Chapter Summaries

Sakura and Granny Chiyo struggled against Scorpion, whose Iron Sand forced Granny Chiyo to send Sakura away to organize the village’s evacuation. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Uchiha Cheng pursued Deidara and faced his explosive clay, with their confrontation still underway.

• Sakura blocked one of Scorpion’s attacks but was poisoned when he turned his attention to her, and she treated herself while Granny Chiyo protected her.
• Kakashi warned Uchiha Cheng that Deidara had covered them with Clay Ants, and they survived the explosion by removing the explosive clay.
• Scorpion used Iron Sand to destroy five of Granny Chiyo’s puppets and overwhelm her defenses.
• Granny Chiyo urged Sakura to leave and arrange the villagers’ evacuation, and Sakura finally departed despite her worry.
• Deidara stopped to fight Kakashi and Uchiha Cheng, while Uchiha Cheng’s Shadow Clones trained with his Chakra Sphere and were caught in Deidara’s explosive attack.

Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi pursued Deidara and tried to stop him from escaping with Gaara, while Sakura and Granny Chiyo struggled against Scorpion’s Iron Sand. The chapter ended with Sakura and Granny Chiyo preparing to coordinate a new attack as Scorpion remained confident of victory.

• Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi stopped using clones and chased Deidara, who fled on his Clay Bird.
• Granny Chiyo shielded herself and Sakura from Scorpion’s Iron Sand, but his spears cracked the barrier and let him take control of her puppets.
• Sakura used her Super Strength to throw Iron Sand spears aside, while Scorpion continued attacking and waited for her strength to run out.
• Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi used chained summons to block Deidara’s route, then Uchiha Cheng proposed using the power of nature to control Deidara’s clay.
• Granny Chiyo recognized Sakura could not harm Scorpion and signaled that they needed to coordinate their next move.

Kakashi and Uchiha Cheng defeated Deidara and recovered Gaara, while Granny Chiyo and Sakura defeated Scorpion and learned where Orochimaru was. The group returned with Gaara's body, and Sakura treated the poisoned Granny Chiyo.

• Sakura's attacks under Granny Chiyo's control collapsed the base, while Kakashi and Uchiha Cheng pressed Deidara as his mount faltered.
• Deidara unleashed a massive swarm of tiny explosive insects, forcing Kakashi and Uchiha Cheng to dodge as Uchiha Cheng's hidden power awakened.
• Granny Chiyo used puppets made from Scorpion's parents to fight him, and she eventually discovered his heart was his fatal weakness and defeated him.
• Before dying, Scorpion told Sakura where Orochimaru was; Granny Chiyo was poisoned, and Sakura began treating her.
• Uchiha Cheng used his awakened power to capture Deidara, and he and Kakashi recovered Gaara's body and headed back to the village.
• Sakura gradually removed Granny Chiyo's poison, while Uchiha Cheng remained grief-stricken over Gaara's death.

After Gaara was brought back to Sunagakure, Granny Chiyo and Uchiha Cheng pursued Deidara, but Cheng lost control of the Nine-Tails and had to be restrained with Kakashi’s help. Sakura confirmed Gaara was dead, and Granny Chiyo began using her life-restoring technique as the chapter ended with everyone hoping she could revive him.

• Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi returned to Sunagakure with Gaara’s body, while Granny Chiyo discovered that the captured Deidara was a clone and went after him with Cheng.
• Cheng found another Deidara clone, flew into a rage, and lost control as the Nine-Tails’ power emerged and attacked indiscriminately.
• Kakashi, Granny Chiyo, Sakura, and the village’s ninja tried to restrain Cheng, and Kakashi used a talisman Jiraiya had given him to seal the Nine-Tails back inside Cheng.
• Sakura confirmed that Gaara had no signs of life and could not be revived with her own medical ninjutsu.
• Granny Chiyo approached Gaara and began preparing to use her life-restoring technique, while Sakura watched closely.

Granny Chiyo sacrificed her life to revive Gaara, while Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi believed they had killed Deidara and returned to help the others. Deidara survived and rejoined Akatsuki as the Leaf ninja reached Guy’s team, leaving the battle against the counterfeit opponents unresolved.

• Granny Chiyo used the Reincarnation Jutsu to revive Gaara and died after apologizing to Scorpion and urging the survivors to cherish life.
• Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi caught up with Deidara, who appeared to die in an explosion, but his clay fragments reassembled after they left.
• Gaara awakened and thanked Uchiha Cheng, Kakashi, and Sakura before turning to rebuild Sunagakure.
• Uchiha Cheng, Kakashi, and Sakura left to find Guy and his team, who were fighting counterfeit versions of themselves.
• Guy and Neji gained the edge over their opponents through perseverance as the Leaf ninja arrived.
• Akatsuki discussed extracting the tailed beasts’ power, and Deidara returned, revealing that he could reconnect his blown-apart body.

