Chapter Summaries

After the Moryo crisis ended, Orochimaru maneuvered to transfer devastated territory to the Land of Demons and weaken Sunagakure’s influence in the Land of Wind. When the Daimyo of the Land of Wind died by supposed seppuku, Orochimaru sent Akaseki to the Wind Capital to influence the succession while delaying peace negotiations.

• Akaseki proposed that the Land of Wind cede the devastated border territory to the Land of Demons, and Orochimaru supported the plan.
• Orochimaru explained that the daimyo’s faction had secretly contacted Sunagakure, but the Third Kazekage had offered him up as a bargaining chip.
• Two days after the Akaseki Squad left the seal, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was reported to have committed seppuku; Akaseki suspected he had been silenced, while Orochimaru suspected power struggles in the Wind Capital.
• Orochimaru delayed peace negotiations with Sunagakure to keep it out of the Land of Wind’s succession, then assigned Akaseki to the Wind Capital.
• Akaseki understood that he was meant to stall Sunagakure and help choose a new daimyo before the negotiations ended.

Konoha’s leaders debated Iwagakure’s proposed truce and the terms for giving up Kannabi Bridge, while also considering Akaseki’s proposal to send three Konoha jonin as guardian ninja to the Land of Wind. The leaders accepted the guardian-ninja arrangement in principle and began choosing candidates, while Akaseki and Ranwu planned to help Yakushi Nonō leave Root.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado, Utatane, and Danzo debated Ōnoki’s offer of war reparations in exchange for Kannabi Bridge, but delayed a decision until Konoha’s forces withdrew from the Land of Wind.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told his advisers that the new Daimyo of the Land of Wind had requested guardian ninja, and Akaseki had proposed sending three Konoha jonin, including Uchiha Soku.
• Mitokado and Utatane discussed choosing two clan ninja to accompany Uchiha Soku, while Danzo’s suggestion to send Root members was rejected.
• Danzo blamed Akaseki inwardly for bringing Yakushi Nonō and Ranwu to the Wind Capital, where Ranwu openly welcomed Nonō.
• Akaseki and Ranwu began planning how to help Yakushi Nonō leave Root.

Akaseki and Ranwu secretly planned to remove Nonō’s Root Cursed Seal and secure her release, despite the risks to themselves and the Uchiha Clan. Meanwhile, Danzo persuaded Hiruzen to reconsider Akaseki as a Hokage candidate, until a later incident involving Root left Hiruzen promising only a reprimand.

• Akaseki and Ranwu brought Nonō to a sealed stone house and told her they would help remove her Cursed Seal and get Hiruzen’s approval for her to leave Root.
• Nonō warned Akaseki and Ranwu that interfering with Root could expose secrets and bring serious consequences, but Akaseki insisted they should use their achievements to protect her.
• Danzo warned Hiruzen that approving Akashi Uchiha’s achievement would make it too great, then argued that an Uchiha Hokage could endanger Konoha’s future; Hiruzen reluctantly reconsidered Akaseki as his successor.
• A few days later, Danzo accused the Uchiha Clan of prying into Root’s secrets after receiving news of an incident, but Hiruzen called it impulsive personal behavior and promised to reprimand all three people involved.

Miroku removed the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal from Yakushi Nonō after the Hell Yama King pulled out her tongue, then restored it intact. While Nonō recovered, Akaseki and Ranwu prepared letters demanding action against Danzo and asking that Nonō be transferred out of Root.

• Miroku examined Yakushi Nonō’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and warned that removing it carried some risk, but Nonō agreed to proceed.
• Akaseki summoned the Hell Yama King, who questioned Nonō and tore out her tongue after she denied wanting to choose Akashi Uchiha.
• Miroku removed the seal from Nonō’s tongue, and the Hell Yama King stitched it back on with its muscles and nerves intact.
• Nonō felt the seal’s restraints disappear, and Miroku gave her time alone before letting Akaseki and Ranwu return.
• Akaseki and Ranwu wrote separate letters to the village: Akaseki demanded Danzo be punished, while Ranwu asked that Nonō be transferred out of Root.

