Chapter Summaries

Seiten’s preparations helped frame Danzo and Sarutobi for the Root scandal, while Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō abilities to Seiten. Seiten then told Fugaku to copy the scrolls and prepare for a mission outside the village with Itachi.

• Seiten explained how he used Flying Thunder God marks, planted scrolls and a discarded Byakugan to stage evidence inside Root, then watched shinobi gather at the Hokage Building.
• Fugaku and three Uchiha clan members moved the remaining scrolls after Seiten returned to the cabin, and Fugaku worried that Sarutobi might discover Seiten’s involvement.
• Seiten asked Fugaku about his Mangekyō, and Fugaku revealed that his abilities amplified Genjutsu and Ninjutsu two to three times, though they consumed chakra and ocular power quickly.
• Seiten told Fugaku to make more copies of the scrolls and said he would arrange for Fugaku to leave the village with Itachi on a future mission.
• Seiten whispered the details of the mission to Fugaku.

Seiten planned to use Fugaku to help Danzo escape Konoha, but Fugaku reported that Danzo had been imprisoned. Sarutobi assigned Itachi to infiltrate the Akatsuki, then confronted Danzo in prison, where Danzo accused him of hypocrisy and reminded him of Root’s purpose.

• Seiten asked Fugaku to secretly protect Danzo and explained that Danzo would seek help from the Land of Fire's daimyo.
• Fugaku told Seiten that Danzo had been imprisoned, surprising him.
• Itachi told Sarutobi the fabricated account of the battle, and Sarutobi ordered him to infiltrate the Akatsuki and gather intelligence.
• Sarutobi visited Danzo in the Anbu prison and said he had to punish him because the clans knew what had been exposed.
• Danzo mocked Sarutobi as a hypocrite and reminded him that Root had been founded as Konoha's sword in the darkness.

Sarutobi kept Danzo imprisoned after the Scrolls of Seals were stolen and evidence implicated Root, while Danzo suspected Sarutobi was protecting his own secrets. At Konoha’s barrier, Seiten saw Itachi off as he left to join the Akatsuki and gave him a ring for communicating through the Magic Lantern Body Technique.

• Sarutobi told Danzo that the Scrolls of Seals had been stolen and refused to release him because the village needed someone to hold responsible.
• Danzo accused Sarutobi of fearing that he would expose their past dealings, while Sarutobi insisted he would investigate the mastermind behind the framing.
• After Sarutobi left, Danzo remained guarded in his prison cell and privately regretted giving the unseen culprit an advantage.
• Seiten met Itachi at Konoha’s barrier, confirmed Fugaku would leave on a mission later, and admitted he had played a role in Danzo’s imprisonment.
• Seiten gave Itachi a Yin-Yang Release ring for long-distance communication and warned him not to wear it when unused.
• Itachi asked whether Seiten was an Akatsuki member or the true power controlling the organization from behind the scenes.

Seiten offered Itachi information in exchange for signing an IOU, and Itachi paid to ask about the safety of the Uchiha Clan and Sasuke. Seiten promised not to deliberately harm either and revealed that restoring the clan was one of his goals, then warned Itachi not to dodge the debt.

• Seiten rejected Itachi's invitation to join Akatsuki and offered to answer one question in exchange for an IOU.
• Itachi saw Shisui's five-billion IOU, then signed his own for five hundred million with a one-year repayment deadline and annual interest.
• Itachi asked whether Seiten intended to harm the Uchiha Clan or Sasuke, and Seiten promised he would not deliberately hurt either.
• Seiten said restoring the Uchiha Clan to its peak was one of his goals and offered that information for free.
• Seiten warned Itachi not to evade repayment and briefly released chakra far beyond Kage Level.

Seiten met with Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, accepted payment and a five-hundred-million IOU in exchange for helping free Danzo from prison. After securing their signatures on the IOU, he immediately led them toward the prison to begin the escape.

• Seiten retrieved a banknote beneath the cherry tree, using it as the agreed signal to meet Root.
• Yamanaka Fū told Seiten that Danzo had agreed to work with him and offered him an additional district of Konoha in return for helping free Danzo.
• Seiten demanded payment upfront and had Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune sign a five-hundred-million IOU, including Danzo's name.
• Seiten accepted fifty million and announced that he would help break Danzo out of prison that night.
• Seiten set off with Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, surprising them by starting the prison escape immediately.

Seiten unleashed a massive Water Release attack to draw out the Anbu guarding the prison while Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune moved to rescue Danzo. Seiten fought the Anbu with his Taijutsu and hidden weapons, and the surviving defenders retreated toward the prison to await reinforcements.

