Chapter Summaries

Second Pillar worried over Neji Hyuga’s dangerous Cursed Seal treatment and stayed by his bedside after Yakushi Kabuto said Neji was expected to recover. A mysterious presence in a tank labeled “Hozuki” drew Sasuke’s attention, while Kabuto left him to keep watch over Neji.

• Second Pillar asked Kidomaru about the risks of Neji’s Cursed Seal and hurried with him toward the treatment area.
• Sasuke glimpsed a face and heard a childlike voice from a water tank labeled “Hozuki,” but Yakushi Kabuto stopped him before he could investigate.
• Yakushi Kabuto led Sasuke to Neji and explained that the worst danger had passed, though Neji would endure more bouts of fever before waking.
• Sasuke stayed beside Neji, admitted killing Sakon Ukon, and rejected Kabuto’s attempts to test his motives by discussing bonds and Orochimaru.
• After Neji’s condition stabilized, Kabuto offered Sasuke Kimimaro’s former room, but Sasuke chose to remain at Neji’s bedside.

Sasuke received the Mind Puppet reward and later experienced a terrifying dream involving Neji, Jiraiya, and the Nine-Tails. He investigated the water tank despite Yakushi Kabuto’s warning, discovered Hozuki Suigetsu inside, and asked whether Suigetsu knew Hozuki Mangetsu.

• Yakushi Kabuto warned Second Pillar not to touch the water tank before leaving Sasuke alone with the unconscious Neji Hyuga.
• Sasuke opened his C-Rank Scroll and received the Mind Puppet, whose power required its target’s consent.
• Sasuke dreamed that Neji vanished, Jiraiya fell into a water tank, and the Nine-Tails swallowed him, then woke to find everything unchanged.
• Sasuke examined the puppet and heard a boy laughing from the water tank, then decided to investigate it despite Kabuto’s warning.
• Sasuke read the tank’s label and discovered Hozuki Suigetsu, who tried to frighten and threaten him.
• Sasuke remembered Hozuki Mangetsu’s death during the coup in Kirigakure and asked Suigetsu if he knew him.

Sasuke spoke with Hozuki Suigetsu about his brother Mangetsu, Kirigakure’s revolution, and Zabuza’s death, learning that Suigetsu had been imprisoned by Orochimaru for years. Though Sasuke could not free him immediately, he offered to transfer Suigetsu’s soul into his Mind Puppet so he could leave the tank, and Suigetsu agreed.

• Sasuke told Suigetsu that he had heard about Hozuki Mangetsu from Mei Terumi, who had become the Fifth Mizukage, and recounted Kirigakure’s coup and Yagura’s death.
• Sasuke admitted that he and Kakashi had killed Momochi Zabuza, while Suigetsu explained that Zabuza had promised to rescue him before they were separated and Suigetsu was captured by Orochimaru.
• Suigetsu begged Sasuke to free him, but Sasuke refused to risk exposing his mission and threatened him when Suigetsu tried to use the threat of informing Orochimaru.
• After Suigetsu said experiments had become infrequent over the past two years, Sasuke proposed transferring his soul into the Mind Puppet while leaving his body in the tank.
• Suigetsu accepted Sasuke’s offer, insisting that Sasuke owed him because he had killed Zabuza.

Sasuke used the Mind Puppet to transfer Suigetsu’s soul into it, then watched over Neji as he recovered from his Cursed Seal. After Yakushi Kabuto brought Sasuke and Neji to a new room, Neji checked that they were alone and asked whether Sasuke had sent Konoha information about Orochimaru.

• Sasuke guided Suigetsu through the Mind Puppet’s ritual, and Suigetsu’s soul entered the doll while his liquid body remained in the tank.
• Sasuke carried the puppet as he checked on Neji, and Suigetsu discovered that he could see and communicate through the doll.
• Yakushi Kabuto treated Neji and later reported that he would wake within hours, while Sasuke stayed by the bedside and sensed Suigetsu’s emotions.
• Neji woke from a disturbing dream, and Sasuke refused Kabuto’s plan to take him to the Southern Secret Institute to test his Cursed Seal.
• Kabuto arranged a room for Sasuke and Neji, and Neji used his Byakugan to check the surrounding rooms before asking Sasuke whether he had sent Konoha information about Orochimaru.

Sasuke revealed that Hozuki Suigetsu’s soul was trapped in the Mind Puppet, then stopped Neji from destroying it when the Cursed Seal drove him to attack. Neji and Sasuke fought fiercely, and Sasuke prepared to use another technique as his improvised broom broke apart.

