Chapter Summaries

Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara divided the hidden wartime supplies they had taken, then persuaded Shin Kudo that Itsuki Ishikawa had caused the mission’s losses. The group prepared to report the incident at the Front Lines camp, with Itsuki left to bear the blame.

• Kazama Nara told Jin Uchiha that two carts held medicinal herbs and Explosive Tags worth about thirty million ryo, while the remaining cart contained Kunai for the higher-ups.
• Jin and Kazama split the Explosive Tags, and Kazama kept the herbs to sell through his Household’s channels after the war.
• After Shin Kudo woke, Kazama claimed that the team had killed three Hidden Mist ninja and saved one cart, blaming Itsuki Ishikawa for the losses.
• Shin believed Kazama’s account and said he would report Itsuki’s actions to Lord Miyamoto when they reached the Front Lines camp.
• Jin, Kazama, and Shin accepted that Itsuki would take the blame and agreed that working together without him improved their odds of survival.

After reaching Frontline Camp, Jin Uchiha learned from Kazama Nara that the village’s ruling circles profited from battlefield supply losses and realized why the Uchiha’s pride put them at odds with other Lineages. Elsewhere, Shin Kudo reported the failed mission to Jonin Yukie Miyamoto and presented his account and the bodies of several Hidden Mist ninja.

• Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara brought the injured Itsuki Ishikawa to the medical camp, then discussed how they would avoid punishment for losing two carts of supplies.
• Kazama Nara explained that shinobi commonly covered up supply losses and that Jin Uchiha had never heard of the practice because he was an Uchiha.
• Jin Uchiha concluded that the Uchiha’s refusal to join the ruling circles’ corruption explained why they were opposed and could not become Hokage.
• Kazama Nara worried that Jin Uchiha might reveal what he had said, but Jin promised to keep quiet.
• Shin Kudo reported to Yukie Miyamoto that the mission had failed after Itsuki Ishikawa refused orders and said their squad had saved only one cart of supplies.

Yukie Miyamoto blamed Itsuki Ishikawa for disobeying orders and sent him to the ANBU, while Shin Kudo’s squad escaped punishment. During the lull between missions, Kazama Nara questioned Jin Uchiha’s apparent laziness, and Jin turned the questions back on him.

• Yukie Miyamoto condemned Itsuki Ishikawa’s actions and ordered Shin Kudo to hand him over to the ANBU, denying the squad mission credit but sparing them punishment.
• Shin Kudo delivered the unconscious Itsuki Ishikawa to an ANBU operative and told Kazama Nara and Jin Uchiha that their squad could rest until its next assignment.
• Jin Uchiha spent several days sunbathing instead of training while Kazama Nara tried to understand how he could be so skilled and so lazy.
• Kazama Nara asked Jin Uchiha why he avoided training, and Jin questioned why Kazama hid his abilities in Class B and joined a squad with an Uchiha.

Kazama Nara revealed why he had pretended to be mediocre, while Jin Uchiha explained why he maintained his own useless image. At the Frontline Camp, Itsuki Ishikawa was ordered back into Shin Kudo's squad, where he blamed Jin and Kazama for his troubles and vowed revenge.

• Kazama Nara told Jin Uchiha that his father had warned his sons not to become geniuses, and that his two talented older brothers had died after ignoring that advice.
• Jin Uchiha admitted he acted useless to avoid drawing attention, and Kazama revealed that Shikaku Nara had sent him to assess Jin.
• Kazama said Shikaku Nara would support Jin from the shadows, and Jin suppressed his suspicion that the Nara Household might pose a threat.
• Kazama joked that Jin seemed more like a Nara than an Uchiha, and Jin reminded him that he had the Sharingan.
• An ANBU messenger delivered orders returning Itsuki Ishikawa to Shin Kudo's squad, despite confirming that Itsuki had caused Team Seven's mission to fail.
• Itsuki Ishikawa blamed Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara for his failure and vowed to get back at them.

Jin Uchiha and his team watched the sea from Outpost 27 for six days without seeing the Hidden Mist, while Jin grew increasingly wary of an impending attack. When unnatural mist engulfed the Woods at night, Jin and Kazama Nara decided to investigate, and Shin Kudo agreed that the whole team should go.

• Jin Uchiha reflected on his distrust of his team and followed Shin Kudo to Outpost 27 with Kazama Nara and Itsuki Ishikawa.
• Shin Kudo assigned watch shifts, pairing himself with Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara with Itsuki Ishikawa.
• After six quiet days, Jin Uchiha warned Kazama Nara to stay alert because he sensed a battle was coming.
• Kazama Nara woke Jin Uchiha and Shin Kudo after spotting thick mist spreading through the Woods.
• Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara chose to investigate the mist, and Shin Kudo agreed to take the entire team.

