Chapter Summaries

Yichen pursued the rampaging Utakata, captured him, and extracted a large quantity of Six-Tails Chakra. Back in Kirigakure, Yuki Koru blamed Qing for interfering and urged the clans to investigate him.

• Utakata lost control after his teacher died, killed one ninja, and fled instead of fighting Yuki Koru's group.
• Yichen chased Utakata, sealed him after he collapsed, and escaped while Yuki Koru was delayed by the Mist Technique.
• Yuki Koru and the clan heads suspected Qing of trying to weaken their faction and planned to drive a wedge between him and Genji's side.
• Yichen took Utakata to an uninhabited mountaintop and used a new seal to extract a large amount of Six-Tails Chakra into a gourd.

Yichen extracted Six-Tails Chakra and life force from Utakata until Utakata died, learning more about how Tailed Beast Chakra could be preserved. Back in Kirigakure, Yichen received twelve Iwagakure Anbu reinforcements and ordered his forces to investigate Suikazan Fuguki and watch for a major battle.

• Yichen realized that the Six-Tails Chakra in his gourd contained a small amount of life force fused with Utakata, and he repeatedly extracted Chakra from Utakata until he died.
• After five days, Yichen had collected ten portions of Six-Tails Chakra, dealt with Utakata's corpse, and returned to Kirigakure.
• Yichen met Karasu and twelve Iwagakure Anbu, then instructed them to operate as separate groups and gave the reinforcements a letter reporting that Iwagakure was stable and Katsuya had become a Quasi-Jonin.
• Yichen asked Karasu about the intelligence situation and learned that rumors claimed he belonged to the Hozuki Clan.
• Yichen ordered Toyo and the Special Jonin to investigate Suikazan Fuguki and monitor whether a major battle between the Bloodline Ninja Clans and the Mizukage's side was imminent.

Yichen manipulated Kirigakure’s factions into arranging Lord Suigetsukage’s return and death, then tracked down the wounded Kisame Hoshigaki. After Kisame recognized Yichen as the Fourth Tsuchikage and yielded, Yichen offered him supplies, leaving their alliance to be discussed.

• Yichen sent Lord Suigetsukage an intelligence report that rekindled his ambition to become Mizukage, while a false report signed by Kisame Hoshigaki alerted Yuki Koru to Suigetsukage’s cooperation with Elder Genshi.
• Yuki Koru ordered elites to intercept Lord Suigetsukage, and several days later Toyo told Yichen that Suigetsukage had been killed in a sneak attack.
• Yichen ordered Toyo’s squad to investigate openly, then spread a story that Suigetsukage had sacrificed himself to protect his companions and that Samehada was still being pursued.
• Yichen traveled alone to a cave, where his former Iwagakure Anbu had tracked the injured Kisame Hoshigaki, and flew to confront him.
• Kisame recognized Yichen as the Fourth Tsuchikage and gave up resisting; Yichen tossed him a Ninja Tool Bag and told him to treat his wounds and eat.

Yichen explained his vision for ending the ninja village system and guided Kisame Hoshigaki to seek the meaning of ninja through Chakra. Kisame found his own ninja way and grew stronger, then agreed to return to Kirigakure under Yichen’s control while Yichen prepared a cover story portraying him as a hero.

• Yichen told Kisame Hoshigaki he wanted him as a partner in reforming the ninja world, and Kisame asked him to show the way forward.
• Yichen explained his beliefs about Chakra, Sage Chakra, and Kekkei Genkai, encouraging Kisame to explore Water Release and find his own path.
• Kisame meditated through the night, gained insight into his ninja way, and emerged with increased strength.
• Kisame said he understood but refused to become Yichen’s puppet, while Yichen told him to return to Kirigakure until he learned how to lead and govern.
• Yichen instructed Kisame to claim that he had protected Samehada, defeated Konoha ninja, and been rescued by Qing, making him a hero.

