Recaps

Yuhara fought Yūhi Shinkurō, broke free of his genjutsu, and overwhelmed him in close combat. The fight ended with Yuhara holding Shinkurō’s wrist after shattering his short sword.

• Yuhara recognized Yūhi Shinkurō’s name and anticipated that he was a genjutsu specialist.
• Yūhi Shinkurō cast Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, trapping Yuhara in a tree’s vines.
• The Six Dimensions Seal detected Yuhara’s disrupted Chakra and unleashed Nature Energy, violently breaking the genjutsu.
• Yūhi Shinkurō charged Yuhara with a short sword, but Yuhara shattered the blade with his palm.
• Yuhara grabbed Yūhi Shinkurō’s wrist and explained that his stronger Chakra let him resist ordinary genjutsu.

Yuhara watched Hyōsube fight before drawing Kakashi in the exhibition tournament. Kakashi refused to throw their match and launched a fierce assault, ending the chapter as Yuhara tested whether he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade a wave of mercury.

• Yuhara defeated Yūhi Shinkurō, then watched Hyōsube display his skill with taijutsu and Dotonjutsu before leaving.
• Yuhara and Kakashi remained unbeaten until the draw paired them against each other.
• Yuhara offered to let Kakashi win, but Kakashi insisted on testing his strength, so Yuhara agreed to fight seriously.
• Kakashi scattered marked ninja tools, ate Chakra Crystals, and attacked Yuhara with a Chakra short sword.
• Yuhara endured Kakashi's strikes and an explosive-tag chain, then used iron sand to break apart Kakashi's fireball.
• Yuhara sent a mass of silver metal at Kakashi with Secret Technique: Mercury Lamp to see whether Kakashi could escape with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Kakashi fought Yuhara, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade his attacks while Yuhara tried to counter it. Kakashi ultimately won by combining the technique with his Mangekyō Sharingan’s ability to read spatial coordinates directly, leaving Yuhara stunned by the discovery.

• Yuhara’s Mercury Lamp attack nearly caught Kakashi, but Kakashi escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kakashi dodged Yuhara’s attacks and charged with Raikiri, but Yuhara bound him with Shadow Snake Hand.
• Yuhara used wide-range attacks and arrows to pressure Kakashi as he repeatedly teleported between marked locations.
• Kakashi appeared behind Yuhara and used another spatial jump to press a lightning-charged palm against his shoulder, winning the fight.
• Kakashi revealed that his Mangekyō Sharingan could read spatial coordinates and let him jump without a physical Flying Thunder God mark.

Kakashi explained how he combined the Sharingan with the Flying Thunder God Technique and defeated Yuhara, then went on to win the tournament final against Shibi Aburame. As Konoha’s leaders celebrated Kakashi’s promise, Hizashi Hyuga wondered whether the Hyuga Clan needed to change.

• Kakashi explained that he used his Sharingan to locate destinations for Flying Thunder God, avoiding the strain of using Kamui, and Yuhara acknowledged his defeat.
• Kushina Uzumaki praised Kakashi’s performance, while an Anbu shinobi cautiously said he might surpass Minato.
• Kakashi continued winning battles as the remaining shinobi advanced through the tournament rounds.
• Kakashi defeated Shibi Aburame in the final, earning the approval of the Third Hokage and the assembled clan leaders.
• Hizashi Hyuga reflected on his clan’s weakening standing and wondered whether the Hyuga Clan needed to change.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga discussed the clan’s quick defeat and the apparent strength gains among shinobi working under Kushina Uzumaki. Hiashi decided the Hyuga should establish appropriate contact with her organization, while Hizashi hoped the changes might arrive in time to improve his son’s future.

• Hyuga Hiashi told Hizashi Hyuga that the clan’s swift defeat had harmed its reputation, even if losing a training exercise was acceptable.
• Hizashi reflected that the Byakugan did not guarantee the Hyuga would surpass exceptional shinobi, and Hiashi cautioned against arrogance.
• Hiashi questioned how Shibi Aburame had performed so strongly despite being a mature shinobi, and noted that all three standout fighters served under Kushina Uzumaki.
• Hiashi suggested Kushina’s new department might be improving its members’ strength and said the Hyuga should maintain appropriate contact with it.
• Hizashi understood Hiashi’s point and hoped that coming changes would reach his three-year-old son before the boy’s important turning point.

