Chapter Summaries

Yūkimaru’s struggle to control the Three-Tails intensified as Kakashi’s team advanced the sealing with help from Katsuyu. Uchiha Cheng and Guren reached Yūkimaru, but found Yakushi Kabuto impersonating Lin’er and a reanimated Lin’er blocking their rescue.

• Yūkimaru swallowed more pills as Lin’er forced him to keep controlling the Three-Tails, while Kakashi’s team strengthened the seal with Katsuyu’s help.
• Kakashi asked the team to locate Yūkimaru, and Hinata searched with her Byakugan but could not find him.
• Uchiha Cheng and Guren followed the camellias toward Yūkimaru, then fought through experimental subjects sent by Lin’er to delay them.
• A fused experimental subject attacked Kakashi’s team as the Three-Tails’ struggles weakened and its sealing neared completion.
• Uchiha Cheng and Guren reached Yūkimaru, and Guren tried to take him while Uchiha Cheng fought the man posing as Lin’er.
• The impostor revealed himself as Yakushi Kabuto and summoned a reanimated Lin’er, who targeted Guren as she continued trying to reach Yūkimaru.

Uchiha Cheng, Guren, and Kakashi’s group fought Orochimaru while trying to save Yūkimaru and seal the rampaging Three-Tails. Orochimaru escaped, and after Yūkimaru woke, he and Guren disappeared before Uchiha Cheng returned.

• Guren tried to defeat Lin'er by using a dangerous technique, while Uchiha Cheng warned that the Impure World Reincarnation let Lin'er recover from damage.
• Yūkimaru’s distress triggered another rampage from the Three-Tails, breaking Kakashi and Shizune’s seal as Orochimaru welcomed the chaos.
• Kakashi and Shizune used the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to seal the Three-Tails again, and the group subdued Lin'er after Orochimaru escaped.
• Uchiha Cheng, Sai, and Yamato tracked Orochimaru, but he taunted them about Yūkimaru’s condition and escaped again.
• Sakura treated Yūkimaru, while Hinata discovered that his Chakra pathways had been severed; Yūkimaru later woke and embraced Guren.
• Uchiha Cheng returned with Sai and Yamato, but Guren and Yūkimaru had vanished, leaving him to realize something had happened.

After returning to Konoha, Uchiha Cheng struggled with uncertainty about Yūkimaru while Sai helped him refocus on training. Meanwhile, Sasuke resisted Orochimaru’s attempt to take his body, escaped, and began assembling his own team by freeing Suigetsu.

• Uchiha Cheng returned to Konoha with the crystal camellia, and Tsunade warned the group that the Akatsuki had begun making moves.
• Sai reassured Uchiha Cheng that Yūkimaru had likely left with Guren, and Uchiha Cheng resumed training with him.
• Orochimaru prepared to take Sasuke’s body, while Kabuto mocked Sasuke before Sasuke sent him away.
• Sasuke resisted Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal, defeated the weakened Orochimaru with Susanoo, and escaped.
• Sasuke reached the Water Prison, fought through Suigetsu’s water-style attacks, and told him it was time to leave.

Sasuke recruited Suigetsu, Karin, and Jūgo to complete his team, subduing Jūgo’s berserk power with his Cursed Seal. In Konoha, Uchiha Cheng continued training and earned Kakashi’s praise after a major improvement.

• Sasuke freed Suigetsu and led him to Zabuza’s sword, which Suigetsu claimed before they continued searching for companions.
• Sasuke recruited Karin, who told him that Jūgo could lose control of his power and needed help calming down.
• Sasuke and his companions reached Orochimaru’s northern base, where a berserk Jūgo attacked them.
• Sasuke suppressed Jūgo with his Cursed Seal and persuaded him to join the team, completing the group.
• Uchiha Cheng emerged from the aftermath of a massive explosion, and Kakashi praised his two-level improvement.

Uchiha Cheng and the others celebrated Kakashi becoming a Jonin, then set out on a secret mission tied to Obito. Kakashi recalled a disastrous mission from his youth, where Obito was trapped beneath a collapsed hill and Rin disappeared.

• Uchiha Cheng gave Kakashi an unpublished Jiraiya manuscript, and Kakashi treated the group to barbecue to celebrate his promotion to Jonin.
• Two days later, Kakashi led Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, Obito, and the others on a secret mission and said he would explain it farther along the route.
• Kakashi grew quiet as he remembered a dangerous mission he had once undertaken with Obito and Rin.
• Obito spotted enemies and rushed ahead, only to fall into a trap that split the three companions apart.
• Kakashi fought through the enemies and found Obito barely alive beneath a collapsed hill, while Rin had vanished.

