Chapter Summaries

Shuichi resolved a conflict within the Security Department, reported its unclear authority to the Third Hokage, and visited Fugaku's family to meet the newborn Sasuke. He discovered that a Susanoo toy could instantly calm the baby and privately saw Sasuke as his chance to obtain Indra's Chakra.

• Shuichi settled a dispute between Security Department personnel and registered merits for both sides.
• Shuichi reported the department's reform problems to the Third Hokage and decided to visit Fugaku's family.
• Fugaku and Mikoto welcomed Shuichi, who met Itachi and held the newborn Sasuke.
• Shuichi showed Sasuke a Susanoo toy, and Sasuke stopped crying and laughed.
• Shuichi reflected that Sasuke might be his only way to obtain Indra's Chakra.

Shuichi reassured Fugaku about plans to integrate the Uchiha into Konoha’s departments, then went to the Land of Grass with a squad to counter Iwagakure’s incursions. The chapter ended as the disguised Konoha team regrouped after an ambush, while Takamura realized their fourth member had vanished and his poisoned senbon had failed to hit anyone.

• Shuichi gave Fugaku the Third Hokage’s preliminary plan for establishing an Uchiha squad and placing clan members in Konoha departments, and promised the clan would reclaim its Sharingan in the future.
• In the autumn of Konoha’s fiftieth year, Shuichi joined Ishikawa Tatsuki, Kurenai, and Asuma on a mission in the Land of Grass after Iwagakure began stirring up trouble.
• Shuichi detected six enemies as the squad traveled through a bamboo forest disguised as Kusagakure ninja, and Kurenai sensed danger ahead.
• Takamura identified the squad as possible Konoha ninja and ordered his Iwagakure team to attack together.
• The Konoha squad dodged and deflected the ambush, then regrouped unharmed, leaving Takamura unable to find their fourth member or the poisoned senbon he had thrown.

Shuichi protected Ishikawa Tatsuki, Asuma, and Kurenai from a Stone Ninja ambush, then used the Flying Thunder God to overwhelm the attackers. He pursued the fleeing captain, Takagi, and appeared before him disguised as a Kusagakure ninja.

• Takamura’s Stone Ninja ambushed Ishikawa Tatsuki, Asuma, and Kurenai, forcing them into close combat.
• Shuichi revealed that he had killed Ghost Eye, and Takamura sent a Stone Clone to attack him while targeting Asuma with his real body.
• Asuma fought recklessly and nearly died before Shuichi rescued him, then joked about his headbutt and called him the Iron Blood Warrior.
• Shuichi used the Flying Thunder God to kill three Stone Ninjas and pursued the fleeing Takamura, who created a Shadow Clone to cover his escape.
• Shuichi dispelled the Shadow Clone and caught up with Takagi, introducing himself in disguise as the Earth-Colored Flash.

Shuichi defeated Takagi, treated Asuma, and organized Konoha’s patrol squads near Kannabi Bridge. Meanwhile, Kakashi, Mokui, and Shu were pursued by Iwagakure ninja led by Roshi.

• Shuichi shot and killed Takagi, then searched and buried the Stone Ninja.
• Shuichi used the Mystical Palm Technique to treat Asuma’s injured arm before his squad continued to Kannabi Bridge.
• Shuichi gathered the arriving Konoha squads, assigned patrol and reconnaissance teams, and prepared to support the Anbu.
• Kakashi, Mokui, and the injured Shu fled from Roshi’s five-person squad after their ambush killed one enemy.

Kakashi, Mokui, and the wounded Shu were surrounded by Stone Ninja, including Roshi and Kawaishi, until Shuichi arrived and turned the fight around. Shuichi blasted Roshi away with a Great Ball Rasengan and used Flying Thunder God with Explosion Release to attack Kawaishi, leaving the remaining battle unresolved.

• Roshi and Kawaishi joined the Stone Ninja pursuing Kakashi, Mokui, and Shu, and the six enemies surrounded them.
• Shu offered to hold off the attackers, but Kakashi and Mokui stayed to fight as the group came under mounting pressure.
• Mokui raised the ground with Earth Pillar, allowing Kakashi to kill one Stone Ninja with Chidori and wound another before Roshi charged him.
• Shuichi appeared in front of Kakashi and struck Roshi with a Great Ball Rasengan, sending him flying through the trees.
• Kawaishi rushed toward the injured Mokui, but Shuichi teleported above him and attacked with Explosion Release, engulfing him in smoke and dust.

