Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Shinnosuke reported that Root members had spread rumors after one of them contacted an Iwagakure spy, exposing a security failure under Shimura Danzō. Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered concessions to the Uchiha and Iwagakure to restore stability, while Danzō left the Hokage’s office furious.

• Sarutobi Shinnosuke told Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō that a Root member had spread rumors and contacted an Iwagakure spy.
• Shimura Danzō denied ordering the rumors and said the suspected traitor was his nephew, but Sarutobi Hiruzen rebuked him for lax screening.
• Shimura Danzō urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to use the crisis to eliminate the Uchiha, but Hiruzen rejected the idea and planned to speak with Uchiha Fugaku.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered the village to return what was owed to the Uchiha, blame the rumors on Iwagakure spies, and offer Iwagakure minor benefits in negotiations.
• Shimura Danzō blamed Sarutobi Hiruzen for the village’s problems, and Hiruzen asserted his authority as Hokage before Danzō stormed out.

Uchiha Jin tested the Zanka no Tachi against Uchiha Shisui in a spar, overwhelming him with its flames and measuring the sword’s heat. After demonstrating its Rising Sun Blade state, Jin left the training ground with Shisui before ANBU arrived.

• Uchiha Shisui attacked Uchiha Jin with Phantom Body Flicker Technique, but Jin countered the phantoms with Fire Style: Pine Torch.
• Uchiha Jin blocked Shisui’s sword strike and destroyed his Thunderbolt Arrow with a Flame Slash, forcing Shisui to retreat.
• Uchiha Jin used Scorching Hell to trap Shisui in pillars of fire, leaving him badly scorched when the flames subsided.
• Uchiha Jin activated Zanka no Tachi: East: Rising Sun Blade and measured its temperature at about 136,000 degrees, while Shisui sensed the blade could kill him with a touch.
• Uchiha Jin extinguished the remaining fire and left the training ground with Shisui before ANBU arrived.

Uchiha Jin and Uchiha Shisui used village rumors and a staged display of Uchiha power to provoke a response from Konoha’s leadership and build anger within the clan. Jin sent Shisui to Daimyo Manor to secure another Trump Card as their plan approached its next stage.

• Four Anbu figures found the training ground scorched by Molten Flame and suspected Uchiha Jin, then reported the scene to Hokage-sama.
• Jin and Shisui returned to the Uchiha Clan Land, where rumors had left the clansmen tense and gloomy.
• Shisui told Jin that the rumors he had spread were stirring the clan, but worried that investigators would uncover his Genjutsu on the Iwagakure spy and Root Ninja.
• Jin explained that the damage at the training ground would make Sarutobi Hiruzen suspect the Uchiha, prompting surveillance and countermeasures that would further anger the clan.
• Jin told Shisui to visit Daimyo Manor and obtain another Trump Card for the Uchiha, then quietly explained what he needed to do.

Uchiha Setsuna’s radicals and Uchiha Ya’s conservatives debated how to respond to Konoha’s rumors and its attempt to withhold Uchiha compensation and rewards. Setsuna planned to pressure Fugaku at the coming clan meeting, while Ya intended to negotiate with Sarutobi Hiruzen the next morning.

• Uchiha Tekka reported that Fugaku refused to give up compensation for fallen Uchiha and the clan’s war rewards, and Setsuna ordered the radicals to help with the funerals.
• Setsuna told his followers to watch the Anbu outside the clan land, recruit clan members, and join forces to pressure Fugaku at the clan meeting.
• Uchiha Ya told Uchiha Ken and Uchiha Hirokazu that Mitokado Homura blamed Iwagakure spies for the rumors and promised compensation from the Third Generation.
• Uchiha Hirokazu demanded compensation and a public defense of the clan’s reputation, and Ya decided to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen with Fugaku the next morning.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Konoha Elders learned that Uchiha had used Genjutsu to spread the rumors that had inflamed tensions in the village. While they argued over whether to strike against the clan, Shimura Danzō saw an opportunity to make Minato Namikaze take the blame for a future crisis and advance his own claim to the Hokage position.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu that interrogation revealed an Uchiha behind the rumors, with Sharinga appearing in the suspects' memories.
• Shimura Danzō accused the Uchiha of trying to sever ties with the village and rebel, while Mitokado Homura doubted that Uchiha Ya or the clan as a whole was responsible.
• Utatane Koharu suggested Uchiha Setsuna might have orchestrated the scheme, and Shimura Danzō urged the elders to strike against the Uchiha immediately.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu supported striking, but Sarutobi Hiruzen warned that attacking the Uchiha could leave Konoha vulnerable to other villages and clans.
• Shimura Danzō privately saw that renewed conflict could make Minato Namikaze take the blame, then proposed calling Minato Namikaze back while setting the Uchiha matter aside.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the village elders discussed the Uchiha crisis, while Shimura Danzō pushed to recall Minato Namikaze from the front. Hiruzen chose to have Uchiha leaders address the unrest, pursue peace with Iwagakure, and prepare Minato’s succession, leaving Danzō furious and intent on pursuing his own plan.

