Chapter Summaries

Aokiji argued that Konoha’s leaders had engineered the Hyuga kidnapping to weaken the clan, then used the suspicious details of Kushina’s kidnapping and rescue to accuse them of staging a hero-saves-the-beauty scene. Hyuga Hiashi was left bewildered by Aokiji’s claims and the leaders’ alleged motives.

• Aokiji argued that Kumogakure had been baited into kidnapping Hyuga Hiashi’s daughter so Hiashi would kill the attacker and the village could demand Hizashi in her place.
• Aokiji told Hyuga Hiashi that the village’s higher-ups wanted to weaken powerful clans and cited the suspicious circumstances surrounding Kushina’s kidnapping as another example.
• Aokiji pointed out that Kushina could not plausibly have left hair as a trail while restrained, and that Konoha’s search team should have found any such clues.
• Aokiji reasoned that Minato Namikaze had been too inexperienced to rescue Kushina alone, suggesting Konoha’s search team had deliberately let him find her.
• Aokiji concluded that the higher-ups had staged Kushina’s kidnapping and rescue as a hero-saves-the-beauty scenario, leaving Hyuga Hiashi confused.

Aokiji tried to bring Hyuga Hiashi into the Uchiha Clan’s fight against Konoha’s higher-ups, arguing that their planned massacre made retaliation necessary. He then revealed that the Hyuga and Uchiha shared an ancient bloodline, leaving Hiashi stunned.

• Aokiji explained that Minato Namikaze’s ties to the Third Hokage and Kushina’s status as a Jinchuriki had helped secure his path to becoming Hokage, while Orochimaru had been deliberately disgraced by the higher-ups.
• Aokiji asked Hyuga Hiashi to join the Uchiha Clan in overthrowing Konoha’s higher-ups, then declared he planned to kill them and their clan members.
• Aokiji told Hizashi Hyuga that the higher-ups had planned to exterminate the Uchiha Clan before the coup and that he had stopped them after returning to the village.
• Aokiji warned Hizashi Hyuga that reporting their conversation would make him an enemy, then said he wanted the Hyuga Clan to share in the spoils of victory.
• Aokiji revealed that the Hyuga and Uchiha clans were related by blood, explaining that the Hyuga descended from the other bloodline of the god who brought Chakra into the world.

Aokiji persuaded Hyuga Hiashi to support the Uchiha Clan after the coup by revealing the Byakugan’s evolved form, the Tenseigan, and promising help with its awakening. Hiashi agreed to the alliance, while Aokiji revealed his ambition to unite the Land of Fire under a new system and offered a marriage alliance between their clans.

• Aokiji told Hyuga Hiashi that the Byakugan could evolve into the Tenseigan, but refused to explain how to unlock it unless the Hyuga Clan sided with him.
• Hyuga Hiashi asked how Aokiji would face Tsunade after reviving her, and Aokiji said he planned to give her the Hokage position.
• Aokiji declared that after taking over the village, he intended to unite the Land of Fire under a one-country system called the Land of Flame.
• Hyuga Hiashi accepted Aokiji’s offer and agreed that the Hyuga Clan would support the Uchiha Clan after the coup.
• Aokiji suggested a marriage alliance between the clans, proposing that Hiashi’s daughter and Sasuke could marry.

Aokiji infiltrated Akatsuki disguised as Raiga, but Deva Path Pain saw through him. Aokiji challenged Pain and struck him with Soul Fire, leaving the assembled Akatsuki members stunned.

• Juzo and Orochimaru recruited the disguised Aokiji, posing as Raiga, and brought him to Akatsuki's gathering.
• Deva Path Pain recognized Aokiji's disguise, prompting Aokiji to reveal himself and challenge Pain.
• Aokiji's Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique drew out Pain's Shinra Tensei, which blasted the fire dragons apart.
• Aokiji used Soul Fire to catch Pain off guard and punch him into a cave wall.
• Aokiji's white-haired, red-eyed form appeared beside a half-humanoid blue creature, astonishing Konan and Juzo.

