Chapter Summaries

Sasuke fought the remaining contestants in the blade competition to gain combat experience and copy their techniques. He defeated most of them, leaving five opponents, including the samurai waiting to use the Drawing Sword Technique.

• Sasuke held back while the twelve opponents hesitated, then circled them at speed after the Kirigakure ninja urged them to attack together.
• Sasuke struck the Kirigakure ninja with a two-handed sword-and-scabbard attack, breaking the man's wooden scabbard and injuring his shoulder.
• The remaining fighters attacked Sasuke, who avoided being surrounded while copying their blade techniques and counterattacking.
• As the samurai tired, Sasuke killed or badly wounded them until only one Kirigakure ninja, three Kumogakure ninjas, and the samurai who had proposed the group attack remained.
• Sasuke watched the samurai's sheathed sword carefully, wary of the man's Drawing Sword Technique and intent on leaving him for last.

Sasuke exploited the Kumogakure ninja’s plan, killing two of them before the last one was disqualified for using ninjutsu. He then faced the final samurai’s Drawing Sword Technique, blocking the samurai’s sudden slash as the fight continued.

• The six remaining fighters paused to recover and assess one another while Mifune lamented how few samurai remained.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan to uncover the Kumogakure ninja’s plan and pretended to attack the injured Kirigakure ninja as bait.
• Sasuke killed two Kumogakure ninja, but the last one used Lightning Release, so Mifune disqualified him.
• The Kirigakure ninja pressed Sasuke down while the last samurai closed in with the Drawing Sword Technique.
• Sasuke crossed his blade and sheath to block the samurai’s horizontal slash.

Sasuke fought the samurai and a Kirigakure ninja while trying to protect his sword and survive their attacks. After turning the fight against the injured ninja, Sasuke drove him to forfeit, leaving the samurai to recover.

• Sasuke used the samurai’s force to retreat from their clash and drove his sword into the ground to steady himself.
• The Kirigakure ninja attacked while Sasuke was off balance, but Sasuke blocked his kick and turned the exchange against him.
• Sasuke pulled War Soul free and pursued the injured ninja, preventing him from reaching the samurai.
• Sasuke pressured the ninja with a stream of basic sword techniques while the samurai recovered.
• The Kirigakure ninja forfeited after recognizing that continuing the fight could get him killed.

Sasuke defeated the samurai with a single, silent slash, proving War Soul could cut through both the man and his sword. Nakamura Takeshi accused Sasuke of using ninjutsu and rushed forward, drawing Sasuke's dangerous attention.

• The Kirigakure ninja withdrew from the match, and Sasuke cautiously let him leave before inspecting War Soul.
• Sasuke and the samurai faced off for a final duel, each preparing to decide the contest with one strike.
• Sasuke charged and clashed blades with the samurai, but neither the crowd nor the fighters heard a sound.
• Sasuke found War Soul undamaged and discovered the samurai and his sword had both been cut cleanly in two.
• Nakamura Takeshi accused Sasuke of using ninjutsu and claimed victory, then rushed toward him as Sasuke turned with killing intent.

Mifune declared Tenbu Shinzo the winner after Sasuke’s blade effortlessly cut through Nakamura Takeshi’s sword, and Tenbu Shinzo received the rewards of becoming a Forging Master. After returning to the inn, Sasuke recovered from the battle and discovered his Sharingan had advanced to Five-Tomoe, then began testing its ability.

• Mifune arrested Nakamura Takeshi, ruled that Tenbu Shinzo had won fairly, and named him a Forging Master.
• Sasuke let Mifune know he expected the Nakamura Clan to be dealt with and left the celebration after Tenbu Shinzo thanked him.
• Tenbu Shinzo received four samurai guards, a shop, and money from the Land of Iron.
• Sasuke returned to the inn, bathed, and wondered whether 'War Soul' had spoken to him during the duel.
• The next morning, Sasuke saw that his Sharingan had reached Five-Tomoe and cautiously began testing its ability by feeding Chakra into his eyes.

