Chapter Summaries

Shisui tried to encourage young Uchiha Itachi to learn from the founders of Konoha, while Obito struggled to explain history in a way the toddler could understand. In the Land of Rain, Mu Yue used lessons and Ninjutsu rewards to attract and screen wandering ninjas, and the resulting publicity drew the attention of Yahiko and Hanzo.

• Shisui told Uchiha Itachi about Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, but Itachi admitted he was too young to understand the history.
• Obito asked Itachi a question about Konoha's tailed-beast sales, then bought him tri-color dango.
• Chi Chang and Kuroda attended Mu Yue's lesson in Ozutsuki Village after hearing that he taught Ninjutsu to exceptional listeners.
• Mu Yue selected a reflection about the Land of Rain's causes of war and taught its writer Ninjutsu after checking the learner's memories.
• Mu Yue paused his lessons until one hundred ninjas gathered, prompting listeners such as Chi Chang to spread exaggerated stories about him as Ninja Master Sōsuke.
• Yahiko led people toward Ozutsuki Village to recruit Mu Yue, while Hanzo sent Amegakure ninjas to investigate the rumors.

Mu Yue faced the ninjas who gathered in Ozutsuki Village to challenge his reputation and demonstrated overwhelming strength in a staged battle against his Shadow Clone. The crowd accepted him as a powerful teacher, while the Amegakure jonin decided to investigate him further.

• Chi Chang warned Mu Yue that his reputation had attracted hostile ninjas, but Mu Yue told him to write down his views on war and peace and went to meet the crowd.
• Yahiko tried to recruit a wandering ninja into the Akatsuki before Mu Yue arrived and introduced himself as Sōsuke.
• Ichigo Kurosaki challenged Mu Yue on behalf of Hanzo, and Mu Yue moved their fight outside the village.
• Mu Yue used powerful Lightning, Water, and Fire Release techniques, then demonstrated Taijutsu while explaining Ichigo Kurosaki's weaknesses.
• Ichigo Kurosaki admitted defeat but maintained that Mu Yue could not match Hanzo, while the Amegakure jonin resolved to investigate Mu Yue.
• The gathered ninjas asked Mu Yue to teach them Ninjutsu.

Mu Yue traveled through the Land of Rain to revive Ninshu, teaching its ideals and helping villagers while most of the gathered ninjas gradually left. After beginning lessons for the seventy-two who remained, he accepted Hanzo’s invitation to Amegakure, where they tested each other’s strength and Hanzo warned him that a bounty had been placed on Ninshu’s inheritance.

• Mu Yue explained that ancient ninjas of Ninshu had once worked to preserve peace, then declared that he would restore Ninshu and travel through the Land of Rain to teach those who shared his ideals.
• Yahiko invited Mu Yue to join Akatsuki, but Mu Yue refused and offered to pass on his knowledge to those who traveled with him; Yahiko, Konan, Chi Chang, and many others joined the journey.
• Mu Yue helped villagers, taught about Ninshu, and continued traveling as many ninjas left; after twenty days, seventy-two remained, and he began teaching them Chakra Control, Chakra Nature Transformation, Ninjutsu, and Sealing Jutsu.
• Near Amegakure, an Amegakure jonin invited Mu Yue to meet Hanzo, and Mu Yue went after reassuring his companions despite Chi Chang’s concerns.
• Hanzo and Mu Yue released their auras against each other, recognized one another’s strength, and Hanzo warned Mu Yue that the black-market bounty for Ninshu’s inheritance had reached 3.5 million Ryo.

Mu Yue continued traveling through the Land of Rain with his followers as bounty hunters targeted him and his reputation as Ninja Master Sōsuke spread. In Konoha, Shimura Danzō secretly sent Root forces into the Land of Rain, while a stitched bounty hunter set his sights on capturing Sōsuke for an 18-million-Ryo reward.

• Mu Yue told his followers that his bounty had reached 3.5 million Ryo and warned them of danger, but everyone chose to stay with him.
• Mu Yue and his group continued helping villages and fighting bandits, while Yahiko learned how much hardship remained across the Land of Rain.
• Two bounty hunters disguised as children attacked Mu Yue, but he defeated and killed them after exposing their Transformation Jutsu.
• As attacks grew more frequent, Mu Yue trained his followers against weaker bounty hunters, and his bounty rose to 10 million Ryo as Ninshu and his reputation spread.
• Shimura Danzō urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to send more Konoha forces into the Land of Rain, but Hiruzen refused; Danzō then secretly dispatched Root ninjas there.
• A stitched ninja read that Sōsuke had a 13-million-Ryo bounty and an extra 5 million for capture alive, and decided the reward was worth pursuing.

