Chapter Summaries

Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza followed Akaseki to a secret laboratory after learning that impostors were abducting children for experiments. As they hid near the entrance, they heard men bring infants and blame the Uchiha and Senju, confirming the suspected involvement of Danzo’s operation.

• Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza questioned their vague border patrol mission before Akaseki appeared and asked them to help rescue children.
• Akaseki said masked operatives posing as Konoha ninja had abducted children for inhumane experiments, and Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza agreed to investigate.
• Akaseki led the three to the laboratory entrance, where Jiraiya and Ranwu were also watching while Miroku monitored the area from farther away.
• Inoichi detected approaching people, and the group hid as they heard an infant crying.
• Several men arrived with infants and children, complained about the Uchiha and Senju, and said Lord Danzo would settle matters with Konoha’s traitors.

Inoichi infiltrated Root’s secret laboratory and discovered that its researchers were conducting horrific experiments on children. After an infant began transforming into a living tree, Akaseki and the others stormed the base, where Shikaku and Choza began rescuing the captives.

• Inoichi used the Mind Transfer Secret Technique to possess a Root ninja and followed the group into the secret laboratory.
• Inoichi discovered children being delivered as test subjects, including infants transformed into living trees by the experiments.
• Inoichi contacted Shikaku, who alerted Akaseki, and Akaseki summoned the Tanuki Treasures to break open the base entrance.
• Akaseki, Jiraiya, and the others entered the laboratory, defeated Root guards, and tore through the iron door with Susanoo.
• Shikaku and Choza went to rescue the captured children while Akaseki assigned Ranwu to assist them.
• Shikaku immobilized three Root ninja blocking their path and sent them crashing into the wall.

Akaseki and his allies defeated Root’s experimental laboratory, rescued the children, and seized evidence of its human experiments. They alerted the Uchiha Clan, Forest Street, and Ino-Shika-Cho before Shimura Danzō could react, leaving Konoha poised for a confrontation.

• Choza, Shikaku, and Ranwu reached the children and bound the two researchers guarding them.
• Akaseki and Jiraiya subdued the Root ninja, contained the Wood Release, and captured the director while rescuing the baby.
• Akaseki’s group seized the experimental records and rescued more than twenty children and over ten babies.
• Akaseki warned Shikaku and Inoichi that Root members were escaping, prompting the clans to mobilize before Shimura Danzō could strike.
• Ranwu read the records and learned the scale of Root’s experiments, while Akaseki arranged for the children to stay at the Fire Temple.
• Akaseki revealed that Root’s men had massacred a village to take children, and Choza reacted furiously as the scandal threatened to engulf Konoha.

After learning of Shimura Danzō and Root’s crimes, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and Uchiha prepared to act against them while trying to prevent a wider coup. Orochimaru persuaded Jiancheng to abandon his push for Uchiha rule, and the Uchiha entered Forest Street to coordinate their response.

• Cho-sai, Rokumei, Yamanaka Weiyi, and Nara Lu Ping agreed that the clans had to move against Shimura Danzō before Root could react.
• Lu Ping planned to contact trustworthy clans and gather forces at the Hokage Building, while Weiyi and Cho-sai sought Aburame Shikō and Kurama Izumo.
• Yangyong announced Akaseki’s findings to the Uchiha, whose members called for seizing the Hokage Building and attacking the Sarutobi Clan Compound.
• Orochimaru explained to Jiancheng that an Uchiha takeover would lack the other clans’ support and that only Tsunade might claim enough legitimacy to become Hokage.
• Jiancheng gave up on making Orochimaru Hokage and entered Forest Street with him to coordinate with the other clans.

Shimura Danzō learned that Forest Street, the Uchiha Clan, and allied clans were moving against Root and the Shimura compound to expose his crimes. As Root headquarters came under attack, Danzō rejected a chance to escape and decided to protect Hiruzen.

• Shimura Danzō received word that Konoha's Akaseki, Jiraiya, Forest Street, and Ino-Shika-Cho were connected to the incident at the secret base, and ordered Root to investigate the Uchiha Clan and other groups.
• Luping coordinated thirteen clans and eight civilian Jonin to meet at five, present evidence against Shimura Danzō, and send forces to Root headquarters, the Shimura Clan compound, and the Hokage Building.
• Forest Street and the Uchiha Clan led an assault on Root headquarters, while the other clans moved against the Shimura Clan compound.
• Root operatives reported that their patrols had been subdued and that the attackers had surrounded headquarters and were breaking through its defenses.
• Shimura Danzō learned from his warning pendant that the Shimura Clan compound was likely surrounded, then refused his subordinates' offer to escape through the Space-Time Transfer Technique.
• Shimura Danzō concluded that fleeing would not solve his predicament and decided that he had to protect Hiruzen.