Sasuke developed the traits of the Five-Tomoe Sharingan and suspected its ability was Kamui before visiting Tenbu Shinzo. He gave Tenbu Shinzo money for his future with Miko and asked him to find a ship to the Land of Whirlpools.

• Sasuke saw a black vortex emerge as he poured Chakra into his Sharingan and suspected his Five-Tomoe ability was Kamui.
• Sasuke left the inn and found Tenbu Shinzo's shop crowded with people seeking his favor, so Tenbu Shinzo brought him inside to escape them.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Sasuke that Miko's father approved of their marriage and that he worried his circumstances did not match Miko's family standing.
• Sasuke gave Tenbu Shinzo money to buy a larger shop and hire servants, and reminded him to keep improving his craft.
• Tenbu Shinzo advised Sasuke to temper War Soul with his Chakra, and Sasuke asked him to find out when a ship would sail to the Land of Whirlpools.

Sasuke trained his Five-Tomoe Sharingan abilities while preparing to travel to the Land of Whirlpools. After several days at sea, he arrived and discovered that the country still had civilians and prosperous docks despite the destruction of its ninja village.

• Sasuke practiced his Sharingan's Kamui abilities at the inn and named them Kamui: Break and Kamui: Conceal.
• Tenbu Shinzo sent word that ships would soon travel to the Land of Whirlpools, and Sasuke prepared supplies for the journey.
• Sasuke boarded a ship and trained during the several-day voyage to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Sasuke arrived at the island and was surprised by its busy docks, realizing that the destruction had mainly been that of Uzushio Village.

Sasuke explored the Land of Whirlpools and learned that Konoha maintained its peace through a permanent mission while its civilians rebuilt the region’s fishing and farming industries. He left to visit the former site of Uzushio Village, hoping to learn more about its Sealing Techniques.

• Sasuke arrived at the Docks and wondered how the prosperous Land of Whirlpools kept thieves and rogue ninja away.
• Sasuke approached a Konoha team and introduced himself as Second Pillar before asking about the country’s security and recovery.
• Musashi Ichiro explained that civilians had hired Konoha to maintain order because the Land of Fire could not govern the allied country without alarming other nations.
• Musashi Ichiro told Sasuke that the Land of Whirlpools exported fish and grain and that Konoha was considering stationing another team there.
• Sasuke left the Konoha team and headed for the former site of Uzushio Village to investigate its Sealing Techniques.

Sasuke searched the ruins of Uzushio Village for a hidden site, found no clues, and set out to explore the rest of the Land of Whirlpools. Meanwhile, two Konoha ninja tracked him down as Musashi Ichiro reported his concerns to the Fifth Hokage, bringing a clash between Konoha ninja closer.

• Sasuke trained with two Shadow Clones while traveling, then reached the heavily excavated ruins of Uzushio Village after five days.
• Sasuke found nothing unusual in the ruins and bought a map so he could search other parts of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Two Konoha ninja, one from the Aburame Clan and one from the Hyuga Clan, asked about Sasuke at the docks and went to the ruins.
• Musashi Ichiro questioned why Sasuke had traveled alone and why the pair were following him, then sent his concerns to the Fifth Hokage by hawk.
• The two Konoha ninja learned Sasuke's direction from a map seller and hurried after him while Sasuke continued his slow journey.

Tsunade learned that Danzo had sent two Konoha ninja to pursue Sasuke in the Land of Whirlpools, so she dispatched Might Guy’s team to protect him. The trackers reached Sasuke first, and he went on guard as they confronted him.

• Shizune brought Tsunade a report that two Hyuga and Aburame ninja were pursuing Sasuke without village authorization.
• Tsunade suspected Danzo and ordered Might Guy’s team to travel to the Land of Whirlpools and protect Sasuke.
• Might Guy led Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji by ship toward the Land of Whirlpools, then hurried after learning the pursuers were Konoha ninja.
• The two trackers reached Sasuke early the next morning and addressed him as “Second Pillar” without showing friendliness.

Sasuke confronted two Konoha ninja sent by Danzo to capture him and learned Danzo had helped him leave the village so he could be targeted. After Sasuke and the pursuers began fighting, Hyuga Chobo rushed toward him while Sasuke retreated from Aburame Ichiyu’s insect technique.

