Chapter Summaries

Liuyun met Danzo at Root headquarters, praised Root as Konoha’s hidden lifeline, and received an invitation to join. He said he would join only if the Third Hokage approved, leaving Danzo frustrated by Hiruzen’s authority.

• Danzo confronted Liuyun for arriving late and beating up Root personnel.
• Liuyun described Root as Konoha’s hidden roots, devoted to work the village could not do openly, and Danzo believed his praise was sincere.
• Danzo invited Liuyun to join Root, but Liuyun said he could not join without the Third Hokage’s permission.
• Liuyun offered to report to Root if Hiruzen approved, leaving Danzo angry that the Hokage could block his recruitment.

Liuyun rejected Danzo’s attempt to recruit him into Root and decided to seek greater power by visiting Ryūchi Cave. At his Jonin promotion celebration, he reunited with the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio and treated his classmates to an all-you-can-eat barbecue feast.

• Liuyun left Root after refusing Danzo’s offer, leaving Danzo to take his frustration to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Liuyun decided to visit Ryūchi Cave soon because he did not want to give up Sage Mode’s power despite its side effects.
• Liuyun attended his Jonin promotion celebration with Kushina and booked a lavish barbecue restaurant for his classmates and Oda-sensei.
• Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka were turned away from the restaurant until Liuyun recognized them and invited them inside.
• Liuyun arranged for barbecue to be delivered fresh to Yunxiang Flower Shop for his mother.
• After the feast, Liuyun assured the trio he had paid, then encouraged Choza to eat more, prompting him to order another ten portions.

Liuyun joined Tsunade in supporting a proposal to assign Medical Ninjas to every squad, prompting the Hokage to consider the idea further. Hoping to keep Tsunade from approaching Kato Dan, Liuyun invited her to drink and gamble after the meeting, and she eagerly accepted.

• Orochimaru abandoned his laboratory in the Land of Rice Fields and hurried back to Konoha after Liuyun invited him to Ryūchi Cave.
• At a Jonin assembly on reorganizing ninja squads, Tsunade proposed assigning a Medical Ninja to every squad, but Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected the proposal at first.
• Kato Dan and Liuyun supported Tsunade's proposal, and Hiruzen asked Tsunade to submit a detailed plan for further consideration.
• Liuyun invited Tsunade to drink after the meeting because he wanted to keep her from approaching Kato Dan.
• Liuyun offered to take Tsunade to the Shimura Clan's casino and split the winnings with her, and Tsunade agreed to go.

Liuyun took Tsunade to a Shimura Clan casino and used her losing bets as a signal to wager against her, winning round after round. As his winnings topped one million ryo and other gamblers followed him, the casino owner intervened to stop him playing in the main hall.

• Tsunade hurried Liuyun to the casino, where he told her to place small bets and bet against him at the same table.
• After the casino sealed their Chakra, Tsunade wagered one thousand ryo on big while Liuyun bet two hundred thousand ryo on small.
• Liuyun won the first two rounds by betting against Tsunade, then continued winning as other gamblers began following his wagers.
• Tsunade realized Liuyun was treating her as a God of Misfortune and angrily bet on big again, while Liuyun backed small.
• Liuyun won a sixth consecutive round, drawing cheers from his followers as the casino owner warned him that he had to move to a VIP room or leave the hall.

Liuyun and Orochimaru prepared to travel to Ryūchi Cave to seek instruction in the sage arts, while Liuyun arranged an escape plan in case they encountered danger. They summoned Black Dragon in the Death Forest and asked him to take them there.

• Liuyun made Tsunade bet three more rounds, won her thirty thousand ryō, and then gave her the rest of their casino winnings after she demanded it.
• Tsunade dragged Liuyun to a tavern, where they drank and played cards until Orochimaru arrived and asked when they would leave for Ryūchi Cave.
• Liuyun and Orochimaru told Tsunade they were going to learn sage arts, then left the tavern together.
• Liuyun created a Shadow Clone and gave it his blood and a formula so it could summon Black Dragon if the trip went wrong.
• Liuyun explained his escape plan to Orochimaru, then summoned Black Dragon in the Death Forest and asked him to take them to Ryūchi Cave.

Liuyun and Orochimaru traveled with Black Dragon to Ryūchi Cave to seek the White Snake Sage’s instruction in Immortal Technique. The Sage offered them a dangerous trial and left them to decide whether to risk her bite without knowing what it would do.

