Chapter Summaries

After recovering from illness, Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō about Root and offered to make him an official Hokage candidate if he reduced Root and operated openly. After Danzō agreed to hand over some of Root’s personnel and matters involving Orochimaru, the chapter revealed that Hiruzen was Yuan Fei, a government official reincarnated into the Shinobi World with a system of five indicators.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi criticized Shimura Danzō’s expansion of Root and urged him to pursue the Hokage position openly rather than through hidden power.
• Shimura Danzō admitted that he had helped Orochimaru conduct Wood Release experiments and said a test subject had survived Hashirama’s cells.
• Hiruzen promised to recognize Danzō as an official Hokage candidate if he kept a few useful Root members and handed the rest over for reassignment.
• Shimura Danzō agreed to give Hiruzen a scroll concerning Orochimaru and to take care of Root, then closed the office door respectfully on his way out.
• Hiruzen’s thoughts revealed that he was Yuan Fei, a government official who had become Hiruzen Sarutobi, and that his system’s Authority indicator had begun to fill.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed Shimura Danzō’s compromising material on Orochimaru and planned reforms to strengthen Konoha’s finances, military, and political unity. After inviting Orochimaru to dinner and training with his staff, Hiruzen was spotted by his stunned former student.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Senju Tobirama’s reputation to secure a smooth conversation with Shimura Danzō, then examined Danzō’s material about Orochimaru’s experiments.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi resolved to supervise Orochimaru’s research, repair their teacher-student relationship, and raise money for Konoha by developing a tonic for wealthy buyers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi invited Orochimaru to dinner and asked Sarutobi Biwako to prepare a meal for him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi trained with his staff and considered how to bring the Uchiha Clan’s loyalty fully to Konoha.
• Orochimaru arrived at the training ground and stared in astonishment at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s renewed, powerful appearance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi invited Orochimaru to dinner and challenged him to a bell-snatching spar, using the fight to test Konoha’s response and display his renewed strength. Orochimaru turned the tables by asking Hiruzen to attack with intent to kill, then built a Rashomon labyrinth as reinforcements arrived.

• Orochimaru found Hiruzen Sarutobi looking rejuvenated, and Hiruzen explained that illness had led him to rest and practice techniques left by Lord Tobirama.
• Hiruzen and Orochimaru agreed to spar over a bronze bell, and Hiruzen sealed off the training ground while announcing that no one would be notified in advance.
• Orochimaru urged Hiruzen to attack with intent to kill and set a five-minute limit, prompting Hiruzen to unleash Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
• Orochimaru countered with Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique and Summoning Technique: Rashomon, then summoned five more Rashomon gates to create a labyrinth.
• Hatake Sakumo and Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived, and Hiruzen ordered Sakumo to manage the scene and record the village departments’ arrival times.
• Orochimaru hid among the Rashomon gates and taunted Hiruzen to use more techniques as the Konoha Military Police Force arrived and Hiruzen surged with Chakra.

Hiruzen Sarutobi overwhelmed Orochimaru in a public spar, then healed him and showed the assembled ninja the extent of his strength. With the training ground restored and the village forces gathered, Hiruzen prepared to deliver the address that had been his real goal.

• Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha arrived, and Fugaku struggled to hide his surprise at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s hardened body and immense power.
• Hiruzen used a succession of powerful techniques to break the Rashomon gates and force Orochimaru out of hiding, while Hatake Sakumo stopped Jiraiya and Tsunade from entering the field.
• Hiruzen and Orochimaru continued their spar with weapons and ninjutsu, trading heavy blows before Hiruzen ended the fight and treated Orochimaru’s injuries in public.
• Hizashi Hyuga and the village’s other forces arrived, and Hiruzen rebuked Utatane Koharu before clearing and leveling the damaged training ground with ninjutsu.
• Hiruzen assembled the gathered ninja and prepared to give the address he had planned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained the emergency test, took responsibility for Konoha’s failures, and announced reforms to the village’s systems and ninja command. He appointed Shimura Danzō as Anbu Deputy Chief and Hokage’s assistant, recruited Hizashi Hyuga into the Anbu, and ended the gathering with his family and former students.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi said the surprise emergency test exposed village weaknesses, explained his recent training, and promised reforms to unclear duties and Jonin promotion paths.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi criticized Root’s slow response, then assigned Shimura Danzō to serve as Anbu Deputy Chief and Hokage’s assistant after Root’s dissolution.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi acknowledged Hizashi Hyuga’s late arrival, respected the Hyuga Clan’s traditions, and invited Hizashi to join the Anbu; Hizashi accepted.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised the ninja who had responded, reassured the younger ranks, and shared a lighthearted exchange with Asuma and Kakashi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hatake Sakumo to take Hizashi to put on an Anbu uniform, then invited Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru home for dinner.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reunited with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru over dinner, then confronted Orochimaru with Danzo’s accusations and explained why he had avoided changing Konoha. He ended by vowing to reform the village and remove whatever obstructed it, including his own cowardice.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi promised Asuma he would listen to stories about the Ninja Academy, and Biwako took Asuma away so the adults could talk.
• Jiraiya praised his new disciple Minato as a future Hokage, while Tsunade and Orochimaru questioned his claims.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi showed Orochimaru Danzo’s accusations, and Tsunade and Jiraiya defended Orochimaru against the evidence.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted that fear of failing the previous Hokage had made him cling to old policies, and said the village had suffered as a result.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled dreaming that the Second Hokage scolded him and vowed to change Konoha, removing any obstacle, including his own cowardice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained his past struggles to his three disciples, then outlined reforms to open advancement paths for Konoha’s ninja clans and Jonin. The chapter ended with him unveiling a supposed healthcare product and assigning the task of persuading the nobles to fund the reforms.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru empathized with Hiruzen Sarutobi and offered to help shoulder Konoha’s burdens.
• Orochimaru argued that Konoha’s limited paths to power fueled clan resentment, and Hiruzen proposed a new tier of influential Jonin with better treatment and a role in village affairs.
• Hiruzen, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya discussed using Hizashi Hyuga and other village-friendly clan members to build support for the reforms while keeping unsuitable candidates from the top leadership.
• Hiruzen named himself, Danzo, Orochimaru, a neutral-clan representative, and Sakumo as five prospective leaders, with two further seats left open for future Hyuga and Uchiha Dove Faction members.
• Orochimaru pointed out that the reforms required money, so Hiruzen planned to persuade the Land of Fire’s nobles to contribute rather than fight them.
• Hiruzen presented a clod of earth as Konoha’s Specialized Healthcare Pill, claiming it could prolong life and restore vitality.

Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed selling premium medicines and cosmetics to major nobles, using Konoha’s biological expertise and Sage Region resources to fund military research. He assigned the work to Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, then reunited Team Hiruzen to pursue the plan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained how Konoha could turn inexpensive materials into costly healthcare products by combining useful effects, prestige, and scarce branding.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru brainstormed medicines made from waste materials and discussed working with the Akimichi Clan and Nara Clan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Tsunade and Orochimaru to lead product development, backed a village-wide first-aid initiative, and tasked Orochimaru with pricing.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi linked noble healthcare and cosmetics to military research, including the development of Medical Tags and improved medicines.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Jiraiya to promote the products through romance stories, and Jiraiya chose the pen name Young Master Zi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he would win over the Daimyo, then joined Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya in a renewed Team Hiruzen pledge.

Hizashi Hyuga joined Hatake Sakumo’s Anbu squad and realized that his new position gave him protection from the Hyuga Main Branch’s control. Sakumo sent him to the Hyuga Clan Compound on his first mission to announce his membership and relay the Hokage’s message.

• Hatake Sakumo asked Hizashi Hyuga to choose an Anbu mask and codename, and Hizashi confessed his fears about the Caged Bird Seal and the Main Branch.
• Sakumo welcomed Hizashi into Anbu and explained that the Main Branch would not dare interrogate a Hokage’s direct subordinate.
• Hizashi chose an Ox mask, accepting service to the village in exchange for the freedom his Anbu position offered.
• Sakumo assigned Hizashi a mission to tell the Hyuga Main Branch that he had joined Anbu and convey the Hokage’s concern.
• At the compound entrance, Hyuga Ko complained about Hizashi’s delay until Hizashi and Sakumo appeared and ordered him to lead them to the clan head.

Hizashi Hyuga asserted his independence after joining the Anbu, while the Uchiha leadership argued over the clan’s distrust of Konoha and its future. The next day, Hiruzen Sarutobi considered the unresolved Uchiha problem.

