Chapter Summaries

After Sakura returned from her assessment mission with personnel, documents, and intelligence, Tsunade admitted she had suspected the mission’s intelligence was wrong and had used Sakura’s strength to investigate. A report confirmed Akatsuki was lying low, and Tsunade and Sakura confronted the difficulty of opposing it while the Five Great Shinobi Villages remained divided; Tsunade then redirected their discussion to the Land of Snow mission.

• Tsunade inspected the mission haul and teased Sakura about passing her assessment, while Sakura challenged her about the mission’s suspicious intelligence.
• Tsunade admitted she had suspected a major base might be in the poorly surveyed area and had sent Sakura because she could handle the danger alone.
• Ibiki delivered interrogation intelligence about Kakuzu and Akatsuki, and Tsunade explained that Akatsuki planned to lie low for about two years.
• Sakura questioned why Konoha would not attack Akatsuki, and Tsunade cited Konoha’s weakness and the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ distrust of one another.
• Sakura criticized the villages’ reluctance to cooperate, and Tsunade considered seeking an agreement to share intelligence before changing the subject to the Land of Snow mission.

Sakura Haruno received a mission to travel to the Land of Snow with Sasuke and learned the Summoning Technique from Tsunade. After signing Katsuyu’s contract and summoning her, Sakura prepared to travel to Shikkotsu Forest.

• Tsunade gave Sakura Haruno a Land of Snow mission request and approved her plan to take Sasuke along.
• Tsunade gave Sakura preserved tissue from Yugao’s wound and urged her to finish a new heart before the end of the year.
• Tsunade taught Sakura the Summoning Technique, and Sakura signed Katsuyu’s contract and summoned a large part of Katsuyu on her first attempt.
• Katsuyu greeted Sakura as her new contract holder, and Tsunade explained the three great sage regions and Shikkotsu Forest.
• Tsunade prepared to use the Reverse Summoning Technique to take Sakura to Shikkotsu Forest.

Tsunade and Sakura traveled to Shikkotsu Forest, where Katsuyu warned them about its corrosive air and waters. They met Katsuyu’s enormous main body, leaving Sakura stunned by its size.

• Tsunade warned Sakura that Shikkotsu Forest was dangerous and prepared an Ice Release armor for her.
• Katsuyu explained that acidic mist had made the forest’s air corrosive, and Tsunade and Sakura used the Summoning Technique to travel there.
• Sakura saw the vast forest of pale, gnawed trees rising from a lake and learned that its water was extraordinarily acidic.
• Katsuyu revealed that Sakura and Tsunade had arrived on her back, then rose from the water to greet them.
• Sakura estimated that Katsuyu’s main body was three or four thousand meters long and was left speechless.

Sakura Haruno confronted the vast power of Sage Katsuyu and reconsidered her own strength. Katsuyu explained that Sakura could not yet control natural energy, but her Ice Release would eventually increase her Chakra enough to make Senjutsu training possible.

• Sakura Haruno realized that none of her techniques could seriously threaten Sage Katsuyu and reminded herself that Katsuyu was not an enemy.
• Sage Katsuyu reassured Sakura, then spoke through a smaller clone so Sakura and Tsunade would not have to keep looking up.
• Katsuyu said Sakura’s current Chakra reserves were too small for Senjutsu, while Tsunade declined to train because she lacked time and could not endure the environment without Sakura’s Ice Release armor.
• Tsunade explained that Sakura had developed Ice Release less than a year earlier, and Katsuyu revealed that Sakura’s mind had two or possibly three harmoniously connected cores.
• Katsuyu predicted that Sakura’s developing body and Ice Release would eventually raise her Chakra reserves more than tenfold, making her nearly qualified for Senjutsu training.

Sakura Haruno learned that her Ice Release was reshaping her body and that she might be ready to train in Senjutsu in two years. She rejected becoming a second Hashirama Senju and declared she would surpass him under her own name.

• Tsunade and Katsuyu discussed Sakura's delayed puberty and how her Ice Release was improving her physical development and Chakra growth.
• Sage Katsuyu said Sakura had awakened her Ice Release fully and could grow even stronger by combining it with Yang Release, though she still had far to go to match Hashirama Senju.
• Sakura told Tsunade and Sage Katsuyu that she would not become a second Hashirama Senju and would make her own name famous by surpassing him.
• Sage Katsuyu advised Sakura to train in Senjutsu and told her to return in the year after next, when she should be ready to learn it.
• Sage Katsuyu sent Tsunade and Sakura back to Konoha, then wondered privately about Sakura's unusual soul before turning to eat bark.

