Chapter Summaries

Ryosuke discovered that the Mist Village ninja hiding in a fissure were human bombs, but he warned Hizashi Hyuga too late to prevent the first blast. As further explosions shook the gorge, the Konoha group fled toward the mountaintop while the Mist ninja pressed their attack.

• The Anbu Captain’s squad attacked the Mist Village ninja in a cliffside fissure with Earth Release: Earth Spear.
• Ryosuke searched for additional enemies and noticed that the Mist ninja killed by the rock spikes began moving again.
• Ryosuke used Genjutsu to warn Hizashi Hyuga that the apparent corpses were likely puppets or human bombs, but the fissure exploded before the warning could prevent casualties.
• The blast shattered the cliff face, killing or injuring Konoha ninja, while Root ninja trapped the surviving Mist ninja behind an Earth Style Wall.
• A second explosion struck, and Mitokado Homura urged the group to retreat as Ryosuke, the Anbu, and Root fled toward the mountaintop.

Ryosuke anticipated another attack and discovered that the ambushers were Sunagakure ninja, though he could not understand why they would target Konoha during the alliance. Konoha’s team met the attackers on the canyon wall with a coordinated Lava Dragon jutsu, leaving the two forces facing each other across the lava-scarred battlefield.

• Ryosuke suspected the Kirigakure identities were a cover for the force behind the ambush, then recognized the attackers as Sunagakure ninja.
• Ryosuke took control of Tamio Hyuga and warned Hizashi Hyuga that five suspected Sunagakure Jonin were approaching.
• Hizashi Hyuga told the team to retreat if necessary, while Ryosuke confirmed the attackers had the high ground.
• Konoha’s Jonin combined Fire Style and Earth Style, and the other Chunin used Wind Style to drive a Lava Dragon into the charging Sunagakure forces.
• The Lava Dragon struck several Sunagakure ninja, and the survivors faced Konoha across the lava-covered section of the cliff.

Ryosuke controlled Tamao Hyuga through the Byakugan’s Genjutsu to dominate the Chunin battle, then charged into the Jonin fight to target the Sand Village puppet masters. He met a mantis-shaped puppet’s blade with his Twin Lion Fists as his power and excitement surged.

• Ryosuke used Genjutsu to control Tamao Hyuga’s body and fought across the cliffs, evading attacks and striking down opponents.
• As their synchronization deepened, Tamao’s body suffered muscle tears, so Ryosuke decided to end the battle quickly.
• Ryosuke assessed the Jonin matchup and chose to attack the Sand Village Jonin controlling the puppets.
• He formed the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists and charged into the Jonin battlefield, telling a nearby Hyūga to catch the enemy’s body.
• Ryosuke controlled Tamao to meet the mantis-shaped puppet’s blade head-on, roaring, “Die!”

Ryosuke used Tamio Hyuga’s body to attack the Sand Village Jonin, but Tamio was badly wounded before Konoha’s Anbu captain intervened. After the battle, Ryosuke reflected on being left behind for the mission and offered Tamio a place working for the Hyūga.

• Ryosuke destroyed one of the Sand Village Jonin’s puppets, but the Jonin severed Tamio Hyuga’s arm and prepared to kill him.
• Konoha’s Anbu captain blocked the Jonin’s killing blow, and Ryosuke retreated from Tamio’s body.
• Ryosuke learned that Hizashi Hyuga and the others had defeated most of the Sand Village force while he fought the Jonin.
• Ryosuke reflected on how Konoha had prioritized the mission over rescuing him and understood the harsh reality of ninja duty.
• Ryosuke sensed Tamio’s despair over losing his arm and offered him work alongside Seisai for the Hyūga.

After the canyon battle, Ryosuke reflected on the family and clan members he had come to care about while the allied force investigated the attackers. The group resumed its journey toward Sano Village with the attackers’ identities unresolved, and Ryosuke suspected the ambush was meant to sabotage the alliance.

• Mitokado Homura promised compensation for Tamio Hyuga, and Hizashi Hyuga arranged for Tamio to receive treatment in Sano Village instead of continuing to the Land of Waves.
• An Anbu report identified one attacker as Ikeda, a Sunagakure Jonin, while most of the other attackers had no records in Konoha’s intelligence.
• Mitokado Homura, Hizashi Hyuga, and the Anbu Captain questioned whether Sunagakure was responsible, since the attackers had also used Kirigakure ninja as Human Bombs.
• Hizashi Hyuga urged the group to continue and confront the Sunagakure delegation, and Mitokado Homura agreed.
• Ryosuke searched the smashed corpses for clues, found nothing useful, and followed the group after concluding that someone had carefully controlled what intelligence the attackers left behind.

