Chapter Summaries

Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to gather more intelligence on Sōkyū Hatake and hurry Obito Uchiha’s recruitment as his strength faded. After Pakura left, Sōkyū returned to Konoha and told Orochimaru and Tsunade that Sasori had killed Rasa and made him a Human Puppet, then bet a gold desk lamp against Tsunade teaching Ayame Medical Ninjutsu.

• Madara Uchiha questioned Black Zetsu about Sōkyū Hatake’s unexpected strength and ordered him to speed up the plan involving Obito Uchiha.
• Sōkyū Hatake teased Pakura about being his maid, and she left the cave to report Rasa’s fate to Sunagakure.
• Sōkyū returned to Higuma Town, slept, and set out for Konoha’s border the next morning, shaking off his pursuers.
• Sōkyū told Orochimaru and Tsunade that Sasori had killed Rasa and turned him into a Human Puppet.
• Sōkyū bet Tsunade a gold desk lamp that Rasa would become the Fourth Kazekage, asking her to teach Ayame Medical Ninjutsu if he won.

Sunagakure’s elders failed to choose between Rasa and Pakura as the Fourth Kazekage, so the village vote went to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind for a final decision. Rasa began pitching his plans to strengthen Sunagakure by using his Magnet Release to gather gold dust.

• News spread that Rasa, the Third Kazekage, had died, and Sunagakure branded Sasori an S-rank missing-nin accused of abducting and killing him.
• Sunagakure’s elders argued over whether Rasa or Pakura should become the Fourth Kazekage, while Chiyo left the meeting without offering an opinion.
• Fujiwara Terushita ended the deadlocked discussions and sent the village vote, which had tied, to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
• The Daimyo criticized Sunagakure’s failures, and Rasa promised to improve the village by developing its strength and obtaining gold dust with his Magnet Release.

The Land of Wind's daimyō chose Rasa over Pakura as Sunagakure's Fourth Kazekage after Rasa promised to extract more gold dust and turn the war around. Fujiwara Terushita failed to secure greater investment for the village, and Rasa hinted that he should retire.

• Rasa proposed mining more gold dust so Sunagakure would depend less on subsidies, while Pakura argued that the village needed greater investment.
• Fujiwara Terushita supported Pakura's call to strengthen Sunagakure, angering Rasa.
• Rasa promised to turn the war around, and the Land of Wind's daimyō appointed him Fourth Kazekage with a sealed letter.
• Pakura left the Daimyō Palace, while Rasa celebrated his appointment with the Land of Wind's daimyō.
• Rasa told Fujiwara Terushita that he was too old to make decisions and should resign and retire.

After Sunagakure’s new Kazekage, Rasa, signed a ceasefire with Konoha, Sōkyū Hatake and the victorious shinobi returned toward the village. On the journey, Tsunade agreed to teach both Sōkyū and Mitaraishi Anko Medical Ninjutsu, while Orochimaru kept Yamato’s identity hidden.

• Rasa’s succession as Fourth Kazekage led to a ceasefire, war reparations, and Ebizo’s ransom, ending the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure.
• Sōkyū told Orochimaru he had taken part of Rasa’s corpse, including the brain, for his research.
• Sōkyū reminded Tsunade of their bet, then offered her a gold desk lamp to teach Mitaraishi Anko Medical Ninjutsu as well.
• Orochimaru introduced the black-robed Yamato as his capable subordinate and deflected Tsunade’s suspicion.
• The returning shinobi reached the outskirts of Konoha and grew excited at the sight of the village gates.

Sōkyū Hatake returned to Konoha after the armistice and avoided a meeting with the Hokage Advisors. Back at the Hatake Clan Compound, he arranged for Tsunade to teach Ayame medical ninjutsu, then fell asleep in the bath and startled Mitaraishi Anko when he stood up in front of her.

• Villagers welcomed Orochimaru’s victorious force home and asked Sōkyū Hatake about Pakura.
• Sōkyū Hatake skipped the Hokage Advisors’ meeting and agreed to take Yamato to Orochimaru’s base.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Mitaraishi Anko returned to the Hatake Clan Compound, where Ayame greeted them.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Ayame that Tsunade would teach her medical ninjutsu, and Ayame promised to study hard.
• Sōkyū Hatake fell asleep in the bathtub and stood up when Mitaraishi Anko woke him, causing her to flee after peeking at him.

