Chapter Summaries

Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune fought a Sand ninja who outmatched them, and Shunren’s illusions and swords failed to overcome his strength. After Shizune scattered Senbon across the enemy’s path, he praised their tactics and offered them a chance to live.

• Shunren used Yin Release: Projection and Kanshou and Bakuya to attack the Sand ninja, but the enemy saw through his illusions and knocked him away.
• Kurenai and Shizune joined the fight, but Kurenai was struck in the thigh by a Shuriken after Shizune deflected most of the enemy’s volley.
• Shunren launched a second surprise attack with his sword, but the enemy dodged it and Shunren’s blade cut only his chin.
• Shunren charged again, but the enemy broke his ribs with a punch and sent him spitting blood.
• Shizune scattered Senbon across the enemy’s path, prompting him to praise the three and offer them a chance to live.

The Uchiha squad was wiped out after Uchiha Fushan destroyed Hezi’s awakened Sharingan and fought to his death. Shunren identified the surviving attackers as Shimura Danzō’s Root Anbu and exposed their plan to force him and his companions into Root, then drew his swords to face them.

• The Uchiha fought the attackers until Uchiha Fushan and Hezi were the last survivors, and Fushan gouged out Hezi’s awakened Sharingan to keep it from the enemy.
• Uchiha Fushan killed three more enemies in a final charge and died after destroying his own eyes; only five of the more than sixty attackers survived.
• The attackers offered to spare Shunren and his companions if they killed the wounded Hezi, but Shunren recognized them as Konoha’s Root Anbu.
• Shunren explained that Root had disguised itself as Sand Ninja, attacked the students and teachers, and used Hezi’s execution to blackmail the children into joining.
• The Root ninja who had posed as Feimu challenged Shunren, and Shunren summoned his black and white swords.

Shunren struggled against a Root Ninja, then used Yin Release to create a massive black cleaver as all six Root Ninjas attacked him. He launched Getsuga Tenshō, but the chapter ended before revealing its effect.

• Shunren's mental-energy swords cracked, and a Root Ninja disarmed him and countered his attacks.
• Shunren used his disappearing sword to land a single kick, but it barely hurt the Root Ninja.
• Shunren concentrated his mental energy and began forming a giant blade through Yin Release, suffering severe pain and bleeding from his face.
• All six Root Ninjas drew their weapons and attacked Shunren together.
• Shunren invoked Yin Release: Projection, manifested a massive black cleaver, and swung it with Getsuga Tenshō.

Shunren exhausted himself projecting Zangetsu and unleashed Getsuga Tenshō against six Root Anbu, saving Kurenai and Shizune but collapsing. As Shizune stabilized him, two surviving Root Anbu rose and threatened the girls.

• Shunren projected Zangetsu for one second and fired Getsuga Tenshō at the six Root Anbu.
• The Root Anbu blocked the slash with six Water Formation Walls, but the attack killed three and left the others dead or badly injured.
• Zangetsu shattered, and Shunren collapsed after exhausting his Chakra and mental energy.
• Shizune injected Shunren with a cardiac stimulant and steadied his breathing while Kurenai acknowledged that he had saved them.
• Two Root Anbu got back up, assessed their companions, and turned on Kurenai and Shizune, who prepared to fight.

Kurenai, Shizune, and Shunren fought against Danzo’s Root Anbu, but their strength was nearly spent and they were overwhelmed. Just as a Root member prepared to take Shunren, a wounded Anbu sensed a dozen of the Hokage’s Anbu approaching and ordered a retreat.

• Kurenai’s Mirage Technique fooled a Root Anbu briefly, but he struck her with Earth Release, while another knocked Shizune down.
• Shunren sprang up and cut off one Root Anbu’s arm, but the other tackled him and left him unable to move.
• Shizune deflected a Kunai meant for Shunren, then took a Kunai wound while shielding herself with her backpack.
• Kurenai tried to attack the Root Anbu but was punched in the abdomen and fell.
• Shunren struggled to fight back, but his Projection failed, and a wounded Root Anbu sensed twelve of the Hokage’s Anbu nearby and called for an immediate retreat.

