Recaps

Hagoromo brought Sansan to the cat’s sage land and faced its dangerous trials. After threatening Sansan over his hostile behavior, Hagoromo learned the cat was willing to form a bond with him, and they agreed to get along.

• Sansan explained that he could return to a sage land rather than the scroll, and Hagoromo persuaded him to go there with an offer of sake.
• Sansan led Hagoromo through Muku Shrine’s forest, warning that its bell chimes turned those with impure thoughts into trees.
• Sansan described the river as the second trial, and Hagoromo struck him and threatened to kill him if he acted against him again.
• Hagoromo told Sansan he knew about Natsume Reiko and proposed they cooperate, prompting Sansan to agree to get along with him.
• Sansan asked Hagoromo to free him after his death and allow others to contract with him in the meantime, and Hagoromo agreed.

Hagoromo passed the Memory River trial without being affected by its water, then gained the Fate Bell’s acceptance and began cultivating Senjutsu. He reached saturation and transformed into Hazy Moon, leaving Sansan the cat astonished by his talent.

• Sansan the cat explained that the Memory River forced people to confront painful memories and could turn those who broke down into stone statues.
• Hagoromo drank from the river despite Sansan’s warning, but felt no effect and was deemed likely immune to Fate Power.
• Sansan brought Hagoromo to Muku Shrine, where the Fate Bell accepted him and entered his forehead.
• Sansan explained that Hagoromo could absorb Natural Energy and yōkai Fate Power to cultivate Senjutsu in the Hazy Moon form.
• Hagoromo quickly reached saturation and transformed, gaining feline-patterned eyes, red markings, and fluffy white hair.

Hagoromo learned that his Hazy Moon Sage Mode had reached pseudo-high-level greater demon power and discovered he could fly on clouds, though it lasted only five minutes. He returned to the training ground with San San and introduced him to Naruto and the other disciples as his summoning beast.

• Cat San San explained that Hagoromo’s Sage Mode had reached pseudo-high-level greater demon strength, while his body’s energy capacity kept him from advancing further.
• Hagoromo discovered that Hazy Moon Sage Mode gave him innate techniques, including Hazy Moon Cloud Soaring, and flew until his mode ran out after five minutes.
• Hagoromo and Cat San San returned to Muku Shrine, where San San said he had sealed the shrine behind a barrier because it held something left by the progenitor.
• Hagoromo went back to the new training ground with San San, who asked Choji for chips and noticed the fox’s smell on Naruto.
• Hagoromo introduced San San to Naruto and the others as his summoning beast, and they reacted with disbelief.

Hagoromo left Cat San San to train Naruto and the others while he prepared for his Jonin assessment and worked on a sealing formula for a trial. Shikamaru warned him that some people might try to interfere with his promotion, and Hagoromo considered asking Shisui Uchiha to help with the Genjutsu.

• Naruto called Cat San San fat, and the cat knocked him unconscious before Hagoromo caught him.
• Hagoromo agreed to leave Cat San San with the students as their trainer in exchange for buying him snacks, and told them to focus on their assignments before finals.
• Shikamaru told Hagoromo that his father had asked him to mention the upcoming Jonin assessment, prompting Hagoromo to suspect that two powerful figures might oppose his promotion.
• Cat San San made Naruto run while carrying him, and Hagoromo judged that Naruto still had room to push himself harder.
• Hagoromo studied Sealing Jutsu formulas for a trial using the Mirage Vapor Pearl and considered asking Shisui Uchiha to handle its Genjutsu.

Hagoromo borrowed Shisui from Hiruzen to help test a training Genjutsu built with Sealing Jutsu formulas. After Hiruzen assured him he could act freely against anyone stirring up trouble, Hagoromo took Shisui to the training ground and recruited Cat San San as a future sparring opponent.

• Hagoromo brought snacks to Hiruzen and asked to borrow Shisui after revealing that he had learned Senjutsu from his family's Summoning Scroll.
• Hiruzen assigned Shisui to help Hagoromo and told him to ignore anyone trying to stir up trouble.
• Hagoromo and Shisui left the Hokage Building, and Hagoromo asked Shisui to call him by his name and learned that Shisui was avoiding his clan to prevent any appearance of impropriety.
• At the training ground, Hagoromo laid out Sealing Jutsu formulas to create a looping Genjutsu environment for practical training.
• Hagoromo told Cat San San it could serve as Naruto and the others' opponent, and Cat San San protested that Hagoromo was treating it like it was not a person.

