Chapter Summaries

After the Byakugan Recovery War ended in defeat, Hagoromo returned to Konoha and reported on the failed mission. He learned that Kushina and Minato planned to marry after the war, and left their conversation having promised to stay away from Jiraiya.

• Hagoromo and Kakashi's team returned to Konoha after their mission failed, having gained only a Table Tennis Ball.
• Hagoromo visited Kushina, who told him that she and Minato were planning to marry after the war settled down.
• Hagoromo glanced at Kushina's abdomen, and she punched him into the low table after realizing what he was thinking.
• Kushina warned Hagoromo to stay away from Jiraiya, and Hagoromo blamed his improper thoughts on the Sannin and promised to avoid him.
• Hagoromo suggested that Kushina improve her cooking and temper her personality, then immediately denied criticizing her when she narrowed her eyes.

After returning to the front lines, Hagoromo learned from Jiraiya that Konoha planned to exploit Iwagakure’s coming attack on Kumogakure. Jiraiya assigned Hagoromo a complex mission tied to the plan, leaving him shocked by its scope.

• Hagoromo returned to the front lines with Yuhi Kurenai and Yamashiro Aoba, where Sarutobi Asuma questioned him about the failed mission to capture a Byakugan.
• Hagoromo went to meet Jiraiya after receiving orders to report to him.
• Jiraiya explained that Hanzo’s shifting stance might still allow Konoha to maintain peace with Amegakure.
• Jiraiya told Hagoromo that Iwagakure planned a large surprise attack on Kumogakure and that Konoha intended to join the offensive.
• Jiraiya described Hagoromo’s assignment, and Hagoromo reacted with alarm at the complicated two-part mission.

A hidden attacker killed and impersonated Yoshida during an Iwagakure supply squad’s return journey. The disguised Yoshida learned that the squad might be reassigned, while the captain resolved to send him to his death if given the chance.

• Yoshida entered a reed marsh to investigate a noise and found a wild boar, while an unseen attacker killed him and sealed his body in a scroll.
• The attacker impersonated Yoshida and returned to the squad, claiming he had left the boar alive to avoid attracting enemies.
• The captain ordered the squad to erase its traces and leave, and the disguised Yoshida continued acting timidly without raising suspicion.
• Yoshida asked the captain whether the squad would be broken up and reassigned, and the captain said he had received no such notice.
• The captain privately decided that Yoshida would be his first choice if he had a chance to send someone to their death.

Hagoromo infiltrated Iwagakure by impersonating the timid Chunin Yoshida and learned how to navigate the village from Yoshida’s friend, the spy Aono. Aono passed him intelligence about an impending Iwagakure invasion of the Land of Lightning, and Hagoromo realized Yoshida’s identity might help him take part.

• Hagoromo returned to Iwagakure with a supply squad while disguised as Yoshida, completing the first stage of his mission and memorizing the route.
• Unable to find Yoshida’s home, Hagoromo encountered Aono, Yoshida’s only friend and a Konoha spy.
• Aono led Hagoromo to Yoshida’s residence and spent nearly two hours discreetly briefing him on matters to watch in Iwagakure.
• After Aono left, Hagoromo considered the intelligence that Iwagakure would soon send more than five thousand shinobi into the Land of Lightning and that Yoshida might be conscripted.

Hagoromo, disguised as the doomed Chunin Yoshida, watched Iwagakure prepare for its invasion of Kumogakure and learned that Huangtu would command the operation. He discovered that Iwagakure had assembled around ten thousand shinobi, and the army marched toward the Land of Lightning.

• Hagoromo endured Iwagakure shinobi mocking Yoshida and continued his disguise as a timid, hopeless man.
• Hagoromo overheard Huangtu say his newborn daughter was named Kurotsuchi and learned that war preparations were nearly complete.
• Hagoromo received an emergency assembly signal and saw that Iwagakure had gathered roughly ten thousand shinobi, far more than the reported five thousand.
• Hagoromo considered warning Konoha but realized there was no time to send the intelligence or change the planned operation.
• Iwagakure's army left the village and began marching toward the Land of Lightning.

Hagoromo followed Iwagakure’s enormous invasion force into the Land of Lightning, expecting Kumogakure to resist with an army. The force instead encountered the Third Lightning Shadow, A, who charged alone into its ranks and began slaughtering Iwagakure shinobi.