Hiruzen confronted Danzo over the massacre of Uchiha and the brutal training of children, but accepted that the operation had already happened. Danzo concealed Shunren’s performance and dismissed him as insignificant, while Hiruzen left the matter alone.

• Hiruzen berated Danzo for going too far, but Danzo defended his methods as necessary for Konoha’s future wars.
• Danzo reported that his forces had killed all thirty-five Uchiha on the list except Uchiha Hezi, whom they left alive after she saw Sand Ninja.
• Danzo described the children selected for training and named ten, including Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
• Hiruzen stopped Danzo from tampering with Obito and asked about Shunren, whom Danzo falsely claimed was an unremarkable child.
• Danzo hid his interest in Shunren and his strong performance in the survival exercise, and Hiruzen chose not to pursue the matter.

One year after the attack that turned the Uchiha and Sand Ninja against each other, Shunren continued training his Yin Release projection and sword skills. He improved his control and practiced cutting falling leaves, still teaching himself swordsmanship without a formal instructor.

• Konoha’s authorities used Root Anbu evidence to blame the Sand Ninja for the attack, deepening hostility between the Sand Ninja and the Uchiha.
• Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune kept silent about what they knew after Anbu warned them, while Shunren focused on surviving the approaching war.
• After a year of training, Shunren projected Kanshou and Bakuya and could maintain them for at least five minutes.
• Shunren considered Zangetsu a last-resort weapon because projecting it and using Getsuga Tenshō consumed most or all of his Chakra.
• Shunren practiced cutting falling leaves with his twin swords, honing basic strikes on his own.

Shunren took Konoha's early graduation exam and passed by using Genjutsu to imitate the required techniques. After receiving his Genin certificate and Forehead Protector, he spotted an Anbu watching him, suggesting that Danzo's attention had reached him.

• Kurenai and Shizune passed their exams and worried that Shunren might fail because he could not use Ninjutsu.
• The proctor told Shunren the school had arranged for him to pass by using Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to create clones.
• Shunren used the Mirage Technique to imitate the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Techniques.
• The proctor passed Shunren and gave him his Genin certificate and Forehead Protector.
• Shunren spotted an Anbu watching him, but the figure disappeared when he turned around.

Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune Kato, and Shunren became Team 9 under Jonin instructor Inoichi Yamanaka. After introductions, Inoichi prepared to test their abilities, leaving the team poised to begin training.

• Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune Kato, and Shunren were assigned to Team 9 and met their Jonin instructor, Inoichi Yamanaka.
• Inoichi introduced himself and warned Shunren to behave like a gentleman around his two female teammates.
• Kurenai, Shizune, and Shunren each introduced themselves, and Inoichi recognized Kurenai as Shinku's descendant.
• Inoichi formally welcomed the three students to Team 9, then set an alarm clock in a tree and asked them to show what they could do.

Inoichi began Team 9’s practical combat assessment, and Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune coordinated their concealed positions and roles. Shunren’s sword attack pushed Inoichi onto the defensive and broke his Kunai, just as Inoichi began forming Hand Seals.

• Inoichi allowed the students to use weapons and started Team 9’s combat assessment.
• Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune hid separately, preparing a coordinated attack with Shunren in close combat and the others providing support.
• Shunren attacked Inoichi with Shuriken and then rushed him with punches and kicks, but Inoichi easily dodged and blocked his strikes.
• Shunren projected Kanshou and Bakuya and forced Inoichi to defend himself with Kunai as their blades clashed.
• Shunren broke Inoichi’s Kunai with a crossed sword strike, and Inoichi began forming Hand Seals.

Inoichi tested Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune in combat, demonstrating the harsh choices ninja faced on the battlefield. When Inoichi forced Shunren to choose between retreating and protecting his teammate, Shunren unleashed Yin Release: Projection and materialized a black greatsword.

