Chapter Summaries

Rasa and Ōnoki reviewed the mine mission, while Ōnoki learned that Deidara had mastered three nature transformations and began preparing to teach him Dust Release. Meanwhile, Obito recruited Hiruko into the Moon Organization by promising to obtain the Kekkei Genkai he needed in exchange for his service and Chimera Technique.

• Rasa read Baki's report and learned that Master Zen Kong had captured Han and secured Sunagakure's share of the mine without casualties.
• Rasa ordered Baki to gather more intelligence on Master Zen Kong.
• Ōnoki summoned Deidara, who demonstrated that he had mastered three nature transformations and asked to learn Dust Release.
• Ōnoki agreed to teach Deidara Dust Release and warned him not to interrupt his training.
• Obito met Hiruko at Mount Sumeru and offered the Moon Organization's help obtaining Kekkei Genkai in exchange for Hiruko's service and Chimera Technique.
• Hiruko agreed to cooperate after learning that the Moon Organization opposed Konoha.

Sekishu Sarutobi reported on Master Zen Kong and Konoha’s plans to contact the Akatsuki Organization, while Asuma shared what he had learned from Zen Kong. In Orochimaru’s laboratory, Senyo and Orochimaru interrogated the reincarnated Danzo, uncovering his role in several deaths and his research into the Gozu Tennō Plan.

• Sekishu Sarutobi reported that Master Zen Kong used unfamiliar Fuinjutsu, and the Third Hokage considered contacting the Akatsuki Organization and returning Gaara to Sunagakure.
• Asuma told the Third Hokage about his conversation with Zen Kong, prompting the Hokage to consider using Sunagakure.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to summon Danzo under his control, and Danzo admitted that he had helped cause Nawaki’s death at Hiruzen’s direction.
• Danzo explained that he and Hiruzen had arranged Dan Katō’s death and spread rumors that drove Hatake Sakumo to his death.
• Senyo asked why Danzo had researched the Tsuchigumo Clan’s secret technique, and Danzo said it was to accelerate the Gozu Tennō Plan.

The newly graduated teams gathered in Konoha to celebrate their first missions and share stories of their close calls. Meanwhile, Sekishu Sarutobi offered Rasa three billion to help the Third Hokage oppose the Uchiha, and Rasa accepted the money and shared how Sunagakure had made Gaara go berserk.

• Karin hosted a toast as the teams reunited at the barbecue restaurant and discussed their first missions.
• Sasuke and Naruto argued about their mistakes in battle, and Karin learned Sasuke had been frightened before Sasuke paid for her meal to keep her quiet.
• The teams discussed how many missions their teachers would supervise, while Naruto and Gaara talked amiably.
• Sekishu Sarutobi met Rasa in Sunagakure and offered three billion to cover Gaara's ransom as part of the Third Hokage's plan against the Uchiha.
• Rasa accepted the money and revealed how Sunagakure had made Gaara go berserk; Sekishu suggested turning to the Akatsuki Organization if the plan failed.

Nagato used the Rinne Rebirth Technique to revive Yahiko, with Orochimaru monitoring the cost and Senyo ready to intervene. Yahiko awoke after fourteen years dead, while the group planned further experiments once Nagato recovered his ocular power.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto prepared Yahiko's body and fitted Nagato with monitors and an infusion of the Water of Life.
• Nagato performed the Rinne Rebirth Technique, and Senyo's formation helped a phantom enter Yahiko's body.
• Nagato spent about a third of his life force, and Yahiko's heart began beating as he awoke.
• Konan embraced Yahiko and told him he had been dead for fourteen years, while Nagato reunited with him.
• Orochimaru explained that the technique had consumed roughly sixty percent of Nagato's ocular power and described how future revival experiments could reduce or measure the costs.
• Senyo agreed to choose another person for revival once Nagato's ocular power recovered.

After Yahiko’s revival, Nagato recuperated while Yahiko learned about Obito’s deception and adjusted to his enhanced body. At the Uchiha compound, Senyo let Gaara choose whether to return to Sunagakure, and Gaara refused, leaving Chiyo unable to ransom him.

• Nagato rested after reviving Yahiko, while Yahiko learned what Nagato and Konan had endured and grew furious at Obito’s deception.
• The Elite Class students matured through missions, while factions waited for more evidence of Master Zen Kong’s abilities.
• Chiyo returned to the Uchiha compound and offered three billion to ransom Gaara, but Senyo demanded one hundred billion.
• Senyo brought Gaara into the meeting and asked whether he wanted to return to Sunagakure.
• Gaara refused to return, citing Rasa’s attempts to assassinate him, and said he wanted to stay with the Uchiha.
• Senyo told Chiyo that Gaara could stay if he wished, and Chiyo left without him.

