Chapter Summaries

Ayase Sarutobi and Sarutobi Tenchu identified the woman with Li Yao as Kaitō, the Third Tsuchikage’s daughter, and followed him toward the Sea of Storms. Meanwhile, the Third Raikage’s group prepared to ambush Li Yao on Viper Island after concluding that he had created his cabin with Wood Release.

• Ayase Sarutobi recognized the captive woman as Kaitō, and Sarutobi Tenchu guessed Li Yao had captured her without knowing her identity.
• Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi followed Li Yao into the Sea of Storms, planning to find his island and later alert Kumogakure and Iwagakure to his location.
• The Third Raikage and his team waited in hiding on Viper Island, expecting Li Yao to return from gathering supplies.
• The Third Raikage examined Li Yao’s wooden cabin and concluded that Li Yao had inherited Wood Release through Konoha’s revival experiments.
• The Third Raikage resolved to capture Li Yao before his Wood Release grew stronger and use him to help Kumogakure replicate the ability.

Li Yao sensed an ambush at Viper Island and fled, splitting into three apparent copies to confuse the Third Raikage's pursuing group and the Konoha Anbu. The pursuers divided after him, leaving the chapter with each group chasing a different direction.

• Daruma Chris spotted Li Yao returning to Viper Island and alerted the Third Raikage, who realized Konoha had been leaking intelligence about Li Yao.
• Li Yao detected the watchers and turned back, while the Third Raikage and three elite jonin emerged from hiding and pursued him with Daruma Chris.
• Li Yao created two Shadow Clones and sent three Black Iron Giant Eagles in different directions, hiding his original body and Kaitō inside one of them.
• The Third Raikage sent his group after the Li Yao flying left and in the middle, while Sarutobi Tenchu and his wife pursued the one flying right toward the northwest.

Li Yao used Shadow Clones and Black Iron Giant Eagles to mislead the Third Raikage, but the Raikage’s Black Lightning revealed which eagle carried Li Yao’s real body. Li Yao repeatedly split into decoys to escape, then realized the attacks might be sensing his location as the pursuit continued.

• Li Yao sent Shadow Clones in different directions, but the Third Raikage pursued his course and attacked multiple eagles with Black Spotted Lightning Snake.
• Li Yao survived the Black Lightning by absorbing much of it with the Adamantine Sealing Technique and recovering with Wood Release Chakra, while Kaitō was badly burned but remained alive.
• The Third Raikage sensed two people inside the southern eagle and chose to pursue it, prompting Li Yao to dispel his decoys and Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi to follow from a distance.
• Li Yao created new Shadow Clones and eagles, but the Third Raikage attacked all three with Black Lightning and again turned toward Li Yao’s real body.
• Li Yao protected Kaitō and absorbed the attack, then suspected the Third Raikage was using Black Lightning to locate him.

Li Yao copied the Third Raikage’s Black Lightning and used it to block attacks, preventing the Raikage from identifying his real body. But the Raikage’s summoning eagle was much faster than Li Yao’s Black Iron Giant Eagles, and Li Yao realized he had to avoid being caught at all costs.

• Li Yao guessed that the Third Raikage sensed his real body through the Black Lightning attacks, then copied Black Lightning after enduring two strikes.
• Li Yao withdrew his Shadow Clones, created two more, and sent three versions of himself fleeing in different directions on Black Iron Giant Eagles.
• The Third Raikage attacked with Black Spotted Lightning Snakes, but Li Yao’s Shadow Clones blocked them with matching Black Lightning, leaving the Raikage and Daruma Chris stunned.
• The Third Raikage dismissed his confusion and pursued the middle Li Yao on his faster summoning eagle.
• Li Yao recognized the pursuer as the Third Raikage and feared that his speed would let him catch and pin Li Yao down.

The Third Raikage attacked Li Yao’s Shadow Clone with Two-Finger Nukite, destroying it and costing Li Yao nearly a quarter of his Chakra. Li Yao blocked the Raikage’s Black Lightning with Mito Uzumaki’s Adamantine Sealing Technique, but the Raikage chose to pursue the Li Yao flying right, betting it was the real body.

• The Third Raikage’s Four-Finger Nukite shattered Li Yao’s Black Iron Feather Cloak after he compressed it into Two-Finger Nukite, destroying the Shadow Clone and scattering its Chakra.
• Li Yao tried to shake the Third Raikage from the Black Iron Giant Eagle, but the Raikage anchored himself with Lightning Release Chakra Mode and sliced the eagle apart.
• The Third Raikage sent sixteen Black Spotted Lightning Snakes toward the Li Yaos, hoping to expose the real body by exhausting their Chakra.
• Li Yao’s Shadow Clone used eight Adamantine Sealing Techniques to block the Black Lightning, revealing the technique’s strength and prompting the Third Raikage to suspect Li Yao had Mito Uzumaki’s version.
• Daruma Chris asked which way to pursue, and the Third Raikage chose the right, betting that Li Yao’s real body was flying that way.

