Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Shōji led his team after a Kumo Ninja squad that had been raiding Konoha's supply lines, but sensed a trap and ordered a withdrawal. Toroi and an elite Kumogakure force ambushed them, and Shōji prepared to face the Magnet Release ninja.

• Shōji's team tracked the Kumo Ninja squad and reported that they could catch up within half an hour.
• Suspecting the pursuit was a trap, Shōji ordered his team to withdraw despite their surprise.
• Toroi attacked from above with the Iron Sand Rain Technique, and Shōji shielded his team with an Earth Release Mud Wall.
• More than a dozen Kumo Ninja surrounded Shōji's team, and a teammate identified their leader as Toroi, a Magnet Release ninja.
• Toroi revealed that he had been waiting for Shōji, who assessed the elite force closing in around him.

Shōji clashed with Toroi and used his techniques to create an opening for his teammates to escape. He continued attacking Toroi as the battle intensified.

• Dodai sent Toroi and an elite Kumo Ninja unit to ambush and kill Shōji before he could grow stronger.
• Shōji ordered his teammates to retreat while he held off Toroi and the Kumo Ninja.
• Toroi attacked with Magnet Release, but Shōji blocked his strikes and resisted the magnetic pull on his weapon.
• Shōji used Earth Release to bury two Kumo Ninja and opened a path for his teammates to flee.
• Shōji used Lightning Release to hinder the Kumo Ninja's pursuit, then charged at Toroi again.

Shōji defeated Toroi’s two Kumogakure Jōnin companions with a combination of terrain manipulation, thrown weapons, and Sharingan genjutsu. Toroi refused to retreat and prepared to face Shōji’s strongest strike alone.

• Toroi launched Magnet Release: Magnetic Rain Technique while two Kumogakure Jōnin attacked Shōji with Lightning and Water Release techniques.
• Shōji countered the attacks with Lightning Release and Earth Release, then used thrown weapons to make the two Jōnin see his Sharingan.
• Shōji trapped the two Jōnin in Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique and killed them with his Tachi.
• Toroi saw his companions’ bodies, realized he had little chance of winning, but resolved not to retreat.
• Shōji praised Toroi’s courage and announced that he would finish him with his strongest strike.

Shōji used Susanoo to kill Toroi, then learned that Hirahiro and the reinforcements had defeated the pursuing Kumogakure squad. Hirahiro and the others arrived at Shōji’s position, believing he had been trapped by three Kumogakure Jōnin.

• Shōji revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned Susanoo against Toroi.
• Shōji’s Susanoo destroyed Toroi’s Black Jade Wall and killed him with a single strike.
• Shōji considered Susanoo’s power, its Chakra consumption, and the possibility of seeking First Hokage cells from Orochimaru.
• Hirahiro led Konoha reinforcements to Shōji after they had wiped out the pursuing Kumogakure squad, suffering one death and three severe injuries.
• Hirahiro and the others reached Shōji, worried that he had been overwhelmed by Toroi and two other Kumogakure Jōnin.

Shōji reunited with Hirahiro and revealed that he had killed all three Kumogakure Jōnin, including Toroi. As the Konoha group returned to the Hot Springs Mountain Outpost to report, two Kumogakure shinobi arrived at the battlefield and concluded that Shōji had killed Toroi alone.

• Hirahiro joined Shōji and reported that Ōwada had died while the rest of his squad had suffered only a few injuries.
• Shōji told Hirahiro that he had killed all three Kumogakure Jōnin and sealed Toroi’s body for the village.
• Shōji ordered the group to return to the outpost and report that Kumogakure had sent a Magnet Release Ninja to the front lines.
• Shōji led the Konoha shinobi back toward the Hot Springs Mountain Outpost and joined up with the injured group along the way.
• Two Kumogakure shinobi examined the battlefield and concluded that Shōji had killed Toroi without surrounding support.

After killing Toroi and many Kumogakure ninja, Shōji reconsidered his plans and decided to use the battle to test Konoha’s leadership while building his standing within the Uchiha Clan. He returned to the Hot Springs Mountain Outpost and reported the threat to Nara Suzaku, who agreed to seek instructions from the village.

