Chapter Summaries

Ling Tian took Dai far from the Leaf Village and revealed his Fire Baby abilities during their spar. Dai opened six of the Eight Inner Gates, and Ling Tian shaped a ring of fire into a fire dragon that attacked him.

• Ling Tian persuaded Dai to spar with him and led him deep into the Land of Fire, away from the village.
• Ling Tian told Dai to open no more than six gates, startling Dai by revealing his knowledge of the Eight Gates.
• Ling Tian switched to the Diamond Calabash Brothers Template and drew fire-nature chakra and heat into his body.
• Dai opened the first six gates and charged at Ling Tian, who breathed a sweeping sea of fire to keep him at a distance.
• Ling Tian formed the flames into a ring and then transformed the ring into a fire dragon that lunged at Dai.

Ling Tian tested his fire dragon against Might Duy’s Six Gates and saw Duy unleash Morning Peacock before the two called off their fight. Duy refused to open the Seventh Gate, leaving Ling Tian to vow that his Fire Baby would eventually defeat him.

• Ling Tian’s fire dragon attacked Duy, who escaped the strike unharmed and countered with Morning Peacock.
• Ling Tian compressed the dragon and sent smaller fire dragons at Duy, whose attacks caused a fiery explosion that uprooted trees and ignited the forest.
• Duy closed the Six Gates, and he told Ling Tian that opening the Seventh Gate five years earlier had left him bedridden for three days and recovering for over a year.
• Duy said he could now open the Seventh Gate for a few seconds but refused to use it because Ling Tian could not survive its power.
• Ling Tian vowed that once his Fire Baby grew up, he would defeat Duy with a single spit, then kept his plans to bring down the Konoha F4 in mind.

Ling Tian told Dai why he considered the Second Hokage the only suitable leader before they fled the site of their devastating battle. As Leaf shinobi investigated the destruction, the Third Hokage gathered the village’s leaders to discuss a message from Sunagakure.

• Ling Tian criticized the First Hokage as selfish and childish, then said the Second deserved to be called Lord Hokage.
• Ling Tian and Dai sensed approaching shinobi and vanished before three Leaf jonin reached the battlefield.
• The three jonin found immense destruction but no combatants or identifying traces, and they left to report their findings.
• The Third Hokage met with the Three Advisors, the Sannin, Fugaku Uchiha, and other clan leaders at the Hokage Building.
• The Third Hokage asked the assembled leaders what they thought of Sunagakure’s message.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told Konoha’s leaders that war with Sunagakure was unavoidable and proposed limiting it until Sunagakure ran out of supplies. Orochimaru backed Danzo’s call for a decisive invasion, leaving the meeting waiting on Hiruzen’s response.

• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to let him lead an attack on Sunagakure, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura argued against expanding the conflict.
• Hiruzen revealed that Chiyo and Ebizo had persuaded the Third Kazekage to attack Konoha, making war unavoidable.
• Hiruzen proposed holding off Sunagakure until its shinobi ran short of supplies and returned home, drawing Danzo’s objections.
• Orochimaru supported Danzo and argued that Konoha should destroy Sunagakure, then use its freed forces to subdue the other shinobi villages.
• Orochimaru listed Konoha’s many powerful fighters and said Sunagakure could be defeated easily, prompting everyone to look to Hiruzen for his decision.

Orochimaru and Danzo argued for launching a war against the Four Great Shinobi Villages, while Tsunade and Jiraiya opposed them. Hiruzen Sarutobi vetoed the proposal, and Danzo left furious after the clan leaders followed Hiruzen’s lead.

• Orochimaru supported Danzo’s argument that war could prevent future attacks, while Tsunade and Jiraiya argued that starting a war betrayed the village’s purpose of protecting peace.
• The clan leaders stayed silent as Hiruzen Sarutobi called for a show of hands, and Fugaku Uchiha raised his hand in support of Jiraiya and Tsunade.
• The Two Advisors also raised their hands, and Hiruzen Sarutobi used his veto power to reject the proposal for war.
• Danzo warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that he would regret the decision, then glared at Fugaku Uchiha as he left.

At a war council, Hiruzen assigned Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Fugaku Uchiha to lead the Leaf’s forces against Sunagakure, while Danzo was left behind. Orochimaru’s maneuver deepened the village’s political tensions, and three Anbu returned to the village as the chapter ended.

