Chapter Summaries

Shikaisen Nara and the Konoha delegation endured a string of disruptions in Iwagakure, unaware that the incidents were concealing a threat to the Monkey Clan. Shikaisen finally recognized that the repeated Summoning Jutsu had exposed the clan's location, but the summons failed, and the Monkey Clan's settlement had already been devastated.

• Shikaisen Nara's team identified Kakuzu in an Iwagakure izakaya, and Kakashi joined them before Kakuzu left.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Konoha delegation not to investigate Kakuzu, while Iwa Anbu searched their residence and Yichen later apologized.
• Over the following days, Shikaisen Nara's group faced a succession of strange provocations and visits, then the disruptions abruptly stopped two days before the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Shikaisen Nara realized that the incidents had repeatedly forced Sarutobi Akira to summon the Monkey Clan and suspected Iwagakure had used the summons to locate them.
• Sarutobi Akira's Summoning Jutsu failed, and Shikaisen Nara understood that the Monkey Clan was in danger.
• Deep in the Land of Fire, Enma roared over the corpses after the Monkey Clan's settlement suffered a devastating attack.

Yichen destroyed the Monkey Clan settlement, killing its members and young except for Monkey King Enma, who escaped when Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned him away. As Yichen flew toward Iwagakure, he reflected on how Atsumi Akino had used a village-wide deception and repeated Summoning Jutsu signals to locate the clan.

• Yichen attacked the Monkey Clan with Combination Ninjutsu, killing most of its members while Monkey King Enma sheltered the young in the Underground Shelter.
• Yichen killed the remaining combat-capable monkeys with wind tornadoes and rocks, then flooded the shelter with mud and killed the young monkeys inside.
• Yichen’s attacks failed to kill Monkey King Enma, who escaped through Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Summoning Jutsu after Yichen used Light Release.
• Yichen searched the Underground Shelter, took its scrolls, ninja tools, and valuables, and left the Land of Fire.
• Yichen recalled that Atsumi Akino had located the Monkey Clan by analyzing Summoning Jutsu signals, aided by a village-wide operation that repeatedly prompted Sarutobi Akira and Iwa ninja to summon their beasts.

Yichen wiped out the Monkey Clan, leaving Monkey King Enma as its sole survivor, and Enma told Hiruzen Sarutobi what had happened. Konoha's leaders connected the attack to their dealings in Iwagakure and debated how to respond, settling on blaming Sunagakure while Enma remained in Konoha.

• Yichen reached the Monkey Clan's settlement and exterminated the clan, while Monkey King Enma escaped by summoning Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Enma told Hiruzen that the Fourth Tsuchikage had wiped out the Monkey Clan, and Hiruzen collapsed before recovering and comforting Shikaku Nara over Shikaisen's role in the events.
• Hiruzen summoned Tsunade, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Shikaku, and Danzo to explain the attack; Shikaku realized Iwa ninja had used Konoha's repeated messages to locate the settlement.
• Tsunade proposed bringing Enma into Konoha, while Danzo called for a forceful response against the Fourth Tsuchikage.
• Utatane Koharu suggested blaming Sunagakure, and Tsunade accepted the plan while the leaders considered concealing the truth from Konoha's allied beast clans.

Yichen returned to Iwagakure after wiping out the Monkey Clan and uncovered a vast stockpile of Konoha military supplies, helping justify the village’s costly operation. He then discussed expanding sparring exchanges with other villages and learned that Suda Himezuki had become a Quasi-Jonin and her young ninja cat Fenghuo could use Ninjutsu.

• Yichen confirmed that Enma was the Monkey Clan’s only survivor and awarded mission records to the operation’s participants.
• Yichen told Atsumi Akino to rest, then promised to provide materials and support for her work on the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
• Yichen revealed the Monkey Clan’s scrolls, and Mei recognized that they might contain strategic supplies prepared by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Yichen opened the scrolls at the Logistics Department and found enough military supplies to support a five-thousand-man force for three months of frontline standoff.
• Yichen discussed expanding friendly sparring with Sunagakure, Cloud, and Konoha, then learned that Suda Himezuki had become a Quasi-Jonin and Fenghuo could use Ninjutsu.

