Chapter Summaries

Ronglin learned that Black Scale could not help him visit Ryūchi Cave because of certain physical circumstances, leaving Sage Mode training uncertain. A slug then summoned him to meet Lord Slug, and Ronglin wondered what was going on.

• Black Scale told Ronglin that it was inconvenient to take him to Ryūchi Cave.
• Ronglin guessed that Black Scale was shedding and accepted that he could not go.
• Ronglin worried that learning Sage Mode would be difficult and recalled Naruto and Jiraiya's training at Mount Myōboku.
• A small slug appeared and told Ronglin that Lord Slug wanted to see him.
• Ronglin asked why Lord Slug had summoned him.

Ronglin agreed to meet Lord Slug and was reverse-summoned to Shikkotsu Forest. After recovering from the disorienting journey, he followed the little slug into the gigantic forest.

• Ronglin learned that Lord Slug wanted to meet him in person.
• Ronglin agreed to accompany the slug to Shikkotsu Forest.
• The slug warned Ronglin that reverse summoning could be uncomfortable and transported him to the forest.
• Ronglin recovered from the disorienting journey and took in the enormous trees around him.
• The little slug led Ronglin deeper into Shikkotsu Forest.

Ronglin met the slug in Shikkotsu Forest and learned that its enormous true body stayed divided to conserve stamina and Chakra. The slug then confronted him about resisting Tsunade’s plan for him to learn Sage Mode.

• Ronglin wondered how large the slug’s true body was and searched the area for signs of it.
• The slug appeared on a boulder and told Ronglin that the other slugs were farther away so its true body could conserve stamina and Chakra.
• Ronglin addressed it as Lord Slug after it corrected him.
• The slug angrily confronted Ronglin about being unwilling to visit Shikkotsu Forest and learn Sage Mode from it.

Slug Sage summoned Ronglin and confronted him for pursuing Sage Mode training elsewhere despite their contract. Ronglin’s explanation only made Slug Sage angrier, and he ended by saying he would throw Ronglin out if not for his agreement with Hashirama Senju and Tsunade’s request.

• Slug Sage grew resentful that Ronglin had contracted with him but never summoned him, and had instead pursued training with Black Scale and considered the snake and toad sages.
• Slug Sage summoned Ronglin and complained that Ronglin had not considered him for Sage Mode training.
• Ronglin awkwardly explained that he disliked being around slimy creatures.
• Slug Sage angrily denied having slug slime on him and accused Ronglin of looking down on him.
• Slug Sage threatened to throw Ronglin out, but said he would honor his agreement with Hashirama Senju and Tsunade’s request.

Ronglin tried to leave Shikkotsu Forest, but Slug insisted he stay until he mastered Sage Mode. Back in the Hokage’s Office, Tsunade reassured the worried staff that Ronglin would be away for a while and offered to handle his urgent documents.

• Ronglin tested the barrier and found he could not break through it with his current strength.
• Ronglin asked Slug how to leave, but Slug ordered him to remain until he mastered Sage Mode.
• Ronglin began searching for a way out of Shikkotsu Forest.
• Uchiha Diqin and the others panicked when Ronglin vanished from the Hokage’s Office.
• Tsunade explained that Ronglin had gone somewhere special and said he would not return soon.
• Uchiha Diqin warned that urgent Land of Fire matters were awaiting Ronglin’s approval, and Tsunade offered to review the documents.

Tsunade took charge of Ronglin’s official duties while he was away, persuading Uchiha Diqin that no one would dare challenge her authority. Her actions set up Ronglin to be sent to Shikkotsu Forest, where he realized Tsunade had tricked him.

• Tsunade revised urgent documents and stamped them with the Hokage’s official seal.
• Uchiha Diqin worried that they would get in trouble if people learned Tsunade was handling Ronglin’s duties.
• Tsunade told Uchiha Diqin to say Ronglin had asked her to manage official matters while he was away.
• Uchiha Diqin agreed to take the documents and left Tsunade to continue working.
• Tsunade arranged for Katsuyu to send a message that would lead Ronglin to Shikkotsu Forest.
• Ronglin, roasting venison atop an ancient tree, realized Tsunade had set him up.

Ronglin remained in Shikkotsu Forest after Lord Slug refused to let him leave until he learned Sage Mode. The next morning, Lord Slug began teaching him how Natural Energy was combined with ordinary chakra to create Sage Art Chakra.

• Ronglin ate venison in Shikkotsu Forest and grumbled about Lord Slug keeping him there.
• The next morning, Lord Slug tried to demonstrate Sage Art, but Ronglin interrupted and said he already understood the principles of Natural Energy.
• Ronglin asked Lord Slug to explain how Sage Mode was cultivated, and Lord Slug described absorbing Natural Energy into ordinary chakra.
• Lord Slug explained that physical energy, spiritual energy, and Natural Energy had to remain balanced in equal thirds for Sage Art Chakra to be used safely.
• Ronglin listened attentively to Lord Slug's explanation.

