Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shikaku Nara to arrange secret peace talks with the Cloud Village, while Shikaku warned that convincing the forceful Third Raikage would be difficult. Hiruzen’s trust in Shikaku began to waver, and Shikaku responded with a smile, ready to continue.

• Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara reaffirmed that Ino-Shika-Cho’s alliance existed to protect their clans and preserve their position.
• Shikaku Nara visited Hiruzen Sarutobi and gave a convincing account of his clan’s affairs.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shikaku to classify the morning’s incident as an enemy-village attack and announce it across the Ninja World.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tasked Shikaku with secretly visiting the Cloud Village to pursue peace talks, saying Leaf Village could give up its victor status.
• Shikaku warned that the Third Raikage, A, would be hard to persuade because the Cloud Village had suffered few losses, and Hiruzen’s gaze toward him changed.
• Shikaku noticed Hiruzen’s reaction and began to answer with a smile.

Shikaku Nara proposed that Hiruzen Sarutobi use Danzo's Root to secretly steer Ōnoki into killing the Third Raikage, A, so Cloud Village would agree to negotiate. Hiruzen accepted the plan in principle, but the chapter ended with him needing to persuade Danzo.

• Shikaku Nara told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had a solution requiring Hiruzen's cooperation and Danzo's help.
• Shikaku proposed that Leaf Village secretly support Ōnoki in killing the Third Raikage, A, using Root to make contact without implicating the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that Ōnoki would likely accept the plan but questioned whether Leaf Village could provide enough support.
• Shikaku explained that Root could pressure Cloud Village toward attacking Stone Village while Leaf forces kept Cloud's main force occupied in the Land of Hot Water.
• Shikaku proposed sending an elite squad to help Ōnoki at the decisive moment, arguing that A's death would force Cloud Village to negotiate.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi was tempted by the plan and believed Ōnoki would agree, but still had to persuade Danzo.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Danzo to use Root to carry out Shikaku Nara’s plan to end the war by targeting the Third Raikage, A. Danzo agreed and requested Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Jin to help.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Shikaku Nara about the Ino-Shika-Cho clans’ losses, then let him return to handle clan affairs.
• After Shikaku Nara left, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Danzo to the Hokage’s office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained Shikaku Nara’s plan and said Root was needed to act against Stone Village and Cloud Village so Leaf Village could focus on the Uchiha.
• Danzo agreed to have Root handle the plan and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to send Minato Namikaze and persuade Uchiha Jin to join the effort against the Third Raikage, A.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo agreed to pursue a plan to lure the Third Raikage into a trap, with Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Jin needed to make it work. Hiruzen summoned Minato and explained the mission, leaving Minato to hear the proposal without yet responding.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that the plan had a low chance of success and said Uchiha Jin would be difficult to recruit, but agreed to handle it.
• Danzo told Hiruzen to act quickly, then left without saying goodbye.
• Hiruzen summoned Minato Namikaze, who arrived knowing about the recent turmoil in the village but chose not to intervene.
• Minato asked whether Hiruzen had summoned him for a mission, and Hiruzen explained the plan to lure the Third Raikage into a trap.

Minato Namikaze agreed to mediate between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Jin over a mission, despite realizing Hiruzen was using him. At Jin’s compound, Jin confronted Nara Kazama and Koji about the enormous number of Ino-Shika-Cho clan members who had come to defect.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Minato Namikaze to persuade Uchiha Jin to cooperate on a mission, and Minato agreed to visit Jin after returning.
• Minato Namikaze left after briefly talking with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Uchiha Jin questioned Nara Kazama and Koji about the fifteen hundred or more Ino-Shika-Cho clan members who had arrived at the Uchiha compound.
• Uchiha Jin told Kazama that he did not believe Kazama could have persuaded so many clan members to defect without the elders’ approval.

Nara Kazama explained to Uchiha Jin why the Ino-Shika-Cho had come to the Uchiha, revealing that their clan had split its members among rival factions. Jin warned that their attempt to remain neutral would likely get them targeted by both sides, and urged them to choose between the Uchiha and the Sarutobi Clan.