After Nonō revealed Root’s secrets, Akaseki and Ranwu learned that Danzo might be conducting experiments on orphans using the First’s cells. Akaseki convinced Ranwu to keep the discovery quiet while they searched for solid evidence, leaving them poised to investigate Root in secret.

• Nonō told Akaseki and Ranwu everything she knew about Root, including its mistreatment and brainwashing of orphans from neighboring countries.
• Akaseki explained that Danzo would consider Nonō a threat regardless, and Ranwu agreed that Akaseki would warn the Third about Root’s orphan policies.
• Nonō revealed that Root was secretly conducting human experiments on children, possibly using the cells of a powerful Wood Release user.
• Ranwu erupted in anger and wanted to send a joint letter and alert her uncles, but Akaseki warned that they had no proof and Nonō could be punished.
• Akaseki persuaded Ranwu to send their planned letters, conceal what Nonō had told them, and investigate Root until they found solid evidence.

Akaseki and Ranwu kept their accusations against Root limited while waiting for Konoha’s response, wary of exposing what they knew about its human experiments. The Third allowed Yakushi Nonō to leave Root and ordered Akaseki and Ranwu back to Konoha after their handover, leaving the conflict unresolved but temporarily contained.

• Ranwu followed Akaseki’s advice and wrote the Third about Yakushi Nonō without mentioning the wood release experiments, while Akaseki warned her not to discuss sensitive matters by letter.
• Akaseki told Nonō that the Second had likely begun studying Hashirama’s cells, but argued that Root’s human experiments were the real offense and would not be excused by blaming the Second.
• Akaseki asked Miroku whether there was only one future, then resolved with Ranwu not to leave Root’s threat unaddressed.
• The Hell Yama King told Akaseki that Nonō had answered no when asked whether she would choose him as a mate, but that answer was false if she had to choose someone.
• Guan Ze delivered the Third’s reply on October 20: he rebuked Akaseki and Ranwu, ordered them to return to Konoha after handing over their duties, and approved Nonō’s departure from Root.
• Akaseki accepted the handover to Guan Ze, recognizing that the Third had made a limited compromise and that they lacked enough evidence to bring Danzo down.

Akaseki introduced Soku, Guan Ze, and Aono to the young Land of Wind Daimyo, Fūkeishō, who accepted them as his Guardian Ninja. After explaining Fūkeishō’s fragile political position and his hostility toward Sunagakure, Akaseki prepared to return to Konoha after seeing Miroku off, while keeping her away from Danzo’s suspicions and schemes.

• Akaseki met Uchiha Soku and Guan Ze, then brought them and Aono to meet the new Daimyo, Fūkeishō.
• Fūkeishō accepted the three Konoha ninja as his Guardian Ninja and ordered them to protect him and the other nobles in the Wind Capital.
• Akaseki told the Guardian Ninja that Fūkeishō was the former Daimyo’s illegitimate son, had gained power through factional compromise, and distrusted Sunagakure.
• Akaseki said he needed to see Miroku, the Miko of the Land of Demons, off before returning to Konoha, while Soku challenged Guan Ze’s authority and Aono suggested inviting Miroku to Konoha.
• Akaseki decided not to take Miroku to Konoha, where Danzo might target her over the breaking of Root’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu.

Akaseki returned to Konoha with Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō, where he protected Nonō from Root’s attempt to summon her and provoked Shimura Danzō outside the Hokage’s office. The three went on to meet the Hokage, leaving Danzō wary but without knowing how closely Ranwu and Nonō had allied with Akaseki.

• Miroku said she would visit Konoha in three to six months to discuss passing on the Miko’s legacy, and Akaseki agreed to help.
• At Konoha’s gate, Root ninja tried to take Yakushi Nonō to Danzo, but Akaseki blocked them and frightened them into fleeing by threatening to undo their Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu.
• Akaseki reassured Nonō and told her to ignore Root, then led her and Ranwu to the Hokage’s office.
• Akaseki refused to yield to Shimura Danzō in the Hokage Building corridor and quietly warned him about the possibility of the Uchiha Clan being wiped out.
• Mitokado summoned Akaseki, Ranwu, and Yakushi Nonō onward, while Ranwu guarded Nonō as they passed Danzō.

