Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya became the mentor of Soji, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura, then tested their teamwork in the Forest of Death. After defeating them, he took the hungry team to Ichiraku Ramen and dismissed them until their next meeting.

• Jiraiya explained that he had returned from the front lines to mentor the four students, then brought them to the Forest of Death for an assessment.
• Soji, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura attacked Jiraiya together, but he evaded and countered their moves.
• The four used shadow clones and coordinated attacks to conceal Kushina Uzumaki's Adamantine Sealing Chains, briefly restraining Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya broke free after Kushina Uzumaki ran out of Chakra, then knocked down Soji, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Homura.
• Jiraiya took the hungry team to Ichiraku Ramen, where they ate, and told them where to gather the next day.

Soji, Minato, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura began a four-year A-rank mission to eliminate threats throughout the Land of Fire while Jiraiya left them to handle the danger themselves. After learning that disciplined shinobi were hiding in a valley, they planned an approach and prepared to investigate the next day.

• Jiraiya gave the newly graduated genin an A-rank mission to eliminate bandits, rogue ninja, and foreign shinobi in the Land of Fire, and said he would not intervene except in special circumstances.
• Over the next month, the team cleared several bandit gangs and rogue ninja groups, while Uchiha Homura awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan after killing for the first time and grew increasingly overconfident.
• Jiraiya learned from an interrogated bandit that someone had been living covertly in a valley northwest of a stronghold, and Soji and Minato concluded that foreign shinobi were likely hiding there.
• Jiraiya told the team to investigate on their own, so Minato led them in making a plan: Uchiha Homura would draw the enemy's attention, Soji would scout and relay positions, Minato would support Homura, and Kushina Uzumaki would guard the valley entrance.
• With night approaching, the team rested and prepared to carry out their plan in the valley the next day.

Soji, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Homura began a plan to investigate the enemy ninjas hiding in Wuyang Valley, with Kushina Uzumaki staying behind as support. Soji and Minato quietly followed Homura into the valley and waited for the enemy to attack him.

• Minato Namikaze sent Uchiha Homura ahead into Wuyang Valley as a decoy while Soji and Minato prepared traps at the entrance.
• Minato Namikaze left Kushina Uzumaki behind to guard their retreat and report back to Jiraiya if the team was defeated.
• Soji used his Byakugan to locate thirty-one enemy ninjas and estimate their strength as Homura drew their attention.
• Soji and Minato followed Homura from about two thousand meters behind, intending to ambush the enemy when they attacked him.
• Soji worried that Homura might fail to make his herb-gathering disguise convincing, but Minato reassured him as they waited quietly.

Uchiha Homura lured the valley’s ninjas into lowering their guard, then trapped their leader in a Sharingan genjutsu so Minato and Soji could defeat the group. With the battle decided, they gathered around the still-ensnared leader.

• Uchiha Homura gathered herbs while the ninja leader ordered his men to keep watching him cautiously.
• The ninja leader’s group surrounded Uchiha Homura as he tried to leave, and Homura pretended to be frightened while answering their questions.
• Uchiha Homura drew the leader’s gaze and trapped him in a genjutsu with his Sharingan.
• Soji and Minato ambushed the leader’s men with taijutsu while Homura disabled the few who rushed toward him with shuriken.
• Uchiha Homura, Minato, and Soji gathered around the leader, who remained trapped in the illusion.

Soji and Minato realized the rogue ninja were concealing someone, but the hidden ninja Steel Bone ambushed them and badly injured Uchiha Homura. Homura struck back with a fire-and-wire attack, only for Soji to discover Steel Bone had used a substitution and appeared behind him.

• Soji and Minato recognized inconsistencies in Lihuo’s story and realized the bandits’ earlier survival suggested someone was controlling the rogue ninja.
• Steel Bone burst from the ground, knocked Soji, Minato, and Uchiha Homura aside, and injured Homura before revealing his name and freeing Lihuo from the genjutsu.
• Minato sent up a signal flare for Kushina Uzumaki while Soji and Minato moved to protect the injured Homura.
• Homura attacked Steel Bone with a Great Fireball Technique and then used steel wires to carry his Dragon Fire Technique around Steel Bone’s Earth Style Wall.
• Soji saw with his Byakugan that the burning figure was a wooden log, while the real Steel Bone appeared behind Homura.

