Chapter Summaries

Sasuke gathered ideas for expanding Neji's combat abilities and helped him begin training in Water Release, while his own routine brought new progress and deepened his friendship with Kimimaro. By November 2, Neji had learned several Water Release techniques, Tsunade had begun rebuilding Konoha's medical system, and Kakashi had left on a mission.

• Netizens suggested long-range tactics for Neji, including using Kimimaro as a weapon, heavy bows or crossbows, nature-transformation ninjutsu, and a close-combat summoning beast; Sasuke discussed the ideas with Neji, who began training in Water Release.
• Sasuke spent several days visiting friends and training: Neji discovered his Water affinity, Kimimaro ventured outside and enjoyed a trip to FUNFUN Street, and Sasuke and Kimimaro grew closer as Sasuke revisited his desire for revenge.
• Jiraiya persuaded Izumo Kamizuki and Shizune to begin a relationship, giving Tsunade a reason to stay in Konoha; Sasuke's request to leave on a mission was denied until Kimimaro could be persuaded to surrender to Konoha headquarters.
• Sasuke infused Lightning-nature Chakra into Moon Shadow and created Moon Shadow: Chidori Blade, then mastered oil-based Chakra refinement and the Flame Bullet ninjutsu.
• After Sakura told Sasuke she wanted to become Tsunade's apprentice, Tsunade took over Konoha Hospital and began rebuilding the Medical Ninja system, and Sakura signed up to train.
• Kakashi taught Neji three Water Release techniques and began teaching him Great Waterfall Technique before leaving Konoha on a mission.

Sasuke helped Kimimaro confront his grief over Orochimaru, and Kimimaro decided to seek a new direction in the Land of Water. At dinner, Sasuke told Jiraiya he needed to leave the village, but the chapter ended before he explained why.

• Sasuke asked Kimimaro whether he was willing to find a new direction and confront his feelings about Orochimaru.
• Kimimaro agreed to face the past, and Sasuke transformed into Orochimaru and sat silently across from him.
• Kimimaro cried, thanked the person he believed was Orochimaru, and declared that he would search for a new direction and value.
• Sasuke told Jiraiya that Kimimaro planned to return to his birthplace in the Land of Water.
• Sasuke said he also needed to leave the village for a while, and Jiraiya asked what he meant.

Sasuke persuaded Jiraiya to let him travel with Kimimaro to the Land of Water by taking a mission, which Jiraiya turned into a diplomatic effort with Kirigakure. The seven-person party reached the Land of Waves, where Naruto recalled how he had earned the bridge’s name.

• Sasuke proposed accompanying Kimimaro to the Land of Water, and Naruto asked to go along because he was bored with routine Genin missions.
• Jiraiya approved a mission to recover Zabuza’s Kubikiribōchō and use it as a gift to open diplomatic negotiations with Kirigakure.
• Nara Shikaku led a delegation of Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Ino Yamanaka, Kimimaro, and Sasuke; Neji Hyuga joined after asking to contribute.
• The party set out from Konoha and traveled to the Land of Waves.
• At Na-ru-to Bridge, Nara Shikaku praised Naruto, while Ino teased him about why the bridge was not named after Kakashi or Sasuke.

Sasuke's group retrieved Kubikiribōchō from Zabuza and Haku's grave and visited Tazuna's family, where they heard troubling reports about unrest in the Land of Water. Back at the inn, Sasuke discussed his mission to negotiate with Kirigakure on the forum and learned that he might encounter Obito.

• Naruto reunited with Inari, who had been tending Zabuza and Haku's graves, and explained that the group had come to return Zabuza's sword to his homeland.
• Nara Shikaku pulled Kubikiribōchō from the grave, and Shikamaru sealed it in a Storage Scroll.
• Inari invited the group to dinner, where Tazuna described increasing rogue ninja in the Land of Waves and rumors of a revolution in Kirigakure.
• Sasuke checked on Kimimaro, who said he had taken Tsunade's pills and was feeling well despite coughing.
• Sasuke posted on the forum about his peace mission to Kirigakure, Kimimaro's condition, and Kubikiribōchō as a bargaining chip.
• Forum users praised Sasuke's progress, questioned the choice of Kirigakure for negotiations, and warned that he might encounter Obito.

