Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Makoto strengthened ties with the Uchiha Clan while pushing Akatsuki Ninja Village’s effort to take over the salt market. The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire panicked over the blame, while Tobirama Senju mocked Makoto’s plan.

• Uchiha Makoto received a secret letter from the Uchiha Clan and wrote back, promising to support them if they were ever in danger.
• Uchiha Makoto asked Kazuma about the salt-market plan, which involved acquiring a nearby company and pressuring smaller merchants while approaching major merchants more gently.
• People who opposed the plan disappeared, and rumors spread that the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire had ordered Akatsuki Ninja Village to purge the salt market.
• The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire raged over the rumors, then decided to coordinate with Uchiha Makoto and recognized the potential tax revenue from controlling salt.
• Tobirama Senju laughed at the news and dismissed Uchiha Makoto’s salt-market venture as foolish.

Tobirama reviewed Konoha’s finances while Hashirama proposed using two million ryo to install communal money boxes across the village, inspired by an article about Akatsuki Ninja Village. Tobirama warned that the money could disappear, but Hashirama insisted the plan would expose and help fix Konoha’s flaws.

• Tobirama rejected several clans’ funding requests and blamed Hashirama for revealing that he had brought ten billion ryo back from the Land of Fire.
• Hashirama visited Tobirama to request funding, denying that the money was for gambling and presenting an article from New Ninja.
• The article described how people in Akatsuki Ninja Village borrowed from and contributed to communal money boxes, which Lord Shadow had arranged to promote mutual support.
• Hashirama proposed placing fifty boxes around Konoha, each containing forty thousand ryo, for a total of two million ryo.
• Tobirama questioned the plan and warned that the money could vanish overnight, but Hashirama said that would reveal Konoha’s deep-rooted flaws and vowed to proceed.

Hashirama Senju convinced Tobirama Senju to approve two million ryo for a scheme inspired by The New Ninja, despite Tobirama’s misgivings. Meanwhile, Uchiha Makoto placated the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire with a fabricated expense ledger, blaming the village’s spending on preparations to oppose Hashirama.

• Hashirama Senju argued that spending two million ryo would help eliminate Konoha’s ninjas’ inherent depravity, but Tobirama Senju initially refused.
• Hashirama Senju invoked his authority as Hokage, and Tobirama Senju eventually approved the funding while warning him to earn any further money himself.
• Hashirama Senju took the approval slip to collect the funds and said he would put wooden boxes in the river with Uchiha Madara.
• Tobirama Senju picked up Hashirama’s copy of The New Ninja and wondered what had made his brother act so strangely.
• Uchiha Makoto faced the angry Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire over his use of the Daimyo’s name to target nobles, then claimed Akatsuki Ninja Village needed funds to prepare against Hashirama Senju.
• Uchiha Makoto showed the Feudal Lord a fake ledger listing costly ninja training and wartime projects, and the Daimyo grew calmer after hearing the explanation.

Uchiha Makoto secured the Fire Daimyo’s support for a salt-market monopoly, then welcomed Shinji Uzumaki’s delegation to Akatsuki Ninja Village and explained how the village supported ninja families. Shinji left impressed by its loyalty and potential, and considered the Uzumaki Clan’s alliance with it a chance to gain a powerful protector.

• Uchiha Makoto persuaded the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire to unite the salt market and divide its profits among Akatsuki Ninja Village, the Daimyo, and the great nobles.
• Uchiha Makoto returned to Akatsuki Ninja Village and welcomed Shinji Uzumaki and the Uzumaki Clan delegation, who had come to form an alliance rather than join the village.
• Shinji Uzumaki explained that his clan had refused Konoha’s invitations after Hashirama Senju failed to understand that the Uzumaki Clan wanted recognition as a founding partner.
• Uchiha Makoto told Shinji Uzumaki that Akatsuki Ninja Village had brought its students’ families to the village and provided them with jobs, wages, and support for families of fallen ninja.
• Shinji Uzumaki recognized Akatsuki Ninja Village’s potential to inspire its ninja to fight loyally and decided the Uzumaki Clan should align itself with the village.

