Chapter Summaries

Tetsuya’s students tried to earn profits within seven days, and Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko combined their businesses to pass his test. Tetsuya praised their work and declared that all three had succeeded.

• Kakuzu agreed to give Hanzo of the Salamander the Rain Shadow Hat and introduce him to Tetsuya.
• Nagato barely broke even, Yahiko lost part of his starting capital selling flowers, and Konan earned a profit selling origami she made with ninjutsu.
• Nagato proposed that the three pool their money and resources, then promoted sweets, flowers, and origami as gifts representing the past, present, and future.
• Nagato bundled their products into packages that became popular with young couples in the Capital City, helping the students meet Tetsuya’s requirements.
• Tetsuya praised the students, highlighted Nagato’s ability to create a trend, and declared all three had passed the test.

Tetsuya rewarded Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan with powerful forbidden techniques, then took them back to train under Izuna. As the Chiba Commerce Association expanded across the shinobi world, Tetsuya saw his business empire beginning to take shape.

• Tetsuya gave Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan forbidden technique scrolls after they passed his business test, but Yahiko's scroll lacked its dangerous final section.
• Tetsuya warned the trio that Izuna had missed them and teased them about catching up on their training; Yahiko declared he would face twice the training and pursue his ninja way.
• Tetsuya returned the three to the Chiba Estate, where Yahiko's enthusiasm swept up Nagato and Konan.
• The Chiba Commerce Association expanded across the Land of Fire and, with Kakuzu's help securing trade routes through the Land of Rain, began trading across the shinobi world.
• The association attracted merchants with lower tolls and subsidized ninja escorts, and Tetsuya read reports celebrating the early growth of his business empire.

Tetsuya and Izuna discussed the Chiba Commerce Association and their students’ progress before sending Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko back to the Land of Rain. After they left, Tetsuya revealed that he planned to visit Amegakure and give Hanzo of the Salamander a taste of “ultimate pleasure.”

• Tetsuya explained to Izuna that expanding the Chiba Commerce Association would discourage the Shinobi Villages from seizing it, and joked about confronting any leader who tried.
• Izuna reported that Nagato had mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Compound Ninjutsu, Konan had developed her Paper Release, and Yahiko could open the fifth gate and had learned many Water Release techniques.
• Tetsuya and Izuna told Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko that their training was complete and sent them home to the Land of Rain, warning them to protect themselves and keep their teachers’ names out of trouble.
• Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko thanked their teachers, bowed, and left the Chiba Estate for the Land of Rain.
• Tetsuya told Izuna he planned to travel to Amegakure and show Hanzo of the Salamander what heaven on earth and ultimate pleasure meant.

Hanzo of the Salamander reflected on Amegakure’s prosperity and the sense that something was missing, then received Kakuzu and gifts from a wealthy merchant. He happily donned a Rain Shadow Hat and robe, embracing the title of Amegakure’s Rain Shadow.

• Hanzo of the Salamander admired Amegakure’s growth but wondered what was still missing from his life.
• Kakuzu visited Hanzo and delivered the month’s profit share, which Hanzo accepted without checking because he trusted him.
• Kakuzu presented Hanzo with a gold statue of Ibuse and a Rain Shadow Hat from a merchant who admired him.
• Hanzo put on the hat and revealed that he had already prepared a matching Rain Shadow Robe.
• Kakuzu praised Hanzo as Amegakure’s Rain Shadow and the Sixth Shadow of the Shinobi World, and Hanzo asked him to thank the merchant.

Tetsuya received Hanzo of the Salamander’s invitation to attend his ceremony declaring himself the First Rain Shadow, while Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko resolved to use what Tetsuya taught them to improve the Land of Rain and bring peace to the shinobi world. White Zetsu spotted the three and left to report their whereabouts to Black Zetsu.

• Hanzo of the Salamander regained his confidence, announced his intention to become the First Rain Shadow, and invited Tetsuya to his ceremony.
• Tetsuya decided to travel to the Land of Rain, while Izuna stayed behind to study the three forbidden technique scrolls.
• Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko saw how the Chiba Commerce Association had improved Amegakure and pledged to work together toward peace.
• White Zetsu watched the three make their pledge, then left Amegakure to tell Black Zetsu he had found them.

Konoha’s leaders agreed to oppose Hanzo of the Salamander’s plan to declare Amegakure the Sixth Great Shinobi Village without starting another war. After the clan heads made only small financial contributions to Konoha, the Konoha F4 considered turning to the Chiba Commerce Association to cover the village’s shortfall.

