Chapter Summaries

Sakura Haruno joined the Anbu under the code name Saigyouji Yuu after passing an assessment against Mashiro and Makoto, then completed her training and began taking Anbu assignments. A red Shuriken summoned her from an afternoon with Haku, and she followed the messenger while wondering what had happened.

• Onizuka Inu brought Sakura to the Anbu assessment, where she chose a fox mask and became Saigyouji Yuu.
• Sakura used her water defenses and techniques to counter Mashiro and Makoto, and they declared that she had passed after earning their approval.
• Mashiro recognized Sakura as Chunin Sakura Haruno, then explained that she still needed two weeks of closed Anbu training.
• Sakura completed her training and began working Anbu missions under the name Saigyouji Yuu.
• A red Shuriken summoned Sakura while she was eating with Haku, and she put on her mask and followed the Anbu messenger.

Sakura Haruno hunted down and executed the suspected Konoha traitor Watanabe Kurogarasu, then confronted three missing-nin who came to claim her bounty. She killed one with her newly developed Lightning Flash Shadow, but the other two remained to fight.

• Sakura Haruno tracked Watanabe Kurogarasu from a border intelligence station and confronted him over his suspected betrayal of Konoha.
• Kurogarasu revealed his trapmaking skills and triggered a barrage of explosives and weapons, but Sakura protected herself with Azure Water Release: Absolute Defense.
• Sakura pierced Kurogarasu through an Earth Style Wall with Water Release: Wind Cutter Water Blade, killed him, and sealed his severed head in a mission scroll.
• Three missing-nin arrived, recognized Sakura Haruno, and revealed that a black-market bounty offered five million for her head.
• Sakura used Lightning Flash Shadow to accelerate her reactions and killed the black-clad missing-nin with a kunai, though her momentum sent her tumbling away.

Sakura Haruno tracked a bounty on herself to a Bounty Guild casino and encountered Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu. She killed Hidan and pierced Kakuzu’s heart, but ended the fight uneasy that something was wrong.

• Sakura questioned a captured missing-nin about Kurogarasu’s defection and learned that the Bounty Guild had placed a five-million-ryo bounty on her.
• The missing-nin led Sakura to a casino that served as a Bounty Guild base, where she met Kakuzu and Hidan.
• Kakuzu and Hidan recognized Sakura’s bounty and followed her away from the crowded town to fight.
• Sakura used a water blade to destroy Hidan’s heart while Kakuzu attacked her with Lightning Release.
• Kakuzu’s fire and wind attacks broke through Sakura’s defenses, but she used an Ice Release Body Flicker technique to strike his heart with a wind-infused Kunai.
• Sakura believed she had defeated both Akatsuki members, then felt that something was wrong.

The narrator fought Kakuzu’s five-heart monsters and Hidan, learning that both Akatsuki members could survive seemingly fatal injuries. After destroying several of Kakuzu’s hearts and believing he had gained the advantage, the narrator was struck by an unseen attack that pierced his heart, leaving him dying.

• Kakuzu revealed that he stored five hearts in his body and unleashed his masked monsters to attack the narrator.
• The narrator used his remaining Ultra-Pure Water to destroy Kakuzu’s Earth Release monster, but Kakuzu’s lightning paralyzed him and Hidan attacked with his scythe.
• The narrator escaped Hidan’s strike, kicked him away, and realized that Hidan had also survived a fatal wound.
• The narrator destroyed Kakuzu’s Fire Style monster and believed Kakuzu had lost most of his fighting strength.
• An unseen attack tore through the narrator’s heart, and his heartbeat stopped as his consciousness began to fade.

Sakura Haruno survived Hidan’s heart-destroying technique by using Chakra to force her blood to circulate, then destroyed his ritual pattern and escaped with Kakuzu and Hidan withdrawing. She headed back to Konoha, relying on an Ice Shadow Clone to keep her alive if she passed out.

• As Sakura Haruno’s heart stopped, she realized Hidan had transferred the damage to her by piercing his own heart.
• Sakura Haruno tried to restart her heart with Chakra-generated electrical impulses, but her heart would not respond and her consciousness began to fade.
• Sakura Haruno used water-natured Chakra and Ultra-Pure Water to force her heart to beat and restore blood flow, reviving herself.
• Sakura Haruno cut apart the blood-red pattern beneath Hidan, then faced Hidan and Kakuzu in a tense standoff while all three were depleted.
• Kakuzu ordered Hidan to retreat, and Sakura Haruno warned Kakuzu before using Ice Release: Ice Mirror Body Flicker Technique to escape.
• Sakura Haruno summoned an Ice Shadow Clone and told it to maintain her blood flow as they hurried toward Konoha for treatment.

