Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato Namikaze visited Uchiha Jin at night to offer him a position, but hesitated when they found Yakushi Nonō at his home. They presented Jin with an appointment letter for Konoha Elder and Hokage Assistant, contingent on Minato winning the election and gaining the Daimyo Manor’s recognition.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato Namikaze secretly used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Uchiha Jin’s home and ask to speak with him.
• Yakushi Nonō brought tea, and Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized her as Konoha’s former Root spy.
• Uchiha Jin assured Sarutobi Hiruzen that Nonō was on his side, and Nonō confirmed that she had left Shimura Danzō’s Root.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Uchiha Jin an appointment letter naming him a Konoha Elder and Hokage Assistant.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that the appointment would take effect only if Minato won the election and earned the Daimyo Manor’s recognition.

Sarutobi Hiruzen secured Uchiha Jin’s support for Minato Namikaze by offering the Uchiha Clan an appointment and other benefits, while learning that Shimura Danzō had offered money and Forbidden Techniques. After returning home with Minato, Hiruzen grew wary of Danzō’s desperation and decided to pursue a two-pronged approach by calling someone back.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen presented Uchiha Jin with Minato Namikaze’s appointment letter and promised further resources and favorable conditions.
• Uchiha Jin disclosed that Shimura Danzō had offered the Uchiha Clan thirty-five percent of the Daimyo Manor’s subsidy funds and a choice of three techniques from the Sealing Book.
• Uchiha Jin said the Uchiha Clan would support Sarutobi Hiruzen’s side now that Hiruzen had shown sincerity.
• Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Sarutobi Hiruzen home.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen warned Minato Namikaze that Shimura Danzō’s willingness to do anything made him dangerous, then decided to call someone back as part of a two-pronged approach.

Tsunade won nearly ten million ryo at a gambling house, but her fear that good fortune foretold tragedy made her leave and drink in distress. Two messengers from the Land of Fire Daimyo Manor delivered a marriage-alliance demand backed by an old Senju Clan promise, leaving Tsunade furious and apprehensive.

• Tsunade won repeatedly at the gambling house and left with Shizune despite her winning streak.
• Tsunade drank in a tavern, troubled because past wins had preceded the deaths of people she loved.
• Two Guards from the Land of Fire Daimyo Manor delivered a scroll to Tsunade.
• Tsunade read the Daimyo's marriage-alliance demand and smashed the tavern table in anger.
• Tsunade learned the Daimyo had invoked Senju Hashirama's promise that the Senju Clan would grant the Daimyo's lineage one request, and she received a second scroll bearing the Senju Clan's Cursed Seal runes.

Tsunade rejected the Daimyo’s marriage alliance contract until she learned it involved Uchiha Jin, three billion liang, and Konoha’s future funding. After hearing that the Uchiha backed Shimura Danzō in the Hokage contest, she questioned how Danzō could be allied with a clan he despised.

• Tsunade verified that the Senju contract was genuine but refused to honor it because the Senju Clan was gone.
• The guards revealed that Uchiha Jin had agreed to the marriage alliance for three billion liang and would receive future Daimyo funding for Konoha.
• Tsunade learned that Uchiha Jin was the Uchiha Clan Head and asked the guards to explain recent events in Konoha.
• The guards told Tsunade that Shimura Danzō and Minato Namikaze were competing for Hokage, with the Uchiha and Hyuga supporting Danzō and her teacher’s side at a disadvantage.
• Tsunade learned that the Daimyo supported the Uchiha Clan and questioned how Shimura Danzō could have become involved with them despite his hatred of the clan.

Tsunade learned that the Uchiha Clan had allied with Shimura Danzō and the Daimyo Manor, though the reasons behind the alliance remained unclear. She decided to return to Konoha to investigate and told the Daimyo’s guards she would consider the marriage alliance after meeting the Uchiha man.

• Tsunade questioned whether generous terms could make the Uchiha Clan set aside its hatred of Shimura Danzō.
• Two Sarutobi Clan ninjas arrived and told Tsunade that Sarutobi Hiruzen feared the Uchiha-Daimyo alliance would weaken Minato’s authority if he became Hokage.
• The ninjas said Shimura Danzō had reportedly promised the Uchiha Clan a Konoha Elder seat and a Hokage Assistant position in exchange for its support.
• Tsunade found the reported terms insufficient to explain the alliance and told the Daimyo’s guards she would decide about the marriage after meeting the Uchiha man.
• Tsunade sent the Sarutobi ninjas to wait outside town and told Shizune to prepare for their return to Konoha.