Sakura Haruno returned from Shikkotsu Forest, was promoted to Special Jōnin, and sent Naruto Uzumaki training advice through Jiraiya. Naruto struggled with Sakura’s materials, so Jiraiya let him use Shadow Clones to develop the Rasenshuriken, leaving the two blond kids practicing together in the Land of Wind.

• Sakura Haruno’s clothes and shoe were corroded by Sage Katsuyu’s acid, and Tsunade treated a small burn on her foot before sending her home.
• The next day, Sakura received her Special Jōnin credentials and admired her new rank and updated registration photo.
• Jiraiya read Sakura’s extensive notes with interest while Naruto Uzumaki fell asleep over the materials.
• Sakura’s letter advised Jiraiya to use Shadow Clones to help Naruto learn, including having a clone perform one part of the Rasengan’s transformation.
• In the Land of Wind, Jiraiya let Naruto use Sakura’s shortcut, and Naruto practiced the Rasenshuriken with another blond kid as an explosion sounded nearby.

Naruto completed the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and Jiraiya decided they would continue their journey after resting in the Land of Wind. Meanwhile, Sakura and Sasuke reached the Land of Snow and set out to find Koyuki.

• Naruto successfully unleashed the Rasenshuriken, and Jiraiya praised his perseverance while carrying him home after he collapsed from exhaustion.
• Naruto learned that he could see his teammates at the Chunin Ninja Exams in July, and Jiraiya planned to have Tsunade examine his wounded hand.
• Jiraiya and Naruto left the Land of Wind to resume their travels.
• Sakura propelled an ice boat across the sea with Water Release, bringing Sasuke to the Land of Snow, where he suffered from seasickness.
• Sakura and Sasuke saw how the Land of Snow had changed and used the Body Flicker Technique to go find Koyuki.

Sakura Haruno and Sasuke visited Kazahana Koyuki in the Land of Snow and discussed the country’s recovery, its shortage of funds, and the geothermal power plant. Sakura donated part of her mission spoils to support the people, while planning to use the plant as an energy source for her experiments.

• Sakura Haruno and Sasuke entered Kazahana Koyuki’s residence, where Koyuki lounged through her teatime and showed them her father’s geothermal generator.
• Koyuki reported that the Land of Snow had stabilized under her rule, but its heating system was being built slowly because the country lacked money and industrial capacity.
• Koyuki said she planned to make movies again to earn money for the country.
• Sakura decided that the Land of Snow’s geothermal power plant could supply energy for her instruments and the next stage of her Yin Seal experiments.
• Sakura gave Koyuki a bankbook containing part of her bounty-office mission spoils to help the impoverished people of the Land of Snow.

Sakura established a base in the Land of Snow, turning the abandoned Snow Ninja castle into an ice stronghold and setting up a laboratory. She told Sasuke that the trip was only to make Yugao a new heart, so the cloning experiment would not begin until next year at the earliest.

• Kazahana Koyuki accepted Sakura's money and agreed to let her use the abandoned Snow Ninja castle as a cover base, with a more secret laboratory planned elsewhere.
• Sakura used Ice Release to repair and transform the castle into a Gothic ice structure.
• Sasuke placed Genjutsu on the castle walls, gate, and interior to discourage outsiders and direct intruders back to the exit.
• Sakura's Ice Clones cleaned the castle, and she converted Kazahana Dōtō's bedroom into a laboratory using equipment taken from Orochimaru's base.
• Sasuke asked when Sakura would begin the cloning experiment, and Sakura explained that she had come only to make Yugao a new heart and would not start cloning until next year at the earliest.

Yugao learned that her damaged heart would limit her recovery, but Haku discovered that she was pregnant. The chapter then shifted to Sakura Haruno and Sasuke taking shelter from a blizzard in the Land of Snow.

• Haku examined Yugao and explained that her replacement heart could leave her with only twenty to thirty percent of her former strength.
• Haku used Medical Ninjutsu to ease Yugao's heart pain, then discovered that she was pregnant.
• Yugao remembered Sakura and Shino teasing her and Hayate about having a surprise, and wondered what surprise Sakura had meant to bring.
• Sakura Haruno and Sasuke struggled through a fierce blizzard in the Land of Snow and reached a sheltered gap beneath a cliff.
• Sasuke made a fire inside the shelter and asked Sakura whether they were in the wilderness outside the civilized world.