Uchiha Cheng and the others regrouped after the battle and returned to Konoha, where he reported Scorpion’s lead about Orochimaru to Tsunade. Tsunade decided to investigate cautiously and said she would assign more people to Cheng’s group.

• Gaara and Kankuro stood together as Kankuro recovered, reaffirming their shared resolve to protect the village.
• Uchiha Cheng’s group reached Guy’s team, and the exhausted shinobi shared their experiences before setting out for Konoha together.
• On the journey, Kakashi warned that defeating the Akatsuki members had removed only one obstacle and that greater dangers remained.
• After returning to Konoha, Uchiha Cheng visited Ichiraku Ramen, then went to Tsunade’s office to give her the contact location Scorpion had mentioned before dying.
• Tsunade cautioned that the location might be a trap and said she would arrange additional people to accompany Uchiha Cheng’s short-handed group.

Uchiha Cheng learned Kakashi had been barred from the mission while Danzo’s Root operative Sai joined the team, and Yamato was appointed as their new captain. The team met and introduced themselves, but Yamato’s attempt at humor angered Naruto and Sakura.

• Uchiha Cheng visited Kakashi, who said he had recovered and accepted the Hokage’s plan to add members to their team.
• Tsunade assigned Kakashi’s team to investigate the meeting place Scorpion had named for Orochimaru and introduced Sai as a new member.
• Tsunade later told Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Naruto that Kakashi had to remain in the village for an investigation possibly connected to Danzo, while Sai would still join them.
• Tsunade assigned Yamato to lead the mission and asked him to watch Sai and guide Naruto, while Naruto grew angry over Kakashi’s situation.
• Naruto threw mud at Sai, and the scuffle drew Yamato out from behind the tree trunks he had raised to block the attack.
• Yamato introduced himself and the team shared their abilities, but his insulting nicknames angered Naruto and Sakura until Uchiha Cheng warned him to stop labeling them.

Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai began working together under Captain Yamato as they prepared to rescue Sasuke. After tensions between Naruto and Sai eased, the team defeated a group of rogue ninja and continued on their mission.

• Naruto and Sakura went after Captain Yamato after the team introduction, while Kakashi discussed the reorganized team with Jiraiya.
• Yamato tested the team by challenging them to touch him through his Wood Release defenses, then led them on a mission to rescue Sasuke.
• Naruto questioned whether Sai could be trusted to help rescue Sasuke, and Uchiha Cheng reminded him to protect the team's cohesion.
• Yamato spoke privately with Naruto, who admitted he had acted poorly and promised to apologize to Sai, while Uchiha Cheng reassured Sai that the team welcomed him.
• The team fought off a group of rogue ninja, and Sai used an ink-drawn tiger to block their attacks before the bandits retreated.
• Naruto lamented that people did not unite against the Akatsuki, and the team packed up and continued toward their mission.

Naruto, Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai continued their journey to rescue Sasuke while dealing with tension within the team. After Yamato assigned Naruto a solo mission, the others reunited, and Yamato announced they would hold a drill before proceeding.

• Naruto told Sai not to compare himself to Sasuke, and the team continued traveling while Uchiha Cheng and Sakura considered how to help everyone become closer.
• At a campsite, Uchiha Cheng found Sai painting by a river, and Sai demonstrated how his painted animals could emerge from scrolls.
• Naruto woke late, complained about Sai, and Yamato later called him aside to assign him a mission while the others waited.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sakura went to find Sai, and Naruto reluctantly joined them before mocking Sai's painting and being stopped from starting a fight.
• After the group returned, Yamato said they would conduct a drill before continuing their mission to rescue Sasuke.

Uchiha Cheng and Captain Yamato prepared their team to meet Orochimaru and find Sasuke, using drills and coordinated missions to improve teamwork. After Sai’s scouting found no immediate danger at Tenchi Bridge, Captain Yamato assigned Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Naruto their positions.

• Captain Yamato ran a coordinated drill and grouped himself with Sakura, while Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, and Sai worked together.
• During a staged encounter, Sai blocked a kunai aimed at Naruto, and the team coordinated to win the fight.
• At the supposed meeting site, Sakura disguised herself as Scorpion while the others watched and Sai used painted mice to scout.
• Captain Yamato revealed that the meeting-site operation had been another drill and led the team toward Tenchi Bridge.
• Sai’s reconnaissance at Tenchi Bridge found no signs of danger, and Captain Yamato assigned Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Naruto their positions.

Uchiha Cheng and the others’ attempt to retrieve Sasuke at Tenchi Bridge went awry when Orochimaru and Sasuke changed course and an informant exposed their ambush. The fighting began, but Sasuke remained silent and refused to leave with them.

