Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya negotiated with Konoha’s advisors and assigned Sasuke and Naruto a mission to verify Shizune’s warning that Tsunade might heal Orochimaru. Before the team departed, Jiraiya began teaching Sasuke the final stage of Rasengan training.

• Jiraiya ordered Izumo Kamizuki to report Shizune’s intelligence confidentially and prepared to leave with Sasuke and Naruto.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stopped Jiraiya from leaving until Yamanaka Inoichi confirmed that testing Shizune with the Mind Reading Technique could endanger her life.
• Jiraiya accepted the advisors’ concerns about leaving Konoha undefended, then assigned Sasuke and Naruto a B-Rank mission to verify the intelligence and report back if Tsunade treated Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya promoted Sasuke to Chunin and made him team captain, while Naruto was told to gather outstanding Genin and meet at the village gate.
• Jiraiya demonstrated the Rasengan’s final training stage to Sasuke, explaining how to maximize its rotation and power by compressing Chakra within a membrane.

Sasuke gathered Naruto, Neji, and Tenten for a mission to investigate Orochimaru in Tanzaku Town, and Shizune joined them to find Tsunade. Meanwhile, Orochimaru prepared for an operation and entrusted Kimimaro with matters until it was complete.

• Jiraiya taught Sasuke about the third stage of chakra control, briefed him on Tsunade, and gave him a Contact Toad to report mission intelligence.
• Naruto arrived at Konoha’s gate with Neji and Tenten, and Sasuke explained that their mission was to confirm Orochimaru’s purpose and movements in Tanzaku Town.
• Shizune joined the team, determined to stay by Tsunade’s side, and the five shinobi and her pig set out from the village.
• In a forest near Tanzaku Town, Orochimaru met Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro, checked on Tsunade’s movements, and entrusted the operation to Kimimaro.

Sasuke’s team traveled toward Tanzaku Street to verify Shizune’s intelligence about Tsunade and Orochimaru, while Sasuke refused to risk a direct intervention before confirming the facts. Neji located Tsunade, and Tenten approached her; Tsunade warned Tenten to leave after she asked about Orochimaru’s treatment request.

• Sasuke said the team would stop short of Tanzaku Street and explained that their mission was to verify Shizune’s intelligence, not to stop Tsunade directly.
• Sasuke sent Neji to locate Tsunade and Tenten to discreetly confirm whether she had agreed to treat Orochimaru.
• Neji and Tenten entered Tanzaku Street in disguise, and Neji found Tsunade drinking at the Hundred Medicines izakaya.
• Tenten approached Tsunade, asked for her autograph, and then asked whether she had agreed to Orochimaru’s treatment request.
• Tsunade’s expression changed, and she coldly warned Tenten to leave if she wanted to live.

Tenten confirmed that Tsunade’s treatment with Orochimaru was real, and Sasuke’s group learned it was planned for the next morning. Jiraiya then confronted Tsunade with an offer to see Dan Katō and Nawaki, while Deceitful Monkey Kitsu impersonated Jiraiya and pushed Naruto into the encounter.

• Tsunade admitted to Tenten that the treatment was real but refused to say more, and Tenten left to report what she had learned.
• Neji confirmed the intelligence to Sasuke, and Shizune revealed that the treatment was scheduled for the next morning.
• Sasuke persuaded Shizune to help delay the treatment until reinforcements arrived and said that one monkey might have an idea.
• Shizune brought Tsunade to meet Jiraiya, but Tsunade tried to leave when he mentioned Dan Katō and Nawaki.
• Jiraiya claimed that Orochimaru was not the only one who could use Impure World Reincarnation and offered Tsunade a chance to see them.
• Deceitful Monkey Kitsu, disguised as Jiraiya, shoved Naruto against Tsunade, leaving Naruto stunned by her murderous expression.

Jiraiya’s group staged an encounter to stop Tsunade from making a deal with Orochimaru, using Sasuke and Neji disguised as Dan Katō and Nawaki. Tsunade recognized that the dead were gone, but the reunion with Sasuke moved her to tears, and she left without agreeing to heal Orochimaru’s hands.

• Jiraiya led Tsunade and Naruto to a secluded residence, where disguised Sasuke and Neji posed as Dan Katō and Nawaki before fleeing in opposite directions.
• Tsunade chased Sasuke, while the real Jiraiya confirmed Second Pillar and Shikamaru Nara on Konoha’s Chunin promotion list and Sasuke received Chakra Control +1 from a system reward.
• Tsunade caught Sasuke and hugged him, crying as he stood frozen and let her weep on his shoulder.
• Tsunade thanked everyone, said she knew Dan Katō and Nawaki were gone, and declared that she would not heal Orochimaru’s hands.
• Tsunade invited Shizune to leave with her, and Shizune revealed herself as Tenten by releasing her Transformation Technique.

