Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi resigned as Third Hokage and named Tsunade and Minato Namikaze as the candidates for Fourth Hokage, while Fang Xu declined to run. Fugaku Uchiha and then Hyuga Hiashi backed Tsunade, shifting the meeting away from Hiruzen’s expected outcome.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi resigned and announced Tsunade and Minato Namikaze as the remaining candidates after Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Fang Xu withdrew.
• Fang Xu said he had no interest in the paperwork and meetings required of a Hokage, disappointing the jonin who supported him.
• Fugaku Uchiha weighed the Uchiha Clan’s political position and directed the clan to support Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized the Uchiha’s support for Tsunade undermined his expectation that Minato would win.
• Hyuga Hiashi announced that the Hyuga Clan also supported Tsunade.

The Uchiha, Hyuga, and other clans backed Tsunade as Fourth Hokage, while Minato Namikaze received fewer votes. Tsunade won the recommendation, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to submit her succession documents to the Land of Fire's Daimyo for approval.

• Hiashi supported Tsunade and considered how her alliance with Fang Xu could help him reform the Hyuga Clan and abolish the Caged Bird.
• Nara Shikaku chose Tsunade for the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, and the Aburame, Inuzuka, and many civilian jonin also declared their support.
• Minato Namikaze remained calm as some jonin supported him, while Shimura Danzo had the Shimura Clan abstain.
• The vote gave Tsunade 127 supporters, Minato Namikaze 42, and 11 abstentions, making Tsunade the recommended candidate for Fourth Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to send Tsunade's succession documents to the Land of Fire's Daimyo for formal approval, and Tsunade accepted.

After Tsunade won Konoha’s Hokage vote, Hiruzen and Danzo argued over Fang Xu’s influence and the danger of old grudges. Tsunade then proposed appointing Minato as Konoha’s first Hokage-in-Waiting, laying out a plan for a smoother transfer of power.

• Hiruzen adjourned the meeting and left, followed by Danzo, who accused him of letting Tsunade and Fang Xu arrange the vote.
• Hiruzen told Danzo that Tsunade was his former disciple and that compromise could preserve their influence, but Danzo warned him he would regret it and vowed not to wait for doom.
• Clan representatives and Jonin congratulated Tsunade, while she reminded them that she was only a provisional candidate pending the Daimyo’s approval.
• Minato admitted he was disappointed to lose but accepted that Tsunade was more qualified and said he could keep working toward becoming Hokage.
• Tsunade invited Minato to become Konoha’s first Hokage-in-Waiting and explained that the role would train a successor and prevent abrupt changes in leadership.

Tsunade established the Hokage-in-Waiting position to prepare Minato Namikaze to succeed her while dividing routine administration from the Hokage’s major decisions. After Minato accepted the appointment, Fang Xu approached him to talk as the meeting dispersed.

• Nara Shikaku questioned how authority would be divided between the Hokage and the Hokage-in-Waiting, and Tsunade explained their respective duties.
• Tsunade offered Minato Namikaze the Hokage-in-Waiting position, and he accepted, promising to learn the work and protect the village through the transition.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi congratulated Minato, while Shimura Danzō worried that Minato would build a stronger power base and resist the Advisory Council’s control.
• Tsunade joked that Kushina would deal with Minato if he left paperwork to her, drawing laughter from the meeting room.
• After the meeting, Tsunade discussed the transfer of power with clan representatives while Jonin asked Minato about his duties.
• Fang Xu waited for the room to clear, then asked Minato Namikaze to talk, and Minato agreed.

Fang Xu asked Minato Namikaze to obtain Kushina’s consent to collect some Nine-Tails chakra and gave him two sealing tools to bring to her. Minato agreed to speak with Kushina while keeping Fang Xu away from her until Tsunade took control of Konoha.

• Fang Xu told Minato Namikaze that he had gathered chakra from seven tailed beasts and wanted some of the Nine-Tails’ chakra from Kushina, with her consent.
• Minato warned Fang Xu that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were monitoring Kushina and that approaching her could jeopardize Tsunade’s succession as Hokage.
• Fang Xu gave Minato a Void Sphere for storing Nine-Tails chakra and a smaller sphere that could suppress the Nine-Tails and stabilize Kushina’s seal.
• Minato recognized that the smaller sphere could reduce the danger Kushina faced during childbirth and asked Fang Xu about his sealing skills.
• Minato agreed to explain the tools to Kushina and ask for her consent, while Fang Xu promised not to approach her directly.

