Chapter Summaries

Chen trained Might Guy and Asuma for the upcoming Chunin Exams while Kakashi continued to develop ahead of them. After attending Mitsuide’s succession ceremony in the Daimyo’s Capital, Chen led Team One on its first B-rank mission, and they headed to the Land of Honey instead of returning to Konoha.

• Chen assigned Kakashi to take Might Guy and Asuma on D-rank missions while he trained them for the Chunin Exams.
• Might Guy trained through exhaustion, Asuma worked to keep up, and Kakashi advanced in swordsmanship and nature transformations.
• Chen attended Mitsuide’s succession ceremony in the Daimyo’s Capital, where he encountered Danzo and visited Princess Tamako.
• Chen asked Asuma whether he wanted to become a Guardian Ninja, and Asuma agreed before worrying about leaving Kurenai behind.
• Team One completed its first B-rank mission and continued on to the Land of Honey rather than returning to Konoha.

Chen sent Asuma, Kakashi, and Might Guy into a phantom castle to face a giant Lizard Summoning Beast and earn a contract. The three fought its Flesh Vines, but fell into a pit after escaping through a hole in the wall.

• Chen led Asuma, Kakashi, and Might Guy to Kubizaki Pass and waited for the Lizard to appear at night.
• The Lizard summoned rain and created the illusion of a castle, and Chen sent the three inside to test their abilities.
• Asuma, Kakashi, and Might Guy entered the castle and felt compelled by the scent of a lavish feast, but found no sign of the Summoning Beast.
• Flesh Vines attacked the three on the stairs, and Kakashi used Lightning Release-infused Shuriken to cut through them.
• Asuma opened a hole in the wall with Flying Swallow, and Might Guy enlarged it with a kick, but Kakashi and Might Guy fell into a pit beyond it.

Kakashi, Asuma, and Might Guy discovered they were trapped inside a giant Lizard Summoning Beast and nearly escaped with its Summoning Scroll. After the beast expelled them, it offered to contract with Chen instead of Asuma, leaving Asuma furious.

• Kakashi, Asuma, and Might Guy explored the ruined Castle and learned from Kozaki Goza's records that it had existed since the First Great Ninja War.
• Kakashi realized they were inside a Summoning Beast and led the group through its twisting, corrosive interior toward the keep.
• Asuma grabbed the Summoning Scroll, but the beast attacked, swallowed the Scroll, and forced Chen to rescue the group from the Castle.
• Chen called out the giant Lizard Summoning Beast, which emerged from the darkness and offered to form a contract with him.
• The Lizard Summoning Beast returned the Scroll to Chen, while Asuma grew furious that it had ignored him.

Chen signed a summoning contract with the lizard clan, and Asuma received one too. Meanwhile, Danzo traveled to Hidden Rain Village to remove Hanzō’s Curse Mark and pursue the Rinnegan, and he arrived at Hanzō’s tower.

• Chen signed the contract, and the lizard reluctantly allowed Asuma to sign one as well.
• Danzo left for the Land of Rain, where he planned to remove Hanzō’s Curse Mark and investigate the Rinnegan discovered by his spy Ming in the Akatsuki Organization.
• Danzo brought three sealing specialists, three guards, and a scout, while other Root Shinobi waited elsewhere in the Land of Rain.
• Danzo’s group entered Hidden Rain Village without obstruction and headed to its tallest tower.
• Hanzō waited impatiently at the top of the tower for Danzo.

Danzo persuaded Hanzō to help Konoha eliminate Akatsuki, claiming the organization threatened the stability of the Land of Rain. Hanzō agreed only on the condition that Danzo remove his Curse Mark, while Danzo planned to pursue his own agenda through Root.

• Hanzō asked Danzo why Konoha Lightning had not arrived, and Danzo said his subordinates could remove Hanzō’s Curse Mark.
• Danzo delayed removing the Curse Mark and proposed that Hanzō help Konoha eliminate Akatsuki.
• Hanzō questioned Konoha’s motives and recalled Akatsuki’s connection to Jiraiya and Konoha Lightning.
• Danzo claimed Akatsuki had to be destroyed because Jiraiya had taught his disciples Konoha Ninjutsu, and Hanzō suspected a struggle over Konoha’s next Hokage.
• Hanzō agreed to move against Akatsuki if Danzo removed his Curse Mark immediately, and Danzo accepted while planning to use Root behind Hiruzen’s back.

