Chapter Summaries

While Watanabe Ichiro prepared to withdraw his spirit body, he discovered Black Zetsu near Tobirama Senju’s laboratory and rushed there. He arrived just as Black Zetsu, concealed against Tobirama Senju, pierced Tobirama’s heart.

• Black Zetsu tried to tempt Tobirama Senju with talk of the Sage of Six Paths and Infinite Tsukuyomi, but Tobirama attacked him.
• Kagami Uchiha and Senju Toka visited Uchiha Ichiro, eased their worries when he seemed well, and said goodbye.
• After Jiraiya and the others and then Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had visited, Watanabe Ichiro decided to log off before Tobirama Senju’s predicted deadline.
• Uchiha Ichiro noticed Black Zetsu’s marker at Tobirama Senju’s laboratory and hurried there, fearing Tobirama was in danger.
• Tobirama Senju told Ichiro he had driven Black Zetsu away, but Black Zetsu’s concealed hand suddenly pierced Tobirama’s heart.

Black Zetsu pierced Tobirama Senju's heart and tried to take his Rinnegan, but Uchiha Ichiro's ability shifted the damage and Tobirama countered with prepared Sealing Jutsu. The battle ended with the Reaper Death Seal activating against Black Zetsu.

• Black Zetsu pierced Tobirama Senju's heart, and Tobirama realized Black Zetsu had been targeting him since their earlier battle.
• Uchiha Ichiro activated his Rinnegan ability, Sovereign, reducing Tobirama Senju's injuries and transferring the damage to Black Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu endured the transferred damage and reached for Tobirama Senju's eye while Ichiro prepared to attack.
• Tobirama Senju activated the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, but Black Zetsu used a prepared countermeasure to interrupt it and immobilize Tobirama.
• Tobirama Senju triggered a second sealing formula, the Reaper Death Seal, leaving Black Zetsu shocked.

Tobirama Senju survived Black Zetsu’s escape from the Reaper Death Seal, handed him the Rinnegan, and died after recognizing Uchiha Ichiro. Ichiro resolved to let Uchiha Ichiro’s story end there and move on.

• Uchiha Ichiro’s system slapped the Shinigami and drove it away, while Black Zetsu escaped the Reaper Death Seal by sacrificing part of his body.
• Tobirama Senju gave Black Zetsu the Rinnegan, and Black Zetsu left with them despite suspecting a trap.
• Tobirama Senju asked Uchiha Ichiro if they had met before he turned four, then told him he had glimpsed a good future through the Rinnegan.
• Tobirama Senju urged Ichiro not to save him, warned him to take care of himself, and died as his soul returned to the Pure Land.
• Ichiro realized Tobirama had inferred his identity and resolved to be more careful before declaring Uchiha Ichiro dead in battle.

Watanabe Ichiro watched Black Zetsu steal Uchiha Ichiro’s Rinnegan, then secretly confiscated all four himself. Kagami Uchiha reached the devastated laboratory and awakened his Mangekyo after finding Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Ichiro apparently dead.

• Black Zetsu returned to Tobirama Senju’s laboratory, found the bodies, and removed Uchiha Ichiro’s Rinnegan.
• Watanabe Ichiro took the four Rinnegan from Black Zetsu and stored them in the System Inventory.
• Black Zetsu discovered the eyes were gone, raged, and kicked Uchiha Ichiro’s body.
• Kagami Uchiha arrived, saw Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Ichiro’s apparent deaths, and awakened his Mangekyo.
• An hour earlier, Kagami Uchiha had sensed something wrong, tracked Uchiha Ichiro to Tobirama Senju’s laboratory, and suffered a share of Tobirama Senju’s injuries through [Rinnegan Sovereign].

Kagami Uchiha found Uchiha Ichiro and Tobirama Senju dead in Tobirama Senju's laboratory and awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan. He let Black Zetsu escape rather than risk damaging the bodies, then carried them away and broke down when Senju Toka arrived.

• Kagami Uchiha found Uchiha Ichiro's cold body and confronted Black Zetsu, awakening his Mangekyo in grief and rage.
• Kagami Uchiha charged his ocular techniques, but Black Zetsu possessed Uchiha Ichiro's body and pleaded with Kagami to leave it intact.
• Kagami Uchiha turned away and told Black Zetsu to go, allowing him to escape into the ground.
• Kagami Uchiha confirmed that the two men were dead, recognized Black Zetsu as their killer, and vowed that Konoha would never coexist with him.
• Kagami Uchiha carried the bodies away from the laboratory, and Senju Toka found him curled up and sobbing.

