Chapter Summaries

Tang Ping successfully implanted White Zetsu-based neural connections in Yamaa Koji, allowing him to bond with a custom Power Armor. After Yamaa Koji learned its functions, the group headed to the Training Ground to test its performance.

• Tang Ping performed surgery on Yamaa Koji, implanting nine neural connection points and closing the incisions with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Tang Ping disconnected the Power Armor from its Life Support Pod, and Yamaa Koji entered it after it opened in response to his Chakra.
• The Power Armor connected to Yamaa Koji through its rootlets, making it feel light while granting enhanced strength, faster reactions, genjutsu immunity, Chakra storage, and other abilities.
• Tang Ping warned Yamaa Koji not to move recklessly, then guided him as he grew accustomed to the armor over several hours.
• Hinata Cang Yue entered the laboratory, and the group took Yamaa Koji to the Training Ground for performance testing.

Tang Ping tested the Power Armor’s strength, agility, and defense with Yamaa Koji, then helped fit him into a heavy outer suit of armor. Yamaa Koji drew attention throughout Konoha and became a local celebrity before the group went to Ichiraku Ramen, where Tang Ping noticed several unusual onlookers.

• Tang Ping tested Yamaa Koji’s Power Armor and found that it gave him immense strength, quick reflexes, and strong protection against most attacks.
• Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue dismantled the heavy armor and fitted it over Yamaa Koji’s Power Armor.
• Yamaa Koji wore the completed armor into Konoha, attracting stares and whispers that made him the village’s newest celebrity.
• Tang Ping took Yamaa Koji and Hinata Cang Yue to Ichiraku Ramen and ordered twenty bowls.
• As the three ate, Tang Ping sensed several unusual gazes and turned to see who was watching them.

Tang Ping left Konoha with Squad 404, clan members, and a supply convoy to take command of his assigned defense zone and establish a base at Tea Mountain City. Unbeknownst to him, bounty hunters were mobilizing to raid the convoy.

• Tang Ping encountered Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Sarutobi Sachiko, Asuma Sarutobi, and Yuhi Kurenai at a ramen shop, and Shinnosuke reluctantly addressed him as Lord Tang Ping.
• Tang Ping's group ate with the Sarutobi family, and the others saw Hinata Cang Yue consume stacks of ramen bowls.
• Tang Ping left the shop and reflected on how he planned to build power in the southern defense zone while using Konoha's resources.
• Tang Ping received orders to head to his defense zone and departed Konoha with Squad 404, clan members, carts, and supplies.
• Tang Ping set out for Bellflower City before continuing to the garrison at Tea Mountain City.
• A bounty to raid Tang Ping's supply convoy appeared at Exchange Stations, and bounty hunters began accepting it.

Hinata Cang Yue secretly killed two Root agents while Yamaa Koji destroyed the attackers targeting the convoy. Kakuzu then challenged Yamaa Koji for his bounty and sent him flying with a surprise attack.

• Hinata Cang Yue reported that the convoy was surrounded and the enemy planned to attack that night.
• Hinata Cang Yue killed two Root members in the forest while her Shadow Clone stayed with the convoy.
• Yamaa Koji wiped out the attackers at the camp using his Power Armor.
• Kakuzu arrived to claim Yamaa Koji's ten-million-ryo bounty and fought him.
• Kakuzu struck Yamaa Koji with his Tentacle Fist and sent him flying.

Yamaa Koji shed his heavy outer armor and fought Kakuzu with the Eight Gates and his Power Armor, overwhelming him with a powerful aerial punch. After Kakuzu's body broke apart and Yamaa Koji prepared to leave, danger suddenly approached from behind.

• Kakuzu punched through Yamaa Koji's heavy metal armor, prompting Yamaa Koji to remove it and reveal his jade-like Power Armor.
• Yamaa Koji introduced himself and attacked Kakuzu at much greater speed after shedding the armor's weight.
• Kakuzu unleashed Fire Release: Head Hunter, but Yamaa Koji opened the first Eight Gate and punched through the flames.
• Kakuzu strengthened himself with Earth Release: Earth Spear and struck Yamaa Koji, but Yamaa Koji sent him flying and kicked him into the air.
• Yamaa Koji used his Power Armor's jets to catch Kakuzu and smash him with Cosmic Illusion, breaking his body apart.
• Yamaa Koji released the Eight Gates and prepared to leave, but danger suddenly descended from behind him.

Yamaa Koji fought Kakuzu but was nearly killed by his Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot before Hinata Cang Yue rescued him. Kakuzu escaped, and the pair turned to clearing the battlefield and assessing their losses.

