Chapter Summaries

Ronglin returned to Konoha with the spoils and artisans taken from the Land of Artisans, while news of the three villages’ attack reached Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Ōnoki erupted in anger, and Kumogakure’s leaders were left stunned and demanding sanctions.

• Rasa searched the Land of Artisans thoroughly and uncovered hidden treasures.
• Ronglin’s convoy sailed openly back to Konoha with supplies, wealth, and artisans as witnesses spread news of the attack.
• Ōnoki learned that Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had joined forces to destroy the Artisan Ninja Village and divide its valuables.
• Ōnoki shouted in fury and suffered a coughing fit after hearing the report.
• Kumogakure’s leaders confirmed the news and called for the three villages to be severely sanctioned.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure reacted to the destruction of the Land of Artisans by deciding to join forces against Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure. In Konoha, Ronglin reported the haul of supplies and craftsmen, leaving the village optimistic about its recovery while the Third Hokage asked about civilian casualties.

• Kumogakure's higher-ups demanded that Ay take office as Fourth Hokage and called for an alliance with Iwagakure to sanction the three villages.
• Ōnoki withdrew Iwagakure's army from the border and agreed to join Kumogakure's proposed sanctions.
• Konoha's villagers and leaders celebrated Ronglin's return with supplies and craftsmen, and were stunned by the amount acquired.
• Ronglin told Konoha's leaders that the resources would help the village recover and grow stronger.
• The Third Hokage asked about casualties among the Land of Artisans' civilians, and Ronglin said the war had barely affected them.

Ronglin warned Konoha’s leaders that the gains they had made could provoke sanctions from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, and urged them to prepare for the fallout. He ordered Nara Shikaku to stall their opponents while Konoha recovered, leaving Shikaku with his first assignment from Ronglin.

• Ronglin cautioned that Iwagakure and Kumogakure might join forces to sanction Konoha and that the crisis could lead to war.
• Ronglin proposed drawing Sunagakure and Kirigakure closer and maintaining that the Land of Artisans had sold Konoha defective supplies.
• Nara Shikaku raised concerns that Sunagakure and Kirigakure might fail to stand with Konoha.
• Ronglin said Konoha should prepare for betrayal and ordered Shikaku to stall Iwagakure and Kumogakure while Konoha recovered.

Ronglin assigned Nara Shikaku to lead a war of words against Kumogakure and Iwagakure, then explained that Kumogakure was likely to escalate tensions while Iwagakure lacked the supplies for another war. He left Konoha’s leaders expecting Sunagakure might become Iwagakure’s opening instead.

• Ronglin tasked Nara Shikaku with stirring up a war of words against Kumogakure and Iwagakure without causing casualties.
• Nara Shikaku accepted the assignment and recognized that he needed to show support for Ronglin on behalf of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
• After the meeting, Ronglin asked Nara Shikaku to stay, signaling that he was joining Konoha’s inner circle.
• Tsunade asked whether Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s sanctions would escalate, and Ronglin said they definitely would.
• Ronglin predicted that Kumogakure would make a move, while Iwagakure lacked supplies and would likely look for an opening through Sunagakure.

Ronglin explained that Konoha’s campaign in the Land of Artisans had pushed Iwagakure and Kumogakure toward a confrontation, while a public dispute would distract the other villages. Iwagakure and Kumogakure then joined forces to demand an explanation from Konoha, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure, leaving the Ninja World anticipating possible war.

• Ronglin told the Third Hokage and the others that Kumogakure was the likelier threat to Konoha, though turmoil after the Third Raikage’s death would delay any attack.
• Nara Shikaku recognized that Ronglin’s war of words was intended to divert attention from Konoha’s actions in the Land of Artisans, and Ronglin confirmed it.
• Ronglin declared that Konoha would wait for Iwagakure and Kumogakure to act and that he would teach Kumogakure not to underestimate him.
• News spread that Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had destroyed the Artisan Ninja Village and gained substantial benefits, drawing attention to Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s likely response.
• Second Tsuchikage Ōnoki and the newly installed Fourth Raikage joined forces and demanded an explanation from Konoha, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure.

Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure turned Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s accusations into a public war of words, winning support from smaller nations with promises of trade benefits. Iwagakure then put military pressure on Sunagakure, and Rasa backed down without starting a war.

• Konoha accused Iwagakure and Kumogakure of provoking conflict and defended its attack on the Land of Artisans.
• Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage tried to rally smaller nations against Konoha, but Konoha offered them trade benefits.
• Rasa and Yagura joined Konoha in accusing Iwagakure and Kumogakure, and Yagura warned them that Kirigakure could take military action.
• Ronglin and Uchiha Diqin discussed how the smaller nations’ support had shifted public opinion in Konoha’s favor.
• Iwagakure mobilized forces toward Sunagakure’s border, and Rasa backed down rather than risk war.

After Sunagakure backed down and Iwagakure withdrew, Kumogakure turned its attention to Konoha, leaving Konoha increasingly isolated. Ronglin ordered Konoha to prepare for war while waiting and gathering intelligence on Kumogakure.

