Chapter Summaries

Jiraiya and Orochimaru held their weddings, then Jiraiya took charge of Konoha’s intelligence crisis by establishing a covert agent unit. The Covert Operations Department was approved and Jiraiya left with authority to recruit personnel from across Konoha.

• Jiraiya held a lively wedding, and Kawafune and Tsunade gave him and Maki a generous cash gift.
• Orochimaru and Pakura held a quiet wedding attended by close friends.
• Yamanaka Hayato reported that Konoha’s spies in other villages had suffered devastating losses, and Tsunade ordered ordinary intelligence personnel withdrawn while future spies received stricter training.
• Hayato objected that Konoha could not afford to wait for newly trained operatives, and Tsunade insisted that her order stood.
• Jiraiya offered to handle the crisis, and Tsunade authorized him to form the Covert Operations Department and recruit people from every department.
• Hayato pledged support, and Jiraiya left with Tsunade’s confidential authorization letter.

Jiraiya went to the Anbu to recruit experienced operatives for Tsunade's newly established Covert Operations Department, with Kawafune steering him away from the school. Sakumo gave Jiraiya access to Anbu personnel files, and Jiraiya narrowed the candidates down to a smaller group for final selection.

• Jiraiya set out to recruit promising students for the Covert Operations Department, but Kawafune redirected him toward the Anbu and its former Root members.
• Kawafune took Jiraiya to the Anbu office, where Sakumo was handling documents.
• Jiraiya showed Sakumo Tsunade's confidential letter and asked to review Anbu personnel files for suitable spies.
• Sakumo agreed to let Jiraiya inspect the files in his office and handed him a stack.
• Jiraiya screened the files by excluding candidates whose appearances, abilities, or judgment made them unsuitable, then divided them into rejected and shortlisted groups.

Jiraiya asked Sakumo to gather ten Anbu members so he could assess them in a challenge match, while Kawafune objected to Jiraiya recruiting from his school. The group assembled at the training ground, where Kawafune joined Nawaki, Minato, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, Lion, and two others to watch.

• Jiraiya gave Sakumo a list of ten people to gather, and Sakumo confirmed they were all available.
• Kawafune revealed that he opposed Jiraiya poaching students from his school, and he and Jiraiya traded threats until Sakumo intervened.
• Sakumo ordered an Anbu member to summon the ten people, and Jiraiya said he would judge them in a challenge match.
• The Anbu member gathered the ten at the training ground, where Sakumo, Jiraiya, and Kawafune arrived to observe.
• Kawafune joined Nawaki, Minato, Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, Lion, and two others, and Minato and Konan wondered whether the gathered Anbu were being judged for their strength.

Jiraiya introduced the new Covert Operations Department and began evaluating ten Anbu members in a series of paired sparring matches. Kawafune used Wood Style to raise the fighters into the air, and the battles began as the onlookers placed bets on who would win.

• Sakumo introduced Jiraiya and explained that the new department would support and cooperate with the Anbu.
• Jiraiya told the ten Anbu members that their combat performances would determine who joined the department, and none chose to withdraw.
• Kawafune used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence to raise the Anbu members on five giant trees and randomly assign their pairs.
• Nawaki used Earth Style: Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique to lift Jiraiya above the trees so he could watch the matches.
• Kawafune, Nawaki, Minato, and the others bet on the sparring outcomes, then the five pairs began fighting with blades.
• Kawafune claimed that his chosen fighters had gained the upper hand, while Nawaki watched the matches closely, hoping not to lose his bet.

A female Anbu used her medical ninjutsu and a calculated gamble to take down her opponent, though both were injured. Nagato caught her as she fell, revealing her face and drawing the others’ attention.

• The female Anbu switched from swordsmanship to Chakra Scalpel attacks and briefly gained the advantage over her opponent.
• Kawafune predicted that she would lose as her older opponent adapted to her fighting patterns, while Minato praised her composure.
• The female Anbu baited her opponent into a final exchange, taking his kick so she could strike his heart with her palm and knock him unconscious.
• The injured female Anbu was sent flying toward Kawafune’s group, and Nawaki pushed Nagato forward to catch her.
• Nagato caught the Anbu safely, and her fallen mask revealed her sweet features, glasses, and short brownish-yellow hair.

