Chapter Summaries

After completing his Space-Time Yin Seal and preparing for his first mission in months, Gojo Yoru reflected on why he had avoided the war and remained wary of Black and White Zetsu. Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned him and announced a special mission, but had not yet revealed its details.

• Gojo Yoru recalled that he had stayed in Konoha because his lack of stored Space-Time Chakra left him vulnerable to detection by White Zetsu and Uchiha Madara.
• Gojo Yoru reviewed the formidable concealment and infiltration abilities of the Spore, Imitation, and Mayfly Techniques, and admitted he still could not detect Black and White Zetsu.
• Gojo Yoru equipped himself with Storage Scrolls, Flying Thunder God Kunai, and the Thunder God Sword before leaving his room.
• Uzumaki Kushina urged Gojo Yoru to be careful, and he reminded her to carry Flying Thunder God Kunai while he was away.
• Gojo Yoru reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who explained that Gojo could accept D-Rank missions alone and might qualify for the Chunin Exam.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen warned that the Chunin Exam might be canceled because of the unsettled Ninja World, then told Gojo Yoru he had a special mission for him.

Gojo Yoru received a privilege from Sarutobi Hiruzen allowing him to refuse most missions and was sent to the western border base with a scroll for Orochimaru. There, Tsunade outlined a plan to infiltrate Amegakure and obtain enough antidote before Hanzō restricted its supply.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Gojo Yoru a scroll granting him the right to refuse missions and urged him to prioritize his safety.
• Gojo Yoru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel to the western border base and deliver Sarutobi Hiruzen's scroll to Orochimaru.
• Gojo Yoru greeted Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shimura Danzō, and Hatake Sakumo, while Tsunade thanked him for letting Kushina teach Nawaki the Rasengan.
• Shimura Danzō asked about Sarutobi Hiruzen's reply, and Orochimaru passed the scroll to him after reading it.
• Tsunade said she would infiltrate Amegakure to check whether Iwagakure had succeeded in its attack and secure enough antidote before Hanzō restricted its supply.

Tsunade and Gojo Yoru set out to infiltrate Amegakure and investigate whether Iwagakure had stolen the antidote to Salamander's poison. After teleporting to a cave in the Land of Rain, they prepared to travel onward while Tsunade warned Gojo Yoru about traps.

• Tsunade convinced the others that she and Gojo Yoru should infiltrate Amegakure to investigate Iwagakure's raid and search for the antidote formula.
• Orochimaru explained that the antidote could let Iwagakure join Sunagakure in threatening the Land of Fire, and Tsunade said her medical expertise made her essential to the mission.
• Gojo Yoru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport himself and Tsunade out of the meeting room, stunning Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo while Shimura Danzō grew jealous.
• Gojo Yoru and Tsunade appeared in a cave in the Rocky Mountain Area of the Land of Rain, short of Amegakure.
• Gojo Yoru offered to buy raincoats and conical hats, and Tsunade cautioned him to watch for poison, terrain traps, and Hanzō's Explosive Flame Formation.

Gojo Yoru and Tsunade traveled toward Amegakure, while Gojo Yoru encountered Yahiko and later reunited with Konan. After Konan told him her parents had been killed, she accepted his offer to stay with him.

• Gojo Yoru bought rain gear in town, recognized Yahiko as he ran past, and secretly followed him to a cave.
• Gojo Yoru confirmed Yahiko had not yet met Konan and returned to Tsunade, then they set out for Amegakure.
• Gojo Yoru parted from Tsunade after noticing Konan approaching through the rain.
• Gojo Yoru showed Konan the paper flower from their previous meeting, and she recognized him as the big brother she had met last year.
• Konan told Gojo Yoru that her parents had been killed, and he offered to let her stay with him.
• Konan accepted Gojo Yoru's offer, and they exchanged names.

Gojo Yoru helped Tsunade reach Amegakure by planting a Flying Thunder God Seal in a sewer, then assisted her in summoning the Slug Sage. The Slug Sage sensed something unusual about Gojo Yoru and invited him to Shikkotsu Forest if he ever left Ryūchi Cave.

• Gojo Yoru left Konan with his Shadow Clone and a kunai, then returned to Tsunade after teleporting between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
• Gojo Yoru demonstrated his silent, extraordinary Body Flicker speed by racing ahead to Amegakure and planting a Flying Thunder God Seal in a sewer.
• Gojo Yoru teleported Tsunade to the sewer, where she summoned the Slug Sage and asked for its help.
• The Slug Sage addressed Gojo Yoru as its lord, learned that he had contracted with Ryūchi Cave, and grumbled that the snake had claimed him first.
• The Slug Sage invited Gojo Yoru to Shikkotsu Forest if he ever ended his contract with Ryūchi Cave, and Gojo Yoru realized it had detected his unusual Space-Time Chakra.