• Liuyun and Orochimaru entered Black Dragon’s mouth, and he transported them to Ryūchi Cave.
• Black Dragon led them through the cave, where the snakes fled from him and the White Snake Sage sensed that Liuyun’s fate was impossible to read.
• Black Dragon transformed into human form, and Liuyun and Orochimaru greeted the White Snake Sage and asked to learn Immortal Technique.
• The White Snake Sage warned that failure to withstand Natural Energy would mean being devoured, then told them the trial required letting her bite an arm.

Liuyun and Orochimaru faced Ryūchi Cave’s trial to receive Sage Chakra, with Black Dragon increasing Liuyun’s chances but refusing to help Orochimaru. Orochimaru began transforming into a serpent after the White Snake Sage bit him, and the chapter ended with her preparing to devour him as a failed dragon transformation.

• Liuyun asked whether the trial was required, and Black Dragon explained that Sage Chakra would test their bodies’ ability to withstand Natural Energy.
• Black Dragon offered to inject Sage Chakra into Liuyun, raising his chances of success, but said Orochimaru had to follow Ryūchi Cave’s rules.
• Orochimaru accepted the White Snake Sage’s warning and let her bite his arm to begin the trial.
• Orochimaru’s body developed snake scales and writhed in agony as Sage Chakra and Natural Energy overwhelmed him.
• The White Snake Sage and the Snake Princesses declared Orochimaru a failure, and the White Snake Sage transformed into her true form and opened her jaws to devour him.

Liuyun protected Orochimaru after his snake transformation failed, and the Black Dragon offered him a chance to undergo Ryūchi Cave’s trial. Liuyun endured the infusion of Sage Chakra and Natural Energy, transforming into a horned, scaled dragon-like being while retaining his human form.

• The Phosphorus White Serpent tried to devour Orochimaru, but Liuyun teleported them both out of her bite.
• The White Snake Sage declared that Orochimaru’s failed trial made him prey, while Liuyun stood between her and his teacher.
• The Black Dragon intervened and offered Liuyun a chance to pass the trial, with Orochimaru’s fate depending on Liuyun’s success.
• The Black Dragon bit Liuyun and injected him with Sage Chakra, then Natural Energy flooded into him through the wound.
• Liuyun developed black scales, dragon horns, fangs, and claws while retaining his human form, astonishing the White Snake Sage.

Liuyun passed Ryūchi Cave’s Dragon Transformation Trial and remained there with Orochimaru to learn Sage Mode. Meanwhile, Madara Uchiha learned of Cloud Village’s plans to approach Konoha and ordered White Zetsu to watch the alliance meeting and target the Cloud Village Delegation.

• Liuyun completed his dragon transformation, and the Black Dragon confirmed he had passed the trial and could cultivate Ryūchi Cave’s Immortal Technique.
• The Black Dragon told Liuyun that his transformed state would last until he mastered Sage Mode, while the White Snake Sage allowed Orochimaru to attempt learning the art despite his failed trial.
• Liuyun and Orochimaru stayed in Ryūchi Cave to adapt to Sage Chakra and begin their training.
• White Zetsu reported that Cloud Village planned to seek an alliance with Konoha against the Hidden Stone Village, while also assessing Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and disrupting its plans for a successor.
• Madara Uchiha ordered White Zetsu to monitor the meeting between the Lands of Lightning and Fire and prepare to act against the Cloud Village Delegation.

As the Wind and Fire Countries declared war, Orochimaru returned from Ryūchi Cave to command Konoha’s forces while Liuyun continued training. The conflict escalated after Kato Dan died and Hatake Sakumo struck Sand Village, while a Cloud Village envoy arrived in Konoha to investigate its Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Madara Uchiha welcomed the war between the Wind and Fire Countries as an opportunity to advance his plans.
• After the Third Hokage summoned him, Orochimaru left Ryūchi Cave for the battlefield while Liuyun stayed behind to train.
• Orochimaru witnessed Kato Dan die despite Tsunade’s desperate efforts to heal him, deepening his resolve to pursue immortality.
• Hatake Sakumo killed many Sand Ninja, including Sasori’s parents, and the Third Kazekage joined the fighting as the war threatened to escalate.
• The Third Raikage sent a Cloud Village envoy to Konoha under the pretense of seeking an alliance, though the envoy aimed to investigate the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Liuyun left Ryūchi Cave after a month of training, having formed the beginnings of a Dragon Ball but not mastered Sage Mode, because Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered him back to Konoha during the war. He returned to the village, visited his family and Little Tomato, then went to the Hokage’s office.

