Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya returned to Konoha with Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko and learned that the village had failed to identify who killed Hiruzen Sarutobi, instead blaming Shimura Danzō. After visiting Hiruzen’s grave and Biwako Sarutobi, Jiraiya decided to seek out Tsunade.

• Jiraiya entered Konoha with his three disciples and went to Hatake Sakumo’s office to ask whether Hiruzen’s killer had been found.
• Hatake Sakumo showed Jiraiya the investigation report and explained that the village had blamed Shimura Danzō for Hiruzen’s murder to give the public an explanation.
• Jiraiya visited Hiruzen Sarutobi’s grave, then took Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko to meet Biwako Sarutobi.
• Biwako Sarutobi asked Jiraiya about his disciples and noticed Nagato’s unusual eyes without questioning him.
• Jiraiya considered finding somewhere quiet, but then decided to visit Tsunade, claiming he only wanted to discuss their teacher.

Hatake Sakumo received the daimyō’s appointment and prepared to take office as Konoha’s Fourth Hokage. At the inauguration, he accepted the hat and haori, warned the clan leaders against plotting, and waved to the cheering villagers.

• Two ANBU delivered the daimyō’s letter appointing Hatake Sakumo as Fourth Hokage, and Sakumo asked Nara Shikata to arrange the succession.
• Nara Shikata scheduled the ceremony for five days later and prepared its plans and regalia.
• Mitokado Homura returned to Konoha, received Sakumo’s thanks, and told Utatane Koharu that the inauguration was imminent.
• At the ceremony, Mitokado Homura presented Sakumo with the Hokage hat and Utatane Koharu gave him the haori.
• Hatake Sakumo addressed the clan heads, pledged to unite Konoha, and warned that he would show no mercy to anyone causing trouble.
• Hatake Sakumo waved his hat to the crowd as villagers cheered below.

Newly appointed Hokage Hatake Sakumo sent Orochimaru to confront the Land of Earth in the Land of Grass and Jiraiya to face the Land of Water on the western border. With the Third Raikage preparing attacks against both the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, Hatake Sakumo remained unaware that Konoha faced an even greater threat.

• Hatake Sakumo convened Konoha’s leaders and approved Nara Shikata’s proposal to send troops to the Land of Grass under the pretext of aid.
• Hatake Sakumo assigned Orochimaru a thousand ninja, including Uchiha Fugaku, and Orochimaru set out for the Land of Grass.
• The Land of Water sent ninja to the Land of Fire’s western border, and Hatake Sakumo dispatched Jiraiya to confront them.
• The Third Raikage decided to send A and Killer B to attack the Land of Fire while he led a separate force against the Land of Earth.
• The Third Raikage’s forces assembled and marched out as Hatake Sakumo remained unaware of the approaching threat.

Hatake Sakumo received reports that the Land of Fire was at war with the Land of Earth and that A and Killer B were leading a force toward the Land of Fire. As his aides discussed the response, Sakumo remembered he still needed to deal with Yano Genma, the man who had bullied him after being saved by his former self.

• Hatake Sakumo discussed rising tensions and war preparations with Nara Shikata and Hyūga Hajime while thinking about Kakashi's training and his own plans to learn the Eight Trigrams Seal.
• Hatake Sakumo read Orochimaru's report that the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth were fighting in the Land of Grass, with Kitsuchi commanding the Earth forces.
• An ANBU delivered an urgent report that A and Killer B were leading a large army toward the Land of Fire.
• Hatake Sakumo considered confronting A and Killer B himself and decided Minato Namikaze would remain in the village for now.
• Hatake Sakumo remembered that he had not dealt with Yano Genma, who had bullied him after Sakumo's former self saved him.

Hatake Sakumo led Konoha’s forces to intercept Kumogakure at the Land of Fire’s southwestern border, intending to capture A and Killer B. After Killer B taunted him with a rap, Uchiha Retsu insulted the brothers and their village, leaving A enraged and wrapped in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

• Hatake Sakumo announced that he would lead the interception himself and assigned Tsunade and Nara Shikata to manage the village and guard against the Land of Wind.
• Hatake Sakumo ordered Tsunade and Nara Shikata to keep Kakashi and Jiraiya’s three Amegakure children from leaving the village, then departed with Konoha’s assembled ninja.
• Hatake Sakumo’s forces joined the Land of Fire’s troops and encountered A and Killer B near the southwestern border.
• Killer B rapped insults at Hatake Sakumo, who told Uchiha Arashi to find a clan member who could talk back.
• Uchiha Retsu mocked Killer B, A, and Kumogakure, provoking A to activate Lightning Release Chakra Mode and threaten him.