Yichen checked on Tsurugi’s progress copying ninjutsu and learned how Fenghuo’s training with Dango had helped it master Wind Release. He reassured Katsuya about his path in genjutsu research and gave him an S-rank Yin Release scroll, leaving Katsuya to continue developing at his own pace.

• Ikura told Yichen that Tsurugi had copied two B-rank Wind Release techniques, and Yichen planned more sparring matches, including challenges for Kakashi Hatake.
• Yichen watched Fenghuo use Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere and learned that Dango had guided the ninja cat’s training; Suda Himezuki then hurried off to ask Yoshimura Kazumasa about teaching Fenghuo hand seals.
• Yichen visited Katsuya and found that he remained calm despite being the only one among his former peers who had not become a Quasi-Jonin.
• Yichen gave Katsuya the S-rank Yin Release Ninjutsu, Spirit Transformation Jutsu, as a reference and required him to contribute an original A-rank genjutsu to the village in the future.

Yichen arranged three days of sparring between Iwagakure and Konoha, giving both sides combat experience while Tsurugi secretly watched Kakashi’s techniques. The chapter ended with Kakashi asking to challenge Yichen, who instead arranged for Ikura to fight him the next day.

• Yichen invited Kakashi’s Konoha delegation to spar with Iwagakure ninja, and the matches continued from morning until dusk as both sides gained experience.
• The next day, Iwagakure moved the matches to a Training Ground watched by a Byakugan, and Kakashi fought numerous Jonin before drawing with Seiji, an Elite Jonin.
• Kakashi reported the matches to Shikaisen Nara, who warned him to avoid helping Iwagakure ninja advance and not to fight Kawakita if he appeared.
• Yichen learned from Tsurugi that Kakashi had used many different techniques, then explained that Kakashi’s Sharingan let him copy ninjutsu during battle.
• On the third day, Yichen’s disciples took turns sparring with Kakashi, who eventually asked to challenge Yichen.
• Yichen declined and arranged for Ikura to fight Kakashi the next day, saying he might not be able to intervene safely if he fought Kakashi himself.

After the second stage of the Joint Chunin Exams, Yichen arranged a prolonged spar between Ikura and Kakashi, believing Kakashi’s growth could unsettle Konoha’s leadership and give Tsurugi a chance to study him. Meanwhile, a rebellion weakened Obito’s control of Kirigakure, and Kakashi eventually conceded the exhausting match when he ran out of Chakra.

• Shikaisen Nara instructed Kakashi to send the departing ninja home by a route through the Land of Earth to reduce the risk of an attack.
• Yichen told Ikura that Kakashi’s resentment toward Konoha’s leaders could make his growth a threat to them, and instructed Ikura to prolong their spar for Tsurugi to observe.
• Kakashi overheard Yichen and Ikura discussing his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo before entering the training ground for the match.
• The Kaguya Clan rebelled against Karatachi Yagura’s policies in Kirigakure; Obito’s followers suffered heavy losses, and his control over the village weakened despite his victory.
• Ikura and Kakashi fought for three hours, and Kakashi used his Three Tomoe Sharingan to erase Ikura’s advantage before conceding because he had run out of Chakra.

As the second Joint Chunin Exams finals began in Iwagakure, Kakashi wrestled with doubts about his father’s death and concluded that Konoha’s leaders and the Uchiha Clan were headed for conflict. He resolved to seek Yichen’s help before returning to Konoha.

• Yichen welcomed Fourth Kazekage Rasa to Iwagakure for the Chunin Exams finals, while Kakashi watched the matches and brooded over his father and teacher’s deaths.
• Kakashi read the latest Iwa Village Bi-Monthly Reports, including their predictions of a coming clash between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha’s leaders.
• Kakashi examined the reports’ claims about the Uchiha Clan and concluded that the two sides could not coexist peacefully without a fuse to ignite conflict.
• Kakashi vowed to protect the Uchiha Clan for Obito’s sake and decided to ask Yichen for a solution after the exams.
• Rasa noticed Yichen’s faint smile as Yichen observed Kakashi, but he said nothing.

Yichen explained to Kakashi how Konoha’s policies had shaped Iwagakure’s confidence, then introduced him to Sokai Uchiha, a young Uchiha living in Iwagakure. He told Kakashi that removing Hiruzen Sarutobi could resolve the Uchiha Clan’s crisis, leaving Kakashi to consider the proposed solution.

