Chapter Summaries

After recovering from his injuries, Ye Zi persuaded Orochimaru to help him master Senjutsu so he could attack Konoha and reclaim Kotoha's body. They traveled to Ryūchi Cave to meet the White Snake Sage, while Nanako discovered they had left the hideout.

• Orochimaru brought the badly injured Ye Zi back to the hideout, where Nanako treated him.
• Ye Zi told Orochimaru he planned to attack Konoha and reclaim Kotoha's body so he could revive her with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Ye Zi offered Orochimaru information about Madara Uchiha, the Rinnegan, and his collected Impure World Reincarnation bodies in exchange for help.
• Orochimaru agreed to take Ye Zi to Ryūchi Cave, and they used Reverse Summoning Jutsu to arrive there.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, and Ye Zi ordered him to lead them to the White Snake Sage's palace.
• Nanako arrived at the infirmary and discovered Ye Zi and Orochimaru had left without telling anyone.

Ye Zi began cultivating Senjutsu under the White Snake Sage, who injected violent Natural Energy into his body. As scales spread across him, Orochimaru and Manda watched the White Snake Sage react with unexpected astonishment.

• Manda brought Ye Zi and Orochimaru before the White Snake Sage, who judged Ye Zi a promising candidate for Senjutsu.
• The White Snake Sage asked Ye Zi whether he understood the risks, and Ye Zi agreed to begin while Orochimaru declined to cultivate for now.
• The White Snake Sage bit Ye Zi's shoulder and injected Natural Energy into his body.
• Ye Zi tried to control the violent Natural Energy with his Chakra, but it rejected his attempts and made his emotions more irritable.
• White scales began covering Ye Zi's skin, and Orochimaru and Manda noticed astonishment in the White Snake Sage's eyes.

Ye Zi endured the effects of Natural Energy for nearly ten hours while learning to control it, earning the White Snake Sage’s admiration as he approached mastering Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode. Just as his scales began to recede, the White Snake Sage suddenly bit his shoulder and injected him with more Natural Energy, prompting Orochimaru to demand an explanation.

• Ye Zi struggled to control the Natural Energy fused with his Chakra as white scales spread across nearly ninety percent of his body.
• After ten hours, the scales stopped spreading, and the White Snake Sage praised Ye Zi as an extraordinary human.
• Manda realized Ye Zi had retained his reason during snake transformation and recognized that he had lasted far longer than past visitors.
• The White Snake Sage anticipated Ye Zi becoming the first human to master Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode, while Orochimaru and Manda watched.
• One of Ye Zi’s scales disappeared, and the White Snake Sage bit his shoulder and injected more Natural Energy.
• Orochimaru demanded to know why the White Snake Sage had injected Ye Zi again.

The White Snake Sage injected Ye Zi with Natural Energy a second time, forcing him to endure a much more difficult Sage Mode trial. As the twenty-four-hour limit approached, Ye Zi overcame the strain and achieved perfect Sage Mode.

• The White Snake Sage injected Ye Zi with more Natural Energy despite Orochimaru's objections, then ordered him to watch quietly.
• Ye Zi struggled to control the second influx, but used his experience to merge the Natural Energy with his Chakra and restore his balance.
• Over the next hours, Ye Zi's white scales gradually disappeared as his mastery of Sage Mode improved.
• With ten minutes left in the trial, Ye Zi's final scale vanished and Sage Mode markings appeared around his eyes.

Konoha used its Yamanaka memory-reading technology to extract intelligence from Kotoha, learning the location of Ye Zi and Orochimaru’s base and the method of gaining Wood Release. Minato and Jiraiya organized a joint Konoha and Sand mission to capture the base, and the force set out.

• Inoichi Yamanaka and three other Yamanaka clan members read Kotoha’s memories while Minato and Jiraiya watched.
• Inoichi told Minato and Jiraiya about the base in the Land of Stone and the use of Hashirama Cells to obtain Wood Release.
• Minato and Jiraiya brought the intelligence to the Hokage’s office, where Konoha’s leaders decided to send a team to capture the base.
• Konoha selected thirty Jonin and forty Chunin and invited Sunagakure to join the mission against Ye Zi’s base.
• Konoha’s team, joined by Sand ninja, set out to suppress the base where Orochimaru, Ye Zi, and Uchiha Jin were the main threats.

Ye Zi mastered Sage Mode in Ryūchi Cave and learned the Snake Sage technique Inorganic Reincarnation from the White Snake Sage. Meanwhile, Konoha and Sand forces joined up in the Land of Stone and advanced toward his base, whose occupants remained unaware of the danger.

