Chapter Summaries

Senju Jueming brought Uzuki Yugao to the orphanage to ask Yakushi Nonō to treat Hayate Gekko, who was seriously ill. Nonō agreed after Jueming promised to donate money, and he left Yugao stunned by his plans to ransom the Third Kazekage’s remains and his enormous debt to the Uchiha Clan.

• Jueming explained to Yugao that Kurenai Yuhi had tried to ambush him with an illusion and had been caught in her own technique.
• Jueming and Yugao visited the orphanage, where the children welcomed him and Yakushi Nonō worried about what his visit would bring.
• Jueming asked Nonō to help treat Hayate Gekko, and she agreed after negotiating a donation for the orphanage.
• Jueming told Yugao he planned to demand money from Sunagakure for the Third Kazekage’s remains and revealed that he owed the Uchiha Clan nine hundred million.
• After Jueming and Yugao left, Jueming returned and told Nonō to visit his house so he could remove the toxins from her body.

Senju Jueming tried to secure Sunagakure’s payment for the Third Kazekage’s remains while offering support to Uzuki Yugao as she cared for Hayate Gekko. He then visited the Hyuga compound to retaliate against Hyuga Hiashi, where Natsu Hyuga offered him a lead involving Lady Hazuki Hyuga.

• Jueming visited Hayate Gekko and spoke with Uzuki Yugao about the hardship of caring for him.
• Jueming said he would risk worsening relations between Konoha and Sunagakure to obtain money to save Hayate, and Yugao worried that they would become Sinners of the Ages.
• Jueming treated Yugao to a lavish meal, leaving her torn between her devotion to Hayate and her loyalty to the village.
• Jueming went to the Hyuga compound to retaliate against Hyuga Hiashi for revealing Kakashi’s Sharingan, and he encountered Natsu Hyuga returning from the Main Family courtyard.
• Jueming told Natsu about Hiashi’s claim concerning Obito’s Sharingan, and Natsu asked whether he was still interested in Lady Hazuki Hyuga.

Jueming agreed to help Natsu Hyuga take revenge on the Hyuga Main Family in exchange for information about the clan and secrets she had witnessed. After learning that pregnant Hazuki Hyuga was in poor health and heavily protected, Jueming decided to target her.

• Natsu Hyuga hinted that she wanted Jueming to punish Hazuki Hyuga, and Jueming asked what he would gain by antagonizing the Hyuga Clan.
• Mito Uzumaki warned Jueming against agreeing, but he explained that expanding the Grass Weapon Seed’s reach could help him grow stronger and save Teacher Momoka.
• Natsu Hyuga offered herself as payment, and Jueming accepted her proposal and asked her to reveal everything she knew about the Hyuga Clan and the village.
• Natsu Hyuga led Jueming into the Branch Family compound and told him about the clan’s oppression, including Hazuki Hyuga’s poor health and pregnancy.
• Jueming declared that Hazuki Hyuga’s difficult pregnancy amounted to the oppression of women and decided to liberate her.

Jueming considered using his blood to treat Natsu Hyuga’s vision and Hazuki Hyuga’s frail health, then met Pakura as she arrived in Konoha to negotiate for the Third Kazekage’s remains and Sasori. Pakura agreed to pay 300 million for the remains, while Jueming offered Sasori for an additional fee.

• Jueming realized that his blood might heal Natsu Hyuga’s Byakugan blind spot and help restore Hazuki Hyuga’s weak constitution.
• Jueming continued Sayuri’s treatment, sparred with Anko, and was summoned to meet the Sunagakure envoy.
• Jueming recognized Pakura and greeted her, while she remembered how his actions had damaged her reputation.
• Jueming demanded 300 million for the Third Kazekage’s remains, and Pakura agreed with authority from the Kazekage.
• Jueming offered to hand over Sasori for an additional payment, leaving Pakura stunned by his casual threat to kill him otherwise.

Jueming negotiated with Pakura over Sasori and Tsunade, while Danzo made Sunagakure’s alliance with Konoha a condition for treatment. Later, Jueming dealt with Utatane Koharu, and Uzuki Yugao and Kurenai Yuhi each set out to pursue their own plans.

