Chapter Summaries

Mu Yue told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Might Duy had mastered the Eight Gates, prompting the Third Hokage to arrange a test and consider promoting him. Mu Yue brought Duy to meet Hiruzen’s Shadow Clone, while asking Duy to keep Mu Yue’s own strength secret.

• After training, Mu Yue told his students to gather at Might Guy’s house for Guy’s birthday, then headed to the Hokage Building.
• Mu Yue reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi that Might Duy was an exceptionally powerful genin who had mastered the Eight Gates.
• Hiruzen explained that the Eight Gates was a Forbidden Jutsu from the Scroll of Seals and that Might Duy had been part of Senju Tobirama’s failed effort to form an Eight Gates unit.
• Hiruzen created a Shadow Clone to test Duy and said Duy could be promoted to chunin if his mastery was confirmed.
• Mu Yue went to fetch Duy, urged him to show his full strength, and asked him not to reveal Mu Yue’s strength to Hiruzen.
• Mu Yue and Duy headed to the training ground where Hiruzen’s Shadow Clone was waiting.

Mu Yue arranged for Hiruzen Sarutobi to witness Might Duy’s mastery of the Eight Gates, leading Hiruzen to promote Duy to chunin. Duy and Mu Yue prepared a joint training gift for Might Guy, and Duy arrived home with his promotion news as the birthday gathering waited for them.

• Might Duy opened the Sixth Gate and sparred with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Shadow Clone, demonstrating strength and speed that impressed the Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi promoted Might Duy to chunin in recognition of his mastery of the Eight Gates and his fulfillment of Senju Tobirama’s wish.
• Might Duy collected his flak jacket and promotion form, while Mu Yue suggested they write taijutsu training insights as a birthday gift for Might Guy.
• Obito, Nohara Rin, Shisui, Kakashi, and the other guests waited at Might Guy’s home and wondered why Mu Yue and Might Duy were late.
• Might Duy arrived home and announced himself to the gathered guests.

Might Duy returned home as a Chunin, and Might Guy celebrated his father’s achievement and thanked Mu Yue for helping him. At Might Guy’s birthday gathering, his friends and teachers gave him gifts, including a training notebook from Mu Yue and Might Duy, leaving him determined to live up to their expectations.

• Might Duy came home wearing a Chunin vest and told Might Guy he had become a Chunin, and the two embraced in tears of joy.
• Might Duy told Might Guy to thank Mu Yue, and Might Guy tearfully expressed his gratitude for everything Mu Yue had done for him and his family.
• Obito gave Might Guy a green jumpsuit, Nohara Rin presented him with a painting of their training group, Shisui gave him weighted ninja gear, and Kakashi gave him Cultivation Elixirs.
• Mu Yue gave Might Guy a notebook containing taijutsu training insights he and Might Duy had written together, including notes on the Eight Gates and Stone Breathing.
• Might Guy thanked Mu Yue and Might Duy for their gifts and vowed not to disappoint them.

After receiving perfect-level Armament Haki from Might Guy’s birthday gift, Mu Yue considered teaching it to Guy and hoped it could strengthen him when he opened the Eight Gates. The celebration continued with Obito inviting everyone to his upcoming birthday, while Mu Yue left to test his idea in the Southern Forest.

• Might Guy’s gratitude for Mu Yue’s taijutsu insights triggered a super critical hit, rewarding Mu Yue with perfect-level Armament Haki.
• Mu Yue learned that localized Armament Haki was a Yin Release technique that could harden the body, coat limbs, and greatly enhance attacks and defense.
• Mu Yue considered teaching Might Guy to use Armament Haki’s Hardening, especially while opening the Eight Gates, but recognized that the idea remained untested.
• Obito invited everyone to his February 10th birthday, and Mu Yue planned to prepare carefully to earn a major reward from him.
• Obito and Kakashi argued over their performance during the Land of Fields mission while Nohara Rin listened.
• Mu Yue went alone to the Southern Forest to test his new idea.

Mu Yue tested Armament Haki’s defensive and offensive uses, its compatibility with Ninjutsu and Breathing Techniques, and its limits when combined with the Eight Gates. He concluded that teaching Might Guy the technique would be difficult and could take years.