• Hizashi Hyuga told Hyuga Tenzo and the Main Branch that he had voluntarily joined the Anbu and would report the clan’s concerns to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hyuga Ko berated Hizashi, but Hatake Sakumo confronted Ko and defended Hizashi’s choice to join the Anbu.
• Hizashi asked the Hyuga Clan to respect his independence, then left the compound laughing and bowed toward Hokage Rock in gratitude to the Third Hokage.
• Uchiha Fugaku reported the day’s events to Uchiha Isshin, who insisted that the Hawk Faction preserve its vigilance against Konoha and wait for the clan’s future leaders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage Office the following morning and pondered the Uchiha’s history of resentment toward the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi considered how to draw the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans closer to the Hokage’s authority, then devised a secret plan to revive Senju Tobirama as an Uchiha. When Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura arrived, Hiruzen’s demeanor reminded them of their former teacher.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to cultivate Hizashi Hyuga as a leader who could rally the Hyuga Branch Family and pressure the Main Branch.
• Hiruzen judged that distrust and the Konoha Military Police Force made the Uchiha Clan difficult to reconcile with the Hokage’s office.
• Hiruzen considered reviving Senju Tobirama as an Uchiha, possibly as a descendant of Izuna Uchiha, to create a bridge to the clan without surrendering Hokage authority.
• Hiruzen began thinking through forbidden techniques as he approached Senju Tobirama’s portrait.
• Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura entered the office and froze at Hiruzen’s resemblance to their former teacher.

Hiruzen Sarutobi considered reviving Senju Tobirama in an Uchiha body and then proposed creating a new management tier for Konoha’s jonin. He left Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura weighing the plan, while Shimura Danzō warned that Hiruzen would regret it.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reasoned that he could use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and a soul-transfer technique to revive Senju Tobirama in a prepared Uchiha body.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura noticed Hiruzen’s resemblance to their teacher, while Shimura Danzō privately resented his apparent imitation of Senju Tobirama.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi called the others together and explained that Konoha’s current system lacked a management layer between the Hokage and its more than one hundred jonin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed selecting twenty Konoha Committee Members to manage groups of five or six jonin and answer directly to the Hokage.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hesitated to object after Hiruzen demanded meaningful feedback, and Shimura Danzō warned that Hiruzen would regret the reform.

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained to Shimura Danzō why Konoha’s proposed committee would not weaken the Hokage’s authority and criticized Danzō’s reliance on coercion. Danzō listened as though Hiruzen might be grooming him as a successor, then lit Hiruzen’s Pipe, astonishing Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

• Shimura Danzō challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to establish Konoha Committee Members, arguing that all Jonin should answer directly to the Hokage.
• Hiruzen explained that the committee members would only make recommendations and that he would retain final authority over decisions, personnel, resources, and emergencies.
• Hiruzen compared Root’s overlapping authority with the proposed committee and argued that Cursed Seals and fear stifled ninja, while the Will of Fire could inspire loyalty.
• Hiruzen criticized Danzō’s narrow leadership experience, and Danzō took the remarks as a sign that Hiruzen might be preparing him to become Hokage.
• When Hiruzen searched for a lighter, Danzō lit his Pipe, leaving Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura astonished.

Hiruzen Sarutobi persuaded Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to establish Konoha Committee Members as a buffer between village leaders and ninja. He assigned them recruitment and political tasks, then ordered Danzō to investigate Kumogakure's Jinchuriki and secure a death in retaliation for their attack on Uzumaki Kushina.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that Konoha Committee Members would handle lower-level demands and conflicts, protecting the Hokage's authority while giving ninja opportunities for advancement.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura supported the proposal, and Hiruzen warned Shimura Danzō to abandon Root's coercive mindset and honor his Military Pledge.
• Hiruzen instructed Danzō, Koharu, and Homura to nominate about thirty candidates each for twenty committee seats and ten alternate positions.
• Hiruzen tasked Koharu and Homura with spreading word among the Land of Fire's upper ranks about breakthroughs in human body science, and said he would promote Hatake Sakumo to Anbu Deputy Chief.
• Hiruzen told Danzō to investigate Ōnoki's Light-Weight Rock Technique and Kumogakure's Jinchuriki, demanding that at least one Jinchuriki die because Kumogakure had attacked Uzumaki Kushina.

Hiruzen Sarutobi persuaded his advisors to plan covert retaliation against Kumogakure and ordered improvements to Uzumaki Kushina’s treatment. He left them to carry out their tasks while considering how to regain Mito Uzumaki’s approval.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi argued that Konoha needed to retaliate against Kumogakure to deter further aggression, and Shimura Danzō volunteered to lead the effort.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisors concluded that Kumogakure’s restraint toward Iwagakure might mean its Jinchuriki was nearing collapse.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed secretly releasing the Eight-Tails without leaving evidence and told Shimura Danzō to verify the intelligence first.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Utatane Koharu to improve Uzumaki Kushina’s treatment and eventually search for surviving Uzumaki Clan orphans.
• After the advisors left, Hiruzen Sarutobi considered Mito Uzumaki’s influence and thought that the child fused with First Hokage Cells might help him win her approval.