Kakuzu attacked Mu Yue to claim a bounty, but Mu Yue matched and overpowered his elemental Ninjutsu while trying to conserve Chakra. When Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and the other ninjas joined the fight, Kakuzu targeted them, prompting Mu Yue to unleash Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and Fire Dragon Dance; the battle remained unfinished.

• Kakuzu investigated Mu Yue in the Land of Rain, dismissed his followers as weak, and found their location.
• Mu Yue recognized Kakuzu’s strength and told the others to retreat as Kakuzu demanded that Mu Yue surrender alive.
• Mu Yue caught Kakuzu’s punch and defeated his Fire Release with a stronger Head Hard, forcing Kakuzu to deploy more masks.
• Mu Yue and his Shadow Clone overwhelmed Kakuzu’s combined Fire and Wind attacks, while Kakuzu adapted by using his masks and tendrils to pressure Mu Yue.
• Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and the other ninjas attacked Kakuzu’s masks, but Kakuzu turned his Combination Ninjutsu toward them.
• Mu Yue entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and unleashed Fire Dragon Dance to protect the group.

Mu Yue defeated Kakuzu with Fire Dragon Dance, then spared him and invited him to travel through the Land of Rain with Ninshu. Kakuzu accepted the offer under a sealing jutsu, though he remained skeptical that Mu Yue could change the ninja world.

• Mu Yue's Fire Dragon Dance destroyed four of Kakuzu's hearts, leaving him with only one life, and Mu Yue then overwhelmed him with taijutsu.
• After Kakuzu revealed his identity and recalled his betrayal by his village, Mu Yue chose not to kill him and placed a chakra-interfering Sealing Jutsu on his chest.
• Mu Yue invited Kakuzu to join Ninshu after the group's journey through the Land of Rain, but Kakuzu dismissed the idea as naive.
• Mu Yue extinguished the remaining flames with a compressed drop of Water Release, while Chi Chang and Yahiko defended Mu Yue's efforts and challenged Kakuzu's cynicism.
• Kakuzu agreed to travel with Mu Yue and the others, accepting that the sealing jutsu would remain in place during the journey.

After defeating Kakuzu, Mu Yue drew the attention of Hanzo, Shimura Danzō, Ōnoki, and Uchiha Madara, each of whom considered how the powerful Ninshu teacher might affect their plans. As Mu Yue continued toward his goal, he challenged the ninja world’s hierarchy and urged his followers to learn from the Sage of Six Paths without blindly following him.

• Hanzo learned that Mu Yue had defeated Kakuzu and regretted that such a powerful ninja was not from Amegakure, though he still believed he could defeat him.
• Shimura Danzō decided to seek the Ninshu inheritance and considered joining forces with Hanzo against Mu Yue, while Ōnoki chose to watch events from afar.
• Black Zetsu reported that he could find no history for Sōsuke, and Uchiha Madara ordered closer surveillance of Nagato as Black Zetsu wondered whether Mu Yue might be the Sage of Six Paths’ Chakra reincarnation.
• Mu Yue’s bounty rose to forty million ryō, but bounty hunters grew more reluctant to attack him after his defeat of Kakuzu.
• When Kakuzu questioned the privileges of nobles, Mu Yue said the system should be abolished and argued that ancient Ninshu’s hereditary system was a mistake that should be criticized.
• Mu Yue’s followers gained a new understanding of his teachings, and he began incorporating knowledge from his previous life into his lessons.

Mu Yue’s followers split into groups to spread Ninshu, but Yahiko’s group was attacked by impostor Iwagakure ninjas, and Nagato’s Rinnegan erupted as he protected Yahiko. Danzō exploited the staged incident to turn Hanzo against Mu Yue, while Mu Yue recognized the deception and later comforted a guilt-ridden Nagato.

