Chapter Summaries

Aoba traded a secret technique for Orochimaru’s early Cursed Seal research and warned him that repeated soul-severing experiments were affecting his emotions. The next morning, Aoba brought the scroll to Tsunade for ideas on refining the Yin Seal, and Uchiha Fugaku arrived as they resumed their research.

• Orochimaru traded his Cursed Seal research scroll to Aoba for the secret behind Aoba’s Red Eye technique.
• Aoba recognized that Orochimaru had used the Cursed Seal and confronted him about severing his soul, making Orochimaru realize his experiments might be affecting his emotions.
• Aoba brought Orochimaru’s scroll to Konoha Hospital and explained the exchange to Tsunade.
• Tsunade struggled to understand Orochimaru’s dense research notes, while Aoba proposed using them to refine the Yin Seal’s chakra storage model.
• Uchiha Fugaku came to find Aoba and Tsunade after settling matters within his clan.

Fugaku handed the Military Police Force’s authority to Tsunade and asked Aoba to take Itachi as his disciple. As Kumogakure gathered forces at the border and Tsunade’s safety became a concern, Aoba accelerated his plan to cure her hemophobia and returned to Forgotten Island.

• Fugaku transferred most of the Military Police Force’s personnel slots and authority to Tsunade, who promised to reorganize it fairly.
• Fugaku asked Aoba to take Itachi as his disciple, and Aoba agreed, directing him to study medicine.
• Aoba brought Itachi to Konoha Hospital, where Yumiko began teaching him medical ninjutsu.
• Tsunade showed Aoba intelligence that Kumogakure was massing troops along the border after Minato’s death.
• Aoba decided to move up his plan to cure Tsunade’s hemophobia and used the Reverse Summoning Technique to travel to Forgotten Island.

Aoba prepared to revive Dan Katō with Impure World Reincarnation while building up Forgotten Island and helping its residents learn to refine chakra. He discovered that Shiori was repeatedly using her Physical Healing ability on injured clan members and reprimanded her, leaving her ability exposed as a source of concern.

• Aoba checked the White Zetsu cloning tanks, which he was preparing as sacrifices to revive Dan Katō and restore Tsunade's strength.
• Aoba walked through Forgotten Island, where Uzumaki survivors and other residents greeted him, and considered their chakra training and safety.
• A red-haired youth returned injured after entering a summoning beast's territory, and Shiori healed his deep leg wound by letting him bite her arm.
• Aoba noticed the many bite marks on Shiori's arm and told her to stop letting people use her healing ability instead of relying on medicine and Medical Ninjutsu.
• Aoba recalled that Shiori and her daughter Karin had been brought to the island before Kusagakure could exploit Shiori's healing ability.

Aoba warned Shiori that healing others by letting them bite her was shortening her lifespan, then agreed to lead Konoha’s forces against Kumogakure after securing a week to prepare. He used that time to ready a White Zetsu sacrifice and began the Impure World Reincarnation ritual to revive Dan Katō.

• Aoba confronted Shiori about exposing her healing ability and warned that each use consumed her life force; Shiori promised to stop and learn medical ninjutsu.
• Aoba returned to Konoha, where Sarutobi Hiruzen asked him to hold the border against Kumogakure’s growing forces.
• Aoba agreed to go but insisted on choosing his team and receiving one week to prepare, and Hiruzen accepted.
• Aoba prepared a specially cultivated White Zetsu clone as a sacrifice to restore as much of Dan Katō’s strength as possible.
• At the Pale Swamp ruins cave, Aoba performed the hand seals and began the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

Aoba summoned Dan Katō with an enhanced White Zetsu clone, trained him to use Wood Release, and prepared a ritual using Uchiha Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan. The ritual succeeded, restoring Dan Katō to life as Aoba, Mu, and Dan witnessed his heartbeat return.

• Aoba summoned Dan Katō using a White Zetsu clone fused with the First's cells and told him he needed to be truly revived for an important task.
• Dan Katō discovered a face embedded in his chest and learned that the First's cells had given him access to Wood Release.
• Dan Katō tested Wood Release at Pale Swamp while Aoba prepared the revival ritual and summoned Teacher Mu to guard and observe.
• Aoba adjusted Dan Katō's appearance, placed Uchiha Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan on the altar, and began the ritual with incense, chanting, and shamanic dancing.
• The ritual healed Dan Katō's Impure World Reincarnation cracks, restored his body, and made his heart beat again.

Aoba resurrected Dan Katō and brought him to Tsunade, who recognized him as alive and reunited with him. Back in Konoha, Aoba asked Shizune to join him at the Land of Lightning front, confident Tsunade would agree.

