Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi assembled an elite force to seize the Land of Waterfalls, while Shimura Danzō and Konoha’s leaders prepared to profit from the campaign. Konoha’s move alarmed Ōnoki, who rallied Iwagakure’s clans with promises of benefits and left the conflict poised to escalate.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi formed an army of over a thousand ninja, with the Uchiha Clan Head and Hyuga Clan Head serving as generals and clan elites joining to secure a share of the spoils.
• Shimura Danzō discovered that the clans, including his own, had concealed far more ninja than he had known, then paid Kakuzu’s manager for services and celebrated Konoha’s growing wealth.
• Konoha openly announced Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expedition to the Land of Waterfalls, prompting Ōnoki to denounce the move as an insult to Iwagakure.
• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure’s clans to assemble an elite force by promising future benefits, and the clans warned that they expected compensation for their losses.

Konoha and Iwagakure began a campaign in the Land of Waterfalls, while the other hidden villages paused their wars and watched for an opportunity. As Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to use the conflict to consolidate Konoha’s power, Kirigakure plotted cautiously and Yunqing assessed the possible outcome from Rōran.

• Konoha and Iwagakure deployed forces to the Land of Waterfalls, where their probing clashes quickly overwhelmed Takigakure and left the Daimyo's Mansion under Hiruzen Sarutobi's Anbu.
• The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure to halt its wars, then struck Fourth A when his son demanded to exploit Konoha's conflict with Iwagakure.
• The Third Mizukage told the Hozuki Clan Head to send small groups to probe the situation, prepare a relocation of Land of Water residents, and cultivate future leaders; the Hozuki Clan Head selected young ninja for difficult missions.
• Yunqing managed Rōran and Sunagakure's integration while researching the Dragon Vein, then judged that Hiruzen Sarutobi could use the campaign to settle Konoha's internal problems and potentially cripple Iwagakure.

Yunqing tried to disrupt Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to crush Iwagakure and then attack Kumogakure by ordering Sunagakure forces to block Konoha’s reinforcements. Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo prepared to encircle Ōnoki’s army with Konoha’s hidden clan reserves as Hiruzen advanced toward the Land of Waterfalls.

• Yunqing ordered Ebizo to send Rasa’s forces to the Konoha border and have Chiyo prepare to intercept Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly brought five elite Anbu squads and planned to defeat Ōnoki quickly before joining Hatake Sakumo to attack Kumogakure.
• Hatake Sakumo arranged Konoha’s forces at Takigakure in a pocket formation designed to trap Ōnoki’s army.
• Kosuke asked Hatake Sakumo about Hiruzen’s reinforcements, and Sakumo said Konoha’s clan reserves had the strength to crush Iwagakure.

Bunpuku and Rōshi fought daily at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth until Rōshi received a letter warning that Ōnoki needed support. When Bunpuku let him pass without a fight, Rōshi hurried toward the Land of Waterfalls, leaving his exhausted squad behind as he raced ahead in his Four-Tails Chakra Cloak.

• Bunpuku and Rōshi clashed with Magnet Release, sandstorms, and magma, while ordinary ninjas stayed clear of their battle.
• Rōshi read Ōnoki’s letter asking him to monitor the situation and support him if possible, then decided to go himself.
• Rōshi warned Bunpuku that he was leaving to aid Ōnoki and departed with an elite Iwagakure squad.
• After a day and night of travel, Rōshi told the exhausted squad to rest and catch up, and ordered them to obtain medical supplies.
• Rōshi called on Son Goku, formed a Four-Tails Chakra Cloak, and rushed ahead alone toward the Land of Waterfalls.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces captured Takigakure and drove Iwagakure out of the Land of Waterfalls, but Sunagakure blocked his planned ambush and left his wider campaign uncertain. The Uchiha Clan Head celebrated the spoils and proposed that Fugaku Uchiha marry Hiruzen Sarutobi’s niece, and Fugaku agreed.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi seized Takigakure and led Konoha’s clans against Iwagakure, whose forces retreated after Rōshi’s Tailed Beast transformation checked the assault.
• Konoha’s clans used their combined techniques and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s relentless attacks to drive Iwagakure out of the Land of Waterfalls after ten days.
• Rasa led a thousand Sunagakure shinobi to stop Konoha’s forces from the Land of Rain, ruining Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to ambush Iwagakure.
• The Uchiha Clan Head celebrated the territory awarded to his clan and suggested Fugaku Uchiha marry Hiruzen Sarutobi’s niece.
• Fugaku Uchiha agreed to follow his father’s arrangements.

