Chapter Summaries

Jueming and Mito Uzumaki teamed up to defeat and restrain Kaguya Bone, then Jueming used an illusion and a humiliating kunai attack to force a Parasitic Seed into his mouth. Kaguya Bone screamed as the seed was planted, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Jueming introduced himself as Kakashi Hatake and fought Kaguya Bone at close range, suffering a cut while discovering that bone armor protected his opponent.
• Jueming and Mito Uzumaki used the Type-1 Lamp Array and Grass Clones with chains to bind Kaguya Bone.
• Jueming cast Hell Viewing Technique on Kaguya Bone, then tried to place a Parasitic Seed in his mouth but could not open his bone-covered jaws.
• Jueming used Thousand Years of Death with a kunai to jolt Kaguya Bone awake and make him scream.
• Jueming shoved the Parasitic Seed into Kaguya Bone's mouth.

Jueming fed Kaguya Bone a Parasitic Seed that drained his vitality until he became a shriveled corpse. After absorbing the Kaguya Clan’s physique, Jueming gained a Grass Release skill that strengthened his bones.

• Jueming tricked Kaguya Bone into destroying a Grass Clone while the Parasitic Seed grew inside him.
• Mito Uzumaki watched Kaguya Bone convulse and considered what Jueming’s Grass Release Bloodline Limit might mean for the Senju Clan.
• Kaguya Bone’s screams disrupted the battles between Kakashi and Mei Terumī, and between Minato Namikaze and Suikazan Fuguki.
• Mei Terumī and Mangetsu Hōzuki reached the forest and found Kaguya Bone shriveled into a corpse.
• Jueming absorbed the Kaguya Clan’s physique, healed his arm, and acquired Grass Release—Body—Stem.

Senju Jueming killed Kaguya Bone, frightening Mei Terumī and driving the Bloody Mist Village group to retreat while he led Tekka Uchiha and Kakashi away. After Minato Namikaze also withdrew, Kakashi wondered whether Jueming’s shamelessness was what made him so strong.

• Jueming’s strengthened body settled after killing Kaguya Bone, and his gaze made Mei Terumī instinctively fear him.
• Mei Terumī ordered a retreat, while Mangetsu Hōzuki escaped with Kaguya Bone’s shriveled remains.
• Jueming declined to pursue the Bloody Mist ninjas and led Tekka Uchiha and Kakashi in the opposite direction.
• Minato Namikaze and Aoki Senju withdrew rather than fight Suikazan Fuguki, who ordered Kaguya Bone’s corpse examined.
• Mei Terumī and Mangetsu Hōzuki mistakenly identified Jueming as Kakashi Hatake, prompting Fuguki to suspect he was Sakumo Hatake’s son.
• Kakashi compared Jueming’s strength with his own and wondered if having no shame really made someone stronger.

After returning to Konoha, Minato Namikaze praised Jueming’s performance, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and the village elders discussed the Senju Clan’s future and Kirigakure’s movements. Jueming complained about the mission reward and invited Kakashi to eat, leaving Kakashi hoping to ask him for advice.

• On the journey home, Minato Namikaze praised Jueming for killing Kaguya Bone and leading the team’s retreat, while Kakashi reconsidered how he could become stronger.
• A few days later, Minato Namikaze and the others reported that their C-Rank mission had become an encounter with Suikazan Fuguki, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Jueming.
• Mitokado Homura reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi that the elders had chosen Sayuri as the Senju Clan’s future, then ordered an Anbu to summon Hatake Sakumo to investigate Hidden Mist’s movements.
• Jueming complained that the mission reward was too small and decided he would slack off if future missions became more dangerous without paying more.
• Jueming invited Kakashi to eat and talk, while Tekka Uchiha left to train and Aoki Senju recognized that Jueming expected someone else to pay.

Jueming returned from his C-rank mission and tricked Kakashi into paying for their meal before visiting Momoka Senju in the Forbidden Ground. After he revealed that he had defeated Kaguya Bone without using Water Severing Wave, Momoka Senju realized his strength had exceeded what she expected.

• Hatake Sakumo saw Kakashi walking with companions and left to take a top-secret S-rank mission to protect the Land of Fire.
• Jueming ordered a meal costing Kakashi's entire C-rank mission reward, then slipped away and left Kakashi to pay.
• Jueming reflected that Kakashi needed to improve and that Tekka Uchiha had learned the Four Legs Technique on his own.
• Jueming visited the Forbidden Ground, where Momoka Senju formed a Wood Clone and listened to his account of the mission.
• Jueming told Momoka Senju that he had defeated Kaguya Bone by other means, and she sensed the jutsu formula she had left inside him was still intact.