• Yichen and Rasa agreed to open their countries to each other’s ninja escorts and merchant caravans, then Rasa departed without joining forces against Konoha.
• Yichen explained to Ikura that Rasa feared Iwagakure would betray Sunagakure after they defeated Konoha, and ordered Anbu to watch for Rasa’s return.
• Yichen told Kakashi that Iwagakure’s people had learned to feel confident by observing Konoha, then introduced him to Sokai Uchiha, known in Iwagakure as Liangtiancheng Zhongxing.
• Yichen released the seal on Sokai’s eyes, allowing Kakashi and Sokai to confirm each other’s connection to the Uchiha and share their experiences.
• Kakashi asked how to resolve the Uchiha Clan’s crisis, and Yichen said killing Hiruzen Sarutobi would remove the obstacle between the Uchiha and Konoha’s new Hokage, Tsunade.

Yichen laid out ways for Kakashi to resolve the Uchiha crisis, then helped him gain perspective and settle on a determined course. As Yichen returned to the Chunin Exam, Rasa’s small party hurried toward Sunagakure with Pakura, whose strength remained diminished.

• Yichen offered Kakashi three approaches to the Uchiha crisis, including eliminating its War Faction and making himself a shared enemy by defecting or pretending to defect.
• Kakashi questioned whether Danzo’s removal could change Hiruzen Sarutobi’s position, but Yichen argued that Danzo served Hiruzen’s will.
• Yichen carried Kakashi aloft on a Porcelain Release platform, and Kakashi returned to the ground resolved to seek answers beyond Konoha’s perspective.
• Yichen and Kakashi returned to the finals venue, where Ikura’s Shadow Clones switched places with them; Yichen then considered the coming conflict between Rasa and Konoha.
• Rasa led fourteen people, including Pakura, toward Sunagakure and warned her to stay alert because she remained a target.
• Pakura told Rasa that her Chakra had not recovered and that she could currently fight only at Jonin strength.

Pakura recounted her capture and battle with Yichen before Rasa’s party was ambushed by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō near the Land of Earth border. After the sides reached a standoff, Yichen’s group discussed Sunagakure’s likely response, Orochimaru’s plans in the Land of Whirlpools, and the Third Tsuchikage’s safety.

• Rasa questioned Pakura about her captivity and the fate of the four In Unit members, then heard her account of fighting Yichen.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō ambushed Rasa’s party, but Chiyo and Ryosuke’s defenses helped Sunagakure repel them, and both sides stopped fighting after suffering casualties.
• Rasa demanded an explanation from Hiruzen Sarutobi, who asked what compensation the Kazekage wanted.
• An Anbu reported the battle to Yichen, who concluded that Rasa would likely demand compensation but continue cooperating with Iwagakure.
• Saka reported that Orochimaru had been seen in the Capital City of the Land of Whirlpools, and Yichen decided to send him a congratulatory gift rather than interfere with his apparent plans to establish a shinobi village.
• Yichen reassured Captain Kurotsuchi that the Third Tsuchikage was difficult to ambush, though Kitsuchi remained worried about his father.

Yichen sent Kawakita and Roshi to join the Third Lord and warned his advisers to watch the rising talents of other villages. After the exams, Kakashi returned to Konoha with newfound Kage-level strength, while the Hokage’s meeting ended with the Monkey Clan’s destruction confirmed and Konoha renewing its research into space-time ninjutsu.

• Yichen ordered Kawakita to join the Third Lord with Roshi, and directed Saka to monitor young geniuses in other villages after identifying Ryosuke as the likely wielder of the Third Kazekage Puppet.
• An Iwa ninja won the Joint Chunin Exams, and the Land of Wind and Earth announced a deep cooperation agreement.
• Kakashi returned to Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned how he had become a quasi-Kage; Tsunade defended him against Danzo’s demand to place a Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on him and recruit him into Root.
• Shikaisen Nara learned that the Monkey Clan had been exterminated and fainted from heart failure after Tsunade confirmed that only Enma had escaped.
• Tsunade assigned Genma Shiranui and two others to spend more time studying the Flying Thunder God Technique and researching space-time ninjutsu.

