Chapter Summaries

Danzō publicly challenged Tsunade’s handling of the Anbu, exposing their political conflict, while Mizuki considered Danzō’s bid for power and the limited time he had to pursue it. Orochimaru examined Mizuki’s intelligence on Pain and recognized it as a test, deciding to accept the information and pursue his interest.

• Fu Yamanaka used a secret mind technique on a suspect, who revealed confidential information and died.
• Danzō reprimanded Tsunade over the suspected Anbu and left after she warned him not to interfere again.
• Tsunade ordered Ibiki to investigate the suspects with Inoichi’s assistance.
• Mizuki heard about the public clash and reasoned that Danzō was trying to undermine Tsunade and gain the elders’ support.
• Orochimaru studied Mizuki’s detailed intelligence on Pain, concluded it was a test, and said he accepted Mizuki’s offer.

Orochimaru learned more about the Rinnegan and Yin-Yang Release, while Bunga tried to negotiate an intelligence exchange between Iwagakure and Konoha. Konoha questioned Iwagakure’s sincerity, leaving Bunga uneasy about what terms the village would demand.

• Orochimaru examined information about the Rinnegan and praised its power, practicality, and Yin-Yang Release.
• Bunga returned to Konoha on Ōnoki’s orders to negotiate an intelligence exchange after Deidara died before Bunga could question him.
• Bunga asked Shikaku Nara to arrange a meeting with the Hokage and sought a chance to speak with Mizuki about Deidara.
• Shikaku explained that Mizuki was on leave and said Konoha objected to the proposed scope of the intelligence exchange.
• Bunga asked what Konoha meant by greater sincerity and worried that Iwagakure’s bargaining chips were not enough.

Shikaku Nara negotiated with Iwagakure’s envoy, who realized Konoha had little need for Iwagakure’s incomplete intelligence and agreed to report Konoha’s terms to the Tsuchikage. Meanwhile, Mizuki ignored his growing fame and trained chakra nature transformations while Sakura practiced an Earth Style barrier under his supervision.

• Shikaku Nara told Iwagakure’s envoy that cooperation required sincerity from both villages, and the envoy agreed to convey Konoha’s intentions to the Tsuchikage.
• The envoy recognized that Konoha’s intelligence on the Rinnegan was superior and that Iwagakure would have to pay more than expected for cooperation.
• Mizuki dismissed his new fame as unimportant and decided to focus on gaining strength by mastering all five chakra nature transformations.
• Mizuki trained wind-nature transformation with Shadow Clones and found it progressed quickly thanks to a method from his memories.
• Mizuki tested Sakura Haruno’s Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothing with wind and lightning, broke it open, and told her to focus on condensing her chakra.

Mizuki trained Sakura in controlling tailed beast chakra and explained his theory that it might let people access natural energy. He discussed Sakura’s internships and planned her next rotations, leaving her training and career under his guidance.

• Mizuki stopped Sakura’s chakra-control practice and told her to focus on genjutsu for two days.
• Mizuki explained that mastering tailed beast chakra might help Sakura use natural energy, though he still did not know how to make the method safe.
• Mizuki asked Sakura about her Cipher Squad internship, and Sakura said Kurenai Yuhi had treated her well.
• Sakura told Mizuki that Kurenai Yuhi was interested in Dreamplay, and Mizuki warned Sakura to use it cautiously with allies and never on Naruto.
• Mizuki said he would recommend Sakura to Lady Tsunade for rotations with the medical emergency squad and corpse processing squad.

Mizuki met with Hyuga Hiashi to discuss their cooperation, the Caged Bird, and the Hyuga Clan’s preparations for a coming threat. After sharing research linking the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Rinnegan, Mizuki received a Byakugan and left with a clearer path for his chakra research.

• Mizuki assigned the newly promoted chunin Gennai, Mino, and Inaho to the Security Department, asking Tekuno to train them and Neji to look after them.
• Mizuki visited Hyuga Hiashi, admitted that he had little room to advance in Konoha for now, and said war made planning for the Hokage position too uncertain.
• Hiashi revealed that the Hyuga Clan had found evidence supporting Mizuki’s suspicions about its origins and a possible threat connected to the Tenseigan, but decided against provoking that enemy.
• Mizuki gave Hiashi research showing that the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Rinnegan shared a source, and Hiashi accepted the findings after reading them.
• Hiashi gave Mizuki a Byakugan in exchange, and Mizuki left intending to use it to improve his chakra observation and research.