• Hanzo of the Salamander’s plan to declare himself the Rain Shadow spread through the shinobi world, prompting the Five Great Shinobi Villages to discuss their responses.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi led Konoha’s leaders to reject war and propose coordinating a boycott of Amegakure with other villages.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked the major clan heads to help fund Konoha’s postwar recovery, and they gave only token contributions.
• Shimura Danzō complained about the clans’ reluctance, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed Konoha’s financial shortfall.
• Mitokado Homura suggested seeking help from the Chiba Commerce Association, which had been founded by Chiba after he left the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Shimura Danzō’s attempt to seize the Chiba Commerce Association and invited Chiba Tetsuya to Konoha to discuss the village’s difficulties. Tetsuya arrived safely, and Hiruzen explained that Tetsuya’s influence among the Land of Fire’s nobles required a careful welcome.

• Mitokado Homura suggested asking Chiba Tetsuya for money, while Shimura Danzō argued that Konoha should take control of the Chiba Commerce Association.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rebuked Shimura Danzō, defended the Chiba Clan, and decided to speak with Tetsuya about the village’s difficulties.
• Utatane Koharu warned that Tetsuya was expected to travel to Amegakure for Hanzo of the Salamander’s Rain Shadow Inauguration Ceremony, and Shimura Danzō stormed out after Hiruzen refused to interfere with Tetsuya’s business.
• Tetsuya received Hiruzen’s invitation, transformed his appearance, and traveled safely back to Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed Tetsuya at the Konoha Gate and told Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu that Tetsuya was influential among the Land of Fire’s nobles and close to the Daimyo.

Tetsuya met Hiruzen Sarutobi in Konoha, where Hiruzen asked him to support the village financially and bring his descendants into its academy. Tetsuya agreed to invest in Konoha in exchange for a bodyguard and requested Hatake Sakumo, leaving Hiruzen and the others surprised.

• Tetsuya warmly greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, then invited them into his lavish carriage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi described Konoha's financial troubles and urged Tetsuya to repay the village by contributing funds and enrolling his descendants in the Ninja Academy.
• Tetsuya acknowledged the First's past help but made clear that Konoha could not simply claim that favor for itself.
• Tetsuya agreed to invest money in Konoha and asked for a few Konoha ninja to protect him while he traveled.
• Tetsuya requested the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo, as his bodyguard, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others to exchange glances.

Tetsuya paid Hiruzen Sarutobi extra to arrange for Hatake Sakumo to protect him, then left for the Land of Rain. As Hanzo of the Salamander prepared for his inauguration and awaited Tetsuya’s arrival, Amegakure’s ceremony drew visitors and boosted the local economy.

• Tetsuya agreed to give Hiruzen Sarutobi financial support in exchange for sending Hatake Sakumo to protect him when Sakumo returned from his mission.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi hosted Tetsuya at a banquet and promised to send Sakumo as soon as he returned to Konoha.
• Danzo learned that Tetsuya had left Konoha and was likely heading to the Land of Rain.
• Hanzo of the Salamander praised Kakuzu’s planning for the inauguration ceremony, which had brought visitors and business to Amegakure and nearby towns.
• Kakuzu told Hanzo of the Salamander that Tetsuya was expected to arrive that evening, and Hanzo ordered preparations for his welcome.

Tetsuya arrived in Amegakure disguised as Chiba Tetsuya, head of the Chiba Commerce Association, and Hanzo of the Salamander welcomed him with extravagant ceremony. Yahiko and Nagato recognized their teacher but kept his identity secret, then left without greeting him.

• Hanzo of the Salamander led Amegakure's senior officials to welcome Tetsuya, and the village greeted his lavish carriage procession with cannons, fireworks, and music.
• Tetsuya and Hanzo exchanged enthusiastic praise, and Tetsuya presented Hanzo with a dozen or more carriages of congratulatory gifts.
• Yahiko and Nagato joined the crowd and learned that the visitor was Chiba Tetsuya, while pretending not to know him.
• Nagato stopped Yahiko from revealing that Tetsuya was their teacher, and the two explained that Chiba Tetsuya and Chiba Ryo were the same person.
• Tetsuya noticed Yahiko and Nagato and smiled at them, but they left to return to Konan without greeting him.
• Hanzo noticed Tetsuya looking toward the crowd, and Tetsuya claimed he had mistaken someone for an acquaintance.

