Chapter Summaries

Ronglin left the Land of Rain with Shisui and Kisame after warning Shisui about combat and revealing that he could use the Mangekyo without fear of its usual consequences. Meanwhile, Rasa accepted Ronglin’s terms for negotiations, and Granny Chiyo retired from village affairs.

• Black Zetsu left Ronglin, and Konan followed; Shisui and Kisame Hoshigaki then departed with Ronglin.
• Ronglin examined Shisui’s restored arm and advised him to avoid taking enemy attacks head-on.
• Ronglin told Shisui that the Uchiha stone tablet had been altered and encouraged him to use the Mangekyo, hinting that he would avoid its usual future consequences.
• Ronglin said the Land of Rain’s affairs were mostly settled and that he only needed to find the right time to absorb it.
• Granny Chiyo returned to Sunagakure with Ronglin’s terms, and Rasa accepted them after the Land of Wind Daimyo agreed to negotiate.
• Granny Chiyo announced her retirement and said she would no longer involve herself in village affairs.

Ronglin returned to Konoha after visiting Amegakure and continued to make Rasa wait rather than meet him. He also ordered Shisui’s file upgraded to S-rank while telling Uchiha Diqin to let Mei Terumi wait for her turn.

• After Granny Chiyo retired, Rasa went to Konoha to meet Ronglin but discovered that Ronglin had left the Land of Fire.
• Rasa waited in Konoha for more than ten days as Iwagakure and Kumogakure threatened Sunagakure.
• Ronglin returned from Amegakure and told Uchiha Diqin that Rasa could wait longer or leave.
• Ronglin ordered Uchiha Diqin to upgrade Shisui’s file classification to S-rank.
• When Uchiha Diqin asked about Mei Terumi, Ronglin told her to let Mei Terumi wait.

Uchiha Diqin told Mei Terumi that Ronglin had denied her recognition as a Kage-level expert, despite accepting Kisame Hoshigaki and Shisui. Mei Terumi was left frustrated and searching for an explanation, while Itachi appeared to have noticed something others had missed.

• Uchiha Diqin left Ronglin after failing to understand why he recognized Kisame Hoshigaki and Shisui but not Mei Terumi.
• Uchiha Diqin told Mei Terumi the bad news as the group celebrated Shisui's recovery at a barbecue restaurant.
• Mei Terumi questioned why she had been denied recognition despite having sufficient strength, contributions, and reputation, then sprang up from her chair.
• Uchiha Diqin, Shisui, and Kisame Hoshigaki tried to comfort Mei Terumi, but Itachi sighed and drew her attention.

Itachi argued that Mei Terumi’s lack of progress came from unresolved issues rather than insufficient time, drawing a comparison to Uchiha Fugaku’s conflict with Ronglin. Mei Terumi wondered what she had done to displease Lord Hokage, while Uchiha Diqin suggested he might remember some small slight.

• Itachi told Mei Terumi that certain unresolved reasons, not time, were keeping her from progressing.
• Itachi said Ronglin’s leadership had strengthened the Uchiha clan and that Fugaku’s refusal to compromise had cost him status.
• Mei Terumi insisted she had never opposed Lord Hokage as Fugaku had and asked Uchiha Diqin why she was being held back.
• Uchiha Diqin said she did not know and suggested Mei Terumi might have overlooked a small matter that Lord Hokage remembered.

Itachi asked Mei Terumi whether she had truly let go of Kirigakure and her family, exposing why her lingering ties made her position in Konoha uncertain. Kisame warned that unless she severed those ties, Lord Hokage might abandon her.

• Itachi asked Mei Terumi whether she had let go of Kirigakure and her family, trying to understand why Ronglin kept her under restrictions.
• Mei Terumi admitted through her silence that she still cared about her family and clan, though Kirigakure itself had faded from her heart.
• Shisui changed the subject to grilled meat, and Itachi returned to eating without pressing Mei Terumi further.
• Uchiha Diqin comforted Mei Terumi and told her not to worry about advancing further.
• Kisame Hoshigaki said Mei Terumi had to sever certain ties because she had been exchanged for the Three-Tails and might otherwise lose her place in Konoha or be abandoned by Lord Hokage.

Kisame Hoshigaki reminded Mei Terumi and the others that their lives now revolved around Lord Hokage, leaving Mei to face her difficult position alone. In Konoha, Rasa finally confronted Ronglin about the Land of Wind's mining area, and Ronglin reminded him that he had warned him about being targeted.

• Kisame Hoshigaki told Mei Terumi and the others that they were trusted people of Konoha and should focus their lives on Lord Hokage.
• Uchiha Diqin left the meal, while Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui silently accepted that they could not help Mei Terumi.
• Rasa, frustrated after repeatedly being turned away by Ronglin, asked to discuss the Land of Wind's mining area.
• Ronglin reminded Rasa that he had once warned him he would regret his actions, and asked how it felt to be targeted.

Uchiha Ronglin confronted Rasa over his past schemes and demanded payment for Sunagakure’s debt, including Rasa’s daughter as a maid. He left Rasa humiliated and furious, while Shisui and Uchiha Diqin reacted to the confrontation.