• Kakuzu challenged Mu Yue’s motives, and Mu Yue explained that helping people gave him happiness just as earning money gave Kakuzu satisfaction.
• Yahiko shared how his experiences as a war orphan shaped his pursuit of peace, and Nagato spoke to the crowd after Yahiko and others transformed into radishes to encourage him.
• The group voted to split up and spread Ninshu, and Yahiko’s team later encountered attackers posing as Iwagakure ninjas.
• Nagato’s Rinnegan awakened when Yahiko was wounded, and Nagato killed the attackers; Danzō then used the bodies and a false account to persuade Hanzo that Mu Yue’s Ninshu followers threatened the Land of Rain.
• Mu Yue learned the attackers had been Root ninjas in disguise, but chose to let the situation develop while preparing to protect his followers; after returning, he brought ramen to Nagato and invited him to share what troubled him.

Nagato told Mu Yue about his Rinnegan, his parents’ deaths, and his guilt over killing an attacker, and Mu Yue reassured him and accepted him as a disciple. Meanwhile, Hanzo agreed to Danzo’s plan to lure Mu Yue and Ninshu into an ambush, then sent Mu Yue an invitation to cooperate on preserving peace in the Land of Rain.

• Nagato confided in Mu Yue about his Rinnegan, his parents’ deaths, Jiraiya’s guidance, and his guilt over killing an enemy to protect Yahiko and the others.
• Mu Yue told Nagato not to measure himself against the Sage of Six Paths, offered to teach him, and established a master-disciple relationship with him.
• Amegakure’s investigation gave Hanzo evidence that Yahiko’s group had killed Iwagakure ninja, and Danzo urged Hanzo to eliminate Mu Yue and Ninshu before Iwagakure learned of it.
• Danzo proposed luring Mu Yue’s group to a meeting under the pretense of cooperation and ambushing them, while Hanzo agreed and promised to support Danzo in return.
• After Mu Yue established Ninshu across the Land of Rain, Hanzo’s envoy delivered an invitation for Ninshu to help preserve peace, exciting Yahiko and raising Chi Chang’s suspicions.

Ninshu voted to accept Hanzo’s cooperation proposal despite Chi Chang and Kakuzu’s suspicions. Afterward, Mu Yue revealed to Nagato that he was Hanyu Muyue, a Konoha ninja who had founded Ninshu under the name Sōsuke, and asked him to keep the truth secret.

• Yahiko argued that Hanzo’s reputation and past actions made the cooperation offer worth accepting, while Chi Chang and Kakuzu warned that it could be a scheme.
• Nagato independently supported cooperation, and Ninshu voted 45 to 29 in favor of working with Amegakure.
• Mu Yue told the Amegakure ninja that Ninshu accepted the proposal, then assured Chi Chang that they would remain vigilant.
• Mu Yue taught Sealing Jutsu while Kakuzu stayed nearby, hoping to learn how to break his own seal.
• Mu Yue brought Nagato to a room protected by a barrier, served him ramen, and revealed his true face and identity as Hanyu Muyue, a Konoha ninja.
• Mu Yue explained why he had concealed his identity and founded Ninshu as Sōsuke, then asked Nagato to keep the secret; Nagato was shaken but still felt Mu Yue was the same person he trusted.

Mu Yue revealed his identity to Nagato and taught him Basic Breathing, while Hanzo and Shimura Danzō plotted to eliminate Ninshu. At the valley meeting, Hanzo ambushed Mu Yue’s group, but Mu Yue’s barrier blocked the traps, leaving the outnumbered group facing Hanzo and a hundred Amegakure ninja.

• Mu Yue told Nagato his true identity and asked him to keep it secret, then taught him Basic Breathing and received the Four Symbols Seal as a reward.
• Hanzo planned to lure Mu Yue’s group into a trapped valley, while Shimura Danzō approved of the scheme.
• Kitsuchi confronted Hanzo about Iwagakure ninja deaths, and Hanzo blamed Ninshu and agreed to compensate Iwagakure.
• Mu Yue placed a Shadow Clone inside Amegakure, allowing him to learn about the conspiracy and its traps.
• Mu Yue brought Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, Kakuzu, Chi Chang, and others to meet Hanzo, who detonated the valley traps and summoned a hundred Amegakure ninja after Mu Yue’s Water Formation Wall shielded the group.
• Hanzo demanded that Mu Yue kill himself, while Yahiko offered to die in his place and Chi Chang and Kakuzu warned Mu Yue not to trust Hanzo.

