Chapter Summaries

Kyosuke and his three teammates infiltrated the Sand Shinobi’s valley stronghold despite its Sensing Barrier. They entered through a small snake, ambushed a guard detail, and killed three Sand Shinobi without raising the alarm.

• Kyosuke gave Saori Hyuga and the two Secret Ninja their intelligence reports and ordered them to prepare for the mission.
• Sand Shinobi jonin argued over whether to withdraw, but their leader insisted they stay and defend the Weapon Depot.
• Saori used her Byakugan to confirm that the Sensing Barrier was weaker underground, so Kyosuke proceeded with the infiltration plan.
• Kyosuke summoned a small snake that carried him and his teammates into a tent inside the valley.
• Number 13 trapped three returning Sand Shinobi in a Sharingan Genjutsu, and Kyosuke killed them while the team kept their bodies from making noise.

Kyosuke infiltrated the Sand Shinobi camp using a stolen face and planted Exploding Tags in its supply tents. After detonating them and escaping, he left the Sand Shinobi leader facing the loss of more than eighty percent of the supplies and ordering a hunt for the attackers.

• Kyosuke used the Face Copy Technique to disguise himself as a dead Sand Shinobi and identified the supply tents.
• Kyosuke chose to destroy the supplies himself, then sent four Shadow Clones to plant Exploding Tags in the tents.
• Kyosuke killed the guards outside a tent and the surviving Chunin before fleeing to rejoin Saori and the others.
• The Exploding Tags detonated, setting the valley ablaze and plunging the Sand Shinobi camp into chaos.
• The Sand Shinobi leader learned that more than eighty percent of the supplies had been lost and ordered the Sensing Unit to search for the enemy.

After destroying the Sand Shinobi weapon depot, Kyosuke and his team fled toward camp while a Sand Shinobi pursuit squad closed in. Saori spotted their attack just as the teams met, leaving Kyosuke’s group facing the opening strike.

• The Sand Shinobi leader sent four Jonin and three Chunin after Kyosuke’s retreating team.
• Kyosuke received 120 Experience Points and spent them to improve Hand Seal Training, Chakra Control, and the Summoning Technique.
• Saori Hyuga sensed the pursuers and estimated they would catch up in three minutes; Secret Ninja Number 7 and Number 13 offered to stay behind, but Kyosuke refused.
• The Sand Shinobi accelerated their pursuit and caught sight of Kyosuke’s team several minutes later.
• A Sand Shinobi Jonin attacked with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and Saori warned Kyosuke’s team after detecting the gale with her Byakugan.

Kyosuke and his team fought four Sand Shinobi guarding the Weapon Depot, but the Sand Shinobi leader overwhelmed Saori while a sensor ninja held Kyosuke at bay. Number 7 killed one enemy with a powerful Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, and Kyosuke wounded the sensor ninja, drawing the leader away from Saori.

• Kyosuke learned that the remaining Sand Shinobi would arrive in three minutes and led his team in an attack on the four enemies.
• Saori struck at the Sand Shinobi leader, but he knocked her away; Number 13 briefly restrained him with Genjutsu and saved her from further danger.
• Kyosuke's attacks failed to harm the sensor ninja, while Saori exhausted herself trying to damage the leader.
• Number 7 killed a Sand Shinobi with his Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, causing the remaining enemies to panic.
• Kyosuke wounded the sensor ninja with his sword, then fired a Great Fireball Technique and made the Elite Jonin leave Saori to rescue his companion.

Kyosuke’s team escaped after their combined attack distracted the Sand Shinobi leader, but Kyosuke turned back alone to exploit the injured sensor ninja and hunt the enemy squad. The chapter leaves Saori and the two Secret Ninjas fleeing with a Shadow Clone while Kyosuke hides inside a summoned snake and heads back toward the Sand Shinobi.

• The Sand Shinobi leader blocked Kyosuke’s team’s attacks with Tornado Hurricane, then discovered they had escaped while he protected his unconscious sensor-type companion.
• The Sand Shinobi leader handed his companion to his subordinates and pursued Kyosuke’s team with the remaining Jonin.
• Kyosuke explained that he would turn back alone because the unconscious sensor ninja could no longer track them and his team could reach reinforcements faster without him.
• Kyosuke entered a summoned snake, while Number 7 created a Shadow Clone in Kyosuke’s appearance and continued fleeing with Saori Hyuga and the other Secret Ninja.
• Kyosuke returned to target the injured Jonin, four Chunin, and the experience points they could provide.