Ryosuke visited the injured Tamio Hyuga in Sano Village, apologized for his lost arm, and promised to restore it someday. After Konoha’s delegation sailed ahead, Ryosuke swam alone toward the Land of Waves, suspecting enemies had already entered the island to sabotage the alliance plan.

• Ryosuke apologized to Tamio Hyuga for the loss of his arm, but Tamio said he was proud of his accomplishments and grateful for the honor he had gained.
• Ryosuke promised Tamio Hyuga that he would find a way to replace his arm and then left to catch up with Hizashi Hyuga and the others.
• Ryosuke chose to cross the sea by swimming rather than taking a boat, so people on the island would not spot him.
• Ryosuke swam toward the Land of Waves without using chakra and stayed alert for enemy infiltrators.
• Ryosuke concluded that the alliance plan had likely been exposed and that shadowy forces had planted traps in the Land of Waves to break up the alliance.

Ryosuke secretly entered the Land of Waves and assessed how attacks by rogue ninja and spies had turned the Alliance Plan’s participants against one another. From a hidden base, he considered who was behind the sabotage and how they might try to break up the alliance next.

• Ryosuke climbed ashore on the eastern cliffs and entered the forest without alerting the Hyūga.
• Ryosuke used his Byakugan to survey the island and learned that attacks had struck several delegations, including Konoha, the Sand Village, and the Land of Bears.
• Ryosuke considered how rogue ninja and spies wearing village Forehead Protectors had fueled suspicion among the delegations.
• Ryosuke found a concealed tree hollow near Konoha’s campsite, established a temporary base, and replenished his strength with Ration Pills.
• Ryosuke weighed whether rival villages or the Akatsuki Organization had orchestrated the attacks and considered how they might undermine the alliance without exposing themselves.

After recovering from the sea crossing, Ryosuke suspected the saboteurs would target Gato, the Alliance Plan’s central figure, and infiltrated the Old Castle to investigate. He spotted something about Gato that revealed the likely plan and led him to identify the mastermind.

• Ryosuke surveyed the Land of Waves and reasoned that the enemy might eliminate the person at the heart of the Alliance Plan.
• Ryosuke left the forest and headed alone for the Old Castle, while a Hyūga scout concealed his movements from Konoha’s Anbu.
• Ryosuke infiltrated the castle from the Land of Snow’s camp and inspected Gato, his guards, and the preparations for the alliance meeting.
• Ryosuke noticed something about Gato that made him realize the enemy’s plan and suspect who the mastermind was.

Ryosuke watched the allied delegations gather at Gato’s Old Castle after seeing a brief glimpse of the day’s future. Akutagawa killed Gato and fled with the other rogue ninja, while a muscular man on a nearby island demanded to know why the plan had begun early.

• Ryosuke considered the risks posed by Gato’s three rogue ninja guards and waited for the Alliance Plan meeting.
• Representatives from Konoha and Sand Village arrived at the Old Castle, with other factions gathering for negotiations.
• Ryosuke used his Byakugan to glimpse the coming events and controlled Iroha Hyuga to warn him to watch the island’s south side for Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• Akutagawa killed Gato, attacked the Konoha delegation with Wind Style, and escaped through a window with Kinoshita and Atsushi.
• A muscular man on a nearby island struck a table and demanded to know why the plan had been moved up.

Ryosuke killed Gato early, triggering the enemy alliance-sabotage plan, and then crushed two rogue ninja who confronted the Genjutsu-controlled Akutagawa. He left Akutagawa alive as a diversion and arranged for the alliance meeting to continue while enemy forces prepared to attack the Land of Waves.

• Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage decided to advance their attack on the Land of Waves and ordered their ninja to disguise themselves in Konoha clothing.
• Kinoshita and Atsushi confronted Akutagawa for killing Gato ahead of schedule, but found him dazed and unresponsive.
• Ryosuke used overwhelming pressure to crush Kinoshita and Atsushi while Akutagawa remained trapped in his Genjutsu.
• Ryosuke sent Akutagawa running in another direction and hurried south to avoid suspicion over the deaths.
• Ryosuke told Hizashi Hyuga to calm the factions, find another Seagull Shipping Merchants Association manager, and continue the alliance meeting and document signing.

