Chapter Summaries

After Konoha forced the Cloud Shinobi to give up Killer B, the villages reconsidered Konoha’s strength and a period of peace began. Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha and prepared to travel to Star Ninja Village in search of materials for a dharma artifact.

• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade watched the Cloud Shinobi depart after negotiations over Killer B, while Orochimaru reflected that war would eventually return.
• Killer B and Gyuki reunited after their seals were lifted, and Killer B’s group returned to Cloud Shinobi Village.
• A attacked Killer B in anger, cut off one of Gyuki’s horns, and ordered Killer B to remain in Cloud Lightning Gorge.
• The news that Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails alive changed the other villages’ view of Konoha, and the Rock Ninja withdrew from the Land of Fire’s borders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha, noticed Samui’s interest in him, and planned to visit Star Ninja Village to obtain the Star as potential artifact-forging material.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru for the Kusanagi Sword so he could leave Konoha and travel, while the village’s leaders discussed rebuilding and becoming more self-sufficient. He left with the sword, and Tsunade was left unsettled by how much he had changed.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered Orochimaru’s office as Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara discussed Konoha’s recovery and future.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru for his Kusanagi Sword to protect himself while traveling without chakra, and Orochimaru agreed.
• Tsunade questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi about his plans, while he said he wanted to see the world before growing too old to walk.
• Orochimaru pulled the Kusanagi Sword from his throat, and Hiruzen Sarutobi took it before announcing he would leave Konoha in a few days.
• Jiraiya teased Tsunade about Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Tsunade punched him through a window and ordered that he be treated so she could punch him again.

At Konoha Hospital, Shisui visited the badly injured Jiraiya with Itachi, then discussed Itachi’s wish to graduate early and search for life’s meaning. Meanwhile, Hiruzen told Shinnosuke and Hinako to remain in Konoha before departing for Star Ninja Village.

• Shisui and Itachi visited Jiraiya in the hospital, where Tsunade warned she would hit him again after he recovered.
• Shisui advised Jiraiya to pursue Tsunade, but Tsunade denied having any chance with him and left angrily.
• While walking through Konoha, Itachi told Shisui he wanted to apply for early graduation and seek the meaning of life.
• Shisui told Itachi that Orochimaru would personally assess him if he applied to the Ninja Academy.
• Hiruzen instructed Shinnosuke and pregnant Hinako to stay in Konoha, then left for Star Ninja Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled south toward Seven Herbs Island to investigate its medicinal plants and agreed to take a young girl there so she could gather a cure for her sick father. He prepared to leave by ship with the girl, who returned to the tavern with supplies.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi left Konoha and traveled south, planning to visit Seven Herbs Island and Hongzhou Island before heading toward the Land of Bears.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reached the coast, where merchant ship owners offered to hire him as a guard for their trips to Seven Herbs Island.
• A young girl asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to help her gather a Seven-Star Flower to treat her father's illness.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to take the girl on the ship leaving the next day and gave her money to buy supplies in exchange for cooking.
• The girl bought ingredients and daily necessities, then returned to the tavern to join Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Miki Xiaoai searched Seven Herbs Island for the Seven-Star Flower, drawing the attention of the Merchant Ninjas who controlled the island. After agreeing to take Miki with him, Hiruzen reached the island’s core and encountered three Merchant Ninjas.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Miki Xiaoai arrived at Seven Herbs Island, where the dockside shops had none of the herbs they needed.
• Hiruzen and Miki ventured into the island’s forest, while a Merchant Ninja leader ordered his men to leave them alone unless they entered the core area.
• Hiruzen and Miki stopped to rest, and Miki offered to continue searching for the Seven-Star Flower on her own.
• Hiruzen agreed to carry Miki deeper into the island, and they soon reached its core area.
• Three Red Province Merchant Ninjas appeared in front of Hiruzen and Miki.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took Miki Xiaoai to Seven Herbs Island, where he found no spiritual herbs and learned that Merchant Ninja had exploited her desperation to traffic her. After rescuing her and sending her toward Konoha, he continued to the Land of Bears, while Miki Xiaoai arrived in Konoha and declared that she wanted to follow him for the rest of her life.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi defeated three Merchant Ninja who claimed Seven Herbs Island and took Miki Xiaoai to search for herbs.
• Miki Xiaoai found a Seven-Star Flower, but her father died before she could bring it to him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi exposed the healer's arrangement with the Merchant Ninja, killed them, and found spiritual herbs at their headquarters.
• Miki Xiaoai asked to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi for life, and he sent her to Konoha with a caravan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled to the Land of Bears, while Miki Xiaoai reached Konoha and told Orochimaru and Tsunade she wanted to follow Hiruzen for the rest of her life.