Jueming told Momoka Senju that he had awakened the Grass Release Bloodline Limit, and she examined him before warning him to keep it secret. After returning home, he asked Rin Nohara about her progress learning the Four Legs Technique and invited her inside to check her training.

• Jueming explained his Grass Release abilities to Momoka Senju, who examined his body and found no mutated cells or hidden dangers.
• Momoka Senju told Jueming to keep his Grass Release Bloodline Limit secret and to rest before training began the next day.
• Jueming praised Mito Uzumaki for helping with the mission, and she objected to his disrespectful way of addressing her.
• Jueming returned home and told the Great Elder how his C-rank mission had gone, reassuring him.
• Rin Nohara admitted she had practiced the Four Legs Technique, and Jueming invited her inside to inspect her progress.

Jueming helped Rin Nohara train the Four Legs Technique, then strengthened his body and learned more skills from Momoka Senju. After three days, Momoka allowed him to take another C-rank mission if he teamed up with others, and Jueming decided to visit Kakashi.

• Jueming guided Rin Nohara through Four Legs Technique practice and sparring, praising her progress while secretly harvesting [Kidney +1] enhancements from her.
• The next morning, Jueming tested his growing physical defense and found that a hammer strike left his bones unharmed.
• Momoka Senju trained Jueming in an Illusion Technique space, teaching him a range of D-rank techniques over three days.
• Momoka Senju approved Jueming for a second C-rank mission on the condition that he work with a team, and Jueming decided to check on Kakashi's progress.

Kakashi struggled with poverty until Jueming bought him a lavish meal and convinced him that his hardships had made him stronger. Kakashi invited Jueming on a C-rank mission, and they chose a commission from Aoki Senju to explore ruins in the Land of Fire.

• Kakashi ate plain rice at Ichiraku Ramen, where Teuchi added free toppings, before Jueming arrived and ordered Super Deluxe Ramen.
• Jueming treated Kakashi to Super Deluxe Ramen and persuaded him that enduring hardship had strengthened him.
• Kakashi invited Jueming to join him on a C-rank mission, and Jueming reluctantly agreed.
• Kakashi and Jueming went to the mission assignment office, where Elder Mito Kemon showed them unclaimed C-rank missions.
• Kakashi chose Aoki Senju's commission to explore ruins in a canyon in the Land of Fire, trusting Aoki's connections to Minato Namikaze and Jueming.

Jueming, Kakashi, and Uchiha En took a mission to search ruins near the Land of Rice and entered a dark canyon filled with human bones. Aoki Senju learned they had accepted his mission and rushed after them, while the trio encountered a sudden attack in the canyon.

• Kakashi chose Aoki Senju’s ruin-exploration mission despite Jueming’s concerns, and Mitokado Homura assigned Uchiha En to join them.
• Uchiha En introduced himself to Jueming and Kakashi, and the three set out together.
• Aoki Senju learned that Jueming and Kakashi had taken his mission and hurried toward the ruins to check on them.
• Jueming, Kakashi, and Uchiha En reached the canyon near the northern border and began searching for the nation’s lost treasures.
• Uchiha En knocked a desiccated skeleton away with shuriken after Kakashi stepped on a human bone, while Jueming instinctively dropped flat to the ground.

Uchiha En, Kakashi, and Jueming explored deeper into the dark canyon before a pale humanoid monster appeared and attacked them. The monster badly injured Kakashi, leaving the three facing an enemy whose speed or ability defeated Mito Uzumaki’s Perception.

• Uchiha En led Kakashi and Jueming farther into the ruins, where they collected artifacts and found a strange tree trunk.
• The trio turned back when the canyon grew too dark, but a pale humanoid figure appeared behind them.
• Jueming warned the others to prepare for battle while remaining on the ground, and the figure ignored their questions and advanced.
• Kakashi threw Kunai at the figure, and Uchiha En attacked it with the Great Fireball Technique, but it vanished from sight.
• The monster appeared behind Kakashi and struck him hard enough to break several ribs, sending him crashing into Uchiha En.
• Mito Uzumaki admitted she could not sense the monster, and Jueming saw its pale, spiked body and fanged mouth.

