Chapter Summaries

After recovering from his injuries, Sosuke met young Kushina Uzumaki and Minato in Konoha, offering Kushina advice about friendship. He left wondering whether Kushina’s power was destined to belong to him.

• Kyoka Suigetsu playfully tried to startle Sosuke, but he dodged and reassured her that he would protect her.
• Sosuke recovered from his injuries and walked through Konoha, where he saw children bullying Kushina Uzumaki and watched her fight them off.
• Sosuke advised Kushina that true friends believe in and protect one another, and she introduced herself to him.
• Minato arrived to meet Kushina, recognized Sosuke as the Child of Konoha, and told him he hoped to become a hero like him.
• After Sosuke left, Kushina reflected on Minato calling him a hero, while Sosuke wondered whether Kushina’s power was destined to be his.

Sosuke met with Danzo, who urged him to pursue the Fourth Hokage position, while Sosuke privately revealed his greater ambitions. On the way back from Sunagakure, Sakumo realized Sosuke may have orchestrated the mission that led to his squad’s deaths, and Jiraiya and Tsunade hurried toward the village to learn the truth.

• Sosuke visited Danzo, who praised his prospects and promised to help him become Fourth Hokage.
• Sosuke agreed to pursue the position but privately considered Danzo’s ambitions too small.
• Sakumo asked Tsunade whether Sosuke had reached the Sunagakure battlefield before the others, and her confirmation made him suspect Sosuke had known about the mission.
• Sakumo told Jiraiya and Tsunade that Sosuke had informed him of the village’s supposed order, suggesting Sosuke might have engineered the events that killed his squad.
• Jiraiya urged them to return to the village to confront Sosuke, while Sakumo vowed to make whoever was responsible pay.

Sosuke met the giant bear Little Bear in the Konoha Forest, made it his summoned beast, and named it Kumamoto. Meanwhile, an unidentified foreign ninja squad approached Konoha, led by a man intent on avenging an old humiliation.

• Sosuke left the streets of Konoha and went to a secluded corner of the forest, where Little Bear charged toward him.
• Sosuke caught Little Bear’s leap with a Chakra Threads net and asked it to become his summoned beast; Little Bear agreed.
• Sosuke drew blood from himself and Little Bear, created a Summoning Contract, and named the bear Kumamoto.
• A foreign ninja squad moved through the forest toward Konoha as its leader vowed to make the village pay for a past humiliation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed Sosuke as acting Fourth Hokage, and the village leaders approved him by a 49–1 vote. Meanwhile, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo traveled through the forest, each confronting their own thoughts about Sosuke and their former comrades.

• As Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo raced through the forest, Tsunade asked Jiraiya what he would do if Sosuke had become their enemy, and Jiraiya vowed to bring him back to his senses.
• At a meeting in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed that Sosuke temporarily take the position of Fourth Hokage and learn the role alongside him.
• The clan leaders voted, with 49 supporting Sosuke and the Hyuga Clan casting the sole opposing vote.
• Hiruzen announced Sosuke's appointment and asked Utatane Koharu to arrange for the result to be delivered to him.
• The officials turned to discussing the war against Sunagakure while reflecting on Sosuke's accomplishments and his rapid rise from civilian boy to acting Hokage.

Sosuke learned that he had been appointed the Fourth Hokage and received the Third's confidence as he prepared to take over the village. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived with troubling news, the Third Tsuchikage's forces approached Konoha, and Sosuke's friends learned of his appointment as a white-haired figure hurried through the village.

• An Anbu Ninja summoned Sosuke to the Hokage Building, where he learned of his appointment as the Fourth Hokage.
• The Third praised Sosuke's dedication to Konoha and asked him to begin learning the Hokage's duties the next day.
• Sosuke privately thought of Konoha as a temporary stopping place and hoped it would not obstruct his future plans.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo arrived in Konoha; Jiraiya went to find Sosuke while Tsunade and Sakumo headed to the Third.
• The Third Tsuchikage led Rock Ninja toward Konoha, ordering them to invade and inflict damage.
• Sosuke met Might Duy and Yuhi Ma, and Shimura Kazumi revealed that he was to become the Fourth Hokage as a white-haired figure raced through Konoha.

Tsunade and Sakumo warned Sarutobi and Homura that Sakumo’s claims about Sosuke threatened Konoha, while Jiraiya found Sosuke and struggled to hide his suspicions. Sarutobi sent the Anbu to detain Sosuke, who agreed to wait for the Third Hokage as the village surrounded him.

