Chapter Summaries

Yunqing described how technology and civilian businesses were changing the Ninja World as Sunagakure expanded beyond its walls. He proposed a film review competition among the Five Great Hidden Villages, and preparations began with Konoha’s team led by Mina Uchiha.

• Lord Sāmon and Yunqing watched ordinary workers build new developments outside Sunagakure, and Yunqing explained how technology had made ninjas less feared.
• Lord Sāmon revealed that he had sold screen projection technology to Uchiha Pictures and Kurama Special Effects, and Yunqing supported broader exchanges between private businesses and villages.
• Yunqing outlined his plans for Sunagakure’s economy, including stronger patent laws and growing commercial ties among the hidden villages.
• Yunqing proposed a film review competition at the ruins of Three Wolf Mountain in the Land of Iron, and the other Kage approved it.
• Filming fever spread through the Five Great Hidden Villages, and Konoha formed a team led by Mina Uchiha with Uchiha Pictures and Kurama Special Effects.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Uchiha Clan Head to oversee a film and investigate illicit erotic films, but the Clan Head was secretly involved with the organization producing them. He and Jiraiya headed to the filming base while quietly arranging how to manage the investigation.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Uchiha Clan Head to make a compelling film and carefully confiscate illicit erotic films for his review.
• The Uchiha Clan Head left for the filming base, where he ran into Jiraiya, who offered him new discs and asked to make a cameo.
• The Uchiha Clan Head and Jiraiya walked together while people nearby noticed their secret dealings and gossiped about Jiraiya and Kakashi.
• The Uchiha Clan Head planned to hand Hiruzen some seized material while claiming the main culprit remained at large, knowing he himself was a hidden operative in the organization.
• Jiraiya asked the Uchiha Clan Head to consider him for a role, and the Clan Head said he would speak to Mina.

Mina Uchiha continued making a film with help from the Uchiha and Kurama clans, while the Uchiha Clan Head arranged a role for Jiraiya in exchange for jewelry. In Sunagakure, Yunqing faced a crowd of influential people asking him to secure acting roles for themselves or their relatives.

• The Uchiha Clan Head brought Jiraiya to Mina Uchiha’s film set, but Mina intimidated them before offering Jiraiya a cameraman’s job.
• Mina and the Uchiha Clan Head agreed to give Jiraiya a role as a protagonist’s teacher in exchange for a set of precious jade jewelry.
• Chiyo brought Sasori to Yunqing, while Bunpuku, Suke, and En Uzumaki also asked him to arrange acting roles for themselves or their relatives.
• Yunqing condemned the influential Sunagakure figures for using their connections to seek roles.

Yunqing reassured Pakura that she could audition for the film despite his earlier warning to other officials, then they traveled to the awards venue after filming wrapped across the hidden villages. At the venue, Nawaki arrived and challenged Yunqing to a match.

• Officials admitted their mistakes to Yunqing and left after he dismissed them.
• Pakura offered to give up her role in the film, but Yunqing told her she could audition and reassured her that he had only been teasing the others.
• Yunqing took Pakura home through a wormhole transfer.
• Within a month, the major hidden villages finished filming, and the judges prepared to evaluate the films at a vast building erected on the Three Wolf Mountain ruins.
• Nawaki visited Yunqing and challenged him to a match, and Yunqing agreed to try the training ground.

Yunqing sparred with Nawaki and warned him that imitating Hashirama Senju could limit his future unless he forged his own path. As the gathered village leaders debated imitation and the Senju Clan’s prospects, the first film review session was about to begin.

• Yunqing ended his spar with Nawaki after Nawaki blocked his Heat attack with Wood Release.
• Yunqing told Nawaki that copying Hashirama Senju would keep him strong but that he needed to break free to surpass him.
• Nawaki acknowledged the advice and reflected on the pressure to become the Senju Clan’s pillar and his reliance on imitation.
• Ōnoki, Rōshi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others discussed whether imitation could serve the Senju Clan and how it might limit Nawaki.
• The first film review session was about to begin.

The Five Great Hidden Villages screened films that showcased their histories and values, with Yunqing’s film about Sunagakure winning over the audience through its story and song. After the leaders agreed to preserve the peace and promote one another’s films, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Mina Uchiha to create a film that would teach Konoha’s people to love their village.

