Chapter Summaries

Mei Terumi argued that the Hidden Mist Village should ally with Konoha to survive and then faced an Akatsuki attack while traveling to Konoha. With her group exhausted and surrounded, Ao and Juro prepared to hold off Hidan and Kakuzu so she could escape.

• Mei Terumi told Juro and Ao that an alliance with Konoha was the Hidden Mist Village's best chance to avoid falling behind or collapsing.
• Ao discovered Hidan and Kakuzu listening nearby, and Kakuzu said Akatsuki would kill Mei Terumi to protect its profits from war.
• Juro attacked the Akatsuki members with Hiramekarei, but Hidan and Kakuzu dodged and pursued Mei Terumi's group through the mist.
• Mei Terumi, Ao, and Juro fought through multiple ambushes while their injuries mounted and their Chakra dwindled.
• Hidan and Kakuzu caught up with the exhausted group, and Ao and Juro stood before Mei Terumi to help her escape.

Chen Fan confronted Hidan and Kakuzu while Mei Terumi, Ao, and Juro watched. He wounded the immortal Hidan repeatedly, and the chapter ended with Chen Fan asking Kakuzu how he planned to deal with him.

• Hidan threatened Ao and Juro, but Chen Fan appeared and claimed he shared Hidan’s love of slaughter.
• Kakuzu identified Chen Fan and warned Hidan that his bounty was five times Mei Terumi’s.
• Hidan charged at Chen Fan, who drew the Kusanagi Sword and inflicted numerous wounds on him.
• Kakuzu used black threads to stitch Hidan’s wounds and explained Chen Fan’s strength and fighting style.
• Chen Fan asked Kakuzu whether he had found a way to deal with him.

Chen Fan effortlessly dismembered Hidan, then threatened to destroy his supposedly immortal body. Kakuzu rescued Hidan and reassembled him, warning that Chen Fan could kill him.

• Hidan attacked Chen Fan with his Bloodied Scythe, but Chen Fan's Iron Body stopped the blade.
• Chen Fan severed Hidan's arms and legs as Hidan urged him to keep going.
• Chen Fan threatened to skewer, roast, and feed Hidan to dogs, prompting Hidan to call for Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu dragged Hidan's body parts underground, pulled him back out, and stitched him together.
• Kakuzu warned Hidan that Chen Fan could kill him, and Hidan complained that Kakuzu had not joined the fight.

Chen Fan fought Kakuzu and Hidan as they tried to attack Mei Terumi and the others, thwarting Kakuzu’s plan to provoke a war between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village. After severing Hidan’s arm and tricking Kakuzu with a fake attack call, Chen Fan launched a real Tempest Kick at Kakuzu, who evaded as Chen Fan vanished.

• Kakuzu told Hidan to target Mei Terumi and the others while he dealt with Chen Fan.
• Chen Fan intercepted Hidan, cut his Bloodied Scythe in two, and severed one of his arms as Kakuzu tried to reach Mei Terumi’s group.
• Chen Fan tricked Kakuzu into dodging a Tempest Kick that he never launched, then taunted him while Hidan recovered his arm with his chain.
• Kakuzu praised Chen Fan and began boasting that Akatsuki would capture every tailed beast, but Chen Fan attacked before he could finish.
• Chen Fan used a real Tempest Kick to sever Kakuzu’s tendrils, then vanished as Kakuzu leaped away.

Chen Fan fought Kakuzu and Hidan after learning they intended to target Kurenai, surviving Kakuzu's combined attack and turning the battle against them. Hidan was immobilized and dismembered by Juro and Ao, while Mei Terumi prepared to test whether his immortal body could withstand her Lava Release.

• Kakuzu split open his back to defend against Chen Fan, then struck him with combined Wind Style and Water Style ninjutsu.
• Chen Fan returned uninjured and declared that he would stop holding back because Kakuzu had threatened the Three-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Kakuzu released four monsters made of black tendrils, and Chen Fan caught one monster's Lightning Style spear and hurled it at Hidan.
• The lightning spear paralyzed Hidan, allowing Juro and Ao to pin him to a tree and cut him apart, including his head.
• Mei Terumi approached Hidan and threatened to use Lava Release to test his immortal body.