The Fourth Raikage and Ōnoki prepared to sabotage the alliance in the Land of Waves, while Hizashi Hyuga warned the summit delegates that further attacks were likely. The factions resumed negotiations and prepared for battle as Ryosuke watched the southern sea, ready for the coming attack.

• The Fourth Raikage and Ōnoki ordered their forces to target ninja outside Konoha and withdraw after the assassinations, hoping to take control of the alliance afterward.
• Ryosuke guided Hizashi Hyuga to another Gato, and Hizashi warned the summit delegates that the assassination of the previous Gato was likely only the beginning.
• Ebizo sent Baki and the other delegations dispatched subordinates to alert their camps and prepare for battle.
• Mitokado Homura, Ebizo, and the other delegates resumed the meeting to negotiate the alliance's benefits and costs.
• Ryosuke recovered his Chakra while watching the southern sea, having hidden Akutagawa's body and prepared for the coming battle.

The Cloud-Rock Allied Forces launched an attack on the Land of Waves, while the allied factions, already warned of their plan, met them in battle. The chapter ended as both sides charged into combat on the cliffs.

• Hyūga clan members spotted the approaching fleet and warned the other factions on the island.
• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Raikage worried that the alliance might be more prepared than expected but resolved to proceed with their sabotage plan.
• The Cloud-Rock Allied Forces formed a massive Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu and sent it toward the Land of Waves.
• The allied forces countered with Fire Release and Wind Release, and the two dragons collided in a blast that knocked ninjas from both sides down.
• The Cloud-Rock Allied Forces charged up the cliffs as the defenders drew their weapons and rushed to meet them.

Kitsuchi and Darui’s forces fought the Allied Shinobi Forces at the Land of Waves after discovering that their attack plan had been anticipated. On a warship, A urged Ōnoki to wait for others to enter the conflict, while Ryosuke watched the battle and waited for the hidden instigator to appear.

• Kitsuchi and Darui realized that the Allied Shinobi Forces had prepared for their attack and that Konoha ninja were fighting without village insignia.
• Ōnoki questioned A about the missing Jinchuriki, and A said he had kept them away while preparing to die in the battle.
• A told Ōnoki to wait because other people had yet to enter the conflict, and Ōnoki began to understand his meaning.
• Ryosuke watched the battle from a tree and reflected on the destructive power of the allied forces’ combined ninjutsu.
• Ryosuke waited for the hidden instigator to appear before choosing a worthy opponent.

Ryosuke used his Byakugan and long-distance mental communication to direct the allied shinobi army, trapping the Cloud-Rock Allied Forces across the Land of Waves. After Hizashi Hyuga and the others signed an alliance agreement, the allied forces surged forward, while Ryosuke saw two additional signal flares and wondered what they meant.

• Ryosuke coordinated the allied shinobi army through the Hyūga clan, anticipating enemy movements and helping push the Cloud-Rock Allied Forces across the island.
• Darui and Kitsuchi lost contact with many squads, and Darui decided to order a retreat despite Kitsuchi’s objections.
• Signal flares rose from the island’s center, and the cheers revealed that an alliance had been formed, stunning Darui and Kitsuchi.
• Hizashi Hyuga and the others finalized the agreement, and Ryosuke told the Hyūga clan to spread the news and boost allied morale.
• Konoha, Sand Village, Hot Springs Ninja, and samurai forces joined together to counterattack as Mitokado Homura and Ebizo launched two more signal flares.
• Ryosuke saw the additional flares and began to understand that they signaled something beyond the alliance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Fourth Raikage confronted each other at sea after the alliance was formed, while their forces clashed inside a sealing barrier. Hiruzen evaded the Raikage’s attacks as a Hyūga observer watched from beyond the barrier.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa hurried toward the Land of Waves after the alliance was formed.
• The Fourth Raikage intercepted Hiruzen at the Land of Waves’ territorial waters and revealed Kumogakure’s plan to seize control of the alliance.
• Kumogakure’s ninjas raised a sealing barrier around the sea, and the Fourth Raikage attacked Hiruzen while the two villages’ Anbu fought.
• Hiruzen identified the lightning-based principles behind the Raikage’s Nintaijutsu and repeatedly dodged his faster attacks.
• A Hyūga observer watched the battle from a reef, despite the Raikage believing the barrier would block the Byakugan.

