Chapter Summaries

The Land of Night crushed foreign attempts to exploit its transfer of power, prompting the nations to recognize the strength of the Snow Moon Flower Three Sisters. In Konoha, Hiruzen recalled a planned probe and learned Danzo had gone to watch Amegakure, leaving him concerned about the increasingly powerful Hanzo.

• Irori froze an island in the Land of Night's northern waters, destroying dozens of unidentified shinobi who planned to raid merchant ships.
• The black-haired, black-eyed girl and Ghost purged other unauthorized forces along the Land of Night's borders, causing the probing nations to withdraw.
• Kumogakure assessed the Snow Moon Flower Three Sisters as a strategic force comparable to three perfectly controlled Tailed Beasts, while outsiders remained wary of the suspected fourth chakra life-form.
• Hiruzen rescinded Konoha's plan to send a squad into the Land of Night after seeing the other probes crushed.
• Shikamon Nara told Hiruzen that Danzo was absent from the meeting because he had gone to watch Amegakure's unusual movements.
• Hiruzen recalled Amegakure's growing military strength under Hanzo and worried about Danzo's safety.

Konoha’s leaders reviewed the Land of Night’s new leadership and adjusted their approach, while Uchiha Zhuiliu volunteered to lead a delegation to the Second Shogun’s succession ceremony. At the border, Hanzo defeated Danzo and Root, leaving Danzo determined to find a way to deal with him.

• Hiruzen and Konoha’s officials discussed the Land of Night’s new leaders, focusing on Rikuo Oda, Flying Kite, and the Second Shogun, Oda Doichi.
• Shikamon outlined revised guidelines for Konoha’s relationship with the Land of Night and asked for a leader for the succession-ceremony delegation.
• Uchiha Zhuiliu volunteered to lead the delegation, and Shikamon accepted his offer.
• At the Land of Rain and Land of Fire border, Hanzo defeated Danzo and the Konoha Anbu Root, injuring Danzo’s right eye.
• Hanzo warned Danzo not to enter the Land of Rain without announcing himself, then left with the Hidden Rain shinobi.
• Danzo vowed to deal with Hanzo, whom he regarded as a threat to Konoha and the Land of Fire.

Hanzo returned to Amegakure after fighting Danzo and resolved to strengthen the Hidden Rain, while Danzo and Hiruzen discussed how to investigate Hanzo’s abilities. Doichi granted the Hidden Rain more time to pay its reparations, intending to support its growth and use it to test the major nations.

• Hanzo admitted that Danzo’s Wind Release had wounded him and ordered the Hidden Rain shinobi to undergo special training.
• Danzo told Hiruzen that Hanzo’s unusual Body Flicker Technique might depend on the rain, and he proposed investigating and surveilling the Hidden Rain.
• Danzo refused Hiruzen’s offer to replace his injured eye and vowed to overcome the humiliation himself.
• A Hidden Rain jonin asked Doichi to delay the reparations, and Doichi amended the agreement to set the deadline ten years later.
• After the jonin left, Doichi considered how a stronger Hidden Rain could challenge the surrounding major nations and serve the Land of Night’s interests.

At Oda Doichi’s inauguration as the Land of Night’s second shogun, foreign delegations and local officials were stunned to learn that the Seven-Tails served as Environmental Protection Department director without a Jinchūriki. The ceremony also introduced Naraku as director of the newly established Mechanized Command Department, leaving the story with the Land of Night’s leaders and guests grappling with its unexpected institutions.

• Oda Doichi’s inauguration ceremony filled the Central Assembly Hall with officials, foreign delegations, and camera crews broadcasting the event.
• Foreign delegations saw the Seven-Tails sitting among the guests under a sign identifying him as Environmental Protection Department director.
• Shikamon Nara and the other shinobi realized the Land of Night had no Jinchūriki and had instead earned the Seven-Tails’ trust.
• Land of Night officials learned that the Seven-Tails held the director post, overturning their assumptions about a Perfect Jinchūriki.
• Naraku arrived, greeted the Military Bureau’s senior officers, and took his seat as director of the Mechanized Command Department.

Yayoi retired as First General and Oda Doichi was inaugurated as the Land of Night’s Second General in a grand ceremony. During the ensuing celebration, Shikamon Nara and Uchiha Zhuiliu discussed the Land of Night’s strength and the threat posed by its younger generation.

