Chapter Summaries

As Sunagakure invaded the Land of Fire and Kumogakure mobilized on the northern border, Konoha sent Baiye to reinforce Tsunade at Kikyo Castle. Before departing, Baiye said goodbye to Minato, who was bound for the northern front, and anticipated Minato’s coming rise as the Yellow Flash.

• Sunagakure blamed Konoha and Kirigakure for the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and Pakura’s squad being wiped out, then clashed with Kirigakure after an envoy was killed.
• Sunagakure launched a full-scale invasion of the Land of Fire and sent its vanguard toward Kikyo Castle, prompting the Third Hokage to appoint Tsunade commander of the western vanguard.
• When Kumogakure gathered forces on the northern border, the Third Hokage sent Jiraiya and the reinforcements intended for Kikyo Castle north instead.
• The Third Hokage visited Baiye and asked him to help keep Tsunade’s condition under control, and Baiye agreed to go to the western front.
• Baiye met Minato before they departed, warned him about Kumogakure’s formidable duo, and parted with him as Minato headed north and Baiye prepared to leave for Kikyo Castle.

Baiye joined a group of Konoha reinforcements after reflecting on his tense confrontation with Orochimaru, who had tried to recruit him for soul research. The group departed under Hizashi Hyuga’s command, leaving Baiye to face the dangers of the front lines.

• Baiye exchanged greetings with Might Guy, Kakashi, Shisui, and Uchiha Fugaku at the village entrance, and briefly met the gaze of young Uchiha Itachi.
• Baiye recalled refusing Orochimaru’s offer to help with his soul research and threatening to expose Orochimaru’s human experiments and hidden laboratories.
• Baiye used Reiatsu to restrain Orochimaru and held his blade at Orochimaru’s throat before withdrawing it and warning him to stay away.
• Baiye reported to Hizashi Hyuga, handed over his mission scroll, and joined the group as a member of the Special Medical Unit.
• Baiye looked back at Konoha before the group set out.

Baiye detected an ambush ahead of the reinforcement force and helped the Konoha squads defeat it. After persuading Hizashi Hyuga to let him scout for the force, Baiye treated two wounded Chunin and resumed monitoring the entire formation as they continued toward Kikyo Castle.

• Baiye detected two groups of enemies lying in ambush ahead and warned Hizashi Hyuga.
• Hizashi Hyuga recognized Baiye's unusually broad sensory range and asked him to stay nearby and report anything he detected.
• Konoha's vanguard and flank squads quickly defeated the ambushers, though several Konoha ninja were injured.
• Baiye argued that the injured should receive treatment and offered to scout so the other squads could be treated without leaving gaps in the formation.
• Hizashi Hyuga agreed to let Baiye scout for the first two days, and Baiye treated two wounded Chunin before resuming his wide-area detection.

Hizashi Hyuga reflected on how Gekkō Byakuya had changed his opinion by protecting the force and treating its wounded. When Sanada’s Sand Ninja ambushed the camp, Byakuya routed them with his sword and Kidō, leaving the surviving enemies to retreat and Sanada dead.

• Hizashi Hyuga recalled the Third ordering him to take Gekkō Byakuya alone to Kikyo Castle if the mission became hopeless.
• Byakuya warned Hizashi that a Sand Ninja force was approaching, and Hizashi ordered the camp to prepare for battle.
• Sanada sent two Sand Ninja Chunin to attack Byakuya, but Byakuya swiftly defeated them and advanced under the pressure of his Reiatsu.
• Hizashi ordered the Konoha force to support Byakuya as he overwhelmed the Sand Ninja with his sword, Shunpo, and Byakurai.
• Byakuya used Hadō #63: Raikōhō to devastate the Sand Ninja who had gathered around Sanada.
• The surviving Sand Ninja retreated, and Byakuya killed Sanada after giving his name.

After Baiye defeated the Sand Ninja, he saved Hizashi Hyuga from an assassination attempt by Asakura, a Konoha communications ninja secretly manipulated into serving Sunagakure. The team restrained Asakura and planned to take him to Kikyo Castle for treatment while Baiye kept watch over the camp.

• Baiye returned from defeating the Sand Ninja, and the survivors celebrated their victory.
• Asakura attacked Hizashi Hyuga from behind with a poisoned Kunai, but Baiye pulled Hizashi out of danger with Bakudō #4: Hainawa and knocked Asakura unconscious.
• Baiye detected an unnatural fluctuation in Asakura's soul and identified the Mind Puppet Manipulation Sand Technique as the cause.
• Hizashi remembered that Asakura had disappeared for two days during the Second Shinobi World War and realized the Sand Ninja had likely used him to leak information.
• Baiye said the technique's seal had been released but Asakura's warped will remained, so Hizashi arranged to restrain him and take him to Kikyo Castle for Tsunade to examine.
• Baiye watched the camp with Reiatsu Detection and found no other spies, while Hizashi realized he had begun relying on Baiye when making decisions.