• Iwagakure marched ten thousand shinobi through the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Frost, then crossed the sea into the Land of Lightning.
• Kumogakure and Jiraiya learned that Iwagakure had invaded, prompting Konoha to mobilize its front line in support of the plan.
• Hagoromo realized the invasion had outgrown Konoha’s assumptions and considered how to escape as Iwagakure advanced toward Kumogakure.
• Four hours after entering the Land of Lightning, Iwagakure’s main force encountered the Third Lightning Shadow, A, standing alone against it.
• A charged into the Iwagakure formation, killing shinobi with his Lightning Release Chakra Mode and Hell Stab as Hagoromo watched in shock.

Hagoromo ended the Third Lightning Shadow’s daylong stand against Iwagakure by killing him with a triple Railgun strike. He sealed the Lightning Shadow’s body while the stunned Iwagakure ninja watched.

• The Third Lightning Shadow continued fighting ten thousand Iwagakure ninja, inflicting heavy losses while their commander kept the force focused on killing him.
• Hagoromo decided the battle had lasted long enough and walked toward the Lightning Shadow through the Iwagakure formation.
• Hagoromo disguised himself as an Iwagakure Anbu and persuaded a nearby ninja to shield him as he prepared a forbidden technique.
• Hagoromo killed the shielding ninja and pierced the Third Lightning Shadow’s chest with three Railgun strikes aimed at the same spot.
• The mortally wounded Third Lightning Shadow approached Hagoromo but stopped before striking him, and Hagoromo sealed his corpse as the Iwagakure ninja, including Huangtu, stood stunned.

Hagoromo killed the Third Lightning Shadow with his Railgun, then tried to escape by pretending to be an Iwagakure hero. Exposed as a Konoha shinobi, he revealed his name as Kushina Uzumaki’s disciple so she would gain fame, leaving himself to face the enemy forces.

• Hagoromo killed the Third Lightning Shadow with three Railgun shots and sealed away the Raikage’s corpse.
• Hagoromo cheered for Iwagakure and tried to blend in, but Huangtu ordered the shinobi to maintain formation.
• Huangtu questioned Hagoromo, who briefly revealed his Konoha forehead protector and was identified as an enemy shinobi.
• Huangtu asked Hagoromo to state his name before he died, and Hagoromo announced that Kushina Uzumaki’s disciple had killed the Third Lightning Shadow.

Hagoromo summoned three giant beasts and fought Huangtu and the encircling Iwagakure shinobi, using lightning, water, and fire techniques to disrupt their assault. The battle continued as Hagoromo unleashed successive Fire Release attacks against Huangtu.

• Hagoromo abandoned his escape plan and summoned the Bicorn Rhinoceros, Splitting Dog, and Even-Toed Cattle to charge into the Iwagakure formation.
• Huangtu attacked Hagoromo with Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique, but Hagoromo shattered the earth sphere with Lightning Glow and evaded Huangtu's follow-up punch.
• Hagoromo used Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, while the Iwagakure shinobi's Earth Release helped turn the battlefield into a raised lake.
• Hagoromo dodged Huangtu and argued that he had helped clear a path to Kumogakure, but Huangtu ignored him and attacked with Nintaijutsu.
• Hagoromo answered Huangtu's assault with Great Flame Flower, Great Flame Bullet, and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.

Hagoromo used the storm to unleash Lightning Release: Kirin across the lake, devastating the Iwagakure force before trying to escape on Yata Crow. As he fled, a massive meteor plunged through the clouds toward him.

• Hagoromo realized the rain and low clouds would let him use lightning, then lured the Iwagakure ninja onto the lake.
• Hagoromo escaped the lake wall on Splitting Dog and called down Lightning Release: Kirin, killing more than fifty Iwagakure ninja.
• Huangtu survived inside a damaged earthen sphere while Hagoromo summoned Yata Crow and began fleeing.
• Hagoromo ignited the lake with Fire Release, triggering explosions that vaporized water and nearly overturned Yata Crow.
• A massive meteor tore through the clouds toward Hagoromo and Yata Crow.

Hagoromo tried to escape the battlefield after devastating Iwagakure’s forces, but the Third Earth Shadow, Ōnoki, intercepted him with a series of powerful attacks. Hagoromo countered Ōnoki’s Dust Release with a sealing technique, but was caught by a second strike and disappeared in its white light.

