Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Cheng and the Hokage pursued Mizuki after he escaped Heavy Prison, while Shizune and Iruka followed separate trails. Uchiha Cheng faced Raijin and Fujin as Iruka found Mizuki, who tricked him into believing he might repent.

• Uchiha Cheng discovered that Mizuki had escaped Heavy Prison with other prisoners and asked Shizune to track him down.
• Shizune followed Mizuki's scent with Tonton but was ambushed by Raijin and Fujin, so Tonton rushed to alert the Hokage.
• Uchiha Cheng joined the Hokage's rescue effort, learned Mizuki's whereabouts from Shizune, and split from Iruka when Raijin and Fujin blocked their pursuit.
• Uchiha Cheng struggled against Raijin and Fujin's powerful builds and defenses as they prevented him from reaching Mizuki.
• Iruka found Mizuki and tried to persuade him to return and repent, but Mizuki pretended to consider it so Iruka would lower his guard.

Mizuki lured Iruka into a battle on favorable terrain and rejected his attempts to persuade him to return. Elsewhere, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino worked to hold off Fujin and Raijin so Uchiha Cheng could search for Mizuki, leaving Iruka's situation uncertain.

• Mizuki revealed that he had no intention of returning and fought Iruka after leading him into terrain that favored him.
• Uchiha Cheng struggled against Fujin and Raijin until Shikamaru arrived and restrained the giants with his Binding Jutsu.
• As Fujin and Raijin began breaking free, Uchiha Cheng refused to leave Shikamaru without help.
• Uchiha Cheng told Choji to assist Shikamaru while he searched for Mizuki, and Ino joined the effort to restrain Fujin and Raijin.
• Choji moved to hold back Raijin as Uchiha Cheng prepared to continue searching for Mizuki.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino restrained Fujin and Raijin while Uchiha Cheng caught up with Iruka, who had failed to persuade Mizuki to stop fighting. Tsubaki joined their pursuit and revealed that Mizuki had secretly been developing medicine, leading Uchiha Cheng and Iruka to suspect a drug was behind his sudden transformation.

• Choji and Ino helped Shikamaru bind Fujin and Raijin with their combined technique.
• Iruka fought Mizuki while holding back and urging him to return, but Mizuki injured him and refused to listen.
• Uchiha Cheng found Iruka, and the two acknowledged that persuasion alone would not stop Mizuki.
• Tsubaki arrived, offered information about Mizuki's plans, and joined Uchiha Cheng and Iruka's search.
• Tsubaki described Mizuki's secret medicine development, and Uchiha Cheng and Iruka suspected Mizuki had taken one of his experimental drugs.

Uchiha Cheng, Iruka, and Tsubaki tracked down Mizuki after he took a secret medicine that unleashed Orochimaru's power, but neither force nor Tsubaki's plea could bring him back to his senses. As they prepared to face Mizuki again, Uchiha Cheng also remained determined to search for Sasuke despite Tsunade's warning that Sasuke was an unreachable discarded pawn of Orochimaru.

• Tsubaki begged Uchiha Cheng and Iruka to save Mizuki, and Uchiha Cheng advised them to subdue him before trying to reason with him.
• Uchiha Cheng and Iruka found Mizuki radiating powerful Chakra and connected his changed appearance to Sasuke's Cursed Seal and Orochimaru's power.
• Uchiha Cheng and Iruka attacked Mizuki but were driven back by his greatly increased strength.
• Tsubaki tried to reach Mizuki by reminding him that they were engaged and could marry, but he briefly calmed before attacking and knocking her down.
• Uchiha Cheng and Iruka decided to try subduing Mizuki again, while Uchiha Cheng worried that Mizuki could offer no clues about Sasuke.
• Tsunade urged Uchiha Cheng to reconsider searching for Sasuke, but he said he could not give up so easily.

Uchiha Cheng sought Tsunade’s approval to find a Scent Tracking Bug and use it to search for Sasuke. He and Team 8 reached Scent Tracking Bug Forest, joined forces with three ninja from the Crane God Clan, and began looking for the bugs while Team 8 noticed the newcomers seemed suspicious.

• Hinata and Uchiha Cheng discussed the lack of clues about Sasuke, and Shino suggested using a Scent Tracking Bug to track him.
• Tsunade approved Uchiha Cheng’s search and urged him to protect himself.
• Uchiha Cheng and the children of Team 8 traveled for two days to Scent Tracking Bug Forest, where they found three ninja from the Crane God Clan already searching.
• The three ninja said they had spent ten days in the forest without finding any Scent Tracking Bugs, and Uchiha Cheng agreed to let them join his search.
• Uchiha Cheng focused on finding the bugs and did not notice the three ninja’s hidden intentions, but the children of Team 8 grew suspicious.