Nagato treated the injured Anbu, Yakushi Nonō, and gave her the codename Pain instead of his real name. After she rejoined the others, Nawaki and Kawafune teased Nagato about treating her, while Konan asked whether he thought Nonō was prettier than her.

• Nagato treated Nonō's internal injuries, and she thanked him before asking his name.
• Nagato called himself Pain, and Nonō put on her mask and joined the others after her fight ended.
• Nawaki teased Nagato about how it felt to touch Nonō, and Kawafune scolded Nawaki before asking Nagato what Nonō looked like.
• Nagato said Nonō was pretty, and Konan asked whether she was prettier than Nonō.
• Nagato assured Konan that she was prettier, and Konan said he was much better than Nawaki.

Jiraiya concluded the selections for the new Covert Operations Department, choosing six Anbu and dismissing four others. Kawafune then went to the school to discuss the department’s plan to recruit students with Onoda Ei, who said participation should be voluntary and opposed forcing anyone to join.

• Jiraiya announced that four Anbu had been eliminated and told the six selected candidates to wait for the department’s base and procedures to be arranged.
• Sakumo congratulated the six and affirmed that the village would support them in their new duties.
• Kawafune left the Training Ground before Jiraiya could speak with him and used Flying Thunder God to travel to the school.
• Kawafune told Onoda Ei that the new department wanted to recruit students for training as spies behind enemy lines.
• Onoda Ei said the students should decide for themselves and declared that he would oppose any forced recruitment.

Kawafune delegated the screening of students for Jiraiya’s new department to Onoda Ei, while Jiraiya stayed busy with preparations and delayed visiting the Ninja Academy. Kawafune later visited Orochimaru’s laboratory, where he learned Jiraiya had received three medical ninjas, and left after Orochimaru ordered him to stop interrupting the experiments.

• Kawafune praised Onoda Ei and assigned him to carefully screen students for Jiraiya’s new department.
• Jiraiya focused on recruiting staff, securing funding and land, and arranging construction, leaving student recruitment for later.
• Orochimaru told Kawafune he had given Jiraiya three medical ninjas, and Kawafune argued that Jiraiya was responsible for delaying his visit to the school.
• Orochimaru told Kawafune to leave the laboratory and stop disturbing the experiments, so Kawafune departed.
• Misaki continued assisting Orochimaru and privately hoped to help Nawaki awaken Wood Style.

Nawaki’s team sent Nonō and Nagato into town in disguise to locate their mission targets without endangering civilians. They found the targets at a gambling house, where Nonō began assessing their suspicious winnings.

• Nawaki’s team assigned Nonō and Nagato to gather intelligence while the rest waited in the forest.
• Nonō and Nagato disguised themselves as siblings and entered town without attracting attention.
• Nagato sensed three groups of targets, and Nonō chose to inspect the gambling house after ruling out a restaurant and a brothel.
• Nonō and Nagato approached the targets’ gambling table, where the men had amassed chips and the dealer looked furious.

Nonō and Nagato gathered intelligence at a gambling house, then returned with food for their team. Nawaki planned an ambush to kill the bandits the following day, while Nonō and Nagato grew closer by discussing Medical Ninjutsu.

• A refined man stopped his drunken companion from provoking the gambling house staff, and Nonō and Nagato overheard that the group planned to leave the Land of Fire the next day.
• After the group left, Nagato won Nonō's lost chips back by betting on triples, then persuaded her to stop gambling.
• Nonō and Nagato bought snacks for the team and returned with bags of food, explaining that Nagato had won the money.
• Nawaki ordered the team to ambush the bandits after they left town and kill them all without letting anyone escape.
• Nonō and Nagato chatted about Medical Ninjutsu while the rest of the team left them undisturbed.

