Chapter Summaries

At the Uchiha Clan Meeting, Uchiha Aozora challenged the clan's acceptance of the village's relocation order and warned that the new site could become a trap. Uchiha Fugaku rejected his accusation as the meeting grew tense.

• Uchiha Fugaku called on Uchiha Aozora to speak, hoping he would support a conciliatory stance.
• Uchiha Aozora mocked the clan members and Uchiha Fugaku, provoking anger throughout the hall.
• Uchiha Aozora used a frog slowly boiled in water to warn that gradual concessions could leave the Uchiha unable to resist in time.
• Uchiha Aozora described the relocation site's terrain and warned that the Barrier could trap the Uchiha and their families.
• Uchiha Fugaku called Aozora's warning utter nonsense.

Aozora failed to persuade Uchiha Fugaku to resist the relocation, then realized Konoha was too weakened to risk a civil war. As Aozora left in anger, pain struck his eyes and cold Chakra flowed into them, while Fugaku worried about the clan’s vulnerability.

• Uchiha Fugaku used Binding Jutsu to immobilize Aozora, declared the relocation would proceed, and ended the clan meeting.
• Aozora broke free, spoke with Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Yūichi, and Uchiha Sosuke, and learned most Uchiha fighters had been sent to the Cloud front.
• Aozora caught up with Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi and urged Fugaku not to compromise, but Fugaku defended his trust in the Third Hokage.
• Aozora left, concluding that Konoha could not afford a conflict with the Uchiha, and felt sharp pain in his eyes as cold Chakra flowed into them.
• At the Naka River, Uchiha Fugaku worried that the clan’s surroundings could become a death trap, while Uchiha Itachi admired the scenery.

Uchiha Aozora awakened his Sharingan, and the Heavenly Book absorbed the dangerous cold Chakra before granting him the Yin-Yang Eye inheritance. He chose to prioritize the Body Flicker Technique to improve his speed, but his first attempts sent him crashing into his courtyard wall.

• Uchiha Aozora awakened the Sharingan and briefly felt hatred for Uchiha Fugaku intensify before the Heavenly Book absorbed the cold Chakra.
• Uchiha Aozora safely circulated the cold Chakra, then received the Yin-Yang Eye inheritance from the Wordless Heavenly Scripture.
• Uchiha Aozora learned that the Yin-Yang Eye cultivated both physical vision and spiritual sight, and that its method could help strengthen his eyes.
• Uchiha Aozora decided to focus on the Body Flicker Technique first because speed was his weakness, then began practicing in his courtyard.
• Uchiha Aozora crashed into the courtyard wall twice while testing the technique, activating his Sharingan on the second attempt to track his movement.

Uchiha Aozora spent his remaining day of leave training the Body Flicker Technique, pushing himself through repeated crashes and injuries to improve his control. By sunset, he had advanced through the forest without the protection of bedding, but his body was covered in wounds.

• Uchiha Aozora trained his Yang Eye by channeling Chakra into his eyes and watching the sunrise, but he saw no purple qi.
• Uchiha Aozora entered the forest and wrapped quilts and pillows around several trees before practicing the Body Flicker Technique without activating his Sharingan.
• Uchiha Aozora repeatedly crashed into trees, replenishing his Chakra with food and rest before resuming training.
• Uchiha Aozora reflected that he needed strength to protect the Uchiha from the relocation plan and possible extermination.
• Uchiha Aozora removed the bedding after finding that unprotected practice improved his technique faster, despite causing more injuries.
• Uchiha Aozora ended the day with wounds covering his body.

Uchiha Aozora focused on earning Merit and improving his strength while Team 3 completed basic missions under Aburame Shibi’s instruction. After the team finished its training week, Aburame Shibi let them choose their own missions, and Aozora demonstrated his Body Flicker Technique to his surprised teammates.

• Uchiha Aozora joined Aburame Shibi, Inuzuka Aya, and Gekko Hayate for a mission cleaning a river channel, where Aya fainted from the stench and Hayate was hospitalized after swallowing foul water.
• Uchiha Aozora used Shadow Clones to finish the river-cleaning mission alone and earned three golden Merit Droplets.
• Team 3 completed daily missions while Aburame Shibi taught them practical tracking, teamwork, stamina, observation, and combat skills.
• After Team 3 cleared the training ground of Explosive Tags and scattered ninja tools, Aburame Shibi praised them and said they could choose their own missions from then on.
• Uchiha Aozora identified Aburame Shibi’s Body Flicker Technique and demonstrated the technique himself, leaving Inuzuka Aya and Gekko Hayate amazed.

