Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Itachi confided in Uchiha Douyang about the Uchiha Clan’s growing calls for a coup, believing Douyang shared his loyalty to the village. Douyang revealed that he would never betray the clan, attacked Itachi, and faced Itachi’s genjutsu.

• Uchiha Itachi recalled the Nine-Tails’ Attack, the village’s distrust of the Uchiha, and his belief that the clan’s coup had to be stopped.
• Uchiha Douyang appeared and listened as Itachi explained that a coup would endanger the clan, the village, and innocent people.
• Douyang proposed killing every Uchiha, then said he would take Itachi’s head as a milder solution.
• Douyang attacked Itachi, who evaded the strike by turning into crows and reappearing nearby.
• Itachi accused Douyang of backing the clan and cast Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique.

Uchiha Douyang defeated and killed Uchiha Itachi using the Kokugan’s powers, then returned to Konoha. The chapter revealed that Douyang had awakened an Ōtsutsuki Isshiki template and possessed the Kokugan’s two techniques.

• Uchiha Douyang broke free of Uchiha Itachi’s genjutsu and revealed that his golden eye was the Kokugan.
• Douyang absorbed Itachi’s Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson with Sukunahikona, then shrank himself to evade Itachi’s sword and counterattacked.
• Douyang severely injured Itachi with a kick, rejected his plea to spare him, and cut off his head, storing it in Daikokuten’s dimension.
• Douyang cleaned up the scene, returned to Konoha, and headed to Kurenai Yuhi’s home to visit Shinku Yuhi.
• Douyang activated his panel, which showed his Ōtsutsuki Isshiki template at five percent and listed his Kokugan abilities.

Uchiha Douyang visited Shinku Yuhi and discussed tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha, then left with Kurenai Yuhi. As Douyang grew excited about spending the night with Kurenai, chakra began flowing toward his eyes, while Shinku wondered how far Douyang’s influence would reach.

• Uchiha Douyang brought Shinku Yuhi two bottles of vodka and met Kurenai Yuhi, who teased him for not awakening his Sharingan.
• Shinku Yuhi told Douyang that remaining without the Sharingan might spare him and those around him from misfortune.
• Douyang and Shinku discussed rumors targeting the Uchiha and exchanged assurances about improving relations between the clan and the village.
• Kurenai pulled Douyang away and told Shinku she would not come home that night, while Shinku warned Douyang not to try anything.
• Douyang left with Kurenai as special chakra began flowing toward his eyes, and Shinku reflected on the long conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha.

After Uchiha Itachi's death, Fugaku led the Uchiha in confronting Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom he accused of arranging the killing. Shisui rejected Fugaku's demand to join the clan and defended the Hokage, prompting the Uchiha to withdraw while their conflict with the village deepened.

• Fugaku led the Uchiha to the Hokage Building after Itachi's headless corpse was discovered, accusing Hiruzen of killing his son.
• Hiruzen denied responsibility and urged Fugaku and the Uchiha to avoid acting without evidence, but Fugaku refused to believe him.
• Shisui removed his mask and told Fugaku that Itachi's death had nothing to do with Hiruzen.
• Shisui said he belonged to both the Uchiha and the village, and refused to join Fugaku's side despite the clan's angry accusations.
• Fugaku disowned Shisui and led the Uchiha back to their compound, while Hiruzen feared Itachi's death would drive Fugaku toward a coup.

Shisui Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that Uchiha Itachi's death might be part of a plot to provoke conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, and they authorized an investigation. Meanwhile, Uchiha Douyang awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan and decided that attraction to beautiful women could be his path to evolving it.

• Shisui Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Itachi's death seemed suspicious and might have been intended to destroy trust between the Uchiha and the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed with Shisui's assessment and gave Kakashi and Shisui authorization to investigate village jonin activity from the past three days.
• Kakashi questioned how the Uchiha Clan would trust the village even if the investigation cleared Konoha of responsibility.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said that someone could still earn the trust of both the village and Uchiha Fugaku.
• After Kurenai Yuhi left, Uchiha Douyang discovered that he had awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan.
• Douyang concluded that his attraction to beautiful women could provide the emotional stimulation needed to awaken and evolve his Sharingan.

After Uchiha Itachi was found dead, Uchiha Douyang joined Uzuki Yugao, Kakashi Hatake, and Shisui Uchiha to investigate his murder. Pakkun detected a masked scent at the scene, and Douyang prepared to examine Itachi’s body while Yugao tracked the scent.

