Chapter Summaries

A war report revealed that Sarutobi Hiruzen had awakened Magnet Release and single-handedly defeated a hundred-man Kumo-nin reinforcement, shocking Konoha’s leaders. Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered him back to the village for questioning and recovery, leaving his future standing in Konoha uncertain.

• Jiraiya’s report said Namikaze Minato and the other shinobi held off the first Kumo-nin reinforcement, while Minato confronted the Third Raikage’s Son and Killer B.
• The report revealed that Sarutobi Hiruzen awakened Magnet Release, killed more than sixty Kumo-nin from the second reinforcement, and forced the rest to flee.
• Utatane Koharu questioned the report, but Hiruzen Sarutobi affirmed that it came from Jiraiya and confirmed Sarutobi Hiruzen was his nephew.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered an Anbu to have Sarutobi Hiruzen return separately from the escort unit, along with the wounded and fallen comrades.

Qifeng and his Puppet Clone discussed establishing the Sarutobi Hiruzen identity and the risks posed by Danzo before their allies arrived. After Minato ordered Hiruzen back to Konoha, Qifeng learned Minato wanted to become Hokage and promised to support him, leaving Minato surprised.

• Qifeng and his Puppet Clone weighed Hiruzen Sarutobi's scrutiny and Danzo's suspicions, deciding not to target Danzo while Konoha still needed his contact with Ōnoki.
• Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Minato visited the morgue tent, where Obito enthusiastically met the disguised Hiruzen and Qifeng gave Obito an Inherited Headband.
• Minato told Hiruzen that the village had ordered him to return to Konoha for recuperation and questioning, and Hiruzen agreed while affirming his loyalty.
• Qifeng asked Minato whether he wanted to become Hokage, and Minato admitted that he did.
• Qifeng told Minato that he would support his bid for Hokage, leaving Minato stunned.

Disguised as Sarutobi Hiruzen, Qifeng entered Konoha and was warmly thanked by residents who saw him as a hero. At the Hokage Building, he showed Hiruzen Sarutobi his Magnet Release and eased his uncle's doubts by recalling their embarrassing family history.

• Qifeng entered Konoha disguised as Sarutobi Hiruzen after passing the village's inspections.
• A little girl recognized Qifeng, and residents gathered to thank him for his role in the war and celebrate him as a hero.
• An Anbu Ninja helped Qifeng escape the crowd and reach the Hokage's Office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi examined the Magnet Release Qifeng demonstrated and praised how he had grown.
• Qifeng teased Hiruzen Sarutobi about his past antics with Jiraiya, convincing him that he was truly his nephew.

Qifeng passed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s identity checks and earned an official Jonin promotion with permission to act independently. Back on the Land of Hot Water battlefield, Jiraiya told him Kumogakure had issued a formal battle challenge, and Qifeng began to offer a suggestion.

• Qifeng persuaded Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was his nephew, and Hiruzen promoted him to official Konoha Jonin with authority to act independently on the battlefield.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned why Qifeng had told the Kumo-nin his name was Asuma, and Qifeng promised to look after Asuma on the front lines.
• After Qifeng left, Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned two Anbu about his identity, then ordered them to investigate how Maruyama Qifeng had treated him when he was injured.
• Qifeng returned to the Land of Hot Water and reported to Jiraiya, who told him Kumogakure had formally challenged Konoha to battle.
• Qifeng was surprised by the challenge and began telling Jiraiya he had a suggestion.

Jiraiya and the Konoha commanders planned to counter the Kumo-nin’s challenge by attacking first the next day. Qifeng, posing as Sarutobi Hiruzen, was assigned to hold the front line alongside Jiraiya as Minato led a strike on the enemy rear.

• Jiraiya explained that the Third Raikage’s challenge aimed to exploit Kumo’s strength advantage and pressure Konoha before the battle at Karasumaru Plains.
• Jiraiya announced that Konoha would counterattack the next day instead of waiting three days.
• Jiraiya assigned Namikaze Minato to lead a fast squad around the forest and target the Kumo-nin’s logistics unit.
• Jiraiya ordered Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi to lead units against the enemy flanks, while Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza guarded Konoha’s logistics.
• Jiraiya assigned Qifeng, under the identity of Sarutobi Hiruzen, to join him and the first two combat units in the frontal attack.

Qifeng and Puppet Hiruzen discussed the coming war and their plans as Konoha launched a full-scale assault on Kumogakure. The battle began on the Karasumaru Plains, where Konoha's forces faced a larger Kumo-nin army led by the Third Raikage.