On the eve of the Fourth Hokage election, Shimura Danzō confronted Uchiha Jin over suspicions that the Uchiha Clan had secretly reached an agreement with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato Namikaze. Jin denied it and warned Danzō that nearly a hundred powerful strangers had appeared in the territories of the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans.

• Shimura Danzō visited Uchiha Jin again and demanded to know whether the Uchiha Clan would support his bid for Hokage.
• Uchiha Jin reaffirmed the clan's support, while Danzō said their partnership was based on mutual interests rather than trust.
• Shimura Danzō accused Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato Namikaze of secretly meeting with Uchiha Jin, reasoning that their failure to openly court the Uchiha Clan was suspicious.
• Uchiha Jin denied that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato Namikaze had approached him and suggested they might have found a way to keep the Uchiha Clan in check.
• Uchiha Jin revealed that the Uchiha Military Police Force had found nearly a hundred strangers, all at least jonin-level, in the territories of the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans.

Jin weighed Shimura Danzō’s chances against Sarutobi Hiruzen and learned Danzō planned to seize control of the election’s security. Danzō revealed that if he lost the Hokage election, he would kill his rivals and take power by force.

• Shimura Danzō told Jin that the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans had secretly built up large ninja forces using village resources.
• Jin listed the military and political advantages Sarutobi Hiruzen held, and Danzō’s expression darkened as he heard the assessment.
• Danzō explained that he wanted the Uchiha Clan’s support as insurance for the coming Hokage election.
• Danzō said Root would take over covert security at the election site while the Uchiha Military Police controlled public security.
• Danzō vowed that if he lost, he would kill Sarutobi Hiruzen, imprison Minato, and behead Utatane and Mitokado, while Jin and Orochimaru held off Minato and Jiraiya.

Shimura Danzō persuaded Uchiha Jin to help him strike at Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other village leaders during the election ceremony. Uchiha Jin agreed to limited support while secretly planning to eliminate Danzō and Root afterward.

• Shimura Danzō explained his plan to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, then blame them for crimes using evidence he had prepared.
• Uchiha Jin questioned whether Danzō could defeat the three leaders before Konoha's Jonin overwhelmed them.
• Shimura Danzō claimed Root's specially skilled ninja could hold back the Jonin and revealed that he intended to use the Four Purple Yang Formation.
• Uchiha Jin agreed to help create an opening for the formation and delay Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya for ten minutes, while denying any formal cooperation.
• Shimura Danzō accepted Uchiha Jin's conditions and left, while Uchiha Jin anticipated using the ceremony to destroy Danzō and Root after the attack.

Konoha gathered for the Fourth Hokage Election, where Mitokado Homura introduced Minato Namikaze and Shimura Danzō as the candidates. The election began with the village’s jonin preparing to vote.

• Konoha’s villagers and shinobi gathered around the Hokage Tower as the election day began.
• A Sarutobi Clan shinobi whispered news to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who ordered his people to stay alert.
• Mitokado Homura addressed the crowd and explained the election’s importance.
• Mitokado Homura presented Minato Namikaze as the first candidate, drawing enthusiastic applause.
• Mitokado Homura introduced Shimura Danzō as the second candidate, prompting a subdued reaction.
• Mitokado Homura declared the Fourth Hokage Election officially open.

Minato Namikaze and Shimura Danzō declined to make speeches before Konoha’s first Hokage election began. As Mitokado Homura counted the ballots in front of the remaining clan leaders, Minato took a commanding lead while Shimura Danzō received only one vote.

• Shimura Danzō declined to speak, and Minato Namikaze chose to skip his own remarks so voting could begin.
• Uchiha Jin and the clan heads cast the clan-held votes, while Nara Shikaku handled votes for ordinary jonin who had entrusted them to him.
• Shimura Danzō proposed clearing the crowded rooftop before the count, and Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed after Uchiha Jin suggested the ballots could be announced publicly.
• Mitokado Homura began reading and archiving the ballots in front of the remaining attendees.
• Minato Namikaze’s votes climbed to 136 before Mitokado Homura announced Shimura Danzō’s first vote, darkening Danzō’s expression.

During the Hokage election, Shimura Danzō’s plot erupted just as Minato Namikaze’s victory became clear. Danzō trapped Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other elders inside the Hokage Tower, while the clan heads below debated which side to support.