• Uzuki Yugao told Uchiha Douyang that Uchiha Itachi had died, and Douyang agreed to help investigate.
• Douyang and Yugao joined Kakashi Hatake and Shisui Uchiha at Itachi’s death scene, where they reviewed the evidence and found that potential suspects had alibis.
• Kakashi summoned Pakkun, who used Itachi’s short sword to identify a strange scent left by one attacker.
• Douyang suggested tracking the substance’s scent, and Kakashi sent Yugao and Pakkun to follow it.
• Douyang offered to examine Itachi’s corpse while Shisui and Kakashi remained at the scene.

Uchiha Douyang examined Itachi’s body and uncovered a blood-drawn clue suggesting the killer had one Sharingan, causing suspicion to fall on Kakashi. Kakashi pointed out that the clue described a right-eye Sharingan, while his was on the left.

• Douyang examined Itachi’s corpse and concluded that a single powerful blow had killed him without a prolonged fight.
• Douyang found a blood-marked stone that Itachi had scratched at before his death.
• Shisui identified the mark as a circle containing a tomoe, and Douyang interpreted it as a clue that the killer had one Sharingan.
• Shisui confronted Kakashi because he had one Sharingan and knew Itachi well, while Kakashi denied killing Itachi and cited Tenzo as his witness.
• Douyang defended Kakashi, and Kakashi argued that the clue indicated a right-eye Sharingan, whereas his own Sharingan was in his left eye.

Kakashi, Shisui, and Douyang traced the evidence surrounding Itachi’s death to Root and suspected Shimura Danzō, then asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to summon him. At Root, Danzō received Orochimaru’s request for money and considered trading funds for a Wood Release arm.

• Kakashi and Shisui examined the stone, while Yugao and Pakkun reported that the killer’s scent vanished near Root’s headquarters.
• Kakashi and Shisui suspected Shimura Danzō because he had the means and motive to kill Itachi and might have a transplanted Sharingan.
• Douyang cautioned that they lacked conclusive evidence, and Shisui asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to summon Danzō for questioning.
• Hiruzen sent Shisui to bring Danzō in and privately hoped that Danzō was not responsible for Itachi’s death.
• A Root ninja delivered a letter from Orochimaru asking Danzō for money, and Danzō considered demanding research results in return for funding a Wood Release arm.

Shisui Uchiha exposed the Sharingan transplanted into Shimura Danzō’s right eye, confirming Hiruzen Sarutobi’s suspicions that Danzō had killed Uchiha Itachi. Hiruzen ordered Root searched and then slapped Danzō, leaving their relationship in open crisis.

• Shimura Danzō sent a Root ninja to demand Orochimaru exchange his latest Wood Release results for funding.
• Shisui Uchiha arrived at Root and escorted Shimura Danzō to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office.
• At Hiruzen’s signal, Shisui used genjutsu to expose the Sharingan hidden beneath Danzō’s bandages.
• Hiruzen ordered Kakashi, Shisui, and Douyang to lead teams in searching the Root Base for intelligence.
• After the others left, Hiruzen slapped Shimura Danzō, who stared at him in disbelief.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō over Orochimaru's experiments, Uchiha Itachi's death, and Danzō's schemes against him, then ordered him to leave Konoha or face trial. Danzō refused to leave, and Kakashi later confirmed that the Sharingan found in Danzō's office belonged to Itachi.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi slapped Shimura Danzō over his support of Orochimaru's forbidden experiments and accused him of killing Uchiha Itachi.
• Shimura Danzō read Kakashi's investigation report and protested that someone had framed him, but Hiruzen accused him of trying to use the Uchiha to seize the Hokage position.
• Shimura Danzō defended his suppression of the Uchiha as carrying out Tobirama Senju's will, and Hiruzen admitted he had failed their teacher's trust.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shimura Danzō to leave Konoha or stand trial, but Danzō refused and stormed out.
• Kakashi Hatake returned with two Three-Tomoe Sharingan from Danzō's office, and Douyang confirmed they were Uchiha Itachi's.

Douyang urged Hiruzen to address the Uchiha’s long-standing grievances, and Hiruzen asked him and Shisui to bring Fugaku to a Jonin meeting where he would show sincerity. As Fugaku prepared a coup, Douyang warned him it would doom the clan, then laid an investigation report and Itachi’s Sharingan before him.