Kakashi's team passed through a village attacked by Akatsuki and learned that Uchiha Itachi had come seeking the Four-Tails. They continued toward Itachi's trail, hoping to find Sasuke and bring him back, while Itachi learned Sasuke was pursuing him.

• Kakashi recalled Obito's sacrifice and resolved to protect his teammates during the mission.
• Kakashi's team found Akatsuki members had attacked a village while searching for the Four-Tails, and Sakura treated the injured villagers.
• Uchiha Cheng recognized Uchiha Itachi and realized Sasuke might be following him; Kakashi explained that finding Sasuke was the mission's main purpose.
• Kakashi led the team onward to follow Itachi, while Uchiha Cheng worried about Sasuke's coming confrontation with his brother and the Four-Tails' capture.
• Akatsuki's leader warned Itachi that Sasuke had killed Orochimaru and was approaching, as Sasuke traveled toward Akatsuki's headquarters with his three companions.

After the Four-Tails was captured by Akatsuki, the Hokage sent Kakashi and Yamato’s teams to protect Uchiha Cheng and capture Itachi, who was heading toward Konoha with Deidara. As Sasuke’s group also approached Konoha to confront Itachi, Uchiha Cheng encountered one of Orochimaru’s former followers, who offered him a warning.

• The Hokage told the gathered ninjas that Akatsuki had taken the Four-Tails and assigned them to capture Itachi, protect Uchiha Cheng, and gather intelligence.
• Kakashi and Yamato organized the teams’ search around Konoha, while Uchiha Cheng told Sai he hoped Sasuke and Itachi could resolve their conflict peacefully.
• Itachi and Deidara headed toward Konoha, then Deidara split off to meet him later.
• Sasuke and his three recruits traveled toward Konoha to find Itachi, while Uchiha Cheng worried about which of them he might encounter first.
• Uchiha Cheng came across one of Orochimaru’s former followers, who took out a notebook and said he had a warning for him.

Itachi gave Uchiha Cheng a notebook about Akatsuki, while Sasuke’s group encountered Deidara and fought him. After Deidara’s self-destruction, Sasuke survived inside Manda and reunited with the Konoha personnel who had arrived at the blast site.

• Itachi gave Uchiha Cheng a notebook containing records from the Akatsuki base, and Uchiha Cheng considered whether to trust it.
• Deidara challenged Sasuke, but Sasuke initially tried to pass him and continue searching for Itachi.
• Deidara provoked Sasuke into fighting, and their battle ended when Deidara self-destructed and blasted Sasuke’s companions away.
• Kakashi sent the Konoha personnel toward the explosion, and Karin told them that Sasuke had died.
• Sasuke emerged safely from Manda, revealing that the giant snake had protected him from the blast, and Karin, Sakura, and the others were relieved.

Jiraiya learned that Konoha had identified the Akatsuki leader and set out for Amegakure, where he confronted Hanzo. Meanwhile, Sasuke pursued Itachi after Itachi overpowered Uchiha Cheng and escaped.

• Jiraiya told Tsunade that they had located Akatsuki's leader, and Tsunade later agreed to let him investigate Amegakure.
• Sasuke ignored Kakashi's request to return to Konoha and continued searching for Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi subdued Uchiha Cheng, criticized him for failing to change Sasuke, and then left before Kakashi's team arrived.
• Kakashi learned that Itachi had escaped and sent word to Tsunade while Sasuke continued after him.
• Jiraiya reached Amegakure, met Hanzo, and began a battle neither of them could afford to lose.

Jiraiya fought his former students in Amegakure and was killed by Nagato's Six Paths of Pain. Meanwhile, Sasuke lost to an Itachi clone and set off for their planned meeting, while Suigetsu and Kakashi's group became entangled in separate Akatsuki encounters.

• Jiraiya confronted Hanzo, then faced Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko, who declared that they were enemies and fought him in the rain.
• Nagato's Six Paths of Pain killed Jiraiya in Amegakure.
• Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi searched for Sasuke while Sasuke fought Itachi, only to discover that Itachi had used a clone and had given him an address for their final meeting.
• Sasuke headed for the meeting place, but Suigetsu left the group to challenge Kisame for his weapon.
• Uchiha Cheng, Kakashi, and their companions encountered Akatsuki members, and Kakashi ordered them to fight so they could continue searching for Sasuke.

Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi fought, with Sasuke using Kirin before Itachi survived with Susanoo. Orochimaru then appeared to seize Sasuke, while Uchiha Cheng and Kakashi’s group reached the devastated base and searched for the battle’s survivors.