Uchiha Aokiji attacked the Akatsuki hideout, seized White Zetsu, and escaped with Orochimaru aboard Soul Fire. Pain used Banshō Ten'in to drag Aokiji back toward the ground.

• Aokiji unleashed Great Fire Annihilation, and Kisame countered it with a massive Water Release.
• Orochimaru paralyzed Black-and-White Zetsu with a Cursed Seal and revealed his alliance with Aokiji before Sasori and Kisame forced him to retreat.
• Aokiji used Susanoo to withstand attacks from Sasori and Konan, then Soul Fire smashed Sasori's Hiruko puppet and seized White Zetsu.
• Sasori summoned a hundred puppets, but Aokiji set them ablaze with Soul Fire and flew away with Orochimaru and White Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu urged Pain to stop Aokiji, and Pain used Banshō Ten'in to pull him back toward the ground.

Aokiji and Orochimaru escaped Akatsuki after Aokiji overwhelmed Deva Path Pain with Susanoo and rescued White Zetsu’s body. At a safe base, Aokiji explained his vision of unifying the world under one nation, and Orochimaru became interested in watching his plans unfold.

• Aokiji used Crow Tengu Susanoo to overpower Deva Path Pain’s Shinra Tensei, rescue Orochimaru, and kill an Akatsuki member.
• Aokiji and Orochimaru escaped with White Zetsu’s corpse, while Pain asked Sasori about his spy near Orochimaru.
• At Orochimaru’s nearby base, Aokiji showed no objection to his experiments and compared them with the Second Hokage’s research.
• Aokiji dismissed the search for a Child of Prophecy and described his ideal as benevolence backed by absolute power and the rule of law.
• Aokiji said lasting peace required either eliminating all nations or uniting them into one, and he chose to bear the sacrifices and darkness involved.
• Orochimaru said he had once wanted to become the wind that turned the windmill, but now found waiting for the wind to rise more interesting.

Aokiji and Orochimaru studied White Zetsu’s Hashirama Cells and discussed how the Uchiha and Senju powers might awaken the Rinnegan, while Aokiji laid out his theory that Uchiha Madara was still alive and controlling Akatsuki. After receiving the cells and proposing a plan to modify Impure World Reincarnation, Aokiji obtained Shisui’s eyes from Itachi and planned to use Kotoamatsukami on Sarutobi Asuma to make him massacre the Sarutobi Clan.

• Orochimaru examined White Zetsu’s corpse and found its Hashirama Cells stable enough to extract and transplant into Aokiji.
• Aokiji explained his theory that combining Uchiha and Senju powers could awaken the Rinnegan, and that Uchiha Madara had survived by using Izanagi.
• Orochimaru extracted White Zetsu’s cells and injected them into Aokiji, who felt his chakra increase and his Mangekyō Sharingan side effects lessen.
• Aokiji asked Orochimaru to modify Impure World Reincarnation so revived corpses could use Wood Release, as part of a plan involving Tsunade and Dragon Blood Reincarnation.
• Itachi gave Shisui’s eyes to Aokiji, who planned to use Kotoamatsukami on Sarutobi Asuma and make him slaughter the Sarutobi Clan while sparing Konohamaru.

Aokiji explained the abilities and limits of Shisui's and Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan, then proposed using Itachi's eyes to help Sasuke gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. He also hinted at a coming calamity and left with Itachi, promising to introduce him to someone that night.

• Itachi told Aokiji that Danzo possessed Shisui's other Kotoamatsukami eye, and Aokiji took the remaining eye for his use.
• Aokiji explained that Mangekyō abilities reflected a person's state of mind and talent, and said Sasuke had the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Aokiji described how Uchiha Madara gained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan by combining his eyes with his younger brother's, and proposed that Itachi give his Mangekyō Sharingan to Sasuke.
• Aokiji offered Itachi Shisui's eyes after the transfer, and Itachi accepted the plan for Sasuke and the Uchiha Clan.
• Aokiji warned Itachi of a future calamity and said he needed power to control the village and the Land of Fire, but refused to explain further.
• Aokiji invited himself to Itachi's home for food and promised to introduce him to someone that night.

