Chapter Summaries

Gojo Yoru accompanied Orochimaru on a prolonged S-Rank intelligence-gathering mission, spending half a month camping and waiting at sites across several countries. The chapter left Gojo Yoru thrilled after Orochimaru offered him a contract with Ryūchi Cave, which could eventually let him learn Sage Arts.

• Gojo Yoru bought camping supplies and cameras with Uzumaki Kushina, then packed his equipment and considered creating a personal storage space using his Space-Time Power.
• Gojo Yoru met Orochimaru at the village entrance and learned they were leaving on an S-Rank intelligence-gathering mission.
• Orochimaru led Gojo Yoru through forests, snow-covered mountains, and deserts, where they waited for days and retrieved scrolls while Gojo Yoru cooked and trained.
• Orochimaru asked whether Gojo Yoru had a Summoning Scroll and offered him the chance to contract with Ryūchi Cave.
• Gojo Yoru signed the Ryūchi Cave scroll and looked forward to learning its Sage Arts and combining Nature Energy with his Space-Time Chakra.

Orochimaru brought Gojo Yoru to Amegakure, where he let Yoru explore while he went elsewhere. Yoru met a young Konan selling paper flowers and paid for her entire stall before disappearing into the rain.

• Orochimaru retrieved a secret scroll from a hidden compartment in a snowy mountain cave, then hurried with Gojo Yoru to the Land of Rain.
• Orochimaru and Gojo Yoru entered Amegakure, where Orochimaru disguised himself and told Yoru to explore alone.
• Gojo Yoru wandered through Amegakure and recognized a young Konan selling paper flowers beneath a rain shelter.
• Gojo Yoru teased Konan about selling paper flowers in the rain, then paid one hundred ryō for all her flowers and took one blue-violet flower.
• Konan came to her senses after Gojo Yoru vanished into the rain and remembered his face and icy blue eyes.

Orochimaru infiltrated Hanzo of the Salamander’s tower and discovered that a powerful figure was absent, but Phantom Rain Tokiya detected his Earth Clone and sent Rain Ninja after him. Orochimaru gave Gojo Yoru a scroll and stayed behind to fight, while Gojo fled through the Land of Rain and was attacked by an unseen assailant.

• Orochimaru infiltrated Hanzo of the Salamander’s tower, sensed that the situation was about to become chaotic, and encountered Phantom Rain Tokiya, who destroyed his Earth Clone.
• Tokiya summoned a rat to track Orochimaru, and Rain Ninja pursued Orochimaru toward Amegakure’s Central Street.
• Orochimaru drew the Rain Ninja’s attention with a scroll, then pulled Gojo Yoru out of their path and ordered him to deliver the intelligence to the village.
• Orochimaru attacked the pursuing Rain Ninja with Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique while Gojo Yoru burrowed underground and escaped Amegakure.
• Gojo Yoru emerged in the Land of Rain and prepared to continue toward the Land of Fire, but he sensed a cold flash cutting toward him through the rain.

Gojo Yoru fought Tokiya, a genjutsu specialist whose summoned rat could track him through the rain. After outmaneuvering Tokiya with Phantom Clones and Phasing, Gojo Yoru killed him with a three-sided iaijutsu attack.

• Tokiya emerged from the Rain Curtain and attacked Gojo Yoru, who escaped the slash with a silent Body Flicker.
• Gojo Yoru used Phantom Clones to mislead Tokiya, then hid among them by phasing into space and avoided Tokiya’s poison smoke.
• Gojo Yoru decided to kill Tokiya rather than risk exhausting his Space-Time Chakra or revealing his ability.
• Gojo Yoru staged a retreat while Tokiya tracked him with the summoned rat and struck a decoy with Water Fang Bullet.
• Three Gojo Yoruses surrounded Tokiya and slashed him from different directions, leaving his body to fall apart as Gojo Yoru sheathed his blade.

Gojo Yoru revealed to Orochimaru that his sword’s Dimensional Slash came from his Space-Time Kekkei Genkai, and Orochimaru promised to keep it secret. Impressed by Yoru’s growth, Orochimaru gave him an early reward by producing a scroll.

• Gojo Yoru used Dimensional Slash to cut Tokiya apart, then discovered Orochimaru had witnessed the fight.
• Orochimaru questioned Gojo Yoru about the slash, and Yoru revealed that it was a Space-Time ability from his Kekkei Genkai.
• Gojo Yoru asked Orochimaru to keep his ability secret, and Orochimaru promised not to disclose it to anyone, including the Third Hokage.
• Orochimaru praised Gojo Yoru and said he would give him his reward early, then brought out a scroll from a small white snake.