• Yayoi delivered his farewell speech and welcomed Oda Doichi to the dais as his successor.
• Oda Doichi gave his inaugural address, and the Land of Night’s elaborate ceremony impressed delegates from other nations.
• Nightview City celebrated the inauguration with several days of festivities and fireworks.
• Shikamon Nara and Uchiha Zhuiliu watched the city from an observation deck and discussed the Uchiha Clan in the Land of Night.
• Zhuiliu admitted he could not match Rikuo Oda and suspected Rikuo’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan had ocular power comparable to a Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shikamon concluded that Konoha could not exploit the older generation’s retirement because the Land of Night’s younger leaders remained formidable.

Yayoi prepared to retire to the Heavenly Dao Palace, transporting his vast collection and his household there with the Heavenly Transfer Technique. Back in Konoha, Hiruzen heard Shikamon’s report about the Land of Night and decided to wait before acting on the Tailed Beasts.

• Yayoi packed more than a thousand containers of treasures as he prepared to hand Tenshu Tower and the Inner Court to Doichi.
• Yayoi used the Heavenly Transfer Technique to transport the containers and his companions’ belongings to the Heavenly Dao Palace.
• Izayoi recognized the technique’s potential for warfare, while Yayoi considered combining it with principles from the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Shikamon Nara and Uchiha Zhuiliu returned to Konoha, and Shikamon told Hiruzen about the succession ceremony, the Land of Night’s relationship with the Tailed Beasts, and Rikuo Oda’s strength.
• Hiruzen and Shikamon agreed to wait and watch how the other villages dealt with their Tailed Beasts before Konoha made a move.

Yayoi oversaw the treasures and facilities of the Akanishta Heavenly Dao Palace, then placed cursed seals on retired cadres before they entered a three-year hibernation. He left Raizo, Murasame, and Komurasaki to guard the Samsara Pagoda, while Kinkaku and Ginkaku remained imprisoned in the Black Tower.

• Puppet samurai moved rare treasures into the Seven-Star House, where Yayoi regretted that he could not collect the Six Paths Ninja Tools still held by Kumogakure.
• Yayoi visited the Samsara Pagoda, where retired cadres and other approved people could receive cursed seals and enter hibernation, and he noted the Black Tower's role as a high-security prison.
• Nene reported that the hibernation period would last about three years after Yayoi planted cursed seals on nearly ten people.
• Yayoi left Raizo in charge of the hibernation facility and arranged for Murasame and Komurasaki to patrol it.
• Yayoi planned to keep Kinkaku and Ginkaku imprisoned until he could control their lives and deaths with cursed seals.

Yayoi inspected the Heavenly Dao Palace’s Mechanized Corps and watched its new Jonin-level lord puppets demonstrate their coordinated ninjutsu, barrier, and sealing abilities. Naraku prepared to show the Yin and Yang puppets next, while Yayoi considered creating specialized puppets to manage the treasury and prison.

• Yayoi reviewed the Mechanized Corps’ puppet forces and the twenty Jonin-level lord puppets assigned to the Heavenly Dao Palace.
• Four barrier puppets formed the Four Violet Flames Battle Formation while five elemental puppets demonstrated coordinated ninjutsu inside it.
• Four sealing puppets absorbed the attacks into scrolls, restoring calm within the barrier.
• Yayoi praised the puppets’ performance, and Naraku explained that he could control them while also operating elsewhere through other puppets.
• Yayoi identified the two remaining Yin and Yang puppets, and Naraku moved them forward to demonstrate their abilities.
• Yayoi considered making dedicated puppets to manage the treasury and prison.

Yayoi learned that Kirigakure’s attempt to follow the Land of Night’s example and peacefully cooperate with a Tailed Beast had led to the Six-Tails rampaging and rebels trying to assassinate the village leadership. He concluded that the failed effort would destroy any chance of reconciliation with the Tailed Beasts and make other villages more cautious.

• Irori brought Yayoi intelligence about two major disturbances in Kirigakure.
• Yayoi learned that the Third Mizukage had tried to cooperate with the Six-Tails, which then rampaged and left its Jinchūriki near death.
• Kirigakure rebels tried to assassinate the Mizukage and his advisors in the aftermath of the rampage.
• Yayoi recognized the rebellion as fallout from Kirigakure’s failed attempt to emulate the Land of Night’s relationship with the Seven-Tails.
• Yayoi concluded that Kirigakure’s failure would make peace with Tailed Beasts harder for the village and discourage other villages from trying.

Yayoi prepared a new perfect chakra life form whose experiment required more Dragon Vein Chakra, so he sent Irori to negotiate with Sunagakure. The Third Kazekage agreed to the trade after reading Yayoi’s letter.

