Chapter Summaries

Tobirama Senju struggled to contain the political crisis after Uchiha Makoto publicly demanded harsh terms from Kumogakure, while Konoha’s public rallied behind Akatsuki Ninja Village. He feared the escalating dispute could lead to war and boost the Uchiha Clan’s influence, even imagining Uchiha Madara taking the Hokage’s robe.

• Tobirama Senju realized Uchiha Makoto’s public demands for compensation, trials, and the Raikage’s repentance had ruined his plan to resolve the Kumogakure dispute quietly.
• Mito Uzumaki told Tobirama Senju that Konoha’s people were furious and ready to join Akatsuki Ninja Village in a war against Kumogakure.
• New Ninja essays and Mito Uzumaki’s distribution fund spread pro-war sentiment among Konoha’s grassroots ninja and reinforced their view of Akatsuki Ninja Village as an ally.
• Tobirama Senju suspected Uchiha Makoto and the Uchiha Clan were using the crisis to increase their power and feared they might put the Hokage robe on Uchiha Madara.

Tobirama Senju feared that Uchiha Makoto and the Uchiha Clan were using the crisis with Kumogakure to gain influence in Konoha, while Hashirama Senju rejected Tobirama’s suspicions and refused to start a war. Tobirama ended up accepting that Konoha would have to respond passively as Hashirama insisted on peace.

• Tobirama Senju told Mito Uzumaki he suspected the Uchiha Clan was conspiring with Uchiha Makoto to stir up war and seize influence in Konoha.
• Mito Uzumaki dismissed Tobirama’s suspicions, and Tobirama summoned Hashirama Senju to the Hokage’s Office.
• Tobirama urged Hashirama to use force against the Uchiha Clan, but Hashirama said Madara could become Hokage if he wanted and rejected the idea.
• Tobirama argued that Uchiha Makoto’s harsh terms for Kumogakure risked war and proposed that Konoha attack Kumogakure to regain the initiative.
• Hashirama refused to wage war and suggested that Madara send Uchiha clan members to negotiate with Uchiha Makoto.
• Tobirama conceded that Konoha should calm public anger and respond to the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s actions, leaving the village without a forceful plan.

At Konoha’s emergency meeting, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju tried to suppress public anger over Kumogakure’s clash with Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village. Uchiha Madara rejected their call for restraint and began considering unifying the Ninja World.

• Tobirama Senju asked Konoha’s clan leaders to restrain their clansmen and stop public statements that could escalate the dispute with the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• The clan leaders waited to hear Uchiha Madara’s position, suspecting the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s demands had been coordinated with the Uchiha Clan.
• Tobirama Senju asked Uchiha Madara to state his stance, but Madara refused to answer him directly.
• Hashirama Senju urged Uchiha Madara to preserve peace, but Madara believed Kumogakure should be held responsible for Konoha’s losses.
• Uchiha Madara reflected that village conflicts could eventually lead to war and decided that he wanted to unify the Ninja World.

Uchiha Madara proposed that Konoha unify the Ninja World to prevent future wars, shocking the clan leaders and alarming Senju Tobirama. The meeting ended with Madara’s plan on the table and Tobirama wondering how Hashirama would deal with the consequences.

• Uchiha Madara decided to use the emergency meeting to present a plan for lasting peace, but Senju Tobirama tried to stop him from speaking.
• Senju Hashirama overruled Tobirama and allowed Madara to take the podium, prompting Tobirama to angrily accuse his brother of playing favorites.
• Uchiha Madara argued that the Ninja Village Era had only postponed the wars of the Warring States Period.
• Uchiha Madara proposed that Konoha ally with the Akatsuki Ninja Village to destroy Kumogakure, then conquer the other major villages and unify the Ninja World within a few years.
• The clan leaders were stunned, while Senju Tobirama considered the human cost, the opposition from other villages, and the Daimyo’s power, then blamed Hashirama for letting Madara speak.

Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara clashed over whether Konoha should wage preventive wars, and Tobirama Senju ended up handling their disrupted meeting. Konoha issued a cautious statement to the Akatsuki Ninja Village, while Uchiha Makoto prepared for Kumogakure to act.

• Hashirama Senju rejected Uchiha Madara's plan to start wars preemptively, and the two argued until the Clan Leaders intervened.
• Uchiha Madara stormed out of the Meeting Room, Hashirama Senju chased after him, and Tobirama Senju finished the meeting.
• Konoha issued a tactful statement urging the Akatsuki Ninja Village to show restraint and promising to send envoys.
• Uchiha Makoto read Konoha's announcement and decided its neutrality would make Kumogakure believe Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village were coordinating.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered preparations for battle, expecting Kumogakure to make a move soon.

First Raikage rejected Akatsuki Ninja Village’s harsh compensation demands and prepared to confront it without involving Konoha, while Uchiha Makoto began making final preparations for war. When Setsuna Uchiha and Shinji Uzumaki urged him to reconsider, Makoto insisted Akatsuki Ninja Village would win and hinted at its financial strength.

• First Raikage tore up Akatsuki Ninja Village’s compensation demands and ordered Kumogakure to send back equivalent demands while avoiding Konoha.
• Uchiha Makoto reviewed Akatsuki Ninja Village’s war supplies and prepared to establish his authority through a decisive victory.
• Uchiha Makoto received Setsuna Uchiha and Shinji Uzumaki together at the Shadow Building as they urged him to settle the dispute peacefully.
• Makoto told Setsuna and Shinji that he deliberately wanted an early war, while Setsuna revealed Hashirama Senju would not send Konoha troops and Shinji struggled to decide whether the Uzumaki Clan would join.
• Uchiha Makoto refused to reconsider and asked Setsuna and Shinji whether they understood the power of money.

Makoto Uchiha tried to convince Setsuna Uchiha and Shinji Uzumaki that the Akatsuki Ninja Village could defeat Kumogakure by revealing its vast war reserves and financial strength. He left them shocked by the village’s stockpiles and hinted that its funding came from powerful allies and profitable salt dividends.

• Makoto Uchiha led Setsuna Uchiha and Shinji Uzumaki to a secret base after they urged him not to risk war with Kumogakure.
• Makoto Uchiha showed them warehouses filled with Explosive Tags, weapons, and other war supplies.
• Makoto Uchiha explained that the research institute had made Explosive Tag production cheaper and that he had spent nearly Two Billion Ryo developing the technology.
• Setsuna Uchiha and Shinji Uzumaki concluded that the Akatsuki Ninja Village could overwhelm Kumogakure with its resources.
• Makoto Uchiha attributed the village’s funding to the Daimyo’s support, while the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire agreed to help conceal the truth.

Uchiha Makoto completed Akatsuki Ninja Village’s preparations for war against Kumogakure, securing the Uzumaki Clan’s support and driving the village toward mobilization. On the eve of departure, the clans held ceremonies as the shinobi prepared to march.

• Shinji Uzumaki pledged the Uzumaki Clan’s support, while Setsuna Uchiha promised the Uchiha would aid Akatsuki Ninja Village if war broke out and received Makoto’s warning to beware of Tobirama Senju.
• Makoto assembled 3,652 shinobi and approved a roughly 21-billion-ryo war budget as protests and patriotic fervor spread through the village.
• Makoto explained to Kazuma that victory could give Akatsuki Ninja Village influence and economic power across the Ninja World, and arranged to send the Uzumaki Clan hundreds of millions of ryo worth of Explosive Tags.
• Makoto rejected the Ninja Academy students’ requests to fight and prepared to use the war to purge disloyal elements within Akatsuki Ninja Village.
• In the third year of Konoha, Makoto declared a state of emergency and issued Kumogakure a final ultimatum before the shinobi prepared to depart at dawn.
• The Kaguya, Snow, and Kurama Clans held solemn departure ceremonies, while Makoto watched the village with Tsubaki Uzumaki.