Mizuki reflected on the coming birth of his daughter while Konoha prepared its forces for a possible war. At a Security Department gathering, Shikaku Nara discussed the department’s progress and Mizuki learned that his next post might be in the Anbu or as deputy head of the Security Department.

• Konoha and Iwagakure maintained a limited agreement as the major villages reorganized their forces for the threat of war.
• Mizuki continued his duties while awaiting the birth of his daughter and thinking about becoming a father.
• Shikaku Nara teased Mizuki about his family life during a gathering with Kakashi and other Security Department members.
• Shikaku Nara said the Security Department had become established after six months of work and described its broad reach and strength.
• Mizuki considered the possible plans to transfer Shikaku Nara and Hyuga Hiashi to the Administration Department and make Kakashi head of the Security Department.
• Mizuki faced two possible assignments: leading an Anbu assassination squad or becoming deputy head of the Security Department.

Mizuki waited for Tsubaki to give birth, then met their daughter, Miyuki, and brought his recovering wife and newborn home. The family settled in their bedroom after Mizuki confirmed that both mother and baby were healthy.

• Mizuki waited outside the delivery room while Karin tried to reassure him and kept him company.
• Miyuki was born, and Mizuki was startled by how a newborn looked before Karin explained that newborns were all like that.
• Mizuki brought Miyuki to see Tsubaki, and they observed that the baby had Mizuki's silver hair and eye color.
• Mizuki checked Tsubaki and Miyuki, confirmed they were healthy, and took them home.

Mizuki and Tsubaki adjusted to life with their newborn daughter, Miyuki, while Mizuki's laboratory clone investigated how to use a transplanted Byakugan safely. The research remained unresolved as Mizuki considered ways to limit his body's rejection and conceal the eye's abilities.

• Mizuki reflected on the meaning of Miyuki's birth and watched as her newborn appearance gradually changed.
• Tsubaki cared for Miyuki with help from her clones while visitors learned of the baby and began stopping by.
• Miyuki opened her eyes after more than a week, and Mizuki advised Tsubaki to gradually adjust the room's lighting to help her develop a day-and-night rhythm.
• Mizuki's laboratory clone found that transplanting the Byakugan into Mizuki or a clone could cause serious complications because their bodies strongly rejected foreign tissue.
• Mizuki decided to develop sealing techniques and seek a way to borrow the Byakugan's observational power while reducing rejection and keeping the transplant secret.

Mizuki weighed the risks of temporarily using the Byakugan while focusing on family life until Tsunade summoned him to discuss Akatsuki’s growing activity. He accepted a security mission and warned that enemy corpses should be recovered or destroyed.

• Mizuki’s clones proposed testing the Byakugan in an unused body, but his original body ordered them to wait until his mental state had recovered.
• Mizuki continued caring for his child and reflected that balancing work and rest had improved his mental state.
• Tsunade gave Mizuki an intelligence report showing that bounties were being claimed faster and secret organizations were recruiting, which Mizuki identified as Akatsuki’s moves.
• Tsunade assigned the Anbu and Security Department to intensify operations against suspicious groups, with Kakashi set to lead Mizuki’s mission.
• Mizuki advised Tsunade to have the mission recover enemy corpses or destroy them to prevent their use in Impure World Reincarnation or White Zetsu’s army.

Pain and Konan discussed Akatsuki’s weakened ranks, the appearance of the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha, and his interest in Mizuki. Pain decided to have their subordinates find Orochimaru to learn what he knew about Mizuki.

• Konan told Pain that Madara Uchiha had appeared, but Pain dismissed the man as too weak to be the legendary founder of Konoha.
• Pain said he planned to kill the supposed Madara and Black Tortoise eventually, while Konan raised concerns about whether they should be assigned together.
• Konan reported that Akatsuki had few recruitable fighters despite interest from potential members.
• Konan said the supposed Madara and Black Tortoise were unusually interested in Mizuki, but Akatsuki had learned nothing about why.
• Pain ordered Konan to have their subordinates locate Orochimaru so they could capture and interrogate him about Mizuki.