Sōkyū Hatake reunited with Minato Namikaze and Team Minato, who told him Kirigakure was preparing to attack Konoha and that they would soon deploy to the front. Sōkyū chose the Iwagakure front, hoping to reach Kannabi Bridge, and Minato suggested they might be sent out together.

• Tsunade took Mitaraishi Anko and Ayame away to train after gambling away the gold Sōkyū Hatake had given her.
• Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara visited Sōkyū Hatake after returning from the front lines.
• Minato told Sōkyū that Kirigakure was preparing to strike Konoha and that Team Minato would soon be sent to the Kirigakure front.
• Sōkyū said he would choose the Iwagakure front if he received deployment orders, because he wanted to see Ōnoki's Bloodline Limit and reach Kannabi Bridge.
• Minato said Sōkyū would probably leave around the same time as Team Minato and offered to speak to the higher-ups about sending them together.

Sōkyū Hatake was summoned by Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to discuss his proposed Jōnin promotion and the disappearance of Aburame Ryoma. The Advisors approved the promotion and assigned Sōkyū to the Iwagakure front, where he would leave with Team Minato the day after tomorrow.

• A Root messenger summoned Sōkyū Hatake to the Hokage Office, where he met Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura discussed Orochimaru's recommendation to promote Sōkyū to Jōnin, while Danzō questioned him about Aburame Ryoma's disappearance.
• Sōkyū denied knowing Aburame Ryoma and insisted that his promotion was deserved.
• The Advisors raised the need to reinforce the other battlefronts, and Sōkyū chose to go to the Iwagakure front to see the Third Tsuchikage's Dust Release.
• Utatane Koharu arranged for Sōkyū to leave for Iwagakure with Team Minato the day after tomorrow.

Sōkyū Hatake was assigned to the Iwagakure front with Team Minato, and Utatane Koharu warned him that the battlefield would be dangerous before asking him to return alive. Two days later, Minato Namikaze and Team Minato gathered at the Hatake Clan Compound for breakfast before setting out.

• Danzo ordered Sōkyū Hatake to join Team Minato at the Iwagakure front, and Sōkyū left the Hokage Office without ceremony.
• Utatane Koharu told Sōkyū Hatake that Roshi's forces had moved to face Konoha and that the Third Tsuchikage might join the front.
• Sōkyū Hatake reasoned that Konoha had few suitable reinforcements available, and Utatane Koharu warned him that the Iwagakure front would be especially dangerous.
• Utatane Koharu asked Sōkyū Hatake to come back alive, then left him at Hokage Rock.
• Two days later, Obito Uchiha arrived early at the Hatake Clan Compound for breakfast, and Minato Namikaze joined Kakashi Hatake and the others before they set out.

Sōkyū Hatake joined the main force and traded Kushina’s desired Desert Star ring to Minato Namikaze for a scroll about the Flying Thunder God Technique. As the team prepared to take command of the Iwagakure front, Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha started arguing and Rin Nohara intervened.

• Sōkyū Hatake asked Minato Namikaze to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Minato agreed in exchange for a Desert Star ring for Kushina.
• Sōkyū Hatake received the technique’s scroll and boasted that his chakra would let him use it for long-distance travel.
• Minato Namikaze told Sōkyū Hatake that Jiraiya was currently at the Iwagakure front and would leave to watch against Kirigakure when they arrived.
• Obito Uchiha revealed that Minato Namikaze was the supreme commander, prompting Sōkyū Hatake to joke that he would take Obito’s credit while staying home.
• Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha challenged each other to fight, and Rin Nohara hurried over to stop them.

Minato Namikaze took command of the front against Iwagakure as Jiraiya warned Sōkyū Hatake about the region’s unpredictable attacks and Danzo’s interest in him. Sōkyū checked in at the Iwagakure border and received Armament Haki at elite level.

• Minato Namikaze and Sōkyū Hatake met Jiraiya at the Operations Command Room, where Sōkyū teased him about peeping.
• Jiraiya handed command over to Minato Namikaze, who began reviewing the handover documents.
• Jiraiya explained that Iwagakure’s forested mountain terrain made attacks and sabotage unpredictable, and warned Sōkyū about Danzo’s people.
• Jiraiya told Sōkyū not to betray Konoha and advised him to seek Minato Namikaze’s help if trouble arose.
• Sōkyū checked in at the border between Konoha and Iwagakure and obtained Armament Haki at elite level.

Sōkyū Hatake tested his new speed against Kakashi Hatake, then headed alone toward Iwagakure’s Operations Command Room to scout the enemy. Han learned someone was watching from above and went out to meet the intruder.