• Uchiha Jin doubted the Ino-Shika-Cho and demanded an explanation before accepting them into the Uchiha compound.
• Nara Kazama reproached Nara Koji for testing Jin instead of being straightforward.
• Kazama assured Jin that the Ino-Shika-Cho would support the Uchiha against their enemies and asked for time to explain.
• Kazama recounted how the Nara Clan had sent members to seek refuge with different factions.
• Jin recognized the tactic as a dangerous attempt to stay safe whichever side won and advised the Ino-Shika-Cho to ally with either the Uchiha or the Sarutobi Clan.

Nara Koji explained that Ino-Shika-Cho had joined Uchiha to preserve their clans and promised complete loyalty to Uchiha Jin. Jin accepted them as allies and asked what great gift they planned to give him.

• Nara Koji stopped Nara Kazama from speaking and explained that Ino-Shika-Cho had joined Uchiha to secure their clans’ peaceful survival.
• Koji promised that the Ino-Shika-Cho members who joined Uchiha would remain loyal, even if they had to fight Shikaku and the others.
• Nara Kazama asked Jin to forgive the clan elders’ cautious plans and explained how vulnerable Ino-Shika-Cho was compared with Kekkei Genkai clans.
• Uchiha Jin accepted half of Ino-Shika-Cho, noting that their defection would weaken Hiruzen Sarutobi’s faction.
• Jin asked Nara Koji to reveal the great gift he had promised.

Nara Koji revealed that Danzo had arranged Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's murder with the help of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, exposing a crisis within the Hokage faction. The chapter ended with Nara Koji explaining how Hiruzen Sarutobi's increasingly dictatorial behavior and mishandling of his allies had driven the Elders to join Danzo.

• Nara Koji told Uchiha Jin that Danzo had killed Shin'nosuke Sarutobi with help from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, using Arashi Sarutobi as an inside agent.
• Nara Kazama was shocked by the revelation and questioned why the Hokage faction would turn against itself while facing Uchiha Jin.
• Nara Koji explained that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to end the war, install Minato Namikaze as Hokage, and strengthen his own position against the Uchiha.
• Nara Koji said Hiruzen had blamed the Elders for the lack of war reparations and had recently struck Danzo, increasing the Elders' fear and resentment.
• Nara Koji explained that the Elders joined Danzo and targeted Shin'nosuke Sarutobi to weaken Hiruzen and warn him not to discard them.

Nara Koji explained how Danzo had used Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's death to draw the two Elders into his camp, impressing Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama with his deductions. Jin accepted Ino-Shika-Cho and asked Koji how to exploit the situation; Koji proposed killing the Elders, leaving Kazama alarmed by the reckless plan.

• Nara Koji deduced that Danzo had used Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's death to force Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura into his camp and weaken Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Nara Kazama and Uchiha Jin acknowledged Koji's analysis, and Jin welcomed Ino-Shika-Cho as comrades-in-arms.
• Uchiha Jin asked Nara Koji how their side could use the conflict between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
• Nara Koji suggested killing Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to keep the Hokage faction's sides balanced.
• Nara Kazama objected that killing the Elders would provoke outrage.

Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama understood Nara Koji’s plan to exploit the Hokage faction’s infighting by killing the two Elders and turning the blame on Hiruzen Sarutobi. Nara Koji emerged as a formidable strategist as the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance faced a choice of sides.

• Uchiha Jin realized Nara Koji’s suggestion was to kill the two Elders while leaving no evidence, making Danzo suspect Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Uchiha Jin explained that Danzo could not be killed because Root remained vital to the village, while the two Elders were expendable.
• Nara Kazama understood that the killings could be blamed on Hiruzen Sarutobi and used to bring the Utatane and Mitokado clans under Root.
• Nara Kazama concluded that the scheme would weaken the Hokage faction, deepen the rift between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, and push other clans toward the Uchiha or neutrality.
• Nara Koji accepted their praise modestly and grew serious again.

Uchiha Jin and the Nara leaders discussed a future decapitation operation and helped Ino-Shika-Cho settle into the Uchiha. After reflecting on the clan’s rising strength, Jin received an unexpected official visit from Minato Namikaze, who began addressing the Uchiha’s conflict with the village leadership.

