Chapter Summaries

Ronglin and White Fang discussed the growing threat from Kumogakure and Kakashi’s future in the Anbu. White Fang departed for the Land of Rain with part of the Anbu, while Kakashi joined the unit and began earning his place among its members.

• Ronglin read intelligence about Kumogakure increasing its forces along the Land of Fire’s border and said the cloud ninja were growing impatient.
• White Fang prepared to investigate the Land of Rain, and Ronglin warned him to avoid confronting Danzo and Orochimaru if it was too dangerous.
• White Fang asked Ronglin to let Kakashi join the Anbu, and Ronglin agreed that it might provide useful training.
• Ronglin ordered Kakashi into the Anbu without special treatment, and White Fang left Konoha for the Land of Rain with a portion of the unit.
• Kakashi’s cold manner made most of the Anbu dislike him, but he continued in the unit without changing his behavior.

Ronglin sensed that Nagato had gone berserk after Yahiko’s death and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Danzo and Orochimaru escaped before White Fang arrived, leaving him to investigate the destruction and their retreat.

• Ronglin sensed something wrong with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and realized Nagato had forcibly summoned it.
• Nagato went berserk after Yahiko’s death and killed dozens of Amegakure ninja.
• Danzo and Orochimaru withdrew from the battle, wary of both Nagato and White Fang’s Anbu team.
• White Fang arrived after the fighting had ended and found the area devastated.
• Anbu members found traces showing that Danzo and Orochimaru had already retreated.

Ronglin considered the difficulty of tracking Danzo and Orochimaru in the Land of Rain and reflected on the cost of Nagato's Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. He sent Uchiha Diqin home early so he could think in private, hinting that she should wait for him.

• White Fang told Ronglin that Danzo and Orochimaru were too vigilant to track easily in the Land of Rain, but promised to keep trying.
• Ronglin concluded that Danzo and Orochimaru had likely come to the Land of Rain because of Akatsuki and wondered whether they had encountered Nagato.
• Ronglin reflected that the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had drained Nagato's life force and Chakra, leaving him frail.
• Ronglin dismissed Uchiha Diqin early and told her to go home, wash up, and wait for him while he thought.
• Uchiha Diqin understood Ronglin's implication, blushed, and left the office.

Ronglin learned that Konoha had run out of money because war-orphan support, compensation, and rising supply costs had created a major shortfall. He blamed the Land of Artisans for exploiting Konoha’s need for supplies and vowed to deal with them.

• Nagato killed Hanzō of the Salamander, prompting Danzo and Orochimaru to leave the Land of Rain while White Fang returned to Konoha without valuable intelligence.
• Kumogakure backed down from public calls to attack Iwagakure after Ōnoki reinforced the border.
• Konoha recovered after the war as ninjas took missions and the Daimyo provided operating funds.
• Uchiha Diqin told Ronglin that Konoha had run out of money because subsidies, war-orphan compensation, essential supplies, and rising prices exceeded its funds.
• Ronglin blamed the Land of Artisans for deliberately raising supply prices and vowed to wipe them out.

Ronglin reacted to the Land of Artisans raising the price of supplies by ordering Konoha to spend all its remaining money on purchases. He convened Konoha's leaders and representatives, along with envoys from Sunagakure and Kirigakure, to discuss his plans.

• Ronglin learned that the Land of Artisans had sharply increased the price of supplies Konoha needed after the Third War.
• Ronglin decided to buy all available supplies with Konoha's remaining money and summoned the village's higher-ups.
• Ronglin called the envoys from Sunagakure and Kirigakure to discuss an important matter, intending to involve them in his plans against the Land of Artisans.
• Konoha's leaders and clan representatives gathered for the first high-level meeting since Ronglin had taken over the village.
• Ronglin entered the conference room with Kisame Hoshigaki and Shisui and began to address everyone.

Ronglin told the conference room that Konoha had run out of money, then explained that suppliers from the Land of Artisans had sharply increased their prices. He left the meeting facing a funding shortfall caused by the third price increase since the war with Sunagakure began.

• Ronglin announced that Konoha had run out of money, alarming the officials and leaders in the conference room.
• The Third Hokage asked Ronglin where the village's funds had gone, while others questioned how the shortage was possible.
• Ronglin explained that the village's finances had been sufficient for normal operations, despite increased benefits.
• Ronglin said suppliers from the Land of Artisans had raised prices and refused to sell materials to Konoha at the old rates.
• Ronglin revealed that this was the third price increase since the war with Sunagakure began.

Ronglin persuaded Konoha’s leaders to consider punishing the Land of Artisans for raising supply prices during Konoha’s postwar weakness. He proposed recruiting Sunagakure and Kirigakure so Konoha could lead the action without committing many forces.

• Ronglin stirred the conference room into anger over the Land of Artisans exploiting Konoha’s crisis.
• Ronglin called for Konoha to teach the Land of Artisans a lesson, revealing his intention to take action.
• The Third Hokage agreed that the Land of Artisans deserved a response but asked how Konoha could afford a war.
• Ronglin proposed drawing Sunagakure and Kirigakure into the effort because they had also suffered from the raised prices.
• The leaders recognized that the villages could share the costs and potential spoils while Konoha led the action.