Jin Uchiha, Kazama Nara, and Shin Kudo investigated suspicious fog, ambushed a Hidden Mist squad, and learned that four thousand enemy ninja were hiding in the Land of Whirlpools. With no orders to retreat, Shin agreed to follow Jin’s lead.

• Kazama Nara detected a Hidden Mist squad in the fog and restrained one ninja while Jin Uchiha killed two others.
• Kazama Nara questioned the captive, then used a secret Nara technique to make him talk while Jin and Shin Kudo stepped away.
• Kazama Nara returned and reported that four thousand Hidden Mist ninja had infiltrated the Land of Whirlpools half a month earlier.
• Kazama Nara said they had received no orders and could not retreat without being branded deserters.
• Shin Kudo abandoned his claim to command and told Jin Uchiha that he would follow his lead.

Jin Uchiha persuaded Kazama Nara and Shin Kudo to fire a Signal Flare and begin a guerrilla retreat through the Land of Whirlpools. The Hidden Mist found the signal’s source and captured Itsuki Ishikawa, who revealed everything he knew about his teammates and their route.

• Jin Uchiha explained that firing the Signal Flare would alert the Front Lines and give Team Seven a chance to escape and fight small squads on the move.
• Shin Kudo accepted Jin Uchiha’s plan and apologized for doubting him.
• Jin Uchiha’s team fired the Signal Flare, then slipped into the woods without Itsuki Ishikawa.
• Jinin Akebino led more than fifty Hidden Mist ninja to the grove and ordered a search of the nearby sentry post.
• The Hidden Mist dragged Itsuki Ishikawa from his bed, and Jinin Akebino struck him until he revealed everything he knew.

Itsuki Ishikawa was executed after offering to defect, and Jinin Akebino ordered the Hidden Mist forces to attack the Hidden Leaf's Frontline Camp. Yukie Miyamoto mobilized the camp but faced a sudden assault led by Juzo Biwa.

• Jinin Akebino rejected Itsuki Ishikawa's offer to defect and ordered him killed, and Itsuki died regretting how he had treated his teammates.
• Jinin Akebino sent three squads after Jin Uchiha's team and ordered the remaining Hidden Mist ninja to launch an all-out attack on the Frontline Camp.
• Yukie Miyamoto received a red alert from Outpost Twenty-Seven, saw a Hidden Mist flare, and ordered the camp to prepare for battle and evacuate the medical teams.
• More than twenty Hidden Mist ninja attacked before the Hidden Leaf could finish forming its defenses, and their Hidden Mist Technique threw the camp into disarray.
• Yukie Miyamoto charged to intercept the attackers, but Juzo Biwa blocked her with the Executioner's Blade.

Yukie Miyamoto discovered that the Hidden Leaf had sent her and inexperienced troops as expendable decoys when the Seven Ninja Swordsmen ambushed them in the Land of Whirlpools. After Juzo Biwa killed her and the Hidden Leaf force collapsed, the Mist swordsmen prepared to cross into the Land of Fire before the Leaf could redeploy its elites.

• Yukie Miyamoto recognized Juzo Biwa and most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as they surrounded her and the Hidden Leaf troops.
• Yukie Miyamoto realized the Hidden Leaf had used her as a pawn to buy time, just as Jinin Akebino arrived.
• Juzo Biwa killed Yukie Miyamoto with one swing, and the inexperienced Hidden Leaf troops fled as the Mist shinobi attacked.
• Raiga Kurosuki mocked and slaughtered Hidden Leaf squads while Juzo Biwa ordered the Mist forces to clear the area and find boats.
• Juzo Biwa urged the Hidden Mist to invade the Land of Fire before the Hidden Leaf could redeploy, and the Mist shinobi began carrying out his orders.

Jin Uchiha, Shin Kudo, and Kazama Nara hid from Hidden Mist pursuers in the Land of Whirlpools after burning Itsuki Ishikawa’s body and recasting his death as a heroic sacrifice. Jin learned that the Hidden Leaf main force, led by Fugaku Uchiha, would arrive in two days, and the trio prepared to move again after resting.

• Kazama Nara called Itsuki Ishikawa a hero who had sacrificed himself for the village, leaving Shin Kudo and Jin Uchiha unable to challenge his version of events.
• The three recalled evading Hidden Mist pursuers for three days and killing thirty-one Mist ninja before burning Itsuki Ishikawa’s body to prevent anyone from probing his memories.
• Shin Kudo wished they had a Hyuga for reconnaissance, and Jin Uchiha agreed that the Byakugan was better suited than the Sharingan for wide-area scouting.
• A Ninja Crow delivered a message confirming that the Hidden Leaf main force was assembling under Fugaku Uchiha and would arrive in two days.
• Shin Kudo and Kazama Nara welcomed the news, and Jin Uchiha told them to rest before moving out again in two hours.