Watanabe Ichiro used Tobirama Senju's experiments to create a new Artificial Human Disguise and decided Konoha was secure enough to turn his attention to the Shadow Organization. He then visited Dan Katō and the others as a spirit, leaving Dan with the news that this was their final farewell.

• Watanabe Ichiro found Tobirama Senju's halted cell specimen in the Laboratory and turned it into an infant Artificial Human with Uchiha Ichiro's Rinnegan.
• Watanabe Ichiro decided Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Konoha's other leaders could manage the village while he focused on the Shadow Organization.
• Watanabe Ichiro confirmed that Black Zetsu's marker was retreating, then drifted to the training ground where Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Dan Katō were practicing.
• Dan Katō sensed Watanabe Ichiro's spirit body, used the Spirit Transformation Technique, and recognized his teacher beside the training ground.
• Dan Katō asked whether Watanabe Ichiro would recover, and Watanabe Ichiro said it was goodbye.

Dan Katō learned that Watanabe Ichiro had died and promised to carry out his teacher’s final requests. At Ichiro’s funeral, Hiruzen Sarutobi declared war on [Black Zetsu], while the living Ichiro recruited Kakuzu into the Shadow Organization.

• Watanabe Ichiro told Dan Katō he had died in battle, asked him to inform Tsunade and the others, care for the child in Tobirama Senju’s Laboratory, and stay safe.
• Dan Katō returned to his body and told Tsunade and Orochimaru that Watanabe Ichiro had died; ANBU then arrived to inform them of Tobirama Senju’s death.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared [Black Zetsu] Konoha’s mortal enemy at the joint funerals of Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Ichiro.
• In the Land of Lightning, Watanabe Ichiro discovered that Kakuzu had joined the Shadow Organization under a disguise.
• Watanabe Ichiro gave Kakuzu money, gold, and chakra metal, and Kakuzu revealed that Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s subordinates had hired him.

Watanabe Ichiro reflected on the Shadow Organization’s expanding control of the Land of Lightning and planned to recruit Kakuzu and approach the Eight-Tails and the daimyo. After Kakuzu gained only a few happiness points from his new wealth, Watanabe decided to find another Disguise to take the money away from him.

• Watanabe Ichiro learned that former followers of Kinkaku and Ginkaku had hired Kakuzu, and he welcomed the opportunity to bring Kakuzu into the Shadow Organization.
• Watanabe Ichiro considered how the Shadow Organization had absorbed most of the Land of Lightning and built up its territory, workforce, and Ninja Academy.
• Watanabe Ichiro planned to visit the Eight-Tails and the Land of Lightning’s daimyo, whose dissatisfaction with the Raikage might help the Shadow Organization take power.
• Watanabe Ichiro saw that Kakuzu’s happiness points had risen only slightly after receiving money and decided to find another Disguise to take Kakuzu’s private stash.

Kakuzu began his intelligence mission in the Land of Lightning but stopped to rob a civilian couple, only to be attacked by Watanabe Ichiro. After Watanabe Ichiro demanded Kakuzu’s money, the two began fighting, leaving Kakuzu determined to kill him.

• Kakuzu arrived in the Land of Lightning to investigate the Raikage and quickly got distracted by a couple’s savings.
• Kakuzu broke into the couple’s home and demanded their money, but Watanabe Ichiro cut off his head with a hidden thread weapon.
• Kakuzu reattached his head, and the frightened couple fled while Watanabe Ichiro revealed himself as an ordinary robber seeking Kakuzu’s money.
• Kakuzu launched two Wind Release attacks, but Watanabe Ichiro anticipated them and dodged both.
• Kakuzu decided he had to kill Watanabe Ichiro to protect his wallet.

Watanabe Ichiro defeated Kakuzu with attacks that bypassed his defenses, then robbed him of nearly all his money. Kakuzu survived with one gold bar and fled, hoping Watanabe would not come after him again.

• Watanabe Ichiro used a true-damage punch to cripple Kakuzu’s right hand and drove him out of close combat.
• Kakuzu attacked with lightning and water techniques, then created a Water Clone and fled while his real body escaped.
• Watanabe Ichiro caught Kakuzu with a black thread that cut him apart, leaving him unable to fight or run.
• Watanabe Ichiro took Kakuzu’s storage scroll and taunted him by twisting a gold bar, then kept the scroll and left Kakuzu one bar.
• Kakuzu stitched himself back together and staggered away, grateful that he had left some wealth in a secret stash.