Uchiha Cheng finally found the Scent Tracking Bugs, but the three ninjas revealed their plan and kidnapped Hinata to force him to hand the bugs over. Cheng and the children of Team 8 set out to rescue Hinata while protecting the bugs.

• The children of Team 8 discovered that the three ninjas were using Uchiha Cheng to find the Scent Tracking Bugs and planned to take them.
• After several failed searches, Uchiha Cheng changed the search area and finally found the Scent Tracking Bugs.
• The three ninjas learned of Cheng's success and kidnapped Hinata, demanding that he bring them the bugs.
• Uchiha Cheng refused to surrender either Hinata or the Scent Tracking Bugs and began an operation with Team 8 to rescue her and protect the bugs.

Uchiha Cheng and his companions defeated the Crane God Clan ninja and recovered the Scent Tracking Bugs needed to find Sasuke. After completing the mission, they spotted a funeral procession in the rain, then parted ways as Uchiha Cheng joined Team 3 for a new mission.

• The Crane God Clan ninja demanded the Scent Tracking Bugs, and Uchiha Cheng fought them while the aggressive larvae drained his strength and Kiba’s.
• Shino provoked the Queen Bee, whose cocoons protected Uchiha Cheng and Hinata from the bugs.
• Hinata returned, defeated all three ninja, and reclaimed the bugs they had seized.
• Uchiha Cheng thanked Hinata, and the group left after completing their mission to find Sasuke.
• Uchiha Cheng’s group sheltered from heavy rain and watched a cloaked funeral procession pass by.
• Uchiha Cheng said goodbye to Team 8 and joined Team 3 for a mission to unravel a mystery.

Uchiha Cheng pursued his mission to Gold Mountain with Neji while their client, Rokosuke, secretly investigated a cemetery and was captured by the Black Spade Clan. Cheng fought his way into the clan’s compound and found Rokosuke about to be buried alive, leaving him poised to rescue him.

• Uchiha Cheng warned Rokosuke not to investigate the strange funeral procession, but Rokosuke went to the cemetery alone at night.
• Members of the Black Spade Clan captured Rokosuke and prepared to bury him alive.
• Uchiha Cheng noticed Rokosuke was missing and went searching for him.
• Cheng confronted Black Spade Clan members who were bullying an elderly man, then defeated the group when they surrounded him.
• Cheng heard a burial ceremony inside the compound, realized Rokosuke was the one being buried, and rushed in to save him.
• Rokosuke saw Uchiha Cheng arrive and begged him to help.

Uchiha Cheng and his allies fought Raiga and the Black Spade Clan, but Raiga’s fake Meridians weakened them and left Rock Lee unconscious. A strange talking bag containing Ranmaru and real Meridians began replicating them, giving Uchiha Cheng hope that they could recover and fight back.

• Uchiha Cheng arrived to rescue Rokosuke and recognized Shinzi among the Black Spade Clan, prompting Rock Lee to urge her to return to Granny Sansho.
• Raiga rejected Rock Lee’s appeal and attacked Uchiha Cheng, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji, while Neji discovered Raiga had used fake Meridians to restrict his Byakugan and trap the others.
• Uchiha Cheng, Tenten, and Rock Lee were struck by the fake Meridians, and Rock Lee lost consciousness before his muscles began fighting Raiga on their own.
• Uchiha Cheng noticed a talking bag and found that it contained real Meridians that continuously replicated.
• Uchiha Cheng discovered Ranmaru inside the bag and realized Raiga had been using it to create fake Meridians, while the real ones could help the group regain their strength.

Uchiha Cheng and Rock Lee defeated Shinzi and agreed to let Rock Lee take responsibility for guiding him back to Granny Sansho. Meanwhile, Wu Lang and Tenten gained the advantage over Raiga with regenerating Meridians, but Raiga still saw Ranmaru as a possible path to resurrection.

• Shinzi refused Rock Lee’s pleas to return to Granny Sansho and ordered Black Spade Clan remnants to capture Uchiha Cheng’s group.
• Uchiha Cheng defeated Shinzi’s men and captured Shinzi after his schemes failed.
• The villagers left Shinzi’s fate to Uchiha Cheng, who spared him and entrusted Rock Lee with persuading him to change.
• Wu Lang used the regenerating Meridians to turn the fight against Raiga, whose subordinates had already been defeated.
• Raiga considered Ranmaru his bargaining chip for resurrection, while Uchiha Cheng and the others worried that Ranmaru could help him escape defeat.

Ranmaru revived Raiga with his remaining strength, and the newly empowered Raiga captured Tenten and forced Wu Lang’s group into a desperate fight. Granny Sansho’s Curry of Life restored Rock Lee and Uchiha Cheng, leaving them ready to rejoin the battle against Raiga.