• Hiruzen rejected Danzo’s confidence and asked the clans who should lead the campaign against Sunagakure.
• Kakuzu proposed having the Sannin lead an assault that would slaughter Sunagakure’s lower-ranked shinobi, alarming the council.
• Hiruzen appointed Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Fugaku Uchiha to lead the forces, with the Great Ninja Clans providing troops.
• Orochimaru claimed his injuries had not healed and urged Danzo to lead instead, but Hiruzen ordered Danzo to remain in the village.
• Orochimaru left the meeting, privately intending to draw Danzo into a future power struggle, while three Anbu returned to the village.

The Third Hokage learned that two unidentified fighters with power comparable to the Sannin had battled outside the village. Ling Tian heard the Uchiha Clan and the Sannin were heading to the front lines, then confronted White Fang about his despair over the villagers’ criticism and ended by taking Kakashi to meet his future wife.

• The Third Hokage questioned three Anbu about the battle’s destruction, then ordered them to share their findings with the Sannin, the Three Advisors, and the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans.
• Ling Tian and Dai returned to White Fang’s home, where White Fang welcomed Dai and prepared dinner with food brought from a restaurant.
• Uchiha Island told Ling Tian that Fugaku and the Sannin would leave for the front lines the next day and asked about Orochimaru; Ling Tian promised to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound that night.
• After dinner, White Fang wondered whether the village had forgotten his past service, and Ling Tian told him people soon forgot what those who were no longer useful had done.
• Ling Tian told White Fang he would not stop him if he wanted to die, then called Kakashi over and said he was taking him to meet his future wife.

Ling Tian brought four-year-old Kakashi to the Uchiha compound to push for an engagement that would strengthen the Hatake-Uchiha alliance, but Fugaku resisted the clan’s marriage rules. Ling Tian then discussed Orochimaru and the war with Fugaku, postponing their plan until after the conflict and asking for a Fire Style shinobi.

• Ling Tian brought Kakashi to the Uchiha compound and told him he intended to find him a future wife.
• Ling Tian pressed Fugaku to arrange an engagement with a girl from an Uchiha elder’s family, but Fugaku said the clan would not let a main-line girl marry out.
• Fugaku sent Kakashi away and asked Ling Tian why Orochimaru had proposed his plan at the meeting despite having joined their side.
• Ling Tian suggested Orochimaru had finally made up his mind and postponed their plan until after the war.
• Ling Tian asked Fugaku to announce the Hatake-Uchiha alliance through Kakashi’s engagement and to provide him with a Fire Style shinobi.

Ling Tian convinced Fugaku to consider an alliance by revealing that Might Duy and another Kage-level fighter would support the coup, and by promising the Uchiha a chance to grow stronger. He urged Fugaku to choose quickly, leaving Fugaku resolved but not yet answering.

• Ling Tian told Fugaku that he planned to win over Ino-Shika-Cho and keep the Hyuga neutral while striking Sunagakure, and asked for a Fire Style Shinobi.
• Ling Tian revealed that Might Duy and another powerful fighter had fought outside the village, and admitted the second man was his subordinate.
• Ling Tian shifted into his Fourth Baby persona and told Fugaku that he wanted to unify the Shinobi World and help the Uchiha surpass even Madara Uchiha.
• Fugaku questioned whether Ling Tian intended to use the Uchiha, and Ling Tian said he wanted them to support one another rather than serve under him.
• Ling Tian demanded an immediate answer and asked Fugaku to find him a Fire Style Shinobi if he agreed; Fugaku's resolve strengthened.

Ling Tian arranged for Daoyu Uchiha to undergo a dangerous procedure for the Uchiha Clan, after Fugaku agreed to trust him and send Daoyu. Ling Tian took Daoyu into a room at the Hatake home while White Fang and Dai guarded outside, leaving Daoyu’s fate unknown.

• Fugaku Uchiha chose his loyal confidant Daoyu Uchiha for Ling Tian’s mission, and Daoyu agreed to risk his life for the clan.
• Fugaku warned Ling Tian to keep the Uchiha bloodline and Sharingan from outsiders, and Ling Tian promised he would.
• Ling Tian collected Kakashi and brought him to Might Guy’s home, where he left him to train and stay overnight with Might Guy.
• Ling Tian brought Daoyu to the Hatake home and confirmed that Daoyu accepted the risk and would not resist once the procedure began.
• Ling Tian led Daoyu into a room while White Fang and Dai stood guard outside, puzzled.

