Chapter Summaries

Hatake Ling Tian learned that his older brother, Hatake Sakumo, appeared to be preparing to kill himself after a mission, and the system offered Ling Tian choices for responding. Ling Tian dismissed Kakashi’s fears and resolved to intervene when Sakumo returned.

• Four-year-old Kakashi told Hatake Ling Tian that Hatake Sakumo had asked him to listen to Ling Tian and warned him that a ninja’s achievements could threaten their leader.
• Ling Tian realized Sakumo’s words sounded like final arrangements and saw the system’s options for handling Sakumo’s impending suicide.
• Ling Tian reassured Kakashi that Sakumo was safe and powerful, while privately blaming Sakumo’s rigid obedience to the village leadership.
• Ling Tian decided he would try to change Sakumo’s mind when his older brother returned.

Ling Tian scolded Kakashi for secretly bringing barbecue to Obito, then sent him home with extra food for Obito and his grandmother. Afterward, Ling Tian chose to intervene as his older brother Hatake Sakumo neared suicide, and Lord Orochimaru arrived.

• Ling Tian learned that Kakashi’s father had been away on a mission for days and questioned Kakashi about it.
• Ling Tian discovered Kakashi had secretly brought barbecue for Obito and reprimanded him for being dishonest rather than for helping his classmate.
• Ling Tian told Kakashi to take extra barbecue for Obito and food his grandmother could eat, and said Obito should come to the restaurant next time.
• Ling Tian checked the Strongest Choice System, selected the option to slap sense into Hatake Sakumo, and gained early access to his personal panel and the summoned being Little Right.
• Someone announced that Lord Orochimaru had arrived.

Ling Tian challenged Orochimaru’s belief that White Fang was wrong to abandon his mission, then learned the accusation had come from a letter about White Fang’s failed attempt to kill the Third Kazekage. The chapter ended with Orochimaru revealing that White Fang’s injured teammate was Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the Hokage’s eldest son.

• Orochimaru told Ling Tian that White Fang had failed his mission and would soon return to the village.
• Ling Tian argued that failing to assassinate a Kage was normal and that saving a comrade was not a disgrace.
• Orochimaru explained that a letter blamed White Fang for abandoning his chance to kill the Third Kazekage to save an injured teammate.
• Ling Tian questioned the accusation and asked about the teammate’s identity and abilities.
• Orochimaru revealed that the teammate was a special jonin named Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the Hokage’s eldest son.

Ling Tian challenged Orochimaru’s faith in the Third Hokage by arguing that the Leaf’s leaders had sidelined capable shinobi and used White Fang’s mission to undermine him. After Orochimaru questioned Ling Tian’s claims, Ling Tian began explaining why Danzo had risen to power.

• Ling Tian told Orochimaru that White Fang’s mission to assassinate Sunagakure’s Kage may have been designed to claim credit if it succeeded and blame White Fang if it failed.
• Kakashi repeated his father’s words, convincing Orochimaru that the higher-ups had knowingly sent White Fang into a disastrous mission despite its cost to the Leaf Village.
• Ling Tian asked Orochimaru whether he wanted to become Hokage and criticized the Third Hokage for empowering Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu while capable shinobi were pushed aside.
• Orochimaru defended his teacher and said Danzo was not weak, prompting Ling Tian to explain that the Third Hokage found the two Advisors easy to control and begin discussing Danzo’s rise.

Ling Tian pressed Orochimaru to help protect Hatake Sakumo from the village’s leadership, offering to support Orochimaru’s bid for Hokage in return. The chapter ended as Sakumo returned, leaving Orochimaru to wonder how much Ling Tian had hidden about his abilities.

• Ling Tian argued that the Third Hokage had enabled Danzo and warned Orochimaru that the Leaf Village was beyond saving.
• Ling Tian threatened that the Hatake Clan would destroy the Leaf Village if anyone used Kakashi to threaten them.
• Orochimaru agreed to consider changing the village and asked Ling Tian how they should proceed.
• Ling Tian asked Orochimaru to help Sakumo and promised support for Orochimaru’s bid to become Hokage.
• Ling Tian explained that Sakumo had raised him and that he would protect his older brother from anyone, including the village.
• Orochimaru sensed someone approaching, and Ling Tian recognized that Sakumo had returned.

Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha dispirited after abandoning a mission to save his comrades, while villagers began spreading the news of his failure. Ling Tian saw Mitarashi Shiun defend Sakumo and rewarded him, offering to help Shiun’s daughter Anko find a teacher, with Orochimaru in mind.

• Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha with an injured squad member who accused him of betraying the villagers’ trust.
• Villagers learned that Sakumo had failed his mission to save his comrades, and they debated what the failure meant.
• Mitarashi Shiun rebuked the gossiping villagers and reminded them of Sakumo’s service and sacrifice.
• Ling Tian thanked Shiun, offered to pay for a house, and promised to help find a teacher for Shiun’s daughter, Anko.
• Ling Tian pointed to Orochimaru when Shiun asked who he meant as Anko’s possible teacher.

Ling Tian persuaded Orochimaru to consider joining him in pursuing the Hokage position, arguing that Orochimaru had the talent and political support to succeed. He revealed his far greater ambition to claim ninety-nine percent of the Shinobi World, then left Orochimaru to think it over.

• After Mitarashi Shiun left with his wife, Orochimaru said he had never agreed to take Shiun as a student, and Ling Tian urged him not to underestimate Shishō.
• Ling Tian explained how the Third Hokage had failed to pass his ninjutsu legacy to his students and suggested that Orochimaru had been neglected despite his abilities.
• Ling Tian told Orochimaru that the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Ino-Shika-Cho could support his bid for Hokage, with Torifu Akimichi brought forward as an Advisor.
• Ling Tian dismissed Tsunade and Jiraiya as unsuitable Hokage candidates and accused the Third of wanting Jiraiya as a controllable successor for the Sarutobi Clan.
• Ling Tian declared that he wanted ninety-nine percent of the Shinobi World and invited Orochimaru to help end the age of turmoil.
• Ling Tian left Orochimaru to consider his offer and planned to persuade his older brother next.

White Fang rejected the Hokage’s attempt to send him home and returned his sleeve, declaring that he no longer trusted the village. Hiruzen removed Sakumo from his Anbu Captain position and appointed Mitarashi Shishō as acting captain, while privately hoping Sakumo’s next move would let him regain public support.

• White Fang ignored the villagers and shinobi outside the Hokage Building, then told an Anbu messenger that the village had rotted and he regretted trusting Hiruzen.
• White Fang tore off the Hokage sleeve tied to his arm, gave it back to the messenger, and walked away from the village’s service.
• The Anbu messenger brought the sleeve to Hiruzen, who said Sakumo could not simply leave shinobi life and that the captaincy no longer suited him.
• Mitarashi Shishō objected to becoming acting Anbu Captain, but Hiruzen overruled him and made the appointment.
• Hiruzen watched from his office and hoped Sakumo would go far enough for him to resolve the incident and win the villagers’ favor.

Ling Tian confronted White Fang after he returned the Hokage Sleeve and decided to quit taking missions, then persuaded him to give up on becoming Hokage and rely on his family. The brothers made peace, though Ling Tian remained worried about what might happen next.

• Ling Tian waited at the Hatake Clan estate and asked White Fang whether the Third Hokage had taken back his Hokage Sleeve.
• White Fang admitted that he had not met the Third and had returned the sleeve himself.
• Ling Tian berated White Fang for giving up the position and explained that he had wanted to weaken his faith in the village, not make him abandon his ambitions.
• White Fang said he would stay home to teach Kakashi, and Ling Tian argued with him about supporting the family.
• The brothers joked about Ling Tian's name and their mother’s hopes for him as the sun set.

Ling Tian explained to Kakashi that the Hatake Clan had become vulnerable after White Fang was set up, and asked him to help make their apparent ties to the Uchiha Clan known. Kakashi chose Obito, whose great-uncle had been Lord Kagami Uchiha, and prepared to invite him home for dinner.

• Kakashi returned home to find Ling Tian and White Fang with him, and enjoyed a family evening despite White Fang's guilt and Ling Tian's worry.
• The next morning, Ling Tian walked Kakashi to school and pointed out that other ninja clans were keeping their distance while the Uchiha Clan had begun showing goodwill.
• Ling Tian warned Kakashi that White Fang had been set up and that others might use Kakashi to pressure the Hatake Clan.
• Ling Tian asked Kakashi to bring home an Uchiha classmate with important family connections and make sure the school heard about the visit.
• Kakashi named Obito and explained that Lord Kagami Uchiha was Obito's great-uncle and that Lord Kagami Uchiha's wife had raised him.

Ling Tian visited Fugaku Uchiha to recruit the Uchiha Clan for a coup, offering them influence in the village and the backing of Orochimaru. Fugaku was left weighing the proposal after Ling Tian promised Kakashi would marry an Uchiha girl of Fugaku’s choosing and claimed authority to speak for the Hatake Clan.

