Chapter Summaries

Yichen practiced Wind Release at greatly accelerated speed and nearly mastered Iwagakure’s techniques, but village duties soon drew him back to work. While arranging assignments and choosing disciples, he found several promising students and became intrigued when one Jonin, Shinsuke, had selected three of Yichen’s own candidates.

• Yichen trained in Wind Release for over a month, then returned to his Tsuchikage duties after mastering nearly every Wind Release technique in Iwagakure.
• Yichen assigned Deidara to the Anbu, placed Atsumi Akino and Ishinose Kiyoshi in new roles, and forced Uzumaki Riori into Shironeko’s White Cat Squad.
• Yichen decided to take Sokai Uchiha as a disciple and ordered Jonin to choose their students early so he would have fewer files to review.
• Yichen reviewed graduating students’ profiles and added Chiya and several other ordinary students to his shortlist.
• After the Jonin chose their disciples, Yichen discovered that Shinsuke had selected three students from his shortlist and asked for Shinsuke’s file.

Yichen rewarded Shinsuke for years of service and learned from him about Chiga, an overlooked Academy student with unusual potential. After approving rewards for overlooked civilian-born ninjas, Yichen visited Chiga at home to learn more about her.

• Yichen examined Shinsuke's record, praised his service, and offered him discounted training ninjutsu and one A-rank ninjutsu.
• Shinsuke told Yichen about Chiga, a student whose unusual talent he could not understand, and recommended her for further consideration.
• Yichen proposed rewarding overlooked civilian-born ninjas, and the advisors approved giving eligible Jonin one B-rank ninjutsu each.
• Yichen asked Sakai about Chiga and learned she had been unwell since accidentally stabbing a classmate during sparring.
• Yichen and Sakai visited Chiga at home, where Chiga nervously greeted the Tsuchikage.

Yichen tested Chiga’s ability to track people through their blood, accepted her and Sasagawa Ayumi as disciples, and began training them alongside Sokai. Sokai asked whether Iwagakure might help the Uchiha Clan fight Konoha, leaving Yichen’s response unresolved.

• Chiga tracked Sakai after swallowing his blood, proving her ability, and Yichen accepted her as his disciple.
• Yichen selected Sasagawa Ayumi and announced his disciples at the Ninja Academy, then rewarded civilian Jonin who gathered information for him.
• Yichen began group training, removed the seal on Sokai’s Sharingan, and warned him to keep his Uchiha identity hidden.
• Sokai asked Yichen whether the Uchiha Clan could be saved, and Yichen said he would not help unless it benefited Iwagakure.
• Yichen explained that Fugaku Uchiha had chosen not to resist Konoha, and Sokai asked whether Iwagakure could join the Uchiha in fighting Konoha.

Yichen agreed to help Sokai’s Uchiha relatives if Fugaku could unite the clan, while asking Sokai to commit to life as an Iwa ninja. After a month of training and D-rank missions, Yichen brought Sokai and his other students along on a convoy escort to the Land of Snow Branch, where Atsumi Akino was to establish a Heavenly Transfer Technique base.

• Yichen promised Sokai he might help the Uchiha Clan if Fugaku united its members, and Sokai vowed to remain an Iwa ninja even if the effort failed.
• Sokai told Chiga and Sasagawa Ayumi that his original name was Sokai Uchiha and that his younger siblings had been sent to Iwagakure by their clan head.
• After a month of D-rank missions, Yichen agreed to take Sokai, Chiga, and Sasagawa Ayumi on a C-rank mission.
• Yichen’s squad joined a heavily protected convoy escorting Atsumi Akino and construction materials to the Land of Snow Branch so she could establish a Heavenly Transfer Technique base.
• Atsumi Akino told Yichen she missed Uzumaki Riori, and Yichen revealed that Riori’s Anbu squad was accompanying the convoy.

Yichen escorted Atsumi Akino to the Land of Snow Branch, then joined Matsutani Shinya in investigating the energy beneath the Rainbow Ice Wall. After several days of studying it in different chakra states, Yichen discovered traces of both Yin and Yang Release within the energy, while Matsutani Shinya began pondering a new insight.