Yichen built Kisame’s reputation in Kirigakure, prompting the Bloodline Ninja Clan to launch a surprise assault on Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura. As Kisame protected civilians and the attackers weakened Yagura, a Tailed Beast Bomb exploded over the village, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Yichen spread an embellished account of Kisame’s exploits, attracting over a hundred Civilian Ninja to Kisame’s faction.
• Yuki Koru persuaded Terumi Chizuru and Hozuki Hotaru to attack Karatachi Yagura at the Mizukage Building the next morning.
• When the battle began, Yichen sent Kisame to evacuate civilians and earn their support, and Kisame raised a massive Water Release Wall around the battlefield.
• Kisame’s Water Release Wall saved villagers until a tentacle from Yagura’s Partial Tailed Beast Transformation shattered it, while Yuki Koru and other ninja restrained and attacked Yagura.
• Yichen recognized the threat of a Tailed Beast Bomb, and Kisame used Great Raging Waves to shield much of Kirigakure from the resulting blast.
• The explosion weakened through Kisame’s waves but still caused casualties, as a terrifying mushroom cloud spread above the village.

After Karatachi Yagura destroyed himself with a Tailed Beast Bomb, Kirigakure’s surviving leaders chose Kisame as the Fifth Mizukage and agreed to sweeping reforms. Yichen secured an alliance with Iwagakure and left with copies of Kirigakure’s ninjutsu, while Anbu stayed behind to help Kisame consolidate control.

• Karatachi Yagura formed a Tailed Beast Bomb inside the Sealed Space and destroyed himself, killing many elite Bloodline Ninja Clan members.
• Yichen and Kisame found Yuki Koru and other survivors inside an ice sphere, and Terumi Chizuru withdrew the clans from the Fifth Mizukage contest while reporting that Hozuki Hotaru was missing.
• Yichen proposed Kisame for Mizukage and set out reforms, including restructuring the Advisor Group, placing Anbu under the Mizukage, collecting ninjutsu, and forming an alliance with Iwagakure; Genji accepted.
• Genji told Kirigakure’s residents that Karatachi Yagura had been controlled by the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan and proposed Kisame as the Fifth Mizukage, earning the crowd’s support.
• Iwagakure and Kirigakure announced an alliance, disrupting Kumogakure’s consideration of an attack, and Yichen stayed three days to copy Kirigakure’s ninjutsu before departing with seven Anbu.

Obito planned to target Yichen and manipulate Nagato, while Yichen returned to Iwagakure and organized the spoils and trade plans from his alliance with Kirigakure. In Konoha, Kakashi followed Yichen’s advice and began persuading Shisui to support his plan.

• Obito learned that Kisame Hoshigaki had become the Fifth Mizukage and that Kirigakure had allied with Iwagakure, then discussed ways to ambush Yichen and bring Nagato under his control.
• Yichen returned to Iwagakure with daimyo funding, gave Kirigakure’s Ninjutsu Scrolls to Saka for the village’s Water Release ninja, and planned trade routes with Ikura.
• Yichen asked about Ōnoki’s whereabouts and received a letter in which Kakashi asked how to win Shisui Uchiha’s support.
• Kakashi followed Yichen’s advice to warn Shisui that Itachi could die in the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha’s High-ranking officials.
• Kakashi and Shisui spoke at length after Shisui finished work at Root, and Shisui showed no hostility toward Kakashi.

Kakashi learned from Shisui that Fugaku Uchiha might favor peace, strengthening Kakashi’s hopes of preventing conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha. At a leadership meeting, Tsunade maneuvered Hiruzen into transferring Shisui from Root to the Anbu, leaving her free to bring him closer to Kakashi.

• Kakashi and Shisui sparred, and Kakashi recognized Shisui’s Elite Jonin strength and impressive Body Flicker Technique.
• Shisui told Kakashi that the Second Elder suspected Fugaku Uchiha belonged to the Peace Faction rather than the War Faction.
• Danzo blamed the claims about the Sharingan and Kirigakure’s Fourth Mizukage on the Tsuchikage, then raised suspicions about the Uchiha Clan.
• Tsunade considered bringing Shisui into the Anbu and used Danzo’s remarks to encourage Hiruzen to train him.
• Hiruzen ordered Shisui to report to the Anbu the next day, and Tsunade planned to give him missions that would bring him into contact with Kakashi.

