Chapter Summaries

Xia Yan reassured Kakashi about his actions and considered using Seeds to improve the abilities of people he trusted. Meanwhile, Uchiha Shin explained his alliance with Xia Yan to the captured elders, then secretly spared Uchiha Shen and declared that he did not regret defying Xia Yan.

• Xia Yan urged Kakashi to learn to control his Mangekyō Sharingan and warned him to keep his emotions from dictating his actions.
• Kakashi accepted Xia Yan's advice and resolved not to disappoint him or Obito again.
• Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Sora discussed Xia Yan's power and the need to calm the clan before Uchiha Shin met the captured elders.
• Uchiha Shen pieced together why Uchiha Shin had cooperated with Xia Yan, and Uchiha Shin admitted he had agreed to help remove the clan leader for the clan's survival.
• Uchiha Shin told Uchiha Shen that he had to die because of his influence, but he deliberately missed him with his kunai and said he needed an ally against Xia Yan.

Xia Yan learned that Uchiha Shin had disobeyed part of his order while protecting the Anbu involved, and chose not to punish him. After Pakura found Orochimaru’s laboratory, Xia Yan planned to exploit Orochimaru’s attacks on Uchiha for his own benefit, while Orochimaru and Danzo plotted to target Uchiha Fugaku.

• Xia Yan heard from an Uchiha Anbu messenger that Uchiha Shin had taken responsibility for disobeying his orders, and let the messenger leave without punishment.
• Pakura told Xia Yan that the Anbu had found Orochimaru’s laboratory, and Xia Yan questioned a Root ninja whose interrogation revealed Orochimaru had targeted Uchiha with Three-Tomoe Sharingan to advance his Wood Release research.
• Xia Yan decided to let Orochimaru take the blame for future attacks and asked Pakura to identify likely Uchiha targets.
• Xia Yan spoke warmly with Pakura, called her a friend, and invited her to visit his home after the Orochimaru matter was resolved.
• Danzo proposed that Orochimaru target Uchiha Fugaku, and Orochimaru agreed while realizing Danzo hoped the attack would restore Root’s influence.
• Orochimaru left Danzo’s laboratory planning to seek protection at Anbu Headquarters.

Xia Yan met Orochimaru, who revealed Danzo’s plot against Uchiha Fugaku and offered to trade information and research for protection. Xia Yan agreed to cooperate, demanded Fugaku’s Sharingan as proof of Orochimaru’s value, and marked him with Flying Thunder God before returning home to await the attack.

• Xia Yan collected chakra and elemental seeds from Konoha’s trees, then followed a white snake to meet Orochimaru’s clone.
• Orochimaru told Xia Yan that Danzo planned to attack Uchiha Fugaku and use the fallout to restore his own power.
• Orochimaru offered his research and information in exchange for Xia Yan’s protection after he left Konoha.
• Xia Yan agreed to cooperate and demanded Uchiha Fugaku’s eyes as a pledge, promising to protect Orochimaru within the Land of Fire.
• Xia Yan used his Jōgan to locate Orochimaru’s real body, marked him with Flying Thunder God, and warned him not to remove the mark while they worked together.
• Xia Yan returned home and considered how Orochimaru’s attack on Fugaku could weaken Hiruzen Sarutobi and reveal whether Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Xia Yan arranged an opportunity for Orochimaru to attack Uchiha Fugaku and went to the Konoha Orphanage to recruit Kabuto Yakushi while negotiating Anbu support for Yakushi Nonō. As Orochimaru's team waited near the Uchiha grounds, Fugaku's Death Servants arrived, signaling that he was approaching.

• Xia Yan learned that Kumogakure was redeploying and training its border guards, then used the Anbu leave roster to identify a window for Orochimaru to act.
• Xia Yan visited the Konoha Orphanage, where Yakushi Nonō recognized him as the Anbu Director and feared he had come to recruit her.
• Xia Yan offered to keep Yakushi Nonō at the Orphanage with Anbu support and took Kabuto Yakushi with him for a dangerous mission.
• Orochimaru and Root waited near the Uchiha grounds during Kakashi's leave, hoping Uchiha Fugaku would visit his son, Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Fugaku's Death Servants arrived, and Orochimaru realized Fugaku was coming and prepared to attack.