• Sasuke challenged the pursuers’ authority to take him back and learned they were Hyuga Chobo and Aburame Ichiyu, two Special Jonin.
• Sasuke revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and drew War Soul as he prepared to fight the two ninja.
• Hyuga Chobo and Aburame Ichiyu admitted Danzo had helped Sasuke leave the village because it was difficult to attack him there.
• Aburame Ichiyu unleashed Insect Sphere, and Sasuke countered with the Great Fireball Technique before retreating.
• Hyuga Chobo suddenly rushed toward Sasuke as he tried to create distance from the insect swarm.

Sasuke fought Aburame Ichiyu and Hyuga Chobo, using Water Release to flood the battlefield and hinder Ichiyu’s insects. He left both opponents under pressure after a series of clones, water attacks, and an exploding tag.

• Sasuke used the nearby river to unleash the Great Waterfall Technique, sweeping both opponents into the flooded battlefield and destroying the trees that had concealed Ichiyu’s insects.
• Sasuke fired High Pressure Water Arrow Technique at Hyuga Chobo, who used the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to break through the barrage and reach him.
• Hyuga Chobo struck Sasuke with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but Sasuke vanished as a Shadow Clone and reappeared behind Aburame Ichiyu.
• Ichiyu revealed an Insect Clone and trapped Sasuke in an Insect Sphere, but that Sasuke also disappeared, leaving a lit Exploding Tag that blasted Ichiyu’s insects and water into the air.
• Sasuke relied on water to soak and restrict Ichiyu’s insects, exploiting their vulnerability to wet wings.

Sasuke used the flooded battlefield to weaken Aburame Ichiyu’s insects and injure Hyuga Chobo, then overwhelmed the two Root members with Lightning and Water Release techniques. Might Guy and his students arrived, and the battle ended with Aburame Ichiyu unconscious and the opponents set to be captured.

• Sasuke used Exploding Tags to soak Aburame Ichiyu’s insects and a hidden Shadow Clone to wound Hyuga Chobo’s leg.
• Sasuke electrified the water with Chidori, then struck Hyuga Chobo with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique as he tried to defend himself with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
• Sasuke used Earth Current to knock Hyuga Chobo out of the air and drove Aburame Ichiyu back with High Pressure Water Arrow Technique.
• Might Guy arrived with Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, then knocked Aburame Ichiyu unconscious with Leaf Whirlwind.
• Might Guy ordered Hyuga Neji and Rock Lee to capture the Hyuga Clan and Aburame Clan members.

Sasuke learned that Might Guy had come after Musashi Ichiro reported suspicious activity to the Hokage. Guy decided to take the two captured Special Jonin back to the Fifth Hokage, and Sasuke resumed his solitary training with less worry about Danzo’s next move.

• Might Guy told Sasuke that Musashi Ichiro had reported the two Special Jonin, prompting the Hokage to send Guy’s team as support.
• Sasuke explained that he had used his knowledge of the opponents and the nearby water to create a battlefield that favored him.
• Sasuke said he wanted the two men killed to keep Danzo from learning about his abilities, but Might Guy argued they should be judged by the Fifth Hokage.
• Sasuke agreed to leave the captives to Might Guy, who hurried to take them back to Konoha.
• After Guy’s team left, Sasuke planned to erase his traces and continue training until he was strong enough to face future pursuers.

Sasuke continued toward the Land of Whirlpools while refining his Sharingan abilities, and Might Guy’s team returned to Konoha with two captured men. After reaching a secluded seaside cliff and setting up camp to train, Sasuke sensed a faint Chakra fluctuation beneath the rocks.

• Sasuke resumed his journey and considered how his Tsukuyomi and Kamui abilities might improve as his Sharingan evolved.
• Might Guy brought two men to Tsunade and reported Sasuke’s role, while the team publicly claimed to have captured them themselves.
• Tsunade accepted the cover story to keep other villages from learning how powerful Sasuke had become.
• Sasuke reached a remote seaside cliff, decided to train there, and set up a campsite.
• Sasuke climbed down to the rocks to test training against the waves and sensed a faint Chakra fluctuation beneath them.

