Chapter Summaries

Kazashiro brought Haku and Kimimaro into the Shimura Clan, where Danzo accepted them after Kazashiro gave him an explanation and beat Kazashiro anyway. The next day, Danzo and Hiruzen argued about Danzo’s supposed illegitimate children until advisers Koharu and Homura arrived to ask about them too.

• Kazashiro told Danzo that Haku had Ice Release and Kimimaro had Shikotsumyaku, then privately improvised an explanation for bringing them back.
• Danzo accepted Haku and Kimimaro into the clan but beat Kazashiro, while Aburame Ryoma registered the children as Shimura Haku and Shimura Kimimaro.
• Haku and Kimimaro asked Kazashiro to let them share his room, and he agreed to have it expanded.
• Danzo arrived at work and argued with Hiruzen, who teased him about having illegitimate children; Danzo tried to punch him.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura interrupted Danzo, then asked whether he had added two more sons, prompting him to tell them to get out.

Danzo sought a suitable position for Kazashiro but learned that his weaknesses made the available department roles a poor fit. At home, Kazashiro forgot the scroll needed to guide Haku’s Ice Release training, while Danzo recognized how badly he had neglected his son’s education and brought home study books for Haku and Kimimaro.

• Danzo asked Sakumo to arrange a position for Kazashiro, but Sakumo explained that Kazashiro’s weak analysis and Illusion Technique skills ruled out the available department posts.
• Kazashiro woke to find Yamato and Shisui studying, then learned that Haku and Kimimaro were making breakfast.
• Kazashiro promised to guide Haku’s Ice Release training, then realized he had forgotten the scroll he needed.
• Danzo returned with puzzle books for Haku and Kimimaro, while Kazashiro mistook them for unfairly limited teaching materials.
• Danzo reviewed Kazashiro’s Chunin Ninja Exam report card and saw that his academic scores were uniformly C’s, prompting him to reflect on his failure to teach Kazashiro theory.

Kazashiro accompanied Haku and Kimimaro to their Ninja Academy entrance ceremony, where he learned that his former teacher Makoto Ito had disappeared while traveling with his girlfriend. The chapter left Kazashiro wondering what kind of traveling Funano Daihoku meant.

• Danzo enrolled Haku and Kimimaro in the Ninja Academy and planned for them to become Kazashiro's right-hand men.
• Kazashiro used Yamato's Flying Thunder God Kunai to take Haku and Kimimaro to the Academy, then teased Yamato about his friendship with Yukimi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the guardians a speech, and Kazashiro met Haku and Kimimaro's teacher, Funano Daihoku.
• Kazashiro asked Funano Daihoku about Makoto Ito and learned that Makoto had left with his girlfriend after an argument, leaving a note that he was traveling.

Fugaku asked Kazashiro to take Itachi as his disciple, and Kazashiro agreed after Itachi accepted. Kazashiro began arranging Itachi’s training and left him with Might Guy for morning physical workouts.

• Itachi skipped class to practice the Great Fireball Technique and shuriken at the Uchiha Clan training grounds.
• Fugaku asked Kazashiro to guide Itachi, and Itachi clarified that his father wanted him to become Kazashiro’s disciple.
• Kazashiro asked Itachi whether he was willing to become his disciple, and Itachi agreed.
• Danzo and Hiruzen discussed Itachi’s arrangement and considered whether Kazashiro should join the Military Police Force.
• Kazashiro, unfamiliar with Uchiha combat methods, took Itachi to meet Might Guy and asked Guy to include him in morning training.

Kazashiro received the Fourth Hokage's summons and learned that Konoha was sending squads to search the borders for two unknown Uchiha. He met his temporarily assembled team at Training Ground 25 and assessed their abilities before the mission began.

• Itachi became Might Guy's disciple, while Sasuke said he hoped to train under Kazashiro too, unsettling Fugaku.
• Kazashiro considered how to educate Haku and Kimimaro, and Danzo told Haku to focus on theoretical knowledge first.
• Sakumo briefed Konoha's ninja on the search for the two unknown Uchiha and assigned jonin squads to investigate the Land of Fire's borders.
• Kazashiro compared his squad list with Kakashi's and learned that Kakashi's team included Tokiyoshi Kan, Yuushi Kumote, and Uchiha Tetsu.
• At Training Ground 25, Kazashiro met Fugutake Tonbo, Saint Simon, and Akimichi Shidou, then judged their search and combat skills.

Kazashiro's team searched a mountain range for rogue Uchiha ninja but found a bandit hideout instead. After capturing their leader, they learned he was a former Konoha Jonin who had deserted after his team was sacrificed during the Third Shinobi World War.