Ronglin secured unanimous support for attacking the Land of Artisans and secretly gathered Rasa and Yagura in Konoha to plan the campaign. The three leaders began their talks, while Rasa declined Ronglin’s offer to help with Shukaku.

• Ronglin proposed attacking the Land of Artisans, and Konoha’s leaders unanimously approved the plan.
• Ronglin met with envoys from Kirigakure and Sunagakure, who sent word to their villages to join the campaign.
• Rasa and Yagura secretly arrived in Konoha with people who would take part in the attack.
• Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura met in an underground room to discuss the war against the Land of Artisans.
• Ronglin asked Rasa whether Sunagakure needed help with Shukaku, but Rasa declined.

Ronglin met with Rasa and Yagura to plan a joint campaign against the Land of Artisans over its rising supply prices. They agreed to use allegedly defective ninja tools as their pretext, leaving the three villages ready to act together.

• Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura set aside their teasing and discussed joining forces against the Land of Artisans.
• Rasa and Yagura explained that their villages were struggling with the cost of supplies and agreed to Konoha’s proposal.
• Rasa warned that Iwagakure and Kumogakure might intervene unless the three villages had a suitable excuse.
• Ronglin said Konoha had received a defective batch of supplies and would demand an explanation from the Land of Artisans.
• Rasa and Yagura approved the plan, reasoning that the other villages would have little grounds to object.

Ronglin negotiated with Rasa and Yagura over how to divide the profits and craftsmen from their alliance. The talks ended with Ronglin demanding half the profits for Konoha and two-thirds of the craftsmen, while Rasa and Yagura reacted with anger.

• Rasa proposed that Konoha receive four shares and Sunagakure and Kirigakure receive three shares each, and Yagura agreed.
• Ronglin rejected the proposal, arguing that Konoha would lead the effort and bear the criticism if anything went wrong.
• Ronglin demanded six shares for Konoha and the majority of the craftsmen, prompting Yagura to object.
• Yagura offered Konoha half the profits, with Kirigakure and Sunagakure splitting the rest, but Ronglin refused to back down.
• Ronglin said Konoha could accept half the profits if it received two-thirds of the craftsmen, leaving Rasa and Yagura furious.

Ronglin negotiated with Rasa and Yagura over supplies and craftsmen from the Land of Artisans, rejecting their attempts to bargain by offering women in exchange. He left the negotiations at an impasse, insisting Konoha receive six shares and half the craftsmen or the deal would be canceled.

• Ronglin teased Rasa by suggesting Sunagakure could get two and a half shares if Rasa sent him Temari.
• Rasa unexpectedly agreed to give Temari in exchange for supplies and craftsmen.
• Yagura said he had no daughter, then offered to exchange a Kirigakure woman for half a share.
• Ronglin dismissed both offers and demanded six shares for Konoha and half the craftsmen, threatening to call off the deal.

Ronglin negotiated the villages’ shares of supplies and artisans from the Land of Artisans, then proposed an invasion involving Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure. The meeting ended with Yagura furious after Ronglin revealed he had a contract that let him summon the Three-Tails.

• Ronglin accepted Konoha receiving half the artisans and an extra share of supplies, and Rasa and Yagura agreed to his terms.
• Ronglin proposed that Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure each send one thousand shinobi, with Konoha providing ships.
• Ronglin asked Yagura to release the Three-Tails for the campaign, but Yagura refused because Kirigakure was trying to seal it.
• Ronglin revealed that he had signed a contract with the Three-Tails and could summon it, leaving Yagura alarmed and accusing Ronglin of withholding the information.

Ronglin, Yagura, and Rasa agreed to cooperate against the Land of Artisans while preparing for possible intervention by Iwagakure and Kumogakure. After their meeting, Kirigakure and Sunagakure secretly mobilized, and Konoha began pressuring the Land of Artisans over defective supplies.

• Ronglin told Yagura he would use the Three-Tails in battle and urged Kirigakure to find it a Jinchuriki afterward.
• Rasa mediated between Ronglin and Yagura, and Yagura agreed to wait until the crisis passed before securing the Three-Tails with a seal.
• Ronglin warned Yagura and Rasa to keep their plans secret and said their villages would need to unite if Iwagakure and Kumogakure joined forces.
• Ronglin set the operation for ten days later, and Yagura and Rasa agreed to the plan.
• Kirigakure and Sunagakure secretly mobilized while Konoha confronted the Land of Artisans over defective supplies.

Ronglin helped Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure spread accusations that the Land of Artisans sold defective supplies, then led their forces in a surprise expedition to seize it. He summoned the sealed Three-Tails by force, leaving the mist ninja guarding it stunned.