Kyosuke ambushed the Sand Shinobi guarding the unconscious sensor jonin and killed four Chunin before confronting the jonin himself. After the jonin revealed he had been faking unconsciousness, Kyosuke defeated him too, though he suffered a wound to his abdomen.

• Kyosuke silently killed a Sand Shinobi Chunin, then used a Fireball Jutsu to kill another when the others woke.
• Kyosuke killed a third Chunin with a sword strike and killed the fleeing fourth by redirecting his Shuriken.
• Kyosuke approached the sensor jonin and discovered he was pretending to be unconscious when the man sprang up to attack.
• Kyosuke dodged the jonin's Wind Cutter and counterattacked with fireballs and his sword, killing him while sustaining a wound to his abdomen.

Kyosuke spent his experience points upgrading his Body Flicker Technique, swordsmanship, and Summoning Technique. Meanwhile, Saori Hyuga and the Secret Ninjas struggled against the Sand Shinobi leader, and Number 7 prepared a special Ninjutsu to give Saori an opening.

• Kyosuke spent 60 Experience Points to raise Shisui's Body Flicker Technique to Level 3, then spent 110 to raise Swordsmanship Training to Level 5.
• Kyosuke used 40 Experience Points to raise the Summoning Technique to Level 5, strengthening his connection to Ryūchi Cave and allowing him to summon larger snakes.
• The Sand Shinobi leader charged Saori Hyuga, struck her with two finger attacks, and threw her toward Number 7's fire dragon, but Saori escaped with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Number 7 and Number 13 defeated the other Jonin, but the Sand Shinobi leader's increased speed soon overwhelmed them and sent Number 13 flying.
• Number 7 rejected Number 13's proposal to use Izanagi and promised Saori that his next Ninjutsu could not be escaped, while Saori prepared to create an opening.

Number 7, Number 13, and Saori Hyuga fought the Sand Shinobi leader, and Saori struck him with Gentle Fist Art: Crushing Dragon Strike. The Sand Shinobi escaped with the help of a Puppet Master, while Saori collapsed unconscious.

• Number 7 stepped forward as the Sand Shinobi leader dismissed the three opponents and prepared to face their next attack.
• Number 13 used a Shadow Clone and Genjutsu feint to distract the Sand Shinobi leader while Saori Hyuga moved in behind him.
• Saori Hyuga unleashed Gentle Fist Art: Crushing Dragon Strike, disrupting the Sand Shinobi leader's Chakra and breaking through his Wind Release: Net.
• A hidden Puppet Master sacrificed a puppet to protect the Sand Shinobi leader, who used the opening to survive Saori's attack.
• The Puppet Master drove back Number 7, grabbed the injured leader, and fled; Number 13 abandoned pursuit as Saori collapsed unconscious.

Kyosuke returned to camp after destroying a Sand Shinobi weapon depot, while Number 13 and Number 7 reached the support unit with the unconscious Saori. The group reunited and returned to camp, where Orochimaru celebrated their success and recognized Kyosuke’s substantial contribution.

• Number 13 carried the unconscious Saori as she and Number 7 hurried toward the support unit, obeying Kyosuke’s order not to turn back for him.
• Kyosuke hid inside his summoning snake and chose not to attack a fleeing jonin carrying a badly injured man, deciding to recover at camp instead.
• Kyosuke recognized Number 13 and Number 7 when they arrived with a Konoha jonin searching for him, then emerged from the snake.
• Number 13 and Number 7 told Kyosuke that Saori had severely wounded the Sand Shinobi Elite Jonin with a Gentle Fist strike.
• Kyosuke joined the other Konoha ninjas and returned to camp, where Orochimaru held a celebration for the destruction of the Sand Shinobi weapon depot.

Kyosuke strengthened his Chakra Refinement Technique while Konoha used Sunagakure’s pause in its advance to prepare defenses. Elsewhere, Sasori killed the friend who had betrayed him and began to embrace the idea of abandoning his mortal body so he could preserve those he had lost forever.