• Iwagakure withdrew after Sunagakure compromised, and Kumogakure began looking for a way to seize benefits from Konoha.
• Ronglin criticized Sunagakure for abandoning its alliance with Konoha, while the Third Hokage and Tsunade questioned why Rasa had yielded so quickly.
• Kirigakure remained silent, and Kumogakure increased its activity along Konoha’s border.
• As ANBU Captain, Ronglin warned Konoha’s leaders that Kumogakure might declare war at any time.
• Ronglin ordered Konoha to enter a State of Readiness, prepare for war, and investigate Kumogakure’s movements while waiting.

Ronglin proposed mobilizing a force to gather intelligence on Kumogakure, and the Third Hokage adjusted which clans would contribute. The chapter ended with Ronglin accepting the plan despite recognizing the Third Hokage and Nara Shikaku were also seeking credit.

• White Fang warned that Konoha would need to activate spies to gather useful intelligence on Kumogakure.
• Ronglin proposed sending three thousand people: two thousand from the Uchiha Clan and one thousand from the Hatake Clan.
• White Fang said the Hatake Clan could not provide that many members.
• The Third Hokage proposed one thousand Uchiha, one thousand Sarutobi, five hundred Hatake, and five hundred from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
• Ronglin accused the Third Hokage and Nara Shikaku of seeking credit, and the Third Hokage openly agreed.
• Ronglin accepted the revised plan.

Ronglin finalized a 3,000-ninja force to face Kumogakure and relied on the Third Hokage to organize it. Konoha entered a State of Readiness, leaving the village braced for a possible war.

• Ronglin settled on a force of one thousand Uchiha, one thousand Sarutobi, five hundred Hatake, and five hundred Ino-Shika-Cho, and asked the Third Hokage to assemble it within two days.
• Nara Shikaku asked whether three thousand ninja would be enough, and Ronglin assured him that they were.
• Nara Shikaku, White Fang, the Third Hokage, and Uchiha Diqin left to make preparations, while Tsunade warned Ronglin to be careful and departed.
• Konoha entered a State of Readiness, prompting mixed reactions among villagers and signaling to Kumogakure that Konoha was prepared to fight.

Ronglin kept Konoha and Kumogakure in a costly State of Readiness stalemate while limiting who could join the war effort. Itachi asked to stay home and care for his pregnant mother because Uchiha Fugaku was away with the forces.

• Ronglin welcomed Kumogakure's State of Readiness, expecting the mobilization to drain its resources while Konoha could afford to wait.
• Ronglin refused Hyuga Hiashi's request to send the Hyuga Clan to war and ordered them to remain on their border mission.
• Neutral clans grew anxious when Ronglin's limited deployment excluded them, and some began leaning toward the Uchiha.
• Konoha and Kumogakure remained at a stalemate for days without either village making a move.
• Itachi asked Ronglin for time at home to care for his mother, who had entered her due period, while Uchiha Fugaku remained with the participating forces.

Itachi asked Ronglin for leave so he could stay with his mother before she gave birth, and Ronglin approved. After Itachi left the Hokage’s office, Shisui asked how the conversation had gone.

• Itachi asked Ronglin to grant him time off while his mother prepared to give birth.
• Ronglin teased Itachi about looking after his mother, then granted him leave.
• Itachi thanked Ronglin on behalf of his mother and unborn sibling, irritating Ronglin as he left.
• Shisui pulled Itachi into an alley and asked whether Ronglin had approved his request.
• Itachi repeated his words of thanks, leaving Shisui puzzled by Ronglin’s response.

Ronglin reflected on the coming birth of Sasuke and the danger awaiting Kushina when the Nine-Tails was extracted. As Sasuke’s one-month celebration took place, Kushina went into labor outside Konoha, while Ronglin grew uneasy in his office.

• Itachi left after Shisui scolded him for his careless remark about Ronglin and Mikoto.
• Ronglin regretted that Kushina would die when the Nine-Tails was extracted, but he had no intention of sacrificing the Nine-Tails to prevent it.
• Sasuke was born, and Ronglin gave Fugaku a day off; he later declined the one-month celebration and sent Diqin with a gift.
• Ronglin struggled to determine when Kushina would give birth and sat tapping his desk uneasily that night.
• Minato prepared a sealed location outside Konoha for Kushina’s delivery, and the Nine-Tails waited for her exhaustion to weaken its seal.

Uchiha Obito infiltrated the seal around Kushina as she gave birth, intending to take the Nine-Tails in defiance of Madara’s agreement with Ronglin. Ronglin sensed the betrayal as the Nine-Tails’ roar rang out around Konoha.

• Uchiha Obito slipped through Minato’s seal while Minato focused on Kushina’s labor.
• Obito entered the cabin’s outer seal and waited as Kushina gave birth to a son.
• Ronglin sensed Obito’s betrayal from his office and looked toward the moon.
• The Nine-Tails roared at Konoha’s outskirts, and villagers felt the air turn cold.

Obito unleashed the Nine-Tails on Konoha, prompting Ronglin to mobilize the village and head out with Kisame Hoshigaki. Minato brought Kushina and Naruto to the Medical Department, while Tsunade and the Third Hokage prepared to respond.

