Chapter Summaries

After awakening as a being of light, Li Ming traveled through a desert in search of a hopeful person who could become his first bishop. He reached the world of Naruto during the Second Shinobi World War and sensed that his chosen person was nearby, but the signal was weakening.

• Li Ming remembered that he had died while rescuing a girl from a mudslide and realized he had become an embodiment of hope and light.
• Li Ming learned that he needed to find a person who remained hopeful in despair, who would become his first bishop and help spread his light.
• Li Ming followed an instinct north across the desert and reached a green plain near a vast forest.
• A Sand shinobi ambush overwhelmed Konoha Ninja guarding the border, and Captain Quanshui ordered Cunxia to escape with news for Lord Orochimaru.
• Li Ming recognized the battlefield as the world of Naruto during the Second Shinobi World War and worried as his sense of the person he sought grew weaker.

In the war-ravaged Land of Rain, orphan Ria struggled to feed and protect the children in her care until a robber beat her and left her for dead. Li Ming arrived and used the Miracle of Light, Greater Resurrection to merge with Ria, as a brilliant light restored peace to the town.

• Ria sent Axel and Rich outside town to gather food, then went looking for work to support the orphans.
• Uncle Coco hired Ria at his shop, paid her one hundred ryo, and gave her leftovers to take home.
• A robber stole Ria’s food and money, beat and kicked her, and left her collapsed in the rain as she crawled toward home.
• Li Ming found Ria gravely wounded and resolved to save her.
• The sphere of light used Miracle of Light, Greater Resurrection to merge with Ria, and its radiance cleared the clouds and brought a moment of peace to the town.

After merging with the holy light, Ria gained new powers and tracked down Yamamoto’s gang to avenge the girl he had killed and protect Grandpa Coco. She killed the bandits, received reassurance from Li Ming, and found their money, which could help feed her younger siblings.

• Ria awakened beneath a full moon, merged with the holy light, and saw that she was Artoria, its level 15 archbishop.
• Ria used Light Tracking Technique to follow a trail to Yamamoto and his gang, where she heard them boast about killing a young girl and planning to exploit Grandpa Coco.
• Ria broke into the room, killed Yamamoto, and cut down the other bandits as they tried to flee.
• After collapsing from the strain of her first killings, Ria asked Li Ming if she had acted rightly, and he reassured her that she had protected hope from evil.
• Ria resolved to become a good archbishop and make becoming pope her goal, then found a thousand ryo among the bandits’ belongings and thought of feeding her younger siblings.

Ria returned home late after dealing with Green Skin and told her siblings about the Holy Light, which they all agreed to believe in. The next morning, she fed them and urged them to become warriors of the Holy Light, then brought them before the Holy Light to choose their paths.

• Axel and the other children worried about Ria until she returned home, and she reassured them before recounting her day.
• Ria told her siblings about the Holy Light, and they agreed to believe in it so they could build a better life together.
• Li Ming emerged from Ria while the children slept and used his radiance to ease their lingering ailments.
• The next morning, Ria took the children to buy white steamed buns, then spoke about war, ninjas, and their struggle to survive.
• Ria urged the children to become warriors of the Holy Light and sent ten glowing seeds toward them.
• The children arrived before the Holy Light, which invited them to grasp points of light and choose their paths.

Axel remembered the people he wanted to protect and became a Holy Knight, while Ria guided the children as they began training and planned to build a church. After Ria stopped a group of thugs, she heard that a gang boss planned to force Miss Meli into marriage, giving her a new target.

• Axel resisted the darkness by remembering his sister and the other children's smiles, then awakened as a Holy Knight.
• Ria learned the children’s new classes and urged them to train so they could spread the Holy Light.
• Ria planned to earn money by punishing evildoers, and Axel led the Holy Knights in morning training.
• Ria rescued a young man from three thugs and took fifteen hundred ryo from them.
• At a tavern, Ria heard that a gang boss was harassing Miss Meli and planned to force her into marriage the next day.

Ria rescued Meli from Scarface and revealed her holy-light powers, then helped Meli become a priest. The two agreed to turn Meli’s clinic into a church, giving Ria a base to spread the holy light.