Soji, Minato, and the injured Uchiha Homura fought Steel Bone, whose immense strength and resistance turned their attacks into a desperate struggle. Minato identified Steel Bone’s defense as Steel Release, leaving the team aware of the threat but without a way to defeat him.

• Soji rescued Uchiha Homura from Steel Bone’s surprise attack and struck Steel Bone with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but his Gentle Fist had no effect.
• Minato proposed that the team stall Steel Bone until Kushina arrived, while they searched for a weakness.
• Steel Bone summoned a massive chained axe and repeatedly forced Soji, Minato, and Uchiha Homura to dodge its swings.
• Soji used Revolving Heaven to knock the axe away, and Uchiha Homura pinned its chain down with Kunai and Shuriken, leaving Steel Bone off balance.
• Minato seized the opening and stabbed Steel Bone in the chest, but the Kunai broke against his black, hardened skin.
• Minato recognized Steel Bone’s Kekkei Genkai as Steel Release, which explained why Soji’s Gentle Fist could not penetrate his body.

Soji, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Homura fought Steel Bone, whose Steel Release made him impervious to their attacks. After Steel Bone tried to recruit them into Iwagakure, the three stalled him and agreed to attempt Soji’s dangerous plan, leaving Soji to deliver the decisive blow.

• Steel Bone revealed his Steel Release and withstood the trio’s attacks, including Uchiha Homura’s explosive-tagged kunai.
• Steel Bone offered Soji, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Homura a place in Iwagakure, but Minato and Soji stalled him with questions about the offer.
• Minato asked Steel Bone for time to consider, then discussed their lack of a way to break his defenses with Soji and Uchiha Homura.
• Soji proposed a risky plan with a fifty percent chance of success, and Minato and Uchiha Homura agreed to try it.
• Soji explained the plan, which made him the core executor and the one who would deliver the final blow to Steel Bone.

Minato, Uchiha Homura, and Soji tested Steel Bone’s Steel Release and used their coordinated plan to exploit his weak points. After a brutal exchange, Soji struck Steel Bone with Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Air Palm, and Steel Bone collapsed, leaving the three battered but victorious.

• Minato and Uchiha Homura used a transformed shadow clone and a pair of giant shuriken to strike Steel Bone’s throat, confirming that his Steel Release left vulnerable areas.
• Steel Bone charged Uchiha Homura and drove him to a cliff, where Homura bound one wrist with steel wire and Minato broke his arms while restraining the other hand.
• Soji stabbed at Steel Bone’s eye but was kicked into the air, breaking several ribs as he spat blood onto Steel Bone’s face.
• Soji used Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Air Palm to smash the ground beneath Steel Bone and bury him in rubble.
• Steel Bone climbed out of the pit, praised the three, and fell backward dead.

Soji, Uchiha Homura, and Minato Namikaze defeated Steel Bone through a risky coordinated attack, but Lihuo threatened them after Steel Bone fell. Kushina Uzumaki arrived and beat Lihuo unconscious, leaving the injured squad victorious.

• Soji, Uchiha Homura, and Minato Namikaze celebrated after their plan killed Steel Bone, with Soji explaining how their trust and sacrifices made the attack succeed.
• Lihuo emerged from hiding, kicked Steel Bone's corpse, and threatened to kill the wounded survivors or take their eyes for profit.
• Soji revealed that someone else could fight for them, and Kushina Uzumaki arrived and kicked Lihuo into a mountain wall.
• Kushina Uzumaki beat Lihuo until he was swollen and unconscious, while Uchiha Homura narrowly avoided being beaten himself.
• Soji reminded Lihuo that their squad had four members, and the five-hour battle finally ended.

Jiraiya rescued Soji, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Homura after their battle against the Steel Release ninja, then brought the injured team to Hot Spring Town to recover. He considered seeking a reward for their achievement as they settled into the bustling town.

• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, who carried Soji and the other injured boys out of Wuyang Valley while Kushina Uzumaki joined them.
• Jiraiya revealed that he had secretly followed the team and alerted nearby Anbu to handle the battlefield, then ordered the boys to rest and recover.
• Jiraiya recalled how the three genin had defeated the Steel Release ninja through teamwork, and decided to seek a benefit for them from the village.
• Gamabunta carried the team to a nearby town, where Jiraiya dispelled the summoning after townspeople gathered to stop the giant toad.
• Jiraiya led Soji, Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Homura, and Kushina Uzumaki into Hot Spring Town so the injured boys could recover.

