Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Cheng fought an unidentified enemy while protecting Princess Haruna, as Ino accepted a mission to serve as a stand-in for Sarutobi Daimyo's princess. Ino and Uchiha Cheng arrived at the princess's residence and discovered she looked nothing like Ino, though her warm welcome changed their impression of her.

• Uchiha Cheng continued fighting an enemy who threatened Princess Haruna and urged her to stay back.
• The Hokage assigned Ino to serve as a stand-in for Sarutobi Daimyo's princess, explaining that she supposedly looked exactly like her and promising to arrange protection.
• Ino accepted the mission, and the Hokage arranged for Uchiha Cheng to accompany her as an assistant or guard.
• Uchiha Cheng and Ino traveled to the princess's luxurious residence, where they were shocked by the princess's appearance and saw that she was very fat.
• Ino introduced herself as the princess's stand-in, and the princess welcomed her and Uchiha Cheng, changing their impression of her.

Ino agreed to take a princess’s place at a blind date, while Uchiha Cheng returned to the village and unexpectedly reunited with Rock Lee at his new Hot-Blooded Dojo. Rock Lee accidentally injured Uchiha Cheng in an abrupt spar, then began explaining how his latest mission had led him to open the dojo and question his ninjutsu.

• The princess told Ino she had gained weight to avoid arranged meetings but wanted Ino to attend a blind date with someone she liked, and Ino agreed to help.
• After delivering information to the Hokage, Uchiha Cheng spotted a new dojo sign and followed it to a crowd gathered around Rock Lee.
• Uchiha Cheng reunited with Rock Lee, who immediately challenged him to spar and pulled him onto the fighting ground.
• Rock Lee kicked the unprepared Uchiha Cheng and injured him, then apologized as they sat down to talk.
• Uchiha Cheng asked why Rock Lee had opened a Hot-Blooded Dojo, and Rock Lee began recounting his recent mission and his doubts about the ninjutsu he had learned.

Uchiha Cheng, Hinata, and Kiba investigated the mysterious disappearance of Lady Kayo and her party, then followed a strange castle through a storm at Shuzaki Ridge. They found the castle empty and uncovered no clues, so they planned to leave when the rain stopped.

• Rock Lee told Uchiha Cheng that a past mission had strengthened his resolve to establish the Hot-Blooded Dojo and uphold his Nindo.
• Lady Kayo and her attendants vanished inside a sudden dense fog, leaving their luggage scattered on the road.
• The Hokage assigned Uchiha Cheng, Hinata, and Kiba to find Lady Kayo and investigate the fog at Shuzaki Ridge.
• A storm forced the three to seek shelter, and they spotted a castle that appeared through the rain before confirming it was real.
• Uchiha Cheng, Hinata, and Kiba searched the empty, dusty castle but found no clues about Lady Kayo.

Rock Lee sought a medical examination and learned from Tsunade that accumulated injuries threatened his heart channels, but he negotiated permission to continue with light training. When Shi Cang mocked his condition and Nindo, Rock Lee firmly challenged him and drove him away.

• The Hokage told Uchiha Cheng that Rock Lee wanted a medical examination, and Uchiha Cheng went with Tenten to find him.
• Tsunade examined Rock Lee, warned that he had severe injuries in his Meridians, and ordered him to stop missions and training.
• Rock Lee refused to quit training, so Tsunade allowed only light exercise within strict limits.
• Shi Cang mocked Rock Lee's injuries and Nindo, but Rock Lee argued back and criticized Shi Cang's arrogance.
• Uchiha Cheng listened from outside as Rock Lee stood up for himself, and Shi Cang left in anger.

Uchiha Cheng reassured Rock Lee, then encountered Grandpa Genno in the village and arranged to share a meal with him at Ichiraku Ramen. Meanwhile, Guy was trapped by the Ryudoin Brothers, who revealed their identities and began seeking revenge.

• Uchiha Cheng praised Rock Lee for standing up to Shi Cang and urged him to focus on recovering from his injuries.
• Guy was trapped in a sturdy wooden cage, and Shi Cang arrived with two companions but refused to free him.
• Shi Cang revealed that he was Gen Sho of the Ryudoin Brothers, and introduced Rokaku and Jyakou as his brothers.
• Gen Sho blamed Guy for their father's death, and the three brothers attacked him while he remained trapped in the cage.
• Uchiha Cheng told Rock Lee he believed in him and returned to the village.
• Uchiha Cheng recognized Grandpa Genno, learned he had returned to carpentry, and arranged to meet him at Ichiraku Ramen for dinner.

