Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Toru assessed the worsening fronts as Konoha and Cloud Shinobi escalated their war of attrition, while the Mist and Stone fronts remained active. Cloud Shinobi developed a way to counter Toru’s Spirit Transformation Technique, and the chapter left the exhausted Third Raikage still struggling to hold his forces together.

• The Mist Ninja’s harassment drew two thousand Konoha ninja away, easing pressure on Cloud Shinobi as both sides prepared for harsher fighting.
• The Third Raikage resumed slaughtering ordinary Konoha ninja, while Jiraiya, Torifu Akimichi, Hatake Sakumo, Might Duy, and Sarutobi Toru fought back in teams or alone.
• Ōnoki hired bounty ninja, including Kakuzu, to stabilize the Stone Ninja front, while fighting against the Mist Ninja settled into a cautious standoff.
• Cloud Shinobi used a barrier to repel Toru’s Golden Spirit Body, prompting him to suspect they had developed sealing techniques that could harm souls.
• Toru attacked and slaughtered a Cloud Shinobi stronghold in person after deciding not to risk using his spirit body again.
• The Third Raikage continued leading Cloud Shinobi’s war effort despite exhaustion, while his forces remained outmatched in combat power and supplies.

Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and the Mist Ninja prepared to use their new Jinchuriki in a decisive battle against Konoha, though the Mizukage intended to keep the Mist Ninja from becoming Konoha’s main target. When the battle began, the Eight-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Konoha’s formation, and Sarutobi Toru’s Triple Rashomon deflected most of its force.

• Blue B told the Third Raikage that he could fully transform into the Eight-Tails, and the Raikage said Kumogakure would attack alongside Iwagakure and the Mist Ninja in three days.
• Ōnoki praised the Land of Whirlpools’ sealing techniques after Rōshi gained full transformation into the Four-Tails, then urged him to become a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• The Mizukage explained to Yagura that the Mist Ninja would use the Three-Tails to bolster the other villages’ confidence while avoiding becoming Konoha’s primary target.
• Konoha and its enemies pulled back their forces to prepare for a decisive battle after months of heavy losses.
• At the battlefield, a Hyuga shinobi warned Sarutobi Toru’s group that a Tailed Beast was approaching, and Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta.
• The Eight-Tails launched a Tailed Beast Ball at Konoha’s formation, and Sarutobi Toru used Triple Rashomon to block most of the blast and send it over the troops.

Sarutobi Toru unleashed his Lightning Release Armor and overwhelmed the Eight-Tails, breaking the Cloud Shinobi’s morale. The Third Raikage then charged at Toru, and their collision left both men wounded.

• Sarutobi Toru activated his Lightning Release Armor and knocked the Eight-Tails down with a Rising Dragon Fist.
• After Blue B lost control and transformed completely into Gyuki, Sarutobi Toru beat it, pried its fingers apart, and slammed it into the ground.
• Sarutobi Toru dragged Gyuki out by a horn and tossed the Tailed Beast around, causing the Cloud Shinobi to lose their will to fight.
• The Third Raikage broke away from Might Duy and Hatake Sakumo and charged at Sarutobi Toru.
• Sarutobi Toru and the Third Raikage collided, sending the Raikage flying with Toru’s fist imprinted in his chest while a One-Finger Nukite left a bloody mark on Toru.

Sarutobi Toru defeated the Third Raikage and helped secure Konoha's victory over Kumogakure, then learned Tsunade had captured Rōshi and defeated Iwagakure. He traveled to the struggling Mist Ninja front, where the Third Hokage awaited him in a Konoha camp full of wounded.

• Sarutobi Toru outmatched the Third Raikage in speed and fought him for hours until the Raikage collapsed and Kumogakure's forces surrendered.
• Sarutobi Toru used Medical Ninjutsu to save the Third Raikage, then handed him to medical ninja and traveled to the Iwagakure front.
• Tsunade told Sarutobi Toru that she had used perfect Sage Mode to defeat Rōshi and that Ōnoki had surrendered with Iwagakure's forces.
• Sarutobi Toru embraced Tsunade and then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel to the Mist Ninja front.
• Sarutobi Toru found many wounded at the Konoha camp and saw the Third Hokage looking troubled.

Sarutobi Toru reported Konoha’s victories over the Cloud and Mist forces, while the Mist Ninja withdrew after inflicting heavy losses on Konoha. The Third Mizukage revealed why he had maintained the Blood Mist Policy and entrusted Yagura with changing Kirigakure, as the war ended with Konoha dominant and the Mist Ninja having profited.