Nawaki and his team ambushed the bandits, overwhelming them and forcing many to flee. Nagato rescued the badly wounded Nonō by killing the three bandits pursuing her, leaving her amazed by his strength and curious about the person beneath his mask.

• Nawaki launched a Water Style attack on the bandits while Minato, Konan, Yahiko, Nagato, and the others joined the assault.
• The bandits began fleeing, and Nawaki defeated their leader with Samehada before returning to the battle.
• Nonō chased three bandits into the forest, where they turned and wounded her in a desperate fight.
• Nagato arrived as one bandit prepared to kill Nonō and used Banshō Ten'in to pull the three bandits toward him.
• Nagato killed the three bandits, and Nonō lay injured, stunned by his strength and wondering about his identity.

Nagato saved Nonō from fatal wounds after she was attacked by three bandits, then carried her back to the team once her condition stabilized. The team welcomed her return, and Nagato stopped their questions so she could rest.

• Nagato treated Nonō’s wounds, shocked her back to consciousness, and gave her a rare healing pill from Tsunade.
• Nagato carried Nonō back to the team, where Nawaki, Minato, Yahiko, Konan, and her captain had been waiting for her.
• Nonō insisted she was fine and explained that the three bandits had attacked her after she pressed them too hard.
• Nagato told everyone to stop questioning Nonō and let her rest, prompting Nawaki to tease him about protecting her.

Nagato returned to Konoha with his team after saving Nonō, who invited him to dinner to thank him. His family and friends teased him about the outing and urged him to treat it like a date before he headed to meet her.

• Nawaki ordered Nagato to carry the injured Nonō, and Nagato carried her on his back as they caught up with the team.
• After the group returned to Konoha and reported their mission, Nonō invited Nagato to dinner at a dango shop at six o'clock, and he agreed.
• Nawaki teased Nagato about the invitation, while Minato helped Nonō through her embarrassment and Yahiko and Konan joined in the banter.
• At home, Konan told Kawafune and Nayuki how Nagato had saved Nonō, and Kawafune gave Nagato money for dinner.
• Tsunade, Sakumo, Kawafune, and Nayuki teased Nagato about his supposed date, and Nagato left before their advice became any more embarrassing.

Nagato and Nonō met for dinner, shared dango, and talked about their pasts and medical training. They joined the long line at Ichiraku Ramen, where an impulsive cheek pinch left them both flustered as they waited.

• Nagato met Nonō at the dango shop, and she bought two boxes of red bean dango for them to share.
• As they walked, Nonō told Nagato about her time in Root, and he offered to take her to meet Tsunade for medical guidance.
• Nonō chose Ichiraku Ramen for dinner, and she and Nagato joined the crowded queue.
• Nagato teased Nonō about her appetite, then pinched her cheek and apologized when they both froze in embarrassment.
• A man behind them told Nagato and Nonō to move forward, and Nonō hurried them along the line.

Nagato and Nonō shared ramen before he took her to Hokage Rock to watch the moon, where they spoke about their painful pasts and hopes for a world without war. They ended the night laughing as they traded dreams of becoming powerful enough to make a difference.

• Nagato and Nonō ordered ramen at Ichiraku, and Nonō shared fish with him while they discussed her nearsightedness.
• Nagato promised to ask Tsunade for a way to treat Nonō’s eyes and said they could research a cure themselves if necessary.
• Nagato paid for their meal, then led Nonō to the top of Hokage Rock to admire the moon and Konoha below.
• Nagato told Nonō that Konoha shinobi had killed his parents, but said he no longer hated Konoha and wished to end war.
• Nagato and Nonō shared their ambitions: Nagato hoped to stop wars, while Nonō wanted to surpass Tsunade as a medical ninja.
• Nonō playfully punched Nagato after he warned her that surpassing Tsunade would be difficult, and they laughed and tussled together.

