Chapter Summaries

Tsunade refused to go to the front lines because she feared the Third Hokage would release Shimura Danzō while she was away. She recommended Jingyi Hyuga and Shikaku Nara instead, and left the Third Hokage with no promise or agreement.

• The Third Hokage told Tsunade that Sunagakure had sent reinforcements toward the Land of Rain, hinting that the front lines would need her.
• Tsunade refused to leave Konoha, saying she needed to care for Nawaki and Kushina and oversee the Medical Department.
• Tsunade told the Third Hokage she would not leave while Shimura Danzō remained imprisoned, and recommended Jingyi Hyuga and Shikaku Nara for the battlefield.
• The Third Hokage questioned whether Jingyi could replace Tsunade, but Tsunade refused to negotiate unless Shimura Danzō was handed over to her.
• Tsunade warned the Third Hokage not to release Shimura Danzō and left the office; Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura then questioned Jingyi's ability.

Tsunade stayed in Konoha to keep Shimura Danzō imprisoned while Jingyi prepared to join Orochimaru and Jiraiya in the Land of Rain. After a farewell gathering revealed Jiraiya’s unrequited feelings for Tsunade, Jingyi made preparations for the battlefield, and Kushina protested his departure.

• The Third Hokage and his advisers abandoned their plan to use Shimura Danzō against Tsunade and decided to wait for another opportunity.
• Jingyi reassured Tsunade that Konoha would not lose the war, and she agreed to remain in the village and keep Shimura Danzō in prison.
• Sunagakure sent reinforcements to the Land of Rain, prompting Konoha to mobilize for the approaching war.
• At a tavern gathering with Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, Jingyi discussed the coming deployment while Jiraiya brooded over Tsunade’s closeness with Jingyi.
• Orochimaru urged Jiraiya to confess his feelings, but Jiraiya concluded that Tsunade only liked handsome men, and Orochimaru left in disgust.
• Jingyi bought supplies and prepared to leave for the Land of Rain, while Kushina clung to his arm and protested that he was heading to the battlefield again.

Jingyi explained why he had to join the war effort and promised Kushina he would return safely as he left with the second wave of reinforcements. Meanwhile, the conflict in the Land of Rain spread as Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure sent more troops and fought amid the chaos.

• Jingyi comforted Kushina and told Nawaki that he could help in the Medical Department at camp if the village sent newly graduated Genin to the front.
• Tsunade agreed to Jingyi's plan for Nawaki, while Jingyi told Minato to seek her help with any problems during his absence.
• Hanzō's plan intensified the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure, drawing Iwagakure into the fighting in the Land of Rain.
• Jingyi, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the other reinforcements prepared to leave for the Land of Rain.
• Jingyi made a pinky promise to Kushina to stay safe, then left with the main force as she cried in Tsunade's arms.

Jingyi met Shikaku Nara and agreed to work with him at the camp, then reached an agreement with Orochimaru to make battlefield puppets from enemy corpses. Jiraiya, left out of their conversation and confused by their teasing, kept pressing them to explain.

• Jingyi greeted Shikaku Nara as the group left the village and agreed that they would work together for the village.
• Jiraiya thanked Jingyi for helping him become Nawaki's teacher, prompting Orochimaru to give him a pointed look.
• Jingyi suggested turning battlefield materials into puppets, and Orochimaru offered to provide materials and parts.
• Jingyi asked Orochimaru to make the puppets while he handled the final step, and Orochimaru agreed in exchange for a share.
• Jiraiya asked why Jingyi and Orochimaru were discussing puppets, but they only smirked at him and left him demanding an explanation.

Jingyi explained the Hyuga Clan’s four-tier hierarchy and why Branch House Elders often sided with the Main House. During the journey to the Land of Rain, he and Orochimaru also listened as Jiraiya struggled to understand the clan’s customs and the Senju-Uzumaki marriage arrangements.

• Jiraiya pressed Jingyi to explain his special puppets, and Jingyi revealed that he and Orochimaru had agreed to study puppets made from enemy corpses.
• The second group of reinforcements, including fifteen medical shinobi under Jingyi’s command, traveled toward the Land of Rain with supplies.
• After cleaning up, Jiraiya asked why Jingyi and the Hyuga clansmen had not greeted one another.
• Jingyi explained the four Hyuga tiers and how Branch House Elders were often Main House members with highly pure Byakugan who had received the Caged Bird Seal.
• Jingyi described how the Senju Clan had married Uzumaki women into the Senju Clan, leaving the Uzumaki resentful, and Orochimaru scolded Jiraiya for failing to grasp why.

