Chapter Summaries

Hanzo defeated Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade but spared them and named them the Konoha Sannin. After reading the report, Yūske left Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office and returned home to share a meal with his parents.

• Hanzo acknowledged that Amegakure could not win the war and spared the exhausted Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade rather than risk a conflict with Konoha.
• Hanzo named the three the Konoha Sannin, then left the battlefield with Ibuse.
• Jiraiya collapsed from exhaustion after Hanzo departed, and the three recovered before tending to the battlefield and its wounded.
• Yūske read the report in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office, asked to go home for food, and left while Hiruzen considered his next training.
• Yūske returned to the Watanabe Family's Barbecue Restaurant, where his father closed the restaurant and prepared meat for him.
• Watanabe Meiko came home and found Yūske and his father drinking and playing finger-guessing games.

Yūske sought a way to overcome his taijutsu bottleneck and asked Might Duy about a technique that could temporarily boost his strength, but Duy refused to teach him without his father’s permission. Yūske then requested a mission from Hiruzen Sarutobi and was assigned to accompany a supply convoy to the front lines on an A-rank mission.

• Yūske woke after sleeping until noon, ate lunch, and wandered the village feeling aimless and lonely.
• Yūske visited the training grounds and told Might Duy that his taijutsu had hit a bottleneck and that he expected to return to the battlefield soon.
• Yūske asked Might Duy about a technique that could unleash his potential, but Duy refused to teach him the technique without his father’s permission.
• Yūske visited Hiruzen Sarutobi and asked for a mission, and Hiruzen assigned him to accompany a supply convoy to the front lines on an A-rank mission.

Yūske learned that he would soon lead a supply mission to the front lines and told his parents he had been promoted to jonin. As he shared a farewell evening with them, Wang Dalu and Watanabe Yūske’s emotions merged, and Watanabe Yūske disappeared.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Yūske a place on the supply mission to the front lines, his first mission as a jonin.
• Yūske told his parents at dinner that he would leave in a few days and revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had promoted him to jonin.
• Yūske asked Dad whether strangers had been asking about their family history, then shared a cigarette with him as they talked.
• Mom caught Dad teaching Yūske to smoke, and Yūske stopped her and hugged her.
• Wang Dalu and Watanabe Yūske silently accepted their bond, and Watanabe Yūske vanished as their emotions merged.

Yūske met the four jonin assigned to his mission, who wanted to assess his abilities and prepare for possible ambushes. At Training Ground Five, he demonstrated his String Style and blocked Uchiha En’s fire attack before beginning another technique.

• Yūske welcomed Kurenai Yūhi and the other jonin to his family’s restaurant and waited on them while his mother called him to help.
• Kurenai Yūhi introduced Uchiha En, Hyuga Reon, and Gekko Yoru, and explained that the team wanted to learn Yūske’s abilities before the mission.
• Yūske joined the jonin for a meal, then agreed to test his strength against Uchiha En at Training Ground Five.
• Yūske fired String Shots that Uchiha En struggled to track, then blocked En’s Great Fireball Technique with a barrier of threads.
• Yūske thrust both hands into the ground and announced, “Pseudo: Divine Punishment Kill!”

Yūske defeated Uchiha En in a training match, proving his strength to Kurenai Yūhi’s team. The group then went to Kurenai Yūhi’s home, with Yūske getting acquainted with his new teammates.

• Uchiha En evaded Yūske’s thread attacks and threw an explosive kunai, but Yūske emerged unharmed inside a spherical defense.
• Yūske pressured Uchiha En with sword attacks while Gekko Yoru and Reon observed that his threads were the real threat.
• Uchiha En trapped Yūske in a genjutsu, but Yūske broke free and restrained En with threads before Kurenai Yūhi stopped the match.
• Yūske concealed how he escaped the genjutsu, saying it involved his Kekkei Genkai, and Uchiha En accepted the loss.
• Kurenai Yūhi invited the group to her home, and Yūske learned more about Uchiha En, Reon, Inuzuka Shiro, and Gekko Yoru along the way.

Kurenai Yūhi briefed his team on the escort mission, assigning scouting shifts and ordering them to prioritize the Soldier Pills if the group had to choose between supplies and comrades. The team agreed to the plan, then shared dinner at Kurenai Yūhi’s home before departing for the mission in two days.

