Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Sarutobi Toru and Namikaze Minato to negotiate peace treaties with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, relying on a potion that could destroy trees grown through Wood Release. Toru and Minato accepted the mission, and Toru left the Hokage's Office confident the negotiations would succeed but alert to the danger of retaliation.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Sarutobi Toru and Namikaze Minato to negotiate Non-Aggression and Friendship Peace Treaties with Sunagakure and Iwagakure.
• Namikaze Minato questioned whether the villages, already prepared for war, would agree to make peace.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that Konoha had a potion designed to destroy Wood Release-grown trees, which could threaten the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
• Namikaze Minato praised Sarutobi Hiruzen's foresight and accepted the mission, and Sarutobi Toru accepted it as well.
• After leaving the office, Sarutobi Toru judged that the potion would make the villages submit but remained wary that their envoys could be attacked.

As Konoha sent young reinforcements to the Land of Lightning Border, Sarutobi Toru prepared to negotiate with Sunagakure. In Sunagakure, Pakura confronted Rasa and awaited Toru’s arrival, confident the village could not defeat him.

• Hiruko, Uzumaki Kushina, and several Elite Jonin, including Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Hizashi Hyuga, headed to the Land of Lightning Border as reinforcements.
• Sarutobi Toru chose Sunagakure for peace negotiations, intending to harvest the result of his long-running plans there.
• Pakura recalled learning Kinnara’s identity, defecting to Sarutobi Toru, and becoming his informant in Sunagakure.
• Rasa arrived to tell Pakura to prepare for Toru’s visit, but she mocked him and fired a Scorch Release fireball that burned through his gold dust wall.
• Rasa left after Pakura warned that she could have attacked Sunagakure, while Pakura continued waiting for Toru without concern.

Pakura prepared to leave Sunagakure with Kinnara, while Sarutobi Toru advised Namikaze Minato to negotiate from a position of strength. Toru flew ahead to Sunagakure, leaving Minato more confident about his mission.

• Pakura waited on a cliff overlooking Sunagakure and complained about her latest spar with Rasa when Kinnara appeared.
• Kinnara told Pakura that Sarutobi Toru was still traveling from Konoha Village and said she could stay in Sunagakure if she wished.
• Pakura rejected the idea of staying and followed Kinnara away from Sunagakure.
• Namikaze Minato asked Sarutobi Toru for advice on his negotiation mission, and Toru urged him to show his strength and stand firm.
• Sarutobi Toru flew toward Sunagakure on the Flying Nimbus, while Namikaze Minato took confidence from his advice.

Sarutobi Toru arrived at Sunagakure on the Flying Nimbus, startling the village’s shinobi with its speed and prompting the Third Kazekage to suspect it surpassed Sunagakure’s sand-control technique. The Third Kazekage welcomed him as Konoha’s envoy despite his irritation, and ordered his shinobi to stand down rather than try to detain him.

• Sunagakure’s reconnaissance shinobi spotted Sarutobi Toru flying toward the village and sounded the alarm.
• Sarutobi Toru accelerated past Sunagakure’s airborne Jōnin, circled them to demonstrate the Flying Nimbus’s speed, and stopped at the gates.
• Sarutobi Toru identified himself as an envoy from Konoha, and a Sunagakure shinobi recognized him by name.
• The Third Kazekage arrived, recognized Sarutobi Toru, and listened as his Jōnin reported what had happened.
• The Third Kazekage welcomed Sarutobi Toru and quietly signaled his shinobi to abandon their encirclement and descend.

Sarutobi Toru entered Sunagakure for negotiations with the Third Kazekage, knowing that a Clone and a Konoha spy were among the village’s hidden defenders. He mocked Sunagakure’s secret dealings at the table, provoking Chiyo as the meeting grew tense.

• The Third Kazekage escorted Sarutobi Toru into Sunagakure while staying wary of his power.
• Sarutobi Toru detected the barrier at the Kazekage's Office and met with the Third Kazekage, Pakura, Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and his own Clone.
• Sarutobi Toru and Ebizo exchanged pointed remarks about their villages’ wealth and relations with their daimyo.
• Sarutobi Toru dry-heaved at Ebizo’s claims of friendship, angering Rasa and drawing a rebuke from Chiyo.
• Sarutobi Toru told Chiyo he looked down on ninja villages that secretly plotted but trembled when confronted openly.

Sarutobi Toru taunted the Third Kazekage and the Sand Shinobi during negotiations over a non-aggression pact, prompting Kinnara to strike him. Toru shrugged off the blow without meaningful injury, leaving Sunagakure’s leaders facing his resilience.