• Shisui told Hiruzen that punishing Danzō would be enough to reconcile with the Uchiha, while Douyang explained that the clan also resented its marginalization and lack of respect.
• Hiruzen asked Douyang and Shisui to persuade Fugaku to attend a Jonin meeting the next day, promising to show sufficient sincerity.
• Fugaku called for an armed coup at the Naka Shrine, and Setsuna backed him as the clan’s hawks and doves united after Itachi’s death.
• Fugaku rejected Douyang’s warning that a coup would bring the other clans together against the Uchiha and said he would rather make both the clan and village lose than let the village win.
• Douyang placed the investigation report and Itachi’s Sharingan on the table before Fugaku.

Uchiha Douyang persuaded Fugaku to attend Hiruzen Sarutobi’s meeting about Itachi’s death, while insisting it be held at the Konoha Military Police Force without Anbu. At home, Douyang continued caring for his apprentice Kurama Yakumo, whose powerful genjutsu kekkei genkai had left her physically frail.

• Douyang told Fugaku that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted him at a jonin meeting to address Itachi’s death and urged him to hear the Hokage out.
• Douyang argued that a coup would endanger the village and suggested the meeting could help the Uchiha find allies if Hiruzen failed to show sincerity.
• Fugaku agreed to talk with Hiruzen but demanded the meeting be held at the Konoha Military Police Force without any Anbu present.
• Douyang returned to his clinic, where his apprentice Kurama Yakumo greeted him among chakra creatures created with Super Beast Imitating Drawing.
• Douyang examined Yakumo and reflected that his treatment aimed to strengthen her body enough to balance the overwhelming spiritual energy from her inherited Five Senses Domination.

Kurama Yakumo demonstrated her healing progress under Uchiha Douyang’s instruction, and Douyang later attended a Jonin meeting where Hiruzen Sarutobi accused Danzo of killing Uchiha Itachi and taking his Sharingan. Hiruzen rejected the advisors’ attempts to challenge the evidence, leaving the meeting poised for Danzo’s punishment.

• Kurama Yakumo healed a carp under Uchiha Douyang’s supervision, though her chakra damaged some of its nerves.
• Uchiha Douyang went to the Konoha Military Police Force for a Jonin meeting that Hiruzen Sarutobi had called without consulting the advisors.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi distributed Kakashi’s investigation report, which accused Danzo of killing Uchiha Itachi and implanting Sharingan.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu called the evidence a frame-up and urged Hiruzen to reopen the investigation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said the Anbu had verified the evidence and asserted that Danzo was the killer.

At the jonin meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi stripped Danzo of his positions and ordered Root disbanded, but softened the sentence after Shibi Aburame raised the Uchiha’s possible responsibility for the Nine-Tails’ Attack. The meeting ended with Hiruzen asking Fugaku what the Uchiha Clan needed.

• Fugaku declared the evidence that Danzo murdered Itachi conclusive and challenged the advisors for defending him.
• Hiruzen ordered Danzo stripped of his positions and political rights, sent to prison, and Root disbanded.
• Koharu and Homura pleaded for leniency, but Shibi opposed them and raised the unresolved Nine-Tails’ Attack.
• Hiruzen refused to revisit the Nine-Tails’ Attack and removed life imprisonment from Danzo’s sentence; no one objected.
• Hiruzen ordered the punishments carried out and asked Fugaku whether the Uchiha Clan needed anything.

Uchiha Fugaku demanded compensation for the Uchiha Clan, securing changes to the Konoha Military Police Force, access to village departments, and the Hokage's agreement to make him assistant. As the meeting seemed settled, Hyuga Hiashi challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over whether he bore responsibility for Danzo's actions.

• Fugaku demanded that the Konoha Military Police Force recruit members from other ninja clans, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to assign members of the Ino-Shika-Cho, Utatane, and Mitokado Clans.
• Fugaku offered Uchiha members to understaffed village departments, and Hiruzen agreed to arrange their placement.
• Fugaku asked to become the Hokage's assistant, and Hiruzen welcomed him as a future partner while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu objected and left in anger.
• Uchiha Douyang gave Hyuga Hiashi a meaningful look, and Hiashi stood to ask whether Hiruzen Sarutobi should bear responsibility for Danzo's actions.

