Chapter Summaries

Sasuke arranged to buy machine tools and other equipment from Cat Grandma, then collected the goods and brought them back to Konoha. He continued expanding a secluded, fortified work area in the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

• Sasuke reviewed Cat Grandma’s Price List, found that the equipment cost 13 to 21 million Ryo, and chose a smaller initial order.
• Fish Cake visited Sasuke, where Naruto startled him, then the two chatted over milk while Sasuke finalized his selections.
• Sasuke refused to have the bulky goods delivered to Konoha and arranged to collect them himself after paying Cat Grandma a thirty percent deposit.
• After the goods arrived, Sasuke booked Might Guy as a bodyguard, refused Naruto’s request to come along, and collected the equipment.
• Sasuke cleared an empty house and reinforced part of the Uchiha Clan Grounds with walls, Kunai launchers, and anti-thief spikes.

Sasuke reasoned that Earth Style could disable any Explosive Tags planted around the Uchiha compound, while the Hyuga might have overlooked tags hidden around Konoha. During the Chunin Exams, explosions prompted Hiruzen to seal the village and launch an investigation, leaving the promotion results delayed.

• Sasuke considered how Explosive Tags could evade the Byakugan and concluded that shifting the soil could sever their trigger wires.
• Naruto attended the Chunin Exams with Sasuke and wanted to leave the arena after hearing explosions, but Sasuke and Shikamaru persuaded him to stay.
• Hiruzen ordered Konoha's gates sealed and dispatched teams to investigate the explosions, search the rubble, and treat casualties.
• Danzo confronted Hiruzen and tossed him two unexploded, old-fashioned Explosive Tags, suggesting the attack had been planned for generations.
• Hiruzen ordered Shikaku and Ibiki to investigate recent outsiders and potential hostile forces, while the Chunin promotion results were postponed.

After the Explosive Tags damaged Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke checked Naruto's home and the surrounding destruction. They found the Ninja Academy flattened and learned classes would be suspended for at least a month.

• Naruto and Sasuke left the arena to inspect the village and discovered that Hokage Rock had been destroyed.
• They found Naruto's home dusty and its windows shattered, but the building remained intact; Sasuke offered to bring replacement glass.
• Near Hokage Rock, Naruto and Sasuke saw that an enormous landslide had buried the Ninja Academy and nearby buildings.
• Sasuke asked a chunin teacher when classes would resume, and the teacher estimated at least a month.
• Naruto celebrated the school closure and joked that he could use Shadow Clones if he still could not perform the Clone Technique next year.

Konoha recovered from the explosion, with repairs continuing for months and the Chunin Exams proceeding as usual. Neji and Rock Lee graduated, and Sasuke celebrated by treating his friends to barbecue.

• The explosion damaged scattered buildings around the Uchiha Clan Grounds, but Sasuke's courtyard and Naruto's home were repaired quickly.
• Sasuke's feared influx of disaster victims into the Uchiha Clan Grounds never happened, while the explosion's casualties and damage were assessed across Konoha.
• Sasuke's planted suggestion caused a first-year student to accidentally trigger the Explosive Tags, and the investigation ended without further attacks or consequences for him.
• Konoha resumed Academy classes, continued reconstruction for three or four months, and held the Chunin Exams as planned.
• Neji and Rock Lee graduated, and Sasuke treated his usual group of friends to a beef barbecue.

Sasuke trained with Might Guy’s team and learned that Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten were struggling with routine D-rank missions. Guy offered them a C-rank mission, and they discovered Sasuke was the client.

• Sasuke told Rock Lee, Neji, and Naruto that a Shadow Clone attended class while he trained, revealing that he had been skipping lessons.
• Might Guy invited Sasuke to train with his team, where Sasuke met Tenten and sparred with the group.
• Over the following two weeks, Team Guy completed D-rank missions, and Neji and Tenten grew impatient with the repetitive work.
• Might Guy offered Team Guy a confidential C-rank mission that required them to leave that night, and all three accepted.
• At the mission desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that Sasuke had issued the mission.

Sasuke recruited Team Guy for a recurring C-rank mission to search the Land of Fire for Tsunade, hoping to become her student. After revealing the mission’s purpose, the group reached their first village and prepared to gather intelligence.

