Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Chen and Minato discussed the causes of war and whether lasting peace was possible. Chen proposed uniting the ninja villages into a new alliance, and Minato agreed to help him pursue that goal.

• Uchiha Chen told Minato that war arose from the villages’ competing interests and that the First Hokage’s One Country One Village System had not ended conflict.
• Minato said he believed peace would come when people learned to understand one another, but Chen argued that the ninja world could not heal itself.
• Uchiha Chen proposed uniting the villages and rebuilding the ninja world’s order, and Minato recognized that the plan would be difficult.
• Uchiha Chen told Minato they would need strength and discretion before pursuing their goal, and Minato agreed to help.
• Uchiha Chen clasped Minato’s hand and welcomed him to Team One.

Konoha’s forces prepared to withdraw from the Land of Rain, and Uchiha Chen was assigned to guard the supply convoy without Orochimaru’s help. Back in Konoha, Kushina celebrated Chen’s growing reputation and imagined joining him on missions.

• Sakumo planned the return route and assigned Uchiha Chen to protect the supply transport.
• Orochimaru told Uchiha Chen that he would not accompany him, treating the assignment as Chen’s first Jonin-level mission.
• Uchiha Chen told Nawaki, Mikoto, and Minato about their escort duty as the convoy began its slow journey toward Konoha.
• Kushina told the Nine-Tails that Konoha’s troops were withdrawing and that Uchiha Chen had earned the title Konoha Lace.
• Kushina imagined that Chen’s expected promotion to Jonin would let him take her on missions, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide.

Uchiha Chen and the Konoha convoy left the Land of Rain and climbed a narrow slope while escorting supplies toward the Land of Fire. When they encountered refugees begging for food, Orochimaru exposed their leader as a disguised enemy, and the attackers launched a barrage of kunai.

• Uchiha Chen taught Minato and Mikoto as the convoy traveled toward the Land of Fire.
• Orochimaru detected and neutralized traps on the steep road, then ordered the troops to help the civilians push the supply carts uphill.
• The Hyuga Shinobi spotted a ruined village and a group of civilians begging beside the road.
• A supposed village chief asked Orochimaru for food, but Orochimaru recognized the disguise and stabbed him with a Kunai.
• The disguised attacker vanished in a puff of smoke, and countless Kunai flew toward the Konoha force.

Konoha and Sunagakure forces clashed in a sudden ambush, and Uchiha Chen fought through waves of attackers while protecting Nawaki. As the battle intensified, Chen realized Konoha was falling into a disadvantage.

• Orochimaru and the Konoha forces countered Sunagakure’s surprise attacks, while Uchiha Chen unleashed Phoenix Sage Fire against the enemy.
• Uchiha Chen fought a Sunagakure captain, who mistook him for Konoha Lightning and revealed orders to kill whoever held that reputation.
• Chen used Genjutsu and a Great Fireball against the captain, then fended off more attackers with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Chen blocked the captain’s Exploding Stones from striking Nawaki, killed Nawaki’s opponent, and told Nawaki he would handle the captain.
• After Nawaki left, Chen surveyed the battle and concluded Konoha was at a disadvantage.

Uchiha Chen overwhelmed a Sunagakure captain with taijutsu and Lightning Release, then pursued him after cutting off one of his arms. The captain tried to flee, but Chen killed him with a thrown black kunai that also pierced several other sand shinobi.

• Uchiha Chen used Genjutsu, kunai strikes, and a powerful kick to suppress the Sunagakure captain in close combat.
• The captain used an Earth Clone and Wind Release blades to hide and attack Chen from a distance.
• Chen dodged the Wind Blades with his Sharingan, found the captain hiding in a boulder, and struck him with Chidori.
• Chen blasted away the Wind Blades with Chidori Stream and paralyzed the captain, then cut off half of his arm with Chidori Sharp Spear.
• The wounded captain fled, but Chen threw a black kunai through his head and several other sand shinobi.

Uchiha Chen cut through the attacking Sunagakure forces with speed, weapons, and Ninjutsu, eliminating the enemy ninja who posed the greatest threat. After deciding Minato and the others could handle the remaining opponents, he headed to support Sakumo, who was protecting Konoha’s wounded while several Elite Jonin engaged him.