Hyuga Hiashi impeached Hiruzen Sarutobi over his responsibility for Danzo’s mistake and Hizashi’s death, prompting Hiruzen to offer his resignation before wavering. Hiashi argued that Hiruzen’s continued rule also violated the agreement made after the Nine-Tails’ Attack and named Tsunade and Jiraiya as possible successors.

• Hyuga Hiashi accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of bearing responsibility for Danzo’s mistake and invoked the Third’s handling of Hizashi Hyuga’s death.
• Utatane Koharu tried to blame Danzo alone, but Hyuga Hiashi rejected her explanation, and the clan heads stayed silent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted responsibility and offered to resign, but after Mitokado Homura urged him to reconsider, he agreed to remain in office.
• Hyuga Hiashi argued that Hiruzen’s rule had already exceeded the terms set after the Nine-Tails’ Attack and should now end.
• Mitokado Homura questioned whether anyone could succeed Hiruzen, and Hyuga Hiashi pointed to Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Hiruzen Sarutobi resigned, and Torifu Akimichi accepted the role of Acting Hokage until Tsunade or Jiraiya was chosen. Torifu warned the Ino-Shika-Cho leaders that trying to turn his temporary appointment into a permanent one would make their clans targets.

• Hyuga Hiashi proposed Torifu Akimichi as Acting Hokage, and the Kurama Clan and Uchiha Clan supported the nomination.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi resigned, and Torifu Akimichi was appointed Acting Hokage.
• Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka explained the jonin meeting to Torifu Akimichi.
• Torifu Akimichi accepted the temporary position, while Inoichi Yamanaka suggested keeping the Hokage seat even if Tsunade or Jiraiya returned.
• Torifu Akimichi cautioned that the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans lacked the strength to claim the permanent Hokage position without making enemies.

Torifu Akimichi took office as Acting Hokage, began implementing policies to appease the Uchiha, and formed the Special Operations Department. When he interviewed Kakashi Hatake, Uchiha Douyang, Shisui Uchiha, and Might Guy, he urged Douyang to reconsider joining, but Douyang stayed silent and smiled.

• Torifu Akimichi told Choza Akimichi to send private gifts to the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to build goodwill.
• Torifu Akimichi took office as Acting Hokage and began putting the Third's Uchiha-appeasement policies into effect despite opposition from Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
• Torifu Akimichi created the Special Operations Department and invited eligible Konoha ninja to apply.
• After two days, Torifu Akimichi saw that applications had far exceeded the planned twenty and summoned Kakashi Hatake, Uchiha Douyang, Shisui Uchiha, and Might Guy.
• Torifu Akimichi warned the four about the dangers of the department and clearly urged Uchiha Douyang to withdraw, but Douyang gave no reply and kept smiling.

Uchiha Douyang joined Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Shisui Uchiha in Konoha’s Special Operations Department, then received an S-rank mission to protect Priestess Miroku in the Land of Demons. As the team hurried there, Douyang considered the danger posed by Moryo and the likelihood of encountering shinobi from other villages.

• Torifu Akimichi named Douyang, Kakashi, Guy, and Shisui Team One of the Special Operations Department and appointed Kakashi captain.
• At a barbecue, Douyang jokingly asked Kakashi for a gift, and Kakashi gave him an Icha Icha Paradise Collector’s Edition instead of a valuable jutsu.
• Douyang, Guy, and Shisui equipped themselves with masks and armor at the department warehouse before being summoned to the Hokage Building.
• Torifu Akimichi showed the team Priestess Miroku’s plea for help and assigned them an S-rank mission to reach her temple and ensure her safety.
• The four-man team left Konoha, while Douyang worried about Moryo’s power and the possibility of meeting shinobi from other villages.

Kakashi’s squad traveled through the Land of Grass to avoid the Land of Rain, then fought past the Ghost Army in the Land of Demons to reach the besieged Priestess Temple. There, they joined forces with Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja to try to reach the priestess.

• Douyang persuaded Kakashi to take the route through the Land of Grass rather than risk crossing the Land of Rain, and the squad reached the Land of Demons without incident.
• Terracotta soldiers attacked Kakashi’s squad, but their bodies repeatedly reformed after being destroyed.
• Douyang urged the squad to evade the Ghost Army and find the priestess, so they raced toward the temple through devastated towns and villages.
• Kakashi’s squad found the Priestess Temple protected by a barrier and surrounded by more than two hundred terracotta soldiers.
• Kakashi spotted Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja nearby and decided to cooperate with them, and the three squads gathered on a high cliff.