Sasuke discovered that the Chakra he had sensed beneath the sea came from a cave revealed by the receding tide. He reached a large door deep inside and cautiously inspected the area, leaving the source of the Chakra unexplored.

• Sasuke endured the powerful waves, then climbed back to the cliff and suspected that the tide might conceal a secret location.
• Sasuke used Shadow Clones to track the tides and learned they receded twice a day for about an hour each time.
• Sasuke prepared torches, waited for the morning tide to withdraw, and entered an opening beneath a massive rock.
• Sasuke followed the damp cave passage, noticing signs that people had modified it, and found a large door where the Chakra fluctuation was strongest.
• Sasuke inspected the spacious area around the door with his Sharingan and found no ninjutsu traps, but remained wary of hidden mechanisms.

Sasuke investigated a hidden Uzumaki site and studied the sealed door at its center. He cautiously attacked the seal until its remaining Chakra ran out, leaving the door unprotected.

• Sasuke fired water arrows around the chamber to check for traps before inspecting the Uzumaki-emblem door.
• Sasuke searched the chamber and its fixed braziers, then decided he would have to break the seal by force.
• Sasuke examined a Sealing Scroll and reasoned that Chakra leaking from the door meant its seal might be weakening.
• Sasuke struck the door with a low-powered water technique, and the seal formed a shield that blocked the attack without counterattacking.
• Sasuke repeatedly hit the shield with water arrows until the seal's Chakra was exhausted after about twenty minutes.

Sasuke entered Uzushio Village’s sealed secret place and discovered supplies, sealing tools, scrolls, and research notes, then settled in to study and train. Meanwhile, Tsunade began using his case to confront Danzo in Konoha.

• Sasuke used Shadow Clones to inspect the sealed room and confirmed it was safe to enter.
• Sasuke found crates of ninja tools, wealth, sealing brushes and ink, and ninjutsu Sealing Scrolls.
• Sasuke searched the shelves and found extensive Sealing Technique scrolls and research notes left by Uzushio Village’s predecessors.
• Sasuke began studying and training in the secret place, creating Shadow Clones to help him improve.
• Tsunade began challenging Danzo in Konoha over why he had tried to capture Sasuke without reporting to the Hokage.

Tsunade confronted Danzo over his attempt to recall Sasuke and used the incident to assert the Hokage’s authority over Konoha’s ninjas. Danzo returned to Root headquarters furious but unwilling to openly defy her, while Tsunade demanded Root’s roster and tighter controls on leaving the village.

• Tsunade challenged Danzo’s excuse for summoning Sasuke, pointing out that Danzo had previously supported Sasuke leaving Konoha and had no authority to command him.
• Tsunade rebuked Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu for defending Danzo by seniority and insisted that the Hokage’s authority could not be overruled by elders.
• Tsunade decreed that Konoha’s ninjas must obey the Hokage, required her approval and documentation for anyone leaving the village, and demanded Root’s membership roster.
• Tsunade considered whether Danzo might be connected to past tragedies in Konoha, including the Uchiha Clan’s destruction and the Fourth Hokage’s death.
• Danzo returned to Root headquarters furious that Tsunade had restricted him, but he refrained from opposing her openly and prepared to hand over Root’s roster.

Sasuke studied and practiced Sealing Techniques in the hidden place, organizing the stored supplies and searching for rare chakra nature materials. After exhausting the food and water and finishing the scrolls, he left when the tide receded and returned to the cliff at night.

• Sasuke learned the fundamentals of Sealing Techniques, including their runes, materials, and principles, and quickly advanced with the village's notes.
• Sasuke reorganized his supplies into Sealing Scrolls and practiced making simple scrolls himself.
• Sasuke sent Shadow Clones to search for reserves of chakra nature materials but found none.
• Sasuke continued his punishing training, noticed his spiritual power growing faster, and anticipated awakening the Six Tomoe Sharingan.
• Sasuke finished reading the scrolls, ran out of food and water, and waited for low tide before leaving the hidden place.
• Sasuke returned to the cliff at night and planned to eat and bathe.