• Liuyun condensed Natural Energy and gathered the Black Dragon’s Sage Chakra into a partially formed Dragon Ball, but could not finish learning Ryūchi Cave’s Immortal Technique before Konoha summoned him.
• Liuyun said farewell to the White Snake Sage and the Three Snake Princesses, who sent him back to the Land of Fire with a long-range Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Liuyun copied the space formula from the rock in the snake valley onto a scroll for later study.
• Liuyun returned to Konoha, went home to reassure Asuka, and spent time with Little Tomato before heading to the Hokage’s office.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Liuyun how his Immortal Technique training had gone, believing he could not have mastered it in a month.

Liuyun learned that he would lead the Uchiha forces to the Wind-Fire Battlefield, with Uchiha Fugaku as vice-captain. He asked the Great Elder about his late father's Sharingan and discovered the clan had likely preserved it.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Liuyun to prepare to lead the Uchiha Clan to the Wind-Fire Battlefield in the coming days.
• The Uchiha Great Elder visited Liuyun and asked for Uchiha Fugaku to be appointed vice-captain, and Liuyun agreed.
• Liuyun told the Great Elder he would rather fight than command and claimed he wanted his father's eyes as a keepsake for his mother.
• The Great Elder explained that the clan preserved the Sharingan of deceased members with direct relatives for five years, so Uchiha Sheng's eyes were likely still available.

Uchiha Liuyun considered using his late father’s Sharingan to awaken a Mangekyō, but agreed to leave the eyes preserved until he could prepare proper storage. When a Cloud Village delegation arrived in Konoha, Liuyun grew wary of their peaceful appearance and resolved to protect Kushina from them.

• Liuyun asked the Uchiha Great Elder to let him retrieve his late father Uchiha Sheng’s Two-Tomoe Sharingan, hoping to absorb its Pupil Power and awaken a Mangekyō.
• The Uchiha Great Elder warned Liuyun that the eyes would deteriorate without proper refrigeration, so Liuyun agreed to leave them with the clan until he had prepared storage.
• Liuyun maintained the Dragon Ball within his body, which he planned to use in the future to synthesize Sage Chakra.
• A Cloud Village delegation arrived in Konoha, and Sarutobi Hiruzen welcomed its envoy as a sign of peaceful intentions.
• Liuyun remembered the Cloud Village’s kidnappings of Kushina and Hinata in the original story and resolved to kill anyone who targeted Kushina.

Madara Uchiha learned that Cloud Village planned to abduct Kushina Uzumaki and decided to personally use the opportunity to push Liuyun into darkness. When Cloud Ninja abducted Kushina, Liuyun rescued her in the Death Forest, then scolded her for failing to use the skills he had taught her.

• Aloe White Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Cloud Village’s alliance proposal was a ruse to steal information about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Madara chose to handle the trap for Liuyun himself.
• Cloud Ninja infiltrated the Senju Clan Grounds and abducted Kushina Uzumaki while Mito Uzumaki visited the cemetery.
• Kushina secretly dropped strands of her red hair as the Cloud Ninja carried her through the Death Forest, hoping Liuyun would find them.
• Liuyun appeared before the kidnappers and killed their leader and one Chunin with lightning-fast strikes.
• Liuyun rescued Kushina from the last Chunin, trapping him in a Three-Tomoe Sharingan genjutsu while Kushina clung to and kissed Liuyun.
• Liuyun comforted Kushina, then slapped her butt and reproached her for failing to use the skills he had taught her.

Liuyun rescued Kushina from the Cloud Ninja, confessed their love, and took her back to Konoha before leaving her in Mito Uzumaki’s care. Madara Uchiha arranged for evidence of the killings to reach the Cloud Ninja delegation, whose elite forces then rushed to the scene as a major conflict threatened Konoha.

• Liuyun comforted Kushina, returned her confession of love, and carried her away from the bloody scene after ordering a Shadow Clone to dispose of evidence.
• Madara Uchiha gave red hair to a White Zetsu disguised as a Cloud Ninja and instructed him to tell Danzo and the Cloud Ninja delegation what Liuyun had done.
• Liuyun carried Kushina home, prepared food for them, and entrusted her safety to Mito Uzumaki before departing for the battlefield.
• Mito Uzumaki promised Liuyun that she would protect Kushina from the Cloud Ninja.
• Elite Cloud Ninja ignored the Hidden Leaf Ninja’s warnings and rushed toward the Death Forest, setting a crisis in motion.

The Cloud Village Delegation accused Uchiha Liuyun of killing three of their ninjas, while Danzo Shimura and Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted them in Death Forest. Hiruzen realized the delegation had come to abduct Kushina Uzumaki, and the dispute remained unresolved.