Shinji Uzumaki sought financial support and an alliance between Uzu Ninja Village and Akatsuki Ninja Village, while Uchiha Makoto negotiated for Uzumaki sealing-technique support. Shinji accepted the support arrangement and proposed a marriage alliance with Uchiha Makoto.

• Shinji Uzumaki told Uchiha Makoto that Uzu Ninja Village wanted an alliance and needed financial assistance.
• Uchiha Makoto demanded the Uzumaki Clan's sealing-technique inheritance, and Tsubaki Uzumaki rejected the request.
• Uchiha Makoto instead asked the Uzumaki Clan to send sealing experts to support Akatsuki Ninja Village, including stationing several experts there.
• Shinji Uzumaki agreed to provide sealing-technique support and proposed a marriage alliance with Uchiha Makoto.

Uchiha Makoto accepted a marriage alliance with the Uzumaki Clan and promised an enormous betrothal gift for Tsubaki Shizuku. He planned to publicize the gift in Konoha to drive a wedge between it and the Uzumaki Clan while keeping the alliance’s details quiet elsewhere.

• Shinji Uzumaki offered Tsubaki Shizuku in marriage to Uchiha Makoto in exchange for a blood alliance between the Uzumaki Clan and Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Uchiha Makoto accepted the marriage and proposed a betrothal gift of 3.68 billion ryo, astonishing Shinji Uzumaki and impressing Tsubaki Shizuku.
• Shinji Uzumaki celebrated the agreement with tea and urged Tsubaki Shizuku and Uchiha Makoto to drink a wedding-crossing cup.
• Uchiha Makoto asked Shinji Uzumaki to keep the gift quiet within Akatsuki Ninja Village and the Uzumaki Clan, but publicize it widely in Konoha.
• Uchiha Makoto explained that he wanted the announcement to undermine Konoha’s ties with the Uzumaki Clan and fuel his plans for a propaganda campaign.

Uchiha Makoto formed an alliance between the Akatsuki Ninja Village and the Uzumaki Clan, agreed to marry Tsubaki Uzumaki, and planned to inform Konoha. In Konoha, Hashirama Senju discovered that his donation boxes had been emptied, while villagers argued over whether Konoha had rotten roots.

• Uchiha Makoto and Shinji Uzumaki signed an alliance treaty after agreeing on a 3.68-billion-ryo dowry for Tsubaki Uzumaki.
• Uchiha Makoto invited Shinji Uzumaki to stay and help design a sealing barrier, and Shinji agreed while planning to help with the wedding.
• Uchiha Makoto prepared to tell Konoha about the alliance and his engagement to Tsubaki Uzumaki.
• Hashirama Senju checked the fifty donation boxes he had filled with two million ryo and found that all the money had been taken.
• Konoha villagers mocked Hashirama Senju's failed effort and debated whether the empty boxes proved that Konoha had rotten roots.

After the Charity Box Project lost all its money, Hashirama Senju went to Uchiha Madara to invite him on a mission, not to borrow money. Madara agreed after Hashirama promised they could read more of Warring States Romance afterward, though the conversation left Madara privately dwelling on his loneliness.

• Uchiha patrol members broke up a crowd arguing about Konoha's supposed inherent flaws, while Uchiha Makoto's idea continued spreading.
• Hashirama Senju decided to earn money for the failed Charity Box Project and went to the Uchiha Compound to ask Madara to take a mission with him.
• Madara refused to lend Hashirama money, recalling how Mito Uzumaki had threatened him after Hashirama gambled away borrowed funds.
• Hashirama clarified that he wanted Madara's help on a mission, and Madara reluctantly agreed after Hashirama suggested they catch up on Warring States Romance afterward.
• Hashirama and Madara discussed the novel and its rumored tragic ending; Madara hid his sadness about losing his family and set off to take a mission.