• Ye Zi continued training after mastering Sage Mode, improving his Senjutsu Chakra control and working to shorten its activation time while Manda served as his training partner.
• On his sixth day in Ryūchi Cave, Ye Zi asked the White Snake Sage to teach him a Senjutsu technique, and she demonstrated Inorganic Reincarnation by animating the stone floor.
• The White Snake Sage taught Ye Zi Inorganic Reincarnation, and he went to a training ground to practice controlling inorganic objects with Senjutsu Chakra.
• In the Land of Stone, Konoha's punitive force joined a forty-five-person Sand ninja team, and the combined force headed toward Ye Zi's base using precise location intelligence.
• The people inside Ye Zi's base remained unaware that the Konoha and Sand forces were approaching.

Orochimaru detected a combined Konoha and Sand ninja force approaching his stronghold and prepared to use the attack to test Ye Zi’s Sage Mode and Inorganic Reincarnation. As the enemy reached him, Orochimaru summoned a snake that vanished in smoke, revealing an indistinct figure.

• Orochimaru learned through his hidden snakes that the joint force was approaching and ordered Fish to prepare the stronghold for battle.
• Orochimaru left the stronghold and waited outside, planning to summon Ye Zi rather than face the force alone.
• Ye Zi finished training his Sage Mode and Inorganic Reincarnation in Ryūchi Cave, freed Manda, and set out to deal with the attackers.
• The roughly one hundred and twenty Konoha and Sand ninja reached the stronghold, where Orochimaru stood waiting for them.
• Orochimaru summoned a boa constrictor, which disappeared in white smoke as an indistinct figure appeared behind it.

Ye Zi used Sage Mode and Senjutsu Inorganic Reincarnation to kill more than a hundred Konoha and Sand ninja, then told Orochimaru to prepare an attack on Konoha. He chose to wait for White Zetsu before proceeding, despite Orochimaru warning that delay could cost them the chance to launch a surprise attack.

• Ye Zi emerged in Sage Mode and approached the Konoha and Sand ninja forces with Orochimaru.
• Ye Zi manipulated the ground to impale every enemy with stone pillars, killing more than a hundred ninja.
• Ye Zi erased the bodies and told Orochimaru that he had used Senjutsu Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Ye Zi proposed attacking Konoha, and Orochimaru mentioned that a spy there could provide a deployment map.
• Ye Zi said he would wait for White Zetsu because he needed his abilities, despite Orochimaru's warning about delaying the attack.

Ye Zi and Orochimaru planned an assault on Konoha to recover Kotoha's body, choosing Impure World Reincarnation fighters and preparing to obtain a defense map en route. White Zetsu returned with Scorpion, but Ye Zi left Kimimaro behind because he was too weak to help.

• Nanako embraced Ye Zi when he returned, and Ye Zi told Uchiha Jin to prepare for an attack on Konoha in a few days.
• Ye Zi and Orochimaru planned to acquire Konoha's defense map on the way and use up to twenty Impure World Reincarnation bodies, with Dan Katō and Hatake Sakumo as their main forces.
• Ye Zi warned Orochimaru to preserve Dan Katō and Hatake Sakumo if the battle went badly, while Orochimaru cautioned that Ye Zi's infiltration would be dangerous.
• White Zetsu returned to the base with Scorpion, and Ye Zi and the others prepared to leave for Konoha.
• Kimimaro asked Ye Zi to take him along, but Ye Zi said he was too weak, then left with Orochimaru, Scorpion, and Uchiha Jin.

Ye Zi entered the Land of Fire and approached Konoha while Kurenai celebrated her eighteenth birthday with friends. The celebration ended abruptly when an explosion shook the village, and Kakashi confronted Ye Zi at a nearby training ground.

• Ye Zi retrieved Kabuto's rough map of Konoha's defenses, gave it to Orochimaru, and planned for Dan Katō to face Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo to fight among many enemies.
• Kurenai celebrated her birthday with Might Guy, Rin, Obito, Asuma, Hayate, Genma, and Anko, while Kakashi stayed away to train.
• Might Guy diverted attention from questions about Kurenai's red dress by starting a handstand race, and the group later ate at the Tasty Barbecue restaurant.
• A huge explosion shook the village, prompting Might Guy and the others to rush toward the smoke in the northeast.
• At the northeastern training grounds, Kakashi confronted Ye Zi with his short blade.

