Recaps

Uchiha Mai prepared for the Chunin Ninja Exams finals after learning Asuma had survived the ambush, and he posed for promotional photographs alongside Mei Terumi and Kisame. As the finals began, Mai waited in the arena entrance tunnel, then heard footsteps behind him.

• Jiraiya praised Uchiha Mai's progress, and Mai said he felt confident against Mei Terumi but gave himself only five or six chances in ten against Kisame.
• Jiraiya told Uchiha Mai that Asuma had been badly injured while protecting his teammates, but a Sunagakure Jonin had arrived and saved him.
• Rasa arranged promotional photographs of the finalists, and Uchiha Mai used eight Black Dragons behind him to give his pose more menace.
• Mei Terumi watched the photographer's camera, and that night a thief stole several developed photographs of Uchiha Mai.
• Sunagakure held the Chunin Ninja Exams finals, and Uchiha Mai heard footsteps behind him while waiting in the entrance tunnel.

Uchiha Mai spoke with Sasori of the Red Sands, who questioned him about Hatake Sakumo’s strength and declared his intention to take revenge. Sasori left Mai wondering what his real purpose was, just as Mai was called to fight in the Chunin Exams.

• Sasori of the Red Sands approached Uchiha Mai and asked whether he had witnessed Hatake Sakumo fight.
• Mai admitted he had seen Sakumo fight and said Sakumo was likely not much weaker than the Hokage.
• Mai told Sasori that he lacked the strength to take revenge on Sakumo, angering him.
• Sasori vowed to kill Sakumo and turn him into a puppet within three years, then asked Mai to tell Sakumo not to die before then.
• Sasori left, and Mai wondered why he had come before Rasa called Mai to his next Chunin Exam fight.

Uchiha Mai faced Mei Terumi in the arena, where she proposed a wager that he marry her if she won. Mai overwhelmed her with relentless attacks, leaving the spectators convinced her defeat was inevitable, while Yagura and Jiraiya discussed Mai’s talent and future.

• Mei Terumi proposed that Uchiha Mai marry her if she won, and Mai accepted, confident he would prevail.
• At Rasa’s signal, Mei began forming the Hidden Mist Technique, but Mai rushed her and used his Sharingan to interrupt her before she could complete it.
• Mei evaded Mai’s Twin Dragon Demon Shadow and Dark Stroke, then countered with a Water Dragon Bullet that Mai’s Black Dragons intercepted.
• Mai kept Mei on the defensive with Nintaijutsu and Super Beast Imitating Drawing, and the watching experts judged her defeat inevitable.
• Yagura lamented Konoha’s abundance of talent, while Jiraiya praised Mai and cautioned that his future depended on gaining experience.

Uchiha Mai countered Mei Terumi’s water-based strategy and defeated her with a brick after using her own techniques to close the distance. The chapter ended with Mei Terumi unconscious beside Mizukage Yagura.

• Mei Terumi changed tactics and flooded the arena with Water Formation Pillar, then used the water to launch Water Fang Bullet at Uchiha Mai.
• Uchiha Mai dodged the water currents and ran up the arena wall while Mei Terumi pursued him with her attacks.
• Uchiha Mai broke the wall, used the flying bricks to approach Mei Terumi, and intercepted her Water Chain Bullets with Phoenix Assault.
• Uchiha Mai’s Black Dragon tail pulled Mei Terumi toward him, and he knocked her unconscious with a brick.
• The Black Dragon threw Mei Terumi out of the arena, where she landed beside Mizukage Yagura.

Uchiha Mai rested after defeating Mei Terumi, then faced Kisame in the Chunin Ninja Exams final. Their opening exchange showed that both were formidable, and Kisame’s chakra absorption made Mai wary as the fight continued.

• Uchiha Mai declined Rasa’s post-match interview and rested in the competitors’ tunnel until his chakra recovered.
• Kisame waited in the arena and explained that Uchiha Mai was the opponent he had been seeking.
• Kisame lunged at Uchiha Mai with a chakra-enhanced punch, but Mai leaped clear of the blow.
• Uchiha Mai appeared behind Kisame and kicked at his head, but Kisame blocked the attack and absorbed some of Mai’s chakra.
• Kisame tried to follow up against the airborne Mai, but Mai’s two Black Dragons struck Kisame in the chest and let Mai land safely.
• Uchiha Mai complained about Kisame’s chakra absorption, while Kisame grew more eager to fight him at full strength.