• Yichen visited Matsutani Shinya, who explained that Kazahana Sōsetsu's underground device could release energy but would require machinery or Puppet Master expertise to modify.
• Yichen agreed to investigate the energy with Sage Chakra, and Matsutani Shinya described how to use the device's existing channel.
• Yichen entered Sage Mode the next morning and confirmed that his Sage Chakra reacted with the underground energy, but could not draw it out.
• Yichen detected that the energy contained both Yang Release Chakra and traces of Yin Release.
• Yichen studied the energy over several days using Sage Mode, Tailed Beast Chakra Modes, and Sensory Ninjutsu, improving his understanding of senjutsu.
• Yichen shared his insights with Matsutani Shinya, who grew distracted in thought while considering them.

Yichen and Matsutani Shinya used a White Zetsu clone to draw out underground Natural Energy, allowing Yichen to empower his Kekkei Genkai with Sage Chakra and improve his Sage Mode. After receiving intelligence that Konoha and Sunagakure might be joining forces, the group headed back toward Iwagakure, where Yichen managed to enter Sage Mode outside the Rainbow Ice Wall.

• Matsutani Shinya theorized that the underground energy combined Yin Release, Yang Release, and Natural Energy, and suggested using First Hokage's Cells to draw it out.
• Yichen retrieved a White Zetsu clone and worked with Matsutani Shinya to use its Yang Release and Yichen's Sage Chakra to draw out the underground Natural Energy.
• Yichen used the energy to advance his Sage Mode and discovered that Sage Chakra could empower his Porcelain Release Kekkei Genkai.
• Yichen and Matsutani Shinya closed the energy channel, then returned to the branch with the tailed beasts and Little Flower; Atsumi Akino explained the Teleportation Array's current limitations.
• A message from the village reported that Konoha and Sunagakure were secretly making contact, so Yichen ordered the group to return to Iwagakure.
• On the journey, Yichen entered Sage Mode under normal conditions, while Matsutani Shinya excitedly asked whether he could now do so outside the Rainbow Ice Wall.

Yichen learned that Konoha had assembled forces to attack the Akatsuki Organization, with Sunagakure possibly joining, and ordered Iwagakure to prepare for war while warning Yahiko. Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato rushed back to the River Ninja Village and decided to split their forces between defending against Konoha and guarding against a Sunagakure attack.

• Saka briefed Yichen that Konoha had secretly moved ninja near several borders and might be targeting the Akatsuki Organization alongside Sunagakure.
• Yichen received confirmation that Konoha had gathered about two thousand ninja and ordered Iwagakure to deploy troops and prepare for war, while instructing his forces not to attack unless Konoha suffered losses.
• Yichen contacted Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato and warned them that Konoha might attack the Land of Rain and that Sunagakure's movements remained unknown.
• Nagato and the others abandoned their factory work and hurried toward the River Ninja Village, while Yahiko and Nagato agreed to divide their forces between the likely fronts.

Akatsuki prepared to defend its base in the Land of Rain as Konoha’s army advanced, while Orochimaru plotted to use the battle to reach Nagato’s Rinnegan. When the fighting began, Orochimaru suddenly turned on Pain’s forces and swallowed the Hell Path with a giant snake.

• Nagato chose to prioritize defending River Ninja Village and warned Yahiko and Konan that Orochimaru and Sasori could not be trusted.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō led Konoha’s army into the Land of Rain, while Hiruzen worried about Kakashi’s Chakra limits and relied on Orochimaru’s intelligence.
• Pain assigned Juzo Biwa to command Akatsuki’s troops and ordered Sasori, Kakuzu, and Orochimaru to fight alongside him against Konoha.
• Orochimaru planned to exploit the battle to weaken Nagato and seize the Rinnegan, with a prepared escape plan if his scheme failed.
• Konoha launched Combination Ninjutsu attacks against the Six Paths of Pain, and Orochimaru summoned three giant snakes that swallowed the Hell Path.

Yichen arrived at the Land of Rain battle and attacked the Konoha Army with Sage-enhanced Porcelain Release. The chapter left Konoha’s defenses collapsing under his Kunai Rain while the battle against Dark Akatsuki continued.

