Chapter Summaries

Sakon and Ukon trapped Kiba by entering his body, but Kiba forced Ukon out through self-inflicted injuries and escaped with Choji. Meanwhile, Uchiha Cheng fought Ryoma with shadow clones, and Shikamaru struggled to evade Tayuya’s controlled giants.

• Sakon distracted Kiba while Ukon entered Kiba’s body and threatened to destroy his cells from within.
• Uchiha Cheng caught up with Ryoma and began fighting him using his Double Shadow Clone Technique.
• Kiba wounded himself to force Ukon out, then used a Smoke Bomb to escape with Choji as Sakon and Ukon prepared to pursue.
• Tayuya attacked Shikamaru with three flute-controlled giants, forcing him to flee through the forest and drain his stamina.

Shikamaru fought the three strange men while Uchiha Cheng struggled against Kimimaro and tried to reach Second Pillar, whose Cursed Seal state had activated. Rock Lee stepped in to fight Kimimaro, leaving Uchiha Cheng to decide whether to trust him and pursue Second Pillar.

• Second Pillar's cloak came undone, revealing that Orochimaru's Cursed Seal state could be activated, and he rejected Uchiha Cheng's attempt to change his mind.
• The three strange men changed their attacks against Shikamaru, who realized he had few ninja tools left and needed a new strategy.
• Shikamaru used his remaining tools to control all the villains among the strange men.
• Kimimaro used surprise attacks to injure Uchiha Cheng, but Rock Lee arrived and kicked Kimimaro away.
• Rock Lee challenged Kimimaro so Uchiha Cheng could pursue Second Pillar, while Uchiha Cheng worried about Rock Lee's old injuries but could not show doubt.

Uchiha Cheng pursued Second Pillar while Rock Lee fought Kimimaro, using Drunken Fist to gain the upper hand. Kimimaro activated his Cursed Seal, and Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro arrived as Rock Lee and his allies faced grave danger.

• Uchiha Cheng entrusted Rock Lee with fighting Kimimaro, then resumed chasing Second Pillar.
• Rock Lee used Drunken Fist to evade Kimimaro's attacks and press his advantage.
• Uchiha Cheng continued pursuing Second Pillar while worrying about Rock Lee, Kiba, and Shikamaru.
• Kimimaro activated the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had given him as Rock Lee challenged him to reveal his full power.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro arrived to aid Rock Lee, Kiba, and Shikamaru.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro joined the fights against Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Sakon, while Uchiha Cheng continued pursuing Sasuke. After Temari and Kankuro defeated Tayuya and Sakon, they set out to help Gaara deal with Kimimaro.

• Gaara arrived as reinforcements and blocked Kimimaro's Finger Bullets with his sand before the two began fighting.
• Uchiha Cheng confronted Sasuke, who accused him of knowing why he had changed, while Cheng believed Sasuke was responsible for his own choices.
• Temari reached Shikamaru and used Wind Release to disrupt Tayuya's flute melody and destroy the surrounding vegetation.
• Temari and Kankuro teamed up and nearly defeated Tayuya and Sakon, freeing Shikamaru from their threat.
• Temari told Kankuro that Kimimaro remained an enemy, and she led him to help Gaara.

Gaara arrived to support the badly injured Rock Lee and took over the fight against Kimimaro, while Uchiha Cheng confronted Second Pillar and vowed to bring him back to Konoha. Just as Gaara and Rock Lee seemed close to victory, Kimimaro activated Cursed Seal State Two and changed the battle’s course.

• Gaara apologized to the injured Rock Lee, then insisted on facing Kimimaro alone while Rock Lee recovered.
• Uchiha Cheng caught up with Second Pillar in a canyon, argued with him about why he had changed, and vowed to bring him back to Konoha.
• Gaara used sand to attack and restrain Kimimaro, gaining the upper hand as Rock Lee remained unable to fight.
• Kimimaro refused to surrender and activated Cursed Seal State Two, prompting Gaara to warn Rock Lee to protect himself.

Gaara tried to keep Rock Lee out of Kimimaro’s fight, but Lee charged in and was knocked away. Uchiha Cheng confronted Second Pillar over his decision to leave, and their conflict ended with Second Pillar embracing his growing power as the battle between Kimimaro and Gaara began.

