Chapter Summaries

After Xiao Yun persuaded the surviving Hidden Cloud Village ninjas to return to Konoha under his direction, the Fourth Raikage learned that Darui had been killed and prepared for war with Hidden Stone Village. Back in Konoha, the Cloud ninjas supported Xiao Yun more earnestly, boosting his standing as he spent time with Tsunade.

• After Hidden Cloud Village drove back Hidden Stone Village, Xiao Yun convinced its surviving ninjas to return to Konoha rather than seek revenge immediately, and they agreed to follow his arrangements.
• The Fourth Raikage learned from the Fifth Hokage that Hidden Stone Village and Danzo had ambushed and killed Darui, and he ordered Killer B to gather the Cloud ninjas before Killer B urged him to investigate first.
• Tsunade praised Xiao Yun for winning the support of Hidden Cloud Village, whose ninjas began fighting Hidden Stone Village with renewed determination.
• Xiao Yun teased Tsunade about her promise, but she left his office to visit Kurenai after their playful exchange.
• As Xiao Yun and Tsunade walked through Konoha, villagers showed Xiao Yun greater respect after Hidden Cloud Village apologized publicly and repaid its debts.

Tsunade found a way to cure Kurenai’s poison, while Kurenai struggled with conflicting feelings about Xiao Yun and her friend. After a failed attempt to meet Hana for Sage Jutsu practice, Xiao Yun joined Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Naruto at Konoha’s back mountain, where Hana prepared to use the Wrath of Heaven Technique.

• Tsunade told Kurenai and Xiao Yun that she had found a way to treat Kurenai’s poison, and Kurenai concealed her disappointment and guilt.
• Xiao Yun waited five hours outside Hana and Utakata’s home, only to learn that Hana could not meet him that day.
• Xiao Yun returned to the Hokage Office, where Utakata and Hana later appeared and Hana offered to help him practice Sage Jutsu.
• Xiao Yun, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Naruto, and Hana gathered at Konoha’s back mountain, where Jiraiya and Tsunade warned Xiao Yun to be careful with the Ryūchi Cave curse mark.

Hana’s Wrath of Heaven Technique caused Xiao Yun to absorb Natural Energy, triggering a terrifying transformation into a dragon and drawing down a storm of deadly lightning. As Tsunade and Kurenai rushed to protect him from its final strike, a glowing qilin appeared and swallowed the lightning.

• Hana used Wrath of Heaven, gathering Natural Energy for Xiao Yun to absorb through his curse mark.
• Xiao Yun transformed into a dragon during his first absorption and continued absorbing Natural Energy despite Jiraiya’s warning.
• Hana stopped the technique, but the sky unleashed lightning that battered Xiao Yun and shattered his scales.
• Tsunade and Kurenai rushed to shield Xiao Yun from a final purplish-red bolt, and Jiraiya tried to pull them back.
• A glowing qilin appeared beside Xiao Yun and swallowed the descending bolt of lightning.

After absorbing the lightning, Xiao Yun recovered with greatly enhanced strength, while Tsunade confronted him over his relationship with Kurenai. The two reconciled, and Tsunade agreed to let Kurenai join their relationship before Shizune arrived in a panic.

• After Xiao Yun collapsed, Tsunade and Kurenai rushed to him, and Tsunade accused Kurenai of hiding her feelings for him.
• The next day, Xiao Yun woke with increased physical strength and purer Wood Release and Lightning Release Chakra, then apologized to Tsunade for worrying her.
• Tsunade learned Xiao Yun had concealed his connection with Kurenai, accused him of being unfaithful, and demanded that Kurenai be sent to the Hidden Cloud Village.
• Xiao Yun tried to reassure Tsunade with a joke and affection, and they spent the night together.
• Tsunade agreed to accept Kurenai as one of Xiao Yun's partners, and Shizune hurried toward them in a panic.

Kurenai left Konoha for the Hidden Cloud Village despite being poisoned, but Xiao Yun caught up with her after a masked attacker ambushed her in the forest. After rescuing her, Xiao Yun sensed powerful enemies nearby as fighting broke out.