Kakashi rejected Might Guy’s challenge to test their progress, while Yuhara considered how to learn Senjutsu and build ties with Orochimaru. He accepted a meeting with the Hyuga Clan, where Hizashi asked him to teach young Neji ninjutsu.

• Might Guy congratulated Kakashi on his victory and challenged him to a match, but Kakashi denied being Konoha’s strongest and tried to refuse.
• Yuhara decided that learning Senjutsu was essential and considered approaching Orochimaru for help.
• A Hyuga ninja delivered an invitation for Yuhara to meet clan leader Hiashi, and Yuhara agreed to attend.
• Yuhara arrived at the Hyuga residence and learned that Hizashi, not Hiashi, would receive him because Hiashi had been sent on a mission.
• Hizashi introduced his son Neji and asked Yuhara to teach the boy ninjutsu.

Hizashi Hyuga asked Yuhara to teach Hyuga Neji and explained why the Hyuga Clan wanted to seek change. Yuhara reluctantly agreed, leaving Neji poised to begin training under him.

• Hyuga Neji bowed to Yuhara as Hizashi Hyuga asked him to become Neji’s teacher.
• Yuhara said he disliked great ninja clans and explained that the Crimson Crown aimed to provide ninjas with equal opportunities.
• Hizashi Hyuga described the Hyuga Clan’s need to adapt and criticized the Main Family–Branch Family system and its Caged Bird seal.
• Hizashi Hyuga pleaded for Yuhara to reconsider for Neji’s sake, and Yuhara reluctantly agreed.
• Hizashi Hyuga patted Neji on the back and told him to call Yuhara “Teacher Yuhara.”

Hizashi Hyuga sent three-year-old Hyuga Neji to train with Yuhara, who decided to keep his lessons gentle and left him with Tigo for basic exercises. Kakashi arrived carrying Naruto Uzumaki and told Yuhara that the higher-ups had approved his application.

• Hyuga Neji checked his belongings and set out for Yuhara's headquarters while Hizashi Hyuga secretly followed to make sure he arrived safely.
• Yuhara welcomed Neji and decided that, at three years old, he should focus on gentle physical exercise rather than learning combat skills.
• Yuhara asked Tigo to look after Neji, and she gave him a suspicious blue crystal as candy before leading him through simple exercises.
• Kakashi arrived carrying Naruto Uzumaki and told Yuhara that the higher-ups had approved the matter he had applied for.

Yuhara oversaw the transfer of excess Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto to Tigo and learned that the Hokage had approved his request to read Orochimaru’s research materials. Kakashi agreed to retrieve the materials in exchange for Yuhara watching Naruto and Neji.

• Kakashi met Neji, the Hyuga Clan child being fostered by Yuhara, and questioned whether Yuhara could teach him properly.
• Kakashi brought Naruto to Tigo because the Nine-Tails Chakra in Naruto’s body had nearly reached its limit.
• Tigo drew the excess Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto and transferred it through her puppet body to her true body.
• Kakashi explained that the Hokage had approved Yuhara’s request to read Orochimaru’s research materials, with experiments forbidden.
• Yuhara asked Kakashi to bring the materials, and Kakashi agreed after Yuhara offered to watch Naruto and Neji.

Yuhara reached the limits of ordinary ninja training and focused on developing an artificial method to produce Senjutsu Chakra. After a month of research, he began testing his plan and asked Tenzo to help, revealing an enormous syringe that left Tenzo fearing for his life.

• Yuhara decided to focus on Sage Mode after realizing he had hit a bottleneck in his strength.
• Yuhara studied Orochimaru's research and concluded that his body lacked the talent to produce Senjutsu Chakra naturally.
• Yuhara devised a plan to use a new sealing technique to mix energies outside his body and began technical validation after a month of research.
• Yuhara asked Tenzo for high-quality reagents and showed him a massive syringe.
• Tenzo stared at the syringe and worried that helping Yuhara would endanger his life.

Yuhara explained to Tenzo that he wanted to study Nature Energy and the First Hokage's cells by using Tenzo, a survivor of Orochimaru's experiments, as a subject. Tenzo agreed to help, and Yuhara prepared to develop a safer, mass-produced version of a Cursed Seal based on Wood Release.