After Gojo Yoru killed Tokiya, Orochimaru gave him a scroll containing the Flying Thunder God Technique, which could help him overcome his limited endurance and escape danger. Gojo Yoru resolved to master it and pursue the future Orochimaru envisioned for him.

• Orochimaru disposed of Tokiya’s remains while reflecting on the threats Gojo Yoru might face in the future.
• Gojo Yoru opened Orochimaru’s scroll and discovered it contained the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Gojo Yoru explained that the technique could offset his weakness in endurance and thanked Orochimaru for the gift.
• Orochimaru advised Gojo Yoru to master the Flying Thunder God Technique and combine it with the Rasengan and a Chakra Blade.
• Gojo Yoru resolved to grow stronger after obtaining the Flying Thunder God Technique, Ryūchi Cave’s Summoning Scroll, and the Yin Seal.

After returning to Konoha, Gojo Yoru learned that Orochimaru had warned Sarutobi Hiruzen about Hanzō’s movements and the risk of an alliance between the Land of Rain and the Land of Iron. That night, Yoru opened the Flying Thunder God scroll and realized his Space-Time Chakra might let him bypass the technique’s difficult first step.

• Orochimaru returned to Konoha with Gojo Yoru and told him to rest before collecting his mission reward in a week.
• Orochimaru warned Sarutobi Hiruzen that Hanzō had traveled alone to the Land of Iron and that the two countries might form an alliance.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed to report the intelligence, strengthen the border defenses, and warn the other great countries, then asked how Gojo Yoru had performed.
• Orochimaru praised Gojo Yoru’s performance but kept his Space-Time Bloodline secret from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Gojo Yoru returned home, studied Senju Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God scroll, and concluded that his Space-Time Chakra could bypass the technique’s normal requirements.

Gojo Yoru learned the Flying Thunder God Technique and discovered that its seals could help him exceed his Space-Time Chakra capacity limit. After waking, he gave Uzumaki Kushina a marked kunai so he could appear beside her if she was in danger.

• Gojo Yoru used Space-Time Chakra to create a Flying Thunder God Seal and teleport to its kunai, then reasoned that the technique relied on a space-time anchor.
• Gojo Yoru marked more kunai, refined Space-Time Chakra, and realized that storing it in seals could break his capacity limit.
• Gojo Yoru woke to Uzumaki Kushina and embraced her, telling her he had gained the strength to protect her.
• Gojo Yoru gave Uzumaki Kushina a Flying Thunder God Kunai and promised he would appear beside her if she encountered danger.
• Uzumaki Kushina accepted the kunai and promised to take good care of it.

Gojo Yoru explained the Flying Thunder God Kunai to Uzumaki Kushina, then spent his week off taking photos with her around Konoha Central Street. As Hanzo of the Salamander returned to Amegakure and the Ninja World appeared to settle, Gojo Yoru knew the calm would not last.

• Gojo Yoru told Uzumaki Kushina that the Flying Thunder God Seal let him teleport to whoever carried the marked kunai, then teased her about forgetting the Second Hokage.
• Uzumaki Kushina suggested placing a seal on her, but Gojo Yoru refused and instead agreed to spend his week off taking photos with her.
• Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina explored Konoha Central Street while masked Anbu stopped them from traveling farther.
• Hanzo of the Salamander's reported clash with the Land of Iron prompted the great nations to strengthen their border defenses.
• The Land of Iron reaffirmed its neutrality, and Hanzo returned to Amegakure, though Gojo Yoru knew the Ninja World faced a coming storm.

During the Survival Exercise, Gojo Yoru surprised Orochimaru with the Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan, then learned that genjutsu resistance would be essential as enemies studied his abilities. Orochimaru explained how Lightning Release could disrupt chakra and assigned Gojo Yoru Lightning Style Nature Transformation as his next training stage.

• Gojo Yoru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear beside Orochimaru and struck a tree with his Rasengan.
• Orochimaru praised Gojo Yoru’s combat skills and warned that opponents could learn his tactics and exploit his vulnerability to genjutsu.
• Orochimaru explained that genjutsu entered through the five senses and could be countered by disrupting the chakra in the body.
• Orochimaru described the strongest figures in the Ninja World and explained that the Third Raikage resisted genjutsu through his Lightning Release Chakra.
• Orochimaru told Gojo Yoru to begin training in Lightning Style Nature Transformation.

Gojo Yoru learned that natural lightning could rapidly develop Lightning Style, and he agreed to begin that training with Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Yoru had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and asked how far he could sense its seals.