• Shizune told Xiao Yun that Kurenai had departed for the Hidden Cloud Village and gave him her letter, and Tsunade urged him to bring Kurenai back.
• Kurenai was ambushed by a masked man in black, who bound her with wire and threatened to assault her.
• Xiao Yun revealed himself, used Earth Rejuvenation to suppress Kurenai's toxin, and freed her from the wires.
• Kurenai admitted she had left because she was jealous of Xiao Yun and Tsunade, and Xiao Yun embraced and kissed her.
• Xiao Yun carried Kurenai into a tree and signaled that at least ten powerful enemies were nearby, while sounds of fighting soon rose from the forest.

Xiao Yun secretly watched Kakuzu and Hidan confront Furukawa Kaisuke and the Hidden Stone Village ninja over their broken agreement to deliver Danzō. After the pair survived a powerful sealing technique, Kakuzu injured Furukawa Kaisuke and Hidan prepared to use his blood for a ritual.

• Xiao Yun left two Wood Release Clones with Kurenai and merged into a tree to investigate nearby.
• Xiao Yun discovered Kakuzu and Hidan arguing with Furukawa Kaisuke, who said the Hidden Stone Village could not yet hand over Danzō.
• Furukawa Kaisuke and more than a dozen Hidden Stone Village ninja trapped Kakuzu and Hidan with the Earth Release: Dragon Sealing Technique and sealing blades.
• Kakuzu broke free of the seal and reattached Hidan's severed head, revealing their survival to the frightened Hidden Stone Village ninja.
• Kakuzu punched through Furukawa Kaisuke's Earth-Style Wall and wounded him, then Hidan collected Kakuzu's blood for a sacrifice to Lord Jashin.

Xiao Yun watched as Furukawa Kaisuke and the Hidden Stone ninjas fought Hidan and Kakuzu, whose blood-linked curse turned against Kakuzu before he revealed his multiple hearts. As Kakuzu and Hidan pressed their attack, an unknown figure saved Furukawa and struck toward Kakuzu’s four hearts.

• Hidan completed his ritual and stabbed himself, causing Furukawa Kaisuke to collapse while Kakuzu fell from the curse.
• Furukawa revealed he had used Kakuzu’s blood to make Hidan sacrifice his teammate, but Kakuzu rose again and explained that the victim had been his water heart.
• Kakuzu released his four masked hearts and used combined wind, fire, and lightning attacks to incapacitate the Hidden Stone ninjas.
• Kakuzu and Hidan attacked Furukawa, but a shadow used the Substitution Technique to take the scythe strike, while another figure descended toward Kakuzu’s hearts.

A black-clad man named Xiao Yun rescued Furukawa Kaisuke and attacked Kakuzu, taunting him about his old fight with the First Hokage. After Hidan charged at Furukawa Kaisuke, Xiao Yun struck Hidan with a powerful lightning attack, leaving him convulsing on the ground.

• Xiao Yun cut down Kakuzu's Lightning Release heart monster, and Furukawa Kaisuke used the opening to retreat.
• Xiao Yun mocked Kakuzu about throwing a Shuriken at the First Hokage and fleeing, provoking Kakuzu into a furious response.
• Hidan charged at Furukawa Kaisuke while Kakuzu prepared to fight Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun leaped at Kakuzu, then redirected a purplish-red lightning strike toward Hidan, who fell to the ground convulsing.

Danzo joined Kara after Jigen showed him a vision of its power, while Xiao Yun captured Hidan and brought him to Konoha to study his abilities. The chapter ended with Tsunade and Jiraiya confronting Xiao Yun about his relentless pursuit of power.