• Sasuke explained that the team would search several towns and villages for Tsunade and that he would repeat the mission on weekends until they found her.
• Guy delegated route planning to Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, who accepted the mission.
• Sasuke told the team he wanted Tsunade to become his teacher.
• The team raced more than thirty kilometers to their first village, where Guy told Tenten to rest before the intelligence-gathering task.
• Guy ordered the team to meet at the village’s back gate in half an hour and reminded them to conceal their identities while gathering information.

Sasuke and Team Guy searched for Tsunade, using informants and intelligence gathered across villages. Rock Lee found a lead pointing south, and Sasuke bought the information before revealing he had disguised his Sharingan with colored contacts.

• Sasuke warned Neji that Tsunade might disguise herself and that her pig could also transform, then sent Neji and Rock Lee to search for her.
• Sasuke used shadow clones and genjutsu to question ordinary people while Tenten investigated under Might Guy's supervision.
• After three weeks of searching, Rock Lee heard that a "Fat Sheep" had won a large sum at a casino and brought the lead to Sasuke and Might Guy.
• Sasuke paid a casino informant for details that Tsunade had gambled there, then left the village heading south after debt collectors chased her from the Capital of Fire.
• Sasuke explained that he had worn colored contacts and removed them in front of Neji.

Sasuke and Team Guy tracked down Tsunade so Sasuke could ask her to become his master. After revealing that he expected to fight Itachi someday, Sasuke formally asked Tsunade to train him, and she angrily challenged him over making her responsible for his life.

• Sasuke wrote a leave request and sent Fish Cake to deliver it to Naruto, then Team Guy changed their search route.
• Two days later, Neji detected a woman matching Tsunade’s description in a coastal village, and Tsunade fled after asking them to block two men pursuing her.
• Sasuke misdirected the pursuers with Genjutsu, and Shizune revealed herself as Tsunade’s apprentice and agreed to introduce the group.
• Tsunade met the group at a tea stall and questioned Sasuke about whether he understood the history between the Uchiha and Senju clans.
• Sasuke said he wanted to learn how the Senju defeated the Uchiha, explained that he expected to fight Itachi, and knelt to ask Tsunade to accept him as her disciple.
• Tsunade angrily asked whether Sasuke expected her to train him and then bear responsibility for his life.

Sasuke persuaded Tsunade to take him as her apprentice by winning their card game and explaining his reasons for seeking her medical training. Tsunade accepted, then learned he had not graduated yet and began outlining what becoming a top Medical Ninja required.

• Sasuke asked Tsunade to teach him how to survive and agreed to learn whatever she taught.
• Sasuke explained that he wanted Tsunade's instruction because he distrusted Konoha's treatment of him after the Uchiha Clan massacre.
• Tsunade challenged Sasuke to gamble for the chance to become her disciple, but Sasuke won both rounds and Tsunade accepted him.
• Tsunade told Sasuke to leave his team temporarily, then discovered he had not graduated from the Ninja Academy.
• Sasuke described the medical books he had memorized, and Tsunade asked Shizune to test his foundational knowledge.
• Tsunade explained the knowledge, precision, quick reactions, and perseverance required of Medical Ninja before beginning to describe one more essential requirement.

Sasuke learned that he could still pursue Medical Ninjutsu without Yang Release and became Tsunade’s disciple, while Tsunade taught him a medical ninja’s rules. At dinner, Might Guy asked Tsunade to return to Konoha and train medical personnel, and she ordered Sasuke to persuade her.

• Tsunade explained that Yang Release helped medical ninjas heal wounds but was not required for other medical skills, and she assigned Sasuke foundational study before a winter-break assessment.
• Sasuke used genjutsu to send debt collectors searching in another direction, then Tsunade warned him that medical ninjas must not use lethal techniques except in his conflict with Itachi Uchiha.
• Sasuke and the others traveled west to a fishing village, where Might Guy told Tsunade that Konoha’s attack had destroyed Hokage Rock and badly damaged Konoha Hospital.
• Might Guy asked Tsunade to return to Konoha and train medical personnel, and Tsunade ordered Sasuke to persuade her while Guy urged him to help.

Sasuke and Might Guy tried to persuade Tsunade to return to Konoha, but the Hokage’s offer of directing the hospital enraged her and she refused. After Tsunade left, Sasuke reassured Guy about the failed mission and suggested he apologize, while Tenten worried that she had lost her chance to study Medical Ninjutsu.