• Gaara told Rock Lee to stay out of the fight, but Kimimaro knocked Gaara back despite his sand protection.
• Rock Lee ignored Gaara’s warning and rushed at Kimimaro, who sent him flying as well.
• Uchiha Cheng punched Second Pillar to stop him from leaving, but Second Pillar insisted he would never return and would use any means to reach his goal.
• Uchiha Cheng attacked again, and Second Pillar dodged before striking Uchiha Cheng and celebrating his increased strength.
• Second Pillar rejected the idea that he still had friends, while Uchiha Cheng realized the Sasuke he once knew might never return.
• Kimimaro and Gaara began their intense battle.

Gaara and Rock Lee joined forces against Majing and were shocked when Feather drew a spine-like weapon. Uchiha Cheng fought Second Pillar, discovered Sasuke had deliberately taken his punches to test his strength, and warned Sasuke that he had not yet shown his full power.

• Rock Lee asked to fight beside Gaara, and Gaara agreed while warning him to rest if he could not keep going.
• Gaara and Rock Lee battled Majing as Feather pulled a weapon resembling a spine from his back, and Gaara raised the Shukaku Shield to protect Lee.
• Uchiha Cheng decided to stop holding back against Second Pillar, and the two began an intense fight.
• Cheng punched Sasuke repeatedly while Sasuke did not retaliate, then realized Sasuke had been testing his strength by taking the blows.
• Second Pillar taunted Cheng for being weak, and Cheng warned him not to celebrate because he had not shown his full strength.

Sasuke fought Uchiha Cheng while memories disrupted his focus, and Uchiha Cheng tried to use the opening despite Sasuke’s Sharingan seeing through his clones. Sasuke’s recollections shifted to a childhood meeting with his father, who began teaching him the Fireball Jutsu.

• Uchiha Cheng challenged Sasuke as Sasuke’s strength surged, but Sasuke began struggling under Cheng’s full-powered assault.
• Sasuke recalled memories of his brother using a strange Sharingan on their father, and the recollections caused him to falter during the fight.
• Uchiha Cheng attacked with the Double Shadow Clone Jutsu, but Sasuke’s Sharingan revealed Cheng’s true body and let Sasuke resist him.
• Uchiha Cheng questioned Sasuke’s motives, prompting Sasuke to sink further into memories of his past.
• Sasuke remembered meeting his father as a child, and his father began teaching him the Fireball Jutsu.

Second Pillar relived the massacre of the Uchiha Clan and learned through the Mangekyō Sharingan that his elder brother had killed their parents and clan. Meanwhile, Kakashi-sensei got the Hokage’s permission to search for Sasuke and Uchiha Cheng and sent his dogs to track them.

• Sasuke remembered his father encouraging him to train patiently, but he still resolved to earn his father’s recognition.
• Second Pillar recalled returning home to find his relatives dead, then discovered his brother standing over their parents’ corpses.
• Someone used the Mangekyō Sharingan on Second Pillar, showing him that his elder brother had slaughtered the Uchiha Clan.
• Kakashi-sensei grew concerned when Uchiha Cheng and Second Pillar failed to return and decided to search for them.
• The Hokage approved Kakashi-sensei’s plan, and Kakashi sent his dogs to track Second Pillar and Uchiha Cheng.

Uchiha Cheng and Second Pillar fought after Kakashi-sensei sent their group to search for their traces, but their first clash ended in a draw. Second Pillar activated his Cursed Seal and struck Uchiha Cheng with Chidori, only for Uchiha Cheng to reveal his Nine-Tails Chakra and enter a berserk state.

• Kakashi-sensei split the group into teams to search for Second Pillar and Uchiha Cheng.
• Uchiha Cheng and Second Pillar began a serious duel, but their ultimate moves left them evenly matched.
• Uchiha Cheng and Second Pillar agreed to keep fighting because neither accepted the draw.
• Second Pillar activated his Cursed Seal and used Chidori against Uchiha Cheng, believing he had little Chakra left.
• Uchiha Cheng revealed that he could no longer use Rasengan but still had Chakra, as his Nine-Tails Chakra enveloped him.
• Second Pillar was shocked by Uchiha Cheng's red Chakra and refused to surrender.

