Chapter Summaries

Tsunade confronted Mizuki over his betrayal and warned that Orochimaru’s drug gained him power by draining his body’s potential. She waited for the drug’s side effects to appear so Mizuki could see the truth for himself.

• Mizuki refused to stop fighting, insisting that his hard-won power was his to use.
• Tsunade acknowledged that the village had mishandled some matters but condemned Mizuki for betraying his comrades.
• Tsunade warned Mizuki that the drug’s short-lived power came at the cost of his bodily potential.
• Mizuki rejected her warning and insisted that Orochimaru would not deceive him.
• Tsunade held back, expecting the drug’s side effects to begin showing soon.

Mizuki’s temporary burst of power consumed his potential and life force, leaving him rapidly aged and collapsed. Anbu took him to the hospital for treatment before interrogation, while Tsunade explained that strength gained through shortcuts brings disaster.

• Mizuki began trembling as the consequences of his power took hold.
• Mizuki’s hair fell out, his face aged rapidly, and his body shrank until he collapsed.
• Mizuki asked how this could have happened, and Tsunade explained that true strength required perseverance and shortcuts brought disaster.
• Two Anbu seized Mizuki and took him to the hospital so he could receive treatment before interrogation.
• Tsunade chose not to treat Mizuki because his condition was too complicated and saving him would require an enormous price.

Tsunade dealt with Mizuki and then beat Wind God and Thunder God, who were too frightened to resist. She ordered the onlookers to gather the injured.

• Tsunade had the Anbu take Mizuki away.
• Wind God and Thunder God stood at attention when Tsunade looked toward them, and Wind God asked her to be gentler.
• Tsunade kicked Wind God in the abdomen and sent him flying.
• Tsunade spun around and punched Thunder God, sending him flying after his brother.
• Tsunade told the onlookers to gather the injured, and they hurried to obey.

Tsunade subdued Wind God and Thunder God, learned how Mizuki had helped them escape, and sent them back to where they belonged. After treating the injured ninja, she dispersed the group, while Iruka went home at two in the morning to rest and sort through his thoughts.

• Wind God and Thunder God recovered from Tsunade’s blows, and she asked how they had escaped Konoha Prison and met Mizuki.
• Wind God and Thunder God explained what had happened, and Tsunade gave them one more chance to return willingly.
• Wind God and Thunder God agreed to go back, leaving while shouting about food.
• Tsunade treated the injured ninja and sent everyone home after they left the Forest of Death.
• Iruka watched the ninja disperse, kept his realizations to himself, and hurried home to rest before work at the Ninja Academy.

Tsunade slipped out of the Hokage’s office at night to gamble under a disguise, pretending she was inspecting Konoha’s gambling dens. The next morning, Hinata learned that Mizuki’s group had been captured.

• Tsunade recalled how Shizune kept her focused on her Hokage duties and decided she deserved a night of gambling.
• Tsunade used the Transformation Jutsu to conceal her identity and went out to inspect Konoha’s gambling dens, planning to confiscate the homes of anyone who beat her.
• Hinata got up early after the village’s search for fugitives had wound down.
• Hinata received word that Mizuki’s group had been captured the previous night.

Hinata learned that Tsunade had exposed Mizuki’s reckless medicine-taking, while Tsunade arrived exhausted at the Naruto Building and ordered Shizune to send ninja to investigate a supposedly lawless casino. The chapter left Shizune puzzled about Tsunade’s sudden anger toward casinos.

• Hinata heard the report that Tsunade had exposed Mizuki after he recklessly took medicine.
• Shizune arrived early at the Naruto Building and learned that Tsunade had had a difficult night.
• Tsunade arrived late with dark circles under her eyes, drank the tea Shizune had prepared, and sat down exhausted.
• Tsunade told Shizune about a brazen casino and ordered her to send the responsible ninja to investigate it.
• Shizune wondered why Tsunade was so furious, since she knew casinos were common and had accompanied Tsunade to them for years.

Tsunade ordered Shizune to arrange the sealing of casinos, then began reviewing the records of the prison escapee mission. The pursuit had nearly ended, but some escapees were still at large after discovering problems.

• Shizune suspected Tsunade had gone gambling instead of resting, but she accepted Tsunade's order to seal casinos.
• Shizune left to arrange the casino closures.
• Tsunade sat down to review the urgent documents despite her exhaustion.
• Tsunade carefully read the mission records and learned that some prison escapees had evaded capture after discovering problems.

Tsunade suspected that six of the eight missing fugitives were geniuses and quietly recorded her suspicions while processing reports. At Root headquarters, Danzo learned that Root had recruited only five geniuses and demanded that the reporting ninja answer for the failed mission.