Kakuzu returned to the Shadow Organization after his mission failed, and Watanabe Ichiro robbed him of his hidden fortune. Penniless, Kakuzu joined the organization’s construction crew, where his relentless work made him a celebrated builder.

• Kakuzu reported his failed mission to Lord Dark, who expressed concern and directed him to collect generous allowances and receive medical care.
• Watanabe Ichiro sent a Disguise to steal Kakuzu’s remaining gold and later followed him to steal his entire hidden fortune.
• Kakuzu discovered his savings were gone and mourned being left penniless.
• Kakuzu accepted a well-paid job on the Shadow Organization’s Seventh Urban Construction Plan and dramatically sped up the work with Earth Grudge Fear.
• Kakuzu became a notorious overtime worker and volunteered to handle future construction projects, depositing his earnings into the Shadow Organization Bank.

Watanabe Ichiro led the Shadow Organization to seize the Land of Lightning’s Daimyo’s Mansion and win recognition as the country’s legitimate authority. The Second Raikage, fearing he would be next, decided to pursue the dangerous plan of capturing the Eight-Tails.

• Watanabe Ichiro brought former Land of Lightning personnel to the Daimyo’s Mansion, where Lurenjia announced their arrival in an embarrassing fashion.
• Watanabe Ichiro summoned his golden Susanoo and used his Mangekyo to make the guards surrender and open the gates.
• Watanabe Ichiro’s subordinates took over the mansion, forced the Daimyo to recognize the Shadow Organization, and offered civilians money to swear allegiance or leave.
• The Second Raikage feared the Shadow Organization would target him next and resolved to pursue the risky plan to capture the Eight-Tails.

The Second Raikage’s men captured the Eight-Tails at a terrible cost, while the Shadow Organization continued establishing its branch. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others entrusted Orochimaru with caring for Tobirama Senju’s artificial human and gave the child the provisional name Longjian.

• The Second Raikage sent men to hunt the Eight-Tails, unaware that Watanabe Ichiro possessed the Mangekyo.
• A week later, the Raikage’s squad sacrificed many of its members to subdue and seal the Eight-Tails.
• The Second Raikage regained confidence and decided to try having someone consume the Eight-Tails’ power.
• The Shadow Organization screened recruits and planned to send Kakuzu to build a road connecting its headquarters and branch.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Dan Katō, Tsunade, and Orochimaru examined Tobirama Senju’s artificial human, and Orochimaru agreed to oversee the child’s development.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed the name Longjian Senju, and the group settled on Longjian for the child for now.

The Second Raikage faced renewed demands for war reparations from the Lands of Wind and Earth, while Konoha’s leaders debated whether to intervene. Hiruzen Sarutobi was left considering whether Danzo’s warning that the two nations might target Konoha revealed the key to their intentions.

• The Second Raikage rejected the renewed reparations demands, fearing that paying would invite other nations to carve up the Land of Lightning.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō read letters asking Konoha to help collect the unpaid reparations from the Land of Lightning.
• Shimura Danzō proposed demanding payment and suggested that Konoha could take advantage of the mission if the payment convoy were hijacked by the Shadow Organization.
• Utatane Koharu urged neutrality, while Mitokado Homura suspected the Lands of Wind and Earth were hiding a scheme.
• As Danzō argued that the two nations might follow Konoha to collect scraps, Hiruzen seized on the possibility that they were setting their sights on Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed that Konoha publicly accept the Lands of Wind and Earth’s proposal while secretly preparing defenses against a possible attack. After the meeting, he surprised Shimura Danzō by suggesting that Danzō become the next Hokage.

• Utatane Koharu and Shimura Danzō argued over whether Konoha should favor the Land of Lightning or the unknown Shadow Organization, while Mitokado Homura supported Koharu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned that the Lands of Wind and Earth might target Konoha, prompting the leaders to agree to remain cautious.
• Hiruzen proposed publicly accepting Wind and Earth’s proposal while secretly setting traps and ambushes to defend Konoha, and the others agreed.
• After the meeting, Hiruzen stopped Shimura Danzō and asked him to become the next Hokage, leaving Danzō stunned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi persuaded Shimura Danzō to stop competing for Hokage and become his assistant, though Danzō realized Hiruzen was trying to avoid the work. Hiruzen ultimately became the Third Hokage, while Danzō took the assistant position happily.

