Chapter Summaries

Shuji tested Itachi and Anko’s teamwork, then challenged them together and assessed their combined techniques. He arranged for them to continue practicing coordination over the next few days and offered to take them for meat to replenish their energy.

• Itachi defeated Anko in a spar by using his Sharingan genjutsu and Substitution Technique to reach her blind spot.
• Shuji offered Itachi and Anko rice balls and tea, and Anko accepted food after initially refusing.
• Anko and Itachi coordinated an attack on Shuji, combining her ninjutsu with Itachi’s shuriken and kunai strikes.
• Shuji countered their attacks with Water, Wind, and Earth Release techniques, then ended the exercise.
• Shuji told Itachi and Anko to keep practicing tactical coordination and offered to treat them to meat.

Shuji took Anko and Itachi out for sukiyaki, where they heard that Kumogakure was sending a high-ranking delegation to discuss peace. After the meal, Shuji offered to buy his newly formed team a few things as a captain’s gift.

• Shuji led Anko and Itachi to a sukiyaki restaurant and ordered a meal for them.
• The proprietress and other diners told them that Kumogakure was sending a delegation to discuss peace with Konoha.
• Anko questioned Kumogakure’s motives, while Shuji said its sincerity would be judged by its actions and the price it was willing to pay.
• After dinner, Shuji stood and offered to buy Anko and Itachi a few things as a gift from their captain.

Shuji bought Anko and Itachi protective gear and established how their team would divide future mission rewards. On the way home, Itachi told Shisui that he felt at ease with Shuji and asked whether Konoha had any special clans without surnames.

• Shuji bought Anko a purple combat coat and new protective gear, and chose a lightweight indigo uniform for Itachi.
• Shuji warned Itachi that he was not yet strong enough to use a new Fuma Shuriken safely, then paid 178,000 ryo for the team’s gear.
• Shuji set future mission rewards to allocate forty percent to the team fund, forty percent to himself, and the remaining share evenly between Anko and Itachi.
• Anko left for the apartment district, and Itachi declined Shuji’s offer to walk him to the Uchiha compound.
• Shisui met Itachi near the compound, and Itachi praised Shuji as thoughtful and said being with him felt relaxing.
• Itachi told Shisui that his father was concerned about Shuji’s other identity and asked whether the village had special clans without surnames.

Itachi learned from Fugaku that Senju Toka had maintained the former Senju clan’s connections and that Shuji might now hold that influence, making him an opportunity for the Uchiha. As Shuji’s team strengthened its tactics in training, an Anbu arrived with a summons from the Hokage.

• Fugaku told Itachi that the Senju clan had formally dissolved but that Senju Toka had preserved its connections, which Shuji might now maintain.
• Fugaku called Shuji’s influence an opportunity for the Uchiha clan.
• Anko, Itachi, and Shuji practiced a coordinated attack, combining snakes, genjutsu, and a fireball to defeat a Shadow Clone.
• Shuji continued trying to cultivate natural energy with Wood Clones, but most attempts ended in failure.
• An Anbu summoned Shuji to the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen assigned Shuji's Team Five a caravan escort mission to Chujie Port, with additional orders to investigate a rogue ninja group called the Black Erosion Corps. Shuji briefed Anko and Itachi, and the team prepared to depart at dawn.

• Hiruzen gave Shuji a B-rank mission to escort Hongshan Cheng's fabric caravan to Chujie Port and explained that rogue ninja threatened the area.
• Hiruzen identified the five-member Black Erosion Corps and authorized Team Five to investigate them or, depending on the danger, drive them out or eliminate them.
• Hiruzen reinstated Shuji's former designation, Team Five, and explained that the village could not spare other forces because of the coming Kumogakure delegation.
• Shuji told Anko and Itachi about the mission's objectives and warned them that the Black Erosion Corps posed an uncertain threat.
• Shuji ordered Team Five to assemble at the village gate before six the next morning for the caravan's departure from Southguard Post.

Shuji, Anko, and Itachi began escorting Hongshan Cheng’s valuable cloth shipment toward Chujie Port after Shuji questioned the merchant about the mission’s risks. The caravan departed, while the threat Shuji had identified in the village’s intelligence—the Black Erosion Corps—remained unexplained.