• Ronglin secretly spread claims that the Land of Artisans’ supplies were defective, prompting Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure to accuse it while it denied the charges.
• Ronglin, Yagura, and Rasa gathered their forces and prepared to attack the Land of Artisans before Iwagakure and Kumogakure could respond.
• Three thousand ninja boarded warships at a small harbor, despite Sunagakure and Konoha’s lack of experience fighting at sea.
• Ronglin used the Eternal Mangekyo to break Kirigakure’s seal and summon the Three-Tails, shocking the mist ninja guarding it.

Ronglin used the Three-Tails to transport the allied forces toward the Land of Artisans, while Yagura and Rasa worried about his ability to summon tailed beasts. After three days at sea, the force approached a harbor under a thick, suspicious fog.

• Ronglin summoned the Three-Tails and took Yagura aboard, while Rasa worried Ronglin might someday summon the One-Tail as well.
• Yagura and Rasa resolved to find ways to seal their villages’ tailed beasts inside suitable Jinchuriki.
• The Three-Tails led warships carrying forces from Kirigakure, Konoha, and Sunagakure toward the Land of Artisans through a mist-covered route.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi glared at Yagura, who reconsidered the trade that had handed them over to Ronglin.
• After three days, patrol ninjas at a Land of Artisans harbor spotted unexpected heavy fog and heard waves approaching; experienced ninjas recognized danger and shouted a warning.

Ronglin used the Three-Tails to unleash a massive wave that devastated the Land of Artisans’ harbor, then sent his force to attack the Artisan Ninja Village. The defenders realized the wave was part of an invasion and recognized the attackers as Konoha ninja.

• The Land of Artisans’ residents heard a warning about a huge wave approaching through the fog, but many doubted it.
• A wave dozens of meters high surged into the harbor, engulfing fleeing people and submerging the surrounding land.
• Ronglin praised the Three-Tails and ordered his troops to take the Artisan Ninja Village as quickly as possible.
• Three thousand ninja left the warships and advanced across the flooded beach toward the village.
• The Land of Artisans’ ninja realized they were under attack and identified the approaching force as Konoha ninja.

Kisame Hoshigaki attacked Artisan Ninja Village ninja as Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure forces joined the assault. He defeated the village’s Special Jonin and left several Chunin fleeing to warn the village.

• Artisan Ninja Village ninja discovered that Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had joined forces against them.
• Kisame Hoshigaki appeared behind the ninja trying to send a warning and declared that Artisan Ninja Village would be destroyed.
• The Artisan Ninja Special Jonin tried to hold Kisame back while several Chunin fled to carry the news.
• Kisame Hoshigaki shattered the Special Jonin’s defense with Samehada, absorbed his Chakra, and badly injured him.

Shisui and Kisame Hoshigaki helped the Three Allied Forces crush the Artisan Ninja Village’s resistance as Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura advanced toward the village. Ronglin explained that the allied attack would let them seize the spoils before Iwagakure and Kumogakure could respond, and he suggested those two villages would face an awkward situation.

• Shisui appeared beside Kisame Hoshigaki, killed the Artisan Ninja Special Jonin, and criticized Kisame for taking too long.
• Kisame Hoshigaki chased after a fleeing Chunin through the flooded terrain while Shisui complained about his speed in the water.
• The Three Allied Forces overwhelmed the Artisan Ninja Village’s defenders as Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura walked behind the advancing army.
• Yagura and Ronglin called the Artisan Ninja Village weak and discussed how its challenge had brought the attack upon it.
• Ronglin explained that involving Sunagakure and Kirigakure would let them divide the spoils before Iwagakure and Kumogakure could react.
• Rasa asked whether Iwagakure and Kumogakure would retaliate, and Ronglin said their relationship would make the situation awkward.

Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura agreed to stand together if Iwagakure and Kumogakure challenged their seizure of the Land of Artisans. The Three Allied Forces destroyed the Artisan Ninja Village and captured its craftsmen, leaving Ronglin to declare the village erased from the map.

• Ronglin warned Rasa and Yagura not to abandon their alliance if Iwagakure and Kumogakure applied pressure, and they agreed to stand together.
• The Three Allied Forces stormed the Artisan Ninja Village and killed its defenders under orders to spare the craftsmen.
• The battle ended in less than an hour, and the allied forces began gathering supplies and capturing craftsmen.
• Shisui reported that some villagers had escaped, but Ronglin dismissed them and declared the Artisan Ninja Village removed from the map.

Ronglin and his allies divided the seized wealth and craftsmen from the Land of Artisans, with Konoha taking the largest share. Ronglin and Yagura departed for their villages, while Rasa stayed behind to search for whatever supplies remained.

• Ronglin ordered his forces to speed up the collection and prepare to return before news of the attack spread.
• Ronglin, Rasa, and Yagura divided the spoils according to their agreement, giving Konoha two-thirds of the supplies and money and half the craftsmen.
• Rasa and Yagura envied Konoha's large share, but neither dared challenge Ronglin over the agreed distribution.
• Ronglin sailed back to Konoha to prepare for the fallout from the attack becoming public.
• Yagura left for Kirigakure with the Three-Tails, intending to find a Jinchuriki for it.
• Rasa remained in the Land of Artisans to search for the supplies and money left behind.