• Tsunade and Sakumo met Homura and hurried to the Hokage Building to tell Sarutobi about Sakumo’s warning.
• Jiraiya found Sosuke, learned he had been appointed Fourth Hokage’s successor, and concealed his unease about Sakumo’s claims.
• Sarutobi decided to investigate Sosuke and ordered Tatsu to deploy the Anbu and seal off the streets around him.
• Tatsu confronted Sosuke on the street and relayed the Third Hokage’s order for him to wait, while Anbu surrounded the group.
• Sosuke greeted Tatsu and calmly agreed to wait for Sarutobi to arrive.

Sosuke admitted to arranging Sakumo’s mission into Sunagakure, rejected the Third’s demand to surrender, and renounced Konoha as he declared his ambition to stand at the summit of the Ninja World. Just as he prepared to leave, an explosion rocked the village, and Sosuke turned to investigate.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Sosuke about arranging Sakumo and the Konoha Ninja’s infiltration of Sunagakure, and Sosuke admitted he could not explain his actions.
• Hiruzen ordered Sosuke to surrender, but Sosuke refused and apologized to Sakumo before removing and discarding his Konoha headband.
• Sosuke appeared high above the others, declared that Konoha could not fulfill his ambitions, and announced that he would stand at the summit and reshape the Ninja World.
• Sosuke said farewell to his former companions and prepared to leave Konoha.
• An explosion erupted in Konoha’s northwest, and Sosuke watched the blast with curiosity and decided to see who had caused it.

Sosuke forced the Third Hokage and other Konoha shinobi to leave and confront the Rock Ninja attacking the village, while he stayed behind and rejected his former friends. The chapter ended with Sosuke cutting off Sakumo’s remaining arm after stopping his attack.

• Rock Ninja broke through Konoha’s northwest barrier, killed the first defenders, and began attacking the village under the Tsuchikage’s orders.
• Sosuke warned Sarutobi that the attackers could destroy Konoha, so Sarutobi left with Tatsu and the Anbu to face them.
• Shimura Kazumi also departed to lead Root Base’s response, leaving Jiraiya, Tsunade, Yuhi Ma, Might Duy, Sakumo, and Sosuke at the scene.
• Sosuke told his former companions that trust was an illusion and that he considered their concern unnecessary.
• Sakumo attacked Sosuke with White Fang, but Sosuke stopped the blade and cut off Sakumo’s remaining left arm.

Sosuke fought Dai as he tried to stop him from leaving Konoha, overpowering him despite Dai opening several of the Eight Gates. After Dai pleaded with him to turn back, Sosuke apologized and walked away toward the northwest of Konoha.

• Sakumo retreated with Tsunade treating his injuries, while Sosuke warned the others not to mistake him for their former comrade.
• Dai confronted Sosuke, but Sosuke blocked his attacks, struck him into the rubble, and urged him to grow stronger.
• Dai opened the fourth and fifth gates and tried to open the sixth, but Sosuke restrained him before he unleashed his next attack.
• Dai broke free and launched powerful techniques at Sosuke, who defeated him and caught him before he hit the ground.
• Dai clutched Sosuke's pant leg and begged him not to leave, but Sosuke apologized and walked away toward Konoha's northwest.

After Sosuke defeated Dai and departed, Jiraiya vowed to grow strong enough to capture him, while Tsunade treated Dai’s injuries. Meanwhile, Ōnoki led the Rock Ninja’s attack on Konoha and faced the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, as the battle continued.

• Tsunade treated Dai and told Jiraiya and Hazama that Dai was exhausted and had badly broken bones in his right arm and leg.
• Jiraiya challenged Sosuke to a future fight, and Sosuke told him to catch up before disappearing.
• Jiraiya vowed to bring Sosuke back, while Tsunade stared at the place where Sosuke had vanished.
• Rock Ninja devastated Konoha’s northwestern district, crushing and attacking Konoha Ninja with powerful techniques.
• Ōnoki confronted Sarutobi and questioned how much of the First and Second Hokage’s strength he had inherited.
• Sarutobi sent Shadow Clones armed with giant shuriken at Ōnoki, who used Added-Weight Rock Technique to make them tumble to the ground.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Ōnoki clashed with powerful ninjutsu, and their attacks left space dangerously unstable. Sosuke watched from concealment as Ōnoki retreated from the distorted area.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi tested Ōnoki’s Added-Weight Rock Technique with shuriken and rubble, then concluded it disrupted objects from within.
• Hiruzen and his Shadow Clones unleashed the Five Releases: Great Combo Technique, combining all five chakra natures into a giant dragon.
• Sosuke concealed himself with Bakudō #26: Kyokkō and watched the battle.
• Ōnoki countered Hiruzen’s attack with Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu, and the techniques vanished after colliding.
• Sosuke observed that the clash had destabilized space, and Ōnoki flew higher to avoid the dangerous area.