Senyo promised Karin that Gaara could remain in Uchiha, while Orochimaru began treating Yakumo with Water of Life. After Uchiha refused to return Gaara, Rasa ordered Baki to contact the Akatsuki Organization and test its stance.

• Karin told Senyo that Gaara was crying and asked him to let Gaara stay in Uchiha, and Senyo promised he would not leave.
• Orochimaru infused Yakumo with medicine made using Water of Life and instructed her to control Ido’s energy absorption.
• Yakumo felt stronger after the treatment, and Orochimaru told her to begin intense physical training.
• Chiyo told Rasa that Uchiha had rejected Sunagakure’s request to take Gaara back because Gaara did not want to return.
• Rasa sent Baki to Amegakure to contact the Akatsuki Organization and ask whether Master Zen Kong could help retrieve the Tailed Beast.

Kakuzu negotiated with Baki to capture Gaara, raising the price to three billion and promising to return the One-Tail without guaranteeing Gaara’s survival. At the Hyuga clan, Hinata and Hanabi tied in a Gentle Fist match, and Hiashi postponed choosing the heir until they came of age.

• Baki offered Kakuzu two billion to recover the One-Tail Jinchuriki, and Kakuzu contacted Konan for approval.
• Konan accepted the mission, and Kakuzu told Baki it would cost three billion to return the Tailed Beast, with no guarantee about Gaara.
• Baki agreed to pay after receiving the Tailed Beast and left to retrieve Sunagakure’s sealing vessel.
• Hinata and Hanabi fought with the Gentle Fist until Muneaki stopped the match and declared it a draw.
• Hiashi delayed deciding between Hinata and Hanabi as heir until they came of age, while Sota left without reacting.

The Third Hokage and Senyo separately arranged for the Akatsuki Organization to target Gaara, while Senyo prepared a mission to get Gaara out of the village. Hinata’s special training left her unavailable, so Senyo assigned Gaara to Team One in her place as the team assembled for its first independent mission.

• Hiashi and Zongzhao discussed Hinata’s potential marriage alliances, and Hiashi decided to give her special training.
• The Third Hokage learned that the Akatsuki Organization had accepted the mission to capture Gaara and told Sekishu to monitor the plan and investigate Master Zen Kong.
• Senyo learned Hinata would be unavailable and decided to replace her with Gaara, then instructed Itachi to create an escort mission to the Daimyo’s Mansion.
• Sasuke and Naruto gathered for Team One’s mission, and Senyo arrived with Gaara.
• Senyo told Sasuke and Naruto that Hinata was training at home and Gaara would join their team for the mission.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara set out on their first independent escort mission, unaware that Senyo was following them and that the Third Hokage had arranged a secret meeting with the Akatsuki. Sekishu Sarutobi met Master Zen Kong, who claimed he could separate a Jinchuriki from a Tailed Beast without killing the host.

• Senyo assigned Sasuke as squad leader and warned him that he would be responsible for Naruto and Gaara's lives.
• Sasuke reviewed the escort mission for Gohei, collected safety ropes, and led Naruto and Gaara out of Konoha.
• Itachi, disguised as Gohei, scrutinized the young team, then traveled with them as Sasuke arranged their protective formation.
• Senyo confirmed the team had left Konoha and followed them, while an Anbu reported the mission to the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage sent Sekishu Sarutobi to meet the Akatsuki, and Sekishu escorted Master Zen Kong toward their rendezvous.
• Sekishu asked whether Zen Kong could extract a Tailed Beast while keeping its Jinchuriki alive, and Zen Kong said he could.

Sekishu Sarutobi learned Zen Kong’s views on Jinchuriki while the two tracked Gaara’s group toward an Akatsuki ambush at Guifeng. Kakuzu confronted Senyo to delay him, and Gaara’s scream and a burst of tailed beast Chakra revealed that the attack had begun.

• Zen Kong told Sekishu that magical beasts should be sealed only inside powerful adults, and said the Akatsuki Organization would lure Senyo away while Sekishu intercepted Gaara.
• Sekishu and Zen Kong tracked Gaara’s group for a day and planned to strike near Guifeng, where the Akatsuki members were waiting.
• That night, Sekishu watched Zen Kong eat a coarse-grain cake and considered whether they could cooperate over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki if the plan succeeded.
• The next day, Kakuzu hid in the mountainside and let Sasuke’s team pass before preparing to delay Senyo.
• Senyo spotted Kakuzu, who claimed he had come to warn about keeping Gaara among the Uchiha, as Gaara screamed and released a surge of tailed beast Chakra.
• Senyo accused the Akatsuki Organization of plotting against the Uchiha and declared that they were courting death.

