Chapter Summaries

Tang Ping returned to Konoha with a large group of guards and brought the Fusang Tree as a gift, while Yamaa Koji’s rise to Elite Jonin made him a target for marriage alliances and recruitment work. The chapter ended by hinting that Hinata Cang Yue’s return would be less smooth.

• Tang Ping left Nara Tabito and Shimura Setsuna in charge of Kikyo Mountain and warned them not to cause trouble without an official order.
• Tang Ping returned to Konoha with Hinata Cang Yue, Yamaa Koji, and more than a hundred guards, carrying the Fusang Tree as a gift.
• Tang Ping dismissed the guards and told Hinata Cang Yue and Yamaa Koji to meet him at the Hokage Building the next day.
• Yamaa Koji returned to the Yamaa Clan as a celebrated Elite Jonin and faced marriage proposals from several women.
• Tang Ping assigned Yamaa Koji to recruit promising ninja and members of declining small clans for his team.

Hinata Cang Yue tested whether the Tenseigan could resist the Caged Bird and confirmed that its disciplinary effect caused only tolerable pain. After Hiashi assigned her as his personal guard, she sought to contact Tang Ping, who was occupied refining Natural Force potions and beginning a human experiment.

• Hinata Cang Yue met Hyuga Tokumitsu, who accused her of withholding intelligence about Uchiha Tang Ping and activated the Caged Bird to punish her.
• Hinata Cang Yue endured the Caged Bird and discovered that the Tenseigan in its Second Fetal Movement Stage reduced its effect to pain she could withstand.
• Hyuga Tokumitsu dismissed Hinata Cang Yue, and Hiashi then assigned her as his personal guard, removing her from the battlefield.
• Hinata Cang Yue planned to have someone deliver a letter to Tang Ping, but he did not receive it because he was working in his underground laboratory.
• Tang Ping finished refining Natural Force potions from the Fusang Tree and began a human experiment he had returned to Konoha to conduct.

Tang Ping successfully implanted a Fusang Tree branch into a criminal and proved it could filter Natural Energy so a human could touch it, though the recipient died from absorbing too much. After receiving a letter about the Hyuga Clan, Tang Ping headed to their grounds to confront them.

• Tang Ping implanted a Fusang Tree branch into a Fire-natured genin and used his blood and Nutrient Solution to help the branch fuse with the man’s body.
• The genin awakened with increased strength, and Tang Ping tested whether the implanted branch could filter Natural Energy from a drop of Hot Spring.
• The genin burst apart from the Natural Energy, but Tang Ping confirmed his method could let humans touch it and planned further experiments.
• A Uchiha clansman delivered Tang Ping a letter, which made him suspect the Hyuga Clan was plotting against him.
• Tang Ping changed into his Combat Suit and went to the Hyuga Clan Grounds to confront them.

Tang Ping entered the Hyuga Clan Grounds to provoke the clan over its interest in his Sage Mode. After a Hyuga member insulted him, Tang Ping used the excuse to condemn the main family, while the clan held back from fighting him.

• Tang Ping walked into the Hyuga Clan Grounds, where the main family gathered to receive the powerful Ninja Army Commander.
• Tang Ping ignored Hyuga Tokumitsu’s greeting and wandered through the grounds, breaking off a flower to provoke the Hyuga members.
• Hyuga Cang Si shouted at Tang Ping for humiliating the clan, despite Hyuga Tokumitsu trying to stop him.
• Tang Ping called the Hyuga main family pampered cowards and recalled that Cang Si had once beaten Hinata Cang Yue nearly to death.
• Hinata Sōji nearly attacked Tang Ping but was restrained, and Tang Ping waited for the Hyuga Clan to give him an excuse to fight.

Tang Ping confronted the Hyuga main family over its treatment of the branch family and demanded that Hinata Cang Yue be handed over, but the Anbu intervened and summoned everyone to the Hokage Building. There, he joined the clan leaders and other important figures for a high-level meeting, which began as the Hyuga group arrived.

• Tang Ping denounced the Hyuga main family's use of the Caged Bird and accused it of enslaving the branch family.
• Anbu arrived on the Hokage's orders and stopped the Hyuga members from attacking Tang Ping.
• Tang Ping demanded that Hyuga Hiashi hand over Hinata Cang Yue, then headed to the Hokage Building with the Anbu.
• Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji entered the secured Hokage Building and joined the high-level meeting with Konoha's leaders and clan representatives.
• Hyuga Tokumitsu, Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata Sōji, and Hinata Cang Yue arrived, and Hiruzen Sarutobi began the meeting.