Shuichi overwhelmed Roshi and his Stone Ninja squad, then provoked Roshi into a partial Tailed Beast transformation to test his strength. He left Roshi incapacitated when he sensed Iwagakure reinforcements approaching, planning to use the captured Jinchuriki to end the war quickly.

• Shuichi treated Mokui with a Shadow Clone while Shu reported that Roshi had pursued them after they took down one of his people.
• Shuichi rapidly defeated the Stone Ninja attacking Mokui and Roshi, leaving the surviving Roshi to rise and unleash his Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Shuichi countered Roshi's lava with a massive Water Release, then drove him into a crater with a Rasengan.
• Shuichi provoked Roshi by stabbing an unconscious teammate in front of him, prompting Roshi to transform partially and grow three tails.
• Shuichi fought the transformed Roshi with Magnet Release White Sand, then stopped and left him incapacitated after sensing Iwagakure reinforcements approaching.

Shuichi used Roshi as leverage to negotiate compensation and an end to Iwagakure’s incursions into the Land of Grass, then staged a humiliating prisoner exchange at Kannabi Bridge. After the exchange, he escaped with the money while a Stone Ninja attacked his electrified decoy.

• Shuichi confronted Kitsuchi with Roshi captive and demanded compensation and a promise that Iwagakure would stay out of the Land of Grass.
• Konoha and Iwagakure haggled for two weeks before agreeing to exchange Roshi and his teammates for compensation at Kannabi Bridge.
• Ōnoki attacked Shuichi’s apparent position with Dust Release, but Shuichi’s Shadow Clone avoided the strike and taunted him.
• Shuichi’s group presented the prisoners alongside a bizarre decoy named Onoki, who blew dust into the captives’ faces.
• Shuichi inspected the compensation boxes and teleported away with them, while a Stone Ninja split the electrified decoy and was shocked.

After ending Iwagakure’s probing campaign, Shuichi returned to Konoha and invited his companions to a housewarming celebration. He revealed a vast luxury villa whose construction had been funded by the Daimyo and local merchants, then showed off its lavish facilities to his astonished guests.

• Shuichi told Mokui that Ōnoki understood Konoha’s strength and led the Konoha squads back from the Land of Grass.
• At Konoha’s gate, Shuichi invited Kakashi, Might Guy, Ishikawa Tatsuki, and the others to his housewarming celebration.
• Shuichi led his guests to the village’s northwestern edge, where Wada removed the covering from the enormous Takeda estate and revealed its luxurious villa.
• Shuichi explained that the Daimyo had paid for construction and three merchants had covered the other costs in exchange for his cooperation with their property promotions.
• Shuichi showed his guests the estate’s garden, training ground, study, oversized bedroom, and private hot spring, leaving them astonished and envious.

Shuichi persuaded his friends that breaking the Three Forbidden Ninja Arts would strengthen them, then settled into a comfortable life at his Villa as nearby properties sold. After learning that Shuichi’s home had boosted village revenue, Sarutobi Hiruzen received anonymous reports about the reconstruction area and began reading them.

• Shuichi served barbecue and drinks, then argued that immersing themselves in temptation and resisting it would make ninja stronger.
• Shuichi claimed Jiraiya mastered Sage Mode by violating all Three Forbidden Ninja Arts, leaving his friends confused and reconsidering his argument.
• Shuichi sent his friends home and enjoyed his Villa, while merchants sold or leased nearby properties to wealthy buyers drawn by the area’s improved security.
• Konoha’s finances surged as housing transactions near Shuichi’s Villa generated substantial tax revenue, and Keita reported the increase to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Mokui about the area, received records and anonymous reports, and choked on his smoke while reading them.

Third Hokage investigated the rumors about Shuichi and visited his extravagant villa, where Shuichi explained that the home improved his strength and showed how Earth Clones handled his chores. The visit left Third Hokage unable to challenge Shuichi’s spending or stop the villa from encouraging extravagance.

• Keita reported that the allegations against Shuichi were baseless, while the village’s tax and business revenues had increased.
• Third Hokage caught Asuma secretly smoking his cigarettes and drinking his liquor, and Asuma claimed he was training in Sage Mode.
• Third Hokage visited Shuichi’s Luxury Villa and saw its extensive barrier seals and unusual sign at the gate.
• Shuichi told Third Hokage that relaxing at home increased his Mental Energy and made him stronger.
• Shuichi introduced his Earth Clone servant squad, which prepared breakfast and promised to handle his household chores.