• Saint Simon and Fugutake Tonbo disagreed over how to interpret footprints that suggested the mountain bandits were ronin rather than ninja.
• Kazashiro found the bandit hideout and attacked, prompting Akimichi Shidou to organize the team’s defenses.
• Kazashiro captured a bandit and told Fugutake Tonbo that a Curse Mark prevented the captive from gathering Chakra.
• Fugutake Tonbo and Saint Simon read the captive’s memories and identified him as Hiyama Daisuke, a missing former Konoha Jonin.
• Hiyama Daisuke accused the Ninja Clans of using him as cannon fodder and blamed a Sarutobi Clan ninja’s orders for the deaths of his entire team.

Shimura Kazashiro captured Hiyama Daisuke after wiping out the bandits, while Uchiha Yaowan learned Konoha teams were searching for him. Yaowan sent Setsuna to confront one team and continued his plans as his allies headed for the Land of Tea.

• Fugutake Tonbo crippled Hiyama Daisuke after exposing his crimes and defense of the bandits.
• Kazashiro revealed that he had already killed the more than fifty bandits, and Fugutake Tonbo took out a corpse-sealing scroll to deal with Hiyama Daisuke.
• White Zetsu told Uchiha Yaowan that Konoha had dispatched Jonin teams, including Tōdō Akimichi and Inuzuka Gaku, to search for him.
• Yaowan sent Sasori and Fudō to the Land of Tea to complete a commission and ordered Setsuna to handle the Konoha team.
• Setsuna planned to visit his clansmen while Yaowan left to pursue his plans for the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Sasori and Fudō began a paid mission to kill the Gojo and Kanroji families in the Land of Tea. After Fudō attacked the Kanroji estate, Kazashiro’s team intervened, and Fudō dispelled Tonbo’s illusion just as Shidou’s club neared his head.

• Fudō told Sasori that their client had offered twenty million to kill the Gojo and Kanroji families.
• Kazashiro and his team arrived in the Land of Tea, where they had to wait overnight for passage to the Land of Waves.
• Sasori and Fudō attacked the Kanroji estate, and Fudō used Earth Release to wall off the grounds.
• Fudō defeated the magistrates, but Saint Simon attacked him and Fudō recognized his Konoha forehead protector.
• Tonbo caught Fudō in an illusion while Shidou swung his metal club at him.
• Fudō dispelled the illusion at the last moment and began forming a hand seal as Shidou’s club approached.

Kazashiro and his team fought Fudō before Sasori joined the battle with the Third Kazekage puppet. Kazashiro countered Sasori’s attacks with Ice Release, but Sasori’s Sand Iron World Formation shattered his ice, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Kazashiro wounded Fudō with White Fang, and Fudō injured Saint Simon with Stone Spikes before escaping through the stone wall.
• Kazashiro freed and healed Saint Simon, then warned his teammates about Fudō’s defensive ninjutsu and Earth Release.
• Sasori appeared beside Fudō, and Kazashiro recognized Hiruko and attacked with Water and Ice Release, freezing the puppet and its occupants.
• Kazashiro split Hiruko apart and struck Fudō, but Sasori escaped Hiruko and unleashed the Third Kazekage’s Sand Iron World Formation.
• Kazashiro warned his teammates that the sand iron was poisonous and used Ice Release to resist Sasori’s attack, but the sand iron shattered his ice.

Shimura Kazashiro defeated Sasori with ice, Flying Thunder God, and Wind Spirit, then restrained him for interrogation. Fudō escaped after fighting Akimichi Shidou and Fugutake Tonbo, who joined Kazashiro to examine Sasori.

• Kazashiro froze and sealed Sasori’s iron sand, forcing Sasori to recall the Third Kazekage puppet and summon ten human puppets.
• Kazashiro used Flying Thunder God and Lightning Fire Sword to sever Sasori’s puppet-control threads and wound him, but Sasori detonated explosive tags and fled.
• Kazashiro pursued Sasori with Wind Spirit and crushed his puppet, leaving him barely alive beneath the wreckage.
• Fudō used Earth Release: Ant Hell to trap Akimichi Shidou and Fugutake Tonbo, then escaped after Shidou stopped the rotating earth and freed Tonbo.
• Kazashiro restrained and treated Sasori, then asked Fugutake Tonbo to try to read his memories.

Kazashiro’s squad captured Sasori and requested reinforcements while leaving the ruined port, as Fudō massacred the Gojo Family. Elsewhere, Uchiha Yaowan and Fuyuan attacked a concealed Konoha facility, while Setsuna’s forces ambushed Inuzuka Gaku’s squad in Amegakure and pursued the survivors.