Hatake Sakumo intercepted A’s attack and overwhelmed him with Armament Haki and superior speed, leaving the Kumogakure fighters stunned. A charged again at full power, but Sakumo dodged his strike and punched him face-first into the ground.

• A rushed Uchiha Retsu, but Hatake Sakumo intercepted his fist before it could land.
• A and Sakumo clashed, and Sakumo’s kick sent A flying and caused severe internal injuries.
• A recovered and launched another Lariat at full speed, while Sakumo prepared a counterpunch.
• Sakumo dodged A’s hook and punched him into the ground with a strike coated in Armament Haki.

Hatake Sakumo overwhelmed A with Armament Haki, then knocked Killer B unconscious with a powerful shock-wave punch. The Eight-Tails took control, transformed into Gyuki, and attacked Sakumo as he ordered the Konoha Ninja to retreat.

• Hatake Sakumo used distant Armament strikes to break A’s leg lock and pummel him until he was dazed.
• Killer B launched a Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and charged Hatake Sakumo with a Lariat.
• Hatake Sakumo struck Killer B with Fist Bone: Star Breaker, sending him flying and crushing his arm.
• The Eight-Tails took control of Killer B and transformed into Gyuki, using his tails and a spinning defense to counter Sakumo’s shock wave.
• Gyuki lashed at Hatake Sakumo with all eight Chakra-covered tails, and Sakumo ordered the Konoha Ninja to retreat five hundred meters.

Hatake Sakumo fought the rampaging Eight-Tails, Gyuki, after rescuing the unconscious A and sending the Konoha ninja to safety. As Gyuki began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb, Hatake Sakumo unleashed the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, leaving the attack’s outcome unresolved.

• Hatake Sakumo dodged Gyuki’s tails, knocked A unconscious with an Armament Haki kick, and passed him to Uchiha Arashi.
• The Konoha and Kumogakure ninja retreated while Hatake Sakumo confronted Gyuki alone.
• Hatake Sakumo used Flying Slashes and then stabbed Gyuki with White Fang to inflict Internal Destruction, forcing Gyuki to roll and shake him off.
• Gyuki began charging a Tailed Beast Bomb, and Hatake Sakumo sent a white sphere powered by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit toward it.

Hatake Sakumo defeated the Eight-Tails Gyuki with a Tremor-Tremor Fruit earthquake and captured the unconscious Killer B alive. He left the battlefield carrying Killer B, pleased with the prisoners he had taken and still aiming for the Nine-Tails or Ten-Tails.

• Hatake Sakumo's earthquake shattered Gyuki's tails and caused its forming Tailed Beast Bomb to explode in its mouth, leaving the Eight-Tails gravely injured.
• Uchiha Retsu worried about Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Arashi reprimanded him and insisted the Hokage would be fine.
• Hatake Sakumo struck Gyuki with Armament Haki and Internal Destruction until the injured beast returned to Killer B's body.
• Hatake Sakumo chose not to kill Killer B, hoping to keep him for a later experiment and avoid having to find a new Jinchūriki for the Eight-Tails.
• Hatake Sakumo picked up the unconscious Killer B and hurried after the main Konoha Ninja force, pleased that he had also captured A alive.

Hatake Sakumo returned to the Konoha forces carrying the unconscious Killer B and led them to ambush Kumogakure’s army. Dodai mistakenly believed Hatake had died, and the two armies charged toward one another, unaware that Hatake was hiding among the Konoha ranks.

• Hatake Sakumo reunited with the Konoha ninja, revealed he had captured Killer B, and ordered them to attack Kumogakure’s army.
• Dodai assumed the Eight-Tails had killed Hatake and led Kumogakure’s forces toward the battlefield to rescue A.
• Both armies reached the devastated battlefield and mistook the other side for a defeated force before charging at each other.
• Dodai wondered why Killer B was absent but assumed he had hidden, not knowing Hatake was carrying him.
• Hatake stayed concealed among the Konoha ranks, causing Kumogakure to believe Konoha had lost its leader.

Hatake Sakumo captured Killer B and battled the Kumogakure army as Dodai stepped forward to oppose him. Meanwhile, the Land of Wind joined the war, and Nara Shikata assembled a force including Minato Namikaze to defend the northwestern border while Tsunade stayed in Konoha.