• Shuji led Anko and Itachi to meet Hongshan Cheng at the Pine Breeze Inn, where the merchant showed doubts about the young-looking ninja team.
• Itachi stayed behind to watch the loaded carts while Shuji and Anko accompanied Hongshan Cheng to eat ramen.
• Shuji inferred that Hongshan Cheng’s one hundred thousand ryo fee reflected fears of bandits rather than the Black Erosion Corps.
• Hongshan Cheng said he feared petty thieves and the Tea Mountain Gang, a group of two or three hundred men near Wild Tea Slope.
• Shuji, Anko, and Itachi returned to the inn, and Hongshan Cheng ordered the six-cart caravan to depart for Chujie Port.

Shuji escorted Hongshan Cheng’s caravan to Chujie Port, where men posing as guards tried to seize goods under a false tax. After driving them back, Shuji led Anko and Itachi aside and confirmed that the supposed guards were likely bandits from the Tea Mountain region.

• Shuji’s Shadow Clones scouted ahead and dealt with bandits, while one reported that the Tea Mountain Gang’s stronghold at Wild Tea Slope had been abandoned.
• The caravan passed Wild Tea Slope and reached Chujie Port, where a guard captain demanded a forty-percent transit tax and ordered his men to take two carts.
• Shuji blocked the men, defended the caravan under the terms of Konoha’s escort mission, and forced the captain to retreat.
• Shuji told Hongshan Cheng to pay the amount due under the old rules, and the caravan proceeded toward the docks.
• In a backstreet alley, Itachi pointed out that the supposed guards bore concealed tattoos associated with Tea Mountain bandits, and Shuji agreed they were bandits newly posing as legitimate officials.

Shuji, Anko, and Itachi stayed in Chujie Port after helping Hongshan Cheng, where Wasabi Jirocho explained that the Wasuke Clan had allied with the Tea Mountain Gang and seized control of the town. Jirocho revealed he had asked the Hokage for help, leaving Shuji to hear the details of the request.

• Shuji agreed to stay at the Sea Breeze Pavilion while Hongshan Cheng completed the cargo handover and feared the guards would cause more trouble.
• Anko spotted Tea Mountain Gang members watching the inn and offered to drive them away.
• Wasabi Jirocho arrived to meet the Konoha ninja, and Shuji invited him to explain why he had come.
• Jirocho told Shuji that the Wasuke Clan had absorbed the Tea Mountain Gang half a month earlier and taken control of Chujie Port.
• Jirocho said the Wasuke Clan was allowing the gang to levy extra taxes and exploit travelers, so he had requested the Hokage's assistance.

Shuji’s team discussed its mission to protect Wasabi Jirocho and the village’s reasons for leaving the team room to decide how far to intervene. Meanwhile, Beast Soldier Guard ordered the port guards to avoid a clash with Konoha, and Jirocho prepared to introduce Shuji to the person advising him.

• Shuji assigned Anko and Itachi to watch Hongshan’s warehouse, while Jirocho declined Shuji’s offer to protect him immediately and said he needed to make arrangements.
• Anko questioned the mission’s secrecy and suggested dealing with the people at the city gate, but Itachi and Shuji explained why the team could not act rashly.
• Shuji reasoned that the village was testing his judgment and explained that the Jonin team had authority to respond according to circumstances.
• Beast Soldier Guard ordered the port guard captain to monitor the Konoha ninja, avoid conflict, and suspend the city gate tax until they left.
• Jirocho spoke with an unidentified person, who said Shuji could get involved and would understand once they met.

Shuji visited Tsunade at the Wasabi Clan estate while preparing to carry out his mission. After testing his strength and learning that Grandma Toka had used a technique on him, Tsunade let him leave, and Shuji urged her to visit Grandma Toka.

• Shuji persuaded Hongshan Cheng to let him leave, then accepted Wasabi Jirocho's invitation to the Wasabi Clan estate.
• Shizune brought Shuji to Tsunade, who was drinking heavily and asked whether Grandma Toka was still alive.
• Tsunade suddenly pressed Shuji down with her strength and recognized that Grandma Toka had used a technique on him.
• Shuji explained that the technique had been accidental and that his mission was the matter Jirocho had told her about.
• Tsunade dismissed Shuji, and he told her that Grandma Toka missed her and hoped she would return to the village.

Shuji learned from Wasabi Jirocho how the Wasuke Clan seized control of Chujie Port after the Tea Mountain Gang was absorbed into its forces, and he asked the family to keep investigating. At the docks, Anko noticed arms dealers receiving priority shipment and sent a shadow creature to investigate.