Ye Zi invaded Konoha and fought Kakashi while Manda rampaged through the village. Just as Ye Zi was about to kill Kakashi, Might Guy arrived and faced his former teacher.

• Ye Zi slipped past Konoha’s northeastern barrier and ambushed Kakashi in the training grounds.
• Kakashi sent the Genin away to warn the village, but Manda appeared and began destroying nearby buildings.
• Kakashi attacked Ye Zi with his wind-and-lightning blade style, but Ye Zi blocked his strikes and gradually gained the upper hand.
• Ye Zi broke through Kakashi’s guard and thrust toward his heart.
• Might Guy kicked Ye Zi’s arm aside, saved Kakashi, and confronted Ye Zi.

Ye Zi activated Sage Mode and overpowered Kakashi and Might Guy as he pushed toward Konoha Hospital to rescue Kotoha. Kurenai, Obito, and Rin arrived to confront him, leaving the clash with his former students poised to begin.

• Might Guy and Kakashi joined forces against Ye Zi, but Ye Zi activated Sage Mode as they prepared to attack.
• Kakashi and Might Guy launched a combined assault, and Ye Zi sent them flying with an invisible force without stopping his advance.
• Ye Zi sensed that Kotoha might be held for study at Konoha Hospital and headed there to rescue her.
• Kurenai, Obito, and Rin arrived, and Obito drew a Flying Thunder God Kunai as Ye Zi faced them.

After Ye Zi fought off the others’ attacks, Kurenai, Obito, and Might Guy prepared to battle him, but he trapped them in a genjutsu and appeared to kill them. He strangled Kurenai as she watched the others die, and darkness swallowed her consciousness.

• Might Guy emerged from the ruins and told Obito that Kakashi had been thrown into the woods, while Obito and Kurenai prepared to fight Ye Zi.
• Obito took a defensive position, Kurenai cut her red dress into a skirt, and Might Guy opened the sixth gate before attacking Ye Zi with the Morning Peacock.
• Ye Zi blocked the Morning Peacock with an Earth Wall, then disappeared into the ground and emerged behind Might Guy and Kurenai.
• Kurenai cast the Hell Viewing Technique on Ye Zi, but his Sharingan resisted it, and he used stone pillars to make Might Guy, Obito, and Rin appear to die.
• Ye Zi lifted Kurenai by the neck, and she heard bones snap before losing consciousness.

Ye Zi defeated Kurenai, Obito, and Might Guy with overwhelming force while Rin was gravely wounded. He spared Might Guy and left the ruined streets, with the younger Konoha fighters unable to stop him.

• Ye Zi reversed Kurenai's genjutsu, knocking her unconscious, then blasted Might Guy away despite his opening the Eight Inner Gates.
• Obito tried to take Rin to safety, but Ye Zi pierced Obito's arm with a Stone Spike and then stabbed Rin through the abdomen with another.
• Obito used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Rin, but Ye Zi sensed an approaching threat and blasted him away; Might Guy attacked Ye Zi from behind.
• Ye Zi blocked Might Guy's full-powered punch, smashed him into the ground, and stomped on his abdomen until his Eight Gates glow faded.
• Ye Zi noticed Might Guy's patched wallet, chose not to kill him, and told him to value his life before leaving the ruined streets.

Konoha came under attack as Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation forces and summoned snakes struck the village and its clans. Ye Zi moved toward an approaching enemy force, while Jiraiya confronted Scorpion and Uchiha Jin near the breached main gate.

• Ye Zi sensed nearly a hundred enemies approaching and headed toward them, intending to let them surround him.
• Orochimaru's resurrected clan members attacked their own compounds, and Itachi and Shisui joined the Uchiha defense by cutting down two attackers and planning to restrain them.
• Scorpion and Uchiha Jin broke through Konoha's main gate with ten human puppets as three giant snakes rampaged through the village.
• Gamabunta killed one of the giant snakes, and Jiraiya confronted Scorpion while Konoha ninja gathered on nearby rooftops.
• Orochimaru controlled the invasion from a hidden cave and considered summoning more giant snakes.

Ye Zi trapped nearly a hundred Konoha ninja with a combination of Wood Release and manipulated stone, while the Impure World Reincarnation bodies and other forces spread destruction across the village. As Minato and Shikaku Nara prepared Konoha’s response, Ye Zi began a fatal attack on the captured ninja, directing his display of force at Minato.