• Nagato revealed that Orochimaru had betrayed Dark Akatsuki and captured the Hell Path, leaving it stranded after the giant snake dispelled its summoning.
• Yichen traveled to Dark Akatsuki’s base with Ishinose Kiyoshi and the Outer Path Statue Fragment after learning the Konoha Army had entered the Land of Rain.
• Yichen found Konoha and Dark Akatsuki fighting, with Danzo and Root overwhelming Kakuzu, Chiyo and Sasori locked in a stalemate, and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s forces battling Pain.
• Deva Path Pain used Shinra Tensei against the Konoha Army, and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attempt to draw it away from the formation failed.
• Yichen accused Orochimaru of being a Konoha rogue ninja and unleashed Sage-enhanced Porcelain Release: Kunai Rain across the Konoha formation.
• Orochimaru and Kakashi raised defensive barriers, but Yichen’s Kunai Rain broke through them and left the Konoha Army unable to organize another defense.

Yichen’s attack devastated Konoha’s forces, but Orochimaru helped Hiruzen Sarutobi escape, and Konoha retreated with the Seven-Tails. Yichen learned that Rasa had secured a peace treaty and a new route to the Land of Fire, while Tsunade heard Hiruzen’s account of Yichen’s powerful Kekkei Tōta.

• Yichen’s Light Release attack killed most of Konoha’s deployed ninja, and Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the survivors to retreat.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten’in to hinder Hiruzen, but Orochimaru sent a giant snake to knock him clear of Yichen’s attack and then vanished.
• Deva Path Pain told Yichen that Sunagakure had signed a peace treaty with the Akatsuki Organization and exchanged territory to give the Land of Wind a border with the Land of Fire.
• Kakashi took the Seven-Tails during the retreat, but Danzo claimed it and led the surviving Konoha forces toward the village while Hiruzen fled separately.
• Tsunade learned that Konoha had lost more than eighty percent of its deployed elites, and Hiruzen explained that Yichen had used a Kekkei Tōta unlike Dust Release.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down and left Tsunade in charge as Konoha faced mounting pressure from Rasa and the other countries. Yichen plundered Konoha’s abandoned supplies, while the conflict ended in a treaty that left the ninja world wondering how it had been signed so quickly.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi handed Tsunade control of the village, warned her about Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and said Danzo likely had the Seven-Tails.
• Tsunade waited for Danzo at Konoha’s gate, but he entered through Root’s passage; she then learned Rasa had seized a coastal corridor linking the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire and might be preparing to invade.
• In the Land of Rain, Yichen and Nagato’s forces divided the spoils from the battle, and Yichen proposed that they pressure Konoha for funds.
• Yichen flew to Konoha’s abandoned camp and took its military supplies after the remaining ninja withdrew; Ishinose Kiyoshi notified the village to send a unit to collect them.
• The Lands of Earth, Wind, and Rivers, along with Kirigakure, increased military pressure on Konoha, but four countries soon signed a treaty with the Land of Fire.

The peace negotiations ended with Konoha paying compensation and making concessions, while Tsunade strengthened her hold over Konoha and the other nations gained benefits. Yichen then reviewed Iwagakure’s spoils and funding, which would support its costly research and Sage Mode training.

• The nations signed a settlement in which Konoha paid the Land of Rain reconstruction funds, paid mediation fees to other countries, and established a jointly administered free trade zone with the Land of Earth.
• Yahiko and Nagato decided to reorganize the Akatsuki Organization and send suspected foreign intelligence agents to Dark Akatsuki.
• Kisame Hoshigaki gained acceptance as Mizukage, while Sunagakure secured recognition of its land exchange with the Land of Rivers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi transferred his authority to Tsunade, who promoted a confidant and gained a leading position in Konoha’s major decisions.
• The Fourth Raikage regretted missing the chance to attack and complained that the Mist ninja had received mediation money despite doing little.
• Yichen and Iwagakure’s officials inventoried captured Konoha equipment, supplies, and compensation, then reviewed the village’s heavy research and Sage Mode expenses.