Minato Namikaze told Kushina Uzumaki that Fang Xu had offered a sealing sphere to suppress the Nine-Tails, and Kushina confirmed its powerful effects. Kushina began replacing her seal, and Kurama attacked the new formulas as the chapter ended.

• Minato Namikaze returned home and told Kushina Uzumaki that Fang Xu knew she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and wanted her consent to take some of its chakra.
• Kushina Uzumaki examined the spheres and found that the new seal could absorb the Nine-Tails' attacks, grow stronger, and cut off its perception of the outside world.
• Minato Namikaze urged Kushina Uzumaki to use the sphere, and she pressed it against her abdomen to begin replacing her seal.
• The new formulas covered Kushina Uzumaki's old seal and absorbed the chakra Kurama released as it tried to break free.
• Kurama found its sealing space covered in black formulas and fired a crimson blast at the seal.

Kushina and Minato entered the new sealing space, where Kushina demonstrated that she could control the Nine-Tails with simple commands. The Nine-Tails was pinned to the ground, and Minato was left stunned by Kushina’s power.

• The new seal cut the Nine-Tails off from Kushina and drained his chakra whenever he attacked.
• Kushina confirmed the seal had made her feel better, then entered the sealing space with Minato.
• Kushina and Minato found the Nine-Tails in a vast, dark space without the old chains or iron gate.
• The Nine-Tails charged Kushina, but she stopped him with a word and ordered him to lie down.
• The Nine-Tails crashed to the ground in pain, while Minato stared in shock at Kushina’s control over him.

Kushina demonstrated that the new seal gave her complete control over Kurama and planned to draw his chakra for Fang Xu. When Kurama threatened Fang Xu, Kushina and Minato warned him that Fang Xu rivaled Hashirama Senju, and Kurama wondered whether Fang Xu was Asura’s reincarnation.

• Kushina showed Minato that the sealing space restrained Kurama and grew stronger whenever he resisted.
• Kushina said she would draw Kurama’s chakra and give it to Fang Xu to repay his help.
• Kurama threatened to kill Fang Xu, but Kushina listed Fang Xu’s victories over the other Tailed Beasts and powerful Kage.
• Kushina reminded Kurama that Hashirama Senju had captured and sealed him, then said Fang Xu was at least as strong as the First Hokage.
• Minato revealed that Fang Xu had Senju blood, a Sage Body, Wood Release, and had created Kurama’s seal.
• Kurama suspected Fang Xu might be the reincarnation of Asura’s chakra, while Kushina realized his relationship with Tsunade was more than ordinary friendship.

Kushina offered Kurama limited access to the outside world in exchange for his cooperation, while Minato proposed giving Fang Xu one-third of Kurama’s chakra. Kurama warned that Fang Xu might be gathering chakra to revive Ten-Tails, but Kushina dismissed his suspicions.

• Kushina transformed the sealing space into grasslands reminiscent of Kurama’s old home and offered him limited freedom if he stopped resisting.
• Kurama reacted to the grasslands but acted dismissive, then objected when Kushina suggested he could experience the outside world and its food.
• Kushina assured Minato that her new sealing could control Kurama even if she released some of his consciousness and chakra.
• Minato proposed extracting one-third of Kurama’s chakra for Fang Xu, prompting Kurama to protest that they had no right to give away his power.
• Kurama warned Kushina that Fang Xu had gathered chakra from several Tailed Beasts to recreate Ten-Tails and destroy the Shinobi World.
• Kushina doubted Kurama’s warning, arguing that Fang Xu could have taken Nine-Tails chakra already if he intended to harm her.

Kushina used Fang Xu’s new sealing system to extract one-third of the Nine-Tails’ chakra into the Void Sphere and silence him inside the seal. She then told Minato that Konoha’s constant surveillance made her feel like a prisoner, and Minato promised to seek her freedom with Tsunade and Fang Xu.

• Kushina and Minato left the sealing space after rejecting the Nine-Tails’ warnings about Fang Xu.
• Kushina used the new sealing system to bind the Nine-Tails, drain his chakra, and cut off his voice.
• Kushina extracted exactly one-third of the Nine-Tails’ chakra into the Void Sphere while keeping the seal stable.
• Kushina told Minato that Konoha’s surveillance and restrictions made her feel like a prisoner.
• Minato promised to meet with Tsunade and Fang Xu to fight for Kushina’s freedom.