Tsunade and Orochimaru discussed Miki Xiaoai’s decision to marry Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Orochimaru accepted the former Hokage’s freedom to live as he pleased. Orochimaru then approved Itachi Uchiha’s early graduation application and decided to assess him personally.

• Tsunade warned Miki Xiaoai that Hiruzen Sarutobi was nearly sixty, but Miki Xiaoai became excited to learn that he was the Hokage and said she had come willingly.
• Orochimaru sent Miki Xiaoai with ANBU to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s home and suggested she ask Shinnosuke Sarutobi for a job.
• Tsunade protested that Hiruzen Sarutobi was going too far, but Orochimaru argued that he should be left alone since he had given up his authority.
• Orochimaru reviewed Itachi Uchiha’s application to graduate early and told Shikaku Nara to approve it because he would assess Itachi himself.

Miki Xiaoai arrived at the Sarutobi compound hoping to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Asuma shocked and spurred to take on missions. Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha passed his early graduation examination and asked Orochimaru about the meaning of life.

• Asuma Sarutobi mistook Miki Xiaoai’s arrival at the Sarutobi compound for a chance at romance before learning she wanted to follow his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hinako invited Miki Xiaoai inside and agreed to let her stay until Hiruzen returned, while Asuma left to accept a mission.
• Jiraiya learned from Tsunade that a beautiful girl wanted to follow Hiruzen and reacted with disbelief.
• Itachi Uchiha impressed the assembled clans and officials with his Great Fireball Technique and shuriken skills, then passed his early graduation examination.
• Itachi Uchiha asked Orochimaru what the meaning of life was, and Orochimaru eagerly thought of immortality.

Orochimaru discussed the meaning of life and the value of strength and immortality with Itachi Uchiha, then invited him to become his junior brother and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s disciple. The news delighted Uchiha, while Itachi remained focused on protecting his loved ones rather than becoming Hokage.

• Orochimaru asked Itachi Uchiha what he thought the meaning of life was, and Itachi answered that he wanted to protect what he cherished despite its eventual loss.
• Orochimaru argued that strength and a long lifespan were necessary for protection and declared that he pursued immortality.
• Orochimaru invited Itachi Uchiha to become his junior brother and said Hiruzen Sarutobi would accept him as a disciple; Itachi agreed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Itachi Uchiha as his disciple, and the news spread through Konoha, exciting Uchiha and delighting Fugaku Uchiha.
• Fugaku Uchiha urged Itachi to learn from Hiruzen Sarutobi and become the next Hokage, but Itachi cared most about protecting Sasuke Uchiha.
• Miki Xiaoai moved into Hiruzen Sarutobi’s room, and Shinnosuke was shocked and a little envious when he heard about it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi infiltrated Star Ninja Village to see the Star and faced resistance from Natsuhi and the village’s ninjas. After identifying himself as the Third Hokage, he was invited by the Third Star Shadow to discuss the Star in the village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi found a tunnel beneath the canyon’s miasma and blasted through the rubble blocking its exit.
• Natsuhi stopped Hiruzen Sarutobi at the village boundary, but flew back to raise the alarm after he said he had come for the Star.
• The Third Star Shadow and more than ten Star Ninja Village ninjas prepared to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi, while a mutated purple-haired man vowed not to surrender the Star.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Monkey Demon, and the Third Star Shadow recognized him as the Third Hokage and invited him into the village to discuss the Star.