Orochimaru ambushed Uchiha Fugaku’s guards to obtain Sharingan for his experiments, then confronted Fugaku and discovered he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. As Fugaku fought off Orochimaru and the Root ninja, Xia Yan arrived and decided to take one of Fugaku’s eyes to weaken his influence and secure experimental material.

• Orochimaru and the Root ninja ambushed Uchiha Fugaku’s death servants, capturing several before one activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and fought back.
• Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Small Lake with Uchiha Itachi, recognized Orochimaru and the Root ninja, and questioned whether Konoha had ordered the attack.
• Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and defeated the attacking Root ninja while protecting Itachi.
• Orochimaru joined the fight and revealed that Lord Danzo had ordered the attack, while Fugaku’s Mangekyō abilities began to disrupt Orochimaru’s chakra.
• Xia Yan used his Jōgan to observe the battle, identified Fugaku’s eyes as the Mangekyō Sharingan, and decided to take one of them.

Orochimaru struggled against Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, but Xia Yan intervened before Fugaku could force him to reveal their involvement. Xia Yan broke Fugaku’s genjutsu and claimed Orochimaru as his ally, then drew his blade as the confrontation continued.

• Uchiha Fugaku repeatedly suppressed Orochimaru with his Mangekyō Sharingan and drove him toward escape with a powerful Fire Release attack.
• Xia Yan disguised himself, used his Jōgan to track the fight, and knocked out Uchiha reinforcements in the woods.
• Orochimaru appeared to defeat Fugaku with a snake technique, but realized he was trapped in Fugaku’s genjutsu when he noticed Uchiha Itachi and recognized inconsistencies in the fight.
• Fugaku interrogated Orochimaru inside his genjutsu, and Orochimaru began revealing that Danzo was involved before Xia Yan’s azure ocular power disrupted the technique.
• Xia Yan broke Fugaku’s genjutsu, rescued Orochimaru from its control, and told Fugaku that Orochimaru would give him his eyes in exchange for protection.
• Xia Yan drew a Ninja Blade and prepared to fight Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Sora rushed to investigate the attack on Uchiha Fugaku, finding him alive but missing an eye. Xia Yan defeated Fugaku, took his Mangekyō Sharingan, and negotiated with Orochimaru to stage a convincing escape while reaffirming his promise to protect him; the story left Orochimaru agreeing to research kekkei genkai and ninjutsu for Xia Yan.

• Uchiha Shin sent Uchiha Sora and several patrol squads to investigate the fire and check on Uchiha Fugaku, then led more Uchiha after the squads failed to report back.
• Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Sora found their unconscious clansmen and hurried toward the lake, where Uchiha Sora discovered Fugaku alive but bleeding from an empty eye socket.
• Xia Yan used his Super Insight to read Fugaku's condition, outmaneuvered him in battle, and stabbed the underground Fugaku with a kunai before taking one of his eyes.
• Uchiha Sora ordered her people to treat Fugaku, summon medical ninjas, contact the Anbu, and search for the attackers.
• Xia Yan met Orochimaru in a secluded forest and arranged for him to stage an escape with the unconscious Uchiha Itachi, taking responsibility for the incident.
• Orochimaru sought reassurance that Xia Yan would honor his promise of protection, and Xia Yan agreed while proposing that Orochimaru research kekkei genkai and ninjutsu.

Xia Yan learned that Orochimaru had attacked Uchiha Fugaku and taken Uchiha Itachi, then sent Kakashi and the Anbu to support the Uchiha. Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Orochimaru, who escaped Konoha with Itachi, unaware that Xia Yan had already reached him.