Tsunade and Gojo Yoru relied on the Slug Sage to search Amegakure for a medicinal workshop while the Sage warned Tsunade that Gojo Yoru was a “Ninja World Miracle.” The search ended with the Slug Sage locating a hidden base near Hanzo’s tower, where strong medicinal and blood scents remained.

• Tsunade asked the Slug Sage to search Amegakure for places with a strong medicinal smell, and it sent out countless clones.
• Gojo Yoru left to restore his Chakra, and the Slug Sage told Tsunade not to provoke him because Shikkotsu Forest feared making him an enemy.
• Gojo Yoru restored his Space-Time Chakra and returned, while Tsunade kept her growing curiosity about his hidden secrets to herself.
• The Slug Sage found a secret base beneath a damaged barrier in a bamboo forest near Hanzo’s tower, and Tsunade recognized it as the likely place she was seeking.

Gojo Yoru and Tsunade attacked the Rain Ninja guarding a secret base in the Bamboo Forest, hoping to find an Antidote and medicine formulas. Gojo Yoru swiftly cut down most of the guards, leaving one terrified survivor.

• Tsunade explained that the Bamboo Forest was protected by a perception barrier and planned for her and Gojo Yoru to defeat its seven guards before searching the base.
• Gojo Yoru offered to handle the guards alone while Tsunade searched for medicine, and she agreed.
• Gojo Yoru entered the Bamboo Forest, triggering the barrier and alerting the Rain Ninja to an intruder.
• Gojo Yoru seized one barrier maintainer, disrupting the damaged barrier, then used kunai, Body Flicker, and a golden beam to kill the patrolling Rain Ninja.
• Gojo Yoru severed the limbs and heads of two more Rain Ninja, while the Fuinjutsu-struck guard watched in terror.

Gojo Yoru used the Flying Thunder God Technique and a series of deceptive maneuvers to eliminate the Rain Ninja who discovered his abilities. After the battle, he reflected that his extreme combination of techniques was costly and that he preferred overwhelming force.

• Tsunade praised Gojo Yoru, then broke open the underground base entrance and went inside.
• The remaining three Rain Ninja identified Gojo Yoru’s space-time movement as the Flying Thunder God Technique and scattered, detonating Explosive Tags to raise an alarm.
• Gojo Yoru pursued the Rain Ninja using Phasing and Earth Body Flicker, then killed one with Dimensional Slash after he escaped the Bamboo Forest.
• Two Rain Ninja attacked what they thought was Gojo Yoru, but the targets were Shadow Clones carrying Flying Thunder God Kunai; Gojo Yoru used the marks to kill them with Dimensional Slash.
• Gojo Yoru estimated that only 15% of his Space-Time Chakra remained and said the combination of techniques was underhanded, though he preferred overwhelming force.

Gojo Yoru gathered the Rain Ninja’s antidotes and sensed a disturbance as Tsunade raided Hanzo of the Salamander’s underground chamber. Hanzo ambushed Tsunade with Ibuse’s poisonous mist and nearly killed her, but Gojo Yoru appeared and teleported them both away, revealing his Flying Thunder God Technique to Hanzo.

• Gojo Yoru collected antidotes from the Rain Ninja corpses and sensed a faint tremor, then teleported away.
• Tsunade entered the underground base and used a Shadow Clone to trigger and survive the trapped iron door.
• Tsunade and the Slug Sage moved the chamber’s medicines and scrolls to Shikkotsu Forest while Tsunade’s Shadow Clones searched for formulas.
• Hanzo of the Salamander and Ibuse burst into the chamber, engulfing Tsunade and the clones in poisonous mist.
• Hanzo slashed Tsunade and thrust toward her heart, but Gojo Yoru blocked the attack and teleported away with her.
• Hanzo recognized Tsunade and the Flying Thunder God Technique after they vanished.

Gojo Yoru rescued Tsunade from poison and treated her severe wound in a cave in the Land of Rain. After she remained unconscious for hours, he decided against taking her back to the border base, wary of how others might blame him for her condition.

• Gojo Yoru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to rescue Tsunade and force-fed her two vials of Antidote.
• Gojo Yoru realized his Space-Time Chakra was nearly depleted and suspected that Gift of Time and Space might only arrive once every six years.
• Gojo Yoru discovered Tsunade was suffering from blood loss, examined her wound, and treated it with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Gojo Yoru set traps outside the cave, recovered his Chakra, and guarded Tsunade as she remained unconscious for more than five hours.
• After Tsunade woke and appeared stable, Gojo Yoru chose not to take her to the border base because he feared others would blame him for her injuries.

Tsunade woke in a cave after Gojo Yoru rescued and treated her, then mistakenly accused him of taking liberties when her vest slipped open. After Gojo Yoru demanded an apology and she attacked him, they made peace over roast chicken as rain fell outside.