Uchiha Aozora learned that Konoha was offering generous compensation for the Uchiha Clan’s relocation, then suffered injuries when his Fire Release Chakra went out of control. He concluded that he needed to train his body and planned to befriend Guy to learn the Might family’s methods.

• Uchiha Aozora read the relocation notice and calculated that his home could earn him about 2.7 million ryō in compensation.
• Uchiha Aozora decided he would accept relocation because the compensation could buy Chakra Conductive Metal.
• Uchiha Aozora lost control of his Fire Release Chakra while cultivating and injured the meridians throughout his body.
• Uchiha Aozora realized that continuing to cultivate “Qi Fire” without body training could be dangerous.
• Uchiha Aozora decided to seek out Guy, hoping to befriend him and learn the Might family’s body-tempering techniques.
• Uchiha Aozora entered his Sea of Consciousness, intending to use the Little Water Droplets stored on the Heavenly Book.

Uchiha Aozora used four Golden Droplets to upgrade Guidance and Qi Cultivation to its Gilded Version, which let him cultivate while sleeping and moving. After waking up ravenously hungry, he set out to ask the Clan Head about claiming demolition compensation while practicing the Walking Form.

• Aozora chose Guidance and Qi Cultivation over Henge and used four Golden Droplets to make it Gilded, while the fifth droplet could not enter the ancient characters.
• Aozora learned the Gilded Version allowed cultivation while sitting, lying down, or walking, though at half the original efficiency.
• Aozora practiced the Sleeping Form, then fell asleep as his Chakra continued circulating and gathering in his dantian.
• Aozora woke up extremely hungry, ate three bowls of noodles, and decided he needed to keep more food on hand while cultivating.
• Aozora dressed in a robe bearing the Uchiha Clan Crest and headed to the Clan Head's home to ask about demolition compensation while practicing the Walking Form.

Aozora headed to the Naka River to tell Uchiha Fugaku that he accepted the Relocation Plan, while Itachi asked him not to endanger the peace. Aozora challenged Itachi’s village-first outlook, leaving the boy silent as they continued toward the river.

• Aozora visited Uchiha Fugaku’s home, learned that Fugaku was inspecting construction at the Naka River, and set off to find him.
• Itachi followed Aozora, apologized for treating him coldly, and recalled the horrors of war that Father had shown him.
• Itachi asked Aozora not to destroy the hard-won peace, and Aozora said he would tell Fugaku that he agreed to the Relocation Plan.
• Aozora argued that a village could not preserve peace by sacrificing a family’s interests and warned that it would eventually fall apart if it failed to change.
• Itachi caught up with Aozora again and silently followed him toward the Naka River.

Aozora confronted Uchiha Fugaku over how relocation compensation would be paid and secured his family's payment in advance as Chakra Conductive Metal. As Aozora headed home, Uchiha Tekka confronted him, and Aozora ended their exchange by insulting Shisui.

• Aozora asked Fugaku when relocation compensation would be distributed, and Fugaku said it would come after the clan relocated.
• Aozora refused to move without payment and argued that Fugaku's refusal of compensation could discourage other clan members from accepting theirs.
• Fugaku agreed to pay Aozora's family in advance and exchange the compensation for Chakra Conductive Metal, asking him to keep the arrangement secret.
• Fugaku told Itachi he would advance the money himself to avoid Aozora's resistance reflecting badly on the clan, then hinted that Tekka would teach Aozora a lesson.
• Tekka confronted Aozora on his way home, condemned his greed, and said he was unworthy of being Shisui's younger brother; Aozora retorted that he did not want to be Shisui's brother either.

Aozora and Uchiha Tekka fought, with Aozora repeatedly outmatching Tekka’s attacks using his powerful fire technique, weapon skills, and evasive movement. Tekka eventually stopped chasing Aozora on a weed-covered plain far from the Naka River.