• Pakura agreed to pay Jueming one hundred million ryo for Sasori after he cited Sasori’s assassination of the Third Kazekage and his Secret Techniques.
• Pakura asked Danzo to send Tsunade to treat Karura, but Jueming objected and Danzo refused unless Sunagakure formed an alliance with Konoha.
• Jueming claimed the four hundred million ryo from the Sand Ninja as his own, then left while Danzo watched him.
• Utatane Koharu warned Jueming that Danzo might move against the Senju Clan after an alliance, and Jueming took her back to his home.
• Uzuki Yugao saw Hayate Gekko coughing blood and left to ask Jueming to persuade Nonō to treat him.
• Kurenai Yuhi turned down Asuma’s invitation and left home determined to reclaim her dignity.

Yakushi Nonō, Rin Nohara, and Natsu Hyuga each prepared to visit Senju Jueming for their own reasons. Tekka Uchiha arrived at Jueming’s home and, after witnessing several women leave, was stunned to see Utatane Koharu accept Jueming’s slap and insults before Jueming dismissed their relationship as her insistence.

• Yakushi Nonō felt the toxins in her body flare up and went to Jueming’s home to follow his instructions for purging them.
• Rin Nohara prepared a calming medicine by diluting Tsunade’s potent anesthetic and then headed to Jueming’s home.
• Natsu Hyuga dressed up and set out for the Senju Clan compound to visit Senju Jueming.
• Tekka Uchiha went to Jueming’s home seeking advice about Tsume Inuzuka and saw Rin Nohara, Uzuki Yugao, and Kurenai Yuhi leave the house.
• Tekka Uchiha watched Jueming slap Utatane Koharu, who responded submissively, and concluded that Jueming had won her over.
• Tekka Uchiha confronted Jueming, who claimed Utatane Koharu had insisted on being with him and complained that he was the one being wasted.

Tekka Uchiha witnessed Jueming’s close relationships with Sayuri, Yakushi Nonō, and Natsu Hyuga, and the shock awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. Jueming then spoke privately with Natsu, offering to help restore the missing one-degree field of vision in her eyes, though he could not guarantee success.

• Tekka Uchiha visited Jueming and saw Sayuri recovering in a wheelchair, where she and Jueming acted like a couple.
• Tekka Uchiha watched Jueming grope Yakushi Nonō and suspected that Jueming was juggling several women, causing his Sharingan to approach evolution.
• Natsu Hyuga arrived, and Jueming put an arm around her; Tekka Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan without realizing it until later.
• Jueming told Natsu Hyuga not to take his mention of going to an inn seriously and offered to try to restore the missing one-degree field of vision in her eyes.

Natsu Hyuga asked Senju Jueming to treat her Byakugan’s one-degree visual field defect, hoping to strengthen it and oppose the Hyuga Main Family. After she agreed to Jueming’s conditions, he began the treatment.

• Jueming told Natsu that Sayuri’s severed limb and eyeball tissue had begun regenerating, though he had not tested the method on a Byakugan or Sharingan.
• Natsu asked how Jueming planned to take revenge on the Hyuga Clan, and he described using his healing ability under the guise of medical treatment.
• Jueming explained that his calming medicine could incapacitate patients but warned that the confidential treatment process might leave traces they could recognize afterward.
• Natsu insisted on proceeding voluntarily, despite her fear, and followed Jueming into the bedroom.
• Natsu drank the anesthetic and collapsed onto the bed, and Jueming announced that he was beginning treatment for her Byakugan defect.

Tekka Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and became eager to challenge Senju Jueming, but Jueming was away treating Natsu Hyuga. Tekka instead went to spar with Kakashi Hatake, who had begun noticing an unusual ability to predict what he was about to read.

• Tekka Uchiha tested his Mangekyō Sharingan's enhanced strength, speed, vision, and firepower, then realized what his ocular technique was.
• Tekka went to Senju Jueming's home to challenge him, but left after remembering Jueming had gone to a hotel with Natsu Hyuga.
• Kakashi noticed that he could anticipate the contents of the next page while reading, a sensation he had also felt during the Uchiha Clan's attack.
• Tekka challenged Kakashi to a spar, and Kakashi opened the match by throwing shuriken.

Kakashi tested his growing combat abilities against Tekka Uchiha, combining chakra techniques and the Eight Inner Gates to power up his attacks. Tekka revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and shrugged off every strike, leaving Kakashi wondering whether he was fighting Senju Jueming in disguise.