• Pakura reported that Orochimaru had targeted Uchiha Fugaku, and Xia Yan ordered the Anbu, especially Kakashi, to support the Uchiha Clan.
• Anbu summoned Kakashi from his leave, revealing to Might Guy, Aoba Yamashiro, and Namiashi Raidō that he was an Anbu captain.
• Xia Yan told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Orochimaru had attacked Fugaku and taken Uchiha Itachi, prompting Hiruzen to rush after his former student.
• Orochimaru prepared to leave Konoha, using a dead young Uchiha as a decoy and taking the unconscious Itachi with him.
• Hiruzen confronted Orochimaru in his laboratory, but Orochimaru escaped after their clash, and Hiruzen chose not to continue pursuing him.
• Orochimaru headed toward a prepared base, unaware that Xia Yan had already arrived at his side.

Xia Yan secured Uchiha Itachi, boosted the Anbu’s reputation, and watched Hiruzen Sarutobi agree to restore Danzo and expand Root to counterbalance his influence. In the Land of Rain, Nagato and Konan decided to seek out Orochimaru, while Xia Yan welcomed Danzo’s return and noted that Kimimaro had joined the Anbu.

• Xia Yan met Orochimaru, staged evidence of a fierce battle with him, gave Kabuto a Flying Thunder God Kunai, and took the unconscious Uchiha Itachi back to Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura discussed Xia Yan’s growing power and agreed to restore Danzo to lead Root under restrictions.
• Nagato heard from Konan that Orochimaru had defected from Konoha and been defeated by Xia Yan, then decided to find Orochimaru and recruit him to their organization.
• Xia Yan reviewed the fallout from Orochimaru’s defection, noted his own rising standing and Danzo’s return, and confirmed that Kimimaro had joined the Anbu.

Xia Yan turned the Anbu’s fight over public opinion into a plan for a self-funded publicity organization that could influence other villages. Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi awakened his Sharingan after witnessing his father’s injury, and Shisui offered to train him in Anbu methods.

• Xia Yan reassured Kakashi, then guided the Anbu’s counterattack against Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi through rumors about their conduct.
• Xia Yan proposed a publicity organization that would use publications, civilian workers, and advertising revenue to shape opinion in Konoha and other villages, and the Anbu officials supported his plan.
• Uchiha Itachi practiced kunai throwing with his newly awakened one-tomoe Sharingan and resolved to become strong enough to avenge his father and protect Sasuke.
• Shisui revealed himself to Itachi, explained that he had come to help, and offered to train him using Anbu methods; Itachi accepted.

Xia Yan established the Shinobi World Daily and tested the chakra extracted from White Zetsu, raising his Jōgan’s development to fifty percent. He then visited Orochimaru’s laboratory and asked whether Orochimaru was interested in Resurrection Jutsu.

• Xia Yan explained to Anbu members how to create the Shinobi World Daily and use it to influence public opinion.
• Xia Yan extracted an intermediate Wood Release seed from Hashirama Senju’s remains and gained special fusion power and trace attribute-less special chakra from White Zetsu.
• Xia Yan directed the attribute-less chakra into his Jōgan, increasing its development level to fifty percent.
• Xia Yan left the forest, pleased with his gains and newly strengthened desire to obtain more White Zetsu.
• Orochimaru showed Xia Yan an experiment involving a Two-Tomoe Sharingan Uchiha, and Xia Yan asked him whether he was interested in Resurrection Jutsu.

Xia Yan gave Orochimaru a copy of Chiyo’s resurrection jutsu and used his azure eyes to examine Orochimaru’s Wood Release experiment. Their discussion was interrupted when Nagato and Sasori attacked the laboratory, leaving Xia Yan to face Deva Path Pain.

• Xia Yan gave Orochimaru the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu and asked him to verify and develop it.
• Xia Yan used his azure eyes to see the competing Senju and Uchiha powers in Orochimaru’s test subject and realized his eyes could assess experimental balance.
• Orochimaru agreed to prioritize research into the jutsu, and he and Xia Yan formed a partnership.
• White Zetsu led Deva Path Pain and Sasori to Orochimaru’s underground laboratory, where Pain used Shinra Tensei to blast it apart.
• Xia Yan brought Kabuto outside with Flying Thunder God, recognized Deva Path Pain, and stepped forward to test his strength against Nagato.