Ōnoki revealed Iwagakure’s Earth Core Detachment and its formidable coordinated technique as the squad formed behind a strong barrier. Sarutobi watched with concern, while Sosuke considered the squad potential material for Impure World Reincarnation as their jutsu neared completion.

• Ōnoki praised Sarutobi’s strength, then challenged his views on the Hokage’s duty as battles continued across the battlefield.
• Ōnoki whistled, prompting elite Rock Ninja to gather and begin forming seals for a complex technique.
• The Rock Ninja raised an Earth Curtain Light Barrier that withstood Konoha’s attacks.
• A Hannya-masked woman ordered the Root Base sealing squad to move out and break the barrier.
• Ōnoki identified the squad as Iwagakure’s Earth Core Detachment, while Sarutobi watched them with concern.
• Sosuke recognized the Earth Core Detachment and considered killing them for Impure World Reincarnation as their technique approached completion.

The Konoha forces shattered the Earth Core Detachment’s barrier, but the Rock Ninja inside defended themselves as violent tremors shook Konoha. Sosuke decided to intervene personally, leaving the detachment’s plans and the cause of the quakes unresolved.

• Konoha’s Art Seals dissolved the Earth Curtain Light Barrier, and the ground beneath the village began to shake violently.
• Sarutobi summoned Enma and sent him toward the Earth Core Detachment while holding off Ōnoki with the Five Releases: Great Combo.
• The barrier’s inner defenses collapsed, revealing Rock Ninja teams protected by a Combined Earth-Style Wall against the purple-haired ninja’s Wind Release attack.
• Sosuke watched the Earth Core Detachment and resolved to deal with them himself before they could disrupt his plans.

Sosuke appeared on the battlefield and was hailed by Konoha Ninja as their newly appointed Fourth Hokage, but he questioned their assumptions. After a Rock Ninja named Shilan attacked and froze in fear before him, Sosuke spared him and turned his attention toward the ruined barrier.

• Sosuke revealed himself by dispelling Kyokkō, and the Konoha Ninja recognized him despite his changed appearance.
• Jingzuo told the Konoha Ninja that Sosuke had been appointed Fourth Hokage, prompting them to celebrate.
• Sosuke warned that the truth might not match their hopes before Shilan charged him with an Earth Release: Rock Fist technique.
• Shilan recognized Sosuke as the Child of Konoha and stopped short, overwhelmed by fear as his rock fist struck the ground away from Sosuke.
• Sosuke walked past Shilan without attacking and told him to cherish his life, even if he had to live humbly.
• Sosuke looked toward the ruined barrier as the battlefield tremors grew more violent.

Sosuke arrived at the ruined barrier as the Rock Ninja prepared their secret art, Earth Phenomenon Divine Punishment, which was cutting a huge ring through the bedrock beneath Konoha. He sensed the jutsu’s purpose and fixed the Rock Ninja with a cold gaze, leaving the confrontation on the verge of escalating.

• Konoha’s shinobi struggled to break through the Rock Ninja’s defenses as tremors from underground grew stronger.
• Kazumi urged the Konoha shinobi to attack before the Rock Ninja could unleash their jutsu, but Sosuke arrived and told her he would not interfere yet.
• The Rock Ninja said Tsuchimikado needed only a little more time to complete Earth Phenomenon Divine Punishment beneath Konoha.
• Sosuke sensed the nearly severed ring of bedrock and understood the purpose of the Rock Ninja’s secret art.
• Sosuke opened his eyes with a chillingly altered presence, and the bald Rock Ninja broke into a cold sweat when their gazes met.

Tsuchimikado and the Rock Ninjas completed Earth Phenomenon Divine Punishment, shaking Konoha as Sosuke confronted them. Sosuke’s Raikōhō vanished before striking their defenses, then exploded inside the rampart, leaving the battlefield stunned.