Jueming tried to escape after white monsters attacked Kakashi and took control of En Uchiha. When the monsters trapped Kakashi with Earth Release, Jueming used explosive tags to free him and fled with him, leaving the monsters behind.

• A white monster severely injured Kakashi, while En Uchiha struck him from behind and was taken over by a second white monster.
• Jueming threw a smoke bomb and rushed to join Kakashi, but the white spiral monster trapped Kakashi with Earth Release.
• Kakashi urged Jueming to run as the monsters closed in, and Jueming’s Kunai failed to cut through the earthen restraints.
• Jueming detonated a large supply of explosive tags, dropped Kakashi from the restraints, and pulled him away with a rope.
• Jueming turned and ran with Kakashi as the two monsters reacted in surprise.

Senju Jueming fought to escape the collapsing valley while carrying the badly wounded Kakashi, refusing to abandon him. After Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to help them flee, Jueming and Mito Uzumaki struck back with a combined Wind Demon Shuriken attack that cut through the faceless monster.

• The faceless monster attacked Jueming and Kakashi with Wind Release: Net, badly wounding Kakashi, while Jueming kept carrying him toward the valley exit.
• Jueming refused Kakashi’s demand to let him go, and Mito Uzumaki used her sealing script and rope to help them evade the monsters.
• The monster caused a Rock Collapse that crushed Jueming’s legs, but Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to speed them toward the exit.
• Jueming released smoke bombs and, with Mito Uzumaki’s Water Release, hurled a Wind Demon Shuriken that severed the monster’s arms and then cut through its chest.
• Jueming mastered his prone posture and unlocked the new Eccentric Movement posture, Grass Release—Body—Sit Down.

Aoki Senju and Minato Namikaze arrived in time to drive off Tobi and rescue the badly injured Kakashi, while Jueming remained wary of Aoki. After the group left, Black Zetsu and Tobi revealed that En Uchiha was alive and took him away as an experimental subject.

• Tobi charged Jueming and Kakashi, but Aoki Senju arrived and struck Tobi with a Water Dragon Bullet.
• Minato Namikaze attacked Tobi with Flying Thunder God, but Tobi’s body resisted the kunai and it escaped underground after leaving behind a disguised head rigged with an Explosive Tag.
• Minato Namikaze and Aoki Senju treated Kakashi’s wounds, and Minato carried him away while Aoki carried Jueming.
• Jueming noticed that the white monster’s corpse had disappeared and remained suspicious of Aoki Senju despite his apology and assistance.
• Tobi and Black Zetsu revealed that En Uchiha was alive inside Tobi, then took him away to transplant White Zetsu Cells into him.

Jueming returned to Konoha injured after rescuing Kakashi, while Root questioned Aoki Senju about the missions that had gone wrong. The chapter ended with Momoka warning Jueming that his injuries might keep him from the Chunin Exams, but he remained confident he could recover and keep training.

• Jueming arrived at Konoha Hospital, gave his account of the rescue, and kept his suspicions about Aoki Senju to himself.
• Yakushi Nonō and Root interrogated Aoki Senju about two C-Rank missions that had become unusually dangerous, while Hiruzen Sarutobi defended him and Mitokado Homura revealed news about Hatake Sakumo.
• Medical ninjas determined that Jueming had fractured leg bones and more serious thigh muscle damage, but expected him to recover without lasting effects.
• Momoka Senju told Jueming that his recovery would likely prevent him from participating in the upcoming Chunin Exams.
• Jueming reassured Momoka that he could continue training while sitting and believed he could recover with Grass Release: Parasitic Seed.

Jueming tested his defensive buffs in the hospital and told Momoka Senju that he suspected Aoki Senju. Tekka Uchiha then informed him that Kakashi Hatake was paralyzed and that Kakashi’s father had died.

• Jueming used a wheelchair to stack his defensive buffs, broke the nurse’s needle, and gave himself the injection through an existing wound.
• Momoka Senju examined Jueming, noticed his body had changed further, and urged him to recover before the Chunin Exams.
• Jueming warned Momoka Senju that Aoki Senju seemed suspicious, and she agreed to keep an eye on him.
• Tekka Uchiha visited Jueming and reported that Kakashi Hatake’s injuries had left him paralyzed.
• Tekka Uchiha told Jueming that Kakashi’s father was dead.

Jueming and Tekka visited Kakashi in the hospital, where Kakashi believed his father’s connections might help him recover. Tekka revealed that Sakumo had taken his own life, leaving Kakashi stunned.

