Chapter Summaries

Leikai decided to seek factory work and citizenship in the Land of Wind after comparing his comfortable life in Sunagakure with his former life in the Land of Lightning. Steward Akai revealed that Leikai already had Sunagakure household registration, but fled before Leikai could demand compensation for the benefits he had missed.

• Leikai reflected on his comfortable life in Small Sand Village and decided to speak with Steward Akai about joining the factory.
• Leikai told Akai he wanted to enter the factory and obtain citizenship because life in the Land of Wind was better than in the Land of Lightning.
• Akai revealed that Leikai had received Sunagakure household registration after memorizing the Ideological and Political Program, and handed him his registration booklet.
• Leikai angrily demanded compensation for the discounts he had missed, but Akai used the Body Flicker Technique to escape.

Ebizo dismissed concerns about Leikai, a former Kumogakure spy who had defected to Sunagakure, and turned his attention to a lucrative weapons deal with merchants from the Land of Fire. Yunqing and Ebizo negotiated a large order with Mr. Inoue, who hurried away after the transaction was arranged.

• Ebizo decided not to monitor Leikai, reasoning that he could not access Sunagakure's important secrets.
• A subordinate told Ebizo that merchants from the Land of Fire wanted to discuss a deal, and Ebizo anticipated profiting from Konoha's wealth.
• Yunqing and Ebizo met Mr. Inoue and his companions in the Kazekage Building to discuss buying Chakra Weapons and Chakra Batteries.
• Inoue ordered weapons and fifty thousand Chakra Batteries with Fire-Lightning attributes, and Ebizo offered a twenty-percent discount and Sealing Scrolls.
• Inoue's white-haired companion unsealed several large crates, and Inoue left after Ebizo promised to deliver the weapons to his residence.

Yunqing and Ebizo arranged for Bunpuku to investigate the concealed Konoha operation, while Hatake Sakumo bought weapons in Sunagakure and tried to avoid suspicion. After warning Jiraiya that Sakumo might need support, the chapter left Sakumo enjoying the village’s comforts and discovering that a ninja was grilling his barbecue.

• Yunqing told Ebizo to have Bunpuku investigate the stranger with the impressive concealment technique, and Bunpuku set out with Shukaku toward the Land of Fire.
• Inoue gave Hatake Sakumo Chakra Weapons, money, and a residence token, then ordered his guards to arm the caravan after Sakumo left.
• Sakumo sent a dog to warn Jiraiya that Sunagakure was shrouded in strange chakra and that he could not safely use ninjutsu.
• Jiraiya prepared to provide support as the dog returned to Sakumo, who wandered through Sunagakure to maintain his cover.
• Sakumo relaxed at the Pakura Clan Sauna, then bought skewers and beer and realized the barbecue chef used Fire Release to light the grill.

Hatake Sakumo escaped Sunagakure and met Bunpuku in the desert, where his disguise was exposed and a fight began. Jiraiya prepared to support Sakumo, while Yunqing adjusted Sunagakure’s arms trade to help Konoha.

• Hatake Sakumo quietly left Sunagakure after days of feeling watched by a powerful, unseen threat.
• Yunqing ordered Ebizo to reduce trade with Iwagakure and Kumogakure, increase supplies to Konoha, and sell to Kirigakure and Amegakure at adjusted volumes.
• A messenger told Jiraiya that Sakumo had left Sunagakure and might have been exposed, so Jiraiya stood ready to provide support.
• Hatake Sakumo met Bunpuku in the desert and asked how he had been discovered.
• Bunpuku identified Sakumo’s sealing-based disguise, and Sakumo dispelled it after realizing Shukaku had seen through him.
• Shukaku took control of Bunpuku’s body and opened the fight with a Sandstorm.

Jiraiya entered Sage Mode to help Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu escape Shukaku and Bunpuku’s attack. After Konoha’s group withdrew, Shukaku and Bunpuku bantered over whether Shukaku truly disliked moisture.

• Jiraiya retreated to enter Sage Mode while Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu held off Shukaku’s assault.
• Jiraiya unleashed Sage Art: Gama-Rikku, melting more than half of Shukaku’s Shield and revealing the two Mount Myōboku sages on his shoulders.
• Sage Fukasaku advised Konoha’s group to use Water Release and Earth Release to restrain Shukaku and create a chance to withdraw.
• Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu unleashed a giant wave as Jiraiya raised a swamp, then Sakumo led the group in retreat when Shukaku did not pursue.
• Shukaku used Magnet Release: Sand Sea Surge to restore the Desert and absorb the water, then argued with Bunpuku about needing moisture before handing over control of his body.

