Chapter Summaries

Ronglin explained why the Third Hokage had transferred him back from the war and urged Uchiha Fugaku to resist Konoha’s attempts to use the Uchiha. He warned that the conflict with Sunagakure would deepen and left Fugaku asking about the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Ronglin said the Hyuga and Senju had helped force the Third Hokage to transfer him back, limiting his rise in reputation.
• Ronglin advised Uchiha Fugaku to reject the village’s offers for two years so Konoha would have to reckon with the Uchiha’s absence.
• Ronglin warned that Sunagakure was only the beginning and that Konoha would be dragged into a prolonged war, possibly against Iwagakure as well.
• Uchiha Fugaku asked Ronglin about the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Ronglin called it very powerful.

Ronglin told Uchiha Fugaku that the Mangekyo could greatly increase the Uchiha clan’s power and status, but its awakening was too difficult to make that a reliable plan. Fugaku abandoned his hopes of using it to strengthen the clan, and Ronglin left him conflicted.

• Ronglin explained that several Uchiha with the Mangekyo could raise the clan’s influence in Konoha, and Uchiha Fugaku became excited by the possibility.
• Ronglin reflected that Mangekyo awakenings were rare and did not make their users invincible, despite later examples such as Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi.
• Ronglin considered the uncertain conditions for awakening the Mangekyo, comparing different Uchiha cases and the Sage of Six Paths’s leap to the Rinnegan.
• Uchiha Fugaku realized his hopes were wishful thinking and stopped asking about the Mangekyo.
• Ronglin left, while Uchiha Fugaku watched him with a furrowed brow and remained conflicted.

Ronglin warned Uchiha Fugaku to keep the Uchiha out of Root and asked to take Uchiha Shisui under his wing. Shisui was summoned from the Ninja Academy and ordered to pack for a long journey.

• Ronglin told Uchiha Fugaku never to let an Uchiha join Root and asked whether Kagami Uchiha's son was Uchiha Shisui.
• Uchiha Fugaku explained that Shisui lived alone and kept crows, and Ronglin said Shisui should follow him from then on.
• Ronglin left the village, while Uchiha Fugaku decided to pay closer attention to Shisui.
• Uchiha Izumi Nishi summoned Shisui from class and told him to return home and prepare for a long journey.
• Shisui worried that he would fall behind at the academy, but Uchiha Izumi Nishi insisted it was an order.

Ronglin’s anger erupted at Konoha’s back mountain, where his Sharingan evolved into the Eternal Mangekyo and greatly increased his control over time. He left before Konoha’s patrols could find him, while the Third Hokage ordered an investigation into the power he had sensed.

• Uchiha Izumi Nishi told Shisui to obey his new assignment as someone’s attendant, and Shisui left the Ninja Academy confused about who he was meant to follow.
• Ronglin went to the back mountain, where his anger surged after he left Uchiha Fugaku’s home and he realized his eyes were changing.
• Ronglin’s Sharingan evolved into the Eternal Mangekyo, expanding his ability to stop time from a few meters to several dozen meters.
• Ronglin left the back mountain before the patrol team arrived, and the Third Hokage sent Anbu to investigate the powerful energy fluctuation he had sensed.
• The patrol team and Anbu found no one on the back mountain.

Ronglin left the Sunagakure front to travel to the Land of Earth and chose young Uchiha Shisui as his guard. They set out together, with Ronglin planning to train Shisui and keep Danzo from interfering with him; the chapter ended as Shisui asked whether they should hurry.

• Ronglin left the battlefield for the Land of Earth, leaving Jiraiya to take on more missions while White Fang commanded at headquarters.
• Ronglin named Uchiha Shisui as his guard and told him to follow along, grow stronger, and undergo targeted training.
• Shisui eagerly joined Ronglin on the road and watched him with admiration.
• Shisui caught and roasted a chicken for Ronglin, who shared half with him.
• Shisui asked Ronglin whether they should speed up their journey.

Ronglin and Shisui traveled slowly toward the Land of Earth, and Ronglin explained how the small countries had been created as buffer zones between the great nations. He left Shisui reflecting on how Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara had used their strength to make those agreements possible.

• Ronglin and Shisui continued toward the Land of Earth at a leisurely pace, and Shisui questioned Ronglin's relaxed approach to their mission.
• Ronglin told Shisui to change his clothes so they would not be recognized as members of Konoha's Uchiha Clan.
• After half a month of traveling, Ronglin and Shisui passed through the Land of Grass, where Shisui marveled at the rice paddies.
• Ronglin explained that the small countries had been established as buffer zones to reduce conflict between the great nations.
• Ronglin said Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara had used the threat of their strength to help the Five Great Nations reach agreements.

Ronglin told Shisui that Uchiha Madara had ruined an early alliance proposal from Iwagakure by humiliating the Second Tsuchikage and young Ōnoki. Shisui learned that the insult helped create the bitter hostility between Konoha and Iwagakure, and Ronglin explained that the alliance might have succeeded if they had met Hashirama Senju or Tobirama Senju instead.