Shizune disguised herself as Tsunade and treated Orochimaru as part of Kitsu’s plan to make him lose faith in her ability to heal his hands. After discovering the damage was far worse than she expected, Shizune could only offer pain relief, while Kabuto rejected her conservative treatment.

• Deceitful Monkey Kitsu explained that the plan depended on convincing Orochimaru that Tsunade could not heal him, and assigned Shizune to treat him in disguise.
• Shizune accepted the dangerous mission despite Kitsu warning that she could die, and joked about the possibility that she might actually heal Orochimaru.
• Shizune found that Orochimaru’s hands had almost no cellular activity, though their nerves still made him feel intense pain.
• Shizune told Orochimaru she could reduce his pain but could not promise recovery, and Kabuto refused the conservative treatment, insisting that Tsunade should be able to do more.

Tsunade's group disguised as Shizune treated Orochimaru, but Yakushi Kabuto exposed the poison she had planted and stopped her from escaping. Just as he prepared to kill her, Tenten and Sasuke's team arrived.

• Shizune used the Healing Resuscitation Technique to improve Orochimaru's arm function, while secretly introducing poison into his body.
• Yakushi Kabuto interrupted the procedure, detected the poison, and identified Shizune as the disguised Tsunade.
• Shizune released Poison Mist as Kimimaro carried Orochimaru away and she fled into the wilderness.
• Yakushi Kabuto caught Shizune and severed the tendons in her feet, but Kimimaro stopped him from killing her and demanded the antidote.
• Tenten and Sasuke's team arrived and covered the ground with ninja tools, forcing Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro into combat stances.

Tsunade learned that Shizune had gone to meet Orochimaru and rushed to the agreed location with Sasuke’s squad. When Orochimaru refused to let them leave, Sasuke ordered Tenten and himself to attack, but Kimimaro blocked their assault.

• Tsunade asked where Shizune was, and Naruto told her that Shizune had disguised herself as Tenten and gone to meet Orochimaru.
• Sasuke explained the squad’s plan, and Tsunade condemned it before sprinting toward the meeting place with the others following.
• Near the destination, Tenten saw Yakushi Kabuto fighting Shizune, and a signal flare brought Sasuke’s squad to the field as Neji carried Shizune to safety.
• Tsunade confronted Orochimaru, canceled their deal, and tried to lead the group away, but Orochimaru refused to let them go.
• Sasuke ordered Tenten to attack, and she launched ninja tools alongside Sasuke’s Fire Release technique.
• Kimimaro used Dead Bone Pulse: Willow Dance to block Tenten and Sasuke’s attack.

Sasuke assigned the fighters to hold off Orochimaru’s group while Naruto evacuated Shizune, then engaged Yakushi Kabuto as Neji confronted Kimimaro. The battle began across two fronts, while Tsunade and Orochimaru remained facing each other.

• Kimimaro intercepted the flame-wreathed ninja tools with his bones as Orochimaru explained his Shikotsumyaku abilities and invited Sasuke to seek power.
• Sasuke assigned himself to fight Yakushi Kabuto, Neji to face Kimimaro, Tsunade to confront Orochimaru, and Tenten to provide ranged support.
• Sasuke told Naruto to evacuate Shizune, and Yakushi Kabuto revealed that he was a spy for the Hidden Sound Village and had gathered intelligence on Naruto.
• Naruto recalled Jiraiya’s instructions, carried Shizune away, and left Sasuke to block Yakushi Kabuto’s pursuit.
• Sasuke and Tenten attacked Kimimaro while Sasuke struck Yakushi Kabuto, and Neji stepped in to face Kimimaro.
• Orochimaru spoke to Tsunade about parting ways as they continued to stand opposite each other without fighting.

Sasuke and his allies fought Orochimaru, Yakushi Kabuto, and Kimimaro while trying to protect Tsunade. Naruto returned to help, but Kimimaro knocked Neji down as the battle turned increasingly desperate.

• Tsunade refused to use the children as shields and attacked Orochimaru, while Sasuke continued fighting Yakushi Kabuto and watched Neji struggle against Kimimaro.
• Sasuke used Lightning Release: Chidori, and Yakushi Kabuto helped Orochimaru summon a giant snake; Sasuke pierced its head and emerged covered in blood.
• Yakushi Kabuto splashed blood on Tsunade, triggering her hemophobia, then knocked her down and advanced with a kunai.
• Naruto returned after leaving Shizune somewhere safe and kicked Yakushi Kabuto away from Tsunade.
• Sasuke told Naruto to clean the blood from Tsunade, but Kimimaro sent Neji crashing down in front of them.

