Chapter Summaries

Tang Ping asked Hinata Cang Yue to search the Hyuga Clan’s records for Shuzaki Castle while he used Clarity Elixirs to study and advance his experiments. He learned that the vanished castle had become Drowning Swamp, and left with a plan to obtain its summoning scroll.

• Tang Ping met Hinata Cang Yue and asked her to check the Hyuga Clan’s records for Shuzaki Castle, and she eagerly agreed.
• Tang Ping spent his mission earnings on materials and used several Clarity Elixirs to memorize and absorb the knowledge in ten books.
• Tang Ping’s Healing Potion passed animal trials, but he hesitated to test it on people because Root was watching him.
• Hinata Cang Yue gave Tang Ping a map showing that Shuzaki Castle had vanished and its site was now Drowning Swamp near the Land of Rivers.
• Tang Ping decided to use a certain ability to arrange a way to obtain the summoning scroll.

Tang Ping decided to seek Kakuzu’s help retrieving the Shuzaki Great Lizard’s summoning scroll and planned to ask Uchiha Mei to fund the mission. At the training ground, Minato Namikaze asked Team 3 to enter next month’s Joint Chunin Exams, and Tang Ping agreed, leaving Minato to register them and arrange special training.

• Tang Ping concluded that Kakuzu could retrieve the summoning scroll for money and considered asking Uchiha Mei to pay for the mission.
• Tang Ping left Hinata Cang Yue and joined Minato Namikaze, Yamaa Koji, and Kakashi at the training ground.
• Minato Namikaze warned Yamaa Koji not to overtrain and urged Tang Ping to improve his close-combat skills.
• Minato Namikaze asked Team 3 to enter the Joint Chunin Exams on the Third Hokage’s and Elder Danzo’s orders, and Tang Ping agreed.
• Minato Namikaze promised to register Team 3 and give them special training before the exams.

Tang Ping found Uchiha Mei blind after her eyes were destroyed and took her to his underground laboratory, believing his experimental potion might restore her sight. He began the treatment as the clan’s Main Branch struggled with the loss of its heir apparent.

• Tang Ping returned to the Uchiha grounds and found Uchiha Mei lying blind while the Main Branch Jonin gathered around her.
• Uchiha Shizuka told Tang Ping to take care of Mei, then left with Uchiha Shota and the others to address the Main Branch’s internal power struggle.
• Tang Ping realized Mei’s blindness would cost her the position of heir apparent and leave her without the Uchiha Clan’s protection.
• Tang Ping asked Mei if she wanted to return to normal, but she showed no reaction after other healers had declared her eyes beyond saving.
• Tang Ping brought Mei to his underground laboratory to try his new potion, made from Healing Potion concentrate and regenerative material from special lizards.

Tang Ping tested the Rebirth Potion on a mouse and began arranging human trials while Uchiha Mei recovered hope that her sight could be restored. Kakuzu accepted a thirty-million-ryo mission to retrieve a Summoning scroll, and Tang Ping arrived at an unexpected location for the next experiment.

• Tang Ping showed Uchiha Mei that the mouse’s severed hind leg had healed and explained that the Rebirth Potion still needed dosage and side-effect testing.
• Uchiha Mei agreed to post a commission for a Summoning scroll, gather materials, and find test subjects.
• Kakuzu accepted a thirty-million-ryo mission to retrieve a Summoning scroll from Drowning Swamp and deliver it to a merchant caravan.
• Tang Ping continued his training and technique research, extracted several doses of Rebirth Potion, and went to an unexpected testing location.

Tang Ping tested the Rebirth Potion on a captured ninja in Konoha Prison, with Uchiha Shizuka overseeing the experiment. The potion began regenerating the prisoner's severed arm, but after half an hour his body exploded.

• Uchiha Shizuka brought Tang Ping to Konoha Prison and explained that criminals served as medical research test subjects.
• Uchiha Shizuka introduced Tang Ping to a captured Genin whose right arm had been severed.
• Tang Ping injected the Rebirth Potion into the unconscious prisoner and watched as it took effect.
• The prisoner's right arm began to regrow, and Uchiha Shizuka used Genjutsu: Sharingan to quiet his screams.
• After half an hour, the prisoner's body exploded before the arm's regeneration was complete.