• A Cloud Ninja led the delegation to the buried bodies and claimed Uchiha Liuyun had killed the three Cloud Ninja while rescuing Kushina Uzumaki.
• A disguised Root member told Danzo Shimura that Liuyun had rescued Kushina and killed the Cloud Ninja, prompting Danzo to head to the crime scene.
• Danzo and the Cloud Village Delegation met in Death Forest, where Sachi accused Konoha of trying to silence them.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, and Sachi produced the bodies and identified Liuyun as the killer.
• Danzo signaled the Root member to explain what happened, and Hiruzen learned the Cloud delegation had tried to abduct Kushina.
• Hiruzen accused the Cloud delegation of using alliance talks as cover for their abduction attempt, and Sachi vehemently denied it.

Sachi confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen over Konoha’s delays in signing an alliance treaty and threatened war after Hiruzen questioned Cloud Village’s attempt to abduct the Nine-Tails’ vessel. Hiruzen concealed his alarm and called Uchiha Liuyun and Kushina to the Hokage Tower.

• Sachi rebuked Hiruzen for questioning Cloud Village’s alliance intentions, while Konoha’s leaders remained unwilling to sign a treaty because of the Second Hokage’s death.
• Hiruzen accused Cloud Ninja of trying to abduct the Nine-Tails’ vessel and asked whether Sachi or the Raikage had ordered the attempt.
• Sachi declared that his authority represented Cloud Village and threatened Konoha with the Raikage’s wrath.
• Hiruzen, worried that Konoha could not withstand another war, urged Sachi to calm down and investigate the matter.
• Sachi pressed Hiruzen to act impartially and said he would report to the Raikage, while Hiruzen ordered the delegation escorted back to rest.
• Hiruzen went to the Hokage Tower with Danzo Shimura and ordered an Anbu captain to bring Uchiha Liuyun and Kushina to him.

Liuyun was summoned to the Hokage Tower late at night, unaware that Madara Uchiha had exposed his killing of the Cloud Ninja. Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted him over killing them without authorization and failing to report Kushina's abduction.

• An Anbu squad captain and two Anbu Jonin summoned Liuyun from home, leaving Asuka worried as he departed.
• On the way to the Hokage Tower, Liuyun suspected the summons concerned something serious but dismissed the possibility that anyone knew he had killed the Cloud Ninja.
• An Anbu ninja reported that Mito Uzumaki had refused to let Konoha take Kushina away and demanded that the village keep the Cloud Ninja under control.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura concluded that Mito Uzumaki knew about Kushina's abduction and was angry with Konoha's leaders.
• Liuyun entered the Hokage's office and asked why he had been summoned, and Sarutobi Hiruzen demanded to know why he had killed the Cloud Ninja without authorization and failed to report Kushina's abduction.

Liuyun confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura after a hidden witness exposed his killing of the Cloud Ninja kidnappers, prompting the Cloud Ninja Village to threaten war. He rejected their accusations and stood by his actions, ending the chapter with a warning that he would meet hostile visitors with blades.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura told Liuyun that a surviving witness had exposed his actions to the Cloud Ninja delegation.
• Liuyun admitted he had overlooked someone hiding nearby but insisted that rescuing Kushina and killing the kidnappers were not wrong.
• Danzo Shimura called Root guards to restrain Liuyun, but Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered them to stop and asserted his authority as Hokage.
• Danzo Shimura stormed out of the Hokage's office after threatening that he would not let Liuyun do as he pleased.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen warned Liuyun that the Cloud Ninja were threatening war, and Liuyun answered that enemies would be met with blades.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen delayed sending Liuyun to the battlefield, Liuyun became convinced Konoha would sacrifice him to avoid war with the Cloud Ninja and decided to defect with his mother. He returned home to find Asuka missing and suspected Danzo Shimura had taken her.

• Liuyun challenged Sarutobi Hiruzen over whether Konoha would hand him over to the Cloud Ninja, and Hiruzen denied intending to sacrifice him.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen replaced Liuyun with Uchiha Fugaku as the force's leader and summoned the Uchiha Great Elder to discuss the change.
• After Liuyun left, Sarutobi Hiruzen considered the danger of war and hoped Konoha and the Cloud Ninja would both let the killings go unpunished.
• Liuyun recalled that Konoha had once planned to sacrifice Hiashi Hyuga to appease the Cloud Village and decided he could not trust Konoha to protect him.
• Liuyun planned to take Asuka away before his freedom was restricted, but found her missing when he returned home.
• Liuyun rushed toward Root's underground headquarters, convinced Danzo Shimura had taken Asuka.