The narrator reflected on his career, the dreams he had set aside, and his decision to start over as a webnovel writer despite the risks and responsibilities. After thanking his family, editor, and readers for helping him reach the premium milestone, he asked readers to give him a first subscription.

• The narrator described how his youthful belief in controlling his fate gave way to hard lessons about work, organizations, and the limits of personal effort.
• He recounted choosing computer science, finding success in the internet industry, and later leaving to work in self-media, where professional success made him increasingly unhappy.
• The narrator explained that he had always wanted to write and eventually shut down all his accounts after conflicts with his partners.
• He began writing webnovels despite the pressure of starting over with a family and other responsibilities, and he thanked his family, editor, and readers for supporting him.
• The narrator affirmed that he could not give up writing and asked readers to give him a first subscription.

Sasuke considered the netizens’ warnings and suggestions about Kirigakure, then reviewed the ninjutsu rewards he had gained. The next day, Shikamaru approached a wary Kirigakure ninja in the Land of Waves with an escort job, leading him toward an alley to inspect the convoy.

• Sasuke learned that Karatachi Yagura was the Fourth Mizukage and received suggestions to avoid him, return to Konoha, or support Mei Terumi.
• Sasuke opened his reward scrolls and gained Lightning Release: Lightning Flash Pillar and Water Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation, but decided to focus on Lightning Release and Fire Release.
• The next day, Neji used his Byakugan to signal Shikamaru and their companion outside an izakaya in the Land of Waves.
• Shikamaru offered a recently defected Kirigakure ninja up to eighty thousand ryo to escort a shipment to the Land of Fire.
• The Kirigakure ninja said he would consult his comrades, and Shikamaru led him toward an alley to see the convoy.

Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique to question a Kirigakure defector, helping Konoha confirm that Mei Terumi was likely preparing a coup. Nara Shikaku laid out three possible responses, and the chapter ended as Naruto misunderstood the proposed initiative as helping the Fourth Mizukage suppress the rebellion.

• Ino possessed the Kirigakure ninja Soujiro and questioned his companion about the turmoil in Kirigakure before returning to her own body.
• Nara Shikaku gathered the Konoha team and said their intelligence confirmed that Kirigakure was nearing a coup likely led by Mei Terumi.
• Shikaku explained that the team could meet the Fourth Mizukage as planned, wait in the Land of Waves for the coup to end, or take the initiative.
• Naruto eagerly agreed with Shikaku's third option, but reacted in confusion when Shikaku clarified that it meant helping the Fourth Mizukage suppress the rebellion.

Shikaku decided to send Sasuke and Shikamaru on a covert mission to contact Mei Terumi’s faction in the Land of Water, while the official delegation stayed behind. As the advance team set sail, Tanaka Ryuta warned them that infiltrating the Land of Water differed greatly from infiltrating Kirigakure.

• Neji suggested that Konoha could support Mei Terumi covertly rather than act through its official delegation.
• Shikaku chose Sasuke and Shikamaru for a ten-day intelligence-gathering mission, with Kimimaro accompanying them; he rejected Neji and Naruto’s requests to join.
• Shikaku told Sasuke and Shikamaru to return to the Land of Waves within ten days, or the delegation would enter the Land of Water and search for them while pursuing its official visit.
• On a merchant ship, Tanaka Ryuta warned Sasuke and the others that infiltrating the Land of Water and infiltrating Kirigakure were different matters.

Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kimimaro reached the Land of Water aboard Tanaka Ryuta’s merchant ship and tried to blend in while pursuing their mission. After Kimimaro revealed his bone-based Kekkei Genkai at customs, Shikamaru and Sasuke decided to follow him and Sasuke hinted that he had ways to gather information.