• Mu Yue tested Armament Haki against a kunai, Lightning Release, and False Darkness, finding its defense powerful enough to withstand the attacks.
• Mu Yue enhanced a shuriken and Chidori with Armament Haki, discovering that it greatly increased their power but worked with only certain Ninjutsu.
• Mu Yue confirmed that Armament Haki worked alongside Breathing Techniques’ Marked State and the Eight Gates, but opening three gates forced it to cover his whole body and consume Chakra rapidly.
• Mu Yue found that combining the Eight Gates, Stone Breathing’s Marked State, and Armament Haki drained too much Chakra to last three seconds.
• Mu Yue worried that Might Guy’s weak talent for Ninjutsu and the need to learn Yin Release would make mastering Armament Haki take years.

Mu Yue brought his disciples to the Southern Forest and began teaching them Armament Haki, a Yin Release technique that strengthened attack and defense. After demonstrating its powerful protection against weapons and Shisui’s Fire Release, Mu Yue prepared to show how it enhanced offense.

• Mu Yue took his disciples to the Southern Forest to train and teach a secret technique, where Kakashi realized Shisui and Nohara Rin were also his disciples.
• Mu Yue explained that Armament Haki was a Yin Release technique and covered his arm in black Haki.
• Shisui tested the technique with a kunai, but could not damage Mu Yue’s arm even after using Chakra and Flame Breathing, and the kunai’s tip broke.
• Shisui attacked Mu Yue with Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Claw, but Mu Yue covered his whole body in Armament Haki and emerged unscathed.
• Mu Yue warned his disciples not to use full-body Haki before mastering it, then began concentrating Haki around his fist to demonstrate its offensive power.

Mu Yue demonstrated Armament Haki’s destructive power and taught his disciples how it could harden weapons and strengthen certain Ninjutsu, while explaining its limits and Chakra costs. He began teaching Yin Release to Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy as he trained Shisui in Armament Haki, and received Added-Weight Rock Technique as a teaching reward.

• Mu Yue struck the riverbank with Armament Haki, sending a shockwave through the trees and river that amazed Kakashi, Shisui, Obito, and Might Guy.
• Mu Yue coated a kunai in Armament Haki and shattered a rock, then used Armament-enhanced Purple Electricity to destroy Kakashi’s Mud Wall.
• Mu Yue explained that Armament Haki could strengthen weapons and some Ninjutsu but consumed substantial Chakra, then assigned Yin Release training to Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy.
• Mu Yue’s Shadow Clone taught the three disciples that Yin Release drew on spiritual power, while Mu Yue taught Shisui to imagine Armament Haki as invisible armor.
• Mu Yue received the proficient Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique as a Teaching Disciple Returns reward for teaching Shisui Armament Haki.

Mu Yue trained Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy in Yin Release Nature Transformation, then visited the holiday special training and heard the students complain about their teachers. The next day, he began teaching Kakashi Thunder Breathing.

• Mu Yue checked his students’ Yin Release progress, then had Might Guy train the Eight Gates while Kakashi and Obito continued practicing Nature Transformation.
• Mu Yue sent a Shadow Clone to visit the holiday special training, where Anko and other students complained that the teachers assigned too much training and gave them too little rest.
• Mu Yue promised to discuss a more reasonable training plan with the special training teachers and told the students he hoped to lead future sessions if Lord Third Hokage arranged it.
• The next morning, Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy practiced Yin Release while Shisui trained Armament Haki, and Mu Yue began teaching Kakashi Thunder Breathing that afternoon.

Mu Yue taught Kakashi Thunder Breathing and demonstrated its power, while Kakashi began the difficult training. Might Guy opened the Gate of Opening, and Mu Yue arranged combat training for his disciples as their strength grew.

• Mu Yue taught Kakashi that Thunder Breathing could enhance Lightning Release and speed, then demonstrated its Chakra Mode and devastating attacks.
• Kakashi began practicing Concentrated Breathing but made no proficiency progress during the afternoon.
• Might Guy successfully opened the Gate of Opening, earning Mu Yue an Eight Gates reward that granted him mastery of the complete technique.
• Five days later, Obito's training reward gave Mu Yue Proficient Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation, which raised his skill to Master level.
• Mu Yue found that Might Guy, using Stone Breathing and the Eight Gates, was slightly stronger than he was and scheduled fights between Might Guy and Kakashi, and Obito and Shisui.

Might Guy used Stone Breathing and the Eight Gates to defeat Kakashi in their battle. After winning, Guy received an optional Life Mission to become the strongest in Taijutsu.