Katsuyu began teaching Ronglin to sense Natural Energy, insisting that he give up meat and spend time quietly observing nature. He watched Ronglin from the shadows, worried about the boy’s impatience and dark heart.

• Katsuyu explained that sensing and absorbing Natural Energy were the hardest parts of refining Sage Chakra.
• Katsuyu told Ronglin to stop eating meat, explaining that he was vegetarian.
• Ronglin reluctantly accepted a diet of wild vegetables and tree fruit and spent the day sitting quietly in the forest.
• Katsuyu watched Ronglin from the shadows and worried that his restless nature made him unsuitable for training.
• Katsuyu thought that Ronglin had wanted to seek out a snake and decided to keep him from being taken by it.

Ronglin learned that Katsuyu was testing whether he could quiet his mind and blend into nature before sensing natural energy. He had not met her standard yet, but now knew to wait until the animals accepted him.

• Katsuyu returned after five days and asked Ronglin how he felt.
• Ronglin complained about living on wild vegetables and fruit while watching animals, then admitted that calming his mind was difficult.
• Katsuyu nearly revealed that Hashirama Senju had trained at Shikkotsu Forest, confirming Ronglin's suspicion about Hashirama's Sage Mode.
• Katsuyu told Ronglin to stop thinking about the outside world, blend into nature, and wait until the animals accepted him.
• Ronglin watched nearby birds flee from him and realized that the animals still feared his presence.

Ronglin began training to become one with nature in Shikkotsu Forest, while Black Zetsu returned to Akatsuki's base with a request from Uchiha Ronglin. The chapter left Nagato, Konan, and Obito considering whether to help him.

• Ronglin understood Katsuyu's advice and began training to become one with nature, starting by tempering his state of mind.
• Black Zetsu returned to Akatsuki's secret underground base in the Land of Water and met Nagato, Konan, and Obito.
• Black Zetsu said Uchiha Ronglin would not interfere with Akatsuki if they helped him.
• Black Zetsu explained that Ronglin wanted help because his guard's arm had been crippled while helping Kumogakure capture tailed beasts.
• Konan objected to Akatsuki helping people who treated them as enemies, while Obito pointed out Ronglin could take the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path by force.

Ronglin’s Sage Mode training made little progress, but he sensed that his dormant Byakugan had finally begun to change. He left the forest encouraged by this first sign of movement, while Katsuyu watched in confusion.

• Obito asked Black Zetsu when they would contact Ronglin, and Black Zetsu said they could reach him once they were ready.
• Ronglin ended his training in the forest, believing he would eventually succeed despite his slow progress.
• Ronglin sensed a change in his Byakugan and realized it was no longer completely dormant.
• Ronglin laughed with delight at the Byakugan’s movement, while Katsuyu wondered why he was happy despite his lack of training progress.

Ronglin continued training to move through the forest without alarming animals and considered a risky plan to address his Chakra reserves. Meanwhile, Tsunade struggled to manage his duties in the Hokage's Office as Konoha residents grew suspicious about his prolonged absence.

• Ronglin gradually trained until the forest animals treated him as harmless and let him move freely among them.
• Ronglin reflected on Sage Mode's demands and his comparatively limited Chakra reserves, then considered a risky plan to make up for the weakness.
• Tsunade complained in the Hokage's Office about Ronglin's continued absence and the growing workload.
• Uchiha Diqin observed that Tsunade was overwhelmed by Ronglin's duties and that people had begun asking why the Hokage had not returned.

After Ronglin’s six-month absence for training left Tsunade struggling to manage Konoha and others waiting for him, he suddenly returned to the Hokage’s office. The chapter ended with Tsunade and Uchiha Diqin seeing how much his appearance and aura had changed.

• Tsunade and Uchiha Diqin worried over Ronglin’s half-year absence, while Konoha’s development projects remained on hold without his approval.
• Ōnoki and Ay blamed Rasa for allowing enemies to infiltrate their rear lines and demanded an explanation from him.
• News of Ronglin’s disappearance spread to other villages, while Shisui and Akatsuki waited for him to return.
• Ronglin suddenly appeared on the office windowsill and greeted Tsunade and Uchiha Diqin.
• Tsunade and Uchiha Diqin saw that Ronglin had grown thinner and now concealed the sharp aura he once displayed.

Ronglin returned to Konoha after half a year of training in Shikkotsu Forest, much thinner but having shed his oppressive presence. After eating, he told Uchiha Diqin to summon the people who had been worried about his disappearance.