• Konohagakure’s film followed Guiyang’s revenge against oppressive nobles, moving the audience to tears while Yunqing, Nawaki, and Orochimaru stayed unimpressed.
• Yunqing’s film traced Sunagakure’s growth from its founding through its development, and Pakura’s performance of “Blue Bird” stirred the viewers.
• The group watched films from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, each presenting a distinct image of its village.
• The leaders established more awards, agreed to avoid trouble for the sake of peace, and decided to promote one another’s films in their countries.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed Mina Uchiha to make a historically accurate film about Konoha’s development and pair it with a song that would foster love for the village.

The five Kage discussed how to restore trade between their villages amid a crisis of overproduction and unsold goods. They agreed to restart economic exchanges and began arranging purchases, leaving the summit focused on inter-village commerce.

• Yunqing urged the Kage to stop bickering and discuss the problems facing their villages.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed deepening cooperation, and the Kage admitted they needed access to other countries' markets for their surplus goods.
• Yunqing and the Raikage explained that unsold products threatened wages and could lead to internal suppression or war.
• The Third Mizukage called for economic trade to resume and warned he would beat anyone who obstructed it.
• Yunqing offered to buy Kirigakure's pearls, and the Kage began arranging purchases of goods between their villages.

Tuhao traveled among the Five Great Hidden Villages to conduct trade, encountering each region’s proud local industries and feeling increasingly frustrated by their prosperity. He ended in the Land of Water, where the Hozuki Clan Head invited him to feast on seafood while taking pleasure in needling him.

• Tuhao visited a Senju storage base in the Land of Waterfalls and collected Sunagakure’s grain order from Shinju Senju.
• Shinju Senju explained that Konoha produced so much grain that it had built numerous storage depots and diversified its farming and animal husbandry.
• Tuhao traveled to the Land of Earth, where Kitsuchi proudly showed him the ore being loaded by the mining brigade.
• In the Land of Lightning, a factory manager showed Tuhao the region’s beef processing plant, prompting Tuhao to silently resent the man’s pride.
• The Hozuki Clan Head showed Tuhao giant seafood in the Land of Water and invited him to eat and drink, pleased to taunt the successful trader.

Tuhao returned to Sunagakure distraught after enduring the convoy’s humiliating treatment, and Kakuzu pretended to sympathize while maneuvering him into taking over the trips. Kakuzu and Yunqing celebrated their scheme in the Kazekage’s office, while Kakuzu privately hoped to outlive Yunqing and inherit everything.

• Tuhao returned to Sunagakure in tears and complained to Kakuzu that the convoy workers had bullied him.
• Kakuzu’s anger faded when Tuhao described the treatment, and Kakuzu revealed he had suffered the same heartache on convoy trips.
• Kakuzu told Tuhao to make more trips so he could learn to endure hardship, then left him to take over the convoy inspections.
• Kakuzu and Yunqing praised the plan over a bottle of Lafite, agreeing that Tuhao could replace Kakuzu for a long time.
• Kakuzu secretly resolved to outlive Yunqing so he could claim Yunqing’s wealth.

Yunqing and Chiyo taught Sasori that Iron Golems and concentrated firepower could not replace cooperation against powerful ninja. Sasori accepted that his current methods were inadequate, while Senra encouraged him to keep working toward Kage-level Iron Golems.

• Sasori urged Yunqing to popularize Iron Golems and overwhelm enemies with firepower, but Yunqing explained how different clans and techniques could counter them.
• Yunqing and Chiyo explained that ninja needed to cooperate because any single fighting style had weaknesses.
• Yunqing, Suke, Bunpuku, and Chiyo demonstrated at the training ground how easily they could dismantle Iron Golems.
• Sasori realized his methods were weak against powerful opponents, and Senra advised him to keep working until he could build Kage-level Iron Golems.
• Yunqing considered the cost and difficulty of mass-producing Kage-level Iron Golems and chose not to discourage Sasori further.

Sasori traveled by ship to Kirigakure for a student exchange with representatives from the Five Great Hidden Villages. Bored aboard the ship, he accepted Orochimaru’s challenge and fought him on deck, where Orochimaru toyed with Sasori and his puppets, Father and Mother.