• Orochimaru explained that Kumogakure used natural lightning to train Lightning Style, and Gojo Yoru agreed to undergo the training.
• Uzumaki Kushina told Gojo Yoru that Namikaze Minato had graduated early with two teammates, and complained about his furtive glances at her.
• Orochimaru visited Sarutobi Hiruzen and teased him about using the Crystal Viewing Technique.
• Orochimaru revealed that Gojo Yoru had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, delighting Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked how far Gojo Yoru could sense Flying Thunder God Seals.

Orochimaru secured Sarutobi Hiruzen’s approval for Gojo Yoru to learn Lightning Style and the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, then trained him with the Thunder God Sword. Yoru began lightning nature transformation and clashed playfully with Uzumaki Kushina, whose Monster Strength Fist revealed how much stronger she had become.

• Orochimaru told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Gojo Yoru had recently learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Hiruzen urged him to use Yoru as a future surprise weapon.
• Orochimaru explained that Yoru lacked Lightning Style, and Sarutobi Hiruzen approved borrowing the Thunder God Sword and copying a scroll of the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique for him.
• Orochimaru used the Thunder God Sword to electrify Gojo Yoru as he practiced transforming his Chakra into Lightning Style, while Uzumaki Kushina photographed his resulting afro.
• After Orochimaru stopped the training, Gojo Yoru charged at Uzumaki Kushina, who answered with a punch that shattered the training ground and displayed her Monster Strength Fist.
• Gojo Yoru narrowly dodged Kushina’s punch, and she warned him not to anger her while he felt pleased by her progress.

During an escort mission in the Land of Bears, Gojo Yoru and Orochimaru encountered Iwa-nin posing as bandits and killed them. The group traveled through the night as Orochimaru warned that economic tensions were driving the Ninja World toward open conflict.

• Gojo Yoru and Orochimaru continued escorting a client through the Land of Bears while Gojo Yoru spread Flying Thunder God Seals along their route.
• Gojo Yoru foiled an ambush, captured one attacker with a sealing technique, and killed Ryuta with the Thunder God Sword.
• Gojo Yoru reported that the attackers had used Earth Style techniques and appeared to be Iwa-nin, while the client ordered the group to pack up and leave immediately.
• Orochimaru searched the captive and concluded that the attackers were trained plunderers whose superiors had sealed their minds, then ordered Gojo Yoru to kill him.
• Gojo Yoru killed the captive, and the group traveled through the night as conflicts driven by economic imbalance continued spreading across the Ninja World.

After returning from a mission, Gojo Yoru completed a Space-Time Yin Seal that could expand his limited Chakra reserves. A triple-eagle emergency signal summoned Konoha’s Jonin to a meeting, and Yoru took Uzumaki Kushina back to the village as he anticipated a major crisis.

• Gojo Yoru returned to Konoha with Orochimaru, then went home to rest while Orochimaru reported their mission.
• Gojo Yoru discovered that he had formed a Space-Time Yin Seal on his chest, which could increase his Space-Time Chakra capacity over time.
• Uzumaki Kushina asked Gojo Yoru about graduating early, and the two teased and wrestled with each other after discussing her boredom at school.
• Three eagle cries sounded across Konoha, prompting Jonin to rush toward the Hokage Building for an urgent internal meeting.
• Gojo Yoru suspected a major crisis might be imminent and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uzumaki Kushina back to Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha’s leaders discussed the war between Amegakure and Sunagakure and the troop buildup on the Land of Earth’s southern border. Hiruzen ordered preparations for threats from every neighboring nation, then kept Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Shimura Danzō, and Hatake Sakumo behind after the meeting.

• Shimura Danzō reported that Amegakure and Sunagakure were at war and that the Land of Earth had concentrated troops along its southern border.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that the Land of Rain’s location made it a strategic opening and warned that Konoha could not rely on Ōnoki to stay out of the conflict.
• Hyuga Tsubaki and the other clan heads, including the Uchiha head, agreed to follow Hiruzen’s arrangements.
• Hiruzen ordered Konoha to prepare for attacks from the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, the Land of Rain, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Water, while keeping forces available to defend multiple borders.
• Hiruzen ended the meeting and asked Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Shimura Danzō, and Hatake Sakumo to remain behind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen warned Konoha’s trusted shinobi to prepare for a possible three-front war involving Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure. He revealed that Gojo Yoru had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, bringing the young shinobi to the attention of Konoha’s leadership.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that Amegakure had declared war on Sunagakure and that Hanzō might target the Land of Fire if the conflict showed the Five Great Shinobi Villages were vulnerable.
• Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen described how Iwagakure and Sunagakure could exploit a Konoha war with Amegakure, and Orochimaru revealed Ōnoki’s covert attacks on neighboring countries.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered the Konoha Sannin, Hatake Sakumo, and Shimura Danzō to organize forces and prepare to deploy to the borders.
• Orochimaru produced Flying Thunder God Kunai, and Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed that Gojo Yoru had learned the technique.
• Tsunade and Jiraiya recognized Gojo Yoru as Orochimaru’s disciple and the boy Kushina favored, while Shimura Danzō grew jealous and suspected a plot by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Gojo Yoru officially attracted the attention of Konoha’s upper echelon.

Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to use Gojo Yoru and the Flying Thunder God Technique to connect Konoha’s battlefronts, while positioning him as a public symbol of the new generation. As Konoha mobilized for war, Tsunade reluctantly let Nawaki accompany the troops to the border, leaving his dangerous fate unresolved.

• Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo praised Gojo Yoru’s talent as Sarutobi Hiruzen explained how Yoru’s Flying Thunder God Technique could provide battlefield support and intelligence.
• Shimura Danzō proposed putting Yoru in Root, but Sarutobi Hiruzen refused and declared that Yoru would become the benchmark of the new generation.
• Konoha’s clans recalled their members as the village’s military base resumed operations, while the chapter described the clans’ influence over its departments and opportunities.
• Tsunade tried to keep Nawaki out of the war, but he showed her his mastery of the Rasengan and insisted on serving the village.
• Tsunade allowed Nawaki to accompany the troops to the border, while the narration warned that he might die from an Explosive Tag.

Konoha organized combat and support units as the war between Amegakure and Sunagakure began, while Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina stayed in the village. Kushina resolved to grow stronger and help Yoru, and the two began training together.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen received the clans’ records, and the Konoha Sannin, Hatake Sakumo, and Shimura Danzō selected clan members for combat units as squads departed for the border.
• Gojo Yoru told Uzumaki Kushina that Orochimaru had left to guard the border and that Konoha was not yet sending Genin to the front lines.
• Uzumaki Kushina asked Gojo Yoru to train her sensory abilities, Fuinjutsu, and the Great Ball Rasengan as she prepared for the possibility of war.
• Uzumaki Kushina hoped to gain control of the Nine-Tails’ Chakra and share it with Gojo Yoru, whose limited Chakra restricted his techniques.
• Gojo Yoru reassured Uzumaki Kushina that he would not let the village force her onto the battlefield, and the pair trained harder together.

After three months of fighting, Chiyo developed an antidote and identified a weakness in Ibuse’s poison, allowing Sunagakure to blunt Hanzo’s advantage and reach a stalemate with Amegakure. As Sunagakure and Amegakure faced off, Iwagakure ended its long watch and launched the next stage of the war.

• The war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain heightened tensions across the Ninja World, while the great nations amassed troops near their borders.
• Hanzo of the Salamander drove Sunagakure into repeated retreats by using Ibuse’s deadly poison against its squads.
• Chiyo developed a formula to counter the poison and discovered that Ibuse needed five minutes to replenish it after a large-scale attack.
• Sunagakure equipped its combat squads with gas masks and antidotes, then began retreating before their protection wore off.
• Hanzo and Chiyo traded insults as their forces reached a stalemate.
• Iwagakure, after watching the war for three months, launched an attack and began the melee.

After Iwagakure attacked Amegakure, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his advisers feared Ōnoki was pursuing the antidote to Hanzō’s poison or preparing to target the Land of Fire. Hiruzen summoned Gojo Yoru, who prepared to leave his quiet training behind and face possible wartime duties.

• The Reconnaissance Team reported that Sunagakure had developed an antidote to Salamander’s deadly poison and had briefly stalemated Hanzō.
• Hyuga Kawa delivered intelligence that Iwagakure had increased its forces and launched a surprise attack on Amegakure, leading Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shimura Danzō, and Hatake Sakumo to suspect the raid targeted the antidote.
• Tsunade urged Konoha to obtain the antidote and its formula, warning that Iwagakure’s actions could leave Konoha at a disadvantage or draw it into war.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen considered Ōnoki’s motives and suspected that the Land of Fire might be the real target, so he ordered an Anbu to summon Gojo Yoru.
• Gojo Yoru told Uzumaki Kushina he would meet Hiruzen after packing, while privately preparing for the possibility that the war had escalated and his Flying Thunder God Technique was needed.