With Konoha facing simultaneous attacks from Kirigakure and Kumogakure, Danzo accused Tang Ping of colluding with Ōnoki, but Hiruzen ended their argument and secured clan forces for reinforcements. The village prepared to redraw its defense zones, and the chapter ended as the Hyuga Clan intervened before the plan was announced.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi convened a meeting about the attacks from Hidden Mist and Kumogakure, while Orochimaru was away helping Minato defend against Kumogakure.
• Danzo accused Uchiha Tang Ping of privately colluding with Ōnoki, and Tang Ping retorted by accusing Danzo of wanting to usurp the Hokage position.
• Hiruzen stopped their argument and called on the clan heads to contribute forces to a village reinforcement army.
• Inuzuka Tsume, Utatane Koharu, and the other clan heads pledged shinobi, while the Uchiha and Hyuga clans said their forces were already committed on the southern Land of Water front.
• Mitokado Homura announced that the village planned to redraw its defense zones, and the Hyuga Clan spoke up before he could continue.

Tang Ping negotiated a way to protect Hinata Cang Yue from the Hyuga Clan and agreed to the division of his army, which unexpectedly gave him a chance to develop influence along the southern coast. The meeting was interrupted by news that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and hundreds of Mist shinobi had bypassed Konoha's defenses and were closing on the village.

• Hyuga Tokumitsu accused Tang Ping of offending the Hyuga Clan, and Tang Ping offered to teach Sage Mode to Hinata Cang Yue after she endured several years of trials under him.
• Hyuga Tokumitsu accepted the deal and declared Tang Ping an honored guest of the Hyuga Clan.
• Mitokado Homura announced that the Southwest Shinobi Army would be split between Kikyo Mountain and the southern region, and Tang Ping readily agreed.
• A messenger reported that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and several hundred Mist shinobi had bypassed the front lines and were less than a thousand kilometers from Konoha.

Tang Ping joined Shikaku’s interception force after identifying Madara as the likely mastermind behind Kirigakure’s attack, and began preparing to capture the White Zetsu he expected to be watching. He recruited Hinata Cang Yue and Yamaa Koji to help, leaving the group ready to search for White Zetsu while the force assembled.

• Tang Ping agreed to help Shikaku intercept the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and planned to use the operation to capture an observing White Zetsu.
• Tang Ping left the meeting with Yamaa Koji, while Hinata Cang Yue followed after Hyuga Tokumitsu urged her to go with them.
• Tang Ping gave Hinata Cang Yue and Yamaa Koji Natural Power Potions, which he said would increase their Chakra over the next few days.
• Tang Ping asked Yamaa Koji to secretly deliver a letter to Uchiha Mei at the front line.
• Tang Ping described White Zetsu to Hinata Cang Yue, who proposed searching a secured area with her Tenseigan to detect any changes in the terrain.
• Tang Ping accepted Cang Yue’s plan and prepared to combine it with his own method to find and capture White Zetsu.

Tang Ping recruited several small ninja clans and received a trove of Fire Release techniques from the Hyuga Clan, which he quickly studied in preparation for the approaching Hidden Mist attack. He then joined Nara Shikaku’s force as it departed Konoha to intercept the enemy.

• Tang Ping recruited the Shinkawa, Hantō, and Nagata clans, assigning their members missions while considering how to secure their loyalty with curse marks.
• A Hyuga ninja delivered Fire Release scrolls and research notes from the Great Elder, intending to reinforce the clan’s agreement with Tang Ping.
• Tang Ping studied the gifted techniques at the Training Ground, especially an S-rank Fire Release that drew upon Natural Energy.
• Tang Ping arranged for materials to be gathered by his new followers and kept his orphan trainees from entering combat before they reached the usual graduation age.
• Nara Shikaku explained that five hundred ninjas would lead the advance while another thousand spread out to block the Hidden Mist force’s escape and support the battle.
• Tang Ping, Yamaa Koji, and Hinata Cang Yue joined the force as it left Konoha to intercept the Hidden Mist attack from the south.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist encountered Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma while advancing toward Konoha, and they stopped the genin from sending a signal. Meanwhile, Tang Ping’s force located the Hidden Mist surprise attack, and he set out to hunt White Zetsu.

• Suikazan Fuguki and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist decided to attack a Konoha patrol despite Biwa Jūzō’s warning to keep to their mission.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma ran into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and Kushimaru Kuriarare knocked Guy’s Signal Flare away before he could use it.
• Hinata Cang Yue confirmed that the mist ahead belonged to the Hidden Mist surprise attack force, allowing Nara Shikaku’s interception plan to proceed.
• Tang Ping told his teammates to begin the hunt, secretly intending to target White Zetsu.

