Chapter Summaries

Aokiji challenged Konoha’s treatment of the Uchiha Clan and announced that the clan would withdraw from the Konoha Military Police Force. After Fugaku revealed that Aokiji had become clan head, the meeting ended with Jiraiya seeking a private conversation with him.

• Aokiji questioned why the Uchiha Clan had been moved to the village outskirts, and Sarutobi Hiruzen defended the decision as necessary for stability after Nine-Tails Night.
• Aokiji’s clansmen grew angry when a ninja accused the Uchiha Clan of blaming others for its problems, but Aokiji stopped them from attacking.
• Aokiji announced that the Uchiha Clan would withdraw from the Konoha Military Police Force, prompting Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya to object.
• Fugaku revealed that he was no longer clan head and that the Uchiha Clan’s leadership had passed to Aokiji, though only four people knew so far.
• After the meeting, Jiraiya met Aokiji privately, and Aokiji asked what he wanted to discuss.

Jiraiya confronted Aokiji, who hinted that Hiruzen had wronged both him and Tsunade, then went to question Hiruzen. Danzo claimed Aokiji had plotted to kidnap the Fire Country Daimyo's Son and that Danzo had killed him to protect Konoha; Jiraiya ended by asking what had happened to Tsunade.

• Aokiji refused to tell Jiraiya what Hiruzen had done to him and Tsunade, then left.
• Jiraiya entered the Hokage meeting and asked Hiruzen for answers, while Danzo stayed behind to join their conversation.
• Danzo described Aokiji as childish and accused him of planning the kidnapping of the Fire Country Daimyo's Son and later plotting revenge.
• Jiraiya grabbed Danzo by the collar and accused him of killing Aokiji, but Danzo argued that Aokiji had threatened Konoha.
• Jiraiya struggled with Danzo's explanation and asked what had happened to Tsunade.

Danzo manipulated Jiraiya by claiming Aokiji had been revived and was responsible for the Nine-Tails attack, then urged him to become Hokage. Sarutobi Hiruzen instead recommended Dan Katō, and Jiraiya left determined to uncover the person supposedly controlling Aokiji.

• Danzo told Jiraiya that his actions had led to Tsunade's death and asked him to help the village through its crisis.
• Danzo urged Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage, claiming the change could help bring Aokiji back from the wrong path.
• Danzo claimed someone had revived Aokiji, manipulated him into blaming Konoha for Tsunade's death, and used his Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya rejected the claim that Aokiji had caused Minato and Kushina's deaths, but Danzo's argument left him uncertain.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recommended Dan Katō for Hokage and asked Jiraiya to investigate the supposed mastermind behind Aokiji.
• Jiraiya apologized to Sarutobi Hiruzen and left determined to uncover the person manipulating Aokiji.

Aokiji took control of the Uchiha Clan and announced the disbandment of the Konoha Military Police Force, rallying the clan while spies reported the move to Danzo and Obito. Elsewhere, Kabuto Yakushi declined a date and went home, where a mysterious figure with crimson eyes appeared at his window.

• At the Uchiha handover ceremony, Itachi watched his father step down and worried about Aokiji’s plans for the clan.
• Aokiji announced the disbandment of the Konoha Military Police Force and persuaded the Uchiha to unite behind him.
• Meizu reported the meeting to Danzo, who considered taking Shisui’s other eye; Obito also decided to reclaim his eye and use the turmoil against the Uchiha.
• Kabuto Yakushi healed an injured girl with Medical Ninjutsu and politely declined a date with a fellow ninja so he could study.
• Kabuto returned home and went to bed, but a crimson-eyed figure appeared at his window, prompting him to leap up with a shuriken.

Uchiha Aokiji forced Kabuto Yakushi to arrange a meeting with Orochimaru, while Fugaku delivered the Uchiha Clan’s resignation to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Aokiji reached Orochimaru’s hideout and greeted him face to face.

• Aokiji confronted Kabuto Yakushi, exposed him as Orochimaru’s spy, and ordered him to arrange a meeting without revealing Aokiji’s involvement.
• Fugaku presented the Uchiha Clan’s resignation to Sarutobi Hiruzen and explained that Aokiji was seeking sponsorship instead of accepting the village’s pay.
• Kabuto Yakushi led Aokiji through the forest and into Orochimaru’s hidden base.
• Orochimaru realized Kabuto had been followed and faced Aokiji, who greeted him after a long absence.

