Chapter Summaries

The Ninja Academy announced a major assessment with valuable rewards, prompting Uka Senju and his classmates to plan for the top twenty. Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō learned that Mito Uzumaki had likely fought Senju Zeyan, but his Root subordinate warned him that the Senju had mobilized over a hundred people and locked down their compound.

• Yuhi Katsuyo announced that the top hundred students would receive two simplified Ninjutsu, while the top twenty clan students could earn special privileges and time away from class.
• Uka Senju, Senju Harumi, Inuzuka Furin, and Aburame Kaun welcomed the assessment, and Kurama Shimei proposed keeping their rivals out of the top twenty.
• Uka agreed to help Kurama Shimei keep the Uchiha and Sarutobi students from winning spots in the top twenty.
• A Root operative told Shimura Danzō that Mito Uzumaki had likely fought Senju Zeyan, not Senju Toka, inside the Senju Clan Compound.
• The Root operative warned Danzō that the Senju had mobilized more than a hundred people to return and impose a lockdown.

Shimura Danzō ordered Root to abduct Senju Uka, while Uka spent the afternoon with his classmates and then headed home with Senju Harumi. Root intercepted the pair in an alley, and Uka fought back as Harumi tried to escape for help.

• Shimura Danzō told Owl to send Baku and Root members to bring Senju Uka to Root quietly.
• Senju Uka finished training at school, said goodbye to his friends, and walked home with Senju Harumi.
• Harumi complained that the grenade Uka invented had led to a break filled with defensive ninjutsu lessons.
• Baku and two masked Root members confronted Uka in an alley and ordered him to come with them.
• Uka refused, sent Harumi toward the clan for help, and activated Chakra Coating as a Root member attacked.
• Baku charged after Harumi to stop her from reaching the Senju clan.

Uka Senju fought off Root operatives sent by Lord Danzo and revealed his Wood Release to kill two of them. After crushing a Shared Life Insect, he checked on Senju Harumi, who remained unresponsive.

• Uka Senju clashed with the Bird-Beak Mask while Baku kicked Senju Harumi down and stopped her from using Ninjutsu to raise the alarm.
• Uka threatened the Root operatives with his family’s power, then secretly channeled Chakra into his wooden belt as they closed in.
• Uka charged the Bird-Beak Mask and used Wooden Spikes from his armor to kill him, revealing his Wood Release.
• Baku fled while the cat-masked Chunin attacked Uka, who distracted him and killed him with an expanding Wooden Spike.
• Uka vomited, crushed a Shared Life Insect, and found Senju Harumi barely responsive.

Uka Senju revealed that he had awakened Wood Release after Anbu squads attacked him and Harumi, and Senju Toka learned he had used it to defeat two Chunin. Toka canceled her planned retaliation against the Shimura clan, ordered the clan to keep his ability secret, and discussed how he should improve his Battle Armor Technique.

• Chiharu arrived and helped the Senju patrol team treat Harumi and collect the bodies of the Anbu attackers.
• Uka showed Kenchū Senju that his armor was made with Wood Release, and Kenchū realized Uka had killed two attackers with the technique.
• Chiharu told Senju Toka that Uka had Wood Release, and Uka confirmed it by making a branch sprout from the ground.
• Senju Toka called off her forces’ planned attack and ordered them to guard the clan grounds and keep Uka’s ability secret.
• Toka accepted Uka’s explanation without pressing for more details and advised him to practice the Battle Armor Technique before relying on it in future fights.

After Uka revealed his Wood Release, Mito Uzumaki and the elders confirmed it was a Kekkei Genkai, giving the divided Senju clan new hope. The elders agreed to investigate memories, but the Second Elder proposed checking only the Clan Leader’s Line and began explaining a secret plan.

• Toka told Mito Uzumaki and the elders that Anbu had tried to seize Uka and that Uka had awakened Wood Release.
• Uka demonstrated Wood Release, and Mito Uzumaki and the elders examined him and concluded it was a Kekkei Genkai distinct from Hashirama’s.
• Mito Uzumaki agreed to checking the clan elders’ memories, while the First Elder proposed that the Second Elder review them first.
• The Second Elder objected to checking everyone and proposed examining only the Clan Leader’s Line.
• Toka raised a soundproof barrier and explained that Uka’s awakening made a slow investigation too risky, then prepared to share the group’s plan.