• Wu Lang and Tenten decided to spare the frail Ranmaru, but Ranmaru secretly used his remaining strength to revive Raiga.
• Raiga returned stronger than before, defeated Tenten, and demanded that Wu Lang exchange Shinzi for her.
• Shinzi deceived Rock Lee and Wu Lang into meeting Raiga, then revealed his betrayal as Raiga attacked them.
• Rock Lee fought Raiga in the rain but was badly beaten while Raiga replenished his strength with lightning.
• Granny Sansho and Tenten arrived with Curry of Life, restoring Rock Lee and awakening Uchiha Cheng.
• Uchiha Cheng learned from Tenten that the curry had restored him and stood up, ready to face the ongoing battle.

Uchiha Cheng’s group defeated Raiga with Rock Lee’s help, then completed a wilderness training exercise in first place. While preparing for a mission in the Land of Stone, Uchiha Cheng noticed that the seemingly peaceful country was marked by hostility among its people.

• Granny Sansho recalled that the curry tasted like wine, while Rock Lee used his newfound strength to overwhelm Raiga and Uchiha Cheng checked that he was unharmed.
• Uchiha Cheng led three students through a dangerous wilderness exercise, avoided traps, retrieved the classified document, and delivered it first.
• Uchiha Cheng and his companions relaxed after the exercise, then agreed to scout the Land of Stone before carrying out their next mission.
• Uchiha Cheng’s group secretly observed the Land of Stone and found that its people were hostile toward one another, making him suspect the mission would be harder than expected.

Uchiha Cheng and his students encountered bandits and helped an injured bounty hunter named Shinonami, who revealed he was framed for a family’s murder and was searching for Itsunagi. Meanwhile, Rock Lee and Guy left the village, unaware that two ninja were watching them to gather intelligence on Konoha.

• Uchiha Cheng led his students to a restaurant, where bandits provoked them and started a fight.
• A bounty hunter named Shinonami helped Uchiha Cheng’s group, but Cheng discovered Shinonami had been poisoned and treated him.
• Shinonami told Uchiha Cheng that Itsunagi had framed him for murdering a family of three, and he intended to find her and clear his name.
• Rock Lee and Guy decided the village was suspicious and left to continue their mission.
• Two ninja watching Rock Lee and Guy waited for them to leave so they could gather intelligence on Konoha.

Two impostors entered Konoha disguised as Rock Lee and Guy to steal intelligence, but Tsunade and Kakashi recognized their deception and kept them occupied. Meanwhile, Chishima enlisted the Hokage’s help against the White Cursed Warrior in Island Country, and Uchiha Cheng noticed Chishima’s worry and asked what was wrong.

• Two ninjas disguised themselves as Rock Lee and Guy and entered Konoha to steal intelligence.
• Kakashi identified the impostors, reported them to Tsunade, and they arranged to keep the pair under watch.
• Uchiha Cheng mistook the impostors for Rock Lee and Guy and told them to train, while Tsunade made them perform exhausting tasks.
• Chishima asked the Hokage to help Island Country deal with the White Cursed Warrior, and the Hokage agreed.
• Uchiha Cheng met Chishima at a ramen shop, noticed he looked troubled, and asked whether he was in trouble.

Chishima told Uchiha Cheng that the White Cursed Warrior had plunged the Land of Birds into danger and badly wounded Chishima’s friend Daimyo, so Uchiha Cheng agreed to help investigate and rescue him. After joining the Hokage’s mission with Tenten and Neji, they began checking suspects and ruled out Lord Nobuko, leaving Lord Kurenai as a likely lead.

• Chishima explained the White Cursed Warrior’s threat to the Land of Birds and Daimyo’s dangerous condition, and Uchiha Cheng agreed to help.
• Uchiha Cheng and Chishima went to the Hokage, who assigned Tenten and Neji to accompany them to the Land of Birds.
• Chishima led the group to Shinshisu’s home to investigate possible backers of the White Cursed Warrior.
• Uchiha Cheng observed Lord Nobuko’s modest household and concluded that he was not connected to the warrior.
• Chishima identified Lord Kurenai as a more suspicious candidate, and Uchiha Cheng agreed that he was a strong lead.

Uchiha Cheng and his companions sought Lord Lú for information about the White Cursed Warrior, rescued him from an attack, and learned that Lord Nobuko had abruptly declared the case resolved. As Uchiha Cheng continued investigating the warrior, Chishima arrived at Lord Nobuko’s residence while Nobuko was holding a confidential meeting with an important guest.