Sakura Haruno and Sasuke explored the frozen interior of the Land of Snow, discussing the wilderness before ending their journey when their Chakra ran low. Their clone memories returned as Sasuke resumed developing the Super Electromagnetic Cannon and Sakura continued an experiment that appeared to be producing results.

• Sakura Haruno explained to Sasuke that the wilderness beyond the Five Great Nations might be vast and dangerous because of its harsh environments and powerful beasts.
• Sasuke questioned why they had traveled so far, and Sakura said she wanted to explore the unknown and see what lay beyond familiar lands.
• After the blizzard stopped, Sakura considered the possibility that they had entered the polar circle, while Sasuke decided they should end the exploration because their Chakra was nearly depleted.
• Sakura and Sasuke released their Ice Clone and Shadow Clone, leaving their coats behind in the snow.
• Sasuke used the Shadow Clone's memories and returned to shaping electric current into rails for the Super Electromagnetic Cannon.
• Sakura received her Ice Clone's memories in her laboratory and returned her attention to an experiment involving a heart in nutrient solution, noting that it seemed to have produced results.

Sakura Haruno used Orochimaru’s records and her own knowledge to improve Konoha’s stem cell technology and create hearts from her cells. Testing revealed the hearts naturally produced Ice Release Chakra, and she left the laboratory with several promising specimens and many questions about how her Kekkei Genkai changed her body.

• Sakura Haruno followed Orochimaru’s records to create heart tissue from stem cells derived from her hair-root cells.
• Sasuke brought Sakura dinner and urged her to stop working long enough to eat.
• Sakura activated a newly formed heart, which produced Chakra and froze its nutrient solution with Ice Release.
• Sakura realized her Ice Release Kekkei Genkai had altered her body so thoroughly that hearts made from her cells inherited the ability.
• Sakura tested the remaining hearts, recorded failed specimens, and kept four or five that produced Chakra and adapted well to Ice Release.

Sakura Haruno improved her experiments cultivating hearts and began growing one for Yugao, while Sasuke perfected his Super Electromagnetic Cannon. The chapter ended with Sakura laughing at Sasuke’s oversized, girly toad-shaped sunglasses.

• Sakura realized her Ice Release cells were gradually replacing her original cells and would eventually make Ice Release an instinct.
• After two weeks, Sakura inspected the second batch of cultivated hearts and found that most had developed successfully with more Chakra than Genin.
• Sakura began cultivating a heart for Yugao, using the stem-cell techniques she had learned from her earlier experiments.
• Sakura spent her remaining time in the Land of Snow studying in the laboratory and training in the snowy wilderness.
• Sasuke fired his Super Electromagnetic Cannon and shattered one of Sakura’s massive ice targets.
• Sakura noticed Sasuke wearing girly toad-shaped sunglasses and laughed at his attempt to look cool.

After returning from the Land of Snow, Sakura helped Tsunade perform a secret heart transplant for Yugao, whose heart condition threatened her and her unborn baby. The operation succeeded, though Sakura grew uneasy after Yugao chose the heart that produced the most Chakra.

• Sasuke sealed Koyuki's memories of Sakura's visit, and Sakura returned to Shikkotsu Forest using the Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Sage Katsuyu chatted with Sakura about breasts until Tsunade summoned her back to Konoha.
• Tsunade examined Yugao and revealed that a new treatment could cure her heart problem.
• Tsunade used Sakura's collected hearts in a sealing procedure, and Yugao chose the heart that produced the most Chakra over the one most compatible with her.
• Tsunade told Yugao to keep the operation secret, and Yugao promised not to tell even Gekko Hayate.

Sakura and Sasuke finished training the Super Electromagnetic Cannon in the Land of Snow and discussed Sasuke’s search for a powerful summoning beast. Sasuke returned to Konoha ahead of Sakura, who stayed behind to finish adjusting Yugao’s heart and discovered that the nutrient solution around the final heart was unusually cold.

• Sakura laughed at Sasuke’s sunglasses, and he explained that he wore them to protect his eyes while practicing the Super Electromagnetic Cannon.
• Sakura told Sasuke she would finish adjusting Yugao’s heart before returning to Konoha through Shikkotsu Forest, while Sasuke planned to travel back first.
• Sasuke considered acquiring Orochimaru’s summoning beast, but rejected Sakura’s suggestion to kill Orochimaru and decided to sign a contract with the Ninja Cat Clan instead.
• Sasuke and Sakura joked about cats, dogs, and Katsuyu as they left the training ground.
• The next day, Sasuke departed for Konoha, and Sakura inspected the hearts, sealed them away, and noticed that the final heart’s nutrient solution was unusually cold.