• Sōkyū Hatake told Minato Namikaze that Jiraiya had left for the Kirigakure border, then escaped Minato’s paperwork by climbing out a window.
• Kakashi Hatake joined Sōkyū Hatake outside the encampment, and the two raced to the front lines using their speed.
• Sōkyū Hatake absorbed Kakashi Hatake’s lightning and left him behind before flying toward Iwagakure’s main camp with Geppo.
• An Iwa ninja told Han that Jiraiya had been replaced by Minato Namikaze and that Sōkyū Hatake, the “Thunder God,” had arrived.
• Han ordered Hōki to test the Konoha forces, then went out after sensing someone watching from above.

Sōkyū Hatake confronted Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, after entering Iwagakure’s territory, and the two clashed with powerful attacks. Their battle continued in close combat between the villages, leaving both sides astonished by Sōkyū’s strength.

• Sōkyū Hatake surveyed Iwagakure from above until Han sensed him and launched an attack with Steam Armor.
• Sōkyū and Han traded a powerful kick and Thunder Punch, then landed between the Konoha and Iwagakure forces.
• Han dismissed Sōkyū as lucky and challenged him to prove his strength, while Sōkyū welcomed the chance to fight the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Han shattered one of Sōkyū’s lightning-wrapped Wind Scars and charged through Thunder God Descent using Boiling Vapor Soars.
• Sōkyū activated Thunder God Possession, and he and Han traded punches as both villages watched in awe.

Sōkyū Hatake faced Han in a sparring match that escalated when Han used Kokuō’s Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and Sōkyū activated Sage Mode. The chapter ended as Sōkyū charged Han with Senjutsu Armament and Thunder God Strength against Han’s Horn Slash.

• Minato Namikaze rushed to the battlefield and found Sōkyū and Han fighting evenly, while Kakashi Hatake explained how the clash began.
• Han prepared to use Kokuō’s power, and Sōkyū activated Sage Mode with Pikachu’s help.
• Hōki arrived on Iwagakure’s side and learned that Sōkyū had forced Han to draw on the Five-Tails’ chakra.
• Han entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and Kokuō warned him that Sōkyū was dangerous.
• Han attacked with Boil Release: Horn Slash, while Sōkyū enhanced his hands with Senjutsu Armament and charged in using Thunder God Strength.

Sōkyū Hatake fought Han evenly until Minato Namikaze and Hōki intervened, preventing Han from escalating to a full Tailed Beast Transformation. Han and Hōki withdrew toward Iwagakure’s border, and the Konoha group prepared to return.

• Sōkyū Hatake and Han clashed with Senjutsu Armament and Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, impressing the arriving Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, Minato Namikaze, and Kakashi Hatake.
• Minato Namikaze noticed Han’s Tailed Beast Cloak growing redder and appeared to stop the fight before Han could use Five-Tails Kokuō’s full form.
• Han withdrew his Tailed Beast Cloak, and Sōkyū Hatake deactivated Sage Mode as Hōki joined Han and faced Minato Namikaze.
• Sōkyū Hatake challenged Hōki, but Han ordered him to step back after judging him no match for Sōkyū Hatake.
• Han warned that the next meeting would be the day Sōkyū Hatake died, then left toward Iwagakure’s border with Hōki and the Iwa Shinobi.
• Minato Namikaze turned to leave, and Sōkyū Hatake wondered whether Minato was angry because he had not given him a lift.

Sōkyū Hatake reported his clash with Han to Minato Namikaze, then escaped Minato’s attempt to assign him paperwork. Madara Uchiha learned Sōkyū had reached the front and continued his plan for Obito Uchiha, while Sōkyū reunited with Kakashi Hatake, Obito, and Rin Nohara and reminded Kakashi that strength was needed to pursue their goal.

• Minato Namikaze questioned Sōkyū Hatake about provoking Han, and Sōkyū explained that Han had detected him while he was scouting.
• Minato Namikaze tried to lecture Sōkyū and then enlist him to help with paperwork, but Sōkyū escaped through a window.
• Black Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Sōkyū had fought Han evenly, and Madara ordered him to continue the plan involving Obito Uchiha.
• Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi Hatake visited Sōkyū, and Rin expressed sympathy for the hardships he had endured.
• Sōkyū told Kakashi that strength was necessary to pursue their goal, then chased Obito and left him crying for Kakashi to intervene.