• Kurenai Yūhi explained that he had revised the escort plan after learning about Yūske’s strength and Kekkei Genkai.
• Kurenai Yūhi assigned daytime scouting to himself, Yūske, and Inuzuka Shiro, while Reon, En, and Yoru took the night watch.
• Kurenai Yūhi told the team to prioritize protecting the supplies, especially the Soldier Pills, even if doing so meant abandoning captured comrades.
• The team accepted Kurenai Yūhi’s worst-case plan, and he invited them to dinner as comrades who could trust one another.
• At dinner, Yūske doted on three-year-old Yūhi Kurenai, and Inuzuka Shiro teased him about getting together with Hyuga Reon before running away from her Byakugan.

Yūske demonstrated his Parasitic String ability to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who agreed to let him remain on the battlefield after the escort mission and gave him a scroll for Tsunade. The chapter ended with Hiruzen inviting Yūske to a farewell dinner before the mission.

• Kurenai Yūhi reported the team’s plan to Hiruzen Sarutobi and was told to keep the mission details confidential.
• An Anbu member summoned Yūske to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Forest of Death.
• Yūske showed Hiruzen Sarutobi that his String Style could slice through an Earth Flow Wall and said he had reached a bottleneck in his training.
• Yūske used Parasitic String to control several Anbu members, demonstrating how he could override their movements.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to Yūske’s request to stay on the battlefield after the escort mission and gave him a scroll to deliver to Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi invited Yūske to a farewell dinner prepared by his teacher’s wife.

Yūske joined Kurenai Yūhi’s team to escort a convoy and persuaded her to include Might Duy in their protection detail. After two days of uneventful travel, Inuzuka Shiro and Ranmaru detected the smell of Explosive Tags ahead, and Kurenai Yūhi warned the convoy to stay alert.

• Yūske met Kurenai Yūhi’s team at Konoha’s gate and traveled with them to the convoy’s rendezvous point.
• Yūske vouched for Might Duy’s strength, and Kurenai Yūhi assigned Duy to accompany him.
• The team guarded the convoy by day, rested at a camp protected by Yūske’s String-String Fruit barrier, and continued traveling without incident.
• Inuzuka Shiro and Ranmaru detected the smell of Explosive Tags ahead of the convoy.
• Kurenai Yūhi shouted for the convoy to stay alert.

Kurenai Yūhi’s convoy was ambushed by Sunagakure ninjas led by Ebizo and Shūji. Watanabe Yūske fought Shūji, survived his powerful wind and fire attacks, and appeared behind him as Shūji believed the battle was over.

• Kurenai Yūhi halted the convoy after Inuzuka Shiro warned them of hidden Explosive Tags, and Sunagakure ninjas emerged from the smoke.
• Kurenai Yūhi identified Ebizo and Shūji, then assigned Yūske to fight Shūji while others engaged the enemy and protected the supplies.
• Yūske used his strings to pressure Shūji, blocked his Wind Cutter, and withstood his Whirlwind Fist using protective string armor.
• Shūji combined Pressure Damage and Fire Dragon Bullet into a fiery tornado aimed at Yūske.
• Yūske appeared behind Shūji unharmed and asked whether Shūji had been talking about him.

Yūske used Parasitic String to control Shūji and turn him against Ebizo during the battle. After Ebizo ordered a retreat, Kurenai Yūhi’s team secured the battlefield and prepared to continue their mission with Shūji as a prisoner.

• Yūske restrained Shūji with Parasitic String, stitched his mouth shut, treated his wounds, and carried him toward the enemy.
• Might Duy held an enemy jonin at bay while Kurenai Yūhi and Ebizo watched a powerful Compound Ninjutsu erupt across the battlefield.
• Yūske controlled Shūji into stabbing Ebizo, and Ebizo realized Shūji was being manipulated before ordering Sunagakure to retreat.
• Sunagakure’s ninja withdrew with Ebizo, leaving Shūji behind, and Kurenai Yūhi chose not to pursue them.
• Kurenai Yūhi’s team treated their wounded and assessed the damaged supplies, then agreed to take Shūji along as a bargaining chip.

After a supply convoy was ambushed, Yūske used his Kekkei Genkai to stitch the wounded and help stop their bleeding. The group made camp for the night, where they discussed Yūske’s training with Enma and his jonin examination.