Yichen tried to preserve the Six-Tails Chakra by sealing it into an Outer Path Statue Fragment, then supplied the fragment with his own Chakra when it began losing energy. The Chakra became a miniature, physical Six-Tails named Saiken, who had only scattered memories and asked Yichen what a Jinchuriki was.

• Yichen visited the Anbu laboratory with Yoshimura Kazumasa, heard about his hand-seal research, and collected the Outer Path Statue Fragment.
• Yichen took the fragment and the Six-Tails Chakra beyond Iwagakure’s Sensory Barrier and sealed the Chakra inside it.
• Yichen found the Six-Tails Chakra absorbing energy from the fragment, so he supplied his own Chakra to stop the fragment’s energy loss.
• Yichen discovered a miniature, physical Six-Tails in the fragment’s Sealed Space and called it Saiken.
• Saiken asked how Yichen knew its name and what a Jinchuriki was, revealing that it had only scattered memories.

Yichen brought Little Rhino Dog to meet Han and Kokuō, reuniting the two Tailed Beasts and telling Kokuō about the threat posed by someone with the Rinnegan and the Ten-Tails' body. Kokuō chose to join his power with Han's, and Yichen began releasing Han's seal as the chapter ended.

• Yichen brought Little Rhino Dog to Han's residence, where Kokuō sensed the Six-Tails' Chakra and formed a Chakra body to meet him.
• Little Rhino Dog recognized Kokuō, and the two Tailed Beasts reunited and talked about their bonds with Yichen and Han.
• Yichen told Han and Kokuō that someone with the Rinnegan had obtained part of the Ten-Tails' body and was seeking to gather the Tailed Beasts.
• After Yichen urged Kokuō to help protect Han, Kokuō asked Han to release his seal so they could combine their power.
• Yichen sent Han's three disciples to guard the area, then began releasing Han's seal.

Han gained Kokuō’s full recognition and became a Perfect Jinchuriki, while Yichen also gained access to Little Rhino Dog’s Chakra and tested its effects. The chapter left Han preparing to move back into the village, where Yichen introduced Little Rhino Dog and announced their newfound powers to the advisers.

• Kokuō willingly shared his power with Han, allowing Han to enter Five-Tails Chakra Mode and become a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• With Kokuō’s guidance, Yichen received Little Rhino Dog’s power and found that it boosted his Chakra, physical abilities, perception, and Ninjutsu without preparation.
• Yichen and Han sparred to test their new abilities, then Yichen ordered everyone present to keep what happened a village secret.
• Yichen told Han he could return to the village, and Han asked to live beside Yichen so Kokuō and Little Rhino Dog could see each other.
• Yichen brought Little Rhino Dog into the village, instructed the Anbu to prepare a residence for Han, and introduced Little Rhino Dog to the advisers.
• Yichen told the advisers that Han had become a Perfect Jinchuriki and that he could also use Little Rhino Dog’s Chakra, which had helped him surpass Ikura in their sparring.

Yichen made Little Rhino Dog an official Iwagakure ninja and discussed plans for the village’s other young talents, then focused on improving his Wind Release so he could obtain the Seven-Tails. Iwagakure proposed an alliance with Takigakure, whose leaders resented Yichen over the Seven-Tails’ capture and transfer to Konoha.

• Yichen explained that Little Rhino Dog was a fragment of the Six-Tails, issued it a forehead protector and Ninja ID, and said it would join missions with him while Kokuō would accompany Han.
• Mei and the others agreed that Han should take on three new disciples and that Kokuō could be asked to teach; Yichen also chose to become Sokai Uchiha’s teacher.
• Kitsuchi praised Yuki Haku, Neji Hyuga, and Kurotsuchi, while Yichen recognized that events were approaching and resolved to accelerate his Wind Release training to obtain the Seven-Tails.
• A few days later, Iwagakure proposed an alliance with Takigakure, and the Land of the Falls Daimyo supported it because it could reduce defense costs.
• Takigakure opposed the alliance and suspected Yichen had captured its Seven-Tails, which remained in Konoha’s hands.

