Chapter Summaries

Yichen defeated Uchiha Island and a Root Captain, then interrogated the captain and learned that no other Uchiha had come to the Land of Rain. He left with his main mission still ahead and expected Root to respond to the loss of two Jonin.

• Yichen used his Water Pressure Lines and Earth Style to wear down Uchiha Island, then killed him with a barrage of Water Pressure Lines.
• Yichen used the mist and a genjutsu to make the Root Captain mistake Uchiha Island for an ally, causing the captain to be struck by a Great Fireball.
• Yichen subdued the badly burned Root Captain and sensed that the last Root member was retreating.
• Yichen sealed Uchiha Island's corpse, took the Root Captain away, and interrogated him with genjutsu.
• The Root Captain revealed that no other Uchiha had come to the Land of Rain before he died, leaving Yichen to proceed cautiously with his plan.

Yichen watched Hanzo and Danzo’s ambush of Yahiko and Nagato, then intervened when Yahiko appeared to sacrifice himself. He helped Nagato rescue Konan, leaving Yahiko alive and the ambush’s attackers facing Yichen’s sudden assault.

• Danzo ordered his subordinate to notify Hanzo and begin the operation immediately.
• Yichen confirmed the ambush site, detected White Zetsu clones, and decided to intervene to save Yahiko or earn Nagato’s goodwill.
• Yichen watched Yahiko and Nagato arrive alone, then slowly approached the ambush while concealed in the sky.
• Nagato noticed Yichen, and Yichen signaled him to use his own kunai when Hanzo demanded that he kill Yahiko.
• Yahiko struck his chest against Nagato’s fake kunai, and Yichen revealed himself and attacked Hanzo with Water Style: Raging Waves.
• Yichen called for Nagato to use Banshō Ten'in, and Nagato pulled Konan to safety beside himself and Yahiko.

Yichen escaped an aerial ambush while Nagato fought Hanzo and Danzo’s forces on the ground. Nagato’s Super Almighty Push devastated the attackers, but Danzo ordered another assault as Hanzo secretly prepared to use his poison against everyone nearby.

• Yichen evaded Root ninja and Kikaichū in the sky, while Nagato used Earth Style: Earth Flow Fortress to counter the ground forces’ attacks.
• Nagato protected Yahiko and Konan with Super Almighty Push, killing or disabling most of the Rain Village ninja and throwing Root members into the air.
• Yichen was blown upward by the repulsive force, then resumed flying and observed that several Root squads remained intact.
• Danzo ordered the surviving Root squads to attack again, believing Nagato would need time before he could use Shinra Tensei.
• Hanzo realized his forces had been nearly wiped out and lifted his gas mask, planning to use his Deadly Poison against the Akatsuki members and Danzo’s Root ninja.

Nagato fought Danzo and Hanzo after Yichen rescued Yahiko and Konan, but Yichen exposed Hanzo’s poisoning of the Root members and gave Nagato a gas mask. With Danzo’s remaining forces poisoned and Nagato’s Shinra Tensei nearing recovery, the fight paused as Danzo confronted Hanzo over the antidote.

• Nagato threw Yahiko and Konan toward Yichen, who used the Light-Weight Rock Technique to carry them out of danger.
• Yichen advised Nagato to break out of Root’s encirclement and target isolated ninja, helping him kill several more Root members.
• Danzo and Hanzo joined the fight against Nagato, but both avoided risking themselves while Nagato attacked them relentlessly.
• Yichen realized Hanzo had poisoned the Root members with Ibuse and warned Nagato, prompting Danzo to withdraw and confront Hanzo.
• Hanzo refused to provide Danzo with an antidote, while Yichen gave gas masks to himself, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

Yichen helped Nagato and Hanzo drive Danzo and the Root forces from the battlefield, then persuaded Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to avoid war with Amegakure and expand the Akatsuki Organization elsewhere. After resting, Yichen returned to Iwagakure to report to the Tsuchikage.