• Yayoi designed a black-dressed space-time user with silver sealing chains to serve as warden of the Black Tower prison.
• Yayoi decided to seek more Dragon Vein Chakra from Sunagakure because the Heavenly Dao Palace’s reserves were insufficient for the experiment.
• The Third Kazekage weighed Sunagakure’s need for Shukaku against the risk of provoking the One-Tail after Kirigakure’s failure.
• Irori met the Third Kazekage and asked to purchase more Dragon Vein Chakra on Yayoi’s behalf.
• The Third Kazekage read Yayoi’s letter and eagerly accepted the transaction.

After the Dragon Vein trade left Rōran unable to draw chakra for thirty years, its Queen chose to move her people to the Land of Night. The Third Kazekage received Yayoi’s reward and began reconsidering how Hidden Sand treated the One-Tail, deciding to visit Bunpuku.

• The Dragon Vein trade depleted Rōran’s chakra reserves, forcing its people to relocate, and the Queen chose the Land of Night’s offer.
• The Third Kazekage received money, supplies, and a Seven-Tails training record from Yayoi as payment for the transaction.
• The Third Kazekage studied the record and considered its idea that a Jinchūriki could coexist with a Tailed Beast rather than restrain it by force.
• He recalled Bunpuku’s similar beliefs and how Shamon had imprisoned and experimented on the monk, while the One-Tail had rampaged when Bunpuku was mistreated.
• The Third Kazekage decided Bunpuku could be the bridge between Hidden Sand and the One-Tail, and set out to check on him.

Yayoi continued planning to weaken Konoha by exploiting its rivals and waiting for internal turmoil, while Doichi finalized Rōran’s integration into the Land of Night. Doichi then sent Rikuo on an S-rank mission to protect the Land of Flow’s secret technique from the Hidden Cloud Village.

• Yayoi studied his invasion plans and resolved to cripple Konoha only when the right opportunity arose, with the Land of Rain likely to spark another Shinobi World War.
• Yayoi recalled that he had shared his tailed-beast method with the Hidden Sand Village to help it redirect forces against Konoha.
• Doichi approved the relocation of Rōran’s people, abolished the queen’s sovereign status, and appointed the Queen of Roran as mayor of the new city.
• Doichi assigned Rikuo an S-rank mission commissioned by the Daimyo of the Land of Flow to stop a group targeting its inherited secret technique.
• Rikuo identified the Hidden Cloud Village as the likely culprit and departed using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Rikuo captured and interrogated Kakai, learning that Kumogakure had sent three squads to steal the Land of Flow’s Secret Technique. He discovered that the Third Raikage, A, was leading the enemy force and watched him emerge unharmed from an Explosive Tag blast.

• Rikuo caught Kakai with Sharingan Genjutsu and learned that he was a Kumogakure Anbu Jonin on a mission ordered by the Raikage.
• Kakai revealed that three squads had come to take the Land of Flow’s Secret Technique, but a Cursed Seal prevented him from disclosing their support personnel.
• Rikuo sensed twelve powerful chakra signatures nearby, planted an Explosive Tag on Kakai, and hid as the group arrived.
• Rikuo recognized A, the Third Raikage, leading the Kumogakure ninja and realized the interception mission had become more difficult.
• Kakai charged at an approaching ninja with the Explosive Tag on his back, but A pulled him clear before the blast and emerged unharmed.

Rikuo confronted the Third Raikage, A, in the Land of Flow, and A withdrew rather than risk a conflict with the Land of Night. After reporting to Doichi, Rikuo went to visit Maki and found her sharing an intimate moment with Hatake Sakumo.

• A discovered Rikuo near the Land of Flow's secret technique, and Rikuo revealed that he had been sent to stop the thieves.
• A abandoned Hidden Cloud Village's attempt to seize the secret technique and led his ninja away.
• Rikuo confirmed to Doichi that A had been in the Land of Flow and suggested A had trained in Sensory Ninjutsu to counter Komurasaki's genjutsu.
• Rikuo visited the Military School to see Maki and saw her laughing with Hatake Sakumo, prompting him to regard the young jonin with suspicion.

Rikuo found Maki watching Sakumo leave and warned her about unfaithful men, unaware she believed Sakumo was different. Half a month later, Sakumo reported to the Special Assault Department and met its director, Rikuo, in an unexpectedly unusual office.

• Rikuo approached Maki after Sakumo left and gave her a parcel of specialties from the Land of Flow.
• Maki told Rikuo that her teaching work was easy, while privately thinking that Sakumo was sincere and faithful.
• Half a month later, Sakumo passed inspection at the General's Residence and completed his onboarding for the Special Assault Department.
• A staff member sent Sakumo to Director Oda's office on the sixth floor for his final review.
• Sakumo entered the office and found Rikuo receiving a shoulder massage while three other girls worked nearby.