Yunqing responded to news of Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo’s growing strength by creating a Kazekage-controlled Scientific Ninja Force to protect Sunagakure’s Research Department. Back in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Bunpuku had become a perfect Jinchuriki and urged Hatake Sakumo to grow stronger, while Jiraiya protested that his Sage Mode should make him a capable deterrent.

• Pakura reported that Jiraiya had reached Kage-level strength and learned Sage Mode, prompting Yunqing to reflect on Konoha’s many powerful ninja and Sunagakure’s need to develop Chakra science.
• Yunqing ordered Rasa and Karura to form and lead a five-hundred-member Scientific Ninja Force that would protect the Research Department and answer only to him.
• Rasa and Karura accepted Yunqing’s assignment, and Sunagakure’s shinobi began courting them because the new force belonged directly to the Kazekage.
• Hatake Sakumo and Jiraiya returned to Konoha with five Sealing Scrolls of genuine weapons, which Hiruzen Sarutobi inspected and praised.
• Hatake Sakumo reported that Bunpuku had suppressed him, Jiraiya, and the Anbu, and that Shukaku could freely control Bunpuku’s body as a perfect Jinchuriki.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi urged Hatake Sakumo to become a peak Kage-level fighter, while Jiraiya objected that his Sage Mode should already make him a strong deterrent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hatake Sakumo guidance to help him reach Kage-level Peak quickly, while explaining to Jiraiya why Sakumo received priority. Jiraiya reunited with Tsunade and Orochimaru for a night of drinking and resolved to grow stronger as Hiruzen watched over them.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hatake Sakumo a scroll of his and the Second Hokage's experiences, and told Jiraiya that he lacked the fundamental strength to enter Sage Mode freely.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted to Jiraiya that, as a human leader, he was closer to some people than others and could only try to be fair.
• Jiraiya met Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had returned from the front lines, and invited them to drink at his home.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya described their recent battles and vowed to train harder and pursue their own paths to strength.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the three disciples reminisce and drink through the Clairvoyance Jutsu, hoping they would grow quickly.

Hatake Sakumo reflected on his swordsmanship and life, becoming calmer as he approached a breakthrough. Mito Uzumaki asked him about her clan in Sunagakure, and his report left her considering whether Konoha could learn from the village’s way of serving ordinary people.

• Hatake Sakumo studied the experiences of Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi and concluded that complete mastery, not extraordinary power, defined the highest level.
• Hatake Sakumo meditated on the sword and reviewed his life, letting much of his sharpness fade as he gained a clearer understanding of his path.
• Mito Uzumaki visited Hatake Sakumo and asked him to investigate the Uzumaki Clan in Sunagakure.
• Hatake Sakumo told Mito Uzumaki that the Uzumaki Clan was prosperous, with clan members working at a hospital, studying under Chiyo, and living in homes of their own.
• Mito Uzumaki considered Sunagakure’s use of ninja abilities to improve ordinary people’s lives, while Hatake Sakumo argued that Konoha could learn from the village.

Hatake Sakumo and Mito Uzumaki discussed why Konoha’s wealth and clan politics made Sunagakure-style reform difficult. After Sakumo reported their conversation and what he had seen in Sunagakure to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen began planning gradual reforms that could benefit civilians without directly threatening the ninja clans.

• Mito Uzumaki told Hatake Sakumo that Konoha could not imitate Sunagakure’s changes unless Hiruzen Sarutobi and most of Konoha’s powerful shinobi supported them.
• Hatake Sakumo concluded that Konoha’s ninja clans had to be treated as partners in any reform, and Mito Uzumaki left after saying she was satisfied that the Uzumaki Clan was doing well.
• Hatake Sakumo wrote a report about his meeting with Mito Uzumaki and his observations in Sunagakure, then sent it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to pursue gradual reforms, including expanding medical ninjutsu, teaching civilians basic pharmacology, and asking Orochimaru to explore scientific ninja tools.

Yunqing tracked down Madara Uchiha’s underground hideout and confronted him to deter him from targeting Sunagakure. Their battle devastated the surrounding area, and Madara, weakened by age, struggled against Yunqing’s strength.

• Yunqing left the Land of Fire border area and searched for Madara Uchiha’s hideout to warn him against interfering with Sunagakure.
• Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to smear Sunagakure’s reputation and intercept its merchant caravans.
• Yunqing entered the underground cave and challenged Madara Uchiha, who connected himself to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and attacked.
• Yunqing transformed his hand into a dragon claw, then emerged aboveground in armor with wings and a sword to continue fighting Madara.
• Yunqing and Madara exchanged blows with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Madara privately hoped to find a chance to escape.

