Chapter Summaries

Danzo led Root in an ambush and killed Shin'nosuke Sarutobi after Arashi Sarutobi betrayed him. Root removed the body and erased all evidence, leaving Leaf Village unaware of the death.

• Danzo ordered Root to attack Shin'nosuke Sarutobi with explosive-tagged Kunai, but Shin'nosuke escaped the blast with the Substitution Technique.
• Root sealed off the area, and Shin'nosuke realized that Arashi Sarutobi had betrayed him and reflected on how his family had treated Arashi.
• Danzo killed Shin'nosuke by slitting his throat with a Kunai.
• Danzo ordered Root to dispose of Shin'nosuke's body with the test subjects and conceal what had happened.
• Root removed the body and cleaned the scene, leaving Leaf Village quiet and undisturbed.

Danzo was summoned to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s home, while Arashi Sarutobi hid his relief over Shin'nosuke Sarutobi’s death and imagined the power he could now claim. The chapter left Arashi convinced that Asuma was no obstacle, though the Daimyo’s authority made seizing control dangerous.

• A Root member told Danzo that Hiruzen Sarutobi urgently wanted to meet him at the Sarutobi Clan Grounds.
• Danzo brought four trusted subordinates to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s home, where Arashi Sarutobi said Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were already waiting.
• Arashi Sarutobi privately rejoiced that Shin'nosuke Sarutobi’s death had removed the burden on his heart.
• Arashi Sarutobi mourned Shin'nosuke Sarutobi briefly, then reasoned that his death cleared the way for Arashi’s ambitions because Asuma was an unserious heir.
• Arashi Sarutobi reflected that the Daimyo’s deep authority among the people prevented shinobi leaders from killing him without risking chaos and invasion by rival villages.

Arashi Sarutobi celebrated becoming the only Sarutobi Clan member able to carry on the clan’s legacy after Shin'nosuke Sarutobi’s death. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to find a way to handle Shisui and the Uchiha without alienating the other clans, as Danzō and his allies faced growing suspicion over Shin'nosuke’s disappearance.

• Arashi Sarutobi believed he had finally won and looked forward to taking charge of the Sarutobi Clan and inheriting Hiruzen Sarutobi’s legacy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō after Shikaku Nara warned him about the Uchiha’s scheme.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he had to welcome Shisui and the other Uchiha to avoid appearing to discard them, but he refused to let them live in the Sarutobi Clan compound.
• Shimura Danzō proposed assigning Shisui and the others to Root, but Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected the idea because Root’s reputation could push the other clans toward the Uchiha.
• Shimura Danzō recognized that Hiruzen Sarutobi would suspect him and the others of killing Shin'nosuke Sarutobi once the Anbu investigated his disappearance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s three old friends urged him to postpone dealing with the Uchiha until the war with Cloud Village and Sand Village ended, but their unusual calmness made him suspect something was wrong. After leaving, Danzo and the others dismissed Arashi Sarutobi as a disposable pawn who had underestimated the dangers of opposing Hiruzen.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura told Hiruzen Sarutobi to endure the Uchiha’s scheme and focus on the war with Cloud Village and Sand Village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that it was not yet time to fight the Uchiha, but grew suspicious of how calmly his three old friends reacted and dismissed them.
• Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura left without discussing matters further and spotted Arashi Sarutobi in a pavilion.
• Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo mocked Arashi Sarutobi, with Danzo calling him a disposable pawn and warning that Hiruzen Sarutobi could kill him without difficulty.