• Ronglin asked Shisui why the conflict between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire ran so deep.
• Ronglin revealed that the Second Tsuchikage and young Ōnoki had once visited Konoha to request an alliance, but the attempt had failed despite Iwagakure’s concessions.
• Ronglin explained that Uchiha Madara had dismissed and viciously humiliated the two visitors, leaving them with no goodwill toward Konoha.
• Shisui asked why Madara had rejected the alliance when Konoha needed allies.
• Ronglin said the alliance could have formed if the visitors had met Hashirama Senju or Tobirama Senju instead.

Ronglin forced Shisui through a painful lesson about strength and taught him how to survive among the small countries and Iwagakure. They entered the Land of Earth in disguise to investigate, while Ronglin remained under orders not to build more battlefield prestige.

• Ronglin told Shisui that Konoha could promote peace because its strength made others fear war, then used his Eternal Mangekyo to overwhelm him.
• After Shisui recovered, Ronglin warned him that the Land of Grass's ninja could be deceptive and dangerous.
• Ronglin instructed Shisui to adapt and conceal his Konoha identity when entering the Land of Earth, where Iwagakure ninja were hostile to Konoha.
• Ronglin and Shisui traveled through the Land of Earth in changed clothing and passed Iwagakure patrols without being stopped.

Ronglin and Shisui traveled through the Land of Earth, where they heard villagers discussing the war and Ronglin’s reputation. Ronglin told Shisui to keep training and not worry about the mission, then prepared to go out at night.

• Shisui sensed tension in a village as people discussed the war and movements of supplies in the Land of Earth.
• Ronglin listened to villagers talk about his losses inflicted on Sunagakure while Shisui held back from responding.
• Ronglin told Shisui that gathering intelligence was part of their mission and instructed him to focus on training.
• At night, Shisui asked where Ronglin was going, then realized he had spoken out of turn and lowered his head.

Ronglin took Shisui to see what Jiraiya was supposedly best at, leading him to a street of taverns and courtesans. Shisui blushed at the sight, and Ronglin entered an establishment and requested a private room with several pretty women.

• Ronglin invited Shisui to come along and asked what Jiraiya was best at, then teased that it was not fighting.
• Shisui agreed to follow Ronglin and promised he would not back down from what he was about to see.
• Ronglin used his enhanced vision to find a street lined with taverns and scantily dressed women.
• Shisui turned red and stared at the women, having never seen such a scene before.
• Ronglin chose an establishment, entered with Shisui, and requested a private room and several pretty women.

Ronglin took Shisui to a tavern and arranged for several women to keep him company, leaving Shisui overwhelmed and covered in lipstick marks. They left two hours later, with Ronglin teasing him about the experience.

• Ronglin paid the tavern hostess, who kissed Shisui and left a lipstick mark on his face.
• Ronglin ordered wine and food, then told three young women to sit with Shisui and make sure he was satisfied.
• Shisui blushed and froze as the women surrounded him and showered him with compliments.
• Two hours later, Ronglin left the tavern with Shisui, whose face and head were covered in lipstick marks.
• Ronglin asked Shisui how the experience had felt, but Shisui stammered without answering.

Ronglin took Shisui to a Pleasure Den to teach him about gathering information and using money, then fled the village with him when their presence drew attention. The chapter left Ronglin facing their pursuers outside the village as he summoned something, while continuing to teach Shisui.

• Ronglin told Shisui to judge his own limits when gathering information and using money, and Shisui realized the Pleasure Den visit had been a lesson.
• Ronglin woke Shisui in the middle of the night and hurried out of the village, warning that they might otherwise be captured.
• Several figures chased Ronglin and Shisui from the village, and Ronglin stopped to avoid fighting where ordinary people could be caught in the battle.
• Ronglin used Summoning Jutsu as Shisui watched.

Ronglin and Shisui were confronted by Stone Ninja who had tracked them down, and Ronglin ordered Black Scale to eliminate the pursuers. He left the two surviving genin to fight Shisui, turning the encounter into a test of Shisui’s combat ability.

• Black Scale appeared and charged the Stone Ninja after Ronglin ordered it to kill everyone except the two genin.
• Black Scale quickly killed the three chunin, leaving the two Rock Hidden Genin alive.
• Ronglin assigned the two genin to Shisui and told them they could leave if they defeated him.
• Ronglin warned Shisui to fight hard so they would not be surrounded and hunted by enemies in the future.

Ronglin made Shisui fight two Rock Hidden Genin while he watched, and Shisui struggled against their teamwork and greater combat experience. The battle left Shisui with a deep arm wound as the pair pressed their advantage.