• Hatake Sakumo revealed himself alive with unconscious Killer B, and Dodai ordered the Kumogakure forces to charge rather than retreat.
• Hatake Sakumo cut down Kumogakure ninja with Flying Slashes, and Dodai challenged him, hoping to hold him off until A and Killer B were rescued.
• Tsunade received word that the Third Kazekage was leading a Sand army toward the Land of Fire's northwestern border, while Konoha's other forces remained occupied on separate fronts.
• Nara Shikata volunteered to lead a force to delay the Sand ninja, and Tsunade agreed to remain behind and guard Konoha.
• Nara Shikata selected forces from several clans and experienced Jonin, including Minato Namikaze, who resolved to give his best in battle.

Hatake Sakumo defeated Dodai, captured him along with A and Killer B, and led Konoha to rout the Kumogakure army. Tsunade received news of the victory and turned her concern to Nara Shikata, who faced the Third Kazekage and the Land of Wind's army.

• Dodai tried to capture Killer B with Lava Release: Rubber Ball, but Hatake Sakumo cut through the rubber with White Fang.
• Hatake Sakumo pursued Dodai, broke through his rubber defenses with Armament Haki and Rankyaku, and sliced off one of his legs before capturing him.
• With Dodai captured and Kumogakure without leadership, Hatake Sakumo and the Konoha Ninja routed the army, killing many and taking numerous prisoners.
• The system mocked Hatake Sakumo's victory, calling the defeated Kumogakure forces a fodder pirate crew, and he realized it had not mistaken A or Killer B for One Piece characters.
• Tsunade received Hatake Sakumo's report that he had captured A and Killer B, and she felt relieved that the southwestern border was secure.
• Tsunade waited for news from Orochimaru and Jiraiya but worried most about Nara Shikata, who faced the Third Kazekage's army.

Orochimaru’s forces remained deadlocked against the Land of Earth while Jiraiya fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and Hatake Sakumo’s side returned with prisoners after winning its battle. At the northwestern border, Nara Shikata’s army faced the Third Kazekage, who targeted Minato Namikaze after Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique drew his attention.

• Uchiha Fugaku used Sharingan Genjutsu to trick Roshi into taking a Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet, keeping the Four-Tails Jinchūriki occupied while Orochimaru fought Kitsuchi.
• Jiraiya fought six of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist in Sage Mode as Hyuga Hiashi battled another swordsman one-on-one.
• Hatake Sakumo ordered his victorious force to return to the village with A, Killer B, Dodai, and other Land of Lightning prisoners.
• Nara Shikata led Konoha’s army against the Third Kazekage, while Minato Namikaze’s attacks helped the Konoha forces push back the Land of Wind’s troops.
• The Third Kazekage unleashed Iron Sand Shower, then Minato used Flying Thunder God to appear beside him and attack with a Rasengan, which the Kazekage blocked with iron sand.

Minato Namikaze fought the Third Kazekage while the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clan heads disrupted the Land of Wind formation with their Human Bullet Yo-Yo. Minato broke through the Kazekage’s Iron Sand defense and sent him crashing to the ground, leaving the Kazekage furious and taking Minato seriously.

• Nara Shikata, the Yamanaka clan head, and the Akimichi clan head used the Human Bullet Yo-Yo to crush through the Land of Wind shinobi formation.
• Rasa tried to trap the Human Bullet Tank with Gold Dust Flow, but Nara Shikata made it bounce over the gold dust and into another Sand formation.
• Minato Namikaze attacked the Third Kazekage with Flying Thunder God Kunai and a Rasengan, then used the Kazekage’s Iron Sand to reposition himself in midair.
• Minato struck the Third Kazekage’s Iron Sand shield with a Big Ball Rasengan, broke through it, and sent the Kazekage crashing to the ground.
• The Third Kazekage recovered, flew back into the air, and told Minato Namikaze that he had made him angry.

The Third Raikage led a raid into the Land of Earth, where Ōnoki’s forces halted his advance and forced him to retreat. After learning that A, Killer B, and Dodai had been captured by Hatake Sakumo in the Land of Fire, he ordered his army to withdraw and swore revenge.

• Ōnoki learned that the Third Raikage was attacking the Land of Earth and organized a defense against him.
• The Third Raikage’s forces clashed with Ōnoki’s ninjas for several days, while the Raikage struggled with dwindling supplies and mounting casualties.
• The Third Raikage used Hell Stab: Three-Finger Nukite, and Ōnoki answered with Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.
• The Third Raikage ordered a retreat, then planned to assassinate Ōnoki before joining A and the others in the Land of Fire.
• The Third Raikage received a report that Hatake Sakumo had defeated the Land of Lightning’s army and captured A, Killer B, and Dodai.
• The Third Raikage smashed a boulder in anger, ordered his troops to retreat, and vowed revenge on Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha with prisoners from Kumogakure, then went alone to support Nara Shikata against the Sand army. He struck the Third Kazekage out of the air, and the Kazekage demanded to know who had attacked him.

• Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha with Uchiha Arashi, Hizashi Hyuga, and other prisoners while Yano Genma spotted him and fled into the crowd.
• Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade decided to hold A, Killer B, and Dodai in the rebuilt Root base, with Hyūga Hajime's clan guarding them.
• Tsunade told Hatake Sakumo that the Third Kazekage was leading an attack on the northwestern border, where Nara Shikata's forces were holding out.
• Hatake Sakumo reached the battlefield and saw Minato Namikaze and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio fighting the Third Kazekage and Rasa.
• Hatake Sakumo struck the Third Kazekage with an Armament Haki-coated Flying Slash, knocking him out of the air and into the ground.

Hatake Sakumo arrived on the battlefield, stopped the Third Kazekage from pursuing Minato, and defeated him with a ranged Armament Haki punch. Rather than kill him, Sakumo decided to take him hostage and demand a ransom from Rasa.

• Minato welcomed Hatake Sakumo, who sent him to assist the Nara Clan Head and the others while he faced the Third Kazekage.
• The Third Kazekage tried to trap Minato with Iron Sand World Method, but Sakumo shattered the attack with Flying Slashes.
• Sakumo fought the Third Kazekage in the air, using Armament Haki and his new abilities to counter the Kazekage’s Iron Sand.
• Sakumo’s Fist Bone: Star Breaker struck the Third Kazekage through his Iron Sand shield, gravely injuring him and knocking him from the sky.
• Sakumo chose to capture the Third Kazekage and demand ransom from Rasa, then carried the wounded Kazekage toward Rasa’s battlefield.

Hatake Sakumo captured the Third Kazekage and forced Rasa to negotiate for his master's release. Nara Shikata secured terms for the Kazekage, surviving Land of Wind ninjas, and compensation, while Rasa privately vowed to make Konoha pay twice as much someday.

• Minato Namikaze joined Nara Shikata and the Akimichi and Yamanaka clan heads against Rasa, who used Gold Dust and flight to keep them at bay.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived carrying the badly injured Third Kazekage and stopped the fight by threatening Rasa's master's life.
• Hatake Sakumo demanded money and supplies in exchange for releasing the Third Kazekage, and Rasa agreed to negotiate.
• Nara Shikata led talks and set terms for the Third Kazekage's release, the surviving Land of Wind ninjas, and compensation for the war.
• Rasa accepted the negotiations outwardly but vowed to make Konoha repay double in the future.

After returning to Konoha with the Third Kazekage and many prisoners, Hatake Sakumo learned that Orochimaru and Jiraiya were close to winning their fronts as well. He decided to pursue Madara Uchiha, hoping to defeat the aging legend and obtain the Uchiha Gunbai.

• Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha with the prisoners, where Tsunade and the clans welcomed the victorious force.
• Hatake Sakumo left the prisoners with Hyūga Hajime and heard from Nara Shikata about the treaty with the Land of Wind.
• Tsunade reported that Orochimaru and Jiraiya had gained the upper hand and that the enemy forces were preparing to withdraw.
• Hatake Sakumo discussed Kakashi's study of the Flying Thunder God Technique over dinner, then led a meeting about using captured Kumogakure ninja to obtain resources.
• Hatake Sakumo read new battlefield reports and decided to seek out Madara Uchiha and take the Uchiha Gunbai.

Hatake Sakumo inspected the Ninja Academy and found that its academic textbooks promoted Hiruzen Sarutobi's version of the Will of Fire. He ordered the school closed for a week while the textbooks were replaced, leaving its staff awaiting further changes.

• Hatake Sakumo visited the Ninja Academy and observed students in classes across all six years.
• Hatake Sakumo reviewed the curriculum and concluded that Kakashi should return to school, though he would find the second-year material too basic.
• Hatake Sakumo summoned principal Sarutobi Hiroshi and ordered him to bring the textbooks and school staff.
• Hatake Sakumo used Shadow Clones to inspect the textbooks and found that the academic books taught children to put the village's interests above their own.
• Hatake Sakumo ordered the Ninja Academy closed for a week and banned the old textbooks until replacements arrived.