• Tsunade noticed that six of the eight uncaptured fugitives had notable achievements and distinctive insights.
• Tsunade added her name to the document, keeping her suspicions to herself, then signed off on routine reports.
• Shizune returned sweaty and reported that she had carried out Tsunade's orders, earning Tsunade's approval.
• A Root ninja told Danzo that Root had recruited five geniuses from the list.
• Danzo said five was too few and asked the Root ninja what he would do after failing the mission.

Danzo considered the difficulties Root faced during its operation and decided the subordinate who brought nearly half the targets into Root had already been treated mercifully. Meanwhile, rumors criticizing Tsunade began to spread through Konoha, though some listeners defended her.

• A Root ninja declared that he deserved death and punishment, then left Danzo alone with his thoughts.
• Danzo judged that the Root ninja had overcome difficult conditions and brought nearly half the targets into Root, so his handling of the subordinate had been merciful.
• Danzo contemplated the situation for a long time, and a sharp glint appeared in his remaining eye.
• Criticism of Tsunade began circulating in Konoha, though those spreading it were quickly suppressed and taken away.
• A man blamed Tsunade for Konoha's troubles and the prison riot, while his companion defended her and dismissed the unrest as minor gossip.

A man spread rumors questioning Tsunade’s readiness to become Fifth Hokage and claimed Konoha’s leaders had initially chosen someone else. He revealed that Danzo was the other candidate and portrayed him as a powerful, selfless figure who had long served Konoha from the shadows.

• The gossiping man argued that Tsunade’s long absence from Konoha had left her unprepared to take control of the village’s affairs.
• The other man agreed that Tsunade might have been rushed into the Hokage position and asked whether a more suitable candidate had existed.
• The gossiping man claimed Konoha’s higher-ups had held a meeting after the Third Hokage’s death and had not chosen Tsunade as their first candidate.
• The gossiping man explained that Konoha had three Hokage Advisors, including Danzo, alongside Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
• The gossiping man described Danzo as a contemporary and fellow disciple of the Second Hokage who had served Konoha from the shadows.

Rumors spread through Konoha that an unnamed adviser had been meant to become Fifth Hokage before supporting Tsunade instead. Tsunade grew furious as the gossip turned into conspiracy theories, and she suspected Danzo was behind it.

• A gossiping man claimed an adviser had refused the Hokage position and helped Tsunade take power.
• Two ninjas escorted the gossiping man away, but the crowd continued spreading increasingly wild rumors.
• Tsunade slammed her desk in anger as the rumors troubled her in her office.
• Shizune struggled to find a way to calm Tsunade or stop the gossip.
• Tsunade reviewed reports and concluded Danzo was the likely source of the rumors.

Tsunade weighed how to respond to rumors that undermined her authority and decided that publicly addressing them would only make Konoha residents more uneasy. She chose to wait for the rumors to fade while preparing to arrest anyone who tried to use them to force her to step down.

• Tsunade recalled that Danzo had denied responsibility and promised Root would cooperate with her investigation, which she viewed as a provocation.
• Shizune suggested that Tsunade gather Konoha's residents and explain the matter, but Tsunade rejected the idea as likely to increase their unease.
• Tsunade reasoned that the rumors would eventually fade if she made contributions to the village.
• Tsunade ordered Shizune to have the ringleaders arrested at the slightest pretext and to involve available Anbu, so she could see how Danzo would respond.

Tsunade steadied herself after Shizune left to act on her orders, resolving to remain firm as Hokage despite the public pressure. Meanwhile, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed how to stop Danzo and questioned how much he had changed.

• Shizune hurried out after Tsunade gave her orders, taking the matter seriously.
• Tsunade recalled how rumors had contributed to the Konoha White Fang's downfall and resolved to hold her position as Fifth Hokage.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed what they could do to prevent the current situation from worsening.
• Mitokado Homura said they had to stop Danzo and regretted not being more wary when he approached them before Tsunade became Hokage.
• Utatane Koharu recalled their younger days with Hiruzen and Danzo and wondered whether Danzo's long suppression and taste of power had changed him.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed how Danzo had likely manipulated public opinion against Tsunade and agreed to stop him from using Konoha's villagers as a weapon. They decided to act for the sake of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, while Koharu hoped the incident would warn Tsunade about underhanded schemes.