• Nara Koji proposed carrying out the decapitation operation while Jin was away from the village, but Nara Kazama noted that getting Jin to leave would be difficult.
• Jin said they had time to plan and stressed that they needed to choose someone else to act without leaving evidence that could implicate the Uchiha.
• Fugaku and the others arranged housing for Ino-Shika-Cho, and Jin declared that the newcomers could be trusted and treated as their own.
• Koji and Kazama went to reassure the newly arrived clan members while Jin considered the Uchiha’s position and decided to pause expansion and consolidate their gains.
• Minato Namikaze visited Jin on official business from Hiruzen Sarutobi and began explaining that he understood the Uchiha’s internal conflict with the village leadership.

Minato Namikaze persuaded Uchiha Jin to help with a plan to kill the Third Raikage, and Jin agreed while hiding his own plans against the village Elders. Jin then warned Minato that Hiruzen Sarutobi might target Rin Nohara, leaving Minato troubled and suspicious.

• Minato Namikaze asked Uchiha Jin to help against foreign enemies even if Jin remained neutral in the Uchiha conflict with the village leadership.
• Jin agreed to help with the plan against the Third Raikage and told Minato to claim they had only agreed to remain neutral in the internal conflict.
• Minato said Danzo was planning the mission and that it would likely happen in about a month.
• Jin considered using the mission as a chance to kill Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
• Jin warned Minato that Hiruzen might use underhanded tactics against Rin Nohara, making Minato's mood turn grim.

Uchiha Jin reassured Minato Namikaze that he would protect Rin Nohara, then discussed Minato’s political position and his own plans with Nara Koji. Koji learned that Minato would likely remain neutral in the Uchiha’s struggle with the Hokage and that Jin intended to wield power from behind the scenes rather than become Hokage.

• Minato Namikaze told Uchiha Jin he would protect Rin Nohara and send her to the Uchiha compound only as a last resort.
• Minato Namikaze met Nara Koji while leaving the Uchiha compound, and Uchiha Jin introduced them.
• Nara Koji thanked Uchiha Jin for taking in Ino-Shika-Cho and asked about his relationship with Minato Namikaze.
• Uchiha Jin described Minato as a hidden ally who would likely stay neutral, and warned Koji not to spread the information because it could affect Minato’s path to becoming Fourth Hokage.
• Uchiha Jin told Nara Koji he had no interest in becoming Hokage and preferred to control village power from behind the scenes.

Uchiha Jin accepted the Ino-Shika-Cho’s offer to preserve their clan without resources or high-ranking positions, in exchange for sparing their other faction after his victory. Nara Koji then warned him that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s side planned to pressure Rin Nohara into suicide, leaving Jin to confront the danger.

• Nara Koji praised Uchiha Jin’s plan and said he sincerely wanted the Uchiha to succeed.
• Nara Koji explained that the Ino-Shika-Cho had split between Jin’s faction and Shikaku Nara’s faction, and asked Jin to spare the latter after victory.
• Uchiha Jin accepted the deal but said he would provide no resources to the Ino-Shika-Cho, except for Nara Kazama.
• Nara Koji warned Uchiha Jin that Shikaku Nara would soon use the village’s Great Dao to pressure Rin Nohara, who would likely kill herself to avoid hindering Minato Namikaze or provoking war with the Mist Village.
• Uchiha Jin realized that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not let Rin Nohara go and questioned whether Minato Namikaze’s early appointment as Fourth Hokage could happen.

Uchiha Jin learned that Shikaku Nara planned to push Rin Nohara toward suicide to gain Hiruzen Sarutobi’s approval, and he rushed to intervene despite having no clear solution. The chapter left Jin heading to Minato Namikaze’s home while Nara Koji approved of Jin’s loyalty and compassion.

