Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Aokiji had developed the Rasengan and given it to Orochimaru as payment for a loan. Concerned about Aokiji’s talent and possible hidden Sharingan, Hiruzen considered recruiting him into the Anbu to keep him under supervision.

• Orochimaru told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Aokiji had developed the Rasengan and taught it to him to repay money he had borrowed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen realized Aokiji’s talent exceeded his earlier expectations and recalled reports comparing him to Uchiha Madara.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Orochimaru whether Aokiji had ever shown him the Sharingan, then suggested he might assign Aokiji important missions or bring him into the Anbu.
• Orochimaru said Aokiji had never shown him the Sharingan and kept his promise not to reveal the truth.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided that recruiting Aokiji into the Anbu could help monitor and shape him while presenting the move as a gesture toward the Uchiha Clan.

The Daimyo of the Land of Grass learned that the Fire Country Daimyo had taken his wife and, urged by his close minister, agreed to prepare for war against the Land of Fire. Uchiha Madara secretly manipulated both men to advance his plans to draw Konoha into battle and use Aokiji to unleash the Five-Tails.

• The Fire Country Daimyo seduced the Daimyo of the Land of Grass's wife and took her back to the Land of Fire, provoking the Daimyo's fury and humiliation.
• The close minister proposed that the Land of Grass unite with other small nations and the Land of Wind to attack the Land of Fire, hoping to draw in the other great nations.
• Uchiha Madara appeared in the room and ordered the close minister to guide the Daimyo, then explained that he had used psychological suggestion on the Daimyo and the Fire Country Daimyo.
• After Uchiha Madara left, the Daimyo of the Land of Grass agreed to prepare for war against the Land of Fire and made his close minister responsible for the plan.

After learning that a major war had begun, Aokiji persuaded Kakuzu to reconsider his past and seek a return to Takigakure, offering to help him become village chief in exchange for supporting Konoha. Kakuzu agreed and seriously considered becoming the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, while Aokiji headed back to Konoha to join the war.

• Aokiji learned that an alliance of small nations and the Land of Wind had declared war on Konoha, and Kakuzu revealed that he had once been ordered to assassinate the First Hokage.
• Aokiji convinced Kakuzu that Takigakure's leaders had sent him on the mission because they feared his strength and potential to become village chief.
• Aokiji discouraged Kakuzu from seeking simple revenge and urged him to gather evidence, clear his name, and reclaim his place in Takigakure.
• Kakuzu agreed to help Konoha if Aokiji helped him return to Takigakure and become village chief, and Aokiji proposed that he become the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Aokiji abandoned his intelligence-gathering plans and returned to Konoha, while Kakuzu warned him not to die in the coming war.

Aokiji returned to Konoha as war broke out and received a mission to destroy enemy supply lines with a team led by Uchiha Aka. The team reached the edge of enemy territory and stopped to rest before going farther.

• Aokiji returned to the village, spoke with Fugaku and the Uchiha clan head, and learned that economic disparities had helped trigger the war.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Aokiji to a team led by Uchiha Aka rather than joining Orochimaru's squad.
• At Konoha's main gate, Aokiji met Uchiha Aka, medical ninja Kobai, and another teammate, then learned their mission was to destroy enemy supply lines with Anbu support.
• Uchiha Aka ordered the team to obey his commands and warned Aokiji not to act on his own.
• After traveling until dark, Uchiha Aka stopped the team to rest before they entered enemy territory.

Aokiji protected Kobai and their teammate from an ambush, then impressed Uchiha Aka with his growing strength over several months of missions. After returning to the village, Aokiji rejected Kobai’s invitation, while Uchiha Madara subdued Uchiha Aka and planned to lure Aokiji into becoming a Tailed Beast’s host.

• Uchiha Aka warned the team about an ambush, and Aokiji shielded Kobai and their teammate from a storm of needles with an ice shell before killing the attackers with Ice Chains.
• Over the following months, Aokiji handled increasingly powerful opponents, including Jonin-level ninja, and Uchiha Aka became more impressed by his abilities.
• After the team returned to the village, Kobai thanked Aokiji and invited him to spend time with her, but he rejected her directly.
• Uchiha Madara appeared in Uchiha Aka’s room, overwhelmed him with Mangekyō Sharingan power, and planned to use his identity to lure Aokiji and put a Tailed Beast inside him.

