Chapter Summaries

After Simu emerged unbroken from Root’s confinement, Danzo gave him a powerful Wood Release technique, which Simu mastered in minutes and used to devastate Root’s central area. Later, Orochimaru considered Danzo’s offer to trade for the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique, while Simu urged him to demand more.

• Kinoe found Simu cheerful in confinement and watched him bury the leftover food packaging before they went to see Danzo.
• Danzo gave Simu a scroll for Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, and Simu mastered it almost immediately, turning Root’s central area into a forest.
• Danzo ordered Simu to erase the forest and keep his Wood Release secret, then promised to personally supervise his training.
• Danzo offered Orochimaru double funding in exchange for the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique.
• Orochimaru discussed the offer with Simu, who encouraged him to raise the price for the forbidden technique.

Simu mastered Danzo’s Wood Release techniques, then secretly investigated the Hyuga Clan’s historical records and discovered an underground store of Byakugan. He witnessed the Hyuga leaders replace the injured eyes of a Branch House ninja with stored Byakugan.

• Simu summoned a Wood Dragon and Wood Human to demonstrate his mastery, leaving Danzo with no more Wood Release techniques to teach him.
• Simu considered the growing Uchiha conflict and planned to secretly intensify the coming civil war while preparing to collect useful information.
• Simu sent Black Beetles into the Hyuga Clan shrine to record its archives, but withdrew them when scouts warned that visitors were approaching.
• Hyuga Hiashi, an elder, and the injured Hyuga Liuguang opened a hidden passage beneath the shrine and entered an underground chamber.
• The elder selected stored Byakugan, removed Liuguang’s ruined eyes, and transplanted the replacement pair while Simu watched through a Black Beetle.

Simu witnessed the Hyuga Main House force Branch House jonin Hyuga Liuguang to accept a transplanted Byakugan and keep the clan’s eye-collection practices secret. After recording the Hyuga library’s books, Simu encountered Neji Hyuga and left him a scroll containing a higher-level Gentle Fist technique.

• Hyuga Liuguang woke after receiving a transplanted Byakugan and realized the Hyuga Clan stored scores of eyes taken from its members.
• Hyuga Hiashi explained the collection, while the Main House elder tortured Liuguang with the Caged Bird Seal and warned him to remain silent.
• Simu watched the Main House leave, then decided the Branch House needed the salvation of Great Lord Jashin and continued recording the clan’s books.
• After recording the library’s books by dawn, Simu noticed Neji Hyuga training in the courtyard and recalled his father’s sacrifice and Neji’s Branch House status.
• Simu tested Neji’s reflexes, then gave him a scroll containing a higher-level Gentle Fist technique before disappearing.

Neji hid an advanced Gentle Fist scroll and continued training with Simu, who used Black Beetles to teach him the Hyuga Clan's acupoints and chakra circulation. Simu completed his analysis of the Hyuga Clan and left to pursue a more important development.

• Neji carefully opened the scroll, recognized it as an advanced Gentle Fist technique, and chose to hide it rather than give it to the clan head.
• Simu reflected on the Caged Bird Seal's power to protect the Byakugan and control Branch House members, then continued collecting Hyuga samples with insects.
• Simu appeared at Neji's home and began a lesson on the body's acupoints, sending Black Beetles into Neji to simulate chakra circulation.
• After two hours, Simu finished teaching Neji the acupoints required for the Gentle Fist and told him to practice the Eight Trigrams Palm.
• Simu vanished after learning that all information on the Hyuga Clan had been fully analyzed.

Simu uncovered Hyuga Clan records suggesting a branch went to the moon and that the Byakugan could evolve, then turned his attention to the growing Uchiha-Konoha conflict. Kimura offered Fugaku Uchiha a deal to supply the clan with medical goods and Military Ration Pills, accepting the risk of backing a possible rebellion.

• Simu read the Hyuga Clan's ancient records and found claims that one branch went to the moon to guard something important.
• Simu learned the Byakugan might evolve and considered investigating the Uchiha Clan's shrine for hidden secrets.
• Fugaku Uchiha returned home troubled by growing support for rebellion and learned that Kimura had come to visit.
• Kimura told Fugaku that the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild could provide medical supplies and Military Ration Pills to the Uchiha Clan.
• Fugaku questioned the risks of the deal, and Kimura replied that merchants had to gamble to get rich.

