Chapter Summaries

Arima and Fang Zhu demonstrated the combat abilities of their [Quinque] weapons to Konoha’s leaders, who recognized their potential. Hiruzen promoted Fang Zhu to Special Jonin and appointed Itachi Uchiha to teach Arima ninjutsu.

• Arima used his [Quinque] to defend against Kakashi’s attacks and counter with powerful strikes, demonstrating the weapon’s adaptability and strength.
• Kakashi and Arima continued testing Arima’s [Quinque], then Fang Zhu demonstrated the flexibility of his whip-type weapon.
• Fang Zhu explained that [Quinque] were made from Ghoul Kakuhou and required no Chakra, though wielders needed compatibility with each weapon.
• Hiruzen promoted Fang Zhu to Special Jonin after the advisors voiced no objections.
• Hiruzen agreed to arrange ninjutsu lessons for Arima, and Kakashi recommended Itachi Uchiha as his teacher.

After Kakashi introduced Arima to Itachi for ninjutsu training and protection, Simu completed his analysis of Hashirama Cells and prepared three bodies, including one capable of Wood Release. The chapter ended with Simu’s experiments producing an unexpectedly resilient test subject.

• Arima thanked Kakashi, who recommended Itachi as his ninjutsu teacher and protector.
• Itachi arrived, met Arima, and took him to try tricolor dango and coffee before beginning training at the lakeside.
• Simu completed a sixty-percent analysis of Hashirama Cells, enough to reproduce Wood Release.
• Simu prepared Orochimaru’s body with Wood Release genes and made himself a body for infiltrating Konoha.
• Simu discovered that one of Danzo’s test subjects had withstood Hashirama Cells and helped him create Wood Release clones.

Simu gave the nameless Wood Release boy the choice to leave or return to Konoha, and the boy chose to go back. Simu delivered the research results and two boys to Orochimaru, who arranged for Danzo to retrieve them, while the boys remained unable to imagine a life beyond Root.

• The Wood Release boy woke in Simu's care, remembered his painful past, and learned that he could choose his own path.
• The boy chose to return to Konoha despite Simu warning that Danzo might reclaim him for Root.
• Simu gave Orochimaru a scroll containing the boy's body and reported that the Wood Release experiment had succeeded.
• Orochimaru agreed to contact Danzo and keep the two boys overnight until Danzo came to retrieve them.
• The Wood Release boy asked the other boy why he wanted to return, and they realized they could think of nowhere else to go beyond Konoha and Danzo.

Danzo accepted Orochimaru’s two Wood Release subjects, Kinoe and Simu, and brought them to Konoha to join Root. He assigned them codenames and put them under Ryoma’s month-long training.

• Danzo met Orochimaru in a valley, verified that Simu and the other boy possessed Wood Release, and agreed to increase Orochimaru’s funding.
• Danzo took Simu and the other Wood Release boy safely to Konoha and brought them into Root’s underground base.
• Danzo told the boys they had no names or pasts and assigned the other boy the codename Kinoe and Simu the codename B.
• Danzo assigned Ryoma to train Kinoe and B for the next month.

Aburame Ryoma put Simu and Kinoe through Root’s deadly kunai-dodging training, intending to test their abilities. Simu evaded and deflected the barrage without a scratch, leaving Ryoma stunned by his talent.

• Aburame Ryoma introduced himself as commander and began training Simu and Kinoe after Danzo authorized it.
• Simu teased Aburame Ryoma about having a name, irritating him, while Kinoe warned Simu not to anger a Root commander.
• Aburame Ryoma ordered the pair to undergo a lethal kunai-dodging test and forbade them from cooperating.
• Simu volunteered to face the test alone, and Kinoe left the training area as the kunai began firing.
• Simu predicted the kunai’s paths, evaded the initial barrage, then caught and threw a kunai to deflect the denser attack without being hit.

Simu used Wood Release to survive Aburame Ryoma’s intensified training, wrecking the training ground and drawing Danzo’s attention. He accused Ryoma of betraying Root’s principles, and Danzo ordered Ryoma to use his codename again, leaving him worried that Danzo had begun to suspect him.