The Uchiha Clan Head secured Hiruzen Sarutobi’s approval for Fugaku Uchiha to marry the Sarutobi clan’s young lady, offering Uchiha techniques as an advance betrothal gift. Hiruzen began scheming to strengthen the Hokage faction through more Uchiha marriages, while Kushina sensed someone might take part of her “treasure” away.

• The Uchiha Clan Head persuaded Hiruzen Sarutobi to approve Fugaku Uchiha’s marriage to the Sarutobi clan’s young lady after promising to change Uchiha customs.
• The Uchiha Clan Head gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a scroll containing the Uchiha Style Shuriken Beginner's Manual and Basic Fire Release Ninjutsu as part of the betrothal gift.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered tying the Uchiha more closely to the Hokage faction through further marriages and asked Minato Namikaze to get acquainted with Mikoto Uchiha.
• Kushina Uzumaki felt uneasy that someone might take half of her treasure, and Mito Uzumaki comforted her.
• Minato Namikaze sensed that good fortune was coming to him while he studied on the Land of Lightning battlefield.

As war spread across several borders, Hiruzen Sarutobi redeployed Konoha’s forces and hurried back to the village because Mito Uzumaki was near death and the Nine-Tails needed to be transferred. Madara Uchiha learned of Mito’s condition and went to see her, hoping for a chance to cause trouble.

• Kitsuchi told Rōshi that Konohagakure’s bloodlines and secret techniques had helped ambush Ōnoki and devastate Iwagakure’s forces.
• Kumogakure attacked Konoha, Chiyo fought Tsunade, and Kirigakure attacked the Land of Waves while fighting Sunagakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi handed the Land of Waterfalls over to the Uchiha Clan Head and the Hyuga Clan Head, then returned to Konoha with the Anbu after learning Mito Uzumaki was failing.
• Hatake Sakumo led half the ninja force toward the Land of Waves, while Orochimaru and Jiraiya continued handling the Land of Lightning.
• Madara Uchiha arrived at the Land of Waterfalls battlefield with Tobi and Black and White Zetsu, then decided to visit Mito Uzumaki and look for a chance to interfere.

Madara Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi headed toward Konoha as several hidden villages faced new campaigns and internal unrest. Ōnoki woke under Rōshi’s protection and secretly ordered a purge of the traitors threatening Iwagakure.

• Madara Uchiha headed for Konoha, while Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed back, worried about the Nine-Tails’ transfer and distrustful of those left behind.
• The Third Mizukage appointed Yagura to lead an expedition to newly discovered islands, supplying him with five hundred ninja, Chakra Weapons, and extensive provisions.
• Yagura ignored rumors that he was the Third Mizukage’s illegitimate child and hurried to prepare his force for departure.
• The Blood Dragon Eye Clan attacked the Daimyo’s Mansion in the Land of Lightning, and the Third Raikage ordered his son to suppress them and recover their eyes.
• Ōnoki woke and learned from Rōshi that Iwagakure faced funding cuts and collusion between the daimyo and dissatisfied Ninja Clans.
• Ōnoki told Rōshi to conceal his recovery and have the Anbu activate planted agents to eliminate the threats within the country.

Yagura led Kirigakure’s conquest of an island ruled by Bando, killed him, and seized the island’s wealth. The riches inspired Yagura to dream of conquering the seas and becoming the Pirate King, while the Third Mizukage and other Kirigakure ninjas sought to join the expedition.

• Bando, a former Iwagakure Jonin, confronted Yagura as Kirigakure massacred the island’s people, then died after Yagura ordered his corpse displayed to force their surrender.
• Yagura found a vast store of grain, pearls, and jade, and ordered half the treasure divided among his ninjas while the rest was shipped to Kirigakure.
• Yagura decided Kirigakure should explore and conquer the seas instead of focusing on the Ninja World, and resolved to become the Three-Tails’ Jinchuriki.
• Yagura sent the Third Mizukage a shipload of treasure and a letter explaining his plans.
• The Third Mizukage envied Yagura’s haul, while the Hozuki Clan Head and other ninjas asked to take part in the mission.

The Third Mizukage faced a frenzy among Kirigakure’s clans and ninja, all eager to join expeditions after seeing Yagura’s spoils. He approved a new island-conquest expedition with profits split evenly between the village and its ninja, while the Third Raikage and Kumogakure’s leaders were likewise tempted by the wealth the Fourth Raikage had brought back.