Minato gave Fang Xu the Void Sphere containing one-third of the Nine-Tails' chakra after confirming Kushina's seal was secure. Five days later, Tsunade received official appointment as the Fourth Hokage, but Hiruzen Sarutobi withheld key powers, so Fang Xu confronted him at his residence.

• Minato delivered the Void Sphere to Fang Xu and confirmed Kushina's new seal was complete and safe.
• Fang Xu told Minato that Kushina's surveillance should end once Tsunade became Hokage, and Minato vowed to keep Danzo from interfering.
• Five days later, the daimyo's official appointment document arrived, confirming Tsunade as the Fourth Hokage.
• Tsunade complained that Hiruzen Sarutobi had left her with administrative burdens while withholding control of the Anbu and other village forces.
• Fang Xu located Hiruzen Sarutobi at his residence and teleported there, where Utatane Koharu rebuked him for entering without permission.

Fang Xu forced Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other former leaders to relinquish their control over Konoha’s forces and administration to Tsunade. Hiruzen agreed to go to the Hokage Tower, then warned Utatane Koharu that Fang Xu was far too powerful to challenge.

• Fang Xu used Conqueror’s Haki to pin Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to the floor and demanded that Hiruzen hand Tsunade the authority he still controlled.
• Anbu arrived to protect Hiruzen, but Fang Xu knocked their lead Elite Jonin unconscious and ordered the rest to report to Tsunade at the Hokage Tower.
• Fang Xu warned the Anbu that he would purge them if they continued acting as Hiruzen’s private guards, and they left for the Hokage Tower.
• Fang Xu demanded that Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura transfer their remaining authority to Tsunade before nightfall; Hiruzen agreed to go to the Hokage Tower.
• After Fang Xu vanished, Utatane Koharu urged Hiruzen to fight back, but Hiruzen rebuked her and explained that Fang Xu had defeated powerful forces and could not be opposed.

Tsunade took control of Konoha’s central departments and reduced Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to narrower roles. The next morning, villagers and ninja gathered in the central plaza beneath Hokage Rock.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura against provoking Fang Xu, and the three went to the Hokage Tower to hand over authority.
• Tsunade ordered the heads of Konoha’s departments to report to the Hokage Tower by morning and directed Hiruzen to arrange the handover that night.
• Tsunade let Utatane Koharu retain an advisory role in Finance and Mitokado Homura oversee routine foreign affairs, while reserving major decisions and oversight for the Hokage Office.
• Tsunade appointed Hiruzen Sarutobi principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy and placed the Anbu, Intelligence, administration, logistics, and mission system directly under the Hokage.
• The next morning, villagers, ninja, returning troops, clan members, and families gathered in Konoha’s central plaza beneath Hokage Rock.

Tsunade became the Fourth Hokage as Danzo plotted to assassinate her and seize power, while Fang Xu learned of the scheme through Owl and ordered Root to wait for evidence. Five days into Tsunade’s administration, Konoha’s backlog of problems overwhelmed her, and she vowed not to keep living that way.

• Tsunade officially assumed office as the Fourth Hokage and received cheers from Konoha’s ninja and civilians.
• Danzo told Root to assassinate Tsunade on her trip to the Capital of Fire, contact the Four Great Ninja Villages, and use the resulting chaos to take control of Konoha.
• Owl reported Danzo’s plans to Fang Xu, who ordered him not to act until Danzo made his move and his crimes could be proven.
• Fang Xu told Owl that Root would be disbanded after the incident and its ninja transferred to the Anbu; Root members accepted the order with relief.
• Five days later, Tsunade, Fang Xu, and Minato Namikaze struggled with Konoha’s accumulated administrative problems, and Tsunade said she could not keep living that way.

Fang Xu and Tsunade reorganized Konoha’s administration, appointed Minato Namikaze as Hokage-in-Waiting, and established new departments. When Hiruzen Sarutobi and the former advisers challenged Minato’s appointment, Tsunade proposed fixed Hokage terms, performance reviews, and elections, leaving them stunned by the threat to their long-held influence.

• Fang Xu and Tsunade established the Konoha Secretariat, appointing Nara Shikaku secretary-general to coordinate departments and screen documents for the Hokage.
• Konoha divided administrative responsibilities among functional departments, while Minato Namikaze began reviewing routine affairs as Hokage-in-Waiting.
• The Research Department and Transportation Department were established, and Orochimaru became head of Research with Fang Xu’s research materials.
• Minato Namikaze accepted his appointment as Konoha’s first Hokage-in-Waiting.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura objected to Minato’s appointment, but Tsunade defended succession planning and said she intended to step down once Minato matured.
• Tsunade proposed five-year Hokage terms, a two-term limit, performance evaluations, and new elections, leaving Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura silent.

