Chapter Summaries

Hagoromo perfected Yang Release Armament and tested its defenses and offensive uses with Cat San San in the Forest of Death. He discovered that it could coat objects and an Earth-Style Wall through contact, but full-body protection drained Chakra quickly under intense heat.

• Hagoromo brought Cat San San into the Forest of Death to test his refined Yang Release technique.
• Hagoromo formed a blackish-gray Yang Release Armament around his body, and Cat San San confirmed it felt like armor.
• Cat San San stomped on Hagoromo in his true form, but the armament protected Hagoromo from the impact.
• Cat San San breathed fire at Hagoromo after he offered ten fried shrimp, and Hagoromo found that the flames consumed nearly half the armament quickly.
• Hagoromo coated a stone with Yang Release Armament and hurled it through a giant tree before testing whether he could coat Ninjutsu.
• Hagoromo failed to coat Ninjutsu from a distance, but covered an Earth-Style Wall by touching it and realized he could coat techniques after releasing them or while using them in his hands.

Hagoromo accidentally created a powerful black energy technique while experimenting with Yang Release Armament, then began teaching the armament to Naruto and Choji. He demonstrated its strength by catching their attacks and crushing Naruto’s Rasengan barehanded.

• Hagoromo coated a Rasengan with Yang Release Armament, turning it into a dense black sphere that Cat San San feared could flatten half the forest.
• Hagoromo returned to the training ground the next day and told Naruto and Choji they would learn Yang Release Armament because they had Yang Release Chakra.
• Hagoromo asked Naruto and Choji to attack him with their strongest moves, and they struck with Rasengan and Partial Expansion Jutsu: Left hand.
• Hagoromo coated his arms in Yang Release Armament and caught both attacks without moving.
• Hagoromo crushed Naruto’s Rasengan in his bare hand, leaving Naruto stunned.

Hagoromo demonstrated how Yang Release Armament strengthened defense, attacks, and weapons, then explained how Naruto and Choji could develop the affinity needed to use it. He left them with instructions to cleanse their bodies with Yang Release Chakra and eventually imbue compressed chakra with will to form the armament.

• Shikamaru joined Naruto and the others as Hagoromo explained Yang Release Armament and its defensive and offensive capabilities.
• Hagoromo shattered the ground with an armament-strengthened punch, then pierced a tree with a coated Kunai and toppled it.
• Shikamaru recognized that the technique could suit Choji, while Hagoromo said Naruto and Choji needed to improve their Yang Release affinity first.
• Hagoromo explained that Yang Release Chakra could cleanse their bodies, improve vitality, and increase their potential.
• Hagoromo told Naruto and Choji to compress their Yang Release Chakra and imbue it with will, explaining that a purer will produced stronger armament and attacks.

Hagoromo taught Naruto and Choji to cultivate Yang Release by flushing their bodies, while Kurama secretly helped Naruto endure the process. The next day, Hagoromo continued their training and began teaching Sasuke the Chidori.

• Hagoromo explained that Yang Release was a fundamental energy tied to physical vitality, while the Mystical Palm Technique was one specific application of it.
• Hagoromo guided Naruto and Choji through Yang Release Flushing and supported them as they endured the pain.
• Choji woke first, while Kurama helped Naruto persist because he wanted his jinchūriki to become stronger and to investigate who had controlled him.
• Naruto completed nearly ten hours of flushing, and Hagoromo carried him to Choji's house for a medicinal bath with the others.
• The next day, Hagoromo trained Naruto and Choji again, then took Sasuke into the woods to teach him the Chidori.
• Sasuke attacked Hagoromo at high speed, but Hagoromo dodged and threw him; Sasuke flipped through the air and landed steadily.

Hagoromo taught Sasuke the A-rank Lightning Release: Chidori and helped him master it. Sasuke recovered after using the chakra-draining technique, while Hagoromo received a powerful Yin Release reward and limited Sasuke to using Chidori twice a day.

• Hagoromo praised Sasuke's progress, then demonstrated Chidori and explained its lightning nature and compression.
• Hagoromo used Chidori to rush past Sasuke and destroy a swath of trees, showing the technique's speed and power.
• After several failed attempts, Sasuke successfully formed Chidori and cut through several trees, nearly exhausting his Chakra.
• Hagoromo received the Yin Release: Heart Realm Illumination technique and a 50-point increase to his mental attribute when Sasuke mastered Chidori.
• Hagoromo told Sasuke to rest and set a limit of two Chidori uses per day because the technique consumed too much Chakra.