Uchiha Mai used Eight-Wastes Dragon Battle: Black Sun to trap Kisame in a coordinated assault by eight flame-wreathed Black Dragons and drain his chakra. Kisame broke free by destroying four dragons, while Mai replenished his chakra by absorbing the chakra left behind.

• Uchiha Mai hit Kisame with Yomi Stroke, and a Black Dragon caught him long enough for one of the chakra flames to strike and drain him.
• Uchiha Mai formed the Tiger seal and created a massive black Fireball called Black Sun, prompting Kisame to charge before the technique could be unleashed.
• Uchiha Mai manifested eight Black Dragons through the Black Sun and sent them, along with his own flaming attacks, to surround and batter Kisame.
• Kisame endured the flames and chakra drain, smashed four Black Dragons, and escaped the assault.
• Uchiha Mai let Kisame go because his chakra was low, then had the remaining dragons absorb the scattered chakra and restore him beyond his usual full strength.

Uchiha Mai unleashed an unstable Ura 108 Shiki: Ya Sakazuki, and Kisame Hoshigaki countered with a massive Water Style jutsu. Their clash filled the arena with steam, where Kisame used a Water Clone and conversation to narrow down Mai’s location.

• Uchiha Mai poured his excess chakra into Ura 108 Shiki: Ya Sakazuki, sending a huge purple fireball surging toward Kisame Hoshigaki and damaging the chakra pathways in his left arm.
• Kisame Hoshigaki countered with Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, and the water and flames canceled each other out, filling the arena with thick steam.
• The Daimyo of the Land of Wind questioned the Kazekage about the strength of the contestants, and Rasa explained that Uchiha Mai and Kisame Hoshigaki were rare talents with strength comparable to Jonin.
• Unable to see clearly through the steam, Uchiha Mai and Kisame Hoshigaki concealed their positions while Kisame created a Water Clone to confuse Mai.
• Kisame’s Water Clone questioned Mai about absorbing chakra, and Kisame used Mai’s brief reply to estimate the direction of his location.

Uchiha Mai used his Black-Gold Roc wings to attack Kisame from the air, but Kisame focused on escaping and neither could finish the fight. Mai eventually gave up his aerial advantage and returned to the ground as the mist cleared, while Kisame prepared to continue the battle up close.

• Kisame used his Water Clone to keep Uchiha Mai talking, but Mai destroyed it with a clone and a barrage of flaming feathers from above.
• Kisame countered with Water Style techniques and escaped the mist, where he saw Mai hovering on partially materialized Black-Gold Roc wings.
• Mai and Kisame traded attacks for nearly five minutes, with Mai pressing Kisame while Kisame focused on fleeing.
• Mai realized he could not defeat Kisame from the air before his chakra ran low, so he withdrew his wings and returned to the ground.
• Kisame tore off his tattered shirt and challenged Mai to settle the fight on the ground.

Uchiha Mai battered the wounded Kisame Hoshigaki until Kisame could no longer defend himself. Mai hurled Gáe Bolg at him, and Kisame waited for the fatal strike before someone called for surrender.

• Uchiha Mai realized Kisame Hoshigaki had weakened and crippled his left leg with an exploding scimitar.
• Kisame charged Mai, but Mai wounded his shoulder, stopped his counterattack with black dragons, and shattered his right shoulder with a blow.
• Kisame used Water Shockwave to push Mai back, but Mai blocked it with his wings and revealed a charged bone spear.
• Uchiha Mai hurled Gáe Bolg at Kisame, who concluded he could not dodge or absorb the attack and gave up resisting.
• Someone shouted, "We surrender!"

Uchiha Mai’s final attack nearly killed Kisame, but Mizukage Yagura intervened and declared Konoha the winner of the Chunin Ninja Exams. Rasa announced the promotions, naming Uchiha Mai, Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Uchiha Tekka as the new chunin, while Mai hoped Konoha would reward him for bringing the village glory.

• Mizukage Yagura used a Water Release whip to redirect Uchiha Mai’s bone spear and save Kisame.
• Mizukage Yagura conceded the match and declared Konoha the winner of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Rasa consulted with the leaders and selected candidates for chunin promotion based on their overall performance.
• Rasa announced that Uchiha Mai, Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Uchiha Tekka would be promoted to chunin.
• Uchiha Mai relaxed after the results and hoped Sarutobi Hiruzen would reward him for bringing glory to Konoha.