• Shimura Danzō argued that Minato Namikaze and other powerful ninja should return to Konoha as a precaution, and the elders agreed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to summon Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Ya to handle the Uchiha unrest and ordered the village to quell the rumors.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected further targeting of the Uchiha and approved using consolation money as compensation for them.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Utatane Koharu to finalize peace talks with Iwagakure and planned to seek reconstruction funds from the daimyo while recommending Minato as Fourth Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō left in anger after Sarutobi Hiruzen dismissed his objections, while Mitokado Homura volunteered to suppress the rumors and promote Minato’s reputation.

Uchiha Ya and Uchiha Fugaku confronted Uchiha Setsuna after learning that Uchiha radicals had secretly inflamed the clan’s unrest. Setsuna refused to abandon his coup plans and declared that, if the Uchiha could not take the Hokage position, they would create a new Konoha.

• Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Ya left a meeting with Sarutobi Hiruzen and hurried to Uchiha Setsuna’s residence.
• Uchiha Ya saw clansmen spreading rumors and demanding retaliation, while realizing Uchiha members had been secretly stirring up the conflict.
• Uchiha Ya sent the radicals away and accused Uchiha Setsuna of endangering the clan by pursuing a coup.
• Uchiha Setsuna argued that the village had weakened and oppressed the Uchiha, and insisted the Hokage position belonged to them.
• Uchiha Setsuna declared that he would either seize the Hokage position or build a new Konoha for the Uchiha.

Uchiha Setsuna proposed establishing New Konoha, prompting Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Ya to warn that the plan would doom the Uchiha Clan. He defended his past rebellion and revealed the abuse and injuries he suffered in prison, ending by swearing to lead the clan to the top.

• Uchiha Setsuna declared that he wanted to establish New Konoha, and Uchiha Fugaku warned that the village’s people and leaders would turn against the Uchiha.
• Uchiha Ya blamed Uchiha Setsuna’s earlier coup for the clan’s reputation, but Uchiha Setsuna called it resistance against Senju Tobirama’s experiments on Uchiha members.
• Uchiha Setsuna explained that he had uncovered the disappearances and rallied clansmen against Senju Tobirama, while other clans had stayed out of the conflict.
• Uchiha Setsuna accused Uchiha Ya and Uchiha Fugaku of cowardice and revealed the scars and damaged foot left by years of abuse in Konoha Prison.
• Uchiha Setsuna vowed to lead the Uchiha step by step to the top and make them the highest in Konoha.

Uchiha Setsuna insisted on staging a coup against Sarutobi Hiruzen and leaving Konoha to establish New Konoha, despite Uchiha Ya and Uchiha Jin warning that the clan could not survive without a village. Uchiha Jin proposed a clan-wide meeting to settle the dispute, and the elders agreed to hold it alongside the memorial ceremony in three days.

• Uchiha Ya and Uchiha Fugaku saw the scars on Uchiha Setsuna and fell silent as they considered what he had endured in prison.
• Uchiha Setsuna declared that he wanted to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen, leave Konoha, and establish New Konoha, while Uchiha Ya warned that the village would not accept an Uchiha as Hokage.
• Uchiha Jin arrived and challenged Uchiha Setsuna to explain where the clan could build a new village in a world already divided among the Five Great Nations.
• Uchiha Setsuna rejected the warnings and said he would rather die gloriously than remain in Konoha, while Uchiha Ya condemned his disregard for the clan's lives.
• Uchiha Jin proposed a meeting of the entire clan, and Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Ya agreed to hold it in three days alongside the memorial ceremony.

Uchiha Jin explained why the clan should wait three days before settling its disputes and planned to use rumors about Minato Namikaze to undermine Sarutobi Hiruzen. He revealed Tobi’s ability to impersonate Uchiha Tekka, giving them a way to control the rumors’ apparent source.