• Chishima rejected Uchiha Cheng’s proposal to meet Lord Lú, so Uchiha Cheng privately planned to find him with Tenten and the others.
• Uchiha Cheng’s group waited at a place Lord Lú often visited and rescued him from unidentified attackers, then Uchiha Cheng introduced himself and asked for his help.
• A messenger told Uchiha Cheng that Lord Nobuko had resolved the Cursed Warrior matter, prompting Uchiha Cheng and his companions to continue investigating and split up.
• Uchiha Cheng asked Gamaryu what he knew about the White Cursed Warrior, especially how the warrior could fly.
• Chishima visited Lord Nobuko, who asked him to wait because he was discussing confidential matters with an important guest.

Chishima discovered Lord Nobuko was meeting with a foreign ninja, while Uchiha Cheng's attempt to approach Lord Lú ended in suspicion and a fight. Hong Ming was rescued by a Cursed Warrior before he could be forced to commit seppuku, and Lord Lú remained intent on revenge.

• Lord Nobuko sent Chishima to the living room, but Chishima secretly eavesdropped and learned that Lord Nobuko was speaking with a foreign ninja.
• Lord Lú's subordinates tried to seize Uchiha Cheng after he saved Lord Lú, and Uchiha Cheng fought them when Lord Lú refused to explain who he was.
• Beichen followed the Konoha ninja, but they used the Substitution Technique to mislead him and escape.
• Lord Nobuko accused Hong Ming of fabricated crimes and sentenced him to commit seppuku after Hong Ming refused to confess.
• A Cursed Warrior knocked the blade from Hong Ming's hand and led him away as Shinshisu ordered his people to pursue them.
• Lord Lú ignored his companions' warnings and declared that he would have his revenge, even if he died pursuing it.

Uchiha Cheng learned that the Lord Lú demanding revenge was an impostor, later identified as Crested Ibis, and pursued him after Lord Nobuko abducted him. Lord Nobuko trapped Uchiha Cheng in a genjutsu and nearly killed him, but Chishima rescued him; Crested Ibis remained aboard Lord Nobuko’s ship.

• Uchiha Cheng resolved to stop Lord Lú from being consumed by hatred, while Kakashi killed the subordinates Lord Nobuko had sent to follow him.
• A newcomer revealed that the real Lord Lú had died long ago, and the impostor admitted the truth as the crowd moved to seize him.
• Lord Nobuko appeared and abducted Crested Ibis, prompting Uchiha Cheng to follow their trail to a lakeside.
• Lord Nobuko trapped Uchiha Cheng in a genjutsu and attacked him, but Chishima drove her off and woke him.
• Uchiha Cheng regained consciousness and asked where Lord Nobuko had gone.

Uchiha Cheng and Chishima confronted Kamaki, an impostor posing as Lord Nobuko, as he tried to take Crested Ibis, and Chishima fell unconscious during the attack. Later, Uchiha Cheng and Neji found Ichiraku Ramen closed, but tracked its owner to a nearby room, where he prepared ramen for them.

• Uchiha Cheng and Chishima caught up with Kamaki, who revealed he was the Rogue Ninja leader impersonating Lord Nobuko and refused to release Crested Ibis.
• Kamaki ambushed Uchiha Cheng, and Chishima shielded him before collapsing unconscious; Kamaki then engulfed them with the Great Waterfall Technique.
• Uchiha Cheng invited his weary companions to Ichiraku Ramen, but they found the shop locked with a notice saying it was temporarily closed.
• Neji smelled ramen coming from a nearby room, and he and Uchiha Cheng climbed onto the roof before dropping into the courtyard and meeting the owner.
• The owner recognized Uchiha Cheng and prepared ramen for him and Neji.

Uchiha Cheng learned that the ramen owner was developing a new dish to save Ayame, who Chef Ninja had taken, while Kurenai suffered another Cursed Seal episode. The Hokage sent Anko, Uchiha Cheng, Shino, and Ino to escort a gold transport ship, and the team encountered two wandering ninja on the way to the Land of the Sea.

• The ramen owner told Uchiha Cheng that she was developing new ramen to save Ayame from Chef Ninja.
• Kurenai endured a painful Cursed Seal flare-up, dreamed that Orochimaru was tormenting her, and woke relieved that he was not there.
• The Hokage assigned Anko to lead Uchiha Cheng, Shino, and Ino in escorting a gold transport ship from the Land of the Sea to the Land of Water, where Sea Demons had been attacking ships.
• The Hokage reflected that the mission might help Anko recover memories of her past, while Anko privately wondered about the fragments she could not remember.
• Anko explained that the Sea Demon was believed to be a mermaid who robbed merchant ships, though witnesses barely remembered the attacks.
• As the team traveled through a dense forest, two wandering ninja suddenly appeared before them.