• Kakuzu's Lightning Release: False Darkness wounded Yamaa Koji, who opened the second and third Eight Gates to keep fighting.
• Kakuzu combined Wind Release and Fire Release to drive Yamaa Koji into the air, then unleashed Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot.
• Hinata Cang Yue used Banshō Ten'in to pull Yamaa Koji out of the beam's path, but Kakuzu escaped before she could pursue him.
• Yamaa Koji assessed his strength and resolved to defeat Kakuzu in a rematch as they cleaned up the battlefield.
• Hinata Cang Yue lamented that Kakuzu's fire attacks had destroyed the bounty-bearing corpses, while Yamaa Koji noted the Power Armor's damage and repair needs.
• News of the convoy attack was sent out after the battle.

Tang Ping left Kikyo Mountain with the Southwest Shinobi Army and headed for Tea Mountain City, where he planned to establish a base for his future dominion. He had secured support, supplies, and a long-term lease, and the chapter ended as he declared the city conquered.

• Tang Ping burned the intelligence and reflected on developing Earth Release and Lava Release.
• Shimura Setsuna and Nara Tabito met Tang Ping, who secured protection for his trading company and commissioned missions and promised aid if Sunagakure attacked.
• Tang Ping left Nara Tabito behind and prepared to build his base with pledged clans, incoming Priestesses, Mou Ryō, terracotta warriors, and stored grain.
• Tang Ping led nearly eight hundred shinobi from Kikyo Mountain toward Tea Mountain City, a barren coastal region leased to him for ninety-nine years.
• Tang Ping reached Tea Mountain City and announced, "I came, I saw, I conquered!"

Tang Ping established his headquarters in the impoverished Tea Mountain City, organizing supplies, refugees, and shinobi with help from Honda Trading Company. Asari Kiyoo arrived on Lady Miroku’s orders to assist him and oversee Mou Ryō’s supply of fear, leaving Tang Ping to introduce him to Honda Taka.

• Tang Ping entered Tea Mountain City and found its people living in dire poverty behind crumbling walls.
• Honda Katsu welcomed Tang Ping and reported that Honda Trading Company had brought supplies, two hundred Wooden Oxen, and thousands of refugees.
• Tang Ping assigned Kobayashi Hei and Nobi Daixiong to settle the newcomers, then put Honda Taka in charge of the Wooden Oxen and refugees.
• Tang Ping spent the following week fishing while waiting for Hinata Cang Yue’s team to arrive.
• Tang Ping met Asari Kiyoo outside the city and learned that Lady Miroku had sent him to assist and ensure Mou Ryō received enough fear.
• Tang Ping assured Asari Kiyoo that Mou Ryō would have enough fear for at least half a year, then introduced him to Honda Taka.

Tang Ping used Mou Ryō to establish a supernatural construction force and put Honda Taka in charge of reclaiming land at Tea Mountain City. After the convoy arrived with 50 million ryō in bounty earnings and valuable equipment, Tang Ping prepared to deploy his shinobi army, but an unexpected visitor soon disrupted his calm.

• Honda Taka learned that Mou Ryō's Terracotta Army could dig canals and reclaim farmland, and Tang Ping assigned him to oversee the work while concealing Mou Ryō's existence.
• Tang Ping checked that Mou Ryō would honor their agreement to gather fear while working for him.
• Tang Ping met Hinata Cang Yue and Yamaa Koji's bloodied convoy and learned they had collected 50 million ryō in bounties along the way.
• Tang Ping planned to move the convoy's experimental equipment to Tea Mountain City and station shinobi squads across the territory to guard against Sunagakure and the Mist shinobi.
• A few days after Tang Ping relaxed, an unexpected visitor arrived and disturbed his peace.

Tang Ping learned that Uchiha Mei and the Elder House Lineage were trapped after Uchiha Fugaku’s disastrous counterattack, and he chose to rescue them without involving the Southwest Shinobi Army. He summoned Taiyi and flew east with Squad 404 and Uchiha Yashiro toward the Mist shinobi’s trap.

• Uchiha Yashiro told Tang Ping that Uchiha Mei and the Elder House Lineage were surrounded on the Southeast Border after the Uchiha and Hyuga counterattack was crushed by the Third Mizukage and the surviving Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Tang Ping blamed Uchiha Fugaku for falling into the trap and suspected Madara had used White Zetsu to block news from reaching him and Uchiha Mei.
• Tang Ping decided to rescue the trapped Uchiha with Squad 404 and Uchiha Yashiro rather than bring the Southwest Shinobi Army into the Mist shinobi’s ambush.
• Tang Ping summoned Taiyi after Hinata Cang Yue checked for White Zetsu, and the group flew east toward the besieged Elder House Lineage.

Uchiha Mei led the defenders of Izumo Fortress in a breakout after the Mist ninja overwhelmed its barrier, using Exploding Tags to disrupt their attack. She cut through the eastern side of the encirclement, but stopped in despair as the force emerged from the fog.