• Minato Namikaze’s vote lead grew as Mitokado Homura read the ballots, and Shimura Danzō accepted that he had lost.
• An explosion near Kushina drew Minato away, and Shimura Danzō ordered his forces to act as dozens of disguised Anbu Ninja surrounded the Hokage Tower.
• Uchiha Jin called for the Military Police Force, and the clan heads followed him and Hyuga Hiashi off the rooftop.
• Shimura Danzō accused Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu of betraying the village, then raised a Four Purple Yang Formation around the tower.
• Shimura Danzō sent Root Ninja to attack the three elders, while Uchiha Jin denied knowing what was happening and Nara Shikaku asked whom they should help.

Nara Shikaku organized the clans to evacuate civilians, secure the village, and search for Jiraiya and Orochimaru while the fighting continued inside the Four Purple Yang Formation. The battle spread through the Hokage Tower, where Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu fought Root Ninjas.

• Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku agreed that Shimura Danzō had no authority to carry out a private execution, but Shikaku focused on containing the crisis before judging it.
• Nara Shikaku asked Uchiha Jin to have the Konoha Military Police Force guide civilians to shelters, and Uchiha Jin said the evacuation was already underway.
• Nara Shikaku tasked Hyuga Hiashi with sending Hizashi to monitor outside the village and search for Jiraiya and Orochimaru, then directed Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza to calm the ninjas and prepare defenses.
• Uchiha Jin said he could not safely break the Four Purple Yang Formation with a powerful jutsu because it could devastate the busy area around the Hokage Tower.
• Nara Shikaku and the clan heads moved to a nearby rooftop to watch the fighting, while Uchiha Jin remarked that Sarutobi Hiruzen could handle Shimura Danzō.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu combined Fire Style and Wind Release to burn several Root Ninjas, as fighting also raged inside the Hokage Tower where Mitokado Homura was presumed to be battling.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura defeated Shimura Danzō’s Root Ninja, but Danzō revealed that he still had a powerful trump card. The chapter ended with Danzō exposing a right arm implanted with Senju and Uchiha powers and challenging the three elders to fight.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura demonstrated their combat strength, helping Sarutobi Hiruzen wipe out most of Shimura Danzō’s Root Ninja.
• Mitokado Homura’s weapons failed to hit Shimura Danzō, who used Wind Release to deflect them and taunted Homura.
• Mitokado Homura summoned Senju Tobirama’s Sword of the Thunder God and prepared to face Shimura Danzō alongside Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu.
• Shimura Danzō removed his bandages and revealed five Three-Tomoe Sharingan embedded in his right arm.
• Shimura Danzō defended his actions, declared that he would control the village after killing the others, and called on them to fight.

Shimura Danzō fought Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, revealing Wood Style and greatly enhanced strength before using the Inner Four Symbols Seal to destroy the Hokage Tower. Though they survived behind layered barriers, Danzō returned unharmed through Izanagi and prepared to unleash the sealing technique again.

• Shimura Danzō attacked the three with Wind Style, but Mitokado Homura, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Utatane Koharu coordinated their counterattack.
• Danzō revealed Wood Style and increased strength, forcing Hiruzen and Homura to recognize how much his abilities had changed.
• Danzō exposed the sealing runes on his chest and activated the Inner Four Symbols Seal, while Hiruzen used Shadow Clones, Koharu's Chakra, and defensive seals to protect their group.
• The Inner Four Symbols Seal swallowed the Hokage Tower and left a vast crater, but Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura survived the blast.
• Danzō emerged unscathed and struck Hiruzen with a Wind Blade, severing his right arm; he explained that he had used the Uchiha secret technique Izanagi.
• Danzō approached the injured group and exposed his chest again, threatening to use the Inner Four Symbols Seal once more.

Uchiha Jin explained Shimura Danzō’s Izanagi to the gathered clan leaders and used Danzō’s theft of Uchiha eyes and secrets to justify the Uchiha Clan’s demand for his life. The others were left confused because they believed the Uchiha Clan and Danzō had been allies and suspected the technique had been shared willingly.

• Uchiha Jin told Nara Shikaku that Shimura Danzō had used Izanagi, the Uchiha Clan’s secret Dōjutsu that could rewrite unfavorable events, including death.
• Uchiha Jin explained that each use permanently blinded one Sharingan and that Danzō’s six eyes gave him up to six minutes of Izanagi.
• Nara Shikaku realized Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were in danger because Danzō could repeat his mutually destructive attack several more times.
• Uchiha Jin declared that the Uchiha Clan would take Shimura Danzō’s life for stealing their Sharingan and secret techniques.
• The gathered leaders were confused because they believed Danzō had been allied with the Uchiha Clan and had received Izanagi from them willingly.