Tsunade explained to Hiruzen Sarutobi that the proposed Hokage term system would apply to every Hokage and be submitted for a leadership vote in a month. Hiruzen softened his opposition after realizing he could run again, while the former advisors split over whether the reforms would benefit their successors or undermine Konoha’s stability.

• Tsunade told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Hokage terms, elections, performance evaluations, and the Hokage-in-Waiting system would be considered at a meeting in a month.
• Hiruzen stopped forcefully opposing the system and left after acknowledging Tsunade’s decision.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura accepted that the system could give their juniors a fair chance to become Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō condemned the reforms, arguing that a wise Hokage should remain in office for a long time.
• Utatane Koharu challenged Danzō, who insisted that incompetent Hokage had no right to lead Konoha.

Danzo decided to assassinate Tsunade during her trip to the Capital of Fire so he could seize the Hokage position and halt her reforms. Meanwhile, Fang Xu exchanged chakra-related items for blood orchids and discovered that the optimized flowers could promote evolution and extend any living creature’s lifespan.

• Danzo told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that assassinating Tsunade was necessary and resolved to act during her trip to the Capital of Fire.
• Fang Xu used his Exchange Talent with a Chakra Refinement Technique scroll and chakra, sending them to the Snake King in the Anaconda world.
• The Snake King received the chakra knowledge and Chakra Seed, swallowed the seed, and began learning to refine chakra after driving away the other giant pythons.
• Fang Xu received the blood orchids and learned that they could promote evolution, break life-form limits, and extend the lifespan of any creature without side effects.

Fang Xu discovered that Blood Orchids could strengthen the body, promote the evolution of life, and extend lifespan, so he brought them to Orochimaru for research. Orochimaru received four flowers and learned that the living plants were still growing and might develop stronger varieties.

• Fang Xu moved the Blood Orchid vines into his Beast Taming Space, where they grew vigorously and began to bloom.
• Fang Xu ate one Blood Orchid, strengthened his Sage Body slightly, and confirmed that his lifespan had increased by five years.
• Fang Xu gave another Blood Orchid to Orochimaru and asked him to develop Longevity Potions and Evolution Potions.
• Orochimaru questioned the flower's effects, and Fang Xu confirmed his experience and explained that Blood Orchids could affect different forms of life in different ways.
• Fang Xu gave Orochimaru four more Blood Orchids and revealed that the plants were still growing and might produce stronger varieties.

Orochimaru began studying the Blood Orchids, hoping they could lead him toward immortality and a higher form of life. Five days later, Tsunade left Konoha for the Capital of Fire to complete her Fourth Hokage appointment, leaving Minato and Nara Shikaku in charge of village affairs.

• Orochimaru accepted Fang Xu's Blood Orchids and promised to study the flowers and potions while documenting cultivation and handling methods.
• Orochimaru theorized that the Blood Orchids could evolve life and help him attain a constitution like a Sage Body.
• Orochimaru began testing a piece of a petal in his secret laboratory and recording its reactions.
• Five days later, Tsunade instructed Minato Namikaze, Nara Shikaku, and Konoha's department heads on managing village affairs during her absence.
• Tsunade left Konoha with Fang Xu and Nazi for the Capital of Fire, while Minato and Nara Shikaku remained to handle village affairs.

Shimura Danzō ambushed Tsunade, Nazi, and Fang Xu in the forest, but Nazi repelled his attacks and explosions. Danzo’s Root forces revealed they had pledged allegiance to Fang Xu and presented evidence of Danzo’s crimes, leaving Danzo confronting Fang Xu in anger.

• Tsunade called out Danzo’s ambush, and Fang Xu detected him approaching through the forest.
• Danzo attacked Nazi with Vacuum Great Sphere and detonated over ten thousand explosive tags, but Nazi’s psychic power stopped both assaults.
• Danzo called for his Root reinforcements, and Owl and the Root ninja appeared without attacking Tsunade.
• Owl told Danzo that Root had pledged allegiance to Fang Xu and had handed him evidence of Danzo’s crimes.
• Danzo accused Fang Xu of stealing from his treasury, secrets, and subordinates, then denounced Fang Xu’s origins and power.