• Mitokado Homura said they had no proof, but Danzo was likely behind the public-opinion campaign.
• Utatane Koharu argued that Danzo's tactics threatened Konoha and had to be stopped before he targeted others.
• Utatane Koharu joked about asking Tsunade for a favor, then concluded Tsunade would deny owing them anything.
• Utatane Koharu said they would act for the sake of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju and hoped Tsunade would learn from the incident.
• Utatane Koharu reflected that status and pride could not protect Tsunade from schemes that ignored the rules, then laughed softly.

As public opinion against Tsunade weakened, she realized the other two advisors had helped undermine it. Hinata recognized that Danzo's plan had failed, though she did not know the details behind it.

• Shizune reported to Tsunade that dissenting voices had weakened the public outcry against her.
• Tsunade inferred that the other two advisors had helped resolve the situation and remained calm.
• Hinata heard the news at the Hyuga Estate and concluded that Danzo's plan had failed.

Danzo considered how to pursue power while secretly repairing his ties with the two advisors, and Hyuga Hiashi ordered his clan to stay out of the public turmoil. The Hyuga Clan remained in an awkward, vulnerable position despite its prestige.

• Danzo learned that the two advisors had opposed his attempt to undermine Tsunade and decided to act secretly while mending his relationships with them.
• Danzo resolved to remind the advisors of their shared past and preserve them as a possible fallback.
• After the public debate subsided, Hyuga Hiashi ordered clan members to remain within the Hyuga Clan Grounds unless they had urgent business.
• Hyuga Hiashi warned members with urgent business to keep a low profile and avoid involvement in anything beyond their tasks.
• The Hyuga Clan faced threats from those who wanted to tarnish its reputation, while still remaining subordinate to the village.

Hyuga Hiashi weighed the Hyuga Clan’s precarious position between Konoha and the other ninja clans, explaining why neither integration nor isolation offered a safe path. The clan’s Byakugan added another danger because its rarity and value attracted covetous eyes.

• Hyuga Hiashi recognized that the Hyuga Clan’s prominence left it watched by both Konoha and the other ninja clans.
• He ruled out fully embracing Konoha or merging back into the wider circle of ninja clans, fearing suppression and loss of the clan’s identity.
• Hyuga Hiashi adopted an aloof, low-profile stance to avoid being drawn into political games or provoking an attack like the one that destroyed the Uchiha Clan.
• He believed that if Konoha could not eliminate the Hyuga Clan swiftly, an attempted attack could lead to a Fourth Great Ninja War.
• The chapter identified the Byakugan as another source of danger, since its rarity and practical value made it a coveted Kekkei Genkai.

Hinata reflected on the Hyuga Clan’s strength and strict organization as Konoha’s public turmoil subsided. Tsunade summoned Hinata, who reluctantly headed to the Hokage Building, expecting another assignment for the Twelve Rookie Genin.

• Hinata considered how the Hyuga Clan maintained influence through its intelligence network, businesses, and disciplined members.
• Hinata noted that Hyuga Hiashi’s fair treatment helped Branch Family members remain loyal to the main family.
• Konoha’s public opinion settled, and Tsunade summoned Hinata.
• Hinata grumbled about the Hokage repeatedly relying on the Twelve Rookie Genin but decided to go to the Hokage Building.

Hinata learned that she had been assigned to investigate the mysterious man she and Tenten had rescued, and recognized the mission as the Raiga Kurosuki storyline. She questioned the story’s claims about Life Curry as the mission lay ahead.

• Hinata went to the Hokage Building after Tsunade summoned her.
• Hinata found Tenten and Rock Lee waiting with Tsunade, while Neji remained injured and unable to join the mission.
• Tsunade explained that the man Hinata and Tenten had rescued had awakened and requested help from Konoha’s medical ninja.
• Tsunade assigned Hinata to join Tenten and Rock Lee in handling the matter because Neji had not recovered.
• Hinata recognized the mission as the Raiga Kurosuki storyline and doubted that Life Curry could have the miraculous effects shown in the anime.

Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee were assigned to investigate the oppression of Rokosuke’s companions under Raiga Kurosuki’s rule at the Oxalis Gold Mine Mountain. Their mission was set to begin the day after tomorrow, and Hinata’s earlier assignment to protect the daimyo of the Land of Sea was canceled.

• Tsunade explained that Rokosuke had fled Raiga Kurosuki’s rule to seek help for his companions.
• After hearing Rokosuke’s account, Tsunade assigned Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee to the mission despite the danger of encountering Raiga Kurosuki.
• Hinata considered inviting the people from Life Curry House to her branch office because of the curry’s remarkable healing effects.
• Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee left the Hokage's Office after receiving their orders.
• Hinata’s departure canceled Kurenai Yuhi's Team’s assignment to protect the daimyo of the Land of Sea, and the new mission was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.