Uchiha Jin urged Konoha’s clans to support the Uchiha Clan in killing Shimura Danzō, citing his theft of Uchiha eyes and long history of harming other clans. Clan leaders declared their support, leaving Danzō’s fate apparently sealed.

• Uchiha Jin said the Uchiha Clan had cooperated with Shimura Danzō for mutual benefit but would not become his servants, and insisted Danzō must die for attacking Uchiha clansmen.
• Uchiha Chi and Uchiha Jin argued that removing Danzō would benefit Konoha and asked the clan leaders to state their positions.
• Hyuga Hiashi pledged the Hyuga Clan’s support, condemning Danzō for stealing bloodlines and secret techniques.
• Kurama Murakumo revealed that Danzō’s actions had contributed to the Kurama Clan’s decline and vowed the clan would support his enemies.
• Nara Shikaku pledged the Ino-Shika-Cho Three Clans’ support, and the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Mori Clan Heads also declared they had no objections.

Shimura Danzō emerged unharmed after his Inner Four Symbols Seal and revealed that his power came from a grotesque arm produced by Orochimaru’s Wood Release experiments. He blamed Sarutobi Hiruzen for stopping the experiments, then prepared to kill him and the exhausted elders.

• Mitokado Homura attacked Shimura Danzō with explosive kunai and shuriken, but Danzō walked out of the blast uninjured.
• Shimura Danzō mocked Sarutobi Hiruzen’s exhaustion and showed him the Sharingan embedded in his right arm.
• Shimura Danzō credited Orochimaru’s experiments for his strength and explained that Tenzo had been a surviving test subject from the Wood Release project.
• Shimura Danzō accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of ending the experiments and wasting the sacrifices made to create powerful weapons for the village.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen reflected that he would still have halted the experiments, while Shimura Danzō gathered Chakra and asked whether Hiruzen had any last words.

Shimura Danzō overwhelmed Mitokado Homura and nearly killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu. Tsunade suddenly shattered the Four Purple Yang Formation and struck Danzō, leaving him severely injured.

• Shimura Danzō attacked Mitokado Homura with Wind Style, forcing him to defend Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu while fighting back.
• Shimura Danzō severed Mitokado Homura’s right hand and then charged at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen carried Utatane Koharu clear of Danzō’s shuriken but collapsed from his injuries and blood loss.
• Shimura Danzō broke through Mitokado Homura’s chains and unleashed Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu.
• Tsunade descended from the sky, shattered the Four Purple Yang Formation, and blasted Shimura Danzō away, severely injuring him.

Tsunade arrived during Shimura Danzō’s attack on Sarutobi Hiruzen and healed the injured leaders, then challenged Danzō. Danzō exploited Tsunade’s hemophobia to leave her frozen and advanced on her with a kunai.

• Tsunade broke through the Four Purple Yang Formation and summoned a giant slug to treat Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitakado Homura.
• Tsunade confronted Shimura Danzō and demanded an explanation for his attack on the village leaders.
• Danzō accused Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitakado Homura of corruption and declared that they should be executed.
• Tsunade refused to let Danzō proceed, despite knowing little about the conflict that had erupted in Konoha.
• Danzō cut his palm and flung blood at Tsunade, triggering her hemophobia and leaving her unable to move as he approached with a kunai.

Uchiha Jin intervened after Shimura Danzō attacked Tsunade, ending Danzō’s chance to finish his coup. Jin declared that the Uchiha would now oppose Danzō and that Danzō had to die because no one in Konoha recognized him.

• Shimura Danzō attacked Tsunade, but Uchiha Jin’s Susanoo shielded her and Nara Shikaku carried her away.
• Uchiha Jin and the other Konoha Ninja withdrew Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura from the battlefield.
• Uchiha Jin explained that the Uchiha had only agreed to aid Danzō’s operation, not join his coup, and that the broken Four Purple Yang Formation left them no excuse to stand aside.
• Shimura Danzō asked whether he could negotiate, but Uchiha Jin said Danzō had to die regardless of the evidence against Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.
• Uchiha Jin told Shimura Danzō that no one in Konoha recognized or loved him, and that he would never become Hokage.