Nagato returned from his date with Nonō and found everyone at the Hatake Clan home waiting to tease him about it. After Sakumo offered to arrange missions for them to meet again, Nagato asked Tsunade to find a way to treat Nonō’s nearsightedness without replacing her eyes, and Tsunade said she would have to think about it.

• Nagato said goodbye to Nonō outside her apartment and returned to the Hatake Clan home.
• Konan, Kawafune, Minato, Yahiko, Nayuki, Sakumo, and Tsunade questioned Nagato about his date with Nonō.
• Nagato admitted that they had eaten together, watched the moon, and walked home, but said they had not arranged another meeting.
• Sakumo offered to arrange missions for Nagato and Nonō, while Nagato asked Tsunade for a treatment for Nonō’s nearsightedness that did not involve replacing her eyes.
• Tsunade explained that nearsightedness involved deformation of the eyeball and said she would have to consider possible treatments.

Kawafune suggested that Nonō’s nearsightedness might be treated by removing tissue from her eye, and Tsunade directed Nagato to research the idea. After the others left, Tsunade confronted Kawafune for mocking her with medical knowledge he could barely explain.

• Konan and Tsunade suggested replacing Nonō’s eyes, but Nagato said he would try to persuade her while privately deciding not to force her.
• Kawafune proposed removing part of the eye tissue to treat nearsightedness, though he could not explain exactly what should be removed.
• Tsunade encouraged Nagato to investigate the treatment in Orochimaru’s laboratory, and Nagato decided to tell Nonō only after he had researched it.
• Kawafune and Sakumo traded jabs until Nayuki dragged Sakumo away, while Nagato and the others departed.
• Tsunade questioned Kawafune about where he had learned the idea, and he claimed he had seen it in a book and tried to pass off his mockery as a compliment.

Kawafune spent the night with Tsunade, then told Nagato where to look for the eye tissue he wanted to study. Nagato dissected two eyeballs at Orochimaru’s laboratory and stayed with Misaki to learn more.

• Kawafune and Tsunade spent the night together, and Tsunade left before he woke the next day.
• Kawafune told Nagato that the tissue was likely a transparent membrane at the front of the eyeball.
• Nagato went to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Misaki helped him obtain specimens and instruments.
• Nagato dissected two eyeballs and recorded their tissues, but could not identify the tissue Kawafune had described.
• Misaki encouraged Nagato to study the tissues’ functions, and Nagato agreed to stay and learn more.
• Orochimaru told Nagato to take his time and ask for help if he encountered difficulties.

Nagato and Misaki completed research into corneal tissue and began treating nearsighted patients with surgery. After Nagato’s first patient regained clear vision, he continued operating and training hospital staff, while still keeping his success a secret from Nonō.

• Misaki showed Nagato that Tsunade’s Hashirama cell fusion was progressing faster than Orochimaru’s, and Orochimaru secretly punished them with a day of exhausting work after overhearing their laughter.
• Nagato identified the tissue that made up the cornea, and Orochimaru arranged for the hospital to recruit nearsighted patients for surgery.
• Sakumo assigned Nagato to a mission with Minato’s Team and Nonō’s group, and Nagato returned to the hospital afterward without telling Nonō about his research.
• Nagato removed the bandages from his first patient, who confirmed that she could see clearly again.
• Nagato and Misaki performed more than a dozen surgeries and taught several medical ninja how to continue the procedure.

Nagato told Nonō that he had developed a treatment for her nearsightedness and arranged to operate on her. The next morning, he brought her to Konoha First People's Hospital, where her surgery was ready to begin.

• Nagato visited Nonō at the Anbu Training Ground Three and told her he could restore her normal vision with a minor operation.
• Nonō agreed to let Nagato perform the surgery and arranged to meet him at the hospital the next morning.
• After Nagato left, Nonō's teammate teased her about whether he had confessed to her, and they resumed sparring.
• Nagato waited for Nonō at Konoha First People's Hospital, where he had arranged the operating room and a hospital room.
• Nonō arrived, joked with Nagato about the surgery being free, and followed him into the hospital.