• Yuhara chose Tenzo as a test subject instead of requesting the First Hokage's cells directly from Konoha.
• Yuhara told Tenzo that he suspected a new crisis was brewing and argued that studying dangerous powers could help Konoha prepare.
• Tenzo asked whether Yuhara planned to study Orochimaru's Cursed Seals or the First Hokage's Wood Release.
• Yuhara said he intended to make a safer, more adaptable mass-produced version of the Cursed Seal.
• Tenzo hesitated but agreed to let Yuhara study him.

Yuhara began developing a safer Cursed Seal by extracting, diluting, and stabilizing material from his own cells, with Tenzo assisting and Tigo recording experiments. After a month of repeated trials, Yuhara prepared to test another mixture, though its danger remained uncertain.

• Yuhara set up a makeshift laboratory and began researching a stable carrier for Nature Energy.
• Hyuga Neji helped arrange bottles and jars while Yuhara studied Chakra theory.
• Yuhara extracted material from his own blood and repeatedly diluted it to reduce its corrosiveness and lethality.
• Tenzo helped with stabilization using First Hokage Cells, while Tigo recorded the experiments and handled repetitive trials.
• After a month of experiments, Yuhara warned the others of a high rejection risk and prepared to drip a reagent into a beaker.

Yuhara and Tigo produced their first stable sample and prepared to test it on Tenzo, aiming to develop a safer, vaccine-like way to use the Cursed Seal. Their first injection caused a brief, uncontrolled reaction, and they began a more carefully sealed experiment at a remote Anbu outpost.

• Tigo reported that the sixty-ninth experiment had yielded a stable mixed sample, and Yuhara decided it needed to be tested on a person rather than animals.
• Yuhara designed protective Fuinjutsu safeguards, and he, Tigo, and Tenzo scheduled the human experiment for three days later.
• At a secret Anbu outpost, Yuhara injected Tenzo with the sample while Tigo monitored him.
• Tenzo's arm twisted and swelled as the sample activated uncontrollably, but the reaction ended with only numbness.
• Yuhara prepared additional seals and started a new injection, while Tenzo said he felt nothing unusual.

Yuhara found a paper by Tsunade that helped him revise his experiment for gradually introducing the vaccine to Tenzo using low temperatures. After forty-eight hours, Tenzo’s vital signs remained stable, though Yuhara still feared the results might go badly.

• Yuhara entered Konoha Hospital’s underground archive and used his Senju of the Forest medal to gain access.
• Yuhara found Tsunade’s handwritten paper on toxin-damaged cells and recorded ideas for modifying the experiment.
• Yuhara proposed lowering the vaccine’s activity with cold and extending Tenzo’s adaptation period to forty-eight hours.
• Yuhara and Tigo placed Tenzo in a life-support tank, cooled him, and injected the vaccine into his shoulder.
• Tenzo passed the first day without incident, and his vital signs stabilized during the second day as the vaccine’s patterns spread across his shoulder.

Yuhara and Tigo’s experiment on Tenzo succeeded, giving his Wood Release greater power while reducing its Chakra cost. Meanwhile, ANBU surveillance of the Uchiha district continued under Hyōsube, unaware that a figure with crimson eyes had appeared in the canopy.

• ANBU squads exchanged shifts as Hyōsube took over surveillance of the Uchiha Clan’s residential district.
• Yuhara declared the experiment on Tenzo essentially successful after Tenzo survived the night and reported feeling vigorous, though his senses were unusually sharp.
• Tenzo used Wood Release to raise a large wall of twisted woodland, consuming one-third less Chakra while increasing the jutsu’s power and scale by at least eighty percent.
• Tigo asked how the experiment’s dosage would account for shinobi whose Chakra levels changed as they grew, and Yuhara explained that injections could be repeated annually until maturity.
• A figure with crimson eyes silently appeared in the canopy above Hyōsube’s surveillance post.

After completing his generalized Cursed Seal research, Yuhara learned that Konoha’s leadership coveted the original research records. An intruder failed to steal them, and Yuhara moved on to giving Aburame Shibi the second vaccine injection.

• Yuhara completed his quantitative study with Tenzo and Tigo, reported its results to the Third Hokage, and stored the research materials in the Secret Realm.
• A black-clad intruder entered the base at night and searched for Yuhara’s research records.
• Kakashi warned the intruder that the valuable materials had been moved and let him leave, while Cai Pengfu watched without pursuing him.
• Yuhara learned of the intrusion the next morning and chose not to investigate or retaliate.
• Yuhara prepared the second vaccine injection for Aburame Shibi, who released his kikaichū beforehand, and welcomed him to the Land of Blood Therapy.