Shuichi caught another White Zetsu while patrolling Konoha and brought it to Orochimaru for his immortality research. Orochimaru reviewed his experiments with White Zetsu and Hashirama cells as Shuichi returned to his patrol, wondering whether Konoha would gain more Wood Release Ninja.

• Shuichi and the Third Hokage agreed that he could remain in his Villa if he kept a lower profile, disguised its exterior, and joined regular Security Force patrols.
• More than half a year later, Shuichi detected and captured a White Zetsu near the Forest of Death, disrupting Zetsu's surveillance of Konoha.
• Black Zetsu decided to suspend surveillance inside Konoha and move their observers outside the village.
• Shuichi brought the White Zetsu to Orochimaru's laboratory and asked about immortality research after noticing that his Cursed Seal was weakening.
• Orochimaru gave Shuichi records showing that experiments with White Zetsu and Hashirama cells had increased test subjects' Life Energy but had produced almost no Wood Release users.

Shuichi came home to find Anko waiting for him, upset that he and Orochimaru had not guided her training and that her promotion to Chunin had been delayed. He demonstrated advanced shuriken skills to motivate her, then decided he would eventually take a mission outside the village so she could gain experience through real combat.

• Shuichi found Anko asleep in his garden, and she complained that he had not guided her training or supported her promotion to Chunin.
• Shuichi told Anko that the Third Hokage had delayed her promotion so she could compete in the upcoming Joint Chunin Exam.
• Anko tried to persuade Shuichi to teach her powerful jutsu, but he decided to start by training her shuriken skills.
• Shuichi demonstrated his shuriken accuracy and the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, then promised Anko a new jutsu if she mastered the basics.
• Anko began practicing enthusiastically, while Shuichi later decided to seek a mission outside the village for real combat experience.

Shuichi accepted Inoue Danza’s request to escort Lady Kyoka’s valuable shipment by sea, and the Third Hokage assigned Anko and Might Guy to accompany him. After meeting the skeptical client, Shuichi introduced himself as Kenshin and promised to protect the caravan, offering to collect the reward only after the mission was complete.

• Inoue Danza asked Shuichi to take a long maritime caravan escort mission from the Land of Fire to the Land of Water.
• The Third Hokage approved Shuichi’s departure on the condition that he bring Anko and one other ninja.
• Might Guy joined Shuichi and Anko, excited about traveling at sea, while Shuichi warned him the voyage would be grueling.
• Inoue Danza introduced the team to Lady Kyoka, who doubted the inexperienced-looking Konoha ninja could protect her shipment.
• Shuichi introduced himself to Lady Kyoka as Kenshin and offered to accept payment only after the mission was complete.

Shuichi took Anko and Might Guy on a month-long sea voyage, where he turned their seasickness into grueling sea-walking and water-dodging training. Lady Kyoka grew confident in their escort after Shuichi used his Water Release to provide the ship with nightly showers.

• Lady Kyoka accepted Konoha's escort and led Shuichi, Anko, and Might Guy to the transport ship.
• After the ship began rocking, Anko and Might Guy became seasick while Shuichi remained comfortable.
• Shuichi tied ropes around Anko and Might Guy and pulled them into the sea to train their Chakra control by running on the water.
• Shuichi fired a Water Gun at the pair as advanced dodge training, then let Lady Kyoka join in.
• Over the next few days, Shuichi used Water Release to provide nightly showers, and Lady Kyoka praised his strength and trusted Danza's recommendation.

Shuichi and the others fought off the Extreme Evil Gang after the pirates boarded Kyoka’s ship. Shuichi killed several attackers and stopped their leader from escaping, while Anko and Might Guy gained the upper hand against the remaining pirates.

• Anko and Might Guy joined Kyoka and Shuichi on deck as the Extreme Evil Gang’s ship approached.
• Kyoka ordered the sailors into the cabins, and Shuichi assigned Anko and Might Guy to defend the other side of the ship.
• The Extreme Evil Gang boarded using grappling hooks, and Shuichi killed the first attacker who charged him.
• Shuichi used lightning to incapacitate four attackers, then killed them with an iron spike.
• Wild Crocodile fled over the rail, but Shuichi struck him with Wind Release: Vacuum Wave as he entered the water.
• Anko and Might Guy gained the upper hand, while several surviving pirates backed away.

Shuichi’s team defeated the Extreme Evil Gang and learned from Lady Kyoka how dangerous and unreliable the Land of Water’s mission market had become. After the fleet chose the shortest coastal route toward its destination, a much larger group of raiders appeared ahead.

