Chapter Summaries

Naruto escalated his duel with Sasuke by using the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, but Sasuke revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and removed his heavy training weights before counterattacking. The duel continued with Naruto preparing a Rasengan underwater while Sasuke fought his Shadow Clones on the lake’s surface.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clones cleared a path for his Rasengan charge, but Sasuke sidestepped him and sent him flying through the clones.
• Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ Chakra to increase his speed and struck Sasuke, who blocked the attack and said he would use his full strength.
• Sasuke revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and removed the weights from his legs, arms, and waist as the spectators watched in amazement.
• Sasuke fired a stream of high-pressure water arrows, then struck Naruto with an elbow, an upward kick, and a Lion’s Barrage combo.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to recover from the water and resumed attacking, while Tsunade and Jiraiya debated their chances.
• Naruto stayed underwater and prepared a Rasengan behind his Shadow Clones as Sasuke fought them from the lake’s surface.

Sasuke defeated Naruto in their duel by combining Water and Fire Rasengans, then using genjutsu to stop Naruto from summoning a giant toad. Sasuke prepared to leave the village for three years of training, while Naruto and Sakura promised to catch up with him.

• Sasuke launched a Water Dragon Bullet Technique at Naruto, who dodged it with a Shadow Clone and continued fighting with Rasengans.
• Sasuke transformed his two Rasengans into Water and Fire Rasengans and struck Naruto with Water-Fire Rasengan Break, sending him skidding across the lake.
• Sasuke used Feather Illusion Technique to put Naruto to sleep before Naruto could perform the Summoning Technique, then placed a kunai at his throat and declared the match over.
• Tsunade confirmed Naruto's loss and advised Sasuke to be cautious as he left the village to train.
• Naruto accepted the loss and promised to fight Sasuke again after three years, while Sakura said she would wait for Sasuke's return.

Sasuke left Konoha to train on his journey to the Land of Iron, intending to grow strong enough to carry out his revenge against Danzo. As Sasuke traveled through the Land of Fire and prepared to camp, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi each set out to pursue their own training.

• Sasuke planned to travel to the Land of Iron and other countries to train, forge Chakra weapons, and learn more ninjutsu while continuing to strengthen himself.
• Sasuke left Konoha at dawn without telling anyone, and Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi watched him depart from the village wall.
• Naruto vowed to surpass Sasuke, while Sakura left to begin training under Tsunade; Kakashi also decided he needed to train.
• Sasuke traveled northeast through the Land of Fire, exchanging nods with a merchant caravan and considering the dangers of travel beyond the village.
• Sasuke chose a mountain campsite, set traps for protection, and began roasting a rabbit for lunch.

The Sound Four ambushed Sasuke after shadowing his journey away from Konoha, hoping to bring him to Orochimaru. Sasuke appeared to be trapped inside Jirobo’s Earth Dome Prison, but his smile suggested he had anticipated the attack.

• Sasuke trained and traveled slowly toward the Land of Iron while the Sound Four watched and waited for him to get farther from Konoha.
• Tayuya grew impatient, but Kidomaru urged the group to wait until Sasuke was closer to Otogakure and farther from Konoha.
• After two weeks, Sasuke became more cautious near the border and set traps around his campsite.
• Kidomaru asked Sasuke to join Orochimaru, but Sasuke mocked Orochimaru and refused.
• Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Sakon and Ukon attacked Sasuke while Jirobo approached unnoticed.
• Jirobo trapped Sasuke with Earth Style: Earth Dome Prison, and the Sound Four assumed they had captured him as Sasuke smiled.

Sasuke escaped Jirobo’s earthen prison and quickly killed Jirobo and Tayuya before turning his full attention to Kidomaru while Shadow Clones occupied Sakon and Ukon. He battered Kidomaru and followed with fire and a Fire-nature Rasengan, leaving the fight against the last two Sound Four members unresolved.

• Sasuke removed his weights and pierced Jirobo’s heart with Lightning Cutter from inside the earthen prison.
• Sasuke burst out with Water Dragon Bullet Technique, used a Shadow Clone and Tsukuyomi to kill Tayuya, and reduced the Sound Four to two.
• Sasuke sent Shadow Clones to tie down Sakon and Ukon while he fought Kidomaru at close range.
• Sasuke overwhelmed Kidomaru with Taijutsu, then attacked him with Great Fireball Technique and a Fire-nature Rasengan.