• Nara Koji warned Uchiha Jin that Shikaku Nara might act against Rin Nohara that day to prove his allegiance to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Koji said Jin would have to keep Shikaku away from Rin or give her a strong reason to keep living.
• Jin admitted he had no solution but refused to let Rin be sacrificed in a conspiracy.
• Jin left the Uchiha compound and headed for Minato Namikaze’s home.
• Koji relaxed in the pavilion and decided that letting Ino-Shika-Cho follow Jin was a good outcome.

Uchiha Jin warned Minato Namikaze that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara planned to target Rin Nohara to pressure him. Minato realized Rin might be in danger and furiously condemned the plan.

• Nara Koji left after deciding he had learned enough about Uchiha Jin to choose how to deal with him.
• Uchiha Jin visited Minato Namikaze and asked whether Rin Nohara was home.
• Minato said Rin was out with Kushina and had his Flying Thunder God Kunai, so he believed she was safe.
• Uchiha Jin warned Minato that his confidence made him more worried and explained Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara's plan to target Rin.
• Uchiha Jin revealed that Nara Koji was a powerful Nara Clan insider and that the clan had given him the information as part of their agreement.
• Minato recognized that Rin's kind nature could make her vulnerable to the plan and cursed the conspirators.

Uchiha Jin stopped Minato from rushing to intervene in Rin’s situation and argued that force could not solve Shikaku’s open scheme. With no one able to identify Rin’s weakness, Jin proposed creating one and called on Obito to prove himself, but he had not yet explained the plan.

• Minato began sensing for a Flying Thunder God Kunai, but Jin stopped him and warned that rushing to Rin’s aid would not change the situation.
• Minato admitted he did not know what Rin cared about most, and Jin had no solution either.
• Kakashi and Obito joined the discussion, and Jin told Obito to quiet down and share an idea if he had one.
• After the group remained silent for about ten minutes, Jin said he had a dirty trick and asked Obito whether he wanted to save Rin.
• Jin proposed creating a weakness for Rin and told Obito it was time to prove himself.

Uchiha Jin proposed that Obito—or Kakashi—confess to Rin Nohara and give her strong personal bonds to deter her from sacrificing herself. Minato, Kakashi, and Obito objected to the plan’s shamelessness but recognized that Rin’s selflessness made the village’s threat difficult to counter.

• Uchiha Jin explained that Rin could be persuaded to die because she lacked close family and feared causing trouble or another war for her friends and village.
• Uchiha Jin told Obito to confess to Rin and suggested threatening to die alongside her so she would hesitate to take her own life.
• Minato questioned the plan, Kakashi called it despicable, and Obito blushed and protested before Jin pointed out that he liked Rin.
• Uchiha Jin argued that Rin’s bonds were the only way to counter the village’s open scheme, since she might otherwise sacrifice herself to prevent conflict.
• Uchiha Jin said Kakashi could confess instead if Obito could not, then left the choice of how to act to Rin’s closest companions.

Uchiha Jin warned Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, and Obito that Rin Nohara might kill herself by nightfall unless they acted. After Kushina discreetly took Rin into the kitchen, Jin urged the others to decide quickly how they would save her.

• Kushina and Rin Nohara returned with shopping bags, and the group noticed that Rin looked pale and vacant.
• When Kushina asked about Uchiha Jin, he and Minato claimed he had come to discuss a difficult mission from the Hokage.
• Minato signaled Kushina to take Rin into the kitchen, and Kushina led her away without revealing their discussion.
• Jin said Shikaku Nara had succeeded and warned that Rin might kill herself by nightfall.
• Jin told Obito and Kakashi to decide who would act to save Rin or come up with another solution.

Uchiha Jin pressed Obito and Kakashi to make a humiliating appeal to Rin Nohara, whose choice could determine whether she survived her trial. At dinner, neither boy could bring himself to speak, and Kakashi pushed the task onto Obito.

• Obito and Kakashi considered Uchiha Jin's suggestion but found it too humiliating to carry out.
• At dinner, Kushina urged everyone to eat while Minato Namikaze kept the matter from her.
• Rin Nohara served rice, visibly tense and caught in an inner struggle.
• Uchiha Jin urged Obito and Kakashi to say what they needed to say to Rin Nohara.
• Kakashi blushed and told Obito to speak instead.