Aokiji strengthened the Uchiha Clan with Hashirama Cell serum and secured Itachi’s loyalty by revealing it could reduce the Mangekyō Sharingan’s side effects. He then gave the serum to Hyuga Hiashi, who decided to go along with Aokiji’s plans.

• Aokiji ordered Itachi to resign from the Anbu and told the Uchiha clansmen to remain patient while he made final preparations.
• Aokiji introduced Orochimaru as a trusted companion and presented serum that could permanently increase Chakra.
• A clansman and Fugaku tested the serum, and Aokiji explained that it was made from the First Hokage’s cells and would be distributed under his supervision.
• Aokiji privately gave Itachi a vial and revealed that the serum could reduce the Mangekyō Sharingan’s side effects, so Itachi accepted it.
• Aokiji visited Hyuga Hiashi and gave him serum to test; after feeling its effects, Hiashi concluded that he had to go along with Aokiji’s plans.

Uchiha Aokiji and Uchiha Itachi visited Asuma at the Daimyo’s Estate and asked him to help Aokiji become Hokage so he could change the Uchiha Clan’s predicament. After showing Asuma evidence that Konoha’s leaders planned to destroy the clan and had ordered Itachi to kill his own people, Aokiji asked Asuma to do what Itachi had done.

• Asuma discussed Kazuma’s conflict with the Twelve Guardian Ninja with Chiriku, then returned to his room to sleep.
• Aokiji and Itachi entered Asuma’s room and asked him to support Aokiji’s bid to become Hokage.
• Asuma doubted he could influence Sarutobi Hiruzen, but Aokiji said Asuma had more influence than he realized.
• Itachi used his Sharingan to show Asuma Konoha’s leaders discussing the Uchiha Clan’s planned coup and their intent to wipe out the clan.
• Asuma watched Danzō order Itachi to slaughter his clansmen, and Aokiji asked Asuma to do the same thing Itachi had done.

Aokiji threatened Asuma into sacrificing the Sarutobi Clan for the greater good, then used Kotoamatsukami to control him. Afterward, he took Itachi to a pleasure house, where he planned to eat and influence the boy.

• Aokiji demanded that Asuma kill his own clan to prevent a destructive conflict, offering to spare Konohamaru and Yuhi Kurenai if he agreed.
• Asuma revealed the Six-Tails' Chakra, but Itachi showed his Mangekyo Sharingan, and Aokiji declared his plans to take over Konoha and abolish the Land of Fire's existing system.
• Aokiji tricked Asuma into lowering his guard and used Kotoamatsukami on him, exhausting his Chakra in the process.
• Aokiji explained to Itachi that the Uchiha Clan had to rule to escape the rulers' distrust, then brought him to the Heavenly Human World.
• Aokiji ordered food in a quiet room and began eating while preparing to share his ideas with Itachi.

Aokiji taught Itachi to question the village’s ideals and explained that the ruling class had destroyed White Fang’s reputation to protect its power. After returning to Konoha and learning that Kakashi’s Sharingan had been stolen, Aokiji identified Obito as the culprit and resolved to use Itachi and other tactics against Obito’s Double Kamui.

• Aokiji used the courtesans’ exploitation and the Daimyo’s wartime austerity story to teach Itachi how those in power concealed selfish motives behind noble claims.
• Aokiji explained that the Will of Fire had been turned into a tool for the ruling class and said the village’s leaders had smeared White Fang for choosing his comrades over a mission.
• Aokiji told Itachi that the village had destroyed White Fang’s reputation because his example threatened its values, and he urged Itachi to help build a new era alongside him.
• Aokiji returned to Konoha, where Fugaku told him that Kakashi’s Sharingan had been stolen and the village suspected the Uchiha Clan.
• Aokiji concluded that Obito had taken Kakashi’s eye to provoke conflict and strengthen his Double Kamui, then considered using Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and another trump card against him.