Akatsuki debated Hanzō’s invitation to meet at Iron Mirror Mountain while Ida struggled with his conflicting loyalties as Danzo’s spy. White Zetsu killed Ida and took his appearance, as Fugaku continued working with the supposedly dead Pakura of the Scorch Release.

• Yahiko told Akatsuki’s core members that Hanzō had invited them to discuss cooperation, and the group argued over whether to accept.
• Yahiko ended the meeting without announcing a decision, though he had privately decided to make contact with Hanzō.
• Ida wrestled with Danzo’s order to ensure Nagato attended the meeting and decided to warn Yahiko about the suspected ambush.
• White Zetsu drained and devoured Ida, then transformed into his likeness.
• White Zetsu reported to Fugaku that Ida had intended to warn Akatsuki, and Pakura emerged from the cave.

Pakura confronted Fugaku about keeping her in the cave, then learned more about the betrayal behind her supposed death and the fate of the Third Kazekage. The chapter left her grieving and vowing revenge as she sat at the cave entrance in the rain.

• Pakura offered Fugaku roast Psyduck and demanded to know how long he would keep her imprisoned, and he told her she could leave whenever she wanted.
• Pakura admitted she had nowhere to go, and Fugaku told her to join an organization that planned to collect the Tailed Beasts.
• Fugaku claimed to be Uchiha Madara, and Pakura doubted him while asking about the Third Kazekage’s disappearance.
• Fugaku said Sasori had assassinated the Third Kazekage and revealed that Chiyo and Ebizo had known about it.
• Pakura raged against Sasori, Ebizo, Chiyo, and Rasa, then went to the cave entrance and sang a Hidden Sand Village nursery rhyme as rain poured outside.

Yahiko led Akatsuki members into Hanzō and Danzo’s ambush at Iron Mirror Mountain after agreeing to peace talks. As the trapped group fought to escape, Hanzō attacked Yahiko and Nagato while Danzo watched, pursuing his own plan to obtain Nagato’s corpse.

• Yahiko brought about two hundred Akatsuki members to meet Hanzō, where they discovered hundreds of Ame Shinobi and Root shinobi had surrounded the mountain.
• Hanzō revealed that Akatsuki’s base was under attack and declared that the organization would be destroyed; Yahiko ordered Nagato and Konan to lead a breakout.
• Yahiko and Nagato stayed behind to face Hanzō, while Konan blocked Hanzō’s Salamander and directed the remaining Akatsuki members toward escape.
• Ten no Kyusuke led fifty Akatsuki shinobi in a charge against two hundred Ame Shinobi as Danzo watched from the battlefield.
• Hanzō suppressed Yahiko and Nagato and ordered his troops to kill the other Akatsuki members, while Danzo hoped some would survive and return to destabilize the Land of Rain.

Hanzō and Danzo’s forces overwhelmed the Akatsuki Organization at Iron Mirror Mountain, and Hanzō killed Yahiko after revealing that Konoha had ordered the ambush. Nagato unleashed the Rinnegan’s power to reach Yahiko, but arrived in time only to hear his final plea to live.

• Konan broke through the Ame Shinobi’s defenses and killed Hanzō’s Salamander with Explosive Tags, but Root’s arrival split the Akatsuki Organization and separated Nagato from Yahiko.
• Yahiko fought through the encirclement and charged Hanzō, who kicked him down and revealed that Konoha had ordered the ambush.
• Hanzō stabbed Yahiko in the chest as Nagato watched from behind the Root Shinobi surrounding him.
• Nagato used Shinra Tensei to blast away his attackers and tore through the battlefield to reach Yahiko.
• Yahiko gripped Nagato’s arm, urged Nagato and Konan to live, and died as Nagato stared into the rain.

After Yahiko died, Nagato unleashed the Rinnegan’s power against Hanzō and Danzo’s forces, then summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The battle left over a hundred ninja dead, Hanzō escaped, and Nagato collapsed as the rain resumed.

• A Root Shinobi ambushed Nagato, but Nagato drained his Chakra and killed him before turning toward Hanzō.
• Nagato absorbed the Root Shinobi’s Ninjutsu, shattered a Taijutsu fighter’s soul, and repelled a volley of Kunai with Shinra Tensei.
• Nagato escaped the encirclement and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, which crushed more than a dozen Root Shinobi.
• The statue released a giant dragon that tore the souls from more than a hundred ninja and pursued Hanzō, who escaped with Body Flicker Technique.
• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished, and Nagato collapsed as rain fell over Iron Mirror Mountain.

