Chapter Summaries

Minato and Kushina visited Qian Ye’s new home, where Minato taught him the hand-signless ninjutsu he had developed. Qian Ye quickly mastered the Rasengan’s first two training stages while Kakashi ran to seek Minato’s help for his imprisoned father.

• Kakashi found ANBU blocking the prison and, unable to visit his father, ran to Minato’s home for help.
• Minato and Kushina visited Qian Ye, and Kushina met Pakura, Qian Ye’s guard and household assistant.
• Minato demonstrated his hand-signless chakra sphere, and Qian Ye persuaded him to name it the Rasengan instead of his absurd proposed name.
• Minato explained the Rasengan’s training stages, and Qian Ye burst a water balloon in under ten seconds.
• Qian Ye also burst a hole in a rubber ball, astonishing Minato with his chakra control.

Qian Ye's Rasengan training was interrupted when Kakashi revealed that Hatake Sakumo had been arrested for rebellion. Minato confronted Hiruzen, who defended the arrest as necessary to protect the village's supply network and political alliances, leaving Minato unable to answer.

• Qian Ye failed to stabilize the Rasengan, and Minato encouraged him to keep practicing.
• Kakashi arrived and told Minato that ANBU had arrested his father, Hatake Sakumo, for rebellion and barred visitors from the high-security prison.
• Qian Ye told Pakura that Sakumo had endangered himself by investigating the Logistics Department's accounts and might not survive without intervention.
• Minato went to the Hokage Office with Kakashi and Kushina, then asked Hiruzen to investigate Sakumo's arrest.
• Hiruzen showed Minato ANBU's report of Sakumo's drunken accusations and explained that exposing the Logistics Department's accounts could disrupt frontline supplies.
• Minato argued that Sakumo had acted for the families of fallen ninja, but he could not counter Hiruzen's political justification.

Minato failed to persuade Hiruzen to release Hatake Sakumo, who would remain imprisoned and be forced to leave the village as a civilian. After the village’s rejection shattered Kakashi’s faith, Qian Ye appeared at his home and said he had come to save his father.

• Hiruzen told Minato that political pressure required Hatake Sakumo to remain in the High-Security Prison, though he would not let him die.
• Minato told Kakashi that he had failed to change Hiruzen’s decision, and Kakashi ran off after rejecting Minato’s attempt to comfort him.
• Qian Ye told Pakura that Minato could not save Hatake Sakumo through conventional means and that the crisis offered a chance to recruit Sakumo and Kakashi.
• Kakashi brooded at the training ground, then returned home in despair as villagers whispered insults about him and his father.
• Qian Ye appeared in Kakashi’s dark home and said he had come to save Hatake Sakumo.

Qian Ye convinced Kakashi that Konoha’s leadership had framed Hatake Sakumo and persuaded him to join a movement to overturn the village’s corrupt rules. After Kakashi agreed, Qian Ye headed to the Root Base to use his token and find a way to reach Sakumo.

• Qian Ye explained to Kakashi how Konoha’s leaders had punished Hatake Sakumo for exposing corruption and warned that the family would be branded traitors.
• Kakashi begged Qian Ye to save his father, but Qian Ye rejected the idea of sacrificing himself and urged Kakashi to help build a New World.
• Kakashi accepted Qian Ye’s offer to join him in replacing Konoha’s rules.
• Qian Ye went to a hidden entrance to the Root Base, intending to use Shimura Danzō’s token to reach Hatake Sakumo.
• Two Root ninja confronted Qian Ye in the stone passageway and demanded to know who he was.

Qian Ye convinced Danzo that saving Hatake Sakumo could win the powerful shinobi over to Root and undermine Hiruzen. Danzo agreed to recruit Sakumo, and Qian Ye offered to approach him first in prison.

• Qian Ye entered the Root Base and warned Danzo that his actions against Sakumo had helped Hiruzen remove a threat while making Danzo take the blame.
• Qian Ye argued that Sakumo was more valuable alive and could be recruited after losing faith in Hiruzen and the village.
• Danzo decided Sakumo must be saved and brought into Root rather than allowed to die in prison.
• Qian Ye stopped Danzo from sending Root operatives immediately and offered to visit Sakumo first using his token and Chunin status.

Qian Ye secured Danzo’s promise of a reward for recruiting Hatake Sakumo into Root, then visited Sakumo in prison and persuaded him to accept the offer as a way to get out. Sakumo pressed his fingerprint on the document and regained hope, while Qian Ye planned to handle the next steps.