Kakashi, Mizuki, and Hyuga Homon continued Konoha’s campaign against underground groups near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers. Around the campfire, they discussed the operation’s wider purpose and the burden of killing, then prepared to resume the purge the next day.

• Kakashi led Mizuki and Hyuga Homon through a mission to eliminate dangerous underground groups near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
• Mizuki confirmed that he had set up detection traps, and Hyuga Homon praised the security they provided.
• Kakashi said the other major hidden villages were also taking action because Akatsuki’s attacks had made them feel threatened.
• Mizuki joked about missing home and his newborn child, while Kakashi and Homon discussed completing the mission so they could return safely.
• Kakashi and Mizuki reflected on the cruelty of killing and how the shinobi world changed those forced to fight.
• The three jonin anticipated another day of killing as the operation continued.

Sakura Haruno made progress controlling tailed beast chakra, prompting Tsunade to investigate Mizuki’s research and consult Katsuyu about the dangers of using that power. Tsunade stopped Tenzō’s surveillance and turned to a report showing that Konoha’s counter-operation against Akatsuki was nearing its end.

• Sakura Haruno shaped tailed beast chakra into different forms during training, and Tenzō watched her practice before reporting his observations to Tsunade.
• Tsunade reviewed the report, ordered Tenzō to cancel the surveillance, and summoned Katsuyu to ask about the origins and use of tailed beast power.
• Katsuyu told Tsunade that non-Jinchuriki had sometimes wielded tailed beast power, but few had met a good end.
• Tsunade set aside her concerns about Mizuki’s research and saw that the bounty photographs in a report had been crossed out as Konoha’s counter-operation against Akatsuki neared completion.

Mizuki reflected on his remaining time to prepare and checked that his daughter Miyuki was growing safely and normally. He used the Sea Monk to amuse her, and she smiled at him for the first time.

• Mizuki decided that he and Tsubaki should take Miyuki outside for walks now that the hottest season had passed.
• Mizuki examined Miyuki and found that her chakra capacity and mental strength were ordinary, which reassured him that she was healthy.
• Mizuki considered the risks of early Kekkei Genkai awakenings and unstable bloodlines, then felt relieved that Miyuki showed no unusual traits.
• Mizuki brought out the nearly depleted Sea Monk, and its shifting shape fascinated Miyuki until she smiled at him.
• Tsubaki recognized the Sea Monk as a living creature, and Mizuki explained that it was a weak collective life-form shaped by fishermen's fears.

Mizuki trained in Water Style while considering the Sea Monk’s limited usefulness, then learned that someone resembling Roshi had been spotted in the Land of Stone. He ordered his clones to investigate discreetly, hoping to obtain the Four-Tails’ chakra and gain Lava Release.

• Tsubaki examined the Sea Monk, and Mizuki explained that it was harmless while sealed and could serve as a pet.
• Mizuki struggled to master water-attribute chakra and practiced basic Water Style techniques while recovering his ability to use Sage Mode.
• A physical clone told Mizuki that another clone had heard reports of someone matching Roshi’s description in the Land of Stone.
• Mizuki considered how Lava Release would strengthen his sage arts and ordered his clones to verify Roshi’s identity without alerting him.
• Mizuki accepted that the search might prove fruitless and noted he could seek another way to obtain Lava Release.

Shimura Danzō lamented his lack of influence in Konoha but waited for a future chance to claim the Hokage position. He sent Kinoe to Sunagakure to assassinate Hōichi, whose ambitions to replace Gaara conflicted with Danzō’s plans for the village.

• Shimura Danzō accepted that his recent efforts to raise his profile in Konoha had failed and resolved to wait for Tsunade to leave office or for turmoil to create an opportunity.
• Danzō reflected that his cooperation with Orochimaru had produced Kinoe, a conditioned Root ninja with Wood Release and Three-Tomoe Sharingan, though not the Mangekyō Sharingan he had hoped for.
• Danzō ordered Kinoe to travel to Sunagakure and assassinate the monk Hōichi, and Kinoe departed with the mission details.
• Danzō considered Hōichi’s role in the opposition to Gaara and criticized Tsunade for not intervening in Sunagakure’s internal affairs.