• Aoba confirmed Dan Katō had been resurrected, discovered his altered appearance remained while his grafted powers were gone, and demanded that Dan repay the 130 million in ruined equipment.
• Aoba explained the changes since Dan's death and said he had resurrected him both to help Tsunade and to study the resurrection ritual.
• Aoba took Tsunade from Kushina's home to a secluded forest and revealed Dan, who proved he was alive by cutting his palm and letting Tsunade feel his blood.
• Tsunade recognized Dan and threw herself into his arms, while Aoba left them alone and returned to Kushina's home.
• Aoba asked Shizune to accompany him to the Land of Lightning front as a medical ninja, and Shizune agreed after he assured her Tsunade would consent.

Aoba’s leak exposed Danzo’s Wood Release experiments and set off a crisis in Konoha, while Tsunade and the Third Hokage survived Danzo’s assassination plot. Tsunade declared her bid for the Fifth Hokage, and Danzo and Orochimaru began reckoning with their schemes being exposed.

• Aoba had Ryoichi sell information about Danzo’s successful Wood Release experiments, drawing spies toward Konoha and earning ten million in the underground black market.
• Tsunade confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen about the experiments, and Kakashi later discovered evidence that Danzo might have restarted them using kidnapped infants.
• Danzo planned to assassinate Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade, but Tsunade defeated the Root attackers and revealed that her hemophobia had healed.
• Tsunade declared that she would become the Fifth Hokage, and Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived unharmed as Danzo’s plans collapsed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen’s investigation dismissed the attack as an enemy-spy incident, prompting Tsunade and Dan Katō to condemn his leniency toward Danzo.
• Danzo warned Orochimaru that Kakashi had betrayed them and their operation had failed, while Orochimaru suspected Aoba had cured Tsunade’s hemophobia.

Orochimaru recognized the revived Dan Katō in Konoha, while Aoba received Shisui’s report about Killer B and reshaped the Land of Lightning front with new orders and combat teams. The chapter left Aoba preparing for the coming clash with Kumogakure after lifting restrictions on lethal force.

• A covert investigation began in Konoha after Wood Release secrets appeared on the black market, and Orochimaru lured Dan Katō into the forest and recognized him as revived.
• Aoba read Orochimaru’s report, then learned from Shisui that his squad had encountered the powerful, seven-weapon-wielding Killer B and retreated.
• Aoba recalled revealing his Sharingan and knowledge of Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami, then giving Shisui a scroll containing Fugaku’s order to obey Aoba and a copy of Transcription Seal.
• Aoba took command at the Land of Lightning front, abolished the higher-ups’ restrictions on killing, and ordered the ninja to strike Kumogakure without restraint.
• Aoba began breaking up existing teams and regrouping the frontline ninja according to their abilities and experience.

Aoba’s reorganized teams won a string of lopsided victories, bringing Uchiha and other Konoha ninja closer together and convincing Shisui that battlefield trust could change their relationship. As the Raikage prepared to confront Aoba, Ryoichi sold the underground black market a second intelligence report whose contents threatened to cause a political upheaval across the Land of Fire.

• Aoba formed thirty mixed assault teams around the Uchiha and sent them into battle in batches, while their members gradually overcame their friction through combat.
• The first three teams defeated Kumogakure forces with few casualties, and their battlefield performance changed how Konoha ninja regarded the Uchiha.
• Shisui saw Uchiha and other clansmen returning as comrades and resolved that trust built through shared struggle mattered more than Kotoamatsukami.
• After hearing that Konohagakure had inflicted heavy losses and destroyed a supply depot deep in the Land of Lightning, the Raikage decided to go to the front himself.
• Ryoichi sold a second intelligence report to an underground network manager for thirty million ryo, and the manager feared its disclosure would cause a political earthquake across the Land of Fire.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire learned false intelligence that Shimura Danzō planned to replace him with a puppet and decided to summon Sarutobi Hiruzen by withholding Konoha’s military funds. At the Land of Lightning border, the Fourth Raikage and Killer B attacked Yamashiro Aoba, apparently beheading him, while Uchiha Shisui stopped Konoha’s enraged forces from charging.

• The advisor showed the Daimyo a Black Market Exchange report claiming that Shimura Danzō controlled Root and plotted to eliminate the Daimyo and install a puppet.
• The advisor persuaded the Daimyo to delay Konoha’s military funding request and summon Sarutobi Hiruzen rather than confront Danzō directly.
• Aoba noticed that supplies were running low and suspected the Daimyo had frozen Konoha’s military funds.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B confronted Aoba, and A provoked him into attacking by questioning Kumogakure’s leadership.
• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B struck Aoba with their Double Lariat, sending his head flying as Konoha’s forces watched in shock.
• Uchiha Shisui appeared before the Uchiha elites and stopped them from charging at the Raikage and Killer B.