Newly appointed Hokage Tsunade led a closed-door meeting about Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke, and the threat posed by the Akatsuki. Konoha agreed to seek intelligence discreetly, while the coming Chunin Ninja Exams in Sunagakure became the next test of relations between the villages.

• Tsunade questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi about why Itachi had provided no useful intelligence on the Akatsuki, while Danzo renewed his distrust of the Uchiha Clan.
• Tsunade warned Danzo that she would disband Root and investigate him if it targeted ordinary Konoha Ninja, then declared she would take responsibility for Sasuke.
• Hiruzen argued that Itachi had returned to Konoha during the Chunin Ninja Exams to signal that he remained inside the Akatsuki, and Tsunade chose to accept his judgment for now.
• The high command agreed to seek Akatsuki intelligence and contact Itachi through discreet measures under Tsunade's direction.
• Konoha turned its attention to the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams in Sunagakure, where the villages' true relationship was expected to come under scrutiny.

Sakura and Shino learned that Team Fourteen would help guard Tsunade and scout the route to Sunagakure, ending their recent stretch of easy missions. After visiting Yugao, Sakura teased Shino about marriage and overheard him admit he planned to gain weight first; Shikamaru then appeared and asked what they had been discussing.

• Shino told Sakura that Team Fourteen would guard Tsunade and inspect the route to Sunagakure alongside an Anbu genjutsu specialist.
• Sakura and Shino visited Yugao, whose recovery was going well, and saw that Hayate was exhausted from caring for her.
• Sakura asked Shino when he would marry his girlfriend, and Shino said he wanted to gain ten jin before the wedding.
• Sakura privately understood Shino's concern but pretended not to, then decided to train.
• Shikamaru appeared behind Sakura and asked who was getting married.

Sakura ran into Temari and Shikamaru in Konoha, then joined an Anbu mission briefing to secure the route to Sunagakure. The chapter ended with Hotaru Hyuga leading the squads out on the mission.

• Sakura greeted Shikamaru and Temari, teasing them about being on a date as they explained Temari was in Konoha for the Chunin Ninja Exam.
• Sakura and Temari recognized each other from the exams and exchanged polite greetings before parting ways with Shikamaru.
• Sakura suspected the Chunin Ninja Exam and a dangerous mission were approaching after seeing Temari in Konoha.
• Two days later, Tsunade introduced Hotaru Hyuga as captain of the mission to check the route to Sunagakure for security threats.
• Hotaru assigned Genjutsu specialists to the Anbu squads, and Sakura and Shino joined Yuzuki Terumi in the Fourteenth Squad.
• Hotaru ordered the assembled squads to move out.

Sakura, Shino, and Yuzuki traveled into the Land of Wind on an Anbu mission, and Yuzuki questioned why Konoha had been allowed to cross the border. In Sunagakure, Baki challenged the decision, but Chiyo and the other leaders defended it as a necessary concession and urged the village to rebuild trust cautiously.

• Shino led Sakura and Yuzuki across the border into the barren Land of Wind and stopped to let the exhausted Yuzuki rest.
• Yuzuki questioned why Konoha's Anbu were permitted to carry out a mission inside the Land of Wind.
• Baki confronted Sunagakure's leaders over allowing Konoha shinobi into the country and objected that the village was surrendering its dignity.
• Ebizo blamed Baki for failing to recognize Orochimaru disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, while Chiyo stopped their argument and acknowledged the elders' shared responsibility.
• A middle-aged adviser explained that Konoha's Anbu would inspect only cities on the country's outskirts, and Chiyo said Sunagakure had to demonstrate peaceful intent while remaining wary of its alliance with Konoha.

Sunagakure's leaders decided Baki was unsuited to be Kazekage, and Chiyo proposed Gaara as a future candidate. Meanwhile, Sakura Haruno discreetly inspected a city in the Land of Wind and found no suspicious Chakra signatures.

• An adviser argued that Konoha should inspect the route to Sunagakure because the village lacked the manpower and resources to do it itself.
• Ebizo told Baki to step down as Kazekage and become Jonin Commander, and Baki accepted that he was unsuited to the role.
• The leaders struggled to find a successor until Chiyo suggested choosing from the younger generation and named Gaara as a future candidate.
• Sakura Haruno surveyed a city along the route in disguise, sensing passersby for cultivated Chakra while the Fourteenth Squad investigated separately.
• Sakura found no suspicious Chakra sources and reflected on missing her peaceful life on Earth.