Tang Ping reunited with Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka, explained his plan to capture White Zetsu, and prepared detection tools while warning them not to take unnecessary risks. He then headed toward the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, learning that they were chasing three genin and rushing to reach them in time.

• Hinata Cang Yue used her enhanced Tenseigan vision to locate Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka hiding in a tree.
• Uchiha Mei threatened Tang Ping with punishment unless he gave her a good reason for calling her away from the front lines, and he told her about White Zetsu.
• Tang Ping assembled Sealing Technique ninja tools that would trigger an alarm when something blocked their beams, then explained the capture plan to Uchiha Mei, Uchiha Shizuka, Yamaa Koji, and Hinata Cang Yue.
• Tang Ping stressed that they should abandon the plan rather than risk exposing themselves to Madara's suspicions.
• Tang Ping took Yamaa Koji and Hinata Cang Yue toward the battlefield to find the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Hinata Cang Yue located the Seven Ninja Swordsmen pursuing three genin, and Tang Ping hurried toward them to reach the future Might Guy.

Tang Ping arrived as Might Duy prepared to open the Gate of Death against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, then sent Duy and the children away so he could capture the swordsmen. As Jinin Akebino pursued them, Tang Ping stopped his attack without moving.

• Tang Ping explained that Might Guy could become the strongest taijutsu ninja and lamented that he was unlikely to recruit him.
• Hinata Cang Yue sensed another chakra signature stopping the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and Tang Ping rushed toward the battlefield.
• Might Duy entered the Sixth Gate and prepared to open the Gate of Death to protect Guy and the other children.
• Tang Ping arrived, ordered Might Duy and the children to leave, and refused Duy's offer to fight beside him.
• Jinin Akebino pursued the departing group, but his attack halted before he could strike.

Yamaa Koji and Tang Ping fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist while guiding them toward Hinata Cang Yue’s prepared hunting ground. White Zetsu secretly watched them and followed, intent on ensuring the Mist ninjas reached Konoha.

• Yamaa Koji stopped Jinin Akebino from attacking and sent Might Duy and the others away, then overpowered Jinin in close combat.
• Biwa Juzo rushed to assist Jinin, while Tang Ping confronted the remaining swordsmen and urged them into battle.
• Tang Ping used his Flame Garment to counter the Mist’s techniques, then unleashed Fire Dragon Flame Bullet against the swordsmen.
• After receiving Hinata Cang Yue’s signal, Tang Ping and Yamaa Koji withdrew toward the prepared hunting ground while continuing to fight.
• White Zetsu watched the group leave and slipped into a tree trunk to follow them toward Konoha.

Hinata Cang Yue and the Uchiha capture team located White Zetsu and prepared a surprise attack while Tang Ping used successive fire techniques to reshape the battlefield. He entered Sage Mode and unleashed the S-Rank Fire Release: Earth Fire Burning City, bringing a catastrophic eruption of magma down on the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

• Hinata Cang Yue used the alarm tools and her observation skills to pinpoint White Zetsu, then joined Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka to prepare their ambush.
• Tang Ping received the signal that the capture team was ready and began flooding the battlefield with Earth Fire Technique.
• Tang Ping blocked Munashi Jinpachi's Exploding Tags with Fire Pillar Formation and continued his wide-area assault as the Mist swordsmen tried to evade or absorb the flames.
• Tang Ping absorbed a Hot Spring to enter Sage Mode instantly, while the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist watched with confidence.
• Tang Ping used the S-Rank Forbidden Technique Fire Release: Earth Fire Burning City to draw underground magma toward the surface and unleash a devastating eruption.

Tang Ping used Earth Fire Burning City to pin down the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist while his allies captured and sealed an ordinary White Zetsu. After receiving Natural Power Potions, the women left the battlefield, and Tang Ping released his suppression of Natural Energy, unleashing a vast eruption of flames and magma.

• Tang Ping trapped the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist within the expanding flames and used the chaos to shield his allies’ approach.
• Uchiha Shizuka paralyzed White Zetsu with genjutsu, Uchiha Mei severed the tree holding it, and Hinata Cang Yue levitated and restrained it.
• Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka sealed White Zetsu in a scroll and iron coffin, then accepted Natural Power Potions from Hinata Cang Yue.
• Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka left, and Hinata Cang Yue departed with the coffin after firing a Signal Flare to signal success and request reinforcements.
• Tang Ping saw the Signal Flare and released his suppression of Natural Energy, causing flames and magma to erupt across the surrounding area.

