Chapter Summaries

Ming Jing used a Wind King and Storm Hammer to hurl a giant drill through the mountain blocking the railway, but the tunnel soon collapsed. Sakai thanked him for saving time on the project, and the workers resumed clearing rocks as the railway remained on track to open next year.

• Ming Jing dismissed Sakai’s concerns about the mountain and used Wind Style: Wind King Barrier to lift and throw the enormous iron drill bit.
• As the drill bit fell, Ming Jing summoned Storm Hammer and struck it toward the mountain, while Yuexi protected everyone with Water Style: Multiple Water Wall Technique.
• The drill bit pierced through the mountain and created a tunnel more than thirty meters wide in under two minutes.
• The tunnel collapsed, and Sakai mocked Ming Jing before directing the workers to clear the smaller rocks.
• Sakai thanked Ming Jing for saving time on the railway project and said it could open next year.

Itachi and Juzo Biwa completed their first Akatsuki missions together and joined the organization’s meeting, where Deva Path Pain announced plans to investigate and collect the Tailed Beasts. After assigning them commissions in the Land of Water, Juzo Biwa complained that he did not want to return there.

• Itachi and Juzo Biwa discussed their battle plan as they traveled to assassinate their targets.
• Itachi and Juzo Biwa killed the samurai escorting a palanquin, destroyed the palanquin and its occupant with Explosive Tags, and completed their second mission.
• Itachi and Juzo Biwa joined Deva Path Pain, Konan, Orochimaru, and Sasori through the Illusion Technique: Phantasmal Body.
• Deva Path Pain announced Akatsuki’s next phase: investigating the Tailed Beasts before collecting them to help conquer the world.
• Deva Path Pain assigned Itachi and Juzo Biwa commissions from the Land of Water, and Juzo Biwa objected to returning there.

Itachi and Juzo Biwa completed a mission in Kirigakure but were confronted by the Fourth Mizukage and his pursuit ninja while escaping. Itachi defeated the transformed Mizukage with Amaterasu, but Juzo Biwa died from his wounds, leaving Itachi to flee alone.

• Itachi and Juzo Biwa infiltrated Kirigakure, completed their mission, and escaped before the Fourth Mizukage and pursuit ninja caught up with them.
• Itachi and Juzo Biwa fought the Mist Ninja, with Itachi using a Water Clone feint and attacks to help overwhelm several of them.
• The Fourth Mizukage transformed into a Tailed Beast, knocked Juzo Biwa aside, and immobilized Itachi with the Coral Palm Technique.
• Juzo Biwa struck the Fourth Mizukage's Tailed Beast Bomb with the Kubikiribōchō, breaking the blade and suffering a fatal wound.
• Itachi used Mangekyō Sharingan and Amaterasu to incapacitate the Fourth Mizukage, then placed the broken Kubikiribōchō in Juzo Biwa's hand and fled after Juzo died.

After Orochimaru tried to seize Itachi’s body and was forced to flee with Kabuto Yakushi, Itachi and Konan traveled to the Land of Whirlpools to recruit a young girl. They encountered a boy wielding Storm Release, and the chapter ended as he shattered Konan’s paper spears with a powerful sword attack.

• Deva Path Pain announced that Juzo Biwa had been killed and assigned Itachi and Konan to recruit a girl in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Orochimaru ambushed Itachi with a giant python, but Itachi trapped him with an Immobilization Technique and severed his left hand.
• Kabuto Yakushi rescued Orochimaru with shuriken and Explosive Tags, and Orochimaru escaped after biting down on something hidden in a molar.
• Itachi met Konan, and the two traveled to the Land of Whirlpools, where Konan identified barrier techniques and Genjutsu as the girl’s abilities.
• A little boy attacked Itachi and Konan with Storm Release; Itachi and Konan evaded his first strike, and the boy shattered Konan’s paper spears with an electrified sword swing.

Konan and Itachi fought Tsukikyuu Shang Mei’s two corpse companions before revealing that Akatsuki had come to recruit her. Tsukikyuu Shang Mei agreed to join them and received a ring marked “North.”

• Konan and Itachi discovered that the two boys attacking them were corpses controlled by Tsukikyuu Shang Mei.
• Konan spoke to the chubby boy about their shared suffering and declared herself God’s messenger.
• Tsukikyuu Shang Mei emerged and trapped Konan and Itachi in a barrier while demanding to know their purpose.
• Konan explained that Akatsuki sought to change nations and bring peace, and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei agreed to go with them.
• Konan gave Tsukikyuu Shang Mei a paper flower containing a ring engraved with “North.”