Mu Yue rejected Hanzo’s demand that he kill himself and fought through Hanzo’s traps, attacks, and Water Release, proving his overwhelming strength. Hanzo summoned Ibuse and ordered his forces to attack the Ninshu ninja, while Shimura Danzō prepared to seize Nagato’s Rinnegan and Kitsuchi chose to wait.

• Mu Yue refused Hanzo’s demand, repelled repeated volleys of kunai with Gale Palm, freed Kakuzu from his seal, and advanced to confront Hanzo.
• Hanzo’s Exploding Flame Array engulfed Mu Yue, but Mu Yue emerged unharmed and knocked Hanzo away with a Taijutsu strike.
• Mu Yue used Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance to overpower Hanzo’s Water Release and force Hanzo to evade with help from the Rain ninja.
• Hanzo summoned Ibuse and ordered the Rain ninja to attack the Ninshu ninja with everything they had.
• Kakuzu, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Chi Chang prepared to defend themselves, while Shimura Danzō told the Root ninja to watch Nagato and Kitsuchi decided to wait before helping Hanzo.

Hanzo’s ambush wounded Mu Yue and pushed Nagato into awakening the Rinnegan’s power, turning the battle against Amegakure. Hanzo retreated after Mu Yue and Nagato overwhelmed his forces, while Danzō and Kitsuchi left with new concerns about Ninshu’s strength.

• Hanzo used Ibuse’s poison mist and his chain sickle to stall Mu Yue while a hundred Amegakure ninja attacked Nagato’s group.
• Mu Yue moved the fight toward Nagato, but Hanzo seized an opening and pierced Mu Yue’s abdomen with a water attack.
• Despairing as Yahiko and Mu Yue came under attack, Nagato unleashed Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in, then helped Mu Yue eliminate more Amegakure ninja.
• Mu Yue used Fire Dragon Dance to overpower Hanzo’s Water Dragon, and Hanzo ordered his remaining forces to retreat.
• Shimura Danzō abandoned his attempt to obtain the Rinnegan, Kitsuchi left to report Ninshu’s strength to Iwagakure, and Nagato checked on Mu Yue.

After Mu Yue and the Ninshu ninjas defeated Hanzo’s ambush, he helped Yahiko recover from the betrayal and continued teaching Nagato and the others. Kakuzu decided to stay with Ninshu for now, while Black Zetsu reported Mu Yue to Uchiha Madara, who ordered him watched.

• Mu Yue healed the injured Ninshu ninjas, and the survivors reflected on their victory over Hanzo and Yahiko struggled with the betrayal.
• Mu Yue encouraged Yahiko to learn from the setback, and Kakuzu settled his grudge with Mu Yue in exchange for a promised meal.
• Mu Yue gave Yahiko Hanzo’s battered kunai, then returned with the group to the Ninshu base and revealed Hanzo’s plot to the other ninjas.
• Mu Yue taught Nagato Fire Release and earned a Lightning Release mastery reward, then instructed the Ninshu ninjas and Kakuzu until evening.
• Kakuzu reconsidered leaving Ninshu and decided to stay for its battles and Mu Yue’s lessons, while he waited to eat the promised meal.
• Black Zetsu reported Mu Yue’s strength to Uchiha Madara, who ordered him to keep watching Mu Yue because he might obstruct the plan involving Nagato.

News of Hanzo’s defeat made Ninja Master Sōsuke famous across the ninja world, while the great villages weighed whether to act against Ninshu. Back in Konoha, Mu Yue trained his disciples and Shisui agreed to take part in the Chunin Exams.

• Reports of Hanzo’s defeat spread widely, and Mu Yue suspected Shimura Danzō had helped publicize the battle to deepen tensions between Ninshu and Amegakure.
• Kitsuchi asked Ōnoki whether Iwagakure should cooperate with Hanzo against Ninshu, but Ōnoki judged Ninshu unlikely to have killed Iwagakure’s border ninjas and ordered further investigation instead.
• The Third Raikage declined Dodai’s suggestion to investigate Ninshu’s inheritance, while Hiruzen Sarutobi redirected Shimura Danzō’s attention toward the Hidden Mist Village’s invasion of the eastern coast.
• Obito praised Mu Yue’s title and suggested calling him the Great Ninja Master, but Mu Yue rebuked him and demonstrated Great Fire Annihilation for his disciples.
• Mu Yue explained that his original body had returned to Konoha to teach, and Shisui agreed to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams.