Fugaku persuaded Nagato to cooperate with him, and Nagato took control of Amegakure and began collecting the Tailed Beasts. Fugaku then planned to return to Konoha for the Chunin Exams, thinking of the wine jars and loquat tree in his family courtyard.

• Konan brought Nagato to meet Fugaku, who offered to guide him in using the Rinnegan and supply powerful ninjas and corpses.
• Nagato chose to cooperate with Fugaku, killed the fleeing Hanzō, and occupied Amegakure as the Akatsuki began its Tailed Beast collection plan.
• Fugaku and White Zetsu discussed why Fugaku had not told Nagato that Danzo attacked Akatsuki, since they still needed to cooperate with Danzo.
• Fugaku told White Zetsu they were going to Konoha, then recalled the wine jars and loquat tree at his family home.

As Konoha prepared for the Chunin Exams, Chen developed Uchiha Shopping Street and spent a farewell evening with Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya. Tsunade left with Shizune to take an S-rank mission, while Jiraiya stayed in Konoha and Tsunade decided to develop Senju land rather than donate it.

• Konoha prepared for the delayed Chunin Exams, with Hidden Cloud Village refusing to attend and the other great nations and several smaller nations expected to send ninja.
• Chen promoted Uchiha Shopping Street with Chunin Exams merchandise, figurines, and the Five Nations Kill card game.
• Tsunade, Chen, and Jiraiya played cards at a tavern, and Tsunade had Shizune load up on food and wine before leaving.
• Tsunade said she would take Shizune on an S-rank mission instead of staying for the Chunin Exams, while Jiraiya chose to remain in Konoha.
• Tsunade decided to develop the Senju Clan land near Uchiha Shopping Street instead of donating it for Senju Park, saddening the Third Hokage and Nawaki.

Chen and Orochimaru learned Danzo planned to graft First Hokage's Cells and Sharingan onto an arm taken from Shin, whose body rejected no transplants. After connecting Danzo's sudden urgency to his trip to the Land of Rain, Chen and Orochimaru agreed to wait until Danzo completed the transplant before moving against him.

• Tsunade and Shizune left Konoha after a farewell drinking spree, leaving Chen and Jiraiya with the bill.
• Orochimaru gave Chen a test tube containing the fourth-generation First Hokage's Cells extract developed with Otsu.
• Orochimaru revealed that Danzo planned to use Shin's transplant-compatible body to combine First Hokage's Cells and collected Sharingan, then replace his own arm with Shin's.
• Orochimaru said Danzo had hurried the research after visiting the Land of Rain to remove Hanzō's Curse Mark, and Chen suspected Akatsuki had been attacked.
• Chen and Orochimaru agreed to wait until Danzo had completed the transplant before making a move against him, while Chen thought about Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Chen and Orochimaru plotted to expose Danzo’s human experiments and seize Root, while ninja from Sunagakure and Kirigakure arrived in Konoha for the Chunin Exams. Mei Terumi lost her wallet and proposed burning Konoha Lightning’s house to vent her anger.

• Chen and Orochimaru planned to reveal Danzo’s experiments to the village and use the scandal to take over Root.
• Sunagakure arrived early for the Chunin Exams, with Rasa hoping Ebizo could arrange cooperation with the Third Hokage.
• Kirigakure arrived after a difficult sea journey, and Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and Kisame explored Konoha.
• Mei Terumi admired Konoha’s shops but discovered her pink wallet was missing and suspected a Sunagakure ninja had stolen it.
• Mei Terumi proposed setting Konoha Lightning’s house on fire, alarming Zabuza and Kisame over the diplomatic consequences.

Yashamaru and Baki clashed with Kakashi’s team after losing money to a Nara Elder’s shogi scam, and Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and Kisame stepped in to support Sunagakure. The two groups prepared to fight while Chen, Minato, and Nawaki watched from nearby, and Chen asked Nawaki about his team’s progress.

• Yashamaru and Baki confronted Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma after Kakashi’s team mocked them for losing money at the Nara Elder’s shogi stall.
• Yashamaru’s anger grew because Kakashi and his teammates were Chen’s disciples, whom he associated with his sister Karura’s capture during the war.
• Mei Terumi chose to support Sunagakure, and Zabuza eagerly joined her while Kisame warned them not to go too far on Uchiha Clan Grounds.
• Kakashi’s team and the three Mist Ninja paused their confrontation and sized each other up as potential opponents in the Chunin Exams.
• Chen, Minato, and Nawaki watched from a tree, and Chen encouraged Minato to let the young ninjas test their strength.
• Nawaki said Ebisu was doing well but doubted that Yagyū and Hyuga Kagami would amount to much without a major opportunity.