Aokiji and his team fled an Iwagakure ambush, but Uchiha Aka stayed behind to draw off the pursuers. Surrounded by dozens of Stone Hidden Village Anbu, Aokiji activated his Sharingan and Sage Mode Chakra and launched a fire technique, while masked Uchiha Madara watched him with interest.

• Aokiji and his teammates escaped the first attack, and Uchiha Aka caught up to warn them that more Iwagakure ninja were closing in.
• Uchiha Aka told the others to flee in separate directions and stayed behind as bait, deliberately protecting Aokiji's secret.
• Aokiji fled alone, but dozens of masked Iwagakure ninja caught up and surrounded him.
• Aokiji activated his Sharingan and Sage Mode Chakra, drawing the interest of masked Uchiha Madara among the enemy ranks.
• Aokiji dodged a shuriken, pinned it with Enma, and unleashed Fire Release: Searing Migraine.

Aokiji fought off a force of Stone Hidden Village Anbu but was eventually incapacitated and captured. As one Anbu prepared to take his Sharingan, Uchiha Madara intervened, ready to eliminate the Iwagakure ninjas and put the Five-Tails inside Aokiji.

• Aokiji used fire, ice, and Shadow Clones to try escaping the Stone Hidden Village Anbu, but their Earth Release techniques repeatedly surrounded him.
• The Anbu decided to capture Aokiji alive for experimentation after discovering his Ice Release, and he refused to surrender.
• Aokiji escaped an Earth Prison Dome with a Rasengan, but the prolonged fight exhausted him, and an Anbu struck him unconscious.
• An Anbu prepared to remove Aokiji's Sharingan, but a masked companion stopped him and revealed the red eyes and patterns of Uchiha Madara.
• Uchiha Madara decided to dispose of the Iwagakure ninjas and put the Five-Tails into Aokiji.

Uchiha Madara dropped the Five-Tails into Konoha, where it rampaged until an elderly woman restrained it. After learning that Aokiji was its Jinchuriki, Tsunade rushed to his side in the hospital, where Jiraiya and Orochimaru arrived as she cared for him.

• Uchiha Madara flew over Konoha with the unconscious Aokiji and used a seal to release the Five-Tails into the village.
• The Five-Tails rampaged through Konoha, destroying buildings, until an elderly woman bound it with chains.
• A messenger told Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade that the Five-Tails inside Aokiji had gone berserk, and Tsunade hurried back to the village.
• Tsunade found Aokiji in the hospital, comforted him, and brought him a cup of water.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru entered the ward as Tsunade prepared to give Aokiji the water.

Jiraiya discovered that Tsunade and Aokiji were a couple when they openly kissed in front of him. After accepting that his feelings for Tsunade had been one-sided, he congratulated them and asked Aokiji to teach him how to pick up girls.

• Jiraiya told Orochimaru he suspected Tsunade and Aokiji were secretly together, then rushed back to confront them.
• Tsunade admitted their relationship and kissed Aokiji in front of Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya lamented his unrequited love, while Orochimaru revealed he had already known about the couple.
• Jiraiya accepted that Tsunade had never returned his feelings and congratulated the couple, though he was upset they had kept it from him.
• Jiraiya asked Aokiji to teach him how to pick up girls, and Aokiji said Tsunade had pursued him.

Aokiji asked Jiraiya and Orochimaru to keep his relationship with Tsunade secret because he feared the villagers would turn against her for being with him. Tsunade agreed to his request but insisted she would stay by his side, and the conversation ended when the Hokage entered.

