Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Makoto saw Konoha’s delegation off after securing cooperation and used the farewell to protect his clan’s interests, while Hashirama Senju left without finding Uchiha Madara. Back at work, Makoto reviewed new developments in the Ninja World and learned that Kirigakure had declared martial law, raising fears that the First Mizukage had died.

• Uchiha Makoto introduced his young son, Uchiha Taiichi, to Konoha’s clan leaders at the farewell banquet, troubling Tobirama Senju with the prospect of growing ties to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Hashirama Senju led Konoha’s delegation home, and Uchiha Makoto promised to notify him if he found news of Uchiha Madara.
• Uchiha Madara emerged after Hashirama left, rejected Makoto’s teasing suggestion that he return to Konoha, and headed back to Akatsuki Ninja Village’s headquarters.
• After his vacation, Uchiha Makoto returned to work and reviewed reports that Sunagakure’s border ninja had become wealthy through smuggling while the village treasury remained poor.
• Uchiha Makoto read that Kirigakure had placed the village under martial law and wondered whether the First Mizukage had died.

As Kirigakure teetered on the brink of civil war, Hozuki Gengetsu weighed rebellion against attending the dying First Mizukage’s succession announcement. The First Mizukage named Shijian Huanlang as his successor, but Gengetsu immediately challenged what he had said, leaving the succession disputed.

• With Kirigakure under martial law and divided between rival factions, Hozuki Gengetsu received an order to meet the dying First Mizukage alongside the village’s other leaders.
• Hozuki Gengetsu proposed rebelling, but Hozuki Wu urged him to attend because the First Mizukage might choose him to avert civil war.
• Hozuki Gengetsu went to the First Mizukage’s residence with several Clan Elders and told Hozuki Wu to prepare the clan to act if the succession went against him.
• Before Kirigakure’s assembled leaders, the First Mizukage announced Shijian Huanlang as the next Mizukage.
• Hozuki Gengetsu demanded that the First Mizukage repeat his words, then claimed the name had been Huan-yue rather than Huanlang.

After the First Mizukage’s death sparked a succession dispute between Hozuki Gengetsu and Shijian Huanlang, Kirigakure’s conflict widened into turmoil across the Land of Water. Uchiha Makoto arranged evacuations and offered refuge, while Tobirama Senju suspected him of causing the crisis; refugees gathered at an Akatsuki Ninja Village outpost.

• Hozuki Gengetsu and Shijian Huanlang each claimed the First Mizukage had named him successor, and Kirigakure’s factions split into open conflict.
• The Land of Water’s Daimyo, nobles, merchants, and political figures exploited Kirigakure’s civil war, while unrest spread among disaster victims and civilians.
• Uchiha Makoto issued a peace proposal, planned evacuations, and joined Konoha’s leaders in a meeting about the effects on their cooperation and trade.
• Tobirama Senju confronted Uchiha Makoto about causing the civil war, and Makoto admitted his actions may have helped destabilize Kirigakure by drawing clans away to Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Uchiha Makoto offered to evacuate Konoha residents alongside Akatsuki Ninja Village’s people, while Tobirama accused him of using the crisis to win support.
• Refugees, merchants, nobles, and ninja families crowded around Akatsuki Ninja Village’s outpost, where its flag deterred attackers.

As Kirigakure’s civil war sent thousands fleeing to an Akatsuki Ninja Village outpost, Uchiha Makoto sent ships and elite ninjas to evacuate residents and recruit carefully selected refugees, workers, merchants, and ninjas. Tobirama Senju learned of the operation and, despite condemning Uchiha Makoto, considered pursuing the same opportunity for Konoha.

• Chiwan urged the outpost captain to help the growing crowd of refugees, but the captain refused to open the gates because doing so could endanger everyone inside.
• A fleet from Akatsuki Ninja Village arrived, and a Jonin took control of the outpost and began evacuating its residents.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered the Jonin to gather, register, and carefully screen the refugees for useful recruits while presenting the operation as humanitarian aid.
• The outpost gates opened under the control of elite Akatsuki Ninja, and the refugees quieted at the sight of their strength.
• Tobirama Senju learned that Akatsuki Ninja Village was gathering refugees and recognized the value of recruiting wealthy merchants and skilled workers for Konoha.