Tang Ping confirmed that the Rebirth Potion could restore Uchiha Mei’s sight and obtained a summoning scroll. He summoned the colossal Shuzaki Great Lizard, Chubingmaru, which agreed to fight alongside him but quickly departed after his Chakra ran out.

• Tang Ping told Uchiha Shizuka that the Rebirth Potion had worked and that further tests could restore Mei’s sight, while Shizuka arranged a cover story for the cure.
• More than half a month later, Uchiha Mei gave Tang Ping the summoning scroll that Kakuzu had retrieved for him.
• Tang Ping signed the scroll and used the Summoning Technique at the Uchiha Training Ground, draining his Chakra to summon a giant white lizard.
• Chubingmaru introduced itself as the Shuzaki Great Lizard and agreed to assist Tang Ping in battle before leaving because he had run out of Chakra.

After using a Soldier Pill to recover from summoning Chubingmaru, Tang Ping arranged for Uchiha Mei to share the summoning contract and prepared to grow stronger before the dangerous Joint Chunin Exams. The Third Kazekage and Sand Village’s team arrived in Konoha, bringing the exam to the brink of beginning.

• Tang Ping swallowed an Uchiha-made Soldier Pill after exhausting his Chakra and reflected on the danger posed by Danzo and Root.
• Tang Ping gave Uchiha Mei a slot on Chubingmaru’s summoning scroll, and she declared Chubingmaru the exclusive Summoning Beast of the Main Branch Lineage to protect Tang Ping from people seeking to seize it.
• Tang Ping resolved to keep improving before the Joint Chunin Exams, while Konoha grew tense and Team 3 trained under Minato Namikaze.
• The Third Kazekage led Sand Village’s delegation, including Pakura and her student Juan, into Konoha on the day before the exams.

Tang Ping, Yamaa Koji, and Honda Taka sold ninja tool packs bundled with intelligence to Chunin Exam candidates, and Tang Ping discovered the booklet ranked a formidable Stone Village Genin named Gang Tu above Kakashi. As the trio continued selling, Tang Ping looked up at a new customer and froze.

• Honda Taka sold a Ninja Tool Pack and intelligence booklet to a team of candidates, with Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji helping at the stall.
• Honda Taka explained that he had gathered the intelligence directly from examinees, and Yamaa Koji and Tang Ping examined the booklet's ratings.
• Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji saw that many candidates were strong, and Yamaa Koji found his own abilities evaluated in the booklet.
• Tang Ping discovered that Kakashi ranked among the top three, while Gang Tu, a fourteen-year-old Stone Village candidate who had faced a Jonin, ranked first.
• A simple, honest voice asked to buy a Ninja Tool Pack, and Tang Ping looked up and froze.

Gang Tu, Maki, and Kakashi gathered at the intelligence stall before the Chunin Exams, each representing a top-ranked village prodigy. After the rivals claimed their villages would win, Kakashi told Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji that Teacher Minato had sent for them.

• Gang Tu bought the intelligence handbook and discovered that information about him had been leaked, while his Iwagakure teammates celebrated his high ranking.
• Maki challenged Gang Tu’s confidence in the rankings, and the two squads faced off as their killing intent filled the street.
• Kakashi arrived and joined the confrontation, drawing the attention of Gang Tu and Maki, who both considered him a dangerous rival.
• Gang Tu declared that Iwagakure would take first place, while Maki insisted Sunagakure would win and Kakashi dismissed their argument.
• Kakashi told Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji that Teacher Minato had sent him to fetch them, then left.

Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji met Kushina Uzumaki at Team 3’s Training Ground, where Minato Namikaze briefed his disciples on threats surrounding the Joint Chunin Exams. Minato then asked Tang Ping to demonstrate his ninjutsu to Kushina, opening a chance for him to learn from her sealing expertise.

• Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji arrived at the Training Ground and met Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, and Kushina Uzumaki.
• Tang Ping called Kushina his sister, and she enthusiastically accepted him as her little brother.
• Minato Namikaze shared intelligence about other villages’ plans to cause chaos and assassinate promising ninja during the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Minato Namikaze encouraged his disciples and reflected on Kakashi’s strength and Tang Ping’s talent for developing techniques.
• Minato Namikaze asked Tang Ping to demonstrate his ninjutsu to Kushina, and Tang Ping stepped forward to perform it.