After the Third reprimanded Akaseki and Ranwu for interfering with Root, Nonō left Root and joined the effort to establish Konoha’s first orphanage. The chapter ended with Danzo confronting Hiruzen, who challenged him to disclose Root’s secrets, while Danzo hid the full extent of the Wood Release Experiments.

• The Third reprimanded Akaseki and Ranwu for breaking Root’s cursed seal, ordered them not to interfere in Root’s affairs again, and offered Nonō a place in the Anbu.
• Nonō agreed to serve Hiruzen and proposed running an orphanage for Konoha’s orphans and other screened children; Hiruzen approved her joining the planning group.
• Akaseki offered the Military Police Force’s support for the orphanage, and Ranwu invited Nonō to stay at her home.
• Danzo confronted Hiruzen about Root’s investment in Nonō, but Hiruzen demanded to know which secrets she supposedly knew.
• Danzo falsely claimed Nonō might have told Ranwu about the Wood Release Experiments, while concealing the deadly trials conducted in Root’s outside laboratories.

Ranwu told Canglan, Songluan, and Lanjun that Nonō had uncovered Root’s renewed Wood Release Experiments and the deaths of many orphans. Lanjun drove Root’s surveillance teams away from Forest Street, and Danzo ordered Root to withdraw while worrying about what the street’s Jonin had learned.

• Ranwu returned to Forest Street, calmed her neighbors, and brought Nonō to meet privately with Canglan, Songluan, and Lanjun.
• Nonō explained that her investigation into missing orphans had led her to secret laboratories and revealed Root’s Wood Release Experiments.
• Lanjun ordered Root’s operatives to stay ten li from Forest Street and used a Water Flow Barrage to drive away two watchers in public.
• Danzo blamed Ranwu and the Uchiha for turning Forest Street against him, then ordered Root to withdraw from the area.
• Danzo worried that Forest Street had learned which of Root’s secret activities had provoked its Jonin.

Akaseki informed Jiancheng that Root might be conducting wood release experiments on orphans, and the two connected that suspicion to a growing string of missing young ninja. Jiancheng sent Akaseki to investigate the newest disappearance on Forest Street, where signs of angry resistance suggested the experiments had already stirred trouble.

• Akaseki told Jiancheng that clues pointed to Root using orphans for wood release experiments, while warning against confronting Root without evidence.
• Jiancheng told Akaseki that six squads of young ninja had disappeared during missions in the Land of Fire, and Akaseki noticed each squad included someone from a ninja clan.
• Gongzhi Jiu reported a seventh missing squad, and Akaseki recognized Yukimi as a descendant of the former Senju Clan from Forest Street.
• Jiancheng assigned Akaseki to investigate the disappearance, telling him he could claim he was searching for Sarutobi Rin.
• Akaseki traveled to Forest Street and heard reports of mysterious ninja damaging public property, then recognized signs that the street had reacted fiercely to the wood release experiments.

Akaseki told Lanjun and the Forest Street elders that Kōken’s team had vanished, then outlined a timeline-based investigation to identify suspects behind seven missing ninja teams. Forest Street assigned Ranwu to assist the Konoha Military Police Force, and Akaseki’s method could point toward an individual culprit or raise suspicion of an organization if no individual fit the evidence.

• Akaseki informed Lanjun that Kōken’s team had disappeared, and Lanjun brought him to meet Canglan and Songluan.
• Ranwu joined Akaseki’s investigation after learning that Kōken was missing, and Canglan appointed her as Forest Street’s representative to assist the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Akaseki proposed examining who had access to mission details and an opportunity during each of the seven disappearances.
• Akaseki mapped the mission and attack windows for all seven incidents and argued that a single culprit would need to fit every window.
• Lanjun raised the possibility of an organization being responsible, and Akaseki said that if no individual met the conditions, organizations would become more suspicious.

