Chapter Summaries

Tsunade and Shizune visited Sasuke’s home and decided to stay there, discovering that he had built a well-equipped residence in the ruined Uchiha Clan Grounds. Sasuke’s household was full of Shadow Clones and guests, while Tsunade considered remaining in Konoha for an extended period.

• Tsunade learned Jiraiya was staying at Sasuke’s house and followed an Anbu through the devastated Uchiha Clan Grounds to reach it.
• Naruto opened the gate and explained that he was staying with Sasuke because his own home had not been cleaned.
• Sasuke welcomed Tsunade and Shizune, confirmed Jiraiya had gone out on patrol, and arranged guest rooms for them.
• Neji arrived and explained he had been working at Sasuke’s house because Konoha’s electricity was restricted; Sasuke revealed his home used a Vortex Generator Unit.
• Sasuke showed Tsunade and Shizune the house’s facilities and Shadow Clone household staff, prompting Tsunade to consider staying there for an extended period.

Tsunade began taking on Hokage duties while Sasuke asked her to teach him the Yin Seal to increase his chakra reserves. After explaining the technique’s demanding training and secrecy, Tsunade began instructing him and was startled when he quickly grasped the sealing framework.

• Tsunade was assigned administrative work by the village advisors and spent her first day meeting ninja and reviewing Konoha’s backlog.
• Sasuke welcomed Tsunade home, then asked to learn the Yin Seal so he could improve his chances of safely cultivating Sage Chakra and prepare to face Itachi.
• Tsunade explained that filling the Yin Seal could take two and a half to three years and severely limit the chakra Sasuke could use, but he agreed to try.
• Tsunade warned Sasuke to keep the training secret, then taught him the Yin Seal’s array and chakra techniques from a scroll.
• Sasuke immediately demonstrated an understanding of the chakra sealing framework, and Tsunade pressed a hand against his head in surprise.

Tsunade helped Sasuke form the framework of a Yin Seal, while Konoha Hospital began treating Rock Lee and Tsunade was inaugurated as the Fifth Hokage. The chapter ended with the village celebrating Tsunade’s appointment.

• Tsunade guided Sasuke through forming the Yin Seal, supplying her own Chakra when his ran low.
• Sasuke offered to prepare a late-night meal for Tsunade, who asked him to bring out some liquor.
• Neji led Rock Lee’s operation with Shizune assisting, Sasuke handling anesthesia, and Tsunade advising from outside the operating room.
• A week later, Rock Lee underwent a second operation, and he was discharged after three days of recovery.
• Tsunade accepted the Hokage hat from Council Elder Utatane Koharu and declared herself the Fifth Hokage as the village cheered.

After Tsunade’s inauguration, Jiraiya left Konoha to investigate Akatsuki and protect Naruto from the shadows, leaving Tsunade to lead the village. Sasuke supported her with Uchiha property documents and house designs, while Team Seven took on missions and went to see a new film that reminded Sasuke of a plot he half remembered.

• At a late-night barbecue, Jiraiya congratulated Tsunade on becoming Hokage and announced he was leaving to watch Akatsuki and other threats; he departed Konoha under cover of night.
• Sasuke gave Tsunade deeds and rental contracts for seventeen former Uchiha properties as a congratulatory gift, and she accepted them despite expecting disputes over their validity.
• Naruto earned money by completing large numbers of D-rank missions, while Sasuke showed Tsunade architectural designs for her new home and learned Team Seven would resume higher-rank missions under Kakashi.
• After Team Seven returned from a C-rank escort mission, Tsunade told them an A-rank mission awaited and sent them to Kakashi for instructions.
• Team Seven went to see The Great Adventure of Fuunhime, and Sasuke recognized that the film’s plot connected to something he remembered and sent a Shadow Clone to prepare travel equipment.

Team Seven accepted a mission to escort actress Fujikaze Yukie and her film crew to the Land of Snow, where Yukie was being forced to return for filming. As the group boarded a ship for the journey, Sasuke used the preparation time to gather supplies and plan how to trade in the remote country.

• Naruto, Sakura Haruno, and Kakashi discovered that samurai had brought the fleeing Fujikaze Yukie back, and Kakashi introduced Asama Sandayu as their client.
• Sandayu explained that Yukie had repeatedly tried to escape the Land of Snow filming trip, so Team Seven had been hired to keep her from running away; Sasuke put Yukie to sleep at Kakashi’s signal.
• Sasuke questioned Sandayu about the Land of Snow and its resources, but received little beyond a rough map and warnings about the cold and changing terrain.
• Sasuke consulted Cat Grandma for intelligence, reasoned about the Land of Snow’s possible resources, and traveled to nearby villages to buy more than four million ryo worth of supplies.
• Sasuke prepared a larger backup Yin Seal reservoir and used Chakra bought from Naruto to fuel his sealing work.
• More than seventy actors, crew members, samurai, horses, and ninja boarded the ship as evening fell.