• Ronglin mocked Rasa for setting traps for him and reminded him how Sunagakure’s weakness had cost Rasa his standing and authority.
• Ronglin declared that the mining deal would follow his agreement with Elder Chiyo and demanded ore as well as Rasa’s daughter.
• Rasa protested that Ronglin had gone too far, but Ronglin told him he could refuse before the deadline and then left the conference room.
• Shisui took pleasure in Rasa’s misfortune, while Uchiha Diqin was stunned by Ronglin’s blunt humiliation and demand.
• The narration revealed that Rasa had once nearly offered his daughter in exchange for supplies when Sunagakure attacked the Land of Artisans.

Ronglin left Rasa furious after making demands, and Shisui mocked and publicly humiliated the Kazekage. Rasa became a laughingstock across Konoha, while Uchiha Diqin worried that the incident would harm Konoha’s reputation.

• Ronglin whispered instructions to Shisui before leaving with Uchiha Diqin.
• Shisui warned Rasa that he would have to pay for anything he damaged or dirtied, and Rasa coughed up blood in anger.
• Shisui spread a false rumor that Rasa had passed out over compensation, and the story raced through Konoha.
• Rasa heard the rumors and truly passed out.
• Uchiha Diqin questioned the Hokage about the humiliation, but he said Rasa had been given face.
• Uchiha Diqin learned an hour later that Rasa had become the laughingstock of Konoha.

Ay learned that Sunagakure might have reached a compromise with Konoha and realized Konoha could withdraw from the conflict, ruining Kumogakure’s plans to extract concessions. He decided to prevent the alliance, while Ōnoki shared his concern.

• Ay laughed at Rasa’s humiliation after hearing of Ronglin’s retaliation.
• Ay’s secretary pointed out that Chiyo and Rasa had both visited Konoha, suggesting Sunagakure had made a deal with it.
• Ay realized Konoha might withdraw and Sunagakure would no longer yield to Kumogakure or Iwagakure.
• Ay decided to stop Sunagakure and Konoha from coming together.
• Ōnoki considered the same problem in his Tsuchikage’s office.

Ronglin proposed that the Land of Fire capture Amegakure and annex the Land of Rain, prompting Minato and Jiraiya to question the costs and risks. He began arguing that the old buffer-state rules no longer needed to constrain the great nations, but the chapter ended before he finished his example.

• Ronglin ordered Jiraiya to lead an operation to capture Amegakure, with Minato accompanying him.
• Jiraiya awkwardly addressed Ronglin as "kid," and Minato nudged his teacher before asking why the Land of Fire should annex the Land of Rain.
• Minato warned that annexation would bring harsh conditions, lawlessness, displaced people, and a shared border with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
• Jiraiya agreed with Minato's concerns, while Ronglin said the Land of Fire could not stop advancing because of the risks.
• Ronglin recalled how the First Five Kage had established small nations as buffer zones, then questioned whether those rules still mattered before beginning an example.

Ronglin argued that Konoha should annex the Land of Rain as the first step in expanding the Land of Fire, explaining that cash-crop experiments could make the poor region profitable. He left Jiraiya assigned to the cultivation area until the planting succeeded.

• Ronglin reminded Konoha's officials that he had repeatedly broken conventions and brought the village greater strength.
• Ronglin said the Land of Rain was the first step in gradually expanding the Land of Fire.
• Ronglin explained that he had sent supplies and Anbu to establish an experimental cash-crop cultivation area in the Land of Rain.
• Jiraiya pointed out that the planting had not succeeded yet.
• Ronglin ordered Jiraiya to work at the cultivation area until the crops were successfully planted.

Ronglin assigned Minato and White Fang to establish Konoha’s presence in the Land of Rain and eliminate threats as they worked to stabilize Amegakure. The chapter ended with White Fang accepting Ronglin’s ruthless orders to suppress criminals and Rogue Ninja.

• Jiraiya interrupted Ronglin, then awkwardly apologized after Ronglin glared at him.
• Ronglin ordered Minato to take five hundred men and station Konoha personnel throughout the region within two days.
• Ronglin ordered White Fang to take the Anbu to the Land of Rain and allow minor offenders to reform.
• Ronglin ordered White Fang to kill Rogue Ninja, bandits, and robbers with serious records, and White Fang accepted the command.

Ronglin convinced Konoha’s leaders to occupy the Land of Rain, arguing that the weakened great nations would be unable to oppose them with war. The decision passed unanimously, while one person reminded Ronglin that they had been promised a chance to participate.

• Ronglin proposed sending five hundred people to take control of the Land of Rain and suppress unrest.
• A Konoha member warned that occupying the country could provoke the other great nations.
• Ronglin argued that Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure were too weakened to start a war against Konoha.
• Konoha’s leaders agreed unanimously to occupy the Land of Rain on Ronglin’s orders.
• Someone asked Ronglin why they had not been allowed to participate as promised.

Ronglin ordered Jiraiya to stay at the Planting Base until the assigned economic crops were planted, then dismissed the others from his office. Jiraiya reluctantly accepted his punishment as the group prepared to leave.