Yamashiro Aoba survived decapitation and repeated dismemberment by regenerating his body from magma, stunning both armies. After the A-B Duo paused their assault, Aoba drew a kunai and extended his improved Chakra Scalpel into a meter-long blade of light.

• Shisui stopped the shinobi from intervening when he noticed Aoba's headless body had not fallen.
• Magma emerged from Aoba's neck and formed a new head, and Aoba mocked Raikage Ai's attack.
• Killer B wounded Aoba's waist, but magma quickly healed it as Ai realized Aoba had been feigning distress.
• Ai and Killer B launched a renewed assault, and Ai severed Aoba's left arm with Lightning Release: Lariat.
• Aoba regenerated his wounds and left arm from magma, causing Kumogakure's morale to collapse and Konohagakure's shinobi to cheer.
• Aoba produced a kunai, extended his Chakra Scalpel into a meter-long blade of light, and sliced through a stone.

Aoba fought Raikage Ai and Killer B, using his Sharingan, regenerative body, and sand techniques to overwhelm them and nearly kill Killer B. Ai recognized that Aoba was targeting the Eight-Tails’ power and ordered the Kumogakure forces to retreat, while Aoba let them go after achieving his goal.

• Aoba activated his Sharingan and attacked Raikage Ai, whose Lightning Release Armor was nearly cut through before Killer B blocked the strike.
• Ai and Killer B pressed Aoba with a coordinated assault, but Aoba healed from their wounds with magma and counterattacked, cutting Ai across the chest.
• Aoba used a sand-control technique to separate the brothers, then trapped Killer B’s weapons and nearly struck his head before the Eight-Tails rescued him with tentacles.
• Ai realized Aoba was trying to force Killer B to use the Eight-Tails’ power and ordered the Kumogakure forces to withdraw.
• Aoba watched the retreat without pursuing, having achieved his goal.

Tsunade confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen with evidence that Danzo had exploited Konoha’s orphanage and abducted its children into Root, while Hiruzen struggled to address the village’s crises and dwindling supplies. After uncovering evidence that Danzo had helped drive his father to suicide, Kakashi headed for Root’s base.

• Tsunade investigated Konoha’s orphanage and discovered that Danzo had diverted its funds, coerced Yakushi Nonō into espionage, and taken 216 children into Root.
• Tsunade confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen over Danzo’s crimes and demanded a decision, while Hiruzen explained that the Daimyo’s frozen allocations had left the front lines short of supplies.
• Tsunade agreed to stay and handle the orphanage and Medical System, but insisted Hiruzen give her an answer about Danzo.
• Kakashi bought Root intelligence and found a record that Danzo had smeared Hatake Sakumo to stop him from competing for the Hokage position.
• Kakashi checked Anbu archives and concluded that Danzo had exposed Sakumo’s secret mission and silenced the comrade Sakumo saved.
• Kakashi put on his Anbu mask and slipped into the night toward Root’s base.

Sarutobi Hiruzen rushed to Root after Kakashi attacked its underground facility over the leaked truth about his father, while Uchiha Fugaku celebrated the revelations about Danzo. On the Land of Lightning border, Aoba learned from fighting the Raikage, defeated Gyūki with Earth and Lava Release, and began sealing the Eight-Tails in a specially prepared jar.

• An Anbu ninja reported that Kakashi had stormed Root, and Sarutobi Hiruzen assembled the First Anbu Squad to protect him.
• Uchiha Fugaku celebrated the leaked intelligence exposing Shimura Danzō's crimes, while Uchiha Mikoto urged him to keep quiet.
• Yamashiro Aoba revealed that he had learned Lightning Release from fighting the Fourth Raikage, then clashed with the Raikage and Killer B as they fought at full strength.
• Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, and attacked Aoba with its fists and tentacles.
• Aoba restrained Gyūki with giant Earth Release serpents, blasted it with Lava Release, and wrapped it in chakra-suppressing chains from a sealing jar.

Aoba nearly sealed Killer B and Gyūki, but Darui’s Storm Release gave the Eight-Tails a chance to escape. With the battle at a tense standoff, Aoba prepared to unleash Lava Release: Meteor Volcano against Kumogakure.

• Aoba used Adamantine Sealing Chains to drag Gyūki into a jar while his split body blocked the Fourth Raikage’s attempts to intervene.
• Kumogakure and Konohagakure ninja clashed, and Darui fought Shisui before striking at Aoba with curving Storm Release lasers.
• Aoba blocked Darui’s lasers, but Gyūki severed the bound part of his body and coated the chains in ink, allowing Killer B to escape the sealing.
• The Raikage checked on Killer B as Aoba’s split body merged back into him, and Aoba praised Darui before warning Kumogakure he would not let them leave unchallenged.
• Aoba covered his arms in magma and launched massive globs of lava into the sky as he began Lava Release: Meteor Volcano.