• Uchiha Jin told Uchiha Fugaku that Shisui and another hidden hand needed three days to prepare, and that the conflict with the village needed more time to intensify.
• Uchiha Fugaku said Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to quell village rumors by announcing Minato Namikaze’s return from the frontline.
• Uchiha Jin proposed publicizing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s failures to raise Minato’s standing, while using Great Elder’s faction as a scapegoat and reassuring Sarutobi that the clan would address it at the meeting.
• Uchiha Fugaku worried that the plan could make Sarutobi distrust Minato, but Uchiha Jin explained how they would direct suspicion toward Great Elder instead.
• Uchiha Jin introduced Tobi, who transformed into Uchiha Tekka so convincingly that Uchiha Fugaku could not distinguish the impersonation.

Konoha welcomed Minato Namikaze and the returning forces as rumors about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s wartime decisions and the village’s finances spread. Uchiha Fugaku warned Sarutobi that Uchiha Setsuna wanted to create a New Konoha, and vowed to remove his faction at a clan meeting the next day.

• Konoha villagers traded rumors blaming Sarutobi Hiruzen for costly wars and concessions to Sunagakure and Iwagakure.
• Minato Namikaze led the exhausted, victorious forces back into Konoha, where villagers greeted them with cheers.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Uchiha Fugaku over rumors that threatened his reputation and accused the Uchiha of trying to bring him down.
• Uchiha Fugaku told Sarutobi that Uchiha Setsuna had been mentally twisted by torture in Konoha Prison and wanted to create a New Konoha.
• Uchiha Fugaku promised to convene a clan meeting the next day and purge Uchiha Setsuna’s faction, while Sarutobi warned he would intervene if Fugaku failed.

Uchiha Fugaku told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Root Ninja under Shimura Danzō had secretly spread rumors against him, and Hiruzen ordered the Uchiha to stay within their compound while he prepared to keep both sides under watch. Hiruzen then sent for Minato Namikaze, who had returned to the village.

• Uchiha Fugaku told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Root Ninja under Shimura Danzō had secretly fanned the rumors against him.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Fugaku to keep the Uchiha from wandering around the village until their clan affairs were resolved.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke confirmed that Anbu had traced the secret rumor campaign to Danzō's Root Ninja.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that Danzō coveted the Hokage Position and had once allied with Orochimaru, but Minato Namikaze would keep Danzō in check.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Danzō's Root Ninja to surround the Uchiha compound, told Anbu to watch the Uchiha closely, and asked Shinnosuke to summon Minato.

Minato Namikaze returned to Konoha and heard Sarutobi Hiruzen’s account of the dispute with the Uchiha, though he privately disagreed with Hiruzen’s blame. Hiruzen then announced that he would step down and prepare an election for the Fourth Hokage, leaving Minato unsettled before an afternoon Jonin Meeting.

• Minato Namikaze returned from the front and told Sarutobi Hiruzen that the withdrawal from Kumogakure had been uneventful but exhausting.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen blamed Uchiha Setsuna and the Uchiha Clan for escalating the consolation-money dispute, while Minato privately believed Uchiha Jin had driven events.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen argued that the village had to prevent any one clan from becoming too dominant and accused the Uchiha of coveting the Hokage Position.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Minato that an armistice with Iwagakure had ended the war and that he would announce his resignation and begin preparations to elect the Fourth Hokage.
• Minato left the Hokage Office after Sarutobi Hiruzen told him to rest, comfort Kushina, and attend the afternoon Jonin Meeting.

Minato Namikaze met Uchiha Jin at the Naka River to discuss Sarutobi Hiruzen’s plan to step down as Hokage, but first realized he had neglected to visit Kushina. Jin explained why Hiruzen had to relinquish the office and hinted that he had prepared a surprise for Minato’s inauguration as Fourth Hokage.

• Minato Namikaze used a crow’s Sharingan genjutsu to meet Uchiha Jin and admitted that he had gone straight to the Hokage Tower after returning to the village.
• Uchiha Jin warned Minato that Kushina would be angry he had not visited her, then offered flowers and cake prepared by Nonō as gifts for her.
• Minato Namikaze told Uchiha Jin what Sarutobi Hiruzen had said about stepping down and shared his unease about the Third Generation’s haste.
• Uchiha Jin explained that Hiruzen was relinquishing the Hokage position to protect himself from political rumors and threats while retaining authority until Minato took office.
• Uchiha Jin urged Minato to rely on his growing strength and revealed that he had prepared a surprise for Minato’s inauguration as Fourth Hokage.

At the Jonin Meeting, Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that the war had ended and that he would resign as Hokage. The village’s leaders and clan heads were left to consider the change in leadership.

