Chapter Summaries

After overwhelming the Sunagakure forces, Ronglin led the Konoha ninjas in pursuing and killing them. He ordered the survivors to gather their dead and wounded and return before Sunagakure could send reinforcements.

• Ronglin dismissed Susanoo, and the terrified Sunagakure ninjas fled when he turned toward them.
• Ronglin chased the fleeing enemies as the Konoha ninjas followed and attacked.
• The Konoha ninjas killed most of the Sunagakure force, with Ronglin taking down many of them.
• After the fighting, the Konoha ninjas tended to their wounded and celebrated the battle merit they had earned.
• Ronglin ordered the Konoha ninjas to collect their dead, help the badly wounded, and return to avoid being surrounded by Sunagakure.

After Uchiha Ronglin’s victory in a border battle, Sunagakure learned of its heavy losses and selected Rasa as its Fourth Kazekage. A further report that Ronglin had led an attack that killed forty-eight at a Sunagakure base left Granny Chiyo furious and the Third Hokage fearing a wider war.

• Granny Chiyo learned that the battle had cost Sunagakure two Elite Jonin and many other ninja, and demanded that the village choose its Fourth Kazekage without further delay.
• After reading Rasa’s file, Granny Chiyo approved him and ordered that he take office as soon as possible.
• A communications ninja reported that Uchiha Ronglin had led an attack on a Sunagakure base, killing all forty-eight people there, including its Elite Jonin.
• Granny Chiyo angrily condemned Uchiha Ronglin over the attack.
• The Third Hokage learned of the assault and worried that Ronglin’s actions would provoke a larger conflict.

After Uchiha Ronglin led a successful raid on a Sunagakure base, Konoha’s leaders debated the rising threat of war and how to respond. The meeting ended with Uchiha Fugaku requesting permission to send his clan to the front lines as reinforcements.

• The Third Hokage asked the leaders for their views on Ronglin’s attack, which had killed every Sunagakure ninja at the base, including an Elite Jonin and several Jonin.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade praised Ronglin, while White Fang warned that the Land of Wind might retaliate over the Third Kazekage’s assassination.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi supported White Fang’s call to take the situation seriously.
• Tsunade argued that Konoha could not tolerate Sunagakure’s border provocations and sought to prevent blame for the conflict from falling on Ronglin.
• Uchiha Fugaku requested permission for the Uchiha Clan to reinforce the front lines.

The Third Hokage decided to strengthen Konoha’s command and prepare its forces as tensions at the border rose. Jiraiya left to take command at the front lines while the village recalled mission teams and readied supplies for war.

• Hyuga Hiashi requested that the Hyuga Clan be sent as reinforcements, and the Third Hokage refused to send additional forces to the border.
• The Third Hokage appointed Jiraiya to represent him and command the front lines, warning that Uchiha Ronglin was young and might act impulsively.
• Jiraiya accepted the assignment and prepared to leave immediately.
• The supply managers reported that Konoha had enough provisions and equipment to endure a war.
• The Third Hokage ordered ninja on missions to return and prepare for deployment, and orders spread quickly through the village.

Jiraiya prepared to travel alone to the front lines, but Uchiha Diqin asked to accompany him so she could fight beside Uchiha Ronglin. Jiraiya warned her about the danger and considered her request without giving an answer.

• Jiraiya left the Hokage Building and headed for the village entrance to travel to the front lines alone.
• Uchiha Diqin met Jiraiya at the village entrance with a bundle and told him she wanted to go to the front lines.
• Jiraiya realized Diqin wanted to join Ronglin and silently lamented their devotion to each other.
• Jiraiya cautioned Diqin that the battlefield was dangerous and that Ronglin might not want her to take the risk.
• Uchiha Diqin insisted she had decided to go, saying she wanted to become stronger and avoid being a burden to Ronglin.
• Jiraiya studied Diqin’s serious expression but did not immediately agree to take her.

Uchiha Diqin secretly joined Jiraiya on his way to the front lines so she could fight beside Ronglin and grow stronger. Ronglin was startled by her arrival but accepted that she was already there.

• Uchiha Diqin persuaded Jiraiya to take her to the front lines, and he agreed to protect her and help convince Ronglin.
• Uchiha Mikoto learned that Uchiha Diqin had left for the front lines and worried that Ronglin would have to keep her safe.
• Uchiha Diqin surprised Ronglin when she arrived, proudly explaining how she had gone to the village entrance and traveled with Jiraiya.
• Ronglin realized Uchiha Diqin had not told her Sister or father, and she said she wanted to fight with him and avoid becoming his burden.

Uchiha Diqin persuaded Ronglin to let her join him at the front lines, where he agreed to train her through dangerous battles and keep her close. As Jiraiya took command of Konoha’s forces, Sunagakure prepared reinforcements and worried about facing both Jiraiya and Ronglin.

