Chapter Summaries

Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond to Kirigakure and Amegakure’s plan to move Rain civilians through the Land of Fire, while Alucard urged Danzō to provoke a confrontation. Araki prepared Kirigakure to use the migration as a chance to challenge Konoha, and awaited Sasori’s return with a way to protect the civilians.

• Hiruzen proposed allowing Rain civilians through the Land of Fire while barring escorting ninja, and Danzō argued that Konoha should prepare to crush any ninja who insisted on entering.
• Orochimaru decided Konoha would contact Iwagakure and Sunagakure about joining Danzō’s plan, with Hiruzen’s approach as the fallback.
• Danzō returned home and told Alucard he would follow his instructions to target Kirigakure; Alucard promised to intervene if needed.
• Yagura questioned Araki’s plan to send Rain’s migrants across the Land of Fire, and Araki explained that he intended to use the route to make Konoha face Kirigakure directly.
• Araki told Yagura that Sasori was expected to return with a Mothership that could shelter the civilians, then reflected that the stage was nearly set.

Nagato and Konan left the Land of Rain as Kirigakure’s Blood Blade Unit set out aboard its Steel Mothership to invade the Land of Fire. When Orochimaru led allied forces to confront the ship, Araki ordered Sasori to open fire.

• Nagato and Konan departed the Land of Rain amid a crowd of people.
• Araki rallied Kirigakure’s Blood Blade Unit, including its squad captains and other fighters, and ordered them to board the Steel Mothership.
• The Steel Mothership landed on the eastern coast of the Land of Fire and crushed Konoha scouts as it drove inland.
• Orochimaru led Tsunade, Uzumaki Kushina, and allied ninja to confront the Steel Mothership, while Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō headed toward the Land of Rain border.
• Araki confirmed that the ship’s cannons were ready, and Sasori deployed them toward the approaching forces.
• Araki ordered the Steel Mothership to open fire.

Araki’s forces used the Steel Mothership and Kirigakure’s fighters to overpower Konoha’s attempt to block their passage through the Land of Fire. Araki declared they would take the people of the Land of Rain and challenge anyone who still wanted to fight Kirigakure.

• Sasori’s modified cannons drove Orochimaru and the Konoha forces back as Araki insisted his group was only passing through the Land of Fire to reach the Land of Rain.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade summoned Manda and Katsuyu, but Kisame flooded the battlefield while Hozuki Mangetsu transformed into a giant water body and seized Manda.
• Manda fled, and Mangetsu pursued Orochimaru while Kisame went to replenish his chakra.
• Kaguya Black Bone attacked Tsunade with Dance of the Seedling Fern, breaking through the trees she had raised with Deep Forest Emergence.
• Araki announced that Kirigakure would take the people of the Land of Rain and invited anyone who wanted to fight to face his forces.

Araki’s Kirigakure forces demonstrated their overwhelming strength against Konoha, leaving the other villages’ observers stunned. Konoha’s clan leaders joined the fighting, but Kirigakure kept producing opponents to stop them while Araki remained at the bow, untouched.

• Hikō watched Kisame Hoshigaki suppress the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Hozuki Mangetsu wield a towering water giant, and Kaguya Black Bone fight Tsunade, and struggled to believe how powerful Kirigakure had become.
• Kazamatsuri Masaki and Haruno Mebuki attacked Hozuki Mangetsu with Wood Release, so Araki called on Yanliu and Suilian to intercept them.
• Torifu Akimichi charged into the battle with the Super Multi-Size Technique, and Hozuki Sengetsu summoned another water giant to block him.
• The Hyuga, the Inuzuka Clan, and other Konoha leaders entered the fight, but Kirigakure shinobi stopped each of them while Araki stayed at the bow.
• Konoha’s fighters ran out of powerhouses, and one ninja wondered whether they would have to wait for Sarutobi and Danzo to return from the Land of Rain.

Nagato brought the Land of Rain’s civilians toward the Land of Water aboard Araki’s Steel Mothership while Araki stayed behind to face Konoha. Alucard suddenly attacked Araki, who accused Orochimaru and the others of colluding with the Dream Organization.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō confronted the people of the Land of Rain, but an enormous wall of explosive tags stopped them at the border.
• Nagato’s Steel Mothership arrived, and he scattered Konoha’s forces with Shinra Tensei before boarding.
• Nagato wanted to help Araki, but Sasori insisted their mission was to transport the civilians safely to the Land of Water.
• Araki prepared to defeat Konoha in a major battle and build Mist Village’s reputation.
• Alucard attacked Araki with blood-red lightning, and Araki accused Orochimaru and the other Konoha ninja of colluding with the Dream Organization.