Jingyi took charge of the crowded Medical Department at the Land of Rain camp and worked with Orochimaru to analyze Sunagakure’s poisons and prepare antidotes. After Orochimaru headed to the Morgue, Jingyi arranged extra safeguards to protect Konoha’s dead from being misused.

• Jingyi arrived at the Land of Rain camp and immediately took over treating the wounded and researching antidotes.
• Jingyi invited Orochimaru to help analyze poison samples, and Orochimaru agreed to stay in the camp as his assistant.
• Orochimaru identified several animal and plant toxins used by Sunagakure, while Jingyi prepared antidotes.
• Jingyi told Orochimaru not to experiment on the corpses of Konoha’s fallen, and Orochimaru promised to obey.
• After Orochimaru went to the Morgue, Jingyi ordered extra personnel assigned to protect and seal away the bodies of their companions.

Jingyi arranged for Konoha’s dead to be sealed and removed quickly so Orochimaru could not experiment on their bodies, prompting Shikaku Nara to seek approval from the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage accepted the added expense, and the camp proceeded with the plan.

• Jingyi ordered a ninja to report that Konoha’s dead should be disposed of quickly, fearing Orochimaru might use their bodies for research.
• Shikaku Nara learned Orochimaru had been working in the Medical Department and agreed to follow Jingyi’s plan, then reported it to the Third Hokage and Tsunade.
• Tsunade dismissed the report, while the Third Hokage weighed the cost of sealing scrolls against the risk of Orochimaru experimenting on Konoha’s dead.
• The Third Hokage approved the added expense, and Shikaku Nara stopped worrying about the matter once permission reached the camp.

As reinforcements were sent to the battlefield, Jiraiya found Orochimaru in the morgue making puppets from enemy corpses and resented that Orochimaru could remain in camp as Jingyi’s assistant. Jingyi defended Orochimaru’s usefulness, leaving Jiraiya without grounds to challenge his position.

• Jiraiya noticed Orochimaru was not assigned to a squad and found him in the morgue assembling a puppet from an enemy corpse.
• Orochimaru explained that the corpses had already been used for intelligence and interrogation, and said Jingyi had given him permission to use them.
• Jiraiya complained that Orochimaru could stay in camp while he had to lead a squad to the battlefield, but Orochimaru pointed out his value as Jingyi’s versatile assistant.
• Jiraiya went to Jingyi and demanded that Orochimaru’s assistant position be revoked, but Jingyi defended Orochimaru’s skill at identifying poisons, preparing medicine, and helping as medical staff.
• Unable to offer a valid reason for removing Orochimaru, Jiraiya left and accepted that he would go on missions alone.

Jingyi told Jiraiya an erotic story that inspired his next book, but a misunderstanding branded Jiraiya a pervert and drove him to the battlefield. Jingyi continued treating wounded patients through a hectic day, and Orochimaru arrived at night in high spirits while Jingyi was too exhausted to talk.

• Jingyi told Jiraiya about Bai Jiejie and A Bin, and Jiraiya decided to use the story as inspiration for his next book.
• A medical worker saw Jiraiya posing lecherously and mistook him for a pervert, and the rumor spread through the medical room.
• Jiraiya, too embarrassed to stay in camp, led his assigned ninja squad to the battlefield.
• Jingyi performed surgery on wounded patients and treated the medical room's many urgent cases.
• Orochimaru entered the lounge smiling after a successful day, but Jingyi was too tired to discuss puppets with him.

Jingyi traded Orochimaru permission to watch him activate puppets for materials to make a thousand more, then began Senjutsu training in Shikkotsu Forest. His first attempt caused his arm to petrify, but Little Slugs absorbed the excess Nature Energy and reversed it.

• Orochimaru offered Jingyi materials for five hundred puppets in exchange for watching, and Jingyi negotiated the deal up to one thousand.
• Jingyi infused chakra into a puppet, making it stand and open blue eyes, while Orochimaru watched in shock.
• Jingyi activated more puppets, gave Orochimaru twenty, and warned him to keep the technique secret.
• After Orochimaru left, Jingyi was summoned to Shikkotsu Forest to begin Senjutsu training with the Slug Sage.
• Jingyi's arm began to petrify when he failed to balance Nature Energy, but Little Slugs absorbed the excess energy and reversed the petrification.