• Anko and Might Guy killed the Extreme Evil Gang pirates before any of them could escape, and the crew came out to clear the battlefield.
• Lady Kyoka praised Shuichi, then explained that conflict in Kirigakure had made hiring trustworthy Mist Ninja difficult and left merchants vulnerable to bandits.
• Shuichi encouraged Kyoka to post commissions in Konoha, offering to help her find capable ninja.
• After more than half a month of travel and several minor encounters, Shuichi advised Kyoka to take the shorter coastal route, promising no enemy would get close.
• As the fleet neared its destination, a lookout spotted a large group of attackers approaching from the shore.

Shuichi stopped a band of Rogue Ninjas from attacking the caravan and interrogated Izushi, a former Yuki Clan ninja, about the clan’s destruction in Kirigakure. He offered Izushi a way out by joining him and exposing the Kirigakure Chunin plotting to kill him.

• Shuichi refused to let Anko fight the attackers and went out to defend the caravan himself.
• Shuichi kicked away the Rogue Ninjas’ falling rocks and unleashed a massive Water Release that wrecked most of their boats.
• Shuichi killed the ninjas aboard the surviving boat, then spared Ishiizumi, who revealed his real name was Izushi and described the Yuki Clan’s flight from Kirigakure and slaughter of those left behind.
• Shuichi revealed that Izushi and the other survivors were caught in an interrogation genjutsu, then explained that three companions, including Kurozumi, were Kirigakure Chunin hunting the Yuki Clan.
• Shuichi handed Izushi a kunai and offered to take him in if he killed the three conspirators.

Shuichi recruited Izushi as an informant in the Land of Water and returned to Konoha, where he declined to proctor the Joint Chunin Exam and recommended Kakashi instead. Kakashi was preparing to ambush a group of seven suspected enemy mercenaries near Konoha’s border.

• Shuichi killed three Kirigakure Chunin, placed a control seal on Izushi and two of his subordinates, and tasked Izushi with gathering intelligence in the Land of Water.
• Shuichi explained his approach to Anko, arranged for Lady Kyoka to pass messages, and safely completed the merchant ship mission.
• Shuichi returned to Konoha with Anko and Might Guy, reported Kirigakure’s turmoil to the Third Hokage, and declined to proctor the Third Exam because he wanted to guard the village.
• Shuichi recommended Kakashi as the exam proctor, and the Third Hokage agreed to discuss it when Kakashi returned from his mission.
• Kakashi and three Anbu teammates prepared to attack seven suspected mercenaries, including two Jonin, near Konoha’s border.

Kakashi and the Konoha Anbu ambushed Chang Ji’s squad with Explosion Release Clay and defeated the Takigakure Missing-nin. After Kakashi crippled Chang Ji, his teammates praised his technique and learned that Shuichi had also mastered Explosion Release.

• Chang Ji led his squad through the forest, but an explosive trap planted by Kakashi’s team killed two men and badly injured another.
• The Konoha Anbu launched a coordinated attack with ninja tools and a Great Fireball, gaining the advantage over the remaining enemies.
• Kakashi fought Chang Ji, evaded his powerful attacks with his Sharingan, and crippled his leg with Explosion Release: Explosive Palm.
• The Anbu finished off the enemy squad and praised Kakashi, while one member proposed calling him the “Leg-Blowing Demon.”
• Kakashi revealed that Shuichi had taught him Explosion Release and asked the Anbu not to spread the news; he then fired poisoned Senbon at Chang Ji to prepare him for interrogation.

Shuichi collected Orochimaru’s First Hokage Gene Fluid and discussed why he planned to seek Hashirama’s flesh and blood rather than use the gene treatment. Later, he took Kakashi to Ichiraku Ramen, met Sanada Tomohisa, and began a spar to test Kakashi’s Explosion Release.

• Shuichi accepted three grades of First Hokage Gene Fluid from Orochimaru and agreed to look after Anko while Orochimaru monitored the upcoming experiments.
• Shuichi explained that he planned to fuse Hashirama’s flesh and blood with his body to obtain Asura’s Chakra and Yang Release, then collected a cloth pouch from Orochimaru’s laboratory.
• After Kakashi received his appointment as chief examiner for the Chunin Exams, Shuichi invited him to Ichiraku Ramen and suggested they spar afterward.
• Shuichi and Kakashi met Sanada Tomohisa at Ichiraku, and Shuichi gave him tickets to the Chunin Exams’ Third Phase.
• Shuichi and Kakashi sparred in a forest outside the village, warming up with taijutsu before preparing to test Kakashi’s Explosion Release.