• Qifeng said Hiruzen Sarutobi's suspicions could be eased through battlefield achievements and discussed Danzo and the threat from Suna-nin with Puppet Hiruzen.
• Konoha mobilized nearly three thousand shinobi to attack Kumogakure's camp, and the Kumo-nin prepared to meet them with close to five thousand under the Third Raikage and other elites.
• Jiraiya rallied Konoha's forces at the Karasumaru Plains and sent Namikaze Minato's small unit ahead as a key part of the battle plan.
• The two armies clashed across the plains, while Jiraiya received reports that the Kumo-nin had concentrated their strength on the front.
• Jiraiya and Qifeng saw the Third Raikage advancing at the head of the Kumo-nin force alongside Dodai, Toroi, and other elites.

Qifeng entered the battle to help Konoha hold off Kumogakure while Jiraiya fought the Third Raikage. He defeated Toroi with a lightning-wreathed Iron Sand greatsword and confronted Dodai.

• Jiraiya charged the Third Raikage as the two commanders began fighting, while Qifeng decided Konoha needed help buying Namikaze Minato time.
• Qifeng used Magnet Release to sweep Iron Sand through the Kumo-nin and then turned scattered Iron Sand into spikes that pierced their ranks.
• Dodai and Toroi attacked Qifeng, but he blocked Dodai's Lava Release and stopped Toroi's disc shuriken with Magnet Release.
• Dodai rallied the Kumo-nin to focus on Konoha's front line, while Qifeng formed a massive Iron Sand greatsword wrapped in lightning.
• Toroi used Magnet Release to halt the falling sword briefly, but Qifeng accelerated it again and split Toroi in two.
• Qifeng descended and challenged Dodai, asking who should handle the battlefield.

Qifeng killed Toroi with one strike, terrifying the Kumo-nin and bolstering Konoha’s counterattack. He then overwhelmed Dodai, while the Third Raikage realized Qifeng was a nineteen-year-old Kage-level threat.

• Qifeng’s Iron Sand sword strike killed Toroi, confirming the rumors of his strength and spreading fear among the Kumo-nin.
• Konoha’s forces launched a counterattack as Qifeng challenged Dodai and began forming an Iron Sand storm.
• Qifeng and Dodai charged at each other while the Third Raikage and Jiraiya continued their own fight nearby.
• The Third Raikage recognized Qifeng as a Kage-level ninja and worried about the danger he posed to Kumogakure and his potential to grow.
• Qifeng’s Heavy Iron Spear Strike forced Dodai back, and Qifeng taunted him for being unable to stop him.

Qifeng used Magnet Release to withstand Dodai’s desperate Lava Release assault, leaving the Third Raikage worried that Dodai’s defeat would let Qifeng turn the battle. The Third Raikage sent Cloud Jonin to support Dodai, while Jiraiya expected Qifeng to handle them and saw the delay as an advantage for Konoha.

• Dodai admitted Qifeng was strong, then unleashed his final trump card, the Scorching River Rock Technique, with a barrage of magma fireballs.
• Qifeng retreated behind successive Iron Sand walls, which the magma pierced, and continued defending as Dodai risked his life to maintain the attack.
• The Third Raikage realized that Dodai was the only one holding Qifeng back and feared the Kumo-nin would suffer heavy losses if he fell.
• The Third Raikage ordered several Cloud Jonin to abandon their current fights and rush to Dodai’s aid.
• Jiraiya did not react to the reinforcements, believing they would slow the Kumo-nin and that Qifeng could defeat the Jonin while Konoha’s surprise attack advanced.

Qifeng escaped the Cloud Jonin's Lightning Release barrier and killed all four reinforcements with Iron Sand, leaving Dodai defeated and the Kumo-nin unable to restrain him. Dodai ordered the army not to send more reinforcements, and then called out Yugito as the Kumo-nin's next response.

• Dodai ordered four Cloud Jonin to form a Lightning Release barrier while he charged Qifeng.
• Qifeng used Iron Sand wings to slip through the barrier before it closed and evade Dodai.
• Qifeng trapped the four Cloud Jonin in Iron Sand and killed them, then confronted the defeated Dodai.
• Dodai recognized that sending more Jonin would let Qifeng defeat them one by one, so he ordered the Kumo-nin not to send reinforcements.
• The Third Raikage considered using the final plan as Jiraiya realized the Kumo-nin would not simply give up.
• Dodai shouted Yugito's name.