Hagoromo tested the Mirage Vapor Pearl with Shisui Uchiha and Sansan, discovering it could trap a Shadow Clone in an illusion that felt like two days. Afterward, Shikamaru struggled through intense strategic training against projections of Lelouch and Light Yagami, and he regretted asking Hagoromo for help.

• Hagoromo had Shisui Uchiha use Genjutsu on the Mirage Vapor Pearl while Sansan stood on its sealing formula.
• Hagoromo sent a Shadow Clone into the activated barrier, and the Clone dispersed after experiencing what seemed like two days in the illusion.
• Sansan said the pearl's scent reminded him of edible raw materials that might grant unexpected benefits, but Hagoromo did not know what they were.
• Naruto worried that Shikamaru looked close to collapsing after training, and Hagoromo explained that Shikamaru's mind had been working too hard.
• Hagoromo reflected that Shikamaru had spent eight hours facing projections of Lelouch and Light Yagami, while Shikamaru wished someone would save him.

Naruto and his classmates headed to the final exam, while Hagoromo discussed handing the teachers’ team leader role to Iruka and made rounds of the classrooms. The school discovered that Sansan had stolen sausages, and Hagoromo arranged for the Akimichi Clan to provide replacements.

• Naruto greeted his friends cheerfully until Ino reminded him that the final exam was that day, and Hinata’s reassurance that the written test was easy made him realize Hagoromo had said it.
• Hagoromo asked Iruka to consider becoming the next teachers’ team leader, and Iruka learned that rumors about Hagoromo’s possible Jonin promotion were spreading among the teachers.
• Hagoromo and Iruka checked the classrooms, where they spotted Sansan fleeing with a sausage.
• A teacher reported that a batch of sausages had gone missing, and Hagoromo told the teacher to ask the Akimichi Clan for replacements and pay for both batches.

Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga fought in a first-year practical sparring match, impressing the watching students with their Taijutsu and breathing techniques. Naruto won after Hinata ran low on Chakra, and the chapter ended with him praising her while irritating Sasuke.

• Naruto encouraged Hinata before their match, and both agreed to fight at full strength using Taijutsu.
• Hinata activated her Byakugan and used the Gentle Fist against Naruto's Inch Power Eight Gates techniques.
• Hinata trapped Naruto in her Eight Trigrams Formation and attacked with Vacuum Palms, but Naruto deflected her Chakra shockwave.
• With Naruto's encouragement and Hagoromo's approval, Hinata used the Crescent Moon Breathing Method and pressured Naruto, stunning the spectators and unsettling Neji.
• Naruto seized an opening and defeated Hinata, then praised her strength and compared her favorably to Sasuke, who resented being dragged into their exchange.

Naruto accepted Neji’s challenge after becoming angry at his rudeness toward Hinata, and Hagoromo urged him to fight with the same deadly resolve as Neji. The two began their full-strength Taijutsu match as Shikamaru, Hinata, and the others watched.

• Naruto sensed someone hiding in the bushes, and Hinata recognized Neji when he stepped out and challenged Naruto.
• Naruto refused at first, then agreed to fight after Neji rudely dismissed Hinata and Shikamaru gave his approval.
• Naruto and Neji began a Taijutsu match, and Neji’s Gentle Fist strike forced Naruto to retreat.
• Neji activated his Byakugan and warned Naruto that fighting without resolve to kill would lead to a crushing defeat.
• Hagoromo arrived, told Naruto to match Neji’s fighting spirit, and stopped the others from interrupting.
• Naruto promised not to hold back, and he and Neji launched into their attacks.

Naruto and Neji fought to a standstill until Hagoromo stopped Neji from attacking Naruto after the challenge had ended. After Neji left, Hagoromo followed him and revealed that he had taught Naruto and the others their Taijutsu.

• Hinata identified Neji as the Hyuga Clan's most talented young ninja, while Naruto and Neji continued fighting without either gaining the upper hand.
• Naruto refused Neji's demand to settle the fight in one move and walked away, but Hagoromo stopped Neji from striking him from behind.
• Neji apologized, and Naruto chose not to punch him, explaining that Hinata was worried about her brother.
• Neji left the training ground, while Naruto and Sasuke began bickering; Hagoromo stopped Hinata from following Neji and went after him himself.
• Hagoromo found Neji near the Forest of Death and told him that he had taught Naruto and the others their Taijutsu.

Hagoromo challenged Neji to see his strength and choices as a way to change the Hyuga clan’s rules, leaving Neji deeply moved. Hagoromo then returned to the training ground with Sansan and dismissed Naruto and the others after their final exam.