Sekishu Sarutobi ambushed Gohei and fought Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara while Zen Kong revealed his real plan. Zen Kong released Shukaku from Gaara and bound the One-Tail with Adamantine Sealing Chains, while Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra emerged briefly before Zen Kong sent him flying toward Sasuke.

• Sekishu Sarutobi attacked Gohei, but Gaara blocked the incoming Shuriken with a sand wall.
• Sekishu Sarutobi overpowered Sasuke and Naruto, then used Great Fireball Slash to send Gaara and Gohei over the cliff.
• Zen Kong appeared, rescued Gaara, and removed the seal that held Shukaku inside him.
• Naruto saw Shukaku emerge and unleashed the Nine-Tails Chakra as Zen Kong used Canaan Holy Seal and flaming chains to bind Shukaku.
• Zen Kong dispersed Naruto's Tailed Beast Cloak and sent him toward the injured Sasuke, and the Nine-Tails withdrew the cloak.

Senyo’s group extracted Shukaku from Gaara, leaving him apparently dead, while Kakuzu and his allies escaped with the sealed beast. Senyo brought Gaara to Orochimaru’s laboratory and prepared to revive him using a secret life-transfer technique and the Water of Life.

• Zen Kong knocked Sasuke and Naruto unconscious after Shukaku was sealed inside a tea bowl, and Sasuke awakened his Two Tomoe Sharingan.
• Senyo caught Gaara and ordered Itachi to teach Sasuke and Naruto how dangerous the Shinobi World was before returning to save Gaara.
• Zen Kong told Kakuzu and Sekishu Sarutobi that Gaara was only in suspended death, and Kakuzu offered Akatsuki’s help with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for a fee.
• Senyo carried Gaara to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Orochimaru confirmed that Gaara had died during the Tailed Beast extraction.
• Senyo explained that he could transfer life force into Gaara and use the Water of Life to recover afterward.

Senyo used the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique and Karin’s healing ability to revive Gaara, draining his own life force and activating Karin’s Uzumaki Bloodline with Water of Life. Afterward, Senyo discovered that Karin’s cellular power had produced a small amount of Yin-Yang Fusion, the Power of All Creation, restoring a little of his ocular power.

• Orochimaru told Senyo that the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique consumed life force at a two-to-one ratio, and Karin arrived asking what had happened to Gaara.
• Orochimaru revealed that Gaara was dead and proposed using Karin’s ability to replenish the life force Senyo would lose reviving him.
• Senyo performed the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique while Karin supplied life force, and Kabuto used Water of Life to keep her from being drained to death.
• Gaara’s heart began beating again, and Karin recovered with her Uzumaki Bloodline highly activated, while Senyo’s hair turned white.
• Orochimaru explained that Karin’s cellular power had produced a small amount of Yin-Yang Fusion, the Power of All Creation, which restored some of Senyo’s ocular power.

Senyo and Orochimaru discussed fusing Sharingan genes and using the Power of All Creation to create an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. After waking from the failed mission, Sasuke and Naruto learned that Gaara had died but might still be saved, and Itachi explained why they should have retreated when the enemy proved too strong.

• Senyo and Orochimaru discussed Karin’s cells, Sharingan gene fusion, and plans involving Zhiyu, Ruri, Itachi, and Shion.
• Sasuke woke beside a campfire and checked on Naruto, who had recovered from his injuries because of the Nine-Tails.
• Itachi told Sasuke and Naruto that Gaara had died after his tailed beast was extracted, but that a senior had taken him for emergency treatment and he might be saved.
• Sasuke asked about Gohei, and Itachi explained that the employer had fallen from a cliff and was unlikely to have survived.
• Itachi told Sasuke and Naruto that they should have retreated when they realized the enemy was too strong, and reminded them that staying alive mattered most.

Kakuzu relayed Zen Kong’s requirements for Shukaku’s new Jinchuriki and prepared to negotiate with Sunagakure, while the Third Hokage decided to contact Akatsuki through Jiraiya. Gaara woke in Konoha after Shukaku’s extraction, learned Senyo had spent his life force to save him, and was welcomed into the Uchiha.

• Kakuzu agreed to pass Zen Kong’s requirements to Sunagakure: Shukaku needed a strong-willed adult Jinchuriki, and the Nine-Tails transfer required a sealing formation.
• The Third Hokage reviewed Sekishu Sarutobi’s report about Zen Kong’s ability to seal Tailed Beasts and decided Jiraiya should speak with Akatsuki.
• Gaara woke in Uchiha Hospital and learned Senyo had brought him back after Shukaku was extracted.
• Gaara celebrated being free of Shukaku, then realized the sand still protected him because it was his mother’s protection.
• Kabuto told Gaara that Senyo had given him life force to keep him alive, and Gaara saw that Senyo’s hair had turned partly white.
• Senyo caught Gaara, reaffirmed his promise to let him stay, and welcomed him as one of his Uchiha.