• Hyuga Reon reported that the attack had destroyed supplies and killed five Chunin and twenty-four genin, while many others were injured.
• Yūske stitched the wounded with fine threads, and Hyuga Reon treated their wounds; Kurenai Yūhi thanked him and promised to report what he had done.
• The convoy resumed its journey, with lightly injured ninja driving and the jonin keeping watch, as Might Duy earned the group’s respect for his strength.
• At night, Kurenai Yūhi ordered the group to camp, and Yūske set traps around the area while the others prepared food.
• Hyuga Reon asked about the seasonings in Yūske’s ninja tool pouch, leading Yūske to explain that he had trained with Enma and had faced him in his jonin examination.

Kurenai Yūhi delivered the convoy safely to Konoha Battlefield Camp, where Hatake Sakumo praised Yūske for helping defeat the ambush. After Yūske left to find Tsunade, Nara Shikamaru questioned whether Yūske might be a Sunagakure spy, but Kurenai defended him.

• The convoy reached the camp, and patrol squads verified Kurenai Yūhi’s team before camp personnel received the supplies and treated the wounded.
• Nara Shikamaru and Hatake Sakumo heard how Ebizo had ambushed the convoy, and Hatake praised Yūske for his role in protecting the team.
• Yamanaka Yūji took Shūji away to examine his mind for seals, while Yūske left to deliver a scroll to Tsunade.
• Nara Shikamaru questioned whether someone had leaked the convoy’s whereabouts, and Kurenai argued that Sunagakure could have guessed their route.
• Nara Shikamaru raised the possibility that Yūske was a spy because his String Style resembled the Puppet forces’ methods, but Kurenai insisted that Yūske was trustworthy.
• Hatake Sakumo sent Kurenai to rest, then told Nara Shikamaru that he should not have suspected a hero who had just saved the team.

Nara Shikamaru suspected Watanabe Yūske might be connected to Sunagakure's attack and laid out his theory to Hatake Sakumo, who warned him not to spread it. Yūske reunited with Tsunade and revealed he planned to stay at the front, where she challenged him to earn a reputation before trying to beat her.

• Nara Shikamaru told Hatake Sakumo that Yūske's origins and mysterious abilities might connect him to Puppet Technique and Sunagakure's attack.
• Nara Shikamaru speculated that Yūske could have manipulated Shūji and Ebizo or be gaining support to become the Fourth Hokage, while admitting it was only a guess.
• Hatake Sakumo told Nara Shikamaru to keep their discussion secret and said he would compensate Yūske if the suspicion proved unfounded.
• Yūske found Tsunade in the camp, delivered her a scroll from Hiruzen, and walked with her.
• Yūske told Tsunade he had permission to stay and fight at the front, then claimed he might be strong enough to beat her.
• Tsunade accepted that Yūske could stay but told him to make a name for himself before trying to defeat her.

Yūske was assigned to the Seventh Patrol Team instead of the Combat Unit and met his new teammates. After leading their first patrol, he tried to chat with the team while they rested.

• Hatake Sakumo assigned Yūske to the camp patrol team until he adapted to the battlefield and sent Hiko to escort him to the Seventh Patrol Team.
• Hiko introduced Yūske to Aburame Shiho, Hyuga Hiroya, and Shimura Maki, who were excited to have him on their team.
• Shimura Maki explained that the Seventh and Eighth Patrol Squads guarded an area five thousand meters north of camp, and the three teammates declared Yūske their captain.
• Yūske led the team on its patrol, confirmed there were no abnormalities, and returned with them to rest.
• Yūske tried chatting with Maki, Hiroya, and Shiho, then Shiho blushed and called him a pervert when he asked about her insects.

Kurenai Yūhi tried to persuade Yūske to leave the patrol unit and return to the village, arguing that Hatake Sakumo was deliberately keeping him out of the Combat Unit. Yūske refused, and Kurenai ended by suggesting that leading missions back in the village could help build support for a future bid for Fourth Hokage.

• Hiko took over Yūske’s patrol duties so Yūske could meet Hatake Sakumo and Kurenai Yūhi.
• Kurenai gathered Yūske, Uchiha En, and the others for a meal before their planned return to the village.
• Kurenai urged Yūske to return with them, saying there was no place for him in the Combat Unit and that Hatake Sakumo was targeting him.
• Yūske refused, saying he wanted to toughen himself on the battlefield and believed Hatake Sakumo might eventually transfer him to the Combat Unit.
• Kurenai admitted that he had argued with Hatake Sakumo for Yūske’s sake and proposed that they lead groups on S-rank missions in the village.
• Kurenai suggested that their work could build a foundation for Yūske to run for Fourth Hokage, astonishing everyone present.