• Sarutobi Toru told the Third Hokage that Konoha had defeated the Cloud Shinobi and Mist Ninja without losses, while the Mist Ninja had killed over a thousand Konoha shinobi using the Three-Tails.
• An intelligence shinobi reported that the Mist Ninja were withdrawing, and Sarutobi Hiruzen lamented Konoha’s casualties.
• The Third Mizukage told Yagura that Konoha would dominate the mainland for decades and ordered Kirigakure to give up the Land of Whirlpools.
• The Third Mizukage explained that past losses had forced him to maintain the Blood Mist Policy and urged Yagura to become a qualified Mizukage who could reform Kirigakure.
• Yagura vowed to lead Kirigakure onto the right path, and the war ended with Konoha the greatest winner and the Mist Ninja having suffered few losses and gained wealth.

Tsunade and the Konoha ninja returned from the war, but Nawaki died in an Iwa Ninja attack on his supply-protection unit. Unknown to Konoha, Uchiha Madara’s followers rescued Nawaki’s gravely injured body, and Madara noticed the life force inside the medicine bottle Nawaki held.

• Tsunade and the Konoha ninja returned to the village, where Sarutobi Toru wondered why Nawaki had not come back with them.
• Tsunade won their gambling game that night, while Sarutobi Toru grew uneasy about Nawaki’s safety.
• Konoha received news that Nawaki and several others had died when an Iwa Ninja infiltration squad attacked their returning supply-protection unit.
• Tsunade grieved for Nawaki, and Sarutobi Toru stayed by her as she struggled with the loss.
• Uchiha Madara learned that Tobi had rescued Nawaki after real Iwa Ninja inflicted a fatal brain injury on him.
• Uchiha Madara sensed powerful life force in the medicine bottle Nawaki clutched and focused on it.

Uchiha Madara revived Nawaki, but the boy woke with amnesia and accidentally injured Madara. Meanwhile, Tsunade recovered from her grief with Sarutobi Toru’s help, and Toru began his attempt to learn Sage Jutsu at Shikkotsu Forest.

• Uchiha Madara gave Nawaki life-filled medicine, healing his injuries, but Nawaki awoke unable to speak or remember anything.
• Nawaki startled by Madara’s laughter and struck him with a shuriken, prompting Madara to flatten Tobi with a chakra arm.
• Tsunade recovered from Nawaki’s supposed death within a week while Sarutobi Toru comforted her and regulated her emotions with his Hormone ability.
• Sarutobi Toru resumed his research and decided to train in Sage Mode while Orochimaru began studying White Zetsu’s corpse.
• Tsunade gave Sarutobi Toru the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Scroll, and he signed it and summoned Katsuyu.
• Katsuyu agreed to take Sarutobi Toru to Shikkotsu Forest so he could attempt to learn Sage Jutsu.

Sarutobi Toru met Sage Katsuyu in Shikkotsu Forest and learned that failed Sage Jutsu students became part of her. He began testing the Natural Energy pool, using precise Chakra control to fuse natural Chakra with his physical and mental energy.

• Tsunade brought Sarutobi Toru to meet Sage Katsuyu, who confirmed that his Chakra met the requirements for Sage Mode training.
• Sage Katsuyu warned Sarutobi Toru that training was extremely dangerous and revealed that failed practitioners had become one with her.
• Sage Katsuyu explained that the Natural Energy pool could transform the body and allow instant Sage Mode once a student could immerse themselves safely.
• Sarutobi Toru entered the cave alone and used his precise Chakra control before touching the pool with his fingertip.
• Natural Chakra surged into Sarutobi Toru, and he combined it with his physical and mental energy in equal proportions.

Sarutobi Toru mastered Sage Mode quickly and learned from Sage Katsuyu about Natural Chakra, ancient sages, and hidden history. After showing her a White Zetsu corpse, he resumed training and left able to convert some of his chakra into Sage Art Chakra.

• Sarutobi Toru mastered Sage Mode and asked Sage Katsuyu why sages could live longer than ordinary shinobi.
• Sage Katsuyu explained that modern Natural Chakra was too violent for ordinary people to absorb and shared secrets about the Shinobi World's past.
• Sarutobi Toru showed Sage Katsuyu a White Zetsu corpse, startling her, and she suggested he contact the Great Toad Sage.
• Sarutobi Toru continued training until he could immerse his palm in the pool and convert one-thirtieth of his ordinary Chakra into Sage Art Chakra.
• Sage Katsuyu compared Toru's progress with Hashirama Senju's legendary rapid mastery and described the difficulty and danger of the Three Great Sage Lands.

Sarutobi Toru finished training in Shikkotsu Forest and arranged for Sage Katsuyu to investigate what the Sage of Six Paths knew about Black Zetsu. He then urged Tsunade to negotiate with the Nine-Tails, warning that the Tailed Beasts might soon face a crisis from the Demon King.