• Inoichi immobilized Shunren with the Body Paralysis Technique, but Kurenai and a hidden ally attacked with Genjutsu and a barrage of shuriken, freeing Shunren to fight again.
• Inoichi reflected Kurenai's Genjutsu back at her, and Shunren retreated after realizing his swords could not overcome Inoichi alone.
• Inoichi threatened to attack Kurenai to test Shunren's judgment, and Shunren chose to charge in rather than abandon her.
• Shizune rushed in to support Shunren, but Inoichi used the Body Flicker Technique to knock her down and warned them about battlefield realities.
• Shunren released immense mental energy and used Yin Release: Projection to materialize a black greatsword.

Team 9 passed Inoichi’s combat test, though Shunren’s powerful Getsuga Tenshō missed after Inoichi used his Mind Body Disturbance Technique. The next day, the newly formed team set out on its first C-rank mission to eliminate thieves in the northern mountains, with Shunren planning to lead the fighting.

• Shunren unleashed a powerful Getsuga Tenshō, but Inoichi diverted his blade with the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, leaving Shunren exhausted and defeated.
• Inoichi judged Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune to have passed the test and was especially impressed by Shunren’s power and potential.
• The next morning, Team 9 gathered at Konoha Gate, where Inoichi checked on Shunren and learned that Shizune’s medicine had helped him recover overnight.
• Inoichi explained that the team’s first mission was to wipe out a band of thieves in the northern mountains for the Land of Fire Chamber of Commerce.
• Shunren warned Kurenai not to act impulsively and said he would take the vanguard while Kurenai and Shizune provided support.

Kurenai and Shizune fought a bandit gang to train their skills, but the bandits blindsided them with irritating powder. Shunren rushed in to help as Inoichi questioned whether he could kill.

• Kurenai and Shizune confronted the bandits while Shunren and Inoichi watched from the side.
• Kurenai used Genjutsu: Mirage Shadow and Taijutsu to overwhelm the bandits, ignoring Shizune's warnings.
• The bandit leader threw gray-black powder into Kurenai's face, and Shizune downed him with a Senbon before other bandits blinded her with the same powder.
• Inoichi criticized the girls for lacking experience and asked Shunren whether he could bring himself to kill.
• Shunren charged in and used Yin Release: Projection.

Shunren rescued Kurenai and Shizune by slaughtering the bandits who had attacked them. After the last young bandit tried to kill him, Shunren used the Hell Viewing Technique to trap him in a vision of despair.

• Kurenai lost her sight to the bandits’ blinding powder, and a bandit knocked away Shizune’s medicine.
• Shunren appeared and cut off the bandit leader’s arm, then killed him with Kanshou and Bakuya.
• Shunren used his speed and Mirage Technique to kill the bandits as they fled and fought back.
• Shunren spared the last young bandit, who seized a sword and cut off Shunren’s outstretched hand.
• Shunren’s severed hand returned to his wrist, and he cast the Hell Viewing Technique on the young bandit.

After Team 9 completed its bandit-subjugation mission, Shunren recovered from his first experience of killing. Inoichi then offered to teach him the Yamanaka Clan’s Mind’s Eye and Mind Transmission techniques.

• Shunren used Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique to make a young bandit kill himself, completing the mission.
• Kurenai and Shizune vomited at the sight of the battlefield, while Inoichi told them to overcome their reactions and ordered them to handle the bodies.
• Inoichi took Shunren to a quiet hilltop, where Shunren composed himself before reporting that he was all right.
• Inoichi explained that Shunren was not ready for the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, then described the Mind’s Eye as a way to detect and track spiritual energy.
• Inoichi introduced the Mind Transmission Technique, which let two people exchange information directly through their spiritual energy.

Shunren trained in sensing techniques with Inoichi, learning to locate targets but struggling to transmit information to multiple teammates. After resting and recovering, he was left with a new problem when Inoichi received a coded message from Konoha announcing an A-rank emergency mission.

