Chapter Summaries

Nara Kaikei accepted Tsunade’s A-Rank mission to train under her for five hundred thousand ryō and discovered that its scroll contained the Ranshinshou technique. After discussing Oyashiro En and Root’s security with Yakushi Nonō, Kaikei began training with Tsunade at Kikyo Castle amid rising tensions between the ninja villages.

• Nara Kaikei negotiated a five-hundred-thousand-ryō reward for Tsunade’s mission, which required him to train in taijutsu until she approved of his progress.
• Kaikei opened the A-Rank scroll he had obtained from Tsunade and found the Ranshinshou technique, which he considered adapting to develop the Nara clan’s Shadow Binding Technique.
• Yakushi Nonō told Kaikei that Oyashiro En was away selling goods and advised waiting for him to return before confronting him about Chiyo.
• Kaikei asked Nonō where Root’s base was so he could monitor Shimura Danzō, but Nonō explained that Konoha’s perception barrier and Root’s secret routes made surveillance difficult.
• Tsunade arrived the next day and told Kaikei that, amid clashes among the villages and Sand Village’s search for its Third Kazekage, they would train at Kikyo Castle while she maintained Konoha’s medical system.

Nara Kaikei trained in medical ninjutsu with Tsunade while secretly mastering several techniques, then received Water Release and sealing scrolls from Nara Shikano. The Yamanaka Clan also sent research materials, leaving Kaikei with new resources for his studies.

• Tsunade brought Nara Kaikei to the Nara Pharmaceutical Research Institute, where its director, Nara Shusuke, revealed that he was Kaikei’s father and offered him the chance to inherit the family business.
• Tsunade gave Kaikei the Hemostasis Technique scroll and explained that learning it could help him develop the Yang Release control needed for Super Beast Imitation Painting.
• Over two days, Kaikei learned Hemostasis Technique from Tsunade and secretly mastered three advanced medical ninjutsu from Yakushi Nonō, confirming that he possessed six chakra natures.
• Nara Shikano gave Kaikei three Water Release scrolls and three sealing technique scrolls, including Tobirama Senju’s four-hand-seal version of Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• Nara Shikano gave Kaikei research materials on the brain’s nervous system and chakra meridians that Inoichi had sent after the incident with Yamanaka Hayari.

Nara Kaikei learned that Oyashiro En wanted him and Yakushi Nonō to foster Chiyo, and Nonō resolved not to return the girl to her father’s cruel plans. After months of training during the escalating Third Shinobi World War, Kaikei earned Tsunade’s recognition and was assigned to a ninja squad, receiving an A-Rank scroll for Chakra Enhanced Strength.

• Nara Shikano told Nara Kaikei that Oyashiro En wanted him to foster Chiyo, believing Yakushi Nonō would make a good mother.
• Nara Kaikei explained Oyashiro En’s plan to raise Chiyo as a ninja weapon, and Yakushi Nonō vowed not to hand her back.
• Nara Kaikei continued researching his abilities and training while the Third Shinobi World War intensified and Kikyo Castle became Konoha’s medical hub.
• After months of sparring, Tsunade acknowledged Nara Kaikei’s taijutsu skill and told him she would assign him to a ninja squad.
• Nara Kaikei opened the A-Rank Ninja Scroll he earned and discovered it contained Chakra Enhanced Strength.

Nara Kaikei learned Chakra Enhanced Strength, raised his evaluation to Kage Rank, and learned he would soon join a ninja team bound for the front lines. As he reassured Yakushi Nonō at Kikyo Orphanage, Sunagakure's Puppet Force launched a surprise attack on Kikyo Castle.

• Tsunade blessed Nara Kaikei with a kiss on the forehead, and he flirted with her before asking about his future teammates.
• Nara Kaikei learned Chakra Enhanced Strength, raising his Ninjutsu to A and his overall evaluation to A- (Kage Rank).
• Nara Kaikei returned to Kikyo Orphanage and told Yakushi Nonō that Tsunade would assign him to a ninja team before sending him to the front lines.
• Yakushi Nonō grew anxious about Nara Kaikei's coming deployment, and he reassured her that he was strong and would first train with his teammates.
• Sunagakure's Puppet Force reached the mountains outside Konoha, overwhelmed the hidden sentry posts, and prepared to attack Kikyo Castle with Chiyo's Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.

Chiyo’s Sand Hidden Puppet Force breached Kikyo Castle and used poisonous mist to devastate the Konoha defenders. Nara Kaikei and Tsunade responded, and Kaikei received an S-Rank mission to defend the castle.