• Danzo gave Qian Ye a Root recruitment document and promised him three ninjutsu scrolls and five hundred thousand ryo if he brought Hatake Sakumo into Root.
• Qian Ye used Danzo’s authorization to enter the High-Security Prison and visit Sakumo.
• Qian Ye told Sakumo that the Third Hokage had abandoned him and urged him to live for his son, Kakashi.
• Qian Ye explained that Sakumo could pretend to join Root, escape prison, and reject Danzo later.
• Sakumo pressed his fingerprint onto the recruitment document after Qian Ye promised to help him and Kakashi.
• Qian Ye left Sakumo in his cell, where Sakumo’s hope returned as he considered Qian Ye’s plan to replace Hidden Leaf’s rules.

Hatake Sakumo joined Root to stay alive, while Qian Ye persuaded Danzo to create Root Peripheral Coordinators as a way to infiltrate the clans. Qian Ye then arranged for the Sparkfire Society to use the new positions to gather intelligence and protect its members.

• Hatake Sakumo signed Root's document and was taken to Danzo, where he pledged to serve the Hidden Leaf's dark side.
• Qian Ye advised Danzo to let Sakumo handle peripheral affairs first, then proposed recruiting Root Peripheral Coordinators from minor clan members and unsupported Genin.
• Danzo approved the plan and delegated recruitment to Qian Ye, subject to Root reviewing the candidate list.
• Qian Ye met the Sparkfire Society at Yakiniku Q and shared the recruitment order, directing members to place trusted people in the new roles and report missions to the Society.
• Qian Ye told Uchiha Yan to keep assigning Danzo's coordinators to sewer work while the Society used Root's new recruits to gather intelligence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Danzo had taken Hatake Sakumo into Root and confronted him over the unauthorized recruitment. Danzo refused to return Sakumo and demanded more Root funding and the abolition of the Uchiha clan’s Public Security Auxiliary, leaving Hiruzen facing his ultimatum.

• An ANBU reported that Danzo had taken Hatake Sakumo from the High-Security Prison after Sakumo signed Root’s recruitment papers.
• Hiruzen summoned Danzo and accused him of overstepping his authority and seeking power through Sakumo’s recruitment.
• Danzo defended his actions as necessary for Konoha and said Hiruzen had failed to handle the unrest surrounding Sakumo.
• Hiruzen demanded that Danzo hand Sakumo over, but Danzo refused, arguing that Sakumo was now Root personnel.
• Danzo demanded more funding for Root and an order abolishing Uchiha Fugaku’s Public Security Auxiliary, threatening to keep Sakumo if Hiruzen refused.

Danzo used Hatake Sakumo’s recruitment into Root to pressure Hiruzen and celebrated taking control of Qian Ye’s peripheral coordinator network. Qian Ye and the Sparkfire Society secretly planned to use Root’s money and name for their own intelligence network, while Hiruzen summoned Orochimaru to help address the crisis.

• Danzo left the Hokage Office pleased that Hatake Sakumo had joined Root and that Hiruzen could no longer easily oppose him.
• Danzo reviewed Qian Ye’s list of more than fifty clan members recruited as peripheral coordinators and ordered their stipends paid, along with a personal reward of fifty thousand ryō for Qian Ye.
• At Yakiniku Q, Qian Ye told Nara Shan, Hyuga Tianfeng, Uchiha Yan, and Akimichi Hai that they would feed Root trivial reports while keeping valuable intelligence for the Sparkfire Society.
• Qian Ye assigned Tianfeng’s Hyuga members to commercial-street patrols, Yan’s Uchiha members to gather residential information, and Shan to coordinate reports for Root.
• Hiruzen realized Danzo had forced him to choose between yielding authority and risking Sakumo becoming Root’s weapon, then summoned Orochimaru.

Hatake Sakumo entered Root and accepted Danzo’s command, while Qian Ye acted as his superior. Danzo assigned Sakumo to Qian Ye to monitor him, and the two left to collect his Root uniform and mask.