• Ling Tian left Kakashi at the academy and traveled to the Uchiha Clan Compound to request an audience with Fugaku Uchiha.
• Ling Tian told the Uchiha gatekeepers he needed Shinobi escorts for a business venture and learned the clan’s Shinobi generally did not take outside missions.
• Fugaku Uchiha questioned whether White Fang had sent Ling Tian, then rejected his request for a Kage Level fighter and Jonin.
• Ling Tian offered the Uchiha Clan an Advisor position and control of the Intelligence Department in addition to its Police Force role.
• Ling Tian revealed that Orochimaru would fully support their coup, and Fugaku asked whether Ling Tian could speak for White Fang.
• Ling Tian promised that Kakashi would marry an Uchiha girl chosen by Fugaku and declared that he called the shots in the Hatake Clan.

Ling Tian tried to persuade Fugaku Uchiha to join a coup against the Third, laying out how allies, public support, and a redistribution of power could make victory likely. Fugaku became more receptive, and Ling Tian ended by suggesting that Fugaku arrange for a girl to join Team Kakashi.

• Ling Tian argued that the Third and the village's leaders were suppressing the Hatake and warned Fugaku Uchiha that the Uchiha could be targeted next.
• Ling Tian proposed a coup supported by Orochimaru, another powerful Shinobi, and the Uchiha, then considered how to neutralize Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the village's forces.
• Fugaku Uchiha estimated the coup's odds, raising them as Ling Tian added the Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka, and village-wide opposition to the Third.
• Ling Tian proposed giving the Inuzuka the Police Force, appointing Fugaku, the Hyuga clan head, and Torifu Akimichi as advisors, and placing Orochimaru in charge of a Research Department.
• Ling Tian suggested that Fugaku arrange for a little girl to join Team Kakashi so affection could develop early.

Ling Tian secured an alliance with Fugaku while preparing to defend White Fang, but his system interrupted his plans with a choice involving Madara and Lady Kaguya. When Ling Tian returned home, he found villagers denouncing Sakumo and confronted Kakashi for doubting his father.

• Ling Tian and Fugaku agreed that the Hatake and Uchiha clans would support each other.
• Ling Tian considered plans to make his brother Hokage and defeat Madara, but the system offered him choices that could lead to a multiverse journey.
• Ling Tian chose to head home while weighing whether he wanted a quiet life or an adventure across the multiverse.
• At the Hatake compound, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and villagers blamed Sakumo Hatake for the renewed threat of war and accused him of abandoning his duty.
• Ling Tian found Kakashi and other children among the crowd, then slapped Kakashi when he asked whether the accusations against his father were true.
• Ling Tian slapped Kakashi again after learning that classmates had accused Sakumo, and demanded to know why Kakashi had come home.

Ling Tian confronted Kakashi for challenging his father at home, then defended Sakumo Hatake against Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the villagers accusing him of betraying the Leaf. He left the crowd with a threat after they continued to condemn Sakumo.

• Ling Tian slapped Kakashi for insisting he wanted to confront Sakumo, then warned him not to bring the family conflict home again.
• Rin begged Ling Tian to stop, Obito threatened to involve Fugaku, and Might Guy challenged Ling Tian before being spanked.
• Ling Tian told Kakashi he could leave the Hatake Clan if he was ashamed of his father, then asked the gathered villagers to leave and stop judging Sakumo based on rumors.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke accused Sakumo of abandoning a mission and provoking war with Sunagakure, but Ling Tian argued that Sakumo had saved Shinnosuke and questioned why he had been assigned to the mission.
• Ling Tian pointed out that the Third Hokage had stayed in his office while Sakumo fought on the battlefield and warned Shinnosuke not to push the Hatake Clan too far.
• When a villager blamed Sakumo for Sunagakure seeking revenge, Ling Tian threatened to slaughter him if he did not leave.

Ling Tian confronted those who had pressured White Fang and threatened to leave the village unless they answered for their actions. When White Fang said he would not drag his brother into the dispute, Ling Tian slapped him, completing a mission and unlocking a reward.

• Ling Tian intimidated the woman and demanded that she take responsibility or face consequences with her family.
• Ling Tian challenged Sarutobi Shinnosuke and warned that the Hatake family would leave the village if it received no satisfactory answer.
• White Fang came outside, and Ling Tian accused the Advisors of orchestrating the confrontation to undermine him.
• Konohamaru realized Danzo had used him to pressure White Fang and regretted taking part.
• White Fang said he would not drag Ling Tian into the dispute, so Ling Tian slapped him and completed a mission that granted a Diamond Calabash Brothers template, a summon named Little Right, and early access to his personal template.