Mei Terumi killed Hidan with her acidic mist while Kakuzu focused on attacking Chen Fan. As Chen Fan fought Kakuzu’s remaining monsters, the Akatsuki learned of Hidan’s death and anticipated that Kakuzu might soon fall as well.

• Mei Terumi corroded Hidan to death, and he cursed Kakuzu before vanishing.
• At the Akatsuki base, Pain confirmed that Hidan had been sent to assassinate the Fifth Mizukage, while Uchiha Itachi predicted Kakuzu would die because Chen Fan was likely there.
• Chen Fan cut down Kakuzu’s Lightning Style monster and pressed his attack against the remaining monsters.
• Kakuzu dismissed Hidan as a reckless burden and used Fire Style to send a spreading blaze at Chen Fan.
• Chen Fan leaped above the flames, and Kakuzu followed with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

Chen Fan defeated and killed Kakuzu after cutting through his ninjutsu and destroying his remaining hearts. Kakuzu warned that Akatsuki would eventually defeat Chen Fan, while the organization silently witnessed his phantom disappear.

• Chen Fan killed Kakuzu's Water Style clone and taunted Kakuzu about outliving his companion.
• Kakuzu recalled his Wind Style and Fire Style clones and attacked Chen Fan with combined ninjutsu.
• Chen Fan cut apart Kakuzu's attacks, endured his powerful strikes, and destroyed his hearts one by one.
• Kakuzu admitted defeat, warned Chen Fan that Akatsuki would defeat him, and died.
• Kakuzu's phantom vanished from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Akatsuki fell silent.

The Akatsuki discussed Kakuzu’s death and Pain ordered them to prioritize capturing the other villages’ Jinchuriki before Konoha’s. Chen Fan escorted Mei Terumi toward Konoha, where they traded flirtatious remarks and she challenged him to explain his demand about the Three-Tails.

• Pain learned that Kakuzu was dead, and Itachi said he and Kisame had met Chen Fan two years earlier and found him dangerous.
• Deidara dismissed Chen Fan, but Kisame challenged Deidara’s confidence until Pain ordered them to stop arguing and hasten the capture of the Tailed Beasts.
• Chen Fan approached Mei Terumi and offered to take her to Konoha, while Ao and Juro watched him cautiously.
• Mei Terumi asked Chen Fan about the rumors surrounding him, and he flirted with her despite Ao and Juro’s protests.
• Mei Terumi reminded Chen Fan that she had come to Konoha for the Three-Tails and demanded an explanation for his earlier condition.

Chen Fan rejected Mei Terumi’s request for the Three-Tails and escorted her party toward Konoha, where Mei Terumi questioned him about Haku, Zabuza, and his relationships. They arrived in Konoha, and Mei Terumi explored the prosperous village while Chen Fan paid for her purchases.

• Chen Fan refused to hand over the Three-Tails, and Mei Terumi followed him toward Konoha with Juro and Ao.
• Mei Terumi asked about Haku and Zabuza, and Chen Fan confirmed that he had killed Zabuza.
• Mei Terumi questioned Chen Fan about Tsunade and his many relationships, and he joked that he might pursue his students in two years.
• Chen Fan and Mei Terumi arrived in Konoha, where she admired the village and went shopping while he paid.

Chen Fan teased Mei Terumi while showing her around Konoha until Tsunade caught them together. Tsunade welcomed the Fifth Mizukage, then pulled Chen Fan away to report on his mission while Mei Terumi tried to keep hold of him.

• Mei Terumi dragged Chen Fan around Konoha to shop, then asked to see where he lived.
• Chen Fan teased Mei Terumi, touched her chest, and suggested they visit a love hotel before Tsunade appeared.
• Tsunade confronted Chen Fan, and he explained that Mei Terumi was the Fifth Mizukage and that he had completed his mission.
• Tsunade welcomed Mei Terumi and offered her accommodations, but Mei Terumi said she wanted to keep exploring and hooked her arm around Chen Fan.
• Tsunade grabbed Chen Fan and headed for the Hokage Building, while Mei Terumi held on until Chen Fan's remark let Tsunade pull him away.