• Ronglin watched while Black Scale prevented the two Rock Hidden Genin from fleeing.
• The two Rock Hidden Genin attacked Shisui, who quickly fell onto the defensive.
• Shisui struggled to withstand their coordinated kunai attacks and could find few chances to counter.
• One of the Rock Hidden Genin cut Shisui's arm, forcing him to retreat and clutch the wound.
• The two Rock Hidden Genin urged each other to finish Shisui off, while Ronglin watched without intervening.

Ronglin’s intervention ended the fight when Black Scale devoured the Rock Hidden Genin, and Shisui’s poor performance led Ronglin to decide he needed to start training from the basics. The chapter ended with Ronglin reassuring the injured Shisui that he would train him once he recovered.

• Ronglin ordered Black Scale to attack, and it devoured the two Rock Hidden Genin despite Ronglin claiming he had kept his word.
• Ronglin gave Shisui medical supplies and told him that his fundamentals were poor and that he would need to start from the basics.
• Shisui apologized and feared Ronglin would dismiss him, but Ronglin reassured him that he would train him after his wound healed.
• Shisui accidentally tugged his wound while trying to scratch his head, and Ronglin told him to bandage it before he passed out.

Ronglin and Shisui headed back toward Konoha after three months of training, learning that Sunagakure had dealt Konoha’s forces a major defeat. They reached the village’s patrols, and Ronglin asked whether anything else had happened.

• Ronglin treated Shisui’s wound and left the unsuitable village with him.
• Over three months on the road, Shisui lost his impetuousness, gained strength, and acquired numerous scars.
• Ronglin and Shisui heard travelers report that Sunagakure had ambushed Konoha’s forces, badly wounded Jiraiya, and forced the army to retreat.
• Shisui lamented that Ronglin had been transferred away from the front, but Ronglin warned him not to say such things.
• Konoha’s patrolling ninjas greeted Ronglin and Shisui, and Ronglin asked whether anything had happened in the village besides the front-line defeat.

Ronglin returned to Konoha and reported his mission to the Third Hokage, who told him about the defeat at the front and the villagers’ criticism of Jiraiya and White Fang. Ronglin defended their decision to take a risk, while the Third Hokage noted that the villagers would not see it that way.

• Ronglin told Shisui to go to the hospital for treatment and cover any lingering injuries before heading to the Hokage Building.
• Ronglin submitted his mission report, and the Third Hokage thanked him for his work.
• The Third Hokage explained that Sunagakure had lured White Fang and Jiraiya into a trap, causing heavy losses for Konoha’s frontline ninja.
• The Third Hokage said the defeat had shocked villagers, who blamed White Fang and Jiraiya for advancing recklessly.
• Ronglin said they had taken the risk to end the war sooner, but the Third Hokage replied that the villagers would not understand.

Ronglin warned the Third Hokage that Iwagakure was preparing to join the war and urged Konoha to guard against other nations exploiting its exhaustion. The Third Hokage doubted the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water would enter the conflict, and Ronglin left without changing his mind.

• The Third Hokage asked Ronglin whether he blamed him for transferring him back, and Ronglin said he did not.
• Ronglin reported that intensified patrols and supply movements in the Land of Earth indicated Iwagakure would join the war.
• The Third Hokage asked how Konoha should respond, and Ronglin advised it to keep guarding against the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.
• The Third Hokage argued that neither country was likely to join the war, but Ronglin warned that unlikely events could still happen.
• Ronglin took his leave, leaving the Third Hokage unconvinced.

Ronglin returned from the Land of Earth and told Uchiha Diqin that Shisui had endured many battles and was receiving treatment. After visiting Shisui at the Medical Department, Ronglin met Tsunade, who asked about his time in the Land of Earth.

• Uchiha Diqin complained that Ronglin had been away for three months and asked why he had not taken her along.
• Ronglin explained that Shisui had fought more than twenty battles in the Land of Earth and was being treated for his scars, then said Shisui's training differed from Diqin's.
• Ronglin told Diqin that Shisui's talent might soon let him surpass her, and quieted her protest by invoking the clan leader's words about girls.
• Ronglin went to the Medical Department, arranged for Shisui's treatment fees to be charged to him, and went upstairs to Tsunade's office.
• Ronglin entered Tsunade's office without knocking, and Tsunade asked how his time in the Land of Earth had been.

Ronglin returned from a mission and told Tsunade that the Land of Earth was moving supplies in large quantities, suggesting it might soon enter the war. Tsunade reassured him that Konoha had prepared for that possibility.

• Ronglin criticized the war-torn Land of Earth and joked about his own good looks, making Tsunade laugh.
• Tsunade apologized for failing to protect Ronglin from the Hyuga Clan elders, and Ronglin told her not to blame herself.
• Ronglin asked what Konoha planned to do after its crushing defeat, and Tsunade said the village would send more reinforcements while guarding its borders.
• Ronglin said the Land of Earth was frequently moving supplies and that his trip there had mainly trained newcomers while gathering intelligence incidentally.
• Tsunade reassured Ronglin that the Third Hokage had prepared for the Land of Earth's possible entry into the war.