Jin Uchiha, Kazama Nara, and Shin Kudo continued evading the Hidden Mist while fighting together, but their routine ended when they encountered Fuguki Suikazan. Jin and Kazama fled, leaving Shin paralyzed with fear as Fuguki attacked him.

• Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara used their skills to guide the squad through the forest while keeping Shin Kudo alive for their own protection.
• Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara attacked two Hidden Mist squads with Fire and Wind Release, while Shin Kudo killed one chunin and Jin killed the other.
• The three collected the defeated enemies' heads and prepared to leave before Fuguki Suikazan appeared with Samehada.
• Jin Uchiha ordered the group to run, and he and Kazama Nara escaped while Shin Kudo froze in fear.
• Fuguki Suikazan attacked Shin Kudo with a fist and declared that the three Hidden Leaf genin would pay for the Hidden Mist deaths.

Jin Uchiha rescued Shin Kudo and Kazama Nara from Fuguki Suikazan and carried them through a daylong chase while taunting the Hidden Mist swordsman. The chase ended at the shore, where Shisui Uchiha and others arrived from ships bound for the Land of Whirlpools.

• Jin Uchiha grabbed Shin Kudo and Kazama Nara and fled from Fuguki Suikazan, who pursued them in fury.
• Jin Uchiha mocked Fuguki Suikazan as they ran, and Fuguki answered with threats and attacks that failed to catch them.
• Fuguki Suikazan considered abandoning the chase, but Jin Uchiha doubled back to taunt him and kept him running until dark.
• Jin Uchiha, Shin Kudo, Kazama Nara, and Fuguki Suikazan reached the shore and saw ships flying Hidden Leaf and Uchiha flags approaching.
• Shisui Uchiha led more than a dozen figures across the sea toward them.

After Jin Uchiha’s squad reached the Hidden Leaf’s main force, the three were questioned and kept in camp while their loyalty and battle record were verified. The investigation confirmed their achievements, and the Hokage ordered promotions for all three.

• Fuguki Suikazan fled when he saw the arriving Hidden Leaf fleet, and Jin Uchiha collapsed from exhaustion.
• Kazama Nara explained the squad’s ordeal to Shisui Uchiha, who ordered the three to rest while the main force established a Front Lines camp.
• ANBU questioned Jin Uchiha, Kazama Nara, and Shin Kudo, then accepted their evidence of nearly fifty Hidden Mist kills for further verification.
• The three rested under restrictions while the village investigated their loyalty and battle achievements.
• After two days, the ANBU captain confirmed the results: Shin Kudo was promoted to Elite Jonin and made a squad captain, while Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara were exceptionally promoted to Chunin.

Jin Uchiha, Kazama Nara, and Shin Kudo celebrated their squad’s impending separation with drinks after receiving the Hokage’s orders. Kazama revealed that he was a castoff from the Nara clan and wanted to build a future power base with Jin, leaving Jin to consider his proposal.

• Jin Uchiha brought out food and liquor, and he, Kazama Nara, and Shin Kudo drank together in their tent.
• Shin Kudo thanked Jin for saving his life and offered to help him if he ever needed it.
• Shin Kudo drank himself unconscious, and Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara carried him to bed.
• Kazama Nara urged Jin to recruit Shin Kudo, citing his abilities and influence among civilian shinobi.
• Jin questioned Kazama’s motives, and Kazama explained that the village would never fully accept Jin because of his Uchiha name.
• Kazama revealed that he had no future in the Nara clan under Shikaku Nara and was betting on Jin’s potential to build a power base of their own.

Jin Uchiha agreed to Kazama Nara’s plan to build a force from dissatisfied shinobi across the Hidden Leaf’s clans, giving them protection and leverage against the village leadership. They chose civilian shinobi Shin Kudo as their first recruitment target and settled their provisional alliance.

• Jin reconsidered his plans and concluded that he needed to build a force to protect his future family.
• Kazama Nara outlined a strategy to recruit dissatisfied Uchiha, Ino–Shika–Cho members, civilians, and shinobi from other clans while keeping others neutral.
• Kazama described ways to gather allies and move them out of the Hidden Leaf if their operation faced danger.
• Jin agreed to proceed and chose Shin Kudo as their first recruitment target.
• Kazama said they would wait until Shin faced trouble and asked them for help before approaching him.
• Jin and Kazama discussed other matters and established a provisional alliance.