• Aburame Ryoma ordered the Root ninja to fire more than a hundred Kunai at Simu, telling them to avoid his vital points.
• Simu unleashed Wood Release, raising trees and roots that blocked every Kunai and destroyed the training ground’s walls and launchers.
• Root ninja gathered at the ruined training ground, and Danzo arrived to demand an explanation.
• Simu accused Aburame Ryoma of violating Root’s rules and betraying his beliefs, then declared that such traitors should be killed.
• Danzo stopped Simu and ordered Ryoma to use his codename, leaving Ryoma regretting that he had used his real name.

Danzo took over Simu and Kinoe’s training after Simu claimed he had invented his Wood Release technique himself. He challenged Simu to learn a Wood Release jutsu from a scroll, and Simu mastered it in a minute.

• Danzo questioned Simu about his Wood Release, and Simu said he had created it himself after panicking when kunai flew at him.
• Danzo decided to personally train Kinoe and B, and Aburame Ryoma accepted the change while worrying that Simu’s talent might make him replaceable.
• Danzo brought Simu and Kinoe to an outdoor training ground and laid out a schedule covering ninjutsu, combat, intelligence gathering, and Shinobi World culture.
• Simu argued that learning other skills would ultimately help him kill enemies and learn stronger ninjutsu, leaving Danzo unable to follow his reasoning.
• Danzo gave Simu a scroll of Senju Hashirama’s Wood Release techniques to discourage his ambitions, but Simu understood the jutsu and performed Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree after one minute.

Simu learned and demonstrated two Wood Release techniques almost immediately, astonishing Danzo and Kinoe. Danzo halted Simu’s training and turned his attention to Kinoe, challenging him to match Simu’s ability.

• Simu used Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree to pierce through the training-ground wall, shocking Danzo and Kinoe.
• Simu studied a scroll for a minute and used Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique to build a wooden house, then dismissed it at Danzo’s request.
• Danzo realized Simu could use Wood Release with only one hand seal and decided to limit his training while seeking a way to control him.
• Danzo gave the scrolls to Kinoe and asked whether he could learn the techniques too.

Simu mastered two ninjutsu quickly, then offered to teach Kinoe Wood Release despite Danzo’s plans to make them compete. Danzo watched their growing bond and tasked Kabuto with preparing a critical Illusion Drug to help turn a talented new subject into an emotionless weapon.

• Kinoe admitted he could not learn the ninjutsu as quickly as Simu, and Danzo warned him not to fall behind.
• Kinoe questioned Simu about seeking Danzo’s approval, and Simu said people gave their own lives meaning.
• Simu punched Kinoe twice to snap him out of his hesitation and offered to teach him Wood Release; Kinoe accepted his hand.
• Danzo secretly watched the boys bond and decided their connection had to be severed to forge emotionless weapons.
• Danzo gave Kabuto a letter from Nonō, then ordered him to prepare an Illusion Drug to use with Genjutsu.

Simu and Kinoe joined Root and were given drugged medicinal meals, after which Danzo tried to reshape Simu’s memories with Genjutsu. The Genjutsu turned against Danzo and forced him to relive Tobirama’s appointment of Hiruzen as the Third Hokage, leaving Danzo furious as his arm erupted into grotesque tentacles.

• Simu and Kinoe trained together, then met Kabuto Yakushi, who delivered Danzo’s medicinal meals and showed them to their rooms.
• Simu ate both portions of the drugged food, and Danzo entered his room to use his Sharingan and Genjutsu on him.
• Danzo’s Genjutsu shifted into a scene from the First Shinobi World War, where Tobirama Senju named Hiruzen Sarutobi his successor before sacrificing himself.
• Danzo relived his hesitation and Hiruzen’s appointment, then roared that he had wanted to become Hokage too.
• Danzo’s arm exploded in a spray of blood, releasing thick, grotesque tentacles.

Danzo imagined killing his rivals, becoming Hokage, destroying the Uchiha Clan, and uniting the Shinobi World before realizing it was an illusion. Simu revealed that he had invaded Danzo’s inner world and stirred his desires and fears.

