Chapter Summaries

Shimura Danzō was arrested after Hanzō exposed his betrayal, and the Third Hokage used a public punishment announcement to calm Konoha and the camp. Jingyi recovered while the Tenseigan stirred for over a month, then discovered his body had fully healed.

• Utatane Koharu told Shimura Danzō that Hanzō had exposed his intelligence deal and the deaths of his agents, and Anbu took Danzō to prison.
• The Hokage Office Building announced Danzō's arrest and punishment, winning praise for the Third Hokage and calming Konoha's anger.
• Sarutobi Mishima reported to the Third Hokage that Hanzō had left a Shimura Clan ninja's corpse at the camp and refused to explain his betrayal.
• Sarutobi Mishima returned to camp and announced the punishment, while Jingyi rested and let the vice-captain handle camp affairs.
• After more than a month, the Tenseigan's stirring ended, and Jingyi removed his eye covering and found that his body had recovered.

As Mito Uzumaki’s health worsened, Konoha made transferring the Nine-Tails to Kushina its top priority, while Jingyi could only follow events from Border Camp. Tsunade sent Nawaki to the Daimyo’s Court with Jiraiya, keeping him away until the transfer was over.

• Jingyi learned from Tsunade’s reports that Mito Uzumaki’s declining health meant Konoha had to transfer the Nine-Tails to Kushina before Mito died.
• Jingyi destroyed Tsunade’s scroll and worried that the transfer might go badly, knowing he could not help from Border Camp and the F4 would not let him intervene.
• Tsunade stayed home with Mito, while Kushina’s sadness and the tense atmosphere left Nawaki unaware of what was happening.
• At Mito’s request, Tsunade sent Nawaki to the Daimyo’s Court so he would be away during the transfer.
• Tsunade arranged for Jiraiya to accompany Nawaki and warned them both not to cause trouble.

Mito Uzumaki arranged for Torifu Akimichi to become Hokage Advisor and take control of the Medical System, strengthening Tsunade’s position before Kushina became the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki. The transfer succeeded, but Mito died, leaving Kushina grieving and the Nine-Tails tightly bound in her sealing space.

• Nawaki eagerly followed Jiraiya to the Daimyo's Court while preparations began for the Nine-Tails’ transfer.
• Mito Uzumaki comforted Kushina at the Senju ancestral residence before beginning the transfer.
• Mito Uzumaki forced Torifu Akimichi to become Hokage Advisor and put the Medical System under his control, aligning the Ino-Shika-Cho clans with Tsunade.
• Kushina successfully sealed the Nine-Tails with Mito Uzumaki’s help, and the beast roared in anger from within her sealing space.
• Kushina grieved for Mito and ignored the Nine-Tails as it struggled against the chains binding it in an awkward position.

Orochimaru visited Jingyi at the border camp to deliver materials and asked to see the puppets Jingyi had been making. Jingyi negotiated a deal for Orochimaru to clear his debt and provide three batches of top-grade materials, then showed him a puppet crow, whose unusual qualities caught Orochimaru’s attention.

• Orochimaru arrived at the border camp and told the guard he had a personal matter to discuss with Jingyi.
• Orochimaru delivered supplies and a list of charges, and Jingyi admitted he could not pay off his growing debt yet.
• Orochimaru asked to inspect Jingyi’s puppets, and Jingyi demanded that Orochimaru clear the debt and pay him five million ryō.
• Orochimaru offered to clear the debt and provide three free batches of top-grade materials instead, and Jingyi accepted.
• Jingyi summoned a puppet crow and let Orochimaru examine it, warning him not to take it apart.
• Orochimaru caught the crow and quickly noticed that it was unusual.

Jingyi showed Orochimaru the living-looking Puppet Crow, prompting Orochimaru to seek money for research. Orochimaru took over a village-funded civilian research project and developed a popular refrigerator, while Tsunade arrived at the border camp on a mission.

• Jingyi revealed that the Puppet Crow was a puppet with no heartbeat and told Orochimaru he needed money.
• Orochimaru hurried to Konoha and asked the Third Hokage for funding to take over a civilian research project.
• Orochimaru joined the village's research and development base, where he developed a refrigerator that villagers quickly adopted.
• Jingyi laughed when he heard Orochimaru had turned to appliance development and hoped he would not abandon his other research.
• Tsunade returned to the border camp on a mission, and Jingyi asked whether Kushina's mood had improved.