Minato Namikaze learned that Ōnoki and Roshi had joined Iwagakure’s forces and received orders to hold until reinforcements arrived. He told Sōkyū Hatake that Iwagakure’s supplies would cross Kannabi Bridge in two days, while Ōnoki led another force toward Konoha’s border.

• Shibi Aburame informed Minato Namikaze that Ōnoki and Roshi had arrived at the front.
• Minato Namikaze received Danzo’s order to hold and summoned Sōkyū Hatake for advice.
• Minato Namikaze revealed that Iwagakure’s supplies would pass Kannabi Bridge in two days.
• Minato Namikaze said he had another duty and that Ōnoki would lead a force toward a weak point on Konoha’s border.

Sōkyū Hatake prepared to lead a twelve-person squad to Kannabi Bridge, where they would try to seize supplies or destroy the bridge, and warned Kakashi that the mission would be dangerous and pivotal. Minato’s reinforcements arrived, including Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi, who gathered in Minato’s room for hot pot.

• Minato Namikaze assigned Sōkyū Hatake to lead a squad, including Team Minato, to Kannabi Bridge and ordered him to retrieve supplies or destroy the bridge.
• Sōkyū Hatake promised Minato that he would stay true to himself, then agreed to lead the mission.
• Sōkyū Hatake briefed a twelve-person squad and said they would leave at midnight to set an ambush near Kannabi Bridge.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Kakashi Hatake the mission would be dangerous and a major turning point, then went to meet his arriving friends.
• Sōkyū Hatake found Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi eating hot pot in Minato Namikaze’s room, and Minato arrived and angrily confronted them.

Minato Namikaze joined Uchiha Fugaku, Shisui Uchiha, and the others for a meal before the next day's mission. Shisui challenged Sōkyū Hatake to a match, and the chapter ended as they faced off outside.

• Uchiha Fugaku welcomed Minato Namikaze and introduced Shisui Uchiha, whose fighting spirit caught Minato's attention.
• Hyuga Hiashi suggested Shisui fight Minato, but Uchiha Fugaku proposed Sōkyū Hatake instead, and Minato said Sōkyū had fought Han to a standstill.
• Minato explained that Uchiha Fugaku and the others would support him the next day against Iwagakure, and Shisui challenged Sōkyū to a match after dinner.
• Sōkyū stood up and went outside to fight, while Uchiha Fugaku revealed that Shisui had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Sōkyū, and Sōkyū told the others to wait for him to return to the meal.

Sōkyū Hatake defeated Shisui Uchiha’s Illusion Body Flicker Technique, then competed with Minato Namikaze over the brisket during dinner. As the group drank and joked before the next day’s battle, Shisui Uchiha wondered whether things would really be all right.

• Shisui Uchiha used his Illusion Body Flicker Technique against Sōkyū Hatake, who spotted his real body and knocked him down with a Thunder Punch.
• Minato Namikaze stole Sōkyū Hatake’s brisket using Flying Thunder God, but Sōkyū later paralyzed him with Lightning Traps and claimed the next batch.
• Shisui Uchiha asked how Sōkyū had identified his real body, and Sōkyū credited his strong sensory abilities.
• Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi discussed the danger of Sōkyū’s coming fight against Hōki, while Sōkyū said he could handle him.
• Uchiha Fugaku raised a toast to the next day’s battle, and the group’s drinking turned chaotic as Shisui Uchiha watched uneasily.

Sōkyū Hatake led Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and the others to ambush Iwagakure's supply convoy at Kannabi Bridge. After discovering the convoy had twice as many ninja as expected, Sōkyū ordered the bridge detonated, then faced Captain Tō Shibito as the surviving Iwa ninja began to retreat.

• Sōkyū Hatake arrived at the meeting point after drinking with Minato and the others, then led the twelve-person group toward Kannabi Bridge.
• Kakashi Hatake and the others planted explosive tags beneath the bridge while Sōkyū used his God's-eye View to watch the area.
• Sōkyū discovered that a twenty-man Iwa convoy was approaching instead of the expected ten-man squad, and he ordered everyone to prepare for an ambush.
• Tō Shibito sensed danger on Kannabi Bridge and ordered his convoy to retreat, but Sōkyū told Kakashi and the others to detonate the tags.
• The explosions killed ten Iwa ninja and injured the rest, while Tō Shibito shielded himself with one of his men and sent a signal to divert the supplies.
• Tō Shibito charged at Sōkyū Hatake, who faced him after the surviving Iwa ninja recognized him as the Thunder God.