• Shunren used Mind's Eye to locate and hit Inoichi's Shadow Clone from 367 meters away.
• Inoichi tested Shunren's ability to distinguish allies from enemies, then Shunren tried using Mind Transmission Technique to share information with multiple teammates.
• Shunren's mental energy ran out during the transmission, forcing him to sever the network and stop training.
• Shunren regulated his Chakra for several hours and noticed that his mental energy had become slightly easier to control.
• Inoichi caught Konoha's emergency messenger hawk, deciphered its blank scroll, and discovered an A-rank emergency mission.

Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune accepted an urgent A-Rank mission to reinforce Team 8, which had encountered a large Stone ninja force near the Land of Fire’s northwestern border. At the front, Minato left Kakashi in command while he went alone to scout enemy territory, worried about the weaknesses of Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.

• Shunren returned to Kurenai and Shizune after they had cleaned up the battlefield, and Inoichi contacted them with an urgent A-Rank reinforcement mission.
• Kurenai, Shizune, and Shunren each chose to join Inoichi despite the danger, and Team 9 set out for the northwestern border.
• Inoichi sent the mission details: Minato’s Team 8 had discovered numerous Stone ninja during a border patrol and requested reinforcements.
• Minato announced that he would scout the Land of Earth’s border alone and ordered Kakashi to lead Team 8 while he was away.
• Obito protested Kakashi’s appointment, while Rin worried about Minato’s safety; Minato left Kakashi with authority to make independent decisions and hoped the reinforcements would arrive soon.

A scarlet-eyed force compelled Stone ninja captain Gari to attack a civilian village in the Land of Fire, where Obito, Kakashi, and Rin encountered the squad. The Stone ninja began their assault, and Gari and three others activated a village-wide explosive formation.

• An aged voice ordered someone in a dark cavern to start a war, and Gari later led four Stone ninja toward a border village under orders to attack it.
• Obito attacked the Stone squad with an Explosive Tag despite Kakashi and Rin urging caution, then fought the ninja who emerged from beneath him and broke his arm.
• Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to intercept Shuriken aimed at Obito, while Gari sent three teammates onward to carry out the mission.
• The four Stone ninja led by Gari entered the village as civilians fled, then formed a large barrier formula across it.
• Gari and the others activated Explosion Release: Landmine Destruction Formation, creating a huge explosive seal over the village.

Inoichi sensed the Stone ninja’s destruction of a civilian village and rushed there, while Gari ordered his depleted squad to stay and face him. Nearby, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito fought another Stone ninja, who unleashed Explosion Release: Landmine Fist against Kakashi’s layered defenses.

• Inoichi used Mind’s Eye to sense that the Stone ninja had destroyed a village and killed all its civilians.
• Gari ordered his four Stone ninja to wait for Inoichi despite their depleted Chakra and the risk of battle.
• Inoichi identified the attackers as members of the Stone Ninja Explosion Corps and hurried toward the village.
• Obito and Rin condemned the Stone ninja’s attack on civilians while Kakashi continued fighting one of them.
• Kakashi blocked the Stone ninja’s attacks with Earth-Style Wall and Water Formation Wall, but the enemy struck the defenses with Explosion Release: Landmine Fist.

Inoichi used his Yamanaka techniques to turn the Stone Ninja against one another, but Gari exploited the techniques’ backlash to kill his own teammates and badly injure Inoichi. As Gari challenged the weakened Inoichi, Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune arrived.

• Inoichi used a Shadow Clone and the Mind Body Switch Technique to take control of the sword-wielding Stone Ninja, then used the Mind Body Disturbance Technique to redirect an Earth Dragon Bullet at another enemy.
• Gari used Explosion Release: Landmine Fist to kill the Stone Ninja under Inoichi’s control, causing mental backlash that injured Inoichi.
• Gari struck down a second teammate while Inoichi struggled to withdraw his mental energy, leaving Inoichi gravely weakened.
• Gari killed the last Stone Ninja with a Kunai and dismissed him as a worthless piece on the board.
• Inoichi told Gari he still had teammates, and Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune arrived.