After Orochimaru’s betrayal, Sasori challenged the new Akatsuki member Tsukikyuu Shang Mei to test her strength. Shang Mei used the corpses of Tamamura and Kōsuke to fight Sasori, and Deva Path Pain ended the battle before either side could win.

• Deva Path Pain announced that Orochimaru had betrayed Akatsuki and fled, while Sasori and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei argued over her place in the organization.
• Sasori and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei fought outside the valley, and Tamamura’s lightning attack damaged Hiruko while Sasori poisoned Tamamura.
• Tsukikyuu Shang Mei activated an Exchange Barrier to switch positions with Tamamura and Kōsuke, allowing them to sever Sasori’s hooked tail and pin Hiruko with an earth pillar.
• Black Zetsu revealed that Tamamura and Kōsuke were dead and that Shang Mei used their corpses, while Itachi recognized her Genjutsu as resembling the work of her masters.
• Sasori left Hiruko and prepared to use another puppet, but Deva Path Pain stopped the fight after Shang Mei had demonstrated her power.
• Tsukikyuu Shang Mei accepted the end of the fight, and Sasori sealed away the damaged Hiruko while acknowledging her strength.

Ming Jing arranged for Kakashi to visit Nadeshiko Village, a women-only ninja village in the Land of Rivers, as part of his plans there. The Third Hokage sent Kakashi on the diplomatic mission, hoping he would also uncover the Prime Minister’s Residence’s intentions.

• Yuexi reported that Kisaragi Saemon had stirred distrust in the Land of Rivers and that Nadeshiko Village had 109 ninja loyal to the daimyo.
• Ming Jing rejected Yuexi’s suggestion to destroy Nadeshiko Village and decided to send Kakashi, joking that he should find a wife there.
• Ming Jing told Yuexi to notify Zouemon that Nadeshiko Village would be left to Kakashi and that his people should help if necessary.
• Two days later, the Third Hokage received a mission order from the Royal Capital and summoned Kakashi from Obito Uchiha’s grave.
• The Third Hokage instructed Kakashi to visit Nadeshiko Village, probe the Prime Minister’s Residence’s intentions, and abandon the mission if circumstances demanded it.

Kakashi Hatake accompanied Kisaragi Saemon to Nadeshiko Village as Konoha’s representative, but Saemon insisted that he dress formally before entering. Kakashi reluctantly changed into a suit supplied from Saemon’s scroll, leaving them poised to approach the village.

• Kisaragi Saemon guided Kakashi up the Shangyang Twin Mountains toward Nadeshiko Village and explained that he could not enter without guidance.
• Two female guards stopped them at the village entrance, checked Saemon’s wooden plaque, and Aoko criticized Kakashi’s appearance before apologizing.
• Saemon decided Kakashi needed formal clothes to represent the Land of Fire and Konoha properly and took him into the forest.
• Saemon produced a black suit from a sealing scroll and persuaded the reluctant Kakashi to wear it.
• Saemon rapidly instructed Kakashi on how to put on the suit, and Kakashi headed into the forest to change.

Kakashi was brought to Nadeshiko Village to face its traditional challenge, after Kisaragi Saemon led him into the encounter without explaining the rules. Nadeshiko Kaoru attacked him at the training ground, and her sword strike cut through his Earth Flow Wall.

• Kakashi arrived in a flashy formal outfit and felt uneasy under the attention of Nadeshiko Village’s women.
• Kisaragi Saemon brought Kakashi before Nishikino Yano, who criticized his clothes and insisted he proceed with the village’s tradition.
• Nadeshiko Kaoru introduced herself as the village’s next chief and revealed she was a Miko who worked part-time as a ninja.
• Nishikino Yano ordered Kaoru and Kakashi to settle the challenge at the training ground, where over a hundred women gathered to watch.
• Kaoru launched her Nadeshiko Style: Moonless Void Flash, and Kakashi’s Earth Flow Wall was sliced in half by her blade.

Nadeshiko Kaoru and Kakashi fought at the training ground, where her swordsmanship and Wind Release techniques pushed him to use Chidori. Kakashi survived her final attack by faking his death and claimed victory, leaving Kaoru relieved that he was safe.

• Nishikino Yano praised Kaoru's talent while watching the fight with Kisaragi Saemon.
• Kaoru cut through Kakashi's Earth Flow Wall and fireball, then used her sword, sheath, and kicking techniques to send him flying.
• Kakashi used his Sharingan to counter Kaoru's close-range attacks and warned her before charging with Chidori.
• Kaoru launched her Nodachi and sheath wrapped in hurricanes, and the second weapon appeared to pierce Kakashi's chest.
• Kakashi revealed that he had survived and held a Kunai to Kaoru's shoulder, while Kaoru smiled through her tears at his safety.