Li Yao tried to stop the Third Raikage with the Perception Deprivation Technique, but Black Lightning automatically annihilated his genjutsu Chakra. As Li Yao fled with another Shadow Clone, the Third Raikage warned his squad about Li Yao’s dangerous genjutsu and revealed the defense Black Lightning had been developed to provide.

• Li Yao split his escape into two routes, conserving Chakra while preparing the Perception Deprivation Technique for the Third Raikage.
• The Third Raikage caught Li Yao’s Shadow Clone, but Black Iron Chains bought Li Yao a moment to launch his genjutsu.
• Black Lightning destroyed the genjutsu Chakra before it entered the Third Raikage, and he then blew apart Li Yao’s Shadow Clone.
• Li Yao drained Kaitō’s Chakra, gave her to a Shadow Clone, and split his escape into two directions again.
• The Third Raikage chose the left route and warned Daruma Chris and the others to beware of Li Yao’s genjutsu.
• The Third Raikage explained that he had developed Black Lightning to detect and resist genjutsu Chakra after once falling victim to Madara Uchiha’s Sharingan genjutsu.

Li Yao used a Shadow Clone and Black Lightning attacks to buy time for a Black Iron Shark to escape into the sea, while the Third Raikage pursued and tried to identify who was inside it. After the shark was forced to the surface and destroyed, the Third Raikage found only Kaitō and ordered his forces to continue chasing Li Yao.

• Li Yao sent Black Spotted Lightning Snakes at the Summoning Beast Giant Eagle, forcing the Third Raikage to defend it and letting the Black Iron Shark enter the sea.
• The Third Raikage spread Black Lightning through the water and pursued the shark, suspecting either Li Yao or a Shadow Clone was inside.
• Druid used Water Release—Sea Dragon Ascends to Heaven to pull the Black Iron Shark out of the sea, and the Third Raikage shattered it with Two-Finger Nukite.
• The Third Raikage saw Kaitō's charred body inside the shark and realized Li Yao had escaped.
• The Third Raikage ordered his forces to pursue Li Yao, wary of his abilities and especially his genjutsu.

Li Yao repeatedly used clones, underwater routes, and Water Release to evade the Third Raikage’s elite pursuit squad, but Druid’s sensing and the Raikage’s speed kept closing the distance. With his Chakra reserves dwindling and every escape tactic failing, Li Yao was left in desperate straits.

• Li Yao split into separate routes, but the Third Raikage followed the route chosen by Konoha’s Anbu while Li Yao’s original body escaped into the sea.
• The Third Raikage sent Druid to sense Li Yao underwater, and Li Yao accelerated with Water Release while his Shadow Clone tried to delay the Raikage.
• Druid forced the Shadow Clone’s Black Iron Shark to surface, allowing Li Yao to dispel it and gain distance, but Druid soon sensed him again.
• Li Yao took to the sky and repeatedly split into clones, but his mistakes and the Third Raikage’s pursuit kept revealing which routes were decoys.
• Li Yao created clones in four directions to confuse the squad, yet the pursuit continued and his Chakra reserves dwindled as his escape methods failed.

Sarutobi Tenchu concluded that Li Yao had possessed multiple bodies, while Dan Katō failed to learn the Reaper Death Seal until the Third Hokage began instructing him personally. After two more days of pursuit, Li Yao stopped running and prepared to fight the Kumogakure group in a valley near the Land of Earth border.

• Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi reasoned that Li Yao must have possessed multiple bodies to know techniques from both the Uzumaki Clan and Kumogakure.
• Dan Katō admitted that he could not understand or learn the Reaper Death Seal, and the Third Hokage decided to train him himself.
• The Third Hokage explained that Dan Katō was the only one able to sense Li Yao's soul and ensure the Reaper Death Seal could reach it.
• After two days of being tracked despite hiding underground, Li Yao chose to face the Kumogakure group rather than keep fleeing.
• Li Yao tested Wood Release in a rocky valley near the Land of Earth border and prepared to kill the ninja controlling the Summoning Beast Giant Eagle.

Li Yao opened the Gate of Death Acupoint to gain enough power to face the Third Raikage, accepting the extreme strain on his body. As the Third Raikage charged, Li Yao unleashed Wood Release across the valley and surrounding land.