Senju Uka pieced together how Konoha’s leaders might be conspiring to weaken the Senju and heard Mito Uzumaki clear the Clan Leader’s Line for investigation. The elders prepared to question the least and most suspicious senior clan members, while Uka stayed out of danger.

• Senju Toka played the Second Elder’s intelligence, and Uka deduced that Konoha’s four-man faction planned to erode the Senju through missions, war, and Wood Release experiments.
• Mito Uzumaki broke her teacup, accepted that the Clan Leader’s Line could be investigated, and asked the Senju not to implicate innocent members.
• The Second Elder told Mito that Uka’s attacks and the Senju’s Wood Release Kekkei Genkai had changed the balance, then asked her to identify likely traitors.
• Mito named Rikima and Moshige as unlikely conspirators and Tachihito and Meka as more suspicious; Uka agreed with her assessment.
• The Second Elder ordered Senju Toka and the First Elder to prepare the perimeter and summon the Clan Leader’s Line members, starting with Rikima and Moshige.
• The Second Elder scolded Uka for lounging near the hall, and Uka moved behind Mito Uzumaki to stay safe.

After learning that a Senju ninja had used Wood Release to defeat the Shimura Clan’s capture plan, Danzo tried to contain the crisis and secretly sent Heihachirō away with the children. Danzo left for the Hokage Building, while Heihachirō realized the supposed backup base and code phrase were fabrications meant to help the children escape.

• Danzo reviewed Root’s funding requests and cut the planned cost of Base No. 2 to two million ryō.
• Heihachirō reported that the mission to capture Uka had failed and that the Senju had killed both squads involved.
• Heihachirō told Danzo that Baku had sent the message “Wood Release” before Chiharu killed him, and described traces of unusual Chakra at the scene.
• Danzo concluded the report was credible and decided to label the Shimura operatives as spies, hoping Hiruzen could mediate and protect him and the clan.
• Danzo ordered Heihachirō to take the children to a supposed backup base, change their names, and avoid seeking revenge if the crisis worsened.
• Danzo went to the Hokage Building, and Heihachirō realized Danzo had invented the base and code phrase to send the children away safely.

Shimura Danzo confessed his actions against the Senju to Hiruzen Sarutobi, including his pursuit of Wood Release, and the two planned to appease the Senju rather than sacrifice Danzo alone. Hiruzen then ordered an Anbu to seek meetings with Lady Mito and the Second Elder every hour.

• Shimura Danzo realized Hiruzen Sarutobi had likely suspected him and went to confess what he had done to the Senju.
• Shimura Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi about the Senju spy, his recent operations, his suspicions, and the discovery of Wood Release.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to prepare their allies and face the Senju’s anger, reasoning that handing over Danzo and the Shimura Clan would not restore trust.
• Shimura Danzo agreed to endure the Senju’s punishment and left to prepare their allies.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered an Anbu to visit the Senju every hour and ask to see Lady Mito and the Second Elder.

The Senju elders began investigating suspected spies by secretly restraining Rikima Senju and reading his memories. The Second Elder discovered Rikima’s mother was Shimura Danzō’s great-aunt, and the chapter ended as the First Elder struck Rikima again to keep him unconscious.

• Sawagen Senju brought Rikima Senju and Moshige Senju into the hall, where the Second Elder announced an investigation into corruption within the clan.
• Rikima volunteered for the investigation, while Moshige reluctantly agreed to be examined first.
• The Second Elder called Rikima’s name, Mito Uzumaki bound him with a golden chain, and Sawagen knocked him unconscious and dislocated his limbs.
• The Second Elder used the Mind Reading Technique to uncover Rikima’s life and learn that his mother was Shimura Danzō’s great-aunt.
• Sawagen struck Rikima again as the Second Elder finished reading his memories.

The Second Elder investigated Rikima Senju’s memories and confronted Moshige Senju about his secret writings before judging the Fourth Elder, Tachihito Senju, for betraying the clan. Tachihito was sentenced to death, but his son Ken'an was allowed to return to the clan and preserve their bloodline.

• The Second Elder ordered the First Elder and Toka to investigate Old Fourth again, then sent Mito Uzumaki to read Rikima Senju’s memories.
• The Second Elder drove Moshige Senju from the hall after revealing that he knew about Moshige’s shameful books.
• The First Elder and Senju Toka brought six people to the hall, where the Second Elder questioned the kneeling Fourth Elder about betraying the clan to save his son.
• Tachihito Senju admitted his actions and pleaded for Ken'an’s life, saying he was the last child in his family.
• The elders sentenced Tachihito to die by Thousand Ants Devour the Heart, cut off his ancestors’ blood offerings for a hundred years, and allowed Ken'an to rejoin the clan.