Hagoromo helped Choji awaken Yang Release Armament by provoking his anger, and Choji’s giant fist devastated Sansan’s barrier before Choji collapsed from chakra exhaustion. Hagoromo then set Naruto and Sasuke against each other, and their heated spar left Shikamaru uneasy.

• Hagoromo told Naruto and Choji to compress their Yang Release Chakra, then provoked Choji by suggesting someone had insulted him and hidden his snacks behind a barrier.
• Choji awakened Yang Release Armament and used the Multi-Size Technique to strike Sansan’s barrier, blasting apart the training ground as Hagoromo shielded Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others.
• Choji collapsed from chakra exhaustion, so Hagoromo fed him a Military Rations Pill and carried him to rest; he promised Sansan extra food to settle the cat’s anger.
• Hagoromo challenged Sasuke to anger Naruto and promised to teach him a Ninjutsu if he succeeded, so Sasuke taunted Naruto about being dead last.
• Naruto charged Sasuke, who dodged with Activated Mark and continued taunting him; Shikamaru worried they might become genuinely angry, but Hagoromo said their rivalry would bring them closer.

Naruto and Sasuke fought in a training match, with Sasuke using Chidori and Naruto crushing it with Yang Release Armament. Naruto's punch sent Sasuke crashing to the ground, and both boys ended the match exhausted as Ino and Hinata hurried to help.

• Sasuke used Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Technique to surround himself with a ring of fire, while Naruto made Shadow Clones and attacked with Shuriken.
• Sasuke charged through the flames with Chidori, and Naruto used his clones to slow him before grabbing his arm.
• Naruto endured Chidori's electricity and crushed the lightning with Yang Release Armament, then blocked Sasuke's Kunai with his armored hand.
• Naruto landed an Inch Force, Straight Punch on Sasuke's defending arm, sending him flying and badly injuring his arm.
• Naruto and Sasuke acknowledged each other's strength before collapsing from exhaustion, and Ino and Hinata rushed over to help.

Hagoromo received new skills for Choji and Naruto, then treated Sasuke’s injured arm and encouraged the disciples after Naruto’s victory. Sasuke resumed training, Naruto practiced explosive Shadow Clones, and Choji struggled to master his new form by repeatedly converting food into Chakra.

• Hagoromo inspected Choji’s Butterfly Form: Gluttony Form and Naruto’s Shadow Clone: Self-Destructing Puppet rewards, then accepted both skills.
• Hagoromo reset Sasuke’s bent arm and used Yang Release Chakra to ease the pain as Ino treated him.
• Sasuke acknowledged Naruto’s strength, and Hagoromo urged Sasuke, Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others to keep improving together.
• Sasuke trained his sprints and Genjutsu while Naruto practiced planting Explosive Tags in Shadow Clones and learned to keep the exploding clones clear of the others.
• Choji ate high-energy food and repeatedly converted it into Chakra to practice Butterfly Form: Gluttony Form, leaving him sick of food.

Hagoromo asked his disciples to identify their shortcomings as they prepared for school, then offered advice to help them improve. The chapter ended with Naruto wondering whether he was impulsive.

• Shikamaru identified the limited range of his secret technique and his lack of direct attacks, and Hagoromo promised to consider solutions.
• Hinata admitted she lacked confidence, so Hagoromo suggested spending more time with Naruto, who eagerly agreed to help.
• Choji described the Chakra cost and poor mobility of his Multi-Size Technique, and Hagoromo urged him not to overtrain.
• Sasuke admitted he became overconfident after making progress, and Hagoromo suggested meditation.
• Naruto considered whether he was impulsive after hearing the others discuss their weaknesses.

Hagoromo gathered with Konoha’s Jonin after receiving a summons to an urgent meeting. Hiruzen revealed that Kumogakure was pressuring Yugakure to end its alliance with Konoha and had begun mobilizing forces, leaving Konoha facing a growing threat.

• Hagoromo told Naruto to seek Shikamaru’s advice and meditate, then warned his disciples that the losing team in an upcoming competition would receive an assignment.
• Hinata asked Hagoromo to meet with Neji, and Hagoromo agreed to see him that night.
• After a Ninja Hawk summoned him to a Jonin meeting, Hagoromo hurried to the Hokage Building and greeted Aburame Muta, Yamanaka Kokone, Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, Uchiha Fugaku, Might Guy, and Kakashi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Jonin that Kumogakure had threatened Yugakure over its alliance with Konoha and that Yugakure had requested security guarantees.
• Hiruzen reported that Kumogakure had begun gathering ninja at its border and planned large-scale military exercises near the Land of Hot Water.

Konoha’s leaders planned a layered response to Kumogakure’s pressure on Yugakure, combining joint defenses, a border exercise, and a sweep for infiltrators. The plan was approved, with Hagoromo assigned to join the show of force.