• Sasori waited on the shore with Suke and the others for the ship to Kirigakure, complaining about the cold while Suke insisted he needed more training.
• Orochimaru arrived and explained that he was representing Konoha at the exchange, and delegations from Iwagakure and Kumogakure joined them before Kirigakure’s ship arrived.
• Sasori found the voyage dull, wandered around the ship, and went to the bow to fish.
• Orochimaru approached Sasori and asked to see his Puppet Technique, then provoked him into a fight by questioning whether Sasori was afraid.
• Sasori controlled Father and Mother against Orochimaru, who casually countered with Snake Series ninjutsu and tested the puppets with his Kusanagi Sword as Suke and other village leaders watched.

After Orochimaru easily defeated Sasori, Sasori reflected on his weaknesses and proved himself in later battles. Suke told him he was being groomed as Sunagakure’s next Kazekage and prepared to take him on a mission at sea.

• Orochimaru dismantled Sasori’s puppets and criticized his lack of combat experience before leaving him alive.
• Suke and the Hozuki Clan Head discussed Sasori’s defeat, and Suke said he would kill Sasori himself if he defected from the village.
• Over the next half month, Sasori quietly examined his strengths and weaknesses and won battles using only an ordinary puppet.
• Suke visited Sasori and invited him to walk through Kirigakure, then explained that their visit involved helping Kirigakure seize an island.
• Suke confirmed that Sasori was being groomed to become the Fourth Kazekage and urged him to work hard, warning that Rasa would also compete for the position.

Scorpion and Suke wondered why Yunqing had chosen Scorpion as Sunagakure’s next Kage, while Yunqing explained that he expected the sea to temper him. The chapter left Scorpion confronting the dangers of unexplored waters.

• In Kirigakure, Scorpion and Suke questioned what Yunqing saw in Scorpion that made him worthy of such favor.
• Yunqing, Kakuzu, Sāmon, Ebizo, Chiyo, and Pakura relaxed on a lake in Sunagakure and discussed the ocean’s development and the possibility of making it a Kage Summit topic.
• Chiyo asked why Scorpion and Suke had gone to Kirigakure, and Yunqing explained that the Third Mizukage had invited them to help develop an island under the cover of an exchange meeting.
• Kakuzu asked why Yunqing had chosen Scorpion as the next Kage, and Yunqing said the sea would test and transform him.
• Scorpion began experiencing the dangers and uncertainty of exploring uncharted sea routes.

Yagura led a powerful Kirigakure expedition through a storm and attacked the sea monsters blocking their route to a new continent. The ship pressed onward, while Yunqing assured Chiyo that Sasori was protected.

• Yagura ordered the crew to reef the sails, then sent Sasori to gather Suke, Orochimaru, Kari, and A.
• Orochimaru sent snakes underwater to scout, and Yagura ordered the ship to continue despite reports of huge sea beasts.
• Kari blasted apart a giant wave, Suke pierced the octopus behind it, and Orochimaru summoned Manda and other snakes to defend the ship.
• A attacked the sea creatures as Yagura urged the crew to charge through the dangers and continue exploring.
• Chiyo asked Yunqing if Sasori and the others were safe, and Yunqing explained that Suke had a coordinate and Sasori carried hidden protection.

Yunqing understood that Yagura had secretly launched an expedition to conquer and explore the sea, but he pretended not to know to avoid blame. As the voyage continued without land in sight, Yagura recorded their route and tried to reassure himself that the Five Great Hidden Villages had sent people for a worthy cause.

• Yunqing recognized that Yagura’s real goal was to conquer the sea and regretted sending Suke and Sasori along without stopping him.
• Yagura relied on his bond with the Three-Tails and the support of the Third Mizukage and other villages to pursue his expedition.
• Yunqing kept quiet about knowing Yagura’s plan because exposing it could make others blame him and bring trouble from Chiyo.
• The ship sailed for a long time without seeing land, prompting the passengers to grow suspicious.
• Yagura drew nautical charts to record their route and privately told himself that the expedition’s risks were justified.

Yagura, Orochimaru, and Sasori began to realize that the ship’s voyage might be a deliberate scheme with no real destination. Sasori found that the route was unknown and the ship was stocked for a long journey, leaving him afraid and powerless to resist.