Hiruzen Sarutobi investigated the suspicious actions of his fellow Elders and learned that his son, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, had disappeared. The chapter left Hiruzen alarmed by evidence that the Elders, Root, and the Sarutobi Clan were entangled in a larger plot.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Anbu to bring him Shin'nosuke and records of the three Elders' recent movements.
• An Anbu member reported that Shin'nosuke had left Anbu headquarters alone and could not be found.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected Shin'nosuke had been contacted through a Summoning Jutsu linked to the Enma Clan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the surveillance reports and learned that Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had secretly met Danzo at Root.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Root and Utatane Clan ninja were covertly deploying, and that Mitokado Homura had secretly visited the Sarutobi Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Mitokado Homura had secretly met with Arashi Sarutobi and ordered Arashi brought in, suspecting he might be connected to Shin'nosuke's disappearance. He summoned Inoichi Yamanaka and was left anxiously hoping Shin'nosuke was still alive.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed an Anbu ninja and ordered him to keep the night's events secret.
• Hiruzen summoned Shūnen Sarutobi and asked whom Mitokado Homura had secretly met in the Sarutobi Clan Grounds.
• Shūnen told Hiruzen that Homura had met Arashi Sarutobi for less than ten minutes.
• Hiruzen ordered Shūnen to bring Arashi in by force if necessary, dead or alive.
• Hiruzen sent an Anbu to summon Inoichi Yamanaka urgently and worried that Arashi was involved in Shin'nosuke's disappearance.

Arashi Sarutobi reflected on how years of hiding his resentment had brought him close to taking control of the Sarutobi Clan. Shūnen Sarutobi then escorted him to Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Arashi uncertain whether his secret had been discovered.

• Arashi Sarutobi practiced calligraphy and thought that Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's death would let him take control of the Sarutobi Clan.
• Shūnen Sarutobi and a group of shinobi burst into Arashi's study and told him that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to see him.
• Arashi challenged Shūnen but agreed to go, while the group surrounded him to prevent his escape.
• Arashi followed Shūnen toward Hiruzen's home, reasoning that escape from the escort and Konoha was impossible.
• Ten minutes later, Arashi arrived at the tea room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Arashi Sarutobi about meeting Mitokado Homura and demanded to know whether Shin'nosuke Sarutobi was alive. Arashi denied knowing anything, but Hiruzen accused him of conspiring with the Elders and threatened to kill him and uncover the truth with the Yamanaka Clan’s techniques.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Arashi Sarutobi what Mitokado Homura wanted, and Arashi claimed he had refused to get involved in village affairs.
• Hiruzen asked whether Shin'nosuke Sarutobi was still alive, leaving Arashi stunned.
• Arashi pretended to be concerned about Shin'nosuke and asked what had happened to him.
• Hiruzen accused Arashi of joining forces with Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, and explained that he had kept the Elders alive only because they were useful against the Uchiha and Hyuga.
• Hiruzen told Arashi that he had no independent backing, threatened to kill him on suspicion alone, and said the Yamanaka Clan could extract the truth from his brain.

Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Arashi Sarutobi and concluded that his son Shin'nosuke was dead. He summoned Inoichi Yamanaka to help with an unspecified matter, leaving Inoichi wary and suspecting Arashi was involved.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Arashi Sarutobi that his rank and influence depended on Shin'nosuke's protection and the support of powerful allies.
• Hiruzen inferred from Arashi's silence that Shin'nosuke was dead.
• An Anbu announced that Inoichi Yamanaka had arrived, and Hiruzen ordered him admitted.
• Inoichi entered, noticed Arashi trembling, and sensed that Hiruzen was furious.
• Hiruzen asked Inoichi to sit because he needed help with a small matter, while Inoichi suspected Arashi was connected to it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi killed Arashi Sarutobi and had Inoichi Yamanaka examine his memories. Inoichi discovered that Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Danzo, and Arashi had plotted to kill Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, and Hiruzen ordered him to keep the matter confidential.

• Arashi Sarutobi panicked when Inoichi Yamanaka arrived, then begged Hiruzen Sarutobi for forgiveness.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi slit Arashi's throat and asked Inoichi to uncover his memories of the day.
• Inoichi used the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique while Hiruzen projected the memories with the Clairvoyance Jutsu.
• Inoichi saw that Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Danzo, and Arashi had joined forces to kill Shin'nosuke Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen told Inoichi to keep the matter confidential and sent him home.