• Long Tai asked Sasuke and the others to wear ordinary merchant clothes in the Land of Water, and Shikamaru agreed while Kimimaro refused.
• Sasuke asked Long Tai about Mei Terumi, and Long Tai praised her looks before Shikamaru hurried Sasuke away.
• After three days and two nights, the ship docked in the Land of Water, where Shikamaru dirtied Sasuke’s face to help him blend in.
• At customs, Kimimaro threatened a Mist Hidden Village shinobi with a bone sword, prompting the man to recognize Shikotsumyaku and warn his companions to notify the Anbu.
• Sasuke asked whether they should separate from Kimimaro if he endangered the mission, but Shikamaru said they could use their investigation into his clan as cover.
• Shikamaru proposed following Kimimaro to see what trouble he caused, and Sasuke said he had several ways to gather information.

Sasuke used snowy owls to search for Mei Terumi while he, Shikamaru, and Kimimaro wandered through the Land of Water. At night, a masked Mist Hidden Village Anbu claiming to be the Mizukage’s messenger found them in the fog.

• Sasuke fed snowy owls jerky in exchange for their help locating Mei Terumi, then described her appearance to them.
• Shikamaru learned that Sasuke could communicate with animals and reflected on the Uchiha Clan’s hidden intelligence-gathering abilities.
• Sasuke asked Kimimaro about returning to his homeland, and the three followed him as he wandered through the Land of Water.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kisame traveled through the mountains of the Land of Earth and discussed how long they had been away from the Land of Water.
• As fog thickened around the three travelers at night, a masked Mist Hidden Village Anbu appeared and greeted them as honored guests from Konoha.

Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kimimaro received Tanaka Ryuta’s severed head as a warning from Kirigakure, leaving Sasuke and Shikamaru stricken with guilt. Sasuke abandoned the original mission and vowed to help overthrow the Fourth Mizukage, while Mei Terumi prepared to leave her room at Kirigakure’s Elder’s Residence.

• A Kirigakure ninja questioned Shikamaru and Sasuke about their purpose, then left a gift box containing Tanaka Ryuta’s severed head as a warning.
• Sasuke carried Tanaka Ryuta’s remains, refused to stay at an inn, and camped with Shikamaru and Kimimaro outside town.
• Shikamaru blamed his failed planning for Tanaka Ryuta’s death, while Kimimaro awkwardly tried to comfort Sasuke.
• Sasuke changed the mission objective, declaring that he would help Mei Terumi overthrow the Fourth Mizukage or assassinate him himself.
• Mei Terumi finished applying her lipstick and left her room in Kirigakure’s Elder’s Residence.

Mei Terumi persuaded Elder Genji to meet the person she had mentioned, then returned to a remote watchtower where Konoha ninja Sasuke, Shikamaru Nara, and Kimimaro had confronted Ao. The meeting began with Sasuke openly offering to help Mei Terumi rebel against the Fourth Mizukage, leaving Ao panicked about being caught up in the plot.

• Mei Terumi confronted Elder Genji over the Blood Mist Policy and urged him to resume his responsibilities as Kirigakure's elder.
• Genji agreed to meet Mei Terumi's contact at midnight and warned her to be careful.
• Sasuke, Shikamaru Nara, and Kimimaro infiltrated a remote watchtower after Sasuke used information from snowy owls to identify it as a likely meeting place.
• Shikamaru restrained Ao with the Shadow Imitation Technique while Sasuke and Kimimaro hid as Mei Terumi arrived.
• Sasuke told Mei Terumi that the Konoha ninja had come to help her rebel, while Ao protested that the situation would get him killed.

Ao recounted how he discovered that the Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by genjutsu and told Mei Terumi, who planned to expose the culprit that night. Hamaguchi appeared at the watchtower and confronted Ao and Mei Terumi while addressing Sasuke and his companions as Konoha's guests.

