Chapter Summaries

Katsuo learned that his relentless training and long-term use of Might Duy’s Body Tempering Elixir had overdrawn his cells, shortening his lifespan and limiting his physical potential. Tsunade and Orochimaru advised him to stop intense training and the elixir, then left him alone as he collapsed in despair.

• Katsuo served tea to Tsunade and Orochimaru and used cryptic remarks about sages to unsettle Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru told Katsuo that his cells were dividing abnormally fast and that he could no longer undergo high-intensity training.
• Katsuo realized his Body Tempering Elixir use had caused the damage and handed the remaining bottle to Orochimaru.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru explained that long-term use of the elixir overdraws blood-forming cells and accelerates aging, as it had for Might Duy.
• Tsunade urged Katsuo to stop intense training and using the elixir, while Orochimaru said his condition might improve if he avoided overexertion.
• Katsuo collapsed in despair, and Orochimaru stopped Tsunade from pressing him and left him alone.

Katsuo despaired over whether he would ever return to his parents in his previous life, but Mikoto and Kushina found him and stayed with him. After they left, Katsuo renewed his resolve to find another way home.

• Katsuo lay in the camp grieving for his parents and fearing he would never return to them.
• Mikoto and Kushina arrived to check on Katsuo and found him crying and unresponsive.
• Mikoto wiped Katsuo's tears while she and Kushina waited beside him, and Kushina eventually startled him back to awareness.
• Katsuo went into his tent and told the girls to leave, but Kushina tripped and fell on top of him before fleeing in embarrassment.
• Alone again, Katsuo clenched his fists, awakened three tomoe in his eyes, and vowed not to give up.

Katsuo applied to graduate early and planned to take the Chunin Exams in ten days. After telling his friends, he reassured Mikoto that they could still spend time together, leaving her delighted.

• Katsuo demonstrated the Three Body Technique to Instructor Aoki, who approved his early graduation pending the Third Hokage's authorization.
• Katsuo visited Class 401 and announced to Mikoto, Nawaki, Minato, and Kushina that he planned to graduate early and enter the Chunin Exams.
• Nawaki said he wanted to graduate and take the exams too, but doubted his sister would allow it.
• Minato, Kushina, and Nawaki promised to watch Katsuo's exam, while Mikoto stayed quiet and looked gloomy.
• Katsuo asked Mikoto what was wrong, teased her about missing him, and promised she could still come visit him; Mikoto smiled and accepted.

Katsuo graduated as a Genin and convinced Hiruzen Sarutobi to let him take the Chunin Exams despite having no mission record. After learning that Might Duy was barred from advancing because he could not use ninjutsu, Katsuo returned to challenge the rule.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Katsuo a worn Konoha forehead protector, and Katsuo announced he wanted to take the Chunin Exams in ten days.
• Katsuo pointed out that Konoha had no written rule requiring a mission record for Chunin advancement, and Hiruzen approved his application.
• Katsuo saw Might Duy pleading with the guards for another meeting with the Hokage and learned that Duy could not advance because he lacked ninjutsu talent.
• Katsuo returned to Hiruzen's office and demanded to know why Might Duy could not become a Chunin despite his strength.

Katsuo challenged the Third Hokage and his advisors over their refusal to promote Might Duy, then left after the Hokage ordered him out. On his way home, the end of his Shadow Clones flooded him with their memories and nearly overwhelmed his mind, revealing the danger of using them for training.

• The Third Hokage and his advisors explained that Might Duy lacked the skills and overall competence required for promotion, prompting Katsuo to condemn their rigid rules and contempt for taijutsu specialists.
• Katsuo traded insults with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who grew furious and appeared ready to attack him.
• The Third Hokage unleashed his chakra, ordered Katsuo to leave, and watched him walk out despite the advisors’ anger.
• Katsuo accepted that defying the Hokage and the advisors could hurt his future, but refused to regret standing up for Might Duy.
• As Katsuo walked home, his twenty Shadow Clones dispersed and their accumulated memories nearly caused his consciousness to collapse.

