Recaps

Sarutobi Toru returned to Konoha with his team after using regenerated eyeballs to restore the sight of blinded candidates and promote Konoha’s Medical Ninjutsu. With all eight teams assembled, the first round ended and the tournament was set to begin in a week, leaving Toru free to celebrate with Tsunade.

• Sarutobi Toru and his team reached Konoha after restoring the blinded candidates’ eyes, and their arrival drew tense attention from the other teams.
• Tsunade rushed to check Sarutobi Toru for injuries, and Might Duy interrupted their flirtatious moment.
• Torifu Akimichi announced that the competition would begin in a week at Arena 13 and explained the first-round pairings and village rules.
• Tsunade invited Sarutobi Toru to celebrate at Yakiniku Q, while Inuzuka Hana dragged Might Duy away before he could spoil their outing.

Sarutobi Toru discussed his plan to use the first exam to draw attention to Konoha Hospital, then showed Tsunade the Yang God Martial Way training method he and Duy had developed. After Tsunade agreed to join the research but promised not to train until Duy succeeded, she examined Duy, treated his training injuries, and watched Sarutobi Toru train as he advanced toward tendon training.

• At Yakiniku Q, Sarutobi Toru told Tsunade that the first exam would bring injured examinees to Konoha Hospital and help its reputation spread.
• Sarutobi Toru showed Tsunade the Yang God Martial Way training method he and Duy had developed, and Tsunade recognized that it had stages beyond skin, flesh, and tendons.
• Tsunade agreed to help with the training method but insisted that neither she nor Sarutobi Toru practice it until Duy succeeded.
• At Konoha Hospital, Tsunade found tiny fractures in Duy's bones, forbade him from training, and knocked him unconscious before treating him.
• Sarutobi Toru trained at the rehabilitation Training Ground while Tsunade watched, and he had advanced from flesh training toward tendon training within seven days.

As the second round of the Chunin Exam began, Konoha hosted the gathered ninja teams and dignitaries at its new arena. Inuzuka Hana opened Team One’s individual matches with a fierce attack, but her opponent survived and fought back.

• Kosa, Rena, Keiji, Fukai, Kenji, and Dodai arrived in Konoha and wondered why important intelligence was being discussed openly around the village.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen welcomed the assembled dignitaries and team leaders to Arena 13, where Tsunade served as referee.
• Sarutobi Toru’s team chose individual matches, and Inuzuka Hana volunteered to fight first after strengthening her Chakra and mastering her clan’s Secret Technique.
• Inuzuka Hana and her dog attacked with Fang Over Fang, but their opponent evaded with Substitution Jutsu and countered with Earth Flow Wall and Hardening Jutsu.
• Inuzuka Hana and the nameless ninja traded blows as Tsunade and most teams watched with little interest, while Duy cheered enthusiastically.

Hatake Sakumo's team faced Kumogakure's seeded squad in a three-versus-three battle, and Sakumo defeated Fukai and A with his swordsmanship. Dodai surrendered after Hiruko's duel with him stalled and the Cloud team was left badly outmatched.

• Inuzuka Hana won the first match with Fang Wolf Fang, and Duy and Kosa also swept through their opponents in the following matches.
• Hatake Sakumo's team and the Kumogakure squad agreed to a three-versus-three battle, and Hiruko summoned a griffin as the fight began.
• Fukai charged Sakumo, who stopped him with the White Fang Dagger and wounded him before revealing a blade infused with pure Wind Release.
• Hiruko attacked Dodai from the air, but Dodai's Lava Release defended against the assault while his counterattacks failed to reach Hiruko.
• Fukai and A fought Sakumo together, but Sakumo wounded Fukai and knocked A unconscious after more than ten exchanges.
• Dodai saw his team losing and surrendered.

Konoha defeated the Iwa and Mist teams in a series of brutal Chunin Exam matches, while the exam brought Konoha wealth and attention through its hospital advances. The chapter ended with Might Duy killing Suikazan Fuguki and leaving Yagura wary of facing him.