• The Third Kazekage said Sunagakure would consider a pact only if Konoha demonstrated its strength, while clarifying that he did not want war yet.
• Sarutobi Toru mocked the Sand Shinobi and called everyone in the office trash, angering Chiyo and the others.
• The Third Kazekage and the gathered shinobi released their chakra as Kinnara formed his Yellow Sand Armor.
• Kinnara punched Sarutobi Toru with the armor’s massive force, cracking the office floor beneath him.
• Sarutobi Toru remained standing as his minor injuries quickly healed.

Sarutobi Toru overwhelmed Sunagakure’s Kage-level experts with a thunderous roar, then taunted them for calling it a sneak attack. Pakura challenged him to fight every Sunagakure expert at the Training Ground, and the Third Kazekage accepted.

• The Third Kazekage attacked Sarutobi Toru with Iron Sand, but Sarutobi Toru shattered it and incapacitated the assembled Sunagakure experts with a roar.
• Sarutobi Toru refrained from attacking while his opponents recovered, then mocked them for no longer rushing him.
• Ebizo argued that Sarutobi Toru had won through a sneak attack, and Sarutobi Toru ridiculed Sunagakure’s fighters.
• Pakura challenged Sarutobi Toru to defeat all of Sunagakure’s experts at the Training Ground.
• The Third Kazekage accepted Pakura’s challenge on Sunagakure’s behalf.

Sarutobi Toru faced Sunagakure’s eight Kage-level fighters in Devil Desert and overwhelmed their defenses with his speed, strength, and recovery. The battle continued after their combined attack caused him only superficial injuries.

• The Third Kazekage led Sunagakure’s shinobi into Devil Desert to fight Sarutobi Toru, bringing young Jōnin to witness the battle.
• Sarutobi Toru mocked the group for arriving late, then charged at the Third Kazekage with a sudden burst of speed.
• The Third Kazekage attacked with Iron Sand Spikes, but Sarutobi Toru shattered them as he moved around him.
• Sarutobi Toru rushed Rasa, whose Gold Dust Wall briefly slowed him, allowing Kinnara to intercept the punch and get knocked back into Rasa.
• Pakura and Ebizo combined their Scorch Release and Wind Release attacks, but Sarutobi Toru recovered from the resulting burns and blisters almost immediately.

Sarutobi Toru broke free of the Third Kazekage’s Iron Sand and evaded the Puppet masters’ Heavenly Light Prism, then swiftly found and incapacitated Chiyo, Rena, and Keiji. The Third Kazekage and Kinnara failed to restrain him with a Black Sandstorm and Wood Release, so the Kazekage called on Rasa and Pakura to use another technique.

• The Third Kazekage bound Sarutobi Toru with Iron Sand while Chiyo, Rena, and Keiji fired the Heavenly Light Prism at him.
• Sarutobi Toru used Life Return to break free, dodged the prism, and struck down Rena and Keiji before finding Chiyo underground and knocking her unconscious.
• The Third Kazekage realized Sarutobi Toru had sensory abilities and began a Black Sandstorm to slow him down.
• Kinnara used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence inside the storm, but Sarutobi Toru tore through the forest with his physical strength alone.
• The Third Kazekage called on Rasa and Pakura to join him and use a technique.

Sarutobi Toru broke free of the Sand Shinobi’s sealed metal pyramid and overwhelmed the Third Kazekage and his allies. The Third Kazekage conceded defeat and offered to hear Konoha’s conditions, while Sasori vowed to reach Toru’s level through Puppet Technique.

• The Third Kazekage and Rasa trapped Sarutobi Toru in a metal pyramid, which Pakura and Ebizo heated until it hardened.
• Sarutobi Toru shattered the pyramid with black lightning and revealed his Lightning Release Armor, terrifying the Sand Shinobi with his power.
• Toru struck the Third Kazekage, Rasa, Kinnara, Pakura, and Ebizo down in a single exchange, adjusting his attacks to their defenses.
• The Third Kazekage conceded defeat and invited Sarutobi Toru to state Konoha’s conditions.
• Pakura secretly admired Toru, while Sasori watched the fight and resolved to surpass the limits of Puppet Technique.

Sarutobi Toru presented Konoha’s harsh Peace Treaty to the Third Kazekage, who refused to accept it and chose to face war rather than yield. Toru left Sunagakure with a bottle of medicine that he claimed could destroy Wood Release-grown trees, leaving the Kazekage uncertain whether the threat was real.