Uchiha Cheng tried to stop Sasuke from leaving for Orochimaru, but Sasuke resisted and declared that he wanted to sever their relationship. Their clash deepened as Sasuke admitted he wanted to surpass Cheng, while Cheng insisted they were still friends.

• Uchiha Cheng pursued Sasuke and refused to let him leave for Orochimaru, warning that he would stop him by force.
• Sasuke confronted Cheng despite fearing his berserk power and fought defensively until he found an opening to attack.
• Sasuke said he would sever their relationship, triggering another berserk state in Cheng.
• Sasuke's improved Sharingan let him clearly see the Uchiha Clan's movements as a turning point emerged between them.
• Sasuke explained that Cheng's strength and the attention he received from others had made him resentful and determined to prove himself stronger.
• Uchiha Cheng told Sasuke that the teachers treated all their students equally and that Sasuke was overthinking their regard for him.

Uchiha Cheng fought Sasuke after Sasuke activated Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, State Two, but Sasuke won and left rather than return to Konoha. Konoha's medical team arrived afterward and reported that Neji and Choji were in grave condition.

• Sasuke activated Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, State Two, and challenged Uchiha Cheng to fight.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sasuke clashed with powerful chakra attacks, and Sasuke emerged victorious.
• Sasuke told Uchiha Cheng to leave him and Konoha behind, then departed as Uchiha Cheng collapsed and fainted.
• Konoha's medical team arrived; Shikamaru and Kiba learned that Neji and Choji were critically injured.

After the failed mission left Neji, Choji, Uchiha Cheng, and others badly injured, Xiao Zhang helped Shikamaru stop blaming himself. Sakura also confessed her guilt to Jiraiya and resolved to become stronger, but had not yet explained how she would help Uchiha Cheng.

• Shikamaru blamed himself for the injuries his friends suffered, and Kiba tried to comfort him.
• Xiao Zhang arrived and reminded Shikamaru that his courage had inspired Choji and the others, lifting his spirits.
• Neji and Lin Chi sent good news, and Uchiha Cheng returned to the team, though the mission to bring the Yu Clan back to Konoha had failed and the injured remained under medical care.
• Sakura blamed herself for relying on Uchiha Cheng and leaving him to face danger, while he remained hospitalized.
• Jiraiya asked Sakura what troubled her, and she admitted she wanted to become stronger and help Uchiha Cheng solve a problem.

Sakura set out to recover the Jade Throne and make amends, while Uchiha Cheng and Jiraiya went after her. Tsunade approved their actions as an official mission, and after the group reached the Land of Valleys, Jiraiya proposed scouting ahead alone.

• Sakura told Jiraiya she would retrieve the Jade Throne by herself and returned home to pack.
• Jiraiya told Uchiha Cheng about Sakura’s plan, and Uchiha Cheng broke free to pursue her.
• Jiraiya went to Tsunade and secured approval to make the search an official mission.
• Jiraiya caught up with Sakura and Uchiha Cheng, and the three infiltrated the Land of Valleys.
• Jiraiya suggested that he enter alone to scout the unfamiliar area, and Uchiha Cheng questioned whether that was safe.

Uchiha Cheng and Sakura waited outside the village while Jiraiya investigated reports about the Hidden Sound Village. They rescued an injured child fleeing from a pursuer, while Jiraiya was lured into a bandit trap but defeated the bandits.

• Jiraiya gave Uchiha Cheng and Sakura money and entered Fūma Alley to investigate the Hidden Sound Village, while they went outside the village to wait.
• Sakura recognized the child who had attacked them before, but Uchiha Cheng noticed he was injured and weak.
• The child told Uchiha Cheng and Sakura that someone was pursuing him, so they took him away to protect him.
• A pursuer arrived at the spot where the child had been, found blood, and failed to locate him.
• A hostess lured Jiraiya into a bandit trap by claiming she knew about the Hidden Sound Village.
• Jiraiya fought the bandits and beat them, while the hostess fled in fear.

Jiraiya learned a lead on Hidden Sound Village, then rescued Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and a child from pursuers. After Sasame offered to guide them to Orochimaru’s lair, she drugged their tea and revealed she had lured them out to capture them for the Sealing Demon Clan.