• Hatake Sakumo's victory over Dodai's team secured the win for Konoha, and Yagura then defeated Rōshi in their match.
• Yagura defeated Shū and Gari, taking down three Iwa Ninja in a row.
• During the three-day break, Konoha Hospital's organ cultivation technology attracted dignitaries, while Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the village grow richer and more influential.
• Jinin Akebino challenged Might Duy, who opened the Third Gate and defeated him with Reverse Lotus, leaving him barely alive.
• Suikazan Fuguki tried to stall Might Duy with Water Clones, but Duy opened the Six Gates and killed him with Morning Peacock.
• Yagura watched Might Duy leave the arena exhausted and felt relieved that he had not fought him.

Sarutobi Toru defeated Yagura with his newly developed Five Decay Technique after entering a state of Absolute Reason. The technique left Yagura temporarily overwhelmed by extreme emotions, and Sarutobi Toru’s victory revealed both the power and the risks of his ability.

• Yagura entered the arena wary of Sarutobi Toru, and Tsunade started their match.
• Yagura dodged Sarutobi Toru’s opening attacks, created Water Clones, and used the Hidden Mist Technique.
• Sarutobi Toru activated Absolute Reason, heightened his senses, and struck Yagura with the Five Decay Technique.
• Yagura lost control of his emotions and actions, and the mist dispersed as he writhed and shrieked.
• Tsunade declared Sarutobi Toru the winner, while Sarutobi Hiruzen wondered whether Toru had learned genjutsu.
• Sarutobi Toru explained that the Five Decay Technique could eventually release on its own, but prolonged exposure would damage the victim’s organs.

Sarutobi Toru calmed Yagura after the previous match, and the tournament continued with Hatake Sakumo’s team facing the Sand Shinobi team. Sakumo’s team won after Hiruko and Aburame Ryoma held off Kosa’s Iron Sand Technique while Sakumo defeated the two Puppet Masters and then Kosa.

• Yagura recovered after Sarutobi Toru slowly undid the effects of the Five Decay Technique and headed to the waiting room, still terrified of him.
• Kosa chose a team battle against Hatake Sakumo’s team, then used iron sand to rise into the air and attack Hiruko and Aburame Ryoma.
• Hiruko summoned a defensive Slime that absorbed Kosa’s iron sand, while Aburame Ryoma’s Kikaichū began draining Chakra from Kosa’s armor.
• Hatake Sakumo found the Puppet Masters’ real bodies after cutting down two Puppets and forced them to concede by slashing their necks.
• Kosa continued fighting until Hatake Sakumo leapt onto his iron-sand platform, beat him, and pinned him with the White Fang Dagger, securing the victory.

Konoha’s teams faced each other in the final, with Hatake Sakumo’s team named champion while Sarutobi Toru stayed hidden. After sparring with Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Toru learned that the Uchiha Clan had secretly experimented on Kagami Uchiha’s orphan, prompting Danzo to ask what he thought of the clan.

• Konoha’s final match became an all-Konoha contest, and Hatake Sakumo’s team won after Sarutobi Toru agreed to remain hidden.
• The village took 100 million Ryo from the prize money, most of the remainder went to Sarutobi Toru as research funding, and the other participants received 10 million Ryo each.
• Sarutobi Toru fought Hatake Sakumo at the Root Training Ground and defeated him with his speed and senbon, without using Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Sarutobi Toru found Danzo in his office beside a shattered desk and read documents about the Uchiha Clan and Kagami Uchiha’s orphan.
• The documents revealed that the Uchiha Clan had transplanted Kagami Uchiha’s exhausted Mangekyo into the child, leaving him alive but unable to become a ninja.
• Danzo asked Sarutobi Toru what he thought of the Uchiha, and Sarutobi Toru called them a powerful clan that refused to integrate and acted like a village within the village.

Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen discussed how to punish the Uchiha for pursuing Mangekyo transplantation, deciding to destroy the Mangekyō Sharingan and pressure the clan’s ringleader through Root missions. They then considered Sarutobi Toru’s political prospects as he sought to become the second Pot Kage.

• Danzo argued that the Uchiha refused to integrate into Konoha and needed to be punished for pursuing Mangekyo transplantation.
• Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed that they could not openly imprison the Uchiha, but decided to destroy the Mangekyō Sharingan without leaving evidence.
• Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to send the Uchiha ringleader on Root missions and seize an opportunity to eliminate him, using the plan as a warning to the clan.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen assessed Sarutobi Toru’s political instincts and village ties, noting that his lack of the Will of Fire could hinder him in Konoha’s public-facing high command.

Sarutobi Toru proposed secretly using hormones to make most Uchiha newborns girls, prompting Hiruzen and Danzo to approve a plan to gradually assimilate the clan. Six years later, Toru reviewed worsening economic and population problems in the ninja world.

• Toru asked Hiruzen whether he could accept taking twenty years to resolve the Uchiha problem, then proposed a hormone that could make fetuses female.
• Hiruzen rejected making every birth at Konoha Hospital female as too conspicuous, so Toru offered a diluted medicine with a more than ninety percent chance of producing girls.
• Hiruzen assigned Root to secretly provide the enhanced pregnancy medicine to Uchiha women and ordered Toru to handle the formula; Danzo welcomed the plan.
• After leaving the office, Toru wondered how the plan might change the fates of Obito, Shisui, Itachi, and the wider Shinobi World.
• Six years later, Toru studied reports in the Hokage's Office and worried about inflation, currency depreciation, rising prices, and the growing number of ninja.

Sarutobi Toru advised the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō as they prepared for a possible war between Konoha and the other ninja villages, then proposed a way to protect Konoha Hospital’s expansion. The chapter ended with the Third Hokage asking Toru what he thought about Lady Mito’s proposal to replace the Jinchuriki.

• The Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō reviewed intelligence and debated whether Konoha should strike first, while Sarutobi Toru argued that the other villages’ economic pressures could drive them toward war.
• The Third Hokage decided that Root would intensify its infiltration and sow discord among the Four Great Ninja Villages, while Konoha strengthened border strongholds, stockpiled supplies, and increased patrols.
• The Third Hokage raised the problem of Konoha Hospital’s expansion, since its branches had saturated peaceful regions and could not be safely established in other major countries.
• Sarutobi Toru proposed giving local nobles and Daimyos shares in hospitals abroad so they would protect their own investments, and the Third Hokage approved the idea.
• The Third Hokage asked Sarutobi Toru for his opinion on Lady Mito’s proposal to replace the Jinchuriki.

Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade considered Uzumaki Mito’s proposal for Tsunade to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Toru supported her but urged her to delay until they had safely completed the dangerous blood-exchanging stage of their martial arts cultivation.

• Sarutobi Toru left the Hokage's Office knowing Uzumaki Mito’s proposal meant Tsunade was the likely next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Tsunade reflected on becoming a Jinchuriki and worried about what Sarutobi Toru would think if she lost control.
• Sarutobi Toru embraced Tsunade, reassured her that he would never hate her, and told her he believed she could handle the Nine-Tails.
• Sarutobi Toru advised Tsunade to postpone becoming a Jinchuriki until they passed the blood-exchanging stage, a perilous step in their Human Immortal Martial Way training.

Sarutobi Toru learned that Uzumaki Mito might endure only another year before the Nine-Tails made blood transformation too dangerous, then received Danzo’s mission to impersonate Cloud Shinobi and attack Iwagakure shinobi. After reaching a secret Root outpost in the Land of Earth, he began investigating Iwagakure’s movements and economic troubles.

• Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade discussed the danger of Uzumaki Mito undergoing blood transformation as a Jinchuriki, and Tsunade embraced him.
• Hiruko’s messenger crow summoned Sarutobi Toru to Root, interrupting the two of them.
• Danzo ordered Sarutobi Toru to impersonate Cloud Shinobi and attack Iwagakure shinobi to drive a wedge between Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• Sarutobi Toru declined to bring Root personnel and asked Danzo how far he should take the operation; Danzo told him to target Iwagakure shinobi dissatisfied with Kumogakure.
• Sarutobi Toru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach a Root outpost in the Land of Earth and reviewed intelligence about Iwagakure’s strained finances and reduced mission volume.

Sarutobi Toru chose an Iwagakure iron-mine outpost as a target and disguised himself as a Cloud Shinobi. At the outpost, Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang, launched an attack, while the last Iwagakure Jōnin trapped the survivors in a prison fueled by their Chakra.

• Sarutobi Toru selected an Iwagakure outpost guarding an iron mine near the Land of Lightning and transformed his appearance to resemble a Cloud Shinobi.
• Two Iwagakure shinobi at the outpost complained about competition for missions before the barrier detected an intruder.
• The Iwagakure shinobi recognized Hatake Sakumo as the Konoha White Fang and gathered with the outpost's defenders.
• Hatake Sakumo counted the thirty-seven defenders, killed an Iwagakure Jōnin with his White Fang Dagger, and beheaded another Jōnin.
• The last Iwagakure Jōnin ordered the others to scatter, then used Earth Release: Inner Earth Prison Tomb Mu and explained that it would drain the Chakra of everyone trapped inside.

Hatake Sakumo’s disguise helped the Cloud Shinobi destroy an Iwa outpost and steal its refined iron, but Shū and Ōnoki suspected Kumogakure was behind the attack. After learning that the disguised “Konoha White Fang” had struck three more outposts along a route toward Konoha, Ōnoki concluded Kumogakure planned to seize the Tianhuang Mountain Range and vowed to hunt the impostor himself.

• Hatake Sakumo transformed into a Cloud Shinobi and escaped the earth prison, then killed or wounded the shinobi at the Tiequ Mountain outpost.
• Shū’s investigation found the outpost’s shinobi dead, its refined iron stolen, and evidence that Tsuchikai’s brain had been destroyed to hide what he discovered.
• Shū told Two-Headed Oonoki that Kumogakure likely staged the attack, but Ōnoki chose to blame Konoha publicly and retaliate against the Cloud Shinobi indirectly.
• An urgent report revealed that the supposed Konoha White Fang had attacked three more Iwa outposts.
• Ōnoki inferred that Kumogakure intended to seize the Tianhuang Mountain Range as an invasion route into the Land of Fire and vowed to hunt the impostor himself.

Sarutobi Toru used his disguise as the Konoha White Fang to lure Ōnoki into a confrontation, while secretly preparing the next stage of his plan. Ōnoki erased the fortress with Dust Release, but the Cloud Shinobi escaped and left him sensing an imminent threat.

• Ōnoki rejected Shū's warning and led the Shadow Guard out to hunt the thief who had killed nine Iwagakure Jōnin.
• Sarutobi Toru learned through his Shadow Clone that Ōnoki had come in person and prepared to advance his plan.
• The next day, Ōnoki tracked a powerful Chakra signature to a burned base and pursued the fleeing figure disguised as the Konoha White Fang.
• Ōnoki trapped the figure inside a vast earthen fortress and unleashed Super Atomic Dismantling Jutsu after the figure displayed a technique resembling the Raikage's Hell Stab.
• The Cloud Shinobi escaped the attack, prompting Ōnoki to suspect he was a new A from the Yagura clan, then Ōnoki sensed danger as the man smiled up at him.

Ōnoki was nearly killed by a Cloud Shinobi who planned to frame Konoha for Iwagakure’s destruction. Hatake Sakumo intervened, while Sakumo’s Shadow Clone secretly healed Ōnoki and left him pretending to be near death.