After waking from surgery, Sakura reunited with Haku and helped Konoha’s Intelligence Division analyze her fight with Kakuzu and Hidan. As she returned to the hospital, Tsunade urged her to stop fighting and become a medical-nin.

• Sakura woke after four days in the hospital and discovered that her chest wound had been operated on successfully, though she remained weak and unable to mold Chakra.
• Haku embraced Sakura in tears, relieved that she had survived, before leaving for an afternoon mission.
• Tsunade brought Sakura to the Intelligence Division, where she recounted her encounter with Kakuzu and Hidan and the team identified their likely abilities and backgrounds.
• Shikamaru suggested monitoring the Bounty Guild, but Tsunade concluded that the organization was too difficult to investigate and ordered a warning about Akatsuki members in black cloaks with red clouds.
• As Tsunade escorted Sakura back to the hospital that night, she seriously suggested that Sakura stop fighting and become a medical-nin.

Sakura argued with Tsunade that she would keep fighting despite the danger to her repaired heart, and Tsunade agreed to seek a cure while ordering her to recover. After waking from a nightmare about fighting the Akatsuki, Sakura received Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Haku, and looked ahead to the Chunin Ninja Exams as a proctor.

• Sakura rejected Tsunade's advice to stop fighting and insisted she could use Ninjutsu to protect her weakened heart.
• Tsunade agreed to help find a treatment for Sakura's heart and told her to focus on recovering before returning to Anbu missions.
• Sakura dreamed that she killed Kisame, Kakuzu, and Itachi, but Hidan's ritual killed her; she woke in the hospital with chest pains and calmed her heart with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Kakashi visited Sakura and asked about the strength and abilities of Kakuzu and Hidan, so she described Kakuzu's speed, defense, and powerful Ninjutsu.
• Shikamaru proposed that Haku take Ino and Choji's open spot on their team for the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Sakura invited Shikamaru and Haku to eat with her and anticipated proctoring the exams.

Sakura fought Kakashi until exhaustion and was defeated in the bell test, but Kakashi revealed that the real test was teamwork. Naruto and Sasuke refused to abandon one another over the two bells, and Kakashi passed all three members of Team 7.

• Sakura used her remaining Chakra and stamina to fight Kakashi, but he knocked her unconscious.
• Kakashi told Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke that none of them had obtained a bell and explained that he had been testing their teamwork.
• Kakashi gave the two bells to Naruto, then asked the team to decide who would be left behind.
• Naruto chose himself for elimination, but Sasuke refused the bells and challenged Kakashi to produce a third one.
• Sakura joined Naruto and Sasuke in refusing to abandon a comrade, and Kakashi declared all three of them passed.
• Kakashi ended the exercise and announced that Team 7 would begin carrying out missions the next day.

After Team 7 began its ninja career, Kakashi established a training routine for Sakura and helped her improve her combat skills. Sakura made steady progress but still had to work hard on Taijutsu, and she began learning to sense others’ Chakra and conceal her own.

• The Third Hokage reviewed Team 7’s reports and reprimanded Kakashi after Sakura’s Ninjutsu destroyed most of the training woods.
• Kakashi organized Team 7’s missions and training, teaching Sakura ordinary Water Release techniques while offering little insight into her Water Blade Technique or Ultra-Pure Water.
• Kakashi told Sakura to practice speeding up her Water Gun Technique and barred her from using the Water Blade series in sparring.
• Sakura developed her Nintaijutsu and steadily improved her Taijutsu under Kakashi’s guidance, though she realized her Taijutsu talent was limited.
• Kakashi taught Sakura that sensing others’ Chakra and concealing her own were essential ninja skills, and Sakura began building those abilities through practice and combat.

Sakura and Team 7 grew tired of repetitive D-rank work, but Sakura revealed formidable water-control abilities while cleaning a polluted river. After Naruto complained about low-level missions, the team received a C-rank assignment to protect Tazuna, and Sakura anticipated the dangerous journey to the Land of Waves.

• Team 7 spent weeks on farm work and rubbish collection, where Naruto fainted after dispelling his clones and Kakashi took him to the hospital.
• Sakura lifted and filtered a long stretch of river water, then exhausted herself and had Sasuke carry her to the hospital.
• Team 7 struggled to catch the daimyo's chakra-using pet cat, and Naruto protested that they had done enough tedious low-level missions.
• The Hokage assigned Team 7 to protect Tazuna, who insulted the team and provoked Naruto and Sakura.
• Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto left to train before the mission, while Sakura looked forward to facing danger in the Land of Waves.