• The Third Earth Shadow arrived at the battlefield and saw Hagoromo’s attacks slaughter Iwagakure ninja.
• The Third Earth Shadow summoned and weighted a massive stone statue, sending it crashing toward Hagoromo and the Yata Crow.
• Hagoromo repeatedly cut the falling stone statue apart with Chidori Sharp Spear Second Stage.
• An enormous ninja weapon struck the Yata Crow, making it vanish and sending Hagoromo falling.
• Hagoromo used Reverse Four Symbols Seal to interrupt Ōnoki’s Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.
• Ōnoki trapped Hagoromo in a second Dust Release attack, and Hagoromo disappeared in white light.

Hagoromo survived Ōnoki’s Dust Release by hiding underwater inside Katsuyu while a Shadow Clone took his place and was destroyed. After Iwagakure withdrew, he disguised himself and began a safer route east toward the Land of Fire.

• Hagoromo checked with Katsuyu that the Iwagakure ninja had left the battlefield.
• Hagoromo emerged from the lake inside Katsuyu and caught his breath.
• Hagoromo recalled how his Shadow Clone had been destroyed by Dust Release while his real body stayed hidden underwater.
• Hagoromo decided to travel east through the Land of Lightning and other countries to avoid the fighting between Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• Hagoromo changed out of his Iwagakure clothes, treated his wounds, dismissed Katsuyu, and headed east in disguise.

Hagoromo traveled to the Land of Hot Springs to find Tsunade, while rumors about the Lightning Shadow’s death spread and wrongly credited Kushina Uzumaki. He found Tsunade disguised as a little girl and stepped in to protect her from a group of thugs, calling her his little sister.

• Ninja discussed conflicting rumors about the Third Lightning Shadow’s death and speculated that Kushina Uzumaki or her disciple had killed him.
• Hagoromo overheard the conversation and wondered whether Iwagakure had deliberately spread the rumors to redirect Kumogakure’s anger.
• Five days after the battle, Hagoromo reached the Land of Hot Springs and followed Katsuyu’s directions to find someone in a town.
• Hagoromo spotted a group of samurai-like thugs reaching for a little girl and knocked one man’s hand away.
• Hagoromo shielded the disguised Tsunade and called her his little sister, leaving Tsunade surprised to see him.

After finding Tsunade in the Land of Hot Springs, Hagoromo reunited with Shizune and had his injured fingers treated. Tsunade guessed that Hagoromo had carried out the much-discussed mission and criticized Jiraiya for assigning it to him.

• Tsunade led Hagoromo through town to find Shizune after he injured his fingers by touching her head.
• Tsunade and Hagoromo avoided people searching for Tsunade over her casino debts and reached the tavern where she had arranged to meet Shizune.
• Shizune examined Hagoromo's hand and treated it while Tsunade ordered food and declared that Hagoromo would pay.
• Tsunade questioned Hagoromo about the incident people were discussing outside, and he confirmed that he was responsible.
• Tsunade criticized Jiraiya for assigning Hagoromo the mission and said Hagoromo's technique worked against certain shinobi.

After surviving the battle, Hagoromo recovered from his injuries while worrying that Konoha believed he was dead. Tsunade and Shizune left him behind, and he set out for Konoha to learn what had become of his name.

• Hagoromo asked whether news of his apparent death had reached Konoha, and Tsunade reassured him that Jiraiya and Minato would not assume he was dead.
• Tsunade crushed part of the window when Hagoromo challenged her reasoning, then Shizune finished treating his injuries and warned they might leave scars.
• Hagoromo joked that he had good skin and thanked Shizune, while Tsunade waived the treatment fee and reminded him to rest.
• Tsunade and Shizune disappeared overnight, leaving Hagoromo a note saying he had to pay the inn expenses.
• After paying the innkeeper, Hagoromo left the Land of Hot Springs, traveled through the Land of Iron, and headed back to Konoha.

Hagoromo returned to Konoha after completing his secret mission and reported to the Hokage that the Third Lightning Shadow had died. He produced the corpse as proof, leaving Konoha’s leaders stunned after he first accidentally unsealed the body of an Iwagakure friend.