Kisaragi Saemon tried to make Nishikino Yano accept the daimyo’s kill order for Lord Tachibana, but revealed that the Land of Fire had secretly engineered Tachibana’s rise and the Land of Rivers’ dependence. Nishikino Yano realized the real Tachibana had been assassinated and impersonated, while Akira Kurama remained the hidden mastermind.

• Kisaragi Saemon presented the daimyo’s kill order and argued that Lord Tachibana should be eliminated for defying the daimyo.
• Nishikino Yano defended Lord Tachibana’s work, while Kisaragi Saemon claimed the Land of Rivers had mortgaged its sovereignty to obtain grain from the Land of Fire.
• Kisaragi Saemon used Lord Tachibana’s secret sign and voice to convince Nishikino Yano that the Land of Fire had arranged the grain supply and the political crisis.
• Nishikino Yano attacked Kisaragi Saemon and concluded that he was a pawn who had impersonated the real Lord Tachibana after assassinating him.
• Kisaragi Saemon left the wooden house, certain the daimyo would welcome the news, while Nishikino Yano vowed to kill him and he feared Akira Kurama’s hidden scheme.

After their duel, Nadeshiko Kaoru told Kakashi that Nadeshiko Village’s tradition meant she would marry him because he had won. She accepted the match as divine guidance, while Kakashi remained opposed and left without agreeing to the marriage.

• Kakashi retrieved Nadeshiko Kaoru’s heavy Nodachi and learned that their duel’s outcome meant she was expected to marry him.
• Nadeshiko Kaoru explained that her village’s tradition tied the duel to marriage, and said the alliance was between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.
• Nadeshiko Kaoru showed Kakashi a shrine fortune marked “Great Blessing” and declared that the gods had chosen him, adding that she would reform his character.
• Nadeshiko Kaoru changed into a kimono and served Kakashi tea and homemade snacks, explaining that Suwa Shrine enshrined Takeminakata-no-Kami.
• Kakashi grew more displeased with Ming Jing’s treatment of others, then took his leave without agreeing to marry Nadeshiko Kaoru.

Kakashi returned to Konoha and asked the Third Hokage to cancel his marriage alliance with Nadeshiko Village. The Third Hokage explained why the alliance mattered and persuaded Kakashi to meet the girl before deciding.

• Kakashi learned that Kisaragi Saemon shared his objections to Lord Ming Jing’s manipulation, then left for Konoha.
• Kakashi asked the Third Hokage to call off his marriage alliance with Nadeshiko Village, saying he was not worthy of marriage.
• The Third Hokage told Kakashi that Lord Ming Jing had planned the political arrangement through Kisaragi Saemon and Tsukishiro Yuexi.
• The Third Hokage speculated that the Five Great Nations had weakened the ninja villages through the Second Great Ninja War, and warned Kakashi to keep the theory secret.
• The Third Hokage said Kakashi should get to know the girl first and promised to reject the alliance if they could not get along, so Kakashi agreed.

Ming Jing received Konoha’s Chunin records and began examining them, while Yuexi left to finish matters in the Land of Rivers. His search raised suspicions that Konoha had concealed information about its Anbu, especially Yamato.

• Nanakusa Kanae delivered messages from Konoha, and Ming Jing learned that Kakashi had wavered.
• Ming Jing sent Yuexi with two Patrol Officer squads to wrap up matters in the Land of Rivers.
• Ming Jing entered the secret vault and discussed Konoha’s thirty thousand registered Chunin with Qing Yan.
• Ming Jing had Qing Yan search for several ninja files, and Qing Yan revealed he had learned the Shadow Clone Technique while Ming Jing was unconscious.
• Ming Jing examined Umino Iruka’s file, then ordered Qing Yan to focus on Yamato and Utsuki Yūhi.
• Qing Yan found Utsuki Yūhi’s records but no file for Yamato, leading Ming Jing to suspect the Third Hokage had withheld information.

Naruto disrupted class with a prank and failed Iruka’s Transformation Technique review, while his classmates prepared for the graduation exam. Ming Jing returned to Konoha with Yuexi, Qing Yan, and Takuo Kurama as he declared that things were finally beginning.

• Naruto covered Hokage Rock in graffiti and evaded pursuing chunin until Iruka caught him and dragged him back to class.
• Iruka announced a Transformation Technique review, and Sakura Haruno, Sasuke, and Kurama Yakumo successfully completed the test.
• Naruto used his Sexy Jutsu during the test, prompting Iruka to scold him and dismiss the class before the graduation exam.
• Yakumo, Xiangling, and Shikouin invited Hinata to the Kurama Clan home to see Ming Jing.
• Iruka made Naruto clean the graffiti and promised to buy him ramen afterward.
• Ming Jing arrived at the station outside Konoha with Yuexi, Qing Yan, and Takuo Kurama and said that things were finally beginning.