Soji and his companions arrived in Hot Spring Town, received treatment for their injuries, and settled into a guesthouse while Jiraiya went out to gather intelligence. After Kushina and Minato left the room, Soji recalled how his friends had once beaten him for acting cool, then he and Homura traded teasing remarks before resting.

• Jiraiya ogled women as he led the injured Soji, Uchiha Homura, and Minato Namikaze through Hot Spring Town to the hospital.
• A doctor treated Uchiha Homura's internal injuries, bandaged Soji's broken ribs, and put Minato's fractured arms in casts.
• Jiraiya settled the group into a guesthouse and left to gather intelligence, prompting Homura and Kushina Uzumaki to question what he really meant.
• Kushina teased Minato about avoiding Jiraiya's habits, then blushed and fled to the hot springs while Minato went to another room.
• Soji remembered how his friends had beaten him for claiming women affected his throwing speed, and Homura used the line to tease him.
• Soji and Homura traded sarcastic remarks before closing their eyes to rest.

After recovering in Hot Spring Town, Soji and his teammates learned that the Third Hokage had promoted them to chunin and raised their mission to S-rank. They prepared to resume their journey the next day, excited by their new ranks and mission credit.

• Jiraiya returned from gathering intelligence, and Soji and the others spent nearly two weeks recovering from their injuries in Hot Spring Town.
• As the team prepared to leave, a messenger hawk delivered a scroll from the Third Hokage.
• Jiraiya announced that Soji, Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Homura, and Kushina Uzumaki had been promoted to chunin.
• Jiraiya explained that Kushina's defeat of a Grass jonin had helped Konoha obtain important intelligence.
• Jiraiya revealed that the Third Hokage had raised their A-rank mission to S-rank and awarded each of them credit for an additional A-rank mission.

Four years into their S-rank mission, Soji and his teammates had helped make the Land of Fire safer while the ninja world descended into war. With their mission ending in two days, Soji pursued Ice Release to break through his strength bottleneck, aware that his teammates had also grown powerful.

• Soji, Uchiha Homura, Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze had spent four years suppressing rogue ninjas across the Land of Fire while Konoha's forces fought wars on several fronts.
• The group discussed the conflicts involving Konoha, Sunagakure, the Land of Rain, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure, and Kushina hoped the war would soon end.
• After defeating a murderous band of Rogue Ninjas, Soji used Impure World Reincarnation to bring back those who had killed themselves, tormenting them before returning them to the Pure Land.
• Minato announced that their four-year mission would end in two days, and the team camped for the night before returning to Konoha.
• Soji trained alone, trying to combine Wind Release and Water Release to create Ice Release and overcome his Byakugan-related strength bottleneck.
• Soji recognized that he had reached Elite Jonin strength, while Uchiha Homura, Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze had also become formidable fighters.

Soji continued struggling to merge Water Release and Wind Release into Ice Release, then challenged Minato to an all-out spar to test his limits. As the fight began, Soji recognized that fear of losing had been holding him back and finally let go of it.

• Soji failed another attempt to merge Water Release and Wind Release, but kept training until he was exhausted.
• Minato watched Soji train and resolved not to slack off himself.
• The next day, Soji, Minato, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura traveled toward Konoha and camped for the night.
• Soji challenged Minato to an all-out spar, hoping the pressure would help him break through his bottleneck.
• Soji realized he had avoided fighting Minato because he feared losing his reputation as a Hyuga Clan genius, then faced Minato without fear as they prepared to spar.

Soji fought Minato but lost when Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind him. Afterward, Soji realized the battle had lifted his limits and brought him closer to mastering Ice Release.

• Soji attacked Minato with several Gentle Fist techniques, but Minato dodged them and avoided the White Moon Heavenly Dance.
• Minato placed a Flying Thunder God mark on Soji while using his shoulder to evade the white dragon, then used the mark to win the fight.
• Soji recognized the Flying Thunder God Technique and learned that Minato had mastered it about a year earlier.
• Uchiha Homura explained his clan's records of Tobirama Senju and its resentment over his treatment of the Uchiha Clan.
• Minato explained that the technique let him teleport to marked targets, while Soji sensed that the fight had brought him closer to mastering Ice Release.