• Tekka Uchiha intercepted Kakashi's shuriken and dodged his attacks, while Kakashi used his Three Tomoe Sharingan to keep up with Tekka's movements.
• Kakashi combined Wind Release with Light Release and slashed Tekka, but his attack could not damage Tekka's body or clothes.
• Tekka revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and taunted Kakashi, who charged at him despite being startled.
• Kakashi opened the First Gate of the Eight Inner Gates and attacked Tekka with Light Release, Wind Release or Lightning Release, and enhanced physical strength.
• Tekka endured Kakashi's repeated attacks and called him the strongest at stacking buffs, while Kakashi wondered if Tekka was somehow Senju Jueming in disguise.

Kakashi’s Lightning Cutter failed to pierce Tekka Uchiha’s defense, and Tekka revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Ōyamatsumi. After Tekka sent Kakashi crashing into the Barrier at Jueming’s home, Kakashi realized Kagami Uchiha’s Sharingan might have awakened an ability of its own.

• Kakashi attacked Tekka Uchiha with a Light Release-enhanced Lightning Cutter, but it only tore Tekka’s clothes.
• Tekka explained that his left eye hardened his body against attacks and his right eye granted him mountain-like strength, abilities that would grow stronger over time.
• Tekka lightly punched Kakashi and sent him flying through houses and into the Barrier at Jueming’s home.
• Kakashi realized he had foreseen Tekka’s attack and wondered whether Kagami Uchiha’s Sharingan had awakened a special ability.

Jueming tested Tekka Uchiha's newly awakened Mangekyō and subdued him despite Ōyamatsumi's powerful defense. After warning Tekka not to reveal his Mangekyō or rush into leading the Uchiha Clan, Jueming continued planning to cure Teacher Momoka and take down Shimura Danzō.

• Jueming found Kakashi injured after Tekka Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō and used him to show off.
• Tekka flaunted Ōyamatsumi and claimed he could surpass Jueming, but their exchange of powerful blows failed to break his defense.
• Jueming pinned Tekka to the ground, proving he could restrain him even if he could not pierce his defenses.
• Tekka said he would return to the Uchiha Clan and beat its members into accepting him as leader, but Jueming warned him that force alone would not work.
• Jueming told Tekka to keep his Mangekyō secret and wait for a signal, while he continued planning to cure Teacher Momoka before confronting Shimura Danzō.
• Tekka looked down on Kakashi and called him the weakest of the three.

Jueming gained a new skill that strengthened his Yin Attribute by provoking people, while Sunagakure agreed to ally with Konoha and sent the critically ill Karura and her child for treatment. Konoha’s leaders debated whether the situation was a trap and decided to have Tsunade treat them.

• Kakashi left after Tekka Uchiha asked whether his injuries were serious, and Jueming teased Tekka about winning over Tsume Inuzuka.
• Jueming examined his new Grass Release—Illusion—Key Come skill, which converted the anger and resentment he provoked into Yin Attribute enhancements.
• A subordinate summoned Jueming to meet Utatane Koharu after Sunagakure agreed to ally with Konoha and pay four hundred million.
• Pakura reported that Rasa had sent the dying Karura and her child to Konoha for treatment, prompting Konoha’s leaders to consider the possibility of a scheme.
• Utatane Koharu argued that Sunagakure’s elders made a deliberate attack unlikely, and Danzo said Tsunade should treat Karura regardless of the consequences.

Jueming provoked Pakura into attacking him, gaining Yin Attribute energy from his new skill, then returned home and discussed Natsu Hyuga’s recovery and the Caged Bird Seal. He left Natsu believing in his promise to claim the Hyuga Clan and invited her to stay for lunch.

• Jueming thanked Pakura for sparing him, provoking her into attacking while her companions restrained her.
• Jueming gained Yin Attribute energy and realized he could use provocation to strengthen himself and manipulate situations.
• Jueming returned home and learned that Natsu Hyuga’s eyesight and physical fitness had improved after his treatment.
• Jueming told Natsu Hyuga that he could break her Caged Bird Seal once he reached Six Paths level and warned her to keep it hidden.
• Natsu Hyuga said she had entrusted everything to Jueming, and he promised to claim the Hyuga Clan before inviting her to lunch.

Kurenai Yuhi mastered the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and prepared to challenge Senju Jueming in Illusion Techniques. Jueming began studying Medical Ninjutsu and met Hazuki Hyuga at Konoha Hospital, where he secretly resolved to help her recover.