• Tsuchimikado announced that Earth Phenomenon Divine Punishment was complete, and the Rock Ninjas linked hands and unleashed a surge of chakra that violently shook Konoha.
• Ōnoki blocked Sarutobi’s Great Flame Technique with an earthen wall and taunted him about the Rock Ninjas’ Earth Core Detachment.
• Enma arrived near the damaged barrier as Sosuke appeared alone before the Rock Ninjas; Kazumi ordered the Konoha Ninja not to interfere.
• Sosuke confronted Zojuba and fired Hadō #63: Raikōhō at the Rock Ninjas.
• The Rock Ninjas raised a thick stone rampart, but Sosuke’s lightning bolt vanished near the wall and detonated inside it, prompting speculation that he had used Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Sosuke stopped the Rock Ninja from completing Earth Phenomenon Divine Punishment and defeated the surviving Earth Core Detachment. He left to seek the battle between the two Kage after ordering Hogyoku to collect the Rock Ninja's souls.

• Enma arrived as Konoha shook, unaware that Sosuke had already defected, while Sosuke vanished into the stone wall.
• Sosuke emerged among the injured Earth Core Detachment and explained that their jutsu could have destroyed Konoha by severing its underground foundations.
• Tsuchimikado and two Rock Ninja ambushed Sosuke with Earth Release techniques, but he reappeared behind them unharmed.
• Sosuke stopped a Rock Ninja's stone-enhanced punch with one hand, shattered his arm, and killed him by sending him into a rock wall.
• Sosuke cast Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi to kill the remaining Rock Ninja, then told Hogyoku to collect their souls without eating them.

The Third Hokage and Ōnoki fought a destructive battle, with Sarutobi surviving Dust Release and forcing Ōnoki to escape a barrage of explosive shuriken. Enma arrived with news that Sosuke had defeated the Rock Ninja, though Sosuke’s condition remained unknown.

• Sosuke disappeared after defeating the Rock Ninja, and the Earth Release wall collapsed as Konoha Ninja wondered whether he was safe.
• The Third Hokage and Ōnoki exchanged powerful attacks across the battlefield while Konoha’s civilians remained evacuated.
• Ōnoki struck Sarutobi with Dust Release, but Sarutobi emerged from beneath the ground and counterattacked with a combined fire-and-earth technique.
• Sarutobi sent explosive-tagged Fuma Shuriken at Ōnoki, who escaped the explosions with a Rock Clone.
• Enma arrived and told Sarutobi that Sosuke had taken care of the Rock Ninja, though he did not know how Sosuke was doing.

Sosuke appeared on the battlefield after the fight between Sarutobi and Ōnoki, revealing that he intended to kill the weakened leaders. After dodging Ōnoki’s Dust Release, Sosuke rose into the air and released Kyoka Suigetsu as the confrontation escalated.

• Enma told Sarutobi that Sosuke had fought inside the Earth Release walls and that the walls later collapsed.
• Ōnoki sensed Sosuke and exposed him, and Sosuke announced that he would take the chance to kill Ōnoki and Sarutobi.
• Shimura Kazumi, Shingo Gekko, Jiraiya, and other Konoha Ninja arrived alongside the remaining Rock Ninja.
• Sosuke asked Ōnoki whether he had forgotten Roshi, revealing that he knew Roshi had left Iwagakure.
• Ōnoki attacked Sosuke with Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu, but Sosuke dodged it with his space-time ability.
• Sosuke rose into the air, drew Kyoka Suigetsu, and spoke its release command.

Sosuke attacked Ōnoki and demonstrated that he could appear behind him without warning, forcing Ōnoki to defend himself with the Rock Golem. Sosuke then tricked Ōnoki into killing Sanhe with Dust Release, leaving Ōnoki furious and the surrounding ninjas stunned.

• Sosuke made the Kyoka Suigetsu appear to shatter, recalling Jiraiya and the others to his fight with Tokino.
• Sosuke appeared behind Ōnoki and struck at his heart, but Ōnoki blocked the blow with the Rock Golem, which was nearly split in half.
• Sosuke appeared among the Rock Ninjas, and Ōnoki fired Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu at him.
• Ōnoki's attack turned out to have killed Sanhe, prompting Kitsuchi and the other ninjas to reveal the mistake.
• Sosuke denied moving and told Ōnoki that he had merely killed a ninja by accident.