Sasuke killed the remaining Sound Four, then fled toward the Land of Iron and reported the fight to a Konoha border patrol. Orochimaru began changing bodies after learning his subordinates had failed, while Sasuke resolved to grow stronger and wondered whether he could one day return home.

• Sasuke killed Kidomaru, then used Shadow Clones to overwhelm Sakon and Ukon despite their ability to switch bodies and recover from injuries.
• Sasuke killed Sakon with eight Shadow Clones, burned the brothers’ bodies, and sealed the heads of the other three Sound Four members for the village.
• Orochimaru learned the Sound Four were dead and ordered Yakushi Kabuto to begin changing his body, while Kimimaro died of illness without encountering Sasuke.
• Sasuke ran toward the Land of Iron, reflected on Kimimaro’s fate, and resolved to grow stronger so he could surpass human limits and perhaps return home.
• A Konoha border patrol stopped Sasuke, who showed his authorization papers and explained that he had killed the Sound Four and was leaving their three heads with the patrol for delivery to the village.

Sasuke traveled from the Land of Fire to the Land of Iron to find a smith who could forge him a weapon. After reaching Three Wolf Mountain, he entered a sushi restaurant to eat and learn more about the country.

• Sasuke warned the Konoha patrol captain to bring reinforcements before inspecting the battlefield, and the patrols later confirmed his report and sent news to Konoha.
• Sasuke rested overnight and continued his journey toward the Land of Iron while keeping up his training in the cold.
• Samurai stopped Sasuke at the border, checked his identification, and directed him to the Forging Masters at Three Wolf Mountain.
• Sasuke traveled through the snow to Three Wolf Mountain and headed to its commercial district to gather information before seeking a smith.
• Sasuke entered a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, where ninja and merchants from nearby countries were eating, and sat down for lunch.

Sasuke learned that the Land of Iron’s Forging Tournament would begin in three days and planned to find a suitable Forging Master there. After settling into an inn, he rested, kept up his basic training, and explored the local food and streets while waiting for the tournament.

• Sasuke overheard two Kumogakure ninja discussing the Forging Tournament and learned it would begin in three days.
• Sasuke decided to attend the tournament to find a Forging Master for his Chakra Metal, and considered approaching the judges if no contestant suited him.
• Sasuke checked into an inn, bathed, completed his Chakra training, and slept after deciding to rest from his other training for three days.
• Sasuke put his weights and equipment back on, explored the commercial district, and tried local fish dishes while listening to talk about the tournament.
• Sasuke heard that Forging Masters served ninja and national armies by making famous blades and custom swords.

Sasuke heard about Tenbu Shinzo, a blacksmith who had nearly become a Forging Master, and learned of a rumored Secluded Chamber in the Land of Whirlpools. He planned to visit Tenbu Shinzo and consider exploring the Land of Whirlpools after forging his weapon.

• Sasuke listened to locals discuss the leading blacksmiths competing to become a Forging Master.
• Two samurai told a waiter that Tenbu Shinzo had nearly succeeded in the previous competition but had run out of time while developing a layered blade.
• Sasuke decided to seek out Tenbu Shinzo and overheard the samurai discuss treasure hunting and a possible Secluded Chamber in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Sasuke learned from the innkeeper that Tenbu Shinzo lived nearby and worked at a small shop while repaying debts.
• Sasuke returned to his room and continued his nighttime Chakra training.

Sasuke visited Tenbu Shinzo's smithy at midnight to learn about his innovative method for forging stronger blades. He agreed to fund Shinzo's work and tournament entry in exchange for Shinzo forging weapons for him and his clan.

• Sasuke overheard Tenbu Shinzo tell Miko he could not afford to enter the Forging Tournament, while she feared her father would make her marry someone else.
• Sasuke entered the smithy and asked Tenbu Shinzo about his forging technique, offering to commission specialized weapons if he was impressed.
• Tenbu Shinzo explained that he wanted to wrap Chakra Metal around a flexible inner core, but had no money to complete a successful blade.
• Sasuke offered to pay for the best materials and have Tenbu Shinzo forge weapons for him.
• Tenbu Shinzo asked to use Sasuke's materials to enter the Forging Tournament, and Sasuke agreed after Shinzo promised to forge for him and the Uchiha Clan without conditions if he became a master.