Amegakure held Hanzo of the Salamander’s inauguration ceremony as Rain Shadow, drawing representatives from Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure despite Konoha’s efforts to isolate the village. Chiba Tetsuya secured a potential trade partnership with Kumogakure, and Hanzo officially accepted the Rain Shadow Hat.

• Granny Chiyo, Kitsuchi, and Dodai attended the ceremony as representatives of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, while Kirigakure sent no one.
• Granny Chiyo and Chiba Tetsuya discussed their profitable trade arrangements on behalf of Sunagakure and the Chiba Commerce Association.
• Dodai told Tetsuya that the Raikage wanted to explore trade with the Land of Lightning, and Tetsuya agreed to lead a caravan there after finishing his work.
• The inauguration ceremony began with cannon fire and fireworks as Hanzo of the Salamander accepted the Rain Shadow Hat and officially became Amegakure’s Rain Shadow.

After Hanzo of the Salamander became Rain Shadow, Tetsuya invited him to enjoy the finer things at his villa, while Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan founded Akatsuki. Hanzo killed a Root envoy who proposed assassinating Tetsuya and warned that he would protect his confidant.

• Tetsuya invited Hanzo of the Salamander to his villa, and Hanzo accepted, eager to enjoy himself after his inauguration.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan founded Akatsuki to help people in need and change the shinobi world.
• A masked Root ninja told Hanzo that Shimura Danzō wanted him to kill Tetsuya so they could divide the Chiba Commerce Association.
• Hanzo killed the Root ninja and ordered his men to preserve the envoy’s head so he could warn Tetsuya about Danzō’s plans.
• Hanzo considered taking over Tetsuya’s business but decided against it, knowing Tetsuya was well protected and their partnership already brought him wealth.

Hanzo of the Salamander warned Tetsuya that Shimura Danzō was targeting him and offered him refuge in Amegakure. Danzō learned that Tetsuya’s bodyguard had defeated Kakuzu and wondered who the mysterious Kage-level powerhouse was.

• Hanzo of the Salamander visited Tetsuya and showed him the head of a Root ninja sent to target him.
• Hanzo warned Tetsuya that Shimura Danzō was behind the attack and invited him to stay in Amegakure for protection.
• Tetsuya accepted Hanzo’s offer and agreed to join him for another activity.
• A Root ninja reported the operative’s death to Danzō, who concluded Hanzo was protecting Tetsuya.
• Danzō learned that Tetsuya’s bodyguard had defeated Kakuzu and ordered his identity investigated.

Tetsuya used luxury and the Mangekyō Sharingan to secure Hanzo and Shinada’s continued indulgence, then visited his students at their Akatsuki odd-jobs business. He found Yahiko and Nagato waiting there and confronted them for failing to visit him.

• Tetsuya spent a month indulging Hanzo of the Salamander in extravagant entertainment until Hanzo became hooked.
• Shinada of the Salamander tried to reach Hanzo, but Tetsuya used the Mangekyō Sharingan to control him and ordered him to keep Hanzo enjoying himself.
• Tetsuya decided to leave Amegakure after arranging for Shinada to oversee Hanzo’s indulgence.
• Tetsuya changed back into his original appearance and went to the Akatsuki base, where he found an odd-jobs business above a general store.
• Nagato and Yahiko greeted Tetsuya at the door, and he scolded them for not visiting him.

Tetsuya encouraged Yahiko to work toward building an ideal world and gave him and Nagato Energy Drinks made with side-effect-free Hashirama cells, leaving Konan’s portion for her. After Tetsuya departed, Yahiko and Nagato wondered whether his muttering and sudden ideas meant their teacher was planning something sinister.

• Tetsuya found Nagato and Yahiko at home and learned that Konan had gone to help a neighbor look after children.
• Yahiko said the world was unlike what he had imagined, and Tetsuya encouraged him to build the ideal world with his own hands.
• Tetsuya gave Nagato and Yahiko Energy Drinks and told them to save the third one for Konan.
• Tetsuya left while thinking about new trade routes and the possibility of taking over the Land of Grass during the Third Shinobi World War.
• Yahiko called Tetsuya’s behavior scary, and Nagato suggested that his strange manner meant he was planning something big.

Tetsuya proposed establishing a trade route through the Land of Grass and using a performance-based agreement with its daimyo to eventually become daimyo himself. After Izuna explained how the agreement would legitimize the succession, the three agreed on a concrete plan and began carrying it out.