• Sunagakure halted its advance, and Orochimaru ordered Konoha’s troops to dismantle enemy outposts and establish traps and reconnaissance units.
• Sunagakure sent repeated elite squads to harass Konoha, but the Raiding Unit drove them back as Kyosuke earned military merit and Experience Points.
• Kyosuke used his Experience Points to maximize the Chakra Refinement Technique, raising his daily Chakra refinement to 10 points.
• A jealous young Sunagakure ninja attacked Sasori, poisoned him, and celebrated what he believed was Sasori’s death.
• Sasori rose again, revealed that he had deliberately allowed his friend to surpass him in poison-making, and killed him with Crow.
• Sasori reflected on the deaths of his parents and his friend, then resolved to cast aside his body and keep them with him forever.

During a lull in the fighting with the Sand Shinobi, Kyosuke sought a way to grow stronger and decided to pursue Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. He chose the Sasuke Retrieval Mission dungeon, where allies might help him overcome the challenge.

• The fighting quieted as the New Year arrived, leaving Kyosuke without a way to gain experience from skirmishes.
• Kyosuke decided the Cursed Seal could strengthen him despite its risks and considered the dungeons that might reward it.
• Kyosuke ruled out the Kimimaro and Jugo dungeons because their opponents were too strong for him.
• Kyosuke weighed facing the Sound Four or Cursed Seal Sasuke alone, then chose the Sasuke Retrieval Mission dungeon for its potential allies.
• Kyosuke prepared and entered the Sasuke Retrieval Mission dungeon.

Kyosuke entered the instance dungeon to retrieve Sasuke and joined Shikamaru’s team as they pursued the Sound Four. After finding two unconscious Konoha Jonin, Kyosuke hurried the group onward, leaving them close to the enemy.

• The system replaced Kiba Inuzuka with Kyosuke for the mission to retrieve Sasuke.
• Shikamaru led the group out of Konoha, and Neji Hyuga spotted two unconscious Jonin ahead.
• The group found Genma Shiranui and another Konoha ninja beneath a tree, and Genma warned them that the mission was dangerous.
• Kyosuke knocked Genma unconscious to stop the delay, then Shikamaru led the team onward.
• Neji Hyuga announced that they had found the enemy.

Kyosuke’s plan lured the Sound Four into attacking Naruto’s team, but the ambush trapped the Konoha rookies inside Jirobo’s Earth Prison Dome. Kyosuke killed Jirobo from behind, freeing the team, and the Retrieval Squad continued after Sasuke.

• Neji spotted the Sound Four resting, and Kyosuke proposed a plan while the enemies waited among Kidomaru’s spider sentries.
• Naruto and the Konoha rookies charged the Sound Four, but Shikamaru stopped Naruto and helped them escape the enemies’ Exploding Tags.
• Jirobo appeared behind the team and trapped them inside an Earth Prison Dome while Tayuya and the other Sound Four members carried the sealed barrel onward.
• Kyosuke emerged from a small snake and stabbed Jirobo through the heart, causing the dome to collapse.
• Kyosuke checked that everyone was safe, and the Retrieval Squad set off again to pursue Sasuke.

Kidomaru stayed behind to delay the Konoha pursuers while Sakon and Tayuya continued escorting Sasuke. Kyosuke saw through Kidomaru’s ambush, defeated him, and resumed the chase.

• Kidomaru chose to remain behind and hold off the pursuers, while Sakon and Tayuya raced ahead with Sasuke.
• Neji Hyuga detected one enemy ahead, and Shikamaru ordered the group to scatter before Kyosuke stayed behind to face him.
• Naruto created disguised shadow clones, allowing the real group to evade Kidomaru’s Spider Web Restraint and continue toward Sasuke.
• Kidomaru attacked Kyosuke with a spear, but Kyosuke’s apparent body dissolved into Small Snakes, and a Giant Blue Snake grappled Kidomaru’s spider.
• Kyosuke exploited Kidomaru’s distraction and killed him with Shisui's Body Flicker Technique and Sword Leap Flame.

Kyosuke caught up with Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, and the others just as Kaguya Kimimaro arrived to retrieve Sasuke. Kyosuke and Naruto fought Kimimaro while Shikamaru and Neji battled Sakon and Tayuya, but Ukon transformed and struck Neji down as Shikamaru prepared another attack.

• Kyosuke left Kidomaru's body behind and hurried to catch up with the others.
• Kimimaro arrived, picked up the barrel containing Sasuke, and deflected shuriken with a bone blade before Kyosuke appeared.
• Kyosuke told Shikamaru and the others to keep Tayuya and Sakon from escaping while he and Naruto faced Kimimaro.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and he and Kyosuke charged Kimimaro.
• Shikamaru restrained Sakon with the Shadow Imitation Technique, allowing Neji to strike him with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Ukon emerged from Sakon's body, activated Curse Mark State Two, and knocked Neji backward as Shikamaru formed hand seals.