Akaseki, Ranwu, and Nonō investigated seven recent disappearances by reviewing Konoha’s mission records and identified Hiruko, Kurama Murakumo, and Might Duy as possible suspects. Akaseki suspected Hiruko was preparing another attack near the northern border, so the three set out to find Kurama’s team.

• Danzo ordered Aburame Ryoma to deal with Hiruko, whom he suspected of causing the disappearances and feared would expose him.
• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Nonō used clones to examine mission records and narrowed their suspects to Hiruko, Kurama Murakumo, and Might Duy.
• Akaseki learned that Kurama and Might Duy were patrolling near the Valley of the End while Hiruko was transporting goods to the nearby Fire Temple.
• Akaseki decided the locations might be connected and led Ranwu and Nonō toward the Valley of the End to find Kurama’s team.

Akaseki, Ranwu, and Nonō tracked Hiruko to the Valley of the End, where Might Duy was fighting him over the unconscious Kurama Murakumo. Akaseki helped Hiruko escape so he could secretly track him to his hideout, while Duy revealed that Kurama Murakumo had deliberately used himself as bait to draw out the attacker.

• Akaseki and Ranwu agreed to prioritize Kurama Murakumo’s safety while suspecting Hiruko was behind the disappearances.
• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Nonō found a fresh distress signal and followed the trail of destruction to a battle at the Valley of the End.
• Might Duy fought Hiruko after Hiruko attacked Kurama Murakumo, and Akaseki recognized that Duy had opened the sixth gate.
• Akaseki and his companions pretended to fight Duy and let Hiruko carry the unconscious Kurama Murakumo away.
• Akaseki secretly tracked Kurama Murakumo with the Hell Yama King as the group followed Hiruko toward his hideout.
• Might Duy explained that Kurama Murakumo had recruited him and accepted the border patrol mission to lure out the suspected attacker.

Hiruko fled toward his secret base after Might Duy exposed his attack on Murakumo, while Akaseki discovered that Hiruko’s beast-fusion ability came from Chimera. As Akaseki’s team raced to stop someone from silencing Hiruko, Aburame Ryoma ambushed him outside the base, but noticed Akaseki’s group arriving.

• Hiruko decided to abandon Konoha and hide in remote mountains after Might Duy thwarted his attempt to silence him.
• Might Duy recounted how Hiruko had tricked Murakumo, and Akaseki identified Hiruko’s fusion power as the Demon God Chimera’s ability.
• The Hell Yama King warned Akaseki that someone was waiting at Hiruko’s hiding place, so Akaseki, Ranwu, Nonō, and Might Duy hurried there.
• Hiruko reached his secret base carrying Murakumo and found that someone had tampered with its entrance.
• Aburame Ryoma emerged and claimed Danzo had sent him to take Hiruko away, but then unleashed a swarm of Kikaichū against him.
• Aburame Ryoma spotted Akaseki’s group approaching through the air.

Akaseki confronted Aburame Ryoma in Hiruko’s secret base, while Ryoma tried to kill Hiruko and conceal Root’s involvement. Hiruko revealed that seven captives were still in the laboratory, and Akaseki seized him as the group prepared to rescue them.

• Ryoma’s Kikaichū attacked Hiruko until Akaseki’s Susanoo arrived and scattered the insects with a blast of fire.
• Akaseki accused Ryoma of working with Root and attacked him, while Ryoma decided to keep pursuing Hiruko rather than flee.
• Hiruko urged Ryoma to join forces against Akaseki, but Ryoma continued dodging and attacking him as Akaseki framed their conflict as proof of their collusion.
• Ranwu and Nonō helped Kurama Murakumo wake, and Akaseki told them to rescue the abducted villagers while he handled the fight.
• Hiruko threatened that the laboratory would self-destruct and kill seven captives if he died, so Akaseki grabbed him and reacted angrily to the revelation.

Akaseki forced Hiruko to open his secret laboratory while Ranwu and Akaseki drove Aburame Ryoma into retreat. The group rescued seven missing ninja, learned that two of Rin’s teammates had been killed, and prepared to take Hiruko back to the village while suspecting he had accomplices there.

