Chapter Summaries

Itachi, Ishikawa Tatsuki, and Yūhi Kurenai defeated Anmoto’s group during their mission, while Shuichi tracked another lead to a cave in the Land of Hot Springs. The chapter ended with Shuichi wiping out the cave’s attackers with Chidori Stream.

• Itachi stopped Jōshiryu’s hornets with a barrage of Senbon and pursued him up the hillside after injuring him.
• Kurenai trapped Anmoto with genjutsu, and Ishikawa Tatsuki killed him after explosive tags detonated around him.
• Itachi returned with Jōshiryu, and the team planned to search Anmoto’s mountaintop forward base for clues.
• Shuichi followed his own clues to a cave in the Land of Hot Springs and found a group of Missing-nin inside.
• Shuichi used Chidori Stream to strike down the cave’s attackers and disrupt the others forming hand seals.

Shuichi slaughtered a band of missing-nin in their cave, while Itachi’s squad searched a former stronghold in the Land of Fields. Itachi encountered Kimimaro and gained the upper hand with a genjutsu as Orochimaru watched from hiding.

• Shuichi killed the missing-nin with Lightning Senbon, pursued Iname through the collapsing cave, and confirmed that every target was dead.
• Kurenai’s squad found the abandoned village and split up to search the surrounding mountain paths.
• Itachi discovered Kimimaro near a pool, recognized his bone-based abilities, and fought off his close-range attacks.
• Itachi used a Shadow Clone and a Great Fireball to draw Kimimaro into a genjutsu, while Orochimaru observed the fight from the bamboo forest.
• Itachi’s Shadow Clone moved behind the motionless Kimimaro and prepared to strike his brain with a kunai.

Itachi defeated Kimimaro before Orochimaru intervened and took the injured boy away, then reunited with his squad and completed their mission. Back in Konoha, Ishikawa Tatsuki asked Shuichi and Kurenai for advice about a family-arranged match, revealing that he had feelings for another woman.

• Itachi dodged Orochimaru's snake attack, but Kimimaro was caught in an explosion and badly injured.
• Orochimaru confirmed Kimimaro was alive, praised Itachi's talent, and withdrew with the boy.
• Ishikawa Tatsuki and Yūhi Kurenai arrived, and Itachi explained his encounter with the Kaguya Clan child.
• After the squad found no more Missing-nin, Shuichi declared the mission complete and led them back to Konoha.
• Ishikawa Tatsuki told Shuichi and Kurenai that his mother had arranged a matchmaking meeting and expected him to marry next year.
• Ishikawa Tatsuki admitted he was conflicted because he liked a female Chunin he had met at Konoha Hospital more than the girl chosen for him.

Shuichi advised Ishikawa Tatsuki to pursue two women at once, but Tatsuki struggled through his blind date with Saori. As Shuichi watched from across the street, he decided to demonstrate his own romantic skills to Kurenai.

• Shuichi urged Ishikawa Tatsuki to keep Saori interested while aggressively pursuing the woman from the hospital, prompting Kurenai to criticize his advice.
• A few evenings later, Shuichi and Kurenai accompanied Ishikawa Tatsuki to meet Saori for his blind date.
• After introducing Shuichi and Kurenai, Ishikawa Tatsuki entered a restaurant with Saori while his friends watched from across the street at his request.
• Shuichi used X-ray vision to read their conversation and found that Ishikawa Tatsuki was making awkward small talk instead of following his advice.
• Shuichi decided to demonstrate his romantic skills and secretly glanced at Kurenai.

Shuichi invited Yūhi Kurenai to dinner and used his knowledge of her love of alcohol to turn the evening into a romantic advance. Kurenai accepted his house key and hinted she would keep an eye on him, while Kotaro watched helplessly from the roof.

• After Ishikawa Tatsuki's blind date got underway, Shuichi invited Yūhi Kurenai to his home for dinner and help with a few things.
• Shuichi's Earth Clone servants served seafood, and Shuichi brought out a large selection of liquor chosen for Kurenai.
• Kurenai realized Shuichi had learned about her secret drinking habit, pinched him, and accused him of using tactics to pursue her.
• Shuichi told Kurenai he paid attention because he loved her, asked her to keep an eye on him, and gave her the key to his house.
• Kurenai accepted the key and, slightly drunk, rested her head on Shuichi's shoulder while Kotaro watched from the roof without daring to interrupt.