• Yichen convinced Hanzo that Konoha would not protect him and urged him to join Nagato in fighting the Root forces.
• Nagato attacked the Root ninja, Hanzo engaged Danzo, and Danzo summoned Baku before retreating with most of his forces.
• Nagato killed the Root members left behind, and Hanzo withdrew to Amegakure after Yichen promised Iwagakure would mediate with the Akatsuki Organization.
• Yichen checked the area, gathered and sealed the fallen ninja's bodies and documents, and explained to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan why he had not intervened sooner.
• Yichen proposed that Yahiko let Hanzo control most of the Land of Rain while the Akatsuki Organization built its influence in other countries, and all three agreed.
• After resting overnight, Yichen flew back to Iwagakure and went straight to the Tsuchikage's Office Building.

Yichen reported the devastating losses Danzo and Hanzo suffered in their failed attack on the Akatsuki, then briefed Ōnoki on Nagato’s strength and secured Iwagakure’s cooperation with Hanzo and the Akatsuki’s trade plans. Ōnoki rewarded Yichen with a free A-rank Ninjutsu, and Yichen considered which technique to choose.

• Yichen told Ōnoki and the advisors that Nagato’s Rinnegan had devastated Root and Amegakure while the Akatsuki’s three leaders survived with only minor injuries.
• Yichen explained Nagato’s abilities, and Ōnoki judged that defeating him would be difficult even with Dust Release.
• Yichen presented Uchiha Island’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan and recommended supporting Danzo so he could continue opposing the Third Hokage; Ōnoki agreed to disguise Root’s losses as Anbu casualties.
• Yichen reported that he had won over Hanzo and persuaded the Akatsuki to expand their influence and help open trade routes; Ōnoki sent Saka to negotiate with the daimyo and travel to the Land of Rain.
• Ōnoki awarded Yichen a free A-rank Ninjutsu, and Yichen decided to seek a powerful single-target Water Release technique.

Yichen sought Ōnoki’s advice after realizing he had become distracted by learning many powerful Ninjutsu instead of developing his own signature technique. He committed to advancing Water Style: Water Pressure Line Jutsu and began practicing how to control it for lateral cuts.

• Yichen asked Ōnoki whether he should continue developing Water Style: Water Pressure Line Jutsu or pursue other techniques, and Ōnoki urged him to forge his own path rather than rely on established options.
• Yichen recognized that he had become obsessed with acquiring advanced Ninjutsu and decided, at fourteen, to change direction before it was too late.
• Ōnoki watched Yichen leave with renewed resolve and began considering him a serious contender alongside Ikura for the Fourth Tsuchikage position.
• Yichen devoted his training to developing Water Style: Water Pressure Line Jutsu, learning Water Flow Whip as a reference for moving water horizontally.
• Yichen found that lateral movement destabilized the long, pressurized water line, so he began practicing sideways cuts with a shortened one- or two-meter line.

Ōnoki’s rumors about Konoha’s losses triggered attacks that nearly plunged the shinobi world into the Third Shinobi World War, but Danzo and Orochimaru forced back the Third Raikage. After learning how close war had come, Yichen accepted a new role as a Squad Leader Jonin and went to observe the graduating class so he could choose his team.

• Ōnoki spread rumors exaggerating Konoha’s losses in the Land of Rain, prompting the Cloud, Mist, and Sand ninja to attack Konoha’s border outposts.
• Konoha sent Orochimaru and Danzo to the fronts, and their decisive counterattacks drove back the enemy forces while Sunagakure withdrew.
• The Third Raikage sought revenge against Danzo, but Danzo and Orochimaru fought together and forced him to retreat.
• Yichen learned from Owl that the crisis had nearly sparked a war and realized the shinobi world could erupt into conflict at any time.
• Owl told Yichen he had been relieved of his Anbu Squad Leader post and assigned as a Squad Leader Jonin for new Genin.
• Saka gave Yichen an Advanced Class roster, and Yichen requested a day to visit the Ninja Academy and choose his team.

Yichen searched the Ninja Academy for disciples who had talent, strong character, and compatible abilities. He chose Kawakita and Tomoko, then grew interested in Kajiyamari after the boy proposed a creative improvement to a Water Release technique.