• Sarutobi Toru left Shikkotsu Forest after training in Sage Mode, and Tsunade praised his talent while Sage Katsuyu agreed to contact him if anything came up.
• After Toru and Tsunade departed, Sage Katsuyu contacted Sage Toad so she could seek answers from the Sage of Six Paths about White Zetsu and Black Zetsu's plans.
• Toru considered the Sage of Six Paths' knowledge and power, then decided to help Tsunade make use of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
• Toru explained to Tsunade that the Nine-Tails was not inherently evil and suggested loosening its seals so they could communicate and cooperate in battle.
• Toru warned Tsunade that the Demon King might break free and that the Tailed Beasts could be connected to opposing it.

Sarutobi Toru persuaded Tsunade to approach the Nine-Tails and negotiate for its help against a possible world-threatening danger. The Nine-Tails agreed to cooperate only with that threat, while Toru encouraged Tsunade to build a closer relationship with it.

• Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade entered Tsunade's Sealing Space, where Tsunade whipped the Nine-Tails after it cursed at them.
• Sarutobi Toru asked the Nine-Tails for some of its Chakra as rent, then explained that they faced a disaster that could threaten the world.
• Sarutobi Toru showed the Nine-Tails an image of White Zetsu and said he had found four monitoring Uzumaki Clan ninja in the Land of Whirlpools.
• The Nine-Tails agreed to help when the threat arose but refused to assist with unrelated matters.
• Sarutobi Toru urged Tsunade to loosen the seal and visit the Nine-Tails often, and Tsunade agreed that it did not seem evil.

Sarutobi Toru took Tsunade out to relax and introduced her to Ichiraku Ramen, where he ate an enormous meal. Afterward, they met Uzumaki Kushina and the grieving Uzumaki Kanao, and Toru considered how the Uzumaki Clan's medical talent could support Tsunade.

• Sarutobi Toru took Tsunade for a stroll through Konoha during a lull in the war.
• Toru and Tsunade ate at Ichiraku Ramen, where Toru ordered several bowls and impressed the other customers with his appetite.
• Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao greeted Toru and Tsunade after they left the ramen shop.
• Toru reflected on Kanao's grief over Tsubaki Uzumaki's death and the Uzumaki Clan's uncertain place in Konoha.
• Toru considered drawing on the Uzumaki Clan's medical talent to build support for Tsunade.

Sarutobi Toru encouraged Tsunade to prepare to become Hokage and helped her take Kushina and Kanao as apprentices. He then proposed assigning the Uzumaki Clan to Konoha’s Medical Department, leaving the Third Hokage to consider the plan.

• Sarutobi Toru introduced Tsunade to Kushina and Kanao, who discovered their family connection through Mito and spent the day together.
• Sarutobi Toru asked Tsunade to prepare for becoming Hokage, and she agreed to work toward it.
• Sarutobi Toru suggested that Tsunade take Kushina and Kanao as apprentices, and both girls accepted the next day.
• Tsunade moved the orphaned girls into the Senju Estate so they could study Medical Ninjutsu while attending the Academy.
• Sarutobi Toru asked the Third Hokage about plans for the Uzumaki Clan and proposed assigning its members to the Medical Department.

Sarutobi Toru persuaded Sarutobi Hiruzen to place the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha’s Medical Department and involve them in the Medical Scroll Plan. At Konoha Hospital, Toru confronted the injured Third Raikage, who collapsed coughing blood, and treated him.

• Sarutobi Toru proposed assigning the Uzumaki Clan to the Medical Department and having them help with the Medical Scroll Plan.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen approved the arrangement and told Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade to help the Uzumaki Clan integrate into Konoha.
• Sarutobi Toru explained that Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao had moved into the Senju Estate and that other Uzumaki ninja would receive separate staff housing.
• Sarutobi Toru found the Third Raikage exercising despite his injuries and warned him to follow medical advice.
• The Third Raikage coughed up blood, so Sarutobi Toru treated him and urged him to listen to the doctor.

Sarutobi Toru arranged for the Uzumaki Clan to join Konoha’s Medical Department and discussed Tsunade’s future as Hokage. Later, he found Uzumaki Kanao and Uzumaki Kushina practicing Healing Jutsu, with Kanao succeeding and Kushina still struggling.

• Karina caught the Third Raikage after he secretly slipped out and scolded him while Sarutobi Toru headed to the hospital.
• Sarutobi Toru reflected that Konoha was negotiating with the Cloud and Rock Shinobi villages for Tax Exemption Rights after capturing many of their elites.
• Sarutobi Toru told Tsunade that the old man had agreed to let the Uzumaki Clan join Konoha’s Medical Department, and Tsunade said she would leave the politics to him.
• Sarutobi Toru returned to the Senju Estate and saw Uzumaki Kanao heal a half-dead carp while Uzumaki Kushina accidentally killed hers.
• Sarutobi Toru encouraged Uzumaki Kushina to keep practicing, while he recognized Uzumaki Kanao’s exceptional healing ability.