• The hostess told Jiraiya that someone she knew might know Hidden Sound Village’s whereabouts, and Jiraiya let her go before setting out to rejoin Uchiha Cheng and Sakura.
• As pursuers closed in on Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and the child, Jiraiya followed a trail of blood and joined Uchiha Cheng in driving their three attackers away.
• Sasame met the group and offered to lead them to Orochimaru’s lair, then secretly drugged the tea she served them.
• After the drug weakened Uchiha Cheng, Jiraiya, Sakura, and the child, Sasame confessed that she had targeted them to prove the Sealing Demon Clan’s strength to Orochimaru.
• Sasame ignored Sakura’s challenge and said she would take the group to Orochimaru’s lair and hand them over.

Sasame led Uchiha Cheng, Jiraiya, and their companions to Orochimaru’s maze-like hideout, where they split up to search for a way through. Sakura became separated from Uchiha Cheng and encountered Kabuto, who frightened her by threatening that Orochimaru would come; the chapter ended as Kabuto prepared to reveal more alarming news.

• Sasame guided Uchiha Cheng, Jiraiya, and the others through the forest to Orochimaru’s concealed hideout, then left them to wait.
• Uchiha Cheng and Jiraiya agreed that the group should split up and leave marks while searching the hideout’s branching passages.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sakura separated at a fork, and Sakura eventually found the correct path alone.
• Kabuto encountered Sakura and taunted her with the threat that Orochimaru would come, leaving her frightened and crying.
• Sakura insisted that Uchiha Cheng would find and protect her, while Kabuto said he had important news that would frighten her further.

Kabuto lied to Sakura that Sasuke had died, provoking her to attack him until Uchiha Cheng arrived and joined the fight. Uchiha Cheng appeared to defeat Kabuto with a Rasengan, but Kabuto secretly connected their hearts with Chakra threads, leaving Uchiha Cheng in danger.

• Kabuto told Sakura that Sasuke had died and tried to convince her that resisting was pointless.
• Sakura attacked Kabuto to avenge Sasuke, and Uchiha Cheng arrived as she turned to him in tears.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sakura fought Kabuto, with Uchiha Cheng using the room’s pillars to evade him and wear down his kunai.
• Uchiha Cheng used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and a Rasengan to knock Kabuto down.
• As Uchiha Cheng approached Kabuto, Kabuto connected their hearts with Chakra threads, and Sakura cried out to Uchiha Cheng.

After Uchiha Cheng's heart linked with Kabuto's, a hostile figure resembling Lan appeared and attacked Sasame, Sakura, and Uchiha Cheng. With Uchiha Cheng badly injured and Lan's attacks seemingly ineffective against him, Sakura and Sasame fought back, while Uchiha Cheng suspected Lan's changed strength was connected to the heart link.

• Uchiha Cheng and Kabuto fell unconscious as Lan appeared, but Lan did not recognize Sasame and sent him flying with a powerful attack.
• Uchiha Cheng woke and warned that the figure was not the real Lan, while Sakura pulled Sasame away from Lan's next attack.
• Lan targeted Sakura, and Uchiha Cheng took the blow meant for him, leaving Uchiha Cheng seriously injured.
• Lan used the Sealing Demon Clan's Mandala Restraint to bind Uchiha Cheng's attacks, prompting Sakura and Sasame to join the fight.
• Sakura and Sasame attacked Lan, and Uchiha Cheng wondered whether Lan's changed combat strength came from his heart connecting with Kabuto's.

Sasame and Sakura rescued the injured Uchiha Cheng from Lan’s phantom, and the three parted ways after Sakura decided to train as a medical ninja. Later, Mizuki incited a mass breakout from Konoha’s Heavy Prison; Uchiha Cheng arrived to find Asuma and Kurenai badly injured and every prisoner gone.

• Sasame and Sakura defeated Lan’s phantom, rescued Uchiha Cheng, and escaped with him.
• Sakura resolved to train as a medical ninja, while Sasame felt guilty until Sakura and Uchiha Cheng reassured him that Lan had not been real.
• Uchiha Cheng asked Jiraiya to guide his training, but Jiraiya had to leave on a mission and promised to help when he returned.
• Mizuki incited the prisoners at Konoha’s Heavy Prison to revolt, then signaled them to attack Asuma and Kurenai during his transfer.
• The prisoners overwhelmed Asuma and Kurenai and escaped with Mizuki; Uchiha Cheng arrived afterward and found them injured and the prison empty.