• Hagoromo registered his return at Konoha’s gates and went directly to the Hokage Office Building.
• The Third Hokage and Konoha’s senior officials discussed how the war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure favored Konoha.
• Hagoromo entered the office and said he could prove that the Third Lightning Shadow was dead.
• Hagoromo accidentally unsealed the corpse of an Iwagakure friend, confusing the officials.
• Hagoromo unsealed a second scroll and produced the Third Lightning Shadow’s corpse.

Hagoromo reported his mission to the Third Hokage after Konoha's elders examined the Lightning Shadow's corpse and confirmed he had been killed by the Railgun. The Hokage warned Hagoromo to consider the consequences of involving Kushina, while Konoha planned to make further arrangements for him.

• Hagoromo presented the Lightning Shadow's corpse, and Danzo and Konoha's advisers examined it before confirming its identity and fatal wound.
• Danzo and the advisers took the Lightning Shadow and Yoshida's corpses to the Intelligence Department for interrogation, leaving Hagoromo and the Third Hokage in the office.
• Hagoromo gave the Hokage a detailed account of the mission, and the Hokage criticized him for calling out Kushina's name.
• The Hokage told Hagoromo to remain in Konoha until Jiraiya notified him of new arrangements.
• The Hokage cautioned Hagoromo to consider the consequences if he intended to do as Kushina asked, and Hagoromo left the office.

After killing the Third Lightning Shadow, Hagoromo returned to Konoha and visited Kushina, while the Third Hokage considered assigning him to guard the future Fourth Hokage. Kushina confirmed Hagoromo was alive, then rushed off to see the Lightning Shadow’s body.

• The Third Hokage considered Hagoromo a strategic-class weapon and planned to place him beside the future Fourth Hokage as a guard.
• Hagoromo worried that his role in the Third Lightning Shadow’s death would end his quiet life and bring him another direct promotion.
• Hagoromo arrived at Kushina’s home just as Kushina and Minato were leaving, and Kushina anxiously checked him for injuries before hugging him.
• Kushina asked whether the Third Lightning Shadow was dead, and Hagoromo told her he had brought back the body.
• Kushina hurried to the Intelligence Department or Interrogation Department to see the Third Lightning Shadow’s body, while Minato told Hagoromo how worried she had been.

After the war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure settled into a stalemate, Orochimaru studied the Third Lightning Shadow’s corpse with Hagoromo and discovered its cells responded to Lightning Release. Orochimaru then questioned how Hagoromo’s ordinary cells could withstand such powerful Lightning Release, leaving Hagoromo frightened by the implication that Orochimaru had studied him.

• Iwagakure withdrew from the Land of Lightning after fifteen days of fighting, and Konoha maintained the stalemate while sending exhausted ninja home to recover.
• Orochimaru summoned Hagoromo to Konoha’s underground Intelligence Department facility to examine the Third Lightning Shadow’s corpse after efforts to break the seals in his mind failed.
• Hagoromo applied Lightning Release to the corpse and found that its cells became active, then intensified his technique until the body displayed a Lightning Release Chakra Mode-like effect.
• Orochimaru observed that the Third Lightning Shadow’s body had an exceptional affinity for Lightning Release and seemed to retain a memory of its former state.
• Orochimaru asked Hagoromo why his ordinary cells could endure powerful Lightning Release, and Hagoromo realized Orochimaru had already been studying him and was terrified.

Hagoromo endured Orochimaru’s invasive research while helping with the Raikage project, then spent his fourteenth birthday waiting in line for ramen with his teammates. As Konoha reorganized its teams, Minato summoned Kakashi for a mission but left Hagoromo behind to assist Orochimaru.

• Hagoromo refused to reveal his secrets to Orochimaru, who continued his research without his cooperation.
• Hagoromo celebrated his fourteenth birthday in a long ramen line with Asuma, Kurenai, and Aoba, while reflecting that his team would soon be disbanded.
• Asuma showed off his chakra-conducting weapon, Flying Swallow, and Hagoromo demonstrated a miniature Chidori Sharp Spear.
• Kai asked Hagoromo about the rumors surrounding the Raikage, and Hagoromo denied being responsible while Kakashi silently mocked him.
• Minato arrived and assigned Kakashi a mission, explaining that he had replaced Hagoromo because Orochimaru’s work needed his help.