• Akaseki threatened Hiruko into surrendering the laboratory and dismissed Aburame Ryoma’s objections, while Vermilion Bird Tanuki Treasure arrived.
• Aburame Ryoma attempted to attack, but Ranwu struck him with a Water Style technique as Akaseki’s Mirror Clone attacked, forcing him to flee.
• Hiruko opened the laboratory, where Kurama Murakumo and the others found seven restrained missing ninja, including Rin and Kōken.
• Rin revealed that her teammates Ahu and Xiao Lin were dead, and Kurama Murakumo confronted Hiruko in anger.
• Akaseki stopped Kurama Murakumo from retaliating and ordered him to take Hiruko back to the village, warning that Hiruko likely had accomplices there.

Akaseki returned to Konoha with Hiruko and the rescued ninja as rumors about Hiruko’s crimes and possible accomplices spread through the village. In the Hokage’s office, Akaseki accused Aburame Ryoma of being Hiruko’s accomplice, but Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a cover story for Root and promised Hiruko would be interrogated.

• Nonō discovered poison in the food on the return journey, and Akaseki found the cook dead; further attacks targeted Hiruko until clan ninja joined the escort.
• Akaseki’s group and the rescued ninja’s families spread news of Hiruko’s crimes and unidentified accomplices while the Konoha Military Police Force suppressed accusations against the Anbu and Root.
• On November 8, Akaseki returned to Konoha with Hiruko, who was pelted with rotten eggs and shouted insults at the crowd before Ranwu struck him into silence.
• At the Hokage Office, Akaseki accused Aburame Ryoma of being Hiruko’s accomplice, while Shimura Danzō claimed Ryoma had been investigating the disappearances.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he had secretly assigned Root to investigate and framed Ryoma’s presence at Hiruko’s base as a coincidence; Akaseki then demanded that a Yamanaka interrogate Hiruko about his accomplices.

After Hiruko’s capture, Akaseki’s accusations put Root and Danzo under suspicion, while Hiruzen Sarutobi avoided a public reckoning and refused clan-led interrogation. At the first postwar Jonin Meeting, Yamanaka Chenyi and others challenged Hiruzen’s account, and Jiancheng pressed him about the demon god’s seal.

• Root killed an archives ninja who tried to flee Konoha, offering a partial explanation for how Hiruko obtained mission information.
• Danzo admitted to Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had cultivated Hiruko, but denied supporting his crimes; Hiruzen concealed Root’s connection and rejected Akaseki’s request for Yamanaka interrogation.
• Akaseki returned to the clan grounds and told Jiancheng that Hiruzen’s response matched his expectations, while rumors began blaming the Ino-Shika-Cho clans for Hiruko’s crimes.
• Yamanaka Chenyi offered to help interrogate Hiruko at the Jonin Meeting, but Hiruzen said the case was settled and denied that Hiruko had an accomplice.
• Lu Zang asked how Hiruko had gained strength, and Hiruzen claimed Hiruko had found an ancient demon god’s seal in the Land of Earth.
• Jiancheng offered the Uchiha Clan’s help investigating the seal and asked where it was.

After Danzo’s handling of Hiruko’s memories made the Jonin suspicious, Hiruzen authorized the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to search for the Demon God’s seal. The clans agreed to search separately, and both prepared teams to depart, unaware that Akaseki’s group was also pursuing a hidden reward.

• Danzo blocked Yamanaka Chenyi from inspecting Hiruko’s memories, prompting Nara Luzang to question who would lead the search and suggest involving the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.
• Hiruzen relented under the Jonin’s scrutiny, and Jiancheng pledged that the Uchiha Clan would prioritize resealing the Demon God rather than exploiting its power.
• At a meeting between Kensho Uchiha and Hyuga Jisuke, the clans agreed to search separately after Kensho named Akaseki a candidate for the Uchiha leadership.
• Jiancheng assigned Akaseki to find the seal ahead of the Hyuga Clan and Root while keeping the reward secret.
• Hyuga Jisuke selected Hiashi to lead the Hyuga team, accepted Hizashi’s offer to join, and received volunteers from several branch-family elders.
• On December 2, orders arrived allowing both clans to begin searching the mountain range.