Chapter Summaries

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.

Master Minato took Uchiha Mai to visit Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo, then proposed promoting Kakashi to Anbu squad leader. Kakashi learned that the promotion required him to transfer to Mai’s Void Division or wait one to two years, and the chapter ended with him questioning the assignment.

• Master Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uchiha Mai to the Hatake residence, where they found Kakashi training and Hatake Sakumo relaxing.
• Uchiha Mai and Master Minato shared pastries and tea with Hatake Sakumo while Kakashi continued his sword practice and privately dismissed Mai as distracted by politics.
• Master Minato proposed promoting Kakashi to Anbu squad leader, and Hatake Sakumo approved the promotion.
• Master Minato said Kakashi would be transferred to Uchiha Mai’s Void Division if he agreed to the position.
• Uchiha Mai explained that the reorganized Anbu had vacancies only in his division and Lord Orochimaru’s division, so Kakashi would otherwise have to wait one or two years for a squad leader post.

Kakashi refused to join Uchiha Mai’s Void Division team out of pride, so Mai challenged him to a swordsmanship contest. Mai defeated Kakashi in two strikes and made him the leader of his Flower Squad.

• Kakashi refused Mai’s offer until Hatake Sakumo scolded him, after which Kakashi agreed on the condition that Mai prove he was stronger.
• Mai chose an uchigatana and wagered that Kakashi would join his Void Division squad if he could not withstand three strikes.
• Mai thrust at Kakashi with Shinsengumi Sword Art: Empty-Mind Straight Thrust, and Kakashi blocked it with his short sword.
• Mai followed with Kamiizumi Shinkage-ryu: Swallow Flight, knocking Kakashi’s sword from his hand.
• Mai held his blade to Kakashi’s neck and declared him defeated.

Uchiha Mai received chakra-conducting ore from Hatake Sakumo and had a sword forged by Kanesada while completing missions with Kakashi’s Flower Squad. He named the finished blade Izumi no Kami Kanesada RX-78.

• Hatake Sakumo gave Uchiha Mai leftover chakra-conducting ore and recommended swordsmith Kanesada, while Mai promised to arrange a blind date for Kakashi.
• Uchiha Mai handled Anbu duties, filled out Kakashi’s Flower Squad, recorded music for Minato, and accepted missions to patrol the northern border, gather intelligence, and assassinate targets.
• Uchiha Mai led Kakashi and the Flower Squad to the Land of Sound and arranged for Kanesada to forge a chakra-conducting uchigatana with a music player built into its hilt.
• After returning to the Land of Sound, Uchiha Mai tested the completed sword, praised it, and named it Izumi no Kami Kanesada RX-78.

Uchiha Mai’s patrol discovered a large Kumogakure force moving toward the Land of Fire, prompting him to rush toward Konoha’s northeastern intelligence headquarters to seek reinforcements. The chapter left the squad preparing for a possible surprise attack whose purpose remained unknown.

• Obito accused swordsmith Kanesada of keeping some of Mai’s ore, but Kanesada explained that refining and forging had consumed most of it.
• Uchiha Mai invited Kanesada to move to Konoha, and Kanesada agreed to come after finishing his current work.
• During another border patrol, Uchiha Mai’s scouting crows spotted more than eighty Kumogakure ninja moving south near the Land of Moon and the Land of Hot Water.
• Uchiha Mai sent animals to track the Kumogakure unit and carry warnings to Konoha, then flew toward the Land of Fire with Kakashi and Obito.
• Uchiha Mai headed for the Northeastern Intelligence Division’s headquarters to gather reinforcements rather than confront the larger force with his small squad.

Uchiha Mai sought help from Hyuuga Kagetora after spotting a large Kumogakure force moving toward the Land of Fire. He left Kagetora with the alarming discovery that the force included at least three Jonin.

• Uchiha Mai presented his credentials and invoked his authority to request assistance from the Northeast Division.
• Hyuuga Kagetora led Mai to the archives, where Mai searched files on Kumogakure Jonin.
• Mai told Kagetora that at least eighty Kumogakure ninjas were advancing south toward the Land of Fire, and Kagetora sent a warning to Anbu Headquarters.
• Mai selected three files identifying Jonin among the enemy force, and Kagetora realized their small group could not safely confront them.

Uchiha Mai and Hyuuga Kagetora organized the Northeast Division to intercept a Hidden Cloud force led by three Jonin, including Toroi, and prepared to gather their available ninja. The northernmost outpost then went silent, leading Uchiha Mai to suspect the enemy was targeting Konoha’s intelligence network.