• Uchiha Cheng persuaded Kakashi to follow the trail left by Suigetsu, and they found Suigetsu fighting Kisame before continuing toward Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
• Sasuke met Uchiha Itachi and trapped him in layered genjutsu before striking him with Kirin.
• Uchiha Itachi survived the attack by awakening Susanoo, while Sasuke ran out of Chakra.
• Orochimaru emerged from Sasuke and revealed that he had faked his death to claim Sasuke’s body, but Karin and Jūgo moved to protect Sasuke.
• Uchiha Cheng and the others reached the damaged base, saw Uchiha Itachi’s spreading black flames, and looked for Sasuke and the battle’s outcome.

Sasuke learned that Itachi had killed the Uchiha Clan to protect it from Konoha, then refused Madara’s offer and set out to capture the Eight-Tails. Uchiha Cheng returned to the village with Kakashi’s team, while Sasuke’s Team Hawk confronted Killer Bee at a Lightning Village base.

• Itachi used his remaining strength to drive off Orochimaru, saved Sasuke, and died beside him.
• Madara told Sasuke that Itachi had massacred the clan to prevent Konoha from destroying it, but Sasuke refused to join Akatsuki and left with Karin and Jūgo as Team Hawk.
• Uchiha Cheng agreed to return to the village with Kakashi and the others after Yamato and Kakashi explained that they had to obey the Hokage’s orders.
• Sasuke led Team Hawk toward Lightning Village to capture Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails’ Jinchuriki, and Suigetsu joined them after defeating Kisame and taking his sword.
• Team Hawk found Killer Bee at a secret base, where he dodged Suigetsu’s attack and trapped Suigetsu’s great sword with a tentacle.

Sasuke and Team Hawk fought Killer Bee, and Jūgo prepared to sacrifice himself to save Sasuke. Meanwhile, Uchiha Cheng’s team received a mission to escort Hotaru, found her in the forest, and learned she refused to return.

• Sasuke fought Killer Bee but was badly injured, and Karin realized she could not heal his ruptured internal organs.
• Jūgo offered to give Sasuke his body and power to repair his injuries, while Suigetsu held Killer Bee off.
• Uchiha Cheng stayed with Kakashi’s team and accepted a mission to escort Hotaru back to the Tsuchigumo Clan’s stronghold.
• The team found the injured Tonbee, who told them Hotaru had gone into the mountains and pursuers were nearby.
• Uchiha Cheng fought Lord Shikei after mistaking him for an enemy, but they stopped when Yamato and the others arrived.
• Yamato told Hotaru they had come to escort her back, but she refused, and Lord Shikei urged her to leave.

Uchiha Cheng earned Miss Hotaru’s trust while escorting her, but her uncle betrayed her and delivered her to the enemy. After Lord Shihang tried to rescue her, the clan members rallied around Miss Hotaru, leaving Uchiha Cheng and his allies facing a difficult fight.

• Uchiha Cheng protected Miss Hotaru from Sai’s leech attack and told her how his teacher’s death had shaped him, persuading her to accept him as her guard.
• Uchiha Cheng and the others escorted Miss Hotaru to the Tsuchigumo Clan, where her uncle and the elders received her.
• Uchiha Cheng noticed the village seemed lifeless, and he and his allies returned to find Miss Hotaru missing and the settlement deserted.
• Miss Hotaru’s uncle handed her to the enemy, but she broke free and fled into the woods, where Lord Shikei found her.
• Uchiha Cheng and his allies followed Sai’s trail to the woods, but Miss Hotaru’s uncle seized her again as Lord Shihang and the others emerged.
• Lord Shihang knocked down the person holding him, but Miss Hotaru’s uncle carried her away while the clan members gathered to protect her.

Uchiha Cheng and Yamato protected Hotaru from her clan, and Hotaru revealed that the Tsuchigumo Clan’s Forbidden Technique was sealed inside her body. After Hotaru set out alone to pursue Lord Shihang, the search party found Lord Shikei instead and learned that Hotaru was still missing.

• Yamato stopped the fighting between the village group and Hotaru’s uncle’s faction, and the latter withdrew without Hotaru.
• Sakura discovered a strange marking beneath Hotaru’s skin, and Hotaru explained that the Tsuchigumo Clan’s Forbidden Technique was sealed inside her body.
• Hotaru told Uchiha Cheng and the others that her clan had split over how to revive the village, and that she was willing to sacrifice herself to carry out her grandfather’s wishes.
• Hotaru insisted the others leave her to fulfill her mission, but Sakura noticed Lord Shihang had vanished, and Hotaru ran off to search for him.
• Yamato and the others followed Hotaru’s trail but found Lord Shikei, who said Hotaru was in danger and urged them to search for her.
• Hotaru wandered alone into an unfamiliar place while the others continued looking for her.