• Jigen introduced himself as Kara's leader, showed Danzo a projection, and persuaded him to join by promising him godlike power.
• Xiao Yun, disguised as a Hidden Mist Village ninja, captured the paralyzed Hidan while Kakuzu accused the Hidden Stone and Hidden Mist Villages of conspiring against the Akatsuki Organization.
• Xiao Yun brought Hidan to Konoha, identified himself as the Fifth Hokage, and stuffed a sock into Hidan's mouth after he threatened him.
• In Konoha's secure underground chamber, Xiao Yun explained Hidan's abilities to Tsunade and Jiraiya and suggested investigating the source of his power.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya warned Xiao Yun that his obsession with gaining power made him seem frightening and asked why he pursued it so relentlessly.

Xiao Yun revealed the Otsutsuki threat to Tsunade and Jiraiya and planned to unite the Ninja World, but learned that Danzo had joined Kara. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki discussed Hidan’s capture and decided to investigate Mei Terumi rather than attack her.

• Xiao Yun told Tsunade and Jiraiya about the Otsutsuki Clan, the Divine Tree, and the danger facing the Ninja World.
• Xiao Yun said he intended to use the Akatsuki to eliminate the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Mist Village as the first step toward unifying the Ninja World.
• Xiao Yun received a message that Danzo had joined Kara and realized Isshiki might become a threat sooner than expected.
• Xiao Yun sent Jiraiya to Hot Water Village to investigate Jashin and asked Tsunade to manage Konoha’s foreign relations while caring for her pregnancy.
• Pain heard Kakuzu’s account of the failed Two-Tails mission and Hidan’s capture by the Hidden Mist Village.
• Pain ordered Itachi to investigate Mei Terumi’s motive for capturing Hidan and forbade Kakuzu from attacking her for now.

Xiao Yun ordered the Anbu to search for Kawaki and continued cultivating Sage Jutsu with Hana, while considering the effects of Natural Energy on his abilities. Hyuga Hiashi confronted him over his delayed marriage to two Hyuga women and promised to send Hyuga Baijie to him.

• Xiao Yun ordered the Anbu to watch for a child named Kawaki, whom he believed could become Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's vessel.
• Hana stopped channeling Natural Energy after three hours, and Utakata criticized Xiao Yun for exhausting her over three days of training.
• Xiao Yun sensed that Natural Energy had strengthened his Wood Release but made opening the fourth gate of the Eight Inner Gates more difficult.
• Xiao Yun restrained himself from dragonifying again because he feared he might not return to his original form.
• Hyuga Hiashi demanded to know when Xiao Yun would marry the two Hyuga women, and Xiao Yun insisted they should spend time together first.
• Hyuga Hiashi said he would send Hyuga Baijie to Xiao Yun and later send Yumi when she left seclusion.

Xiao Yun refused to force Hyuga Baijie after learning Hyuga Hiashi had coerced her, and brought her to the Hokage residence for protection. After Tsunade avoided spending the night with him, Rock Lee announced that he had opened the Sixth Gate, and Xiao Yun invited him and Might Guy to celebrate.

• Hyuga Hiashi delivered Hyuga Baijie to Xiao Yun, but Xiao Yun stopped when he realized she was unwilling and learned Hiashi had forced her to come.
• Xiao Yun offered Hyuga Baijie the choice to return to the Hyuga Clan or stay with him, and she went with him to the Hokage residence.
• Xiao Yun assigned Hyuga Baijie to the Anbu so she could remain at his side, and she thanked him for protecting her.
• Tsunade rejected Xiao Yun's advances, citing their unborn child, and fled the Hokage Office.
• Rock Lee told Xiao Yun he had opened the Sixth Gate, and Xiao Yun invited Lee and Might Guy to drink in celebration.

Xiao Yun, Might Guy, and Rock Lee drank together, and Xiao Yun provoked Rock Lee into a drunken spar to test his strength. Rock Lee overwhelmed Xiao Yun with relentless attacks, leaving the Hokage struggling to endure.