Mu Yue oversaw Konoha’s Chunin Exams, where Obito served as a Sharingan-wielding proctor and Shisui’s team advanced to the third stage. As the individual matches began, Shisui faced Uchiha Tekka while Hiruzen and Fugaku watched.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Mu Yue authority to organize the Chunin Exams, and Obito volunteered to proctor the first exam.
• Obito used his Sharingan to intimidate the examinees, making the written exam unusually quiet.
• Shisui, Inuzuka Midori, and Aburame Naoya won their team battle and advanced to the third exam.
• Anko, Izumo Kamizuki, and Kotetsu Hagane attended the third-stage matches, where Uchiha Fugaku brought Uchiha Itachi to watch.
• Hiruzen asked Mu Yue to compare Shisui with Obito, and Mu Yue described their different strengths.
• The referee announced the first match between Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Tekka.

Shisui Uchiha dominated the Chunin Exams, defeating Uchiha Tekka and every later opponent with ease as Konoha recognized his strength. As the chapter ended, Obito and Kakashi remembered their approaching three-month internal battle, and Obito resolved to defeat Shisui rather than face more problem-solving punishment.

• Shisui Uchiha defeated Uchiha Tekka quickly with a stronger Great Fireball Technique and a barrage of shuriken.
• Uchiha Fugaku praised the Uchiha clan’s promising future, while Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Shisui and Obito with cautious reassurance because Mu Yue guided them.
• Shisui continued winning each round effortlessly, impressing the audience with a more dominant performance than Obito or Kakashi had shown in the previous exams.
• Obito envied Shisui’s success and told Kakashi he wanted to enter the Chunin Exams again, while Kakashi explained Konoha’s reasons for entering him the previous year.
• Kakashi reminded Obito that their internal battle was approaching, and Obito resolved not to underestimate Shisui and to win so he could avoid more problem-solving punishment.

Mu Yue gained Wood Release and tested its capabilities, then refereed the disciples’ internal matches. Kakashi beat Obito and mastered Armament Haki, while Mu Yue received a reward that could help Kakashi develop his Lightning Release Kenjutsu.

• Mu Yue used a Kekkei Genkai Extraction Scroll and obtained beginner-level Wood Release, then used a Nature Transformation Experience Scroll to raise it to proficient level.
• Mu Yue tested Wood Release in the Southern Forest and grew a healthy tree before deciding to improve the skill through training rewards.
• Mu Yue drew the matchups for the disciples’ internal matches: Obito faced Kakashi, and Shisui faced Might Guy.
• Obito fought cautiously against Kakashi, but Kakashi mastered beginner-level Armament Haki during their closely matched battle and won.
• Mu Yue received the mastery-level Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed reward after Kakashi’s advancement, while Nohara Rin reassured the disappointed Obito.

Might Guy defeated Shisui and Kakashi in sparring matches, retaining the title of strongest disciple. After the group celebrated with hot pot, Mu Yue received new training rewards and promised to teach Kakashi a technique the next day.

• Shisui used his Sharingan, Body Flicker Technique, and Fire Release to wear Might Guy down, but Might Guy caught him with Golden Horizon Line and won.
• Kakashi attacked Might Guy with Thunder Breathing, the Transparent World, and Armament Haki, but Might Guy opened the Fifth Gate and defeated him.
• Mu Yue ended training and prepared hot pot for his tired disciples, then received Blast Punch (Proficient) as a reward for Might Guy's improvement.
• Mu Yue told Kakashi he would teach him something new the next day and told Obito to master his current Fire Release first.
• Obito and Shisui trained vigorously and triggered rewards for Mu Yue: Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor (Proficient) and Water Body Flicker Technique (Proficient).

Mu Yue was summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi and assigned to help drive Hidden Mist forces out of the Land of Fire. He told his disciples he would take some of them to the battlefield, where Kakashi became their vice-captain.

• An Anbu summoned Mu Yue to the Hokage Building, where Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that Hidden Mist Village had invaded the Land of Fire’s eastern coast.
• Mu Yue agreed to join the campaign against Hidden Mist, and Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that Orochimaru, Ino–Shika–Chō, and Hyuga jonin would also be deployed.
• Mu Yue informed his disciples, except Might Guy, that they would participate in the war and warned that he could not always lead them in battle.
• Kakashi proposed choosing a vice-captain to command the group when Mu Yue was absent, and the disciples voted Kakashi into the role by three votes.