• Kakashi and Might Guy began their fight, and Kakashi's Shadow Clones and Purple Electricity failed to stop Guy.
• Might Guy combined Stone Breathing with the Gate of Opening and overwhelmed Kakashi with his speed and strength.
• Might Guy remembered his years of training and Mu Yue's belief that he could become the strongest in Taijutsu.
• Might Guy struck Kakashi with the Super Konoha Strong Whirlwind, sending him into a tree and leaving him unable to stand.
• Might Guy won the battle and gained the optional Life Mission, Road to Becoming the Strongest in Taijutsu.

Might Guy defeated Kakashi, while Shisui defeated Obito in a training battle by using Shadow Clones and Genjutsu. Mu Yue treated the injured students, accepted Might Guy’s difficult Life Mission, and ended the chapter preparing for Kakashi and Shisui to fight.

• Mu Yue accepted Might Guy’s Life Mission to become the strongest taijutsu user and treated Kakashi after Guy defeated him.
• Might Guy celebrated his victory and encouraged Kakashi to train so they could compete again.
• Mu Yue sent Shisui and Obito to fight and called Nohara Rin over to watch.
• Shisui used Body Flicker, Shadow Clones, and Genjutsu to defeat Obito, who became frustrated that the illusion had involved Nohara Rin.
• Mu Yue explained how to resist Genjutsu and told Obito that awakening the Sharingan would protect him from ordinary Genjutsu.
• Mu Yue extended Kakashi’s rest and prepared to begin the battle between Kakashi and Shisui once Kakashi had mostly recovered.

Shisui defeated Kakashi in a sparring match, forcing Kakashi to question whether he still deserved to be called a genius. Kakashi returned to the viewing area and challenged Obito to prove his strength by defeating Might Guy, whose match was next.

• Mu Yue began the spar between Shisui and Kakashi, and the two exchanged sword strikes, fire, shuriken, clones, and feints.
• Shisui used his Sharingan and genjutsu to outmaneuver Kakashi and win the match.
• Kakashi reflected on his losses and his father's death before Mu Yue comforted him.
• Obito teased Kakashi, who challenged him to defeat Might Guy to prove he could match him.
• Nohara Rin urged Obito to prepare for his upcoming battle with Might Guy.

Obito fought Might Guy and lost after pushing himself to his limits, but his final attack showed that his Breathing Technique had improved. Mu Yue treated the injured disciples, and Kakashi resolved to train harder; later, Minato brought Jiraiya to meet Mu Yue and invited him to dinner.

• Obito attacked Might Guy with Fire Release, but Guy used Stone Breathing and the first gate of the Eight Gates to overwhelm him in close combat.
• Obito rejected his doubts and blocked Guy's final kick with a fiery punch, but Guy ultimately kicked him down and won the match.
• Mu Yue and Nohara Rin treated Obito and Guy, while Obito bragged to Kakashi that he had nearly won and vowed to defeat him after improving his Breathing Technique.
• Kakashi began practicing Thunder Breathing with renewed determination, and Might Guy resumed exercising after Obito received treatment.
• Minato introduced his teacher Jiraiya to Mu Yue, who invited them to stay for dinner.

Jiraiya joined Mu Yue and Minato for a meal, praised Mu Yue’s cooking, and learned that Minato had been bringing food to Kushina under the excuse of being busy. Their discussion of a chakra-storing seal gave Mu Yue ideas for developing an automated Stone Breathing Marked State seal, and Jiraiya and Minato left as Mu Yue appraised Jiraiya.

• Jiraiya tasted Mu Yue’s Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish and other dishes, praised the cooking, and competed with Minato to eat.
• Minato apologized for pretending to be too busy to eat and explained that he had been bringing Mu Yue’s food to Kushina during her secret training; Mu Yue agreed to provide her another portion.
• Mu Yue proposed a seal that could store and release chakra, and Jiraiya explained the dangers of disrupting the chakra pathways and damaging the body.
• Mu Yue reconsidered his plan and thought he could create an automated Stone Breathing Marked State seal to withstand the released chakra.
• Jiraiya and Minato left, and Mu Yue appraised Jiraiya as he departed.

Mu Yue assessed Jiraiya’s strength and continued developing a Sealing Jutsu, realizing he needed more Medical Ninjutsu knowledge and considering seeking Tsunade’s help. After Kakashi learned Armament Haki, Mu Yue took his disciples on a C-rank mission to test its rewards and train outside the village.