• Sasuke showed Neji the Mind Puppet and explained that damage to it would harm or kill Hozuki Suigetsu, who could not leave without Sasuke’s consent.
• After learning Suigetsu had overheard their infiltration plan, Neji tried to crush the puppet, but Sasuke disarmed him and caught it.
• Neji’s Cursed Seal spread across his body, and he attacked Sasuke to seize the puppet despite Sasuke’s attempts to calm him.
• Sasuke evaded Neji with Flame Armor and his Sharingan, but Neji’s Gentle Fist broke through the armor and sent him crashing into a pile of clutter.
• Sasuke blocked Neji’s next assault with a broom using Uchiha Style Swordsmanship Halo Dance, but the broom broke, forcing him to prepare another move.

Sasuke used the Sharingan to restrain Neji and urged him to stop dwelling on his suffering, then Neji learned to control the Cursed Seal and broke the genjutsu. Sasuke fell asleep, and after waking more than ten hours later, he told Suigetsu he would take him to see the moon.

• Sasuke trapped Neji in the Sharingan's Shackling Stakes Technique and explained how the Cursed Seal interfered with Neji's chakra.
• Neji confronted Sasuke about risking himself and placing him in a position where he had to trust a stranger.
• Sasuke told Neji not to compare their suffering or pity himself, and urged him to look toward the future.
• Neji followed Sasuke's instructions, learned to control the Cursed Seal, and broke the genjutsu.
• Neji thanked Sasuke, then left after placing Suigetsu's Mind Puppet beside the bed; Sasuke fell asleep and told Suigetsu to be quiet.
• After sleeping for more than ten hours, Sasuke woke and told Suigetsu he would take him to see the moon.

Sasuke and Neji sent Jiraiya intelligence about their infiltration of Orochimaru's Base and the timing of Orochimaru's next attack on Konoha. After breakfast, Sasuke decided to visit Orochimaru with Neji, while Orochimaru received a briefing about the Southern Secret Institute.

• Sasuke took Hozuki Suigetsu outside to admire the night sky, then returned to the cave after scaring off a flock of crows; a Konoha Anbu watched him leave.
• Sasuke found Neji and asked him to check for watchers before summoning Gamako Kosuke to carry a report to Jiraiya.
• Sasuke told Jiraiya that he and Neji had infiltrated the base, that they would be safe for two and a half years, and that Orochimaru would attack Konoha again after that.
• Sasuke and Neji shared breakfast, and an attendant named Long Guang invited Sasuke to meet Orochimaru.
• Sasuke persuaded Neji to accompany him to Orochimaru, while a red-haired girl briefed Orochimaru on the Southern Secret Institute.

Sasuke and Neji visited Orochimaru’s base, where Orochimaru arranged a Bell-Stealing test to assess them without risking Sasuke in a direct fight. As Kabuto went to fetch Karin to serve as the third examinee, Sasuke secretly checked whether Suigetsu could sense his system before posting a question about the test.

• Karin briefed Orochimaru on the Southern Secret Institute’s expenses and personnel while Sasuke and Neji arrived.
• Orochimaru took Sasuke and Neji to the underground training ground and asked Kabuto to spar with Sasuke.
• Kabuto proposed a Bell-Stealing test, and Orochimaru asked him to recruit Karin as the third examinee.
• Neji suspected Orochimaru wanted them to use teamwork with Karin, while Sasuke thought Orochimaru mainly wanted to assess their abilities.
• Sasuke tested whether Suigetsu could sense his thoughts, then secretly opened the Forum System to ask what Bell-Stealing was.

Uchiha Sasuke asked the system forum whether he should hide his awakened Mangekyō Sharingan from Orochimaru, and the commenters debated the abilities before advising him to reveal it. Orochimaru began the bell-stealing exam with Sasuke, Neji Hyuga, and the frightened Karin, threatening to kill whoever failed to get a bell.

• Uchiha Sasuke posted about whether to conceal his Mangekyō Sharingan, while the forum users argued about the names and origins of its abilities.
• Gilgamesh discussed Mangekyō techniques and their mythological names, and Sasuke realized he knew little about the Sharingan's potential.
• Ye Bofeng advised Sasuke that revealing the Mangekyō would have benefits and few likely drawbacks, prompting the system to offer him a C-Rank Scroll for doing so.
• Yakushi Kabuto brought Karin to Orochimaru, who dismissed Kabuto and gathered the youths for the exam.
• Orochimaru gave Sasuke, Neji Hyuga, and Karin the task of taking his two bells and threatened to kill whoever failed.

Orochimaru began the Bell-Stealing test by declaring that at least one of the three would die, but Second Pillar convinced Neji Hyuga and Karin to cooperate. Using Hidden Mist and a coordinated ambush, they wounded Orochimaru and then cut him in half, though his fate remained unclear.