Ming Jing returned to Konoha and reunited with Yakumo, Hinata, and the others. The next morning, Yuexi accompanied Naruto to his graduation exam, where their arrival coincided with the other students and their families gathering at the school.

• Taichi Odagiri welcomed Ming Jing and his group home, and Ming Jing reunited with Yakumo, Hinata, Shikouin, and Xiangling.
• Yuexi spotted Naruto atop Hokage Rock, where he had skipped class to graffiti the Hokages.
• Yuexi brought Naruto breakfast and accompanied him to his graduation exam after reminding him to do his best.
• Naruto and Yuexi greeted Hinata and Neji at the school, and Shikaku Nara arrived with Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.
• Shibi Aburame, Hana Inuzuka, and Sakura Haruno arrived with their children as Ming Jing approached the school with three girls and the Uchiha Sasuke and Izumi Uchiha.

Ming Jing encouraged the children as they arrived at the academy for their graduation test, while Sasuke asked him to compare his strength with Itachi’s. The test began with the Clone Technique, and Naruto failed to make a usable clone, leaving Iruka to reject him despite Mizuki’s objection.

• Ming Jing greeted Izumi and told Sasuke he could not judge whether he or Itachi was stronger because he had never fought Itachi.
• Ming Jing wished Sasuke and the other children luck at the academy, then caught Hinata when she slipped on her way inside.
• Iruka announced that the students would be tested on the Clone Technique and called Sasuke, Yakumo, Sakura, Hinata, and Shino in order.
• Naruto attempted the Clone Technique and produced one faded clone lying on the floor.
• Iruka failed Naruto because his clone was useless, while Mizuki argued that Naruto should pass.

After Yakumo, Xiangling, Shikouin, Hinata, and Sasuke celebrated graduating as Genin, Naruto failed and was left alone until Yuexi chased away adults who were insulting him. Ming Jing predicted Naruto would soon get another chance, then secretly followed events that night as Mizuki manipulated Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals and revealed that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Fox Demon.

• Yakumo, Xiangling, Shikouin, Hinata, and Sasuke received their forehead protectors, while Izumi invited Sasuke to celebrate with beef hot pot and he refused to let her cook.
• Yuexi reprimanded adults who were gossiping about Naruto, and Ming Jing stopped her from comforting him because he believed Naruto's opportunity had arrived.
• Ming Jing, Yuexi, and Qing Yan followed Iruka after Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals, then watched Mizuki ambush Iruka and demand the scroll from Naruto.
• Mizuki told Naruto that he was the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, and Naruto's chakra began to rage out of control as Mizuki claimed Iruka and Yuexi hated him.

Yuexi defended Naruto from Mizuki and affirmed him as her little brother, prompting Naruto to defeat Mizuki with the Shadow Clone Technique. After Ming Jing and Qing Yan secretly read the Scroll of Seals, Iruka gave Naruto his forehead protector and congratulated him on graduating.

• Yuexi arrived to protect Naruto and Iruka, then told Mizuki that she acknowledged Naruto as her little brother.
• Mizuki attacked Yuexi, but Naruto knocked him away and used the Shadow Clone Technique to overwhelm him.
• Ming Jing concealed the scene from the Third Hokage while Qing Yan retrieved the Scroll of Seals, and the two read it as Naruto beat Mizuki.
• Qing Yan suggested cleaning up the Land of Fire's black markets, and Ming Jing agreed.
• Iruka tied his forehead protector around Naruto's head and congratulated him on graduating.

Ming Jing, Yuexi, and Qing Yan visited the Ninja Academy to see Yakumo’s group assigned to teams, where Naruto’s arrival sparked a chaotic encounter with his classmates. Iruka announced the genin teams, including Team Seven with Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, and Team Ten with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji.

• Ming Jing, Yuexi, and Qing Yan changed course to watch the new graduates receive their team assignments.
• Naruto arrived in the classroom wearing a forehead protector, while Sakura and Ino argued over sitting beside Sasuke.
• A boy accidentally bumped Naruto, prompting Yakumo and the other girls to react with shock before the girls beat Naruto and Sasuke threatened him.
• Iruka explained the teams of three and announced Yakumo, Shikouin, and Xiangling as Team One.
• Iruka assigned Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke to Team Seven, then announced Hinata, Kiba, and Shino as Team Eight and Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji as Team Ten.