Hiruzen Sarutobi visited the Star Ninja Village to take the Star and agreed to cooperate with the village. Akahoshi stole the Star and challenged Hiruzen, but exploded after trying to draw out its power.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Star Shadow he had come for the Star, and the Star Shadow agreed to hand it over in exchange for cooperation with Konoha.
• Akahoshi and several Star Ninja openly opposed the agreement, and the Star Shadow warned them that the Star harmed their bodies and might have caused the Second Star Ninja's death.
• Natsuhi reported that Akahoshi had stolen the Star, and Akahoshi returned with two Jonin to challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi for the Star Shadow's position.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Monkey Demon fought Akahoshi and the two Jonin, and Hiruzen severed Akahoshi's left arm.
• Akahoshi tried to force the Star's energy into himself and exploded, leaving the gathered Star Ninja stunned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the Star from Hoshigakure and traveled toward the Land of Crafts to have weapons forged, while Hoshigakure sent its leaders to Konoha to negotiate cooperation. Back in Konoha, Danzo learned that Miki Xiaoai planned to marry Hiruzen and resolved to strengthen the Shimura Clan so he would not lose to his old friend again.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi took the Star after Akahoshi was killed and left Hoshigakure, while the Third Star Shadow stopped the remaining ninja from confronting him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi headed for the Land of Crafts, feeding spiritual energy into the Star as he considered forging a sword and a staff.
• The Third Star Shadow and Natsuhi set out for Konoha to seek a partnership with the village.
• Miki Xiaoai visited Hiruzen Sarutobi's cabin and found Danzo living there while waiting for his old friend.
• Miki Xiaoai introduced herself as Hiruzen Sarutobi's future wife, prompting Danzo to leave and resolve to strengthen the Shimura Clan.

Danzo Shimura planned to marry a former Root member, prompting Jiraiya to worry about being left behind while Konoha’s clans competed for missions. Orochimaru began teaching Itachi Uchiha in his laboratory, where Itachi learned of the blood ties among several clans and found a new focus for his studies.

• Danzo Shimura announced that he intended to marry a former Root kunoichi, and Jiraiya resolved that he could not remain single while the other old men married.
• Danzo Shimura delayed the wedding until Hiruzen Sarutobi returned, determined to marry before him.
• With Root gone and the Police Force disbanded, Uchiha ninja joined the ANBU, took missions, and trained Genin, pushing Konoha’s other clans to compete.
• Orochimaru taught Itachi Uchiha about his research into Obito’s Mangekyo Sharingan and explained that the Senju and Uchiha descended from the same ancestor, with other clans also linked by blood.
• Itachi Uchiha became fascinated by the bloodline research and gained a new goal to pursue.

Hiruzen Sarutobi visited the Craft Ninja Village to buy rare minerals for forging a special ninja tool, while its leaders watched him warily. After he left to see their collection, the Four Celestial Symbols Men decided he could serve as the sacrifice needed to revive Seimei.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived in the Land of Crafts and toured the busy Craft Ninja Village, finding its ordinary tools useless to him.
• Craft Ninja Village ninja escorted Hiruzen Sarutobi to meet the chamber of commerce chairman, who asked why he had come.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he wanted to purchase rare minerals, and the chairman sent a ninja to show him the village’s collection.
• After Hiruzen Sarutobi left, the Four Celestial Symbols Men met with the chairman and discussed the danger of provoking Konoha.
• The Four Celestial Symbols Men targeted Hiruzen Sarutobi as the source of chakra and life needed to revive Seimei.

Hiruzen Sarutobi bought rare minerals from the Craft Ninja Village and went to a volcano to reforge the Kusanagi Sword into a magical artifact. He spent two months working with the mysterious star while the Four Celestial Symbols Men waited to ambush him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi inspected the Craft Ninja Village's treasury and chose several rare ores to buy.
• Baili agreed to sell the minerals so Hiruzen Sarutobi would leave the village quickly.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed the minerals and went to the Land of Crafts' volcano to forge a magical artifact.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi began refining the Kusanagi Sword with Earth Vein Fire and infused the mysterious star with spiritual energy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi remained at the volcano for two months while the Four Celestial Symbols Men grew impatient waiting to ambush him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finished reforging the Kusanagi Sword into Star Severer and used it to defeat Water Tiger when the Four Celestial Symbols Men confronted him. He chased the fleeing survivors on his sword and caught up with them, leaving Peacock, Dragon Eye, and Treasure Turtle facing him again.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi completed Star Severer, a top-grade magical artifact that could create visible effects and let him fly, though flight rapidly drained his spiritual energy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left the volcano but was stopped by Peacock, Dragon Eye, Treasure Turtle, and Water Tiger, who demanded the return of their village's stolen treasure and called him a sacrifice for reviving Lord Seimei.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi cut Water Tiger in two with Star Severer, shattering the chakra-absorbing armor that had failed to protect him.
• Dragon Eye attacked with his retractable sword, but Hiruzen Sarutobi severed its three dragon heads before Peacock used Wind Release to help the remaining three escape.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi pursued the survivors on Star Severer, and Peacock, Dragon Eye, and Treasure Turtle saw him catch up amid clouds, mist, and flickering lightning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi defeated Seimei and took the Craft Ninja Village’s weapons, then sent the revived founder to Konoha to work for Orochimaru if he wanted to learn about magical artifacts. Meanwhile, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara heard the Star Shadow’s accusations and proposal to send Star Ninja Academy students to Konoha.