• Seiten sent Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune to break into the prison while he held off the hidden Anbu.
• Seiten flooded the forest with Great Water Shockwave, prompting the Anbu to scatter and revealing their strength to Fū and Torune.
• Fū and Torune assessed Seiten’s abilities and continued toward the prison to rescue Danzo.
• Seiten fought the Anbu with Taijutsu, knocking their captain into the forest and destroying their Shadow Clones.
• Seiten used Instant: Thousand Cherry Blossoms Bloom to shower the area with needles and kunai, killing or injuring several Anbu.
• The Anbu Captain ordered the survivors to retreat toward the prison and wait for reinforcements.

Seiten defeated the Anbu squad guarding the battlefield while Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune rescued Danzo from prison. Sarutobi investigated the aftermath, then announced that Danzo and Itachi were missing-nin, leaving Konoha residents shocked by the news.

• Seiten killed the members of Squad A with Lightning Release: Thousand-Instant Heavy Current, while its captain left coded clues before dying.
• Sarutobi arrived and ordered the Anbu to gather the dead and investigate the prison break and battlefield.
• An Anbu report identified Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune as Danzo's rescuers and described the unknown fighter who had defeated Squad A.
• Sarutobi decoded Mokushin's final clues as “Kage, Danzo, friend, Fugo” and ordered the fallen Anbu honored as heroes.
• The next day, Sarutobi declared Danzo and Itachi missing-nin, prompting shocked discussions among Konoha residents.

Seiten sent Fugaku to secretly watch Danzo while Danzo suspected Seiten had orchestrated the recent upheavals and chose to keep cooperating with him. Seven days later, Seiten impersonated Fugaku at home, where Mikoto praised Itachi for resembling Seiten, leaving Seiten bewildered.

• Seiten told Fugaku to track Danzo and his Root companions from the shadows, using a gold kunai to sense them, and warned him to intervene only when necessary.
• Danzo concluded that Seiten had exposed his experiments, stolen secret techniques, and framed him, but he decided to pretend ignorance and use Seiten's strength for now.
• After seven days, Seiten used the Substitution Technique to impersonate Fugaku while resting at the clan leader's home and left the clan and Police Force paperwork untouched.
• Mikoto brought Seiten tea and worried that Fugaku would face suspicion for neglecting his duties, but Seiten said the recent events gave Fugaku reason to recuperate at home.
• Mikoto told Seiten that Itachi was precocious and acted like him, leaving Seiten confused by her unexpected comparison.

Seiten discussed the Anbu watching the Uchiha compound with Mikoto, while Shisui encountered Obito and Black and White Zetsu during a mission. After Shisui escaped and reported the meeting, Seiten prepared to contact Itachi with a Magic Lantern Body Technique projection.

• Mikoto told Seiten that more Anbu had been appearing near the compound, and Seiten said the Third Hokage was watching his other identity.
• Shisui encountered Obito and Black and White Zetsu, claimed to be Madara Uchiha, and escaped Obito's attack with his Body Flicker Technique.
• Obito failed to track Shisui and suspected the impostor was deliberately targeting him and Akatsuki.
• Shisui contacted Seiten at a secret base and reported that Obito and Black and White Zetsu might head to Konoha after searching for Itachi.
• Seiten agreed to warn Itachi and began forming the hand seals for the Magic Lantern Body Technique.

Seiten gathered Shisui, Mikoto, Fugaku, and Itachi through projections and discussed the Akatsuki’s plans and their own missions. He urged Fugaku to disguise himself as Obito and help Shisui expand his operations, leaving Fugaku and the others stunned when Shisui called the scheme “saving the Shinobi World.”

• Seiten interrupted his training to reach Shisui, then waited for Mikoto, Fugaku, and Itachi to join the projection meeting.
• Seiten told Itachi that Obito and the Akatsuki would recruit him and Orochimaru, and revealed that the Akatsuki planned to capture all the tailed beasts.
• Itachi agreed to pretend to cooperate with the Akatsuki, while Seiten withheld his own plans for the organization and the tailed beasts.
• Fugaku reported that he had been following Danzo’s people cautiously using Seiten’s coordinates and information.
• Seiten suggested Fugaku disguise himself as Obito and help Shisui expand his business outside the village.
• Shisui insisted that their operations were “saving the Shinobi World,” leaving Fugaku, Mikoto, and Itachi bewildered.