• The Cloud Shinobi overwhelmed Ōnoki with his Lightning Release Armor and slammed him into the ground until Iwagakure’s Shadow Guard arrived.
• Gari sacrificed himself to contain the blast from Explosive Tags attached to Ōnoki, while the badly injured Tsuchikage realized the Cloud Shinobi intended to blame Konoha for the attack.
• The Cloud Shinobi began killing the Shadow Guard and prepared to finish Ōnoki with the White Fang Dagger.
• Hatake Sakumo appeared, broke the Cloud Shinobi’s blade, and fought him across the plain.
• Sakumo’s Shadow Clone gave Ōnoki red medicine that rapidly healed his injuries, and Ōnoki pretended to remain near death.

Sarutobi Toru’s scheme left Ōnoki alive while deepening mistrust between Iwagakure and the Cloud Shinobi, and Hatake Sakumo returned safely to the Konoha stronghold. Sarutobi Toru reported the mission to Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who recognized its success.

• Hatake Sakumo’s Shadow Clone wounded the Cloud Shinobi, giving Ōnoki the chance to kill him with Dust Release—Atomic Dismantling Jutsu.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Ōnoki to pay 100 million ryo for the medicine that had saved him, but Ōnoki refused and flew away.
• Sarutobi Toru revealed to Hatake Sakumo that he had disguised himself as the Cloud Shinobi and explained how his plan had manipulated Ōnoki and the two villages.
• Sarutobi Toru offered Hatake Sakumo a ride with the Flying Thunder God Technique, then left him to clean up the stronghold.
• Sarutobi Toru recounted the mission to Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who praised its execution.

Sarutobi Toru argued that Konoha should prepare for war with Sunagakure, whose economic strain made conflict unavoidable, while Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to provoke the Sand Shinobi into striking first. Toru then revealed Hanzo of the Salamander’s Kage-level strength and ambitions for Amegakure, giving Hiruzen a way to pit the Land of Rain against Sunagakure.

• Sarutobi Toru explained that Sunagakure’s poverty and overstretched forces would eventually force it into war with Konoha.
• Sarutobi Toru urged Konoha to strike the Sand Shinobi hard, and Shimura Danzō supported his proposal.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided Konoha should let Sunagakure act first and ordered Root to disrupt Sand Shinobi missions while Konoha reduced mission rewards in the Land of Wind.
• Sarutobi Toru raised the possibility of involving Amegakure and revealed that Hanzo of the Salamander had Kage-level strength and sought to make his village the sixth great shinobi village.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen considered using Hanzo’s ambitions and the Land of Rain’s location to provoke a clash with Sunagakure.

Sarutobi Toru visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where their research into the Yang God Daoist Scripture and soul cultivation reached a breakthrough. Dan Katō demonstrated that his spirit body had reached the Object-Moving Realm, confirming their cultivation method worked.

• Sarutobi Toru visited Orochimaru’s well-funded laboratory and watched him analyze data from a spirit body test.
• Orochimaru called Dan Katō out of the isolation room after Dan had used the Spirit Transformation Technique for the experiment.
• Dan Katō reported that his soul felt stronger and that he had sensed touch for the first time.
• Orochimaru asked Dan Katō to lift a sheet of paper with his spirit body, and the paper briefly hovered before falling through his palm.
• Orochimaru and Sarutobi Toru concluded that Dan Katō had reached the Object-Moving Realm and verified that their soul cultivation method worked.

Sarutobi Toru used the Heavenly Crystal Sword to deepen his soul cultivation and then reunited with Tsunade at home. After dinner, he agreed to let her gamble with him under the conditions of his Hormone Sealing Technique.

• Sarutobi Toru warmed up in the Reincarnation Warehouse, transformed his spirit body into the shape of the Heavenly Crystal Sword, and began visualizing it while guarding his mind against its influence.
• Sarutobi Toru cultivated for several hours before reaching his limit, then trained his body until his Shadow Clone dispelled and sent him its memories.
• Tsunade arrived at Sarutobi Toru's home, wiped his sweat, and told him she had missed him; he explained that Orochimaru's soul experiment had made a major breakthrough.
• Tsunade cooked Sarutobi Toru dinner, then pulled out gambling tools and invited him to play.
• Sarutobi Toru described how he had sealed Tsunade's gambling urges and set rules allowing her to gamble only with him, after which he would seal her again.

Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade confirmed their relationship, explored his Reincarnation Warehouse, and became engaged. The chapter leaves them in Konoha Hospital as Might Duy prepares to try the Blood Transformation Technique again, with Sarutobi Toru unsure whether it will succeed.

• Tsunade confessed she would pay her gambling debts with her body, and Sarutobi Toru accepted her feelings.
• Sarutobi Toru used his Hormone Fruit ability to optimize Tsunade's body, then took her to the Reincarnation Warehouse, where she could not use its powerful items.
• Tsunade and Sarutobi Toru visited Uzumaki Mito at the Senju Estate as an engaged couple, while Nawaki failed to cause trouble under Tsunade's watch.
• Tsunade hurried into Konoha Hospital's laboratory and asked Sarutobi Toru about Might Duy's chances of succeeding with the Blood Transformation Technique.
• Sarutobi Toru said they had reached their limit and that the technique should have a fairly high chance of success.

Might Duy successfully completed blood transformation, recovering with enhanced strength, longevity, and the ability to learn ninjutsu. Sarutobi Toru then underwent blood transformation himself and emerged safely, where Tsunade embraced him.

• Tsunade focused on treating Might Duy, who began his third attempt at blood transformation.
• After his heartbeat returned, Might Duy broke free of the blood scab and underwent examination by Tsunade and Sarutobi Toru.
• Might Duy recovered after more than a week, then ran out of the hospital on his hands to celebrate.
• Sarutobi Toru learned that Might Duy's blood transformation had greatly extended his lifespan and improved his abilities.
• Tsunade worried about Sarutobi Toru attempting blood transformation, but he began the process in the Reincarnation Warehouse.
• Sarutobi Toru emerged safely from his blood scab, and Tsunade embraced him.

After recovering from the blood exchange, Sarutobi Toru discovered his body had gained Life Return, while Tsunade awakened a Sage Body through her own blood exchange. The chapter ended with Uzumaki Mito transferring the Nine-Tails into Tsunade at a secret Anbu stronghold.

• Sarutobi Toru recovered fully, found that all seven of his Chakra nature transformations and his physical abilities had improved, and recognized his new bodily control as Life Return.
• Sarutobi Toru punished Tsunade for teasing him, and she limped the next day after their encounter.
• Tsunade completed her blood exchange and awakened a Sage Body, gaining an enormous supply of Chakra.
• Uzumaki Mito gathered Konoha shinobi at a secret Anbu stronghold to transfer the Nine-Tails to Tsunade.
• Uzumaki Mito used sealing chains to draw out the Nine-Tails, and Tsunade sealed it into her body with the Eight Trigrams Seal.

Uzumaki Mito died, ending an era in Konoha, while Konoha’s pressure on Sunagakure drove the Sand Shinobi leaders toward war. With their finances dwindling and other villages offering little support, the Sand Shinobi concluded they had no choice but to fight.

• Uzumaki Mito died, and Tsunade, Nawaki, Sarutobi Toru, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and other Konoha leaders mourned her at the Memorial Monument.
• The Sand Shinobi leaders discussed how Konoha Root missions and heavily subsidized fees had damaged their reputation and drained their funds.
• The Second Kazekage, Shamon, reported Mito’s death and considered it an opportunity to strike Konoha.
• Kosa asked whether the Sand Shinobi would fight alone, and Shamon explained that the Rock Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi offered only limited support while the Mist Ninja’s promise seemed unreliable.
• Chiyo warned that Konoha was prepared and that the Sand Shinobi risked defeat, but Ebizo explained that their reserves would soon run out if they did not act.
• Shamon and the Sand Shinobi leaders recognized that their village had reached the point where it had no choice but to fight.