Chapter Summaries

After taking control of the Land of Waves and completing his check-in, Xu Fan heard Zabuza explain how he became a rogue ninja while trying to stop Kirigakure’s brutal Bloody Mist policies. The group considered how to respond, and Xu Fan suggested that war might be a good choice.

• Xu Fan took control of the Land of Waves’ maritime transportation and Gato’s former businesses, and Tazuna named the completed bridge Xu Fan Bridge.
• Xu Fan obtained the Two-Tails’ Chakra and the Eternal Mangekyo before preparing to return to the village.
• Zabuza told Xu Fan and Team 7 that he had tried to stop Kirigakure’s Bloody Mist policies by assassinating Mei Terumi, then fled and joined Gato to prepare a coup.
• Haku knelt beside Zabuza, and Kakashi and the others gained a new understanding of Zabuza’s motives.
• Naruto proposed going to Kirigakure to punish Mei Terumi, but Kakashi warned that their involvement could start a war.
• Xu Fan said that war might be a good choice.

Xu Fan revealed that he planned to conquer the other great nations and unify the shinobi world to prevent future wars. Zabuza remained conflicted about helping destroy his homeland, while Xu Fan declared himself the tide of the times.

• Zabuza and Kakashi were stunned when Xu Fan announced that he intended to wage war against Kirigakure.
• Xu Fan explained that he had unified the Land of Fire and Konoha as a foundation for his plan to conquer the other nations and establish lasting peace.
• Xu Fan argued that wars had returned after Hashirama Senju’s death and warned that they would return after his own eventual departure.
• Zabuza hesitated to help overthrow the Land of Water, but Xu Fan said his plan did not depend on Zabuza’s support.
• Xu Fan declared, “I am the tide of the times.”

Xu Fan assigned Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke to return to Konoha for the Chunin Exams while he prepared to overthrow the Land of Water’s regime. He enlisted Tazuna to plan a bridge between the Land of Waves and the Land of Water, then received a check-in prompt directing him to Kirigakure.

• Zabuza accepted Xu Fan’s vision of peace but asked how he would handle the Fifth Mizukage and Kirigakure’s shinobi, and Xu Fan said he would kill those who resisted.
• Xu Fan told Naruto and Sasuke to return to Konoha with Kakashi for the Chunin Exams instead of joining the operation in the Land of Water.
• Xu Fan explained that he would gather the Root organization for the mission, and Kakashi accepted the plan.
• Xu Fan asked Tazuna to build a bridge connecting the Land of Waves and the Land of Water, and promised to resolve the financial concerns.
• Xu Fan received a prompt to proceed to Kirigakure for a check-in reward.

Xu Fan gathered Root in the Land of Waves and revealed that its members had all been equipped with transplanted Sharingan. Their immense force shocked Zabuza, Tenzō, and Izumi Uchiha, who realized Xu Fan was preparing for a far greater campaign.

• Xu Fan assembled Root at Tazuna's house, and Tenzō arrived on Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders to observe him.
• Xu Fan recognized Izumi Uchiha among Root's members, and she explained that she had joined to investigate the truth about Itachi.
• Izumi Uchiha showed Xu Fan her Three Tomoe Sharingan, and he praised her progress.
• Yūki Neji led Xu Fan, Zabuza, and Haku to the gathered Root ninja, who covered their left eyes beneath their forehead protectors.
• Xu Fan had the Root ninja uncover their eyes, revealing that each carried a transplanted Sharingan and leaving Zabuza, Tenzō, and Izumi Uchiha stunned.

Xu Fan led Root shinobi into the Land of Water to attack Kirigakure, but dense natural fog blocked their route. He used an enormous Wind Release to clear the fog and carve a path to the village, leaving Kirigakure's shinobi alerted and a battle imminent.

• Xu Fan brought Zabuza and the Root shinobi ashore in the Land of Water, and Zabuza explained Kirigakure's fog and the single safe route into the village.
• Xu Fan decided to disperse the fog despite Zabuza and Izumi Uchiha warning that ordinary Wind Release would only waste Chakra.
• Xu Fan drew on the Nine-Tails' Chakra and used Wind Release: Typhoon Gale to clear the fog, uproot the surrounding trees and traps, and create a direct road to Kirigakure.
• Zabuza, Tenzō, Yūki Neji, Izumi Uchiha, and the Root shinobi were stunned by Xu Fan's power and enormous Chakra reserves.
• Zabuza warned that the disturbance would alert Kirigakure, and Xu Fan ordered the Root shinobi to crush their opponents.