• Jiraiya realized Aokiji and Tsunade had been hiding their relationship and complained about being the only single man left.
• Aokiji asked Jiraiya not to spread word of his relationship with Tsunade, explaining that he feared the villagers' anger would drag her down.
• Tsunade said she did not care how others saw her and agreed to keep their relationship quiet after Aokiji asked her to do so.
• Tsunade clung to Aokiji and rejected the idea of breaking up, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru watched and teased them.
• Aokiji asked everyone to act as they always had to avoid being overheard, and the group chatted until the Hokage entered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen told Aokiji that he would face restrictions as the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, while Orochimaru warned that the village might discover Aokiji and Tsunade’s relationship. After learning of their romance, Hiruzen weighed how it affected his plans for Aokiji and decided to reveal the truth about Elder Itachi to bring Aokiji closer under his control.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Aokiji that he would remain under village surveillance until he could control the Five-Tails, and Aokiji agreed to follow the village’s arrangements.
• Orochimaru warned Aokiji and Tsunade that Sarutobi Hiruzen might learn about their relationship because the village was monitoring Aokiji.
• An Anbu ninja reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen that Tsunade and Uchiha Aokiji were secretly in a relationship, and Hiruzen ordered him to keep it secret and continue monitoring Aokiji.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen considered extracting the Five-Tails and his options for handling Aokiji, then decided to reveal the truth about Elder Itachi and use the opportunity to gain influence over Aokiji.

Aokiji met the Five-Tails Kokuō inside his seal and teased it while trying to establish a rapport. He admitted that he coveted its power and began explaining that sincerity was essential to becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki.

• After Tsunade left, Aokiji went to sleep in the hospital and found himself inside the Five-Tails' sealed space.
• Aokiji froze the water to make himself comfortable, then annoyed the Five-Tails by asking whether it had a gender and calling it “Little Five.”
• The Five-Tails attacked its iron gate in anger, but the sturdy seal held, and Aokiji waited for it to calm down.
• Aokiji told the Five-Tails he understood its anger and admitted that he wanted its power.
• Aokiji began explaining that sincerity was essential for a Jinchuriki to become a Perfect Jinchuriki.

Aokiji tried to build trust with the Five-Tails by acknowledging its suffering and explaining his hope of bringing peace. After weighing the risks of freeing it, he offered to break its seal, and the Five-Tails agreed, leaving Aokiji’s gamble about to begin.

• Aokiji told the Five-Tails he understood its hatred of humans and would not try to reform it.
• Aokiji said he wanted to use the Five-Tails’ power to bring peace to the world.
• Aokiji joked about freeing the Five-Tails, then explained that others could reseal it, betrayal would cost its trust, and he had the Sharingan.
• The Five-Tails said Aokiji’s Sharingan was far weaker than the one that had controlled it, prompting him to suspect Uchiha Madara had recently confronted it.
• Aokiji said he wanted an honest relationship with the Five-Tails and offered to release it, and the Five-Tails agreed.

Aokiji released the Five-Tails from its seal and hid the resulting Chakra surge from the Anbu monitoring him. The Five-Tails tested Aokiji’s composure, then revealed its Boil Release ability.

• Aokiji tore off the sealing talisman and opened the gate by manipulating the seal on his stomach.
• The Five-Tails charged at Aokiji, but stopped just before hitting him after sensing no malice.
• A huge Chakra surge drew the Anbu into Aokiji’s hospital room, where he claimed he had only gotten up to use the bathroom.
• Aokiji fooled the Anbu, who left after confirming he seemed fine.
• The Five-Tails explained that the steam-like vapor rising from its body was its Boil Release ability.

Aokiji questioned the Five-Tails about the Sharingan wielder who had once controlled it, then bargained with the beast for its cooperation. The Five-Tails agreed to help if Aokiji defeated it head-on, setting him on the path to becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki.

• Aokiji grew suspicious that someone had arranged for him to become the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and asked the beast about the person who controlled it with a Sharingan.
• The Five-Tails refused to describe the Sharingan wielder and mocked Aokiji as weak, while Aokiji accepted its contempt as a result of their unequal strength.
• Aokiji challenged the Five-Tails to a bet: if he defeated it within seven years, it would live peacefully with him and help when needed.
• Aokiji asked the Five-Tails about its dream, and the beast agreed to help him if he could defeat it head-on, promising to name its dream later.
• The Five-Tails asked Aokiji's name, and he introduced himself as Uchiha Clan Aokiji.

After leaving the hospital, Aokiji faced the villagers’ hatred without resisting and privately joked about Tsunade, frustrating the Five-Tails. When the Five-Tails threatened to kill Tsunade through his body, Aokiji warned it that extreme grief could awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan and force the beast to back down.