Team 7 began the Land of Waves mission escorting Tazuna, while Sakura concealed her knowledge of the danger surrounding his bridge project. After more than two weeks of peaceful travel, they reached a city near the border and prepared to continue toward Tazuna’s home.

• Sakura arrived at the Konoha Gate disguised with the Transformation Technique, then changed into ordinary travel clothes after Kakashi saw through it.
• Tazuna arrived, and Team 7 set out on the mission to escort him to the Land of Waves.
• Sakura recalled that Gato’s blockade had impoverished the Land of Waves and that Tazuna’s bridge threatened his control.
• Team 7 traveled for more than two weeks through towns outside Konoha, with Sakura watching for an attack that never came.
• The group reached a city near the border and planned to rest for one night before traveling three days to Tazuna’s home.

Sakura explored Sapporo's night market, helped a little girl catch goldfish, and avoided a confrontation with two punks. The next day, Zabuza Momochi attacked Team 7, and Kakashi ordered the others to protect Tazuna while he faced the missing-nin.

• Sakura wandered through Sapporo's festival in a rented kimono, won a cat mask, and helped a little girl catch goldfish with her Taijutsu.
• Sakura caught dozens more goldfish to tease the stall owner, then knocked over a man and was threatened by his blond companion until Kakashi intervened.
• Kakashi watched the two punks leave, saying something about them felt strange, and Team 7 continued its journey the next day.
• As Team 7 neared the river crossing, Zabuza Momochi hurled his Kubikiribōchō at Sakura, who stopped it with her Ultra-Pure Water.
• Zabuza attacked Sakura from behind, but she dodged his strike and kicked his Water Clone; Kakashi then knocked the real Zabuza away before his sword could hit her.
• Kakashi revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and ordered Sakura and the others to form a manji formation around Tazuna while he fought Zabuza.

Sakura and her team fought Zabuza’s Water Clones while Kakashi battled Zabuza in the mist. After Kakashi was trapped in a Water Prison, the Demon Brothers ambushed Sakura, but she escaped with a Substitution Technique as Sasuke and Naruto attacked them with a combined fire-and-wind technique.

• Zabuza covered the riverbank in chakra-infused mist and attacked Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto with Water Clones.
• Sakura destroyed her Water Clones, while Sasuke and Naruto defeated theirs and Kakashi continued fighting Zabuza.
• Kakashi and Zabuza clashed with powerful techniques, but Zabuza trapped Kakashi in a Water Prison.
• Zabuza sent five more Water Clones against Sakura, who destroyed them while telling Sasuke and Naruto to protect Tazuna.
• The Demon Brothers used a Water Clone as bait and bound Sakura with a chain, but Sakura substituted a hidden Water Clone for herself.
• Naruto summoned Shadow Clones, and Sasuke and Naruto combined Fire Release and Wind Release to attack the Demon Brothers.

Sakura’s ambush badly wounded Zabuza, but Haku’s intervention and Kakashi’s presence forced her to stop before she could finish him. Zabuza retreated, and the group regrouped as Sasuke asked Kakashi about his Sharingan.

• Naruto and Sasuke defeated the Demon Brothers with a combined Ninjutsu attack, while Haku prepared to counter Sakura’s ambush on Zabuza.
• Sakura fired her Water Gun Technique and cut Zabuza’s left arm, then stopped the attack to avoid hitting Kakashi amid Haku’s Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death.
• Zabuza judged the mission too dangerous to continue, released Kakashi from the Water Prison Technique, and retreated with Haku.
• Sakura returned to Tazuna as Kakashi confirmed the enemies had left and rested after using his Sharingan.
• Sasuke asked Kakashi about his Sharingan, and Kakashi said he lacked Uchiha blood and would explain the eye’s history later.
• Kakashi praised Naruto and Sasuke’s teamwork, while Sakura claimed credit for the idea and Naruto and Sasuke teased her about her failed experiments.

Sakura and Kakashi explained Chakra and Chakra control to Naruto and Sasuke before beginning special training at Tazuna’s house in the Land of Waves. Naruto and Sasuke struggled with the tree-walking exercise, while Kakashi arranged for Sakura to discuss her own training with him.

• Sakura recalled how Kakashi had corrected her failed ideas about speeding up Hand Seals, using Shadow Clones for Taijutsu, and training Chakra with inner cultivation methods.
• Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi arrived at Tazuna’s house, and Kakashi said Zabuza’s injuries would give them about a week to prepare for another attack.
• Kakashi began explaining Chakra, but Naruto and Sasuke showed they barely understood it, so Sakura explained how spiritual and physical energy formed Chakra.
• Sakura demonstrated gathering Chakra in her feet to walk up a tree, then told Naruto and Sasuke to try the exercise.
• Naruto used too much Chakra, broke through the tree, and fell, while Sasuke also struggled with control; Kakashi made a clone to coach them and took Sakura aside to discuss her training.