• Tsunade challenged Sasuke to persuade her to return, and Sasuke asked Might Guy to explain Konoha’s offer.
• Might Guy told Tsunade that the Third Hokage had offered her the position of Konoha Hospital director, and Tsunade angrily refused to return.
• Tsunade left the dining room with Shizune, while Guy asked Sasuke and Neji why she had become angry.
• Tenten said she had hoped to ask Tsunade to teach her Medical Ninjutsu, and Rock Lee urged everyone to find a way to cheer Tsunade up.
• Sasuke explained that Guy had fulfilled his duty by inviting Tsunade and said he need not fear punishment for her refusal.
• Guy clarified that he was worried about making a bad impression and letting Tenten down, so Sasuke advised him to apologize when Tsunade was calmer.

Sasuke helped Might Guy’s team persuade Tsunade to teach them Medical Ninjutsu, and Neji joined Tenten in the study group. Tsunade remained away from Konoha, but the Third Hokage approved access to the hospital’s learning resources and was pleased she had not returned.

• Sasuke advised Might Guy to wait before apologizing to Tsunade and suggested bringing her food before asking to become her students.
• Sasuke encouraged Neji to try Medical Ninjutsu, while Might Guy comforted Rock Lee by offering to teach him the Eight Inner Gates.
• Neji joined the Tsunade Medical Ninja Study Group, and Tsunade agreed to teach him and Tenten after Might Guy brought her a meal and apologized.
• Tsunade’s students planned to use Konoha Hospital’s learning resources, and the teams set off separately the next day.
• Might Guy reported that he had failed to bring Tsunade back, but the Third Hokage approved her request to open the hospital’s resources and privately welcomed her continued absence.

After returning to Konoha, Sasuke resumed his medical studies and watched Team Guy, hoping to learn about the Eight Inner Gates. When Might Guy asked him to teach the team Shadow Clone Jutsu, Neji learned it quickly while Tenten struggled with the chakra-control requirements.

• Sasuke returned home, gave Naruto a dried sea bream, and brought souvenirs to the Nara household.
• Sasuke began studying medical records at Konoha Hospital and kept an eye on Team Guy for a chance to learn the Eight Inner Gates.
• Might Guy asked Sasuke to teach Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and Sasuke agreed while warning that Lee might not manage it.
• Sasuke taught the team how to form Shadow Clones and shared his training advice; Neji succeeded after two attempts, but Tenten could not yet meet the chakra-control requirements.
• Sasuke advised Tenten to practice chakra control during everyday chores, while Neji credited his Hyuga training from childhood.

Sasuke, Neji, and Tenten studied Medical Ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital, where Sasuke found his Yin Release poorly suited to healing and Tenten struggled with controlling her Chakra. After Rock Lee passed a difficult assessment, Might Guy invited them to train in the Eight Inner Gates.

• Tenten asked Sasuke how long it would take to learn the Shadow Clone, and Neji tried to reassure her about the upcoming medical assessment.
• Sasuke studied the hospital archives and found that his Yin Release could not heal wounds effectively, leaving him to consider other plans for eye surgery.
• After more than a month of study, Neji and Tenten began practicing on living subjects, but Tenten repeatedly injured the animals through excessive Chakra.
• Sasuke and Neji advised Tenten to return to basic Chakra-control exercises, though she remained determined to impress Lady Tsunade.
• Might Guy told Sasuke, Neji, and Tenten that Rock Lee had passed a difficult assessment and invited them to learn the Eight Inner Gates.

Might Guy taught Sasuke, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee the Gate of Opening and Front Lotus, and Rock Lee became the first to perform the move successfully. The group decided to watch this year's Chunin Exams and consider competing next year, while Sasuke planned to watch with his classmates.

• Might Guy explained the Eight Inner Gates and taught the group how to open the Gate of Opening and perform Front Lotus.
• Sasuke and Neji struggled to sustain the Gate of Opening, while Tenten had trouble stimulating it; Rock Lee succeeded in using Front Lotus on a wooden post.
• Might Guy warned Rock Lee that Lotus was a Forbidden Jutsu that risked his health and should only be used to protect what mattered most.
• Neji and Rock Lee declined to take part in this year's Chunin Exams, and Tenten decided against it after learning she would need to find a team.
• Sasuke explained why this year's exam might be easier to pass, and the group agreed to attend as spectators; Sasuke said he would watch with his classmates.

