Chapter Summaries

Ronglin and Ay decided how to handle the dead after the fighting, while Ōnoki learned that Konoha and Kumogakure were advancing slowly behind the front. The chapter ended with Ōnoki watching Rasa, concerned that his complaints could cause conflict among the allies.

• Ronglin agreed with Ay to bury the dead after collecting their identification tags, while injured soldiers were sent for treatment.
• Konoha and Kumogakure forces removed identification tags and buried their dead, and planned to handle the enemy corpses together.
• Ōnoki asked whether Konoha and Kumogakure had caught up with the forces at the front.
• A messenger reported that the Fourth Hokage and Fourth Raikage were leading their forces as they checked traps, treated wounded soldiers, buried the dead, and collected supplies.
• Ōnoki worried that Rasa's dissatisfaction with the slow advance could spark conflict between the allied villages.

Ōnoki and Rasa halted their advance to avoid forcing Kirigakure and the Small Nations Alliance into a desperate fight, while Ronglin and Ay headed to the front. Near the sea, the Hozuki Clan Head blamed the failure to warn them as their forces realized the Four Great Ninja Villages were driving them toward the coast.

• Rasa admitted that Iwagakure and Sunagakure could handle the front while Konoha and Kumogakure dealt with their wounded and gathered supplies.
• Ōnoki agreed with Rasa’s concern and stopped the advance until Ronglin and Ay arrived.
• Ronglin learned that Ōnoki and Rasa had halted and set off with Ay to meet them.
• Kirigakure and the Small Nations Alliance realized the enemy intended to herd them toward the sea and called to fight back.
• The Hozuki Clan Head angrily demanded to know why their scouts had failed to warn them about the attack.

After the enemy attack forced the Kirigakure and Small Nations Alliance forces to retreat, the Hozuki Clan Head assessed their dwindling supplies and ordered them to contact the village and prepare to flee by sea. The chapter left their next move dependent on how many ships remained.

• The Hozuki Clan Head berated the Small Nations Alliance members for fleeing when the enemy attacked.
• A logistics officer reported that the retreating forces had almost no Ninja Tools and were critically short of food.
• The Hozuki Clan Head laughed bitterly at the thought of the enemy villages taking the abandoned supplies.
• The Hozuki Clan Head ordered his forces to report their situation to the village and count their remaining ships so they could head out to sea.

The Hozuki Clan Head urged the stranded forces to board Kirigakure’s ships and flee by sea before the enemy encircled them. He left the Small Nations Alliance members to decide for themselves while preparing to protect Kirigakure’s shinobi.

• The Small Nations Alliance members objected to fleeing by sea, citing the lack of food and ships and their inexperience on the ocean.
• The Hozuki Clan Head rebuked them and explained that the enemy was herding them toward the shore and would avoid giving them a chance to fight.
• The Hozuki Clan Head warned that the enemy would close in within three hours and that the forces would not survive three days without supplies.
• The Hozuki Clan Head left to prepare Kirigakure’s shinobi for the voyage, while the Small Nations Alliance members remained unwilling.

Kirigakure moved to head for the shore and enter the sea while the Small Nations Alliance hesitated, and the Four Kage debated whether to keep advancing. Ōnoki proposed easing the pressure on the enemy, and Ronglin laughed at his suggestion.

• The Hozuki Clan Head ordered Kirigakure's ninja to move toward the shore and enter the sea.
• The Small Nations Alliance's ninja hesitated, worried about following Kirigakure and facing Uchiha Ronglin's snake in the water.
• Ronglin, Ōnoki, Rasa, and Ay gathered to discuss whether their forces should keep following Kirigakure.
• Ōnoki said that he and the Kazekage favored easing up to avoid provoking a desperate counterattack.
• Ronglin laughed at Ōnoki's proposal, prompting Ōnoki to demand an explanation.

Ronglin warned the allied leaders that the Rogue Ninja could flee into the Land of Lightning or the Land of Earth, forcing them to order an immediate encirclement. The Hozuki Clan Head then learned the enemy had not followed and led his forces toward the Land of Earth while leaving false traces toward the coast.

• Ronglin mocked Ōnoki and Rasa for considering a pause and warned that fleeing Rogue Ninja could bring trouble to their lands.
• Ay and Rasa agreed to surround the enemy immediately, and Ōnoki ordered the forces to form a semicircle.
• The Hozuki Clan Head stopped his forces and confirmed that the Small Nations Alliance had not followed them toward the sea.
• The Hozuki Clan Head ordered his forces toward the Land of Earth and left men to plant traces suggesting they were heading to the coast.

The Hozuki Clan Head split his Kirigakure forces, sending most toward the coast while leading a smaller group to raid the Land of Earth. The Four Great Ninja Villages Alliance followed misleading tracks toward the sea, unaware that the raiders had slipped away.