Hashirama Senju left Konoha on a mission with Uchiha Madara, leaving Tobirama Senju in charge. Tobirama read the latest issue of New Ninja and found a story praising the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s book coupons and research funding.

• Hashirama Senju brought Uchiha Madara to the Hokage's Office after their mission and told Tobirama Senju to care for Konoha while they left on another mission.
• Tobirama Senju worried that Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara might damage property if they fought during their mission.
• Hashirama Senju told Tobirama Senju to inform Mito that he would be away overnight, then dragged Uchiha Madara out of Konoha.
• Tobirama Senju picked up the latest issue of New Ninja and considered whether its stories could sway readers.
• Tobirama Senju read a story about Uchiha Makoto using book coupons, honey, and research funding to encourage children in the Akatsuki Ninja Village to study and learn ninjutsu.

Tobirama Senju decided to imitate Uchiha Makoto’s education policy despite resenting the copycat rumors, then learned that Makoto’s marriage to Tsubaki Uzumaki had linked the Uzumaki Clan with the Akatsuki Ninja Village. Meanwhile, Makoto celebrated the success of the Land of Fire salt monopoly and read the Feudal Lord’s acceptance of his wedding invitation.

• Tobirama Senju praised the New Ninja story’s education policy and decided Konoha should adopt a modified version, reducing its proposed payment from 1,790 ryo to 790 ryo.
• An Akatsuki Ninja Village envoy told Tobirama Senju that Uchiha Makoto would marry Tsubaki Uzumaki and that the village had formally entered a blood alliance with the Uzumaki Clan.
• Tobirama Senju agreed to send someone to the wedding and chose Mito Uzumaki to represent Konoha and investigate the Uzumaki Clan’s decision.
• Uchiha Makoto received the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire’s letter confirming that the salt market had been monopolized and that the Akatsuki Ninja Village would receive thirty-five percent of the profits.
• Uchiha Makoto read that the Feudal Lord would attend his wedding as its witness, though he regretted that Tsubaki Uzumaki had already married Makoto before his daughter could be considered.

Uchiha Makoto shared lunch with Tsubaki Uzumaki and discussed the village’s expensive sealing barrier with Shinji Uzumaki. He then attended a school performance celebrating his upcoming marriage, where the students’ fervent praise impressed Tsubaki and convinced Shinji of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s growing influence.

• Tsubaki Uzumaki delivered lunch to Uchiha Makoto, and the two chatted as they ate.
• Shinji Uzumaki updated Uchiha Makoto on the village sealing barrier’s progress and its high material costs.
• Uchiha Makoto approved unlimited funding to build a large, high-quality barrier.
• Uchiha Makoto took Tsubaki Uzumaki and Shinji Uzumaki to the Ninja Academy to watch performances celebrating his upcoming marriage.
• The students sang praises of Uchiha Makoto, leaving Tsubaki Uzumaki shocked and Shinji Uzumaki contemplating the village’s future strength.

Mito Uzumaki toured Akatsuki Ninja Village and met with Shinji Uzumaki, who explained the Uzumaki Clan’s alliance with the village and revealed that Uchiha Makoto had delivered 3.68 billion taels in aid. Mito worried that Makoto had an ulterior motive, but Shinji defended him, leaving her unable to press the matter without appearing to betray her clan.

• Mito Uzumaki admired Akatsuki Ninja Village’s prosperous streets and noticed that even commoner children enjoyed comfortable lives.
• Shinji Uzumaki welcomed Mito and asked whether she had been treated well in Konoha, and she reassured him despite her unhappy marriage to Hashirama Senju.
• Mito asked why the Uzumaki Clan had not told Konoha about its alliance with Akatsuki Ninja Village, and Shinji said the clan needed more than one source of protection.
• Shinji praised Uchiha Makoto and revealed that Makoto had provided the Uzumaki Clan with 3.68 billion taels in aid.
• Mito suspected that Makoto might be deceiving the clan, but Shinji reprimanded her and insisted that the money had already arrived.