Kimura offered Fugaku Uchiha the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild’s support in exchange for the chance to profit from an Uchiha takeover, including a way to secretly move clan members out of Konoha. Fugaku remained undecided and said he would consult the clan elders before contacting Kimura through a Transponder Snail.

• Kimura argued that the Merchant Guild could earn enormous profits if the Uchiha Clan took power, but Fugaku asked what other terms he had.
• Kimura offered to help transfer some Uchiha Clan members out of Konoha, and Fugaku questioned how they would evade ANBU surveillance.
• Kimura summoned a physical imitation of Fugaku, which Fugaku inspected and found had no real Chakra flow or self-awareness.
• Kimura explained that the imitation was created with genetic technology and could convincingly pass as a child, though it could not mimic complex Chakra flows.
• Fugaku said he needed to discuss the offer with the clan elders, and Kimura gave him a Transponder Snail for future contact.

Simu planned to exploit the Uchiha conflict to weaken Konoha and strengthen his influence through the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild. At the Uchiha shrine, Fugaku and Elder Eagle agreed to proceed with the coup, leaving the clan united behind a decision that would determine its fate.

• Simu decided to support the Uchiha rebellion, expecting it to weaken Konoha and benefit his guild whether the coup succeeded or failed.
• Fugaku went to the shrine to consult Elder Eagle, whose standing and influence could help represent the clan's will.
• Fugaku told Elder Eagle that the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild had offered supplies and a way to withdraw some Uchiha from the village.
• Fugaku said the guild's aid could help the clan and that sending some Uchiha away could preserve a chance for them to survive if the coup failed.
• Elder Eagle agreed to proceed, declaring that it was time for the Uchiha to produce a Hokage.

Shisui told Itachi about Kotoamatsukami and revealed that he planned to use it to stop the Uchiha Clan's coup. He then met with Konoha's leaders and promised to control Fugaku at the clan's upcoming gathering.

• Shisui reassured Itachi that he trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Itachi struggled to choose between his clan and the village.
• Shisui explained that the Mangekyō Sharingan awakened through the loss of someone beloved and revealed that his Kotoamatsukami could secretly alter another person's will.
• Shisui said Kotoamatsukami took more than ten years to recover, but he planned to use it on Fugaku if the Uchiha Clan opposed the village.
• Itachi left after Shisui told him he believed in him.
• Shisui secretly reached the Hokage Building and promised Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura that he would use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku to stop the coup.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on his attachment to power and investigated Root’s new member, while Danzo summoned Simu, Kinoe, and other Root elites for an urgent mission. Simu mistakenly accused Danzo of planning a coup, and Danzo began to announce the mission after ordering him to be quiet.

• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to destroy the Uchiha Clan, but Hiruzen rejected the plan and chose to wait for Shisui Uchiha’s actions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized his growing attachment to power and questioned an ANBU ninja about Root’s new member, B.
• The ANBU ninja reported that Root had concealed B’s origins, and Hiruzen concluded that Root was hiding secrets.
• Danzo summoned Simu, Kinoe, and about fifteen other Root elites to the training ground.
• Simu mistook Danzo’s summons for a coup plan and talked about placing Danzo on Hokage Rock, so Danzo ordered him to be quiet and started announcing the mission.

Danzo organized a Root operation to capture Shisui Uchiha, relying on Simu and Kinoe to block Shisui's escape. The mission began at a secluded temple, where Danzo gave the two their roles and warned Simu not to use large-scale Wood Release.

• Danzo announced that Root's mission was to capture Shisui Uchiha and planned to ambush him at a temple.
• Kinoe warned Simu not to underestimate Shisui, while Simu boasted about his Wood Release and trusted Danzo to handle any surprises.
• Simu sent Black Beetles to scout the temple while Danzo examined the Sharingan implanted in his arm.
• Danzo and Root's elites gathered at the temple near Hokage Rock to prepare for the operation.
• Danzo told Kinoe and Simu to intercept Shisui in the woods if he fled, and instructed Simu to avoid large-scale Wood Release so ANBU would not discover them.