• Fugutake Tonbo failed to read Sasori’s memories because Sasori had placed too many restrictions on his brain, and Kazashiro decided to take him back alive.
• Kazashiro ordered Saint Simon to request reinforcements, and Akimichi Shidou carried the wounded and Sasori away from the port.
• Fudō slaughtered the Gojo Family despite his severe injuries, then began treating his wounds.
• Uchiha Yaowan used his Dojutsu to disorient the guards at a concealed Konoha building, while Fuyuan blocked the Anbu reinforcements with an Earth Release technique.
• Fufeng killed Inuzuka Gaku’s Ninja Hound and drained Tsuchihara’s chakra, prompting Tōdō Akimichi to flee with Inuzuka Gaku and Zadi.
• Setsuna wounded Tōdō Akimichi as he escaped and ordered his forces to pursue the squad.

Kazashiro's group camped in an ice house while Sasori secretly escaped, believing Kazashiro's seals were flawed. Kazashiro learned his allies thought the escape was part of his plan, and Sasori met Zetsu in the forest as his pursuers closed in.

• Kazashiro created an ice house for the group, then made a separate shelter for them after Sasori began shivering from the cold.
• Sasori freed himself, removed the senbon from his joints, healed his injuries, and slipped out through a window.
• Fugutake Tonbo and Saint Simon revealed they had anticipated Sasori's escape and believed Kazashiro had used weak seals to lure out Uchiha forces.
• Kazashiro misunderstood their praise but agreed to pursue Sasori with Saint Simon.
• Zetsu met Sasori in the forest and used Spiral White Zetsu to carry him toward the organization.
• Fugutake Tonbo warned Akimichi Shidou that enemy reinforcements had appeared ahead.

Kazashiro and his allies fought Zetsu after Sasori escaped inside Spiral White Zetsu’s body. The battle escalated as Black Zetsu revealed Wood Release and Kazashiro pressed the attack, ending with Kazashiro launching a Wind Release technique at Zetsu.

• Zetsu emerged beneath Fugutake Tonbo, and Akimichi Shidou drove him underground with Partial Expansion Jutsu.
• Kazashiro used the Flying Thunder God Technique to pursue Sasori, but found Spiral White Zetsu in his place and attacked him.
• Zetsu drained Akimichi Shidou, Fugutake Tonbo, and Saint Simon with spores, bound them with Wood Release, and attacked Kazashiro.
• Kazashiro burned through Zetsu’s branches with Fire Release, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to rejoin his teammates and free them.
• Kazashiro wounded Zetsu, and Akimichi Shidou smashed through Zetsu’s thorny defense as Kazashiro prepared a combined attack.
• Kazashiro drew on Isobu’s Chakra and unleashed Wind Release: Super Vacuum Wave at Zetsu.

Kazashiro's team discovered that Sasori had escaped after leaving behind a White Zetsu decoy, then continued toward the Land of Uzushio. In Konoha, Sakumo attacked Yaowan at high speed and cracked his Susanoo, but Yaowan countered with a fire technique.

• Kazashiro's team sealed Zetsu and Sasori's remains, but Saint Simon noticed that the village had not replied within the expected time.
• Kazashiro realized the corpse was a White Zetsu decoy when he could not sense Sasori's Flying Thunder God formula, and Sasori escaped during the battle.
• Kazashiro ordered the team to report what had happened and then continue toward the Land of Uzushio.
• Fuyuan prepared to leave after killing trapped ANBU, but Yaowan used Earth Style to protect her from Sakumo's first attack.
• Sakumo struck Yaowan's Susanoo with rapid sword techniques, cracking it, and Yaowan responded with Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Jutsu.

Hatake Sakumo kept Yaowan’s Susanoo at bay while Yaomei led the freed Uchiha radicals into an attack on Konoha. As Hiruzen recognized Sakumo’s white light at the battlefield, Yaowan targeted a civilian ninja residential area with Susanoo’s sword.

• Sakumo split Yaowan’s fireballs, repeatedly struck Susanoo, and cut through Fuyuan’s Earth Shrapnel before Yaowan used smoke and fire techniques to force him back.
• Yaomei confronted Uchiha Tekka, denounced the clan’s cooperation with Konoha, and led the Uchiha radicals in an assault on the Military Police Force.
• Hiruzen and Danzo sent out forces to investigate the fighting, then Hiruzen recognized Sakumo’s white light as a fourth-form Susanoo appeared.
• Yaowan spotted a residential area where civilian ninja clans lived, gathered Chakra into Futsu-no-Mitama, and swung Susanoo’s blade toward the buildings.