• Orochimaru announced that the three would need to steal two bells or face death, prompting Neji Hyuga to consider attacking him and argue that only one of him and Karin could survive.
• Second Pillar proposed that they work together and promised to bring Neji back alive; he reassured Karin that Orochimaru would not kill him and asked her to contribute her sensory abilities.
• Second Pillar used Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique while Neji Hyuga relied on his Byakugan to locate Orochimaru, and Karin launched projectiles as a diversion.
• Second Pillar struck through the mist with Moon Shadow: Chidori Blade, piercing Orochimaru's left shoulder before retreating.
• Neji Hyuga called out to draw Orochimaru toward him, allowing Second Pillar to attack from behind with Sword-Leaping Slash and cut Orochimaru in half.

Sasuke and Neji fought Orochimaru in a bell-stealing battle, and Sasuke used Shunka to take both bells. After the battle, Karin was left badly wounded and in danger from the remaining snakes.

• Orochimaru rejoined his severed body and attacked Neji with the Kusanagi Sword while Sasuke evaded his snakes in the mist.
• Sasuke warned Neji about Orochimaru's giant sword, then countered it with a flaming slash as Neji escaped using the Cursed Seal.
• Orochimaru avoided Sasuke's oil-wrapped Flame Bullet, knocked Neji unconscious, and filled the hall with snakes; Karin jumped down to rescue Neji.
• Sasuke unleashed the Rasengan and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, then activated Shunka and snatched both bells from Orochimaru.
• Sasuke declared the battle over and saw Neji alive but badly hurt, while a snake prepared to bite the wounded Karin.

Sasuke saved Karin from a summoned python, mistook her severe injuries for fatal, and carried her away before she recovered and startled him. Orochimaru led Sasuke, Karin, and Neji to a medicinal hot spring to recover from the battle, where they hesitated upon realizing it was a shared room.

• Sasuke used the Heart of Animal Language to distract the python long enough to reach Karin and kill it with a kunai.
• Sasuke wrapped Karin in his clothes and carried her, believing she had died, while Suigetsu questioned his decision.
• Karin woke in Sasuke's arms, admired his bare chest, and touched him, so Sasuke threw her down in shock.
• Orochimaru explained that Karin was likely an Uzumaki descendant with powerful healing abilities, and Sasuke gave the bells to Neji.
• Orochimaru led Sasuke, Karin, and Neji to a medicinal hot spring and described the harsh training awaiting Sasuke.
• Sasuke asked Orochimaru whether the medicinal bath had only one room after the three youths hesitated to undress.

Karin recovered in Orochimaru’s medicinal hot spring while Sasuke showed Orochimaru his Mangekyō Sharingan and warned him that it would eventually cause blindness. Later, Sasuke and Neji discussed love and Sasuke’s bluntness in the bath, ending the chapter laughing together.

• Orochimaru explained that the medicinal hot spring was a rare privilege, and Sasuke sent Karin in while he spoke with Orochimaru.
• Karin found Suigetsu’s Mind Puppet in Sasuke’s clothes, soaked in the spring, and put her glasses on the doll.
• Sasuke showed Orochimaru his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained that its use would ultimately lead to blindness.
• Karin emerged healed, returned the doll to Sasuke, and left; Sasuke privately urged Suigetsu to stop staying silent.
• Sasuke and Neji entered the hot spring, discussed Tenten and the nature of love, and argued over Sasuke’s blunt way of speaking.
• Neji and Sasuke eventually laughed together in the spring.

Sasuke learned that Yakushi Kabuto might be dead, while recalling how he had used a system reward to copy Hozuki Suigetsu’s strongest defensive technique, Water Release: Shield Hat. The chapter left Orochimaru’s base shaken by the news, with the cause and circumstances of Kabuto’s possible death still unknown.

• Jirobo summoned Sasuke and Neji Hyuga to an urgent meeting with Orochimaru, where Orochimaru announced that Yakushi Kabuto might already be dead.
• Sasuke recalled choosing the Mind Secret Technique Puppet upgrade and using it to obtain a random ninjutsu ability from Hozuki Suigetsu.
• Sasuke manifested Suigetsu’s Water Release: Shield Hat, astonishing Suigetsu with how proficiently he used the technique.
• Suigetsu explained Shield Hat’s abilities and usage, and the two grew closer after sharing secrets.

Sasuke and Neji settled into life at Orochimaru's base, but Orochimaru's criticism of Neji's training pushed him to challenge himself to master Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm in three days. After Neji left to find Yakushi Kabuto's materials, Sasuke asked Orochimaru for a personalized long-term training plan.

• Sasuke told Neji that life at Orochimaru's base felt like attending a university, and Neji dubbed it the Orochimaru Institute of Technology, Hidden Sound Village.
• Orochimaru praised Sasuke's resourcefulness but criticized Neji for lacking Hyuga techniques and for not learning Eight Gates Formation from Might Guy.
• Orochimaru gave Neji one week to learn Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, while Neji confidently countered that he would master it in three days if Orochimaru stopped comparing him to Sasuke.
• Neji hurried to Yakushi Kabuto's laboratory to collect materials for the technique, leaving Sasuke with Orochimaru.
• Sasuke asked Orochimaru to create a personalized training regimen, and Orochimaru began discussing Sasuke's ninjutsu foundation.