• Ao recalled how he had been sidelined in Kirigakure after the Fourth Mizukage went into seclusion, then learned Mei Terumi was being dismissed from the Anbu.
• After following Mei Terumi to the Mizukage Building, Ao used his Byakugan and saw that a powerful chakra was controlling the Fourth Mizukage.
• Ao secretly checked the Mizukage again and later told Mei Terumi what he had discovered; she said she had Elder Genji's support and would expose the controller that night.
• Mei Terumi reassured Ao that he would become a hero of Kirigakure, but Hamaguchi suddenly emerged from the mist at the watchtower.
• Hamaguchi greeted Ao mockingly as a hero and told Sasuke and the others that they seemed to like the gift he had prepared.

Sasuke fought Hamaguchi to avenge Tanaka Ryuta, discovering that the enemy had used a Water Clone to escape and report their abilities. Sasuke caught and subdued Hamaguchi, who begged for mercy, and Sasuke demanded to know where Tanaka Ryuta’s body was.

• Sasuke placed Tanaka Ryuta’s head on a stool and vowed that he would witness Hamaguchi’s death.
• Sasuke fought Hamaguchi, whose Water Style sword attacks were countered by Sasuke’s Chidori Blade, but the defeated figure turned out to be a Water Clone.
• Shikamaru realized Hamaguchi had used the clone to gather intelligence and escape, and Ao used his Byakugan to locate Hamaguchi’s real body.
• Mei Terumi urged Ao to stand by his decision, and Sasuke raced through the forest and broke through Hamaguchi’s Water Formation Wall.
• Sasuke pierced Hamaguchi with Chidori, pinned him to the ground, and demanded to know where Tanaka Ryuta’s body was.

Sasuke killed Hamaguchi and negotiated with Mei Terumi, then fought Chojuro after he learned Sasuke had been involved in Zabuza’s death. Mei stopped the confrontation and asked Sasuke whether Zabuza had suffered when he died.

• Sasuke forced Hamaguchi to reveal that he had thrown away the corpse, then beheaded him and returned with his head to meet Mei Terumi.
• Sasuke told Mei he wanted to help her overthrow the Fourth Mizukage and become the Fifth Mizukage, offering Konoha’s friendship and Zabuza’s Kubikiribōchō as a sign of goodwill.
• Ao buried Hamaguchi’s remains and lied to two Kirigakure Chunin who questioned him about the battle.
• Mei led Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kimimaro to the Elder’s Residence, where Chojuro learned Sasuke had fought against Zabuza and challenged him.
• Sasuke defeated Chojuro, and Shikamaru and Kimimaro restrained him when he tried to continue fighting.
• Mei slapped Chojuro, returned Hiramekarei to him, and asked Sasuke whether Zabuza had been in pain when he died.

Mei Terumi and Ao revealed how Kirigakure’s reforms collapsed, why Zabuza became a missing-nin, and how the Kaguya Clan was destroyed. Learning his clan had acted to oppose the Bloody Mist, Kimimaro found a reason to live and asked to join Mei’s operation, just as someone knocked urgently at the residence gates.

• Mei Terumi explained that Zabuza had killed his classmates as part of Yagura’s plan to end Kirigakure’s Bloody Mist policy.
• Mei Terumi and Ao recounted how Yagura later restored the Bloody Mist, prompting Zabuza to plan an assassination after Suikazan Fuguki was killed by Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Ao revealed that Zabuza, Hozuki Mangetsu, and the Kaguya Clan joined a coup against Yagura, which ended with Mangetsu dead and the Kaguya Clan wiped out.
• Kimimaro realized his clan had opposed Kirigakure’s dark rule and resolved to live on and help overthrow the current village government.
• Kimimaro asked Mei Terumi to let him join her operation, and urgent knocks sounded at the Elder's Residence gates.

Mei Terumi refused the Mizukage’s summons, using the encounter to gauge how much his side knew about Ao and her plans. The next morning, she began explaining to Sasuke and the others how the Sharingan might be involved in controlling Karatachi Yagura, while the group faced a shrinking window to complete their mission.