• Uchiha Diqin grew emotional when Ronglin returned, and Tsunade teased him about being gone for half a year.
• Ronglin greeted Uchiha Diqin and complained to Tsunade that her actions had caused his ordeal.
• Ronglin asked whether anything major had happened in the village and requested a large meal with plenty of meat.
• Tsunade observed that Ronglin had lost weight but seemed brighter after his training.
• Uchiha Diqin brought food, and Ronglin began eating while asking her to summon the people who had been on edge about his absence.

Ronglin returned to Konoha and reassured the village’s leaders and guards, though he was too busy eating to speak with them at first. After finishing his meal, he called for a meeting to review what had happened during his absence and examine the village’s records.

• Uchiha Diqin hurried to arrange for Ronglin after he returned, while Tsunade left the office as he ate.
• News of Ronglin’s return spread through Konoha, easing the villagers’ fears about the village’s safety.
• Ronglin’s four guards arrived and knelt before him, but he told them to wait until later.
• The Third Hokage and Jiraiya arrived, and Ronglin reassured the Third Hokage before continuing his meal.
• After finishing the food Uchiha Diqin had brought, Ronglin called for a meeting and asked for the village’s documents and records.

Ronglin reviewed Konoha’s situation and proposed expanding ninja education beyond the village by building academies in the Land of Fire. He left the Third Hokage considering the plan’s costs and staffing needs, arguing that Konoha had both the money and lower-ranking ninjas to support it.

• Ronglin reviewed the documents and told the Third Hokage that the Ninja Academy’s improvements were not enough.
• Ronglin proposed using funds to build Ninja Academies in the former capital and another major city, with more academies planned across the Land of Fire.
• The Third Hokage warned that the academies would be costly and difficult to staff.
• Ronglin asked whether Konoha lacked money or lower-ranking ninjas, and the Third Hokage answered that it lacked neither.

Ronglin persuaded the Third Hokage to establish basic ninja schools throughout the Land of Fire and discussed funding Konoha’s development. He then ordered Uchiha Diqin to tell Iwagakure and Kumogakure that Konoha supported them and that Sunagakure should compensate them for their losses.

• Ronglin proposed building basic ninja schools across the Land of Fire and sending the most talented students to Konoha for advanced education.
• The Third Hokage agreed to oversee the schools, their teachers, and publicity, while Ronglin handled funding.
• Ronglin and the others settled Konoha’s development matters, and the meeting ended after two hours.
• Ronglin asked Uchiha Diqin for news about the conflict involving Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure; she said Konoha’s absence had kept the joint pressure from succeeding.
• Ronglin ordered Uchiha Diqin to notify Iwagakure and Kumogakure that Konoha supported them and that Rasa and Sunagakure should compensate them for their losses.

Ronglin arranged to pressure Rasa over Sunagakure’s losses and summoned Hyuga Hiashi and cash-crop experts for a task he had yet to review. He reassured Shisui that he would fulfill his promise to restore him after handling urgent matters.

• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin to bring Hyuga Hiashi and find experts in cultivating cash crops.
• Ronglin called Shisui into his office and asked whether he had been anxious during Ronglin’s absence.
• Shisui denied being anxious, but Ronglin told him not to hide his feelings and praised how much he had matured.
• Ronglin promised Shisui he would restore him once he had dealt with urgent matters in a few days.

Shisui learned that Ronglin would fulfill his promise to restore his hand after dealing with the trouble at hand. He left to celebrate with Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi while Mei Terumi stayed behind to guard Ronglin.

• Shisui told Mei Terumi, Itachi, and Kisame Hoshigaki that Ronglin had promised to help him once his current trouble was handled.
• Mei Terumi celebrated Shisui's hopeful news, while Kisame Hoshigaki congratulated him and Itachi watched quietly.
• Mei Terumi said she would stay to protect Ronglin, and Shisui teased her about needing Ronglin to protect her instead.
• Mei Terumi lost her temper, and Shisui fled before Kisame Hoshigaki followed him.
• Ronglin heard Mei Terumi's angry roar and laughed at the group's lively banter.

Ronglin received three-year-old Kimimaro at the Hokage’s Office after Hyuga Hiashi brought him back from the Kaguya clan. The chapter ended with Ronglin beginning to question the nervous child.

• Ronglin reflected on how Shisui brought Kisame Hoshigaki, Itachi, and Mei Terumi together.
• Hyuga Hiashi entered the Hokage’s Office with Kimimaro.
• Hyuga Hiashi reported that the Kaguya clan had let him bring Kimimaro back without trouble.
• Ronglin praised Hyuga Hiashi and addressed the nervous Kimimaro.