Soji, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura returned to Konoha after their mission, where the Third Hokage told them the Land of Fire’s Daimyo wanted to form the Guardians of the Twelve Ninja and had specifically requested their squad. The Third Hokage was about to explain how they should respond when an Anbu member entered his office.

• Soji, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura reached Konoha and passed the gate guards’ identity checks.
• Minato Namikaze led the squad to report to the Third Hokage, who praised their mission and said the Daimyo had requested a meeting with them.
• The Third Hokage explained that the Daimyo wanted to form the Guardians of the Twelve Ninja and had specifically named their team.
• Minato Namikaze asked the Third Hokage what they should do, and the Third Hokage prepared to answer.
• An Anbu member knocked and entered the Hokage’s office before the Third Hokage could speak.

Soji learned that Hyuga Kumokawa had been poisoned while protecting Konoha’s forces and was unlikely to recover, then spent three days anxiously waiting for his return. When Kumokawa refused hospital treatment and went home, Soji reached his crowded house and stopped outside his grandfather’s room.

• An Anbu member reported that Hanzō had defeated Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, while Konoha and Sunagakure each suffered heavy losses.
• The Anbu revealed that Hyuga Kumokawa had been poisoned during Sunagakure’s surprise attack and was in critical condition despite Tsunade preparing an antidote.
• Soji was comforted by Minato, Kushina, and Uchiha Homura, then returned home and visited Hyuga Ryusuke, Hiashi, Hizashi, and several clan elders.
• Soji waited at home for three days, and the injured Konoha forces returned with Kumokawa, who refused the Third Hokage’s hospital arrangements and went home instead.
• Soji returned to find Hyuga clan members gathered outside his house and made his way to the entrance of Kumokawa’s room.

Soji said farewell to his dying grandfather, Hyuga Kumokawa, who revealed the Hyuga Clan’s hidden path to Kage-level power and warned him of a great enemy. Hyuga Kumokawa shared his preparations for Soji’s future before passing away peacefully.

• The Hyuga Clan members left Soji alone with Hyuga Kumokawa, and Soji entered his grandfather’s room in tears.
• Soji and Hyuga Kumokawa exchanged fond words before Hyuga Kumokawa explained that the Hyuga Clan had a great enemy and a dangerous way to break the Byakugan’s limits.
• Hyuga Kumokawa told Soji to seek the clan’s ancestral land only if desperate, since Hyuga experts who reached Kage-level there had vanished.
• Hyuga Kumokawa gave Soji scrolls recording border deployments, terrain, and hidden routes, then asked him to protect the Hyuga Clan.
• Soji promised to honor his grandfather’s wishes, and Hyuga Kumokawa closed his eyes and passed away peacefully.

After Hyuga Kumokawa died, Soji grieved and awakened his Ice Release, which pushed him into the Kage-level ranks. He spent the night developing his first Ice Release technique and began arranging his grandfather’s funeral.

• Hyuga Kumokawa died, and Soji remained beside his body, consumed by grief and self-reproach.
• Soji’s grief triggered an Ice Release awakening that froze the estate, and he stopped the power before ordering the servants to keep it secret and go home.
• Soji realized his Ice Release awakening had made him a Kage-level expert and resolved to develop his own Ice Release ninjutsu.
• Soji named his first technique Ice Release—Ice Breath, melted the estate’s ice, and promised to protect his family and let his grandfather see the peaceful world someday.
• Soji trained throughout the night to refine Ice Breath, then ordered a servant to prepare Hyuga Kumokawa’s funeral arrangements.

After Elder Hyuga Kumokawa’s funeral, Soji succeeded him as the Main House’s Third Elder and returned to village life after a long rest. He reunited with his teammates, and the Third Hokage promoted all four of them to Special Jonin.

• Soji attended his first Main House council meeting as Third Elder, and Clan Head Hyuga Ryusuke promised the clan would support him.
• Hyuga Ryusuke urged Soji to honor his grandfather’s wishes, and Soji returned home to sleep for a day and a night.
• Soji learned that Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Homura had visited, then met Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi while walking around Konoha.
• Soji reunited with Minato, Kushina, and Homura outside the Hokage Building, and they went in together after the Third Hokage summoned their squad.
• The Third Hokage announced that Soji, Minato, Kushina, and Homura had all been promoted to Special Jonin.