• Hagoromo invited Neji to learn from him and urged him to choose his own path rather than accept the Main Family’s rules as unchangeable.
• Neji considered Hagoromo’s words and felt ready to build his strength and challenge the fate imposed on him.
• Hagoromo offered to help Neji whenever he needed it, then walked away and left Neji beneath the moonlight.
• Sansan teased Hagoromo about being gentle, and Hagoromo scolded the cat for eating so much food and limited its future meals.
• Hagoromo returned to the training ground and told Naruto and the others to go home and rest after the final exam.
• Hinata asked about Neji, and Hagoromo told her to give him time; Hinata trusted his advice.

Hagoromo reviewed the students’ improved results and reported the school year’s progress to Hiruzen Sarutobi. After Hagoromo tried to resign as head of the faculty, Hiruzen made Iruka head of the faculty and created a vice principal position for Hagoromo, leaving him responsible for the Ninja Academy’s affairs.

• Hagoromo announced the class results, with Sasuke Uchiha first, Naruto Uzumaki second, Hinata Hyuga third, and Sakura Haruno fourth.
• Kiba Inuzuka asked Naruto about his summer plans, but Naruto did not know what plans were.
• Hagoromo thanked the teachers for their work and discussed the upcoming Jonin instructors with Kubo.
• Hagoromo and Iruka brought the school’s results to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who praised their work.
• Hagoromo asked to resign as head of the faculty and recommended Iruka for the role, which Hiruzen approved.
• Hiruzen appointed Hagoromo vice principal of the Ninja Academy, assigning him the academy’s affairs.

Hagoromo discovered that his Yang Release Chakra Body had stalled because he had only been cleansing his flesh, so he began working on his bones and meridians with Sansan's help. After enduring eight hours of intense pain, his progress reached fifty-one percent, and Sansan carried him to the sacred land to recuperate.

• Hagoromo asked Sansan why his Yang Release Chakra Body progress had stopped at fifty percent, and Sansan explained that Hagoromo's body was not naturally suited to the energy.
• Sansan suggested that Hagoromo's bones and meridians also needed cleansing, and Hagoromo realized he had focused only on his flesh.
• Hagoromo guided Yang Release Chakra into his bones and meridians, while Sansan enveloped him in Senjutsu Chakra to help him stay conscious.
• After eight hours, Hagoromo's progress rose to fifty-one percent, and he learned that deeper cleansing took much longer and caused greater pain.
• Sansan told Hagoromo to recuperate and carried him toward the sacred land after saying Naruto and the others had already finished training and gone back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi secured the Jonin's approval to promote Sawada Hagoromo, but a Utatane Clan Jonin demanded the required strength test. Kakashi Hatake, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hyuga Hiashi were chosen to provide the testers, leaving the Utatane Jonin's attempt to obstruct the promotion with a different outcome than he intended.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recommended Sawada Hagoromo for promotion to Jonin, citing his mission record, strength, teaching ability, and devotion to Konoha.
• Shikaku Nara called for a vote, and Jonin from the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans, along with Might Guy, Kakashi, and Asuma Sarutobi, supported the recommendation.
• After the motion passed, a Utatane Clan Jonin reminded Hiruzen that Hagoromo needed to pass a strength test conducted by three Jonin.
• Asuma Sarutobi suggested that the Utatane Jonin conduct the test, and Kakashi Hatake stopped him from making another proposal by noting that Special Jōnin lacked that right.
• Kakashi Hatake volunteered as a tester, and Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi offered testers from their respective clans before Hiruzen adjourned the meeting.

Hagoromo learned that his Jonin promotion test would take place before the Daimyo's Advisor, whose visit threatened Konoha's autonomy. Shikaku Nara urged Hagoromo to overpower the test's examiners so Hiruzen Sarutobi could confront the political threat from a position of strength.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hagoromo that his Jonin promotion had been approved, but he would need to earn the recognition of Kakashi and Jonin from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the test would be held at the Final Selection Arena in two days because the Daimyo's Advisor and other officials would attend.
• Hagoromo left the Hokage Building and met Shikaku Nara, who revealed that the Daimyo's Advisor was already at odds with the daimyo and might be used to pressure Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shikaku Nara told Hagoromo that Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to keep the advisor from returning to the Daimyo's Court, but had rejected Shikaku's plan for dealing with the situation.
• Shikaku Nara urged Hagoromo to overpower his opponents in the promotion test so Hiruzen Sarutobi could challenge Konoha's political adversaries without fearing the Land of Fire's response.