The Senju elders sentenced Rikima Senju and his accomplices to five years of punishment for betraying the clan, extending the sentence to Rikima’s family. After leaving the meeting hall, Uka Senju went to the Security Room and learned that Harumi was recovering at home.

• The Second Elder sentenced Rikima Senju and his family to five years of punishment, and the elders agreed to the verdict.
• The Second Elder gave the remaining accomplices the same sentence and ordered the clan members to gather the next day to witness the punishment.
• After the prisoners were taken away, Uka Senju left the hall with a pastry box, while the Second Elder arranged for him and Harumi to be excused from school.
• Uka Senju found Kenchū Senju and asked about Harumi, who had been treated for chakra damage and taken home to recover.

Uka Senju used Wood Release to make furniture for his clanmates, gaining their interest and goodwill while practicing his chakra control. After hearing about tongue-sealed Anbu prisoners, he sent Sekisei Senju to examine one, then returned home with Senju Chiharu and checked his system status.

• Uka Senju made a dining table and shoe cabinet with Wood Release after clan members asked to see the ability, and they gathered to discuss his work.
• Sekisei Senju reported that a captured Anbu's tongue seal had destroyed the contents of his head when examined, and Tomoki Senju revealed that another sealed Anbu was being held at the west gate.
• Uka Senju suggested that Sekisei examine the living prisoner, and Tomoki Senju agreed to take him there.
• Uka Senju made furniture from Kenchū Senju's drawings, then left with Senju Chiharu after telling the clan members they could bring him more designs.
• At Senju Toka's residence, Uka Senju checked his system notifications and saw that his Wood Release skill was at Beginner level, 11/100, with 308 energy.

Senju Uka learned that the system could collect energy through Wood Release and store it, then considered how to gather enough energy to complete his Sage Body. Meanwhile, Mito Uzumaki proposed that Senju Toka lead the clan for ten years before Senju Tsunade took over, with Senju Uka’s future children designated as heirs across multiple branches.

• Uka upgraded the system, which let him collect energy through Wood Release from dead targets and save energy for later use.
• Uka saw that completing his Sage Body required four million energy, or two million plus the remaining gene fragments, and planned to seek energy from forest creatures and plants.
• Uka apologized to Chiharu for not telling her sooner that he had awakened Wood Release, and she forgave him before inviting him to dinner.
• Mito Uzumaki recommended Senju Toka as acting clan leader for ten years, then proposed that Senju Tsunade become the next leader and marry Senju Uka.
• The First Elder agreed that Wood Release should not belong to only one branch and declared that his granddaughter’s child with Uka would also be an heir of the Itayasu Branch.

Senju Toka agreed to let Senju Uka marry Tsunade and Maki to unite the Senju branches and preserve the clan’s future. The First Elder then pushed for Maki’s two childhood friends to join the marriage as well, leaving Toka stunned by his escalating demands.

• Mito Uzumaki and the First Elder persuaded Senju Toka to approve marriages between Uka, Tsunade, and Maki, offering family heirlooms and support for the brides.
• Mito Uzumaki offered Chiharu Tobirama’s swordsmanship notes, while the First Elder promised her a sword forged from Chakra Metal, securing her place in Uka’s household.
• Senju Toka agreed to the proposed marriages on Uka’s behalf.
• The First Elder claimed Maki’s two close childhood friends had promised to marry alongside her and urged Toka to accept them too.
• The First Elder argued that nine women could give Uka’s family dozens of children in only a few years, and Toka reacted with disbelief.

Senju Toka and the elders rejected a plan to force Uka to father children for all three branches and decided to negotiate with Hiruzen Sarutobi instead of fighting the united opposition. Toka then told Chiharu she could choose whether to leave now that Uka no longer needed the same protection, and Chiharu considered her answer.

• Senju Toka rejected the elders’ demand for nine children and insisted they follow their original agreement.
• Mito Uzumaki presented invitations from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the clan discussed the leaked information and the risks of fighting the united opposition.
• Senju Toka set the Shimura families’ heads as a condition for negotiations and proposed that the Senju seek influence over the academy.
• Senju Toka told Chiharu about the clan’s decisions and offered her the chance to leave or reconsider marrying Uka.
• Chiharu remembered her bond with Toka and Uka, then asked readers to support her new book.