The First Raikage dismissed Akatsuki Ninja Village’s ultimatum and refused to negotiate on its terms. Near the Land of Lightning border, Uchiha Makoto prepared a forceful “self-defense” operation designed to make Kumogakure strike first.

• The First Raikage laughed at the formation of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s Special Military Negotiation Group and insisted Konoha send representatives to negotiate.
• Uchiha Makoto led more than three thousand six hundred Akatsuki Ninja troops toward the Land of Lightning border.
• Uchiha Makoto told his officers that they were seeking justice and must not throw the first kunai or use the first jutsu.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered teams to harass Kumogakure border outposts, record the encounters, and provoke Kumogakure into attacking first.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered the troops to bombard Kumogakure with Explosive Tags and signal the main force once Kumogakure made the first move.

Uchiha Makoto provoked Kumogakure into attacking, then led the Akatsuki Ninja Village in a surprise invasion. The Akatsuki forces captured Kumogakure’s first two defensive lines in a relentless overnight offensive, and Makoto’s advance continued.

• Uchiha Makoto staged a confrontation at the border, and Kumogakure shinobi threw shuriken at his negotiating party, giving the Akatsuki forces a pretext to attack.
• Uchiha Makoto’s forces ambushed Kumogakure’s first defensive line at night with Explosive Tags, overwhelmed its defenders, and seized it.
• Uchiha Makoto ordered his exhausted troops to march without resting toward the second defensive line before the first line’s survivors could raise the alarm.
• At dawn, Uchiha Makoto broke through the second line’s barrier with Fire Style, and Akatsuki Ninja attacked using Shadow Clones covered in Explosive Tags.
• The Akatsuki forces routed the second line’s defenders, who fled, and celebrated their second victory under Uchiha Makoto’s command.

After Akatsuki Ninja Village broke through Kumogakure’s first two lines of defense, Uchiha Makoto’s propaganda campaign shaped the Ninja World’s response and the village celebrated the victory. Kumogakure prepared emergency reinforcements as news of the raid spread to the other great villages.

• A surviving Cloud Ninja reported that Akatsuki Ninja Village had destroyed more than a thousand defenders and was approaching Kumogakure’s third line of defense.
• The First Raikage confirmed the losses, reacted with fury, and began planning urgent reinforcements for the third line.
• Uchiha Makoto released footage and evidence portraying Kumogakure as the aggressor, and media outlets across the Ninja World condemned it.
• Akatsuki Ninja Village’s ninjas and villagers celebrated the victories, while merchants donated money and supplies to support the front lines.
• Konoha, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure received news of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s victory.

Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju learned that Akatsuki Ninja Village had defeated Kumogakure and started a war, leaving Tobirama convinced that Uchiha Makoto had engineered the conflict. As Hashirama struggled to decide how to respond, Tobirama began considering drastic measures to protect Konoha from the Uchiha Clan and Akatsuki Ninja Village after the brothers were gone.

• Tobirama Senju dismissed Akatsuki Ninja Village's public account of the conflict as propaganda and recognized that Uchiha Makoto had won the battle for public opinion.
• Tobirama Senju read that Akatsuki Ninja Village had annihilated over a thousand Kumogakure ninja, while he could not understand Makoto's motives for starting the war.
• Hashirama Senju arrived and worried that the war would shatter the peace, while Tobirama argued that Akatsuki Ninja Village had likely framed Kumogakure.
• Hashirama Senju reprimanded Tobirama Senju for speaking against the Uchiha, then asked him how Konoha should respond to the war.
• Tobirama Senju considered Konoha's future after Hashirama's death and resolved to use his own methods to prevent the Uchiha Clan and Akatsuki Ninja Village from threatening it.

Tobirama Senju proposed publicly forming a force to aid Akatsuki Ninja Village while secretly delaying its deployment and letting Akatsuki and Kumogakure weaken each other. Fearing Uchiha Makoto’s influence over public opinion, he resolved to use his political power—and, if necessary, force—to silence villagers and low-level ninjas who opposed his plans.