Xia Yan confronted Nagato and Sasori, revealed his azure Jōgan, and overwhelmed Deva Path Pain with his combined Jōgan Chakra Mode and Sage Mode. The fight escalated when Xia Yan unleashed Wood Release and Nagato answered with Super Shinra Tensei.

• Sasori recognized Xia Yan as the Konoha Nightingale, and Nagato identified him as a dangerous enemy.
• Xia Yan activated his azure eyes and charged Pain, whose Shinra Tensei stopped his first punch.
• Xia Yan used Flying Thunder God and powerful strikes to batter Pain, then taunted Nagato about the Rinnegan.
• Xia Yan unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, sending enormous trees toward Pain and Nagato’s hiding place.
• Nagato gathered immense chakra and launched Super Shinra Tensei, devastating the surrounding area.

Xia Yan survived Nagato’s full-power Shinra Tensei, awakened control over attraction and repulsion through his Jōgan, and defeated Deva Path Pain. Nagato lost his connection to Pain, while Orochimaru remembered Xia Yan’s eyes with renewed interest.

• Nagato unleashed a full-power Shinra Tensei, but Xia Yan strengthened his Wood Release until the trees withstood the blast.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto survived underground, while Sasori’s Third Kazekage Puppet was badly damaged by the shock wave.
• Xia Yan awakened his Jōgan’s attraction and repulsion abilities, drawing Pain toward him and then distorting gravity until both he and Nagato were strained.
• Xia Yan used repulsion to rise into the air and attacked the weakened Pain with Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique.
• Nagato lost his connection to Deva Path Pain and remembered Xia Yan, the Jōgan, and his defeat, while Orochimaru became fascinated by Xia Yan’s eyes.

Xia Yan launched a Konoha newspaper that used Anbu information to reveal village affairs, share intelligence, and promote the Anbu. Its first issue drew public interest and alarmed Hiruzen Sarutobi, who began considering how to counter its influence, while Danzo met Shibi Aburame in a forest.

• Xia Yan reviewed the aftermath of his battle with Nagato and prepared the Anbu to launch the newspaper.
• Chuan Guang bought the first issue and read its account of Orochimaru, while Might Guy, Aoba Yamashiro, Anko, and Kurenai read its reports and an Anbu's account of a mission.
• Hyuga Hiashi studied the newspaper's disclosures and considered the Hyuga Clan's future alignment.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized the newspaper's growing influence, decided to create a rival publication, and relied on Root for intelligence.
• Danzo stood in a forest in Konoha before Shibi Aburame.

Shibi Aburame faced Danzo’s demand for more clan members, then read the new newspaper and decided to align with Minato Namikaze and seek the Anbu’s protection. Meanwhile, Xia Yan celebrated the newspaper’s early sales and gave Qiong and Renka Chakra Fruits, whose effects appeared to be working.

• Danzo threatened Shibi Aburame with consequences unless he supplied Root with people within three days.
• Shibi read the newspaper’s report on Orochimaru, saw an opening in the conflict between Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi, and decided to side with Minato.
• Qiong and Renka told Xia Yan that the newspaper had sold twenty thousand copies by noon, and he ordered them to expand distribution while maintaining quality and controlling costs.
• Xia Yan warned Qiong and Renka to keep his discovery secret, then gave them Chakra Fruits and watched over their reactions.
• Shibi entered Anbu territory and was caught by an Anbu woman, who recognized that he had come to see the Director.
• Xia Yan confirmed that Qiong and Renka were responding to the Chakra Fruits, which appeared to work on them as they had on him.

Xia Yan discovered he could control the chakra contained in the fruits he gave to others, then met with Shibi Aburame, who sought the Anbu’s protection from Danzo. Their discussion ended with Xia Yan proposing that Danzo’s victims unite and publicly challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi’s continued rule.