Chiwan and his captain caught Sato Daisuke trying to pass among ordinary refugees with hidden Explosive Tags, then learned he was a low-ranking ninja who wanted to abandon that life. Chiwan described Akatsuki Ninja Village’s benefits and work conditions, leaving Sato bewildered and unsure whether to believe him.

• Chiwan’s captain identified Sato Daisuke as a likely ninja by the calluses on his hands, and Chiwan found Explosive Tags hidden in his case.
• Sato Daisuke claimed he wanted to become an ordinary person, but Chiwan took him to the interrogation room, where Genjutsu revealed his background in a small Land of Water ninja organization.
• After confirming Sato Daisuke’s story, Chiwan advised him to join Akatsuki Ninja Village and explained its refugee policies, Visas, and Blue Cards.
• Sato Daisuke said he still wanted to leave the fighting behind, so Chiwan listed noncombat jobs and benefits such as medical care, useful ninjutsu, proper food, and rest.
• Sato Daisuke questioned whether Chiwan was joking and marveled that the conditions Chiwan described were considered ordinary.

Uchiha Makoto received a report that Akatsuki Ninja Village had taken in over two thousand refugees and that most Konoha villagers in the Land of Water had already returned with Akatsuki Ninja Village’s ships. He wrote a first-person article highlighting Akatsuki Ninja Village’s rescue efforts and arranged to publish it in New Ninja, whose new issue drew eager readers in Konoha.

• Sato Daisuke trusted Chiwan’s advice and decided to register as a ninja among the refugees.
• The jonin in charge reported that Akatsuki Ninja Village had received more than two thousand refugees, including over ten genin, and Uchiha Makoto ordered careful screening.
• Uchiha Makoto learned that most Konoha villagers in the Land of Water had boarded Akatsuki Ninja Village’s ships, leaving Konoha’s rescue team with little to do.
• Uchiha Makoto wrote an article portraying Akatsuki Ninja Village’s protection and rescue work favorably, then ordered it printed as the latest issue of New Ninja’s front-page feature.
• Konoha villagers and ninjas lined up outside bookstores to buy the new issue of New Ninja.

Konoha ninja debated whether Akatsuki Ninja Village’s rescue of people stranded in the Land of Water showed a difference in responsibility and security, not merely strength or systems. Talk of Akatsuki’s visas and Blue Cards turned to migration and marriage, while a Root ninja secretly recorded the café’s conversations.

• Konoha ninja discussed an article about Akatsuki Ninja Village protecting merchants in the Land of Water, and an Uchiha chunin questioned whether Konoha would have done the same.
• The Uchiha chunin argued that Akatsuki’s outposts, ships, and rapid response showed it took responsibility for its people, while Konoha had only recently remembered its residents abroad.
• A Konoha ninja mentioned that an Akatsuki visa and Blue Card could offer a path to settling in the village, prompting female ninja to discuss moving there or marrying in.
• A female ninja criticized her boyfriend’s lack of ambition and income, while her friend listened and realized she was describing his own friend.
• A Root ninja secretly recorded the conversations in the café.

Tobirama Senju read Uchiha Makoto’s latest propaganda in New Ninja and learned that Konoha residents and clans were criticizing the village’s delayed rescue efforts in the Land of Water. He planned tighter surveillance and political countermeasures, then resolved to compete with Akatsuki Ninja Village for influence in the Land of Water.

• A Root ninja delivered Tobirama Senju the daily surveillance briefing and the latest issue of New Ninja.
• Tobirama Senju read Uchiha Makoto’s article comparing Akatsuki Ninja Village’s swift rescue with Konoha’s delayed response and angrily defended Konoha’s actions.
• The briefing showed residents praising Akatsuki Ninja Village, clans seeking its cooperation, and Uchiha members questioning Konoha’s system.
• Tobirama Senju planned to publicize Konoha’s rescue operation, use the Uchiha Security Department to suppress dissent, expand Root surveillance, and track applications for Akatsuki Ninja Village Visas and Blue Cards.
• Tobirama Senju decided to exploit the Land of Water’s limited information about the mainland to compete with Akatsuki Ninja Village for its people and influence.