Sarutobi Toru researched White Zetsu and discovered that his Hormone Fruit ability could manipulate plant hormones, allowing him to turn White Zetsu into a seed and then make it grow again. He left the experiment with a new understanding of White Zetsu’s Chakra cycle and the possibility that his power could affect the God Tree.

• Uzumaki Kushina asked Sarutobi Toru to teach her Medical Ninjutsu, and he guided her and Kanao before sending them to train.
• Sarutobi Toru entered the Reincarnation Warehouse and examined the White Zetsu reserved for his research.
• While manipulating White Zetsu’s hormones, Sarutobi Toru realized his ability could control plant hormones and might counter the God Tree.
• Sarutobi Toru turned White Zetsu into a seed and absorbed the pure Yang Release Chakra it returned.
• Sarutobi Toru made the White Zetsu Seed germinate and grow again, using half the Chakra in his body to restore its form.

Sarutobi Toru experimented with White Zetsu and discovered that his Hormone Fruit ability could repeatedly regrow it, harvest vitality, and produce a powerful support tool. After finishing his research, he left White Zetsu behind and planned to learn Sage Jutsu using his altered physique.

• Sarutobi Toru regrew White Zetsu repeatedly and found that its Chakra plateaued at Kage-level, each new version lost its predecessor’s memories, and the Yang Release feedback eventually stopped improving his vitality.
• Sarutobi Toru tested White Zetsu’s transformation, fruit form, and body-enhancing abilities, concluding that it could disguise itself effectively and boost an experienced ninja to Kage-level combat strength.
• Sarutobi Toru considered strengthening White Zetsu with Hashirama Cells but recognized that he could not do so yet.
• Sarutobi Toru left White Zetsu in the Reincarnation Warehouse and decided to study Sage Jutsu, hoping his Yang Release-altered body would help him cultivate Sage Mode.

Sarutobi Toru returned to Shikkotsu Forest to train Sage Mode and learned to enter it with less effort. Days later, Konoha secured tariff exemptions from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, and the Third Hokage turned the rights into an annual auction.

• Sarutobi Toru summoned Katsuyu and asked her to help him train Sage Jutsu.
• Katsuyu said someone would handle the White Zetsu trouble after she consulted the Great Toad Sage, and urged Toru to learn Sage Mode to prepare for the Demon King's revival.
• Sarutobi Toru trained in Shikkotsu Forest and learned to enter perfect Sage Mode after ten minutes of meditation in his Absolute Reason state.
• Sarutobi Toru returned to the Senju Estate, left a Shadow Clone behind, opened the Reincarnation Warehouse, and fell asleep beneath the Heavenly Crystal Sword.
• The Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth accepted Konoha's terms, with limited tariff exemptions for goods scarce in their lands.
• Following Sarutobi Toru's suggestion, the Third Hokage auctioned the tariff-exemption rights to Chambers of Commerce each year.

Sarutobi Toru discussed Konoha’s growing auction income with Sarutobi Hiruzen and urged him to fund education reform and the wider use of the Perfect Potion. The chapter left Konoha poised to improve its academy system now that its military advantage and new revenue had eased earlier concerns.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen examined the five-billion-ryo auction proceeds while Sarutobi Toru explained that future auctions could earn even more.
• Sarutobi Toru argued that Konoha’s military budget was small compared with the wealth and resources of the Great Nations.
• Sarutobi Toru proposed reforming the Ninja Academy and distributing the temporary Degraded Potion to its students.
• Sarutobi Toru described a new three-year Elite Improvement Class for promising ninjas after six years of Compulsory Education.

Sarutobi Toru and Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed to use Konoha’s victory to push through the Elite Improvement Class and make Perfect Potion injections a powerful incentive for clan support. Toru then went to the Senju Estate to administer the potion to Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao, where Kushina was struggling to keep up with Kanao’s medical training.

• Sarutobi Toru proposed an Elite Improvement Class for Civilian Ninja, and Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed to promote the reform at the Internal High-Level Meeting.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to offer Perfect Potion injections to Elite Class students and ordered Sarutobi Toru to keep the formula secret.
• Sarutobi Toru considered how the potion and academy reforms could strengthen Konoha’s control and widen its advantage over other villages.
• Sarutobi Toru decided to use the Ninja Academy holiday to give Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao the Perfect Potion and build the Uzumaki Clan’s loyalty.
• At the Senju Estate, Uzumaki Kanao had quickly completed basic Medical Ninjutsu training and started interning at Konoha Hospital, while Uzumaki Kushina struggled with her studies.