• After the sand shinobi captain died, Uchiha Chen charged into the enemy flank and killed several ninja with Shuriken and his speed.
• Uchiha Chen disarmed a burly Sunagakure ninja, killed him with a long blade, and then used Chidori to pierce through more enemies.
• When another sand shinobi attacked through the corpses Chen was using as cover, Chen struck back with Chidori Sharp Spear and retreated from the Explosive Tags attached to incoming Kunai.
• Uchiha Chen survived the explosion, defeated three charging sand shinobi with Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, and removed Shuriken lodged in his body.
• Uchiha Chen left Minato and the others to face the remaining enemies and went to support Sakumo, who was protecting the wounded from several Elite Jonin.

Uchiha Chen supported Hatake Sakumo by using Genjutsu to immobilize Sand Jonin, allowing Sakumo to kill them rapidly. Their effective partnership overwhelmed the Sand forces, and Sakumo relished the slaughter as Chiyo watched furiously.

• Uchiha Chen arrived after defeating the Sand Jonin guarding the supply transport, and Hatake Sakumo assigned him to protect the wounded with Genjutsu.
• Chen repeatedly trapped Sand Jonin with Genjutsu, giving Sakumo openings to kill them with his White Fang Short Sword.
• The Sand shinobi became terrified as the pair cut down Jonin, and Chen warned Sakumo when reinforcements approached.
• Sakumo charged the reinforcements, killing a Puppet Master and more Jonin while Chen continued disrupting their attacks.
• Chiyo watched angrily as the Konoha Lightning Fang combination devastated the Sand forces, while Sakumo reveled in the fight.

After Konoha’s victory over Sunagakure, Tsunade and Orochimaru discussed their casualties and the shortage of Medical Ninja. Tsunade began shaping a broader plan for medical reforms and other ways to weaken the Land of Wind.

• Tsunade asked Orochimaru about Konoha’s losses and learned that twenty-five Jonin and around one hundred and fifty Chunin and Genin had died.
• Orochimaru argued that the ambush had been worthwhile because repeated victories would weaken Sunagakure, but Tsunade cut off his analysis.
• Tsunade learned that only a little over ten Medical Ninja remained and proposed training one for every squad.
• Orochimaru pointed out the proposal’s risks, then reluctantly agreed it was not a bad idea when Tsunade urged him to raise it at the Jonin Meeting.
• Tsunade decided she would find someone else to test her proposal and imagined using casino winnings to impose economic sanctions on the Land of Wind.

Uchiha Chen rested and received treatment after the battle, then continued traveling with Konoha’s diminished formation. When the group had made little progress for several days and reinforcements were still absent, an Anbu summoned Chen to meet Orochimaru immediately.

• Mikoto insisted that Chen visit the Medical Ninjas, where he waited in line and saw the injured Minato and Nawaki.
• After an hour’s rest, the formation set out again, and Chen let Nawaki ride on the supply cart while Minato trained his Chakra control as he walked.
• The formation traveled slowly for several peaceful days, stopping often to accommodate the ordinary people among them.
• An Anbu appeared before Chen and told him Orochimaru wanted to see him immediately.

Orochimaru assigned Uchiha Chen a confidential mission to investigate whether Land of Fire merchants or the Daimyo had supplied the Hidden Sand Village with grain and other supplies. Uchiha Chen accepted the B-rank mission and prepared to leave with his companions, with fifteen days to report back.

• Orochimaru confirmed that Uchiha Chen's injuries had healed and gave him a new mission.
• Orochimaru explained that the Hidden Sand Village had obtained supplies that appeared to come from the Land of Fire, possibly through merchants or with the Daimyo's support.
• Orochimaru said that asking the Third Hokage to confront the Daimyo would likely only delay the war and bring Konoha more supplies.
• Orochimaru classified the investigation as a confidential B-rank mission, warned that Sunagakure shinobi might protect the merchants, and set a fifteen-day time limit.
• Uchiha Chen accepted the mission and left to gather his companions.