• Sakura, Yamato, Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, and Sai waited at Tenchi Bridge for Orochimaru and Sasuke, who appeared calm and then unexpectedly changed direction.
• An informant arrived to meet Yamato, disguised as Scorpion, and revealed that he knew they were lying in ambush.
• Uchiha Cheng and the others attacked the informant, while Orochimaru and Sasuke appeared and joined the confrontation.
• Uchiha Cheng asked Sasuke to return to the village, but Sasuke ignored him and Naruto and leaped away from Naruto.
• Yamato fought Orochimaru as Sai dealt with the informant, while Uchiha Cheng and Sakura looked for openings to attack Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Cheng rejected Orochimaru’s praise and vowed to defeat him and take Sasuke home, but Sasuke still gave no answer.

Uchiha Cheng fought Orochimaru while the Nine-Tails’ power surged beyond his control, as the others battled to rescue Sasuke and protect Sakura. The fight continued with Uchiha Cheng losing awareness and Orochimaru growing concerned about his escalating strength.

• Uchiha Cheng released the Nine-Tails’ power and attacked Orochimaru, who said he wanted both Cheng and Sasuke as potential hosts.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sai fought Hidan while Yamato confronted Sasuke and tried to bring him back.
• Sakura’s attacks damaged Tenchi Bridge, and Hidan used the collapsing debris to injure her before Yamato rescued her.
• Naruto confronted Sai for ignoring Sakura’s danger, but the group returned to fighting their opponents.
• Uchiha Cheng’s power overwhelmed his control, and he retreated into his inner consciousness to question the Nine-Tails.
• Orochimaru sent more snakes against Uchiha Cheng as his strength kept rising, then asked Hidan why it was growing so rapidly.

Uchiha Cheng lost control of his Nine-Tails power during the fight with Orochimaru, who was forced to retreat without Sasuke. After Yamato helped Cheng recover, the team searched for Naruto and Sai, and Cheng and Sakura found Sasuke still fighting Naruto.

• Orochimaru attacked Uchiha Cheng with the Kusanagi Sword while Naruto and Sai fought Sasuke, but Cheng’s Nine-Tails power overwhelmed Orochimaru’s attacks.
• Uchiha Cheng drew on too much power and lost control, so Yamato warned Naruto to focus on his own fight while he kept watch over Cheng.
• Orochimaru retreated, and Sasuke continued to refuse Naruto’s pleas to return; Yamato helped Uchiha Cheng regain control.
• Sakura told Uchiha Cheng that Naruto had gone after Sasuke, while Yamato knew Sai had gone to meet Orochimaru on Danzo’s orders.
• Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Yamato set out to find Naruto and Sai, and Cheng and Sakura found Sasuke fighting Naruto in an evenly matched battle.

After Sasuke left, Yamato ordered the team to return to Konoha, while he planned to report Sai’s secret meeting with Orochimaru to Tsunade. As the team traveled home, Uchiha Cheng noticed blood on Sakura’s sleeve and asked her about it.

• Uchiha Cheng joined Naruto in trying to make Sasuke stay, but Sasuke escaped and Sakura tearfully confirmed he had left.
• Yamato found Sai delivering Danzo’s letter to Orochimaru and chose to report the meeting to Tsunade rather than confront Sai.
• Yamato refused Naruto’s request to pursue Orochimaru and ordered the team to return to Konoha after Sakura examined Uchiha Cheng and found no injuries.
• Sai returned and claimed he had failed to catch up with Orochimaru, while Danzo discussed using Orochimaru’s hostility toward Konoha against Tsunade.
• On the journey home, Uchiha Cheng noticed blood on Sakura’s sleeve and asked what had happened.

Uchiha Cheng struggled with the danger of relying on the Nine-Tails' power, then followed Yamato's squad to Orochimaru's hideout in search of Sasuke. The group found Sasuke and clashed with him and Orochimaru's allies, while Sasuke refused to return to Konoha.

• Uchiha Cheng remembered injuring Sakura and Jiraiya with the Nine-Tails' power and felt guilty about endangering his companions.
• Yamato warned Uchiha Cheng not to rely on the Nine-Tails, and Uchiha Cheng resolved to strengthen his own abilities and protect the squad.
• After reporting to Tsunade, Yamato led the team out again to find Sasuke, and his clones located Orochimaru's concealed hideout.
• Sai briefly disappeared, returned with information confirming Sasuke's location, and led the team to him.
• Sai attacked Sasuke with ink beasts, but Sasuke dispersed them with his Lightning Blade and dismissed Sai as an opponent.
• Uchiha Cheng urged Sasuke to return, but Sasuke insisted on choosing his own life, and Yamato fought with Wood Release as the battle continued.