Ling Tian tried to create a clone from Uchiha Island, but the Fire Baby could only possess him after he willingly died. The newly created Uchiha Red Four emerged with a Sharingan, insulted White Fang and Dai, and challenged them to fight.

• Ling Tian told Uchiha Island that the coup required a powerful individual and offered him the choice to preserve his eyes or destroy them.
• Uchiha Island agreed to give up his eyes so the individual could live as an Uchiha, then ruptured his own heart meridians.
• Ling Tian activated the Fire Baby template, and Uchiha Island revived as Uchiha Red Four with three tomoe in his eyes.
• Uchiha Red Four left the room and berated White Fang and Dai for their loyalty to Konoha.
• White Fang and Dai prepared to subdue Uchiha Red Four, who challenged them both to attack him together.

Ling Tian struggled to explain the arrogant Uchiha Red Four to White Fang and Might Duy, while Red Four returned to the Uchiha compound to carry out Uchiha Island’s final wishes. Fugaku agreed to honor Island’s requests, including his daughter’s marriage to Ling Tian and Red Four’s role in protecting the clan.

• Uchiha Red Four insulted White Fang and Might Duy, then declared he had no need for the Sharingan and left Ling Tian to explain the situation.
• White Fang and Might Duy set aside the confrontation and went off together to drink, while Ling Tian watched them leave in disbelief.
• Uchiha Red Four returned to Fugaku and said Uchiha Island was dead, then explained Island’s wishes concerning the Sharingan, his daughter, and the Uchiha clan.
• Red Four offered to return the Sharingan but scorned their power, insisting his own techniques made him invincible.
• Fugaku accepted Island’s choice and agreed to take his daughter as his adopted daughter and arrange her marriage to Ling Tian.

Ling Tian met Little Right, the parasite that had awakened in his hand, and learned about its abilities and the lightning attack it had acquired. Little Right explained Fourth Baby’s blended personality and urged Ling Tian to find ways to grow stronger.

• Ling Tian heard a voice and discovered Little Right had emerged from his palm after completing its juvenile stage.
• Little Right explained that Fourth Baby’s behavior came from a blend of Ling Tian’s memories, Uchiha Island’s arrogance, and Fourth Baby’s innocence.
• Little Right revealed it could assist with hand seals, transform Ling Tian’s right arm into weapons, sense enemies, and control ninjutsu.
• Little Right demonstrated powerful lightning from its mouth, blasting a hole through the courtyard wall.
• Little Right deduced that it had acquired Fourth Baby’s lightning ability after absorbing Ling Tian’s Lightning Release Chakra, but noted that Ling Tian’s limited ninjutsu restricted their strength.

Ling Tian decided to postpone training while Little Right urged him to become stronger. Meanwhile, Uchiha Red Four visited Uchiha Nako and told her that her father had died, proposing that Fugaku adopt her and that she marry Hatake Xianyu.

• Little Right urged Ling Tian to train his body and develop Lightning Release techniques, but Ling Tian refused to start immediately.
• Ling Tian went to pick up Kakashi and Might Guy instead of training.
• Uchiha Red Four followed Fugaku to meet Uchiha Nako and proposed that Fugaku adopt her and that she marry Hatake Xianyu.
• Uchiha Nako refused to believe that her father, Uchiha Island, was dead, while Fugaku asked whether Red Four could resurrect him.
• Uchiha Red Four said he could not resurrect Uchiha Island now but could summon his soul later if his body remained safe.

As the Leaf prepared to intercept the Sunagakure Shinobi, villagers publicly blamed White Fang for the coming war, and the Third faced growing suspicion over his failure to defend him. The unrest continued when someone addressed the Hokage just as he tried to end the gathering.

• The Third announced that the Leaf had to go to war to protect its villagers from the Sunagakure Shinobi.
• Villagers accused White Fang of causing the war by abandoning a mission, while others defended him.
• Danzo remained impassive as the Third realized the crowd's denunciations were damaging his standing.
• Orochimaru questioned whether he would suffer the same treatment as White Fang, prompting Tsunade and Jiraiya to rebuke him.
• Fugaku Uchiha took the scene as confirmation that Ling Tian had been truthful about Orochimaru's conflict with the Third.
• Someone addressed the Third just as he tried to end the gathering.

Ling Tian confronted the Third Hokage and the villagers over their condemnation of his elder brother, the White Fang, recounting the Hatake Clan’s sacrifices for the village. As the villagers showed shame and the Third regretted his silence, White Fang began to speak.