• Two Kumogakure scouts found evidence of Toroi’s death and hurried north to report it to Dodai.
• Shōji concluded that Kumogakure could no longer be a potential ally and resolved to demonstrate his strength to Konoha’s leaders and the Uchiha Clan.
• Shōji decided to use the battle’s outcome to test whether Konoha’s high command had plans against him.
• Shōji returned to the Hot Springs Mountain Outpost, told Nara Suzaku that Kumogakure might make further moves, and produced Toroi’s corpse from a sealing scroll.
• Nara Suzaku agreed to seek instructions from the village.

After Shōji’s victory over Kumogakure’s ambush force, Nara Suzaku sent intelligence and Toroi’s body to Konoha while Dodai assessed the defeat and decided Kumogakure should seek to end the conflict. Dodai sent a confidential letter to Fourth Raikage A, believing practical concerns now outweighed preserving face.

• Nara Suzaku sealed his report and Toroi’s corpse and sent an elite squad south to Konoha.
• Dodai learned that the ambush force had been wiped out, with Toroi and the other members dead except for one survivor.
• Dodai judged that Uchiha Shōji’s strength had made the conflict increasingly costly for Kumogakure.
• Dodai concluded that the ambush’s failure left Kumogakure unable to continue the war for the sake of its reputation.
• Dodai encrypted a confidential letter and sent it by ninja hawk to Fourth Raikage A.

After receiving Nara Suzaku’s report that Uchiha Shōji had killed three Kumogakure jōnin, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Konoha’s senior advisers to discuss the changing border situation. He proposed recalling Shōji and admitting him to the Anbu, prompting Shimura Danzō to angrily challenge the decision.

• Dodai and Suzaku sent reports to their villages as clashes on the Land of Hot Springs front diminished over two days.
• Nara Suzaku’s elite squad returned to Konoha with his coded letter and Toroi’s corpse, and Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen confirmed that Uchiha Shōji had killed three Kumogakure jōnin and said he planned to adjust border defenses and recall Shōji.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that he intended to have Shōji join the Anbu, shocking Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
• Shimura Danzō condemned the idea of allowing an Uchiha into the Anbu and demanded to know whether Sarutobi Hiruzen had gone mad.

Sarutobi Hiruzen defended his decision to let Uchiha Shōji join the Anbu, arguing that Shōji's conduct made him a promising and trustworthy Uchiha. He explained that the appointment would also test Shōji and help the village learn which Uchiha might be involved in the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack, and Homura and Koharu began to accept his reasoning.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu questioned Sarutobi Hiruzen's decision to let Uchiha Shōji join the Anbu, while Shimura Danzō objected that the Uchiha Clan could not be trusted.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen cited Shōji's conduct on the front lines and his protection of comrades as reasons he believed Shōji could become someone like Shisui or Kagami Uchiha.
• The narration revealed that Shōji had misled Sarutobi Hiruzen with a mostly sincere appearance while privately preparing for the possibility of perishing alongside Konoha.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen said he wanted Shōji in the Anbu both to investigate the Uchiha from within and to test whether Shōji was trustworthy.
• Mitokado Homura recognized Hiruzen's plan as a two-way test, and Homura and Utatane Koharu slowly nodded in agreement.

Sarutobi Hiruzen overruled Danzo and approved Uchiha Shōji’s entry into the Anbu, hoping to build trust within the Uchiha and uncover the mysterious person behind the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack. After Konoha confirmed that Kumogakure had eased its pressure on the Land of Hot Springs front, it ordered some frontline forces—including Shōji and other Uchiha—to return to the village.