Tsunade protected Kakashi from Danzo’s accusations by appointing him captain of her Shadow Guard, while Kakashi resolved to investigate the Uchiha Clan and protect Konoha’s peace. In Iwagakure, Ishinose Kiyoshi revealed that he had learned the Hozuki Clan’s Water Release Technique from Sasori’s scroll by using its stored cells.

• Tsunade overruled Danzo’s objections and made Kakashi captain of her Shadow Guard, with Hiruzen Sarutobi backing her authority.
• Kakashi reflected on Konoha’s confidence and worried that conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village’s leadership could destroy its peace.
• Might Guy challenged Kakashi to a fight, but Kakashi easily defeated him even after Guy used the Eight Inner Gates.
• Kakashi decided to prepare to investigate which Uchiha supported war and which supported peace, and considered testing Shisui Uchiha.
• Ishinose Kiyoshi demonstrated that he could briefly transform his hand into water, astonishing Yichen and the advisors.
• Kiyoshi explained that he learned the Water Release Technique from Sasori’s scroll, which he believed had been made from a ninja whose cells preserved the ability; the scroll and its cells were now used up.

Yichen investigated the factions and growing violence in Kirigakure, where Karatachi Yagura's rule had driven the village toward another round of chaos. After a wounded Anbu Captain entrusted his subordinates to Yichen, the disguised outsider found himself facing the attackers alongside them.

• Ishinose Kiyoshi told Yichen that others could learn the Hozuki Clan's Water Release Technique if they had great Water Release proficiency, and Yichen offered him an S-rank mission record for developing a training method that worked.
• More than half a year after the Joint Chunin Exams, Yichen traveled to Kirigakure after learning that ninja were entering and leaving the village in unusual numbers.
• Yichen identified four groups in Kirigakure: Karatachi Yagura's followers, the Bloodline Ninja Clan alliance, the Minor Ninja Clan Alliance, and the neutral Civilian Ninja and Anbu.
• Yichen watched a fight between Yagura's forces and four Anbu until their captain unleashed Water Release: Water Prison Pillar, destroying part of the building where Yichen was hiding.
• A shuriken knocked two fleeing Anbu into Yichen's room, and their captain asked Yichen to protect his three surviving subordinates before dying.
• The three Anbu appealed to Yichen for orders as their pursuers gathered outside, and Yichen considered staying to help them.

Yichen took command of three neutral Mist Anbu and learned how the village’s factions had descended into conflict. He entered the lightly guarded Anbu headquarters through a secret passage and began exploring, finding the archive room empty and protected only by a seal.

• Yichen drove off the Mist ninjas outside with Water Style: Raging Waves, then ordered Shunta, Matsuki, and Raizo to remove their masks and identify themselves.
• Yichen named himself Captain Qing, ordered his new subordinates to take him to their base, and had Matsuki treat Shunta’s injuries.
• Blue told Yichen that the Mizukage’s demand for clan ninjas had sparked a conflict six days earlier and that the factions were watching Anbu headquarters.
• Yichen left his squad at the base and used the secret passage beneath Kentaro Izakaya to enter Anbu headquarters, where he silently killed the guard.
• Yichen found the headquarters nearly empty and reached the archive room, which had only an advanced seal protecting it.

Yichen infiltrated the Mist Ninja Anbu headquarters, stole old archival scrolls, and posed as Qing, an Anbu directly subordinate to the Third Mizukage. He sealed the headquarters’ key areas and passages, then changed the entrance barrier to a defensive one as he left.

• Yichen broke into the archives room, took its untouched scrolls, and sealed the room behind him.
• Yichen found the Ninjutsu Room empty, then questioned two Anbu guards at the Logistics Department and learned about the squads, the recent killing, and Congyi.
• Yichen claimed to be Qing, a directly subordinate Anbu of the Third Mizukage, and obtained a copy of the recent supply records.
• Yichen ordered the guards and other Anbu to help seal the headquarters’ important areas and passages, while secretly locating and sealing additional passage entrances.
• Yichen watched the Anbu leave to learn the safe route through the entrance traps, then exited and replaced the sensory barrier with a defensive one.