• Midori questioned Mei Terumi about the destroyed courtyard wall and Ao’s disappearance, then relayed the Mizukage’s request for her to meet him.
• Mei Terumi refused to go at night and warned Midori not to force her, prompting him to leave.
• Shikamaru Nara said Mei Terumi’s refusal bought them time and helped test how much the Mizukage’s side knew.
• Obito Uchiha, controlling Karatachi Yagura, grew suspicious of Uchiha Itachi and the Konoha ninjas who had infiltrated the Land of Water, while Midori reported signs of fighting and Hamaguchi’s lost contact.
• The next morning, Sasuke reminded Mei Terumi that their group had only two days left before they needed to return, and she asked whether he knew the Sharingan could control Tailed Beasts.
• Mei Terumi explained that Karatachi Yagura’s survival meant the Three-Tails was still inside him, narrowing the likely explanation for his control.

Mei Terumi and her allies planned to break the genjutsu controlling Karatachi Yagura, suspecting an Uchiha was behind it. Mei confronted the Mizukage, but the attempt to hurt him failed, and the others joined the battle as Yagura began a partial Tailed Beast transformation.

• Mei Terumi explained that Sharingan genjutsu could control both a Jinchuriki and a Tailed Beast, while Ao proposed that a summoning contract could maintain control over long distances.
• Mei Terumi set the team’s objective as dispelling the genjutsu on Karatachi Yagura, and Midori arrived to summon her to the Mizukage Building.
• Mei Terumi went to meet Karatachi Yagura and denied seeing Hamaguchi, while Obito Uchiha privately considered her a failed prospect for his plans.
• Mei Terumi attacked Karatachi Yagura with Boil Release, but he countered with Water Release and revealed an armored tail.
• Chojuro and Kimimaro joined the fight, and Kimimaro briefly pressured Karatachi Yagura before he transformed into a partial Tailed Beast form.

Mei Terumi’s allies fought the genjutsu-controlled Karatachi Yagura, while Sasuke struck him with Chidori and then confronted the masked Obito Uchiha. Sasuke and Obito vanished together into the Kamui Dimension, leaving Shikamaru Nara and Kimimaro searching Mizukage Hall for them.

• Ao lured Karatachi Yagura toward him, and Kimimaro trapped the Jinchuriki with bone spikes until Shikamaru Nara immobilized him with the Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Gonbei freed Kimimaro from Yagura’s coral, and Mei Terumi and Chojuro attacked Yagura with Lava Release and Hiramekarei.
• Sasuke struck Yagura in the heart with Chidori, but the genjutsu-controlled Jinchuriki remained conscious, prompting Obito Uchiha to appear with Kamui.
• Obito grabbed Sasuke’s wrist, and Sasuke counterattacked with a Rasengan as both disappeared into the Kamui Dimension.
• Shikamaru Nara and Kimimaro searched for Sasuke and Obito while Mei Terumi ordered Ao to help.

The Mist Hidden Village freed Karatachi Yagura from the genjutsu controlling him, but he died moments after awakening and entrusted Kirigakure to Mei Terumi. Sasuke was trapped by Obito Uchiha in the Kamui Dimension and, unable to escape or summon help, turned to the forum for advice.

• Ao failed to find Second Pillar or the Masked Man, while Mei Terumi and the Mist Hidden Village shinobi began trying to save Karatachi Yagura.
• Shikamaru Nara demanded news of Sasuke, but Ao could not locate him, and Shikamaru restrained Kimimaro while insisting Kirigakure explain what happened.
• Mei Terumi used her chakra to disperse the foreign chakra controlling Karatachi Yagura, and he awoke in her arms.
• Karatachi Yagura recognized Mei Terumi, told her Kirigakure was in her hands, and died from his injuries.
• Obito Uchiha revealed that he had brought Sasuke into the Kamui Dimension, where Sasuke's attempts to break free and summon help failed.
• Sasuke posted on the forum about his predicament, and users identified the Kamui Dimension and warned that he was in grave danger.