Tang Ping demonstrated Flame Garment, a close-combat Fire Release technique he had developed with Minato Namikaze’s guidance, then asked Kushina Uzumaki how to make its flames last longer and burn hotter. Kushina offered to teach him sealing techniques or create specialized chakra tools, leaving Tang Ping to choose how to advance his ninjutsu.

• Tang Ping used Flame Garment to propel himself forward and destroy a wooden stake with Fire Fist, surprising Kakashi and Yamaa Koji.
• Tang Ping credited Minato Namikaze’s guidance for helping him develop the technique, while Minato credited Tang Ping’s ideas; Kushina Uzumaki said they had developed it together.
• Kakashi was inspired to develop a ninjutsu of his own, and Minato led Kakashi and Yamaa Koji away to train.
• Tang Ping explained to Kushina that Flame Garment was meant to improve his close-combat ability and that he wanted to make its flames more enduring and hotter.
• Kushina offered to teach Tang Ping sealing techniques so he could improve the ninjutsu himself, or design sealing formulas for specialized chakra tools.

Tang Ping chose to pursue both Sealing Techniques and ninja-tool crafting, then began studying Sealing Technique knowledge under Kushina Uzumaki. After learning a basic sealing formation, he left with books and Kushina’s promise of further instruction, the night before the Chunin Exams.

• Tang Ping told Kushina Uzumaki he wanted to learn Sealing Techniques and make specialized ninja tools, and she agreed to teach him and provide materials.
• Kushina began teaching Tang Ping the difficult fundamentals of Sealing Techniques, and he used a Clarity Elixir to focus and learn.
• Tang Ping learned the One-Line Sealing Formation and used it to immobilize a sparrow, though the technique consumed substantial Chakra.
• Kushina praised Tang Ping’s talent and promised to create a specialized sealing formula for him and arrange more lessons.
• Kakashi brought Tang Ping books to study, and Tang Ping left the Training Ground at night with the Chunin Exams set for the next day.

Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji arrived at the Joint Chunin Exams, where they faced rumors and a genjutsu trap before the written test began. Tang Ping dispelled the illusion and joined Kakashi and the other examinees in the classroom as the bell rang.

• Tang Ping met Honda Taka, gave him a Healing Potion, and received a scroll listing material prices.
• Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji headed to the exam site while Kakashi went ahead.
• At the ninja academy, other examinees dismissed Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji as weak teammates of Kakashi.
• Tang Ping noticed and dispelled a genjutsu in the corridor, revealing the assembled genin and Kakashi waiting nearby.
• Tang Ping, Yamaa Koji, and Kakashi entered the classroom, and the bell rang to begin the written test.

Tang Ping and the other candidates passed the first round of the Joint Chunin Exams, which tested their theory or ability to gather intelligence. They followed second-round examiner Mitarashi Shiso to the Death Forest, where a far more dangerous test awaited.

• Morino Tanikawa began the written exam and warned candidates that cheating would earn them zero points, while the proctors removed those caught using crude methods.
• Tang Ping solved the questions, while other candidates used varied techniques to gather answers without being caught.
• Morino Tanikawa announced the results, and Tang Ping, Yamaa Koji, Kakashi, and most of the remaining candidates passed.
• Mitarashi Shiso introduced himself as the second-round chief examiner and led the candidates toward the Death Forest.
• Tang Ping, Yamaa Koji, and Kakashi joined the candidates from the other classrooms and arrived at the Death Forest around noon.

Tang Ping and his teammates entered Death Forest for the second stage of the Chunin Exams as rival candidates pursued them. In the central tower, the Kage traded hostile remarks, and Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly alerted the Anbu as trouble gathered beneath the exam’s surface.

• Mitarashi Shiso announced that candidates had to obtain a token and reach the central tower, with signal flares available to forfeit the exam and request rescue.
• Tang Ping spotted Pakura among the candidates, then entered Death Forest with Kakashi and Yamaa Koji using Plan A to evade pursuers.
• Konoha examiners stopped the candidates chasing Tang Ping’s team to verify their qualifications.
• Ōnoki and the Third Kazekage made hostile remarks about Konoha’s strength, while Hiruzen Sarutobi defended the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly notified the Anbu after sensing that the other Kage were hinting at trouble.