• Ye Zi let nearly a hundred Konoha ninja surround him, then dodged their combined ninjutsu and hidden weapons by leaping above them.
• Ye Zi raised a stone pillar and used Wood Release to make roots burst from the twisted houses, trapping the Konoha ninja who jumped from the rooftops.
• Ye Zi sensed Minato beneath the Hokage Rock as battles and smoke spread across Konoha from the Impure World Reincarnation bodies, summoned beasts, and Scorpion duo.
• Minato tasked Shikaku Nara with arranging Konoha’s response, including sending sealing squad members to deal with the Impure World Reincarnation bodies.
• Ye Zi launched a fatal attack on the restrained Konoha ninja as Minato watched from the Hokage office building.

Ye Zi unleashed a devastating attack on Konoha’s eastern district, killing hundreds of ninja and razing the area as Kushina headed toward him. The village’s defenders and leaders watched the destruction unfold, while Ye Zi prepared to face the reinforcements drawn to his position.

• Ye Zi transformed houses into stone pillars, impaled nearly a hundred Konoha ninja, and raised the bloodied pillars into a towering monument above the village.
• Kushina and Tsunade saw the pillar from the hospital rooftop, and Kushina left to confront Ye Zi after Tsunade warned her not to hold back.
• Hatake Sakumo slaughtered Konoha ninja while Manda rampaged through Central Street, until the Third Hokage and Anbu intervened.
• Ninja throughout Konoha, including Danzo, noticed the pillar, while Danzo chose to let Tsunade and Kushina deal with Ye Zi.
• Ye Zi raised the eastern district’s foundations and sent its houses and approaching ninja into the air, then unleashed thousands of stone pillars that killed hundreds and destroyed the district.

Ye Zi’s attack devastated Konoha’s eastern district, prompting Minato and others to move against him while Kushina, Shisui, and Itachi headed there as well. Minato arrived to confront Ye Zi, but his fury faltered when he saw Ye Zi’s Sage Mode eyes.

• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu watched the ruined eastern district, and Black Zetsu identified Ye Zi’s power as Sage Mode.
• Lujiu urged Minato to stop Ye Zi, and Minato left the Hokage office while the Anbu prepared to seal the Impure World Reincarnation bodies.
• Kushina resolved that she would not forgive Ye Zi, accepted the Nine-Tails’ power, and charged toward the eastern district.
• Jiraiya fought Scorpion and Uchiha Jin at Konoha’s main gate, while Danzo chose not to send Root against Ye Zi.
• Shisui and Itachi left the Uchiha compound for the eastern district, and Ye Zi created two clones to replenish his Senjutsu Chakra.
• Minato appeared beside Ye Zi using a marked Kunai, but paused when he saw Ye Zi’s snake-like Sage Mode eyes.

Ye Zi and Minato both entered Sage Mode and fought in the eastern district as Konoha suppressed the attackers. Ye Zi sent a Wood Clone toward the hospital to search for Kotoha's body, then gained the upper hand against Minato, whose attack was still underway when the chapter ended.

• Minato tried to spread marked Kunai, but Ye Zi knocked one down with a lightning-wreathed Shuriken and forced Minato to retreat while he gathered Senjutsu Chakra.
• Ye Zi sent a Wood Clone through the earth toward Konoha's hospital to find Kotoha's corpse and sensed that Konoha was subduing the Impure World Reincarnation attackers.
• A Shadow Clone returned Senjutsu Chakra to Ye Zi, restoring nearly forty percent, as Kushina and two others rushed toward the fight.
• Minato activated Sage Mode, spread marked Kunai, and attacked Ye Zi with two Senjutsu Rasengan, but Ye Zi dodged and nearly struck him with his blade.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape Ye Zi's slash, but Ye Zi immediately sent another streak of lightning at him.

Ye Zi used lightning-fast attacks to pressure Minato and studied his Flying Thunder God shifts until he could predict their pattern. He anticipated Minato’s next destination and stabbed him in the abdomen, leaving the battle essentially decided as reinforcements approached.

• Ye Zi forced Minato to evade repeated lightning-infused attacks, keeping him from counterattacking while the two clashed in a battle of speed.
• Ye Zi noticed Minato favored certain distances and directions when shifting between marked Kunai, then built a mental map of his movements.
• Ye Zi calculated that Minato’s Sage Mode had less than three minutes remaining, while Kushina, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi rushed toward the battlefield.
• Ye Zi predicted Minato’s next shift to a nearby marked Kunai and arrived there ahead of him.
• Minato appeared and was stabbed in the abdomen by Ye Zi, who declared the fight checkmate.