Alucard claimed Konoha had colluded with the Dream Organization, leaving Orochimaru unable to clear the village’s name. As Alucard and Araki began a battle that shook space itself, suspicion spread among the watching villages, advancing Araki’s effort to strengthen Kirigakure’s claim to leadership.

• Alucard accused Araki of rejecting his offer and claimed Konoha had wisely agreed to cooperate with him.
• Tsunade demanded an explanation from Orochimaru, who realized he had no way to disprove Alucard’s accusation.
• Alucard attacked Araki with a spatial fissure, and Araki countered with Bakudo #81: Dankū.
• Their techniques collided and tore open a vast hollow in space, sending spatial turbulence into Obito Uchiha’s Kamui Dimension.
• The battle’s scale made the onlookers more willing to believe Konoha had colluded with the Dream Organization, supporting Araki’s plan to establish Kirigakure’s leadership.

Araki defeated Alucard and confronted Orochimaru over Konoha’s alleged collusion with the Dream Organization. As Orochimaru tried to take sole responsibility, Araki rejected his claim and began naming Konoha’s senior advisors.

• Araki defeated Alucard, who fled, while the onlookers watched in awe.
• Kirigakure celebrated, and Hikō and Tiefeng moved their forces closer to Kirigakure’s side, leaving Konoha surrounded.
• Araki demanded that Orochimaru explain Konoha’s alleged collusion with the Dream Organization.
• Orochimaru offered to die alone to answer for the crime, but Araki said Konoha’s senior leadership must also be held responsible.
• Hozuki Mangetsu named the six members of Konoha’s upper-level Advisory Council.

Araki demanded that Konoha surrender its leaders, but Orochimaru refused and revealed a desperate plan to summon the First Hokage. The chapter ended as Orochimaru’s ritual transformed him into Senju Hashirama.

• Araki offered to spare most Konoha ninja if Orochimaru and the other named leaders surrendered, while Hikō and Tiefeng backed his demand.
• Orochimaru refused, claiming surrender would doom Konoha, and prepared a last-resort jutsu as Araki watched.
• Orochimaru performed a lengthy ritual and summoned Senju Hashirama by name.
• Orochimaru’s appearance changed into the First Hokage’s form, leaving Tsunade and the battlefield stunned.

Orochimaru summoned Senju Hashirama to face Araki, the overwhelming threat to Konoha, and Hashirama chose to fight for his granddaughter Tsunade. Araki drew his sword and challenged him as their battle began.

• Tsunade recognized Hashirama as her grandfather, and he jokingly remarked that she had grown older before she punched him.
• Araki interrupted their reunion and asked Hashirama whether Orochimaru had explained why he was summoned.
• Hashirama retched Orochimaru out of his mouth, and Orochimaru explained that he had used Tobirama's Impure World Reincarnation to summon him back.
• Orochimaru told Hashirama that Konoha faced a crisis because of Araki, and Hashirama learned of Araki's strength and accomplishments.
• Hashirama said he would fight to protect Tsunade, and Araki drew his sword and challenged him.

Araki battled Senju Hashirama, overpowering the First Hokage with two devastating sword techniques and pinning his soul before he could recover. Araki then faced the watching battlefield and asked whether anyone else would challenge him.

• Araki struck Senju Hashirama with Secret Sword: Heaven Tilt, driving him into the ground through his Wood Golem Shield.
• Senju Hashirama emerged on a Wood Dragon and charged into the sky, but Araki unleashed Sage Art Secret Sword: Dragon Slayer and overwhelmed it.
• Araki’s golden attack crashed down, leaving the Wood Dragon charred and Senju Hashirama with half his body missing as his Impure World Reincarnation body began to regenerate.
• Araki pinned Senju Hashirama’s spiritual body to the ground with a transparent soul blade and asked the battlefield, “Anyone else?”

Araki defeated Senju Hashirama and shattered Konoha’s faith in its First Hokage before using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to claim several Konoha leaders’ souls. He demanded to know where Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were, and they arrived, unaware of the danger ahead.

