Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Jin tried to get Obito to confess his feelings for Rin Nohara, but Obito froze despite being given another chance. Minato Namikaze turned to Jin for help, and Jin decided he would have to handle the matter himself.

• Obito struggled to speak to Rin Nohara because he feared rejection, leaving Uchiha Jin exasperated.
• Kushina tried to ask what was happening, but Minato Namikaze stopped her and reassured her.
• Minato Namikaze realized Kakashi and Obito could not resolve the situation and silently asked Uchiha Jin to intervene.
• Uchiha Jin worried that interfering with Rin Nohara and Obito could push Obito toward darkness, but decided to give Obito one final chance.
• Obito failed to say anything, while Kakashi, Minato Namikaze, and Rin Nohara remained silent, so Uchiha Jin decided to handle the matter himself.

Uchiha Jin confessed to Rin Nohara and promised to protect her, hoping she would agree to date him. Rin was flustered by his proposal and wondered why someone as outstanding as him would choose her.

• Uchiha Jin confessed his feelings to Rin Nohara and asked her to give him a chance.
• Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, and Obito felt relieved that someone had stepped forward, though Obito was hurt by Rin’s attention shifting to Jin.
• Kushina supported the match, citing her favorable impressions of Uchiha Jin and the protection he could offer Rin from the village higher-ups.
• Rin Nohara panicked at the confession and told Uchiha Jin she did not feel worthy of him.

Uchiha Jin reassured Rin Nohara that the Three-Tails and the village’s plans would not make her a burden, and openly pursued her without pressuring her to accept. Minato Namikaze and Kushina encouraged Rin to follow her heart and promised to protect her, leaving her with the choice of whether to give Jin a chance.

• Rin Nohara considered refusing Uchiha Jin because she feared her situation would burden him.
• Uchiha Jin told Rin that love was not about worthiness and asked her to give him a chance.
• Uchiha Jin explained that he knew about the Three-Tails and the village’s plans, but said he could protect Rin and would pursue her only because he liked her.
• Minato Namikaze assured Rin that he and Jin would protect her, though he privately worried that Jin’s dangerous path could bring her turmoil.
• Kushina encouraged Rin to follow her heart and said no one could threaten her while her teacher and mistress were there.

Uchiha Jin declared Rin Nohara his girlfriend and threatened the village leadership to keep her safe, while Rin struggled to process his proposal. His words made her reconsider her plan to die, though she asked for more time before deciding about their relationship.

• Obito accepted that he had lost his chance with Rin and warned Uchiha Jin to treat her well, while Kakashi stayed silent.
• Rin told Uchiha Jin she was overwhelmed and asked him to give her time, and he agreed to wait.
• Uchiha Jin told Minato Namikaze to warn Hiruzen Sarutobi that harming Rin would mean war with the Uchiha and other clans.
• Minato Namikaze understood that Uchiha Jin was trying to stop Rin from committing suicide, though he warned him not to act impulsively.
• Rin agreed to protect herself but again asked Uchiha Jin for time, reconsidering her plan to die.

Minato Namikaze told Kushina Uzumaki that Uchiha Jin had intervened to save Rin Nohara after the village higher-ups pressured her into suicide. They discussed the village’s tactics and Minato’s conflicted reliance on Jin’s methods, leaving Minato encouraged to keep faith in his own convictions.

• After dinner, Uchiha Jin left, while Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara stayed awake thinking about the day's events.
• Rin Nohara decided not to kill herself because she could not bear the thought of Uchiha Jin's reaction to her death.
• Minato Namikaze explained to Kushina Uzumaki that Jin had come to save Rin after Kakashi and Obito failed to carry out Minato's plan.
• Kushina realized the village higher-ups had targeted Rin while she was away buying groceries and became furious at them.
• Minato admitted that Jin's underhanded methods had worked against the village's pressure, though they conflicted with Minato's values.
• Kushina reassured Minato that she loved his convictions and believed he could change the village after taking office, and Minato nodded.

Minato and Kushina discussed the consequences of Uchiha Jin’s false confession to Rin and agreed to speak with Jin and prepare Rin for what might follow. Jin then sent Shisui’s Ninja Crow to contact Hyuga Aya, who realized the Hyuga main family had chosen her as a way to approach and exploit Jin.