Aokiji visited Kakashi, prepared the Uchiha Clan for a coming conflict, and orchestrated Sarutobi Hiruzen’s assassination through Asuma. He left with Fugaku and his allies, looking forward to confronting Danzo next.

• Aokiji visited Kakashi in the hospital, denied taking his eye, and offered him another Sharingan, which Kakashi refused.
• Aokiji told Fugaku to ignore the Hokage’s overtures and prepare the Uchiha Clan to settle matters.
• Asuma poisoned and stabbed his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, while Aokiji arrived and accused Hiruzen of responsibility for Tsunade’s death.
• Aokiji showed Hiruzen the severed head of a spy and explained that Asuma had chosen the greater good by siding with the Uchiha Clan.
• Asuma stabbed Hiruzen in the throat, and Aokiji ordered his companions to leave the murder weapon and fingerprints at the scene.
• Aokiji rejoined Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Inabi, then said he hoped Danzo would provide a more challenging fight.

Aokiji and Itachi attacked Danzo at Root, overpowering him and taking Shisui’s Sharingan. The chapter ended with Aokiji securing the second eye needed for a pair of Kotoamatsukami.

• Aokiji brought Itachi and Hyuga Hiashi to Danzo’s room and told the Uchiha Clan members to wait for his signal.
• Itachi confronted Danzo over Shisui’s death, while Aokiji revealed that he had identified and killed Danzo’s spies, Gyūki and Meizu.
• Danzo tried to escape and summoned Baku, but Aokiji’s Susanoo pinned the beast down as Aokiji and Itachi beat Danzo.
• Aokiji reached for Danzo’s bandaged right eye, and Danzo tried to use Izanagi but failed to reverse the attack.
• Aokiji gouged out Shisui’s eye and placed it in a glass container, completing his pair of Kotoamatsukami.

Aokiji and the Uchiha Clan defeated Danzo and Root, while Hyuga Hiashi revealed how he had stopped Danzo from using Izanagi. After learning the truth about White Fang’s death, Aokiji had Itachi break Danzo’s mind with Tsukuyomi, killed him, and ordered the others to eliminate the remaining higher-ups.

• Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan joined Aokiji and overwhelmed Root, trapping the retreating ninja in the Uchiha Flame Formation.
• Aokiji captured Danzo, and Hyuga Hiashi revealed that he had disguised himself as Uchiha Itachi and sealed Danzo’s chakra points.
• Danzo accused Aokiji of killing Hiruzen, but Aokiji said Asuma had done it and described his plan to become Hokage and create the Land of Flame.
• Aokiji questioned Danzo about White Fang’s death, and Danzo explained how the village’s leadership had caused it.
• Aokiji had Itachi use Tsukuyomi to torment Danzo, then stabbed him through the throat and ordered the others to kill the remaining higher-ups.

Shikaku discovered that Sarutobi Hiruzen and other village leaders had been murdered overnight, while Jiraiya suspected Aokiji was responsible. Jiraiya confronted Aokiji at the Uchiha Clan Compound and asked whether he had killed Minato.

• Shikaku found Sarutobi Hiruzen dead and ordered the murder kept secret until a new Hokage was chosen.
• Shikaku learned that Koharu and Homura were also dead, while Danzo's whereabouts remained unknown.
• Jiraiya arrived at the Hokage's residence, heard Shikaku's account, and left to confront Aokiji.
• Jiraiya challenged the Uchiha members who objected to his insults, but Aokiji stopped the standoff and spoke with him alone.
• Jiraiya asked Aokiji whether he had killed Minato, and Aokiji reacted with surprise.