Aokiji recruited Orochimaru by offering him a chance to learn the truth of the world, then arranged a partnership involving Dragon Blood Reincarnation and Akatsuki’s Zetsu. Orochimaru guided Aokiji to Ryūchi Cave, where Aokiji realized they had entered a trial that had brought them back to their starting point.

• Aokiji persuaded Orochimaru to work with him by promising to show him the truth of the world.
• Aokiji gave Orochimaru the Dragon Blood Reincarnation Technique and asked him to help research it.
• Aokiji asked Orochimaru to arrange a meeting with Zetsu, while Orochimaru requested help capturing his partner.
• Aokiji asked Orochimaru to take him to Ryūchi Cave so he could learn Sage Art, and Orochimaru agreed.
• Orochimaru guided Aokiji through the eerie fog near Rōran, where Aokiji noticed their footprints and realized they had returned to where they started.

Aokiji followed Orochimaru into Ryūchi Cave and was greeted by its gatekeeper, Tagitsuhime, who tried to trick him with poisoned food. When she attacked, Aokiji revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and shattered her illusory dimension.

• Aokiji sensed three watchers following him and continued through the mist with Orochimaru.
• Tagitsuhime welcomed Aokiji to Ryūchi Cave and said Orochimaru had gone to seek the White Snake Sage’s permission to meet him.
• Tagitsuhime offered Aokiji food, but he made her eat the meat bun first.
• Aokiji punched Tagitsuhime, exposing her monstrous form and the snake-filled dimension she had created.
• Aokiji revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan, and its power shattered Tagitsuhime’s dimension.

Aokiji shattered Tagitsuhime’s Genjutsu and impressed the Ryūchi Cave sages, leading Ichikishimahime to bring him before the White Snake Sage. The White Snake Sage examined Aokiji’s unusual Sage Art and shadow, and he began explaining where his system came from.

• Aokiji dispelled Tagitsuhime’s Genjutsu, but Ichikishimahime stopped her from attacking because the White Snake Sage allowed her to eat only those who failed the trials.
• Orochimaru said Aokiji was stronger than he was, so Ichikishimahime ended the trials and led Aokiji to the White Snake Sage.
• Aokiji met the White Snake Sage, who used a technique that revealed serpentine shadows for Ichikishimahime and Tagitsuhime and a vast winged shadow for him.
• Aokiji told Orochimaru that he had stopped being human, prompting Orochimaru to admire his bold transformation.
• The White Snake Sage sensed that Aokiji’s Sage Art system was not made for humans and asked where he had obtained it, and Aokiji gave her a general explanation.

Aokiji challenged the White Snake Sage to a fight in exchange for Sage Art and help stabilizing the natural energy in his body. The White Snake Sage transformed into a gigantic serpent, and Aokiji activated his Mangekyō Sharingan as the battle began.

• Orochimaru and Aokiji discussed Aokiji’s good fortune and his desire to obtain more Sage Art.
• Aokiji challenged the White Snake Sage instead of undergoing her usual trials, and she promised to grant his request and stabilize his natural energy if he entertained her.
• The White Snake Sage led Aokiji, Orochimaru, and her attendants to a clearing so they could fight without damaging her home.
• The White Snake Sage released her intimidating aura, and Aokiji countered its pressure with his Sharingan and Chakra.
• The White Snake Sage transformed into a mountain-sized white snake, and Aokiji’s three tomoe changed into snowflake-shaped patterns.

Aokiji fought the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave, revealing his Soul Fire Dojutsu and combining it with Susanoo. The White Snake Sage transformed into a Flood Dragon and prepared to continue the battle.

• The White Snake Sage attacked Aokiji with a Sage Art pillar of fire, and Soul Fire blocked it.
• Aokiji explained that Soul Fire could freeze even souls and revealed that it had absorbed Moryo's soul.
• The White Snake Sage battered Soul Fire with her tail, coiled around it, and forced Aokiji to dismiss it.
• The White Snake Sage fired corrosive venom at Aokiji, who defended himself with Susanoo.
• Aokiji combined Soul Fire with Susanoo to create an armored form, and the White Snake Sage transformed into a Flood Dragon.
• The White Snake Sage challenged Aokiji to another round, and he prepared to fight.

After the White Snake Sage transformed Aokiji into a gigantic Ice Dragon, she agreed to teach him a Sage Art so he could regain control of his form. Several days later, Aokiji had returned to a youthful human appearance, but his body remained extraordinarily cold.