Yichen sealed off Anbu Headquarters, recruited Anbu into his new unit, and ordered Karasu to investigate intelligence about tailed beasts, ancient legends, and the Third Mizukage. After Toyo Squad joined him, Yichen learned that Ao and the Byakugan were aligned with Genji.

• Yichen sealed Anbu Headquarters and brought seven unattached Anbu to his temporary base, while the others returned to their units or dispersed.
• Yichen revealed his identity to Karasu, assigned him a Mist Anbu identity, and ordered him to analyze scrolls and request two Anbu squads from Iwagakure.
• Toyo arrived with his Anbu Squad, and Yichen challenged them to capture two of three hidden Chunin before they could join him.
• Toyo Squad captured two Chunin and joined Yichen, who assigned them to serve as a combat squad and ordered the captives released with a warning to Genji and Yuki Koru.
• Toyo told Yichen that Ao possessed the Byakugan and had joined Genji's side.

Yichen questioned Toyo about the Mist’s weakened leadership and potential successors to the Fifth Mizukage before Genji sent Shinichi Ezaki and two Jonin to summon him. Yichen killed all three in a brief fight and concealed his newly learned ability to liquefy his body by letting the witnesses mistake it for the Hozuki Clan’s technique.

• Yichen learned from Toyo that Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki were patrolling the borderlands and that the loss of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had left Karatachi Yagura isolated.
• Yichen asked about Mei Terumi, Zabuza, Rin'u Yuri, and Kakashi Kaki, but Toyo knew little beyond Zabuza’s strength and Mei’s hidden status.
• An Anbu told Yichen that Genji had summoned him, and Toyo identified Shinichi Ezaki as Genji’s Elite Jonin confidant.
• Yichen attacked Shinichi Ezaki and his two Jonin escorts with a Water Clone, Raging Waves, Water Dragon Bullet, Water Dragon Whip, and False Darkness, leaving all three unable to fight.
• Yichen let a Shuriken strike him after turning part of his body into water, leading the witnesses to assume he was using the Hozuki Clan’s secret technique.
• Yichen’s Water Clone finished off Shinichi Ezaki and the two Jonin.

Yichen strengthened his foothold in Kirigakure, learned that Karatachi Yagura had lost much of his support, and received intelligence about Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. He left a copy of the intelligence where the Yuki Clan would find it, and Yuki Koru faced a decision after learning Genji's side had found an identical scroll.

• Yichen ordered Toyo to handle the spoils and display the bodies after killing Shinichi Ezaki and his two companions, establishing a foothold in Kirigakure.
• Yichen learned that Karatachi Yagura had lost control of Kirigakure and considered weakening Genji and the bloodline clans to preserve the balance.
• Karasu delivered intelligence about Utakata and his Teacher, and Yichen sent him to search another Sealing Scroll for useful information.
• Yichen left an intelligence scroll revealing Utakata's location near the Yuki Clan, where a clan ninja found it and gave it to Yuki Koru.
• Yuki Koru weighed using the Six-Tails to oppose Karatachi Yagura, then learned that Genji's side had found an identical scroll.

Yichen secretly manipulated Yuki Koru’s attempt to capture the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, while keeping his own involvement hidden. When Yichen’s attack caused Utakata’s Teacher to be fatally wounded, Utakata unleashed the Six-Tails’ chakra as Yuki Koru’s team prepared to subdue him.

• Yuki Koru gathered the Bloodline Ninja Clans, and they agreed to send an elite team to capture the Six-Tails after learning Genji might also have received intelligence.
• Yichen gave Yuki Koru vague information about Utakata’s whereabouts, then secretly monitored the team as it searched for him.
• After three days, Yuki Koru’s team found Utakata in a village and planned to persuade him to cooperate while avoiding harm to him and the villagers.
• Yuki Koru’s team restrained Utakata’s Teacher and began sealing Utakata, while Yichen watched from nearby and used Porcelain Release to send mud at the ninja holding a kunai to the Teacher’s throat.
• Yichen’s attack made the ninja’s arm twitch, causing the kunai to cut Utakata’s Teacher’s throat; Utakata then roared and released a surge of red chakra that scattered the sealing runes.
• Yuki Koru ordered Terumi Chizuru to search the village and directed the remaining ninjas to prepare to seal the Six-Tails.