Sasuke and the others fought Orochimaru's group, and Sasuke incapacitated Yakushi Kabuto with a black-aura Rasengan. As the team tried to retreat, Kimimaro entered his Curse Mark Two state and attacked Naruto while Orochimaru blocked Sasuke.

• Sasuke activated his Cursed Seal and attacked Orochimaru with Fire Style while Neji and Naruto kept Kimimaro occupied.
• Tenten's weapons steered Yakushi Kabuto toward Sasuke, who struck him with a black-aura Rasengan and sent him crashing through boulders.
• Yakushi Kabuto stood again using his healing ability, but his Chakra ran out and he collapsed unconscious.
• Sasuke called for everyone to retreat, but Kimimaro countered Neji's Heavenly Spin with his bone armor and knocked him aside.
• Kimimaro entered Curse Mark Two, attacked Naruto with a spiked spine and drill-like bone, and Orochimaru blocked Sasuke from intervening.

Sasuke rejected Orochimaru’s offer after Tsunade risked her life to protect Tenten, choosing to use Heavenly Eye of God to stop Orochimaru from killing her. Jiraiya arrived in time to save Tsunade and confronted Orochimaru, while Kimimaro moved to defend his master.

• Orochimaru pressured Sasuke to join him, threatening to kill Sasuke’s comrades and promising him power to defeat Uchiha Itachi.
• Kimimaro attacked Tenten, but Tsunade shielded her and declared that protecting Konoha was her wish.
• Sasuke activated Heavenly Eye of God and sent the Crow after Orochimaru as he attacked Tsunade.
• Jiraiya arrived with Gamahiro, blocked Orochimaru, and welcomed the relief of Tsunade and the injured children.
• Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru with his techniques, while Kimimaro rescued Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto and prepared to fight Jiraiya.

Kimimaro unleashed Bracken Dance to cover Orochimaru’s escape, but Jiraiya sheltered the others inside the Toad Gourd Prison. After Orochimaru abandoned Kimimaro as useless, the exhausted shinobi collapsed, remembering how he had once believed his life had meaning through serving Orochimaru.

• Sasuke’s Flame Armor failed to stop Kimimaro’s bone whip, while Jiraiya shielded the Konoha ninja from the rampage.
• Kimimaro used Bracken Dance to fill the wilderness with bone spikes as Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto escaped.
• Jiraiya brought Tsunade, Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Tenten into the Toad Gourd Prison, then emerged with Naruto and Sasuke to face Kimimaro.
• Orochimaru told Yakushi Kabuto that Kimimaro had no value left and departed without him.
• Kimimaro collapsed unconscious after hearing Orochimaru’s rejection and remembered the purpose he had once found in serving him.

Kimimaro woke in Konoha after Orochimaru abandoned him, and Sasuke was tasked with assessing his state of mind and persuading him to join Konoha. As Sasuke waited in the underground detention area, he turned to the system for advice and began receiving replies.

• Kimimaro woke from a nightmare and realized he was in Konoha, where Sasuke explained that he had been brought there after Orochimaru fled.
• Tsunade examined Kimimaro and found that the Cursed Seal had drained his life force and that he had a severe Bloodline Disease, so she treated him to keep him alive.
• Jiraiya decided to bring Kimimaro to Konoha, and Sasuke agreed to the plan when asked.
• After Kimimaro's condition improved, Jiraiya assigned Sasuke to gauge his state of mind and try to recruit him, despite Sasuke's objections.
• While waiting for Kimimaro to wake in the underground detention area, Sasuke asked the system how to persuade him to join Konoha.

Sasuke sought advice from the netizens on how to persuade Kimimaro to surrender after Orochimaru abandoned him. He accepted their guidance to treat Kimimaro with empathy and help him process his severed bond with Orochimaru, leaving Sasuke willing to try despite the difficulty.

• Sasuke confirmed that Orochimaru had dismissed Kimimaro as a useless, sick body, and the netizens warned that Kimimaro might be too despairing to discuss surrender.
• Eric Forest advised Sasuke to approach Kimimaro with sincerity, consistent care, empathy, and help finding a new purpose.
• Eric Forest suggested that Sasuke transform into Orochimaru and let Kimimaro express the words he had never been able to say, while warning him not to deceive or surprise Kimimaro.
• The system offered Sasuke a C-Rank Scroll for helping Kimimaro find a new direction and a D-Rank Scroll for using the Orochimaru transformation exercise.
• Sasuke felt moved by the netizens' understanding of emotional wounds and decided to try their advice, partly because the rewards were tempting.