• Li Yao realized the Third Raikage could keep tracking him, so he prepared to fight by opening the Gate of Death Acupoint.
• The Third Raikage ordered Daruma Chris, Kafu, and the others to stay back and charged Li Yao alone.
• Li Yao swallowed two Soldier Pills and opened the Gate of Death, releasing immense Chakra that tore his skin and overloaded his body.
• The Third Raikage recognized Li Yao's technique as the Eight Gates and resolved to fight him to the death.
• The Third Raikage launched his One-Finger Nukite, but Li Yao reacted and used Wood Release: Forest Creation to cover the valley and nearby land with towering trees.

Li Yao’s attempt to use Shadow Clones against the Third Raikage worsened the life-force and soul loss caused by opening the Gate of Death Acupoint. His clones helped him escape, but he realized he had to end the battle quickly and strengthen his control over the gate before the loss killed him.

• Li Yao created four Shadow Clones, but the sudden Chakra loss made his body consume life force and his soul dissipate, leaving him vomiting blood and temporarily losing control of Wood Release.
• The Third Raikage took advantage of Li Yao’s weakness and attacked him with One-Finger Nukite.
• A Shadow Clone struck the Third Raikage with a black lightning-covered kick while another attacked with the Adamantine Sealing Technique, allowing two clones to carry Li Yao away with Black Iron Chains.
• Li Yao escaped on the Black Iron Giant Eagle as his clones held off the Third Raikage, then ordered one clone to attack the Kumogakure ninja controlling the summon.
• Li Yao used Acupoint Chakra to try to seal the Gate of Death Acupoint Space again, but found that it could not yet restrain the continuing loss of his life force and soul.

Li Yao’s Shadow Clone killed Daruma Chris and the four Kumogakure ninja, then killed their summoned Giant Eagle while the Third Raikage was held back. The Third Raikage left empty-handed and resolved to wage war on Konoha, while Ōnoki discovered the forest and recognized it as Wood Release.

• Li Yao’s Shadow Clone reached Daruma Chris and the other three Kumogakure ninja, subdued them with the Perception Deprivation Technique, and pierced their heads with Black Iron Chains.
• Li Yao’s Shadow Clone killed the Giant Eagle with Black Lightning as the Third Raikage heard its final cry.
• The Third Raikage found his subordinates dead, failed to locate Li Yao, and left after deciding to attack Konoha.
• Ōnoki and three others arrived above the valley, saw the newly formed forest, and identified it as Wood Release.

Ōnoki found the dead Giant Eagle and pursued the Third Raikage’s chakra trail, hoping it would lead him to Li Yao, whom he blamed for his daughter’s injuries. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Tenchu decided to attack Li Yao before his Wood Release grew stronger, despite Ayase Sarutobi’s warnings.

• Ōnoki’s group identified the dead Giant Eagle as a summoning beast belonging to Kumogakure’s Daruma Family and confirmed it was the one the Third Raikage had ridden.
• Ōnoki learned that Li Yao’s chakra could not be tracked but ordered his team to follow the Third Raikage’s trail.
• Li Yao landed in a cave after dispersing his Shadow Clone and recalling the Black Iron Giant Eagle, then tried to contain the aura leaking from his Acupoint Space.
• Sarutobi Tenchu rejected Ayase Sarutobi’s suggestion to wait for the Third Hokage’s backup plan and resolved to seal Li Yao or force him to abandon his body.

Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi flew to Li Yao’s cave with sealing techniques, intending to capture him while he was weakened. Li Yao recognized that they had been tracking him and prepared to fight, willing to release his Gate of Death to defeat them and take their Chakra.

• Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi agreed to confront Li Yao together despite the danger.
• Sarutobi Tenchu prepared an Adamantine Sealing Barrier Technique scroll, while Ayase Sarutobi readied her Twin Dragon Playing with Pearl Sealing Technique.
• Li Yao struggled to restrain the Gate of Death Acupoint Space, which was draining his life potential, and decided to hunt shinobi for Chakra.
• Li Yao sensed Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi approaching and realized they had been monitoring him beyond his sensory range.
• Li Yao left the cave to meet them, deciding to remove the couple and accepting that he might have to release the Gate of Death’s restraint.

Li Yao defeated Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi with genjutsu, then used their Sealing Scroll to absorb the Chakra from the Adamantine Sealing Barrier. He stabilized the Gate of Death Acupoint but discovered it could no longer store Chakra, leaving him with half his former reserves as he resolved to hide and recover.

• Li Yao charged Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi as they attacked with a Sealing Scroll and Ink Birds.
• Li Yao used the Perception Deprivation Technique to incapacitate Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi, then restrained and sealed their Chakra with Black Iron Chains.
• Li Yao took control of the Adamantine Sealing Barrier Technique through Sarutobi Tenchu's scroll and devoured its Chakra.
• Li Yao used the absorbed Chakra to stabilize the Gate of Death Acupoint and stop his life potential from draining, but found the space could no longer store Chakra.
• Li Yao took the Sealing Scroll and decided to hide until he could recover and grow stronger.