Tsunade and Jingyi discussed Konoha’s political tensions and the possibility of conflict with Sunagakure before Tsunade worried that Jingyi’s Caged Bird Seal made him vulnerable. Jingyi revealed that the seal on his forehead had only been painted on and suggested his eyes had evolved rather than regressed.

• Tsunade told Jingyi that Utatane Koharu was trying to regain control of the Medical System and clear Shimura Danzō’s name.
• Tsunade said Konoha planned to respond to Sunagakure’s provocations in the Land of Rain, while Jingyi expected only minor clashes for now.
• Tsunade promised to act more cautiously because she had responsibilities to Nawaki, Kushina, and Jingyi, whose Caged Bird Seal left him vulnerable to the Hyuga Main Family.
• Jingyi prompted Tsunade to remove her forehead protector, and she discovered that the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead was gone.
• Jingyi explained that the seal had been painted on and suggested his eyes had evolved instead of regressed, leaving Tsunade stunned.

Jingyi told Tsunade that his Byakugan had evolved and the Caged Bird Seal was gone, while Konoha’s leaders continued planning to provoke Sunagakure and Iwagakure in the Land of Rain. The Third Kazekage rebuffed Hanzō of the Salamander’s attempt to secure Amegakure’s safety through cooperation, leaving Hanzō weighing other alliances.

• Jingyi revealed that his eyes had evolved and his Caged Bird Seal had vanished, prompting Tsunade to regret not knowing sooner.
• Shikaku Nara and Torifu Akimichi discussed Konoha’s plans, Torifu’s new authority, and Matsuda Sarutobi’s appointment as Jonin Corps Captain.
• Hanzō of the Salamander met the Third Kazekage at the Land of Rain border and complained that the Kazekage had arrived late.
• The Third Kazekage dismissed Hanzō’s request to keep Sunagakure out of the Land of Rain and challenged him to seek cooperation with Konoha if he wished.
• Hanzō threatened to approach Konoha, and the Third Kazekage warned that Iwagakure might enter the conflict.

As Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure sent shinobi into the Land of Rain, tensions rose into small clashes while Hanzō refused to submit to the Third Kazekage. The standoff remained limited, and Jingyi returned to Konoha for the New Year.

• Hanzō rejected the Third Kazekage's demands and left, unwilling to bow to the Five Kage.
• Tsunade returned to Konoha, which sent shinobi openly into the Land of Rain after Sunagakure's provocations.
• Iwagakure sent its own force into the Land of Rain, and friction among the three villages led to small battles and injured shinobi returning to the Border Camp.
• The conflict settled into a tense balance because none of the three sides wanted to risk being attacked by the others.
• At year's end, Jingyi returned to Konoha, bathed at a hot-spring inn, and ordered a large meal at an Akimichi barbecue restaurant.

Jingyi reunited with Kushina, Tsunade, and Nawaki over barbecue, comforting Kushina after Mito’s death and sharing stories from the border camp. Kushina invited friends, including Minato Namikaze and Mie, to Jingyi’s house the next day, then asked him not to frighten the timid Mie.

• Kushina rushed into Jingyi’s arms at the barbecue restaurant and cried that Grandma Mito was gone.
• Tsunade and Nawaki joined Jingyi and Kushina, and Jingyi comforted Kushina until she settled down.
• Jingyi distracted Kushina by teasing Nawaki about eating all the barbecue, then ordered more food.
• Jingyi and the others discussed Nawaki’s upcoming graduation while Tsunade mocked his boasting.
• Kushina invited Sister Mikoto, Little Blondie, and Mie to Jingyi’s house for barbecue the next day.
• Kushina asked Jingyi not to be angry with Mie because she was timid.

Jingyi returned to Konoha and discovered that Kushina had rebuilt his house as a surprise, where she, Tsunade, and Nawaki had been living after Mito Uzumaki's death. Tsunade discussed Nawaki's future training and Jingyi's summons, leaving her to reconsider Jiraiya as Nawaki's teacher and confess that the Slug Sage had warned her against learning Senjutsu.