The Second Raikage planned to draw Kirigakure into the Kumo-Mutual Association before Akatsuki Ninja Village could win its favor. When Kinkaku and Ginkaku objected to funding relief efforts and the lack of high-rank missions, the Second Raikage forced through a policy requiring Jonin to take lower-rank missions.

• The Second Raikage interpreted Uchiha Makoto's relief work in the Land of Water as an attempt to win over Kirigakure and disrupt Kumogakure's plans.
• The Second Raikage called a meeting and laid out Kirigakure's strategic value, urging Kumogakure to recruit it into the Kumo-Mutual Association.
• Kinkaku challenged the cost of sending aid to the Land of Water, and the Second Raikage said Kumogakure's ninja would have to endure more hardship to pay for it.
• Ginkaku objected that Kumogakure had already taken forty percent of Jonin A-rank and S-rank mission earnings and asked where more such missions could come from.
• The Second Raikage insisted that Jonin take B-rank and C-rank missions instead, blamed their reluctance on their Jonin status, and forced the resolution through despite opposition.

Uchiha Makoto learned that Konoha and Kumogakure had entered the Land of Water to recruit refugees, and he reacted when Konoha began distributing flyers near Akatsuki Ninja Village’s outpost. He sent publicity specialists to counter Konoha’s efforts and asked Shinji Uzumaki to send clan members to the Land of Water to speak fairly, leaving Shinji ready to help.

• Uchiha Makoto heard that Kirigakure’s clashes were nearing deadlock, refugee numbers were slowing, and the Land of Water’s nobles were preparing to intervene.
• An Akatsuki Ninja Jonin reported that Konoha and Kumogakure had sent fleets to aid refugees and recruit people from the Land of Water.
• Uchiha Makoto learned that Konoha flyers had appeared near Akatsuki Ninja Village’s outpost and ordered his publicity specialists to infiltrate Konoha’s camps and counter its recruitment.
• Uchiha Makoto contacted Shinji Uzumaki and explained Tobirama Senju’s actions in the Land of Water.
• Shinji Uzumaki agreed to send Uzumaki Clan members to the Land of Water to speak fairly at a crucial moment.

Akatsuki Ninja Village launched a coordinated propaganda campaign to attract refugees from Kirigakure’s civil war, using stories of orderly aid and a fabricated set of Konoha-branded flyers. The flyers reached Konoha’s camp, where refugees began comparing them with Akatsuki’s materials.

• Uchiha Makoto sent Emei Peak to direct Akatsuki Ninja Village’s refugee campaign and confront Konoha through public opinion.
• Emei Peak’s team distributed New Ninja and flyers describing Akatsuki Ninja Village as a safe, orderly place where refugees could find work and support.
• The campaign drew growing numbers of refugees, including craftsmen, merchants, trained ninjas, and people sent by Kirigakure clans.
• Emei Peak began the campaign’s second stage by circulating polished flyers that appeared to be official Konoha materials.
• Refugees recognized that the Konoha flyers repeated promises previously made under Akatsuki Ninja Village’s name, and the materials reached Konoha’s camp.

Shimura Danzō’s flyers drew a surge of refugees to Konoha’s outpost, while Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered that the promises in them misrepresented life in Konoha. Their argument ended with Hiruzen warning Danzō he would regret it, as members of the Uzumaki Clan arrived near Konoha’s outposts.

• Shimura Danzō ordered Hiruzen Sarutobi to expand registration, medical, and food services as refugees flooded the camp.
• Shimura Danzō privately recalled how he had arranged for Konoha flyers to divert refugees from Akatsuki Ninja Village’s outpost.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi overheard a passerby promoting the generous schooling, jobs, and medical care described in the flyers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi examined the flyers, recognized their Konoha-style materials, and questioned their implausible claims about life in Konoha.
• Shimura Danzō admitted distributing the flyers and argued that the deception served Konoha, while Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that he would regret it.
• Members of the Uzumaki Clan quietly arrived near Konoha’s surrounding outposts.