As Kirigakure prepared to leave Sunagakure, Uchiha Mai met Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi to say goodbye. Kisame hoped they would meet again in battle, while Mei Terumi asked Mai whether he had ever liked her.

• Uchiha Mai received Kisame Hoshigaki's invitation to meet outside Sunagakure's gate and decided to go.
• Mei Terumi and Kisame waited for Uchiha Mai, and Mei Terumi hoped Kisame mattered enough to bring him there.
• Uchiha Mai arrived and told Kisame he admired him and had come to see him off.
• Kisame described the missions that had left him feeling lost and hoped to die fighting Uchiha Mai on a battlefield someday.
• Mei Terumi asked Uchiha Mai whether he had ever liked her, and he thought about his feelings for the Mei Terumi he had known before entering this world.

Uchiha Mai considered his romantic prospects after Mei Terumi confessed her feelings, but he admitted that he preferred Tsunade. As the Konoha group headed home, Jiraiya reacted uneasily to Mai’s interest in Tsunade.

• Mei Terumi told Uchiha Mai that she would become Mizukage, strengthen Kirigakure, and eventually take him back to the Land of Water, then left with her group.
• Uchiha Mai sent Mei Terumi off with a gesture inspired by Vegeta, and a few days later Jiraiya led the recovered Konoha ninja toward home.
• Jiraiya and Asuma questioned Uchiha Mai about refusing Mei Terumi, and Mai explained that their village loyalties made them a poor match.
• Uchiha Mai revealed that he liked Princess Tsunade more than Mei Terumi, prompting Jiraiya to object that Tsunade was old enough to be his mother.

Uchiha Mai told Jiraiya that Sasori planned to kill Hatake Sakumo and turn him into a puppet, then realized Sasori might already have poisoned them. Jiraiya confirmed that he had been struck and weakened, leaving the group facing an attack on the road.

• Jiraiya asked Uchiha Mai about the chakra presence he sensed before the Chunin Ninja Exams finals, and Mai identified Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Mai said Sasori had threatened to kill Hatake Sakumo within three years and make his corpse a puppet.
• Jiraiya dismissed Sasori's chances against Hatake Sakumo, but Mai explained that Sasori believed a powerful puppet could change the odds.
• Mai realized Sasori might have used poison, ordered everyone to stop, and hurried away from the group.
• Three tiny needles shot from the back of Mai's neck toward Jiraiya, who defended himself with the Wild Lion's Mane Technique.
• Jiraiya said he had been poisoned and that his strength was reduced by about thirty percent.

Sasori of the Red Sands explained how he used Uchiha Mai as the carrier for his poison, Bee Fujiko, to target Jiraiya and obtain a body for a Human Puppet. Jiraiya claimed the needles had not poisoned him, but Sasori insisted they had, leaving Jiraiya to ask Uchiha Mai for help with his next boast.

• Sasori of the Red Sands revealed that Bee Fujiko was an undetectable, remotely controlled sting that released its poison only after passing from one person's blood into another's.
• Sasori of the Red Sands said he had targeted Jiraiya to make a Human Puppet and planned to use it against Hatake Sakumo.
• Jiraiya condemned Human Puppets, and Sasori of the Red Sands retorted that the technique drew inspiration from Senju Tobirama's Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Jiraiya declared that Sasori of the Red Sands was a genius but claimed the poison needles had not struck him.
• Sasori of the Red Sands said Jiraiya's symptoms matched those of his poisoned test subjects, and Jiraiya quietly asked Uchiha Mai what to say next.
• Uchiha Mai suggested that Jiraiya boast that he remained invincible even while poisoned.

Jiraiya faced Sasori of the Red Sands while weakened by poison, and Uchiha Mai stopped Sasori from taking Asuma and the others hostage. Jiraiya destroyed several of Sasori’s puppets, forcing Sasori to realize his opponent was far stronger than he had expected.