• Kirigakure clan heads, elders, and civilian jonin begged the Third Mizukage to send them on expeditions, each claiming their family or skills deserved the chance.
• The Third Mizukage scolded them for abandoning their dignity over money, but they remained determined to go.
• The Third Mizukage discovered that several clans had secretly amassed far more elite ninja than he had realized.
• The Third Mizukage ordered the clans to list their available forces and set the split from conquered islands at half for the village and half for the ninja.
• The Third Mizukage considered allowing his forces to plunder the Daimyo’s Mansion, while the Third Raikage and Kumogakure’s leaders were also stirred by the spoils brought back by the Fourth Raikage.

The Third Raikage secured Kumogakure’s agreement to keep half the seized wealth for the village and distribute the rest, while arranging a cover story for the Blood Dragon Eye Clan. In the Land of Earth, Ōnoki and Rōshi began purging traitors, and Kitsuchi watched a fleeing ninja with hatred.

• The Third Raikage met with Kumogakure’s elders and Jonin in a warehouse full of gold as they debated whether to seize more wealth.
• The Fourth Raikage condemned plundering, but the Third Raikage stopped him and offered half the gold to the village and half to its households.
• The Third Raikage framed the Blood Dragon Eye Clan’s surrender as a rebellion within the clan and ordered plans for a strange island and added protection for the Daimyo.
• Ōnoki and Rōshi used Ōnoki’s supposed coma to investigate and eliminate traitors in Iwagakure.
• Kitsuchi watched a ninja try to flee the front-line camp and blamed the village’s defeat on elites who had collapsed in battle.

After Ōnoki crushed a rebellion in Stone Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha to investigate possible collusion with the Daimyo's Mansion as the other hidden villages conducted their own purges. The war paused while the investigations turned into brutal crackdowns and lucrative schemes, and Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō profited from the Daimyo's losses.

• Ōnoki woke, led Stone Village's forces to retreat, suppressed the rebellion, and slaughtered three Ninja Clans that had colluded with the Daimyo's Mansion.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shimura Danzō, Koharu, and Homura to investigate Konoha ninja suspected of colluding with the Daimyo's Mansion.
• The major hidden villages carried out internal investigations, killing or disposing of suspected dissidents and raising their military budgets.
• Shimura Danzō secured a large order from the Daimyo's Mansion after promising to send promising young ninja to the front lines.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō presented casualty lists to the Daimyo, received compensation, and Danzō obtained another order after porcelain was smashed in the mansion.

As the hidden villages grew stronger and the Daimyo's Mansion weakened, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Sunagakure's reforms and realized Yunqing's industrial system could give the village a major advantage. The chapter left Konoha's leaders recognizing that Sunagakure had overtaken them through factory production and efficient manufacturing.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Sunagakure's reforms while Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura urged him to focus on Mito.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the other hidden villages had expanded their territories and strengthened their foundations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi showed Utatane Koharu records describing how Sunagakure turned battle ruins into towns and built factories across the Land of Wind.
• Utatane Koharu realized Sunagakure's factories used assembly lines and in-house production, potentially making kunai far cheaper than Konoha's.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others recognized that Sunagakure's industrial system created jobs, supplied its own needs, and sold surplus goods outside the village.

Mito Uzumaki transferred the Nine-Tails to Kushina as she neared the end of her life, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and other powerful guards protected the ceremony. Madara Uchiha abandoned plans to interfere and left Konoha with Tobi, naming Hashirama Senju and the Third Kazekage as people he respected.

• Tsunade grieved as Mito Uzumaki reassured her that she was ready to die and had long wished to join Hashirama Senju.
• Mito Uzumaki handed the Nine-Tails over to Kushina while Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hatake Sakumo, and Shimura Danzō guarded the Senju Residence.
• Madara Uchiha decided against attacking the transfer ceremony because the guards were formidable and the Nine-Tails hated him.
• Madara Uchiha left Konoha with Tobi, boasting that he would capture the Nine-Tails once he regained his youth.
• Madara Uchiha told Yin-Yang Face Black and White Zetsu that he acknowledged Hashirama Senju and the Third Kazekage.

Madara Uchiha returned to Konoha and saw how the village and his descendants had prospered, while Yunqing found the Dragon Vein in the Land of Wind and redirected its energy to improve the region. The Sage of Six Paths vanished after failing to tempt Yunqing, then watched his actions with approval.

• Madara Uchiha walked through Konoha, reflecting on the village he and Hashirama Senju had built and feeling moved by its prosperity.
• Madara Uchiha saw Konoha's people crowding around the Uchiha, envied their attention, and left in tears.
• Mina Uchiha briefly recognized Madara Uchiha's back, then went with Mikoto to get dango.
• Yunqing encountered the Sage of Six Paths in the Dragon Vein space and rejected his offer of a legacy and his attempts to talk.
• Yunqing entered partial Dragon Transformation and used the Dragon Vein's energy to improve the natural environment throughout the Land of Wind.
• The Sage of Six Paths watched Yunqing from the shadows and praised him as kind.