• Might Guy told Xiao Yun and Rock Lee that he had visited Moonlight Izakaya without them, then defended his choice by pointing to Xiao Yun's marriage to Tsunade and Rock Lee's pursuit of Sakura Haruno.
• Rock Lee lamented that Sakura Haruno still loved Sasuke Uchiha, and Xiao Yun taunted him by suggesting Sakura thought he was weak and that Sasuke was more attractive.
• Rock Lee flew into a rage, smashed the wine vat, and challenged Xiao Yun to apologize; Xiao Yun accepted the chance to test Rock Lee's drunken strength despite Might Guy's warning.
• Rock Lee suddenly moved at incredible speed and kicked Xiao Yun flying, then resumed attacking after pretending to fall asleep; Xiao Yun used Sage Jutsu Chakra to meet his strength.
• Rock Lee vomited and accused Xiao Yun of buying fake wine, then launched a sustained barrage of punches and kicks that Xiao Yun could only defend against as his body neared its limit.

Xiao Yun sparred with Rock Lee, whose Ultra Instinct and drunken Eight Inner Gates made him dangerously powerful. Xiao Yun transformed into his Sage Body and prepared to face Rock Lee as Konoha’s leaders watched, ending with Rock Lee launching Morning Peacock.

• Rock Lee’s Ultra Instinct overwhelmed Xiao Yun’s defenses, and the system warned Xiao Yun that the technique was a Forbidden Domain-level ability.
• Rock Lee opened the Eight Inner Gates through the Sixth Gate, forcing Might Guy to step between him and Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun transformed into his Golden-scaled Sage Body and opened the Third Gate, while asking Might Guy to keep the battle secret.
• Tsunade, Kurenai, Kakashi, Shikaku Nara, and other Konoha ninja arrived, but Might Guy explained that Rock Lee could not stop until he was knocked unconscious.
• Rock Lee leaped into the air and shouted as he launched Morning Peacock at Xiao Yun.

Rock Lee unleashed Morning Peacock and overwhelmed Xiao Yun in a fierce battle, forcing Xiao Yun to rely on his Dragon Transformation Body and Wood Release to survive. Xiao Yun’s transformation failed and both fighters began to tire, but Rock Lee rushed in and kicked him into the air.

• Rock Lee used Morning Peacock, and Might Guy ordered everyone to flee as Xiao Yun countered with Wood Release and lightning-charged wooden swords.
• Rock Lee’s Azure Flame attacks grew stronger and destroyed Xiao Yun’s wooden stakes, leaving Xiao Yun unable to find an opening to counterattack.
• Xiao Yun gathered Natural Energy and fought through the fireballs with his Dragon Claws, but his energy began to fade while Rock Lee’s assault continued.
• Tsunade and Kurenai urged Might Guy to stop Rock Lee, but Xiao Yun told him not to interfere; Tsunade then agreed to listen to Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun reverted to his original form and defended himself with Wood Release as both fighters’ strength waned and he evaded the remaining fireballs.
• Rock Lee charged at Xiao Yun alongside his fireballs and kicked him into the air.

Xiao Yun survived Rock Lee’s fatal attack by awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan and using Izanagi, then recovered in Konoha Hospital as Tsunade cared for him. The next morning, Itachi Uchiha arrived at the hospital room where Xiao Yun and Tsunade were together.

• Rock Lee struck Xiao Yun with Reverse Lotus, but a skeletal blue phantom appeared and shielded him from the impact.
• Xiao Yun opened his Mangekyō Sharingan and realized he had instinctively used Izanagi to survive.
• Tsunade caught the falling Xiao Yun, while Might Guy stopped Rock Lee from drinking urine and knocked him unconscious.
• Xiao Yun recovered at Konoha Hospital, and he and Tsunade confessed their love and embraced.
• The next morning, Tsunade explained that she had kept Xiao Yun away from Kurenai because of the Venomous Snake Toxin.
• Itachi Uchiha announced himself at the hospital room door, interrupting Xiao Yun and Tsunade.

Itachi Uchiha warned Xiao Yun that using Izanagi could damage his body and attract the Akatsuki Organization, and urged him to protect Naruto and locate the Tailed Beasts. After Itachi disappeared, Xiao Yun sent Konoha’s forces to search for jinchūriki and headed to the village’s back mountain.