• Uchiha Diqin insisted that she could survive on the front lines, and Ronglin agreed to let her stay with him and fight suitable opponents.
• Jiraiya took over command from the temporary Konoha commander and began making arrangements for the front lines.
• Granny Chiyo continued managing Sunagakure while Rasa awaited his eventual appointment as the Fourth Kazekage.
• Granny Chiyo ordered the concealed Kage-level expert Shahuang to support the front lines.
• Sunagakure’s instructor worried that the village lacked enough strength to face Jiraiya and Uchiha Ronglin, who had previously inflicted heavy losses.

Uchiha Ronglin’s deadly power spread fear among the ninja villages as Sunagakure struggled to stabilize its leadership and front lines. Meanwhile, Ronglin trained Uchiha Diqin in combat, forcing her to confront the cost of hesitation.

• Sunagakure’s ninjas and other villages’ forces began retreating when Uchiha Ronglin appeared, fearing his Susanoo and Power of Time.
• Granny Chiyo prioritized installing the Fourth Hokage and sent Shahuang to command the front lines.
• Ronglin reprimanded Uchiha Diqin for hesitating to kill an enemy, warning that mercy could leave her vulnerable.
• Ronglin snapped the neck of a restrained Sunagakure Chunin as Uchiha Diqin watched, shaken by the killing.

Ronglin warned Uchiha Diqin that surviving on the front lines meant hiding her clan pride and accepting the battlefield’s ruthless rules. He explained that another war was inevitable, and that the Third Kazekage’s disappearance was only an excuse.

• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin that clan geniuses who flaunted their status on the front lines risked isolation and death.
• Ronglin advised Uchiha Diqin to keep quiet about wrongdoing she witnessed, explaining that the same act could be judged differently depending on its target.
• Ronglin returned to camp with Uchiha Diqin, where shinobi saluted him and some teased the pair.
• Ronglin explained that shinobi earned respect by leading others to victory or becoming powerful enough to inspire fear.
• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin that the calm would end in war, regardless of the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, and she protested his calling her silly.

Ronglin explained to Uchiha Diqin why war was inevitable and told her to focus on becoming stronger. At Jiraiya’s command meeting, Konoha learned that Sunagakure had sent a Kage-level fighter named Shahuang and a group of puppeteers, and Jiraiya said he would consider requesting Tsunade’s transfer.

• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin that competition for resources made war inevitable and urged her to improve her strength.
• A communications ninja summoned Ronglin to a meeting with Commander-in-Chief Jiraiya, leaving Diqin to train despite her disturbing memories of the battle.
• Jiraiya announced that Sunagakure had reinforced its forces with the Kage-level Shahuang and a group of puppeteers.
• An Elite Jonin suggested requesting Tsunade’s transfer, and Jiraiya said he would consider it.

At the Command Center, Jiraiya heard proposals for preparing against Sunagakure’s puppet masters and invited Ronglin to contribute. Ronglin urged Konoha to seek Anbu intelligence and spread rumors that would turn attention away from the Land of Fire, while Jiraiya remained concerned about the puppet forces.

• Jiraiya listened as the gathered commanders offered suggestions, including building forts and investigating the puppet masters.
• Jiraiya asked Ronglin for his opinion, and Ronglin said he had no particularly good suggestions at first.
• Ronglin recommended asking Lord Hokage to deploy Anbu personnel to gather intelligence on the enemy.
• Ronglin also proposed spreading rumors unfavorable to Sunagakure to divert attention from Konoha.
• Jiraiya focused on the danger posed by Sunagakure’s puppet forces and their record of killing Konoha ninja.

Ronglin warned Konoha’s commanders that their passive strategy and weak vigilance could leave them unprepared for a full-scale Sunagakure attack. Jiraiya agreed to seek Anbu intelligence and request Tsunade’s help if necessary.

• Ronglin criticized the commanders’ vigilance and pointed out that Konoha had repeatedly let Sunagakure take the initiative.
• Ronglin warned that a full-scale attack could cause immense losses and urged Konoha to move the fighting away from the Land of Fire.
• Jiraiya applauded Ronglin, and the Command Center’s attendees joined him.
• Jiraiya agreed that Konoha needed to seize the initiative and keep the battlefield off its own territory.
• Jiraiya said he would ask the Third Hokage to deploy Anbu Ninja for intelligence and request Tsunade’s help if necessary.

After Jiraiya ended the meeting, he kept Ronglin behind to ask about the intelligence Ronglin had gathered. Ronglin, still angry that Jiraiya had betrayed his confidence to Tsunade, refused to accept his promise and left Jiraiya pleading for the information.

• Jiraiya dismissed the meeting and asked Ronglin to stay behind.
• Jiraiya pressed Ronglin to reveal what he was thinking and what intelligence he had gathered.
• Ronglin reminded Jiraiya that he had exposed Ronglin's earlier advice to Tsunade, who had nearly attacked him.
• Jiraiya apologized and explained that he needed Ronglin's intelligence before a request to the Third Hokage delayed action.
• Ronglin rejected Jiraiya's promise because he did not trust him, then took satisfaction in making Jiraiya plead.

Ronglin warned Jiraiya that Sunagakure was gathering ninja near the Land of Wind border and might launch a surprise attack. Jiraiya verified the intelligence and began preparing for the threat.