• Uchiha Shizuka urged Uchiha Mei to flee if the fortress fell, but Mei refused to abandon her clansmen.
• Mei concluded that reinforcements were not coming and ordered the defenders to prepare an eastward breakout with Exploding Tags.
• The barrier broke, and the Mist ninja entered Izumo Fortress before the hidden Exploding Tags detonated and caused heavy damage and confusion.
• Mei led Uchiha Shizuka, Uchiha Shota, the Uchiha clansmen, and the civilian ninjas through the eastern encirclement.
• Mei stopped in despair after the breakout force emerged from the fog.

The Third Mizukage and Karatachi Yagura intercepted the Uchiha-led breakout force and began overwhelming it. Tang Ping arrived in Sage Mode and rescued Uchiha Mei from the Third Mizukage’s attack, leaving the two prepared to fight.

• The Third Mizukage offered to spare the Uchiha if they surrendered, but Uchiha Mei attacked him instead.
• Uchiha Shizuka and Uchiha Shota engaged Karatachi Yagura while the breakout force fought desperately to escape.
• Uchiha Shizuka caught Karatachi Yagura in a genjutsu, but his Water Mirror Technique let him counterattack and sever Uchiha Shota’s right arm with Coral Palm.
• The Third Mizukage overwhelmed Uchiha Mei and prepared to strike her with Water Release: Great Water Arm Technique.
• Tang Ping descended in Sage Mode, forced the Third Mizukage to dodge, and landed in front of Uchiha Mei to challenge him.

Tang Ping unleashed his Sage Art against the Mist forces while Hinata Cang Yue led the breakout force to safety. Yamaa Koji destroyed Karatachi Yagura’s Water Mirror duplicate and engaged him as Tang Ping launched another attack to prevent pursuit.

• Tang Ping transformed into Zhurong True Body and overwhelmed the Mist ninja’s combined Water Release with Great Serpent Mower.
• Hinata Cang Yue directed the surviving breakout force around the battlefield while Yamaa Koji smashed through the Mist vanguard.
• Karatachi Yagura blocked Yamaa Koji with Water Mirror Technique, but the copied fighter could not match Yamaa Koji’s physical strength.
• Yamaa Koji opened the Eight Gates and shattered the duplicate with Cosmic Illusion before charging Karatachi Yagura.
• Tang Ping launched a second large-scale Sage Art to keep the Mist forces from pursuing the breakout force.

Tang Ping used Earth Fire Burning City to break the Hidden Mist encirclement, then escaped after fighting off the Third Mizukage. Yamaa Koji returned badly wounded but with a record of battling Karatachi Yagura, the Third Mizukage, and the Kage Guard, while Tang Ping promised Uchiha Shizuka that the Uchiha Elder House would soon have a Kage-level expert.

• Tang Ping unleashed Earth Fire Burning City, forcing the Hidden Mist ninja to abandon their pursuit and flee the spreading magma and flames.
• The Third Mizukage attacked Tang Ping with Sea Dragon Bite Explosion, but the Zhurong True Body withstood it, and Tang Ping wounded the Mizukage's left arm with Flame Finger.
• Tang Ping escaped with Flame Garment and rejoined the breakout force, where Yamaa Koji arrived badly injured after fighting Karatachi Yagura, the Third Mizukage, and the Kage Guard.
• Tang Ping recognized that Yamaa Koji's battle record established him as a Kage-level powerhouse and reflected that Squad 404 had three such fighters.
• Tang Ping told Uchiha Shizuka that the Uchiha Elder House would soon have a Kage-level expert, and Shizuka worried over Uchiha Shota's severed arm.

Tang Ping led Uchiha Shizuka, Uchiha Mei, and the surviving Main Branch Uchiha away from the Mist Shinobi encirclement and toward Tenshukaku, intending to absorb them into his own forces. The group arrived to find the surrounding wilderness transformed by roads, canals, farmland, and Wooden Oxen, and Tang Ping welcomed them to his domain.

• Tang Ping promised to arrange surgery for Uchiha Shota and put Uchiha Shizuka in charge of the group after she confirmed the news had been sealed.
• Tang Ping redirected the battered Uchiha force west toward Tenshukaku, hoping to recruit the Main Branch survivors rather than return them to Konoha.
• Under Hinata Cang Yue's guidance, the group avoided Mist Shinobi searches and outposts and escaped the encirclement after more than two days of travel.
• Near Tenshukaku, Uchiha Shizuka and Uchiha Mei saw broad roads, extensive rice paddies, irrigation canals, homemade fertilizer, and Wooden Oxen at work.
• Tang Ping introduced the Wooden Oxen as a product of the United Fruit Trading Company and welcomed the Uchiha to his privately controlled Tenshukaku domain.