Haruma, disguised as Fugaku, pressured Fugaku to rob corrupt merchants without killing them, then attended a Hokage meeting about complaints against the Police Force. The meeting ended with clan tensions already spreading through Konoha, despite Sarutobi ordering the clans to correct their members’ conduct.

• Haruma insisted that Fugaku leave robbed merchants alive so they could spread Madara Uchiha’s name, and Fugaku’s projection eventually vanished.
• Haruma slept in the clan head’s office while training in his mind, then went to a meeting requested by the Hokage.
• Sarutobi warned the gathered clan heads that complaints accused Police Force members of favoritism, protecting clan businesses, and targeting rivals.
• Haruma observed that the complaints and resentment had already taken root, while law-enforcement ninja from several clans were growing hostile toward one another.

Haruma confronted Sarutobi and the village's leaders over their suspicions about his money and the Uchiha Clan's treatment, warning that the clan might leave Konoha. Sarutobi defused the confrontation by blaming Danzo, and Haruma departed after provoking the advisors.

• Sarutobi stopped Haruma after the meeting and questioned him about the money he had been accumulating.
• Haruma claimed the funds were for renovating the Uchiha compound, but rejected Sarutobi's offer to send village workers and merchants.
• Sarutobi demanded to know why Haruma was gathering money, and Haruma said the Uchiha might need funds to leave Konoha.
• Haruma accused the village leaders of moving the Uchiha to the outskirts, surveilling them, keeping their Sharingan in Root, and failing to explain Itachi's release.
• Sarutobi blamed Danzo for the past abuses and appealed to Haruma to understand the difficulties of being Hokage.
• Haruma cursed Danzo until Sarutobi stopped Koharu from responding, then Haruma left the room.

Haruma explained to Mikoto how his confrontation with Konoha’s leadership could ease pressure on the Uchiha Clan, then reassured her about Sasuke after Itachi’s departure. He left Sasuke’s situation for Fugaku to handle and wondered whether Fugaku was earning money in the Land of Fire.

• Shikaku told Sarutobi that Konoha needed the Uchiha Clan and advised him to show Fugaku sincerity, including withdrawing visible Anbu surveillance and offering shops.
• Sarutobi agreed to change his approach toward the Uchiha, while he and Shikaku wondered whether Fugaku’s unusual temper meant someone else had taken his place.
• Haruma told Mikoto that Sarutobi would likely back down to prevent unrest, and Mikoto said she would pass his explanation on to Fugaku.
• Mikoto told Haruma that Sasuke had grown quiet and was training to surpass Itachi and bring him back.
• Haruma reassured Mikoto that Sasuke’s future was better than the suffering he had faced in the future Haruma had seen, but he chose to avoid contacting Sasuke or Naruto for now.

Haruma planned to open shops selling ninjutsu scrolls in Konoha and left to collect a debt from the daimyo. At the daimyo’s residence, Danzo secured a pardon, while Fugaku, Shisui, and Itachi waited for Haruma to arrive.

• Haruma accepted the deeds to several Konoha shops and told Mikoto he would sell ninjutsu scrolls there, then asked her to manage the shops while he left to collect a debt.
• Danzo convinced the daimyo that a mysterious person had framed him, and the daimyo agreed to send a party to return him to Konoha.
• Asuma Sarutobi and the other Konoha guards watched Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune as Danzo emerged and told his subordinates to wait for the return party.
• Fugaku, Shisui, and Itachi met in an izakaya and discussed Itachi joining the organization led by the Masked Man and Haruma’s unexplained plan.
• Haruma used the golden kunai and markers left by Fugaku and Shisui to reach the daimyo’s residence in half a day, appearing before them dressed like Obito.

Haruma went to the Land of Fire daimyo’s residence to confront Danzo and collect the debt he owed. After Danzo’s subordinates attacked, Haruma froze their assault with his Mangekyō ability and killed Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, leaving Danzo facing him.

• Fugaku told Haruma that Danzo had met alone with the daimyo, and Haruma decided to collect the debt recorded on the IOU.
• Itachi realized Danzo had likely used Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami on the daimyo and worried Haruma planned to kill Danzo and impersonate him.
• Danzo removed Shisui’s Sharingan and received a replacement before sensing Haruma’s team surrounding the side hall with the Four Red Flame Formation.
• Haruma presented the IOU, but Danzo signaled Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune to attack him.
• Haruma used Absolute Domain to freeze the attack, killed Yamanaka Fū with Chidori Sharp Spear and Fire Style: Flame Dragon, then appeared beside Torune and struck his head with a blade.