Choji and Neji defeated Tayuya and the Sakon brothers, but Kyosuke, Naruto, and Choji remained at a disadvantage against Kimimaro. Kyosuke’s trap failed to stop Kimimaro, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Choji swallowed the Akimichi Clan’s Green Pill, grew enormous, and crushed Tayuya after she activated her Cursed Seal.
• Shikamaru and Neji sent Choji to help Naruto while they continued fighting Sakon and Ukon.
• Neji used Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms to kill Sakon and Ukon.
• Kimimaro wiped out dozens of Naruto’s Shadow Clones with Dance of the Camellia as Kyosuke and Choji struggled against him.
• Kyosuke’s summoned python trapped Kimimaro briefly, but Kimimaro broke free with Dance of the Larch.

Kyosuke, Shikamaru, Neji, and Choji joined forces against Kimimaro, using a shadow-controlled attack to set up a barrage of Fire Release techniques. The explosions left Kimimaro’s fate uncertain as another figure rushed toward the battlefield.

• Kimimaro fought off Naruto’s Shadow Clones while Kyosuke and Choji watched, and Kimimaro’s coughing suggested his condition was worsening.
• Shikamaru and Neji arrived, and Kyosuke devised a plan with Shikamaru to catch Kimimaro with the Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Shikamaru controlled Kyosuke’s movements so Kyosuke could grab Kimimaro, and Kyosuke, Neji, and Choji attacked him together.
• Kimimaro activated the Curse Mark and used Dance of the Larch to block their attacks with bone spikes.
• Kyosuke’s Shadow Clone and Kyosuke struck Kimimaro with the Great Dragon Fire Technique and Great Fireball Technique, leaving Shikamaru and Kyosuke unsure whether Kimimaro had survived as another figure approached.

Sasuke emerged from the crate and left with Naruto and Lee in pursuit, while Kyosuke and the others fought Kimimaro to keep him from stopping them. Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara headed toward the battle after hearing an explosion, as Kimimaro badly wounded Neji.

• Kimimaro survived Kyosuke’s Fire Release attacks by protecting himself with bone armor, and Sasuke emerged from the wooden crate.
• Naruto tried to speak to Sasuke, but Sasuke ignored him and prepared to leave; Rock Lee arrived after recovering from his injuries.
• Kyosuke told Lee to pursue Sasuke with Naruto, then attacked Kimimaro while Shikamaru, Choji, and Neji helped hold him back.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara heard an explosion and hurried toward the fight.
• Kimimaro inflicted several bloody wounds on Neji, and Shikamaru realized how outmatched they were.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro arrived to hold off Kimimaro, allowing Kyosuke, Shikamaru, and Choji to pursue Sasuke. At the Valley of the End, Lee opened four Gates and clashed with Sasuke, who impaled him with Chidori just as the pursuers arrived.

• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro joined the battle against Kimimaro, giving Kyosuke, Shikamaru, and Choji a chance to leave in pursuit of Sasuke.
• At the Valley of the End, Naruto and Lee tried to make Sasuke return to the village, but his Three-Tomoe Sharingan helped him hold them off.
• Lee opened the first three Gates, then opened the fourth when he could not defeat Sasuke with the Front Lotus.
• Sasuke activated his Curse Mark and Chidori as Lee prepared to use the Reverse Lotus, and the two collided in midair.
• Kyosuke, Shikamaru, and Choji arrived to find Sasuke's arm piercing Lee, though Sasuke said Lee was still alive.

Naruto and Kyosuke defeated Sasuke and brought him back to the village alive. Kyosuke delivered Sasuke to Sakura, triggering the mission completion prompt, and left his dangerous curiosity about killing Sasuke untested.

• Sasuke transformed under the Curse Mark and attacked Naruto, while Choji and Shikamaru rushed to help.
• Sasuke pierced Choji's abdomen, but Naruto recovered and struck back with a Crimson Rasengan.
• Kyosuke attacked Sasuke with a Shadow Clone, a blade, and the Great Dragon Fire Technique, helping Naruto overpower him.
• Kyosuke broke Sasuke's limbs and secretly carried him back to the village while Naruto went to check on Gaara.
• Kyosuke handed Sasuke to Sakura, and the System Prompt sounded as he considered—but dismissed—the idea of killing Sasuke.