Uchiha Cheng reunited with Grandpa Genno, unaware that Genno was secretly plotting an attack on Konoha and had erased Cheng’s memories of their meeting. After Konoha’s strange smoke alarms raised suspicions, the Hokage ordered the village onto high alert and Cheng agreed to undergo reverse hypnosis to recover what he had forgotten.

• Uchiha Cheng shared a meal with Grandpa Genno, who claimed to be a carpenter while concealing his true identity and intentions.
• Smoke appeared across Konoha, and Uchiha Cheng later learned from the Hokage that the cause was still under investigation.
• Genno delivered a blueprint of Konoha’s buildings to his superior as part of a plan to map and destroy the village.
• The Hokage warned Uchiha Cheng that Genno was a highly skilled ninja who might be preparing to attack Konoha, then ordered the village onto maximum alert.
• Anbu questioned Uchiha Cheng, who discovered that he could not remember his conversation with Genno, and the Hokage concluded that Genno had erased his memories.
• Uchiha Cheng agreed to undergo reverse hypnosis so he could recover his memories and uncover the truth about Grandpa Genno.

Uchiha Cheng recovered memories of Genno while Konoha investigated the suspicious smoke and discovered a corpse that was later confirmed not to be Genno. A blueprint of Konoha raised fears of an invasion, and Uchiha Cheng infiltrated Takigakure with a group of ninjas, where they found only defensive military exercises.

• Uchiha Cheng recalled Genno’s past kindness and noticed that Genno had seemed different during their latest reunion.
• Sakura and Ino found an old man’s corpse, but funeral home examinations confirmed it was not Genno.
• Uchiha Cheng volunteered to investigate after a blueprint showing Konoha’s buildings and roads appeared.
• Uchiha Cheng led ninjas into Takigakure and discovered that its preparations were only military exercises to protect the village.

Uchiha Cheng reported that Dragon Eye Village was not behind the threat, and the Hokage ordered him and Tenten to find the Exploding Tags hidden throughout Konoha. Tsunade discovered that the tags had been planted over decades and warned that the remaining network could be detonated at any moment, leaving Uchiha Cheng to organize an urgent search.

• Uchiha Cheng reported his findings to the Hokage, who lifted Konoha’s highest alert while ordering continued vigilance against hidden Exploding Tags.
• The Hokage assigned Uchiha Cheng to work with Tenten to locate and remove the Exploding Tags scattered through the village.
• Tenten told Uchiha Cheng that her team had found most of the tags but still expected many to remain undiscovered.
• Uchiha Cheng shared his suspicion about Grandpa Genno with Tsunade, who showed him markings indicating the Exploding Tags had been planted from thirty years ago through the present.
• Tsunade warned that the tags formed an orderly network that could be detonated at any moment, and Uchiha Cheng set out to help defuse them.

Uchiha Cheng and his companions removed a huge number of Exploding Tags from Konoha while he investigated whether Grandpa Genno was responsible for the threat. Cheng found Grandpa Genno hiding in a cave and chose to hear his reasons rather than arrest him.

• Tsunade told Uchiha Cheng that the Exploding Tags followed a pattern, helping him guide his companions as they searched the village.
• Uchiha Cheng and his companions removed piles of Exploding Tags, then brought them to the Hokage, who warned that a real Exploding Tag might still be hidden somewhere.
• Uchiha Cheng reviewed Grandpa Genno's suspicious disappearance and considered whether the former ninja had acted under someone else's influence.
• Uchiha Cheng went to a secluded cave behind Konoha and found Grandpa Genno there.
• Grandpa Genno asked why Uchiha Cheng had not arrested him, and Cheng said he believed Grandpa Genno had his reasons and asked him to explain.

Uchiha Cheng ended Grandpa Genno’s plot to threaten Konoha and left to train, but encountered a mysterious girl whose painting seemed to bring a lightning strike on the Hokage’s residence to life. After the Anbu took the girl away, Cheng returned to the academy and learned that Kurenai had decided to stop leading Team 8.

• Grandpa Genno revealed his past and the purpose of the buried Exploding Tags, then agreed to abandon his plan after Uchiha Cheng asked him to stop.
• Uchiha Cheng informed the Hokage, dismantled the real Exploding Tags, and found that Grandpa Genno had already left without being punished.
• Uchiha Cheng received the Hokage’s approval to leave Konoha for training and encountered a girl painting a detailed picture of the village.
• The girl’s painting showed dark clouds and lightning striking the Hokage’s residence, and Uchiha Cheng experienced the scene as if it were real.
• Anbu members arrived and took the girl with them; Uchiha Cheng chose not to interfere and headed back toward the academy.
• At the academy, Uchiha Cheng learned that Kurenai had firmly decided to stop leading the children of Team 8, though the reason was unknown.