• The White Snake Sage injected Sage Mode Chakra and some of her source power into Aokiji, causing him to grow and transform into a colossal Ice Dragon.
• Aokiji realized he could not return to human form, threatened to destroy the White Snake Sage’s temple, and persuaded her to teach him a Sage Art.
• Aokiji sent Orochimaru’s clone back to the Akatsuki, where Orochimaru planned to eliminate Hiruko and draw Zetsu into a new team.
• Several days later, Orochimaru returned to Ryūchi Cave and found Aokiji in his youthful human form.
• Aokiji showed Orochimaru that his body temperature was far below freezing.

Aokiji accepted Orochimaru’s opportunity and obtained a cloak from the White Snake Sage to conceal the chill from his body. She then tasked him with retrieving Garaga’s reverse scale, and Manda agreed to guide him after Aokiji demonstrated his Mangekyō Sharingan and Soul Fire.

• Aokiji declined Orochimaru’s offer to examine him, agreed to act on the new opportunity, and promised to ambush at the agreed location.
• Aokiji asked the White Snake Sage for something to conceal his body’s chill, and she gave him a gray cloak.
• The White Snake Sage asked Aokiji to retrieve Garaga’s reverse scale and make Garaga his Summoned Beast.
• Aokiji entered the giant snakes’ territory and encountered Manda after the snake had killed a giant lizard.
• Aokiji summoned Soul Fire and challenged Manda, who backed down and agreed to lead him to Garaga.

Uchiha Aokiji subdued Garaga and used his memories to reveal that Garaga’s master had blinded him to save his life, ending Garaga’s hatred of humans and leaving him deeply depressed. Aokiji returned to the White Snake Sage with Garaga’s reverse scale, signed Ryūchi Cave’s contract scroll, and left.

• Manda brought Uchiha Aokiji to Garaga, who attacked after Aokiji announced that he wanted Garaga’s reverse scale and offered to heal his eye in exchange for a contract.
• Aokiji and Soul Fire quickly subdued Garaga, and Aokiji used the Mangekyō Sharingan while touching Garaga’s reverse scale to see his memories.
• Aokiji explained that Garaga’s master had injured him to make their enemies believe they had turned against each other and protect Garaga; Garaga realized his master had tried to save him.
• Aokiji released Garaga, who called himself an idiot and a clown, while Manda wondered why their fight had stopped.
• Aokiji returned to the White Snake Sage with Garaga and the reverse scale, then signed his name on Ryūchi Cave’s contract scroll.

Pain questioned Orochimaru about Hiruko’s disappearance and learned that Uchiha Aokiji had been involved, while Akatsuki arranged a new partner for Orochimaru. Aokiji learned that Raiga Kurosuki was the planned recruit and decided to find him first, leaving to seek intelligence from Kabuto.

• Pain asked Orochimaru where Hiruko was, and Orochimaru claimed Hiruko had probably been killed after they encountered Uchiha Aokiji.
• Orochimaru and Sasori argued until Pain ordered them to stop and asked Orochimaru for information about Aokiji.
• Pain assigned Sasori to partner with Orochimaru, but both refused, so White Zetsu proposed recruiting Raiga Kurosuki instead.
• After the meeting, Pain, Zetsu, Konan, and Sasori discussed their suspicions of Orochimaru and agreed to monitor him.
• Orochimaru told Aokiji that Akatsuki planned to recruit Raiga Kurosuki and warned that Pain might attend the meeting.
• Aokiji decided to find Raiga before Akatsuki did and planned to return to the village to get intelligence from Kabuto.

Aokiji gathered information on Raiga Kurosuki, used his adult appearance to investigate Konoha and reconnect with the Uchiha, then privately confronted Itachi about his Mangekyō Sharingan. The chapter ended as Aokiji brought up Uchiha Shisui and startled Itachi.

• Aokiji met Kabuto through a Shadow Clone and learned Raiga Kurosuki's information from Kabuto's illustrated volume.
• Aokiji disguised himself as Raiga Kurosuki and robbed a rich merchant, while another Shadow Clone observed the Konoha Military Police Force and revealed himself to the former Uchiha administrator.
• Aokiji helped the city administrator resolve a dispute, then visited Fugaku and Mikoto before going to watch Sasuke and Itachi train.
• Aokiji sparred with Itachi and hinted that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, prompting Itachi to agree to speak with him that night.
• Aokiji told Itachi he had deduced his Mangekyō Sharingan from his strength and testing him in their spar, then brought up Uchiha Shisui.