• Ronglin reminded Jiraiya that he had to remain at the Planting Base until the economic crops were properly planted.
• Ronglin declared that Jiraiya was under orders to stay, warning that he would drag him back if he ran away.
• Jiraiya reluctantly agreed and regretted having spoken up.
• Ronglin ordered Minato, White Fang, and the other officials to leave, threatening anyone who failed to carry out their orders.
• Jiraiya shouted that he wanted dinner, and an explosion followed.

Ronglin defended Konoha’s plan to occupy the Land of Rain, arguing that the other villages could not stop Konoha from gaining territory. Jiraiya accepted his assignment to guard the Planting Base but complained to Minato and tried to trade places.

• Tsunade struck Jiraiya through the conference room wall, leaving Ronglin, Tsunade, and Uchiha Diqin in the room.
• Tsunade asked Ronglin whether other villages would also seize territory, and he argued that Konoha’s strength and the Land of Fire’s neighbors gave it the advantage.
• Tsunade conceded that Ronglin had anticipated the consequences of his plan.
• Jiraiya told Minato that Ronglin’s decision would provoke the major villages, but Minato said he trusted the Hokage’s plans.
• Jiraiya complained about guarding the Planting Base and asked Minato to switch assignments so he could conquer the Land of Rain.

Minato fled Jiraiya’s request to stay, leaving Jiraiya to agree to visit the Planting Base. Konoha occupied the Land of Rain, purged criminals, and distributed food, while the story left its people subdued but wary of Konoha’s harsh rule.

• Minato used the Flying Thunder God to escape before Jiraiya could persuade him to stay.
• Jiraiya agreed to visit the Planting Base to see whether its planting efforts could succeed.
• Minato led Konoha’s forces in occupying the Land of Rain without meeting resistance.
• White Fang’s Anbu carried out a bloody purge of rogue ninjas, bandits, and thieves across the Land of Rain.
• Konoha distributed food to ordinary people and killed those who stole rations from others, frightening the population into compliance.

Konoha occupied the Land of Rain and began purging Rogue Ninjas while sending supplies to stabilize the territory. The other villages reacted with alarm, and Ay decided they could only wait to see what Ōnoki and Rasa would do.

• Anbu began purging Rogue Ninjas across the villages while Minato guarded them against unrest, and Jiraiya stayed at the Planting Base as the Muroku Brothers worked on planting rubber trees.
• News spread that Konoha had occupied the Land of Rain and incorporated it into the Land of Fire.
• Ōnoki paced through his office in fury after hearing the news.
• Ay froze in shock, then confirmed the report with his secretary, who explained that Konoha had purged Rogue Ninjas and was sending supplies to win the civilians' support.
• Ay cursed Ronglin's decision to occupy the poor Land of Rain and agreed with his secretary that they could only wait.

Ronglin’s occupation of the Land of Rain drew concern from the other great villages, but Rasa welcomed the distraction while Konoha consolidated control. Ronglin ordered infrastructure work in the newly occupied territory despite Diqin’s concerns about the cost.

• Ay concluded that Kumogakure could not afford to start another war and suspected Konoha occupied the Land of Rain because no other nation wanted it.
• Rasa received confirmation that Ronglin had occupied the Land of Rain, then dismissed the matter as a useful distraction from pressure on Sunagakure.
• Rasa ignored rumors damaging his reputation and sent Temari to Konoha while overseeing the ore trade.
• Ronglin reviewed reports showing the Land of Rain had stabilized after Anbu’s purge and that its people had returned to daily life with fewer worries about food.
• Ronglin told Diqin to send people to expand drainage facilities and build roads in the Land of Rain, and Diqin warned that the work would cost enormously.

Ronglin explained to Uchiha Diqin how he planned to build roads and waterworks in the Land of Rain without paying conventional labor wages. The chapter ended with Diqin understanding that hungry residents would gladly work in exchange for food.

• Ronglin said construction should begin at the Land of Fire’s border and that they would not need to hire workers or pay wages.
• Ronglin prompted Uchiha Diqin to consider what the Land of Rain had in abundance, and she realized it had people lacking food.
• Ronglin explained that after the distributed food ran out, residents would be recruited to build roads in exchange for meals and extra food to take home.
• Uchiha Diqin predicted that residents would eagerly accept the work because it would feed them and their families.

Ronglin arranged for Konoha to build roads and water facilities in the Land of Rain using food and construction materials, and ordered Uchiha Fugaku’s clan members to keep order. He learned that Temari had arrived in Konoha and sent her to the Ninja Academy, while Temari feared what her new life would bring.

• Ronglin explained that Konoha could fund construction in the Land of Rain with food and materials.
• Ronglin told Uchiha Diqin to begin the work and ask Uchiha Fugaku to send clan members to maintain public order.
• Uchiha Diqin told Ronglin that Temari had been delivered to Konoha as his little maid.
• Ronglin ordered Temari to attend the Ninja Academy and arranged for a teacher skilled in Wind Release to train her.
• Temari, who had been sent away by Rasa, sat in a small courtyard wondering whether she would become a maid.