Chen Fan and Tsunade discussed Mei Terumi’s likely plan to seek an alliance with Konoha, then set aside Tsunade’s Hokage duties to spend time together. The chapter ended with them resuming their intimate encounter while Mei Terumi waited elsewhere.

• Chen Fan reassured Tsunade that Mei Terumi and her party had been taken to their reception, and Tsunade teased him about being attracted to the Mizukage.
• Chen Fan told Tsunade that Mei Terumi had likely come to form an alliance to help the Hidden Mist Village recover after the Bloody Mist era.
• Tsunade questioned the risks of an alliance, and Chen Fan argued that lasting peace required overwhelming strength and ideological unity.
• Tsunade told Chen Fan she wanted to have a child with him, and he carried her to her room, where they had sex.
• Tsunade complained that Chen Fan had left her unable to walk and that her Hokage paperwork remained unfinished, but they soon began another encounter.

Mei Terumi and Tsunade argued over the terms of an alliance between Hidden Mist Village and Konoha, leaving the negotiations unresolved until the next day. As the Chunin Exam approached, Mei visited Chen Fan’s home, and two people in black Cloud Robes arrived outside Hidden Sand Village.

• Mei Terumi and Tsunade debated how to divide the benefits of an alliance, but neither side yielded and they postponed the discussion.
• The Third Hokage ordered Chen Fan to persuade Tsunade and win Mei Terumi over, assigning him to spend time eating, drinking, and playing with her.
• Mei Terumi visited Chen Fan’s home and met Haku, Kurenai, Anko, and his former students Hinata, Shino, and Kiba.
• On the evening before the Chunin Exam began, two people wearing black Cloud Robes arrived outside Hidden Sand Village.

As the Hidden Sand Village prepared to announce an alliance with Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village, Gaara learned that Akatsuki posed a threat. Deidara infiltrated the village but Gaara discovered him, and their fight began in the air above the desert.

• Gaara told Hidden Sand officials that the Hidden Mist Village would join Konoha and the Hidden Sand Village in an alliance to be announced during the Chunin Exam.
• A Hidden Sand guard revealed that he was Sasori's spy, killed the other guards, and welcomed Sasori and Deidara into the village.
• Deidara created a clay bird, flew over the village, and slipped past the watchers in the sky.
• Gaara confronted Deidara on a rooftop, then pursued him into the air after Deidara escaped on his bird.
• Deidara prepared explosive clay as Gaara raised huge sand claws to seize him.

Deidara attacked Gaara above the Hidden Sand Village, using explosives to break through his defenses and threaten the people below. Gaara shielded the village from Deidara’s C3, but Deidara planted tiny clay spiders inside Gaara’s Absolute Defense and detonated them.

• Deidara escaped Gaara’s Sand Binding Prison, but Gaara crushed his left arm with Sand Coffin.
• Deidara threatened Gaara’s subordinates and the village, then dropped a C3 bomb over the Hidden Sand Village.
• Gaara used a huge sand shield to block the C3 and protect the village, exhausting himself in the process.
• Deidara detonated a clay bird beside Gaara, then revealed tiny clay spiders inside Gaara’s Absolute Defense and set them off.

After Akatsuki captured Gaara, Tsunade assigned Chen Fan to rescue him from the Hidden Sand Village. Mei Terumi insisted on joining Chen Fan, and he agreed on the condition that she follow his instructions.

• Deidara captured Gaara after Gaara used his remaining Chakra to protect the Hidden Sand Village, and Kankuro pursued them.
• Maki ordered a tracking unit to follow Kankuro and sent word to Konoha about the emergency.
• Tsunade told Chen Fan and Mei Terumi that Akatsuki had captured Gaara, and Chen Fan accepted the rescue mission.
• Mei Terumi volunteered to join Chen Fan, and he agreed after telling her not to act recklessly and to obey him.