Danzo confessed to unauthorized experiments using living children and civilians, while the Uchiha Clan and Forest Street attacked Root headquarters and exposed its records. At the Hokage Building, Orochimaru challenged Danzo’s attempt to take sole blame by revealing the full scale of Root’s crimes and demanding the victims be honored.

• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that his unauthorized experiments had been exposed and admitted that he had used living people, including civilians from the Land of Fire.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Akashi Uchiha and Ranwu had raided Root’s laboratory, secured experimental records and test subjects, and involved the younger Ino-Shika-Cho generation.
• Uchiha Clan and Forest Street fighters broke into Root headquarters, where Jiancheng used his Sharingan to seize classified intelligence from Root ninja trying to destroy records.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Danzo to the Hokage Building, where Orochimaru and Tsunade explained that Jiraiya had found an illegal laboratory and that at least a hundred children had died in its experiments.
• Danzo admitted to the crimes but claimed sole responsibility and warned that Konoha must not be divided; Orochimaru countered by citing village massacres and falsified adoption records, and demanded that the victims be honored.

Orochimaru turned the jonin against Shimura Danzō by framing Root’s crimes as Danzo’s responsibility, while Danzo tried to manipulate the dispute to protect himself and Root. At Root headquarters, Canglan backed the Uchiha Clan, and Orochimaru defused the standoff between Jiancheng and Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Danzo’s schemes thwarted.

• Fujirō Namiashi and other commoner ninja rejected Danzo’s claim that his crimes were sacrifices for Konoha and demanded that he answer for them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo rushed to Root headquarters after a crash and continued fighting signaled that the conflict there had not stopped.
• Hiruzen found Jiancheng facing him at Root headquarters, where Danzo accused the Uchiha Clan of attacking Konoha’s covert unit.
• Canglan said Forest Street had also helped suppress Root’s violent resistance, disrupting Danzo’s attempt to blame the Uchiha Clan alone.
• Orochimaru warned Jiancheng to conserve his dojutsu power, and Jiancheng dispelled Susanoo, easing the standoff with Hiruzen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi convened Konoha’s jonin to discuss Shimura Danzō’s atrocities and the fate of Root, while the clans argued over whether Danzō should be executed. The meeting was interrupted by news from the Kannabi Bridge Frontline that Aburame Ryoma had died and the remaining Root ninja had surrendered.

• Konoha’s forces maintained order as the Uchiha Clan explained that the disturbance came from Shimura Danzō resisting arrest, and the Shimura Clan joined the meeting after denying involvement.
• Orochimaru reported that Jiraiya had found no evidence of the Shimura Clan’s involvement, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised the clan for avoiding internal conflict.
• Kensho Uchiha and other jonin demanded Danzō’s execution, while Orochimaru urged the meeting to consider the Shimura Clan’s view; Shimura Yama and Shimura Kumo disowned Danzō and supported executing him.
• Hyuga Jisuke argued that the Shimura Clan’s achievements should be considered, but Akimichi Clan Cho-sai and Aburame Shikō rejected special treatment for clans.
• An Anbu reported that Aburame Ryoma had died charging the enemy at the Kannabi Bridge Frontline and that the other Root ninja had surrendered for investigation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Root ninja Aburame Ryoma had died attacking the Stone Ninja, then faced pressure to let the Jonin Meeting oversee Root and other secret departments. Orochimaru proposed an Elders' Council to check the Hokage's authority, leaving Hiruzen to understand that sparing Shimura Danzō would require sacrificing some of his power.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Aburame Ryoma had charged the Shattered Sand Camp and been killed by Stone Ninja jonin.
• Aburame Shikō called Ryoma's death deserved, and Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject rather than defend him.
• Jiancheng pushed for the Konoha Military Police Force to investigate Root, while Orochimaru and the jonin backed oversight of secret departments by the Jonin Meeting.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tasked Orochimaru with drafting regulations for oversight after the jonin supported his proposal.
• Orochimaru proposed an Elders' Council chosen through the Jonin Meeting to take over the Hokage aides' duties and oversee special departments.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized Orochimaru would spare Shimura Danzō only if some of the Hokage's power was buried with him.

Akaseki returned to Konoha with captured Root members and evidence, while villagers condemned Root and praised him. The village had dismantled Root and established an elder system, but Shimura Danzō’s fate remained undecided as Akaseki returned to the Uchiha Clan grounds.

• Akaseki escorted the captured Root members back to Konoha, where villagers cursed them and praised him.
• Canglan took responsibility for the baby from the successful wood release experiment, and Jiraiya brought him to Forest Street.
• Ranwu brought the white-haired boy back to the village, and Jiraiya and Ranwu returned to Forest Street with the others.
• Akaseki learned that Konoha had established eight elder seats, with an election for four of them scheduled for the next Jonin Meeting.
• A Jie and A Yang told Akaseki that Shimura Danzō would remain alive until the Hokage and the confirmed elders decided his fate.