• Chiyo used the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets’ Three Treasures Vacuum to destroy Kikyo Castle’s gates, then ordered the Sand Hidden Puppet Force to advance.
• Chiyo warned Pakura to wait until the castle’s defenses were broken before using her Scorch Release, while Kikyo Castle’s alarm roused its defenders.
• Nara Kaikei created a Shadow Creature for Yakushi Nonō to use in an emergency, then raced toward the gates as Nara Shikano arrived on a shadow eagle.
• Chiyo and Ebizo combined poison mist with a powerful wind technique, sending toxic gas into the Konoha defenders and causing heavy casualties.
• Nara Kaikei used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to scatter the poison mist, and Tsunade issued an emergency S-Rank mission to repel Sunagakure and protect Kikyo Castle.

Nara Kaikei used the opening created by Konoha’s defense to attack Sunagakure’s Puppet Force from above. After his shadow clones killed many puppeteers in the mist, Ebizo dispersed it and revealed the fallen Sand Village ninja.

• Chiyo and Ebizo combined their Fire and Wind Style techniques to attack Kikyo Castle.
• Nara Kaikei and Konoha’s Water Release users blocked the assault, while his Nature Mask nearly broke from the strain.
• Nara Kaikei refused Nara Shikano’s offer to join him and flew over the battlefield alone on a Shadow Creature.
• Using Lacquer Eye, Nara Kaikei located the puppeteers and fired Spiral Shadow Mimic Bullets that created shadow clones to bind and kill them.
• Ebizo blew away the mist and saw the Sand Village Puppet Force scattered across the battlefield, with most of its puppeteers dead.

Nara Kaikei stopped Sunagakure’s raid on Kikyo Castle after wiping out much of its Puppet Force and battling Chiyo, Ebizo, and Pakura. Chiyo ordered a retreat, and Pakura created a blazing barrier to keep the arriving Konoha forces at bay.

• Ebizo attacked Nara Kaikei’s apparent ground forces with Wind Style: Wind Killing Array, but they were Shadow Clones that vanished as his wind blades struck Kikyo Castle’s walls.
• Pakura attacked Nara Kaikei with Scorch Release: Over-Vapor Killing, but he used the blast’s light to bind her shadow with the Shadow Binding Technique.
• Nara Kaikei struck at the Sand Village Ninja with Water Dragon Bullet Technique, but Chiyo shielded Pakura with a Chikamatsu Ten Puppet and Machine Light Shield Seal.
• Nara Kaikei used Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet to bombard the Sand Village Ninja, forcing Chiyo to order Ebizo and the others to retreat as Konoha reinforcements approached.
• Pakura detonated a massive Scorch Release fireball to create a searing barrier between the retreating Sand Village Ninja and the Konoha forces.

Nara Kaikei returned to harass the retreating Sand Village Puppet Force while seeking recognition for his battlefield performance. After learning that the S-Rank mission was complete, he resumed his aerial attack and triggered a B-Rank mission against Ebizo.

• Nara Kaikei sent a Shadow Clone back to Kikyo Castle while his main body followed the Sand Village Puppet Force from the sky.
• Pakura set the forest ablaze to block Konoha’s pursuit, and the temporary commander ordered his ninja to extinguish the fire.
• Nara Kaikei’s clone told Nara Shikano that the enemy was retreating and confirmed that Tsunade was researching an antidote; Nara Shikano said he was in command and planned to pursue the Sand Village ninja.
• Nara Kaikei learned that the S-Rank Kikyo Castle Defense Battle mission was complete, then dispelled his clone and flew after the retreating force.
• Nara Kaikei bound a puppet master with a Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet and killed him with an Explosive Tag, prompting Ebizo to attack with Wind Style: Hanging Net.
• Nara Kaikei countered Ebizo’s wind technique with Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, triggered a B-Rank mission to defeat or kill Ebizo, and threw another Explosive Tag at him.

Nara Kaikei fought Chiyo and Pakura from the air as the Sand Hidden Puppet Force tried to escape. Ebizo stayed behind to delay him, but Kaikei captured him alive and dismissed his sacrifice as futile.

• Chiyo deflected Nara Kaikei’s explosive-tag shuriken, then sent poisoned senbon at him, but he escaped on another Shadow Creature.
• Ebizo volunteered to hold off Kaikei while Chiyo, Pakura, and the other Sand Village ninjas withdrew.
• Pakura attacked Kaikei with Scorch Release, while Kaikei sent an invisible Shadow Creature after the escaping group.
• Ebizo used Wind Style: Tornado Hurricane to block Kaikei, but Kaikei burrowed underground and struck him with Spiral Shadow Mimic Bullet.
• Kaikei’s Shadow Clones restrained Ebizo, broke his arms, and forced him to swallow a chakra-suppressing pill, capturing him alive.

Nara Kaikei trapped the Sand Village Puppet Force in darkness, captured Pakura, and attacked Chiyo with his Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon. As Chiyo withstood the strike, he learned that Iwagakure ninjas had joined the nighttime raid.