• Ronglin ordered the Third Hokage to stabilize the village and the Uchiha clan to help maintain order.
• Ronglin took Kisame Hoshigaki with him to face the Nine-Tails and assess Kisame's training.
• Obito controlled the Nine-Tails and vowed to destroy Konoha, ignoring Madara's warnings.
• Minato brought Kushina and Naruto to the Medical Department and asked Tsunade to look after them before leaving to fight.
• Tsunade stopped Minato and said someone else would handle the Nine-Tails, while the Third Hokage and Uchiha clan mobilized.

Obito unleashed the Nine-Tails on Konoha and confronted Ronglin, who arrived with Kisame Hoshigaki. As the Nine-Tails prepared to fire a Tailed Beast Ball, Ronglin left it to Kisame and faced Obito’s determination to destroy the village.

• Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto left to help maintain order, while Mikoto handed the month-old Sasuke to Itachi.
• The Nine-Tails broke through Konoha’s defenses and began destroying houses, leaving residents injured or trapped in the rubble.
• Obito stopped the Nine-Tails and taunted Ronglin, calling himself Uchiha Madara and revealing his resentment over Rin’s death.
• Ronglin appeared with Kisame Hoshigaki and ordered him to handle the Nine-Tails, while Kisame drew Samehada and released his powerful Chakra.
• Obito ordered the Nine-Tails to tear them apart with a Tailed Beast Ball, and Ronglin confirmed that Obito intended to destroy Konoha.

Obito tried to use the Nine-Tails against Ronglin, but Kisame Hoshigaki disrupted the beast’s attack and exposed Obito’s weak control. The Nine-Tails remained only partly subdued as it fought both Kisame and Obito for control of its body.

• Obito threatened to destroy everything Ronglin had, and Ronglin taunted him about Black Zetsu’s reaction.
• Obito jumped from the Nine-Tails and began gathering Chakra for a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Kisame Hoshigaki attacked the Nine-Tails with Samehada, causing its unstable Tailed Beast Ball to explode against its own head.
• The injured Nine-Tails weakened Obito’s control and attacked Kisame, who absorbed Chakra through Samehada while blocking its claws.
• Ronglin criticized Obito’s control, and the furious Nine-Tails continued struggling against him while fighting Kisame.

Ronglin freed the Nine-Tails from Obito’s control and exposed a weakness in Obito’s Kamui. He recognized Obito’s identity and approached him while the Nine-Tails tried to flee.

• Ronglin revealed his Eternal Mangekyo, making the Nine-Tails fearfully recall Uchiha Madara.
• Ronglin struck Obito during a moment of stopped time, interrupting his Kamui and placing dense symbols across his body.
• The Nine-Tails’ eyes returned to normal, freeing it from Obito’s control, and it tried to escape from Ronglin.
• Ronglin explained that Obito could not use Kamui during absolute Time Stop unless he could activate it by thought alone.
• Ronglin told Obito that Madara had not taught him everything and hinted that he knew Obito’s true identity, shocking him.

Ronglin confronted Obito, exposed that he knew his identity, and easily struck through Obito’s attempt to turn intangible. After warning him to stay away or lose his eyes, Ronglin left to pursue Kurama and Kisame Hoshigaki, while Obito vanished and vowed to seek revenge later.

• Ronglin revealed that he recognized Obito despite his changed voice, body, and mask.
• Obito tried to turn intangible, but Ronglin’s palm still struck him and cracked his mask.
• Ronglin showed Obito his Rinnegan, warned him to leave, and threatened to take his eyes if he returned.
• Ronglin told Obito he was no match for Madara and that someone was approaching, then went after Kurama and Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Obito disappeared into the darkness to protect his identity and secretly resolved to avenge the humiliation.

Ronglin arrived as Kisame Hoshigaki fought the rampaging Nine-Tails and offered the beast a choice: follow him willingly or become his puppet. The Nine-Tails rejected him and charged, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• The Nine-Tails attacked Kisame Hoshigaki in Konoha's back mountains, while Kisame held back to avoid flooding the village.
• Ronglin arrived and ordered Kisame to step aside.
• Ronglin offered the Nine-Tails the choice of becoming his pet or being controlled as a puppet.
• The Nine-Tails refused and charged at Ronglin.

Ronglin used the Power of Time to immobilize the Nine-Tails and repeatedly slam it into the ground. Kisame Hoshigaki watched as the Nine-Tails remained helpless before Ronglin's overwhelming power.

• Ronglin broke the middle finger of the Nine-Tails' right claw by striking it with his fist.
• The Nine-Tails retreated and attacked Ronglin with its tails, but Ronglin froze them in midair with the Power of Time.
• Ronglin leaped onto the Nine-Tails' head and punched it into a giant pit.
• Ronglin froze the Nine-Tails again and slammed its body into the ground, explaining that he controlled everything within eight hundred meters.
• Kisame Hoshigaki watched Ronglin overpower the Nine-Tails and felt chilled by his strength.