Sasuke agreed to help Tenbu Shinzo forge a weapon for the competition and supplied Chakra Metal, Fire Style chakra, and money for the best materials. After shopping for supplies, Sasuke noticed weak ninjas tailing him in the Land of Iron and suspected they might be targeting Tenbu Shinzo.

• Sasuke gave Tenbu Shinzo Chakra Metal and agreed to help refine it with his Fire Style chakra for the competition.
• Tenbu Shinzo explained that he needed Soft Iron, high-quality charcoal, and a new furnace, and Sasuke agreed to buy whatever was necessary.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Miko that he expected to win the competition and marry her soon.
• Sasuke finished his morning training, then accompanied Tenbu Shinzo to buy wood, Soft Iron, and a new smelting furnace.
• After Tenbu Shinzo returned to make charcoal, Sasuke noticed weak ninjas following him and wondered whether they were hired by noble families to target Tenbu Shinzo.

Sasuke guarded Tenbu Shinzo’s forge and stopped samurai hired by a noble family from breaking in. The next morning, Tenbu Shinzo suspected the noble families were trying to prevent him from becoming the new Forging Master.

• Sasuke spent the day exploring town, then set out near midnight to guard Tenbu Shinzo’s forge.
• Sasuke overheard samurai planning to break into the forge after their employer diverted the local patrols.
• Sasuke knocked the samurai unconscious and hid while the returning patrol took them away for questioning.
• Sasuke returned to the inn and decided to keep a Shadow Clone guarding Tenbu Shinzo until the competition.
• The next morning, Sasuke warned Tenbu Shinzo about the attempted break-in, and Tenbu Shinzo said the noble families feared he might become the new Forging Master.

Sasuke learned that Tenbu Shinzo faced threats from rival forging families and pledged to protect him through the competition. Tenbu Shinzo offered rare Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood for Sasuke’s weapons, and the two discussed the contest’s stages, including a combat test on the fourth day.

• Sasuke asked Tenbu Shinzo about the rival families, and Tenbu Shinzo explained that his father had been killed before the competition and that he expected similar danger.
• Sasuke promised to protect Tenbu Shinzo and said Konoha would respond if anyone attacked him.
• Tenbu Shinzo brought out his family’s Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood and offered half of it for Sasuke’s sword hilt and scabbard.
• Sasuke revealed that he was Second Pillar, the last member of Konoha’s Uchiha Clan, and promised money to help Tenbu Shinzo establish his family.
• Tenbu Shinzo explained that the competition lasted three days, followed by a fourth-day blade contest in which samurai or ninja fought with the forged weapons under Lord Mifune’s supervision.

Sasuke accepted Tenbu Shinzo’s invitation to compete in a swordsmanship contest, hoping to learn techniques by observing the samurai and ninja with his Sharingan. After Tenbu Shinzo finished preparing the sword materials, the pair arrived at the plaza and inspected their assigned furnace station as the competition drew near.

• Sasuke accepted Tenbu Shinzo’s invitation after learning the contest allowed no ninjutsu, and planned to copy sword techniques with his Sharingan.
• Sasuke protected Tenbu Shinzo while he tempered the metals and processed the Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood for the sword.
• Tenbu Shinzo rested after completing the preparations for the sword.
• Sasuke and Tenbu Shinzo brought their tools and materials to the administrative district plaza on the day of the competition.
• Sasuke helped Tenbu Shinzo inspect their assigned furnace station for sabotage before they arranged their equipment as contestants and spectators gathered.

The Forging Master qualification competition began, and Tenbu Shinzo set out to forge a blade with Sasuke’s help. Mifune warned the contestants against cheating, while Sasuke used Shadow Clones to raise and maintain the furnace heat as Tenbu Shinzo prepared the Soft Iron.

• Sasuke noticed prominent families watching him and Tenbu Shinzo, and Tenbu Shinzo explained that they were assessing their strength.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Sasuke that Forging Masters were valuable to the Land of Iron and explained his determination to fulfill his father’s dream.
• Mifune arrived to preside over the competition, warned that violations would be punished, and officially started the event.
• Tenbu Shinzo put charcoal and Soft Iron into the furnace, while Sasuke created two Shadow Clones to ignite the charcoal and work the bellows.
• Tenbu Shinzo asked Sasuke to keep the furnace at its highest temperature so he could repeatedly fold and hammer the Soft Iron into a tough Blade Core, and Sasuke sat down to recover his Chakra.