• Yagura tried to reassure himself as memories of powerful ninja and dangers at sea filled his thoughts.
• Orochimaru studied the sea charts and suspected Yagura had arranged the voyage, but decided to investigate quietly rather than return to Konoha alone.
• Sasori learned from Nakajima that the crew had no chart for their destination and was following the route of Yagura’s previous voyage.
• Sasori inspected the storeroom, found far more supplies than expected, and questioned experienced Mist ninja about the earlier voyage and their current route.
• A drunken Mist ninja told Sasori they could sail indefinitely as long as food and water lasted, deepening Sasori’s fear that Yagura intended to keep them at sea.
• Sasori concluded that he lacked the strength or standing to resist, since the crew respected him for his connections and Suke’s reputation rather than his own talent.

Sasori confessed his fears about the ship’s dangerous voyage, but Suke explained that the crew had knowingly accepted the risks for glory, wealth, and advancement. Sasori began confronting his sheltered upbringing, while Suke considered whether Sunagakure’s plan to mature him was working.

• Suke slapped Sasori and asked why he had been dazed and anxious for days.
• Sasori told Suke his suspicions about the voyage and his concerns for the crew’s lives.
• Suke explained that the crew had signed life-and-death agreements and had boarded seeking rewards and mission records.
• Sasori protested that they had been set up, but Suke said everyone had schemes and left him to consider the truth.
• Sasori realized he had lived a sheltered life, while Suke reflected that Sunagakure intended the journey to mature him.

The crew reached an island, where Yagura’s companions confronted him about the voyage and learned it was driven by his dream and protected by the Three-Tails. They agreed to continue sailing, while Sasori explored the island with a clearer understanding of the choices people made for themselves.

• The crew spotted an island, and Yagura assigned the Kirigakure ninjas tasks to survey it and check for inhabitants.
• Sasori explored alone after Suke declined to accompany him, wondering why Yagura wanted to know whether anyone lived on the island.
• Suke, Orochimaru, Kari, and A confronted Yagura and questioned him about the route, the Third Mizukage, and his reasons for the voyage.
• Yagura revealed that the voyage served his dream and that he had brought the Three-Tails for security.
• Orochimaru spoke for the group and confirmed that they would continue sailing, each pursuing their own aims.
• Sasori reflected on how people had to make their own choices, even when they were willing to risk their lives for hope.

Sasori reflected on the hardships of the ship’s lower ranks and accepted that he should respect their choices rather than decide for them. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi lamented how the village had changed, then questioned Hatake Sakumo about the Hatake Clan’s businesses and learned that Kakashi supposedly reviewed Jiraiya’s books.

• Sasori considered the struggles of the ship’s workers and resolved to focus on improving himself while respecting their choices.
• With the ship’s leaders united, resistance aboard the ship weakened, while the wider Ninja World remained uncertain about its direction.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on Hokage Rock and told Hatake Sakumo that he no longer understood the prosperous Konoha he had helped build.
• Hiruzen listed the clans’ businesses and asked Hatake what the Hatake Clan operated.
• Hatake claimed the Hatake Clan ran printing houses and bookstores, and said Kakashi reviewed the books, especially Jiraiya’s works.
• Hiruzen doubted Hatake’s explanation and suspected he was lying about Kakashi reading Jiraiya’s books.

Kakashi used his publishing skills and Hatake Sakumo’s respected reputation to turn Hatake Bookstore into a thriving network that attracted writers across the Ninja World. The chapter ended with Sakumo baffled by his rising reputation and the bookstore’s success, while Kakashi reflected on how useful his father’s good name was.

• Kakashi reassured Jiraiya that Hatake Bookstore could promote his books and suggested marketing them as adult content.
• Jiraiya’s books became popular through Hatake Bookstore, and Kakashi began signing long-term contracts with writers.
• Kakashi persuaded Hatake Sakumo to use his connections and reputation to recruit authors and expand the family business.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and other powerful figures began writing books, and Hatake Bookstore became the trusted publisher they turned to.
• Hatake Sakumo’s reputation and the bookstore’s profits grew, leaving him bewildered while Kakashi praised the value of his father’s good name.