• Yichen watched Advanced Class students train with Yoshiwara and added Kawakita to his list after learning the boy had practiced swordsmanship every day for five years.
• Yichen tested the students’ Chakra sensitivity with Camouflage Jutsu, but only a Regular Class girl named Tomoko vaguely sensed him, so he added her to the list.
• Yichen reviewed absent students as potential candidates and went to observe Kajiyamari practicing Water Formation Wall with his father, Murakoshi.
• Yichen initially dismissed Kajiyamari’s ordinary Ninjutsu performance, but reconsidered when the boy suggested shaping the water wall to defend a wider angle.
• Yichen praised Kajiyamari’s idea and left, while Murakoshi was pleased that Yichen had shown interest in his son.

Yichen formed Team One with the three students he had selected and gave each a training plan and specialized materials in exchange for Contribution Points. The new team ended its first meeting by planning a celebratory barbecue before beginning missions the next day.

• Yichen told Saka he had chosen Kawakita, Kajiyamari, and Tomoko, leaving Saka struggling to arrange the remaining students into teams.
• Yichen and Ikura discussed their ninja experiences, the possibility of another war, and their former classmates; Ikura admitted he was flirting with Uzumaki Yumi.
• Kawakita, Kajiyamari, and Tomoko passed the graduation exam and were assigned to Team One, with Tomoko's near-failing result drawing surprise from her classmates.
• Yichen introduced himself to his disciples and gave them training materials tailored to their interests and abilities, with the costs charged to their future Contribution Points.
• Yichen announced that Team One would begin taking missions the next morning and invited the three disciples to celebrate with barbecue.

Yichen’s three new disciples began working together on daily D-rank missions while building their training habits. After more than ten days, Yichen tested their fighting skills and began giving each of them guidance suited to their strengths and weaknesses.

• Murakoshi learned Kajiyamari had become Yichen’s disciple and was moved by Yichen’s generous offer of training and meal formulas.
• Kawakita returned to an empty home, cooked for himself, and began planning a strict training schedule, while Tomoko celebrated her new apprenticeship with her family.
• Yichen led Team One on a fruit-picking mission and prompted Kajiyamari, Kawakita, and Tomoko to cooperate, helping them grow more comfortable with one another.
• Team One completed daily D-rank missions for more than ten days, and Yichen tested the disciples’ combat abilities using only taijutsu.
• Yichen guided Kajiyamari in simplifying Water Release hand seals, tested Kawakita’s sword foundation, and focused on improving Tomoko’s physical condition and basic knowledge.

Yichen trained Tomoko, Kawakita, and Kajiyamari, helping each make progress while developing the Water Pressure Line Jutsu himself. After months of routine training, news that the Third Kazekage had disappeared reached Iwagakure, and Ōnoki ordered preparations for war, leaving Yichen facing the conflict he had long anticipated.

• Yichen taught Tomoko the Three Basic Jutsu, and she quickly succeeded at the Transformation Jutsu while simplifying its hand seals.
• Yichen demonstrated swordsmanship fundamentals to Kawakita and Water Release techniques and hand-seal simplification to Kajiyamari.
• Yichen moved the Water Pressure Line slightly for the first time, and all four members of Team One made progress during their training.
• Yichen took his disciples for grilled meat, then led them through months of daily missions and periodic training sessions.
• Rumors spread that the Third Kazekage had disappeared, and Ōnoki told Iwagakure's Official Jonin to prepare for war.
• Yichen left the meeting feeling oppressed as he realized the Third Shinobi War he had prepared for was approaching.

As war approached, Yichen focused on strengthening his three disciples and arranged specialized training for each of them. At the Contribution Office, he submitted his upgraded Water Pressure Line as the A-rank Water Cutting Technique, then selected more techniques to prepare for war.