Uchiha Cheng was drugged by an unfamiliar doctor and dreamed of Kurenai confronting Yakumo about sealing his ability, then set out to find them. Kurenai found Yakumo hiding in a room and comforted him, unaware that his tearful expression had turned into a strange smile.

• Uchiha Cheng planned to question Yakumo while disguised as Kurenai, but an unfamiliar doctor injected him with anesthetic.
• Uchiha Cheng dreamed that Kurenai intended to seal Yakumo's ability and woke when a gong rang.
• Uchiha Cheng learned from Guy that Kurenai had gone to visit Yakumo and hurried after them.
• Kurenai searched for Yakumo and found two ninja under a genjutsu in the room where he was hiding.
• Yakumo emerged from behind an easel, cried in Kurenai's arms, and changed to a strange smile while she comforted him.

Kurenai refused to let the Kurama Clan take Yakumo and fought to protect her, while Yakumo hid her awakened abilities and struggled with resentment toward Kurenai. Uchiha Cheng and his companions were trapped in a powerful Genjutsu but broke free, leaving Cheng to wonder whether Yakumo had created it as they continued searching for her and Kurenai.

• Yakumo pretended to be frightened as Kurenai found her, but the Kurama Clan arrived and demanded that she come with them.
• Kurenai vowed to protect Yakumo and fought the Kurama Clan, while Yakumo refused to go with them and privately resented Kurenai for hiding the truth.
• Uchiha Cheng and Guy set out to find Kurenai and Yakumo, but Uchiha Cheng and his companions were caught in a powerful Genjutsu.
• The Genjutsu made Uchiha Cheng and his companions believe they had returned to a ruined, empty Konoha, and Haku used his Byakugan to search the village.
• Uchiha Cheng and his companions escaped the illusion and wondered whether Yakumo had created it before continuing their search.

Yakumo took severe injuries protecting Kurenai, then accused her of conspiring with the Third Hokage to destroy the Kurama Clan. After Yakumo recovered, Uchiha Cheng had Shino watch her, and Shino discovered Yakumo was preparing a trap to kill Kurenai.

• Yakumo shielded Kurenai from the Kurama Clan's attack and was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.
• At Yakumo's bedside, she confronted Kurenai about the supposed plan to wipe out the Kurama Clan, but Kurenai denied it and refused to reveal the past.
• Yakumo recovered and left the hospital, while Uchiha Cheng suspected she might be the person threatening Kurenai and assigned Shino to monitor her.
• Shino discovered Yakumo had devised a plan to kill Kurenai and warned Uchiha Cheng as Kurenai headed into Yakumo's trap.
• Uchiha Cheng arrived with Shino, intending to catch Yakumo off guard and enter the world she created.

Uchiha Cheng entered Yakumo's illusion and revealed the truth about Kurenai, allowing them to reconcile. After returning to Konoha, he received a mission with Kiba to escort the priceless artifact Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon to an exhibition, where a wary man warned them to protect it carefully.

• Shino's insects restrained Yakumo, allowing Uchiha Cheng to enter Yakumo's illusory world and prevent him from killing Kurenai.
• Uchiha Cheng told Yakumo that Kurenai had acted to protect him, and Yakumo let go of his hatred and reconciled with her.
• Yakumo destroyed his illusion, and Uchiha Cheng and Shino returned to Konoha, where Uchiha Cheng vowed to protect the village.
• The Hokage assigned Uchiha Cheng to escort Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon to an exhibition and sent Kiba to assist him.
• Uchiha Cheng and Kiba arrived at the safe holding the artifact, where a wary man recognized them as the assigned escorts and warned them to stay vigilant.

Uchiha Cheng and Kiba delivered the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon, then received a new mission to escort the captured ninja Maru Tetsu back to Konoha. As Uchiha Cheng set out with Sakura and Rock Lee, he warned them that Maru Tetsu’s former companions might interfere.

• Uchiha Cheng and Kiba endured their client’s chatter and carefully removed the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon from his safe.
• Four unmarked ninja raided a house at night, killed its occupants, and tried to break into a locked room while a baby’s cries threatened to alert others.
• Maru Tetsu stopped a companion from harming the infant, found the child asleep, and left as his accomplices set the houses on fire to destroy evidence.
• After Uchiha Cheng and Kiba completed their escort mission, the Hokage assigned Uchiha Cheng to escort the captured Maru Tetsu back to Konoha with Sakura and Rock Lee.
• Uchiha Cheng warned Sakura and Rock Lee to stay alert because Maru Tetsu’s former companions might interfere with their mission.