• Uchiha Jin attended the Jonin Meeting with Uchiha Fugaku, drawing curious looks from Konoha’s gathered leaders.
• Uchiha Jin greeted Hyuga Hiashi and learned that Hizashi Hyuga was expected to return from the Frontline in two days.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived with the Hokage Advisors and Minato Namikaze, who took the seat normally held by Nara Shikaku.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke explained that Orochimaru had declined to attend because he was feeling unwell, angering Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that the war had ended after Konoha’s armistice agreements and Kirigakure’s withdrawal from the Land of Fire.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen resigned from the Hokage Position, effective immediately.

Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that he would resign in three days but temporarily retain authority until the Fourth Hokage was chosen. The election and war-compensation payments remained unresolved, with discussion postponed until more ninjas returned and Hiruzen sought funds from the daimyo.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen declared he would submit his resignation in three days and continue overseeing Konoha until a successor was selected.
• Uchiha Jin asked about the election and said he would vote for Shimura Danzō if Danzō ran, leaving Danzō embarrassed and unable to answer.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen postponed decisions on the Fourth Hokage election until most frontline ninjas returned in about ten days, then outlined a Jonin vote among several candidates.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen said he would ask the daimyo for money and defer decisions on consolation payments, disability subsidies, and battlefield rewards until his return.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ended the meeting.

As the village restricted the Uchiha from leaving their clan land, resentment pushed many clan members toward Uchiha Setsuna’s Radical faction. Uchiha Jin explained to a troubled Uchiha Itachi that he should consider other perspectives rather than let his own assumptions dictate his choices.

• After Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Anbu and Root to surround the Uchiha clan land, many Uchiha members grew angry and called for the village to explain itself.
• Uchiha Jin observed that rumors and the restrictions had moved many Conservatives to support Uchiha Setsuna’s Radicals.
• Walking with Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Jin noticed his worry and encouraged him to speak openly.
• Uchiha Jin told Uchiha Itachi that keeping his thoughts to himself could make him arrogant and stubborn, and urged him to understand other people’s perspectives.

Uchiha Jin explained to Uchiha Itachi why the Uchiha’s pent-up emotions and the village’s prejudice had deepened their conflict, then took him past Root guards to meet Orochimaru. The chapter ended with Orochimaru eager to examine Itachi’s bloodline disease.

• Uchiha Jin explained that the Uchiha’s reserved nature caused negative emotions to build up, and that he had provoked the clan to demand an explanation from the village before those emotions erupted unpredictably.
• Uchiha Jin used Genjutsu to get past Root guards restricting the Uchiha from leaving their clan grounds, and Itachi sensed what he had done.
• Uchiha Jin took Itachi to a secluded spot in the village’s Back Mountain, where Orochimaru emerged from an underground passage.
• Uchiha Jin introduced Itachi as Fugaku’s eldest son and asked Orochimaru to cure his bloodline disease without playing him to death.
• Orochimaru eagerly agreed to examine Itachi, calling him special material.

Uchiha Jin persuaded Orochimaru to help encourage Shimura Danzō to run for Fourth Hokage by backing him at a crucial moment. He also suggested that Hashirama Cells might help with Uchiha Itachi’s Bloodline Disease, prompting Orochimaru to take an eager interest in Itachi.

• Uchiha Jin gave Orochimaru a Storage Scroll of corpses collected from the Iwagakure and Kumogakure battlefields, then discussed the Fourth Hokage election.
• Uchiha Jin proposed that Orochimaru support Shimura Danzō instead of running against Minato Namikaze himself.
• Uchiha Jin explained that Minato could provoke several allied clans to make Shimura Danzō see an opportunity to enter the race.
• Orochimaru agreed to support Shimura Danzō and use the opportunity to ask him for benefits.
• Uchiha Jin suggested that Sharingan might suppress Hashirama Cells and that the cells could help with Uchiha Itachi’s Bloodline Disease, and Orochimaru eagerly offered to test the idea.

Minato Namikaze hosted clan leaders seeking his favor as he prepared to become the Fourth Hokage, then criticized the Uchiha Military Police Force and the Hyuga Main House and Branch House system. After his guests left in anger, Minato revealed that his apparent blunders had been an act.

• Minato returned home after the Jonin Meeting, but Konoha clans and departments soon crowded his house with gifts and greetings.
• Minato promised the visitors fair treatment while insisting that village interests and the welfare of their companions came first.
• Minato told Uchiha Fugaku that the Uchiha should reform the Konoha Military Police Force and give up its rigid approach to enforcement.
• Minato told Hyuga Hiashi that the Main House and Branch House system was rotten and should not let one side control the other's life and death.
• Fugaku and Hiashi left, followed by the other guests, and Minato privately smiled with relief after revealing that he had been acting.