Yuhara tested his improved Human Cursed Seal on Aburame Shibi and then modified the seal on his own body to produce Senjutsu Chakra. After activating it, Yuhara unleashed a powerful, gentle-seeming ring of Chakra, though the experiment caused intense Chakra leakage.

• Yuhara vaccinated Aburame Shibi, who was warned to expect mild symptoms and avoid using Chakra for several days.
• Aburame Shibi found that the vaccine and Chakra supplied by Tigo had greatly increased his combat strength, though its effect was much smaller than Tenzo's enhancement.
• Yuhara reasoned that precise energy proportions and stronger magnetic restraint could help produce Senjutsu Chakra in large quantities.
• Yuhara modified the seal along his main meridians to regulate the flow of Chakra and Nature Energy, then registered YT57 as the Human Cursed Seal with the Eighth Hokage.
• Yuhara activated the newly modified seal, releasing surging power and a ring-shaped Chakra field while intense Chakra leaked from his body.

Yuhara tested his newly usable but Chakra-draining Sage Mode, then began training Neji through exhaustion and an injection of medicine. He arranged for Neji to stay with him for three days of special training, while keeping his reasons for desperately seeking strength to himself.

• Yuhara confirmed that his Sage Mode could be used in combat for about ten minutes before it exhausted his Chakra.
• Tigo asked why Yuhara kept pursuing strength after the war, and he said he needed to become stronger because he was not strong enough yet.
• Neji arrived for his lesson and asked to refine Chakra before demonstrating the Gentle Fist techniques he had learned from Hizashi.
• Yuhara made Neji repeat the techniques until his Chakra was depleted, then injected him with medicine supplied by Tigo.
• Yuhara told Tigo to notify Hizashi that Neji would stay with him for three days of special training.

The Third Hokage questioned Kushina about the Sand Village, Sasori, and Yuhara’s Human Cursed Seal technology while weighing Konoha’s security. Kushina said Yuhara was visiting the Hyuga Clan, and the Hokage ordered his new technology restricted until it was proven safe.

• The Third Hokage asked Kushina for updates on the Sand Village, and she reported that it had tightened its information channels since the war.
• Kushina said Sasori was unlikely to willingly serve the Sand Village again, though Chiyo might find a way to influence him.
• The Third Hokage voiced concern about Yuhara’s Human Cursed Seal and said its use must be restricted until its safety was confirmed.
• Kushina told the Third Hokage that Yuhara had gone to the Hyuga Clan’s ancestral home to check on his disciple’s progress.
• The Third Hokage asked about Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, but Kushina said they had received no relevant intelligence.

After returning to the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Neji demonstrated his improved strength during the clan’s training, surprising his father, Hizashi Hyuga, with his Byakugan and precise Gentle Fist. Yuhara watched the sparring and learned more about the clan’s training and the Caged Bird seal.

• Yuhara returned Hyuga Neji to Hizashi Hyuga after five days away, and Hizashi inspected Neji before changing his clothes.
• Neji told Hizashi he had become stronger, and Hizashi noticed a dark-red, lotus-shaped pattern on his shoulder.
• Hizashi invited Yuhara to watch the Hyuga children train, where Neji was matched against the six-year-old Hyuga Sousuke.
• Neji used his Byakugan and precise, combat-oriented Gentle Fist to defeat his opponent without being touched.
• Hizashi proudly watched Neji’s performance as Yuhara observed the clan’s training and saw the Caged Bird marks on older Branch Family children.

Yuhara challenged the Hyuga Main Family’s plan to place the Caged Bird seal on Neji while he was undergoing an experiment, and refused to let them impose the seal on his student Nagahiko without Konoha’s permission. After Nagahiko won his match, the dispute left Hizashi trapped between gratitude to Yuhara and obedience to the clan.

• Neji overwhelmed Nagahiko with his superior Chakra and precise strikes, but Yuhara stopped him before he could injure his opponent further.
• Yuhara told the Hyuga elders that Neji could not receive the Caged Bird seal during his experiment, which he estimated would take three or four years.
• The Main Family argued that the seal protected the Byakugan and demanded that Hizashi sever Yuhara’s teacher-student relationship with Nagahiko.
• When Elder Shoya attacked Yuhara, Yuhara struck him down and damaged the training hall.
• Nagahiko defeated his opponent, and Yuhara told the Main Family that they could not act against him without permission from Konoha.