• Ronglin told Jiraiya that about two hundred kilometers away, Sunagakure was steadily gathering ninja near the Land of Wind border.
• Jiraiya realized the information could signal an imminent large-scale attack and cursed the rules that had made Ronglin hesitate to share it.
• Ronglin sent his gathered intelligence to Konoha through Anbu methods.
• Jiraiya launched an investigation to verify the report and confirmed that Sunagakure ninja were gathering at the stated location.
• Jiraiya was shocked to learn that the gathering could enable a sudden attack on Konoha from deep in the rear.

The Third Shinobi World War began when Sunagakure launched a surprise attack, but Ronglin’s intelligence had allowed Jiraiya to prepare Konoha’s defenses. As the frontline came under pressure and reinforcements moved out, Uchiha Diqin asked Ronglin what Jiraiya would do.

• Ronglin kept his warning about the coming war to himself as Jiraiya began preparations.
• The Third Hokage acted on Ronglin’s intelligence, sending Anbu led by White Fang toward the border and reinforcing the Land of Earth frontier.
• Sunagakure launched a surprise attack, but Jiraiya’s forces detected the sand shinobi and sent word that they needed reinforcements.
• Jiraiya dispatched Konoha squads to support the retreating vanguard while the camp prepared for casualties.
• Uchiha Diqin asked Ronglin whether war had begun and whether Jiraiya would enter the battle.

Ronglin suspected Jiraiya was waiting for White Fang to take over command, but Jiraiya left the camp on a special mission and unexpectedly placed Ronglin in charge of the Command Center. The chapter ended with Ronglin stunned by Jiraiya’s departure as the war was underway.

• Ronglin reasoned that Jiraiya would stay at the Command Center and likely send Elite Jonin to support and retrieve scattered troops.
• Ronglin suspected Jiraiya wanted White Fang to replace him as commander, since Ronglin lacked the age and prestige to take over.
• Ronglin continued training Uchiha Diqin, whose Sharingan advanced to two tomoe.
• An Elite Jonin told Ronglin that Jiraiya had left a letter ordering him to direct the battle and hand command to White Fang.
• The Elite Jonin revealed that Jiraiya had left the camp with several companions to carry out a special mission, leaving Ronglin bewildered.

Ronglin was left to manage the front after Jiraiya abandoned his post, and he delegated the paperwork while deciding to report him. Meanwhile, Jiraiya led several Elite Jonin into the Land of Wind despite their concerns about breaking the rules.

• Ronglin realized Jiraiya had left him and White Fang to deal with the front-line command.
• Ronglin ordered Jiraiya's assistant to handle personnel assignments and bring him only documents requiring his signature, and he demanded a report so he could report Jiraiya.
• Ronglin reflected that he lacked the knowledge to assign Konoha's many ninja and was relieved that Jiraiya had already set a defensive strategy.
• Jiraiya entered the Land of Wind with several Elite Jonin, brushing aside their warnings that his departure as Commander-in-Chief violated the rules.

Jiraiya left the front-line camp, prompting Ronglin to report his disappearance to Konoha. The Third Hokage arranged for White Fang to reach the front in three days and take over from Ronglin.

• Jiraiya rejected the Elite Jonin's objections and left to handle a mission, while worrying about how he would appease Ronglin.
• Konoha received Ronglin's report that Jiraiya had abandoned the camp and vanished.
• The Third Hokage asked who was handling the war affairs and learned that Ronglin had taken charge.
• The Third Hokage told the communications ninja to tell Ronglin to hold on until White Fang arrived in three days.
• Tsunade struggled to suppress her laughter as the meeting resumed.

Ronglin struggled through two days of exhausting command duties as Konoha tried to prevent Sand Ninja from infiltrating its rear. Uchiha Diqin brought him food and saw the grim casualty report, leaving Ronglin to explain that avoiding a direct attack had kept losses from becoming even worse.

• Ronglin ordered Elite Third Squad to search widely, avoid deep engagements, and wear down the Sand Ninja while retreating and counterattacking.
• Ronglin handled the front’s supply, medical, and personnel matters for two days, growing increasingly exhausted and irritable.
• Ronglin snapped at Uchiha Diqin when she called to him, then apologized after realizing who she was.
• Uchiha Diqin brought Ronglin food and massaged his shoulders while he said he had little appetite.
• Uchiha Diqin saw the high casualty report, and Ronglin told her that a frontal attack would have caused even more losses.

Ronglin struggled to hold Konoha’s front against Sunagakure’s approaching reinforcements until White Fang arrived with the Anbu. White Fang took over command, and Ronglin finally went to sleep.

• Ronglin noted that Sunagakure’s reinforcements would soon give the enemy more than six thousand ninja against Konoha’s fewer than three thousand, while Konoha’s own reinforcements were delayed.
• Ronglin remained at the Command Center because leaving would risk throwing the front line into chaos, and Uchiha Diqin hoped White Fang would arrive soon.
• White Fang arrived with the Anbu and learned that Ronglin was handing him command and that Jiraiya had left on a mission.
• Ronglin passed the responsibilities to White Fang and went to rest.
• White Fang took command and cursed Jiraiya while the Anbu watched in confusion.