• Kurenai Yuhi woke after training, mastered the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, and set out to challenge Senju Jueming in Illusion Techniques.
• Jueming asked Tsunade to teach him Medical Ninjutsu, and she gave him her library of medical books to study.
• Hazuki Hyuga visited Konoha Hospital with Hyuga Hiashi for treatment of her congenital frailty while pregnant.
• Jueming saw Hazuki Hyuga through the ward door and decided to help her recover.
• Tsunade introduced Jueming to the couple, and he greeted Hazuki Hyuga while Hyuga Hiashi tried to read his intentions.

Senju Jueming offered to treat Hazuki Hyuga’s congenital frailty by increasing her vitality, asking Hyuga Hiashi to let Natsu Hyuga live more freely and promising to begin after healing Sayuri. Mito Uzumaki sensed deep malice in Jueming’s heart and feared it might be directed at someone within the village.

• Jueming unsettled Hyuga Hiashi with a sharp joke about apologies, then told Tsunade that Hazuki’s frailty might be treatable.
• Jueming explained that he could increase Hazuki’s vitality and cited Sayuri’s regenerating limbs as proof of his abilities.
• Jueming asked Hyuga Hiashi to treat Natsu Hyuga better and said he would consider a second condition after healing Sayuri.
• Hiashi agreed to Jueming’s request, while he and Hazuki welcomed the prospect of treatment.
• Mito Uzumaki sensed deep malice in Jueming and worried that it might be aimed at one of their own.

Jueming agreed to Kurenai Yuhi’s challenge to compete in Illusion Techniques after securing her promise to help revive the Senju Clan. They entered his backyard at night and prepared to begin their contest.

• After Hyuga Hiashi and Hazuki Hyuga left, Tsunade pressed Jueming to reveal how he had learned Regeneration of Severed Limbs, but he withheld the secret and agreed to teach Medical Ninjutsu and Monster Strength in exchange for it.
• Kurenai Yuhi confronted Jueming at his home and challenged him to an Illusion Techniques contest, then grew angry when he teased her and questioned her seriousness.
• Jueming accepted Kurenai’s challenge on the condition that she help him revive the Senju Clan, and Kurenai signed a scroll agreeing to the terms.
• Kurenai asked what would happen if she won, and Jueming promised to return her father’s savings and apologize to him; she then signed and pressed her handprint onto the scroll.
• Jueming led Kurenai into the backyard, where they took their stances and prepared to compete using Illusion Techniques alone.

Senju Jueming defeated Kurenai Yuhi in their genjutsu contest and reminded her of her promise to help revive the Senju Clan. The chapter ended with him pinning her down after the contest, ready to claim her pledge.

• Kurenai Yuhi began the contest determined to beat Jueming and honor their signed agreement if she lost.
• Jueming resisted Kurenai Yuhi's early genjutsu and quickly trapped her with his own techniques.
• Kurenai Yuhi used Tree Binding Death and Bringer-of-Darkness, but Jueming countered both and dispelled the darkness first.
• Jueming dragged Kurenai Yuhi into the house, pinned her down, and told her it was time to fulfill her promise to help revive the Senju Clan.

Baki brought the pregnant Karura to Konoha, where Tsunade discovered that the One-Tails Shukaku had been sealed inside her unborn child, Gaara. Tsunade warned that Karura and the fetus could both die unless she found a way to help, and she left to consult Jueming.

• Shinku returned home, found Kurenai’s note saying she would be away, and was surprised when Asuma arrived looking for her.
• Baki arrived at Konoha with Karura and his Sunagakure companions, and Pakura welcomed them to their arranged residence.
• Baki urged Tsunade to treat Karura, and Tsunade discovered that Shukaku had been sealed inside the unborn Gaara.
• Tsunade explained that Karura’s mental strength had let her resist Shukaku, but her body was failing and both mother and child faced grave danger.
• Baki and Pakura agreed they had to trust Konoha, while Tsunade left to ask Jueming about ways to increase life force.

Jueming learned that Karura had visited and agreed to meet with her, then began studying Monster Strength under Tsunade. After losing an illusion contest to Jueming, Kurenai rejected Asuma and cried behind her door, leaving him worried and asking Anko to check on her.

• Jueming saw that his Grass Release illusion skill had strengthened his resistance to Genjutsu.
• Tsunade told Jueming that Karura had visited, and he agreed to meet with her while planning to teach her and Pakura a lesson.
• Tsunade offered to teach Jueming Monster Strength, and he went with her to begin training.
• Kurenai remembered her defeat in the illusion contest with Jueming, rejected Asuma's invitation, and cried after he left.
• Asuma asked Anko to check on Kurenai, and Anko accepted before hurrying toward the Senju Clan compound.