• Uchiha Tekka attacked Aozora after Aozora insulted his relationship with Shisui, but Aozora blocked his kick and drove him back with shuriken and a fast Kunai.
• Tekka avoided Aozora’s Kunai with the Substitution Technique, then the two used the Great Fireball Technique, and Aozora’s larger, faster fireball overwhelmed Tekka’s.
• Tekka summoned three Shadow Clones and surrounded Aozora, but Aozora destroyed one with a Kunai and evaded another’s Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson.
• Aozora used the Body Flicker Technique and continued throwing Kunai as Tekka pursued him away from the Naka River.
• Tekka stopped pursuing Aozora when they reached a weed-covered plain.

Aozora and Tekka sparred on the Wasteland Plain, where Tekka trapped Aozora with genjutsu and pointed out a flaw in his fighting style. After they reconciled, Tekka returned to Fugaku and Itachi, and Fugaku asked him to deliver Chakra-Conductive Metal to Aozora.

• Aozora bluffed about his remaining Chakra and asked Tekka why he had stopped chasing him.
• Tekka identified genjutsu as a weakness in Aozora’s fighting style, then used it to immobilize him.
• Tekka praised Aozora’s skill, apologized for misunderstanding him, and offered to teach him genjutsu in exchange for kunai-throwing lessons.
• Aozora concealed that he had already awakened his Two Tomoe Sharingan and hurried back to the Clan Compound.
• Tekka met Fugaku and Itachi by the Naka River and told them he had won his fight with Aozora.
• Fugaku told Tekka to deliver Chakra-Conductive Metal to Aozora that afternoon.

Uchiha Aozora chose new ninjutsu to study, prioritizing genjutsu, invisibility, and a Ninja Crow summoning contract. He mastered two basic genjutsu, and the Heavenly Book absorbed the sinister Chakra from the Hell Viewing Technique.

• Aozora selected Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson, the Great Dragon Fire Technique, Invisibility Jutsu, and the Ninja Crow contract as directions for his future training.
• Aozora decided to study the Hell Viewing Technique and Demonic Illusion: False Servant Technique first to improve his control and genjutsu defenses.
• Aozora used his remaining merit droplet to strengthen Weapon Control in the Heavenly Book.
• Aozora practiced both genjutsu and mastered them after only a few attempts.
• The Heavenly Book absorbed the cold, sinister Chakra when Aozora performed the Hell Viewing Technique.

Uchiha Aozora learned the genjutsu Nightmare Prayer and received the Wind Chant Stone from Uchiha Tekka. He decided to have a flying dagger forged and went to Fukuyama Uchiha’s shop to commission it.

• Uchiha Aozora practiced Nightmare Prayer after it appeared in the Heavenly Book.
• Uchiha Tekka brought Aozora the Wind Chant Stone, and Aozora tested its wind blade.
• Uchiha Aozora chose to refine the stone into a Flying Dagger.
• Uchiha Aozora visited Fukuyama Uchiha’s shop and asked to commission a custom ninja tool using his own material.

Aozora commissioned Fukuyama to make Chakra-conductive flying daggers from the Wind Chant Stone, then sought out Guy to challenge him. After seeing Guy’s speed and hearing his exuberant introduction, Aozora questioned whether learning taijutsu from him was worth it.

• Aozora gave Fukuyama the Wind Chant Stone and requested flying daggers designed for efficient Chakra conduction and strong air-piercing ability.
• Fukuyama agreed to make the daggers for 30,000 taels, telling Aozora to return the following week to collect them.
• Aozora waited along Guy’s running route, but Guy rushed past and covered him in dust.
• Aozora chased Guy for three minutes before catching up, then complained that Guy had disturbed his sleep.
• Aozora asked Guy’s name and complimented his running, prompting Guy to introduce himself as Konoha’s proud Azure Beast and Kakashi’s eternal rival.
• Aozora wondered whether learning taijutsu from Guy was worth acting like an idiot.

Aozora organized Team 3 to split up and rapidly complete D-Rank Missions so they could qualify for C-Rank work. The team completed eight missions on the first day, ten on the second, and six on the third as easy assignments became scarce.

• Aozora became friends with Might Guy, and they agreed to run together each morning.
• Aozora stopped Sai from rushing to accept missions and proposed that Team 3 divide D-Rank Missions among themselves to meet the requirement for C-Rank Missions.
• Aozora assigned Sai and Little White pet-finding missions, Hayate delivery and errand missions, and took cleaning and companionship assignments himself; the team agreed to split rewards evenly.
• Aburame Shibi allowed the plan, and Team 3 accepted five missions before splitting up to work.
• The team completed eight missions on their first day, earning 7500 taels and four Golden Droplets of Merit for Aozora.
• Team 3 completed ten missions the next day and six on the third, as suitable quick assignments grew harder to find.