Konoha’s leaders arranged a covert operation to make Takigakure believe Iwagakure had stolen the Seven-Tails. After the ambush, Takigakure’s leader followed the planted trail into the Land of Earth and chose to continue despite realizing his people were being manipulated.

• Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the other leaders discussed Iwagakure’s motives, and Danzo proposed disguising Konoha ninja as Iwa ninja to attack Takigakure.
• More than ten days later, Kensuke received the sealed Seven-Tails from Konoha at the Land of Fire–Land of Falls border and led his team toward Takigakure.
• Over thirty masked attackers ambushed Kensuke’s team, killed the Takigakure ninja, and took the Seven-Tails; Kensuke survived and tracked them north.
• Konoha elites in disguise planted clues that led Kensuke and Takigakure’s leader into the Land of Earth, while secretly directing them toward the trail.
• Takigakure’s scouts found a plaque warning them of the target’s reconnaissance abilities, and the leader decided to keep tracking at a distance to learn what he was being led to witness.

Yichen used the Six Paths of Pain to kill Konoha’s team, retrieve the Seven-Tails, and extract a small portion of its Chakra containing its life force. Takigakure blamed Konoha for the deaths of its ninja and agreed to ally with Iwagakure, while Yichen secured the Seven-Tails’ Chakra for his own purposes.

• Yichen secretly guided Takigakure’s group to the place where Konoha’s team was waiting and passed them information about the ambush.
• The Six Paths of Pain killed the Konoha ninja, including Boss, Second, and Third, and took the Seven-Tails.
• Kensuke confirmed that the dead ninja were from Konoha, and Takigakure’s leader realized Konoha had framed Iwagakure and killed their companions.
• After weighing their options, Takigakure’s leader agreed to form an alliance with Iwagakure.
• The Six Paths of Pain brought the sealed Seven-Tails to Yichen and separated a small amount of its Chakra containing its life force, which Yichen sealed.

Yichen used a portion of the Seven-Tails’ Chakra to create Little Chōmei and gain a powerful boost to his Wind Release. On his way back to Iwagakure, he met Ōnoki, who questioned whether Yichen had become a Jinchuriki.

• Yichen explained to Deva Path Pain that he wanted the Seven-Tails’ Chakra to improve his Wind Release, then advised Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan to build industries and avoid relying too heavily on resource exports to the Land of Earth.
• Yichen sealed the Seven-Tails’ Chakra into the Outer Path Statue Fragment, where it absorbed the fragment’s remaining energy and formed Little Chōmei.
• Little Rhino Dog befriended Little Chōmei and persuaded it to lend Yichen its power, allowing Yichen to fly toward Iwagakure and test an enhanced Wind Release technique.
• Yichen decided to stay in Iwagakure to improve his Wind Release before the new graduates finished school.
• Ōnoki approached Yichen in the Land of Grass and asked whether the Seven-Tails’ Chakra meant Yichen had become a Jinchuriki.
• Yichen summoned Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei to show Ōnoki that they were with him.

Yichen reunited with Ōnoki and the others, learned that Han had become a Perfect Jinchuriki, and helped Wada Akio break through to Elite Jonin. After Ōnoki reported an abandoned shrine that Natsuki sensed was unusual, Yichen agreed to investigate it.

• Yichen explained Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei’s origins to Ōnoki, who was relieved that Han had become a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• Yichen congratulated Kajiyamari on becoming an Elite Jonin and assessed the progress of Deidara, Uchiyama Takuhiro, and Wada Akio.
• Yichen used pressure from Six-Tails Chakra Mode to push Wada Akio into breaking through to Elite Jonin.
• Yichen encouraged the gathered ninja with a speech about the Will of Stone, while Natsuki chatted with Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei.
• Ōnoki told Yichen that Natsuki had sensed something wrong with an abandoned shrine, and Yichen agreed to inspect it with him.