Aoba routed the Kumogakure forces with a devastating Lava Release attack, while turmoil over Danzo’s crimes spread through Konoha. After Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities, Aoba warned him not to treat them as invincible and introduced his own Kage-level strength classification.

• Aoba’s magma meteors devastated the battlefield, forcing the Fourth Raikage to retreat with the wounded Killer B as Konoha celebrated.
• Aoba read Tsunade’s report that Danzo had been suspended and Root sealed, then scanned the Yin Seal she had sent him.
• Danzo planted evidence implicating Orochimaru in human experiments, and Hiruzen confronted Orochimaru at his laboratory.
• News of Aoba’s victory over the A-B Duo spread across the Shinobi World, causing Kumogakure to contract its defenses.
• Aoba examined Shisui’s damaged right eye, and Shisui disclosed the powers of both Mangekyō ocular techniques.
• Aoba cautioned Shisui that no technique was flawless, then explained that Kage Level was his own classification of strength.

Aoba explained the difference between elite Jōnin and Kage-Level power to Shisui, then revealed that his full strength surpassed Kage Level. In Konoha, Orochimaru defected, Danzo was officially placed under house arrest, and Danzo secretly planned to reproduce the Sharingan’s power by recruiting a disgraced Hyuga.

• Aoba told Shisui that his Mangekyō Sharingan gave him nominal Kage-Level combat power, though overusing it would risk blindness.
• Aoba claimed his full strength was above Kage Level and gave Shisui a specially made Military Ration Pill that eased his eye fatigue.
• After Anbu evidence implicated Orochimaru in illegal experiments and theft, Orochimaru escaped Konoha after injuring Hiruzen and several Anbu.
• Hiruzen dissolved Root, stripped Danzo of his Hokage Advisor position, and confined him to his residence, unaware that Danzo’s real Root remained hidden underground.
• Danzo learned that Aoba had helped force Kumogakure’s army to retreat and ordered his researchers to study how to reproduce the Sharingan’s power.
• Danzo decided to approach a disgraced Hyuga Main Branch member whose Byakugan had been lost.

Aoba learned that Orochimaru had defected after Danzo framed him, while Danzo was stripped of his positions and placed under house arrest. After arranging for Shisui to seal Kotoamatsukami into his eyes, Aoba treated the wounded Orochimaru, who deduced that Aoba had obtained information from the future.

• Aoba read intelligence about Orochimaru’s defection and Danzo’s punishment, then learned that the Raikage had requested an alliance and the Third Hokage planned to recommend Tsunade as Fifth Hokage.
• Aoba examined Shisui’s recovering eyes and asked him to seal Kotoamatsukami into Aoba’s eyes using Transcription Seal.
• Aoba warned Shisui that repeated use of Kotoamatsukami could eventually leave him blind, but Shisui agreed to help because he trusted Aoba’s commitment to Konohagakure.
• Orochimaru secretly entered Aoba’s tent at night, where Shisui drew his blade before recognizing him and obeying Aoba’s order to stand guard outside.
• Aoba gave Orochimaru the Water of Life, which healed his injuries and restored his chakra.
• Orochimaru told Aoba that he had deduced Aoba received information from the future, and Aoba acknowledged his insight.

Yamashiro Aoba used Kotoamatsukami to ensure Orochimaru could never attack him, then showed Orochimaru the monstrous spiritual form he might become. Orochimaru recognized that his future self had changed, but the chapter left his reaction unresolved.

• The shinobi villages feared Yamashiro Aoba’s strength and sought ways to counter or eliminate him.
• Orochimaru asked Aoba about the Resurrection Technique, and Aoba said its ritual required an undamaged Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Aoba revealed his Kotoamatsukami and used it to make Orochimaru believe attacking him was unnecessary.
• Orochimaru inferred that Aoba had isolated the risk he might pose in the future, while remaining fascinated by the secrets of immortality.
• Aoba brought Orochimaru into a mental space and showed him his deformed spiritual body.
• Aoba warned Orochimaru that pursuing truth without empathy could make him lose himself, and Orochimaru admitted that his future self had changed.

Aoba explained how Orochimaru’s Cursed Seals and Living Corpse Reincarnation would damage and contaminate his soul, revealing why his future self lost his original personality. Orochimaru accepted the warning and asked where Aoba planned to take him next.

• Aoba explained that Orochimaru’s Cursed Seals fragmented his soul and that repeatedly consuming other souls through Living Corpse Reincarnation would alter his identity.
• Orochimaru recognized the fatal flaw in Living Corpse Reincarnation and thanked Aoba for warning him.
• Orochimaru reflected that his decision to defect from Konohagakure had been influenced by emotions unlike his usual rational self.
• Orochimaru asked Aoba where he would go next, and Aoba invited him to follow him somewhere good.