• Tobirama Senju rejected his first plan and proposed that Konoha call for restraint while forming a force ostensibly to aid Akatsuki Ninja Village and mediate.
• Tobirama Senju planned to delay the force’s deployment with negotiations, clan consultations, supply purchases, and other preparations so Akatsuki Ninja Village and Kumogakure would continue fighting.
• Tobirama Senju worried that Uchiha Makoto and the Uchiha Clan could use public opinion to interfere with Konoha’s affairs and the next Hokage selection.
• Tobirama Senju counted the Senju, Sarutobi, Shimura, Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, Inuzuka, and smaller clans among his supporters, partly because of his control over Konoha’s finances.
• Tobirama Senju decided that if villagers and low-level ninjas refused to follow Konoha’s will, he would hit them hard for the sake of Konoha.

Tobirama Senju secured command of Konoha’s planned mediation force while secretly preparing to exploit the war between Akatsuki Ninja Village and Kumogakure. As news of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s victory spread, the other ninja villages considered how the conflict might threaten or benefit them, and Takigakure’s leaders decided to target Konoha’s First.

• Tobirama Senju persuaded Hashirama Senju to let him lead Konoha’s mediation force and keep Uchiha Madara in the village, while Tobirama secretly planned to profit from the weakened victor.
• Uchiha Makoto sent Setsuna Uchiha news of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s victory and urged him to publicize Konoha’s hesitation to send aid, hoping to stir anger among Konoha’s villagers.
• The First Kazekage learned of Akatsuki Ninja Village’s victory but ruled out involvement because Sunagakure lacked the resources and supply lines to join the conflict.
• The First Mizukage chose to focus on Kirigakure’s affairs, while the First Tsuchikage ordered Iwagakure to prepare to mediate so Kumogakure would not fall and leave Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village unchecked.
• Takigakure’s leader warned that Konoha and Akatsuki Ninja Village might threaten their village next, and the gathered leaders agreed to send ninja to assassinate the First.

Uchiha Makoto and the Akatsuki Ninja Village endured Kumogakure’s fierce assault, while Makoto judged that the Cloud’s supply crisis would eventually turn the war in their favor. He doubted Konoha would send troops and considered how to make the Uzumaki Clan wary of Konoha.

• The First Raikage declared war on the Akatsuki Ninja Village after learning that Kumogakure’s first and second defensive lines had fallen, and thousands of Cloud Ninjas gathered at the third line.
• For a month, the Cloud Ninjas launched relentless attacks, bringing the casualty totals to nearly four hundred Akatsuki Ninjas and almost six hundred Cloud Ninjas.
• Uchiha Makoto reviewed the battle reports as Shinji Uzumaki gave him ice cream and said the Akatsuki forces were adapting to the Cloud’s tactics.
• Makoto suspected Kumogakure’s logistics were failing and expected the Akatsuki Ninja Village’s war of attrition to turn the conflict in its favor within a month or two.
• Makoto told Shinji Uzumaki that Tobirama Senju’s claim that Konoha was preparing supplies likely meant Konoha would not send troops, and he resolved to warn the Uzumaki Clan about Konoha.

Setsuna Uchiha reflected on Konoha’s refusal to send reinforcements and rallied wounded Akatsuki Ninja, while a letter revealed how he and the Uchiha Clan were turning Konoha’s inaction into propaganda. The Akatsuki Ninja Village’s reputation was rising, but Konoha’s army remained at home as the war continued.

• Setsuna Uchiha sarcastically questioned Konoha’s failure to aid its allies, leaving Shinji Uzumaki troubled about whether the Uzumaki Clan could rely on Konoha.
• Setsuna Uchiha visited the medical tent, praised the wounded, and promised victory as they voiced their loyalty to him.
• Setsuna Uchiha read a letter explaining that Tobirama Senju had refused to deploy Konoha’s prepared army, despite Setsuna Uchiha and Uchiha Madara pressing him to help.
• Setsuna Uchiha learned that his allies had spread stories in Konoha portraying the Akatsuki Ninja Village as benevolent, righteous, and courageous while condemning Konoha’s inaction.