Shuichi carried his relationship with Kurenai into a new year, then escorted a caravan with her and his disciple Itachi. When the convoy was ambushed, Itachi fought off attackers while Shuichi confronted a suspected Jashin Cult follower whose unusual body ultimately failed to keep him alive.

• Shuichi carried the drunken Kurenai to bed and later chased Kotaro across the night after the parrot accused him of taking advantage of her.
• Shuichi and Kurenai kept their relationship private and began taking missions together more often.
• Shuichi, Kurenai, and Itachi joined Inoue Danza's caravan escort through the Land of Hot Springs after Danza warned that a previous caravan had disappeared.
• Itachi deflected a sickle attack, struck back at the ambushers, and urged the workers to retreat while he held them off.
• Two attackers ambushed Shuichi and Inoue Danza, but Shuichi blocked their blades and knocked them down with Explosion Release Chakra.
• Shuichi found that one attacker survived fatal injuries, but crushed his throat and concluded that the man's body had been modified rather than made immortal.

Shuichi and Uchiha Itachi defeated a Jashin Cult raiding party and captured several members, learning that the cult used bodily modifications and human experimentation. After escorting the caravan safely to its destination, Shuichi's squad followed the gathered intelligence to a suspected Jashin Cult base in a remote mountain.

• Shuichi sent Shadow Clones after a fleeing attacker while Uchiha Itachi fought the remaining Jashin Cult members and used the Great Fireball Technique.
• Shuichi and Itachi subdued the surviving attackers, whose strange bodies resisted fatal injuries, and captured four people alive.
• The lanky captive identified the attackers as the Jashin Cult and described their bodily modifications and experiments on ordinary people.
• Shuichi warned Inoue Danza about the cult and said he would attack its base after completing the escort mission.
• A week later, Shuichi's squad delivered the caravan safely, returned to the Land of Hot Springs, and located a suspected Jashin Cult hideout in a remote mountain.

Shuichi, Itachi, and Kurenai raided a Jashin Cult base and found evidence of horrific human experimentation. After killing the cultists and ending the suffering of the surviving victims, they destroyed the base and returned toward Konoha.

• Shuichi used ink animals to scout the cave, found about twenty people inside, and sent Itachi and Kurenai to guard another exit.
• Shuichi blasted through the entrance, killed the cultists who survived his explosions, and found the remaining members fleeing deeper inside.
• Shuichi shot the fleeing cultists and discovered victims of human experimentation, including several people left in a vegetative state.
• Shuichi told Kurenai and Itachi that the surviving victims could not be saved, then ended their lives himself.
• Shuichi gathered the cult's research records, burned the bodies, and used Explosion Release to collapse the base before the three headed back to Konoha.

After returning to Konoha, Shuichi and Kurenai were caught holding hands by her father, and her parents welcomed their relationship. At dinner, Shuichi and Kurenai agreed to become engaged but wait a few years before marrying so she could continue her career as a ninja.

• During the journey back, Itachi noticed Shuichi and Kurenai's closeness and left them alone when they reached Konoha.
• Shuichi and Kurenai reported their mission to the Third Hokage, then walked toward the Yūhi residence holding hands.
• Yūhi Shinkō caught them together and invited Shuichi to dinner, where Mrs. Yūhi openly asked whether they were dating.
• Shuichi told Kurenai's parents that they had been together for nearly half a year, and they urged the couple to marry.
• Shuichi proposed an engagement followed by marriage in a few years so Kurenai could keep pursuing her ninja career, and Kurenai and her father supported him.

Shuichi discussed Konoha’s future Hokage selection with Yūhi Shinkō and said he would rather spend time with Kurenai than take on political obligations. Later, Ishikawa Tatsuki joined Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy for Valentine’s Day dinner, and the group unexpectedly encountered Shuichi and Kurenai together.

• Yūhi Shinkō told Shuichi that smaller clans were discussing candidates for the next Hokage.
• Shuichi revealed that the Third Hokage had spoken to him about the position and asked Yūhi Shinkō to handle the clans, saying he preferred spending time with Kurenai.
• Ishikawa Tatsuki lamented that his attempt to date two women had ended with both discovering each other and his mother nearly beating him to death.
• Ishikawa Tatsuki met Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy, and Shisui explained that the couples filling Konoha’s streets were celebrating Valentine’s Day.
• Shuichi and Kurenai appeared hand in hand in matching outfits, leaving Ishikawa Tatsuki and the others stunned.

After Shuichi and Kurenai’s relationship became public, Tatsuki revealed that he and Saori had broken up, while Shuichi began training Itachi and Haku. The chapter left Shuichi preparing to study how Haku used Ice Release.