• Xia Yan realized he could sense and control the chakra left inside Qiong and Renka, potentially restricting or harming anyone who betrayed him, though he rejected using the power for assassination.
• Pakura brought Shibi Aburame to meet Xia Yan in an Anbu conference room, where Shibi asked to deepen cooperation with the Anbu.
• Qiong and Renka awakened after eating Xia Yan’s fruits and gained purer chakra and improved control; they warned each other to keep the fruits’ secret.
• Shibi told Xia Yan that Danzo had taken Aburame Shikuroo and Aburame Ryoma from the clan and threatened him, while Xia Yan revealed that he had killed Ryoma and Root operatives who tried to seize his subordinate.
• Xia Yan offered the Aburame Clan shelter for people targeted by Root and urged Shibi to unite Danzo’s victims and make their grievances heard, arguing that Hiruzen Sarutobi should no longer remain Hokage.

Over six months, Xia Yan helped Shibi Aburame rally clans against Danzo while the Shinobi World Daily expanded and strained Hiruzen Sarutobi’s authority. As the clans prepared to act and the Uchiha moved to support them, Xia Yan received a message suggesting Danzo had created another opportunity.

• Shibi Aburame recruited clan members and allied with smaller clans to resist Danzo, while Xia Yan let the conflict between Root and the Anbu intensify.
• The Shinobi World Daily spread across the Land of Fire and attracted advertisers, adding to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s burdens as his own newspaper lost money.
• Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka visited Shibi Aburame’s gathering, and Inoichi revealed that Danzo had targeted him too.
• Qiong urged Uchiha Shin to strengthen the Military Police Force’s position ahead of an approaching crisis, and he agreed to act.
• Xia Yan told Renka that he wanted Hiruzen Sarutobi to remain Hokage while resentment grew and more clans joined them.
• An insect delivered a sealed message to Xia Yan, who read it and said Danzo had brought them another surprise.

Uchiha Shin moved to bring the last resistant Military Police Force division under his control, while Inoichi Yamanaka asked Xia Yan to support the clans against Danzo. A newspaper report on Danzo’s secret unit sparked outrage across Konoha, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to seek a meeting with Xia Yan and consider making someone pay for the crisis.

• Uchiha Shin told Uchiha Shen that events in Konoha required the Military Police Force to take a clear stance, and asked him to act personally to secure the remaining division.
• Inoichi Yamanaka told Xia Yan that Danzo had targeted clan members and pledged the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans’ support for Xia Yan and the Fourth Hokage if he helped them.
• Xia Yan asked Inoichi Yamanaka to submit a written report by five that afternoon, signaling that he would hear the clans’ case.
• Miike Kento read a newspaper report about a secret unit that had oppressed clans, and the revelations alarmed civilian shinobi, jonin, and clan heads across Konoha.
• More than a dozen clan heads gathered outside the Hokage Building as Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura over Danzo’s actions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to meet with Xia Yan and said those responsible would have to pay a price.

As Konoha's clans and Jonin rallied against Danzo, Xia Yan met Hiruzen Sarutobi to negotiate the fallout while Uchiha Shin seized control of the Military Police Force. Xia Yan then confronted Danzo in Root and declared that Danzo's only remaining choice was death.

• Hyuga Hiashi wanted to join the clans gathering outside the Hokage Building, but the Hyuga elders stopped him from taking sides.
• Uchiha Shin, Uchiha Sora, and Uchiha Shen moved to take control of the Military Police Force while Uchiha Fugaku was away.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Xia Yan, and Xia Yan decided he might demand control of the Medical Department.
• Uchiha Fugaku saw Uchiha Shin arrive with Military Police Force officers and realized he had lost control of the force.
• Xia Yan met Hiruzen Sarutobi with the clan heads and Jonin, and Hiruzen promised to give them a satisfactory answer.
• Danzo raged in Root, but Xia Yan appeared in his chair and told him that his only choice was death.