• Hatake Sakumo entered Danzo’s hall after being released from the suppression shackles, and Danzo tried to justify his decision to join Root.
• Hatake Sakumo agreed to become a subordinate of Root, while Qian Ye praised Danzo and pretended to welcome him.
• Danzo assigned Sakumo directly to Qian Ye and ordered Qian Ye to manage his missions and report his movements.
• Hatake Sakumo accepted Danzo’s arrangement, and Qian Ye led him away to collect a Root uniform and mask.
• Qian Ye asked how Sakumo felt once they were alone, and Sakumo said Danzo was more suspicious than he had expected.

Qian Ye took Sakumo out of Root to walk through Hidden Leaf, where villagers who had recently condemned Sakumo now praised him after hearing a new account of his mission. At a secluded riverbank, Sakumo questioned the fickleness of public opinion, and Qian Ye explained how the village’s leaders had steered it against him.

• Qian Ye collected a Root uniform and mask for Sakumo, then took him outside and urged him to remove the mask.
• Sakumo entered the shopping street expecting insults, but a vegetable seller and other villagers welcomed him as a hero and gave him food and gifts.
• The villagers explained that they had learned Sakumo abandoned the mission to protect a companion carrying vital intelligence for Hidden Leaf.
• Sakumo left the crowd with Qian Ye and laughed bitterly at how quickly the villagers had changed their opinion of him.
• Qian Ye told Sakumo that Hidden Leaf's leaders had used public opinion against him and that civilians followed whoever controlled its direction.

Sakumo accepted Qian Ye’s vision of overthrowing the old order and joined him, then reunited with Kakashi at the Hatake residence. The three settled in for a family meal as they prepared to face Hidden Leaf’s continuing turmoil together.

• Sakumo asked whether Qian Ye’s plan to create a world without daimyo or oppressive ninja villages could succeed, and Qian Ye said they would have to tear down the old system and build anew.
• Sakumo declined Qian Ye’s outstretched hand but followed him toward the Hatake residence, deciding to help him tear apart the world’s existing order.
• Qian Ye asked Sakumo to teach him swordsmanship, but Sakumo said Hatake Style was unsuitable for him.
• Qian Ye introduced Sakumo as his new sidekick to Uchiha Yan and said Sakumo was now Root personnel under his command.
• Qian Ye and Sakumo arrived at the Hatake residence, where Kakashi recognized his father and tearfully welcomed him home.
• Qian Ye suggested hot pot for dinner, and Kakashi eagerly agreed.

Qian Ye’s hot-pot dinner with Sakumo and Kakashi was interrupted by the highest-level alarm, as Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure launched attacks that brought the Third Shinobi World War into full force. At the Hokage Building, Hiruzen and Danzo clashed over responsibility and Root’s authority as Konoha faced war on multiple fronts.

• Qian Ye teased Kakashi over the hot pot and discussed how he had filtered Danzo’s intelligence networks with Sakumo.
• Konoha’s emergency bells rang, and Qian Ye told Kakashi to stay home while Sakumo returned to Root to await orders.
• Uchiha Yan told Qian Ye that Ōnoki had sent Iwagakure’s main force across the border to attack Kannabi Bridge, and Qian Ye headed to the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen reported that Iwagakure had attacked with over ten thousand ninja, Kumogakure had breached Konoha’s northeastern defenses, and Kirigakure’s fleet had appeared offshore.
• Danzo blamed Hiruzen’s compromises for the attacks and demanded more Root funding and partial access to ANBU’s authority.

As Hidden Leaf’s leaders argued over the war on three fronts, Shimura Danzō pushed to send Qian Ye to the Kannabi Bridge front with Minato Namikaze. The chapter ended with Danzō pointing out that Qian Ye was no longer alone, leaving the details of his proposal unrevealed.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu entered the conference room and reported attacks at Kannabi Bridge by Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist.
• Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi argued over funding, ANBU authority, and whether to send the Uchiha clan to the front.
• Orochimaru volunteered to face Hidden Cloud, and Hiruzen assigned Minato Namikaze to lead a team to cut off Hidden Stone’s supply lines at Kannabi Bridge.
• Shimura Danzō proposed that Qian Ye form a special mobile squad and accompany Minato to the Land of Earth front.
• Hiruzen objected that Qian Ye was only twelve and had recently become a Chunin, but Danzō cited his record at Kikyo Pass and said Qian Ye was no longer alone.

Danzo, Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze backed Qian Ye’s appointment to lead a special mobile squad to Kannabi Bridge, despite Hiruzen Sarutobi’s concerns. Qian Ye accepted and returned to his base to prepare, where he told Pakura that Hidden Leaf was fighting on three fronts.