• Araki explained that Orochimaru’s imperfect Impure World Reincarnation had weakened Senju Hashirama, then mocked Konoha’s despair after the First Hokage’s defeat.
• Araki summoned the Shinigami Clan Leader with the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and targeted Senju Hashirama, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and others.
• Uzumaki Kushina’s soul accused Araki of sending her to the Pure Land, while the Nine-Tails emerged from her body and landed on Araki’s shoulder.
• Araki demanded the locations of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, and Torifu Akimichi tried to appeal to him.
• Konoha ninja announced that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō had arrived, and the two returned from the western front believing the village welcomed them.

Araki led Kirigakure and its allies back to Konoha, where he announced that Orochimaru and Konoha’s advisers had betrayed humanity and sentenced the remaining leaders to death. The chapter ended with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu killed as Torifu Akimichi restrained them.

• Torifu Akimichi told Araki that Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were still in Konoha, and he led the group back to the village.
• At Konoha’s gate, Hikō told Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki that Orochimaru had colluded with the Dream Organization and been executed.
• Araki ordered Torifu Akimichi to gather Konoha’s jonin and planned to take part of the Land of Fire’s mission share while keeping Konoha dependent on Kirigakure.
• Araki announced that Orochimaru and the Konoha advisers had colluded with the Dream Organization and declared seven people guilty of crimes punishable by death.
• Torifu Akimichi restrained Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu as Hikō and Tiefeng killed them.

After Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were killed, Araki pushed Konoha to investigate the former leadership’s followers and choose a Hokage outside their faction. Fugaku Uchiha and Hyuga Hiashi agreed, while Araki intended to use the resulting power struggle to secure Kirigakure’s influence in the Land of Fire.

• Torifu Akimichi and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans contained unrest after Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were assassinated.
• Araki warned Torifu Akimichi that Orochimaru’s trusted followers had to be removed and questioned who would lead the investigation.
• Araki argued that Konoha’s next Hokage must come from outside the former leadership’s faction.
• Fugaku Uchiha and Hyuga Hiashi agreed that the next Hokage should not be tied to the old regime.
• Araki planned to exploit Konoha’s instability by having Kirigakure assist the new Hokage and establish an outpost with ninja stationed in the Land of Fire.

Araki pushed Konoha to hold a Fifth Hokage election with weighted votes from both jonin and villagers, and Torifu Akimichi agreed to preside over it. The chapter ended with nominations underway and an unprecedented number of candidates being put forward.

• Araki’s proposal gained support from Konoha’s clans and civilian-born ninjas, while Torifu Akimichi stayed out of the factional struggle.
• Araki asked Torifu to preside over the election, and Torifu explained Konoha’s usual nomination and voting procedures.
• Araki proposed weighting jonin votes so their combined total would roughly match the villagers’ votes, and no one objected.
• Araki set the jonin vote for three days later, followed by the village-wide vote.
• Torifu opened nominations, and jonin nominated Hyuga Hiashi, Fugaku Uchiha, other clan heads, and several candidates who put themselves forward.

Araki explained why Kirigakure should help Konoha choose a Hokage it could influence, and Hyuga Hiashi approached him seeking support for his own candidacy. Hiashi offered to strengthen ties through a marriage between Hinata and Kaguya Black Bone, leaving his wife confused by his plans for their infant daughter.

• Hozuki Sengetsu suggested that Kirigakure benefit from keeping Konoha divided, but Araki argued that controlling a Hokage would bring greater gains.
• Araki told Hozuki Sengetsu that Kirigakure should promote a candidate willing to be controlled rather than try to control whoever won.
• Hyuga Hiashi visited Araki and invoked the Hyuga Clan's old ties with the Kaguya Clan to propose renewed cooperation.
• Araki said he would consult Kaguya Black Bone, and Hiashi suggested that his daughter could marry Black Bone.
• Hiashi returned home and told his wife that the Hyuga Clan's future depended on teaching their infant daughter to be a wife and mother.

After several Konoha clan heads visited Araki to discuss the Hokage election, Haruno Mebuki secretly arrived and explained that he was running to protect his newborn daughter. Araki supported Mebuki’s candidacy and urged him to eliminate Kazamatsuri Masaki, whom Mebuki feared would take his daughter to revive the Senju Clan.