• Danzo rejected Hiruzen’s decision to let Uchiha Shōji enter the Anbu, but Hiruzen finalized the decision and assigned Homura to examine Toroi’s corpse.
• Homura and Koharu accepted Hiruzen’s judgment, while Danzo left the Hokage Office in anger.
• Hiruzen reflected that his conscription order had not revealed the Uchiha Clan’s attitude or the mysterious person’s whereabouts, and hoped Shisui and Shōji would help him reach the Uchiha.
• Konoha confirmed that Kumo Ninja had reduced their activity and withdrawn some forces from the Land of Hot Springs.
• Konoha adjusted its frontline garrisons and ordered some long-serving Ninja, including Shōji and other Uchiha, back to the village.

After Kumo Ninja withdrew, Shōji and most of the Uchiha returned to the village, where an Anbu summoned him to the Hokage. The chapter ends with Shōji ordered to report to the Hokage Office Building before he can reach the clan compound.

• Nara Suzaku announced the Third Hokage's transfer order, and Shōji and the other Uchiha packed to leave the front lines.
• A replacement force of six hundred Konoha Ninja arrived, and more than eighty Uchiha returned to the village.
• Fourth Raikage A blamed the Uchiha's strength for Kumogakure's heavy losses and resolved not to spare Uchiha Shōji if they met again.
• Shōji planned to contact the clan's elders after returning, but a white-haired Anbu appeared at the village gate.
• The Anbu told Shōji that the Hokage had ordered him to report immediately to the Hokage Office Building.

Shōji was summoned to meet the Third Hokage immediately after returning to the village, worrying the Uchiha who suspected a trap. Shōji accepted the summons and met Sarutobi Hiruzen, who praised his performance in the Land of Hot Springs.

• A white-haired Anbu ordered Shōji to report to the Third Hokage at once, prompting Kogen and Homura to suspect a plot against the Uchiha.
• Kogen and Homura urged Shōji to refuse the summons until they consulted the clan head, but Shōji chose to obey and said he was prepared.
• Kogen led the Uchiha clansmen back to the clan grounds to report the summons to the clan head.
• The white-haired Anbu escorted Shōji to the Hokage Office Building, where Shōji greeted Sarutobi Hiruzen respectfully.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Shōji’s performance in the Land of Hot Springs, and Shōji replied that he had only done his duty.

Sarutobi Hiruzen invited Uchiha Shōji to join the Hokage’s direct Anbu, believing him to be a trustworthy talent who could serve the village. Shōji accepted, and Hiruzen told him to rest before the Anbu contacted him.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen judged Shōji to be a promising and trustworthy Uchiha, though he planned to test him through missions.
• Hiruzen asked Shōji to join the Hokage’s direct Anbu, surprising him because no Uchiha had joined its ranks before.
• Hiruzen explained that he believed Shōji had the ability and commitment to fight for the village’s interests.
• Shōji resolved to accept the offer and told Hiruzen he would join the Anbu.
• Hiruzen told Shōji to rest for two days, seek help from him or the advisors if needed, and speak with Shisui.

After joining the Anbu, Shōji returned to the Uchiha compound, where Fugaku summoned him and proposed a Military Police Force squad captain position. Shōji waited to see how Fugaku would approach him, while danger had already begun closing in.

• Shōji asked Sarutobi Hiruzen whether his Anbu membership would be kept secret from the Uchiha leadership, and Hiruzen allowed an exception to test the clan's attitudes.
• Shōji decided he might eliminate Uchiha hardliners to protect the clan, but only if he could trust Hiruzen's intentions.
• In early December of Konoha Year 49, fifteen-year-old Shōji officially joined Konohagakure's Hokage-Direct Assassination Tactical Special Unit.
• Uchiha Yashiro met Shōji at the compound gate and escorted him to Fugaku, who praised his wartime accomplishments and proposed making him a Military Police Force squad captain.

Shōji rejected Fugaku’s offer to make him a Military Police Force squad captain and revealed that the Third Hokage had personally invited him to join the Anbu. Fugaku was shocked by the invitation and questioned Shōji about disclosing it, leaving their conversation unresolved.

• Fugaku offered Shōji a squad captain position in the Uchiha Clan’s Military Police Force, but Shōji refused.
• Shōji said his refusal was connected to the Third Hokage’s summons and asked Fugaku to dismiss everyone else.
• After Yashiro left, Shōji told Fugaku that the Third Hokage had invited him to join the Anbu.
• Fugaku reacted with shock and asked whether Shōji understood the meaning and confidentiality rules of joining the Anbu.