• Shikaku proposed forming a Joint Defense Department with Yugakure, staging a border exercise, and handing captured Kumogakure infiltrators to the Land of Hot Water’s daimyo.
• Hagoromo suggested adding safeguards by involving Sunagakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that Konoha’s ally should help pressure Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shikaku, and the advisers finalized the plan, assigning Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui to establish the Joint Defense Department in Yugakure.
• Kakashi, Might Guy, and Hagoromo were selected to lead a force of one thousand shinobi in the border exercise.
• Might Guy celebrated the chance to see Hagoromo’s strength, while Hagoromo left the meeting feeling reluctant about the mission.

After training, Hagoromo treated Naruto, Sasuke, and his other disciples to barbecue, where Sansan ate extravagantly. Hagoromo then left to meet a lonely genius, carrying Sansan along after catching him stealing barbecue seasoning.

• Naruto and Sasuke sparred, and Sasuke acknowledged Naruto’s progress while the two traded barbs.
• Shikamaru told Naruto that a Ninja Hawk had likely summoned their teacher to a Jonin meeting, and Hagoromo later explained the requirements for becoming a Jonin.
• Hagoromo invited his disciples to barbecue before his evening mission, and Sansan joined them after promising to train with Naruto’s group.
• Naruto, Choji, Hinata, and Sansan ate until the restaurant ran out of meat, while Hagoromo worried about the cost.
• Hagoromo carried Sansan away to meet a lonely genius and caught him with stolen barbecue seasoning for hunting wild boar.

Hagoromo comforted Neji Hyuga over his father’s death and the Caged Bird Seal, then accepted him as a disciple. After gaining a jutsu to break the seal and Hamura’s Blessing, Hagoromo left Konoha with Kakashi and Might Guy to pursue his next mission.

• Hagoromo found Neji by the waterfall and urged him not to let the Caged Bird Seal become a cage in his heart.
• Neji angrily rejected the idea that his father had been free, but Hagoromo warned that calling Hizashi’s death forced would insult him and turn rumors into truth.
• Neji asked Hagoromo to become his master, and Hagoromo agreed to help him and support the change he hoped to bring.
• Neji’s forehead ribbon slipped off, revealing a dim Caged Bird Seal, and Hagoromo’s system rewarded him with a sealing jutsu and Hamura’s Blessing.
• Hagoromo left Konoha with Kakashi and Might Guy, who worried over him and then patted him hard on the back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi coordinated Konoha’s exercise forces near the borders, while Kumogakure’s Fourth Raikage A reacted angrily to the deployment. The chapter ended with Samui warning that Konoha’s preparations could bog down Kumogakure’s forces if a conflict began.

• Shikaku told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Konoha’s main force was nearing Moon Wheel Gorge, Asuma had arrived at Broken Cloud Pass, and Choza had established a reserve camp near Kikyo Castle.
• Hiruzen ordered the main force to arrive quickly and told Fugaku to report any trouble on the other borders.
• Kakashi, Might Guy, and Hagoromo waited at Moon Wheel Gorge for the signal to begin the exercise.
• Fourth Raikage A smashed his desk and ordered Darui to move Kumogakure’s exercise force to the Land of Frost’s border.
• Samui reported that Konoha had substantial reserves near Kikyo Castle and that Asuma’s troops could wear down Kumogakure’s eastern forces.

The Fourth Raikage learned that Killer B had vanished and sent Samui to search for him near Moon Wheel Gorge, where a devastating Lightning Release technique had drawn him. Killer B arrived at the gorge and confronted Hagoromo and Might Guy, who joined forces to fight him.

• Dodai told the Fourth Raikage that Killer B had disappeared from the Valley of Clouds and Lightning and that an immense Lightning Release technique had devastated Moon Wheel Gorge.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered Samui to find C and search the gorge, told Dodai to contact Darui, and asked Mabui to arrange a call with the Third Hokage.
• Hagoromo sensed someone powerful approaching Moon Wheel Gorge and prepared to face the newcomer with Might Guy.
• Killer B charged into the gorge, and Hagoromo and Might Guy struck him with simultaneous kicks, sending him flying.
• Killer B asked who had used the Lightning Release technique, then threw a lightning-wrapped blade at Might Guy after Guy criticized his rap.
• Hagoromo joined Might Guy in charging Killer B, and they began their fight together.

Hagoromo and Might Guy confronted Killer B, whose skill with blades and Lightning Release revealed him as a formidable opponent. After Killer B activated his Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak, the two escalated their attacks, and Hagoromo’s punch shattered the ground as Killer B fell.