Tang Ping settled the newly arrived forces in Tenshukaku and confronted Uchiha Mei with the news that Konoha had declared the Main Branch Lineage dead. Before he could offer them refuge, an urgent report arrived with news that stunned him.

• Tang Ping ordered Uchiha Yashiro, Kobayashi Hei, and Nobi Daixiong to arrange lodging for the returning forces.
• Tang Ping explained that Uchiha Shota needed to pretend his injury was still serious while they waited for the Rebirth Potion.
• Tang Ping gave Uchiha Mei a report showing that Konoha had declared the Main Branch Lineage sacrificed and paid compensation to the Uchiha clan.
• Uchiha Mei, Uchiha Shizuka, and Uchiha Sho reacted with fury toward Uchiha Fugaku for accepting the Main Branch Lineage's supposed deaths.
• A messenger ninja delivered an urgent report, and Tang Ping was shocked by its contents.

Might Duy opened the Gate of Death to save Guy's squad and defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, prompting Konoha to restrict access to the Eight Gates. Troubled that the incident seemed fated despite his past interference, Tang Ping moved to bring the Uchiha Elder House Lineage to Tenshukaku, and they agreed to join if he could settle matters with Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.

• Might Duy opened the Gate of Death, defeated the Six Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and died protecting Guy's squad.
• The Third Hokage placed the Eight Gates under the Sealing Technique, requiring his approval for anyone to learn it.
• Tang Ping vouched for the report and implied that Uchiha Sho could learn forbidden techniques from him privately.
• Tang Ping proposed that the Uchiha Main Branch Lineage make Tenshukaku their new home.
• Uchiha Mei consulted the escaped Uchiha Elder House Lineage members, and they agreed to join Tenshukaku.
• Tang Ping still needed to settle things with Konoha and the Uchiha Clan before bringing the Uchiha force under his wing.

Tang Ping organized his private forces and advanced the Tenshukaku’s farming and research projects while preparing a costly gift to strengthen his fiancée, Uchiha Mei. He brought her five Radiance Potions, and she drank one immediately, sensing something unusual.

• Tang Ping assigned Uchiha Mei to oversee his private forces, which included the Uchiha Elder House Lineage and civilian ninja, and had them take on secret work and wear Heaven forehead protectors.
• Tang Ping began developing the Rebirth Potion using fresh Drowning Swamp lizard tails and produced five Radiance Potions from White Zetsu.
• Tang Ping visited Uchiha Mei while she trained with the Uchiha Shuriken Technique, accompanied by Hyuga Cang Yue.
• Tang Ping gave Uchiha Mei a wooden box containing five Radiance Potions, hoping they would strengthen her and help awaken her eyes.
• Uchiha Mei opened the box, drank a potion, and quickly sensed that something was wrong.

Tang Ping helped Uchiha Mei use undiluted Radiance Potion to push her Sharingan toward awakening the Mangekyo, but a village order interrupted her attempt. The order sent Tang Ping and his companions on a mission to hunt the Third Mizukage, and the detailed information convinced him the plan might work.

• Uchiha Mei drank Radiance Potion to raise her eye power, then took three more bottles despite Tang Ping warning her of the danger.
• The potion caused Uchiha Mei's body to sprout branches and leaves, but Hinata Cang Yue's Tenseigan detected that the growth was withering as Mei's Sharingan power surged.
• A Message Hawk interrupted Uchiha Mei's attempt to reach the Mangekyo, and she used her Sharingan to control it before claiming she did not eat hawk meat.
• Tang Ping, Uchiha Mei, and Hinata Cang Yue hurried to the Tenshukaku after the Message Hawk delivered a high-priority order.
• Kobayashi Hei gave Tang Ping the village order to hunt the Third Mizukage, and Tang Ping found the plan feasible after reading the details.

Tang Ping organized Squad 404 and the Southwest Shinobi Army for a village-backed operation to help Danzo lure out and kill the Third Mizukage. As the force entered the Land of Water, Tang Ping’s group intercepted a Hidden Mist squad and discovered it was the village’s genius squad.

• Tang Ping discussed Danzo’s plan with his allies and assigned Squad 404, five Jonin, and ten Southwest Shinobi Army squads to the operation.
• Tang Ping left the Tenshukaku in Uchiha Mei’s care and led the thirty-eight-person force toward the Land of Water.
• Tang Ping’s group traveled across the sea at high speed while avoiding careless talk in case Root or Anbu agents were among them.
• A scout reported a Hidden Mist squad ahead, and Tang Ping ordered the group to investigate rather than leave the Chunin scouts to handle it.
• Tang Ping’s group reached the Hidden Mist squad and recognized it as the village’s genius squad.