• After Shuji left, Shizune criticized Tsunade for provoking and attacking him, while Tsunade reflected on her inability to return to the village and face its expectations.
• Wasabi Jirocho told Shuji that Beast Soldier Guard had united the Tea Mountain Gang, then the Wasuke Clan claimed to have defeated them and gained four years of control over Chujie Port.
• Jirocho reported that the Black Erosion Corps had once been hired by the Feudal Lord to defeat pirates but had since disappeared.
• Shuji asked Jirocho to continue gathering information about the Tea Mountain Gang and returned toward the Sea Breeze Pavilion to make arrangements.
• At the docks, Anko heard Hongshan Cheng complain that arms dealers were getting their goods shipped ahead of his, and she sent a shadow creature after them.

Shuji investigated the Tea Mountain Gang, a shipment of ninja tools, and the Black Erosion Corps, then concluded that the Corps was trying to establish a shinobi village in the Land of Tea. The chapter ended with Shuji explaining that Konoha had authorized them to drive out or eliminate the Black Erosion Corps.

• Shuji gathered information from Chujie Port's merchants and confirmed that the Tea Mountain Gang's resentment was building.
• Anko told Shuji that a shipment of ninja tools had arrived at the docks, and Itachi reported that it had been sent to Naqi Island.
• Shuji shared what he had learned from Wasabi Jirocho and connected the Black Erosion Corps to the Beast Soldier Guard.
• Shuji reasoned that the Black Erosion Corps was supporting the Tea Mountain Gang to establish a shinobi village in the Land of Tea.
• Shuji showed Anko and Itachi Hiruzen Sarutobi's mission scroll and said Konoha had given them authority to drive out or eliminate the Black Erosion Corps.

Beast Soldier Guard grew uneasy as the Konoha team prepared to leave, while Shuji arranged for Hongshan Cheng’s goods to depart and met with Wasabi Jirocho. Shuji proposed that the Wasabi Family expose the Tea Mountain Gang’s continued existence to the Feudal Lord, and Jirocho agreed to act.

• Beast Soldier Guard decided he could not act openly against the Konoha ninja but needed to make a move.
• Shuji returned to the inn and learned that Hongshan Cheng’s goods had been approved for loading onto a ship.
• Itachi and Anko distracted the guards while Shuji used a clone as cover and secretly went to meet Wasabi Jirocho.
• Shuji asked Jirocho to report that the Tea Mountain Gang had survived and that the Wasuke Clan had recruited its bandits as port guards.
• Shuji explained how involving Konoha could pressure the Feudal Lord without provoking a direct confrontation, and Jirocho agreed to step forward.

Wasabi Jirocho presented evidence that the Tea Mountain Gang’s criminals had infiltrated Chujie Port and said he would report them to the Feudal Lord. Beast Soldier Guard learned of the plan and ordered the messenger killed while Illusion Erosion watched Konoha’s ninja.

• Hongshan Cheng thanked Shuji for protecting his cargo and departed Chujie Port without him.
• Wasabi Jirocho showed local leaders evidence that the Wasuke Clan had not eliminated the Tea Mountain Gang and that its criminals were extorting merchants throughout the port.
• Jirocho said he had sent the evidence and letters to the Feudal Lord, and the leaders agreed to prepare but would wait for an official order before acting.
• A messenger reported Jirocho’s gathering to Beast Soldier Guard, who decided the messenger had to be killed before the Feudal Lord received the evidence.
• Beast Soldier Guard ordered First Erosion to kill the Wasabi Clan’s messenger and Illusion Erosion to watch Konoha’s ninja.

Shuji divided the mission into three routes to investigate the Black Erosion Corps, leaving Wood Clones at the Sea Breeze Pavilion while he escorted the messenger by sea. Illusion Erosion took the bait and moved to contain the inn, while Shuji’s main body came under pursuit offshore.

• Shuji saw a masked pursuer running across the waves toward the ship and ordered the messenger to stay inside.
• Illusion Erosion entered the Sea Breeze Pavilion, sensed three ninja upstairs, and suspected Konoha had left a decoy team behind.
• Shuji, Anko, and Itachi appeared at the window, revealing that two of the figures were clones, and Illusion Erosion decided to keep Shuji occupied at the inn.
• Illusion Erosion withdrew into the street’s shadows and began surrounding the Sea Breeze Pavilion with an invisible force field.
• Shuji’s Wood Clone absorbed the other clones and prepared to contain Illusion Erosion as the chapter returned to Shuji’s plan: he would escort the messenger, while Anko and Itachi protected the Wasabi Clan.