Orochimaru explained the three parts of Sasuke’s future ninjutsu training and offered him access to his techniques and archive, prompting Sasuke to question Konoha’s secrecy around teaching. Seven days after Sasuke left Konoha, Naruto stubbornly clung to the Hokage’s desk until Jiraiya told him what the secret mission was.

• Orochimaru divided Sasuke’s ninjutsu training into techniques he specialized in, techniques from his vast collection, and new techniques Sasuke could create himself.
• Orochimaru offered Sasuke open access to his archive and promised customized instruction in physical combat, genjutsu, and tactics.
• Orochimaru criticized Konoha’s guarded approach to teaching, then lunged at Sasuke and began their training.
• On March 13, Year 65 of Konoha, Naruto hung upside down from the Hokage’s desk and refused to get down until Jiraiya revealed Sasuke’s secret mission.

Naruto confronted Jiraiya about Sasuke’s secret mission, and Jiraiya redirected him toward training before allowing him to join. Tsunade agreed to consider becoming an advisor, but the chapter ended with Temari reporting that Gaara had defected from Sunagakure.

• Naruto threw a tantrum in Jiraiya’s office until Jiraiya let slip that Sasuke was carrying out a dangerous secret mission.
• Naruto asked to join Sasuke, but Jiraiya told him to master his new ninjutsu first.
• Tsunade argued with Jiraiya about becoming a permanent advisor, and his plea moved her to agree to think it over.
• Jiraiya encouraged Naruto to keep training and promised he could join the secret mission after mastering his ninjutsu.
• Temari arrived with Shikamaru Nara and told Jiraiya that Gaara had defected from Sunagakure.

Temari appealed to Jiraiya for help after Gaara deserted Sunagakure, and Jiraiya agreed that Konoha would join the search. Gaara, driven by his obsession with killing Second Pillar, encountered White Zetsu Tobi near the border, while Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched from hiding.

• Temari gave Jiraiya Kankuro's report that Gaara had killed his guards and fled, then pleaded for Konoha to help spare him.
• Jiraiya promised that Konoha would take action to find Gaara, and Temari asked to join the operation.
• Gaara rested near the border after recalling how he had lost his remaining affection for Sunagakure and resolved to kill Second Pillar.
• White Zetsu Tobi emerged and taunted Gaara, who attacked him with sand and crushed one of his arms.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu discussed how Sunagakure would not let Gaara return and how their side could take him in.

Gaara headed for the Land of Fire while Tobi tried to persuade him to visit the Land of Rain, then provoked an intense reaction by claiming to be close to Sasuke. In the Sound Ninja Village, Orochimaru finished teaching Sasuke the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique and discussed his next jutsu; in Konoha, Aburame Shibi entered the Fifth Hokage’s office after seeing a Sunagakure girl leave.

• Gaara told Tobi he was going to the Land of Fire, but Tobi kept pestering him and claimed he was friends with Sasuke.
• During training, Orochimaru struck Sasuke with the Kusanagi Sword, and Sasuke emerged unharmed from the false body using the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique.
• Orochimaru summarized the technique’s stages and cautioned Sasuke about its risks, while Sasuke objected to Orochimaru’s suggestions for escaping the shell.
• Orochimaru praised Sasuke’s choice of Summoning Technique: Lightning Flash Sword Transformation as a practical way to improve his combat strength.
• Aburame Shibi reflected on his role as the Hokage’s envoy and the Aburame Clan’s support for the Fifth Hokage.
• After a Sunagakure girl left the Hokage’s office, Aburame Shibi entered to meet the Fifth Hokage.

Jiraiya questioned Aburame Shibi about Sunagakure’s leadership and the western intelligence network, then confirmed that Gaara had disappeared and likely defected. Shikaku proposed that war might follow, leaving Jiraiya’s subordinates to consider the threat.

• Jiraiya asked Shibi about Ryoma Aburame, and Shibi said Danzo had sidelined him and that Ryoma would serve the Hokage with the Aburame Clan.
• Shibi reported that Sunagakure lacked a clear leader and that Baki was acting Kazekage while Gaara remained young and the elders stayed out of politics.
• Jiraiya tasked Shibi with strengthening intelligence on the western front and ordered him to use his insects to investigate Gaara.
• Shikaku arrived as Shibi received high-confidence intelligence that Gaara had disappeared and likely defected.
• Jiraiya showed Shikaku and Shibi Kankuro’s note to Temari and asked what they thought would happen next.
• Shikaku answered with one word: war.