Yichen planned to strengthen Iwagakure’s ties with the Mist ninja and expand its influence into the Land of Demons, then secluded himself to develop Flame Release. After completing the Kekkei Genkai, he learned that Matsutani Shinya was close to entering Sage Mode and Kanako had become an Elite Jonin.

• Yichen proposed holding another Joint Chunin Exams and gave an S-rank mission record to the ninja who had provided intelligence on Konoha’s troop movements.
• Yichen warned that Sunagakure might break away from Iwagakure and urged the village to cultivate its relationship with the Mist ninja while seeking influence in a neighboring country.
• Yichen chose the Land of Demons as a possible target and assigned Tomoko to contact its Miko.
• Yichen secluded himself for more than a month and completed the development of Flame Release with Ogura Saki watching over him.
• Ogura Saki told Yichen that Matsutani Shinya was close to attempting Sage Mode and that Kanako had become an Elite Jonin.
• Yichen declined to train in Flame Release ninjutsu because he had not developed the Kekkei Genkai to improve his combat ability.

Yichen visited Kanako after she became an Elite Jonin and learned that her Paper Style Jutsu could create Exploding Tags directly. He arranged for the village to buy her tags and tested them, while telling her to prioritize her strength and limit production to daily practice.

• Ogura Saki left Yichen's home, and Han arrived after learning that Yichen had finished developing Flame Release.
• Yichen learned that Han could use the Tailed Beast Bomb but had not mastered the village's S-rank Ninjutsu, then invited him to congratulate Kanako on becoming an Elite Jonin.
• Kanako showed Yichen and Han Exploding Tags created directly with Paper Style Jutsu, and Yichen promised that the village would purchase her production and grant mission credit.
• Yichen advised Kanako to focus on improving her strength and limit tag-making to one hour a day, with two hours as the maximum.
• At the Training Ground, Yichen tested the tags and found their effects comparable to ordinary Exploding Tags; he kept four to check their storage life and arranged for the village to buy the tested tags.

Yichen checked on Han and his disciples, then watched Matsutani Shinya successfully enter Sage Mode and explained the stages of Sage Art training. After receiving approval from the village advisers, Yichen prepared to leave for the Land of Demons to investigate Moryo with Katsuya and Natsuki.

• Yichen encouraged Han to support his nine disciples and asked him to keep watch over Iwagakure while Yichen traveled to the Land of Demons.
• Yichen checked the training of Sokai, Chiga, and Sasagawa Ayumi, finding that they had made little progress beyond stronger foundations and improved teamwork.
• Matsutani Shinya entered Sage Mode after just over a month of training, impressing Iwagakure's leaders and renewing Ikura's resolve to continue Sage Art training.
• Yichen explained that Matsutani Shinya had reached the first stage of Sage Mode and urged him to practice until he could maintain it in normal conditions.
• Yichen told the advisers that the Land of Demons' Miko would support an Iwagakure branch if they solved the threat of Moryo, and said he would investigate the monster with Katsuya and Natsuki.
• Mei and Saka approved Yichen's trip, and he hurriedly dismissed Matsutani Shinya and left to prepare for the journey.

Yichen negotiated Iwagakure’s presence in the Land of Demons in exchange for helping Miroku resolve Moryo, then studied the Miko lineage’s records and traveled with her to Moryo’s seal. At the cavern, he discovered part of Moryo’s soul had escaped, and he and his disciples began investigating the seal while planning to deal with the remaining soul and wait for the escaped portion to return.

• Yichen met Miroku in the Land of Demons’ capital, and she agreed to let Iwagakure establish a branch if he could resolve Moryo completely.
• Miroku explained that Moryo and the Miko were one entity, and that each sealing had cost the Miko her life.
• Yichen, Tomoko, Natsuki, Katsuya, and Miroku sorted through generations of records and studied the materials, improving their knowledge of Yin Release.
• Miroku led the group to Moryo’s sealing site, where Yichen found a breach and concluded that someone had carried away part of Moryo’s soul.
• Yichen proposed dealing with the main portion of Moryo first and waiting for the escaped soul to return, then spent several days studying the seal with Natsuki and Katsuya.