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Senju Tobirama’s forbidden techniques, then assigned Hatake Sakumo to organize village security and Namikaze Minato to inspect it. At home, Hatake Sakumo challenged Kakashi to sneak-attack Minato if he wanted permission to graduate.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Senju Tobirama’s notes and suspected Orochimaru was especially interested in souls.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hatake Sakumo responsibility for improving village security and proposed patrols combining the Inuzuka Clan, Aburame, Hyuga, and Uchiha Clan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to fund the new security patrols with his personal assets and told Namikaze Minato to inspect the village for security gaps.
• Hatake Sakumo told Kakashi that he could graduate if he successfully sneak-attacked Namikaze Minato once.
• The author explained the chapter’s timeline for Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui.

Utatane Koharu visited Uzumaki Kushina on behalf of Hiruzen Sarutobi to apologize for Konoha’s past neglect and reassure her that the village considered her family. Afterward, Hatake Sakumo turned to Uchiha Fugaku to discuss Konoha’s new Security Force.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi rebuked Utatane Koharu for treating shinobi as tools and sent her to speak with Kushina.
• Utatane Koharu found Namikaze Minato studying Sealing Jutsu with Kushina and watched them work through the material together.
• Utatane Koharu told Kushina that Konoha would honor the Uzumaki Clan in Ninja Academy textbooks, protect Kushina, and provide her with a new home and support.
• Kushina thanked Utatane Koharu and Hiruzen Sarutobi tearfully, while Namikaze Minato comforted her.
• Utatane Koharu left feeling that Konoha had done what a village ought to do, and Hatake Sakumo sought out Uchiha Fugaku about the new Security Force.

Hatake Sakumo presented Uchiha Fugaku with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to create a Patrol Force, offering Uchiha clan members new jobs without cutting the Military Police Force’s duties or funding. Uchiha Isshin feared the jobs and money would weaken the clan’s independence, but he told Fugaku to accept the offer and preserve the clan’s influence.

• Hatake Sakumo explained the Patrol Force proposal to Fugaku and said Hiruzen Sarutobi had donated its funding and hoped to include the Uchiha.
• Fugaku went to Isshin, who warned that the new jobs could draw clan members toward Konoha’s pro-Hokage faction and erode Uchiha influence.
• Isshin concluded that the Uchiha had to join, while holding frequent clan meetings and carefully countering Senju Tobirama’s legacy without provoking hatred.
• Isshin urged Fugaku to educate his unborn child well, and Fugaku saw how difficult the Clan Head’s position could be.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi set out to inspect the first phase of Konoha Pharmaceutical’s construction.

Orochimaru presented a preliminary sample of the Health Secret Medicine in Konoha’s newly equipped laboratory, where Torifu Akimichi returned to help with pharmaceutical production. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the research and its funding, but questioned the sample’s resemblance to a Military Ration Pill.

• Orochimaru showed off the laboratory’s extensive equipment as Hiruzen Sarutobi visited in sterile clothing.
• Hiruzen warmly welcomed Torifu Akimichi, who explained that he had returned to contribute his pharmaceutical knowledge to the village.
• Hiruzen encouraged Torifu to remain in Konoha and praised Orochimaru’s laboratory, promising continued funding and technical support.
• Orochimaru explained that the preliminary medicine combined the Nara Clan’s compounding manual, Tsunade’s adjustments, Torifu’s ideas, Snake Scale Extract, and Toad Skin Oil.
• Hiruzen examined the sample and noted that it looked too much like a Military Ration Pill to command a high price.

Hiruzen Sarutobi refined the pills’ presentation and arranged their production and marketing with Orochimaru and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. He then shared a soul-related scroll with Orochimaru, while Danzō discovered that Kumogakure was struggling to control its Tailed Beast and hurried back to Konoha.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi redesigned the pills and their packaging to make them feel luxurious, and Nara Shikayama suggested adding fragrance.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged for the Akimichi Clan and Nara Clan to supply ingredients and for Ino-Shika-Cho to handle processing, while Orochimaru confirmed the plan could remain profitable.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested adding substances that would mislead anyone trying to reverse-engineer the pill, and Tsunade agreed to handle the formula.
• Tsunade explained that Jiraiya had left to pursue becoming a great novelist, and Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Orochimaru a scroll about soul analysis to study together.
• Ten days later, Shimura Danzō learned that Kumogakure’s Tailed Beast had nearly gone berserk repeatedly and ordered his agents to return to Konoha at full speed.