• Nara Kaikei used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to envelop the Sand Village Puppet Force and wound Pakura with Little Jizo.
• Chiyo ordered the Sand Village ninjas to protect themselves with puppets and find one another in the darkness.
• Nara Kaikei incapacitated Pakura with a Yang Release technique and captured her alive.
• Nara Kaikei fired his Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon at Chiyo, who blocked it with her Machine Light Shield Seal.
• Nara Kaikei received a message from his Shadow Clone that Iwagakure ninjas had joined the nighttime raid.

Nara Kaikei retreated from the battle after learning Iwagakure had attacked Konoha, escaping with unconscious Pakura while Chiyo survived his final attack but collapsed from exhaustion. Back at Kikyo Castle, he kept Pakura in his custody, then found Tsunade drinking and confessing her shame and frustration over being unable to fight on the battlefield.

• After receiving the clan head’s recall order, Nara Kaikei abandoned his plan to stall Sunagakure’s Puppet Force and escaped with Pakura on a Shadow Creature.
• Nara Kaikei fired one last Spiral Shadow Kill Cannon at Chiyo, who blocked it with her Machine Light Shield Seal; he completed the mission, and Chiyo collapsed after learning Pakura had been abducted.
• Nara Kaikei returned to the clan compound, where Nara Shikano reported that Iwagakure’s Demolition Force had overrun towns northeast of Konoha and the Third Lord had gone to reinforce them.
• Nara Kaikei asked to keep Pakura rather than hand her over to the village, and Nara Shikano granted him the right to decide her fate.
• Nara Kaikei visited the Pharmaceutical Research Institute and found Tsunade drinking alone; she called him a coward and lamented that her illness kept her from fighting for the village.

After recovering from Tsunade’s drunken assault, Nara Kaikei opened the Ninja Scrolls he had earned in the battle at Kikyo Castle. The S-Rank scroll revealed Yin Seal and Yin Seal Release, leaving him with new techniques and research possibilities.

• Tsunade woke up hungover, vowed to quit drinking, and apologized awkwardly to Nara Kaikei for her behavior the previous night.
• Nara Kaikei returned home and opened Ebizo’s B-Rank scroll, learning the Summoning Jutsu Lightning Sword Transformation and planning to use it with his Nature Masks.
• Pakura’s scroll granted Nara Kaikei Scorch Release: Over-Vapor Killing, which he could not yet use, so he considered studying Scorch Release with Pakura’s help.
• Chiyo’s scroll granted Nara Kaikei Machine Light Shield Seal, inspiring him to combine its defense with his Shadow Transformation Technique and Chakra Crystal.
• Nara Kaikei opened the S-Rank scroll and learned Yin Seal and Yin Seal Release, techniques that could store and release large amounts of Chakra.

After receiving the Yin Seal, Nara Kaikei planned to anchor it in his shadow to power his Shadow Susanoo. He returned to Kikyo Orphanage, answered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s summons, and was promoted to Special Jonin.

• Nara Kaikei obtained the Yin Seal and decided to place it in his shadow as a Chakra reserve for his Shadow Susanoo.
• Nara Kaikei visited Kikyo Orphanage and found Yakushi Nonō preparing to treat wounded ninja near the battlefield.
• An Anbu delivered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s written summons, and Nara Kaikei went to the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Nara Kaikei for defending Kikyo Castle and capturing Ebizo alive.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Nara Kaikei a Special Jonin.

Nara Kaikei was promoted to Special Jonin and received permission to learn a technique from the Scroll of Seals. He chose the Flying Thunder God Technique, learned it through his panel, and was told to return the next day to meet his new subordinates.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered Nara Kaikei a place in Anbu, but Nara Kaikei declined.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Nara Kaikei a catalog of the Scroll of Seals and allowed him to choose one advanced ninjutsu.
• Nara Kaikei chose the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Hiruzen Sarutobi warned him that it was difficult to master and demanding to use.
• An Anbu ninja brought the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll, and Nara Kaikei learned the technique through his panel.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi promoted Nara Kaikei to squad captain and told him to return the next day to meet his three subordinates and inform Tsunade of the personnel changes.

Nara Kaikei delivered his Special Jonin appointment letter to his parents, collected his Nature Masks, and told Nara Shusuke that he was nearing completion of his shadow-and-nervous-system research. Back at Kikyo Castle, he tested Tobirama Senju’s Flying Thunder God Technique and learned about its range and Chakra costs before Tsunade warned him to be careful as his assignment plans might change.