• Kushina worried that Rin might fall for Jin before learning the confession was fake, and Minato admitted they had not planned what would happen afterward.
• Minato explained that he had signaled Jin to confess because Obito and Kakashi had been too afraid to act, and said he would talk with Jin.
• Kushina urged Minato to help bring Rin and Jin together and suggested Jin could marry both Rin and the Hyuga girl on his team.
• Minato agreed to speak with Jin and asked Kushina to prepare Rin for the situation.
• Jin summoned Shisui’s Ninja Crow to notify Hyuga Aya that he wanted to contact her.
• Aya reflected that Hyuga Yang Tai and Hyuga Yu had selected her to get close to Jin and exploit him.

Hyuga Aya explained her plan to escape the Hyuga Clan and earn Uchiha Jin’s trust by gathering information about its secrets and disaffected Branch Family members. After receiving Shisui’s message about Rin Nohara, she accepted the situation and sent Jin a reply outlining her plans.

• Hyuga Aya recalled how Hyuga Yang Tai and Hyuga Yu had tried to use her as a pawn against Uchiha Jin, and she decided to exploit their approach to gather information.
• Hyuga Aya resolved to wait until Uchiha Jin removed her Caged Bird before leaving the Hyuga Clan, while identifying dissatisfied Branch Family members to bring as potential allies.
• Shisui’s crow delivered news about Rin Nohara, and Hyuga Aya accepted that Jin might have another partner and said she had no objections.
• Hyuga Aya wrote to Jin about Rin Nohara and detailed her current situation and plans, then sent the letter with the crow.
• Uchiha Jin read Aya’s reply in his study after finishing his study of Das Kapital.

Uchiha Jin instructed Hyuga Aya to get close to Hizashi Hyuga while he recovered his ocular power, and Aya agreed to follow his judgment. Jin openly pursued Rin Nohara by bringing her flowers, but Minato Namikaze called him into his study before they could go shopping.

• Uchiha Jin told Hyuga Aya to protect herself, win over Hizashi Hyuga, and wait for him to take her out of the Hyuga Clan.
• Hyuga Aya accepted Uchiha Jin's advice and began planning her next moves while her watchers failed to notice her secret communication.
• Uchiha Jin bought flowers at Inoichi Yamanaka's shop and went to Minato Namikaze's home to pursue Rin Nohara openly.
• Rin Nohara accepted Uchiha Jin's flowers and agreed to go shopping with him, while Obito and Kakashi reacted unhappily.
• Minato Namikaze invited Uchiha Jin into his study to discuss something before Jin and Rin left.

Minato Namikaze asked Uchiha Jin whether he would pursue Rin Nohara after their staged relationship ended, and Jin admitted that he liked her while remaining committed to Hyuga Aya. Jin then took Rin around the village, intending to make clear that anyone who targeted her would become his enemy.

• Minato Namikaze asked Uchiha Jin to help prevent Rin Nohara from being hurt when their act ended and asked whether Jin would make the relationship real.
• Uchiha Jin said Hyuga Aya accepted Rin, confessed that he liked Rin, and promised to tell her the truth and respect her response.
• Minato Namikaze agreed that he and Kushina would help speak with Rin, though he remained uneasy about Jin's existing relationship with Hyuga Aya.
• Uchiha Jin and Rin Nohara strolled through the village while Anbu and Obito followed them.
• Uchiha Jin treated the watchers as irrelevant and used the outing to warn that anyone who harmed Rin would become his enemy.

Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Shikaku Nara after their plan to target Rin Nohara was exposed, and Shikaku blamed the leak on Nara Koji, his more capable clan rival. Shikaku admitted he could not defeat Koji and bet that Hiruzen would not risk alienating him while the Hokage faction was weakening; Hiruzen was left trembling with rage.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the Anbu report and demanded that Shikaku Nara explain how their secret operation had been exposed.
• Shikaku Nara claimed Nara Koji had guessed the plan and passed information to the Uchiha through his ties to Nara Kazama.
• Shikaku admitted he had used underhanded methods to take the Nara Clan leadership from Koji and said he had no confidence in defeating him now.
• Shikaku decided to abandon the plan to kill Rin Nohara because Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Jin had joined forces and Koji was advising them.
• Shikaku relied on Hiruzen's need for his half of Ino-Shika-Cho and refused to accept blame for the leak.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shikaku in disbelief, trembling with rage.

