, and the three emerged from an alley disguised as Sakurako, Naruko, and Sasuke-ko.
• The trio reached the crowded audition registration site and drew attention from the contestants.
• Sasuke-ko glared down the other girls, while Sakura’s confidence collapsed because Sasuke looked prettier than her.

Sakura, Sasuke-ko, and their companion passed registration and the auditions, while Aoba watched the second-round talent performances and was unimpressed by the contestants. He then spotted three familiar figures whose identities he could not be sure of and ordered his lackey to bring him their registration forms.

• Sasuke-ko confronted the registration staff member, but he praised her attitude, and she, Sakura, and their companion passed the auditions.
• Naruto wrote Hatake Go-go Kai in the guardian field, and the three girls advanced to the second round.
• Aoba attended the second-round performances as a director-general and found the contestants' singing, dancing, and unusual acts disappointing.
• Aoba recognized three familiar-looking figures but hesitated to identify them after more than three years apart.
• Aoba told his lackey to bring him the three contestants' registration forms, and the lackey eagerly promised to handle it.

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto performed unexpected talents at an idol audition and all passed the second round. Aoba recognized them as Kakashi’s Team 7 undercover, while his lackey secretly arranged for the three to be taken to a room for him.

• Sakura sang a nursery rhyme and easily passed the second round.
• Sasuke cursed at the judges, who treated her insults as an impressive talent and passed her.
• Naruto split a judge’s wooden table with his bare hand and secured one of the 101 spots.
• Aoba recognized the disguised applicants as Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke from their names and Kakashi’s name on the forms.
• A lackey led Aoba toward a room, privately pleased that he had arranged for all three applicants to wait there.

Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto escaped their room after mistaking Wako Company’s audition for a scheme to imprison girls, while Aoba was wrongly identified as its mastermind. The team split up to pursue Aoba and search for the captives, but Naruto found no evidence of imprisoned girls and interrogated the unconscious lackey.

• Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto decided to wait for the person behind Wako Company’s scheme before trying to escape.
• Aoba saw the three in the room and learned that Lackey No. 1 had mistakenly brought them there for him.
• Sakura knocked out Lackey No. 1 as the team burst out and confronted Aoba, who sent Naruto and Sasuke flying before fleeing.
• Sasuke chased Aoba while Naruto stayed to search for captives, and Sakura went to tell Kakashi what had happened.
• Naruto used his Shadow Clones to search and question the workers but found no imprisoned girls, so he woke Lackey No. 1 and questioned him.

Naruto learned that the idol auditions were genuine but suspected the organizer still had a serious hidden problem, while Aoba lured Sasuke into the mountains to fulfill a mission requiring him to shave Sasuke bald. Sasuke was badly beaten and tied to a tree, and Aoba poised a kunai against his head as Sasuke prepared for death.

• Naruto learned that the auditions were real, the other participants had gone home, and the fleeing person had been sent by President Wako.
• Naruto decided the auditions were still suspicious and resolved to tear the place down.
• Aoba chased into the mountains with Sasuke after the system issued a mission to shave Sasuke bald.
• Aoba used Shunko to overpower Sasuke, repeatedly striking him before tying him to a tree.
• Sasuke feared he would be used to threaten Team 7 and resolved to die rather than endanger his comrades.
• Aoba held a kunai against Sasuke's head, and Sasuke's eyes widened.

Aoba shaved and polished Sasuke’s head, then left him tied to a tree with his hair gone. When Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura found Sasuke and freed him, seeing his bald reflection drove him to awaken the Sharingan.

• Aoba shaved Sasuke’s hair with a kunai and polished his scalp until it shone.
• Aoba photographed the bald Sasuke from every angle and left him tied to a tree.
• Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura followed the trail and found Sasuke, struggling not to laugh at his appearance.
• Sakura freed Sasuke, who rushed to the riverbank and saw that his hair was completely gone.
• Sasuke’s shock and anger awakened a single tomoe in each of his eyes.

After Sasuke chased Naruto around for mocking his shaved head, Kakashi took the team back and decided they should stop gathering intelligence while he recovered. Aoba opened his reward, raised his Armament Haki, and returned to find Karin still locked in his room.

• Sasuke attacked Naruto with fire techniques after Naruto repeatedly stared at his shaved head, and Kakashi let Sasuke vent.
• Sasuke finished explaining what had happened, and Kakashi concluded that the apparent capture might have been a misunderstanding.
• Kakashi took Naruto and Sasuke back, deciding to pause their intelligence gathering because their appearances were exposed and hidden ninjas posed a danger.
• Aoba opened a special treasure chest and obtained a Patek Philippe Otherworldly Edition watch that could sometimes nullify attacks from females but could provoke jealousy and challenges.
• Aoba used an Advanced Skill Card to raise Armament Haki to LV9.
• Aoba returned to his room and found Karin still wrapped in blankets, realizing he had forgotten to let her out.

Aoba asked Karin to help him test her Sealing Jutsu, but she mistook his request for something intimate until her embarrassment and anger triggered Adamantine Sealing. The technique bound Aoba and suppressed his chakra, leaving him impressed with Karin’s power while she refused to let him down.

• At dinner, Karin blushed whenever Aoba looked at her, and he invited her to help with something after the meal.
• Karin misunderstood Aoba’s request and grew embarrassed as she thought he meant an intimate encounter.
• Aoba clarified that he needed her help performing a Sealing Jutsu, and Karin instinctively unleashed Adamantine Sealing in a fit of mortification and anger.
• Karin’s golden chains bound Aoba in midair and completely sealed his chakra while also suppressing some of his physical strength.
• Aoba recognized the technique’s potential and asked Karin to put him down, but she ignored him.

Aoba punished Karin for making demands, canceled her conditions, and increased her training after learning more about the watch’s ability. Ten days later, Sasuke set out with Naruto and Sakura to find the man who had shaved his head and uncover how to undo the supposed hair seal.

• Aoba dodged Karin’s Adamantine Sealing chains, struck her repeatedly, and made her cancel her conditions and give up her vacation.
• Aoba increased Karin’s daily training by twenty percent and later carried her out, exhausted, having mostly figured out how to activate the watch’s ability.
• Over the next ten days, Karin trained constantly and missed the idol audition she had hoped to enter.
• Kakashi, nearly recovered from his injuries, prepared to investigate the mysterious palace.
• Sasuke left despite Kakashi’s warning to stay put, and Naruto and Sakura joined him.
• Sasuke planned to find the man who had shaved his head, undo the supposed seal on his hair, and take revenge.