• The Hozuki Clan Head decided to retaliate against Ōnoki by infiltrating the Land of Earth rather than retreating with the Small Nations Alliance.
• He ordered most of his Kirigakure ninja to continue toward the coast while a smaller group followed him toward the Land of Earth and erased their tracks.
• The Small Nations Alliance ninja set out to infiltrate the Land of Lightning, using the small nations along the way to hide their movements.
• Ōnoki's worries and Rasa's schemes delayed the Four Great Ninja Villages Alliance, allowing the groups that intended to leave to escape.
• The Four Great Ninja Villages Alliance advanced in a semicircle toward the sea, following traces left by the departing Kirigakure ninja.
• Ronglin crouched down and wiped away marks where messy footprints had recently been.

Ronglin hid evidence that many enemies had split off toward the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, intending to make Ōnoki and Ay blame Rasa when the infiltrators caused trouble. He and Minato left to keep up appearances, expecting the consequences to emerge in about a week.

• Ronglin noticed that the enemy tracks were chaotic and that Kirigakure's ships could not have carried all 940 enemies away.
• Ronglin erased traces showing that many enemies had split off toward the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, and Minato realized what he had done.
• Ronglin planned to let Ōnoki and Ay discover the infiltrators in their territories and turn their anger toward Rasa.
• Minato laughed that Rasa would face pressure from the two villages, while Ronglin said Rasa had brought it on himself.
• Ronglin and Minato left to maintain appearances, expecting the effects of the enemy infiltration to appear in six or seven days.

After the enemy fled by sea, Ōnoki’s reconnaissance attacked Kirigakure ships before the allied forces withdrew from the coast. Rasa stayed behind with Sunagakure to guard the area, while Ronglin left him with an unsettling smile.

• Ōnoki led a reconnaissance over the sea and found Kirigakure ships after the enemy’s departure.
• Ōnoki used Dust Release to attack several ships, causing casualties among Kirigakure’s people.
• Ōnoki called for guards to stay behind in case the enemy returned.
• Rasa volunteered to remain with Sunagakure, and Ōnoki accepted his offer.
• Ay left with Kumogakure’s people, followed by Ōnoki and his forces.
• Ronglin gave Rasa an unsettling smile and departed with Konoha’s people.

After the battle, the Allied Forces seized a vast stockpile of supplies, and Ōnoki and Ay planned to intercept the retreating enemy at sea. Ronglin stayed unusually quiet, leaving the others wondering what he was writing.

• Konoha’s remaining forces guarded the camp while Rasa stayed behind to protect against a surprise attack.
• The Allied Forces discovered that the abandoned supplies from Kirigakure and the Small Nations Alliance amounted to a fortune and began arranging their distribution.
• Ōnoki told Ay that Kumogakure should deal with the enemies fleeing by sea, and Ay promised to stop them from reaching the Land of Water.
• Ōnoki and Ay discussed destroying the enemy forces to end the war, unaware that the survivors would eventually return safely to the Land of Water.
• Ōnoki and Ay noticed Ronglin silently writing at a table, and Ronglin looked up and asked why they were staring at him.

Ronglin discussed the next steps after the enemy forces were driven out to sea, while waiting for the Small Nations Alliance and Kirigakure's defeat to become clear. He left Ōnoki and Ay to consider whether to publicly question their opponents during the war.

• Ronglin joked that he envied Ōnoki's ability to fly and wanted to develop his own flying technique.
• Ōnoki asked how the allied leaders should proceed after driving the enemy out to sea.
• Ronglin suggested letting the wounded recover, waiting for news, and publicly questioning the Small Nations Alliance and Kirigakure.
• Ay argued that they should wait until the war ended before making accusations, wary of being proved wrong.
• Ronglin remained unconcerned and waited for the Small Nations Alliance and Kirigakure's inevitable defeat.

Ronglin, Ay, and Ōnoki agreed to wait before continuing the war, expecting troublemakers in the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth to create an opportunity against Sunagakure. Their wait ended with news that Kirigakure forces had invaded the Land of Earth and were devastating its villages.

• Ronglin agreed with Ay that the alliance should wait rather than risk acting too soon, and Ōnoki accepted the plan.
• The four great ninja villages’ victory over the Small Nations Alliance and Kirigakure drew attention across the world.
• After six days of waiting, an Iwagakure intelligence operative rushed into the Command Center with urgent news for Ōnoki.
• The operative reported that Kirigakure forces had reached the Land of Earth, slaughtered people in villages, and attacked passing merchants.
• Ōnoki struggled to believe the report and nearly collapsed as he realized the devastation could have dire consequences.

Ay and Ōnoki learned that the Small Nations Alliance had split its forces and infiltrated the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. They ordered their ninja to return home immediately, while Ronglin laughed at their delayed reaction and considered the destruction awaiting them.

• A Kumogakure intelligence ninja reported to Ay that the Small Nations Alliance had infiltrated the Land of Lightning and was causing trouble.
• Ay and Ōnoki realized the enemy had split into three groups, with forces entering both of their countries while another group had acted as bait at sea.
• Ay ordered Kumogakure's ninja to return to the Land of Lightning, and Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure's ninja to return to the Land of Earth.
• Ronglin learned that Ay and Ōnoki were rushing home and imagined the devastation and refugee crisis the enemy might leave behind.

Ronglin took Konoha’s troops and the seized supplies back to the village after Ōnoki and Ay hurried away, leaving Rasa to return to an empty camp. Meanwhile, Kirigakure ravaged Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s territories under its scorched-earth campaign.