Mito Uzumaki met with Uchiha Makoto, who charmed her with his devotion to Tsubaki Shizuku and received the Yin Seal as a wedding gift for her. Mito grew envious of Tsubaki’s apparent happiness, and the chapter ended with Makoto asking whether Hashirama Senju loved her wholeheartedly.

• Mito Uzumaki apologized to Shinji Uzumaki for her earlier doubts, and he warned her not to voice them around Uchiha Makoto.
• Mito Uzumaki met Uchiha Makoto, who praised her youthful appearance and asked her to share her beauty secrets with Tsubaki Shizuku.
• Uchiha Makoto declared his love for Tsubaki Shizuku and offered to pay for the Yin Seal, but Mito gave the technique to her as a wedding gift.
• Mito Uzumaki asked about Tsubaki Shizuku’s bride price, and Uchiha Makoto said he had paid 3.68 billion taels to show his sincerity.
• Mito Uzumaki envied Tsubaki Shizuku, and Uchiha Makoto asked whether Hashirama Senju loved her wholeheartedly.

Uchiha Makoto persuaded Mito Uzumaki to question her lonely married life and embrace independence for female ninjas. Mito accepted his ideas and thanked him, while Makoto saw her as a way to advance his plans in Konoha.

• Mito Uzumaki reluctantly claimed that she and Hashirama Senju had a happy marriage, though Uchiha Makoto sensed her bitterness.
• Uchiha Makoto asked Mito about married life and used her dissatisfaction to argue that female ninjas should pursue careers instead of returning to household duties.
• Mito described an idealized routine of caring for the home and waiting for Hashirama, then admitted that was how she lived.
• Uchiha Makoto urged Mito to break with outdated traditions and find purpose beyond marriage and housework.
• Mito became inspired to reclaim her independence and thanked Uchiha Makoto, whom she addressed as Lord Shadow.

Uchiha Makoto persuaded Mito Uzumaki to champion women’s independence and support his articles in New Ninja. Mito planned to seek official funding from Tobirama Senju, while Makoto hoped the campaign would create opposition within Konoha and make it harder for Tobirama to act against him.

• Uchiha Makoto gave Mito Uzumaki several articles about women’s independence and the value of female ninja.
• Mito Uzumaki was moved by the articles and resolved to help female ninja break free from traditional restrictions.
• Mito Uzumaki proposed that Konoha fund the purchase and distribution of New Ninja to show its support for female ninja.
• Uchiha Makoto asked whether Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju would oppose her plan, while secretly hoping the campaign would weaken Tobirama’s position.
• Mito Uzumaki decided Hashirama would not object and planned to persuade Tobirama Senju herself.

After marrying Uchiha Makoto, Tsubaki Uzumaki enjoyed a lavish wedding, while Mito Uzumaki returned to Konoha inspired by Makoto’s ideas about women’s independence. She defended Makoto to Tobirama Senju and ended by asking him for funding, leaving him alarmed that she might be following Hashirama’s example.

• Uchiha Makoto and Tsubaki Uzumaki held a grand wedding attended by the Fire Feudal Lord and celebrated by Akatsuki Ninja Village’s villagers, and Mito Uzumaki envied the couple’s happiness.
• Mito Uzumaki returned to Konoha and reported to Tobirama Senju that the Uzumaki Clan wanted close ties with both Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• Mito Uzumaki praised Akatsuki Ninja Village’s wealth, its Ninja Academy’s enrollment, and Uchiha Makoto’s leadership, prompting Tobirama Senju to question her glowing assessment.
• Mito Uzumaki showed Tobirama Senju articles from New Ninja and declared that female ninjas should pursue independence and careers.
• Mito Uzumaki rebuked Tobirama Senju for calling Makoto by name and insisted he address him as Lord Shadow.
• Mito Uzumaki asked Tobirama Senju for funding, leaving him worried that she was following Hashirama Senju’s example.

Mito Uzumaki persuaded Tobirama Senju to fund her Female Ninja Mutual Aid Association, while Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara returned to Konoha after delaying their trip. After Cloud Ninja killed a horse and caused casualties among Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village squads, Uchiha Makoto gathered the village leaders to decide how to respond.