Ryosuke watched the Fourth Raikage battle Hiruzen Sarutobi inside a barrier at sea, where their clash killed numerous Konoha and Kumogakure ninja. Hiruzen summoned Enma to buy time, then created distance and launched two combined ninja arts against the Raikage.

• Ryosuke tracked Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Fourth Raikage to a battle enclosed by a pale blue barrier over the sea.
• The Raikage relentlessly attacked Hiruzen and killed both allied and enemy ninja caught in their fight.
• The Raikage struck Hiruzen's summoned companion Enma and sent him crashing into the barrier.
• Hiruzen used the brief opening to create a Shadow Clone and unleash Earth Dragon Flame Stream and Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.

Ryosuke took control of Soki Mitokado and intervened just as the Fourth Raikage was about to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi. Using precise movements and relentless close combat, he wounded the Raikage and kept fighting despite severe injuries, while Hiruzen and Enma guarded against another attack.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi's dragons drove the Fourth Raikage through the flames, but the Raikage charged through his injuries and shattered the barrier by hurling Hiruzen into it.
• As the Raikage prepared to deliver a final blow to Hiruzen, Soki Mitokado struck him with a Water Dragon Bullet and rushed into the fight under Ryosuke's control.
• Soki dodged the Raikage's attacks with minute movements and pierced his Lightning Release Chakra Armor with a Wind Release-infused Kunai, though the Raikage severed Soki's arm in return.
• Ryosuke continued attacking with his remaining arm, trading injuries with the Raikage, while Hiruzen ordered Enma to guard him and keep him from distracting Soki.
• Ryosuke used the fight to refine his combat skills and judged that the Raikage would have to flee or risk being dragged down by mutual injuries.

The Fourth Raikage died after his final burst failed to overcome Ryosuke’s controlled fighter, and the alliance agreed to end hostilities rather than retaliate against Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Ryosuke returned to Konoha, reunited with his waiting father, and began settling back in at home.

• The Fourth Raikage unleashed a final surge, killed Soki Mitokado’s body, and then died on the sea while facing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The Third Tsuchikage and Fourth Kazekage fought to a draw, and the alliance accepted the Land of Iron and Land of Soup’s proposal to stop all acts of war.
• Ryosuke considered the absence of the Akatsuki and the Land of Water, the likely succession in Kumogakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s possible plans for choosing the next Hokage.
• Ryosuke returned to Konoha and used his Byakugan’s new consciousness-communication ability to tell Hyuga Hiashi he was back.
• Hyuga Hiashi welcomed Ryosuke home and urged him to rest and eat before discussing the mission.

Ryosuke reunited with Hinata and discussed his mission and Konoha’s possible Fifth Hokage candidates with Hyuga Hiashi. Hiashi then told him that Naruto Uzumaki had gone berserk after Rin Sarutobi died during a clash with Kumogakure ninja.

• Ryosuke waited for Hinata, then welcomed her home and noticed changes in her maturity and training injuries.
• Ryosuke and Hinata attended a family meeting with Hyuga Hiashi after dinner.
• Ryosuke described his mission and predicted Hiruzen Sarutobi might prepare to choose a Fifth Hokage, naming several possible candidates.
• Ryosuke and Hyuga Hiashi discussed Shimura Danzō’s ambitions and agreed to watch how events unfolded.
• Hyuga Hiashi told Ryosuke that Kakashi Hatake’s squad had been attacked by Kumogakure ninja six days earlier, Rin Sarutobi had died, and Naruto Uzumaki had slaughtered most of the enemy force after going berserk.

After learning that Sasuke Uchiha had graduated and sensing Hinata was struggling with the Caged Bird Seal, Ryosuke met Naruto outside the Hyūga clan grounds. Naruto grieved Rin’s death and confessed that he no longer wanted to be a ninja.

• Hinata told Ryosuke that Sasuke Uchiha had stopped attending the academy and was seen wearing a genin Forehead Protector after becoming close to Mizuki.
• Ryosuke suspected Hinata was having difficulty with the Caged Bird Seal, but she left without asking him for help.
• Ryosuke learned Naruto Uzumaki was waiting outside the clan grounds and chose to meet him away from the Hyūga compound because Konoha was monitoring Naruto.
• Naruto explained that he had believed the clan was keeping Ryosuke from him because of his identity, and Ryosuke told him he had been away from the village.
• Overlooking Konoha, Naruto broke down over Rin’s death and told Ryosuke that he did not want to be a ninja anymore.