Sasuke visited Kimimaro in captivity, offered him food and explained Konoha’s conditions for keeping him alive, but Kimimaro remained withdrawn and unwilling to discuss the future. Sasuke then visited Kakashi, Neji, and Tenten at the hospital, while Kakashi resolved to report to the Fifth Hokage.

• Sasuke brought Kimimaro food and tried to learn what he wanted, but Kimimaro said he no longer wished to fight or live.
• Sasuke explained that Konoha would detain Kimimaro while providing basic treatment and might cure his Bloodline Limit Disease if he became Konoha’s friend.
• Sasuke told Kimimaro he would visit again, then left to check on patients at Konoha Hospital.
• Kakashi discussed the effects of Tsukuyomi with Sasuke and decided to report to the Fifth Hokage.
• Sasuke visited Neji and Tenten, and Neji said he expected to recover in about three days.

Sasuke reassured Neji about his strength and promised to help him find new directions for training. After visiting Shizune, Sasuke returned to the Hokage Residence, where Jiraiya asked about Kimimaro and Sasuke noticed Naruto's badly injured hands.

• Neji asked Sasuke whether he was useless, troubled by repeated defeats and the widening gap between their abilities.
• Sasuke told Neji that the Hyuga Clan had neglected Ninjutsu and Genjutsu and promised to help him plan his training with advice from capable seniors.
• Tenten thanked Sasuke for helping Neji become more positive and motivated, then gave him an Eastern Salute.
• Sasuke visited Shizune and returned to the Hokage Residence by evening.
• Jiraiya asked about Kimimaro, and Sasuke reported that Kimimaro was severely depressed and nearly indifferent to what happened to him.
• Sasuke noticed that Naruto's hands were heavily bandaged, with blackened skin visible through the worn wrappings.

Sasuke continued training with Jiraiya and Naruto, experimenting with Fire Release and learning to use toad oil. Naruto made progress toward a breakthrough, while Jiraiya sent Tsunade an affectionate letter; Sasuke ended the day watching Naruto train and checking his unfinished system suggestions.

• Sasuke praised Naruto's hard work, but Naruto suspected he was an impostor until Sasuke snapped at him and returned to his room.
• Sasuke cooked sandwiches the next morning, then showed Jiraiya that he could refine fire elements into small Fire Pearls.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamako Kosuke to fetch toad oil and demonstrated how to combine it with Fire Release, then taught Sasuke to practice with the oil.
• Jiraiya watched Naruto train before writing Tsunade a romantic letter and arranging to meet her at the Dango Shop.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he had found the right feeling and expected to break through within a few days.
• Sasuke made limited progress refining oil, then watched Naruto train and checked his unfinished system suggestions.

Sasuke visited Cat Granny’s shop to find a weapon for training ninjutsu and taijutsu combinations, and she showed him several options. He weighed the Cloud Piercing Spear against the more expensive Moon Shadow but had not yet chosen.

• Sasuke decided that finding a suitable weapon was the easiest actionable suggestion to complete and traveled to the Cat Oasis.
• Denka and Hina greeted Sasuke and led him to Cat Granny after he gave them Matatabi drinks.
• Sasuke told Cat Granny he had one million ryo to spend and asked her to introduce suitable weapons.
• Cat Granny showed Sasuke the Silver Fang, Sun Flame Fan, Cloud Piercing Spear, and Moon Shadow, explaining their abilities and prices.
• Sasuke considered the Cloud Piercing Spear and Moon Shadow, noting that spear techniques had few established masters to learn from.

Sasuke bought Moon Shadow and received Uchiha Style Swordsmanship from the system, then began training with the sword. Naruto mastered the Rasengan, while Jiraiya returned distraught over Tsunade leaving; Sasuke ended the night by asking the netizens how Neji could grow stronger.

• Sasuke bought Moon Shadow from Cat Granny and received a Storage Scroll for the sword.
• Sasuke opened a Rank E Scroll and learned Uchiha Style Swordsmanship, then practiced combining sword techniques with Chakra.
• Naruto announced that he had mastered the Rasengan, but his injured hands made him drop a pot when he tried to cook.
• Jiraiya returned home dejected and wondered why Tsunade insisted on leaving the village despite being offered the Hokage position.
• Sasuke asked the netizens for advice on how his friend Neji Hyuga could become stronger through training.