Xu Fan sent his Sharingan-equipped Root Shinobi to invade Kirigakure, and Mei Terumi led its defense after sensing a massive Chakra presence. The attack overwhelmed the village, and Zabuza confronted Mei Terumi, declaring that his goal was no longer a coup.

• Xu Fan ordered his genjutsu-trained Root Shinobi to charge Kirigakure as part of his invasion plan.
• Mei Terumi sensed immense Chakra and suspected that Zabuza had brought a Tailed Beast, so she summoned her guards and went to meet the threat with Jūshirō and elite Jonin.
• Mei Terumi and Jūshirō discovered an enormous force of Konoha Shinobi with Sharingan invading Kirigakure, and Mei Terumi realized the village's natural barrier had disappeared.
• Mei Terumi unleashed Water Release: Water Formation Pillar, scattering the Root Shinobi's Fire Release and flooding the area.
• Zabuza arrived atop the water, drew Kubikiribōchō, and told Mei Terumi that his goal was no longer a coup.

Jūshirō challenged Zabuza but was quickly defeated, leaving Mei Terumi to face Zabuza, Tenzō, and Haku herself. Mei Terumi unleashed her Lava Release, and Zabuza and Haku countered with Water and Ice techniques as Tenzō watched the clash escalate.

• Jūshirō attacked Zabuza with Hiramekarei, but Zabuza used his knowledge of the sword to suppress him and knock it into the water.
• Tenzō and Haku stopped Mei Terumi’s guards from joining the fight while Kirigakure’s other ninja remained occupied with Konoha’s Root.
• Zabuza kicked Jūshirō into the water, then turned to settle his grudge with Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi attacked Zabuza, Tenzō, and Haku with her corrosive Lava Release, melting Tenzō’s wooden barrier.
• Zabuza countered with Great Waterfall Technique while Haku formed an ice wall, and Tenzō warned that Zabuza’s attack could threaten even the Mizukage.

Xu Fan watched Zabuza and his allies fail to defeat Mei Terumi, then joined the battle and revealed his identity. He proposed unifying the ninja world, starting with Kirigakure, and asked Mei Terumi to help him.

• Zabuza unleashed an enormous Great Waterfall Technique, but Mei Terumi stopped it with her powerful Boil Release.
• Mei Terumi's scorching mist melted Haku's Ice Shield and Tenzō's Wood Release Barrier, forcing Zabuza's group to retreat.
• Izumi Uchiha asked to join the fight, but Xu Fan refused and entered the battle himself.
• Xu Fan explained that Mei Terumi's abilities countered Zabuza's techniques, then identified himself as the man who had defeated Yagura.
• Xu Fan told Mei Terumi that he intended to bring peace by unifying the ninja world, starting with Kirigakure.

Xu Fan defeated Mei Terumi’s Lava Release and dispelled the genjutsu controlling her, revealing that she had unknowingly driven Kirigakure’s Bloody Mist era. He claimed Madara Uchiha was still alive to justify uniting the ninja world, but Mei Terumi recovered and refused to surrender her village.

• Mei Terumi questioned why Zabuza trusted Xu Fan, and Zabuza said he wanted peace and an end to the Bloody Mist Village.
• Mei Terumi attacked Xu Fan with Lava Release, but his Susanoo, strengthened by Three-Tails Chakra, withstood it.
• Xu Fan used his Eternal Mangekyo to dispel the genjutsu controlling Mei Terumi, and she collapsed after remembering the horrors she had inflicted on Kirigakure.
• Xu Fan told Zabuza and Tenzō that Madara Uchiha was alive and said the ninja world needed to unite to defeat him.
• Mei Terumi recovered, insisted she was still the Fifth Mizukage, and refused to hand Kirigakure over to Xu Fan.

Mei Terumi refused to surrender Kirigakure and attacked Xu Fan with her strongest Boil Release technique. Xu Fan answered with Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands and began crushing Kirigakure’s forces, declaring that he would end the war.

• Mei Terumi gathered her Chakra and unleashed Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique against Xu Fan and his companions.
• Xu Fan dismissed his Susanoo, entered Sage Mode, and summoned the enormous Senju Kannon Statue with Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
• The statue rose above Kirigakure, dwarfing Mei Terumi’s attack and leaving her kneeling in despair.
• Xu Fan activated the Byakugan, located the Kirigakure ninjas, and sent the statue’s thousands of fists crashing into their forces.