After learning that Shin'nosuke Sarutobi had been killed, Inoichi Yamanaka feared the Hokage faction was collapsing and sought Shikaku Nara’s advice. Shikaku urged him to stay loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi for now and revealed a plan to secure the Ino-Shika-Cho clans’ future with the Uchiha.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed Danzo, Koharu, and Homura for Shin'nosuke Sarutobi’s death and vowed to deal with them after the village’s great enemy was defeated.
• Inoichi Yamanaka sent a Shadow Clone home and secretly went to Shikaku Nara’s house.
• Inoichi told Shikaku that the Elders and Arashi Sarutobi had targeted Shin'nosuke, making him fear that the Hokage faction was about to collapse.
• Shikaku said the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had to keep supporting Hiruzen Sarutobi while he remained Hokage, in keeping with their founding promise.
• Shikaku revealed that Nara Koji planned to bring half of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans to the Uchiha after the Stone Village Frontline ended.

Shikaku Nara explained how the Ino-Shika-Cho clans could discreetly shift some members toward Uchiha while the rest continued supporting the Hokage. The next morning, Torifu Akimichi arrived with Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi, warning Shikaku that opposing Hiruzen Sarutobi’s group was dangerous.

• Inoichi Yamanaka accepted Shikaku Nara’s plan to support Uchiha through a breakaway group within the clans.
• Shikaku warned Inoichi that the remaining Ino-Shika-Cho clans had to genuinely help the Hokage faction and avoid raising suspicion.
• Shikaku expected the Stone Village Frontline ninjas to return within three days and planned to coordinate with Torifu Akimichi and Choza Akimichi.
• The next morning, Inoichi brought Torifu and Choza to Shikaku’s home before he had washed or brushed his teeth.
• Torifu questioned Shikaku about the plan and warned that confronting Hiruzen Sarutobi and his allies could bring dire consequences.

Shikaku Nara explained why he and Nara Koji believed the time had come for the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance to make its decision, then revealed that Minato Namikaze had fallen out with Hiruzen Sarutobi over Rin Nohara and the Three-Tails. The others learned that the conflict could not be resolved without forcing Minato to choose between his disciple and the village’s interests.

• Shikaku Nara asked Torifu Akimichi to wait while he washed up, and Yoshino Nara, Choza, and Inoichi kept Torifu company.
• Shikaku Nara briefed the others on the Uchiha Clan’s development under Uchiha Jin and explained that he and Nara Koji had jointly decided the time had come to act.
• Torifu Akimichi questioned Shikaku Nara’s claim that Minato Namikaze had fallen out with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shikaku Nara explained that Rin Nohara had been captured, had the Three-Tails sealed inside her, and was rescued by Minato Namikaze.
• Shikaku Nara said Minato Namikaze would never hand Rin Nohara over to Mist Village, while Hiruzen Sarutobi would not risk a war over her, leaving their conflict irreconcilable.

Shikaku Nara sent the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans to prepare for a transfer to the Uchiha while deciding to leave the Nara Clan’s work to Koji and enjoy a rest. The Hokage summoned him to discuss the death of Anbu Captain Shin'nosuke and asked whether the Uchiha could be responsible.

• Torifu Akimichi agreed to send half of his clan’s members to the Uchiha with Koji, and Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka hurried away to prepare.
• Shikaku Nara returned to the tea room and told Yoshino Nara he would leave the Nara Clan’s preparations to Koji.
• Anbu summoned Shikaku Nara to the Hokage’s office before he could rest.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shikaku Nara that Anbu Captain Shin'nosuke had been confirmed dead and asked whether the Uchiha might have killed him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Shikaku Nara’s warning against internal conflict and chose to blame Cloud Village for the latest incident instead of the Uchiha. At the Jonin Council meeting, the Uchiha arrived with new clan allies, changing the balance in the room.

• Shikaku Nara urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to avoid a fight with the Uchiha until the war was over.
• Shikaku proposed blaming Cloud Village, and Hiruzen agreed and asked him to convene a Jonin Council meeting.
• Shikaku accepted the order and left, while Hiruzen decided that Shikaku could be trusted.
• At one in the afternoon, the major clans’ and civilian Jonin gathered in the Hokage Building’s meeting hall.
• The Uchiha entered with the Aburame, Inuzuka, and several smaller clans, and the meeting hall fell silent.

Uchiha Jin and his allies speculated about the purpose of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s sudden Jonin meeting and decided not to react prematurely. Hiruzen and the Konoha F4 arrived, leaving the gathered ninja waiting for the Hokage to reveal his intentions.