• Mito Uzumaki argued that funding New Ninja would help female ninjas return to the profession, then appealed to her years of service until Tobirama Senju agreed.
• Two months later, Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara returned to Konoha after spending an extra month sightseeing.
• Mito Uzumaki recruited former female ninjas into the Female Ninja Mutual Aid Association, while Tobirama Senju continued his work amid accusations of copying Akatsuki Ninja Village policies.
• Uchiha Makoto learned that Cloud Ninja had clashed with Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village squads in the Land of Rice, causing casualties and killing his horse.
• The smaller clan leaders argued that the clash was an ordinary mission dispute that compensation could settle, but Masao Kaguya urged Uchiha Makoto to send troops against the Cloud Ninja.

Uchiha Makoto pushed Akatsuki Ninja Village’s leaders to declare war on Kumogakure over the deaths of two Chunin, arguing that the village needed to deter future attacks and prepare for an inevitable conflict. The leaders remained reluctant, but Makoto made his decision and expected that Akatsuki Ninja Village’s resources and Uchiha Madara’s support would prevent defeat.

• Masao Kaguya called for war, but Akatsuki Ninja Village’s leaders and clan representatives objected to starting a costly conflict over two dead Chunin.
• Uchiha Makoto outlined six possible responses to Kumogakure and dismissed the first five, leaving war as the only option.
• Makoto argued that Akatsuki Ninja Village had to seize its advantage, protect its members, and establish a reputation that would deter future attacks.
• Makoto challenged the leaders to define when a conflict would become serious enough to justify war, then declared that war was unavoidable and that he had decided to fight.
• The leaders left the meeting divided and waited for a chance to blame Makoto if the war went badly, while Makoto remained confident that Akatsuki Ninja Village could defeat Kumogakure with its resources and Uchiha Madara’s aid.

Hashirama Senju was summoned to the Hokage's Office, where Tobirama Senju briefed him on a clash between a joint Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village squad and Kumogakure. The chapter ended with Tobirama asking Hashirama to decide Konoha's position on the incident.

• Tsubaki Uzumaki welcomed Uchiha Makoto home with dinner and an intimate greeting.
• Hashirama Senju found that Mito Uzumaki had been busy with the Female Ninja Mutual Aid Association and completing B-rank missions instead of preparing dinner.
• An Anbu ninja summoned Hashirama Senju to the Hokage Building alone, interrupting his plan to eat at Uchiha Madara's home.
• Hashirama Senju found Mito Uzumaki helping Tobirama Senju handle village affairs, then failed to notice her displeasure when he spoke about visiting Uchiha Madara.
• Tobirama Senju told Hashirama Senju that a joint Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village squad had clashed with Kumogakure in the Land of Rice, leaving one Konoha chunin and two Akatsuki Ninja Village chunin dead.
• Tobirama Senju asked Hashirama Senju to decide Konoha's position on the clash.

Hashirama Senju chose a restrained response to a clash involving Konoha, Kumogakure, and Akatsuki Ninja Village, but Uchiha Makoto publicly issued harsh demands against Kumogakure and rallied his village toward war. The chapter ended with Makoto preparing for conflict and waiting to see how Kumogakure and Konoha would respond.

• Hashirama Senju told Tobirama Senju to settle the deceased Konoha chūnin’s family’s needs and negotiate peacefully with Kumogakure.
• Hashirama Senju said he would discuss the clash with Madara, while Mito Uzumaki became frustrated when Hashirama invited her to dine at Madara’s home.
• Akatsuki Ninja Village publicly accused Kumogakure of an unprovoked attack and demanded compensation, the accused sent for trial, and the Raikage’s apology.
• Uchiha Makoto promoted essays and held a memorial ceremony that strengthened support for Akatsuki Ninja Village and anger toward Kumogakure.
• Uchiha Makoto prepared Akatsuki Ninja Village for war and waited for Kumogakure’s and Konoha’s responses.