Xu Fan defeated Kirigakure, placed Yūki Neji in charge of the village and the Land of Water, and prepared to confront the daimyo. Zabuza spared the wounded Mei Terumi, choosing to let her atone for her actions.

• Xu Fan ended the battle with his attack, and the surviving Kirigakure Shinobi surrendered.
• Zabuza found Mei Terumi barely alive, and Xu Fan left her fate to him.
• Xu Fan ordered Yūki Neji to imprison the Kirigakure Shinobi and take charge as Mizukage and prefect of Water Prefecture.
• Xu Fan planned to meet the Land of Water's daimyo and threatened to destroy the country if he refused to leave.
• Zabuza refused Haku's suggestion to kill Mei Terumi and chose to let her atone.

After signing in at the Mizukage Building, Xu Fan received Two-Tails Chakra and Dust Release, then prepared to confront the Land of Water’s daimyo. He found the daimyo and demanded the Land of Water, while Tenzō and Zabuza feared Xu Fan might be too drained to defend Kirigakure.

• Xu Fan signed in at the Mizukage Building and received Two-Tails Chakra and Dust Release, deciding to let the Akatsuki Organization collect the Tailed Beasts for him.
• Yūki Neji warned Xu Fan that the daimyo had assembled troops around Kirigakure, and Xu Fan set out to meet him.
• Tenzō and Zabuza worried that Xu Fan had exhausted his Chakra and planned to use Mist Ninjutsu to prevent the surrounding army from attacking.
• Xu Fan used genjutsu to find the daimyo, defeated his guards, and entered his hiding place with Yūki Neji.
• Xu Fan told the daimyo that he wanted the Land of Water.

Xu Fan beheaded the daimyo of the Land of Water after rejecting his threats, then summoned his Perfect Susanoo to intimidate the forces gathered around Kirigakure. Zabuza recognized Xu Fan’s power, while Tenzō rushed back as the enormous Susanoo appeared.

• The daimyo threatened Xu Fan with the Land of Water’s army and the wider ninja world, but Xu Fan cut off his head.
• Xu Fan ordered Aburame Neji to carry the daimyo’s head and explained that the factions behind the daimyo would also need to be dealt with.
• Xu Fan activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and summoned his Perfect Susanoo, carrying Aburame Neji in its forehead ornament.
• Xu Fan turned the Susanoo toward Kirigakure and reached for its Chakra Katana to make the troops below see his power.
• Zabuza spotted the Susanoo as he prepared to defend Kirigakure, and Tenzō returned after learning Xu Fan had left with Aburame Neji.

Xu Fan used his Perfect Susanoo to terrify the Land of Water’s army, declare the nation conquered, and destroy the mountain barrier around Kirigakure with a single slash. He left the defeated army alive, ordered the Daimyo’s head displayed, and returned to the village as his followers welcomed him.

• Xu Fan proclaimed that he had killed the Land of Water’s Daimyo and declared the Land of Water part of the Land of Fire, while Yūki Neji displayed the Daimyo’s head.
• Xu Fan drew Susanoo’s Chakra Katana and struck a distant mountain, splitting it and shattering the surrounding mountains as the army watched.
• The Land of Water’s shinobi and samurai lost their will to fight, and many fainted; Yūki Neji and Izumi Uchiha watched in awe.
• Xu Fan dismissed Susanoo, ordered the Daimyo’s head hung at Kirigakure’s entrance, and returned to the village with his followers.
• Xu Fan celebrated his victory and anticipated conquering the Lands of Wind, Lightning, and Earth next.

After taking control of the Land of Water, Xu Fan executed the daimyo’s faction, assigned Yūki Neji to govern the province, and persuaded Zabuza to continue following him. He planned to bring Mei Terumi to the Land of Fire, offering her a teaching position instead of imprisonment.

• Xu Fan had the daimyo’s faction executed, relocated their families to the Land of Waves, and incorporated the Land of Water’s army into Root.
• Xu Fan declared that the Land of Water would become a province governed by Yūki Neji and told Zabuza to return to the Land of Fire with him.
• Xu Fan promised to end the Bloody Mist Village policy and develop the region into a tourist resort, and Zabuza agreed to follow him while warning he would revolt if Xu Fan betrayed his ideals.
• Xu Fan told Mei Terumi to come with him to the Land of Fire and offered to arrange for her to teach at the Ninja Academy.