Uchiha Cheng and his companions tried to escort Maru Tetsu to trial, but Toki attacked and scattered them into the Forest of Secrecy. Maru Tetsu led Uchiha Cheng and Funin safely out, where Todoroki tried to kill him and Uchiha Cheng stopped the blade.

• Uchiha Cheng, Rock Lee, and Sakura began escorting Maru Tetsu, but Toki appeared with others to free him and fought Uchiha Cheng.
• Toki overwhelmed Uchiha Cheng, Rock Lee, Sakura, and Todoroki, then knocked them into the river, scattering them through the Forest of Secrecy.
• Uchiha Cheng found Funin and worried about locating Rock Lee and Sakura, while Maru Tetsu offered to guide them out of the forest.
• Maru Tetsu led Uchiha Cheng and Funin safely to the forest exit, where they found Todoroki waiting.
• Todoroki attacked Maru Tetsu with his blade, but Uchiha Cheng grabbed Todoroki's weapon and stopped him.

Uchiha Cheng tried to stop Todoroki from killing Maru Tetsu until they could bring him before the Hokage, but ambushes forced the group into battle. The fighting revealed that Todoroki's younger brother was alive and had been taken by Monju of Funin.

• Todoroki told Uchiha Cheng that he blamed Maru Tetsu for killing his parents and younger brother, while Uchiha Cheng urged him to wait for the Hokage to judge Maru Tetsu.
• Sakura and Rock Lee were ambushed by children trying to protect Maru Tetsu, and Sakura seized one of them to force the others to stop delaying them.
• Rogue Ninja blocked Uchiha Cheng, Todoroki, and Maru Tetsu, demanding that they leave Maru Tetsu behind; Uchiha Cheng and Todoroki joined the fight.
• Uchiha Cheng faced a powerful puppet user whose disassembled puppet parts attacked from both close and long range.
• Todoroki learned that his younger brother was still alive but had been taken by Monju of Funin, who then threatened the group with a specially made wire net.

Uchiha Cheng and Todoroki rescued Akio from Funin’s underground base after defeating Monju and escaping the experimental chamber. The chapter ends with unknown attackers slaughtering and burning a village in the rain.

• Todoroki blasted through Asura’s wire net while Uchiha Cheng attacked the wires and stopped Monju from escaping the cage.
• Uchiha Cheng killed Monju, and he and Todoroki joined Sakura and Rock Lee before deciding to rescue Akio from Funin.
• Uchiha Cheng and Todoroki found Akio unconscious in a glass chamber and broke it, triggering alarms that brought Funin’s ninjas.
• Todoroki fought the ninjas while Uchiha Cheng carried Akio to the exit, and they escaped with him.
• Unknown attackers slaughtered the people of a village, burned its homes, and treated the killings as a contest.

Uchiha Cheng rescued an amnesiac young man who had saved a little girl from killers and fallen with her from a cliff. The man, temporarily named Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots, suspected he came from the Land of Rice Fields, while Uchiha Cheng and Neji remained wary as they considered helping him recover his memories.

• A young villain stopped a killer from executing a girl, fought him, and escaped with her before jumping from a cliff to avoid being caught.
• Uchiha Cheng found the unconscious young man and girl beneath the cliff and discovered that the young man had forgotten his past and his name.
• Uchiha Cheng brought the young man home, called him Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots, and guessed from his memories of musical-instrument ninjutsu that he might be from the Land of Rice Fields.
• Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots asked Uchiha Cheng to help him travel to the Land of Rice Fields and recover his memories, but Uchiha Cheng said they needed more time and the Hokage's approval.
• Neji warned Uchiha Cheng to keep watch on Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots, and Uchiha Cheng agreed to remain vigilant.

Uchiha Cheng obtained the Hokage’s approval to take Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots to the Land of Rice Fields to recover his memories, but discovered the injured man’s tattoo marked him as a member of the bandits who had devastated a village. The doctor refused to treat him, leaving Uchiha Cheng, Neji, and Tenten trying to persuade the doctor to save his life.

• Uchiha Cheng convinced the Hokage to authorize a mission to the Land of Rice Fields, despite the Hokage’s concerns that Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots might be a spy.
• Uchiha Cheng, Neji, and Tenten traveled with Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots to the Land of Rice Fields, where his injuries worsened and they took him to a hospital.
• The doctor recognized Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots’ tattoo as the mark of the bandits who had destroyed his village and refused to treat him.
• Uchiha Cheng explained that Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots had saved a village girl and had lost his memories, while Neji and Tenten urged the doctor to save him.
• Uchiha Cheng told the doctor that they would hold Sun Dried Bamboo Shoots accountable if he had harmed the villagers, as they tried to persuade him to treat the patient.