Yamato’s team withdrew after confronting Sasuke, then Sai secretly investigated Orochimaru’s base and took a confidential Konoha assassination record. Uchiha Cheng exposed Sai’s mission for Danzo, and the team demanded that Sai explain his dealings before they discussed why they wanted Sasuke back.

• Sasuke overwhelmed Sai, and Yamato ordered the team to retreat after sensing a greater danger nearby.
• Sai sent a miniature ink device into Orochimaru’s base and found a notebook titled Konoha Ninja Assassination Records.
• The team grew suspicious of Sai when his backpack bulged, but Sai denied doing anything wrong and refused to let them inspect it.
• Uchiha Cheng retrieved the notebook from Sai’s backpack, forcing Sai to admit that Danzo had assigned him to approach Orochimaru and make a deal.
• Sai challenged the team’s determination to bring Sasuke back, and Uchiha Cheng asked him to explain his mission before answering.

Uchiha Cheng’s team pursued Sasuke after Sai revealed Danzo’s plan, but Sai secretly followed his own agenda. The team split up to search the base, leaving Uchiha Cheng to face Orochimaru while Sakura and Naruto chased Sai.

• Uchiha Cheng told Sai that the team’s bonds with Sasuke meant they would bring him back, and Captain Yamato encouraged Sai to learn to trust his companions.
• A man confronted the team, so Captain Yamato stayed behind to hold him off while Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, and Sakura continued toward Orochimaru’s base.
• Sai used ink mice to find Sasuke but kept the discovery to himself; Uchiha Cheng followed him and found a real Konoha Ninja Assassination List bearing Sasuke’s name.
• Uchiha Cheng realized Sai had lied and, after encountering Orochimaru, sent Sakura and Naruto after Sai while he fought Orochimaru.
• Sai remembered his older brother and drew a picture of them together before continuing toward Sasuke.
• Captain Yamato’s opponent pricked him with a needle, took a sample of his blood and muscle tissue, and escaped; Yamato hurried toward the base.

Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai confronted Sasuke as they tried to bring him back from Orochimaru. Sasuke rejected their bonds and unleashed a powerful new Chidori, leaving Uchiha Cheng pleading with him to return and let his friends help him.

• Uchiha Cheng realized Sai had been sent to kill Sasuke, and Yamato left to join Naruto and Sakura while Uchiha Cheng kept Orochimaru occupied.
• Sai chose to bring Sasuke back instead of killing him, but Sasuke mocked his beliefs about bonds and attacked him with Chidori.
• Naruto and Sakura arrived and joined the fight, with Naruto urging Sasuke to pursue his goals alongside his friends.
• Orochimaru tried to reach Sasuke, but Uchiha Cheng delayed him until Orochimaru escaped through his clones.
• Uchiha Cheng reached Sasuke and asked him to return, but Sasuke said his only bond was with his brother and attacked Sai with a powerful beam-like Chidori.
• Uchiha Cheng and the others helped Sai withstand Sasuke's attack, and Uchiha Cheng apologized for being unable to help Sasuke while asking him to let them share his burden.

Uchiha Cheng and his companions tried to bring Sasuke back, but Sasuke overwhelmed them and refused to leave Orochimaru. The fight continued as Yamato recovered and joined Uchiha Cheng, while Sakura treated Sai.

• After Sasuke injured Sai and threatened Uchiha Cheng, he attacked Uchiha Cheng, Naruto, and Sakura, overpowering them despite Uchiha Cheng using Sage Mode.
• Sakura charged Sasuke despite her injured shoulder, but Yamato used Wood Release to block Sasuke’s sword and pull her to safety.
• Sasuke stabbed Yamato and pinned him to a wall, then withdrew his sword as Yamato’s wounds began healing.
• Uchiha Cheng asked Sasuke to leave with them, but Sasuke said he intended to kill his brother before becoming Orochimaru’s vessel, and Uchiha Cheng chose to keep fighting.
• Yamato recovered enough to fight beside Uchiha Cheng, while Sasuke held his own against them; Sakura treated the injured Sai.

Uchiha Cheng and his team failed to bring Sasuke back, then returned to the village and resumed their lives. As Uchiha Cheng trained to grow stronger and protect Sasuke, he and Sakura visited Sai and discovered he had been studying how to interact with others.

• Sakura treated Sai's injuries while Uchiha Cheng fought Sasuke and Yamato confronted Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru urged Sasuke to leave, and Sasuke followed him despite Uchiha Cheng's plea to keep fighting.
• Uchiha Cheng realized Sasuke might encounter Itachi and become Orochimaru's vessel, so he hurried back to report to the Hokage.
• Yamato reported the mission, and Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Naruto spent a peaceful period in the village while Uchiha Cheng trained.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sakura visited Sai at the river, where Naruto took Sai's books and read their titles about greeting people and getting along with others.