Sasuke and his team sailed with Fujikaze Yukie to film a movie, while Yukie resented being forced along. After Sasuke tried to set up Yukie and Kakashi, Kakashi threw him into the sea, and Yukie recognized Kakashi as the boy who had once saved her.

• Kakashi explained that the Land of Snow had no diplomatic relations with the Land of Fire as Sasuke fished aboard the ship.
• Yukie woke aboard the ship, rejected Naruto’s request for an autograph, and was not allowed to leave during the port stop.
• Sasuke explored the port, then joined the team as filming began at sea and saw Yukie work seriously despite her resentment.
• Sasuke visited Yukie and apologized for the team’s conduct before introducing Kakashi and proposing that they date.
• Kakashi dragged Sasuke out after his matchmaking pitch and threw him into the sea, while Yukie recognized Kakashi as the boy who had saved her years earlier.
• Naruto and Sakura found Kakashi and Sasuke and called them to dinner, and Sasuke concealed what had happened.

Sasuke’s film crew reached the Land of Snow after an uneventful voyage, and Sasuke tried to keep the altered circumstances from endangering the crew. When Fujikaze Yukie ran off during filming, Naruto and Sasuke found her and brought her back, and the group continued toward a village for the night.

• A massive iceberg blocked the ship’s route, so the director landed the crew to film a scene before continuing the voyage.
• The crew reached a crude harbor in the Land of Snow, where Sasuke inspected the region’s unusual vehicles and machines.
• Sandayu discovered Fujikaze Yukie was missing while the crew prepared to film at a cliffside location.
• Naruto and Sasuke found Yukie after she ran the wrong way and urged her to return, assuring her that the ninjas would protect her.
• Yukie returned to filming, and after finishing at the location, the group set out through a railway tunnel toward a village where they would spend the night.

Sandayu revealed that he had brought the crew and Konoha ninja to the Land of Snow to restore Princess Kazahana Koyuki to power, but Koyuki refused to lead a rebellion. Kakashi agreed that the ninja would keep protecting her during filming, while Koyuki protested that she wanted to turn back.

• Sandayu confessed that Fujikaze Yukie was really Princess Kazahana Koyuki and explained that Kazahana Dōtō had seized the Land of Snow ten years earlier.
• Sandayu knelt before Koyuki and begged her to defeat Dōtō and reclaim the throne, but she refused and warned that fighting him would only cause more deaths.
• The director and assistant director decided to continue filming, while the samurai captain declined to take part in a war.
• Kakashi said the ninja would protect Koyuki through the filming mission and asked for additional payment because the concealed objective made the mission at least S-rank.
• Naruto condemned Sandayu for endangering Koyuki, and Koyuki protested that she wanted to leave, but no one asked for her decision.

Kazahana Dōtō attacked the rebel village to capture Kazahana Koyuki and recover the Hexagonal Crystal, but Team 7 defeated his forces and brought Nadare Rōga in for questioning. The battle ended with the rebellion’s leadership dead and the survivors badly wounded.

• Kazahana Dōtō learned that Kazahana Koyuki had returned and prepared to attack the rebel village, while Asama Sandayu planned a battle with his fifty soldiers.
• Dōtō confronted Koyuki from an aircraft and demanded to know whether she had the Hexagonal Crystal; Sandayu’s troops fired at him, and Dōtō bombarded the village.
• Naruto used his Three-Star Fan and a combined attack with Sasuke to bring down the aircraft, while Team 7 protected Koyuki and fought the surrounding Snow Ninja.
• Naruto defeated dozens of soldiers with Shadow Clones, and Sasuke killed the black-armored enemy and captured the white-armored Nadare Rōga.
• Sakura helped Koyuki and the injured, while the survivors found Asama Sandayu dead and Kakashi interrogated Nadare, who identified the black-armored man as Kazahana Dōtō.

After Sasuke killed Kazahana Dōtō, Kakashi urged Kazahana Koyuki to consider taking the throne, and the team cleared the remaining enemy forces in the Land of Snow. Koyuki decided to return as princess, and the transition of power began under the team’s watch.

• Sasuke apologized to Kazahana Koyuki for killing her uncle, and she asked him to burn the body and bury it beneath a large rock.
• Kakashi told Kazahana Koyuki that she should consider becoming ruler, but he refused when she asked him to help govern.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi infiltrated the Land of Snow’s main city, destroyed the castle’s remaining forces, and left the castle in ruins.
• Kazahana Koyuki arrived at the city near noon and announced her return as princess.
• Sasuke checked the gathered government officials for loyalty to Kazahana Dōtō’s faction as the change of regime proceeded.