Qifeng killed Dodai on the battlefield, and Yugito Nii transformed by drawing on the Two-Tails’ power to avenge her teacher. Qifeng ordered the Konoha forces to retreat and stood ready to face the Tailed Beast alone.

• Dodai summoned Yugito Nii to use the Two-Tails against Qifeng, but Qifeng crushed Dodai’s neck with Iron Sand.
• Kumo-nin and Konoha Ninja across the battlefield reacted with shock as Dodai’s death became clear.
• Yugito Nii arrived, found her teacher dead, and released the Two-Tails’ chakra as grief turned to hatred.
• Qifeng ordered the Konoha forces to retreat one li while allowing Yugito Nii to transform.
• Yugito Nii’s Tailed Beast transformation drew both armies’ attention, and they watched Qifeng prepare to face her.

Qifeng failed to stop Yugito Nii's transformation and faced the fully unleashed Two-Tails, Matatabi. When it prepared a Tailed Beast Bomb, Qifeng flew toward the Kumo-nin, leaving them in its path.

• Yugito Nii continued transforming into the Two-Tails while the Third Raikage and Jiraiya fought nearby.
• The Third Raikage revealed that A and B had been stationed at the Kumo-nin rear, undermining Jiraiya's hopes for Namikaze Minato's surprise attack.
• Qifeng trapped Yugito Nii in Iron Sand, but Matatabi burst free and appeared on the battlefield.
• Matatabi formed a Tailed Beast Bomb and targeted Qifeng as he took to the sky.
• Qifeng flew toward the Kumo-nin with Matatabi's Tailed Beast Bomb following him.

Qifeng used the Two-Tails’ uncontrolled attack to devastate the Kumo-nin, then restrained the beast with Iron Sand while his real body arrived. The chapter ended with Qifeng preparing to use the Sharingan to hold the Two-Tails still long enough to kill it.

• Qifeng let the Two-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb strike the Kumo-nin formation, then escaped as it killed over a hundred Kumo-nin.
• The Third Raikage ordered the Kumo-nin to attack, while Qifeng told Lord Jiraiya to keep him occupied.
• Qifeng used Magnet Release: Iron Desert Barrier to bind the Two-Tails with electrified Iron Sand as it attacked him with fireballs.
• Qifeng’s real body arrived inside the Iron Sand shell using his imperfect Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Qifeng and his puppet agreed to use the Sharingan to restrain the Two-Tails briefly so Qifeng could kill it.

Qifeng combined genjutsu, Iron Sand, and natural lightning to create a devastating forbidden jutsu aimed at the Two-Tails. After naming it Judgment of Takemikazuchi, he brought the lightning spear down, unleashing a terrifying surge across the battlefield.

• Qifeng used his Sharingan and a binding genjutsu to suppress the Two-Tails while Puppet Qifeng formed a massive Iron Sand spear above it.
• Thunderclouds gathered and lightning struck the spear, stunning the Third Raikage, Jiraiya, and the fighters on both sides with its destructive power.
• Jiraiya recognized the technique as a Super S-rank Forbidden Jutsu and understood that Qifeng had prepared it as a trump card.
• Qifeng announced Judgment of Takemikazuchi and dropped the lightning spear onto the Two-Tails.
• The spear struck, unleashing a terrifying surge that swept across the battlefield.

Qifeng’s Judgment killed Matatabi and Yugito Nii, breaking the Kumo-nin’s morale and turning the battle in Konoha’s favor. As the Third Raikage covered his army’s retreat, he suddenly charged at Qifeng, who feared Jiraiya had once again left him in trouble.

• Qifeng left his iron sphere behind as his puppet took credit alongside him, and the battlefield saw the crater where Judgment had killed Matatabi and Yugito Nii.
• The Kumo-nin lost heart when Qifeng raised the enormous Iron Sand Spear again, while the Konoha-nin surged forward under the apparent protection of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Qifeng used Iron Sand to kill Kumo-nin who tried to restore discipline, and the Third Raikage ordered his forces to retreat.
• Jiraiya chased the Third Raikage but could not catch him, while Qifeng pursued and killed fleeing, wounded Kumo-nin for their corpses.
• The Third Raikage saw Qifeng slaughtering his retreating troops, cloaked himself in lightning, and charged; Qifeng thought Jiraiya had screwed him over again.

After Qifeng killed the Two-Tails and helped Konoha win a brutal battle, Jiraiya arrived to drive off the Third Raikage and led the exhausted forces away. Qifeng gathered the lightning-tempered Iron Sand into a patterned gourd before they left.