• Mu Yue compared Jiraiya’s abilities with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s, noted Minato Namikaze’s growing Chakra, and returned to researching Sealing Jutsu.
• Mu Yue’s disciples trained hard after their spar, each working to improve their skills and compete with one another.
• Mu Yue raised Mystical Palm Technique to the proficient level with a Ninjutsu Proficiency Scroll, but found he still lacked the Medical Ninjutsu knowledge needed for his Sealing Jutsu.
• Mu Yue decided to wait before approaching Tsunade, choosing to improve his apparent strength and Jiraiya’s favorability first.
• Kakashi mastered beginner-level Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation, then learned Armament Haki from Mu Yue and earned Earth Release: Earth Spikes at the proficient level.
• Mu Yue announced that he would take his disciples on a C-rank mission, and Obito cheered at the news.

Mu Yue chose a C-rank mission in the Land of Rivers to drive away a dangerous black Giant Eagle, hoping it might prove to be a Ninja Beast he could summon. The team set out without accepting any war missions, while Obito remained eager to encounter enemy ninja.

• Obito and Kakashi argued about Obito’s poor theoretical knowledge as they walked to the Hokage Building with Mu Yue.
• Mu Yue learned that teams with intern students could not accept war missions and selected a C-rank mission in the Land of Rivers instead.
• The mission required the team to drive away a black Giant Eagle that had been stealing livestock near Kawakita Town.
• Mu Yue hoped the Giant Eagle was a Ninja Beast that could become a Bird Summoning Beast, while Obito was disappointed that the mission was not in the Land of Fields.

Mu Yue’s team learned that the Giant Eagle called Big Black had only taken the town chief’s poultry, and that the chief had coerced the townspeople into paying for a mission to drive it away. Mu Yue decided to reach Kawakita Town and investigate before acting.

• Mu Yue questioned Hamajiro about Big Black’s abilities, then led the team toward Kawakita Town.
• After knocking out Hamajiro’s two escorts with genjutsu, Mu Yue learned they had been sent by the town chief to watch Hamajiro.
• Hamajiro explained that Big Black had never harassed residents and that the town chief wanted to capture it as a pet.
• Hamajiro revealed that the town chief had forced the townspeople to fund the mission by threatening to stop renting them farmland.
• Mu Yue told the team to visit Kawakita Town and inspect the supposedly troublesome Giant Eagle before deciding what to do.

Mu Yue and his students investigated the Giant Eagle at Kawakita Town and found it injured by Lightning Release. Mu Yue healed it and won its trust with roasted meat, then warned his students that hostile ninja might be nearby.

• Mu Yue led Obito, Kakashi, and Might Guy up the mountain to find the Giant Eagle while planning to investigate the town chief's claims first.
• The team found the Giant Eagle, and Mu Yue noticed its Lightning Release wound before stopping Kakashi from attacking.
• When the Giant Eagle struck at him, Mu Yue knocked it down and healed its wing with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• The Giant Eagle befriended Mu Yue and brought him prey, then eagerly traded it for most of his roasted boar.
• After the team ate, Mu Yue warned his students that hostile ninja could be in the area, possibly Kumogakure ninja who had injured the eagle.

Mu Yue uncovered the town chief’s exploitation and learned that three Kumogakure ninja planned to kill him after capturing the Giant Eagle. He decided to let Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy face the ninja, while he checked for hidden threats.

• Mu Yue overheard the town chief admit to annexing farmland and targeting a local girl, then followed the chief and his guards to meet the ninja.
• The town chief offered the ninja fifty thousand ryo to deal with the Giant Eagle.
• Iraka proposed killing the town chief and framing Sand ninja, while Hairo warned that their actions could harm Kumogakure’s reputation.
• Mu Yue identified the three men as Kumogakure ninja and judged them suitable opponents for his disciples.
• Mu Yue sent a Shadow Clone after the ninja and searched the area with his Byakugan for other threats.

Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy encountered three Kumogakure ninja and lured them away from the village to fight on a nearby mountain. Might Guy gained the upper hand against Beroka and opened the Gate of Opening, while Kakashi and Obito engaged Iraka and Hairo.

• Iraka spotted Kakashi's team in the village, and Kakashi recognized the three dark-skinned ninja as likely Kumogakure shinobi.
• Obito suggested moving the fight to the mountain, and both teams raced across the rooftops while exchanging ninja tools.
• Kakashi assigned himself to fight sword-wielding Iraka, Might Guy to fight Beroka, and Obito to stop Hairo.
• Might Guy sent Beroka crashing into a tree with a Konoha Hurricane, then fought him in close combat.
• Beroka used a lightning-wreathed punch, but Might Guy dodged with Soru and activated Total Concentration Breathing and the Gate of Opening.