• In Danzo’s fantasy, he killed Hiruzen Sarutobi and his other companions with overwhelming power and claimed the Hokage position.
• Danzo used Wood Release, political bargains, and a story about inheriting Tobirama Senju’s will to secure his appointment as Third Hokage.
• Danzo imagined leading Konoha to exterminate the Uchiha Clan, win the Second Shinobi World War, and unify the Shinobi World.
• Danzo woke in a dim room, recognized that his right arm and Sharingan had not changed, and concluded he had suffered backlash from Genjutsu.
• After Danzo left, Simu opened his eyes and explained that he had invaded Danzo’s inner world through their connection to awaken his desire and fear.

Danzo reflected on his dream of becoming the God of Shinobi and blamed Hiruzen for Konoha’s growing troubles. Meanwhile, Simu established a network of beetles to spy on Konoha and considered how to weaken the village for the Jashin Cult.

• Danzo examined his Hashirama-cell arm and eleven Sharingan, then concealed them again beneath bandages.
• Danzo blamed Hiruzen for Konoha’s loss of strength, the Uchiha tensions, and the village’s other problems, and believed Wood Release could make Kinoe and B powerful weapons.
• Simu planted insect eggs throughout Konoha, creating a beetle network to monitor Danzo, the major clans, and the village’s personnel.
• Simu considered exploiting the Jashin Cult’s name to stir up trouble in Konoha and gain reputation points.

Simu displayed his Wood Release skills to Danzo and flattered him into considering himself Konoha’s true Shadow. Danzo praised Simu’s talent and gave him the First’s Wood Human Technique scroll, while Simu planned to use Root’s resources to grow stronger.

• Simu called Danzo Konoha’s true Shadow and urged him to take the Hokage seat, while Danzo warned him not to act without orders.
• Simu demonstrated Wood Clones, Tree World Wall, Giant Wood Technique, Silent Killing Binding Technique, and Great Forest Technique, impressing Danzo.
• Simu argued that he needed to become stronger before he could kill the Third Hokage for Danzo, and Danzo stopped him from saying more.
• Danzo gave Simu a scroll containing the First’s Wood Human Technique, pleased by Simu’s loyalty and performance.
• Simu accepted the scroll and resolved to keep demonstrating his talent so Danzo would invest more resources in him.

Arima trained with Itachi and revealed a new Swordsman form for his Quinque, but Itachi’s Sharingan genjutsu showed how much stronger he still needed to become. Arima resumed his demanding training, having developed three Quinque forms while seeking a way to combine ninjutsu with them.

• Arima used his Quinque’s Swordsman form to break Itachi’s shuriken trap and sever the control threads, then countered Itachi’s Fireball Jutsu with an Earth Wall.
• Itachi caught Arima in a genjutsu with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, and Kakashi woke Arima from the illusion.
• Kakashi praised Arima’s progress but recognized that his current strength was nowhere near enough to face the Jashin Cult.
• Itachi told Arima that he might need to use his full strength in their next spar, and Arima challenged him to be careful.
• Arima returned to training, developing the Knight, Swordsman, and Shield Soldier forms while working to combine ninjutsu with his Quinque.

Arima and Itachi ate three-color dango and discovered that Itachi’s greatest joy was his little brother, Sasuke. On their way back, they encountered a crowd accusing the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild of selling ineffective Military Ration Pills, and the Konoha Military Police Force began investigating.

• Arima bathed after training, then went with Itachi to buy and eat three-color dango.
• Itachi told Arima that spending time with his little brother, Sasuke, made him happier than eating dango.
• Arima and Itachi found a crowd accusing the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild of selling Military Ration Pills that had failed on the battlefield and led to ninja deaths.
• Itachi used a crow to observe the dispute and spotted an Arms Hall employee among the crowd, raising the possibility of merchant competition behind the incident.
• Uchiha Inabi and the Konoha Military Police Force arrived and questioned the crowd and Duo Mu, the guild’s Konoha representative.
• Duo Mu agreed to let the Konoha Military Police Force inspect the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild.

Uchiha Inabi’s investigation of the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild’s Military Ration Pills escalated into a street brawl after troublemakers accused the Uchiha of corruption. When Simu challenged the clan in Danzo’s name, Inabi fought him and tried to trap him with Sharingan genjutsu, but the vision turned against Inabi.