• Deidara and Tobi flew from the Hidden Mist Village, argued about art, and Deidara sent Tobi into the forest to find food.
• Tobi removed his mask and wondered why Itachi Uchiha had activated Izanagi again.
• Itachi Uchiha warned Xiao Yun that Izanagi carried severe physical risks, could only be used about once a year, and might alert others to Xiao Yun’s abilities.
• Itachi Uchiha told Xiao Yun to protect Naruto and find the Tailed Beasts before the Akatsuki Organization, then left the Anbu subordinate unconscious.
• Xiao Yun decided to focus on training and ordered Tsunade to send her subordinates to search for jinchūriki.
• Xiao Yun left the hospital and headed toward Konoha’s back mountain.

The White Snake Sage revealed that Xiao Yun was a Dragon Transformation Human and tasked Zhen with secretly protecting him until his training began in three years. After reflecting on his battle with Rock Lee, Xiao Yun ate dinner with Hyuga Baijie, who removed her mask and uniform.

• The White Snake Sage told Zhen that Xiao Yun was a Dragon Transformation Human and rewarded her with an Immortal Shedding Pill.
• Zhen swallowed the pill, became fully human, and agreed to protect Xiao Yun without intervening unless he faced mortal danger.
• The White Snake Sage told Zhen to bring Xiao Yun back to Ryūchi Cave in three years for Sage Jutsu training and decided to keep Xiao Yun's woman there.
• Xiao Yun spent three days reflecting on his fight with Rock Lee, noting progress in his Eight Inner Gates and physical strength while remaining disappointed that Rock Lee could not explain Ultra Instinct.
• Hyuga Baijie brought Xiao Yun dinner, then removed her mask and Anbu uniform after he finished eating.

Xiao Yun left Konoha with Hyuga Baijie and Naruto to rescue the Two-Tails’ jinchuriki from the Akatsuki, after Tsunade told him Kakuzu was too powerful for Konoha’s available ninja. He departed after reassuring Tsunade and promising to help Baijie escape pressure from Hyuga Hiashi.

• Hyuga Baijie wept as she told Xiao Yun that Hyuga Hiashi had threatened to expel Neji unless she became pregnant with the Hokage’s child, but Xiao Yun sent her away and promised to speak with Hiashi.
• Tsunade arrived and told Xiao Yun that Konoha’s ninja had found the Two-Tails’ jinchuriki being hunted by the Akatsuki, and Xiao Yun decided to handle the mission himself.
• Tsunade agreed to let Xiao Yun go and suggested he take Hyuga Baijie, while reporting that the Hidden Mist and Hidden Stone had quieted down and the Hidden Cloud was working harder.
• Xiao Yun and Tsunade spent the night together, and he promised to return to her before leaving Konoha the next day.
• Naruto joined Xiao Yun and Hyuga Baijie on the journey, joked about Xiao Yun’s companions, and was struck with Thousand Years of Death after dodging Xiao Yun’s kick.
• Xiao Yun told Hyuga Baijie that he had brought her along to give her a break from Hyuga Hiashi’s pressure, and she thanked him.

Xiao Yun, Hyuga Baijie, and Naruto encountered Zabuza while rushing toward the Two-Tails, which Hyuga Baijie sensed was being chased ahead. Xiao Yun fought Zabuza after he refused to let them pass, and Zabuza narrowly escaped Xiao Yun's Lightning Release attack.

• Naruto exhausted himself after running for a day, and Xiao Yun refused to let him stop or be carried by Hyuga Baijie.
• Zabuza attacked the trio with his great blade, but Xiao Yun shielded Hyuga Baijie and Naruto from the spinning weapon.
• Zabuza said he had been hired to stop ninjas from entering the forest and ordered Xiao Yun's group to leave.
• Hyuga Baijie used her Byakugan to detect the Two-Tails five kilometers ahead and saw that someone was chasing it.
• Zabuza and Xiao Yun exchanged threats, and Zabuza attacked Xiao Yun with his great blade.
• Xiao Yun blocked Zabuza's strike with a kunai and activated his Lightning Release cloak, forcing Zabuza to retreat before the lightning could reach him through his blade.