• The Sand Shinobi returned to Sunagakure, and the Third Kazekage kept their defeat by Sarutobi Toru secret from the village.
• Sarutobi Toru gave the Third Kazekage Konoha’s Peace Treaty, whose demands included trade concessions, students sent to Konoha, and Kage-level support for Konoha.
• The Third Kazekage rejected the treaty after Ebizo declared that Sunagakure would fight rather than accept its terms.
• Sarutobi Toru warned the Third Kazekage not to ruin the Land of Wind and claimed Konoha had developed medicine that could kill Wood Release-grown trees.
• After Sarutobi Toru left the medicine behind, the Third Kazekage asked Kinnara whether its effects were real, and Kinnara said he could not know without testing it.

Sarutobi Toru secured Sunagakure's agreement to Konoha's treaty terms, and Pakura volunteered to accompany him as a peace envoy. After leaving the village, Pakura revealed her allegiance to Toru, and they arrived at Konoha together.

• The Third Kazekage accepted Konoha's treaty terms after three days of deliberation.
• Pakura volunteered to travel to Konoha as Sunagakure's peace envoy, and Sarutobi Toru departed with her.
• Once they were away from Sunagakure, Pakura admitted she was glad to leave and told Toru she wanted to join Root.
• Sarutobi Toru and Pakura reached Konoha, where he offered to let her stay at his residence.
• At Konoha's gate, Sarutobi Toru introduced Pakura to the guards as Sunagakure's peace envoy.

Sarutobi Toru returned to Konoha with Pakura, whom Sunagakure had sent as a peace ambassador, while Namikaze Minato was still traveling to Iwagakure. At the Senju Estate, Tsunade and Kurama quarreled over a gambling game until Sarutobi Toru arrived and explained Konoha’s view of the war.

• Sunagakure’s Pakura arrived with Sarutobi Toru as a peace ambassador, and the gate guards admired his success in securing negotiations.
• Sarutobi Toru learned that Namikaze Minato had not yet returned from his mission to Iwagakure and brought Pakura into Konoha.
• At the Senju Estate, Tsunade lost repeatedly at a gambling game and argued with Kurama over letting him play.
• Kurama took control of Tsunade’s body and easily won against a hard-difficulty opponent, prompting Tsunade to seal him away.
• Tsunade complained that she wanted to fight Kumogakure shinobi, and Sarutobi Toru entered and said the war was being treated as training for younger shinobi.

Tsunade felt jealous when Sarutobi Toru introduced Pakura as another lover, but Toru’s influence soon left the women in his household affectionate and harmonious. As he showed Pakura around Konoha, he explained why he had imposed harsh peace terms on Sunagakure: Konoha’s overwhelming strength would deter future wars.

• Tsunade welcomed Sarutobi Toru home and recognized Pakura as a potential romantic rival.
• The next morning, Tsunade, Pakura, Uzumaki Kanao, and Yakushi Nonō showed no jealousy and got along warmly with Toru and one another.
• Tsunade and Toru accompanied Pakura around Konoha after Toru had arranged her residency and reported the peace negotiations to the Hokage.
• Toru defended his harsh treaty with Sunagakure as a way to weaken Konoha’s rivals and preserve peace through Konoha’s dominance.
• The Third Hokage accepted Toru’s terms, since they secured Sunagakure’s neutrality while bringing greater benefits to Konoha.

Sarutobi Toru got the Third Hokage to accept Pakura as a resident, then took her and Tsunade around Konoha. The group entered a tavern, where Tsunade spotted Jiraiya making a spectacle of himself and stormed over to confront him.

• Sarutobi Toru reassured the Third Hokage about Pakura, who agreed to register her as a resident of Konoha.
• Pakura explored Konoha with Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade, enjoying the village's food.
• Tsunade persuaded Sarutobi Toru to take Pakura to a tavern and promised to drink only a little.
• Sarutobi Toru spotted Jiraiya drinking and boasting beside a hostess, and Tsunade angrily marched over to him.

Jiraiya joined Sarutobi Toru, Tsunade, and Pakura for drinks after Tsunade beat him for behaving disgracefully in front of Sunagakure’s envoy. Their conversation turned to Sunagakure’s new alliance with Konoha, and Sarutobi Toru said he had persuaded its leaders by exchanging ninjutsu.

• Tsunade scolded Jiraiya for drinking with a hostess while Sunagakure’s envoy was present, and Sarutobi Toru healed his bruised face.
• Jiraiya tried to defend his writing and claim he was gathering material, but Sarutobi Toru hinted that he wrote erotic books, making Jiraiya plead for him to keep quiet.
• After ordering food, Jiraiya asked about Sunagakure’s agreement to remain at peace with Konoha and its offer to send troops.
• Pakura confirmed the agreement, and Sarutobi Toru said he had exchanged ninjutsu with Sunagakure’s leaders to persuade them.