Yichen partially opened Moryo’s seal and attacked him, then entered the seal protected by Miroku’s bell to fight Moryo directly. The battle ended in a stalemate, with Moryo questioning Yichen and offering him immortality in exchange for loyalty.

• Yichen told Miroku that he would weaken Moryo before she chose whether to seal him again or merge with him, and he warned that future seals might not last long enough for Shion to grow up.
• Yichen moved the mountain covering Moryo’s prison, and Miroku carefully undid part of the seal until Moryo attacked her with tentacles.
• Yichen saved Miroku and struck Moryo with Light Release, vaporizing many tentacles; Moryo retaliated with a Soul Impact that dispersed Yichen’s Porcelain Release Clone.
• Miroku gave Yichen a bell infused with Miko Power, and Yichen entered the opened seal in Sage Mode to search for Moryo.
• Yichen fought Moryo’s tentacles with Sage Art—Porcelain Release while the bell protected him from Moryo’s soul attacks, leaving them at a stalemate as Moryo offered him immortality for his loyalty.

Yichen defeated and sealed Moryo after wearing him down with repeated Light Release attacks. At Miroku’s request, he sealed Moryo inside Little Shion, where Miko Power could gradually consume him.

• Yichen trapped Moryo with Sealing Runes, then struck him repeatedly with Light Release as Moryo broke free of the original Miko Seal.
• Yichen carried Moryo into the sky and continued bombarding him until he was badly wounded and unconscious.
• Miroku determined that Moryo was alive but unconscious, and asked Yichen to seal him inside Little Shion so she could consume his power as she grew.
• Yichen sealed Moryo inside Little Shion with the Five Elements Sealing Jutsu, and Miroku then confined him with the Miko Seal.
• Yichen left an opening in the seal so Moryo’s power could seep out and Little Shion could actively absorb it.

Miroku made the Land of Demons an ally of Iwagakure, and Yichen appointed her its daimyo rather than taking direct control. Back in Iwagakure, Yichen organized a showy bandit-clearing operation and began investigating Moryo’s physicalized soul, while Yomi abandoned his plan to use Moryo’s power on the Terracotta Warriors.

• Miroku gave Yichen the bell containing Miko Power, pledged the Land of Demons to Iwagakure’s alliance, and asked to end the Miko role; Yichen made her the country’s daimyo instead.
• Shion used new power formed from her own energy and Moryo’s dispersed power to knock Miroku’s hand away, and Yichen warned Miroku to help search for the escaped portion of Moryo’s Power.
• Yomi sensed that Moryo had been sealed and abandoned his plan to use Moryo’s Power to animate the Terracotta Warriors.
• Yichen ordered Ikura to lead a large, carefully limited campaign against bandits and rogue ninja to influence the Four Great Nations without alarming smaller countries.
• Yichen formed a research group to study Moryo’s tentacles, and Katsuya proposed that they were materialized souls produced by high-level Yin Release.

Yichen’s research group uncovered how Yin Release worked through the decay of Moryo’s tentacles, allowing Yichen to reach the third stage of Yin Release. Meanwhile, Iwagakure’s campaign against rogue ninja let it annex the Land of Demons while Sunagakure and Kumogakure drew condemnation for occupying neighboring countries’ towns.

• Iwagakure offered to send small teams into nearby countries to exterminate rogue ninja, while Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure deployed forces in response to what they believed was an Iwa expansion.
• Sunagakure and Kumogakure occupied towns and seized wealth, while Iwa teams followed local rulers’ instructions and made little progress against rogue ninja; public opinion turned against the Sunagakure and Cloud ninja.
• Miroku ended Miko rule in the Land of Demons, became its daimyo, and invited Iwagakure to establish a branch there to deter Sunagakure.
• Yichen and the researchers learned from Moryo’s dissipating tentacles, and Yichen advanced to the third stage of Yin Release, becoming resistant to fatal soul attacks.
• Yichen disbanded the research group, stored its Yin Release findings as an A-rank Secret Scroll, and rewarded the researchers with mission credit and B-rank Genjutsu.
• Ikura told Yichen that Iwagakure’s branch in the Land of Demons was being established; Yichen declined requests to remove Sunagakure from occupied towns, preferring to let its actions damage its reputation.