Jin Uchiha explained to Shisui that he hid his strength because he expected the Uchiha clan to be exterminated and wanted to avoid being dragged down with them. Shisui insisted he could prevent that outcome, but Jin dismissed his faith in the clan and the Hidden Leaf.

• Jin Uchiha reflected on Kazama Nara’s plan and kept his ability to escape and become a rogue ninja in reserve.
• Shisui found Jin Uchiha drinking in the frontline camp, rebuked him, and asked him to talk privately on the beach.
• Shisui asked why Jin had been honest with him before leaving the Hidden Leaf, and Jin said he had not wanted to lie to a friend.
• Shisui confronted Jin about hiding his strength despite surviving the Hidden Mist’s pursuit and Fuguki Suikazan’s attack.
• Jin told Shisui he expected the Uchiha to be exterminated and planned to avoid being caught up in the clan’s fate.
• Shisui promised he could resolve the clan’s Radical Faction problem, but Jin mocked the idea and called the Uchiha’s extermination inevitable.

Jin Uchiha explained to Shisui that the Uchiha factions’ rebellion talk was largely a struggle for power, but the clan’s strength and perceived disloyalty still made it a threat to the Hidden Leaf. He left Shisui to confront why the village might destroy the clan even if it never truly planned a revolt.

• Jin Uchiha told Shisui that the Radical and Moderate Factions used their disputes to pursue influence, while Fugaku’s indecision weakened the clan.
• Shisui questioned whether Jin’s explanation meant his efforts to ease tensions between the village and the Uchiha had been misguided.
• Jin told Shisui the story of Hashirama Senju sealing the Nine-Tails because it was too powerful, using it to explain how strength could inspire fear.
• Jin argued that the Hidden Leaf viewed the Uchiha as dangerously powerful and unpredictable, especially because they openly threatened to take the Hokage’s position.

Jin Uchiha challenged Shisui's faith in the Hidden Leaf leadership by comparing the Uchiha clan's treatment to the Nine-Tails' imprisonment and questioning the secrecy breach surrounding Sakumo Hatake's mission. Shisui began to doubt the leadership and asked Jin to speak plainly, and Jin addressed the Nine-Tails as too powerful.

• Shisui realized that the Uchiha clan, like the Nine-Tails, was being controlled because the village feared its power, and he despaired over finding a way out.
• Shisui insisted that Hiruzen Sarutobi would help the Uchiha, so Jin Uchiha asked what he thought of Sakumo Hatake's suicide.
• Jin questioned how details of Sakumo Hatake's highly classified mission had spread through the village and why the leak had never been investigated.
• Shisui recognized that the Hidden Leaf leadership had likely suppressed the investigation, and his faith in the leadership and the Will of Fire weakened.
• Shisui told Jin to stop hinting and speak plainly, and Jin began by saying, "Nine-Tails, you're too powerful!"

Jin Uchiha explained to Shisui why Sakumo Hatake had chosen suicide and how the Hokage's faction benefited from his death, leaving Shisui shaken and afraid for the Uchiha. When Shisui begged for a way to save the clan, Jin argued that the Uchiha were too divided and outnumbered to challenge the village, and urged him to stop worrying about what he could not change.

• Jin Uchiha told Shisui that Sakumo Hatake had sacrificed himself to prevent chaos in the Hidden Leaf and protect Kakashi Hatake, while the Hokage's faction absorbed Sakumo's influence and followers.
• Shisui struggled to accept Jin's account and grew afraid that trusting Hiruzen Sarutobi could doom the Uchiha.
• Shisui woke Jin and begged him to reveal a way to save their clan.
• Jin criticized the Uchiha's arrogance and division, saying they could not defeat the Hokage's faction or the allied clans of the Hidden Leaf.
• Jin claimed the Sarutobi clan had thousands of shinobi while the Uchiha had only hundreds, and advised Shisui to give up worrying about matters beyond his control.

Shisui accepted that Jin’s accusations about the Uchiha’s decline and the Sarutobi clan’s wealth were convincing, then asked Jin for a way forward. Jin advised him to consolidate power by playing the Uchiha factions against each other, but Shisui recoiled at how ruthless the plan was.

• Shisui reconsidered his trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi after Jin explained that village funds had enriched the Sarutobi clan while the Uchiha Police Force struggled.
• Shisui asked Jin for guidance, saying he still wanted to help his clan despite no longer trusting his previous approach.
• Jin told Shisui to unite his supporters, build a platform, and use ruthless tactics to defeat the Uchiha’s other factions and remove Fugaku.
• Shisui objected that Jin’s plan was too vicious, but Jin warned that hesitation in a life-or-death power struggle would leave him vulnerable to the same fate as Sakumo Hatake.