• Tetsuya returned to the villa and told Izuna and Kakuzu he planned to take over the Land of Grass and become its daimyo.
• Tetsuya explained that a new trade route would reduce reliance on trade through Amegakure and create an opportunity to undermine Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Tetsuya predicted that the Third Shinobi World War would likely make the Land of Grass a battlefield, triggering the agreement’s terms and forcing its daimyo to give up his position.
• Izuna explained that the agreement would provide legitimacy for Tetsuya’s succession and discourage other countries’ daimyo from challenging it.
• Tetsuya, Izuna, and Kakuzu refined the plan, agreed on a course of action, and began their assigned work.

Hatake Sakumo waited for over a month at the Chiba Grand Hotel to protect Chiba Tetsuya, only for Tetsuya to finally return and admit he had forgotten about him. Tetsuya briefed Sakumo on his upcoming travels, and Sakumo revealed that his son Kakashi had already graduated from the Ninja Academy.

• Hatake Sakumo considered returning to Konoha but stayed at the Chiba Grand Hotel to fulfill his mission to protect Chiba Tetsuya.
• Chiba Tetsuya returned from negotiating a deal in Sunagakure and recognized Sakumo standing at the hotel entrance.
• Tetsuya apologized for forgetting Sakumo, then invited him into the tea room and discussed his unchanging appearance and Sakumo's late brother, Sakuya.
• Tetsuya told Sakumo that he planned to travel to the Land of Grass and pursue new trade deals, and asked whether Sakumo had family to notify.
• Sakumo said his son Kakashi had graduated from the Ninja Academy that year, leaving Tetsuya wondering how Kakashi had joined Team Minato with Obito and Rin.

Chiba Tetsuya traveled toward the Land of Grass with Hatake Sakumo as his guard, unaware that Danzo had plotted to kill him. After Sakumo chased a bandit leader who proved to be a ninja, an ambush struck Tetsuya’s carriage.

• Danzo learned that Tetsuya would travel with only Sakumo and ordered Root to investigate, intending to make the Land of Grass Tetsuya’s grave.
• Tetsuya and Sakumo set out for the Land of Grass, and Sakumo refused to leave his post beside the carriage.
• Masked men blocked the road and surrounded the carriage, claiming they only wanted money.
• Sakumo attacked the bandits and cut down many of them, then pursued their leader after hearing that someone had leaked Tetsuya’s whereabouts.
• Tetsuya realized the bandit leader was a ninja, and a wave of murderous intent swept over him as kunai rained down on the carriage.

Root ambushed Chiba Tetsuya after using bandits to lure Hatake Sakumo away, but Tetsuya killed the attackers with his powerful techniques. Hatake Sakumo returned to find Tetsuya safe, and Tetsuya reassured him that he was fine.

• Root blew up Tetsuya's carriage and sent a Ninja to check the wreckage, but Tetsuya killed him and emerged unharmed.
• Tetsuya used Lightning Release Chakra Mode and a duck-neck strike to kill the Root squad leader, prompting the remaining Root Ninjas to identify him as a threat and send Second Tiger away with their intelligence.
• Tetsuya fought off the Root Ninjas blocking his way, burning an Aburame Ninja's kikaichū with a fire dragon and wiping out the group with Kirin.
• Tetsuya overtook Second Tiger and killed him with Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop.
• Tetsuya pulled the driver from a space he had made underground, then Hatake Sakumo hurried back and found Tetsuya safe.

Tetsuya and Sakumo discussed Danzo’s attempt to recruit Sakumo into Root and the mission that sent him behind Sunagakure’s lines. After Tetsuya disposed of the Root assassins’ remains, Danzo learned the squad had been wiped out and received news of a problem with Orochimaru’s research.

• Sakumo explained that Danzo had tried to recruit him after his brother’s death, then sent him on a mission behind Sunagakure’s lines when Hiruzen intervened.
• Tetsuya suggested Sakumo’s mission might have been meant to leave the Hatake Clan’s assets vulnerable, then asked whether Sakumo had ever wanted to become Hokage.
• Tetsuya burned the Root assassins’ corpses and buried their ashes with Earth Release before he and Sakumo continued toward the next town.
• A Root ninja reported to Danzo that the assassins sent after Tetsuya were dead and their remains could not provide useful information.
• Danzo vowed to target Tetsuya and Sakumo again, considered expanding Root, and then heard that Orochimaru’s research had encountered a problem.