• Tsunade woke and remembered Hanzo's attack and Gojo Yoru carrying her away from the poison.
• Tsunade saw Gojo Yoru staring after her vest slipped, screamed, and accused him of doing something to her.
• Tsunade realized Gojo Yoru had treated her, apologized, and put her vest on backward.
• Gojo Yoru demanded an apology for risking his life to save her, and Tsunade apologized before angrily attacking him.
• Gojo Yoru restrained Tsunade with the Four-Limb Heavy Seal, then released her and offered her roast chicken.
• Tsunade accepted the food and ate while she and Gojo Yoru sat by the fire in the rain.

After Tsunade recovered, she and Gojo Yoru discussed the stolen pharmaceutical supplies and the danger of their identities being exposed. They left the cave to report to Orochimaru and the others, with Tsunade warning Gojo Yoru to keep her embarrassing behavior secret.

• Tsunade ate a roast chicken and drank wine while Gojo Yoru teased her about treating him.
• Tsunade explained that the underground base contained medicines and a formula section, and that she could use the supplies to develop an antidote to Salamander's poison.
• Gojo Yoru urged Tsunade to return and report to Orochimaru because Hanzo had seen them and their identities were likely exposed.
• After changing clothes, Tsunade tried to choke and punch Gojo Yoru, but he evaded her attacks with Flying Thunder God and slapped her.
• Tsunade threatened Gojo Yoru and then asked him to keep her embarrassing behavior secret before they teleported away to report.

After Iwagakure and Konoha looted Amegakure’s pharmaceutical workshops, Hanzo of the Salamander set out for the Land of Fire border, aiming to draw the great nations into conflict. Chiyo, Ebizo, and Ōnoki recognized the danger of his strategy, and Ōnoki declared that the Second Shinobi World War had begun.

• Hanzo of the Salamander learned that Iwa-nin and Konoha ninja had raided Amegakure’s pharmaceutical workshops, then ordered Sagawa to publicize Iwagakure’s attack and circulate a portrait of the white-haired Konoha ninja.
• Hanzo of the Salamander openly left for the Land of Fire border, prompting the Land of Wind and Land of Earth to raise their defenses and consider whether his move was a feint.
• Ebizo concluded that Hanzo of the Salamander was trying to force the Land of Fire into the conflict, and Chiyo decided to warn the Kazekage and prepare for the worst.
• Ōnoki warned Kitsuchi that Hanzo of the Salamander could devastate Iwagakure, then ordered his forces to disperse and retreat rather than risk fighting him.
• Ōnoki flew to the Tsuchikage Building rooftop, looked toward the Land of Fire, and declared that the Second Shinobi World War had begun.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya prepared the Land of Fire’s border base for Hanzo of the Salamander’s arrival, then joined Tsunade and Gojo Yoru in battle against him and Ibuse. The fight escalated into a clash of summoned beasts and coordinated attacks, ending with Hanzo unleashing Hidden Mist Technique.

• Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō ordered the combat forces split into groups to guard against Hanzo and possible attacks from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
• Hanzo of the Salamander crossed the Land of Rain and fought through Konoha’s traps before clashing with Orochimaru and Jiraiya near the border base.
• Tsunade and Gojo Yoru teleported to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, bringing Antidotes, as Ibuse emerged and released poisonous gas.
• Gojo Yoru helped Orochimaru disperse Ibuse’s poison, then blocked Hanzo’s surprise attack while Tsunade and Jiraiya avoided his exploding clone.
• Orochimaru asked Gojo Yoru to look for a chance to kill Hanzo or mark Ibuse, and the Konoha Sannin summoned Manda, Gama Bunta, and the Slug Sage to hold off Ibuse.
• The Konoha Sannin fought Hanzo while their summoned beasts battled Ibuse, and Hanzo used Hidden Mist Technique to fill the battlefield with dense fog.

Gojo Yoru rejoined the battle against Hanzo of the Salamander and unleashed a devastating spatial technique that nearly killed Ibuse, forcing Hanzo to retreat. The Konoha group escaped, while Hanzo vowed to remember Yoru and prepare for their next encounter.

• Hanzo of the Salamander ambushed Orochimaru in the mist, wounded him, and trapped Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya in a flood before Gojo Yoru teleported them to safety.
• Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya debated retreating, but Gojo Yoru persuaded them to give him another chance to attack Ibuse with a new technique.
• The Konoha Sannin drew Hanzo's attention while Gojo Yoru approached Ibuse, but Ibuse destroyed his Earth Clone with Explosive Flame Formations.
• Gojo Yoru fired a tricolored spatial orb that disrupted Ibuse's return to the Summoning Realm and erased part of the battlefield, but Ibuse escaped using Water Body Flicker and lost its tail.
• Gojo Yoru used his remaining Chakra to teleport back to Orochimaru, then fled with the Konoha Sannin while Hanzo chose not to pursue them.
• Hanzo revealed that he had hidden inside Ibuse during the fight and vowed never to underestimate Gojo Yoru again.