• Tekka told Jueming that Sakumo had killed himself after the village condemned him for choosing to save his teammates during an S-rank mission.
• Jueming and Tekka went to Kakashi’s hospital room, where Kakashi’s classmates and Might Guy were visiting him.
• Jueming provoked Kurenai and then reassured the group that Kakashi was their most outstanding classmate after himself.
• Kakashi said he hoped Princess Tsunade could treat him because his father had known her, and Jueming realized the others knew Sakumo was dead.
• Kakashi thanked Jueming for saving his life and promised to repay him before Tekka told him that Sakumo had taken his own life.

Jueming explained Hatake Sakumo’s suicide and Kakashi’s injuries to Kakashi, who broke down in grief, while Tekka Uchiha resolved to grow stronger after watching Jueming. Underground, Danzō learned that the Third Hokage had blocked Root’s attempt to extract information from Aoki Senju and decided to recruit Kakashi.

• Jueming told Kakashi that he was crippled and that Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide, and Kakashi cried alone after everyone left.
• Tekka Uchiha left the hospital determined to improve his defenses and defeat Jueming in the Chunin Exams.
• Jueming and Mito Uzumaki joked about Tekka’s change in attitude as Jueming returned to the hospital.
• Yakushi Nonō reported to Danzō that the Third Hokage had prevented Root from extracting information from Aoki Senju’s mind.
• Danzō considered recruiting Kakashi after Hatake Sakumo’s death.

Danzo ordered Yakushi Nonō to approach Kakashi Hatake and Senju Jueming while Root watched them, hoping to recruit Kakashi and draw Aoki Senju into a trap. Nonō examined Kakashi and met Jueming, who eagerly agreed to let her check his health, while Root agents remained nearby to protect Kakashi.

• Danzo assigned Yakushi Nonō to gather intelligence on Kakashi Hatake and Senju Jueming, and Orochimaru prepared a new test using Senju Takeshi’s samples.
• Jueming sped through the hospital in his wheelchair and became captivated by Nonō when he saw her in the corridor.
• Nonō diagnosed Kakashi’s spinal damage and advised him to give up being a ninja, pursuing her own aims rather than Danzo’s orders.
• After Nonō left Kakashi’s room, Jueming noticed two figures watching over the area, whom Mito Uzumaki suspected were Anbu or Root personnel.
• Nonō introduced herself to Jueming and offered to check his health; he eagerly agreed and raced back to the hospital room in his wheelchair.

Yakushi Nonō examined Jueming, treated him to lunch, and learned he remained confident he would compete in the Chunin Exams despite his injuries. That night, she reported to Shimura Danzō, who ordered her to keep approaching Jueming and Kakashi Hatake and use Kakashi’s dangerous surgery as leverage.

• Yakushi Nonō examined Jueming and found his body unusually healthy, then treated him to lunch at the hospital cafeteria.
• Jueming told Yakushi Nonō that he would recover in time to defeat everyone at the Chunin Exams, while she privately worried about his condition and the Wood Release Factor.
• Yakushi Nonō left Jueming after lunch and later reported her initial contact with him and Kakashi Hatake to Shimura Danzō.
• Shimura Danzō dismissed Jueming’s confidence and ordered Yakushi Nonō to keep approaching both boys and reveal Kakashi’s surgery plan after Kakashi had suffered more.
• Yakushi Nonō warned Shimura Danzō that Kakashi’s surgery had only a fifty percent chance of success and could kill him, but Danzō insisted that life and death were part of being a ninja.

Jueming learned from Yakushi Nonō that Kakashi could undergo a dangerous surgery if rare herbs were found and his resolve strengthened, while Momoka Senju refused to let Jueming leave the village. In Kirigakure, Suikazan Fuguki ordered a masked subordinate to infiltrate Konoha and kill Kakashi.

• Jueming met Yakushi Nonō in the hospital cafeteria, where she explained Kakashi's wheelchair-bound prognosis and the surgery's rare-herb requirements and 50% survival rate.
• Jueming and Yakushi Nonō agreed to help strengthen Kakashi's will, with Nonō monitoring his mental state and Jueming supporting him as a classmate.
• Momoka Senju rejected Jueming's request to leave the village on a mission and warned him not to use his Parasitic Seed technique again.
• Suikazan Fuguki learned that Kakashi had killed Kaguya Bone and ordered a black-clad subordinate to infiltrate Konoha and assassinate him.