Ling Tian stopped Sakumo Hatake from acting on his despair and ordered him to drive the visitors from the Hatake residence. Sakumo’s strength frightened them into leaving, while Kakashi and his friends learned that his father had not betrayed the village.

• Ling Tian slapped Sakumo and demanded to know what he meant by dragging him down, prompting Sakumo to apologize for worrying him.
• Ling Tian ordered Sakumo to throw out Konohamaru and his companions, and told Kakashi to fetch his father’s Ninja Blade or leave with them.
• Kakashi brought out the blade, and Ling Tian handed it to Sakumo and threatened to cut the visitors down himself if Sakumo would not act.
• Sakumo took his blade and unleashed his Kage-level presence, forcing the four civilians to collapse while Konohamaru struggled to stand.
• Konohamaru agreed to leave, and Sakumo withdrew his pressure as all five visitors fled the Hatake residence.
• Ling Tian turned to Obito and Might Guy and cheerfully asked if they were the two boys.

Ling Tian recruited Obito and Might Guy to relay what happened to Fugaku and Might Duy, then told White Fang that the Uchiha and Orochimaru planned to make him Fourth Hokage. Ling Tian prepared to rally the other clans and remove the Third and the Advisors, leaving White Fang to consider the violent path ahead.

• Ling Tian asked Obito to report the day's events to Fugaku and Might Guy to tell Might Duy that White Fang and the village needed his help.
• Might Guy forgot Ling Tian's explanation, so Ling Tian asked Kakashi to make sure Might Duy heard the full story; the children left after agreeing to return for dinner.
• White Fang questioned Ling Tian's plans, and Ling Tian revealed that he had already allied with Fugaku Uchiha and intended to seek support from Might Duy and the remaining clans.
• Ling Tian told White Fang that the Uchiha Clan and Orochimaru had chosen him to become Fourth Hokage.
• White Fang asked about the Third and the Advisors, and Ling Tian said they would all be killed unless White Fang wanted his supporters and family endangered.

Ling Tian reviewed his system rewards, randomly unlocked Fourth Baby, and summoned the larval Little Right, which parasitized his right hand and went dormant. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Might Guy visited the Might family home and learned that Guy’s father was out training.

• Ling Tian examined his system quests and personal stats, then discovered that he could unlock only one Calabash Brothers member.
• Ling Tian tried to choose Seventh Baby, but the system randomly unlocked Fourth Baby, a Kage-level fire-powered Calabash.
• Ling Tian summoned Little Right, which crawled into his right hand and hibernated while developing.
• Ling Tian left his room still wondering whether to kill Madara and how to unlock the remaining Calabash Brothers.
• Might Guy and Kakashi arrived at the Might family home, where Guy explained that his father was training and would run fifty laps in an hour.

Kakashi and Obito told Might Duy and Fugaku about the plan to help the Hatake brothers, and both men agreed to support it. Fugaku considered how the Uchiha would use the story to shape public opinion and reflected on Kagami’s neglect of his family and clan.

• Kakashi recounted the events at home to Might Duy, who agreed to help the Hatake brothers and assigned Kakashi and Might Guy extra training.
• Might Duy told Kakashi not to doubt his father or Second Uncle again, and Kakashi promised he would not.
• Obito dictated his account to Rin, who wrote it down for Fugaku as part of the Uchiha’s public-opinion strategy.
• Fugaku read the account and thought that Hatake Xianyu had arranged the timing perfectly.
• After Obito and Rin left, Fugaku wondered whether Kagami had regretted neglecting his family and clan.

Ling Tian met Dai and learned that his past help had saved Dai's wife and supported the family, but he refused to let Dai risk his life out of gratitude alone. After Dai agreed to help based on the village's current situation and rumors about its leadership, Ling Tian asked to see his strength first.

• Rin took Obito to help White Fang in the kitchen while Ling Tian wondered how to enlist allies against the village leadership.
• Dai thanked Ling Tian for arranging work that had helped support his family when Guy was born, and Guy joined him in expressing gratitude.
• Ling Tian sent Kakashi and Guy to the kitchen, then asked Dai what he thought of the village, the Hokage, and the Three Advisors.
• Dai said he would help because Ling Tian had helped his family, but Ling Tian urged him to leave rather than risk his life for that reason alone.
• Dai said he had heard the rumors about the Hatake Brothers and asked what Ling Tian needed him to do.
• Ling Tian asked to see Dai's strength first.