Recaps

After returning Konoha’s war orphans and helping secure Sunagakure’s defeat, Ronglin left the village to seek a way to evolve his eyes and awakened the Rinnegan after meeting Madara. Back in Konoha, he pushed to expand the Uchiha clan’s alliances and influence, leaving the Third Hokage to consider his requests for important positions.

• Ronglin and Tsunade returned to Konoha as Sunagakure’s defeat left Iwagakure facing Konoha alone, while the Land of Wind Daimyo cut Sunagakure’s funding and Rasa planned to focus on elite ninja.
• Ronglin declined Minato’s request to join the front and left Konoha to investigate how to evolve his eyes, searching the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning before sensing White Zetsu in the Land of Grass.
• Ronglin confronted Madara in his underground hideout, discussed the Uchiha and the Rinnegan, and secured Madara’s agreement to leave the Nine-Tails and Ronglin’s people alone.
• Ronglin’s Eternal Mangekyo evolved into the Rinnegan, and he warned Madara that he would oppose any threat to what he considered his before returning to Konoha.
• Ronglin learned from Tsunade and the Third Hokage that Iwagakure’s attacks had intensified, then returned to the Uchiha grounds and met with the clan elders.
• Ronglin told the elders to welcome outsiders who would join the Uchiha, assigned Shisui to handle persistent suitors, and proposed seeking the Hatake clan’s support through White Fang.
• Ronglin chose Uchiha Kuolie to approach White Fang, told other supporters to prepare for new duties, and presented the Third Hokage with documents requesting important positions for the Uchiha.

Ronglin’s plan to destroy Kannabi Bridge led to Konoha’s victory over Iwagakure, while the rivalry over the Fourth Hokage position intensified at home. As the Hatake and Uchiha agreed to an alliance, Ronglin began preparing to raise both clans’ standing despite the risks ahead.

• Ronglin secured the Third Hokage’s promise to work toward placing Uchiha members in important village positions, then arranged for Uchiha Kuolie to discuss an alliance with White Fang.
• White Fang learned that Minato Squad had been ambushed, with Obito and Rin dead and Kakashi wounded, and the investigation revealed the attack had targeted the children to lure Minato away.
• Ronglin proposed destroying Kannabi Bridge to force Iwagakure to withdraw and recommended Minato lead the mission, which White Fang organized as a secret operation.
• Minato and his squad destroyed Kannabi Bridge, and White Fang’s forces overwhelmed the Stone Ninja as Iwagakure’s supply route collapsed and Ōnoki ordered a retreat.
• The Third Hokage credited Ronglin with the victory, and the debate over his successor intensified as several clans backed Minato against Ronglin while the Sarutobi Clan later withdrew from the opposition.
• After Konoha welcomed its returning troops, Minato told Ronglin that Kakashi had received Obito’s Sharingan and blamed himself for the squad’s losses.
• White Fang agreed to an alliance between the Hatake and Uchiha clans, and Ronglin said he planned to raise their prestige without competing with other clans for power, though the plan could cost many lives.

Ronglin secured the Fourth Hokage position with support from the Hatake Clan, Tsunade, and the Daimyo, then began reshaping Konoha’s leadership. As Kumogakure gathered near the border and the Third Raikage died fighting Iwagakure, Ronglin prepared Konoha for the conflict he expected.

• Ronglin and White Fang allied the Uchiha and Hatake clans, while Konoha’s other clans reacted with concern.
• The Third Hokage began selecting his successor, and White Fang nominated Ronglin while Tsunade publicly supported him.
• After about seventy percent of voting villagers backed Ronglin, the Third Hokage and the Daimyo chose him as the final candidate for Fourth Hokage.
• Ronglin accepted the position, warned the Third Hokage that he would not forget those who had targeted him, and began taking over village affairs.
• Ronglin appointed Uchiha Diqin as his secretary and discussed Kirigakure’s trade agreement and coming turmoil with Mei Terumi.
• After a month of training under Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ronglin officially became Hokage and received intelligence about Kumogakure forces near Konoha’s border.
• Ronglin sent Hyuga Hiashi and White Fang to monitor the border, while Ōnoki’s forces pursued and exhausted the Third Raikage.
• After Iwagakure announced the Third Raikage’s death, Ronglin told Tsunade that Kumogakure would likely target Konoha, but reassured her that the village was prepared for war.

Ronglin brought Sunagakure and Kirigakure into a joint attack on the Land of Artisans after its suppliers raised prices on Konoha. The allies destroyed the Artisan Ninja Village, divided its supplies and craftsmen, and returned to face the consequences.

• Ronglin stirred Konoha’s leaders into approving an attack on the Land of Artisans, then negotiated an alliance with Rasa and Yagura.
• Ronglin secured Konoha a larger share of the spoils, arranged for each village to send one thousand shinobi, and revealed he could summon the Three-Tails.
• The allied forces secretly mobilized, and Ronglin summoned the Three-Tails to lead their warships toward the Land of Artisans.
• The Three-Tails sent a huge wave into the harbor, and Ronglin ordered his troops to advance on the Artisan Ninja Village.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Shisui fought the village’s defenders as the Three Allied Forces overwhelmed them and captured craftsmen.
• Ronglin told Rasa and Yagura to maintain their alliance, and the allied forces destroyed the village in less than an hour.
• Ronglin divided the spoils, giving Konoha two-thirds of the supplies and money and half the craftsmen, then sailed back to Konoha.
• Yagura left for Kirigakure with the Three-Tails while Rasa stayed behind to search for remaining supplies and money.