Chen Fan and Mei Terumi traveled from Konoha toward the Hidden Sand Village, and their flirtation turned into a mutual romantic confession. They continued their journey, leaving the Hidden Sand Village as their destination.

• Tsunade agreed to send reinforcements and stayed alert for Danzō's possible return as Chen Fan and Mei Terumi departed Konoha.
• Mei Terumi questioned Chen Fan's nature as a ninja, and he explained his view of love before admitting he liked women like her.
• Chen Fan embraced Mei Terumi and teased her about making her his wife; she accepted his advances without pulling away.
• Chen Fan and Mei Terumi kissed repeatedly, and Mei Terumi asked him to kiss her again.
• Chen Fan and Mei Terumi resumed their journey toward the Hidden Sand Village.

Chen Fan and Mei Terumi arrived at the Hidden Sand Village to help after Akatsuki captured Gaara. They learned that Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing the kidnappers, and Chen Fan entered as Chiyo questioned whether the village could rely on its allies.

• Chen Fan and Mei Terumi reached the Hidden Sand Village, where Maki welcomed them and thanked them for coming to help.
• Chen Fan introduced Mei Terumi as the Fifth Mizukage, surprising Maki and the other villagers.
• Maki led Chen Fan and Mei Terumi through the village and explained that Kankuro had been poisoned while pursuing Gaara's captors.
• Chiyo examined Kankuro and said Sasori's poison was beyond anything she had encountered, then suggested asking Tsunade for help.
• Chiyo dismissed the value of alliances, and Chen Fan spoke from the doorway; Chiyo fired two poisoned needles at him before the village leaders stopped her.

Chen Fan and Mei Terumi arrived in the Hidden Sand Village to help, where Chiyo doubted Chen Fan’s abilities until he removed the poison from Kankuro. Kankuro awoke and recognized Chiyo and Ebizo, leaving the village to question him about Sasori.

• The Hidden Sand Village’s leaders welcomed Chen Fan and Mei Terumi, while Chiyo questioned Chen Fan’s age, strength, and relationship with Tsunade.
• Maki explained that Chen Fan had defeated Orochimaru, and Chen Fan offered to treat Kankuro despite not knowing Medical Ninjutsu.
• Chen Fan drew the poison out of Kankuro’s wounds, and Chiyo confirmed that the poison was gone and apologized.
• Kankuro awoke and greeted Chiyo and Ebizo after Chiyo asked whether he had seen Sasori.

Chen Fan agreed to help the Hidden Sand Village rescue Gaara and set off with Chiyo and the others to track Akatsuki. Meanwhile, Deidara and Sasori brought Gaara to Akatsuki’s hideout, where Pain began the extraction ritual.

• Kankuro told Chen Fan that Sasori of the Red Sand had captured Gaara and begged him to rescue his brother.
• Chen Fan agreed to pursue Akatsuki, and Chiyo joined the search to confront her grandson and help save Gaara if necessary.
• Chen Fan, Chiyo, and the others identified the direction Deidara and Sasori had gone and set off after them.
• Deidara and Sasori entered a hidden mountain cave and dropped Gaara inside.
• Pain summoned the Ten-Tails’ shell, gathered the Akatsuki members, and began preparations to extract Gaara’s tailed beast.

Pain’s group began extracting Gaara’s One-Tail while Chen Fan and his companions crossed into the Land of Rivers to rescue him. After learning that Chen Fan was approaching, Pain prepared to confront the group as they continued closing in on Gaara.

• Pain and the others used the Phantom Dragon Nine Seals to begin extracting the One-Tail from Gaara, causing him intense pain.
• Chen Fan, Mei Terumi, and their companions entered the Land of Rivers, with Chiyo tracking Gaara’s Chakra.
• Zetsu spotted Chen Fan’s group and warned Pain that Konoha’s allies were approaching.
• Itachi described Chen Fan’s strength, and Deidara dismissed the warning while Pain decided to see Chen Fan for himself.
• Chen Fan, Mei Terumi, and Chiyo continued through the forest as Chiyo sensed they were getting closer to Gaara.