Aokiji confronted Itachi about Danzo’s murder of Shisui and condemned Itachi’s role in the Uchiha massacre, then explained how Danzo had caused Tsunade’s death and shaped his own revenge. The chapter ended with Aokiji rejecting the idea that his actions were the problem and declaring that the world was at fault.

• Aokiji told Itachi that he had uncovered Danzo’s murder of Shisui and the order Itachi received before the coup by interrogating Root spies Meizu and Gyūki.
• Aokiji berated Itachi for claiming he had acted for the greater good, arguing that sparing Sasuke served Itachi’s own wishes and left Sasuke trapped in a lie.
• Aokiji inferred that Shisui and Itachi had curved-tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan and explained how Shisui’s eyes, poisoning, and death had led to Itachi’s awakening.
• Itachi realized that Aokiji’s grief over Tsunade’s death, which Aokiji blamed on Danzo, had driven his return and conflict with the village.
• Aokiji told Itachi his story, then dismissed Itachi’s suggestion that revenge had worsened events and declared that the world was wrong.

Aokiji confronted Itachi over his planned revenge and tried to show him how Sarutobi Hiruzen had manipulated Konoha’s people and political narratives. The chapter ended as Aokiji introduced his next claim: that Danzo was merely a scapegoat.

• Aokiji told Itachi he intended to retaliate against the higher-ups after they tried to wipe out his clan, and rejected Itachi’s defense of Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Aokiji said he would explain Sarutobi Hiruzen’s political conduct to Itachi, whom he regarded as Fugaku and Mikoto’s nephew.
• Aokiji argued that Sarutobi Hiruzen had approved the ninja textbooks’ claim that he was the strongest Hokage to bolster his authority and influence children.
• Aokiji explained that Naruto’s loneliness and mistreatment could make him devoted to anyone who openly cared for him, framing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s approach as an open scheme.
• Aokiji called Danzo a scapegoat, leaving Itachi stunned.

Aokiji challenged Itachi’s belief that the Uchiha deserved their treatment, arguing that the village’s leaders had manipulated him by praising him for thinking from the Hokage’s perspective. He left Itachi confronting the clan’s grievances and the claim that its planned uprising was a desperate pursuit of fairness.

• Aokiji explained that Danzo’s Root served as a Black Hand, with Sarutobi Hiruzen shielding him and benefiting from his actions.
• Aokiji told Itachi that the village had long targeted the Uchiha and argued that Itachi had internalized the belief that the clan brought its troubles upon itself.
• Aokiji connected Itachi’s childhood praise for viewing problems from the Hokage’s perspective to political manipulation, explaining that it meant prioritizing the Hokage’s interests.
• Aokiji described the Uchiha’s growing exclusion, lack of authority, and failed attempts to resolve their grievances through politics.
• Aokiji defended the clan’s planned use of force as a desperate effort to secure fairness for themselves and future generations, then challenged Itachi to define the bigger picture.

Aokiji exposed his suspicions about Konoha’s leaders to Itachi and gave him three days to choose sides, apologize to Fugaku, and reveal his Mangekyō abilities. Itachi decided to leave the Anbu, reconciled with Sasuke, and confessed everything to Fugaku, who forgave him.

• Aokiji accused Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha’s upper echelon of engineering the Hyuga incident to weaken the Hyuga Clan, then demanded that Itachi choose a side within three days.
• Aokiji warned that he would begin retaliating against the upper echelon in three days and told Itachi to confess to Fugaku and reveal the Mangekyō Sharingan abilities he and Shisui possessed.
• Itachi decided to quit the Anbu, promised Sasuke he would train with him, and went to speak with Fugaku.
• Itachi apologized to Fugaku and revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan before confessing what had happened.
• Fugaku forgave Itachi, accepted that the past could not be changed, and said the Uchiha owed Aokiji another favor.

Uchiha Aokiji visited Hyuga Hiashi and asked him to publicly support his bid to become Hokage, but Hiashi refused. Aokiji then challenged Hiashi’s trust in Konoha’s leadership by suggesting the higher-ups had leaked information that enabled Kumogakure to target Hinata.

• Hyuga Hiashi reprimanded Hinata during her training and criticized her lack of talent.
• Aokiji arrived at the Hyuga estate, and Hiashi took him to a private room to talk.
• Aokiji asked Hiashi to support his future bid for Hokage, but Hiashi refused to involve the Hyuga Clan.
• Aokiji revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and said the Uchiha could not become Hokage through the proper channels.
• Aokiji suggested Konoha’s higher-ups had leaked information that helped Kumogakure reach Hinata, and challenged Hiashi’s faith in the Hokage.