• Uchiha Inabi had the police force inspect the guild’s Military Ration Pills, and the pills showed no problems.
• When troublemakers accused the Uchiha of collusion, Inabi ordered their arrest, and Itachi Uchiha tried to calm the confrontation.
• Several troublemaking ninja resisted arrest, so Inabi struck one unconscious and ordered the police force to seize the group.
• Simu blocked the Uchiha Police Force and insulted the clan while praising Danzo, then attacked Inabi with Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• Inabi countered with Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique and used his Sharingan against Simu, but the genjutsu revealed a dark creature and a beautiful, many-faceted eye.

Simu's attack on Uchiha Inabi sparked anger among the Uchiha, while Danzo tried to contain the fallout. After Simu revealed he had considered wiping out the Uchiha Clan, Danzo confined him for three days and ordered him not to fight anyone without permission.

• Simu defeated Uchiha Inabi with a Genjutsu that left him dreaming, and Itachi stopped the Uchiha ninjas from attacking Simu.
• Danzo arrived, sent Simu back to Root, and promised Itachi he would explain the incident to Fugaku.
• After waking, Inabi mistook Simu's Genjutsu for a new Root method against the Sharingan and urged the clan to inform its elders.
• Back at Root, Simu nearly crushed Aburame Ryoma with tree roots until Danzo ordered him to stop.
• Simu told Danzo he had attacked the Uchiha to test their strength and would wipe them out if Danzo agreed, so Danzo confined him for three days.

After Simu’s clash with Uchiha Inabi drew attention, Danzo met with Hiruzen, who confronted him over concealing Root’s Wood Release users. Danzo urged Hiruzen to act against the Uchiha Clan, but Hiruzen chose to wait, and Danzo stormed out warning that he would regret it.

• A Root ninja summoned Danzo to meet Hiruzen after Simu’s fight with Uchiha Inabi.
• Hiruzen confronted Danzo about hiding Kinoe and B from him and praised B’s talent after watching the fight through his crystal ball.
• Danzo presented intelligence suggesting that some Uchiha members had discussed a coup, while Fugaku had kept the matter from the village leadership.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to act against the Uchiha Clan, but Hiruzen argued that Shisui and Itachi might help improve relations.
• Hiruzen insisted that he was the Hokage, and Danzo left after warning that Hiruzen would regret his decision.

Simu compared Konoha's strength with Sunagakure's and decided Konoha needed to be weakened. Confined in a Root detention room, he used genjutsu to make a guard bring him food.

• Simu reviewed intelligence from the Black Beetles and concluded that Konoha surpassed Sunagakure in resources, ninja numbers, techniques, and top combat power.
• Simu noted that Sunagakure had secretly grown stronger through Kawanishi's techniques and biological armies, though Rasa planned to conceal its new abilities.
• Simu decided Konoha was still too strong for Sunagakure to compete with unless it was weakened.
• Simu grew hungry in the detention room and asked a Root ninja to bring him food, but the guard refused under Danzo's orders.
• Simu used genjutsu to make the guard fetch a large pile of food, then ate while the guard later wondered what he had forgotten.

Itachi and Shisui tried to prevent the Uchiha Clan from rebelling, and Shisui revealed that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Simu secretly listened in and added the Mangekyō to his plans for investigating Konoha’s valuable secrets.

• Itachi warned Fugaku that outside families were targeting the Red Spider Lily Merchant Guild and the Uchiha, and urged him to restrain the clan and prevent a coup.
• After leaving Fugaku, Itachi met Shisui, who said the Third Hokage had promised to seek the village’s acceptance of the Uchiha if they stopped the rebellion.
• Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained that its power could suppress ordinary Sharingan users, giving him a way to stop the clan by force if necessary.
• Itachi and Shisui reaffirmed their hope that the Uchiha Clan and the village could coexist peacefully, while Shisui hinted that his Mangekyō held an ocular technique he had not mastered.
• A Black Beetle carried their conversation to Simu, who considered the Mangekyō Sharingan alongside Hashirama’s corpse and Konoha’s other valuable assets in his plans.