• Uchiha Mai identified Chiba Shin'i, Toroi, and Nobuhiko as the leaders of the approaching Hidden Cloud force.
• Uchiha Mai explained that Minato-sensei's Flying Thunder God Technique could bring reinforcements quickly, and he and Hyuuga Kagetora planned to gather twenty or thirty ninja to fight the enemy together.
• Uchiha Mai considered that the Hidden Cloud force was likely targeting Konoha’s outposts or supply lines rather than attacking the village itself.
• Hyuuga Kagetora reported that ten of the division’s eleven outposts had responded, but the northernmost outpost had gone silent.
• Uchiha Mai suspected the Hidden Cloud force had attacked the Anbu intelligence outposts to blind Konoha in the area.

Uchiha Mai took command of Konoha’s twenty-four assembled ninjas and prepared them to delay an advancing Kumogakure force until reinforcements arrived. After setting forest traps, his squad concealed their identities, and the chapter ended with Konoha’s force surrounding the approaching enemy.

• Uchiha Mai learned that two teams had failed to arrive and that Kumogakure forces were advancing toward the district headquarters.
• Uchiha Mai outlined a plan to keep the enemy together and delay them until reinforcements arrived, rallying the assembled ninjas to fight.
• Uchiha Mai led the force into the forest, where they set defenses and traps, then had Kakashi’s Flower Squad change into ordinary ninja clothes.
• Hyuuga Kagetora spotted Kumogakure’s force with his Byakugan, and Uchiha Mai used a thrush’s memories to assess their formation and numbers.
• Uchiha Mai ordered the ninjas to prioritize the enemy’s left wing, and Konoha’s force waited in position after surrounding the approaching Kumogakure troops.

Uchiha Mai’s ambush devastated the Hidden Cloud left wing, but Special Jonin Nobuhiko held his own against Hyuuga Kagetora. As reinforcements approached, Nobuhiko broke off their duel and turned on Uchiha Mai, whom he mistook for a Genin.

• Uchiha Mai signaled the Konoha forces to unleash a combined fire and wind barrage, killing or incapacitating seven or eight Hidden Cloud ninja.
• Hyuuga Kagetora led the Konoha forces in a charge against the surviving enemies.
• Nobuhiko fought Hyuuga Kagetora with Lightning Style Nintaijutsu, and both men were injured in their evenly matched exchange.
• Uchiha Mai watched the duel and threw shuriken at Nobuhiko while pretending to be a Genin.
• Nobuhiko spotted approaching Hidden Cloud reinforcements, drove Hyuuga Kagetora back, and turned toward Uchiha Mai.

Uchiha Mai killed Nobuhiko with Deathfire Iaijutsu: Lion Song, but the ambush exposed the Konoha team to an approaching Kumogakure force. As Chiba Shin'i unleashed a powerful combined ninjutsu attack, Mai prepared to counter with his replenished chakra.

• Uchiha Mai used Sharingan Genjutsu to momentarily daze Nobuhiko, then decapitated him with Deathfire Iaijutsu: Lion Song and absorbed his life force.
• Hyuuga Kagetora warned that the Kumogakure force was only a hundred meters away, and Uchiha Mai ordered the Konoha team to prepare to defend or dodge.
• Chiba Shin'i led the approaching Kumogakure ninja and reacted furiously when he saw Nobuhiko's severed head.
• Chiba Shin'i formed Wind Release: Pressure Damage, combining it with incoming Fire Style and Lightning Style attacks into a massive assault on the Konoha team.
• Uchiha Mai, with his chakra replenished by Nobuhiko's death, faced the incoming attack without fear and prepared to strike back.

Uchiha Mai used Dragon Star Style: Pulao to deflect Kumogakure’s combined attack and then faced Chiba Shin'i in close combat. Their fight continued with Chiba Shin'i backing away from Mai’s aggressive counters.

• Uchiha Mai unleashed Dragon Star Style: Pulao, and its flaming beast clashed with Kumogakure’s combined Wind Release: Pressure Damage.
• Pulao weakened, then exploded and redirected the combined attack away from Konoha’s troops, leaving Uchiha Mai exhausted.
• After the armies entered close combat, Chiba Shin'i targeted Uchiha Mai with Wind and Water Style attacks.
• Uchiha Mai countered Chiba Shin'i with his longsword, and Chiba Shin'i retreated rather than risk being cut.
• Chiba Shin'i taunted Uchiha Mai, who challenged him to kill him if he could and kept pressing his aggressive style.