Katsuo visited Orochimaru at night and confronted him about whether Hashirama Cells could repair his damaged body. After Katsuo threatened to expose Orochimaru’s interest in the First Hokage’s corpse, Orochimaru attacked and restrained him, but Katsuo continued to insist they should cooperate.

• Katsuo entered Orochimaru’s house and fought off the venomous snakes guarding it until Orochimaru invited him inside.
• Katsuo asked Orochimaru whether the First Hokage’s cells could heal his body, and Orochimaru reacted with alarm at his knowledge of Hashirama Cells.
• Katsuo deduced from Orochimaru’s reaction that he had a way to restore his body and accused him of targeting the First Hokage’s corpse.
• Orochimaru attacked Katsuo and bound him with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, demanding to know how he learned of his plans.
• Katsuo proposed that he and Orochimaru cooperate and threatened him again when Orochimaru dismissed his warnings.

Katsuo defeated Orochimaru by trapping him in a powerful Sharingan genjutsu and holding a kunai to his throat. He left after promising Orochimaru a pair of Sharingan in return for fulfilling his promise, while Orochimaru suspected Katsuo was hiding a far more complicated identity.

• Katsuo revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and trapped Orochimaru in a genjutsu that left him unable to sense chakra or move.
• Katsuo released Orochimaru from the genjutsu and withdrew his kunai from Orochimaru's bleeding neck.
• Orochimaru questioned Katsuo's age, identity, and motives, and suspected that someone had taken over the boy's body.
• Katsuo promised Orochimaru a pair of Sharingan as a reward and warned him not to tell anyone about their meeting.
• Katsuo vanished using the Body Flicker Technique, leaving Orochimaru stunned.

After Orochimaru kept their encounter secret, he told Katsuo that no known treatment could heal his damaged origin, but proposed investigating a legend about life-restoring Sage Dew at Mount Myōboku. Katsuo and Orochimaru summoned a toad using Jiraiya’s blood, and Katsuo effortlessly controlled it with his Sharingan, preparing to use it to reach Mount Myōboku.

• Katsuo waited a day to see whether Orochimaru would expose him, and took Orochimaru’s silence as a sign that their bargain remained secret.
• Orochimaru told Katsuo that First Hokage cells would likely kill him, but that an ancient account described Sage Dew at Mount Myōboku as able to restore the origin of life.
• Katsuo agreed to investigate Mount Myōboku with Orochimaru, who revealed that he had taken Jiraiya’s blood to summon a toad bound to the holy land.
• Orochimaru summoned an adolescent Mount Myōboku toad, and Katsuo used his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to control it with ease.

Katsuo and Orochimaru infiltrated Mount Myōboku and discovered the immense power of its ancient ruler, the Old Toad. They found a Toad Oil spring where young toads shed their skins, and Orochimaru decided to take some for research.

• Orochimaru used a drop of the summoned toad’s blood to arrange a return summoning, then he and Katsuo hid inside it and traveled to Mount Myōboku.
• Katsuo and Orochimaru slipped past the toads and stopped near a palace after sensing a powerful presence within.
• Katsuo told Orochimaru that the thousand-year-old Old Toad ruled Mount Myōboku and had taught senjutsu to the Sage of Six Paths.
• Katsuo led Orochimaru to a Toad Oil waterfall, where they watched young toads shed their skins.
• Orochimaru realized the Toad Oil could help the Snake Clan shed skin and grow stronger, and said he wanted it for research.

Katsuo and Orochimaru infiltrated Toad Spring, where Katsuo learned that Mount Myōboku's Sage Spring produced a Water of Life that might heal his damaged body. They left with Toad Oil to test, while the Water of Life remained beyond their reach.

• Katsuo used his Sharingan to control a juvenile toad and investigate Toad Spring, evading the blue toad supervising the shedding toads.
• When the Water Vein erupted and the Toad Oil cleared, Katsuo learned that Sage Spring's Water of Life overflowed once every ten years, but the blue toad stopped his controlled toad from approaching it.
• Katsuo's toad gathered Toad Oil and left the spring; Orochimaru collected the oil, killed the toad, and concealed its body before they returned to Konoha inside an unconscious toad.
• Katsuo told Orochimaru about the Water of Life, and Orochimaru warned that Mount Myōboku's guards and sealing barrier made obtaining it nearly impossible.
• Katsuo and Orochimaru decided to study the Toad Oil first to see whether it could heal Katsuo's body.