Kakashi admitted he had little left to teach Sakura and asked about her difficulty producing Ultra-Pure Water. Sakura explained her research and shared her view that Water Release nature transformation meant “flow,” leaving Kakashi impressed by her understanding.

• Kakashi told Sakura that she had found her own path and that he could offer little new training in Ninjutsu or Taijutsu.
• Kakashi asked Sakura to explain her progress and problems with producing Ultra-Pure Water.
• Sakura demonstrated her laborious filtration process and explained that she could produce less than a liter in an hour.
• Kakashi suggested she approach the problem through Ninjutsu and asked how she understood water's nature transformation.
• Sakura argued that Water Release nature transformation was “flow,” explaining how it shaped Water Release techniques and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Kakashi was surprised by the depth of Sakura's explanation and recognized that few Jonin had comparable insight.

Sakura showed Kakashi her Water Release: Spiraling Vortex, an exceptionally powerful water-natured Rasengan, and decided to pursue Ice Release by combining wind and water transformations. Kakashi agreed to guide her through the basics while he protected Tazuna, leaving Sakura to watch over the house, Naruto, and Sasuke.

• Sakura demonstrated Water Release: Spiraling Vortex, astonishing Kakashi with a Rasengan that incorporated water Nature Transformation.
• Kakashi suggested Sakura explore another nature or a Kekkei Genkai to find new ideas for her Water Release development.
• After Kakashi explained the difficulty of combining wind and water transformations, Sakura chose to learn Ice Release.
• Kakashi tested Sakura's wind Nature Transformation and said she needed deeper mastery before attempting Ice Release.
• Kakashi told Sakura to use a Shadow Clone for training and asked her to watch the house, Naruto, and Sasuke while he protected Tazuna.

Sakura helped Naruto and Sasuke improve their tree-climbing chakra control, then pushed herself through intensive training and achieved her first Ice Release transformation. She collapsed from exhaustion after showing Kakashi the ice she had created.

• Sakura brought Naruto and Sasuke lunch and stopped them from resuming strenuous tree-climbing practice immediately after eating.
• Sakura demonstrated chakra control with a transparent Shadow Clone, helping Naruto and Sasuke understand how to climb trees.
• Sakura trained to combine water and wind nature transformations, focusing on mastering Wind Release after Kakashi explained that his copied Ice Release techniques could not guide her.
• After seven days of intensive practice, Sakura combined the two chakra natures and created a piece of ice in her palm.
• Kakashi told the exhausted Sakura to rest, and she fell asleep sitting up; Kakashi carried her to bed and left.

As the bridge neared completion, Sakura defended Tazuna’s home from a probing attack and killed a Kirigakure missing-nin. She left Kakashi and the others at the construction site, where they might also be under attack.

• Sakura told Tsunami that Konoha’s protection and the bridge could help secure the Land of Waves, even as the country grew closer to the Land of Fire.
• On the eighth morning, Sakura used Chakra to wash clothes while Tsunami watched, then sensed enemies approaching the house.
• Two samurai broke into Tazuna’s home and threatened Tsunami, but Sakura’s Water Clone knocked them unconscious.
• Hidden enemies threw poisoned Kunai through a window, and Sakura blocked them with water before launching ice Kunai at the attackers.
• A masked Kirigakure missing-nin entered and used Water Release: Wild Water Wave, but Sakura cut through the technique with a wind-infused ice blade.
• The missing-nin escaped Sakura’s first strike with the Substitution Technique, but her Water Clone stabbed him in the heart with an ice Kunai.

Sakura defeated three Kirigakure missing-nin who attacked Tsunami and Inari, using Chakra sensing, Water Release, and a Water Clone to counter their ambushes. After leaving Tsunami and Inari with a clone to keep them safe, she hurried toward the bridge to support Kakashi.

• Sakura killed Mizuyoshi, then sensed another missing-nin hiding in the mist and defeated him with Super Water Gun Jutsu.
• Sakura brought Tsunami and Inari out of the house and warned them to hide while she went to support Kakashi.
• A bandaged missing-nin ambushed Sakura, but her Water Shield blocked his Kunai and her Water Clone killed him with an ice blade.
• Sakura confirmed all three enemies were dead and told Tsunami and Inari to follow her remaining clone to safety.
• Sakura raced toward the bridge to support Kakashi and the others fighting Zabuza.