Chen and the other leaders stopped a fight between the young ninjas at the square, then Chen dealt with Mei Terumi’s attempted ambush near his home. He left Mei unconscious and confronted Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been hiding nearby.

• Minato told Chen that Obito, Genma Shiranui, and Raido were interested in learning the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Nara Shiomizu controlled Yamanaka Santen with the Shadow Imitation Technique as she fought the Sand Shinobi and smashed the square’s tiles.
• Chen, Nawaki, and Minato stopped the fighting, and the Sand Shinobi and Mist Ninja remained while other villages’ ninjas scattered.
• Chen made Yamanaka Santen, Nara Ensu, and their teammate stay behind to patrol the street and answer for the damage.
• Mei Terumi ambushed Chen near his home, but he defeated her and knocked her unconscious with a Genjutsu.
• Chen called out Kisame Hoshigaki, who emerged from the bushes.

Chen saw through Kisame’s hidden strength and his reason for following Mei Terumi, then agreed to trade Samehada for Kisame’s future service and intelligence from Hidden Mist Village. Kisame accepted Chen’s Flying Thunder God Kunai as a pledge and was left to explain his presence when Mei Terumi woke.

• Chen told Kisame he knew about his concealed strength and guessed he had come seeking Samehada.
• Kisame offered to serve Chen for ten years after becoming a Jonin in exchange for Samehada, and Chen accepted the deal.
• Chen required Kisame to watch for abnormalities in Hidden Mist Village and gave him a Flying Thunder God Kunai to summon him if needed.
• Kisame accepted the Kunai as his pledge of allegiance, while Chen dropped the nearly awakened Mei Terumi onto the grass and left.
• Kisame was left to invent an explanation for why he had followed Mei Terumi.

Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted Danzo over rising prices and his misuse of the Police Force, then reviewed security for the Chunin Exams. He rejected Danzo’s attempt to persuade him to stay in office and insisted that the succession decision was his alone.

• Utatane Koharu reported Konoha’s rapid mission growth, and Sarutobi Hiruzen challenged the officials over soaring prices.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen accused Danzo of using the Police Force to harass businesses and pressure clans into sending members to Root.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Danzo to release the Sixth Elder of the Nara Clan and announced plans to restructure the Police Force after the Chunin Exams.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen increased security at the Chunin Exam venues because a Seven-Tails Jinchuriki would be among the teams.
• Danzo urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to remain Hokage, but Sarutobi Hiruzen declared that he alone would decide and ended the discussion.

Chen and Himeji watched the Chunin Exams while searching for Hidden Waterfall Village’s Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. They identified Yui, whose Tailed Beast sensed the beasts carried by Chen as the exam continued.

• The Chunin Exams began with a test on information gathering, and Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma used their Summoning Beasts to cheat.
• Chen came to the examination site with Himeji to identify Hidden Waterfall Village’s Jinchuriki, while Hizashi glared at them from inside the classroom.
• Mei Terumi watched Himeji through the window, and Chen explained that he did not trust Shukaku to identify the Jinchuriki correctly.
• Himeji used her Byakugan to detect Tailed Beast Chakra in the abdomen of Yui, the only girl on Hidden Waterfall Village’s team.
• Yui woke abruptly when the Seven-Tails sensed the Tailed Beasts carried by Chen.

Chen and Himeji left the examination hall, discussed gathering the remaining Tailed Beast Chakra and traveling to the moon, and shared a playful conversation. The second Chunin Exam began in the Forest of Death, where Chen anticipated an intense battle for Scrolls and supplies.

• Chen left the examination hall with Himeji after Yui's Chakra began to stir, and he explained that he planned to obtain the Seven-Tails' Chakra before pursuing the Eight-Tails and traveling to the moon.
• Chen and Himeji joked about what they might find on the moon, and Chen promised to give it to her after defeating its old lady.
• The second Chunin Exam began at the Forest of Death, where sixty teams had to obtain Heaven and Earth Scrolls and compete for Human Scrolls in five supply drops during a five-day survival test.
• Nawaki announced the start of the examination after the Genin signed consent forms and assessed their opponents.
• Chen watched the battle unfold as Kakashi's Team One used Summoning Beasts and Genjutsu to ambush other teams, while Obito's Team Seven fired at anything they encountered.