Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Madara discussed his plans for Uchiha Asuka and the progress of his allies while Spiral Zetsu mistook his reflections for deliberate lessons. Meanwhile, Konan and Pakura overwhelmed Orochimaru with explosives and persuaded him to join them so he could continue his research with better resources.

• Madara watched Uchiha children, then spoke about protecting loved ones and told Spiral Zetsu that Black Zetsu had found Orochimaru's temporary base.
• Spiral Zetsu reported that Obito was seeking Sasori of the Red Sands and that Uchiha Asuka was about to enter the Rain Country, while Madara explained his new approach to influencing Asuka.
• Konan and Pakura fought Orochimaru in the mountains, using a vast number of Exploding Tags while Manda refused to emerge.
• Konan offered Orochimaru a place in her organization, and Pakura confirmed that their tactic recalled Uchiha Asuka.
• Orochimaru weighed their abundant resources against his need for research facilities and funding, then decided to go with them rather than return to Danzo.

Asuka’s squad searched the Rain Country for Orochimaru while discussing Konan and her supposed six hundred billion Exploding Tags. On their way to hand a captured Rain ninja back to the village, they encountered Konan, who rescued her companion and trapped Asuka in paper.

• Nanaka told Asuka that the squad had no choice but to search the Rain Country for Orochimaru city by city.
• Asuka questioned the captured Rain ninja, Daigou Yutian, about Akatsuki and imagined recruiting Konan to make six hundred billion Exploding Tags.
• Nanaka received a report that Orochimaru had appeared in the Rice Field Country and escaped with someone several days earlier.
• Nanaka led Asuka and Yutian toward the village to hand Yutian over after the squad received no new orders.
• Konan confronted Asuka, trapped him in paper with the Art of the Divine Paper Person, and pulled Yutian away.

Uchiha Asuka escaped Konan’s paper cocoon and fought her while trying to find his captain, only to discover that Orochimaru was nearby. He used his abilities to defeat Konan and held his sword to her throat, leaving her at his mercy.

• Konan suspected Asuka’s unusual silence inside the paper cocoon, but he cut his way out and asked where she had taken his captain.
• Konan apologized for the trouble, then questioned why two Konoha jonin had come to the Rain Country; Asuka said they were hunting a rogue ninja.
• An explosion and a voice demanding living people revealed Orochimaru’s presence nearby, and Konan attacked Asuka with Paper Rain.
• Asuka countered Konan’s paper attacks, used Okuninushi to strike from behind, and found that her body could turn to paper and reform.
• Konan attacked with Exploding Tags, but Asuka used ROOM and Fire Release to drive her into a crater.
• Asuka appeared beside the fallen Konan and held his sword to her throat.

Asuka defeated Konan with genjutsu and found her tied to Pakura through a photograph, then rushed to help Sarutobi Nanaka fight Orochimaru and another Akatsuki member. He unleashed a powerful flying slash that cut Manda in half, leaving Orochimaru stunned by the attack.

• Asuka used genjutsu on Konan, who relived a happy memory of Yahiko welcoming her home.
• Asuka found a photograph of Konan and Pakura together and realized they were the friends Pakura had mentioned in her letter.
• Asuka reached Sarutobi Nanaka's battlefield and told her to draw away the Akatsuki member while he fought Orochimaru.
• Asuka confronted Orochimaru over his experiments, and Orochimaru defended them as necessary sacrifices.
• Asuka used ROOM Avoidance to send a blue flying slash through Manda, cutting the giant snake in half and shocking Orochimaru.

Asuka battled Orochimaru and unleashed a massive combined Wind and Fire Release attack, but the fireball vanished under what Shukaku suspected was a genjutsu. It had actually appeared over Mount Myōboku, where its explosion startled the frogs and brought an unprecedented sunset to the sacred land.

• Asuka cut Manda in two and drove Orochimaru into a renewed fight, while Manda vanished in a cloud of smoke.
• Asuka and Shukaku attacked Orochimaru with sword strikes and combined ninjutsu, and Orochimaru escaped Asuka’s enormous fireball using his Orochi-Style Substitution Jutsu.
• Pakura stopped fighting Nanaka and left, pleased by Asuka’s strength and eager to see him.
• Asuka combined Shukaku’s Drilling Air Bullets with his chakra to create a huge Wind Release: Blazing Sun and hurled it at Orochimaru.
• The fireball vanished from Asuka’s view and appeared above Mount Myōboku, where it exploded and frightened the frogs; the sleeping Toad Sage chose not to wake.