Aokiji admitted to Jiraiya that he had destroyed the families behind Konoha’s elders and vowed to seize power, become Hokage, and rule the world. He left to attend a meeting about the Hokage election, while Jiraiya watched helplessly.

• Jiraiya confronted Aokiji about the Third Hokage’s death, and Aokiji denied killing him but claimed responsibility for destroying the families behind the elders.
• Aokiji said he had killed those families to protect the Uchiha Clan and intended to take control of the village, the Land of Fire, and eventually the world.
• Jiraiya condemned Aokiji’s cruelty and punched him, but Aokiji summoned Soul Fire and warned Jiraiya not to expose his crimes or interfere.
• Uchiha Clan members arrived to tell Aokiji that the village had called a meeting about the Hokage election.
• Aokiji left for the meeting, saying he would be nominated as Hokage, while Jiraiya told him that fear would not make him a true Hokage.

Yamanaka Inoichi discovered that Sarutobi Asuma had killed the Third Hokage, while Uchiha Aokiji’s role remained hidden from the crowd. Nara Shikaku blamed Asuma for the murders and declared him an S-rank Rogue Ninja before moving on to the Hokage election.

• Yamanaka Inoichi searched the memories of the four dead officials and saw Asuma attack Sarutobi Hiruzen, followed by Uchiha Aokiji entering the room.
• Yamanaka Inoichi told Nara Shikaku the hidden details, and Shikaku reacted with shock.
• Under pressure from the crowd and Aokiji’s threat, Nara Shikaku announced that Asuma had killed the Third Hokage.
• Nara Shikaku argued that Asuma had accomplices and named him an S-rank Rogue Ninja with the highest-tier bounty.
• Nara Shikaku called for the election of a new Hokage.

After the higher-ups were killed, Aokiji maneuvered the meeting into appointing him Acting Hokage while publicly insisting he did not want the position. He later revealed to Jiraiya that Konohamaru had been spared under a deal with Asuma, and Jiraiya left Konoha with the child before encountering Orochimaru.

• Hizashi Hyuga nominated Aokiji for Hokage, and the major clans began supporting him as the Uchiha and Hyuga joined forces.
• Uchiha Inabi argued that Aokiji should become Hokage, while Aokiji intimidated the gathering with his powerful Chakra and claimed he wanted no part of the position.
• Jiraiya declined the nomination, and Nara Shikaku proposed that Aokiji serve as Acting Hokage until a suitable successor was found.
• Aokiji reluctantly accepted the temporary Hokage position and ordered an investigation into Asuma and the others who had killed the higher-ups.
• Aokiji told Jiraiya that he had spared Konohamaru as part of his deal with Asuma and urged Jiraiya to take the child away from Konoha.
• Jiraiya carried Konohamaru out of the village and came face-to-face with Orochimaru.

Jiraiya rejected Orochimaru’s invitation to return to the village, while Aokiji began reshaping Konoha through new policies and plans for compulsory education. He left Nara Shikaku facing a choice between supporting his ambitions to transform the Land of Fire or clinging to the old order, and announced that Orochimaru would return.

• Orochimaru told Jiraiya he planned to live in the village and help Aokiji revive Tsunade, but Jiraiya refused to return with him.
• Aokiji found that the forbidden jutsu archive was missing Impure World Reincarnation and the Eight Branches Technique, then returned to his office to consider finding a secretary.
• Fugaku and Nara Shikaku reported that several great clans, including the Sarutobi Clan, had taken kickbacks, and Aokiji ordered them to keep the discovery secret.
• Aokiji told Nara Shikaku he planned to expand the Ninja Academy and establish nine years of compulsory education, then described welfare policies and his intention to secure funding by force if necessary.
• Aokiji declared that he would replace the one country, one village system by taking the Land of Fire and creating a new nation, and asked Nara Shikaku to follow him.
• Aokiji informed Nara Shikaku that Orochimaru would soon return to the village and that he would revoke Orochimaru’s Rogue Ninja status.