Yichen investigated a shrine whose statue emitted soul-like voices detectable only through Mind's Eye, exhausting himself while studying its seal. After recovering, he brought Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei into Roshi's Sealed Space to meet Son Goku, who refused to give Roshi his power and said he disliked Yichen.

• Yichen sensed voices inside the shrine through Mind's Eye and traced them to a seal in the damaged stone statue.
• Yichen studied the statue for a day, then told Ōnoki that the phenomenon seemed connected to souls and might help the village develop Yin Release.
• Yichen asked Ōnoki to bring Katsuya and the others to the shrine, arrange supplies for Little Chōmei, and watch Takigakure; Ōnoki returned to Iwagakure while Yichen rested.
• Little Rhino Dog asked Yichen to free Son Goku, so Yichen went with it to speak with Roshi and entered the Four-Tails' Sealed Space with Little Chōmei.
• Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei met the caged Son Goku, who doubted their claims until Yichen said Kokuō had given its power to Han.
• Son Goku told Yichen that he would not give his power to Roshi and that he did not like Yichen.

Yichen released Son Goku from Roshi’s seal under an agreement that it would not harm the Iwa ninja or the people of the Land of Earth, then spent three months studying Yin Release near the temple. Katsuya developed a theoretical framework for Yin Release and finally began sensing the temple’s strange sounds.

• Yichen negotiated with Son Goku, and Son Goku reluctantly agreed to emerge while Roshi was alive and refrain from harming the Iwa ninja and the people of the Land of Earth.
• Yichen removed the seal’s restraining effect, and Son Goku’s chakra formed a tiny Four-Tails that joined Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei.
• Yichen briefed Kawakita, registered Little Chōmei as a ninja, and began investigating the temple with Katsuya and Natsuki.
• Over three months, Katsuya, Natsuki, and Yichen studied Yin Release while Yichen guided the ninja training nearby; two Anbu Chunin advanced to Quasi-Jonin.
• Katsuya outlined two paths of Yin Release training, and Natsuki and Katsuya barely reached the second stage.
• Katsuya finally sensed the strange sounds inside the temple.

Yichen moved the temple to Iwagakure, brought back Son Goku’s miniature physical body, and returned with his companions and the other miniature Tailed Beasts. After seeing Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei earn money and buy things, Son Goku asked Yichen to let him carry out missions too.

• Yichen arranged with Son Goku to lift the seal’s restraints and have him split off a miniature physical body, and Son Goku agreed after Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei pleaded with him.
• Katsuya thanked Roshi for the Buddhist teachings that had helped him begin cultivating Yin Release, while Ōnoki told Deidara and his teammates to return for the Chunin Exams and train properly.
• Son Goku separated his miniature body, which Yichen examined and gave a place on the Outer Path Statue Fragment.
• Yichen flew the temple to Han’s vacant residence, arranged guards for it and the Yin Release researchers, then returned to Iwagakure with Natsuki, Katsuya, six Genin, and three miniature Tailed Beasts.
• Yichen awarded missions and rewards to Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei, who bought gifts for Son Goku; Son Goku later came out and asked Yichen for missions of his own.

Son Goku agreed to become an Iwa ninja by lending Yichen his power, while Iwagakure's leaders discussed promotions, guard assignments, and the village's alliance with Takigakure. After the meeting, Yichen handed the Chunin Exams to Tomoko and began training Wind Release with Little Chōmei.

• Son Goku asked Yichen how he could become an Iwa ninja and agreed to lend his power to him so the village would trust his intentions.
• Yichen took Son Goku to register, and Son Goku received a Ninja ID and accepted a D-rank Mission.
• Yichen told the High-Level Meeting about the three Tailed Beasts and discussed recalling and assigning ninja to serve as the Third Tsuchikage's guards.
• Saka reported that Takigakure had agreed to ally with Iwagakure and accused Konoha of attacking its Seven-Tails escort team.
• Yichen explained that letting Akatsuki keep the Seven-Tails could draw Konoha's attention away from Iwagakure and create opportunities for the village.
• Yichen assigned the upcoming Chunin Exams to Tomoko, then began practicing Wind Release with Little Chōmei.