Shikaku Nara calmed Hiruzen Sarutobi and explained the threat posed by Nara Koji, while admitting he had no immediate solution for Rin Nohara’s situation. Hiruzen agreed to postpone that issue and focus on killing the Third Raikage, as Shikaku promised to seek a way to delay matters or reach an agreement with the Mist Village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi dropped his anger, and Shikaku Nara explained Nara Koji’s strength while withholding the truth about Ino-Shika-Cho’s split.
• Hiruzen questioned whether Rin Nohara’s situation could be resolved, and Shikaku said that confronting Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Jin, and Nara Koji made action too dangerous.
• Hiruzen agreed to set Rin’s matter aside for now and prioritize killing the Third Raikage before the Kage Summit.
• Shikaku promised to seek a solution, negotiate with the Mist Village, or stall until the Peace Treaty was signed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Shikaku Nara’s proposal to prepare backup plans involving Rin Nohara and Mist Village while the village plotted against the Third Raikage. Ten days later, Uchiha Jin and Rin grew closer, and Rin asked him whether choosing to live had been selfish.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that confronting Mist Village was an option and asked Shikaku Nara to plan contingencies involving Rin Nohara and Mist Village.
• Shikaku Nara returned to his office exhausted and complained that Nara Koji kept leaving him with trouble.
• Over the next ten days, Uchiha Jin and Rin Nohara grew closer, Minato Namikaze and his wife prepared Rin for what might come, and Kakashi Hatake trained harder.
• Obito watched Rin grow closer to Uchiha Jin and regretted that he had failed to win her over.
• Uchiha Jin grilled meat beside the Naka River with Rin and explained that the Uchiha Merchant Caravan had gathered the spices he used.
• Rin Nohara asked Uchiha Jin whether her choice to live had been selfish.

Uchiha Jin explained to Rin Nohara that the Ninja Academy and Will of Fire served the village’s political interests, leaving her questioning the beliefs she had been taught. Rin still struggled to accept his claims, but Jin’s example about how they would raise a child made her freeze.

• Uchiha Jin asked Rin Nohara why the village had established the Ninja Academy, and she said it gave civilians a chance to become ninja.
• Uchiha Jin argued that Tobirama Senju had created the Academy to weaken the Ninja Clans and that the plan had failed because clan children had advantages civilians lacked.
• Uchiha Jin claimed the Academy’s other purpose was to instill the Will of Fire and that village leaders used civilian ninja as expendable tools.
• Rin Nohara struggled to refute Uchiha Jin’s arguments but said she could not accept that the village was as he described.
• Uchiha Jin asked whether Rin would give their hypothetical child Uchiha resources and training or make him depend on Academy lessons and battlefield merits, leaving her frozen.

Uchiha Jin convinced Rin Nohara to abandon her plan to die for the village and focus on surviving for herself and her future children. When Rin returned to Minato Namikaze’s home, she revealed she had also understood that Jin’s confession had been arranged as a last resort.

• Uchiha Jin explained to Rin Nohara how clans secured resources through power and persuaded her that the village’s ideals did not deserve her sacrifice.
• Rin Nohara said she would stop thinking about suicide and would learn to use the Three-Tails to protect her own life and future children.
• Uchiha Jin and Rin Nohara ate barbecue until nightfall, then he escorted her back to Minato Namikaze’s home.
• Obito returned to Minato’s home dusty and disheveled after keeping watch again.
• Minato Namikaze noticed Rin’s changed outlook and asked whether she had figured things out.
• Rin told Minato she understood Jin’s confession had happened because Minato’s original plan for Obito and Kakashi to confess had failed.

Rin Nohara explained that she had recognized the others’ matchmaking plan and told them she had given up on suicide. After Minato Namikaze revealed that Uchiha Jin was willing to marry her despite already pursuing Hyuga Aya, Rin accepted and said she wanted to marry him.

• Rin Nohara explained that she had realized Uchiha Jin’s confession was part of a plan and had grown certain that he was too far out of her league.
• Rin said she had abandoned her thoughts of suicide and planned to be honest with Uchiha Jin when she saw him again.
• Obito blurted out that he was happy Rin might not have to meet Uchiha Jin, then tried to cover his words.
• Minato Namikaze told Rin that Uchiha Jin liked her and was willing to marry her, though Hyuga Aya had already taken the first step.
• Rin said she did not mind and agreed that she was willing to marry Uchiha Jin.