Shōji confronted Uchiha Fugaku about the Uchiha clan’s internal problems and its worsening conflict with Konoha. Fugaku agreed to trust Shōji with the clan’s external affairs, including dealings with the Third.

• Shōji challenged Fugaku to acknowledge the clan’s problems and argued that the Uchiha and Konoha were bound together.
• Fugaku described the clan’s relocation, exclusion, and suppression, and warned that growing anger had revived calls for a coup.
• Shōji pressed Fugaku to reject a desperate gamble, arguing that the Uchiha could not win a direct confrontation.
• Shōji asked Fugaku to entrust him with all the clan’s external affairs and said he believed the Third still sought a peaceful resolution.
• Fugaku accepted Shōji’s proposal and agreed to leave the matter to him.

Shōji reassured Fugaku that he would help prevent the Uchiha Clan’s destruction and proposed enduring the village’s hostility until a new Hokage could improve the clan’s position. Fugaku remained concerned about the plan’s risks and the clan’s growing unrest, while Shōji insisted that the alternative would lead to ruin.

• Shōji pledged his support to Fugaku and promised not to let the clan reach its worst possible end while he was alive.
• Fugaku asked Shōji how he planned to earn the trust of Konoha’s other clans and leaders, especially Shimura Danzō.
• Shōji proposed keeping the clan’s temper in check, following the Third’s orders, and waiting for the next Hokage to take office.
• Shōji said that finding the culprit behind the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack remained the fundamental solution, though it would be difficult.
• Fugaku warned that the next Hokage might share the Third’s or Shimura Danzō’s views and that the Uchiha Clan was nearing a breaking point.
• Shōji argued that waiting was the only viable path and said either of the two candidates he considered qualified to become Fifth Hokage would benefit the clan.

Shōji urged Fugaku to keep the Uchiha Clan stable while working to bring Jiraiya or Tsunade back to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage. After securing Fugaku’s understanding, Shōji left with the clan’s future still uncertain but his plan underway.

• Shōji told Fugaku that Jiraiya and Tsunade were the strongest candidates for Fifth Hokage and that he intended to help bring one of them back to Konoha.
• Fugaku agreed that either sannin could protect the Uchiha Clan from the worst outcomes and resolved to endure the difficult years ahead.
• Shōji urged Fugaku to keep the clan stable and avoid giving anyone an excuse to target them.
• As Shōji prepared to leave, Fugaku asked what he knew about Shisui, and Shōji replied that he believed they shared the same goal.
• Shōji left Fugaku’s residence, considering the conversation a necessary first step in his plan.

Shōji met the young Itachi and resolved to steer him away from the influence that would lead to the Uchiha massacre. After returning home, he spent his time off with his family and helped his younger siblings train.

• Shōji encountered Itachi on his way home and reflected on how he might guide him toward loyalty to the clan.
• Itachi told Shōji that he was enjoying the Ninja Academy and admired Shōji and Shisui.
• Shōji encouraged Itachi to study hard and offered to help with his training, while considering asking Fugaku to arrange his future within the clan.
• Shōji returned home and rested for two or three days with his family.
• Shōji accompanied Little Yang and Little Saki as they practiced their basic ninja training.

Shōji spent time training with his younger brother Yang before receiving orders to join the Anbu as a squad captain. The chapter ended with Shōji wondering whether his white-haired division captain was Kakashi Hatake and anticipating how the answer might affect his plans.

• Shōji praised Yang’s accurate shuriken throws and reminded him to balance training with rest.
• Shōji sent Yang indoors and met the white-haired Anbu who had come to deliver his assignment.
• The Anbu, Zero, told Shōji he would join the Anbu Third Division as Sixth Squad captain under the codename Hawk, starting the next morning.
• Shōji considered whether Zero was Kakashi Hatake and reflected on how that possibility could influence his Anbu career and plans for the Uchiha Clan and village.