Mizuki planned to capture some of Roshi’s Four-Tails chakra without seriously harming him, deciding that Tsubaki’s Ice Release would be crucial to countering Lava Release. Meanwhile, Roshi felt an ominous urgency in the Land of Stone and considered leaving, unaware of how dangerous his pursuer would be.

• Mizuki concluded that he needed Tsubaki’s help and Ice Release to fight Roshi quickly and contain Lava Release.
• Mizuki entertained little Miyuki with Sea Monk, and Tsubaki agreed to help him pursue a rogue ninja.
• Mizuki said they would wait, plan their tactics, and practice Ice Release before confronting their target.
• Roshi, disguised as a wandering monk in the Land of Stone, felt uneasy and considered leaving.
• Roshi trusted his premonitions but underestimated the danger Mizuki posed.

Mizuki and his clones ambushed Roshi as he tried to leave the Land of Stone, using coordinated Earth, Lightning, and Fire Style techniques to restrain him. After sealing Roshi inside a crystal sphere, the clones transported him to waters far north of the Land of Stone.

• Roshi sensed danger on the road and turned back, but Mizuki and his disguised clones appeared and surrounded him.
• Roshi transformed into a magma-covered Tailed Beast form and attacked the clones with Lava Release, burning one of them.
• Mizuki's clones trapped Roshi in a swamp, struck him with Lightning Style to paralyze him, and buried him under falling clay.
• The clones used Fire Style to bake the clay into a crystalline sphere around Roshi, then spread sealing runes across it.
• Mizuki's six clones lifted the sealed sphere and transported Roshi to offshore waters more than a thousand li north of the Land of Stone.

Mizuki and his allies captured Roshi in the frozen sea and subdued him with the Four-Sided Sealing Formation and Tsubaki's Ice Release. Mizuki extracted and sealed a portion of the Four-Tails' chakra, finally obtaining the power he had pursued.

• Mizuki's corporeal clones brought Roshi, trapped in a crystal sphere, to the icy sea, and Mizuki dropped him into the water.
• Mizuki's clones activated the Four-Sided Sealing Formation as Roshi escaped the sphere and transformed into the Four-Tails.
• Mizuki struck Roshi back into the sea while the sealing formation restrained him, and Mizuki and Tsubaki trapped him in a Water Prison.
• Tsubaki converted the Water Prison into an Ice Prison, suppressing Roshi's Lava Release and weakening his defenses.
• Tsubaki pierced Roshi's ice and lava armor with her fused-release technique, allowing Mizuki to extract and seal a portion of the Four-Tails' chakra.

Mizuki and Tsubaki returned to Konoha after capturing and releasing Roshi, then received an invitation delivered by Iruka. In Sunagakure, Fuyi reported Hōichi’s death to Chiyo, who rejected rumors that Baki was responsible and agreed to handle the matter.

• Mizuki and Tsubaki left Roshi recovering in a bear’s abandoned den after taking a sample and deciding not to keep him imprisoned.
• Mizuki and Tsubaki returned home, found Miyuki safe and asleep, and decided to go out together.
• Iruka visited and delivered an invitation concerning Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao, and Mizuki agreed to attend.
• Fuyi told Chiyo that Hōichi had been assassinated, while rumors blamed Baki.
• Chiyo dismissed the accusation against Baki and told Fuyi she would handle the matter.

Chiyo rejected the suspicion that Baki had killed Hōichi and moved to strengthen Gaara’s place in Sunagakure while authorizing the killing of two Konoha spies. Meanwhile, Root Ninja Jia returned from an assassination with his Sharingan and body falling into a dangerous imbalance caused by the Hashirama Cells.

• Chiyo told Ebizo that Iwagakure or Konoha might have killed Hōichi, then ordered Gaara’s restrictions lifted so he could join the regular shinobi ranks.
• Chiyo ordered two exposed Konoha spies killed, dismissing Ebizo’s warning that the move would bring little benefit.
• Root Ninja Jia raced back toward Konoha after completing his assassination mission without error.
• Jia stopped by a lake when chakra surged into his Sharingan and abnormal mental fluctuations and physical symptoms began.
• Jia used Wood Release to suppress the Sharingan’s activity, then continued toward the village as blood ran from his eyes.
• Jia remained unaware that the Hashirama Cells inside him required spiritual power to balance their Yang force with his Sharingan’s Yin force.