• Ria arrived at Meli’s clinic as Scarface forced Meli to marry him and threatened the people who tried to intervene.
• Ria caught Scarface’s kunai, blocked his attacks, defeated him, and burned his body after learning he had threatened Meli with further abuse.
• Ria revealed her identity to Meli and explained that she was an archbishop of the holy light.
• Meli accepted the holy light, completed its trial, and became a priest with the Healing Technique.
• Meli offered her clinic as a church, and Ria agreed before leaving to fetch her younger brothers and sisters.

Meli welcomed Ria and the children into her home, and their first family dinner helped her feel less alone. The next day, Ria began transforming Meli’s clinic into a church and training grounds, while Enichi and Xiao Cao learned that Scar’s boss had a Jonin captain and warned Ria, who reassured them she could handle the threat.

• Meli cooked dinner with Ria and the children, whose laughter and affection moved her to tears as she embraced them as family.
• The next morning, Ria led training while Meli prepared breakfast, and the two later hired a stonemason and carpenter to convert the clinic into a church.
• Ria explained her plans to the craftsmen and began inscribing a complex magic circle in the courtyard to help everyone train.
• Two thugs discussed waiting for Scar’s Jonin captain to return before causing trouble, and Enichi and Xiao Cao overheard them.
• Enichi and Xiao Cao warned Ria about the Jonin, but Ria reassured them that her strength and abilities would let her face the threat.

Ria and Meli completed the Church of the Holy Light and welcomed Li Ming’s arrival during a ceremony attended by the children. The church opened to the townspeople, who experienced its sacred music and healing, while Ria planned to expand its work and bring in homeless children.

• Meli paid the craftsmen for building the church, and they promised to attend services with their families.
• Ria summoned the Holy Light, and Li Ming sent an offshoot that settled into the cross as a glowing sphere while the children and Meli welcomed him.
• The church opened the next morning, and Artoria reassured visitors that Meli would continue treating patients.
• Ria invited Shui Sha to play Morning Melody, and the music left the congregation feeling refreshed and peaceful.
• Meli healed patients with the Holy Light, explained its teachings, and Ria counted the church’s earnings before planning to help more children.

Hanzō spared Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru after naming them the Konoha Sannin, while Ria found a way to fund the Church of the Holy Light by selling holy water. When Xiliu and his students investigated the church, its forces ambushed them, leaving Xiliu wounded and fleeing as the church signaled for help.

• Hanzō named Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru the Konoha Sannin and sent Jonin Xiliu to investigate the Land of Wind border.
• Ria worried that the Church of the Holy Light was running out of money, and Li Ming proposed making holy water from collected dew to sell to the ninja.
• Xiliu arrived in Huayu Town and learned from a local informant that Scarface had been killed by the Church of the Holy Light.
• Xiliu and his students approached the church, where Shui Sha detected them and Axel organized the clerics for battle.
• The Holy Light forces struck Xiliu's team with arrows and a shield charge, and Xiliu wounded several holy knights before fleeing on his Netherwolf.
• Yui fired a Holy Light Bullet into the sky to alert the boss as Xiliu escaped.

Ria and Meli secured a lucrative deal for holy-light dew before Ria rushed back to the Church of the Holy Light to stop an attack. After defeating the escaping shinobi Xiliu, Ria learned that Sand shinobi might be planning a major move and rallied the clergy to expand their churches and prepare for war.

• Meli sold holy-light dew to Merchant Reilly for five thousand ryo per bottle.
• Ria returned to the Church of the Holy Light and learned that three shinobi had attacked, with two captured and one escaping.
• Ria pursued Xiliu, defeated him with her light magic, and brought his corpse back to the church.
• Axel told Ria that the captured shinobi had been gathering intelligence on the Land of Wind and that Sand shinobi might soon make a major move.
• Ria called a meeting, ordered clergy above level ten to establish churches in nearby villages, and directed the church to be rebuilt as a level-two Holy Light Grand Cathedral.

Ria gave Li Ming a Summoning Scroll, which he transformed into a secret realm where paladins could find mounts. After Ria prepared the entrance and clergy teams set out to spread the Holy Light, Axel’s team reached Peace Village and struggled to earn the villagers’ trust.