Akaseki discussed Shimura Danzō’s fate and Konoha’s upcoming Elder election over a meal with Ranwu, Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza. The conversation ended with Akaseki realizing that Jiraiya’s attachment to Yamato might give him an opportunity.

• Ranwu angrily demanded that the Third execute Shimura Danzō, while Akaseki and the others argued that keeping him alive would help the investigation into Root and serve as a political target.
• Akaseki said he would not run for Elder, and the group discussed likely candidates, including Canglan and Hyuga Jisuke.
• Inoichi explained why Canglan counted as a commoner ninja, while Shikaku noted that clan-born Jonin were likely to give Hyuga Jisuke votes.
• Ranwu said Jiraiya had declined to run and was staying on Forest Street to care for Yamato, whom Tsunade had named in hopes that clans and commoners would live as one family.
• Akaseki grew interested when he learned that Jiraiya was looking after Yamato.

Akaseki discussed the Elder election and Uchiha voting strategy with Shikaku, Choza, Ranwu, and Miroku, then investigated renewed disappearances in Tanzaku Town. He suspected someone was exploiting the confusion around Root and took Miroku and Ranwu to the Konoha Military Police Force to inspect its files.

• Shikaku explained why the Hatake and Kato families counted as shinobi clans rather than commoners, while Akaseki asked the Ino-Shika-Cho who would run and learned Shikaku's father would register.
• Miroku suggested that Akaseki use Uchiha votes to challenge the Hyuga, but Akaseki chose to support two commoner candidates instead.
• A Jie and A Yang told Akaseki that people, including Konoha ninja, had disappeared again in Tanzaku Town after they had blamed the earlier incidents on Root.
• Akaseki wondered whether Root remnants or someone framing them was responsible and headed to the Konoha Military Police Force to examine its files.
• Ranwu joined Akaseki and Miroku, and the guard let both women enter after Akaseki asked whether they counted as Uchiha.

Akaseki investigated the missing traveling merchants in Tanzaku Town and found that the cases shared suspicious patterns: the merchants were first-time guests who carried small goods and left their inns on their own. He went to the town’s law enforcement office to inspect its records, where a constable questioned his authority because another Konoha team had already investigated.

• Akaseki reviewed the Konoha Military Police Force files and learned that more than twenty traveling merchants and two Konoha teams had gone missing near Tanzaku Town.
• Gongzhi Jiu learned that Akaseki had visited with Ranwu and Miroku, then warned the guards not to spread gossip about them.
• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Miroku traveled to Tanzaku Town, where Akaseki registered himself and Ranwu as being on a Military Police Force mission.
• At the Clearwind Inn, Akaseki learned that three missing merchants had left on their own, left their luggage behind, and were all unfamiliar guests who sold cordyceps, pearls, or ginseng.
• After checking more inns, Akaseki noticed that the missing merchants were first-time guests selling small goods and decided to examine the law enforcement team’s registration records.
• A constable hesitated to let Akaseki into the Government Office because another Konoha team had previously investigated the missing merchants, so Akaseki showed his Ninja Handbook.

Akaseki joined Kakashi, Aoba Yamashiro, and Namiashi Raidō in Tanzaku Town to investigate a string of disappearances. After questioning the young Genin about their findings, he and Kakashi suspected the missing people were linked to inns that had not reported anyone missing.

• A constable recognized Akaseki and escorted him to the records room, where the sheriff welcomed him.
• Akaseki discovered that Kakashi, Aoba Yamashiro, and Namiashi Raidō had accepted the investigation mission without a Jonin instructor and scolded them for taking the risk.
• Namiashi Raidō explained that twenty-two apparent traveling merchants and six Konoha ninja had disappeared, while Kakashi suggested the merchants might have used false identities.
• Akaseki challenged the team's theories and asked what the half-month lull in disappearances indicated.
• Kakashi examined the records and pointed out that many inns had filed no reports, suggesting the disappearances might have shifted to inns unwilling to report them.

Akaseki took charge of the Tanzaku Town disappearances investigation and concluded that the missing travelers were likely ordinary people who had vanished voluntarily while pursuing something dangerous. Clues in their belongings suggested they were deliberately avoiding any connection to the Land of Hot Water, leading Akaseki to suspect the Jashin Cult and summon Old Wang to inspect the evidence.

• Akaseki told the Three Youngsters to report the case, raise its rank, and wait for reinforcements, then sent them to question inns that had not reported disappearances as bait.
• Akaseki and Ranwu examined the missing travelers' unclaimed belongings and found no signs that the travelers had been ninja.
• Ranwu identified a garment made from hemp associated with the Land of Rivers, and Akaseki noticed that the missing travelers had claimed origins in places with lax inspections but none had named the Land of Hot Water.
• Miroku questioned why anyone would carry out illicit activity so close to Konoha, and Akaseki summoned Old Wang to search the belongings for strange auras connected to the Jashin Cult.