• Sasori of the Red Sands used Performance: Human Body Manipulation to send chakra threads toward Asuma and the others, but Uchiha Mai’s Phoenix Assault delayed the threads long enough for them to escape.
• Jiraiya told Uchiha Mai to protect the others and insisted he could handle Sasori alone, while Mai handed out sunflower seeds for the group to watch the fight.
• Sasori of the Red Sands summoned close to ten puppets and sent them to attack Jiraiya with concealed weapons and poison.
• Jiraiya evaded the puppets’ concentrated assault with the Substitution Technique, then used Wild Lion’s Mane Technique to crush four puppets.
• Sasori of the Red Sands recognized that even poisoned, Jiraiya was far stronger than he had anticipated.

Sasori of the Red Sands summoned his upgraded Father and Mother puppets to challenge Jiraiya, but Jiraiya’s skill overwhelmed him despite the poison. Sasori was left defeated and despairing over how he could ever take revenge on Hatake Sakumo, while Uchiha Mai suggested killing him.

• Sasori of the Red Sands summoned Father and Mother and explained that Granny Chiyo had upgraded the puppets, which he intended to use to defeat Jiraiya and eventually challenge Hatake Sakumo.
• Jiraiya expressed sympathy for Sasori’s parents but defended Konoha, prompting Sasori to rage and send his puppets after him.
• Jiraiya used Fire Style: Flame Bullet to destroy three puppets, then used Needle Jizo to withstand Father and Mother’s attacks.
• Sasori recognized the limits of relying on puppets and faltered, allowing Jiraiya to kick Father and Mother away and punch him to his knees.
• Uchiha Mai asked whether they should kill the defeated Sasori of the Red Sands.

Jiraiya weighed how to punish Sasori of the Red Sands for ambushing his party when the Third Kazekage arrived and pleaded for Sasori’s life. The Kazekage repeatedly slapped Sasori until he produced an antidote, and Uchiha Mai insisted Sasori take it first.

• Jiraiya considered killing Sasori of the Red Sands, but the Third Kazekage arrived and asked him to spare Sasori in exchange for Sunagakure taking responsibility.
• Uchiha Mai demanded the antidote, and the Third Kazekage asked Sasori where it was.
• Sasori claimed there was no antidote, so the Third Kazekage slapped him repeatedly while Uchiha Mai suggested alternating sides.
• Sasori finally produced a small bottle, and Uchiha Mai told the Third Kazekage to make Sasori take the antidote first.

Jiraiya demanded that Sunagakure punish Sasori of the Red Sands for poisoning and attacking the Konoha group. The Third Kazekage cut off his own arm to spare Sasori, then explained why he could not risk fighting Konoha.

• Jiraiya recovered most of his strength with Sasori's antidote and demanded compensation from the Third Kazekage for Sasori's attack.
• Jiraiya offered the Third Kazekage a choice between leaving Sasori half-dead and taking both his hands.
• The Third Kazekage severed his own left arm and declared that he would take Sasori's punishment in his place.
• The Third Kazekage carried Sasori away toward Sunagakure, and Sasori told him that the sacrifice would not erase his resentment over his parents' deaths.
• The Third Kazekage explained that Uchiha Mai had sent a report toward Konoha, so attacking the group would have exposed Sunagakure and risked a war it could not win.

After Uchiha Mai returned to Konoha, Fugaku told him the Hokage planned to bring him to the monthly meeting and might promote him to Anbu squad captain. Mai suspected the meeting would bring more than a routine promotion.

• News reached Konoha that Sasori had fled Sunagakure, while the Third Kazekage had survived because Mai saved him.
• Hiruzen confirmed Mai's Chunin promotion but gave him no immediate reward, so Mai waited for the monthly meeting.
• Fugaku sent Shisui to fetch Mai, and Shisui told Mai he would attend the Ninja Academy starting in April.
• Fugaku told Mai that Hiruzen had summoned him to the monthly meeting and likely planned to appoint him an Anbu squad captain.
• Fugaku asked Mai to help take Shisui to the Academy on his first day, while Mai wondered whether the meeting had greater implications.

Uchiha Mai attended a gathering of Konoha’s Jonin, where Orochimaru praised his abilities and offered to take him as a personal disciple. Mai suspected Orochimaru wanted to study his Sharingan and mutated Fire Style chakra, and refused after learning of Orochimaru’s cooperation with Danzo’s Root.

• Uchiha Mai accompanied Fugaku to the Hokage Office and quietly took a seat among the gathered Jonin.
• Orochimaru joined Uchiha Mai and praised his Sharingan, Fire Style Nintaijutsu, and unusual chakra mutation.
• Orochimaru offered to become Uchiha Mai’s personal teacher and help him develop his abilities.
• Uchiha Mai asked about Orochimaru’s work with Danzo’s Root and refused the offer because he disliked Root.