Asuka reunited with Pakura and learned that Jiraiya had gone after Orochimaru, then followed Pakura’s trail to a cave where he also met Konan. After explaining Orochimaru’s defection, Asuka’s teasing sparked a fight with Pakura while Konan reflected on Nagato’s past and considered how to learn more about Madara.

• A toad left Asuka a warning about Orochimaru, and Asuka decided not to pursue him because he was out of chakra.
• Nanaka told Asuka that Jiraiya had gone after Orochimaru and that the team would prepare to return to the village.
• Asuka followed Pakura’s marks to a cave, where he found her with Konan, who recognized him as the Uchiha Pakura often mentioned.
• Konan recalled how she and Yahiko had failed to understand Nagato’s pain and decided she wanted information about Madara from Asuka.
• Asuka told Pakura and Konan that Orochimaru had defected after his human experiments were exposed, then teased Pakura about her robe.
• Pakura set off a fireball in the cave after Asuka reached inside her robe, and Konan moved farther away from the commotion.

Asuka, Pakura, and Konan spent the day shopping in the Rain Country, where Konan asked about Madara and his Flame War Fan. Pakura bought Konan a gift, but Konan discovered that the outfit inside was nearly transparent and went to bed without trying it on.

• Konan woke beside Pakura after Asuka had left, but Asuka soon returned with breakfast.
• Asuka told Konan that Madara had left Konoha with the Flame War Fan and had been declared a traitor after Hashirama killed him; Konan suspected Madara still possessed the real fan.
• Asuka and Pakura took Konan shopping in the Rain Country, and Konan remembered Yahiko as she watched them walk together.
• Pakura haggled fiercely over clothes while Asuka secretly paid the stall owner's wife to give him a revealing outfit, which he passed off as a charm-enhancing gift.
• Pakura bought Konan the same kind of gift, and Konan later found the nearly transparent garment inside the box and went to sleep without wearing it.

Uchiha Asuka left the Rain Country while Pakura and Konan discussed her gift, and the story returned to Konoha, where Fugaku’s troubles over Orochimaru’s defection strained his home life. The chapter ended with the Great Elder and Ryoichi avoiding Mikoto after she caught them gossiping.

• Sarutobi Nanaka told Uchiha Asuka that they could return to the village, and he left the Rain Country with his group.
• Pakura asked Konan about her gift, and Konan reassured her that it fit well before changing the subject to rescuing Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Madara dismissed the Great Elder’s singing, while Ryoichi claimed Madara could live another two or three months.
• The Great Elder told Ryoichi that Fugaku was exhausted from explaining Orochimaru’s defection to the village and that Mikoto’s frustrations had erupted after giving birth.
• Fugaku left home after arguing with Mikoto, and the Great Elder and Ryoichi discussed supporting Asuka until Mikoto appeared with a broom and trash bin.

After returning from the Rain Country, Asuka learned that his Mangekyo Sharingan was deteriorating from overuse and had no plan to prevent blindness. Madara worried over his grandson’s remaining eyesight and considered the Mangekyo he had kept, while Spiral Zetsu suggested giving Asuka Hashirama Cells.

• Minato heard Nanaka’s report and asked Danzō what he thought of Asuka, and Danzō gave an unusually impartial assessment.
• Asuka brought Rain Country souvenirs to Ryoichi’s home, where Ryoichi warned him that Mikoto was depressed and advised him to avoid provoking her at the clan meeting.
• Madara examined Asuka’s Mangekyo and learned that Asuka had spent considerable ocular power during his mission in the Rain Country.
• Asuka checked his system mission and decided to pursue its reward of safe, diluted Hashirama Cells rather than abandon it.
• Spiral Zetsu warned Madara that Asuka’s eyes might last only about a year and suggested injecting him with Hashirama Cells.
• Madara mentioned that he still had Flying Crane’s Mangekyo, then angrily sent Spiral Zetsu away.

Asuka visited Xiang Nai, who was working while raising Karin, then attended the Chunin Exam recommendation meeting at the Hokage Office. He recommended his Team Two, and Minato approved them despite the instructors’ shock at their enormous mission count.

• Asuka and Ryoichi talked outside Xiang Nai’s room while she worked, and Xiang Nai told Asuka she felt accepted and treated equally in the Uchiha clan.
• Asuka advised Xiang Nai to go outside more, then left after Fei Fei arrived with a message about the Chunin Exam recommendation deadline.
• At the Hokage Office, Asuka learned that Jiraiya had lost track of Orochimaru before Minato explained the Chunin Exam recommendation rules.
• Asuka recommended Uzuki Yugao, Hyuga Hanahana, and Umino Iruka, citing their 627 D-Rank missions and one C-Rank mission.
• Minato approved Team Two’s recommendation as the other instructors reacted to the team’s extraordinary mission record.