Team 3’s rapid completion of D-Rank missions depleted the easy assignments and drew complaints from other ninja. Sarutobi Hiruzen decided the team was ready for C-Rank work, and Aburame Shibi told them to prepare for their first mission outside the village.

• Team 1 complained that only labor-intensive D-Rank missions remained, and the receptionist blamed Team 3 for taking the quicker assignments.
• Ichikawa Jirō and Aizawa Konan separately complained to Sarutobi Hiruzen that Team 3 was exploiting the D-Rank mission system.
• After Team 3 submitted another mission, Sarutobi Hiruzen rebuked them for prioritizing profit over the training purpose of D-Rank missions.
• Aburame Shibi accepted responsibility for letting the team choose its own assignments, and Sarutobi Hiruzen declared them ready for C-Rank missions.
• Aburame Shibi dismissed Team 3 and told them to prepare and meet at the mission hall at eight the next morning.

Aozora prepared for more dangerous missions by acquiring a custom Flying Dagger and upgrading his abilities with merit. He named the weapon Zhanxian and finished the chapter with Nightmare Prayer newly gilded.

• Aozora returned to the Clan Compound and decided to prepare carefully for C-Rank Missions after Aburame Shibi warned him about their dangers.
• Aozora visited Fukuyama Ninja Tool Shop, received a Chakra Conductive Flying Dagger from Fukuyama Uchiha, and named it Zhanxian.
• Aozora spent two drops of merit to upgrade Henge, gaining the ability to alter his appearance from the inside out, though the transformation had limits.
• Aozora spent seven drops of merit to complete Weapon Control and learned three methods for refining Spiritual Artifacts, none of which could strengthen Zhanxian quickly.
• Aozora used his final two drops of merit to turn Nightmare Prayer into a Gilded Edition.

Uchiha Aozora, Sai, and Hayate took Team 3’s first C-Rank mission to exterminate bandits terrorizing a village. After killing their first guards and overcoming their shock, they charged the bandit stronghold and began cutting down the attackers.

• Team 3 accepted a bandit-extermination mission, and Aburame Shibi warned them that the criminals deserved no mercy and that killing was a hurdle of being a ninja.
• The team reached the ravaged village and headed directly up the mountain path toward the bandit stronghold.
• Aozora, Sai, and Hayate ambushed three guards; Aozora killed one, Sai killed another, and Hayate knocked the third unconscious.
• Aozora urged the team to move quickly so the bandits could not escape and harm another village, and Sai killed the unconscious guard.
• The bandits charged the three young ninjas, who fought back with kunai and shuriken and quickly killed many of them.

Aozora and Team 3 wiped out a bandit stronghold, then Aozora insisted on cremating the bodies to protect the villagers from disease. As the pyre burned, two more merit droplets appeared in the Heavenly Book.

• Aozora stopped a bandit from attacking Aya and warned her not to show mercy to enemies.
• When hundreds of bandits charged, Aozora used the Great Fireball Technique, and he, Hayate, and Aya killed them all.
• Aburame Shibi declared the mission over, but Aozora stayed behind to deal with the corpses and protect nearby villagers from an epidemic.
• Aozora asked Aburame Shibi, Aya, and Hayate to help gather the bodies and build a pyre, which he ignited with the Great Fireball Technique.
• Aozora watched the bandits' bodies burn, and two more merit droplets appeared in the Heavenly Book.

Team 3 returned to Konoha after completing a bandit-suppression mission and shared a meal with Team 1 at Ichiraku Ramen. Team 1 learned that Team 3 had already taken a C-Rank Mission, leaving the meal tense and gloomy.

• On the journey back, Aya asked Aozora how he learned Fire Release, and he said his brother Shisui taught him.
• Team 3 returned to Konoha the next afternoon, turned in their mission, and accepted Aburame Shibi’s offer to buy them a meal.
• At the crowded Ichiraku Ramen, Team 3 ran into Aizawa Konan and Team 1, whose members blamed them for the Genin’s hard-labor missions.
• Kurama Saki told Aya, Aozora, and Hayate their mocking nicknames, but Aya took hers as a compliment.
• Aya enthusiastically described Team 3’s C-Rank Mission, and Team 1’s members fell silent as they realized Team 3 had pulled ahead of them.