• Yichen assessed the progress of Tomoko, Kawakita, and Kajiyamari, then assigned each disciple training suited to their abilities.
• Yichen asked Sumire to guide Tomoko in Wind Release, and Tomoko learned the basics of Wind Release Nature Transformation before receiving the C-rank technique Breakthrough.
• Yichen taught Kajiyamari the Water Clone Jutsu and gave Kawakita a C-rank Ninjutsu Scroll to study.
• Yichen submitted his upgraded Water Pressure Line to the Contribution Office, where it was classified as the A-rank Water Cutting Technique and earned him a free A-rank Ninjutsu.
• Yichen exchanged for Earth Style: Mountain Earth Technique and an incomplete Lightning Release body-tempering guide, then chose the A-rank Water Style technique Great Raging Waves as his reward.

Yichen trained his students and practiced new jutsu as war approached, then received an appointment as Temporary Third Deputy Commander of the Eastern Forces. After steadying himself through the shock, he learned the appointment was also a test of will and asked how Ikura had handled it.

• Yichen exchanged Contribution Points for Great Raging Waves, Earth Style: Mountain Earth Technique, and a Lightning Release body-tempering method, then trained himself and his students near a river.
• Yichen learned Great Raging Waves after seven or eight attempts and mastered Earth Style: Mountain Earth Technique after about ten days, though its earth masses initially closed too slowly to catch a normal Chunin.
• Yichen sought Kitsuchi's advice, taught him about developing Fire Release, and trained with him while working on Lightning Release and improving Mountain Earth Technique.
• Kitsuchi developed Fire Release and left to return to work, while Yichen struggled to focus on Lightning Release and Heavy Rock Technique because of the approaching war.
• Yichen received an appointment as Temporary Third Deputy Commander of the Eastern Forces, calmed himself, and learned from the Anbu messenger that his reaction had been assessed against Ikura's.
• Yichen asked the Anbu how Ikura had performed after receiving his appointment.

Yichen learned that Ikura had reached Quasi-Kage level, then advanced to Elite Jonin himself and made rapid progress in Lightning Release Nature Transformation. His method helped Ikura begin training his fifth attribute, and Ōnoki appointed Yichen Third Deputy Commander of the Eastern Army while keeping the discovery secret.

• The Anbu Captain told Yichen that Ikura had become Quasi-Kage level, and Yichen vowed to catch up before the Captain congratulated him on becoming an Elite Jonin.
• Yichen returned to the Training Ground, exhausted his Chakra, and made a faint electric arc while training Lightning Release Nature Transformation.
• Yichen rushed to Ikura's home and urged him to train his fifth attribute immediately after his advancement; Ikura began practicing Wind Release Nature Transformation at his family's Training Ground.
• After about three hours, Ikura cracked the paper between his palms and told Ōnoki that Yichen's method worked best soon after a transformation.
• Ōnoki declared Yichen's method a village secret, offered him promotion rewards, and officially appointed him Third Deputy Commander of the Eastern Army.

Yichen took command of the Eastern Army’s temporary camp and organized its patrols, construction, and training as the village prepared for war. After assembling the eastern outposts and Anbu, he began building a force that could coordinate and improve its combat skills.

• Yichen celebrated his promotion with Kawakita, Tomoko, and Kajiyamari, then reported to Saka and received a mission to establish the Eastern Army’s camp.
• Yichen gathered supplies and traveled with his three disciples to the eastern front, where he chose a small hill away from the Coastline and summoned the outposts and patrolling Anbu.
• Yichen addressed the assembled Ninjas, assigned patrol and construction duties, formed specialist squads, and offered Ninjutsu exchanges to encourage Combination Ninjutsu training.
• Yichen kept the original outpost structures under their leaders, assigned several outposts to camp duties, and divided the remaining Ninjas by Chakra attribute to practice five designated Ninjutsu.
• Yichen added taijutsu, sword technique, genjutsu, conditioning, medical, sealing, trap-setting, and battlefield-cleanup training for Ninjas unsuited to Ninjutsu practice.