• Hiruzen told Danzō that serving as Hokage Assistant could help Konoha just as much as becoming Hokage and urged him to take the position.
• Danzō reconsidered his ambition and wondered whether he wanted the duties of Hokage, but then suspected Hiruzen was trying to dump the work on him.
• Hiruzen and Danzō stubbornly urged each other to become Hokage while Koharu and Homura watched and decided they preferred being advisors.
• Hiruzen became the Third Hokage, and Danzō became a pleased Hokage Assistant.
• Watanabe Ichiro was absent, but the narrator suggested he would have accused Hiruzen of manipulating Danzō.

Watanabe Ichiro used agents he controlled to feed several countries fabricated intelligence about the Shadow Organization, while the Land of Wind and Land of Earth secretly prepared an operation against Konoha. The chapter ended with the Second Kazekage burning a final letter and ordering Operation [Ember] to proceed, unaware Konoha had discovered the plot.

• Agents who had escaped the Shadow Organization returned to their countries and reported fabricated firsthand intelligence about its leader and headquarters.
• Watanabe Ichiro’s controlled agents passed interrogation and resumed their duties, secretly supplying him with intelligence from their home countries.
• Konoha accepted the Land of Wind and Land of Earth’s request for help, and the countries bargained over the assistance fees before agreeing to pay.
• The Second Kazekage and the Tsuchikage secretly plotted against Konoha, coveting its fertile lands and advantages.
• The Second Kazekage burned the Tsuchikage’s final letter and ordered Operation [Ember] forward, while one subordinate showed an unusual gleam in their eyes.

Watanabe Ichiro learned that the Land of Wind and Land of Earth planned to attack Konoha and prepared to warn its leaders in disguise. As the Land of Wind's delegation arrived, its leader Lu Renyi admired Konoha's prosperity while Hatake Sakumo mistook his longing gaze at children for perversion.

• Watanabe Ichiro discovered the Land of Wind and Land of Earth’s plan to destroy Konoha and suspected Black Zetsu had encouraged them.
• Watanabe Ichiro decided to disrupt the plan and used the disguise he had previously used to rob Kakuzu.
• Seven days later, the Land of Wind delegation arrived in Konoha, where Hatake Sakumo escorted Lu Renyi and his subordinates around the village.
• Lu Renyi admired Konoha’s clean streets, plentiful greenery, and healthy children, wishing the Land of Wind could offer its people the same prosperity.
• Hatake Sakumo misread Lu Renyi’s longing looks at the children as evidence that he was a pervert and hurried the delegation away from the playground.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō prepared defenses against the Land of Wind and Land of Earth delegations while hosting them in Konoha. That night, Watanabe Ichiro returned disguised as Leaf Dragon and convinced them he was a loyal ANBU operative by exposing their embarrassing secrets.

• The Land of Wind and Land of Earth delegations toured Konoha, met with Hiruzen Sarutobi, and attended a reception banquet.
• While the delegations were at the banquet, Shimura Danzō prepared traps along the Land of Wind's attack route, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura prepared an ambush along the Land of Earth's route.
• After the guests left, Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shimura Danzō that a member of the Land of Wind delegation had passed him a note arranging a meeting with Ichiro.
• Hatake Sakumo noticed someone leave the Land of Wind Guesthouse and head toward Konoha's administrative building, then rushed after the figure.
• Watanabe Ichiro entered the Hokage's Office disguised as Leaf Dragon and claimed he had been undercover in the Shadow Organization.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō accepted Leaf Dragon's identity after he revealed embarrassing private stories, then begged him to keep them secret.

Watanabe Ichiro, disguised as the returning ANBU Leaf Dragon, was identified as a Konoha operative and sent with Hatake Sakumo to the Interrogation Department for reentry procedures. Along the way, he charmed Sakumo with a tale of undercover work and left him wondering how easily he had been led through the conversation.

• Hatake Sakumo burst into the Hokage's Office, mistook Leaf Dragon for an enemy, and was told by Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was a returning Konoha ANBU.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hatake Sakumo to escort Leaf Dragon to the Interrogation Department for the required procedures.
• On the way, Watanabe Ichiro asked how Sakumo had found him, and Sakumo admitted he had followed his intuition rather than detecting him.
• Watanabe Ichiro hinted at his undercover experiences, then entertained Sakumo with a story about infiltrating the Shadow Organization.
• At the Interrogation Department, Watanabe Ichiro revealed he had been teasing Sakumo, who realized he had been drawn into the story.