Xu Fan returned to Konoha and learned that Yugito Nii had vanished and Orochimaru had been spotted, while Kakashi also sought his help for Rock Lee's devastating injuries. The chapter ended as Might Guy burst into Xu Fan's office.

• Xu Fan returned to Konoha with Tenzō, Izumi Uchiha, Zabuza, Haku, Mei Terumi, and one-third of Root, and learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi had died.
• Kakashi told Xu Fan that Yugito Nii had disappeared from custody without leaving any clues and that Anko Mitarashi had discovered Orochimaru.
• Xu Fan told Kakashi not to alert Orochimaru and reasoned that the Akatsuki Organization might have taken Yugito Nii.
• Kakashi explained that Gaara had left Rock Lee with comminuted fractures in his arms and legs, and asked Xu Fan to help him.
• Xu Fan began to criticize Guy for entrusting his student's future to someone else, but the office door exploded open.

Might Guy begged Xu Fan to save Rock Lee, and Xu Fan agreed to examine him after receiving a special sign-in task tied to treating Lee’s hands and feet. Xu Fan, Kakashi, and Guy arrived at Lee’s hospital room, where Naruto and Sakura were visiting him.

• Might Guy burst into Xu Fan’s office and begged him to save Rock Lee.
• Xu Fan received a special sign-in task to treat Rock Lee’s hands and feet and considered whether its reward might be the Eight Gates.
• Xu Fan agreed to examine Rock Lee but warned Guy that he could not promise a cure.
• Guy led Xu Fan and Kakashi to Rock Lee’s hospital room, where Naruto and Sakura were keeping Lee company.
• Guy told Rock Lee that Xu Fan might heal him, and Naruto greeted Xu Fan happily.

Xu Fan examined Rock Lee’s severe nerve injury and explained that surgery was the only way to remove the bone fragments threatening to paralyze him. Rock Lee chose to risk the operation to become a shinobi, and Xu Fan estimated a 99.9 percent chance of success.

• Xu Fan examined Rock Lee and explained that bone fragments had lodged in his nerves, making taijutsu dangerous and potentially causing lifelong paralysis.
• Xu Fan said surgery was the only way to remove the fragments, but it carried a fatal risk and had a 100 percent failure rate at current medical standards.
• Xu Fan asked Rock Lee whether he would accept the danger or give up becoming a shinobi, and Rock Lee immediately chose the operation.
• Kakashi asked Xu Fan how likely he was to succeed, and Xu Fan estimated his chance at 99.9 percent.

Xu Fan operated on Rock Lee to remove the bone fragments that threatened his ability to fight, using his Byakugan and Sharingan to make the surgery precise. He finished without complications, and Kakashi and the others rushed to ask how Rock Lee was doing.

• Xu Fan told Might Guy that Rock Lee’s surgery had a 99.9 percent success rate and arranged for the operation to begin.
• Xu Fan anesthetized Rock Lee, located the bone fragments with his Byakugan, and used his dojutsu and acupoint pressure to guide the surgery.
• Might Guy, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura watched from the observation room and discussed how Xu Fan could possess multiple Kekkei Genkai.
• Kakashi speculated that Xu Fan had learned a secret technique left by Tobirama Senju, and said he had confirmed with Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi that Xu Fan descended from Tobirama’s line.
• Xu Fan removed all of Rock Lee’s bone fragments without complications, left the assistant to stitch him up, and went outside as Kakashi and the others hurried to ask about Rock Lee’s condition.

Xu Fan saved Rock Lee with surgery, then gave him a Hozuki Clan secret technique that might reduce the damage caused by the Eight Gates. After leaving the hospital, Xu Fan tested his newly acquired Eight Gates by ordering a Wood Release Clone to open the Seventh Gate and fight him.

• Xu Fan told Might Guy that Rock Lee was out of danger after he removed the bone fragments from Lee’s body.
• Xu Fan received the Eight Gates as a sign-in reward and considered testing whether a Wood Release Clone could use the Eighth Gate.
• Xu Fan gave Kakashi a scroll containing the Hozuki Clan’s Water Release Technique, which could neutralize physical damage, and asked him to pass it to Rock Lee.
• Kakashi gave the scroll to Might Guy, and Rock Lee firmly declared that he wanted to learn the technique.
• Xu Fan reached a secluded forest and ordered his Wood Release Clone to open the Seventh Gate and fight him.