Yichen organized large-scale Ninjutsu training for the Eastern Army, expanded discounted exchanges for additional techniques, and adapted to a breakthrough that raised him to Elite Jonin. After detecting Konoha scouts and White Zetsu, he planned a coordinated attack on six Konoha Jonin and led forces toward them as another group moved to strike from behind.

• Yichen let ninja who had learned their first technique exchange Contribution Points for additional Ninjutsu at a discount, including Rock-Scattering Jutsu for Earth Release users.
• Yichen detected Konoha reconnaissance ninja and signs of White Zetsu, increased patrols, and focused on physical training to adapt to his breakthrough.
• Yichen reached Elite Jonin level, improving his control, speed, Hand Seal count, Body Flicker Technique, and several techniques' power.
• Yichen discovered that six Konoha Jonin, including a likely Elite Jonin, were gathering intelligence and discussed an ambush with the camp's Jonin.
• Yichen sent four Anbu Squads to circle behind the Konoha ninja, then led five Anbu Squads and thirteen Jonin and Special Jonin toward them as the rear group charged from the other side.

Yichen led an Iwa force to ambush Gekko Seikuu’s Konoha scouting team and used coordinated Ninjutsu to trap them. After Gekko Seikuu’s swordsmanship thwarted several attacks, Yichen’s group overwhelmed him, while three Konoha ninja fled and were pursued.

• Gekko Seikuu ordered Sarutobi Akira, Muraki, and Aburame An'on to retreat with their intelligence while he and two subordinates stayed to delay Yichen’s approaching force.
• Yichen sent Matsuki Sadahisa and seven men to circle around after the retreating Konoha ninja, then coordinated a Fire and Wind Combination Ninjutsu against Gekko Seikuu’s group.
• Gekko Seikuu used his sword to shield himself and his subordinates from the flames, but Yichen’s Water Cutting Technique wounded his thigh and killed one subordinate.
• Gekko Seikuu cut through Yichen’s Water Pressure Line and repeatedly dispersed the group’s attacks with his sword, but a Water Wave disrupted his balance.
• Yichen’s force battered Gekko Seikuu until a Wind Release attack severed his sword hand, then Yichen sealed his corpse and Chakra-conducting longsword while part of the force pursued the fleeing Konoha ninja.

Yichen returned to camp after defeating Gekko Seikuu’s group and reported the operation’s success, boosting morale and rewarding the participants. He then reviewed his command and combat mistakes, realizing he had overestimated his new Elite Jonin-level strength and that his swordsmanship remained inadequate against specialists.

• Yichen found that Hon’s group had killed Sarutobi Akira and Aburame An'on, but Muraki had escaped, and he returned to camp instead of pursuing them.
• Yichen reassured the tense camp, then explained the operation and praised the Combination Ninjutsu that had threatened an Elite Jonin.
• Yichen awarded the participating jonin and Anbu Squads A-rank mission records, lifted the alert, and reorganized the camp.
• Yichen recognized that leaving camp without a temporary commander and failing to account for Aburame An'on’s reconnaissance had been serious tactical mistakes.
• Yichen concluded that he had overestimated his strength against Gekko Seikuu and still lacked the skill to face Elite Jonin sword specialists.

Yichen refined his training plans, encouraged his disciples by explaining the recent battle, and sent Hon to report the operation to Iwagakure. After reviewing Yichen’s performance, Ōnoki decided he could remain in command of the Eastern Army and raised the possibility of retiring after the war to make way for the next generation.

• Yichen adjusted his training schedule and noticed that the camp’s ninja had grown more confident about war after their victory and the mission rewards.
• Yichen gave Tomoko, Kajiyamari, and Kawakita a detailed account of the operation, inspiring them with new goals and prompting him to consider obtaining a Genjutsu scroll for Kawakita.
• Yichen sent Hon and his squad back to the village with a report on the operation and Konoha’s reconnaissance mission.
• Hon reported to Ōnoki and the advisors, who agreed that Yichen should continue commanding the Eastern Army rather than being replaced by Owl and Kitsuchi.
• Ōnoki discussed retiring after the war and handing leadership to younger ninja, explaining that the village should remain strong in the eyes of other nations.