• Shuichi and Kurenai ran into Tatsuki, Kakashi, Guy, and Shisui, and Tatsuki said he and Saori had completely broken up.
• Shuichi and Kurenai left the group, while Tatsuki insisted on treating everyone to dinner and Shisui decided to hold back during their next Rasengan competition.
• Shuichi trained Itachi and Haku in the Villa courtyard, and Itachi impressed him with his skill at concealing and throwing ninja tools.
• Shuichi gave Itachi a Chakra-conducting sword and taught him Wind Release Nature Transformation using special paper.
• Shuichi asked Haku to help him study Ice Release, and Haku created an ice block for Shuichi to examine.
• Shuichi prepared a Scroll and asked Haku to describe the Chakra flow and sensations he experienced while using Ice Release.

Shuichi and Haku spent half a month investigating how Water Release and Wind Release combined to create Ice Release. Shuichi finally formed an imperfect ice block, while Haku celebrated the breakthrough.

• Shuichi studied the relationship between Water Release, Wind Release, and Ice Release, then tested the combination with Shadow Clones.
• Shuichi's first Shadow Clone cut its hands with Wind Release, and another produced a white, sticky liquid instead of ice.
• Shuichi guided Haku's Chakra flow and helped him create an ice block more reliably, while carefully avoiding injury to his meridians.
• Shuichi and Haku trained together for half a month, repeatedly transferring and combining Chakra as their understanding improved.
• Shuichi merged separate Water Release and Wind Release Chakra streams and formed a honeycomb-shaped ice block streaked with water, prompting Haku to cheer.

Shuichi completed the basics of Ice Release, continued training and preparing to fuse Hashirama Cells, and returned from a reconnaissance mission in the Land of Rain. The chapter ended when an Anbu reported that a squad and the Nakagawa Squad had gone missing in the southern region.

• Shuichi completed his initial Ice Release training and decided to focus on mastering it and Sage Mode rather than developing more Kekkei Genkai.
• Shuichi trained Itachi in Wind Release and continued preparing for his future growth, including a possible fusion with Hashirama Cells.
• Shuichi, Ishikawa Tatsuki, and Yūhi Kurenai returned from reconnaissance in the Land of Rain and reported that Hanzo and Amegakure showed no unusual activity.
• Shuichi advised Sarutobi Hiruzen to keep watch on Hanzo, and Hiruzen agreed to reduce Anbu surveillance and personally visit the Land of Rain several times a year.
• An Anbu reported that an Anbu squad and the Nakagawa Squad, which had been on a rescue mission in the southern region, were missing.

Shuichi was assigned to investigate the disappearance of Nakagawa Squad and an Anbu team near Matsuyama Castle, where Sunagakure and Kirigakure might be fighting. He assembled Itachi, Shisui, and Akiha, and the team began weighing possible causes as they traveled south.

• The Third Hokage tasked Shuichi with investigating the missing Nakagawa Squad and Anbu team, warning that ninja activity in the Land of Tea suggested conflict between Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
• Shuichi recruited Itachi, Shisui, and Akiha for the urgent mission and departed for the distant Matsuyama Castle region.
• Shuichi and his team left Konoha and reviewed intelligence during a rest on their journey.
• Akiha suggested the Miyazaki Clan might be seeking independence from the Land of Fire over taxes and local resources.
• Shisui speculated that the fighting between Sunagakure and Kirigakure might have spread from a contest over resources near Matsuyama Castle.

Shuichi’s Konoha squad infiltrated Matsuyama Castle to investigate the disappearance of a Jonin squad and the kidnapping of Miyazaki Kazuhiko’s wife. Shuichi captured two suspicious ninja alive, leaving the squad poised to question them.

• Shuichi warned the squad that the Miyazaki Clan might have colluded with other ninja villages and ordered them to treat every target as an enemy.
• Miyazaki Kazuhiko worried that his kidnapped wife and the vanished Konoha squad had drawn Konoha’s attention.
• Shuichi led the squad into Matsuyama Castle at night, and Hyuga Akiha used her Byakugan to locate several Chakra signatures.
• Shuichi confronted two hired ninja near the castle entrance while Akiha, Itachi, and Shisui split off to handle other targets.
• Shuichi used snakes, Senbon, and a wire trap to paralyze and bind the two ninja, then his Shadow Clone released a soundproof Barrier.