• Treasure Turtle went to revive Seimei while Peacock and Dragon Eye tried to stall Hiruzen Sarutobi, who severed Dragon Eye’s hand and took his retractable sword.
• Peacock surrendered her Peacock Twin Swords, but Seimei was revived and rushed toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi cut Seimei into four pieces with Star Severer and told him to work for Orochimaru in Konoha if he wanted to learn about magical artifacts.
• Peacock offered to put Seimei back together as he asked who Orochimaru and Hashirama Senju were.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara met with the Star Shadow, who accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of stealing the village’s treasured artifact and killing a Jonin before proposing cooperation and sending Star Ninja Academy students to Konoha.

Orochimaru pressured Hoshigakure into accepting Konoha’s control in exchange for an alliance, while Jiraiya questioned his harsh approach. The chapter left Star Shadow preparing to negotiate the terms with Shikaku Nara.

• Shikaku Nara learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken the Star and bought the Craft Ninja Village’s rare minerals, leaving Konoha to handle the resulting complaints.
• Orochimaru offered to let Hoshigakure’s ninja study in Konoha only if Hoshigakure became Konoha’s ally.
• Orochimaru clarified that Hoshigakure would exist in name only and accept Konoha’s control, and Star Shadow agreed as long as the village kept its name.
• Orochimaru sent Star Shadow to discuss the details with Shikaku Nara.
• Jiraiya challenged Orochimaru’s treatment of Hoshigakure, but Orochimaru argued that making Konoha’s control explicit was safer than allowing a potential enemy to learn from the village.

Kakashi cared for Naruto while rebuilding his strength and resolving to defeat Obito. Itachi spent a peaceful afternoon with Shisui, Sasuke, and Izumi, while Tsunade embraced her role in Konoha and searched for Shizune.

• Kakashi looked after Naruto and vowed to become stronger so he could protect the people he cared about and defeat Obito himself.
• Shisui told Itachi about Mount Myoboku, and Itachi mentioned that Orochimaru would take him to Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Arts.
• Itachi asked Shisui about Shizune, then Shisui left when Izumi arrived to spend time with Itachi and Sasuke.
• Sasuke cried in Izumi's arms and cheered up when Itachi took him back, leaving Izumi jealous.
• Tsunade's hemophobia faded after she returned to Konoha, and she committed herself to protecting the village and reforming medical care.
• Tsunade finished some documents, turned to find Shizune, and wondered where she had gone.

Tsunade reflected on how much Konoha had changed before finding Jiraiya and joining him to visit Orochimaru at the orphanage. There, Orochimaru made Kabuto his disciple and reassured Yakushi Nonō, while Tsunade and Jiraiya mistakenly suspected the two were romantically involved.

• Tsunade saw Shizune shopping with Uchiha Shisui and left them to continue their outing.
• At the Hokage's office, Shikaku Nara told Tsunade that Orochimaru had gone to the orphanage, and she brought Jiraiya along to find him.
• At the orphanage, Tsunade and Jiraiya found Orochimaru happily talking with Yakushi Nonō and wondered if they were becoming a couple.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto to follow the Fifth Hokage and study, and Anko encouraged the timid boy.
• After leaving the orphanage with Anko, Orochimaru explained that Tsunade and Jiraiya had misunderstood his relationship with Nonō.