Uchiha Chen and his companions prepared to investigate grain convoys near the Daimyo's Capital, a relatively safe but politically complicated region. After several days of reconnaissance, the team left its hidden base in disguise and entered the prosperous capital to begin their mission.

• Orochimaru assigned Uchiha Chen to handle the mission in the Daimyo's Capital because senior Konoha shinobi were too politically conspicuous.
• Uchiha Chen, Minato, Mikoto, and Nawaki traveled to the capital using a mapped route and established concealed supply bases in the forest.
• Minato reported that another grain convoy had headed toward the Land of Wind and returned with a rabbit for the team's meal.
• Uchiha Chen ordered the team to check its equipment, put out the fire, and leave the base for the operation.
• Uchiha Chen led Minato, Mikoto, and Nawaki into the capital in disguise, where they found an inn and prepared to begin the mission.

Uchiha Chen investigated a trading company alone and discovered that the mission involved the Twelve Guardian Ninja. He returned to the inn and told Minato and Nawaki he would explain what he had learned the next day.

• Uchiha Chen used Genjutsu on a passerby to learn the location of a large trading company in the capital.
• Uchiha Chen infiltrated the company and used Genjutsu to subdue its guards and control three company presidents.
• Uchiha Chen learned that the mission involved the Twelve Guardian Ninja and realized the team could face serious danger.
• Uchiha Chen returned to the inn, where Minato and Nawaki had stayed awake waiting for him.
• Uchiha Chen told Minato and Nawaki he would share the mission details the next day.

Uchiha Chen’s team investigated a trading company suspected of supplying grain to the Land of Wind and learned that Ryoma was leading the deal. Chen uncovered the time and place of the next negotiation, scheduled for three days later.

• Nawaki returned with new booklets and reported that guards had increased across the streets.
• Uchiha Chen told Minato, Nawaki, and Mikoto that they would visit the trading company and leave immediately after dealing with the sand shinobi, since they could not face the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
• Chen entered the trading company and used Genjutsu to question its middle-aged leader about grain sales to the Land of Wind.
• The leader revealed that Ryoma had claimed to have the Daimyo’s approval and was leading the negotiations with Sunagakure.
• Chen learned that the sand shinobi would attend a second negotiation in three days and obtained its location.

Uchiha Chen’s squad waited for Sand Shinobi near the Daimyo’s Capital, then followed signs of recent activity to a campsite. Nawaki examined the remains and confidently concluded that the enemy squad included a female ninja.

• Uchiha Chen warned Minato that their mission might become A-rank, while Minato continued practicing Ninjutsu as they waited in the trees.
• Big White alerted Uchiha Chen to ninja activity, and he led Mikoto, Minato, and Nawaki toward the reported location.
• The squad traveled nearly ten kilometers and found a recently used campfire with food scraps nearby.
• Nawaki sniffed the leftovers and declared that a female ninja was among the enemy squad.

Uchiha Chen led his team toward a ninja squad after Big White tracked them, but the enemy struck first with a powerful Wind Release. The team escaped the attack, and Chen spotted a young girl among the enemy ninjas, leaving her identity unclear.

• Uchiha Chen used Big White to track the group that left the scented food scraps, then agreed with Nawaki, Minato, and Mikoto to approach together.
• Uchiha Chen sensed the enemy squad through Big White's thermal perception, but the enemy detected them and unleashed an area-of-effect Wind Release.
• Uchiha Chen grabbed Mikoto and kicked Nawaki into Minato to get them clear of the attack, then carried Mikoto as he retreated.
• Uchiha Chen pulled Mikoto behind a tree and examined the enemy squad's clothing and ages.
• Uchiha Chen noticed a purple-clad girl with a sand shinobi forehead protector and wondered who she was.

Uchiha Chen and his teammates confronted a Sunagakure squad in the Land of Fire, where he recognized the young Pakura and warned the others about her Scorch Release. The two sides began fighting, with Chen leading the Konoha team into battle.