Shisui went to meet Danzo, hoping to secure peace between Konoha and the Uchiha, but Danzo attacked him and took one of his eyes. The confrontation ended with Danzo revealing a Sharingan beneath his bandages.

• Shisui met Danzo at the shrine and promised to persuade the Uchiha and change Danzo’s view of the clan.
• Danzo accused Shisui of planning to use Kotoamatsukami on him and lunged for Shisui’s eye.
• Shisui caught Danzo in a genjutsu and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan to use Kotoamatsukami.
• Danzo vanished from Shisui’s grasp, reappeared behind him, and struck him until Shisui was paralyzed.
• Danzo tore out Shisui’s eye, and Shisui retreated beyond his reach.
• Danzo removed his facial bandages and revealed a Sharingan that faded to gray-white.

Danzo used Izanagi to survive Shisui’s Genjutsu, steal one of his eyes, and summon Root elites to seize the other. Shisui escaped the first assault, but the injured Uchiha was pursued into the forest and turned to confront his pursuers.

• Danzo revealed that he had taken Shisui’s eye and planned to use the Mangekyō Sharingan’s Kotoamatsukami against the Uchiha Clan.
• Shisui recognized that Danzo had used Izanagi and decided to flee rather than fight him while badly injured.
• Danzo summoned more than a dozen Root elites and ordered them to take Shisui’s remaining eye.
• Shisui used a massive Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu to create cover, then escaped with the Body Flicker Technique as Root pursued him.
• Root ninja caught up with Shisui and threw drug-coated kunai, but Shisui blocked them and charged back at the pursuers with a dozen afterimages.

Shisui Uchiha fought off Root pursuers while poisoned and near death, then awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and manifested Susanoo. The chapter ended with the green Chakra giant facing the surviving Root ninja.

• Shisui Uchiha used the Phantom Body Flicker Technique to kill two Root elites before escaping a poison gas explosion.
• Shisui Uchiha continued fleeing as the poison weakened him, but Root surrounded him and attacked with explosive Kunai.
• Shisui Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan as the explosives engulfed him.
• Shisui Uchiha emerged from the smoke inside Susanoo and fired a barrage of green arrows that killed the Root ninja who failed to evade.

Shisui Uchiha defeated two Root ninja with Susanoo, then tried to reach the Uchiha Clan Grounds to find Itachi. Simu and Kinoe intercepted him, and after Simu sealed the escape routes with a massive wall, Shisui prepared to break through it using Susanoo.

• Shisui Uchiha used Susanoo to withstand the Root ninja's combined Water and Lightning Release attack, then killed them with a spiral spear.
• Shisui dismissed Susanoo and headed toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds to find Itachi, but Kinoe attacked him with Wood Release.
• Kinoe blocked Shisui's explosive kunai with a Wood Block Wall, while Simu cleared the resulting smoke with a gust of air.
• Shisui used the Phantom Body Flicker Technique to send a dozen figures into the forest, but Simu raised a massive wall that blocked his escape.
• Shisui realized he could only break through the wall from the front and activated his Sharingan again.

Simu turned on the Root ninja pursuing Shisui, then challenged the exhausted Uchiha with his Wood Release. Shisui unleashed Susanoo, but Simu trapped him with a Wood Dragon that began draining his Chakra.

• Shisui blasted a breach in the city wall with Susanoo and fought three Root ninja outside it.
• Simu ensnared and killed the three Root ninja with Wood Release, then told Shisui to recover before facing him.
• After Shisui replenished some Chakra with Military Ration Pills, Simu attacked with Deep Forest Emergence, and Shisui countered with Susanoo: Nine-Nine.
• Simu formed a Wood Human and fought Shisui's Susanoo, knocking it backward while Shisui's Mangekyō use caused him to bleed from the eye.
• Shisui pierced the Wood Human's head with Susanoo's lance, but Simu emerged beneath it and created a Wood Dragon.
• The Wood Dragon bound Shisui's Susanoo and began absorbing his Chakra, leaving him unable to move.