• Nara Kaikei bought summoning talisman paper at Manten Hall and visited Nara Pingzi and Nara Shusuke, where he delivered his Special Jonin appointment letter and retrieved his Nature Masks.
• Nara Kaikei stored six Nature Masks in separate summoning talismans and told Nara Shusuke he was close to finishing his research into combining Shadow Secret Technique with the nervous system.
• Nara Kaikei returned to Kikyo Castle, sent a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade of the Third Hokage’s instructions, and tested his newly acquired Flying Thunder God Technique with marked kunai.
• Nara Kaikei found that he could teleport to a kunai near the edge of his sensing range, that longer jumps consumed more Chakra, and that pre-storing Chakra in the mark reduced the cost.
• Tsunade told Nara Kaikei she had expected to send him to Kirigakure, but his Special Jonin promotion might change the plan, and advised him to be careful.

Nara Kaikei tested the Flying Thunder God Technique, noting its heavy Chakra cost and brief recovery delay, then went to question the captured Pakura. He threatened her with Shimura Danzō, but clarified that he only wanted her to explain how she created Scorch Release.

• Nara Kaikei tested the Flying Thunder God Technique and concluded that its Chakra cost, limited range, and recovery delay made it difficult to use in combat.
• Nara Kaikei stored two marked kunai as secret return points and postponed work on the Yin Seal until he assessed his subordinates.
• Nara Kaikei found Pakura bound and without Chakra in a secluded building at Kikyo Castle.
• Pakura tried to smash her head against the floor, but Nara Kaikei caught her with a shadow hand.
• Nara Kaikei threatened to hand Pakura over to Shimura Danzō, and she reluctantly agreed to cooperate without betraying her village.
• Nara Kaikei asked Pakura to explain how she fused Chakra natures to create Scorch Release.

Nara Kaikei learned the principles of Pakura’s Scorch Release and began researching how to reproduce it with nature masks and Shadow Clones. He returned to Kikyo Orphanage, where Yakushi Nonō had brought home a silver-gray-haired child and proposed naming him Kaikei Kotarō.

• Nara Kaikei persuaded Pakura to explain Scorch Release and studied its Wind and Fire nature transformations.
• Nara Kaikei healed Pakura’s arm with Mystical Palm Technique, then placed a combined Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and Corpse Kiss on her to prevent her from revealing his secrets.
• Nara Kaikei used Shadow Clones to research Scorch Release and considered developing specialized research bases for studying Kekkei Genkai.
• Nara Kaikei headed to Kikyo Orphanage, where Yakushi Nonō had returned from an emergency mission with a silver-gray-haired child.
• Yakushi Nonō proposed naming the child Kaikei Kotarō.

Nara Kaikei helped Yakushi Nonō welcome the amnesiac boy Kabuto into Kikyo Orphanage and gave him a mask. He then reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who introduced Kaikei to his newly assigned team members.

• Yakushi Nonō told Nara Kaikei she had rescued an injured, amnesiac boy from the battlefield and planned to adopt him.
• Nara Kaikei named the boy Kabuto, and Yakushi Nonō gave him the surname Yakushi; Kaikei presented him with a mask marked with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Yakushi Nonō discovered that Kabuto refused to remove the mask while sleeping, and Kaikei noticed the boy had trouble seeing clearly.
• Nara Kaikei left the orphanage the next morning, while Yakushi Nonō took Kabuto to get glasses.
• Nara Kaikei met Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Hokage Building and asked for fewer missions as he prepared to form a team.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi introduced Kaikei to his new team members, Uchiha Shisui, Hyuga Kiyoshi, and Shizune.

Nara Kaikei introduced himself and assessed his new team of Uchiha Shisui, Hyuga Kiyoshi, and Shizune before beginning a spar with Shisui. The fight ended with Kaikei discovering that Shisui’s attacking figures included at least two real bodies.

• Nara Kaikei and his three subordinates introduced themselves, revealing their skills and personal ambitions.
• Nara Kaikei explained that he needed to understand his teammates’ abilities and called Uchiha Shisui forward to spar.
• Uchiha Shisui opened with shuriken and the Great Fireball Technique, but Nara Kaikei deflected the attacks and closed in with his sword.
• Uchiha Shisui narrowly avoided Kaikei’s blade, then used a fast-moving technique to surround him with multiple figures.
• Nara Kaikei blocked a flying kick and clashed swords with another attacker, realizing that both Shisui figures he had faced were real.

Nara Kaikei defeated Uchiha Shisui in a spar, then tested Hyuga Kiyoshi and Shizune, earning Ninja Scroll rewards for each victory. The chapter ended with all three subordinates beaten and Nara ready to continue testing his squad.

• Nara Kaikei countered Uchiha Shisui’s Phantom Body Flicker Technique and defeated him with the Shadow Binding Bullet.
• Nara Kaikei praised Shisui’s new techniques, including his Uchiha Style sword attacks.
• Hyuga Kiyoshi demonstrated her Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and Eight Trigrams Empty Wall Palm before conceding to Nara Kaikei.
• Shizune charged at Nara Kaikei and was defeated, earning him another C-rank Ninja Scroll.