• Hagoromo and Might Guy exchanged blows with Killer B, then pressed him as he drew seven blades.
• Might Guy used Front Lotus to slam Killer B into the ground, but Killer B survived and threw a Lightning Release-charged pencil at Hagoromo.
• Killer B cloaked himself in Tailed Beast Chakra and healed his injuries, prompting Hagoromo to remove his weights and Might Guy to open the Sixth Gate.
• Killer B charged with a Tailed Beast Chakra-enhanced Lariat, which Hagoromo blocked with Yang Release Armament, though the impact injured him.
• Might Guy knocked Killer B away with Extreme: Konoha Adamantine Strong Whirlwind, and Hagoromo struck down at him with an armored fist.

Hagoromo fought Killer B and used a Yang Release-enhanced Sage Art to unleash a devastating attack as Killer B fled. A huge explosion erupted over Moon Wheel Gorge, leaving Samui and C stunned as they approached.

• Killer B attacked Hagoromo from behind, but Hagoromo seized his arm and stabbed him in the abdomen with a blade coated in Yang Release Armament.
• Killer B and Gyuki decided to use a Tailed Beast Bomb and escape, but Killer B discovered that Hagoromo’s power was preventing his wound from healing.
• Hagoromo entered Sage Mode, formed a massive black sphere of energy, and launched Sage Art: Great Spiraling Ring at the fleeing Killer B.
• The attack engulfed the area in a colossal explosion that formed a mushroom cloud above Moon Wheel Gorge.
• Samui and C stopped as they approached and stared in shock at the explosion and crimson sky.

Hagoromo defeated Killer B at Moon Wheel Gorge and forced Gyuki to withdraw into him, leaving Killer B in Konoha's custody. Kakashi prepared to negotiate with Kumogakure, while Samui agreed to contact the Fourth Raikage and sent C to treat Killer B.

• Hagoromo approached Gyuki's tentacles shielding the unconscious Killer B and threatened to smash them unless Gyuki returned inside his Jinchūriki.
• Kakashi arrived with Konoha ninja, and Hagoromo told Gyuki that Konoha and Kumogakure could negotiate if he withdrew.
• Gyuki's tentacles turned into energy and retracted, revealing the badly wounded Killer B, whom Konoha ninja took into custody.
• Kakashi and Hagoromo agreed that avoiding war was preferable, and Kakashi began arranging communications with Kumogakure.
• Samui confronted the Konoha ninja and agreed to contact the Fourth Raikage after Kakashi allowed one unarmed Kumogakure ninja to treat Killer B.
• Samui sent C to examine Killer B, and he removed his weapons and raised his hands to show he would not act rashly.

Hagoromo kept Killer B’s condition from worsening while Kumogakure and Konoha argued over the border incident. After Hiruzen Sarutobi’s demands provoked the Fourth Raikage A, news that Killer B might die forced the Raikage to request another call with Konoha.

• C angrily questioned Hagoromo about the technique used on Killer B, while Hagoromo said the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was stable for now.
• Hagoromo teased Kakashi for reading Icha Icha Paradise despite Samui standing nearby, and Kakashi put the book away.
• The Fourth Raikage A accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of provoking war, but Hiruzen demanded eight billion ryo, one billion ryo for the Land of Hot Water, and a treaty barring Kumogakure from crossing the strait line.
• The Fourth Raikage A rejected Hiruzen’s terms, and Hiruzen ended the call before telling Shikaku to have Kakashi and the others apply more pressure.
• Mabui told the Fourth Raikage A that C could not treat Killer B and that his life might be in danger, so the Raikage ordered another call to Konoha.

Konoha welcomed Kakashi, Hagoromo, and the returning exercise force with a public celebration, while Hiruzen praised Hagoromo as a hero who had defeated Kumogakure’s Jinchūriki. Later, Hagoromo considered his newly earned rewards and found that his perfect-tier reward was Hamura’s Blessing.

• Kakashi and Hagoromo entered Konoha to cheers from villagers celebrating the exercise’s victory over Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a speech crediting Hagoromo with defeating the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and fighting Kumogakure Jonin, while Might Guy accepted the praise with a thumbs-up.
• Uchiha Fugaku recognized Hiruzen’s efforts to build Hagoromo’s reputation and decided to cooperate with the Third Hokage’s plans.
• Hagoromo trained Naruto and his other disciples, then reminded Naruto to rest when Naruto praised him.
• Hagoromo examined the Sealing Jutsu that could break Neji’s Caged Bird Seal but decided to leave it intact for now.
• Hagoromo claimed his perfect-tier reward and discovered it was Hamura’s Blessing.