• The Hyuga Clan looked grim as the Uchiha celebrated their growing prosperity.
• Uchiha Jin wondered whether the Jonin meeting concerned the frontline or targeted the Uchiha.
• Shibi Aburame asked Uchiha Jin whether they should warn the clan, and Fugaku considered returning to prepare for war.
• Uchiha Jin told Shibi and Fugaku to wait, reasoning that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not attack the Uchiha before the war ended.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha F4 entered, and the gathered ninja stood to greet the Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that Cloud Village had killed Anbu Captain Hiruzen Shin'nosuke, appointed Inoichi Yamanaka and Uchiha Shisui to lead the Anbu, and proposed a Kage Summit to end the war. Danzo objected to Shisui’s appointment but backed down, and Hiruzen began the vote on holding the summit.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced Shin'nosuke's death and blamed Cloud Village, threatening targeted operations if it happened again.
• Hiruzen appointed Inoichi Yamanaka as temporary Anbu Captain and Uchiha Shisui as Vice Captain.
• Hiruzen proposed holding a Kage Summit in the Land of Iron and asked the attendees to vote.
• Danzo objected to appointing Inoichi and Shisui, but Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura urged him to stop, and Danzo backed down.
• Hiruzen began the vote on holding the summit as the conference room fell silent.

Uchiha Jin told the clans backing him to oppose Hiruzen Sarutobi’s proposal to end the war, arguing that Konoha should fight for a lasting peace. The vote proceeded with most clans supporting the proposal, while Uchiha publicly stood against it.

• Uchiha Jin suspected Danzo had arranged Shin'nosuke Sarutobi’s death but could not determine why.
• Fugaku asked Uchiha Jin how the clans should vote, and Shibi Aburame, Ichiro Inuzuka, and the smaller clans pledged to follow him.
• Uchiha Jin ordered his allies to vote against Hiruzen Sarutobi’s proposal, saying Konoha should not surrender its advantage or forgive on behalf of the fallen.
• Shikaku Nara, Ino-Shika-Cho, Utatane, Mitokado, Hyuga, and other clans and civilian ninja raised their hands in support.
• Uchiha Jin declared that Uchiha opposed the proposal and urged Konoha to keep fighting until it achieved total victory.

Uchiha Jin’s speech about the bloodshed that had secured peace won over more clans and civilians, leaving the Hokage faction unable to challenge him. Hiruzen Sarutobi then tried to stop the Jonin meeting from becoming Uchiha Jin’s personal stage.

• Uchiha Jin argued that peace had been won through the sacrifices of countless ninjas, not begged for, and Hiruzen Sarutobi could not refute him.
• The Ino-Shika-Cho clans privately recognized Uchiha Jin’s appeal but remained publicly aligned with Hiruzen Sarutobi, while resolving to send more elites toward Uchiha’s side.
• The Aburame, Inuzuka, Gekko, Mitarai, and other clans and civilian ninjas openly opposed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s position, strengthening Uchiha’s influence.
• Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura stayed silent because challenging Uchiha Jin’s words would make them look bad, while Shikaku Nara admitted he had no answer.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, feeling stifled, cleared his throat to stop the meeting from becoming Uchiha Jin’s personal stage.

After the vote approved Leaf Village’s proposal for a Kage Summit, Uchiha Jin focused on turning the backlash against Hiruzen Sarutobi into support for the Uchiha. He urged his clan to prioritize winning allies and growing stronger.

• Utatane Koharu announced that the motion to propose a Kage Summit had passed by twenty-seven votes, and Hiruzen Sarutobi adjourned the meeting.
• After Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Elders left, Inoichi Yamanaka and his companions discussed Uchiha Jin’s impact and prepared to return home.
• Hizashi Hyuga criticized the Uchiha, while Hiashi Hyuga dismissed the dispute as none of their concern.
• Several smaller-clan and civilian ninja said they wanted to join the Uchiha after hearing Uchiha Jin’s speech.
• Uchiha Jin told his clan that opposing the summit had only declared their position, and that their real goal was to win allies and expand their forces.