Gang Tu and Baki’s squads fought off pursuers in the Death Forest, while Tang Ping’s team killed the squad tracking them. After Kakashi accepted a Healing Potion from Tang Ping, the team began searching for the exam tokens.

• Gang Tu dodged a volley of kunai and used Earth Release: Dividing Earth Turning Palm to crush the attackers’ position before leaving to collect tokens.
• Baki’s team defeated its pursuers, recovered its ninja tools, and set off to search for tokens and Konoha teams.
• Tang Ping used a Flame Bullet to draw out an enemy, and Kakashi killed the last female pursuer with his short blade.
• Tang Ping praised Kakashi and gave him a Healing Potion, which Kakashi accepted.
• Yamaa Koji asked where the tokens were, and Tang Ping said finding them would be easier than securing them and bringing them to the tower.

Team 3 spotted a token sealed to a gigantic black bear and decided to fight for it, despite Baki’s Sunagakure team already engaging the beast. Tang Ping prepared a plan and led Kakashi and Yamaa Koji into the battle, leaving the token still on the bear.

• Team 3 saw the crimson token on the black bear and recognized it as a pass for the exam’s Central Tower.
• Tang Ping chose to seize the token, reasoning that their visible status as Konoha’s star team made waiting or backing down risky.
• Baki reached the bear first, and Kakashi drew his blade after Tang Ping reminded him that examiners and village leaders were watching.
• Tang Ping arranged a tactic for Team 3 and led Kakashi and Yamaa Koji toward the bear.
• Baki realized the token was sealed to the bear and could only be removed after the beast was killed.
• Team 3 launched its attack while Baki’s team continued fighting the enraged bear.

Tang Ping and Team 3 fought Baki’s team during the exam, using Taiyi and Exploding Tags to bring down a giant black bear. After Tang Ping exposed and killed a hidden Yugakure assassin, Baki’s teammates attacked him, beginning a full clash between the teams.

• Kakashi lunged at Baki as Tang Ping summoned Taiyi, which flew overhead and bombarded a giant black bear with fireballs.
• The black bear charged Tang Ping, but five Exploding Tags planted by Yamaa Koji detonated beneath it and left it near death.
• A Yugakure Ninja tried to stab Tang Ping from behind, but struck a Clone Technique decoy and was killed by Tang Ping’s Flame Bullet.
• Juan and Yura attacked Tang Ping with a binding technique and a kunai while Yamaa Koji moved to support him.
• Team 3 and Baki’s team began fighting as Kakashi and Baki continued their dangerous battle nearby.

Tang Ping used Taiyi’s devastating Sunset attack to break the stalemate and cover Team 3’s escape from dozens of hunters in the Death Forest. Team 3 joined forces with Baki’s team to fight through the smoke, but both teams stopped after emerging into an unexpected situation.

• Nobles and village leaders watched the fierce battle between Team 3 and Baki’s team, while Minato silently wished his disciples luck.
• After realizing dozens of examinees had surrounded them, Tang Ping ordered Taiyi to unleash Sunset, a fiery strike whose power stunned the village leaders watching from the tower.
• Tang Ping used the explosion and smoke to take Black Bear’s token and lead Kakashi and Koji in a coordinated breakout.
• Kakashi killed an attacker who emerged from the smoke, and Team 3 advanced until Baki’s team caught up and sought to escape alongside them.
• Team 3 and Baki’s team fought their way out together, then stopped when they encountered an unexpected situation beyond the smoke.

Tang Ping and the other teams were attacked by two disguised adult ninja who infiltrated the Chunin Exam. After Gang Tu was badly wounded and the surveillance feeds went dark, the intruders pursued the fleeing teams.

• Gang Tu rejected Tang Ping's proposal to deal with the hunters and started a fight between Iwagakure's squad, Team 3, and Baki's squad.
• Tang Ping warned the others when two apparent genin charged into the battle, and Gang Tu attacked them before their Transformation Techniques revealed two adult ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the intruders on the surveillance screen, and Mitokado Homura ordered the Anbu to capture them as the villages dispatched help.
• Gang Tu recognized the danger and raised an Earth Wall, but the Konoha ninja destroyed it with Lightning Release: False Darkness and badly wounded him.
• Tang Ping and Baki's squad fled while the intruders split up to pursue them, and the surveillance feeds vanished after cables were cut in the Death Forest.