• Ria offered Li Ming a Summoning Scroll, and he turned it into a secret realm, overpowering the Netherwolves inside and transforming their fur white.
• Ria prepared an altar for the secret realm, and two days later, clergy teams departed to spread the Holy Light while she stayed behind to arrange a level-two church.
• Axel, Yui, and two other clergy members rode toward their assigned village, seeing the devastation left by violence along the way.
• The villagers of Peace Village mistook Axel’s team for ninja, so Axel told his companions to approach them patiently rather than force their way inside.
• The village elder let the team stay in an abandoned house and explained that its previous family had been murdered; Axel vowed the Holy Light would protect the village.

Axel and his companions won over the wary villagers by helping them, healing the sick, and sharing the Holy Light. As the villagers welcomed their plan to build a church, Axel prepared to establish a lasting presence in the village.

• Axel saved an elderly woman from falling, carried her water home, and met her grandson Xiao Zhi, whom Yui healed and fed with Holy Light Candy.
• Axel and his companions helped the grandmother and Xiao Zhi, then repaired their house until the villagers began trusting them.
• Yui used the Healing Technique to save a villager’s gravely ill wife, and Axel urged the villagers to believe in the Holy Light.
• The Holy Light’s name spread through the village, and Axel decided it was time to build a church.
• Axel invited the villagers to help build the church, and they eagerly agreed because they wanted the group to stay.

Axel and his companions activated their completed village church, restoring the weather, while Ria completed Huayu Town’s level-two church and connected with the five squads. After learning of the holy water’s battlefield effects, Chiyo and Kazekage Shamon planned a mission to the Land of Rain to investigate its source.

• Axel and his companions used the stone tablet to activate the village church, and its holy light cleared the dark clouds and restored normal weather.
• Axel told the villagers that sincere believers could receive the holy light’s blessing, and they helped him and his companions recover from exhaustion.
• Ria and the townspeople completed Huayu Town’s level-two church in a ceremony, sending a pillar of light skyward.
• Li Ming connected the churches, and Ria heard reports from Axel, Rich, and the five squads about their successes and recruited clerics.
• Chiyo reported holy water’s battlefield healing effects to Shamon, who ordered her to investigate its source in the Land of Rain.

Sand shinobi attacked Peace Village, and Axel’s Holy Light Clerics fought them to defend the church and its sheltered villagers. Yui was knocked unconscious during the battle, and Axel and his two companions used War Stomp to repel the attackers as the dust settled.

• Chiyo ordered Sand shinobi to invade the Land of Rain from five directions, and villagers in Peace Village fled to the Church of the Holy Light after Yamada spotted the attackers.
• Axel secured the villagers behind the church’s barrier and led two companions out to face Rasa’s Sand shinobi, while Ria set out to reinforce Peace Village.
• Axel’s group transformed Rasa into a lamb, immobilized and charged through the Sand shinobi, then endured Rasa’s Wind Release: Wind-Sand Dust technique and returned badly wounded.
• Yui healed and shielded Axel’s group, but Sand shinobi used dust as cover to knock her unconscious and attack Axel and his companions.
• Axel regrouped with his companions and ordered War Stomp, which knocked nearby Sand shinobi down and forced others to retreat as the dust began to settle.

Axel sacrificed himself to save Yui, but Ria arrived in time to rescue her and annihilated Rasa and the Sand shinobi. Ria then used Greater Resurrection on Axel, leaving his fate to be revealed.

• Rasa forced Axel to choose between killing himself and letting the Sand shinobi kill Yui, and Axel slit his own throat after entrusting the villagers to Xishi and Tai'a.
• The Holy Light Clerics and villagers prepared to fight the Sand shinobi, but Ria appeared, rescued Yui, and ordered Xishi and Tai'a to guard the siblings.
• Ria unleashed arrows of light that pierced the Sand shinobi's Earth Wall, then trapped Rasa and the survivors in a shrinking circle and crushed them.
• Ria reassured Xishi and Tai'a that Axel would be all right, then cast Holy Light: Greater Resurrection on him.

Axel awoke alive after Ria rescued him, while Yui remained unconscious, and Ria led the Holy Light Clerics to confront the Sand shinobi. Ria’s forces devastated Chiyo’s army, but Chiyo escaped after poisoning several Holy Knights, leaving the conflict unresolved.