Asuka attended a Uchiha clan meeting where the elders debated support for the Fourth Hokage and experiments to revive Hashirama Senju and Izuna. As the Chunin Exams began, Xiang Nai settled into the house next door with Mikoto’s help, while baby Karin played near two old men.

• Mikoto pulled Xiang Nai away from Asuka and confided that his suggestion had left her uneasy.
• At the clan meeting, Saburo chaired in the Clan Head’s absence and announced plans to increase support for the Fourth Hokage after Orochimaru’s defection.
• A Uchiha scientist proposed reviving Hashirama Senju, citing a two-million investment and new materials provided through Ryoichi.
• Ryoichi suggested supporting Tenmei’s research to revive Izuna, prompting Saburo to wonder why they kept targeting the dead.
• On the first day of the Chunin Exams, Asuka greeted Xiang Nai, who said Mikoto had helped her buy everything for her new home next door.
• Asuka watched Karin crawl near two old men at Ryoichi’s house and wondered how she would react to learning one was Uchiha Madara.

Three Star Ninja attended Konoha’s Chunin Exams, where one of them secretly slapped Asuka and left him searching for the attacker. Asuka warned his students about unusually powerful genin, then joined Kakashi on a visit to the Memorial Stone.

• A Star Ninja recalled visiting Konoha fifty years earlier, when Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara were founding the village.
• A Hoshigakure ninja struck Asuka’s butt with an unseen air shockwave, and Asuka failed to identify who had attacked him.
• Asuka warned Iruka and his other students that the exam might include genin with strength beyond their rank.
• Asuka noticed Kakashi heading to the Memorial Stone and bought flowers so they could go together.
• Asuka told Kakashi that he had not visited the Medical Department lately, and Kakashi thought of Kushina’s baby, due in a month.

Uchiha Asuka proposed making a comic and movie that portrayed the Uchiha as heroes who defeated Tailed Beasts with Susanoo, then demonstrated Susanoo before Madara and Ryoichi. The chapter ended with Ryoichi angrily demanding to know why Asuka was wasting his ocular power.

• Zetsu watched Obito grieve at Rin's grave and debated whether he should discover that Madara was living peacefully in the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• Spiral Zetsu praised Madara's kindness, prompting Black Zetsu and White Zetsu's original body to privately agree they wanted to kill it.
• Asuka told Ryoichi and Madara that he planned to make a comic and movie using Susanoo battles to portray the Uchiha as righteous heroes and influence children.
• Asuka awakened Susanoo in front of the two elders, startling them and Shukaku.
• Ryoichi recovered from his shock and angrily reprimanded Asuka for wasting his ocular power.

Iruka picked up a comic depicting an Uchiha wielding Susanoo against the Two-Tails and became absorbed in its story. A Star Ninja girl told him Susanoo really existed, then wondered when the Uchiha had fought the Two-Tails with a blue one.

• Iruka worried that he was falling behind his companions because he could not master the ninjutsu in his teacher’s training plan.
• Iruka found a new comic at a crowded bookstore stall and began reading its account of the Two-Tails attacking a town.
• Iruka saw a Uchiha use a blue Susanoo to knock the Two-Tails away and doubted that such a giant could be real.
• A Star Ninja girl told Iruka that Susanoo really existed, then left with three comics while wondering when the Uchiha had fought the Two-Tails with a blue Susanoo.
• Iruka continued reading the comic with excitement as the people nearby moved away from him.

Asuka’s comic about the Hyuga angered the clan, so he placated Hanahana with meal coupons before watching the Chunin Exams. After hearing that Star Ninja could float, he summoned Ninja Cats to help him find them and learn their technique, but the cats doubted Hoshigakure had any flying ninjutsu.

• Hanahana confronted Asuka with his comic, identified its Hyuga characters, and warned him that Hiashi was searching for the author.
• Asuka gave Hanahana meal coupons for her family and promised not to use the Hyuga in the comic after its second chapter.
• Asuka counted and divided his money while the exam observers discussed Star Ninja who could float.
• Asuka went to the Death Forest and summoned Ninja Cats to search for three Star Ninja so he could trade for their floating technique.
• A Ninja Cat said it had never heard of Hoshigakure having flying ninjutsu and suggested Asuka had been misled.

Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to Danzo’s suspicions about the Uchiha and reviewed his plan to surveil key clan members when a jinchuriki gave birth. In the Death Forest, Ichikishimahime offered Sage Chakra to Uzuki Yugao, Iruka, and Hyuga Hanahana, but they rejected her pitch and called for their teacher.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen practiced observing a magazine and a crystal ball at once before Danzo visited and criticized his reading material.
• Danzo claimed a book portrayed the Uchiha too favorably, then proposed surveilling Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Asuka, and Uchiha Mado when a jinchuriki gave birth.
• In the Death Forest, three Hoshigakure ninja complained of boredom while Uzuki Yugao, Iruka, and Hyuga Hanahana encountered them.
• Ichikishimahime introduced herself as a Sage’s confidant and offered the three genin the legendary Sage Chakra.
• Hyuga Hanahana warned Iruka about the cost of seeking power, while Uzuki Yugao and Iruka explained the dangers of Sage training.
• Uzuki Yugao summoned smoke from a scroll and called out to her teacher for help handling Ichikishimahime.

Asuka arrived to save Yugao, Iruka, and Hyuga Hanahana from Ichikishimahime, a powerful snake sage from Ryūchi Cave. After countering her invisibility and defeating her, he learned that two Ryūchi Cave envoys had come to Konoha on the White Snake Sage’s orders to meet him.

• Ichikishimahime overwhelmed Hyuga Hanahana, kicked Iruka, and restrained Yu Yan with her extended neck.
• Asuka arrived and stopped Ichikishimahime from biting Yu Yan, while Yugao treated the injured Hanahana and Iruka.
• Asuka recognized Ichikishimahime’s snake abilities and tried to negotiate for her floating Ninjutsu, but she refused and vanished.
• Asuka used Okuninushi to detect Ichikishimahime, grabbed her tongue, and flung her away.
• Asuka confronted the two remaining Star Ninja, who revealed they were Ryūchi Cave envoys sent by the White Snake Sage to meet him.

Uchiha Asuka learned that the White Snake Sage considered him fated with Ryūchi Cave, then used his new ability to swap Ichikishimahime and Hyuga Hanahana’s bodies after Ichikishimahime took Hanahana hostage. The two struggled with their new bodies as Asuka left to investigate Ryūchi Cave, while its messengers revealed the Sage had ordered them not to interfere with Ichikishimahime’s fate.

• Uchiha Asuka questioned two Ryūchi Cave messengers, who said the White Snake Sage had noticed him and welcomed him to Ryūchi Cave.
• Ichikishimahime approached with Hyuga Hanahana as a hostage, and the messengers blamed her for joining the Chunin Exams before vanishing.
• Uchiha Asuka used Okuninushi to extract and exchange Ichikishimahime and Hyuga Hanahana’s hearts, swapping their minds and bodies.
• Ichikishimahime discovered that Hanahana’s Caged Bird seal was gone, while Hanahana struggled with Ichikishimahime’s body and demanded to be switched back.
• Uchiha Asuka left the forest to investigate Ryūchi Cave, and the messengers said the White Snake Sage had told them to let Ichikishimahime do as she pleased.

Asuka captured Ichikishimahime, a snake from Ryūchi Cave, and carried her back to the Uchiha Clan Grounds while learning she had attacked him during the Chunin Exams. There, Uchiha Madara offered to teach Asuka how to erase her killing intent.

• Asuka told the injured girls to continue their exams, then carried the sealed Ichikishimahime out of the Death Forest.
• Ichikishimahime admitted she had tested Asuka by attacking him with senjutsu and said he was destined to take part in Ryūchi Cave's trial.
• Asuka teased Ichikishimahime about her snake meat and carried her toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds as she threatened him.
• Asuka brought Ichikishimahime to Ryoichi and Uchiha Madara, who identified her as nonhuman.
• Madara told Asuka to activate his Mangekyo and follow a sequence of steps to erase Ichikishimahime's killing intent.

Asuka learned that Ichikishimahime’s Mangekyō Sharingan let him summon and control her, while Madara explained how he once armored the Nine-Tails with Susanoo. Ichikishimahime revealed that she had come from Ryūchi Cave to deliver a message from the Sage, but left in despair after becoming Asuka’s Summoning Beast.

• Madara recounted capturing the Nine-Tails, putting Susanoo armor on it, and later subduing it with his Mangekyō.
• Asuka realized he could summon Ichikishimahime and cover her with Susanoo, then released her from the seal.
• Ichikishimahime considered attacking Madara, but his killing intent and ocular power terrified her into retreating.
• Asuka comforted Ichikishimahime with candy, but she tried to bite his neck and was stopped by his Mangekyō.
• Ichikishimahime explained that the Sage had sent her from Ryūchi Cave to deliver a message, then lamented becoming Asuka’s Summoning Beast.
• Ryoichi recognized Ichikishimahime’s connection to Ryūchi Cave and admired Asuka’s achievement.