• An emotionless escort took Aokiji from the hospital on foot, and he followed despite suspecting the Hokage was testing him.
• Villagers glared at Aokiji, and a boy threw a stone that struck his head; Aokiji chose not to dodge while Tsunade watched and Orochimaru stopped her from intervening.
• The Five-Tails mocked Aokiji and urged him to use its power, but Aokiji joked about comforting himself by touching Tsunade’s chest and accused the beast of being jealous.
• The Five-Tails threatened to control Aokiji and kill Tsunade, so Aokiji confronted it with his Sharingan and warned that the shock could awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The Five-Tails fell silent and turned away, and Aokiji deactivated his Sharingan and ordered it not to threaten Tsunade again.

Aokiji met with Sarutobi Hiruzen, who explained the hidden circumstances behind Uchiha Itachi’s death and the plot to inflame hostility between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. Aokiji connected the Five-Tails attack, the Stone Tablet, and Elder Itachi’s clues to a scheme by Uchiha Madara, leaving him suspicious that Madara had been manipulating him.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Aokiji for bearing the villagers’ hostility and urged him to trust his companions.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that Elder Itachi had sacrificed himself to prevent war with Iwagakure after someone impersonating an Uchiha caused the Five-Tails incident.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen said the latest attack was meant to deepen the divide between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.
• Aokiji connected the Stone Tablet Elder Itachi had left him and the clues from Uchiha Aka’s group to Uchiha Madara’s plan to guide him toward awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Aokiji realized Elder Itachi might have been involved in Madara’s scheme and angrily accused Madara of manipulating his feelings.

Aokiji agreed to help Sarutobi Hiruzen investigate whoever was undermining relations between the Uchiha Clan and the village, after first learning to control the Five-Tails. Before accepting, he told Hiruzen that he and Tsunade had been dating, leaving Hiruzen stunned.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Aokiji for inheriting Itachi's will, and Aokiji promised to protect the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
• Aokiji volunteered to find the person secretly sabotaging relations between the Uchiha Clan and the village, and Hiruzen accepted after warning him to stay cautious.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen probed Aokiji about whether he had awakened the Sharingan, but Aokiji claimed he had only awakened Ice Release.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Aokiji to learn to control the Five-Tails before beginning the mission.
• Aokiji asked Hiruzen for a personal favor and revealed that he and Tsunade had recently started dating, surprising Hiruzen.

Aokiji sought Sarutobi Hiruzen’s advice about his relationship with Tsunade and considered how Uchiha Madara might use her against him. After talking with the Five-Tails, he realized how he could counter Madara’s plan to kill Tsunade.

• Aokiji told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he was dating Tsunade, and Sarutobi advised him to earn the villagers’ respect and keep the relationship private for now.
• Aokiji left the Hokage’s Office and reasoned that Uchiha Madara might capture Tsunade and make him witness her death to drive him berserk.
• Aokiji weighed delaying his battlefield deployment against the risk that Uchiha Madara would change his plan, while the Five-Tails questioned him about hiding his Sharingan.
• Aokiji explained that revealing his Sharingan could make him a target, and the Five-Tails sympathized with his fear of being coveted for his power.
• Aokiji joked with the Five-Tails and suddenly realized how to deal with Uchiha Madara when he came to kill Tsunade.

Aokiji planned to stay close to Tsunade to protect her from Uchiha Madara, but the village confined him to the Forest of Death until he could control the Five-Tails. There, Uzumaki Mito began guiding him and revealed that she knew about his relationship with Tsunade.

• Aokiji decided to threaten the Five-Tails with the prospect of being sealed into the Six Paths Demonic Statue so it would obey him.
• Aokiji resolved to live with Tsunade as her personal bodyguard to prevent Uchiha Madara from abducting her.
• The village took Aokiji to the Forest of Death and ordered him to remain there until he could control the Five-Tails' power.
• Aokiji crossed the barrier around the cabin, and the Five-Tails explained that it suppressed its power.
• Uzumaki Mito welcomed Aokiji, offered to help him control the Tailed Beast, and said she knew about him and Tsunade.