Sakumo and Yaowan wounded each other in a clash that forced Yaowan to retreat, while Tsunade rescued Sakumo and arranged urgent treatment. With Sakumo incapacitated and Minato away on a mission, Hiruzen resumed command of Konoha and ordered the clans to help hunt the fleeing Uchiha.

• Sakumo used Shadow Clones and powerful sword techniques to drive Yaowan's Susanoo back, then attacked as Yaowan's Dojutsu and Fuyuan's Rock-Stealing Club disrupted his vision.
• Yaowan and Sakumo traded fatal strikes, but Tsunade summoned a slug to protect Sakumo and stopped Fuyuan from finishing him off.
• Yaowan ordered Fuyuan to help him escape, and Tsunade sent ANBU after the retreating Uchiha before taking Sakumo to the Medical Unit headquarters.
• Tekka ordered the Military Police Force to support Sakumo and pursued Yaomei, while ANBU reported that Minato was away on a mission in the Land of Hot Water.
• Hiruzen took command of Konoha again, and Danzo ordered the clans to send ninja to hunt down the unidentified Uchiha invaders.

Danzo pushed Hiruzen to recall the teams searching for the Uchiha and position Kazashiro as a possible successor if Sakumo could not serve. Meanwhile, Kazashiro’s group reached the Land of Uzushio but found no Uchiha and still could not contact the Intelligence Department.

• Danzo told Fugaku to list the Uchiha who had fled with Yaowan as rogue ninja and ordered the Military Police Force to keep order.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to recall the teams searching for the Uchiha, arguing that Sakumo’s injuries threatened Konoha’s leadership and security.
• Hiruzen agreed to recall the teams, and Danzo planned to ensure Kazashiro could step forward if anything happened to Sakumo.
• Kazashiro’s group paid for passage from the Land of Waves and arrived in the Land of Uzushio.
• Kazashiro’s group searched for the Uchiha without success and remained unable to reach the Intelligence Department a week after the battle with Sasori.

Kazashiro and his team investigated the ruins of Uzushio Village and found a cipher written in an obsolete Sarutobi Clan code. Before Fugutake Tonbo could finish deciphering it, the village ordered them to return immediately, signaling that a major crisis was approaching.

• Kazashiro led Saint Simon, Fugutake Tonbo, and Akimichi Shidou to the ruins of Uzushio Village, where they found a hidden passage blocked by collapsed earth and shattered skeletons.
• Fugutake Tonbo and Saint Simon discovered scraps of cloth among the remains and pieced them together into a cipher used by the Sarutobi Clan during the Warring States period.
• Fugutake Tonbo began deciphering the incomplete cipher while Kazashiro allowed him half a day to work on it.
• A Ninja Hawk delivered a message ordering Kazashiro and his team to return to the village immediately, whether their mission was complete or not.
• Akimichi Shidou recognized the urgency of the order and warned that something big was about to happen.

After Sakumo was gravely injured, Hiruzen sought the Uchiha Clan’s support for appointing a young Acting Hokage, and Fugaku agreed. Kazashiro returned to Konoha and, summoned by Hiruzen, followed him to the Medical Unit to learn what had happened to Sakumo.

• Fugaku reviewed the list of more than thirty Uchiha defectors and worried that Hiruzen and Danzo might regain control of Konoha.
• Hiruzen asked Hiashi and then Fugaku whether their clans would accept a young Acting Hokage; Fugaku agreed to support the decision after learning Sakumo was alive but unlikely to wake soon.
• Three days later, Kazashiro returned to Konoha and learned that Hiruzen, not Sakumo, had summoned him to the Hokage’s Office.
• Kazashiro reported encountering enemies who could use Wood Release, and Hiruzen noted that thirteen years had passed since Kazashiro came to Konoha with Sakumo.
• Kazashiro suspected something had happened to Sakumo and followed Hiruzen to the Medical Unit.

After Sakumo fell unconscious, Kazashiro accepted the role of Acting Hokage and began planning Konoha’s recovery. He refused to rebuild Root as an organization, instead deciding to take control of its assets in the Land of Fire, and headed to the conference hall to address the village’s leaders.

• Kazashiro saw Sakumo through the Medical Unit’s glass wall, then accepted Hiruzen’s offer to serve as Acting Hokage and take charge of uniting Konoha and reorganizing its military forces.
• At home, Kazashiro told Danzo he would not rebuild Root and would instead use its assets in the Land of Fire to help fund Konoha’s reconstruction.
• Danzo stormed out, the former Root ninjas left the house, and Haku and Kimimaro rushed to hug Kazashiro.
• The next morning, Danzo left for the conference hall without Kazashiro, who used the Flying Thunder God Technique to meet Yamato there.
• Kazashiro praised Yamato as his trusted junior, and Yamato eagerly promised to keep helping him.