Kurenai Yūhi urged Yūske to pursue the Hokage position, and Yūske accepted the support of several allies as they departed. Might Duy gave Yūske a scroll containing the Eight Inner Gates, and Yūske invited him to become a Shadow Guard if he became Hokage.

• Kurenai Yūhi argued that Yūske could become Hokage through popular support and political backing, while Yūske said he needed to grow stronger.
• After the meal, Kurenai Yūhi led the group away and warned Yūske to survive the war.
• Inuzuka Shiro, Uchiha En, Hyuga Reon, and Gekko Yoru each pledged to support Yūske's ambition to become Hokage.
• Might Duy gave Yūske a scroll describing the Eight Inner Gates and warned him that the Seventh and Eighth Gates could burn away his life.
• Yūske accepted the scroll and asked Might Duy to become one of his Shadow Guard if he became Hokage; Might Duy gladly agreed.

Yūske helped Tsunade at the Medical Department, where a wave of poisoned casualties kept her from attending a command meeting. Tsunade sent Yūske in her place, and the meeting ended with a proposal to challenge Sunagakure as its forces prepared for a possible full-scale assault.

• Yūske visited the Medical Department, helped stitch up a wounded patient with String Style, and told Tsunade that he planned to remain with the patrol squad for now.
• A surge of wounded ninja arrived with signs of a new Sunagakure poison, and Tsunade stayed behind to work on an antidote.
• When Hatake Sakumo summoned Tsunade to the Command Room, she sent Yūske in her place and insisted the decision was hers.
• At the meeting, Nara Shikamaru reported that Ebizo's return had changed Sunagakure's deployments and that the enemy might launch a full-scale assault.
• The assembled ninja asked how to respond, and the proposed next step was to send Sunagakure a Challenge Letter.

Hatake Sakumo assigned Yūske to the Combat Unit and tasked him with stopping or destroying the Puppet forces during the planned operation. Nara Shikamaru remained wary of Yūske but promised to trust him and make amends if he carried out the mission sincerely.

• Nara Shikamaru proposed a battle challenge because the camp lacked reliable intelligence, and Hatake Sakumo questioned the risks while Tsunade studied Chiyo's poison.
• Hatake Sakumo transferred Yūske from his patrol squad to the Combat Unit, and Yūske agreed to join the operation.
• Hatake Sakumo kept Yūske behind and designated him a Surprise Troop, tasking him with stopping or wiping out the Puppet forces.
• Yūske left to have dinner with Tsunade while Nara Shikamaru questioned Hatake Sakumo's decision to rely so heavily on him.
• Nara Shikamaru promised to trust Yūske as an inheritor of the Will of Fire and apologize and compensate him if he carried out the mission sincerely.

Yūske’s hand absorbed the Eight Inner Gates scroll, and the strange threads from his body drew him into an ancient castle, where he met a horned figure who claimed Yūske had consumed his possession. Yūske suspected the figure was the String-String Fruit and asked him directly.

• Tsunade reassured Yūske about his mission against the Puppet forces and offered him antidotes for battle.
• Thin threads emerged from Yūske’s hand and pulled the Eight Inner Gates scroll into his body.
• Yūske left the Medical Department and went to a secluded training area, where threads enveloped him and a voice spoke beside him.
• Yūske lost consciousness and awoke inside an unfamiliar ancient castle, compelled to walk to a dim chamber.
• Yūske found a horned figure handling the Eight Inner Gates scroll, and the figure mocked him for asking who he was after consuming its possession.
• Yūske asked the figure if he was the String-String Fruit.

Yūsuke received instruction in the Eight Inner Gates during a strange vision, then woke surrounded by strings and suspected his String-String Fruit had awakened. After Tsunade examined him, he went with her to test his new strength, but he could not reproduce the apparent awakening.

• Demon transferred detailed knowledge of the Eight Inner Gates and their techniques into Yūsuke's mind.
• Demon told Yūsuke that awakening his ability required becoming one with it, then vanished before explaining further.
• Yūsuke woke amid strings that he could control, and Tsunade rushed him to the Medical Department for examination.
• Tsunade told Yūsuke that the Medical Department had developed an antidote for Chiyo's poison.
• Yūsuke and Tsunade went to a clearing to test his strength, but he could not awaken the power again and confirmed only that he could still produce strings.