Tobirama Senju confronted Setsuna Uchiha over rebellious statements spreading through Konoha and accused the Uchiha Clan of stirring unrest. Setsuna denied responsibility but openly challenged Tobirama, who invoked the Senju Clan’s victory over the Uchiha Clan as their argument ended.

• Tobirama Senju learned that public opinion had turned against Konoha’s leadership after the Akatsuki Ninja Village defeated more than a thousand Cloud Ninja.
• Tobirama Senju had Anbu investigate the rebellious statements and traced their spread to areas patrolled by the Uchiha Clan.
• Tobirama Senju threw the collected statements before Setsuna Uchiha and accused him of spreading them.
• Setsuna Uchiha read the papers, denied knowing who started the rumors, and challenged Tobirama to act against him despite the threat of Madara Uchiha’s Susanoo.
• Tobirama Senju countered that Hashirama Senju’s Wood Human was equally formidable and reminded Setsuna that the Senju Clan had defeated the Uchiha Clan.

Tobirama Senju argued with Setsuna Uchiha over rumors criticizing Konoha’s response to the war between Kumogakure and Akatsuki Ninja Village, then learned that villagers were preparing to protest at the Hokage Building. Setsuna denied responsibility and suspected Uchiha Makoto and Akatsuki Ninja Village were behind the unrest as Tobirama faced pressure to act.

• Tobirama Senju berated Setsuna Uchiha over the Uchiha Clan’s past defeat and accused him of stirring trouble in Konoha.
• Setsuna Uchiha blamed Tobirama Senju for delaying aid to Akatsuki Ninja Village and refused to help suppress the rumors.
• Tobirama Senju insisted the rumors threatened his elder brother Hashirama Senju and demanded that Setsuna stop them.
• An Anbu shinobi reported that villagers were gathering at a teahouse and discussing a mass protest at the Hokage Building.
• Tobirama Senju blamed Setsuna for the unrest, while Setsuna denied involvement and suspected Uchiha Makoto and Akatsuki Ninja Village had organized it.

Tobirama Senju dismissed Setsuna Uchiha’s challenge and moved to stop villagers from disrupting Konoha, ordering the Anbu to gather and bring his disciples. The chapter left Tobirama preparing to confront the villagers while Setsuna remained confined in the Hokage’s Office.

• Tobirama Senju reflected that the village clans supported him and dismissed the Uchiha Clan’s influence over Konoha’s other leaders.
• Tobirama Senju ordered Anbu to keep Setsuna Uchiha in the Hokage’s Office, and Setsuna backed down rather than risk a fight.
• Tobirama Senju ordered the Anbu to gather and strike hard against villagers he accused of disrupting the village and planning to storm the Hokage Building.
• Tobirama Senju added an order to bring along the disciples he had taken in.

Tobirama Senju sent Anbu to break up a village protest, arresting and beating villagers who had criticized Hashirama Senju and the village. By evening, the crackdown had frightened the village into silence, and Hashirama was left confused when a terrified villager begged him not to punish him.

• Tobirama Senju ordered the Anbu to disperse the villagers with wooden truncheons and arrest troublemakers for questioning and ideological education.
• Tobirama Senju led the Anbu and his disciples to the gathering, where Shimura Danzō and the others beat and arrested the protesting villagers.
• Tobirama Senju ordered the arrested villagers treated for their injuries and told them to write letters of repentance.
• After news of the arrests spread, village businesses posted signs forbidding discussion of village affairs, and villagers began avoiding Hashirama Senju.
• Hashirama Senju stopped a frightened villager, who confessed to criticizing him and begged not to be beaten or taken away, leaving Hashirama bewildered.