• Ōnoki and Ay led their forces away without taking the seized supplies, and Ronglin ordered Konoha to collect them.
• Ronglin had the Nine-Tails carry supplies as Konoha departed, leaving wounded Sunagakure ninjas behind.
• Rasa returned to find the camp stripped of its valuables and nearly fainted with rage.
• Ronglin learned of Rasa’s reaction and laughed as Konoha continued its slow journey home.
• Kirigakure burned and looted across Iwagakure and Kumogakure’s territories, blaming Ōnoki and the Land of Earth.

Ronglin watched the conflict spread through the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, bringing Konoha new trade and missions while leaving Ōnoki and Ay overwhelmed. An urgent report arrived from Kumogakure, and Ronglin called to Uchiha Diqin after reading it.

• Rasa and the Sunagakure ninja returned empty-handed, while Minato blocked their route through the Land of Fire and Ōnoki and Ay warned Rasa that they still blamed him for the attacks.
• Kirigakure and the Small Nations Alliance split into groups and continued attacking across the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth.
• Merchants fled the Land of Earth and redirected their caravans through the Land of Fire, hiring Konoha ninja for protection and increasing Konoha's income and missions.
• Uchiha Diqin delivered urgent intelligence from Kumogakure, and Ronglin opened the report before calling to her.

Ronglin decided to help Kumogakure after the Two-Tails went berserk and fled across the border, despite Kumogakure asking for aid without offering payment. He left the choice of who to send unresolved as Uchiha Diqin asked who would capture the tailed beast.

• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin that Kumogakure had asked Konoha for help with its runaway Two-Tails.
• Uchiha Diqin questioned why Kumogakure had not used its Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's method to control the Two-Tails, and why the beast had been kept near the border.
• Ronglin explained that controlling a tailed beast was dangerous and that the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki might not be ready.
• Ronglin decided to help Kumogakure, expecting Ay to repay the favor in the future.
• Uchiha Diqin asked whom Ronglin would send, as Minato and White Fang could not leave their posts and other candidates were unlikely to help.

Ronglin ordered Uchiha Fugaku to help subdue the Two-Tails, intending to force him to use his Mangekyo Sharingan. Fugaku left home to report to the Hokage's Office Building, while Mikoto worried about his safety.

• Ronglin chose Uchiha Fugaku to subdue the Two-Tails and told Uchiha Diqin that Fugaku was stronger than he appeared.
• Ronglin planned to make Fugaku use his Mangekyo Sharingan despite the risk of losing his eyesight.
• Uchiha Diqin had an Anbu notify Fugaku of the mission.
• Fugaku agreed to go, and Mikoto urged him to be careful while asking him to take care of Sasuke.
• Fugaku left home and headed for the Hokage's Office Building.

Uchiha Fugaku received orders from Ronglin to capture the Two-Tails in the Land of Lightning, with Shisui and Itachi joining him. Ronglin considered the strange urge he felt to use Hashirama Senju's cells before reprimanding Shisui and Itachi for entering without knocking.

• Ronglin ordered Uchiha Fugaku to rendezvous with Kumogakure and capture the Two-Tails quickly, warning him to keep other villages out of the mission.
• Ronglin told Uchiha Fugaku to take Shisui and Itachi along for training, and hinted that he could help with Uchiha Fugaku's eyes at a price.
• After Uchiha Fugaku left, Ronglin examined Hashirama Senju's cells and wondered whether Asura's Chakra caused his urge to fuse with them.
• Shisui and Itachi entered the office without knocking, and Ronglin told them not to do it again.

Ronglin sent Shisui and Itachi on a mission to the Land of Lightning with Uchiha Fugaku, advising them to learn from the trip. Shisui and Itachi left to meet Fugaku while Ronglin finished placing a statue of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

• Ronglin told Shisui and Itachi to be careful on their trip to the Land of Lightning and to learn as much as they could.
• Shisui and Itachi left the Hokage's Office, and Shisui excitedly teased Itachi about their mission with Uchiha Fugaku.
• Shisui taunted Kisame Hoshigaki, who warned him to get stronger before facing the Two-Tails.
• Itachi reminded Shisui that Kisame's weapon could help him resist genjutsu, leaving Shisui speechless.
• Shisui and Itachi hurried off to meet Fugaku, while Ronglin set down the statue of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Ronglin finished a statue depicting a woman with Byakugan and a Rinne Sharingan, then decided to paint it despite the speculation it might provoke. He also learned that Mei Terumi was adapting well and would need two more months before graduating.

• Ronglin considered whether painting the statue would reveal its resemblance to the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and his Rinne Sharingan.
• Uchiha Diqin noticed the statue's eyes and asked Ronglin about them, and he confirmed they were Byakugan.
• Ronglin decided to paint the statue and warned Uchiha Diqin not to be overly clever.
• Ronglin asked how Mei Terumi was adapting, and Uchiha Diqin reported that Tsunade expected her to graduate in two months.
• Ronglin decided Mei Terumi should stay for two more months so her temperament could improve.