Yunqing’s use of natural energy began transforming the Land of Wind, greatly improving its soil. Bunpuku, Shukaku, Suke, and Garaga sensed the changes and recognized Yunqing’s extraordinary power.

• Shukaku sensed that natural energy was improving the Land of Wind and realized Yunqing was responsible.
• Bunpuku told Shukaku that Yunqing planned to capture nearby islands, but Shukaku objected because they belonged to other tailed beasts.
• Shukaku imagined someday defeating Yunqing, while fearing the pain of challenging him now.
• Suke sensed the changes beneath Harbor Port, summoned Garaga, and asked him to investigate the deeper effects.
• Garaga sensed that the natural energy’s reach had no detectable boundary and concluded that Yunqing was improving the soil at its foundation.

Yunqing confronted the Sage of Six Paths over his relentless pursuit and demanded to know what he had been hiding. The Sage revealed his plans and suspicions about the Otsutsuki threat, leaving Yunqing unimpressed by the revelations.

• Yunqing and the Sage of Six Paths clashed in the desert, and their weapons withstood each other's attacks.
• Yunqing suspected the Sage knew about threats beyond the Ninja World and threatened to kill him unless he explained himself.
• The Sage told Yunqing about Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Otsutsuki Clan, and another Ten-Tails hidden in a spatial rift.
• The Sage said he had let the Shinobi World War unfold to select elite shinobi he could summon from the Yomi Realm to fight the Otsutsuki.
• Yunqing dismissed the Sage's grand plan and said he was not suited to be a savior.

Yunqing restrained the Sage of Six Paths before leaving for Sunagakure, where he lamented his need for a stronger computer and energy source. Meanwhile, Pakura tended Yunqing’s home after the Ye Clan taught her household duties, while Sunagakure’s leaders believed she could not win his devotion.

• Yunqing dismissed the Sage of Six Paths’ arguments, restrained him with the Void Engine for an hour, and left through a spatial wormhole.
• The Sage of Six Paths recovered, then went to observe the Rinnegan child in the Land of Rain and attend to his plans for the Ninja World.
• Yunqing emerged near Sunagakure and complained that restraining the Sage of Six Paths had consumed too much energy.
• Yunqing considered seeking energy from the Super Beast Armed world and reflected on his reluctance to marry or have children.
• Pakura cleaned Yunqing’s home after the Ye Clan taught her how to maintain a household and keep a man’s heart.
• Sunagakure’s leaders pitied Pakura and believed Yunqing would never devote himself wholeheartedly to her.

Yunqing and Kakuzu discussed Takigakure’s destruction and the Five Great Nations’ rule, agreeing that strength determined who could claim peace. Yunqing argued that Konoha’s clans would exploit the Land of Waterfalls while also creating work for its people.

• Yunqing greeted residents of Sunagakure and met Kakuzu, who complained that the ongoing war had hurt his business and left him worrying about his former students.
• Yunqing and Kakuzu discussed Takigakure’s disappearance, and Yunqing said weaker powers outside the Five Great Nations would face attack unless they showed strength.
• Kakuzu criticized the Five Great Nations’ bullying, but admitted that strength had shaped the fates of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
• Yunqing reassured Kakuzu that Konoha’s clans would govern the Land of Waterfalls for profit rather than ruin it, and said the Nara Clan would create jobs through medicinal herb plantations.
• Kakuzu concluded that Konoha valued the Land of Waterfalls for its resources, and Yunqing replied that its population was also a resource.

Yunqing explained to Kakuzu how Konoha’s power-sharing system differed from Sunagakure’s and discussed a possible way to resolve Konoha’s political conflict. He left Kakuzu after saying he hoped Konoha would fight a civil war, having noticed a familiar figure approaching.

• Kakuzu asked why Konoha let ninja clans divide conquered territory while Sunagakure did not.
• Yunqing explained that the Kazekage held greater authority, while Konoha’s Hokage shared power with the ninja clans that supported the office.
• Kakuzu concluded that Hashirama Senju’s founding system had weakened his descendants’ control, and Yunqing agreed that Hiruzen Sarutobi was already trying, with little success, to change the balance.
• Kakuzu argued that Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the Sannin would not make the concessions needed to share power, and Yunqing agreed.
• Yunqing said Konoha should solve its own problems, voiced hope that it would fall into civil war, and left after spotting a familiar figure approaching.