Hagoromo and Shikaku arranged a Jonin test designed to showcase Hagoromo’s strength, despite concerns about the clan testers and Hiruzen’s approval. Hiruzen accepted the plan and ordered Shikaku to investigate the adviser’s party and remove risks before the test in two days.

• Shikaku told Hagoromo that Uchiha Fugaku had been approached and that Hiashi was distracted by an issue at a meeting.
• Hagoromo proposed using large-scale Ninjutsu to impress the civil official adviser and his companions, and Shikaku agreed to try the plan.
• Shikaku admitted to Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had approached Hagoromo on his own, and Hiruzen warned him to act within the rules and protection.
• Hiruzen recalled Hagoromo’s words that the king he protected was answering his will, and resolved to support Hagoromo’s plan.
• Hiruzen ordered Shikaku to investigate the Land of Fire adviser's party and eliminate potential risks before the test two days later.

Kakashi escorted the Land of Fire Daimyo's adviser into Konoha while the village quietly restricted the visiting party and its newly hired Jonin. Hagoromo and Shikaku discussed the adviser’s entourage and the rogue ninja’s past as preparations continued.

• Kakashi welcomed the adviser at Konoha’s gates on Hiruzen’s behalf, and the adviser complained that the Hokage had not appeared.
• A ninja whispered to the adviser about Kakashi’s reputation, changing the adviser’s attitude toward him.
• Kakashi led the party into Konoha and pointed out the Anbu watching from nearby rooftops, while the rogue Jonin recognized that they were being contained and resolved to escape.
• Shikaku visited Hagoromo, who asked about Shikamaru’s training and the adviser’s entourage.
• Shikaku explained that the newly hired Jonin had fled during a mission after ordering his subordinates to hold off the enemy, then became a rogue ninja to avoid punishment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi urged Hagoromo to make a strong impression during his Jonin promotion test, then revealed he intended to train him to become Konoha’s Fifth Hokage. Hagoromo accepted the challenge but fled to the arena after teasing Hiruzen about wanting to slack off.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hagoromo that his promotion test would draw attention and urged him to make his reputation powerful enough to crush his enemies.
• Hagoromo said he would not back down as Hiruzen’s disciple and asked why his master had come to speak with him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that he would train Hagoromo to become Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, citing his potential and the qualities Konoha would need in the future.
• Hiruzen warned Hagoromo that he lacked experience and would face years of doubts, challenges, and attacks on the path to becoming Hokage.
• Hagoromo joked that Hiruzen might just want to drop everything and slack off, then ran to the arena as Hiruzen wondered when he had learned Jiraiya’s style of joking.

At the Chunin finals arena, Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered Konoha Jonin to watch Hagoromo’s promotion test against Kakashi, an Uchiha Jonin, and a Hyuga Jonin. Hagoromo impressed the spectators with his strength and ninjutsu, and the chapter ended as he blocked the Hyuga Jonin’s Vacuum Palm.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi made the Land of Fire adviser sit down to watch the test, while Anbu kept him under close guard.
• Uchiha Fugaku announced the start, and Kakashi, the Uchiha Jonin, and the Hyuga Jonin surrounded Hagoromo.
• Hagoromo dispersed the Uchiha Jonin’s Great Dragon Fire Technique with a chakra-coated punch and dodged the Hyuga Jonin’s attack.
• After Hagoromo provoked them, the three Jonin agreed to work together, and Kakashi amplified the Uchiha Jonin’s Majestic Destroyer Flame with Wind Release.
• Hagoromo countered the firestorm with Exploding Water Colliding Wave, then blocked the Hyuga Jonin’s Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm with Bong Sau of Inch Power Eight Gates.

Sawada Hagoromo overwhelmed the Konoha Jonin with his powerful Fire Style during his test in the Chunin exam arena. As his flames threatened to engulf the arena, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Anbu to contain the battle.

• The daimyo's adviser asked the Kusagakure "Jonin" if he could use Ninjutsu as powerful as Hagoromo's, and the Jonin admitted he could not.
• The Hyuga Jonin retreated with his right arm damaged, while Hagoromo invited the watching seniors to assess his Fire Style.
• Kakashi used Chidori and charged Hagoromo as the Uchiha and Hyuga Jonin pursued him.
• Hagoromo used First Form: Wood Breaker and Bong Sau to evade the Hyuga Jonin and throw Kakashi away.
• Hagoromo unleashed Great Fire Annihilation, forcing Kakashi to raise an Earth Formation Wall and the Hyuga Jonin to use Rotation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Anbu to surround the arena and form the Four Violet Flames Formation.