Minato Namikaze tried to help Obito accept that Rin Nohara loved Uchiha Jin, and Obito resolved to support her happiness while warning that he would protect her if Jin hurt her. Seeing Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan, Minato realized how powerful his student had become and asked him about his strength.

• Minato Namikaze sent Rin Nohara to help Kushina and Kakashi to clear the table, then asked Obito to speak with him privately.
• Minato told Obito that everyone knew he loved Rin, but urged him to let her pursue her feelings for Uchiha Jin.
• Obito recalled how Rin had supported him since childhood and accepted that her happiness mattered more than his own feelings.
• Obito vowed to accept Rin's choice but swore he would never forgive Uchiha Jin if Jin hurt her.
• Obito's Sharingan formed the Mangekyō pattern, prompting Minato to ask how strong Obito thought he was.

Obito showed Minato Namikaze his Mangekyo’s Kamui abilities, and Minato encouraged him to build his reputation. After Rin Nohara became Uchiha Jin’s girlfriend, Jin sent Obito Uchiha techniques and revealed that Obito could use Wood Release; Jiraiya replied after Minato sought his help.

• Obito refused Minato Namikaze’s suggestion that he ask Uchiha Jin for clan techniques and demonstrated that attacks passed through him.
• Obito brought Minato into his Kamui Space, and Minato judged him strong enough to rival an Elite Jonin.
• Rin Nohara told Uchiha Jin she admired him and agreed to become his girlfriend, then asked him to help Obito.
• Uchiha Jin gave Rin Mangekyo secret techniques, including Izanagi, to pass to Minato for Obito and explained that Obito could use Wood Release because he had White Zetsu and Hashirama Cells.
• Minato contacted Jiraiya through the toads of Mount Myōboku, and Jiraiya replied a day later.

Hyuga Yang Tai proposed trading Hyuga Aya’s connection to Uchiha Jin for positions and other benefits, and the Main Family eagerly supported him. Hyuga Hiashi watched their greed with impatience as the clan considered the deal.

• Hyuga Yang Tai announced that he wanted Hyuga Aya to become his son Yu’s maid and proposed using her connection to Uchiha Jin to gain benefits for the clan.
• Hyuga Yang Tai demanded that his branch receive at least one-third of whatever the Hyuga Clan gained from the deal.
• Hyuga Main Family members agreed to trade Hyuga Aya’s connection for tangible benefits.
• Hyuga Hiashi frowned at the Main Family’s eagerness and disapproved of the clan’s treatment of the Branch Family.

Hyuga Hiashi refused to help the Main Family Elders pressure Uchiha Jin for benefits, despite their insistence that it would serve the clan. He confronted them over their abuses and reminded them that they lacked anyone capable of replacing him as Clan Leader, then warned them not to go too far.

• Hyuga Hiashi rejected the Elders’ proposal and told them to negotiate with Uchiha Jin themselves.
• Hyuga Yang Tai and the other Elders accused Hyuga Hiashi of failing to consider the clan’s interests.
• Hyuga Hiashi said he would rather be removed as Clan Leader than lose face and condemned the Elders’ conduct.
• The Elders fell silent as they recognized none of them could replace Hyuga Hiashi or lead the clan effectively.
• Hyuga Hiashi said he would continue to overlook their behavior only if they did not take it too far.

Hizashi Hyuga agreed to help Hyuga Aya bring Branch Family members to the Uchiha so Neji could escape the Caged Bird seal. As the coming-of-age ceremony continued, Hyuga Yu arrived to praise from the Main Family Elders, while Hiashi and Hizashi stayed silent.

• Hizashi Hyuga reflected on Hyuga Aya’s warning that the Uchiha intended to undermine the Hyuga Clan and that contacting them would risk the clan’s standing with Konoha.
• Hizashi Hyuga recalled agreeing to help Hyuga Aya persuade Branch Family members to seek refuge with the Uchiha and take Neji with her.
• Hizashi Hyuga resolved to cooperate by remaining silent, despite knowing his decision betrayed the Hyuga Clan.
• Hyuga Yu entered with Hyuga Aya and greeted the clan leaders and elders with an arrogant air.
• The Main Family Elders praised Hyuga Yu as a promising successor, while Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga remained silent.