Yunqing failed to kill Madara Uchiha but seized his Rinnegan and Tobi’s arm, while Madara survived and planned to continue his scheme. The war ended early after Kagami Uchiha was killed and the villages feared Madara’s apparent return, leaving Sunagakure with time to recover.

• Yunqing used a Micro Wormhole to take Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan and Tobi’s arm after Madara escaped.
• Madara Uchiha reached a secret base, had White Zetsu repair his body, and ordered Zetsu to prepare Plan Two and clone a replacement Rinnegan.
• Tobi’s Wood Release and the battle’s devastation led Iwagakure and Kumogakure to condemn Konoha, which answered with a forceful military response.
• Hatake Sakumo’s Anbu raids and Kirigakure’s renewed attacks intensified the war, and the Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage died together.
• Kagami Uchiha was killed and his eyes were taken; his recovered memories showed Madara’s name and an image of a white-haired old man identified as Madara Uchiha.
• The villages ended the Second Ninja World War early, while Yunqing noted that Sunagakure had gained time and the other villages were preoccupied with Madara.

The Five Great Ninja Villages prepared to attend Hiruzen Sarutobi's Kage Summit, with Madara Uchiha's possible return driving their concerns. Yunqing chose his guards and arranged Sunagakure's affairs before departing, while Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared Konoha's leadership for his absence.

• Yunqing agreed to attend the Kage Summit, assigned duties to Sunagakure's officials, and chose Suke and Pakura as his guards.
• Sāmon agreed to call Bunpuku back to Sunagakure while Yunqing was away.
• Ōnoki and Rōshi agreed to attend the summit because Madara Uchiha might be alive and dangerous.
• The Third Raikage decided to travel to the Land of Iron with Fukai and Bee, while the Third Mizukage also headed there with two subordinates.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Shimura Danzō, Koharu, and Homura to oversee Konoha, ordered an investigation into rumors, and planned to take Sakumo and Orochimaru to the summit.

At the Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised the threat of Madara Uchiha or a successor after Kagami Uchiha’s death. Ōnoki then asked Yunqing how powerful he was.

• Shimura Danzō grew furious when Hiruzen Sarutobi divided his authority and later told him to rest while Tsunade filled his post.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled to the Land of Iron with Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru for the Kage Summit.
• Yunqing traded blunt remarks with the other Kage as the meeting began.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said the summit aimed to discuss a ceasefire and Madara Uchiha, whose possible involvement in Kagami Uchiha’s death alarmed the Kage.
• The Third Mizukage described the killer’s strength as at least peak Kage-level, and Ōnoki asked Yunqing what realm he had reached.

At the Kage Summit, Yunqing explained how the Kage could surpass Kage-level by improving their bodies and raising the quantity and quality of their Chakra. The summit ended with the Kage agreeing to pursue strength, while Yunqing later faced Pakura’s accusations in his room.

• Yunqing confirmed that he had surpassed Kage-level and outlined how focused training, combined techniques, and stronger Chakra could lead others beyond it.
• Orochimaru arrived and questioned Yunqing, who described ways each Kage could strengthen their signature abilities and explained that he had followed the same path.
• Yunqing rejected Orochimaru’s suggestion that he unify the ninja world and hinted that the world was far larger than the Kage realized.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Kage agreed to focus on becoming stronger rather than immediately pursuing Madara Uchiha.
• The Kage Summit concluded after the villages discussed postwar losses and exchanged symbolic compensation, and Yunqing was later criticized by Pakura in his room.

Yunqing revealed Madara Uchiha’s survival to Hiruzen Sarutobi and exchanged the information for scrolls from four hidden villages. Hiruzen returned to Konoha to organize research and prepare for the threat, while Yunqing expected the villages to strengthen themselves and Hatake Sakumo’s future to change.

• Yunqing confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi, then answered his questions by naming Madara Uchiha, leading Hiruzen to conclude that Madara was alive and had learned Wood Release.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left with Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru, ordering research into new techniques and assigning Orochimaru to guard Konoha Prison with First Hokage Cells and the Second Hokage’s notes.
• Yunqing checked four scrolls and found that Hiruzen Sarutobi had sent Flying Thunder God, the Raikage had sent Kumogakure body-training methods, the Tsuchikage had sent Light-Weight Rock Technique, and the Mizukage had sent Kirigakure Water Release techniques.
• Yunqing reasoned that Madara’s exposure would push the hidden villages to strengthen themselves and that Hiruzen Sarutobi would recruit Hatake Sakumo and the Uchiha Clan.