Simu defeated Shisui Uchiha and secretly sent his unconscious body to a Root base, then claimed Shisui had escaped. Itachi received Shisui’s final message and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Simu restrained Shisui Uchiha with Wood Release, blocked his attempt to use Kotoamatsukami, and knocked him unconscious.
• Simu sent Shisui’s body away in a white bug for analysis of his Uchiha bloodline and Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Kinoe questioned Simu about Shisui’s whereabouts, and Simu claimed Shisui had escaped.
• Danzo arrived, accepted Simu’s claim with anger, and ordered the Root ninjas to cover up the battle before returning to Root.
• Shisui’s messenger crow delivered his final scroll to Itachi, warning him about Danzo and Root and asking him not to seek revenge.
• Itachi read Shisui’s message and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.

After Shisui’s death awakened Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi returned to the Uchiha Clan to carry out Shisui’s plan and prevent the clan from rushing into conflict with the village. The clan mobilized to search for Shisui, and Itachi concluded that its members cared more about power and the coup than about their lost friend.

• Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and told Arima to stay away from the dangerous situation surrounding the Uchiha Clan.
• Itachi decided not to seek revenge on Danzo and went to Shisui’s home to find the suicide note that would conceal Shisui’s death.
• Itachi returned home with Shisui’s note, briefly comforted Sasuke, and showed the letter to Fugaku.
• Fugaku ordered the Konoha Military Police Force to search for Shisui, and the Uchiha mobilized throughout Konoha.
• Watching the search, Itachi believed the clan wanted Shisui back for his strength and the coup, not because they cared about him.

After Shisui disappeared, Fugaku declared his death a suicide and postponed the coup, while the Uchiha condemned Shisui as a coward. Itachi defended Shisui, fought several clansmen, and challenged Fugaku before Sasuke’s plea broke his resolve.

• The Uchiha Police Force searched the village for Shisui, but Fugaku and Eagle agreed to call his disappearance a suicide and postpone the coup.
• At the clan meeting, Fugaku announced Shisui’s supposed suicide, and the Uchiha insulted Shisui after reading his note.
• Itachi defended Shisui against Uchiha Inabi, then defeated Inabi and his two companions in a fight.
• Fugaku rebuked Itachi for attacking his clansmen, and Itachi accused Fugaku of caring only about power and authority.
• Itachi threw a kunai at the Uchiha crest and refused to yield until Sasuke pleaded with him to stop, after which Itachi dropped to his knees and apologized.

After Shisui Uchiha's death, Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Danzo over Root's secret Wood Release experiments and ordered its two surviving Wood Release ninjas transferred to ANBU. Danzo left furious, recognizing that Hiruzen had begun to see Root as a threat.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the clash between Simu and Shisui Uchiha and grew wary of Danzo's secret Wood Release ninja.
• Hiruzen summoned Danzo and demanded to know how many Wood Release ninjas Root had; Danzo admitted there were two.
• Hiruzen reminded Danzo that Wood Release experiments had been banned, and Danzo stayed silent rather than challenge him.
• Hiruzen ordered Danzo to transfer the two Wood Release ninjas to ANBU, declaring that Root had to obey the Hokage.
• Danzo returned to Root furious and realized that Hiruzen had begun to recognize Root as a threat.

Danzo transferred Kinoe and B to the ANBU under Hiruzen while secretly ordering them to spy for Root. As they left, Danzo reflected on his growing power from Shisui’s transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan and wondered whether Hiruzen could still match him.

• Danzo told Kinoe and B that Hiruzen had ordered them to leave Root and join the ANBU, and Simu repeatedly threatened to kill Shisui, Hiruzen, and the Uchiha Clan.
• Danzo reassured Simu that he was not abandoning Root and ordered both men to report anything unusual they noticed in the ANBU.
• Simu interpreted the transfer as a chance to spy on Hiruzen, while Kinoe warned him not to invent missions beyond Danzo’s orders.
• Kinoe and B packed to report to the ANBU within two hours, leaving Root weakened and giving Hiruzen two Wood Release fighters.
• Danzo reflected that Shisui’s transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan had increased his strength and asked whether he was still Hiruzen’s match.