Sawada Hagoromo used Sage Mode to summon Lightning Release: Kirin and devastate the examination grounds. Hiruzen Sarutobi declared that Hagoromo had passed the Jonin promotion examination with overwhelming strength.

• Sawada Hagoromo's Great Fire Annihilation left the Uchiha Jonin scorched, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised his student's power.
• Kakashi noticed that Hagoromo's Fire Style had caused storm clouds to gather, and Hagoromo entered Hazy Moon Sage Mode.
• Hagoromo warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that his next technique was dangerous, and Kakashi and the other Jonin left through a passage in the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Hagoromo formed Chidori in his hand, rose toward the storm clouds, and summoned a giant lightning beast with Lightning Release: Kirin.
• Kirin shattered and vaporized the examination grounds, and the adviser watched in terror as the storm clouds dispersed.
• Hagoromo ended Sage Mode and reported that his test was complete, and Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that he had passed the Jonin promotion examination.

Naruto and Sasuke learned that Hagoromo had used Lightning Release: Kirin during his Jonin promotion test, and Sasuke asked to learn about the technique. Cat San San traded a recording of Hagoromo’s fight for Choji’s snacks, leaving Hagoromo to discover the bead could replay it as an immersive yokai recording.

• Naruto asked Shikamaru about the thunder from the previous day, and Shikamaru explained it had been Ninjutsu used during Hagoromo’s Jonin promotion test.
• Hagoromo confirmed to Naruto and Sasuke that he had used Lightning Release: Kirin and said his right hand was still recovering.
• Ino told Hagoromo that Hinata had missed training because the Hyuga Clan was holding an internal competition.
• Sasuke asked Hagoromo to explain Kirin, and Cat San San offered a recording of the fight from his sacred land.
• Cat San San gave Choji a recording bead in exchange for his backpack of snacks, and Hagoromo realized the bead could replay the battle immersively.

Hagoromo used the Mirage Vapor Pearl to replay his battle for Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Shikamaru, then questioned them about his techniques. The students identified how Hagoromo weakened Kirin and explained why the technique could not be copied with the Sharingan.

• Hinata arrived after sparring, and Hagoromo used the pearl to show the group a replay of his battle from different viewpoints.
• Shikamaru noticed that Hagoromo had reduced the lightning stored in the cumulonimbus cloud by dispersing some of it with Natural Energy.
• Sasuke reasoned that the Sharingan could help predict Kirin's impact point, and Hagoromo agreed.
• Shikamaru and Sasuke explained that Kirin relied on atmospheric lightning guided by Hagoromo's Lightning Release rather than lightning created from his own Chakra.
• Hagoromo confirmed their explanation and said the technique had to be performed through the steps he had used.

Hagoromo advised Sasuke to focus on improving his speed, then helped Naruto think through a close-combat technique combining the Rasengan with Inch Power's breathing method. The chapter ended with Naruto planning to practice the breathing method during his everyday training until it became natural.

• Hagoromo told Sasuke that the Cell Activation Seal was excessive for a short, straight-line burst and advised him to train his speed instead.
• Naruto proposed combining the Rasengan with Inch Power's breathing method to build power through continuous rotation.
• Hagoromo recognized that Naruto's idea could create a close-combat version of the Rasenshuriken without the same backlash to his hand.
• Hagoromo explained that Naruto would need to make the breathing method habitual to manage it alongside the Rasengan.
• Naruto accepted Hagoromo's advice to incorporate the breathing method into his usual training without forcing it.

Hagoromo received orders from Hiruzen to lead a covert squad to Yugakure and investigate a cult whose followers reportedly had immortal bodies. He left to prepare with his assigned squad members, while Hiruzen joked that he should get used to taking charge before becoming Hokage.

• Hagoromo warned Hiruzen that Konoha should find alternatives to relying on financial support from the Land of Fire.
• Hiruzen gave Hagoromo a request for help from a Yugakure elder describing the rise of an ancient cult and its followers' supposed immortal bodies.
• Hiruzen decided Konoha should intervene to protect its interests and prevent dangerous research from reaching another ninja village.
• Hiruzen assigned Hagoromo to lead a provisional A-rank covert mission and gave him the files for Yamanaka Kokone, Aburame Muta, and Yutoshi.
• Hagoromo joked that the squad could conquer Yugakure, and Hiruzen teased him about becoming its Yukage before he hurried off to prepare.