Hiruzen Sarutobi left after arguing with Shimura Danzō over his tactics in the Land of Water. Danzō discovered that forged Konoha flyers promising refugees free education, cheap medical care, and assigned jobs had spread widely, and he reported Akatsuki Ninja Village’s retaliation to Tobirama Senju.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi argued with Shimura Danzō but left without further challenging him because Danzō commanded the operation.
• Shimura Danzō dismissed Hiruzen’s objections and convinced himself that any method was justified for Konoha.
• Danzō examined the flyers Hiruzen had brought and realized their promises differed from the propaganda he had written.
• Danzō suspected Akatsuki Ninja Village had forged the flyers to damage Konoha’s reputation among refugees.
• Danzō contacted Tobirama Senju and reported that the flyers had already spread widely among the refugees.

Tobirama Senju ordered Shimura Danzō to contain the damage from Akatsuki Ninja Village’s counter-propaganda while keeping refugees moving toward Konoha. At the Konoha outpost, an Uzumaki Clan member challenged Konoha’s promises by describing the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s services, turning the refugees’ attention toward the rival village.

• Tobirama Senju reassured Shimura Danzō that Konoha had already attracted refugees and ordered him to screen Akatsuki Ninja Village agents, using the outpost’s hospitality to detain them if needed.
• Shimura Danzō accepted the assignment despite fearing that any violence against Akatsuki Ninja Village ninja could provoke a dangerous retaliation.
• An Uzumaki Clan member joined a refugee crowd and questioned a Konoha promoter’s claims, saying he had seen similar education, work placement, and medical services in the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• The Uzumaki Clan member cited New Ninja reports and the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s rapid aid in the Land of Water, prompting refugees to recall stories that supported his account.
• A Konoha promoter asked whether Konoha was distributing false flyers, and the Uzumaki Clan member’s response and identity convinced hidden ninja in the crowd that the accusation was credible.
• The refugees began doubting Konoha and wondering whether they could still reach the Akatsuki Ninja Village outpost in time.

Uzumaki clansmen spread doubts among the Land of Water refugees about Konoha’s promises, while Hiruzen Sarutobi evaded questions about whether the claims were true. After his patrols identified suspicious people with Uzumaki Clan traits outside the outpost, Shimura Danzō led ninja squads southwest to confront them.

• Uzumaki clansmen spread rumors along refugee routes, making more people question Konoha’s flyers and promises.
• A wealthy merchant asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether Konoha’s advertised schools, medical services, stable lives, and merchant protections were real.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave vague answers and left, while refugees grew more anxious and Konoha’s responses failed to reassure them.
• Shimura Danzō learned that patrols had found suspicious people with obvious Uzumaki Clan traits southwest of the outpost.
• Shimura Danzō accused the Uzumaki Clan of betraying his teacher and Konoha, then led several ninja squads toward the southwest.

Shimura Danzō followed an Uzumaki clansman who had been undermining Konoha’s propaganda among refugees and discovered a group of Uzumaki ninjas coordinating their efforts. Danzō’s squads surrounded them at their temporary outpost, where he accused the clan of favoring Akatsuki Ninja Village, and the Uzumaki found his remarks laughable.

• Shimura Danzō disguised himself and spotted a red-haired Uzumaki ninja sowing doubts about Konoha among the refugees.
• Danzō ordered his squads to follow the Uzumaki ninja after he left the crowd.
• The ninja joined other Uzumaki clansmen at a concealed outpost, where they discussed how to refine their refugee messaging for a well-paid mission from Lord Shadow.
• Danzō’s squads surrounded the outpost and Danzō confronted the Uzumaki clansmen.
• Danzō mocked the clan for clinging to Akatsuki Ninja Village, while the Uzumaki regarded his accusations as laughable.