Yuhara clashed with the Hyuga Clan over Neji’s Caged Bird seal, defeated their fighters, and secured a temporary delay for his student. The Third Hokage mediated the dispute and ordered Yuhara to leave the village on a mission, while Danzō instructed Root to investigate the Human Cursed Seal and find Orochimaru.

• Elder Shouya attacked Yuhara, who struck him down and insisted he had acted in self-defense.
• Yuhara challenged the Hyuga Clan to spar and defeated their fighters with his armored taijutsu, destroying the inner dojo.
• Yuhara warned that the Human Cursed Seal could conflict with Neji’s Caged Bird seal, and Hiashi agreed to delay Neji’s seal temporarily.
• Yuhara told Hizashi that Konoha might be able to undo the Branch Family’s Caged Bird seal, leaving Hizashi hopeful.
• The Third Hokage summoned Yuhara, upheld the temporary delay for Neji, and ordered Yuhara to leave the village for a mission.
• Danzō ordered Root to observe the Hyuga Main Family, investigate the Human Cursed Seal, and locate Orochimaru.

Yuhara traveled to Sunagakure as Konoha’s envoy to investigate Sasori of the Red Sands and assess the village’s political stability. Despite Sunagakure’s hostility over the Fourth Kazekage’s death, Sasori greeted him, and Yuhara began his visit under the pretext of discussing the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Kushina Uzumaki gave Yuhara a mission to visit Sunagakure and determine Sasori of the Red Sands’ situation amid the village’s political uncertainty.
• Yuhara agreed to travel alone, while Konoha arranged advance contact with Sunagakure and used the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams as the diplomatic reason for his visit.
• Yuhara crossed the desert and observed Sunagakure’s sentries as he approached the village.
• Sasori of the Red Sands waited at the end of A Thread of Sky to welcome Yuhara, despite Sunagakure’s hostility toward him over the Fourth Kazekage’s death.
• Sasori’s puppet hand shook Yuhara’s hand against his apparent wishes, and Uchiha Matsushiro escorted Yuhara into Sunagakure.

Shisui tried to secure the release of an over-detained brawler from the Security Division, but the Kinoshita Tadashi clan’s refusal to obey the Hokage’s order exposed the growing rift between the clan and Konoha. Meanwhile, Danzō and the Eighth Hokage discussed the village’s succession, as ordinary ninjas increasingly viewed Yuhara as a possible future leader and the Crimson Crown expanded its Cursed Seal program.

• Shisui invoked the Eighth Hokage’s order to take the detained brawler, but the Security Division captain and other Kinoshita Tadashi ninjas refused to obey anyone but their clan leader.
• Itachi intervened and brought the detained ninja to Shisui, who left the Security Division with him after thanking Itachi.
• Uchiha Tsukasa and Mikura Hyōbei discussed who might lead ordinary ninjas after the Seventh Hokage and named Yuhara as a likely candidate.
• Danzō warned the Eighth Hokage that Yuhara was obstructing his plans, and they considered finding a successor, with Tsunade as the main possibility.
• The Crimson Crown completed Cursed Seal inoculations for its members without adverse reactions and began arranging a second round of strengthening.

Uchiha Itachi accepted the Third Hokage’s offer to join the directly subordinate ANBU as a channel between Konoha and the Uchiha, while Uchiha Shisui met with Shimura Danzō about the clan’s growing unrest. Yuhara inspected the Sand Village and found it stable, while Danzo’s suspicions of Shisui remained unresolved.

• Uchiha Shisui handled the brawl impartially, then went to meet Shimura Danzō in an underground location.
• The Third Hokage told Uchiha Itachi that he wanted him to join the directly subordinate ANBU to strengthen communication with the Uchiha Clan, and Itachi accepted.
• Uchiha Itachi left the Hokage’s Office and worried about how the Uchiha leaders would interpret his ANBU appointment.
• Shimura Danzō asked Uchiha Shisui to expand his faction and monitor signs of rebellion, while privately viewing Shisui as an uncontrollable threat.
• Yuhara inspected the Sand Village, judged it stable under Chiyo and the advisory council, and questioned Sasori of the Red Sands about serving the village again.