Tang Ping recovered a Kirigakure ninja blade after defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and returned toward Konoha with his companions. At Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage summoned Jiraiya and began to reveal something that stunned everyone present.

• Tang Ping found Long Sword. Sewing Needle in the lava, sealed it, and tossed it to Yamaa Koji.
• Tang Ping told Nara Shikaku that two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been dealt with and five had escaped, then asked him to search for more abandoned blades.
• Nara Shikaku accepted responsibility for the cleanup while Tang Ping left with Yamaa Koji and Hinata Cang Yue, who carried an iron coffin.
• The Great Toad Sage summoned Jiraiya from the northern border to Mount Myōboku.
• The Great Toad Sage asked Jiraiya who he was, then seemed to remember him and said something that stunned everyone in the temple.

The Great Toad Sage prophesied that Jiraiya would one day meet the person who destroyed Konoha and Mount Myōboku, and Jiraiya pledged to stop him. Unaware that Mount Myōboku had marked him as that person, Tang Ping returned to Konoha and began developing a White Zetsu-derived treatment to strengthen Uchiha Mei.

• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima that Konoha and Mount Myōboku would vanish in a future disaster, and said Jiraiya would meet the person responsible.
• Jiraiya promised to investigate and stop the culprit, while Fukasaku and Shima pledged Mount Myōboku's support.
• Tang Ping returned to Konoha with his teammates and went back to the Uchiha compound to resume developing Treasure Boy from White Zetsu.
• Tang Ping planned to use White Zetsu-derived material and a Golden Crow Potion to strengthen Uchiha Mei so she could challenge Uchiha Fugaku.
• Tang Ping produced the first finished vial after a few days and summoned an eager experimental subject.

Tang Ping tested the Radiance Potion on Uchiha Yashiro, whose Sharingan advanced to two tomoe and whose strength increased. While Tang Ping stayed in the Uchiha Clan Grounds to help Hinata Cang Yue through her Tenseigan’s third Fetal Movement Period, rumors that he was two-timing spread, and he found an opportunity to retaliate against Root.

• Tang Ping warned Uchiha Yashiro about the risks of the untested Radiance Potion, but Yashiro volunteered and drank it.
• Yashiro’s Sharingan advanced from one tomoe to two, while his eye power, Chakra, and physical condition improved.
• Tang Ping told Yashiro to keep the experiment confidential and left the Training Ground.
• Hinata Cang Yue’s Tenseigan entered its third Fetal Movement Period, so she stayed in the Uchiha Clan Grounds to conceal its disturbances.
• Rumors that Tang Ping was two-timing spread after he stayed overnight in the Uchiha Clan Grounds, and he suspected Root had started them.
• Tang Ping found an opportunity to retaliate against Root for spreading the rumors.

Tang Ping accepted an order to oversee security for Konoha’s New Year Celebration and recognized Genon, a man who had planted Exploding Tags throughout the village. He planned to use the threat as cover to attack Root for money, while preparing a White Zetsu-based Power Armor implant for Yamaa Koji.

• Tang Ping accepted the village’s order to handle security for the New Year Celebration, though he suspected F4 wanted to keep him under watch.
• Tang Ping recognized Genon among the security materials and recalled that he had hidden Exploding Tags throughout Konoha.
• Tang Ping planned to exploit Genon’s threat to strike Root and steal the resources needed for his Foreign Object Implantation experiments.
• Tang Ping summoned Squad 404 and showed Yamaa Koji a bracer made from cultivated White Zetsu cells.
• Yamaa Koji squeezed the bracer without breaking it, and Hinata Cang Yue realized its strength could make it useful as armor.

Tang Ping and Squad 404 finished preparing for their New Year Celebration raid on Root, including planting explosives to divert Konoha’s leaders. While shopping for New Year clothes with Hinata Cang Yue, Tang Ping worried that her affectionate behavior would convince others he was cheating on Uchiha Mei, and they ran into acquaintances at a kimono shop.

• Tang Ping explained that White Zetsu Power Armor could be implanted and offered Yamaa Koji the first slot after Root provided funding.
• Tang Ping told Hinata Cang Yue he would prepare something special for her instead of giving her Power Armor.
• Tang Ping and his companions uncovered how Genon had hidden Exploding Tags from ordinary Byakugan and used them to plan diversions around Konoha.
• Tang Ping’s team completed preparations to raid Root and hide the stolen goods in a concealed pit.
• Tang Ping accompanied Hinata Cang Yue to buy New Year clothes, and her clingy act made him fear Uchiha Mei’s reaction.
• Tang Ping and Hinata Cang Yue entered a kimono shop and encountered two groups of acquaintances.