Katsuo secretly attacked Uchiha Kari, gouging out his Sharingan as revenge before escaping back to his camp. The Uchiha Clan launched an investigation, unaware that Katsuo was already sleeping safely nearby.

• Orochimaru reassured Katsuo about his health and urged him to prepare for the Chunin Exams.
• Katsuo infiltrated Uchiha Kari’s home at night and gouged out both of Kari’s eyes.
• Katsuo took Kari’s Sharingan in a bottle of saline and escaped the clan compound undetected.
• The attack killed Kari’s wife, triggered panic across the Uchiha Clan, and drew the Hokage’s attention.
• The Uchiha elders ordered stronger patrols and a dedicated investigation while Kari was too distraught to identify his attacker.
• Katsuo slept peacefully in his camp as the Uchiha Clan searched for the criminal.

Katsuo gave Orochimaru a pair of Sharingan as an advance payment and encouraged him to study the clan’s eyes, hoping his research would help solve the problems of awakening and preserving the Mangekyō Sharingan. Meanwhile, Uchiha Kari concealed his grudge against Katsuo, and Katsuo arrived alone at the Ninja Academy for the first round of the Chunin Exams.

• Katsuo told Orochimaru that the Sharingan were advance payment and urged him to study them before learning more of the Uchiha clan’s secrets.
• Orochimaru accepted the eyes, though Katsuo’s remarks about his limited perspective angered him.
• Uchiha Kari hid his feud with Katsuo while the Uchiha Clan searched unsuccessfully for the attacker.
• Katsuo returned alone to the Ninja Academy for the first round of the Chunin Exams, where he drew attention despite sitting in a corner.

Uchiha Katsuo advanced through the written exam and entered the Death Forest for the second round of the Chunin Exams. He headed straight for the central tower, planning to wait there for opponents and test his combat strength.

• Hyuga Akimizu confronted Katsuo over his old fight with her brother, Hyuga Akikaze, while Katsuo recognized the Ino-Shika-Cho trio among the candidates.
• Katsuo used his spiritual power to copy answers during the written test with his eyes closed, and he advanced when the proctors graded the exams.
• The proctors explained the Death Forest scroll challenge, requiring candidates to obtain a matching scroll and reach the central tower within three days.
• Katsuo entered the Death Forest and went directly toward the central tower to guard it and wait for opponents.

Katsuo waited at the tower, where he met Inuzuka Ran and fought her and her wolfhound, Wolf-Maru. After defeating them with ease, he faced Ran’s resolve to keep fighting.

• Katsuo set traps around the tower entrance and waited there until nightfall.
• Inuzuka Ran arrived with Wolf-Maru, and she and Katsuo shared roasted food while discussing her clan’s dogs.
• Katsuo demanded a pair of Heaven and Earth Scrolls in exchange for the food Ran had eaten.
• Ran secretly signaled Wolf-Maru to attack, but Katsuo evaded her pincer attack and injured the dog with a slap.
• Katsuo punched Ran and kicked Wolf-Maru, leaving both on the ground.
• Ran checked Wolf-Maru’s injuries, then chose to fight Katsuo to the death and used Piercing Fang.

Katsuo defeated Inuzuka Ran, destroyed the Heaven and Earth Scrolls, and waited by the tower to prevent examinees from passing. After sensing another hidden examinee, he forced an Aburame Clan member to reveal himself.

• Inuzuka Ran exhausted herself attacking Katsuo, then collided with a tree he hurled into her Fang Wolf technique and was knocked unconscious.
• Katsuo threatened Wolf-Maru until it handed over Inuzuka Ran’s ninja tool pouch, then ordered the dog to carry her to the tower for treatment.
• Katsuo found the Heaven and Earth Scrolls in the pouch and burned them, declaring that no examinee would advance successfully, himself included.
• Katsuo resumed meditating on Natural Energy and reflected on his need to learn Senjutsu to survive the dangers ahead.
• Katsuo sensed a hidden examinee who had watched the fight, then threw a Kunai and Shuriken to force the figure to appear.
• Katsuo identified the newcomer as an Aburame Clan member and called him a sinister bastard.