At Konoha’s regular meeting, Sarutobi Hiruzen appointed Orochimaru to lead a new Anbu division and criticized Danzo’s Root for failing to strengthen the Anbu. He then named Uchiha Mai captain of a fifth division, leaving Mai stunned by how quickly his status had risen.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen appointed Orochimaru temporary captain of a new Anbu division and gave him authority to recruit its personnel.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen criticized Danzo’s Root for failing to improve the Anbu’s capabilities.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that the Anbu would expand by creating a fifth division.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen named Uchiha Mai captain of the new division and gave him three years to build it.
• Uchiha Mai was astonished to be made a division captain instead of the squad captain he had expected.

Sarutobi Hiruzen defended his appointment of Uchiha Mai as captain of the Anbu’s Fifth Squad against Shimura Danzō’s objections, using Mai’s talent and future potential to justify the decision. Danzo stormed out, and Hiruzen told Mai to build a young squad at his own pace.

• Shimura Danzō objected to an Uchiha becoming an Anbu squad captain and accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of disregarding the consequences.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen criticized Root for refusing to answer to him and praised the Uchiha Clan’s service to Konoha.
• Danzo challenged Mai’s age and rank, but Hiruzen argued that Mai’s exam results, strength, and potential qualified him to lead the Fifth Squad.
• Orochimaru supported Mai’s appointment, citing his abilities and dual kekkei genkai.
• Hiruzen asserted his authority as Hokage and confirmed the appointment, prompting Danzo to leave angrily.
• Hiruzen told Mai to recruit young members and gave him time to establish the Fifth Squad.

Uchiha Mai realized the Third Hokage had made him captain of Anbu’s Fifth Squad to draw the Uchiha Clan’s young talents into the Hokage’s faction. He recruited five children and planned the squad’s structure, leaving him determined to secure Kyoka Suigetsu for his new Void Division.

• Uchiha Mai concluded that the Third Hokage wanted him to recruit young Uchiha into Anbu and strengthen the Hokage’s ties with the clan.
• Uchiha Mai asked Fugaku for recruits, and Fugaku offered him a choice of up to eight Uchiha aged eight to fourteen.
• Uchiha Mai selected Uchiha Tekka, Shangfeng, Nairaku, Ruri, and Obito, assigning the first four to Mirror Squad and Obito to Flower Squad.
• Uchiha Mai planned to ask Master Minato to transfer Kakashi into Flower Squad as its leader and keep Obito close under observation.
• Uchiha Mai named his unit the Void Division and outlined four teams: Mirror, Flower, Water, and Moon.

Uchiha Mai visited Minato and discussed transferring Kakashi into the Void Division, then helped Minato dream up a dramatic entrance for his Flying Thunder God technique. The chapter ended with Minato praising Mai’s flair for chūnibyō spectacle.

• Mai asked Minato to transfer Kakashi to the Void Division as the Flower Squad leader, and Minato said Mai would need to speak with Kakashi personally.
• Minato told Mai that he had learned the Second’s Flying Thunder God Technique and had renamed it Spiral Flash Super Wheel Dance Roar: First Form.
• Mai suggested staging a grand entrance with white-clad maidservants, but Minato worried that Kushina would object.
• Mai proposed replacing the maidservants with a large formation of white-clad ninja who would welcome Minato and throw shuriken and Kunai as he flashed through them.
• Minato enthusiastically applauded Mai’s idea and declared that only Mai and he possessed artistic talent.

Uchiha Mai helped Namikaze Minato devise a flashy, reusable way to introduce his Flying Thunder God Technique using modified kunai that played recorded music. Minato approved Mai’s custom transformation song and decided to order the kunai.

• Namikaze Minato asked Uchiha Mai for a way to make his technique cooler without requiring a large crowd.
• Uchiha Mai suggested introduction chants, entrance poems, and background music, then explained how miniature recorders could provide sound effects.
• Namikaze Minato showed Mai his specially made kunai, and Mai proposed hollowing their handles to fit recorders and button batteries.
• Uchiha Mai tapped a melody on seven water-filled cups and sang a custom introduction for Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Namikaze Minato praised the song and decided to order the modified kunai and record the music.