Haruma and the Uchiha confronted Danzo inside the Four Red Yang Formation, while Asuma tried to break through the barrier and called for reinforcements. Danzo repeatedly used his remaining Sharingan to survive, but Shisui struck him from behind and slashed his throat.

• Haruma defeated two Root operatives, then used Wood Release to overwhelm Danzo’s Exploding Spear Tree and shield himself from Danzo’s Wind Release.
• Haruma brought Fugaku, Shisui, and Itachi into view, and Fugaku mocked Danzo for accusing the Uchiha of evil while he carried Sharingan in his arm.
• Asuma and his allies failed to breach the Four Red Yang Formation, so Asuma sent requests for reinforcements and prepared to protect the daimyo.
• Danzo summoned Baku, but the beast was engulfed in black flames as Danzo continued fighting and lost more of the Sharingan that let him survive.
• Danzo charged Shisui and tried to take his eyes, but Shisui dodged with the Body Flicker Technique and slashed Danzo’s throat with Yamanaka Fū’s katana.

Shisui, Itachi, and Fugaku fought Danzo, whose repeated use of Izanagi concealed a final ambush against Fugaku. Haruma rescued Fugaku from Danzo’s Reverse Four Symbols Seal, leaving the survivors to reflect on Danzo’s devotion to Konoha.

• Danzo used a cursed seal and wind-enhanced kunai to nearly kill Shisui, but Itachi’s Susanoo saved him.
• Danzo used Izanagi to attack Haruma, who froze him with Domain Expansion and killed him with the swing ropes.
• Itachi warned that Danzo was not finished, and Danzo emerged beside Fugaku to activate the Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
• Haruma appeared, severed Danzo’s hand, and pulled Fugaku out of the sealing technique’s blast range.
• Haruma mocked Fugaku for nearly losing despite outnumbering Danzo, then reflected on Danzo’s belief in serving Konoha.

Haruma disguised himself as Danzo and traveled back toward Konoha with the daimyo’s letter, while Kakuzu learned of Danzo’s bounty and followed the escort. With Konoha less than half a day away, Haruma noticed Kakuzu had been tailing them for two days.

• Haruma teleported Shisui, Fugaku, and Itachi out of the barrier, then returned alone, disguised himself as Danzo, and covered up the destruction.
• Asuma found the injured-looking Danzo and sent a report to Konoha while Haruma arranged to return with the daimyo’s approval.
• Kakuzu collected a bounty payment at a hidden Bounty Station and learned that Danzo was worth fifty-seven million.
• Haruma traveled toward Konoha in a palanquin, and Kakuzu followed the escort for two days.
• With half a day left before reaching Konoha, Haruma opened his eyes and revealed that he knew Kakuzu was following them.

Haruma, disguised as Danzo, thwarted Kakuzu’s ambush and fought him, destroying two of his hearts while enduring his counterattacks. Kakuzu unleashed a powerful combined ninjutsu toward Haruma atop a hill, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Haruma used a clone to evade Kakuzu’s ambush, then revealed himself and drove Kakuzu away from the samurai with Wind Release: Pressure Damage.
• Haruma dodged Kakuzu’s Earth Spear attack and kicked him into a hill, then pierced his chest with Chidori and ruptured one heart.
• Kakuzu used a water mask to try to exploit Chidori’s weakness, but Haruma endured the electricity and destroyed Kakuzu’s second heart.
• Kakuzu transformed with Earth Grudge Fear and blasted Haruma with a combined wind-and-fire technique, but Haruma escaped to the hilltop.
• Kakuzu charged and launched Lightning Release: False Darkness, Fire Style: Searing Migraine, and Fire Style: Sickle Pressure at Haruma.

Haruma defeated Kakuzu with Space-Time Ninjutsu and Wood Release, then recruited him to manage money and serve him. Kakuzu surrendered, accepted Haruma’s terms, and was left bound by marks and a cursed seal.

• Haruma used a hidden Space-Time Ninjutsu strike to destroy another of Kakuzu’s hearts, and Kakuzu deduced how the attack worked.
• Haruma summoned Wood Release: Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands and overwhelmed Kakuzu’s combined fire and wind techniques.
• Kakuzu surrendered when Haruma gave him the choice of serving or fighting to the death.
• Haruma told Kakuzu he valued his ability to manage and earn money, and Kakuzu signed an IOU and completed the brotherhood formalities.
• Haruma marked Kakuzu’s remaining hearts with Flying Thunder God formulas and placed a Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on him to prevent him from revealing information.