Shuichi’s squad learned that Lord Miyazaki’s wife had been kidnapped by the Yellow Sand Group and followed the ransom trail into the Land of Tea. They located an underground hideout shared by the group and Sunagakure ninja, and Shuichi and Shisui began infiltrating it.

• Shisui used his Sharingan to knock out a guard as Shuichi’s squad subdued the defenders in Matsuyama Castle.
• Shuichi and Shisui confronted Lord Miyazaki, who said the Yellow Sand Group had kidnapped his wife and demanded a ransom in the Land of Tea.
• Shisui used genjutsu to verify Miyazaki’s account, and Shuichi decided to pursue the Yellow Sand Group despite the unanswered questions.
• The squad interrogated prisoners, killed the Kageyama Brothers and two former Missing-nin, and traveled to the Land of Tea under cover of night.
• Akiha sensed about ten people deep inside an underground passage, along with several patrols, while Shuichi and Shisui entered the cave and silently incapacitated one guard.

Shuichi and Shisui reached a cave where Lady Miyazaki was held hostage and attacked the kidnappers. After Chūkichi escaped on an albatross and triggered a cave-in, Shuichi blasted through the rubble and pursued him into the air.

• Shuichi and Shisui silently incapacitated two patrolmen and advanced toward the cave's main chamber.
• Chūkichi sensed the approaching Konoha ninja, and Yuta seized Lady Miyazaki as a hostage.
• Shuichi unleashed Lightning Release: Lightning Sparrow Returns to Nest, severing Yuta's arms and striking several samurai while Shisui rescued Lady Miyazaki.
• Shuichi kicked Chūkichi, who turned out to be a Shadow Clone, and Chūkichi escaped as the cave began collapsing.
• Shuichi used Earth Release: Earth Fist to blast away the falling rubble, then pursued Chūkichi's albatross through the air.

Shuichi captured Kirigakure Jonin Chūkichi and learned that Kirigakure had killed Konoha Anbu to conceal a grove of Seven Star Trees in the Land of Fire. He sent Kotaro to deliver the intelligence to the Third Hokage while the team prepared to act quickly.

• Shuichi caught up with Chūkichi in the air, disabled him and the Albatross, and captured him alive.
• Shuichi returned to the crater, where Shisui, Akiha, and Itachi reported that Yuta was dead and two samurai had survived.
• Shuichi and Shisui interrogated Chūkichi and learned that Kirigakure had kidnapped Lady Miyazaki and staged attacks to distract Konoha from the Seven Star Trees.
• Chūkichi revealed that the grove lay about two hundred kilometers northwest of Matsuyama Castle, within the Land of Fire.
• Shuichi summoned Kotaro, gave it a scroll containing the intelligence, and ordered it to report to the Third Hokage immediately.

Shuichi abandoned the search for the missing squad and focused on securing the Seven Star Tree for Konoha. He ambushed Sunagakure patrols with a coordinated Flying Thunder God attack and left several survivors alive for interrogation.

• Shuichi told his team that claiming the forest for Konoha mattered more than completing the missing-squad investigation, and he planned to learn what Sunagakure knew.
• Akiha detected approaching Sunagakure patrols, so Shuichi hid the team among the ruins and prepared a Chakra-suppressing Barrier and ambush.
• Yara and Katsuta led the Sunagakure teams toward the explosion site, where they found a vast crater and debated its cause.
• Shuichi transported Itachi and Shisui into position as they combined Fire Release and Wind Release to attack the Sunagakure Ninja by surprise.
• Akiha disabled several wounded survivors with Gentle Fist, leaving them alive for interrogation, while Shuichi reflected on the ambush technique.

Shuichi and his allies ambushed and defeated a Sunagakure force, then split up to investigate enemy movements and locate the Seven Star Tree. After returning Mrs. Miyazaki to her husband, Shuichi used Sage Mode to sense a concentration of Chakra and found the tree’s likely location.

• Shuichi and Akiha’s team destroyed the Sunagakure squads, and Shuichi killed the fleeing Yara and Katsuta before interrogating captives.
• Shuichi learned that Sunagakure and Kirigakure were mobilizing, then sent Shisui, Itachi, and Akiha to search for Sunagakure’s main force and stir conflict between the villages.
• Shuichi took the exhausted Mrs. Miyazaki to Matsuyama Castle, returned her to Miyazaki Kazuhiko, and warned him to stay home.
• Shuichi traveled alone toward the Seven Star Tree and activated Sage Mode to improve his search.
• Shuichi sensed a large concentration of Chakra in the distance and headed toward it, believing he had found the Seven Star Tree.