• Araki received clan heads who sought Mist Village’s support or wanted to learn which Hokage candidate he favored.
• Haruno Mebuki visited Araki in disguise and denied that he supported Tsunade’s faction, explaining that Kazamatsuri Masaki had drawn him into the fight against Mist Village.
• Mebuki told Araki that he was running for Hokage because he feared Kazamatsuri would claim his newborn daughter for the Senju Clan’s revival.
• Araki weighed Mebuki’s lack of strong political loyalties against the risk that Wood Release supporters would rally behind him.
• Araki advised Mebuki to eliminate Kazamatsuri with Mist Village’s backing, and Mebuki gradually became resolute.

Araki maneuvered to keep Hyuga Hiashi competing for Hokage while planning to sway Konoha’s villagers with promises of opportunities to become ninja. The jonin vote left Fugaku Uchiha narrowly ahead of Hiashi, with Kazamatsuri Masaki and Haruno Mebuki trailing, and Mebuki appeared nervous about what came next.

• Araki arranged a childhood betrothal between Toneri Kaguya and Hyuga Hiashi’s infant daughter to keep the Hyuga Clan tied to the Kaguya Clan.
• Araki explained to Hozuki Mangetsu that he wanted the Uchiha and Hyuga to split clan votes, then planned to win villagers over with promises of a path to becoming ninja.
• Konoha’s jonin gathered to vote after several candidates withdrew, while Araki and foreign ninja attended as observers.
• The vote placed Fugaku Uchiha narrowly ahead of Hyuga Hiashi, with Kazamatsuri Masaki behind them and Haruno Mebuki last.
• Fugaku felt pleased with his lead, Hiashi trusted his clan’s reputation, Masaki smiled strangely, and Mebuki appeared nervous.

After the jonin vote, the four Hokage candidates gave speeches to Konoha’s villagers in a second election round. Haruno Mebuki ended by presenting practical hopes for ordinary villagers, leaving the crowd listening closely.

• Torifu Akimichi directed the speeches, with Fugaku Uchiha first recounting his clan’s history and his own lost eyesight before promising to lead Konoha’s recovery.
• Hyuga Hiashi spoke next, emphasizing his clan’s sacrifices and promising peace for the village.
• Kazamatsuri Masaki demonstrated Wood Release, announced he would reclaim the Senju surname, and promised to restore Konoha to its peak.
• Haruno Mebuki demonstrated that she could also use Wood Release, rejected the need to revive the Senju name, and described practical goals for children, ninja graduates, and retired or injured shinobi.
• The villagers’ commotion over Masaki’s display faded as Mebuki spoke about ordinary needs, and they listened intently.

Haruno Mebuki promised villagers that every child in Konoha could attend school, winning their overwhelming support despite fierce opposition from Fugaku Uchiha and other clan leaders. The weighted vote count confirmed Haruno Mebuki as Konoha's Fifth Hokage.

• Haruno Mebuki promised to make schooling available to every child in Konoha, giving ordinary villagers a chance to become ninja.
• Kazamatsuri Masaki and Fugaku Uchiha confronted Haruno Mebuki, and Fugaku challenged the cost and value of educating everyone.
• Haruno Mebuki defended his promise, while Araki intervened before Fugaku and his allies could escalate the confrontation.
• Haruno Mebuki won the villagers' vote by more votes than the other candidates combined.
• The weighted final tally put Haruno Mebuki ahead of Fugaku Uchiha and confirmed him as Konoha's Fifth Hokage.

Haruno Mebuki became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage after winning the jonin vote, while Fugaku Uchiha’s attempt to challenge him was blocked. Araki then offered Hyuga Hiashi a role overseeing Konoha’s ninja clans, invoking the Hyuga’s ties to Kirigakure through his daughter and Toneri.

• Fugaku Uchiha objected to Haruno Mebuki’s election and challenged his strength, but Mebuki refused to fight him.
• Araki argued that allowing challenges to decide the Hokage would destabilize Konoha, and Torifu Akimichi ordered Fugaku to stand down.
• Torifu Akimichi presented Haruno Mebuki with the Hokage cloak and hat, and Mebuki announced himself as the Fifth Hokage to cheering villagers.
• Hyuga Hiashi complained to Araki about the election, and Araki argued that Hiashi had not been likely to win against Fugaku Uchiha and Kazamatsuri Masaki.
• Araki offered Hiashi the task of overseeing Konoha’s ninja clans and cited the Hyuga Clan’s ties to Kirigakure through Hiashi’s daughter and Toneri.