• Jiraiya arrived as the Third Raikage approached Qifeng, forcing the Raikage to retreat.
• Qifeng collapsed from exhaustion after his battles, and Jiraiya stopped Konoha from pursuing the fleeing Kumo-nin.
• Jiraiya told Qifeng that Minato was likely facing A and Killer B in the rear, but expected him to return safely.
• Konoha counted hundreds of dead while the Kumo-nin had lost at least a thousand, then Jiraiya led the surviving forces away.
• Qifeng gathered the scattered Iron Sand and shaped it into a dark, patterned gourd before leaving with Jiraiya.

Konoha celebrated a costly victory over Kumogakure after Qifeng, posing as Hiruzen, killed Dodai and Yugito Nii, while Namikaze Minato disrupted the enemy rear. The chapter ended with the camp recognizing Qifeng and Minato as Konoha’s Twin Stars.

• Nara Shikaku and the reserve forces eliminated Kumo-nin squads that tried to attack Konoha’s rear, while Qifeng’s poison formation wiped out others.
• Namikaze Minato returned with his surprise attack force, which had suffered heavy casualties, and Jiraiya convened a post-battle meeting.
• A battle report stated that Konoha had lost 674 ninja, while the Kumo-nin had lost at least 1,456, including Dodai and Yugito Nii.
• Uchiha Fugaku explained that Qifeng had killed Dodai, Toroi, and Yugito Nii, then defeated the Two-Tails and broke the Kumo-nin’s morale.
• Namikaze Minato explained that he had held off the A-B Combination and attacked the Kumo-nin rear, helping force the Third Raikage to retreat.
• Qifeng and Minato credited each other’s contributions, and the gathered ninja regarded them as Konoha’s Twin Stars.

Qifeng sorted the battlefield dead and began looting the corpses he had set aside, including the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii. He obtained a card containing Matatabi’s Chakra, but its hateful energy made him decide not to use it for now.

• Qifeng arranged the Konoha Ninja corpses for return and burial while sorting the Kumo-nin corpses by rank.
• Qifeng reflected that his grafted Sarutobi Hiruzen identity gave him a role in the war and a chance to establish himself in Konoha.
• Qifeng attempted to loot Yugito Nii’s corpse three times and succeeded on the final attempt, earning a Small Amount of Two-Tails Matatabi Chakra Tailed Beast Card.
• Qifeng read that the card’s Chakra contained intense hateful energy and decided against using it, though he wondered whether Orochimaru could purify it.

After looting Dodai and an Uchiha Clan Jonin, Maruyama Qifeng improved his Chakra control and reflected on his growing strength. Uchiha Obito told him that Hiruzen Sarutobi had earned the title “Spear of Judgment,” while Konoha’s leaders waited anxiously for news of Jiraiya’s attack on the Kumo-nin in the Land of Hot Water.

• Maruyama Qifeng looted Dodai and an Uchiha Clan Jonin, receiving a theoretical guide on communicating with Tailed Beasts and a boost to his Chakra control.
• Maruyama Qifeng reviewed his improved attributes and noted that the system now rated him at Jonin level.
• Uchiha Obito excitedly told Maruyama Qifeng that Hiruzen Sarutobi had killed Dodai, Toroi, and the Two-Tails, earning the title “Spear of Judgment.”
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha’s leaders waited in the Hokage Building conference room for news of Jiraiya’s offensive in the Land of Hot Water.
• An urgent battle report from the Land of Hot Water arrived.

Hiruzen Sarutobi read the report of Konoha’s victory in the Karasumaru Battle and ordered the village to celebrate Sarutobi Hiruzen’s extraordinary battlefield achievements. The victory was announced across Konoha, while the truth behind Sarutobi Hiruzen’s rise remained hidden: Maruyama Qifeng had gathered the corpses that enabled it.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi read the battle report and learned that Konoha had won the Karasumaru Battle despite heavy casualties.
• The report credited Sarutobi Hiruzen with killing Toroi, defeating Dodai, killing more than a hundred Kumo-nin, and destroying the Two-Tails with Judgment of Takemikazuchi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the victory and Sarutobi Hiruzen’s deeds announced throughout Konoha and sent to Danzo and Orochimaru.
• Konoha’s residents and ninja erupted in excitement after the announcement named Sarutobi Hiruzen as the leading hero, ahead of Namikaze Minato.
• The chapter revealed that Maruyama Qifeng, an inconspicuous Konoha Chunin, had secretly enabled Sarutobi Hiruzen’s achievements by collecting corpses.