Katsuo defeated Aburame Shisei, whose insect attacks failed to paralyze him, and took Shisei’s two scrolls. He returned to the tower but refused an instructor’s demand that he stop interfering with the exam and enter immediately.

• Katsuo saw through Aburame Shisei’s insect clone and escaped its explosion with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Shisei surrounded Katsuo with Blue Paralysis Bugs, but Katsuo blocked their fluids with Chakra armor and remained mobile.
• Katsuo struck Shisei unconscious, took his two scrolls, and dragged him to the tower for medical treatment.
• Katsuo returned to his campfire and argued with a Chunin instructor that the exam rules did not forbid him from attacking other examinees after gathering the scrolls.

Uchiha Katsuo continued blocking the Chunin Exam tower entrance, and the Third Hokage ordered the proctors to leave him alone unless he broke the rules. Katsuo sensed and met Yūhi Kurenai, who explained his years of training in Amegakure and questioned Katsuo’s plan to seize scrolls.

• A Chunin reported Katsuo’s obstruction to the Third Hokage, who scolded him and ordered the proctors to wait until Katsuo violated a rule.
• Katsuo meditated by the campfire and sensed a newcomer approaching the tower.
• Yūhi Kurenai introduced himself, and Katsuo was surprised by his age and asked why he was only now taking the Chunin Exams.
• Yūhi Kurenai said he had graduated three years earlier and trained in Amegakure under his father’s protection.
• Yūhi Kurenai asked whether Katsuo was blocking the entrance to seize scrolls and guessed Katsuo had reached the tower first.

Uchiha Katsuo fought Yūhi Kurenai for her scroll, gaining the advantage with his speed, taijutsu, and genjutsu reversal. Yūhi Kurenai unleashed the Yūhi Clan’s secret Mystic Blade Art, blinding Katsuo with a fiery sunset before striking.

• Yūhi Kurenai mistook Katsuo’s confidence for an insult and attacked him with her blade.
• Katsuo blocked her powerful slash with a kunai, then retreated when the weapon began to break.
• Katsuo overwhelmed Yūhi Kurenai in taijutsu and reversed her Body Binding Technique genjutsu.
• Yūhi Kurenai rose despite her injuries and invoked her clan’s Mystic Blade Art.
• Yūhi Kurenai’s Yuhi technique conjured a fiery sunset that blinded Katsuo, and she slashed at him.

Katsuo survived Yūhi Kurenai’s deadly Illusion Blade Technique, then ambushed Ino-Shika-Cho as he sought the scrolls needed to advance. The chapter left him bound by Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Binding Technique after injuring Akimichi Chōza with a powerful punch.

• Yūhi Kurenai wounded Katsuo with her sword, but collapsed from exhaustion before he could counterattack.
• Katsuo bandaged his shoulder, took Yūhi Kurenai’s scrolls, and placed her in the tower before resting.
• After recovering for several hours, Katsuo sensed Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza approaching with three pairs of scrolls.
• Katsuo charged the trio and struck Akimichi Chōza, sending him and Nara Shikaku flying and leaving Chōza injured.
• Nara Shikaku used the Shadow Binding Technique to stop Katsuo just before his next punch could land.

Uchiha Katsuo overwhelms Yamanaka Inoichi inside his mental space and makes him appear to control Katsuo's body. Nara Shikaku sees through the deception, rebinds Katsuo, and realizes he is facing a monster.

• Nara Shikaku binds Katsuo with Shadow Strangulation, and Yamanaka Inoichi uses Mind Body Switch to invade Katsuo's mental space.
• Katsuo's Sharingan and overwhelming spiritual power trap Inoichi, who fails to take control and begs to be released.
• Katsuo tortures Inoichi's spirit with swords of light before letting him return to his body.
• Katsuo speaks in Inoichi's voice and tells Shikaku to withdraw his shadow, claiming Inoichi has controlled him.
• Shikaku briefly withdraws most of the shadow, then binds Katsuo again and asks what kind of monster he is.