Shuji confronted First Erosion at sea to stop him from attacking the ship and fought him using Water Release techniques. First Erosion endured the attacks and rapidly healed, leaving Shuji searching for a weakness in his altered body and breastplate.

• Shuji told First Erosion that he had evidence of the Tea Mountain Gang's crimes and would take it to the Feudal Lord if First Erosion attacked the ship.
• First Erosion stretched his arm toward Shuji, who evaded the claws and struck the arm with kunai that barely damaged it.
• Shuji used Water Release: Water Shockwave, but First Erosion attacked through the waves with his elongated head and neck.
• Shuji cut First Erosion's neck with a kunai and then struck him with Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• First Erosion healed his neck and mocked Shuji's ninjutsu as Shuji examined his resilient body and sturdy breastplate for a weakness.

Shuji used a combined Water and Wind Release attack to damage First Erosion’s armor and expose his fear of a weak point beneath it. He trapped First Erosion in a rotating water prison, where a stream pierced the gap in his chestplate and left him defeated.

• Shuji evaded First Erosion’s attacks and unleashed Storm Rain Thousand Needles, bombarding his body and chestplate.
• The barrage broke a small piece of First Erosion’s chestplate, and First Erosion instinctively covered the exposed spot.
• First Erosion abandoned his defense and launched a reckless assault while secretly looking for a chance to retreat.
• Shuji stepped into First Erosion’s attack and trapped him inside Water Release: Reverse Whirlpool Coffin.
• First Erosion failed to break through the rotating water walls, and a stream pierced his body through the gap in his chestplate.
• First Erosion collapsed powerless inside the water prison.

Beast Soldier Guard recalled how Orochimaru’s capture drove the Black Erosion Corps to build their own ninja village in the Land of Tea. After learning that a Konoha ninja had appeared and the messenger might escape, he ordered martial law to isolate Wasabi Jirocho before launching an attack on the Wasabi Clan.

• Beast Soldier Guard and the Black Erosion Corps, discarded by Orochimaru, resolved to build a village of their own rather than join another village.
• Beast Soldier Guard targeted the Land of Tea, formed the Tea Mountain Gang, and used a pirate attack on the sea route to win the Daimyo Palace’s backing for a new village.
• Beast Soldier Guard learned that First Erosion had not reported back and reasoned that the messenger was likely beyond interception.
• Beast Soldier Guard decided to kill Wasabi Jirocho so the evidence against the Tea Mountain Gang would lose its credibility.
• Beast Soldier Guard ordered the city placed under martial law, intending to make local factions retreat to defend their own holdings and leave Jirocho without help.

Shizune introduced herself to Anko and Itachi at the Wasabi Family residence, and they prepared to defend Jirocho when Beast Soldier Guard imposed martial law. Beast Soldier Guard and two ominous allies burst into the front courtyard and confronted Jirocho.

• Shizune told Anko and Itachi that she was a former Konoha Chunin and offered medical support.
• Jirocho reported that the city gates had been closed and that Beast Soldier Guard was making his move.
• Jirocho refused to hide, then led his men to the front courtyard while Anko and Shizune prepared for the attack.
• Beast Soldier Guard and two strange figures blasted through the front gate and entered the courtyard.
• Beast Soldier Guard threatened Jirocho and the Wasabi Family guards.

Shuji killed a captured ninja after failing to get information from him and changed the messenger’s route as martial law closed around Chujie Port. His Wood Clone confronted Illusion Erosion, who hinted that the Wasabi Family was under attack and offered the Konoha ninja safe passage.

• Tea Mountain Gang imposed martial law in Chujie Port, and the Sea Breeze Pavilion owner warned Shuji to stay inside.
• Shuji questioned First Erosion, killed him when he refused to speak, and sealed away the body for the village to examine.
• Shuji ordered the messenger to return to the waters near Chujie Port and wait rather than risk traveling to the Daimyo Palace.
• Shuji’s true body raced toward Chujie Port while his Wood Clone confronted Illusion Erosion, who said the Wasabi Family was in danger and offered safe passage.
• The Wood Clone asked Illusion Erosion who he represented and how he could guarantee their safety.