Uka Senju practiced combining Wood Release armor with Senju Taijutsu and swordsmanship until Senju Chiharu corrected his approach, urging him to master control before coordinating the techniques. Senju Toka reviewed the clan’s affairs and summoned Uka to the study to discuss matters from the previous night.

• Uka Senju trained with an Iron Training Post, then nearly injured himself when a Wooden Spike emerged from the wrong side of his armor during sword practice.
• Senju Chiharu advised Uka to first master controlling the Wooden Spikes, then coordinate them with Taijutsu before adding swordsmanship.
• Uka startled Chiharu by instinctively stepping back when she teased him, and Senju Toka called him back to training from the window.
• Senju Toka reviewed clan records, saw that nearly two hundred Senju shinobi had died in six years, and blamed the Intelligence Division’s failures.
• Uka joined Senju Toka and Chiharu for breakfast, then went to the study after Toka asked to discuss matters with him.

Uka Senju agreed that the Senju should seek an exchange of interests rather than fight Danzo and proposed terms to secure the clan’s influence. He selected a southern front for the Senju, then struggled to explain his choice to Senju Toka.

• Senju Toka told Uka that the clan planned to prioritize an exchange of interests with Danzo and asked for his opinion.
• Uka agreed with the exchange, reasoning that a fight would weaken the Senju and benefit their rivals.
• Uka proposed that the Senju seek half control of the school, Barrier Team, and mission center, plus full control of medical affairs.
• Uka suggested trading some clan positions to the neutral faction and exchanging its posts on the four fronts for control of one front and a third of the village’s daimyo funding.
• Uka marked a southern territory on the map for the Senju and said the southwestern coastline should be left to the neutral faction.
• Senju Toka asked why Uka had chosen the south, and he searched for an explanation he could give her.

Uka Senju advised Senju Toka to expand south for strategic and economic reasons, then proposed clan policies to increase the Senju population. After reviewing the clan’s finances, he discovered its members already received exceptionally generous benefits.

• Uka Senju argued that occupying the south would give the Senju military advantages, control over ports and trade, and a chance to support the Land of Whirlpools.
• Senju Toka gave Uka a file on clan demographics and asked him to recommend ways to increase the number of Senju.
• Uka proposed allowing men to take a second Senju wife, preventing Senju women from marrying outside the clan, encouraging outsiders to marry into it, and rewarding larger families through a Childcare Center and cash incentives.
• Senju Toka asked Uka to set suitable rewards and fines, then handed him a file detailing clan income and expenses.
• Uka learned that the Senju had earned 2.3 billion ryō the previous year and discovered how many allowances and services clan members received.

Senju Uka helped Senju Toka set rewards and penalties for the clan’s birth policy, then learned the clan had assigned him three wives in exchange for supporting him and his future children. After discovering their identities, he asked whether he would have to marry them immediately despite being only nine.

• Senju Uka proposed a three-hundred-thousand-ryō childbirth reward and a four-hundred-thousand-ryō penalty, with mission suspensions for those who failed to have children.
• Senju Toka told Senju Uka that the clan had assigned him three wives and required him to lead by example by having at least two children.
• Senju Toka explained that one woman from each branch would marry Uka, their children would lead those branches, and the clan would provide him with full support.
• Senju Toka revealed that the three women were Tsunade, Senju Maki, and Senju Chiharu, and Uka recognized why Chiharu had acted strangely that morning.
• Senju Uka asked Senju Toka whether he would have to marry the women immediately, since he was only nine years old.

Uka Senju reassured Senju Chiharu about their arranged future, while Senju Toka presented his political proposal to the Senju leaders. The leaders approved a plan to trade the three front lines for control of the south, and Toka asked whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had brought the documents.

• Senju Toka warned Uka Senju to treat Chiharu well and told him to go after her when she left the study.
• Uka Senju found Chiharu in a bedroom, reassured her that their nine-year age gap could be resolved, and rested his head on her lap.
• Senju Toka presented Uka's proposal to Mito Uzumaki, the First Elder, and the Second Elder in the Senju meeting hall.
• The three leaders approved giving up the three front lines in exchange for control of the south and agreed to suspend most benefits for unmarried people over twenty and under forty-five.
• Senju Toka asked whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had brought the documents.