Recaps

Jingyi’s puppet attack forced Sunagakure to retreat, while disputes over Konoha’s wartime leadership and his growing influence continued. As Sunagakure gathered other villages against Konoha’s puppets, the Third Hokage prepared to attend a Five Kage Summit and Jingyi returned to Konoha with Pakura and Minato.

• Jingyi’s exploding puppets devastated Sunagakure’s rear camp, allowing Orochimaru to launch Konoha’s assault and drive Chiyo’s forces back toward the Land of Wind.
• The Third Kazekage ordered Chiyo to return to Sunagakure to coordinate supplies, while the Third Hokage learned that Homura and Koharu had tried to set Jingyi up and that Orochimaru had withheld reinforcements.
• Jingyi secured Pakura’s loyalty and made her his secretary, while the Third Hokage and Tsunade discussed using his puppet attack against Sunagakure’s village.
• Jingyi received a Hokage Battle Robe, formed a contract with a golden experimental snake, and arranged for Minato to contract with a black one and train at the frontline camp.
• Chiyo showed Ōnoki, the Third Mizukage, and the Third Raikage intelligence about Konoha’s puppets and persuaded them to hold a Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron.
• The Third Hokage agreed to attend the summit and appointed Tsunade to oversee Konoha, while Jingyi agreed to lead the Anbu and brought Pakura and Minato back to the village.
• Jingyi returned to Konoha and discussed Pakura’s Scorch Release with Tsunade and Shikaku, as the Third Hokage faced growing dissatisfaction over the war and Sunagakure’s summit proposal.

Jingyi defied the other villages’ attempt to restrict his puppets, bombing Sunagakure and forcing the Five Kage to accept compensation and limits on their use. After defeating the Third Raikage in a test of strength, Jingyi returned to Konoha as Sunagakure moved toward ending the war.

• Jingyi traveled with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze to the Land of Iron, where he clashed verbally with Ōnoki before Mifune restored order.
• At the Five Kage Summit, the Third Kazekage presented evidence of Jingyi’s destructive puppet attacks, and the Kage demanded restrictions on his puppets.
• Jingyi rejected the proposed restrictions and arranged for Hiruzen Sarutobi to stall negotiations while Puppet Crow bombed Sunagakure.
• After Sunagakure suffered casualties and damage, the Third Kazekage agreed to compensate Konoha, and the Kage signed an agreement restricting Jingyi’s battlefield and village attacks with puppets.
• Jingyi accepted the Third Raikage’s challenge and used Gravity and Repulsion to keep him from landing a hit until the Raikage ended the fight.
• The Third Kazekage learned that Sunagakure’s losses, supply shortages, and financial troubles made continuing the war untenable, so he decided to seek an end to it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Mitokado Homura that the compensation belonged to Jingyi, and Jingyi told Tsunade he planned to use the money to make chakra weapons for Nawaki and Minato.

Jingyi backed Tsunade as Hokage Candidate to secure Shimura Danzō’s release, then opposed a new department for Danzō as Konoha weighed peace talks with Sunagakure. Kushina began training with the Nine-Tails, Jiraiya returned to Konoha, and he started rebuilding his relationship with Nawaki.

• Jingyi proposed Tsunade as the sole Hokage Candidate in exchange for Shimura Danzō’s release, and Tsunade accepted the title after hearing Jingyi’s reasons.
• The Third Hokage considered creating a new department for Danzō, but Jingyi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu refused to support the plan.
• Kushina reconciled with the Nine-Tails, who began training her to master Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
• Konoha’s leaders debated the Daimyo’s Court’s call for peace talks, and the Third Hokage refused the proposal and chose to continue the war with Sunagakure.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and caused trouble by peeping at a hot spring, while Jingyi helped expose him and the Third Hokage compensated the inn owners.
• Jiraiya apologized to Nawaki and gave Jingyi the summoning contract, and Nawaki summoned only tadpoles while Minato summoned Black Fang.
• Jiraiya agreed to take Nawaki to Mount Myoboku for possible Senjutsu training, and Jingyi told him to rebuild their relationship with patience and care.
• Jiraiya gave Jingyi his promised share of his book royalties, and Jingyi warned him that Konoha might benefit from the war lasting longer.

As Konoha’s war costs strained its finances, Jingyi secured loans from the Uchiha and Hyuga and used Danzō’s attempt to interfere as grounds for his imprisonment. He then brokered a political bargain and urged Hiruzen to pressure the daimyo for funding, leaving the daimyo furious after receiving Hiruzen’s threat to reduce Konoha’s forces.

• Jiraiya paid compensation for the damage caused by his peeping, while Konoha continued its war against Sunagakure and Jingyi prepared for New Year.
• Jingyi approved Nawaki and Minato Namikaze’s request to go on missions, warning them and Jiraiya to put safety first.
• Jingyi urged Fugaku Uchiha to relinquish the Police Force and later arranged loans of seventy million ryo each from the Uchiha and Hyuga in exchange for an end to their unequal treatment.
• Jingyi and Fugaku Uchiha stopped Shimura Danzō from reaching the Uchiha compound, after which the Third Hokage ordered Danzō imprisoned indefinitely.
• As Konoha’s finances and battlefield position worsened, Jingyi negotiated with the Third Hokage and Shikaku Nara to restore Ino-Shika-Cho’s Hokage Advisor and Jonin Corps Captain positions.
• Jingyi advised Hiruzen to warn the daimyo that Konoha would cut its ninja force and withdraw border troops unless funding arrived, and Hiruzen sent the letter.
• The furious daimyo tore up Hiruzen’s letter, blamed his adviser for withholding Konoha’s funds, and ordered the guards to execute him.