While flying toward Viper Island, Li Yao studied the brush and scroll taken from the defeated Konoha ninja and mastered Super Beast Imitation Drawing. By using his exceptional Chakra control to imbue ink with intent, he expanded the technique to create solid objects and renamed it Ink Mimicry Ninjutsu.

• Li Yao escaped with Sarutobi Tenchu and his wife aboard the Black Iron Giant Eagle, stabilized the Gate of Death Acupoint Space, and used the excess Chakra to restore his life potential.
• Li Yao discovered that the peculiar brush converted Super Beast Imitation Drawing Chakra into ink, then created Ink Eagles that could fly and share their vision with him.
• Li Yao realized that a drawn form served as a stable basis for imbuing an ink creation with attributes and intent, and used his Chakra control to create Ink Eagles without a brush or scroll.
• Li Yao formed an ink spear and imbued it with the weight and durability of metal, confirming he could give ink objects real-world properties.
• Li Yao decided the improved technique could create many kinds of objects and renamed it Ink Mimicry Ninjutsu.

Li Yao restrained two Konoha Anbu and tested their relationship, discovering that the woman, Ayase Sarutobi, was Sarutobi Tenchu’s wife. He suspected Tenchu might be the Third Hokage’s son and left him watching as he threatened Ayase.

• Li Yao drained the pair’s Chakra, sealed their ability to resist, and removed their masks to examine their faces.
• Li Yao restored Sarutobi Tenchu’s senses and watched him search anxiously for Ayase Sarutobi.
• Tenchu concealed his concern for Ayase and gave no reaction when Li Yao asked whether he was the Third Hokage’s son.
• Li Yao laid Ayase across his thighs and threatened her with a kunai, making Tenchu briefly lose his composure.
• Li Yao noticed Tenchu’s reaction and concluded that the pair had a close relationship.

Li Yao tormented Ayase Sarutobi during the journey while forcing Sarutobi Tenchu to watch, hoping to make him reveal his connection to the Third Hokage. Ayase eventually woke and realized what had happened, but she remained bound and unable to fight back.

• Sarutobi Tenchu told Li Yao that Anbu ninjas were bound by a silencing technique, but Li Yao questioned him about his connection to the Third Hokage.
• Li Yao disbelieved Sarutobi Tenchu's denial and subjected Ayase Sarutobi to torment while Sarutobi Tenchu watched helplessly.
• As the Black Iron Giant Eagle carried them toward the Sea of War, Li Yao continued tormenting Ayase Sarutobi until Sarutobi Tenchu grew numb and then begged Li Yao to kill them.
• Ayase Sarutobi woke, mistook her husband's stillness for death, and then realized she had been tormented while trapped in an illusion.
• Ayase Sarutobi struggled and glared at Li Yao, but the Black Iron Chains held her and her Chakra had been drained.

Li Yao tortured Ayase Sarutobi to torment Sarutobi Tenchu and tried to learn how Tenchu was connected to the Third Hokage. As the Black Iron Giant Eagle carried them toward the Sea of War, Ayase woke and recognized Li Yao, leaving both captives bound and furious.

• Li Yao questioned Sarutobi Tenchu about his relationship with the Third Hokage while threatening Ayase Sarutobi, but Tenchu denied being the Hokage's son.
• Li Yao continued torturing Ayase Sarutobi as Sarutobi Tenchu watched helplessly and begged him to stop.
• The Black Iron Giant Eagle traveled from the Land of Earth toward the Sea of War while Li Yao subjected Ayase Sarutobi to further torment.
• Ayase Sarutobi woke, mistook her bloodied husband for dead, then recognized Li Yao and struggled against the Black Iron Chains holding her.

Li Yao told Sarutobi Tenchu and Ayase Sarutobi that he would keep them alive as part of his plan to seize Konoha and make the Third Hokage watch his clan and village be destroyed. After Ayase tried to kill herself and Tenchu begged Li Yao to save her, Li Yao used Wood Release Chakra to heal her.

• Li Yao taunted Sarutobi Tenchu and revealed that he intended to keep him and Ayase alive rather than kill them.
• Li Yao imagined becoming Hokage and destroying the Third Hokage’s reputation, clan, and village as revenge.
• Ayase Sarutobi, believing her husband no longer loved her, bit through her tongue in despair.
• Sarutobi Tenchu begged Li Yao to save Ayase and offered himself in exchange.
• Li Yao used Wood Release Chakra to heal Ayase, pleased by the couple’s unwavering love.