Naruto and Sasuke returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound with Itachi after their mission failed and Gaara’s tailed beast was extracted. Senyo arranged how the incident would be reported, explained his motives for taking Shukaku, and urged Itachi to grow stronger; the team then closed out the mission without owing compensation.

• Senyo told Sota Hyuga to report the truth about Gaara’s tailed beast extraction while taking responsibility for Naruto’s protection.
• Naruto greeted Gaara, and Senyo reassured Naruto and Sasuke before sending the team to close out their failed mission.
• Senyo explained to Itachi that he had taken Shukaku to provoke Akatsuki, raise Master Zen Kong’s reputation, and exploit Shukaku’s uncontrollable state.
• Senyo described Rasa’s importance to Sunagakure and urged Itachi to become stronger because the Uchiha Clan needed more powerful fighters.
• A Konoha staff member closed out the escort mission without compensation because the client had named no beneficiary, and an Anbu went to report the matter to the Hokage.

After the mission failed, Naruto returned home and asked Kushina what jutsu he should learn, and Senyo agreed to teach him the Rasengan and let him meet Minato. In Amegakure, Kakuzu handed Shukaku over to Sunagakure and warned them not to make a child its Jinchuriki again.

• Sasuke decided to focus on training, while Gaara planned to ask Lord Senyo about his future training, and Naruto said he would figure out what to learn.
• Naruto told Kushina about the failed mission, and she encouraged him before he asked her to recommend a jutsu.
• Kushina contacted Senyo, who agreed to personally teach Naruto the Rasengan and said Naruto should learn who his father was.
• Chiyo and Baki met Kakuzu in Amegakure, paid him for the mission, and took Shukaku back to Sunagakure.
• Kakuzu warned Baki that Zen Kong would extract Shukaku again if Sunagakure made a child its Jinchuriki.

Sasuke arrived at the training ground eager to learn a new technique, but Karin’s sudden growth left him focused on becoming taller and claiming the senior disciple title. Senyo began training Naruto and Gaara, told Sasuke that Naruto was younger and could be his elder brother, then asked Kakashi to demonstrate the Rasengan and Chidori.

• Karin teased Sasuke about being shorter and called herself his senior disciple sister, prompting him to hurry to the training ground hoping Senyo could help him grow taller.
• Senyo gave Naruto balloons to fill with water for a new technique and advised Gaara to practice precisely controlling his sand.
• Senyo told Sasuke that Naruto’s mother had been his mother’s best friend and that Sasuke could be Naruto’s elder brother because Naruto was younger.
• An Anbu brought Kakashi to Senyo, who asked Kakashi to reveal his Three Tomoe Sharingan and demonstrate the Rasengan and Chidori to Sasuke and Naruto.

Senyo assigned Kakashi to teach Sasuke Chidori and began teaching Naruto the Rasengan, tailoring each technique to the boy’s abilities. After an Anbu reported the lessons, the Third Hokage suspected Senyo might use Naruto’s father’s technique to prepare to reveal Naruto’s identity.

• Senyo had Kakashi demonstrate Chidori and ordered him to teach Sasuke, who was impressed by the technique.
• Senyo explained Chidori’s origins and told Sasuke that his Lightning Release affinity suited the technique.
• Senyo taught Naruto how the Rasengan worked, then had Naruto use Shadow Clones to practice with water balloons.
• Senyo quickly formed a Rasengan himself while Naruto and Sasuke trained under their respective teachers.
• An Anbu reported the lessons to the Third Hokage, who worried Senyo was favoring Naruto and might reveal his identity.

Naruto continued training to master the Rasengan while Sasuke tried unsuccessfully to become his big brother. Meanwhile, Hiruzen worried that Senyo would take power and destroy the Sarutobi Clan, and pursued the Gozu Tennō experiment as he prepared for a political struggle.

• Sasuke argued that Naruto should call him big brother because he was older, but Naruto refused, and Senyo sent Naruto back to Rasengan training.
• Kakashi reported to Hiruzen that Naruto respected Senyo and that Senyo was teaching him the Rasengan.
• Hiruzen and Sekishu Sarutobi discussed the danger of Senyo becoming Hokage and agreed that the Sarutobi Clan could be purged or pushed aside.
• Hiruzen summoned Shigaraki Tanuki, who reported that the Gozu Tennō Seal was created but required more experimentation or a blood sacrifice of over five thousand people.
• Hiruzen told Shigaraki Tanuki to reduce the number needed and told Sekishu that he would prepare for the worst.
• Hyuga ninja monitoring Naruto's home continued to avoid investigating it, following Senyo's order.