Kazahana Koyuki investigated how the people viewed her before discovering the Secret Treasure her father had left at the Rainbow Ice Wall. The treasure revealed a childhood memory that renewed her resolve to become a good Queen and make movies.

• Kazahana Koyuki asked Sasuke to help her learn what the people thought of their new Queen, and Naruto encouraged her to face the challenge.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura disguised themselves and accompanied Kazahana Koyuki as she interviewed residents, whose complaints about her father and fears of worsening conditions upset her.
• Sasuke told Kazahana Koyuki that Kazahana Dōtō had searched for a vast treasure her father supposedly hid, and that the Hexagonal Crystal might unlock it at the Rainbow Ice Wall.
• Kazahana Koyuki inserted the Hexagonal Crystal into the shrine-like structure, activating the ice walls and revealing a lush landscape and a recording of her childhood conversation with her father.
• Kazahana Koyuki watched her childhood self describe her dreams of becoming a righteous Princess and making movies, and she smiled through her tears.

After Kazahana Koyuki’s coronation, Sasuke and the others examined the Land of Snow’s technology and practiced its supposedly Ice Style techniques. Once filming ended, Koyuki joined them on the journey back to the Land of Fire, planning to balance governing with her acting career.

• Naruto recognized the grassland as genjutsu, while Sasuke identified the images of Koyuki and her father as primitive holographic projections.
• Koyuki prepared for her coronation, continued her acting career, and announced plans to adapt Jiraiya’s Make-Out Paradise series; Sasuke abandoned his attempts to match her with Kakashi.
• Sasuke inspected the Rainbow Ice Wall and judged its heat-generation system inefficient, but chose not to advise Koyuki; he sold most of his supplies and planned to buy local goods before leaving.
• Sasuke discovered that the Land of Snow’s Ice Style techniques relied on combinations of other chakra natures and environmental cold, and Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura practiced them.
• After filming Princess of Wind and Clouds wrapped, Koyuki made arrangements for her country and traveled with the others to the Land of Fire.

Sasuke reported on the Land of Snow and asked Tsunade to assess Sakura Haruno’s medical-ninjutsu potential and investigate Naruto’s difficulty with Yin Release-based Fuinjutsu. He gave Tsunade an Aromatic Stone, but she assigned him and Neji to analyze it through at least five hundred experiments.

• Tsunade discussed the Land of Snow’s small population, weak fighting force, and limited tax income with Sasuke and Shizune.
• Sasuke asked Tsunade to assess Sakura Haruno after she learned basic Medical Ninjutsu from him during the mission.
• Sasuke told Tsunade that Naruto could handle basic Fuinjutsu but struggled with techniques requiring Yin Release, and Tsunade asked him to bring Naruto in to discuss it at work.
• Sasuke gave Tsunade an Aromatic Stone from the Land of Snow for medical research.
• Tsunade assigned Shizune, Sasuke, and Neji to produce a physicochemical analysis report on the stone using at least five hundred experiments.

Sasuke and Naruto tested their Yin and Yang Chakra, then joined Kakashi and Sakura on a joint mission with Gaara’s team to clear bandits near the border. When Sunagakure operatives revealed they planned to target Gaara, Naruto rushed to support him and Kakashi confronted the attackers.

• Tsunade tested Naruto, Sasuke, herself, and Kinoe in a Chakra formation, revealing that Naruto and Sasuke had extreme imbalances between Yang and Yin Chakra.
• Naruto asked Sasuke to help him train with Yin Release Chakra so he could try learning genjutsu and advanced Fuinjutsu.
• Sasuke and Neji began arranging an experiment with Shizune, while Kakashi gathered Team Seven for a joint bandit-clearing mission with Sunagakure.
• Gaara apologized for the attack on Konoha and introduced his subordinates, Aoji and Kurobi, before the teams approached the bandits’ hideout in the Land of Rivers.
• Kakashi stopped masked Sunagakure operatives who admitted they intended to target Gaara, and Sasuke marked them while Naruto rushed to support Gaara.
• Kakashi attacked the operative who had spoken and told Sasuke to leave the Sunagakure attackers alive for Gaara.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura completed a joint mission with Gaara, then traveled to the Land of Tea to protect the Wasabi Family’s contestant in a political competition. They discovered the contestant was Mori Idaten, whose brother was Ibiki, and Sasuke learned that the Karashi Family’s rule had driven local taxes sharply upward.

• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi defeated bandits alongside Gaara, completed their joint mission, and took a group photo.
• Tsunade sent Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to the Land of Tea to protect a contestant in the Great Shrine ceremony competition.
• At a tea shop, Naruto and Sakura confronted Mori Idaten after he insulted them and tried to leave them with his bill; Sasuke’s genjutsu exposed that Idaten was Ibiki’s younger brother.
• Jirōchō explained that the competition determined control of Deku Port and asked the team to protect the Wasabi Family’s contestant from the Karashi Family.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke learned that Idaten was the Wasabi Family’s contestant, while Sasuke questioned Jirōchō about the town’s high taxes and promised to help with the competition.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura helped Idaten compete for Jirōchō’s side in the Land of Tea race while learning why Idaten feared returning to Konoha. As an enemy boat approached, Sasuke prepared to confront its crew and take the vessel.

• Idaten asked about his brother Ibiki and described his fear of returning to Konoha, while Naruto urged him to visit the village.
• At the race’s dawn start, Idaten avoided the unfavorable winds at Deku Port and led the team to a northern harbor, where they sailed toward Nagi Island.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke learned that Idaten had been tricked by Aoi Rokushō into stealing Konoha’s classified documents; Sasuke confirmed Aoi was a missing-nin and offered to help Idaten learn whether he could return.
• The team spotted an unfamiliar boat approaching them, and Sasuke suggested taking it as spoils after its crew fired crossbow bolts at them.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura helped Idaten reach Aradokuro Shrine first, then defeated Aoi Rokushō when he attacked them on the way down. They left Aoi alive but incapacitated and let Idaten continue the race with the jewel.

• Naruto's team captured the three Amegakure ninja, learned Aoi Rokushō was their captain, and sent them into the sea bound to ballast stones.
• Naruto accidentally destroyed Idaten's sail, so Sasuke switched them to the confiscated boat and Naruto used wind to speed their voyage.
• Idaten and Team 7 climbed to Aradokuro Shrine, where Idaten retrieved the jewel to cheers from the spectators.
• Aoi Rokushō ambushed them with Senbon and the Sword of the Thunder God, but Sasuke struck him from behind after dodging his attack.
• Team 7 sealed Aoi's chakra pathways and decided to take him along for the extra reward, while Idaten continued the race.

Sasuke and Naruto exposed the Karashi Family’s wrongdoing after Idaten won the race, and the ruler of the Land of Tea dissolved the family while investigating its hired rogue ninja. Back in Konoha, Idaten returned to face punishment and begin the process of retiring from ninja service.

• Sasuke and Naruto discovered that Aoi Rokushō had died from poison on the senbon and stored his corpse in a sealing scroll.
• Idaten won the race and placed the jewel at the Great Shrine, but Karashi Kyūroku accused Team 7 of helping him break the rules.
• Sasuke produced Aoi Rokushō’s corpse and questioned Kyūroku about hiring a Konoha rogue ninja; the ruler of the Land of Tea investigated the accusations, dissolved the Karashi Family, and imprisoned Kyūroku pending investigation.
• Idaten apologized to Jirōchō and left with Team 7 to return to Konoha, while Jirōchō paid the upgraded A-rank mission fee.
• Tsunade offered Idaten labor missions as punishment in exchange for keeping his case out of the records, after which he could formally retire; Idaten accepted and left with Ibiki.

Tsunade lent Sasuke the Sword of the Thunder God, and he studied its limitations before forging his first Chakra weapon from salvaged Chakra Metal. After fishing in the village, Sasuke was surrounded by the Sound Four, who attacked him on Orochimaru’s orders.

• Tsunade gave Sasuke the Sword of the Thunder God on loan and told him to keep it safe.
• Sasuke tested the sword and concluded that it worked better as a Lightning Style ninjutsu tool than as a weapon for clashing.
• Sasuke melted scraps of Chakra Metal into a short sword, giving himself his first Chakra weapon.
• Sasuke continued developing Chidori Spear, which he could currently extend up to two meters.
• The Sound Four confronted Sasuke while he was fishing, identified themselves, and attacked without answering his question about Orochimaru.

Sasuke fought the Sound Four after they tried to persuade him to leave Konoha, using traps and coordinated attacks to defeat them. Tayuya and Jirobo died, Sakon was caught in an explosion, and Kidomaru was captured as Konoha's ninja arrived.

• Sasuke recognized the Sound Four's technique and lured Sakon across the river while fighting him.
• Sasuke used a barrage of shuriken and senbon to identify Sakon as the real target, then bound him with steel wire and killed him with Explosive Tags.
• The remaining Sound Four activated their Cursed Seals, but Sasuke and his Shadow Clones attacked with lightning, weapons, and traps.
• Sasuke killed Tayuya with his sword and defeated Jirobo with Fire Style: Spiraling Sphere.
• Patrolling Konoha ninja arrived, and Sasuke's Shadow Clones helped capture Kidomaru alive.