Baiye’s group reached the mountain near Kikyo Castle and met Tsunade, who had come to recover from days of exhausting operations and the pressure of concealing her Hemophobia. Baiye soothed her with Medical Ninjutsu and Kaido while the group continued toward the castle.

• Baiye’s group crossed the mountain road without major opposition, and Hizashi Hyuga pointed out that Kikyo Castle lay beyond it.
• Baiye stopped and smiled when Tsunade approached; Hizashi Hyuga identified her and told the group she was not an enemy.
• Baiye took Tsunade into a supply carriage, where he treated her as the other ninjas waited outside.
• Tsunade told Baiye that Chiyo’s new poison had caused heavy losses, and that she had spent three days making an antidote and performing operations while hiding her Hemophobia.
• Baiye used Medical Ninjutsu and Kaido to ease Tsunade’s exhaustion, covered her with a coat, and stayed beside her as she slept.
• Baiye looked through the carriage curtain toward the approaching Kikyo Castle and closed his eyes again.

Baiye and Tsunade arrived at Kikyo Castle, where the war had left the town largely deserted and impoverished. After Tsunade ordered the reinforcement unit to rest, Baiye reviewed the system’s new Kidō and Fullbring exchange options and considered how to use his scarce resources.

• Tsunade asked Baiye about the battle that had earned his unit’s respect, but he said Hizashi Hyuga would report on it after they reached Kikyo Castle.
• Baiye and Tsunade entered Kikyo Castle and passed through its abandoned streets, where the remaining residents hid from newcomers they feared might be Sand Ninja.
• Tsunade ordered the reinforcement unit, including Baiye and the medical-nin, to rest for the day and report to the hospital the next morning.
• Baiye settled into his room at the nobleman’s estate and checked the system panel, which showed 247 Fate Points, one Lottery Ticket, and new Kidō and Fullbring exchange options.
• Baiye compared the costs of advanced abilities such as Dankū, Black Coffin, and Sōten Kisshun, then began planning how to allocate his resources during the Third Shinobi World War.

Baiye was summoned to the hospital, where Tsunade told him Hizashi Hyuga wanted him on a reconnaissance mission because of his exceptional sensory range. Tsunade reluctantly agreed to let him go report to Hizashi the next morning, warning him not to get hurt.

• A young Chunin escorted Baiye to the hospital as rumors about his battle and the name "Shinigami" spread through the castle.
• Tsunade told Baiye that Hizashi Hyuga wanted him to join the reconnaissance force to help counter the Sand Ninjas near the mountain roads.
• Tsunade pleaded with Baiye to remain in the hospital, but he argued that scouting could prevent more casualties than treating the wounded.
• Baiye calmed Tsunade with Kaidō, and she agreed that he could report to Hizashi the next morning while warning him not to get hurt.

Baiye and Hizashi Hyuga captured Sand Ninja at a hidden cave, where a mechanical trap injured Hizashi. While healing him, Baiye helped him overcome an internal barrier and master Rotation, leaving Hizashi deeply grateful to his teammate.

• Baiye and Hizashi Hyuga led the Reconnaissance Squad to a hidden cave and captured three Sand Ninja carrying a Communication Scroll and Ninja Tool Pouches.
• Hizashi entered the cave with Baiye and found intelligence materials and a Chakra Crystal device, but triggered a mechanical trap that wounded his arm.
• Baiye treated Hizashi and learned that he had struggled to master Rotation, which Hizashi believed the Caged Bird Seal prevented him from fully using.
• Baiye used Kaidō to help Hizashi’s contracted soul relax, then urged him to try Rotation again.
• Hizashi performed a complete, powerful Rotation and thanked Baiye before following him out of the cave.

After returning to Kikyo Castle, Baiye signed a Summoning Contract with Katsuyu and learned that Danzo had shown interest in Hayate before the Third intervened. Konoha faced growing pressure on several fronts, and Baiye prepared for the coming decisive battle against the Sand Ninja.

• Baiye and Hizashi reported their reconnaissance findings to Tsunade and handed the Crystal Device to the Intelligence Division.
• Tsunade gave Baiye a Summoning Contract scroll for Katsuyu, and Baiye signed it and summoned Katsuyu using his special chakra.
• Tsunade gave Baiye Konoha's latest battle report and a coded letter from Hayate.
• Baiye decoded Hayate's message and learned that the Third had stopped Danzo from taking an interest in Hayate.
• Baiye read that Minato had driven back Kumogakure's forces, Kirigakure had appeared on the border, and Konoha's leaders were debating whether to send the Uchiha Clan against them.
• Baiye set the report aside and focused on the coming decisive battle against the Sand Ninja.