• Kushina revealed that she had rebuilt Jingyi's house and planned to live there, while Tsunade explained that she and the children had moved in after Mito Uzumaki's death.
• Jingyi thanked Kushina for the house and sent her and Nawaki upstairs to rest, but Tsunade kept Nawaki from sneaking out because he had been peeking into a women's bathhouse with Jiraiya.
• Tsunade said the Hokage had asked her what to do about Nawaki, and Jingyi defended Jiraiya as a capable teacher who might help Nawaki earn Mount Myoboku's favor.
• Jingyi declined to sign a summoning contract with Katsuyu, and Tsunade admitted that the Slug Sage had told her learning Senjutsu would be dangerous because her talent was insufficient.

Tsunade brought Jingyi to Shikkotsu Forest so the Slug Sage could test his talent for learning its Senjutsu. After the Slug Sage swallowed and spat him out, it declared his talent quite good, while Tsunade laughed at his slime-covered state.

• Tsunade admitted that the Slug Sage had told her she lacked talent for Senjutsu and summoned it to test Jingyi.
• Jingyi signed the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Contract, and the Slug Sage reverse-summoned him and Tsunade to the forest.
• The Slug Sage examined Jingyi and swallowed him whole as part of the test.
• The Slug Sage spat Jingyi out, and Tsunade laughed as he dry-heaved while covered in slime.
• The Slug Sage told Tsunade that Jingyi had quite good talent.

Jingyi learned that Slug Sage considered his senjutsu talent comparable to Hashirama’s, while Tsunade was left regretting her doubts. Back in Konoha, Jingyi and Kushina prepared to host her friends for grilled meat, ending with Kushina assigned to wake Tsunade and Nawaki.

• Slug Sage confirmed Jingyi had exceptional talent for learning Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu, and Tsunade realized she had underestimated him.
• Jingyi learned that Little Slugs would help him absorb and control Nature Energy during training, then he and Tsunade returned to Konoha covered in mucus.
• Jingyi’s hospital work was paused, and his senjutsu training was scheduled for after the New Year.
• Kushina woke Jingyi early so they could buy groceries and prepare grilled meat for her friends.
• Jingyi stopped Kushina from buying too much at the market, and they ate ramen before heading home.
• Jingyi gave Kushina the task of waking Tsunade and Nawaki so they could help prepare.

Jingyi hosted Kushina’s friends, including Mie Hyuga, a shy Main House girl who looked almost identical to Hinata. As the guests settled in to help prepare food, Jingyi wondered why the Hyuga Clan had allowed Mie to visit, while Tsunade explained Kushina’s freedom came from the village’s shifting political balance.

• Jingyi teased Nawaki into finishing the cooking work by threatening to wake Tsunade and make her help.
• Kushina returned home with Mikoto Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, and Mie Hyuga, whose resemblance to Hinata stunned Jingyi.
• Jingyi welcomed the guests and noticed that Mie had no Caged Bird Seal on her forehead.
• Tsunade signaled that Kushina could make friends freely because Danzō was imprisoned and Torifu Akimichi supported her.
• Jingyi reassured the nervous Mie and called Nawaki over to help, while Minato volunteered too.

Jingyi hosted Kushina and her friends for a barbecue, using Nawaki’s crush on Mikoto Uchiha to make him behave. Afterward, Tsunade confirmed she had chosen Jiraiya to train Nawaki, while Jingyi hoped the choice would help him avoid a dangerous fate.

• Jingyi teased Nawaki about his lewd hobbies and warned that he would tell Mikoto Uchiha, prompting Nawaki to promise to stop fooling around with Jiraiya.
• Kushina brought Mikoto Uchiha and Hyuga Mie outside to eat, and the group enjoyed Jingyi’s grilled meat, vegetables, fish, and drinks.
• Jingyi told Tsunade that Nawaki had become quiet because he threatened to reveal Nawaki’s behavior with Jiraiya to Mikoto Uchiha.
• Tsunade said she had chosen Jiraiya as Nawaki’s teacher, and Jingyi supported the choice because he hoped it would keep Nawaki from being killed by Explosive Tags.
• After the meal, Tsunade went to her room to sleep.

Orochimaru visited Jingyi and paid ten million ryō for three of his puppets, intending to study them. After Orochimaru left, Jingyi spoke with Minato Namikaze about visiting and spending time with Nawaki and Kushina, then heard Nawaki shouting in the courtyard.

• Kushina went shopping with her friends while Nawaki and Minato Namikaze slipped away together.
• Orochimaru offered ten million ryō for three puppets, and Jingyi agreed after bargaining over the number.
• Orochimaru chose a wolf, a small wild boar, and a crow, then left with the puppets to research them.
• Jingyi told Minato Namikaze that he could visit and encouraged him to keep Nawaki company because Kushina was lonely.
• Jingyi finished washing up and heard Nawaki shouting from the courtyard.