• White Fang arrived at the Hokage Building with Ling Tian and Kakashi, and Ling Tian challenged the Third Hokage and the Three Advisors over how the Hatake Clan had been treated.
• Ling Tian recounted his father’s death, his brother’s years of service, and how his brother had taught him that greater power brought greater responsibility.
• Ling Tian accused the villagers of condemning White Fang for a failed mission despite his sacrifices and defended his brother’s actions.
• Uncle Wang thanked Ling Tian for helping him and his grandson, then knelt to apologize for the villagers’ treatment of White Fang.
• The villagers fell silent in shame, the Third Hokage regretted not intervening sooner, and White Fang began to speak.

Ling Tian and White Fang confronted the Third and the other village leaders over White Fang’s failed mission and the public condemnation he endured. Ling Tian revealed that White Fang had feared his failure would bring trouble upon Kakashi and him, then accused the leaders of deceiving the villagers and pushing his brother toward suicide.

• White Fang challenged the Third for sending Konohamaru on a crucial mission despite his being a burden, and Uchiha Red Four voiced support for White Fang.
• The Third claimed Konohamaru had been capable of completing the mission and said he would accept even his son’s death for the sake of the war.
• Ling Tian asked what would have happened to the Hatake Clan if White Fang had abandoned Konohamaru, and argued that fear for Kakashi and himself had driven White Fang to save him.
• Ling Tian accused Utatane Koharu and the other leaders of deceiving the villagers and revealed that White Fang had recently wanted to kill himself so he would not burden his family.

Ling Tian condemned Tsunade and Jiraiya for staying silent while the village turned against his brother, and Uchiha Red Four urged Orochimaru to leave with them and build Red Four Village. Orochimaru did not answer, while the Third and Danzo prepared to oppose the Hatake and Uchiha.

• Ling Tian accused Tsunade and Jiraiya of failing to defend his brother when they knew the truth about the White Fang's disgrace.
• Jiraiya looked guilty but could not answer Ling Tian's accusations.
• Hongsi condemned Tsunade, Jiraiya, the Hokage, the Advisors, and the villagers, then proposed building Red Four Village and asked Orochimaru to join them.
• Orochimaru smiled without answering, while Tsunade glared and the villagers feared what would happen if White Fang, Orochimaru, and the Uchiha left.
• The Third regretted not stopping the Hatake Brothers sooner, and Danzo joined him in opposing their apparent rebellion.
• Danzo claimed that only the Advisors had the right to reprimand the Hokage.

Danzo and the Third confronted Sakumo Hatake and Ling Tian as the Third tried to end the dispute without force. After Ling Tian accused Hiruzen of betraying Sakumo, Hiruzen admitted his failure as a father and said he would resign after the war, leaving the advisors alarmed and Ling Tian preparing to challenge him again.

• Danzo brought masked shinobi to confront Sakumo Hatake, Ling Tian, and the Uchiha, but Hiruzen ordered Sakumo to go home and insisted he remained Hokage.
• Jiraiya urged Sakumo to return home, while Tsunade stayed silent, burdened by Ling Tian's accusations about the Senju.
• Ling Tian condemned Hiruzen for putting Konohamaru on Sakumo's mission and allowing Sakumo to be blamed for its failure.
• Hiruzen denied knowing about the smear campaign, accepted blame for failing to discipline Konohamaru, and promised to resign after the war.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura protested Hiruzen's promise, while Ling Tian began to question whether resignation could undo the damage.

Ling Tian confronted the Third over Konoha’s treatment of White Fang, rejecting his offer to resign and demanding that he address the slander and wrongdoing. As Danzo threatened to intervene, Ling Tian urged his brother to defend the Hatake Clan’s honor, leaving White Fang facing a choice.

• Ling Tian recounted how the village’s condemnation had driven his brother close to suicide and challenged the Third to do more than offer his resignation.
• Orochimaru rejected the idea of becoming Hokage, while Uchiha Red Four invited him to help establish Red Four Village.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi to stop hesitating and offered to handle White Fang himself.
• Hiruzen promised to resign, have Konohamaru apologize, and explain White Fang’s situation to the villagers as a misunderstanding.
• White Fang rejected Hiruzen’s delay and demanded an answer that day, and Danzo moved to intervene.
• Ling Tian warned White Fang not to sacrifice the Hatake Clan’s honor and urged him to do what he should.