Shimura Danzō’s Root ninja captured and beat several Uzumaki clansmen in the Land of Water, then held them at a Konoha outpost. Uchiha Makoto used the incident to turn Shinji Uzumaki against Konoha, and Shinji resolved to demand an explanation rather than abandon his clanmates.

• Shimura Danzō ordered Root ninja to seize the Uzumaki clansmen and take them to the Konoha outpost after they resisted arrest.
• Root ninja subdued the clansmen, beat them while carefully limiting their injuries, and placed them under guard for medical treatment.
• Emei Peak reported the missing Uzumaki squad to Uchiha Makoto, who saw their capture as a chance to drive a wedge between the Uzumaki Clan and Konoha.
• Uchiha Makoto told Shinji Uzumaki that Konoha had forcibly taken and roughly treated his clansmen, while falsely presenting himself as willing to withdraw from the dispute.
• Shinji Uzumaki grew furious at Konoha and decided the Uzumaki Clan could not let the capture pass without a satisfactory explanation.

Uchiha Makoto inflamed Shinji Uzumaki’s anger over Konoha’s arrest of Uzumaki Clan members, but Shinji chose to ask Mito Uzumaki to mediate rather than confront Tobirama Senju directly. Mito promised an explanation, then lost her temper with Hashirama Senju, while Tobirama sensed that trouble was brewing.

• Uchiha Makoto warned Shinji Uzumaki that Tobirama Senju might become Konoha’s next Hokage and encouraged him to resist Konoha’s arrest of Uzumaki Clan members.
• Shinji Uzumaki resolved to address the arrests but, mindful of the alliance with Konoha, contacted Mito Uzumaki to mediate.
• Shinji explained how Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village had competed over refugees in the Land of Water and how Konoha had arrested Uzumaki Clan members without explanation.
• Mito Uzumaki promised Shinji an explanation and ended the communication, angered by Tobirama Senju’s actions.
• Hashirama Senju returned from reminiscing about Uchiha Madara, and Mito Uzumaki berated him before lifting him with her chains.
• Tobirama Senju felt a sudden unease while working in the Hokage Building and suspected Uchiha Makoto had caused more trouble.

Tobirama Senju learned that Konoha forces in the Land of Water had detained members of the Uzumaki Clan, prompting Mito Uzumaki to demand an explanation. He suspected the Uzumaki had interfered with Konoha’s efforts and sided with Akatsuki Ninja Village, leaving him to face a growing dispute between Konoha and its longtime ally.

• Tobirama Senju returned home, where Hashirama Senju tried to use him to calm Mito Uzumaki after a gambling dispute.
• Mito Uzumaki set Hashirama aside and asked Tobirama whether he had sent ninjas to the Land of Water.
• Mito told Tobirama that Konoha ninjas had restrained and detained Uzumaki Clan members who were helping Akatsuki Ninja Village gather refugees and speak in its favor.
• Tobirama realized that Shimura Danzō had likely ordered the detentions and suspected the Uzumaki Clan had helped spread false flyers against Konoha.
• Tobirama rejected the Uzumaki complaint in his thoughts, believing the clan had undermined Konoha and taken Uchiha Makoto’s side.

Tobirama Senju demanded that the Uzumaki Clan withdraw its people from the Land of Water, while Mito Uzumaki tried to mediate between Konoha and her natal clan. Shinji Uzumaki rejected the demand, leaving the alliance crisis unresolved and his anger at Tobirama at its height.

• Tobirama Senju told Mito Uzumaki that the Uzumaki Clan had sided with Uchiha Makoto and damaged its alliance with Konoha.
• Mito Uzumaki asked Tobirama to release the detained Uzumaki clansmen, and he agreed to house them safely and escort them home after the operation.
• Tobirama demanded that Shinji Uzumaki withdraw all Uzumaki clansmen from the Land of Water, and Mito agreed to contact him.
• Mito Uzumaki relayed Tobirama's demands to Shinji Uzumaki, who angrily rejected the order and refused to pull his people out.
• Shinji Uzumaki declared that he would honor his promise to Uchiha Makoto and later confront Hashirama Senju about Tobirama's treatment of the Uzumaki Clan.