Sasuke examined the ninja world's crude firearms and began secretly training in the Eight Inner Gates, using medicinal baths to support his body. He opened the Second Gate but noticed its harmful effects, while Neji's Revolving Heaven revealed signs of the same technique.

• Sasuke studied the guns he had ordered through Cat Grandma and judged them too inaccurate and slow to threaten skilled ninjas.
• Sasuke decided to learn the later stages of the Eight Inner Gates through self-study rather than ask Might Guy for instruction.
• Sasuke used medicinal baths and nightly training to build strength, then secretly opened the Gate of Healing after Rock Lee did so.
• Sasuke opened the Second Gate and noticed increased appetite, altered sleep, and sluggish mental strength from draining his vital energy.
• Sasuke observed Neji's Revolving Heaven and recognized Chakra patterns resembling the Gate of Opening.

Sasuke delivered a scroll from Konoha’s Council Elders to Tsunade, then joined Neji and Tenten in tests for Tsunade’s discipleship. Tenten failed, while Sasuke and Neji received brief instruction before Tsunade and Shizune left the Capital of Fire.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura gave Sasuke a scroll for Tsunade, and Hiruzen Sarutobi told him to deliver it personally.
• Tsunade explained that she had threatened the Elders’ messengers and warned Sasuke not to bring her similar business again.
• Shizune announced that Tenten had failed Tsunade’s tests, and Tsunade declined to take her as a disciple.
• Tsunade kept Sasuke and Neji for specialized training, and Shizune taught them Fuinjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu.
• Sasuke drove away debt collectors while Tsunade gambled, and Neji returned to Konoha for the New Year.
• Tsunade and Shizune left the Capital of Fire after finishing Shizune’s teaching plan.

After returning to Konoha, Sasuke prepared his homestead for the missions he would take after graduation and continued studying medical ninjutsu with Tsunade and Shizune. His training in the Mystical Palm Technique left him outperformed by Neji, and Tsunade barred both boys from relying on their bloodline abilities while they learned the fundamentals.

• Sasuke reported Tsunade's loss of temper to the Third Hokage, then reorganized the Uchiha Clan Grounds by setting up livestock enclosures, greenhouses, and simpler fields.
• After New Year, Sasuke studied with Tsunade and Shizune, learning toxicology and the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Tsunade warned Sasuke not to use the Mystical Palm Technique on anyone until he passed her examination.
• Neji's Byakugan and Yang Release Chakra let him diagnose and treat injuries far faster than Sasuke, leaving Sasuke feeling outdone.
• Tsunade ordered Sasuke and Neji to practice without using their bloodline abilities until they mastered the basics, then scheduled a test for their next meeting.
• As the boys left, Tsunade reflected on Shizune's training, Sasuke's limits, and Neji's potential despite his Branch Family status.

Sasuke hired Gekko Hayate to teach him Konoha Style Swordsmanship, and Naruto joined their lessons. After two weekends of training, Hayate finished teaching them and Naruto asked him for help graduating if he failed the exam.

• Sasuke asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to recommend a private swordsmanship tutor, and Hiruzen arranged lessons with Gekko Hayate.
• Gekko Hayate began teaching Sasuke Konoha Style Swordsmanship and showed him how to combine sword movements with genjutsu.
• Naruto arrived during a sparring session and joined the lessons without paying extra tuition.
• Hayate trained Sasuke and Naruto over two weekends, teaching Naruto swordsmanship basics and giving them training plans.
• Naruto asked Hayate to help him graduate if he failed the Clone Technique exam, but Hayate refused because he was not a team leader.

Sasuke completed medical training and earned Tsunade’s approval for medical ninja employment, while Naruto continued struggling with the Clone Technique ahead of the Academy graduation exam. The chapter ended with the exam approaching and Sasuke expecting Naruto’s clone problems to improve after graduation.

• Sasuke practiced medical procedures on animals, including eye transplants, and struggled with the complexity of the operations.
• Sasuke and Neji passed Tsunade’s medical assessment, and Shizune supervised them treating patients for merchants.
• Tsunade told Sasuke and Neji to travel and study under her after they graduated from their team leaders, while they suspected she wanted them to earn gambling money for her.
• Sasuke arranged a three-month minced-meat deal with Ichiraku Ramen, and the new fish dishes continued selling at the market after his supply ended.
• Naruto failed to produce three convincing clones during the Academy mock exams, and Sasuke stopped trying to teach him the Clone Technique.