• Minato helped Nawaki back to the group, while Nawaki complained about Chen's kick and Chen denied touching him.
• The Sunagakure captain noticed the Konoha Ninja and questioned why they were in the Land of Fire during the war.
• Chen identified Pakura and warned Mikoto, Nawaki, and Minato that her Scorch Release made her dangerous.
• The Sunagakure captain mistook Chen's knowledge of Pakura for proof of a spy and launched a shuriken attack.
• Chen dodged the shuriken and charged the Sunagakure squad, followed by Mikoto, Minato, and Nawaki.

Uchiha Chen and his team fought a Sunagakure squad, and Chen overwhelmed the captain and disabled the Puppet Master. Nawaki finished the Puppet Master with repeated kicks as the battle continued.

• Uchiha Chen used Lightning Release and Sharingan Genjutsu to attack the Puppet Master, but the Sunagakure captain pulled his subordinate away and countered with Wind Release: Spiraling Sphere.
• Uchiha Chen dodged the Wind Release with Body Flicker and charged the captain while Mikoto, Minato, and Nawaki engaged the other Sunagakure ninjas.
• The captain met Uchiha Chen's punch with an Earth Release-armored fist, but Chen shattered the armor with Super Strength Fist and sent him flying.
• Uchiha Chen severed the Puppet Master's Chakra Threads with Chidori Sharp Spear, then struck him into the ground with a powerful kick.
• Nawaki kicked the airborne Puppet Master repeatedly until he was dead.

Uchiha Chen fought the Sunagakure squad after rejecting its captain’s attempt to end the encounter peacefully. He was caught in a strange illusion as the battle continued.

• Uchiha Chen checked Minato and saw that Mikoto and the others had also been injured or exhausted after the fight with Pakura’s squad.
• The sand shinobi captain recognized Uchiha Chen as Konoha Lightning and deduced that Konoha had learned of the transaction with the Land of Fire.
• The captain offered to withdraw, but Uchiha Chen demanded evidence and learned that the captain was due to meet Ryoma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
• Uchiha Chen attacked with Chidori Sharp Spear, and the Sunagakure squad counterattacked while Mikoto blocked a returning Kunai aimed at him.
• Uchiha Chen exchanged blows with the captain, dodged Pakura’s Scorch Release, and then froze as the other girl’s technique made a tree and vines appear around him.

Uchiha Chen defeated Karura with reflected Genjutsu, but the Sand shinobi coordinated an attack that launched him into Pakura’s Scorch Release technique. Nawaki’s water attacks weakened the fireballs, though the clash created blinding, suffocating steam, and Chen charged into the fog using Big White to track his enemies.

• Uchiha Chen escaped Karura’s Tree Binding Kill Genjutsu and reflected it back at her, leaving her unconscious.
• Pakura recognized that Karura had fallen under Genjutsu and called her name as the girl collapsed.
• A Sand shinobi captain kicked Uchiha Chen into the air, and Pakura followed with Scorch Release: Phoenix Rising.
• Nawaki used Water Formation Wall and Water Bullet Technique to counter Pakura’s fireballs, producing a dense cloud of scorching steam.
• Uchiha Chen landed in the fog and charged toward the enemy, relying on Big White to sense their positions.

Uchiha Chen used the mist to ambush the Sunagakure captain and Pakura, but an unexpected force interrupted his attack. After reuniting with Minato, Nawaki, and Mikoto, Chen decided to kill the Daimyo’s Twelve Guardian Ninja.

• Uchiha Chen used the dense fog and Big White’s tracking to attack the sand shinobi captain with a Kunai, then struck him with Chidori Sharp Spear after exposing his Earth Clone.
• Pakura charged at Uchiha Chen, and Chen used the dying captain as a shield against her Vapor Release: Unrivaled Strength before attacking her through the corpse.
• An unknown attacker blocked Chen’s strike with Earth Release and showered the area with Shuriken, forcing Chen to retreat to a tree branch.
• Minato arrived with the exhausted Nawaki, and Mikoto joined them as another force appeared nearby.
• Uchiha Chen asked Nawaki about the consequences of killing the Daimyo’s Twelve Guardian Ninja and declared that they would cease to exist.