Rikuo tested Sakumo with a mission, inspected the Chakra Short Sword forged by Yayoi, and suspected Sakumo was courting his sister Maki. Three years later, Sakumo and Rikuo had become feared operatives of the Land of Night, with Sakumo known as the White Fang of the Night.

• Rikuo gave Sakumo a lengthy mission to assess whether he qualified to remain in the Special Assault Department.
• Rikuo inspected Sakumo's Chakra Short Sword, recognized Yayoi's craftsmanship, and suspected Sakumo was living off his sister Maki.
• Izayoi and Yayoi discussed Maki's relationship with Sakumo, and Yayoi insisted Sakumo would marry into their family.
• Over the next three years, Oda Doichi steadily developed the Land of Night while the Special Assault Department eliminated foreign threats.
• The Five Great Nations' ninja villages came to fear Rikuo and Sakumo, whose brutal missions earned Sakumo the name White Fang of the Night.

Hatake Sakumo killed Gecko Yarubo, who had tried to sabotage a diplomatic train bound for Nightview City. Rikuo gave Sakumo a week off before sending him to the increasingly tense Land of Rain to help the Special Assault Department establish a foothold there.

• Gecko Yarubo slipped aboard the train carrying diplomatic delegations and prepared to plant Explosive Tags to draw the guards away.
• Hatake Sakumo ambushed Yarubo on the train, killed him, and severed his head to prevent any escape trick.
• Rikuo reviewed Sakumo's report and regretted losing the chance to recruit Yarubo, who had opposed the Land of Night.
• Rikuo granted Sakumo a week off, then assigned him a mission in the Land of Rain.
• Rikuo considered the growing tensions around the Land of Rain and planned to use Sakumo to strengthen the Special Assault Department's presence there.

Fifteen ninja operatives from several villages arrived at the Black Tower prison, where they discovered Kinkaku and Ginkaku among the inmates. Natsuki Nagatsuki appeared and introduced herself as the new warden, ordering the prisoners to behave and obey.

• Puppet Samurai escorted fifteen captured ninjas into the Black Tower as the prisoners placed bets on which village had sent the most operatives.
• The newcomers saw that the prisoners lived with limited comforts and competed in sports meets despite their confinement.
• A Hidden Cloud Anbu recognized Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and the new prisoners realized Ginkaku was alive despite having been reported dead.
• Three Hidden Cloud ninjas questioned Kinkaku and Ginkaku about attacking the Second Raikage and sabotaging peace talks with Konoha.
• Natsuki Nagatsuki arrived, silenced the corridor, and introduced herself as the newly appointed warden, telling the prisoners to behave and obey orders.

Natsuki Nagatsuki assigned the new prisoners their rooms and released Kinkaku and Ginkaku from their shackles so they could go to the Samsara Pagoda. Veteran prisoners explained that the Black Tower housed people who sometimes chose to stay, including a long-imprisoned Yuki Clan writer whose work and royalties had made him famous.

• Natsuki Nagatsuki sent the new prisoners to their rooms, then offered Kinkaku and Ginkaku the choice of going to the Samsara Pagoda alone or with an escort.
• Kinkaku and Ginkaku chose to leave on their own, and Natsuki removed their shackles with a gesture before departing.
• A new Kirigakure prisoner asked where the brothers were going, and a veteran said they might gain limited freedom after experiments at the Samsara Pagoda.
• A veteran pointed out a Yuki Clan elder who had been imprisoned since before the Land of Night was established, prompting the newcomers to fear spending decades in the Black Tower.
• Older prisoners explained that the elder stayed voluntarily, had recovered from years of trauma through prison life, and had become a celebrated author who donated his royalties to people displaced by war.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku entered the Land of Night’s research facility and discovered evidence of true rejuvenation. Yayoi placed the brothers in hibernation to turn them into controlled fighters and ordered preparations for a chakra conversion experiment to begin in a year.

• Kinkaku and Ginkaku entered the pyramid and followed Aburame Yuroketsu to meet the General.
• The brothers recognized that Yuroketsu had been rejuvenated and realized the Land of Night might possess technology capable of restoring youth.
• Yayoi and Nene placed Kinkaku and Ginkaku in hibernation pods for two years, relying on safeguards in their cursed seals to control them.
• Yayoi discussed the brothers’ chakra reserves and their potential to withstand the cursed seal’s drawbacks with Nene.
• Nene said the Body Chakra Conversion experiment would benefit from chakra from all nine tailed beasts, and Yayoi ordered preparations to finish so the experiment could begin in one year.