Akaseki suspected the disappearances in Tanzaku Town were connected to the Jashin Cult, whose followers could be hiding among traveling merchants. Miroku traced people between inns and discovered that some had moved to the Firewood Inn, where three children were staying.

• Hell Yama King said he could recognize followers from Ritual Envoys upward only by seeing them, prompting Akaseki to recall the Jashin Cult’s ranks and rituals.
• Akaseki told Ranwu and Miroku about the Jashin Cult and proposed that the missing people were Defilers gathering for advancement while other followers hid in Tanzaku Town.
• Ranwu reasoned that Jashin Cult members would move from inns reporting disappearances to inns that did not, and Akaseki agreed this could explain the pattern.
• Miroku used his Byakugan to inspect inn ledgers remotely and trace the registered names of people who had checked out.
• Miroku found that some of the people had moved to the Firewood Inn, where three children were staying.

Kakashi, Namiashi Raidō, and Aoba followed suspicious merchants from Tanzaku Town and discovered a gathering of masked Jashin Cult followers preparing for a disturbing ritual. As the cultists turned toward the trio’s hiding place, the children were exposed.

• Kakashi, Namiashi Raidō, and Aoba checked into the Firewood Inn in disguise and decided to follow three merchants who left after dinner.
• Kakashi tailed a red-haired merchant who donned a Bone Mask and slipped out of Tanzaku Town toward a forest.
• Raidō and Aoba followed their own suspicious merchants, and the three reunited near a cave where masked figures were gathering.
• The gathering grew to thirty-one cloaked people, many carrying weapons and torture tools, while one man prematurely drove a Triangular Spike into his thigh.
• Kakashi, Namiashi Raidō, and Aoba realized the cultists were preparing for a self-mutilation ritual, then watched as the masked figures turned toward their hiding place.

Kakashi and his teammates were overwhelmed by a masked attacker until Akaseki intervened and recognized the spirit controlling him as Dan Katō. Akaseki confronted Dan over his allegiance to Jashin, and their fight resumed with Dan trying to possess him.

• Kakashi, Namiashi Raidō, and Aoba Yamashiro fought the masked figures, but the man with the pliers suddenly displayed powerful taijutsu and attacked them with a chain.
• Akaseki arrived, pinned the chain with three kunai, and trapped the battlefield inside Fivefold Rashomon after the masked man collapsed.
• Akaseki recognized Dan Katō’s spirit and deduced that Dan had been spreading the Jashin Cult and directing promising followers toward Konoha.
• Dan said Jashin’s power had restored his ability to fight, while Akaseki asked what price he had paid and attacked him with Sharingan Genjutsu.
• Dan escaped the genjutsu and tried to possess Akaseki, but Akaseki entered Sage Mode and repelled him.

Akaseki trapped Dan Katō’s spirit body with Fivefold Rashomon and used Sage Mode and Sharingan genjutsu to counter his attacks. Dan Katō then summoned his own body to the battlefield, leaving Akaseki facing a new threat.

• Dan Katō’s spirit body failed to possess Akaseki, whose Sage Mode protected him from possession and internal attacks.
• Akaseki used Sharingan genjutsu to damage Dan Katō’s spirit body as Kakashi, Aoba Yamashiro, and Namiashi Raidō watched the sealing barrier ripple.
• Akaseki summoned Fivefold Rashomon and trapped Dan Katō’s spirit body, explaining that it could not escape the gates.
• Dan Katō admitted he had been blessed by Jashin and challenged Akaseki over how long he could maintain the seal.
• Dan Katō formed summoning seals and used the Dark art: Summoning Technique to bring his body to the battlefield.

Akaseki fought Dan Katō, whose Spirit Transformation Technique and undying curse let him attack through an invisible spirit body and restore his damaged flesh. Dan Katō escaped after telling Akaseki that the missing Konoha ninja were alive, and Akaseki reunited with Tsunade and Ranwu while the rescued comrades were brought out.

• Dan Katō summoned his body to the sealed gathering place, revealed his undying body, and struck Akaseki with a spirit-body punch.
• Akaseki countered Dan Katō with Susanoo and an enormous Fire Style attack, while Kakashi, Aoba Yamashiro, and Namiashi Raidō recognized Dan Katō as a Konoha Jonin.
• As the flames began burning him, Dan Katō begged Akaseki to reconcile and claimed he had not killed their missing Konoha comrades.
• Earlier, Tsunade and Ranwu found Dan Katō using the Spirit Transformation Technique at the Kato House, but his body was summoned away before they could stop him.
• Tsunade and Ranwu reached the gathering place, where Akaseki said Dan Katō had left and Mirror Akasekis brought out six sealed, unconscious Konoha ninja.