• Danzo argued that Qian Ye, Pakura, Hatake Sakumo, and the Peripheral Coordinators could strengthen Root’s standing by serving at Kannabi Bridge, while Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that Pakura’s loyalties were uncertain.
• Qian Ye tried to decline the assignment, but Orochimaru supported sending him to gather combat data and Minato Namikaze praised his tactical skills.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Qian Ye to form a special mobile squad and accompany Minato Namikaze to Kannabi Bridge.
• Qian Ye considered the risks and potential consequences of going to the central battlefield, then contacted Zhao Hai through the Cross-Border Mutual Aid Group.
• Qian Ye returned to his base, found Pakura training, and told her that Iwagakure had attacked and Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist were gathering at the borders, leaving Hidden Leaf to fight on three fronts.

Qian Ye explained that he was leaving Pakura in Konoha to protect the forces he had assembled while he went to the Land of Earth front lines. Pakura agreed to stay, and the next morning Qian Ye joined Minato Namikaze and his students outside the village gates.

• Qian Ye told Pakura he would go to the Land of Earth front lines alone, angering her.
• Qian Ye explained that his departure could destabilize Konoha and that Pakura was the only person he trusted to keep Danzo and the other factions in check.
• Qian Ye entrusted Konoha's affairs to Pakura, who agreed to stay and protect his forces and retreat route.
• The next morning, Qian Ye left Konoha and met Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin at the gates.

Minato briefed Team Minato on the secret S-rank mission to Kannabi Bridge and introduced Qian Ye as captain of a special mobile squad. After Qian Ye established his authority over Obito, the team moved out toward the Land of Earth border.

• Minato explained that the mission was to infiltrate enemy territory and cut off Iwagakure's supply lines, with Qian Ye serving as captain of a special mobile squad alongside Team Minato.
• Obito challenged Qian Ye's authority, but Kakashi knelt and addressed him as captain, privately honoring Qian Ye for saving Hatake Sakumo.
• Qian Ye subdued Obito with his killing intent and ordered him to obey without question; Obito reluctantly agreed.
• Minato ordered the team to remain alert and move out, and the four young ninja followed him into the forest toward the front lines.

Qian Ye led Team Minato through an Iwagakure ambush and killed three attackers in seconds. As the team prepared to advance into enemy territory, an alert revealed that Zhao Hai was in mortal danger after encountering Golden Lion Shiki.

• Qian Ye sensed three Iwagakure ninja hiding underground and signaled Minato and Team Minato to prepare for an ambush.
• Qian Ye killed all three attackers with a Rasengan and Tempest Kick before their explosive tags detonated.
• Minato ordered the team to maintain radio silence and assigned Qian Ye to lead using his sensory abilities.
• Qian Ye received a warning that Zhao Hai's vital signs were declining and learned from Zhao Hai that he had run into Golden Lion Shiki.

Qian Ye hired Hatake Sakumo through the Cross-Border Employment System to rescue Zhao Hai from Golden Lion Shiki. As Sakumo was sent to the Pirate World, Zhao Hai lay gravely wounded while Golden Lion mocked him.

• Qian Ye received Zhao Hai's desperate messages and learned that Golden Lion Shiki was attacking him.
• Qian Ye chose Hatake Sakumo for the rescue and explained Golden Lion's powers and the three-minute employment limit.
• Sakumo accepted the mission, and Qian Ye continued infiltrating the Land of Earth with Minato and the Kakashis.
• Golden Lion stood over the bloodied Zhao Hai in a crater and taunted him for being Garp's disciple.

Zhao Hai refused Golden Lion Shiki’s offer to join the Flying Pirate Crew and was nearly killed by his Flying Slash. Sakumo arrived through a portal and saved him, then charged Golden Lion as his countdown ran low.

• Zhao Hai survived Golden Lion Shiki’s attack with his Storm Dragon Form but could barely recover from the sword wound.
• Golden Lion offered Zhao Hai a place in the Flying Pirate Crew, but Zhao Hai insulted him and refused.
• Golden Lion unleashed a Flying Slash at Zhao Hai, and a portal opened just before the blow could hit.
• Sakumo emerged from the portal and deflected Golden Lion’s attack with the White Fang Short Blade.
• Sakumo assessed Golden Lion’s strength and, with less than three minutes remaining, charged at his throat using Lightning Release Chakra.