Gojo Yoru escaped Hanzo of the Salamander after using his unfinished spatial technique, while Konoha prepared for invasions by the Land of Wind and Land of Earth. Amegakure publicized Gojo Yoru as the Flying Thunder God User who had injured Ibuse, drawing the attention of the surrounding nations and leaving the war poised to escalate.

• Gojo Yoru told Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade that his attack might have injured Ibuse, and he reflected on the limits of his unfinished technique.
• A messenger delivered reports that the Land of Wind and Land of Earth were infiltrating the Land of Fire, and Orochimaru and Tsunade discussed Konoha's response.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya planned to report to Sarutobi Hiruzen while Tsunade set out to study Amegakure's poison and develop an Antidote.
• Amegakure circulated a portrait and announcement identifying Gojo Yoru as the Black Flash and claiming he had injured Ibuse, prompting Orochimaru and Jiraiya to suspect Hanzo was using him as a target for enemy assassins.
• Chiyo and Ebizo considered exploiting the conflict to attack Konoha, while Ōnoki decided to confront Gojo Yoru despite Kitsuchi's concerns.

Uchiha Madara learned about Gojo Yoru’s rise and decided not to interfere, while Gojo Yoru exchanged Rasengan training for Jiraiya’s hair-based secret techniques. After leaving Flying Thunder God Seals at the border base, Gojo Yoru returned to Konoha with plans to help Konan develop Paper Release.

• White Zetsu told Uchiha Madara about Gojo Yoru and the war, and Madara ordered him to protect Nagato rather than interfere with Gojo Yoru.
• Uchiha Madara explained how to counter the Flying Thunder God Technique and predicted that Nagato’s Rinnegan would eventually make Gojo Yoru flee.
• At the border base, Jiraiya and Orochimaru discussed Gojo Yoru’s sudden fame and the risks of exploiting Ibuse’s injury.
• Gojo Yoru agreed to leave Flying Thunder God Seals at the base before returning to Konoha.
• Jiraiya traded his hair-technique training methods and development experience for Gojo Yoru’s Rasengan training scroll and Fire Style Rasengan method.
• Gojo Yoru teleported away after leaving the seals, intending to use Jiraiya’s techniques to help Konan develop Paper Release and to train Uzumaki Kushina.

Gojo Yoru reunited with Konan, gave her a home, and began preparing her to become a ninja while keeping her in town rather than taking her to Konoha. After spending three days teaching her and providing for her, he left for the Border Base, where he heard terrible news.

• Gojo Yoru returned to Konan, reassured her that she mattered to him, and gave her the paper flower as a sign of their bond.
• Gojo Yoru rented and furnished a house for Konan, learned about her background, and discussed her future as a ninja.
• Gojo Yoru and Konan prepared dinner together, and he studied Jiraiya's notes on Paper Release to plan her training.
• Gojo Yoru spent three days teaching Konan about ninja, Chakra, and daily training before giving her money and instructions for her care.
• Gojo Yoru left Konan and went to the Border Base, where he immediately heard terrible news.

Gojo Yoru learned that Nawaki had died after stepping into an Explosive Flame Formation and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Tsunade and Nawaki’s body home. He left Tsunade grieving with Kushina and went to report to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

• A senior ninja revered Gojo Yoru as a celebrated hero, then told him that Nawaki had been killed by an enemy Explosive Flame Formation.
• Gojo Yoru teleported to the border and found Tsunade grieving beside Nawaki’s corpse, while Orochimaru and Jiraiya stood by helplessly.
• Tsunade asked Gojo Yoru to take her and Nawaki home, and he teleported them to Konoha.
• Tsunade went to the ancestral hall and mourned Nawaki, while Gojo Yoru waited outside.
• Kushina returned from school, learned that Nawaki had died, and went to be with Tsunade at Gojo Yoru’s urging.
• Gojo Yoru left the mansion and headed to the Hokage Building to report to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Gojo Yoru received a special promotion to Special Jonin, then informed Sarutobi Hiruzen that Nawaki had died. Hiruzen refused to visit Tsunade because wartime rules required equal treatment, and Yoru left to collect his vest.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured Gojo Yoru that the three-front war was inevitable and praised his contributions before promoting him to Special Jonin.
• Gojo Yoru accepted the promotion and learned that his file had already been upgraded and that Sarutobi Hiruzen had spread word of his Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Gojo Yoru told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Nawaki had died, leaving Hiruzen shocked.
• Gojo Yoru explained that Nawaki had been killed by an Explosive Tag after recklessly entering a dangerous area alone.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen declined to visit Tsunade, citing wartime rules, and told Gojo Yoru to collect his vest and continue learning from Orochimaru.