Tenbu Shinzo and Sasuke forged the Blade Core from Soft Iron, then began combining it with Chakra Metal to make the blade. By nightfall the blade was nearly complete, and Tenbu Shinzo began fitting the handle and sheath.

• Tenbu Shinzo finished tempering the Soft Iron and poured it into a mold to form the Blade Core.
• Tenbu Shinzo hammered and repeatedly folded the Soft Iron, completing the Blade Core by nightfall.
• Sasuke inspected and bought food, then had his Shadow Clones keep watch while Tenbu Shinzo rested.
• The next morning, Sasuke and Tenbu Shinzo began forging Chakra Metal around the Blade Core.
• Tenbu Shinzo brought the blade nearly to completion and began fitting its grooved handle and sheath with Chakra Metal.

Tenbu Shinzo completed and presented Sasuke with the sword, which Sasuke named War Soul. As the final Sword Tester competition began, Sasuke entered the arena ready to fight without ninjutsu and learn his opponents’ techniques.

• Tenbu Shinzo finished connecting the sword and scabbard, then spent the third day polishing and sharpening the blade.
• Tenbu Shinzo presented the finished sword to Sasuke, who named it War Soul and planned to use the competition to copy sword techniques.
• Sasuke removed his weights and prepared for the match while Tenbu Shinzo packed up their equipment.
• Mifune announced that ninjutsu was forbidden in the final Sword Tester event and that anyone who used it would be disqualified.
• Sasuke received a number plate matching Tenbu Shinzo’s, and Tenbu Shinzo left the plaza as the Forging Masters were ordered out.

Sasuke avoided the opening melee of the sword test and watched the other Sword Testers’ techniques, using an attacker’s reckless swing to get him eliminated. As the fighters dwindled, a Kumogakure ninja launched a sudden attack on Sasuke, who stepped forward to evade the thrust before the attacker swept for his legs.

• Mifune announced the start of the sword test, and Sword Testers across the plaza began fighting in a chaotic melee.
• Sasuke retreated to the edge of the plaza and observed the fighters, studying their movements with his Sharingan while avoiding battle.
• After many Sword Testers were eliminated, one attacker charged Sasuke but could not stop his swing and was beaten by the armored samurai behind him.
• Sasuke watched the remaining contestants use a range of sword techniques as the number of fighters and the condition of their blades declined.
• A Kumogakure ninja approached Sasuke along the edge, lunged at his waist, then turned and swept his blade toward Sasuke’s legs after Sasuke stepped forward.

Sasuke stopped two Kumogakure ninja from attacking him and forced one to reveal that Nakamura Takeshi had ordered his assassination. After warning them to leave the competition, Sasuke watched them withdraw and turned back to the shrinking contest.

• Sasuke caught a Kumogakure ninja at swordpoint and demanded to know who had ordered the attack.
• A second Kumogakure ninja tried to pressure Sasuke into releasing the captive, but Sasuke threatened both men.
• The captive revealed that Nakamura Takeshi had hired the two Sword Testers to eliminate his opponents and had specifically ordered them to kill Sasuke.
• Sasuke sheathed War Soul, warned the two ninja to withdraw, and watched them pass the samurai guards.
• Sasuke returned his attention to the plaza, where just over thirty competitors remained and many were fighting or teaming up.

Sasuke was forced to fight when the fifteen remaining competitors surrounded him, and he used his speed and strength to break through their formation. After eliminating two samurai and disarming another, he faced the twelve pursuers in the arena.

• Sasuke watched the sword fighters and studied their techniques, relying on his Sharingan to copy their movements.
• The fifteen remaining competitors surrounded Sasuke, and he drew War Soul while planning to fight with his familiar reverse grip.
• Sasuke charged three samurai, killing one with his blade and knocking the other two away with his sheath.
• Sasuke caught the two displaced samurai, killed one, and broke the other's sword, forcing him to leave the match.
• Sasuke stood free of the encirclement as the remaining twelve pursued him.