Jiraiya questioned how Konoha had secured peace agreements with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, prompting Sarutobi Toru to reveal the plan behind the negotiations. The chapter ended with Jiraiya hoping Minato would be safer while Toru suspected Sunagakure and Iwagakure might still fight each other.

• Jiraiya noticed Pakura's closeness with Sarutobi Toru and was astonished that she and Tsunade seemed to coexist peacefully.
• Jiraiya asked Toru how he had won Pakura over, and Tsunade punched him for his question.
• Jiraiya questioned how Konoha could force Sunagakure and Iwagakure to accept peace agreements, and Toru revealed his plan involving the Tree Removal Potion.
• Jiraiya learned the plan had taken shape six years earlier and briefly showed disappointment that the agreements had come through threats and schemes.
• Jiraiya hoped the agreements would prevent another war and keep Minato safer, while Toru privately suspected Sunagakure and Iwagakure might still clash.

Sarutobi Toru and Jiraiya discussed Konoha’s enemies and the shifting balance of power as the war spread. Toru expected Kirigakure to join the fighting and recognized that Konoha’s growing influence had made the other nations uneasy.

• Jiraiya asked whether Kumogakure and Kirigakure were Konoha’s main enemies, and Sarutobi Toru described Konoha’s battlefield advantage against Kumogakure.
• Sarutobi Toru explained that Killer B had not become the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki because Blue B was still alive, while Hiruko and Uzumaki Kushina were powerful forces for Konoha.
• Jiraiya marveled that Hiruko had successfully researched Wood Release, and Sarutobi Toru said the Third Raikage was unlikely to enter the fighting unless Kumogakure faced a desperate situation.
• Jiraiya questioned whether Kirigakure would join the war, and Sarutobi Toru said he might soon need to oversee the Land of Whirlpools with Tsunade.
• Sarutobi Toru explained that Konoha’s rapid development and its seizure of wealth from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth had unsettled the other nations and their Daimyo.

Kirigakure sent Utakata and the new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to seize Konoha’s stronghold in the Land of Whirlpools, while Black Zetsu prepared a plan to divert Uchiha Hitomi’s hatred. On the Land of Frost front, Konoha’s Wood Release and young clan fighters forced Kumogakure back, leaving the Fourth Raikage A focused on Hiruko.

• The Fourth Mizukage assigned Kisame Hoshigaki, Ringo Ameyuri, Jinin Akebino, Juzo Biwa, and Utakata to attack Konoha’s stronghold in the Land of Whirlpools, with Utakata planning to use a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Uchiha Shisui asked Black Zetsu about his operation, and Black Zetsu said he was nearly ready to use a team of Konoha shinobi to redirect Uchiha Hitomi’s hatred away from Kirigakure.
• Hiruko restored his Chakra and unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence again, carving through the Cloud Shinobi forces and drawing A’s attention.
• Dodai and Killer B landed after being sent flying, and Killer B reported that he and Dodai had failed to defeat the red-haired Uzumaki girl and that Konoha had several other capable young fighters.
• Dodai identified the Uzumaki girl as likely being Princess Tsunade’s disciple, and the Fourth Raikage A decided that stopping Hiruko’s Wood Release was the immediate priority.

Hiruko’s Wood Release continued to frustrate Kumogakure’s strongest fighters, while Konoha’s forces inflicted heavy losses and drove the Cloud Shinobi back. At the command center, Fourth Raikage A and his advisers recognized that Kumogakure could not defeat Konoha alone and still had no word from the Stone or Sand Shinobi.

• Killer B suggested using Two-Tails Yugito against Hiruko, but Dodai warned that Uzumaki Kushina’s sealing techniques could counter a Tailed Beast, so Fourth Raikage A decided to target her first.
• Hiruko recovered his Chakra and unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence against Fourth Raikage A, Killer B, and Dodai, forcing them to retreat rather than enter its range.
• Kushina continued hurling Cloud Shinobi aside, while Uchiha Fugaku, Hizashi Hyuga, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio dominated their opponents.
• Kumogakure withdrew its battle line after suffering severe losses to Konoha’s forces.
• At the Kumogakure Command Center, Fourth Raikage A, Dodai, and Killer B discussed the lack of support from the Stone and Sand Shinobi and concluded that their village could not win against Konoha alone.