After news spread that Madara Uchiha was alive, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Konoha’s leaders from rushing into a fight and organized research to strengthen the village. The meeting ended with the leaders accepting his plans and a new Training Guide containing Kage-level cultivation experience.

• Shimura Danzō challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over the decision not to attack Madara Uchiha, while several Jonin urged the village to fight him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi unleashed his Kage-level Peak aura, frightening the assembled shinobi, and Orochimaru and Jiraiya backed him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Jiraiya to study Sage Mode, Sakumo and himself to research advanced ninjutsu, Orochimaru and Tsunade to research Wood Release, and Mito to study Tailed Beast Chakra.
• The clan heads and other leaders offered no objections to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s research plans.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced a Training Guide with corrected basic cultivation methods and Kage-level experience, exciting the Jonin and clan leaders.

The Five Great Hidden Villages launched ruthless research programs to prepare for Madara Uchiha, exploiting Tailed Beasts, Bloodline Limits, and captured researchers. By the end of the first year of the Shinobi Era, rapid arms racing and attacks on smaller nations had spread across the shinobi world, leaving Madara and Black and White Zetsu as the only unhappy ones.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a force to destroy Sky Village and brought its researchers and materials back to Konoha for study.
• The Third Raikage ordered Kinkaku and Silver Horn to be studied, while telling the next A to find his partner and focus on becoming stronger.
• Ōnoki secured Four-Tails' cooperation by agreeing to build a statue honoring its contributions to Iwagakure.
• The Third Mizukage promised Three-Tails and Six-Tails freedom in exchange for helping Kirigakure research Tailed Beast Chakra and Yin-Yang Release, while the village began studying Bloodline Limit fusion.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Hiryu's Bloodline Limit research and assigned him to work with Orochimaru and Tsunade and study Jiraiya's Sage Chakra.
• The Five Great Hidden Villages escalated their research and arms race, destroying smaller villages, countries, and islands to seize supplies and territory.

Yunqing tested whether Suke could learn Sage Mode and directed his research on Hashirama’s arm and the Rinnegan. After exploring the ninja world from space and visiting the moon, he returned with plans to create entertainment technology for Sunagakure.

• Yunqing gave Suke one month to learn Sage Mode or understand Sage Chakra, warning that he would visit Ryūchi Cave if Suke failed.
• Suke reported that Hashirama’s arm might help improve tree-seed survival, while the Rinnegan remained beyond his biological research.
• Yunqing decided to trade the Rinnegan to Konoha for drought-resistant crops and told Suke to study the arm and continue researching magnetism.
• Yunqing entered the Dark Plane in space and read the planet’s history, then decided Sunagakure should develop televisions and mobile phones.
• Yunqing visited the moon, judged its Otsutsuki Clan to be weak, and left without meeting them.

Yunqing offered Konoha the Rinnegan in exchange for drought-resistant tree and grain seeds, and Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the deal. He left Konoha after suggesting that a future Wood Release user could plant trees in Sunagakure, while Hiruzen sealed the eye and planned to use it as leverage over the Uchiha Clan.

• Tsunade met Yunqing at Konoha's gates and escorted him to the Hokage Office as Anbu led by Hatake Sakumo surrounded them.
• Yunqing presented the Rinnegan, which he said he had won after fighting Madara Uchiha, and offered it in exchange for drought-resistant tree and grain seeds.
• Yunqing told the Konoha leaders that Madara Uchiha may have obtained Hashirama Senju's cells, prompting Orochimaru to connect the eye to Sage Body and Sage Eye research.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the trade and asked Yunqing to keep the Rinnegan's existence confidential.
• Yunqing suggested that a Wood Release user could come plant trees in Sunagakure, then left with Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Rinnegan sealed for study and considered using it to motivate and control the Uchiha Clan.

Yunqing planted Konoha’s seeds in the desert, where they quickly sprouted, and organized new traffic rules and enforcement in Sunagakure after automobile accidents became common. The Traffic Bureau began preparing to crack down on street racers, while Shatu hoped the operation would win him its director position.

• Yunqing returned from Konoha and had Sima water the seeds he had scattered in the desert; they sprouted within minutes.
• Pakura reported a month’s worth of vehicle collisions and pedestrian accidents, so Yunqing ordered traffic rules, a Traffic Bureau, and surveillance ninjutsu research.
• Yunqing used his memories to help draft Sunagakure’s Traffic Rules, and the rules and bureau took effect after training.
• Shatu prepared his Traffic Police officers to arrest the children of influential figures for street racing, hoping to earn a promotion to Traffic Bureau director.