• Axel woke in the Church, reunited with Ria, and learned that Yui would recover after fainting from grief.
• Chiyo’s scouts discovered Rasa’s remains, and Chiyo ordered her forces to attack the village in revenge.
• Ria led fifty Holy Light Clerics out to face Chiyo’s approaching Sand shinobi, and the two sides exchanged accusations before battle.
• The Holy Light Clerics used shields, slowing magic, a wedge charge, and holy light cannons to decimate Chiyo’s force, leaving barely a dozen survivors.
• Chiyo released poisonous green smoke as she retreated, poisoning several Holy Knights before Ria began purifying them.

After returning from battle, Ria reunited Yui and Axel and began transforming the Church of the Holy Light into a political power that improved life across Huayu Town and nearby villages. More than a year later, the Holy Church began taking control of returning lords’ territories, offering leniency to decent lords and executing those found evil.

• Ria reassured Yui that Axel was safe, and the siblings promised to protect one another as they shared dinner with her.
• Ria announced plans to turn the Church of the Holy Light into the Holy Church, combining religious authority with political power and public services.
• After returning to Huayu Town, Ria and the Holy Church expanded education, industry, and public order, drawing more people into the church and growing its clerical forces.
• When Reilly reported that the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire were at war, Ria considered expanding while the returning lords prepared to reclaim their territories.
• Kumata confronted Lord Bob in a village and brought him to the Holy Church for Evil Detection; Bob was judged neutral, surrendered his territory, and left with compensation.
• The Holy Light Clerics captured lords who resisted their takeover and publicly executed those judged evil, prompting oppressed villagers to celebrate.

Baron Bob told High Lord Dill that the Holy Church had taken his domain, so Dill sent Tetsui with five thousand warriors to investigate. Ria’s forces ambushed them at Foxling Wetland, routed the army with Holy Light Rifles, and captured the survivors as Axel continued toward Corona City.

• Baron Bob begged High Lord Dill for help after the Holy Church occupied his domain, and Dill ordered Tetsui to investigate with five thousand warriors.
• Ria learned the force was approaching and sent Axel and Rich with one thousand combat Holy Light Clerics to intercept it at Foxling Wetland.
• Reilly watched the Holy Light Clerics leave Huayu Town and reflected on the town’s transformation and the people’s support for the Holy Church.
• Axel’s troops assembled their Holy Light Rifles at the wetland as Tetsui’s column arrived and prepared to charge.
• The Holy Light Clerics opened fire, routed the warriors, and drove Tetsui and the survivors into a panicked retreat.
• Axel’s forces surrounded the fleeing warriors, accepted their surrender, and sent Rich with five hundred Clerics to escort the captives while Axel headed for Corona City.

Axel and the Holy Light Clerics stormed a city, seized its defenses, and captured Earl Dill. Axel ordered Dill held for a public trial after the Holy Church was built.

• Axel led the Holy Light Clerics to the city and ordered them to blast open its gates with Holy Light Armor-Piercing Cannons.
• Gozo tried to close the gates, but Axel’s forces broke through, routed the defenders, and forced Gozo to guide them to the lord’s residence.
• Axel divided his forces to take control of the city walls and defenses, then led a group to Earl Dill’s mansion.
• Axel’s soldiers entered the mansion, subdued its guards, and forced a servant to lead them to Dill.
• Dill attacked Axel, but Axel knocked him down and ordered the Holy Light Clerics to beat him into submission.
• Axel ordered Dill taken away for a public trial after the Holy Church was built.

Mina and the Holy Light Clerics offered free food and household registration in Corona City, gradually convincing wary residents that they could trust them. Meanwhile, Tiemu and the nobles planned to escape the city and seek help from the daimyo and Amegakure.

• Kemu found his shop closed because of the war and discovered Mina registering households and giving out food in the square.
• Mina registered Xiaolian and her siblings, while Meya reassured Xiaolian that the children could live and study at the Holy Church.
• After watching the children receive food and care, Kemu registered, broke down crying, and then knelt before Mina before running home.
• The crowd began registering for food, and the Holy Knights restored order after driving off several troublemakers.
• Tiemu told Caesar and the other nobles that they should hide in the slums, then leave Corona City disguised as refugees and report the rebellion to the daimyo.