Jingyi struggled to master senjutsu while enduring exhaustion from night training and his medical work. Shikaku warned him that Chiyo had brought reinforcements into the Land of Rain, and Jingyi prepared to counter her poisons as the fighting continued without any village formally declaring war.

• Jingyi repeatedly absorbed natural energy under the Slug Sage's supervision, petrifying himself but making rapid progress before returning to the camp exhausted.
• Shikaku Nara found Jingyi looking worn out, and Jingyi explained that he worked during the day and trained at night.
• Shikaku told Jingyi that Chiyo had led Sunagakure reinforcements into the Land of Rain, making the situation more dangerous.
• Jingyi assured Shikaku that Orochimaru could help counter Chiyo's poisons and that he could send samples to Tsunade if needed.
• Shikaku said more medical ninja, staff, supplies, and equipment would arrive, while Jingyi doubted they could take over his most difficult cases.
• Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure continued fighting in the Land of Rain without declaring war.

Jingyi reflected on Iwagakure’s position in the war before treating Hatake Sakumo, who had escaped a fight with Hanzō badly wounded and poisoned. After Jingyi treated him, Sakumo fell asleep in the camp infirmary.

• The narration explained that Iwagakure had entered the Land of Rain conflict reluctantly and feared declaring war while Kumogakure threatened it.
• Jingyi was called to examine a special wounded patient and found Hatake Sakumo on the operating table.
• Sakumo told Jingyi that Hanzō had wounded him, while the medical staff watched as Jingyi stripped and examined him.
• Jingyi sent the onlookers away, found four deep blade wounds and poison, and treated Sakumo.
• Sakumo fell into a groggy sleep, and Jingyi handed him over to the medical staff before returning to the break room.

Jingyi delivered a poison sample extracted from Hatake Sakumo to Orochimaru before falling asleep from exhaustion, while Chiyo responded to Hanzō’s attacks by ordering Sunagakure to strike settlements across the Land of Rain. At a Konoha meeting, Shikaku Nara reported the devastation, and Jingyi watched the gathered shinobi condemn Sunagakure despite Konoha’s own role in the conflict.

• Jingyi gave Orochimaru poison extracted from Hatake Sakumo’s body and fell asleep from exhaustion.
• Chiyo learned Sunagakure’s casualties exceeded Konoha’s and blamed Konoha’s prepared antidotes for weakening Sunagakure’s poison advantage.
• Chiyo learned Hanzō and Amegakure had repeatedly targeted Sunagakure, then decided to retaliate.
• Chiyo led Sunagakure in attacking and looting settlements across the Land of Rain, leaving widespread death and destruction.
• Shikaku Nara told Konoha’s camp that Sunagakure had devastated nearly every settlement in the Land of Rain outside Amegakure and the Daimyo’s Court.
• Konoha’s shinobi condemned Sunagakure for targeting civilians, while Jingyi privately found their outrage ironic.

As Sunagakure retaliated against Amegakure, Hanzō of the Salamander declared war on Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure, catching the three villages off guard. Jingyi considered the consequences while Jiraiya showed him an erotic novel he had written during the fighting.

• Shikaku Nara announced that Konoha would shift from offense to defense and let Amegakure and Sunagakure wear each other down.
• Furious at Sunagakure's retaliation and plundering, Hanzō of the Salamander declared war on Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
• Amegakure's forces attacked the three villages' occupied territories, surprising them, especially Sunagakure.
• Jingyi called Hanzō of the Salamander bold and considered how his declaration had shattered the villages' tacit understanding.
• Jiraiya returned to camp and asked Jingyi to review the erotic novel he had written while on the battlefield.

Jiraiya showed Jingyi his new manuscript, then angered Orochimaru by basing its male lead on him and was beaten. Meanwhile, Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond after Amegakure declared war, with Torifu Akimichi urging them to wait before acting.

• Jingyi praised Jiraiya’s manuscript and encouraged him to show it to Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru recognized himself in the novel’s male lead, Big Snake, and angrily kicked Jiraiya out before beating him.
• Jiraiya remained pleased with the manuscript and returned to writing after Shikaku Nara told him to rest.
• The Third Hokage asked Konoha’s leaders how to respond to Amegakure’s declaration of war.
• Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi supported responding, but Torifu Akimichi proposed waiting first.

Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond to the growing war, then Tsunade and the Third Hokage discussed compensation for the Medical System. The Third Hokage offered Tsunade control of half the Anbu, surprising her.

• Torifu Akimichi urged Konoha to wait and watch Sunagakure and Iwagakure, and the Third Hokage supported his proposal despite Utatane Koharu’s objections.
• Utatane Koharu asked the Third Hokage to release Danzo, but he refused because Tsunade opposed it and had been angered by Danzo’s actions against Jingyi.
• The Third Hokage considered trading parts of the Medical System for other departments and decided he could offer Tsunade half the Anbu’s authority.
• On the fifth day after Amegakure declared war, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha declared war on one another, beginning the Second Shinobi World War.
• The Third Hokage offered Tsunade control of half the Anbu in exchange for some Medical System departments, and Tsunade was astonished by the offer.

Tsunade considered the Third Hokage’s offer to divide control of the Anbu and the Medical System, then followed Jingyi’s advice to demand the entire Anbu while keeping the Pharmaceutical Department. The Third Hokage’s smile froze when Tsunade presented her terms.

• The Third Hokage offered Tsunade some Anbu authority and Medical System departments in exchange for handing the rest to Utatane Koharu, and Tsunade asked for a few days to think.
• Tsunade sent Jingyi a scroll asking for his advice, and Jingyi replied that she should demand all Anbu authority except the Hokage’s personal guard squads while retaining the Pharmaceutical Department.
• Jingyi sent Tsunade a reply along with puppets for delivering messages, and Tsunade delayed answering the Third Hokage for several days.
• Tsunade told the Third Hokage that he could arrange every Medical System department except the Pharmaceutical Department as he pleased, but she wanted control of all the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage’s smile froze as he realized Tsunade was demanding the entire Anbu rather than half its authority.

Tsunade negotiated with the Third Hokage over control of the Anbu and the Pharmaceutical Department, using the threat of claiming profits from her medicines to secure both. The Third Hokage agreed to put Tsunade in charge of the Anbu and Pharmaceutical Department and decided to transfer Shimura Danzō to Konoha Prison.

• Tsunade demanded complete control of the Anbu, while the Third Hokage initially offered only half.
• The Third Hokage offered Tsunade the Anbu in exchange for the Pharmaceutical Department, but Tsunade refused and demanded her share of past and future medicine profits.
• The Third Hokage relented, keeping the Pharmaceutical Department under Tsunade's management and giving her complete control of the Anbu to avoid a costly profit-sharing dispute.
• The Third Hokage told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that Tsunade would manage the Pharmaceutical Department and the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage ordered Shimura Danzō transferred from Anbu Prison to Konoha Prison.

The Third Hokage handed Tsunade control of the Anbu as village finances and wartime demands strained his position. Jingyi learned Orochimaru would leave their puppet-making partnership to command on the Land of Rain battlefield, where a new elite unit was preparing to deploy.

• The Third Hokage told Torifu Akimichi and Tsunade to bring private matters to Jingyi, then assigned Tsunade control of the Anbu while she handed most medical departments to Utatane Koharu.
• Jingyi and Orochimaru read news of the changes and laughed at the Third Hokage’s fear that Tsunade would demand money.
• Orochimaru told Jingyi that the Third Hokage had ordered him to lead forces on the Land of Rain battlefield, ending their puppet-making cooperation for now.
• Shikaku Nara organized an Elite Vanguard Unit led by Hatake Sakumo, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya to intercept powerful enemies.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo joined Jingyi for a meal before the unit’s deployment the next day.

Jingyi celebrated Hatake Sakumo’s impending return to battle, then wrote plans for the Anbu while Chiyo grew alarmed at his antidotes and failed to secure an alliance with Iwagakure. Chiyo turned her attention to Amegakure, where Hanzō continued attacking Sunagakure.

• Jingyi helped Hatake Sakumo relax during a meal with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and wished him victory before he left.
• Jiraiya gave Jingyi his manuscripts, which Jingyi trusted him to publish, then departed with them.
• Jingyi wrote plans to keep the Anbu’s organization unchanged until the war ended.
• Chiyo marked Jingyi as a target after his antidotes weakened Sunagakure’s puppet forces and considered him a threat like Tsunade.
• Chiyo learned that Kitsuchi had ignored her offer to ally with Iwagakure and that Hanzō was still focused on Sunagakure, then dismissed her subordinates in anger.