Hotaru was lured into Shirō’s sealing formation, which trapped her and the Tsuchigumo Clan while draining her will and power. Uchiha Cheng, Lord Shikei, and the others tried to rescue her, but Shirō’s controlled clansmen and mysterious techniques left the rescue effort in peril.

• Shirō tricked Hotaru into returning to the Tsuchigumo Clan’s temporary base, where his formation trapped her and the clansmen so he could seize their Forbidden Technique.
• Uchiha Cheng and Lord Shikei arrived to rescue Hotaru, but the controlled Tsuchigumo clansmen attacked them and blocked their path.
• Uchiha Cheng urged Hotaru to resist the formation, but she lost consciousness as her natural energy strengthened its seal.
• Kakashi restrained some clansmen with Chakra, allowing Uchiha Cheng and Lord Shikei to attack Shirō, but both were suddenly immobilized.
• Yamato warned the group about Shirō’s unknown technique while Sakura and Sai fought the remaining clansmen.

Uchiha Cheng and Shihang broke Shirō’s restraints with their tailed beast powers and worked to free Hotaru, whose uncontrolled natural energy threatened everyone nearby. Shirō was captured, and Sakura treated Hotaru as the group waited for her to wake.

• Uchiha Cheng and Shihang unleashed the Nine-Tails and Six-Tails’ power, escaped Shirō’s Binding Jutsu, and rushed to Hotaru.
• Uchiha Cheng pursued Shirō while Shihang pulled Hotaru from the formation, but Hotaru’s accumulated natural energy erupted in a rampage.
• Sai blocked Shirō’s escape with an Ink Wall, but Shirō blasted through it before Uchiha Cheng caught up.
• Shihang restrained Hotaru as Yamato and the clan members forced Shirō back to the surface and surrounded him.
• Uchiha Cheng and Yamato bound Shirō, and the Tsuchigumo Clan took him to its interrogation chamber.
• Sakura examined the unconscious Hotaru and said the energy inside her was dissipating and she should wake soon.

Hotaru woke and returned to the Tsuchigumo Clan, while Shihang left to search for someone and confronted people tied to his friend’s death. Back in Konoha, Uchiha Cheng learned that villagers were acting strangely, and Tsunade and Kakashi debated whether to tell him something.

• Hotaru woke and was reunited with Shihang, who promised to return after finding someone he was searching for.
• Yamato led Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and the others back to Konoha as Hotaru and the Elder returned to rebuild the Tsuchigumo Clan and address Shirō’s affairs.
• Sai and Sakura visited Uchiha Cheng because people in Konoha seemed to be hiding something, but he could not identify what was wrong.
• Shihang found bloodstained belongings in the forest and faced figures connected to his friend’s death.
• Uchiha Cheng wondered whether Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi were involved in the strange behavior, while Tsunade and Kakashi discussed telling him something.

After Jiraiya’s death, Kakashi told Uchiha Cheng what had happened and helped him work through his grief and anger. Cheng resolved to train harder and wait for the village’s orders, while Tsunade learned of a threat to the tailed beasts and secretly assigned ANBU to protect him.

• Tsunade received news about Kirigakure and ordered ANBU to secretly protect Uchiha Cheng.
• Kakashi visited Uchiha Cheng and told him that Jiraiya had died pursuing his mission against Pain.
• Uchiha Cheng grieved and angrily questioned Tsunade’s decision to send Jiraiya alone.
• Kakashi cautioned Uchiha Cheng against blaming Tsunade or acting on his own, and urged him to make Jiraiya’s sacrifice count.
• Uchiha Cheng promised to follow the village’s rules and train harder while Kakashi sought a way to address the threat.

After learning of Jiraiya's death, Uchiha Cheng struggled between acting alone against Pain and following Kakashi's advice, while Tsunade confronted her guilt over sending Jiraiya on his mission. The chapter ended with Uchiha Cheng arriving at the memorial stone to remember Jiraiya.

• Uchiha Cheng confronted Tsunade about letting Jiraiya go, then left without getting an answer and decided to train before choosing whether to pursue Pain.
• Tsunade sent Shizune to handle the matter they had discussed, and Lord Fukasaku later reported Jiraiya's death and brought back one of Pain's bodies for Konoha to study.
• Tsunade went with Lord Fukasaku to examine the recovered body and resolved to do everything she could to avenge Jiraiya.
• Sakura joined Uchiha Cheng at the training grounds, and the two trained together in silence before he left early.
• Uchiha Cheng ate ramen at Ichiraku with Iruka, then parted from him and arrived at Jiraiya's memorial stone.