Jingyi invited Minato Namikaze to celebrate the New Year with his family and praised his potential to Tsunade. Minato considered asking Jingyi to become his teacher, while Tsunade headed to the Hokage Office Building.

• Jingyi invited Minato Namikaze to spend the New Year with his family, and Nawaki enthusiastically supported the invitation.
• Jingyi told Tsunade he thought Minato could become exceptionally strong, though he did not want to take him as his disciple.
• Nawaki suggested Minato ask Jingyi to be his teacher, and Minato considered the idea while wondering how strong Jingyi was.
• Nawaki and Minato burned their fish and ate it without seasoning before bickering over their nicknames.
• Tsunade slowly made her way to the Hokage Office Building.

Tsunade secured Minato Namikaze as Jingyi’s disciple, and Jingyi welcomed the young ninja with a New Year’s gift. The celebration ended with Nawaki discovering that his gift was a stack of exam papers.

• Tsunade asked the Third Hokage to let Jingyi take Minato Namikaze as his disciple, and he agreed.
• Tsunade told Jingyi that the arrangement was settled, and he welcomed Minato as his student.
• Jingyi gave Minato Namikaze a ninja tool pouch as a New Year’s gift.
• Jingyi gave Kushina jewelry, which she happily showed off to Tsunade.
• Jingyi gave Nawaki a box of exam papers, and Nawaki broke down in dismay.

Jingyi gave Tsunade, Minato, and Nawaki New Year’s gifts before the celebration turned into a family squabble. Meanwhile, Hanzō retaliated against Sunagakure and Iwagakure for their treatment of the Land of Rain, escalating clashes that left Konoha and Sunagakure facing mounting losses; the chapter ended with Konoha leaders reviewing reports of the worsening situation.

• Jingyi gave Nawaki a ninja tool pouch after teasing him with test papers, and gave Tsunade money as a gift.
• Nawaki questioned why Tsunade had received a gift instead of giving one, and Tsunade chased and beat him.
• Hanzō learned that ninja, mostly from Sunagakure and Iwagakure, had robbed civilians in the Land of Rain and decided to retaliate.
• Hanzō secretly left Amegakure with subordinates, causing Konoha and Sunagakure patrol squads to disappear and provoking clashes between the villages.
• Sunagakure and Konoha reported growing losses as squads vanished and fighting intensified in the Land of Rain.
• Tsunade joined the Third Hokage and other Konoha leaders as they reviewed intelligence that Sunagakure had repeatedly attacked areas under Konoha’s control.

Konoha’s leaders debated Sunagakure’s escalating attacks and ordered the village to prepare for a possible war. After the meeting, Jingyi and Tsunade suspected someone was manipulating the conflict, with Jingyi considering Amegakure the likeliest culprit.

• Utatane Koharu blamed Sunagakure for provoking Konoha, while Tsunade argued that the sudden escalation seemed suspicious.
• Torifu Akimichi urged the village to prepare for war, and the Third Hokage ordered Konoha’s departments to ready personnel, medical support, and supplies.
• Tsunade hesitated when Matsuda Sarutobi asked whether she would lead medical support at the front, saying she would answer before reinforcements departed.
• Tsunade returned home and told Jingyi about the meeting and the possibility of war.
• Jingyi agreed that the conflict seemed deliberately guided and said Amegakure was more suspicious than Iwagakure.

As tensions between Sunagakure and Amegakure rose toward war, Jingyi decided to go to the front lines while Tsunade stayed in Konoha to guard against Shimura Danzō’s return. In Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage used the escalating conflict to seek the daimyo’s support for a war against the Land of Fire.

• Jingyi warned Tsunade that war was likely and urged her to remain in Konoha in case Shimura Danzō was released from prison.
• Jingyi chose to take Tsunade’s place on the front lines, hoping to earn military merit, and planned to serve as a medic rather than charge into battle.
• The Third Kazekage identified Hanzō as the instigator of the conflict and saw the escalation as a chance to pursue Sunagakure’s ambitions against the Land of Fire.
• The Third Kazekage ordered Chiyo to send an account blaming Konoha for the crisis to the Daimyo’s Court so Sunagakure could secure the daimyo’s support.